"This Jianghuai method is good, not only can solve the livelihood of tens of thousands of people in Longchuan, but also allow the imperial court to use the Dajinsha River."

In the Chunhe Hall in Beijing in April, Zhu Gaoxu looked at the handwritten letter written by Wang Xuan, and couldn't help but be interested in this so-called son of serf.

Although Zhu Zhanyan had told him many times earlier about Jiang Huai, there were dozens of people like Jiang Huai who were the first in the school every year in the Ming Dynasty, so he really didn't need to care.

Studying well and being able to engage in the economy are two different things, and Jianghuai is still willing to return to a remote place like Longchuan as an official, and this spirit is also rare.

"Longchuan to Manmo, I remember that it should be more than two hundred miles, right?"

Zhu Gaoxu asked Yishiha, and Yishiha nodded when he heard this: "Two hundred and twenty-six miles." ”

"Well......" Zhu Gaoxu bowed his head and was satisfied: "It will cost about seven or eight hundred thousand yuan to build such a railway, if Longchuan can really prosper under the governance of this Jianghuai, and then it can also affect the entire western Yunnan and even southern Yunnan." ”

"But just planting mulberry trees is still too short-sighted, and the climate of Longchuan land, if you plant sugarcane, then I'm afraid the profit will not be shallow."

Zhu Gaoxu remembered that when he traveled to western Yunnan in his previous life, he saw many fields where sugarcane was planted, and in the Ming Dynasty, one mu of land produced at least seven or eight hundred catties of sugarcane, and the sugar yield of making sucrose was at least 15%.

That is to say, one acre of land can produce at least 100 catties of sucrose.

In the context of the Age of Discovery, some of the most famous goods on the waterways were spices, silk, tea, gold and silver, cane sugar, porcelain, and slaves.

In addition to slaves, spices, and gold and silver, the rest of the tea, sugar, silk, and porcelain needed to be imported from China on a large scale, and the Chinese trade was far more important to the Western colonizers than India and Southeast Asia.

Because of this, Taiwan, which could produce millions of catties of cane sugar at the end of the Ming Dynasty, was a renewable gold mine for the Dutch.

The sugar produced from sugarcane is divided into several grades, the best is worth more than 300 wen per catty, and the worst is worth more than 300 wen.

If shipped to India, Central Asia, and East Africa, this price quadruples or more.

If Yunnan can take into account the cultivation of mulberry weaving cloth and the production of sugar, it will be beneficial and harmless for the Ming Dynasty to obtain benefits from the Indochina Peninsula and the small Western Ocean.

In addition, in Zhu Gaoxu's view, if the trade route of Yunnan can be developed, then the Ming Dynasty will have no choice but to face a problem, that is, the Three Xuan and Ten Comforts and the Siamese States on the Indochina Peninsula.

In order to protect the two waterways of the Dajinsha River and the Lancang River, the Ming Dynasty will pay special attention to any wind and grass in the Indochina Peninsula.

If Yunnan is well developed, it will be possible to maintain the dominant position of the Ming Dynasty in the Indochina Peninsula and kill two birds with one stone.

Heavy industry in the north, light industry in the south, and overseas resources, all three have been done well, and Zhu Gaoxu could not imagine any other force that could challenge the authority of the Ming Dynasty in the world.

Thinking of this, Zhu Gaoxu explained to Yishiha:

"Tell Wang Xuan about planting sugarcane, and pay attention to this Jianghuai, he is so confident that he can be admitted to the Jinshi, I want to know, can he go to the Fengtian Hall to participate in the palace examination."

After dropping the pen, Zhu Gaoxu no longer paid attention to the affairs of Yunnan and western Yunnan.

For him, there are really too many things he needs to be busy with every day, and he doesn't even have time to pay attention to Li Xian, Yu Qian, Wei Yuan and other famous ministers, let alone Jiang Huai, a guy who is unknown in history.

History has been changed a lot by Zhu Gaoxu, and many literati and military generals in the future may be changed because of the changes in the Ming Dynasty.

Wang Yue, Li Dongyang, Wang Shouren, Yu Dayou, Qi Jiguang, Zhang Juzheng, Gao Gong, Yang Shen......

Who knows if these historical celebrities will still appear?

Times have changed, and if you continue to read the old script, you will only hurt yourself.

Zhu Gaoxu only looks at strength now, and what he has to do is to try to maintain a fairness.

Primary school is fair, and even higher secondary schools can be as fair as possible, and the officialdom and battlefield after that are not something that Zhu Gaoxu can take into account.

People with strong abilities will never be buried in a relatively fair environment.

As for those who are particularly unlucky, it is not what Zhu Gaoxu considered.

"Chitose Crown Princess......"

