Volume 1: Birth! Seven time travelers Chapter 147 News from Siam
November 10, 1609, Nanjing Ten-Day Meeting.
"Your Highness, in May this year, heavy rains across Fujian Province caused many landslides, which in turn caused heavy casualties in all prefectures, counties and districts across the province. All statistics have been completed so far."
"Oh..." Rubbing his head tiredly, Zhu Youdong let out a long sigh.
Since ancient times, China has experienced a great catastrophe every 300 years, which includes both natural disasters and man-made disasters. Of course, I won’t talk much about man-made disasters. The dynasty has been established for too long and has basically no ability to reform itself. As time goes by, problems in all aspects will emerge. As for natural disasters? According to the law of the Little Ice Age, they began to erupt around this time.
In addition to the heavy rain in Fujian in May, an earthquake occurred in Jiuquan, Shaanxi (Gansu was not yet a province at that time) in June of that year. In July, August, September and March, there was a continuous drought in Xuzhou, and in September, a typhoon landed in Guangdong... Except for the Jiuquan earthquake, all other matters had to be handled by the six ministries in Nanjing first according to the previous Ming custom. At this time, Zhu Youdong was in Nanjing, so of course he was the one who handled it.
"Tell me, Zhang Qing, how bad is it in Fujian?"
"Yes, Your Highness. According to statistics from various prefectures in Fujian, the heavy rains in May this year caused the deaths of more than 100,000 people and the loss of farmland in mountainous areas was no less than 2 million acres."
I don't believe you at all, you old man are so bad!
It is certain that the disaster in Fujian is serious. However, for the already rotten Ming officialdom, large-scale natural disasters are a good opportunity for development!
This is a population of 100,000 people! Landslides, mudslides, etc. will definitely cause casualties, but wouldn't more people know to run? No matter what, it is impossible for 100,000 people to die. The reason why local officials reported so many people is not to take this opportunity to facilitate the gentry from all over the country to embezzle the population. Or to fill the holes in the previous yellow book? With so many people, is the loss of arable land really more than 2 million mu? 200,000 mu is about right!
This natural disaster, from an absolutely cold-blooded and inhumane standpoint, was a great thing for the local officials of the Ming Dynasty: First, was it a waste to let the gentry encroach on the population and farmland? Local officials were all itinerant officials, and generally did not set up properties in their posts, so the gentry who benefited could just give them money as tribute. Second, if the disaster was reported to be more serious, the court would naturally be able to get more relief, which would be another source of income. It was really nice to have the best of both worlds...
"How much money did the Ministry of Revenue calculate for disaster relief?"
"Your Highness, at the end of May, the Fujian Provincial Government requested an advance of 100,000 taels of silver for disaster relief. At that time, the Ministry of Revenue urgently reported to Your Highness, and after Your Highness agreed, the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue directly transferred 100,000 taels of silver. Now that the disaster relief is all over, the main thing is to appease the refugees. Fujian requested the Ministry of Revenue to allocate another 100,000 taels of silver and to reduce all land taxes in Fujian this year."
"Does the Ministry of Revenue still have money?"
"Your Highness, I am ashamed. The money and grain collected by the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue this year have been transferred to Beijing in September, but now I can't get any money out at this time."
"It doesn't matter. The money will be paid by my Nanhua Palace."
"Your Highness is kind to the people, and it is a blessing for the Ming Dynasty."
"It is said that what is taken from the people should be used for the people, so that the censors will not murmur in private that I am a glutton for money."
"I dare not."
"Hey." Zhu Youdong waved his hand casually and said with a smile: "I didn't say anything about you. But you have worked with me in Nanjing for so many years, and you know my temper. My money is not so easy to take. The Nanjing Ministry of Revenue will send an assistant minister to handle this matter. I will send Cao Huachun and Mr. Yuan Keli to Fujian with the officials of the Ministry of Revenue. You all know that Mr. Yuan is my teacher now, so it should be okay for me to send a team of Jinyiwei to protect him?"
When Zhu Youdong said this, some officials from the various departments in Nanjing present felt their hearts sink, while others gloated over the misfortune - Yuan Keli's reputation as a god in solving cases had long been known to everyone. This guy was so powerful , and now that he has the crown prince as his backing, won't he be even more unscrupulous in solving cases? I wonder how many officials in Fujian will be in trouble now!
Humph, who let you guys be so careless that you dared to report the death of 100,000 people in a rainstorm? Well, you can only wish for the best this time.
"In addition, Xuzhou suffered from drought this year, and the harvest is definitely affected. I will first allocate 30,000 taels of silver to the Ministry of Revenue for disaster relief. If it is not enough, the Ministry of Revenue will apply to me at that time, but the accounts must be clear and can withstand inspection! Also, tell the local officials in Xuzhou not to urge this year's land tax for the time being. It's November now, and it's the same if you urge it now? I will report to the emperor to exempt Xuzhou's land tax this year."
"Yes, I will obey your command."
After the meeting, Zhu Youdong was about to sit on his sedan chair when Wang Chengen hurried over and said, "Young Master, I just received news that Xu Xianchun is back!"
"Yes." Zhu Youdong nodded calmly without changing his expression, "You go first and ask him to wait in Nanhua Gongwu's study."
