Beijing ushered in the spring of the second year of Kangxi in the gloomy clouds, the Qing court was corrupted by the overall situation of the world, Jiangnan fell, and Kangxi ordered the reduction of meals and the withdrawal of music, and forbade civil and military officials to drink banquets and play. The entire capital was full of people with pale faces and dead faces, foraging for food.

Due to the cut off of grain transportation from the south, Beijing could not be self-sufficient in grain and rice, and grain prices soared. Ordinary people have long been unable to feed themselves, and even the hardcore crops of the full people will not last long. In addition to retaking Jiangnan, only tax increases were left in the north, and the decline of the Manchu Qing Dynasty was even more obvious, which could be seen by anyone with a discerning eye.

First of all, to recapture Jiangnan, the Qing court continued to increase troops, but Jingxiang posed a threat to Henan and Shaanxi and had to be guarded against; The Ming army gathered in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River with several troops, so that the Qing army had to guard against its simultaneous advance along the canal by land and water; There is also Sichuan, and the governor Gao Mingzhan is also in a hurry to increase his troops, otherwise there is a danger that the Ming army will conquer Baoning and enter Hanzhong; The northern coastal areas should also strengthen their defenses, especially Tianjin, if the Ming army uses the power of a naval division to land here amphibiously, it can threaten the Beijing division......

Under such a situation, the capture of Jiangnan became a slogan, and there was no possibility of realizing it at all. In the clamor of the fierce inward, the Qing army began to quietly block the canal, making it difficult for the Ming army to give full play to the advantages of the sailors. In Tianjin, the strength of the Qing army stationed in Tianjin was increasing, and the fortifications were intensively constructed to protect the Beijing division.

"The south of the Yangtze River returned to the Ming Dynasty, and Emperor Zhaowu ascended the throne."

"Emperor Zhaowu is much stronger than Yongli, it seems that he has never lost a battle, and if he looks at the Manchu Qing Dynasty like this, it is estimated that he will not be able to jump in a few days."

"I don't know when Emperor Zhaowu will go on a northern expedition, let's not wait here to starve to death, let's go south, maybe we can meet the Ming army sooner!"

"I heard that as soon as Emperor Zhaowu ascended the throne, he reduced taxes and distributed land in the Guangfu District. Give relief to the poor, everyone can have enough to eat! ”

"Go to Shandong, go to Huainan, the Ming army will soon counterattack."

…………….

In the city of Beijing, all kinds of discussions are circulating, and some are speculations by the people. Some were deliberately disseminated by the Intelligence Bureau. More and more people are despairing of whether they can survive in Beijing, leaving the dying city and fleeing to Shandong and Huainan.

And in the Manchu court, a fierce debate was going on. Shrinkage is already a sure thing, but how to shrink, how to make the Ming army stop the offensive, and how to buffer it in time are all difficult problems to solve.

"Those who move the capital can be beheaded. Jingshi is the foundation of the world. One move is a big deal. Sonny dragged his seriously ill body, barely using a stern tone to set off his determination, but he was already panting.

"Suo Gong's words are reasonable, I still have half of the country in the Qing Dynasty, and there are still brave eight banners, although it is a temporary defeat, but there is also a chance to turn defeat into victory." Ao Bai is a hardliner, and shrinkage is certainly a matter of form. But too much cringe still made him unbearable.

Jiangnan has been lost. But judging from the actual losses, there are only tens of thousands of Manchurian and Mongolian Eight Banners, and the rest are only Green Flag Han soldiers. Originally, there were not many Eight Banners stationed in the south of the Yangtze River, and most of the repeated reinforcements were the Northern Green Battalion, as well as a small number of Manmeng Eight Banners. As for the Qiding family slaves, in fact, they should not be regarded as the real strength of the Eight Banners.

Liaodong, Xuanda. and the Eight Banners generals in the entire north, together, can still make up more than 100,000. The Green Flag in the north was more effective than in the south, and its loyalty to the Qing court was much stronger than that of the southerners. Moreover, the north is empty. The most suitable for cavalry warfare, the Eight Banners are proud of their cavalry archery, and they are obviously more confident in fighting in the north.

And at this time, it may not be a big problem to retreat a little, if you retreat too much, it seems that the Qing court is too weak, and it is already in decline, then people's minds will change. Not to mention the green camp in the north, even the Mongolian tribes may have to have different thoughts and no longer obey the orders of the Qing court. Therefore, the Qing court must hold on, at least on the surface, to make a momentum, so as not to fall apart, the wall to fall down, and everyone to push it, so that the situation will completely collapse.

