Just when Ningbo City was hit by a thunderbolt, the capital ushered in the spring of March.

Everything has recovered on the outskirts of the capital, presenting a scene of farming.

The frozen soil in winter is turned into black soil by oxen and rakes, and the farmland has become a mirror after a spring rain and the water from the canal.

Creak!

Zizi!

Wow wow!

Some frogs have woken up from hibernation, spring swallows are pecking at new mud in paddy fields to build nests, and various small animals are already active in the fields.

There are no chemical agents such as pesticides, and there are no roaring mechanical sounds, and today's fields are presenting a harmonious beauty of man and nature.

In the fifth year of Hongji, it was a good time.

The farmers who are working hard are all weathered faces, but their faces are full of smiles. Although spring sowing has just begun, the eyes are already looking forward to the harvest and looking forward to a better life.

"The government said that we will no longer limit the area of cotton planting this year!"

"If all the people who grow cotton can pay their taxes in Singapore dollars!"

"Duck keepers can get subsidies from the government, and each duck can receive rice stamps or offset tax grains!"

……

Different from previous years, this year's government gave some welfare policies to the people of Beizhili, and these welfare policies spread in the Beizhili area for the first time.

In the past, the common people were very resistant to the decree, after all, no matter what new decree was issued, the government actually wanted to squeeze oil and water from them.

It was only after the imperial court rectified the salt policy, lowered the price of salt, cracked down on the financial sector, eliminated usury, and cleared the acres of land, everything has changed.

Now they are beginning to look forward to the new decree, and the current imperial court is indeed pretending to be ordinary people like them, and there will always be a lot of measures to benefit the people.

Like the people who raise ducks and can give subsidies, this kind of good thing was not even thought of before, and it was impossible to even believe that the court would have any good intentions.

But this year, everything seems to fall into place, and now this court, which is full of love for the people, has once again given some benefits to ordinary people.

"If that's the case, I'll be planting all the cotton this year!"

"Hee-hee...... There is such a good thing in raising ducks, then I will hatch another nest of duck eggs! ”

"The current Son of Heaven is really too wise, just because of his actions over the years, the old man hopes that he can live a long life!"

……

In the face of the new policies just promulgated by the imperial court, and in the face of these welfare policies that are obviously beneficial to them, the people love Zhu Youzhi more and more.

Perhaps Zhu Youzhi is becoming more and more solid in the group of scholars and doctors, but in the hearts of ordinary people today, Emperor Hongzhi is already an incomparably holy son of heaven, even surpassing the legendary Yao.

The welfare policy of the imperial court also spread to the northern suburbs and to the ears of Zhao Laosi.

Zhao Laosi was one of the first crab eaters to try to grow cotton, and it was the rich economic benefits brought by cotton planting over the years that allowed his family to wear new cotton clothes and build a new house.

Now that the government has loosened its restrictions on the cultivation of cotton this year, after carefully comparing the output value of rice and cotton, it has decided to plant cotton on all 20 acres of land.

"Let's follow the decree of the imperial court, let's plant more cotton this year!"

Zhao Laosi is a warm-hearted person, not only planting cotton himself, but also encouraging the people in the village to follow him to plant cotton and take the opportunity to make a fortune.

Although he expects the price of cotton to fall, it will be stronger than the economic benefits of growing rice, so growing cotton is still the best option for his farmers.

"Look at it! I'm planting rice all this year, let's see who of the two of us can get rich! "Ma Youli's ancestors have been generous, and they seem to be very stubborn and authentic.

When Zhao Laosi learned that Ma Youli was planning to do this, he immediately frowned and said helplessly: "You have been in private school for a few years, why are you so stubborn?" ”

"I think you can't see through it! Now everyone is competing to grow cotton, and when there is more cotton, cotton will definitely not be sold at a price, but the price of rice will definitely skyrocket! Ma Youli, who was squatting at the foot of the wall, snorted coldly, and it seemed that everyone was drunk, and I looked at the sky with a sober face.

Although he didn't understand why the imperial court wanted to relax the restrictions on cotton planting, he just knew the truth that rice was cheap in good years. On the other hand, the market of cotton has been good for several years, and cotton should have fallen back originally, and now large-scale planting must be cheap to the mud.

As for the price of rice in Beizhili, they were originally short of grain in the northern region, and now there are fewer people who grow grain, so the price of rice will naturally rise, so planting rice now is the best choice.

