New policies have appeared frequently in recent years. Although there has not been a particularly huge change, from the common people to the officials, from the merchants and gentry to the scholars, the changes in the relationship itself can be felt.

In response to the imperial decree, Lu Luocai, who became a student because of teaching and educating people; Li Zhengdong, who was transferred to an official because of his serious work, and who was constantly promoted, is just a microcosm of all living beings in the Ming Dynasty.

The changes in the Ming Dynasty have spread to all parts of the country in a few years, from Beijing to local and then to remote places.

These changes were only man-made, introduced by the imperial power and implemented throughout the country under the supervision and oppression of harsh laws.

In addition to man-made, natural disasters, that is, the great disasters predicted by the emperor, entered the Ming Dynasty with heavy steps, and Shaanxi bore the brunt.

In the seventh year of the Apocalypse, there was a severe drought in Shaanxi (then Yan'an Prefecture), and by the beginning of spring in the second year, there was still no sign of relief, and northern Shaanxi was the most severely affected.

"Since last year, there has been no rain, the grass and trees are scorched, and there is no rain this spring, and the people in the disaster area have picked the fluffy grass in the mountains and fed ......."

It's been eight years since the Apocalypse, and my life should be worry-free. Liaodong has been flattened, and the catastrophe is coming, and the Ming Dynasty is really eventful!

The emperor listened to the officials' reports and knew that the test of the Xiaoice River period had finally arrived. Although it is only a part of Shaanxi now, it will soon be expanded to the whole of Shaanxi.

Shaanxi, Henan, Zhili, Shandong, and even Jiangnan will also be affected, and it will take at least twenty years for the peak of the Xiaoice River to pass.

And in history, it doesn't take 20 years, Chongzhen will be finished in 17 years, and the Ming Dynasty is dead!

"If there is a disaster, it is only a part of Shaanxi, not the whole of Shaanxi, not the whole of Shaanxi, let alone the whole of the north, how can we ask the people to pick grass and eat?"

The emperor's face was gloomy, and the displeasure in his heart was not hidden, and a coldness shot out of his eyes, scanning his highness's ministers.

"I have prophesied about the coming of the great calamity, and I have also decreed to the provinces, asking them to prepare in every possible way. Why, when it came to the end, was you caught off guard? ”

The prophecy of a catastrophe and the need for all provinces, especially the northern provinces, to make full preparations is indeed not a recent order.

At least two or three years later, hoarding grain and savings, transporting grain for relief, the emperor certainly did not believe that as soon as the catastrophe arrived, the people would be asked to eat fluffy grass and pick up tree bark.

Yuan Keli pondered for a while, stepped forward and bowed down and played: "Long live Qi, the governor of Shaanxi truthfully reported the disaster, not that there was no disaster relief to help the people. The fact that the people were picking grass and eating it was not starving everywhere was also the result of being wise and early arranged. ”

Seeing Teacher Yuan's performance, the emperor's face softened a little, and he said slowly: "Since this is the case, I will give good relief, so as not to make my Ming people hungry and cold, or even provoke a civil uprising." ”

exemption from taxes in the affected areas, which was the most common means used by the emperor; The money and grain taxes in the northern provinces are not sent to the Beijing Division, but are stored in warehouses on the spot, and how can two or three years of hoarding last for a year or two.

Even if it can only last a year, only some provinces have been affected. Like Henan, Zhili, Shandong and other provinces, they can also transport grain nearby.

Therefore, the emperor was very sure that there would not be a miserable scene of thousands of miles of red land and uninhabited countryside in history.

Of course, the long duration of the catastrophe in Shaanxi and Henan still made the emperor feel the pressure.

Especially in Shaanxi, especially the drought. During the 48 years of Wanli's reign, there were records of famine for 25 years, and during the Chongzhen period in history, there were almost consecutive years of famine.