"Although there is danger at this time, if we work together, we will be able to turn the crisis into safety." Sukh Saha hesitated for a moment, and asked Sonny and Aobai: "Suo Gong, Ao Gong, in order to calm the people's hearts and recuperate the people's strength, in order to increase taxes, can the 'land enclosure order' be abolished and the land can be given to the people to cultivate; ”

Ao Bai snorted coldly and said, "Inviting people to buy people's hearts may not work, right?" Those Nikans will feel that the Manchurians are no longer good, as if they are showing weakness and currying favor with them. ”

Kubilong originally came with his ears, but at this time he echoed: "Shengmien, fighting Mi Qiu, it is indeed not appropriate to be too relaxed. What's more, the enclosure has long been stopped, so how can it be abolished? ”

In the first year of Shunzhi, the Qing court issued a "land enclosure order", and then ordered three more land enclosures. By the fourth year of Shunzhi, large-scale land enclosures had stopped, but sporadic land enclosures and land exchanges were still heard from time to time. Previously, Ao Bai even proposed to exchange land with the white flag on the grounds that the land inlaid with the yellow flag was less barren, which was actually another round of enclosure.

"Wherever the field is encircled, the landlord is expelled when he arrives, and everything in the room is there. Those who have wives and ugly wives are taken away, but those who want to stay dare not take them. Its tenants have no survivors, but they rely on them to cultivate. After the enclosure, many peasants' fields were occupied and displaced, and some landlords or peasants joined the Baqi Manor to become tenant farmers, or went into exile, resulting in a large number of displaced people and beggars. The part of the enclosure that caused the peasants to earn their livelihoods to participate in the anti-Qing movement added to the instability of the early Qing Dynasty.

Sukh Saha's proposal to build yì was originally very good, but to Aobai's ears, it was an insinuation that he was going to exchange land with the white flag, and he mocked it with displeasure.

Sonny thought about it and felt that the enclosure had in fact basically stopped, and that the enclosure was a measure to settle the Manchu kings and lords who had entered the customs and to solve the livelihood of the officers and soldiers of the Eight Banners.

"It is not advisable to repeal it for the time being, but the matter of changing the name of Tian can be implemented." Sonny had already thought about it, and felt that this was enough, so he said: "The puppet emperor is good at buying people's hearts, isn't it exempt from taxes in the following years, let's also exempt it, and we will exempt it from the next year." What do you guys think? ”

"Yin eats grain?" Ao Bai was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said: "It's feasible, what will be the situation in two years, who can say clearly?" Maybe the puppet emperor lives in the south of the Yangtze River, and the enjoyment of the wine and beauty will allow our Qing Dynasty to sweep the south of the Yangtze River again. Redefine the world! ”

"The important thing is not to be discouraged, not to be afraid of the enemy like a tiger, not to be frightened." Sonny glanced at the other three auxiliary ministers and said, "When Taizu and Taizong were in the past, we were only in Liaodong, and there was no Jiangnan and Caoyun. But it's not just to take the world directly? What is not lost is a curse, and what is gained is not a blessing. As long as we work together and can get through the current difficulties, the overall situation in this world, who will kill the deer, it is not yet known! ”

After encouraging the three auxiliary ministers, Sonny insisted on discussing military affairs with them. At present, there are three key points of defense: first, the canal, the water transportation has been cut off, and the Ming army's naval division is strong. As much as possible, the river can be blocked, and only the army should strengthen the defense along the river; One is Jingxiang, which can be mainly based on the Henan Green Flag, plus some of the Eight Banners of Manchuria, stationed in Nanyang; Then the Ganshan Green Flag and the Xi'an Eight Banners were stationed in Baitu Pass, and Nanyang became a horn to resist; The other is Tianjin, which can be banned from traveling to the Eight Banners to be garrisoned. Supplemented by the green flag soldiers of Zhili, it is thought to be the barrier of the Beijing division. As for Sichuan Baoning. can only strictly order Gao Mingzhan and others to defend to the death, and for the time being, they will not be able to draw troops to support.

After some arrangement, the four auxiliary ministers discussed various matters concerning the summoning of the Mongol tribes to send troops to help the war, mainly the Monan Mongols, which had long been attached to the Qing Dynasty, and the Mobei Khalkha Mongols and the Moxi Erut Mongol tribes, which had close relations with the Qing court.

In this way, if everything is realized. Tens of thousands of more Mongol cavalry were added to help. The four assistant ministers felt that things were okay, and they didn't know if it was self-comforting or if it was really that simple.

"The thief has powerful firearms, and it is difficult to win unless he is defeated with firearms." Sukh Saha frowned suddenly. opened his mouth to remind.

"You can make artillery, you can make shotguns." Sony also frowned after speaking, this must be a lot of money, where should it be raised? If you want to say that the Qing army has the most firearms, it should belong to the three feudatories, but the three feudatories are all wiped out, and the losses are heavy!

