"You are ......"

When Zhu Cihong got into the carriage and saw an official who was nearly sixty years old and wearing a three-grade official robe sitting on the carriage, he was stunned for a moment.

"Shi Xia Yunyi, the head of the lower official Qi, see His Royal Highness the King of the County."

Seeing Zhu Cihong get into the car, Xia Yunyi got up and made a gesture, which made Zhu Cihong know that the person in front of him was the father of his playmate Xia Wanchun, the long history of the Qi State.

"I've seen Xia Changshi......"

Zhu Cihong returned the salute, but looked at Xia Yunyi curiously.

Obviously, he was wondering why Xia Yunyi appeared here, and why he was on the carriage entering the palace.

Although Zhu Cihong has been training for several years, he is a young man after all, and he can't hide his thoughts, so Xia Yunyi knew his thoughts as soon as he saw his expression, and responded:

"This year is the third year that the Qi State has entered the court, and this year the King of Qi has sent his ministers to the court to return to the Qi State to Long live."

"Long live to learn that the day when the minister entered the palace was scheduled for today, I should want Your Highness to understand together."

"I see...... "Hearing Xia Yunyi's words, Zhu Cihong reacted.

He calculated the time, and it was indeed about the same, so after being relieved, he also sat opposite Xia Yunyi.

"Is Father alright?" Zhu Cihong asked about Zhu Youzhen's physical condition, but Xia Yunyi had a complicated expression and didn't know what to say.

This made Zhu Cihong's heart hang, and Xia Yunyi also said after a while:

It's still the old problem of the "Battle of Sweeping Sets" back then, and every time the season changes, there are a few days when I feel chest tightness and discomfort. ”

"Zhang Yuan's envoy from Tai Hospital said that this is the sequelae left by the wind and cold that year."

Zhu Youzhen's health is very good, but he can't stand the fact that he was too young when he went to the battlefield.

At the age of twelve, he went to war, at the age of fifteen, he carried out the battle of sweeping the set, and at the age of seventeen, he went on the third Northern Expedition......

Although it didn't seem like much at the time, when you got older, all kinds of injuries and illnesses would follow.

"......" Listening to Xia Yunyi's words, Zhu Cihong felt a breath blocked in his chest, which was very uncomfortable.

"But don't worry too much." Seeing Zhu Cihong like this, Xia Yunyi couldn't help but comfort:

"In addition to these, His Royal Highness's body is still relatively healthy, and according to the words of Zhang Yuan's envoy, it should not be a problem to live to sixty or seventy."

Sixty or seventy ...... It sounds like there is still a long time, but this year's Zhu Youzhen is already forty-eight, and in the end, it has only been more than ten years.

"After this incident, it's time for me to go back to Qi with Xia Changshi."

Zhu Cihong expressed his attitude, and Xia Yunyi also nodded after hearing it, breathing a sigh of relief.

In fact, in terms of Zhu Youzhen's physical condition, if there are one or two people to assist, it will not be so tiring.

Although he handles government affairs quickly, his character is there.

When he was in the Ming Dynasty, his energy could be used for him to deal with all the prefectural-level performances.

After going to Qi State, although there were only 25 prefectures in Qi State, Zhu Youzhen delegated the authority to deal with the situation at the county level.

In fact, his burden has not been lightened at all.

It's not that Xia Yunyi doesn't want to alleviate it, but Zhu Youzhen just doesn't trust the officials, and he has to read all the notes himself before he can make a decision.

It can be said that the reason why the people of Qi are living so relaxed and leisurely now is inseparable from Zhu You's meticulous work.

All the county officials knew that the King of Qi would look through his own music and make detailed plans for each county.

In this case, even if someone wants to be corrupt, they have to weigh whether their neck is hard or not.

Although Xia Yunyi felt that even if Zhu Cihong, Zhu Cixuan, and Zhu Cijiong all went back, it would only allow Zhu Youzhen to rest for a few months.

After a few months, Zhu Youzhen is afraid that he will have to delegate the handling of the following to the town level.

It is a blessing for the people to have such a king, and Xia Yunyi is also very happy.

However, he also knew very well that if Zhu Youzhen continued to work at high intensity like this, I am afraid that it would really be the same as what the hospital said......

"Sigh the law ......"

"Here we are."

Just when Xia Yunyi hesitated in his heart, the carriage stopped, Zhu Cihong also got up and said something, and then stepped out of the carriage.

Xia Yunyi followed and got out of the carriage, and what appeared in front of them was the Donghua Gate of the Forbidden City, and the three guards and horses of the Imperial City under the Donghua Gate.

However, under the Yongdao crossing, an elephant wheel was parked there, apparently for Zhu Cihong to ride.

