The drought is not only in Shandong, where Ma Laojiu is located.

...

Liaodong.

Daming Liaodong Agricultural Reclamation Group, No. 105 Farm.

Liu Changming, an agricultural technician, was constantly looking at the clumps of soil in his hands, and said casually: "The drought predicted this year seems to be true now. Spring ploughing is coming soon, what can I do! ”

"Liu Gong, even our agricultural reclamation group has set up a drought relief point, you say..."

"Don't speculate, just wait for the instructions of the Ministry of Agriculture... Now, everything continues to be implemented according to the spring plowing plan made in advance! ”

"Okay! Liu Gong, with your words... Let's rest assured. ”

...

Beijing, within the Ministry of Agriculture.

Xu Guangqi looked at the big and small officials around him with a sad face, and couldn't help but speak: "Qin Shilang.. Don't walk around here, my eyes are dizzy. ”

The official who was called Qin Shilang by Xu Guangqi suddenly spoke.

"My lord, there is no good news from the drought relief points in various places until today, how can I not be in a hurry!"

"Yes! My lord..."

Seeing that more and more officials were in agreement, they began to be lively again.

Xu Guangqi, who couldn't help it, hurriedly said: "What you said, the official understands it... But now is not the time to be in a hurry to be able to solve things, something went wrong... We have to hurry up and find a way. ”

At this time, someone suddenly said, "My lord! This year, the Royal Academy of Sciences proposed fine planting, if we can implement it quickly, is there any hope! After all, the grain yield of intensive cultivation is much higher. ”

Whew! Moment.

There were countless eyes looking at Xu Guangqi.

Unexpectedly, he shook his head and said: "The official has also seen the matter of fine planting, but it is not feasible... Not so much so in the hard-hit northern provinces today. ”

Why is that? Lord Xu.. After all, this is a way to increase food production! ”

But Xu Guangqi continued: "I don't know if you have seen it in detail, the so-called fine planting will only have a greater demand for irrigation water, and what we lack now is not fertile land and land. ”

"What we're missing right now is water!"

The crowd heard this.

Only then did I understand why Xu Guangqi rejected the idea of fine planting.

They all lowered their heads, a little frustrated.

"Your Majesty mentioned earlier that there is a plan to use the existing drought relief points to find a way to mobilize the people to go to the sea to Annam to cultivate, where there is a large amount of fertile land... And even if there is a drought this year, it will not be affected. ”

Xu Guangqi saw that everyone was depressed, and he also fully laid out the plan that had been set in advance.

"Lord Xu? Emigrating overseas? Can the people be willing?"

"It's not a question of whether the people want to or not... If you don't go to sea, then stay ... If this year's drought is severe, it is destined that many places will lose their crops. ”

"At that point, it's too late to regret it!"

After all that is said.

Xu Guangqi chose to enter the palace to meet Zhu Youzhen as soon as possible.

In the East Warm Pavilion.

When Zhu Youzhen saw Xu Guangqi coming, he also guessed a lot in his heart, and said: "Is it that many abnormal phenomena of the upcoming drought have been reported in various places this year?" ”

"Back to Your Majesty! Precisely! ”

"Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Zhili, Liaodong, Henan and other places have a large number of reports indicating that this year may really usher in a very serious drought."

"So... The minister thinks, Your Majesty, that the aforementioned immigration plan can begin to be publicized and implemented! ”

After listening to Xu Guangqi's words.

Zhu Youzhen nodded slowly and said: "As the so-called precautions, what Aiqing has to do now is exactly such a thing... If we do wait until the drought is in full swing, the huge number of people will be a big obstacle to migration! ”

"The Cabinet intends to open coastal ports such as Tianjin, Penglai, Qingdao, Quanzhou, and Fuzhou, fully undertake the needs of the resettlement plan, and suspend foreign trade if necessary. Be sure to follow the plan! ”

"Obey the order!"

The spring of the fourth year of the Ming Chongzhen calendar.

Zhu Youzhen issued an order that all parts of Daming fully implement the "Daming Dongfan and Annan Resettlement Plan", also known as the "Dong'an Plan", which proposes to immigrate to Dongfan in the shortest possible time No less than 2 million people, and no less than 8 million people to Annan!

All expenses are borne by the Ming Royal Treasury!

It is estimated that the cost will exceed 100 million Daming Dragon Yuan!

At the same time, announce in advance the signs and effects of the drought, mobilize the people, and take the premise of volunteering. Try to find ways to do ideological work as well.

Immigration, in essence, is colonization.

In the early stage of the plan, Zhu Youzhen has been preparing for a long time.

Therefore, at the moment when the decree was issued and the plan was opened, the Ming court responded almost at the same time, an ancient empire, although it seemed to lag behind in many aspects.

But in matters concerning the livelihood of the people.

Zhu Youzhen has always taken a ruthless and tough attitude, and Dongchang put a lot of energy into the problems that may arise in the middle of the immigration plan at the first time.

Propaganda and policy inclination.

The Ming court used almost all the methods imaginable.

"Daming Monthly", "Jingshi Daily", "Zhili Daily" and other newspapers from the capital to the local areas have all been mobilized, even if there is a big matter.

The front page of every newspaper must be a publicity and propaganda related to the Ming immigration plan.

In the face of drought, before the catastrophe.

It's hard to say anything..

In just one week, Penglai Port alone has sent a large number of immigrants to Dongfan, of course... This number is in front of the total number of people who may be affected by the drought.

It's still a drop in the bucket.

Penglai Pier.

Almost all the places visible to the naked eye are crowded with dense people, and the taste of homeless people is almost familiar to the people in the north of the Ming Dynasty.

Compared with the difficulty of leaving the homeland, the newspaper clearly said: "There is nothing to leave, and sooner or later you can come back. . . But it's important to remember that the premise is to live! ”

Encouraged by such a policy, at least many people in Shandong have chosen to leave.

But at this time.

Suddenly..

There is a rumor circulating among the people: "It's easy to leave your hometown and it's hard to return home, and Annan is not home after all!" ”

Within three days after the rumors appeared, the fans of Dongchang caught the rumors as soon as possible and transferred them to Beijing as soon as possible.

When the news reached Zhu Youzhen's ears.

Zhu Youzhen said: "Strictly investigate and deal with it!" ”