"There are many rich people in various places, so let them donate." Ao Bai sneered: "If the skin doesn't exist, the hair will be attached?" They won't be ignorant of this truth. ”

The enclosure and endowment have already offended the common people, so will this offend the rich gentry? Sonny was silent, but there was no other way, he couldn't help coughing violently, and his face turned purple.

………………

Compared with the gloomy clouds and fog in Beijing, Nanjing and even the entire Guangfu District have not completely faded away from the festive atmosphere of the new emperor's accession to the throne.

The southern and northern regions are usually bounded by the Qinling-Huai River line. Crops in the north are cooked once a year or three times in two years, and crops in the south are cooked twice to three times a year. The newly recovered land basically belongs to the south, and Zhu Yongxing suddenly exempted half of the money and grain in these areas this year, so that he can recuperate the people's strength and restore the wounds of the war. In addition, the name stipulates that "in the future, in the year of exemption, the owner will be exempted from seven points of tenants and three points of households", so that tenant farmers can also get benefits.

Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Huguang, and a part of Nanzhili were already free of the burden of grain, and half of the regular endowment was reduced at once, whether it was the gentry, the landlords, or the ordinary people, they were all rejoicing, praising the benevolence of the saints and loving the people.

Yunnan, Guangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Sichuan and other old Guangfu areas are exempted from half of the tax for three years of Zhaowu, and the first year of Zhaowu, that is, this year's poll tax, and the household is rewarded with ten catties of meat or fish and one bucket of rice.

From the first year of Zhaowu onwards, all the items of military service, forced labor, miscellaneous labor, and poor force were abolished in all the areas of Guangfu, and the government used money to hire and recruit the required conscription in each prefecture and county every year from the tax it collected, and no longer paid civilians free of charge. In other words, the time-honored system of forced labor is about to disappear, and the peasants will have more personal freedom and less unpaid conscription and exploitation.

The artisan registration system in the Xinguangfu District was abolished, and all kinds of handicraft craftsmen were incorporated into the civil register, that is, the system of craftsmen who had to serve as laborers in accordance with government regulations or paid silver for the craftsmen was abolished. In this way, the handicraftsmen are freed from the control of the human body, which is conducive to promoting the development of the handicraft industry.

Officials have their salaries doubled, and their term of office is more than 15 years, and if there is no corruption, dereliction of duty, or dereliction of duty, they will receive it after retirement until the end of their lives, in order to support their honest silver.

In order to commend the meritorious service of war, the registered soldiers were rewarded with 10 acres, 5 acres, and 3 acres of meritorious land according to the length of service, and if each mu of land was converted into silver taels, it would cost at least two or three taels of silver, that is, each soldier received at least six or seven taels of reward. And that's in addition to the bonuses that some of the soldiers who have made meritorious service to their military exploits.

The generals in the army also have their own rewards, or gold and silver wealth, or knighthoods, official titles, or mansions and houses, anyway, they are all happy.

These are only the benefits and preferential benefits that will be cashed out immediately, and the imperial court has issued a holy decree that after the land measurement and inventory are completed, the policy of "public land release" will be implemented. It was to sell the ownerless land, or the "commons" that had been received from Qing officials, to the peasants. The land price is twice the annual harvest of the main crops of the cultivated land, and the farmers who undertake it will be repaid equally over 10 years without having to bear the interest.

Zhu Yongxing also issued an order to extend the tax exemption time for land reclamation. At first, it was exempt from taxation for three years, but later it was changed to five years. It is expected that this policy will stimulate the enthusiasm of farmers in cultivating land and lead to a rapid increase in the area of cultivated land.

Have financial resources and confidence. In other words, it is to focus on the long term, first slow and then urgent. These policies have already been formulated, but in times of war, there is also room for mercy, so it is not officially introduced until now. Naturally, the effect and impact were excellent, and it immediately won Zhu Yongxing countless praises.

Although the government's taxes were reduced, the enthusiasm of the people increased, and Zhu Yongxing won the lottery of Mingjun. The potential of war will also be better stimulated.

"It is short-sighted and stupid to dry up and fish, like the Manchu Tartars, how can it last long, how can it win the hearts of the people?" Zhu Yongxing wore a crown of heaven and a silk gauze robe, waved his hand on the throne to signal the ministers to be flat, and continued: "The ministers of Youli are also the family law of my dynasty. See you later. No name, no worship. Bestow the seat. You don't need to excuse yourself. ”

"Your Majesty is gracious." The ministers gave thanks and sat down respectfully on the chairs that had already been set up.

Although the previous name has basically been adopted in the organization, and there has not been much change, it is also in order not to cause too much negative impact, and of course there will be some additions and decreases in the future. At present, the cabinet of the Ming government consists of nine people, which is the same number as the six ministries and nine secretaries in ancient times.