Next to it, there was also an open-air car, which was obviously prepared by Zhu Youxiao to take care of the elderly Xia Yunyi.

The two were put on the elephant and the chariot respectively, and were later admitted to the palace.

When they passed through the long Donghua Gate Palace Road and came to the East Palace, they could already see the Wenhua Hall not far away.

At the gate of the Wenhua Palace, there were many officials standing looking here, obviously curious about where Zhu Cihong was going.

"Arrived?"

Listening to the noise outside the hall, a voice came from the main hall of the back hall of the Wenhua Palace.

Hearing this voice, the Hanlin scholar at the door waved inward:

"Returning to the pavilion elder, it should be here."

"Hmmm......"

Hong Chengchou groaned in response, but said again: "How is Sun Gechen's body?" ”

"The hospital said that the situation is not very good, and Sun Gechen himself is ready to go to Shu Zhishi......"

"Hmm......" After Master Hanlin said this, Hong Chengchou actually felt a little regretful.

Of his three opponents above the temple, only Sun Chuanting made him feel a little tricky.

Now that Sun Chuanting is old, there are only two people left, Jin Xuan and Yan Yinshao, which really makes it difficult for him to be interested.

"Long live Song Ming, don't let Sun Gechen feel too cold."

Hong Chengchou wanted the emperor to give Sun Chuanting some rewards, otherwise others would think that they were targeting him when they saw Sun Chuanting's miserable life after becoming a minister.

"Yes......"

Master Hanlin should go down and turn around to do business.

Watching him leave, Hong Chengchou, who was also sixty-five years old, stroked his long beard, as if he felt a little cold from a high place.

is more leisurely than him, but Xia Yunyi and Zhu Cihong, who were on the way to the Qianqing Palace, were preoccupied.

Zhu Cihong was worried about Zhu Youzhen's physical condition, and Xia Yunyi was thinking about how to report the affairs of Qi to the emperor.

You have to pay attention to skills in reporting this kind of thing, and you can't say that Qi Guo is too strong, and you can't say that you are too weak.

If you say it too strongly, even if the emperor doesn't care, the ministers will care.

It's not more than ten years ago, and now most of the officials in the DPRK and China are from the East Palace, and the people who are loyal to them are not one.

Even if Zhu Youxiao and Zhu Ciran didn't feel that Qi Guo was a threat, it was hard to guarantee that Baiguan would feel so.

As for saying that it is too weak, it is a bit clumsy.

Therefore, Xia Yunyi is still ready to euphemize some of the growth of Qi State, so as to avoid the DPRK and Chinese officials from caring about Qi Guo.

Just as he was thinking this, the elephant and the chariot also stopped.

Zhu Cihong and Xia Yunyi each tidied up their clothes, and then got out of the car and walked into the gate of the Qianqing Palace.

Passing through the long Qianqing Palace Road, when they came to the gate of the palace, Wang Tiqian, who was standing at the door, had already asked the emperor for instructions, and said with a smile:

"His Royal Highness the King of the County, Xia Changshi, please enter the ...... inside"

"Thank you Wang Zhangyin...... Zhu Cihong and Xia Yunyi made a gesture, and then followed Wang Tiqian into the Qianqing Palace, and came to the side hall to worship the main hall.

When they walked in here, what appeared in front of them was Zhu Youxiao, who was wearing a winged crown and a red emperor's regular robe, and Zhu Ciran, who was standing next to him, five feet six inches tall and wearing a red round-necked robe.

Zhu Youxiao, who is already fifty-four years old, looks red-faced, and although he has a beard, he looks only forty-five or sixteen years old.

Zhu Ciran, who was standing beside him, although he was only thirty-four years old this year, looked the same as thirty-six or seventeen.

"Ministers Zhu Cihong, Xia Yunyi, see Long live, Chitose ......"

Zhu Cihong and Xia Yunyi saluted successively, logically speaking, at this time, Zhu Youxiao should be concerned about the state affairs of Qi State, but he asked Xia Yunyi with a worried face:

"I heard that my brother had a cough at the beginning of the year, but is he getting better now?"

"Long live, His Royal Highness the King of Qi is an old illness, and his health is fine." Xia Yunyi seems to have gotten used to it, and her answers are not leaky.

"If the place in Qi is not suitable for recuperation, you can let my younger brother come back to the capital."

Zhu Youxiao said with a worried face, but seemed to be afraid that his words would be misinterpreted as something else, so he added:

"Or transfer Li Zhongzi from the capital to check his brother's pulse."

Li Zhongzi is now the envoy of the Tai Hospital, and he is also a famous doctor selected by Zhu Youzhen for Zhu Youxiao, and he is no different from the deceased Wang Kentang in the treatment of internal diseases.