Zhao Laosi saw that he couldn't convince Ma Youli, who was smart, so he provoked: "Ma Youli, or let's bet on one!" ”

"Bet on what!" Ma Youli still hid his hand in his sleeve, and his eyes flashed with a touch of cunning.

Zhao Laosi knew that although Ma Youli's daughter was a little fat, she was born with fine skin and tender meat: "If you lose, give your daughter to my youngest son as a daughter-in-law!" ”

"What if you lose?" Ma Youli knew that the other party had long wanted to marry him, so he asked rhetorically.

Zhao Laosi narrowed his eyes and made an astonishing decision: "My youngest son will be your son-in-law!" ”

"Okay, it's a deal!" Ma Youli's eyes lit up slightly, and he immediately agreed to the bet.

Soon, under the witness of Li Zheng, the bet was completed.

Although this bet is very important for both families, in this day and age, it is only a small game between farmers. As for whether cotton is cheap and rice is expensive, or cotton is expensive and rice is cheap, only time will give the answer.

In March in the capital, it is already the season of spring flowers, and the West Garden has become a royal garden with birds singing and flowers, and the water of the Taiye Pond is as clear as a mirror.

In the Heart Cultivation Palace, wisps of green smoke rose from the copper furnace, and a faint sandalwood fragrance wafted in the air.

Zhu Youzhu sat in front of the treasure case and dealt with the notes from the two capitals and thirteen provinces, and now he is accustomed to this kind of three-point and one-line life, and he is becoming more and more handy in the governance of this country.

Although he is in the palace, he knows all the major events in the two capitals and thirteen provinces, and even the Dongying side has information sent back, and now the gold mining work on Dongji Island has been carried out in an orderly manner.

If there is anything to worry about, Iwami's silver mining has been blocked, which will directly affect his silver payment in two years. Either restart mining the Iwami silver mine as soon as possible, or get a large amount of silver from other silver mines.

Although the Ming Dynasty is facing many problems, the most important thing at present is actually to build a monetary system that belongs to China.

Han Niu stood at the door, looking cautious to take the tea cup that had just been delivered.

Now the eunuchs in charge of the Beijing camp will come to Xiyuan every day to take turns and serve this Ming emperor who gave them glory and wealth.

After all these years of getting along, he knew that he was lucky to meet an eloquent emperor, and the Ming Dynasty would definitely be able to return to the glory of the early Ming Dynasty.

"Order the governor of Shandong to inspect the warehouses, and the granaries of each province must be tamped!" As if he had entered the realm of selflessness, Zhu Youzhu was very seriously handling the government affairs at hand.

In this day and age, food security is a top priority, and even the lives of millions of people are directly related.

Not only a country, but even a region, in fact, must ensure that there is enough food, otherwise it is easy to cause great turmoil in a region.

Many peasant uprisings were not because they wanted to overthrow the feudal dynasty, but because there was a serious shortage of food in the area, and in order to survive, they had to take the road of rebellion.

Even the northern nomads, who are hated by everyone, sometimes choose to go south as a last resort, especially in the event of a disaster, only going south can solve the food problem.

Although Shandong is now peaceful and there are no corresponding reports of locusts, he has always felt unsteady in his heart. In previous experience, locust infestations in one place are usually continuous.

As an emperor who aspires to lead China to a strong and prosperous country, he cannot wait for the locust plague to make amends, but needs to have the wisdom to take precautions.

Although Zhu Youzhu did not receive high-yield crops, he attached great importance to the country's food security.

Last year, North Korea's grain trade was successfully opened, and although the bridge in the north of North Korea was destroyed, the port of Tianjin became a link to North Korea's seaport.

The grain production in the northeast province has been increasing year by year, and the grain can also be transported to the Tongzhou granary on time through the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, so the capital does not need to worry too much about the food problem.

For the sake of food security in Shandong, and also to prevent possible locust plagues in Shandong in advance, he decided to consolidate the granaries of various provinces in Shandong to prevent sudden food shortages.

The reason why people are encouraged to raise ducks this year is precisely to strangle the locust plague in the cradle through the power of the people, or to make the scale of the locust plague smaller.

As for encouraging the people to plant cotton, it is also to prevent locust plagues.

Although the large-scale cultivation of cotton will affect the total grain output in the north to a certain extent, if the locust plague in Shandong really comes, then the people who grow cotton will be able to avoid the locust plague and the economic losses will be greatly reduced.

"Your Majesty, please use tea!" Han Niu came over with a tea cup and looked cautious.