Suddenly, the singing of the eunuch on duty sounded, Zhu Gaoxu looked up at the door, and sure enough, he saw Guo Yan walking towards the hall with a plate of food.

"You made it yourself?"

Zhu Gaoxu asked, and Guo Yan also smiled: "Thinking that you didn't eat it, I sent it over first." ”

Seeing this, Yisha cleaned up the table, and Guo Yan also put the food on the table.

A bowl of rice, two meats, three vegetables, one soup and six dishes, this is Zhu Gaoxu's lunch.

Looking at the food, Zhu Gaoxu also moved his index finger, picked up the dishes and chopsticks and ate them.

Guo Yan sat on the chair next to him, smiling quietly as he watched him feast.

However, by the time of the two words, Zhu Gaoxu had already eaten cleanly, and rinsed his mouth with tea by the way.

Seeing this, Guo Yan didn't bother him, and left with the palace maid after cleaning up.

After she left, Zhu Gaoxu continued to deal with the notes, and time passed little by little.

A month passed slowly, during which Zhu Di implemented the policy of "razing and razing" to Mobei, named Mahamu as the "King of Shunning", Taiping as the "King of Virtuous and Righteous", and named Bald Polo as the "King of Anle", and opened Hailaer to exchange markets with Mobei Mongolia.

Since Varat wanted to come to the Khairar market, it was indispensable to pass through the pastures of Alitai, so the friction between Varat and Tatar continued to intensify.

Due to the strength of the Ming Dynasty, Mahamu did not immediately tear his face with Alitai, but sent an envoy south, hoping that the imperial court could change the location of the Warat Mutual Market to Yijinai or Hami, but Zhu Di refused.

This situation made Ma Hamu's face unbearable, but he was afraid of Zhu Di, so he had to endure this matter.

When he endured this breath, a team of more than 1,000 people also appeared outside the Daming Gate in the south of Beijing.

When the procession slowly stopped, several carriages guarded by the procession also stopped.

The eunuch brought a stool, and a sturdy young man on horseback turned over and dismounted, stretching out his hand to support him.

The car door was opened, and out of it was 38-year-old Zhu Gaochi.

When he reached middle age, he was inevitably much fatter than the last time he went to Nanjing, and he felt that he would pant for breath after walking a few steps.

"Eh, you have to be careful."

Helping the young man's men to get out of the carriage, Zhu Gaochi immediately looked around, and at the same time stepped on the thousands of acres of blue brick square outside the Daming Gate with his feet.

"Look at it, Grandpa Ling and your second uncle are arrogant, so many green bricks are buried outside the city."

Zhu Gaochi still couldn't change the habit of picking brick joints, and the young man who heard the words said helplessly:

"This is probably the square for future military exercises, don't think about it so much."

The only person who can be greeted by Zhu Gaochi like this is his eldest son Zhu Zhanji.

Eighteen-year-old Zhu Zhanji is strong and young, although his skin is relatively dark, but judging from his proficiency in getting on and off horseback, he is undoubtedly a master of equestrianism.

"Boss, I said what are you doing here?"

There was a shouting sound behind him, and the thirty-three-year-old Zhu Gaosui walked impatiently with a short beard.

His body is well-proportioned, not as exaggerated as Zhu Gaochi.

"This car has been sitting for a long time, and the butt is almost eight-petaled, so I stopped and walked, and by the way, isn't it good to see the changes in Beijing?"

"If you think about it for yourself, the last time I came back was eighteen or nineteen years ago."

Zhu Gaochi was still thinking about the old days, but Zhu Gaosui waved his hand: "Hurry up and walk around, and continue to hurry when your butt is comfortable." ”

After saying this, Zhu Gaosui returned to his carriage, and Zhu Gaochi looked at his back and shook his head and said:

"Look at your third uncle, all of them are spoiled like this by your grandfather."

He pointed to the third child to educate Zhu Zhanji, but Zhu Zhanji looked at Beijing City, and he had an indescribable feeling in his heart.

He didn't know what was wrong, looking at Beijing City, he always felt that something was wrong.

"Okay, let's not go, let's get in the carriage and go in, I want to see what the changes in Beijing are."

Zhu Gaochi said as he walked into the carriage with difficulty, his eyes still looking around outside the Daming Gate.

It's a pity that because this is the square for military exercises, except for officials who will pass here on weekdays, there are basically no people coming and going here at other times.

After a short time, the procession began to advance and was inspected at the Daming Gate.

A thousand troops carrying flintlock muskets were stationed here, and Zhu Zhanji couldn't help but show envious eyes when he looked at the flintlock muskets on their shoulders.

The flintlock pistols produced in Bohai and Liaodong are numbered, and if you lose a gun, you have to get rid of at least three military attachés of the fifth grade, so it is naturally impossible for such a good thing to be mastered by the vassal king's guards.