If Li Zhongzi goes, then Qi Guo can rest assured, and Zhu Youxiao can also rest assured.

However, hearing his words, Zhu Cihong said helplessly: "Long live, Envoy Li is now eighty years old, and I'm afraid it's not good to be tired." ”

"Long live, what Brother Hong said is reasonable." Zhu Ciran also helplessly persuaded.

"I forgot about it......" Zhu Youxiao also reacted, Li Zhongzi is too old, and it is estimated that he will not be able to go.

"Long live, Your Highness is fine, I told the minister before I came, so you don't have to worry about it."

Xia Yunyi said, and at the same time, he took out the recital from his sleeve and said:

"This is the situation of Qi in the past three years, please long live it."

Seeing this, Wang Tiqian next to him took the song and sent it up, but Zhu Youxiao didn't think about it and said:

"Don't worry, I have something to ask Brother Hong."

After that, Zhu Youxiao looked at Zhu Cihong: "Brother Hong'er is preparing to return to Qi Kingdom?" ”

"Long live it, it's exactly like this" Zhu Cihong responded without humility or arrogance, which made Zhu Youxiao's eyes flash a trace ......of regret:

"My brother is not in good health, it's okay for you to go back earlier, but if you leave, I don't know if you won't come back to see me for more than ten years like my brother."

"Please rest assured that if my nephew goes back, my nephew will come in person every three years in the future." Zhu Cihong made a guarantee, which made Zhu Youxiao feel a little better.

"If you go, let your father come to the capital to see me in his spare time, after all, it will only take two months to go back and forth."

"If it drags on too long, I may not live to that time."

Zhu Youxiao's words were very serious, if it weren't for Zhu Cihong standing in front of him, looking at his red face, he wouldn't know and think that he was already in danger.

"Ahem, cough ......" Zhu Ciran was also speechless by his father's words, and couldn't help coughing a few times, and then picked up Xia Yunyi's recital and looked at it.

Seeing this, Xia Yunyi also knew Zhu Ciran's thoughts, so he cooperated with him to divert the topic:

"In the past three years, Qi has added more than 6,724,000 people, of which more than 900,000 have migrated from the country."

"In addition, in the past three years, Qi has also added more than 65 million mu of cultivated land, and agricultural and commercial taxes have ......."

Xia Yunyi talked about the progress of Qi State, and Zhu Youxiao also listened carefully.

In general, the current Qi country has become a country with more than 200 million acres of arable land and a population of more than 30 million.

If science and technology are not discussed, purely in terms of population and arable land on paper, Qi is the third largest country in the world at the moment, second only to the Ming Dynasty and the Mughals, who have extremely thick blood bars.

If we talk about science and technology, then Qi is undoubtedly the second largest country in science and technology and the second largest country in terms of comprehensive strength.

"Did Uncle Qi bring anything this time?"

After Zhu Ciran saw the strength of Qi State, he didn't feel any threat.

Judging from his understanding of his own Uncle Qi and his own Brother Hong, at least in the next forty years, there will be no contradictions between the two countries.

"His Royal Highness the King of Qi said that Daming has been recuperating for more than ten years, and now the people are healthy and the country is strong."

"Therefore, the Mughal can further compress the space and prepare for immigration at the same time."

However, the specific situation still needs to be decided by Banzai and Chitose themselves, such as what is the desire of the people to migrate at the moment? How is life and how densely populated is the mainland? ”

After Xia Yunyi finished speaking, Zhu Ciran also bowed slightly, and then motioned to Xia Yunyi and said:

"Qi Guo will follow Uncle Qi's own ideas, as for what Uncle Qi said, I will let the Metropolitan Procuratorate and Jinyiwei investigate."

Zhu Ciran's words meant to send off the guests, Xia Yunyi did not know how to lift, but left very knowingly.

Seeing this, Zhu Cihong also wanted to leave, but was stopped by Zhu Ciran:

"Brother Hong, you stay, there are some things you need to know."

Zhu Cihong stopped, and Xia Yunyi could only go to the gate of the Qianqing Palace to wait for Zhu Cihong.

After Xia Yunyi left, Zhu Ciran said to Zhu Youxiao next to him:

"Dad, according to the statistics of the Ministry of Household this year, the 1.4 billion mu of cultivated land in the National Dynasty has a population of more than 267 million."

"Among them, the population of the four northeastern provinces is 37.6 million, the population of the seven northwestern provinces is 19.35 million, and the population of the three southwestern provinces is 28 million......."

"The population of the three overseas provinces and two divisions is 39.27 million, while the population of the two capitals and thirteen provinces in the Central Plains is 142.78 million."