Ministry of Rites: Temporarily including the Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Department of Education, Department of Civil Affairs, Department of Nationalities; Shang Shu: Chen Shaoyu;

Military Department: There is no Shangshu, and the subordinate staff headquarters temporarily pushes Wu Sangui or Pi Xiong to attend the cabinet meeting; The military department temporarily includes the Military Industry Department and the Army Department. Navy Division, Logistics Division, Veterans Resettlement Division;

Officials: Personnel Department, Audit Department, Academy; Shang Shu: Liu Zuochen;

Household Department: Temporarily including Audit Department, Statistics Department, Degree Branch Division, Customs, Bank; Shangshu: served by Shi Yicheng, the former governor of the palace;

Criminal Department: Temporarily including the Department of Justice, the Department of Public Security; Shang Shu: Zhang Huangyan;

Ministry of Industry: renamed the Ministry of Agriculture and Industry and Commerce; Temporarily including the Department of Construction, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Water Conservancy, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Posts and Telecommunications, and the Department of Agriculture; Shang Shu is Cai Ming;

Ministry of Supervision: Shangshu is Zhou Liangfu;

Ministry of State Security: Shang Shu is Ye Hu;

Dali Temple: Zhengqing is Guo Zhiqi.

First work with the most recognizable government agencies, and then gradually subdivide them in the future, this is Zhu Yongxing's thinking. In his mind, the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Rites could be divided into independent institutions such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Water Resources, and the Ministry of Criminal Affairs could be divided into the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Public Security...... In the future, there will be a first assistant and a second assistant, so that the functions of the cabinet will be more complete and the power will be greater.

However, at present, the institutions are temporarily merged, first, they are streamlined, and second, some affairs have not yet been expanded, the system has not yet been perfected, and there is no need to separate them.

In fact, for this early dynasty, Zhu Yongxing felt that it was not very useful, and it was very tormenting. According to the records of the Ming Dynasty: in the early dynasty, the minister must get up at midnight, and at three o'clock in the morning, the minister arrives outside the noon gate to wait. When the drums on the tower of the gate are beating, the ministers will line up; By the time the bell rang around five o'clock in the morning, the palace gates opened. Then, the hundred officials entered in turn, crossed the Jinshui Bridge and formed a team in the square. Usually, the emperor comes to the Taihe Gate or the Taihe Palace, and hundreds of officials kneel and bow three times. Only officials above the fourth rank have the opportunity to talk to the emperor, and the ministers report to the emperor on government affairs, and the emperor asks questions or answers.

It's like a leader calling a meeting with his subordinates every day, and he has to waste time getting together to meet and listen to praises. But to say that when he heard the problem in person, he could make the right decision immediately, Zhu Yongxing felt that it was unlikely.

In the early dynasties, if the emperor was not in charge of the hundred officials, he would be regarded as neglecting and tired of government, which was an irresponsible expression. In this regard, Zhu Yongxing disagreed. Look at Chongzhen, should be regarded as the most diligent emperor of the Ming Dynasty, according to historical records: Chongzhen is ambitious, determined to be the master of Zhongxing, every day to correct the recital of the local music to one or two o'clock in the morning is a common thing, and every morning must arrive, than the Ming Dynasty founding emperor Zhu Yuanzhang is more diligent.

As a result, the more diligent he is, the more chaotic the country becomes, and the worse the government affairs become. It can be seen that diligence may not be right, and doing things personally may not lead to good work.

Therefore, after Zhu Yongxing ascended the throne, although he did not remove the early dynasty, he pushed back the time to eight o'clock in the morning despite the voice of opposition. Even if it's a meeting, you have to have breakfast to be refreshed, right? If there is an urgent matter, Zhu Yongxing does not implement the palace ban, and the prime minister's office is manned day and night, can it be delayed? I don't know if the wee hours of the morning are the time when people are sleepy, and their brains are slow, how can they handle political affairs well?

"Although the country is currently focusing on agriculture, the simultaneous development of agriculture and industry is also the way to peace." Zhu Yongxing saw the ministers seated and continued: "Just like coastal fishermen, their main business is to fish by boat; Susong weavers make a living by spinning and weaving cloth. Do you have to let them cultivate the acres of land in order to be considered a proper job? The elimination of craftsmen is to get rid of maladministration and reduce their burden. You must be clear about this. Therefore, the performance of the Ministry of Industry is not accurate. ”

Cai Ming, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, hesitated for a moment, bowed down and said: "Qi Xià, since the expulsion of the craftsman, Su Song weavers are grateful to Dade, but if the silk industry is prosperous, the family will take silkworm raising as a business, from the wife and husband weaving, to the accumulation of money and the addition of silk machines, the more weavers, the fewer cultivators." (To be continued......)