The emperor also knew that Shaanxi's many disasters were caused by the destruction of the ecological environment and the evil consequences of over-exploitation of agriculture. It is easy to destroy, and if you want to repair it, it is not possible to do it in more than ten or twenty years.

Sighing a little helplessly, the emperor continued: "In addition to Shaanxi, the cultivation of corn and potatoes in the northern provinces should be vigorously promoted. This catastrophe will sweep through several northern provinces, not only Shaanxi. Cold-tolerant, drought-tolerant, and high-yield crops are the key to surviving major disasters, and the governors of all provinces should not neglect them. ”

In the north, corn, potatoes, or rye are grown; There are many varieties of sweet potatoes in the south. Being able to promote the planting of these cold-tolerant and drought-tolerant high-yield crops in advance is also the confidence of the emperor to survive the catastrophe.

"The work of relocation of immigrants must also continue to be stepped up, and the disaster in Shaanxi will dilute the people's thoughts about leaving their homeland, which is the right time."

In hard-hit areas such as Shaanxi and Henan, if the population is diluted, the pressure on the imperial court to transport grain and relief will also be reduced. At the same time, people who have migrated to other places can also cultivate and produce, which is much better than staying in the disaster area and not being able to produce and live.

The people of Shaanxi migrated to Guanzhong and Sichuan in an orderly manner, while the landless people of Henan, Zhili and Shandong migrated to Liaodong; For the people in the south, there are three places to choose from: Dongfan, Hainan and Mekong Province.

Migration work is not only to deal with major disasters, but also to solve social conflicts with more people and less land. The rise and fall of dynasties is often land annexation and peasant uprisings, which the emperor knows.

Yuan Keli stepped down, and as the first assistant, these tasks would naturally be arranged in place. Moreover, plans and measures for disaster relief have already been formulated, so there is no need to be too hasty.

"Long live the kick-starter." Xiong Tingbi, the secretary of the military department, went out of the class to play, "Yang Zhaoji, the chief soldier of Yansui (now Yulin City), and Mao Chenglu, the deputy chief soldier, fought hard to defeat the banner Taiji that invaded Lanzhou, killing thousands of enemies. The captive chieftain withdrew his troops and left, and the border was secured. ”

"Okay." The emperor showed a rare smile, praised it, and then said: "Add Yang Zhaoji the title of prince and princess, Mao Chenglu will add the governor of the capital, and reward the meritorious officers and soldiers." ”

"Wechen obeys." Xiong Tingbi bowed down to receive the order, and then spoke: "The former Zhangpan Department of Dongjiang Town has occupied the shipyard city, and the craftsmen have begun to build ships, and the commander Mao Wenlong asked the imperial court to draw 200,000 silver first. ”

The so-called shipyard city is the later Jilin City, where the Ming Dynasty government once set up a shipbuilding base to strengthen the connection between the Liaodong Prefecture and the Nuergan Prefecture (as far as 30,000 households).

At the same time, it was also responsible for the construction of ships carrying officers and soldiers, grain and grass rewards and tribute, and also used this place as a transfer station for the Indian army to transport officers and soldiers, grain and grass.

It's just that after the Tumubao Change, the shipyard city has belonged to the Haixi Jurchens. The advance of the Ming army to this point was not only within the plan, but also very pleased to the emperor.

The emperor turned to the new head of the household department, Bi Ziyan, and said: "If you pull out the silver, the household department will have difficulties. ”

Bi Ziyan bowed and said: "Long live, the household has enough silver, and 200,000 silver can be adjusted." ”

The Emperor nodded, a look of appreciation. He was relieved that he no longer had to pay for his own private money, although it might be temporary.

"This year, we will go to the shipyard city, sweep the surrounding area, and make good management as the foundation for next year's progress." The emperor felt that it was more prudent to build ships first and then move forward.

Advancing north and south, Daming has already shown its expanding fangs. Looting to obtain land and resources is also an effective means of surviving major disasters.