Zhu Ciran generally talked about the population distribution of the two capitals and thirty provinces and two divisions of the Ming Dynasty, and it is not difficult to see that the population of the Ming Dynasty is still dominated by the Central Plains.

"Nearly 143 million people are crammed into the two capitals and 13 provinces, and although the two capitals and 13 provinces have increased a lot of acres of land in recent years, the cultivated land is only more than 940 million mu."

"Based on one person and five acres, it seems that it can last for more than 20 years, but after more than 20 years, I am afraid that the population of the two capitals and thirteen provinces will exceed 200 million."

Zhu Ciran is not alarmist, but in recent years, due to the few disasters in the Central Plains, many people have returned to the Central Plains, two capitals and thirteen provinces.

If this continues, it will not take more than 20 years at all, and it will only take more than a dozen years for the population of the two capitals and 13 provinces in the Central Plains to exceed 200 million.

Although the Ming Dynasty can also continue to develop cultivated land, the cultivated land is limited, and if there is no immigration, I am afraid that when Zhu Heyin grows up, the problem of dense population in the Ming Dynasty will be very big.

"After more than ten years of peace and health, the rich peasants with brains in Jiangnan and the provinces have gradually become rich businessmen."

"These wealthy merchants must be related to the local officials, so the opinion of the retainers is ......"

"You just let it go, you don't have to tell me about this kind of thing." Zhu Youxiao interrupted Zhu Ciran's words.

Zhu Ciran's meaning is obvious, it is nothing more than to use anti-corruption, and then arrest the rich businessmen in the world who have illegal collusion with officials, affect their three clans, and even the nine clans, and then move in batches.

Although the local economy was destroyed for a short time, the merchants who had moved to other places could continue to do business in the local area, and the local economy that was relocated would be filled with new merchants.

Zhu Ciran dared to do this, because the current business tax of the Ming Dynasty was mainly paid by the imperial store.

For example, in the 37th year of the Apocalypse last year, the Ming Dynasty paid 26.7 million taels in commercial taxes, and Huangdian alone paid 21.35 million taels.

The rest of the world's merchants at home and abroad only handed over 5,350,000 taels.

This is of course caused by the monopoly of all walks of life by the imperial store, but it also shows that the private economy that can pay taxes accounts for a very small proportion in Daming.

For Da Ming, migrating them is just a pain.

"I've heard that the Mughals have trained 60,000 flintlock muskets, and if they want to recover all the lands north of the Ganges, do you think they will have to send troops?"

Zhu Youxiao didn't care about the life or death of the merchants, he only cared about how many soldiers and horses he had to send and how much silver he would spend.

In this regard, Zhu Ciran has also been prepared.

"At present, the Mughal has more than 400 million mu of arable land, and the population has experienced war and civil strife and only 60 million, and there are only 300,000 soldiers and horses."

"Erchen asked Li Dingguo, if Li Dingguo is in command, he only needs to mobilize 60,000 soldiers and horses of the 20th battalion of the Western Army to recover thousands of miles of territory north of the Ganges."

"It will take only half a year, and the cost of silver taels is expected to be no more than five million taels."

Five million taels to seize thousands of miles of territory north of the Ganges River and tens of millions of acres of arable land is indeed a relatively cost-effective deal.

However, all the Ming wanted was arable land, and the population living on it ......

"What do you think of the Nanyu here?"

Zhu Youxiao asked, and Zhu Ciran replied without thinking: "Just follow what Uncle Qi did with Hong Chengchou back then." ”

What Zhu Ciran said was that Hong Chengchou drove the people of Bengal Province to the Mughal territory and let them strife in the Mughal because of the food problem.

In this way, the Mughals can be weakened, and the Ming can also be strengthened, and the local ethnic problems can be reduced.

"Now that you've thought it through, you can do it."

After Zhu Youxiao knew that this transaction would not lose money, he no longer worried.

It's just that Zhu Ciran heard this, but continued:

"There is no need to worry, but after taking the rest of the land north of the Ganges, should we merge it with Bengal and Demasa provinces to form a province?"

"If you really want to set up a province, you have to ask your father to give you a name."

"Hmm...... Let's save it. Zhu Youxiao's mind had already flown to the clouds, and after answering the question, he thought for a moment before replying:

"Establish Ganges provinces, and control Ganges, Bengal, and Demasa."

"Yes......" Zhu Ciran stopped talking, and Zhu Youxiao also set his eyes on Zhu Cihong:

"Brother Hong'er has worked hard in the past three years, don't be in a hurry to go to Qi in recent days, often come into the palace to accompany me every day, and it's not too late to leave Layue."

Zhu Youxiao's words made Zhu Cihong cry and laugh, so he could only helplessly:

"Nephew...... Decree ......"

(End of chapter)