Zhu Youzhu looked at the young eunuch who appeared in front of him becoming more and more stable, and suddenly asked: "Han Niu, is there any discomfort at sea for the liberation of the gold ship this time?" ”

Due to the robbery of the gold ship last year, Zhu Youzhu also sent Han Niu, one of the commanders of the Beijing camp, to Luzon to be responsible for escorting the shipment, and now he has successfully transported a new batch of gold back to the capital.

"Back to Your Majesty, before the slave was abducted at a young age, she still remembered that she lived on a boat. This trip to and from Luzon City, although it takes a lot of time, but the slave maid is not uncomfortable! Han Niu recalled his childhood and replied with a smile.

Zhu Youzhu looked at Han Niu with understanding, as if he suddenly remembered something: "When I first met Zhang Yong, he said that he wanted to be a eunuch like Zheng He, I don't know if you have this in mind?" ”

"Your Majesty is as holy as Taizong, you need slaves and maids to go to the South Seas to the West Sea, and slaves and maids are willing to be Your Majesty's Zheng He!" Han Niu's eyes were very calm, and he immediately said seriously.

Zhu Youzhu knew that navigation did have a great charm for some people, so he picked up the teacup and asked: "I sent Liu Zhang, the squire of the Ministry of Works, to South America to look for treasure seeds, and sent Wang Shouren, the son of Xinbo, to Australia south, but there has been no news so far, aren't you afraid?" ”

"Your Majesty sent Liu Zhang and Wang Shouren to the sea, aiming to bring long-term peace and stability to the people of China. If Your Majesty thinks that the slaves and maids can be used, you can also send the slaves and maids to the sea, and the slaves and maids will follow Zheng He to share your Majesty's worries! "Han Niu is also a person who wants to do practical things, and he seems to be not afraid of the slightest.

Although Liu Zhang has not returned for a long time, it is indeed worrying. It's just that Zhang Qian's first mission to the Western Regions took thirteen years, and Tang Sanzang spent seventeen years to learn scriptures, and Liu Zhang's search for treasures in the New World inevitably had twists and turns.

However, once he can bring back high-yield crops, he will be a Chinese hero who can go down in history, and he also wants to contribute to China.

Zhu Youzhu felt Han Niu's decision to do something, so he took a sip of tea with a smile and said, "What if I want to send you to the West now?" ”

"Slaves are duty-bound!" Han Niu's heart was overjoyed, and he immediately knelt down and said.

Hey?

Liu Jin had just come in, but when he heard that Zhu Youzhu was going to send Han Niu to the West, he couldn't help but be secretly surprised.

Zhu Youzhu made a decision in his heart, in fact, sending Han Niu to the Western Ocean was just the Indian Ocean.

If the Ming Dynasty wants to carry out maritime trade now, it undoubtedly needs to develop a large enough consumer market, and the consumption power has a lot to do with the population.

There are currently two best locations: one is India and the other is France.

Since the end of the Hundred Years' War between England and France in 1453, both countries have embarked on the path of national unification, and the population of France has now reached about 12 million.

Since Portugal only discovered the Cape of Good Hope, although it had already started the Age of Discovery, it did not open up maritime trade routes, nor did it exploit maritime resources on a large scale, so these maritime countries can only be the seeds of potential.

But the most important thing now is the Lodi dynasty in India, a dynasty in decline with a population of about 15 million.

Daming's cotton needs a market, so the Lodi dynasty is a good option. As for France in Europe, it is still too far away, so it has to be plotted slowly.

Zhu Youzhu decided to start the plan to the west, that is, he decided to give the surname and said: "You are a person without a surname, I will follow the example of Taizong and give the surname Zheng He, and you will change your name to Zheng Niu in the future!" ”

"Slave Zheng Niu Xie Your Majesty gives you a name!" Zheng Niu's heart was immediately overjoyed, so he kowtowed heavily.

Zhu Youzhu originally wanted to slowly develop his own strength, but the variables of Iwami's silver mine and the obstruction of the landlord class in Jiangnan forced him to speed up the pace of maritime trade and officially open the route to the west.

Fortunately, now that we have enough talents, and we also have the technology of Mingyuan Treasure Ship, it is not a problem financially, so it is not difficult to spend half a year building a fleet in the Western Ocean.

As soon as Zheng Niu retreated, Liu Jin sent the military information he had just gotten.

Zhu Youzhu saw that it was actually sent by Wang Yue, but after seeing the content of Wang Yue's assassination, he immediately said angrily: "Is this Jiangnan a tiger's den in Longtan?" Convene the important ministers to discuss, I want to go down to the south of the Yangtze River! (End of chapter)