In the Civil Affairs Yuan, Gao Junshan gathered several Shangshu together, and even the first assistant Bailisha was also rumored that he was going to hold an important meeting here.

Bai Lisha, Liu Hongru, Liu Lishun, Tian Wenju, Niu Jinxing, Lu Heju, Li Busi, Xu Yixian, and Shang Shufang Tingjian of the Logistics Department of the Ministry of Military Industry came to report together.

These nine ministers don't know why the emperor summoned them, it has been a long time since such a group of people have accepted the emperor's summons, and something big will happen today.

The ministers were talking a lot, anxiously waiting for the appearance of the high mountain.

Just when they were looking forward to it, Gao Junshan appeared among them with a spring breeze on his face.

"Wechen meet the emperor, long live my emperor, long live, long live!"

When Gao Junshan sat on the high dragon chair, the ministers performed the courtesy of the king.

This was a formal occasion, and Gao Junshan held up the emperor's shelf.

"No rudeness!"

Nine courtiers stood in two rows, Bai Lisha, Liu Lishun and Liu Hongru stood in the first row, these three were first-rank officials, and six Shangshu (second-rank civil officials) stood in the second row.

Gao Junshan said: "This year's spring came early!" ”

In this opening remark, all the ministers knew that there must be a follow-up, and they were not summoned to chat, so they didn't dare to answer and listened carefully to the emperor's next words.

"When I opened the window in the morning, it was already spring. I just saw the eighth sister catching butterflies in the courtyard, and gave her a scientific name, Gao Mengdie. ”

The ministers were still listening.

"Do you know why spring came so early?" Gao Junshan glanced at the ministers.

After a pause, Bailisha replied: "The ministers don't know, and I ask Your Majesty to enlighten you." ”

Gao Junshan knows very well in his heart that this year's early spring does not mean the end of the cold Xiaoice period, and it is likely to be the arrival of the second cold period.

His fears were not unfounded.

In fact, between 1350 and 1850, it was the "Xiaoice Age" in the world, in the land of China, when the average annual temperature in many areas was decreasing, summer drought and flooding appeared one after another, and winter was extremely cold, not only Hebei, but also Shanghai, Jiangsu, Fujian, Guangdong and other places have fallen blizzard. The coldest time was in the 17th century, especially between 1650 and 1700.

The year is exactly 1650, which means that the high mountains must face the most severe "Xiaoice period".

The "Xiaoice Age" will lead to a sharp drop in the earth's temperature, a sharp reduction in food production, and a sharp social upheaval and population decline. In later generations, some scholars believed that the Xiaoice period was the main reason for the fall of the Ming Dynasty.

How will Gao Junshan respond?

As a traverser, we must have a clear mind and not be blinded by the short-term false prosperity in front of us, because for a long time to come, we will face a continuous reduction in grain production, which will greatly affect the population growth plan of the high mountains.

So he told his courtiers that the next spring might come late, not only too late, but also that it would come later for years to come.

These courtiers have long been accustomed to accepting Gao Junshan's thunderous language, and treat him almost as a god, because many of Gao Junshan's prophecies have been proven, so this time they also accepted it without exception.

Gao Junshan did not tell them that this kind of ghost weather would last for decades, but only that in the next two or three years, the weather will get colder and colder, and as the drought comes, the crops in the fields will also face a large reduction in yields.

Just by telling them about the weather changes in the past two or three years, they are already very uneasy, if such news is spread, how much negative energy will be caused in the whole country, Gao Junshan can not predict.

Therefore, he said to the nine courtiers very seriously: "Regarding the future weather changes, it is a special secret, only the ten of us know about it, and you must not leak it." ”

These nine courtiers swore to heaven that they would never leak secrets. The ancients were very sacred about swearing, and they were quite in awe and humble in front of it.

The next step is to figure out how to cope with the cold and hunger that is coming, so that they have a year to be fully prepared.

After thorough research, it was unanimously decided to take the following measures:

First, vigorously promote the cultivation of sweet potatoes and corn to enrich food crops and reduce the impact of reduced cereal production;

Second, encourage farmers to raise livestock, develop fishery production, and grow all kinds of melons and fruits;

Third, resolutely put an end to the export of cotton yarn and ensure that everyone has winter clothes for the winter;

Fourth, several state-owned charcoal plants should be set up in each province to ensure that the people have enough charcoal for heating in winter:

Fifth, it is strictly forbidden to be extravagant and wasteful, and to advocate strict economy:

Sixth, the commercial tax rate will be raised, from the original 30 taxes to 20 taxes.

Finally, Gao Junshan did some popular science for these nine ministers, and the weather gets colder gradually, and the temperature will not drop too quickly, just 1 to 2 degrees per year.

The meeting lasted until dark, and Gao Junshan emphasized the principle of secrecy, and asked the courtiers to return to their respective yamen to formulate some targeted countermeasures.

After the meeting, Gao Junshan returned to the imperial study of the Chuanxin Hall and had dinner in the imperial study.

Sun Kewang reported to him that Princess Hulu was sick.

Princess Hulu is Li Zicheng's wife Gao Guiying.

"Have you asked for a doctor?" Gao Junshan asked.

"Please. Princess Hulu wanted to go back to the countryside to live, and the queen asked me to ask His Majesty for instructions. ”

Gao Junshan thought for a while and said, "If she wants to go back, let her go back." Is she seriously ill? ”

"I heard from the imperial doctor that she was quite sick this time."

"What's the problem?" Gao Junshan asked.

Sun Kewang replied: "I heard Princess Hulu say that since the birthday banquet, she has been coughing, and she has been coughing very badly recently, and she can't sleep at night. ”

"Oh, why don't I go see her."

Sun Kewang said: "The queen mother has already gone to see her, and now it is getting late, if Your Majesty wants to go to see it, it is best to go tomorrow." ”

Gao Junshan nodded in agreement: "Okay, I'll go see her tomorrow." You tell Zhang Cong to come in. ”

Zhang Cong was invited into the imperial study by Sun Kewang, and Gao Junshan asked him to arrange all the matters for Gao Guiying to go home.

The next day, Gao Junshan had breakfast in the Qianqing Palace, and went to the East Palace with Han Yuyan to visit Gao Guiying.

Gao Junshan and Han Yuyan came to Yanxi Palace, Gao Guiying hadn't gotten up yet, Huiying (Gao Guiying's personal soldier), Huimei (Gao Guiying's personal soldier), and Li Lanzhi (Li Zicheng's daughter) were waiting for the emperor and the queen at the palace gate.

Gao Junshan asked Li Lanzhi about some information, and Li Lanzhi replied: "Back to Your Majesty, after the eldest princess took medicine yesterday, she still hasn't improved, and she still has a bad cough at night, and it only improved slightly in the early hours of this morning, and she just fell asleep not long ago." ”

Gao Junshan comforted several female relatives with kind words, and told them that when Gao Guiying's condition improved, he would go back to his hometown to recuperate.

Back in the Qianqing Palace, he was still full of how to deal with the future weather, and he couldn't think of a better way for a while.

At lunchtime, he felt that Liu Ru had eaten very little, so he asked her with concern: "Concubine Liu, are you not feeling well?" ”

It's okay not to ask, this question, Liu Ru shed tears.