"Yes." Wang Chengen turned around and walked away, still thinking: My master's Qi cultivation skills are getting better and better, and I, as a close follower, must learn from him. But after running a step or two, he heard a voice from the sedan behind him: "Don't be afraid of bumping me, just run!"
Soon, Zhu Youdong arrived at Nanhua Palace, but Xu Xianchun had not arrived yet. Zhu Youdong simply stood outside the palace gate and waited.
"Your Highness, I, Xu Xianchun, pay my respects to you. I have trouble for you to wait outside the door in person. I am guilty of death!"
"Hahahaha, you really deserve it! Three whole years, you big fool. I told you three years, and you stayed for three years! You're such an honest man! Come, let me take a good look. You're so dark! But you're stronger than you were three years ago."
"Your Highness has grown a lot taller than you were three years ago. If it weren't for the black crown and robes Your Highness is wearing, I really wouldn't have dared to recognize you."
"That's right. I'm only nine years old this year, but I'm almost five feet tall. Come, let's not talk outside the door, let's go inside and talk."
After the two entered the study, Zhu Youdong personally made tea for Xu Xianchun, which made Xu Xianchun grateful again. Then, the monarch and his ministers began to answer questions.
"You have been in Siam for more than three years. What do you think of this country?"
"Your Highness, the signs of this country's revival are already obvious. If the court does not take precautions early, it will sooner or later become a major threat to our southern dynasty!"
"Hmm..." It has been four years since the time traveler in the south ascended the throne, right? After such a long time, it is time for him to make some achievements.
"Please explain it to me in detail."
"Yes, Your Highness. When I first arrived in Siam, I only felt that although the country was very famous in the south, the neighboring Zhenla, Myanmar, and even Johor further south were very afraid of it. But when I really went deep into the country, I only saw the manors of the wealthy families everywhere, and the servants in the gardens were like the army. Outside the wealthy families' manors, the land was barren and starving people were everywhere. Among the ordinary people, there were only the elderly, the weak, the sick, or orphans and widows. In short, it was rare to see strong men. I also saw many women selling their children and even selling themselves in order to survive. Even so, it was difficult to get a meal... In fact, it was just a false fire that was holding on. Since the new king of Siam ascended the throne four years ago, he changed the national policy of conquering everywhere, rested with the people, provided disaster relief everywhere, comforted the people, and even went to the fields to farm... In the more than three years that I have been in Siam, I have really seen with my own eyes that this country has quickly recovered day by day.
Although the King of Siam was a child, he was born with wisdom, just like Your Highness. He improved agricultural tools, built water conservancy projects, and reclaimed a large amount of wasteland. The people returned to their homes and farmed peacefully. Business began to flourish, and other industries gradually recovered.
Last year, the King of Siam began to consolidate his power, and stipulated that the nobles in the country were no longer allowed to build manors like fortresses, and required the nobles to release their slaves. This of course aroused resistance from nobles in various places. The king either sent generals or led the army himself to suppress them, and he was victorious in every battle.
At the beginning of this year, the King of Siam issued an order to rectify the administration and revise the official system. The court of the country now has a prime minister under the king, and under the prime minister are as many as 20 ministries, and the heads of each ministry are called ministers. In the military, the general is at the same level as the prime minister. Uh, Your Highness, this is a bit similar to the system of the Han Dynasty in my China. "
"That's different. Well, go on."
"Yes, I was going to leave in June this year. Before I left, I heard that the King of Siam issued an order to form a new army, so I stayed for another three months."
"How about the new army?"
"The King of Siam said this year that he would organize a new army of 5,000 people. The names of the new army's organizational structure are a bit strange, such as regiment, battalion, company, platoon, and squad. Of course, this title is just a little strange to me. What really surprised me is that the uniforms, equipment, and military pay of this new army are extremely extraordinary. Your Highness, the bird guns of this new army can actually be fired without a matchlock, and its military pay converted into the silver of our Ming Dynasty is about one tael per person per month. And there are actually red barbarians among the instructors of the new army..."
"Xianchun, you have been away from Ming for more than three years, so you may not understand some things. I also have such new troops, and they are no worse than this guy."
"I see. Then I am relieved."
"Well, where do you think the King of Siam will attack first after this new army is trained?"
"Chenla! Your Highness, this country is weak and rich in resources, and its people are not as warlike as Burma. Therefore, if Siam wants to expand, it must first choose Chenla."
"Hmm..." After standing up and pacing for a few times, Zhu Youdong said, "It seems that if Siam really wants to invade our Ming Dynasty, it will take at least five or six years. However, if you don't think about the future, you will have worries in the near future. Some things must be prepared in advance. Xianchun."
"I am here."
"You have worked hard for more than three years. In addition to the 10,000 taels of silver I gave you at the beginning, I will give you an additional 3,000 taels of silver. In addition, I will give you half a year of leave. Go back and spend some time with your father and mother."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"Don't be so quick to thank me. Half a year later, you will return to Nanjing and study at Fangshan School and Henghai Guard for three months. After that, I will help you get a position as a captain of the Yunnan Jinyiwei. If everything goes well, we will also replace some officials in Yunnan. At that time, we will vigorously support Myanmar!"