"If there are 5,000 flintlock lancers, I'm afraid they can annihilate 10,000 horsemen."

Zhu Zhanji said enviously, and Zhu Gaochi motioned to him to be quieter: "Be quiet, this is no better than the palace." ”

"Hmm......" Zhu Zhanji nodded, and their team also entered the tall and wide corridor, and slowly passed after that.

Suddenly, what appeared in front of them was the wide 70-zhang Daming Street, with many three-story shops standing on both sides of the street, and the flow of people coming and going was no less than thousands at a glance, but it was a little empty on this Daming Street.

"The street is so wide, it's enough for military exercises."

Zhu Gaochi was speechless, looking at the blue bricks on the ground distressedly.

Compared with Zhu Gaochi, the rest of the guards were shocked by this wide avenue.

Although Nanjing's streets are quite wide, they are a bit of a family style compared to Beijing.

The current guards are like children who have come out of the mountains, and they feel like they are seeing the vast plains for the first time.

"Eh, what's that?"

Zhu Gaochi saw some strange cars and couldn't help but ask curiously.

On the side of the carriage, the head of the ceremonial department who went out of the city twenty miles early to greet them introduced with a smile:

"That's a rickshaw, people pull and run, just came out, some people in the capital began to buy cars to pull people, the price is cheaper than the carriage, take a trip according to the distance, two to more than ten yuan."

"It's kind of interesting...... Zhu Gaochi looked at the drivers pulling the rickshaws with great interest, and then glanced at the shops and streets he passed by.

Due to the distance, he even took out a telescope to take a look, and found that most of these shops along the street were mainly small dishes from Shandong and Nanjing.

"How many people are there in this Beijing city now?"

Zhu Gaochi asked, and the director of the Ministry of Rites also replied: "There are about 540,000 permanent residents, and tens of thousands of merchants who come and go, anyway, about 600,000." ”

"The outer city in the south is estimated to be built soon, and the capital can accommodate 1.5 million people by then."

The words of the head of the Ministry of Rites made everyone staggered, you must know that it has been a year and a half since Yunnan was reformed and returned, but the population that has been found out at the moment is only more than 1.2 million.

According to the head of the Ministry of Rites, nearly 600,000 people are crammed into Beijing, almost half of Yunnan's population on paper.

"With such a large city, there is probably a lot of grain, livestock and poultry consumed every day, right?"

Zhu Gaochi was more worried about the problems of people's livelihood, and the head of the Ministry of Rites was also prepared before coming, so he explained:

"According to the records of "Daxing County" and "Wanping County", there are no less than 10,000 livestock and no less than 30,000 poultry entering and leaving the city gate every day."

"In addition, similar rice and wheat are transported to Tongzhou through the canal to the provinces south of Zhili, and then sent by the imperial court from Tongzhou to sell in the capital, and its white rice is three wen per catty, and japonica rice is seven wen per catty."

"As for melons, fruits and vegetables, it depends on the season, in short, there are no less than one million catties of input every day."

The head of the Ministry of Rites was quite complacent about this, and Zhu Gaochi said when he heard this: "With so much consumption in Beijing, won't the prices in various parts of Zhili follow suit?" ”

"Meat and vegetables will naturally rise, but food will not rise, because food is regulated by the imperial court." The head of the Ministry of Rites explained:

"What's more, Liaodong and Shandong will transport grain by sea and canal, and the annual import of grain outside Zhili is 3 million stones, of which 1 million is for the border army, followed by Tongzhou."

"In addition, when the railway is built, grain from the Bohai Sea and Jianghuai can also be imported into Tongzhou, and at the speed of the train, it is not too much to travel 500 miles a day."

"At that time, don't talk about grain, even melons, fruits and vegetables are taken from Jianghuai yesterday, and they will be eaten in Beijing today......"

Although the train has not started running yet, word has spread about it.

From Jiangnan to Liaodong, people everywhere are discussing this matter, and the reason why it spread so quickly is mainly because of the construction of the railway.

Zhu Gaochi was relatively remote in Yunnan and didn't believe in the train, so when he saw what the director of the Ministry of Rites said, he asked, "Is the train real?" ”

"Nature is true!" The head of the Ministry of Rites nodded.

"You've seen it?" Zhu Gaochi asked again, and the head of the Ministry of Rites shook his head:

"Although I haven't seen it, the six Shangshu have all gone to Taixue to see it."

"Oh......" When he heard that he had seen the six books, Zhu Gaochi believed most of them, but he didn't see the real thing, and he always felt that the statement of traveling 500 miles a day was a bit exaggerated.

If he can really travel 500 miles a day, doesn't it mean that he will only need 10 days to reach Beijing from Kunming in the future?

Is this possible?

Zhu Gaochi was full of doubts, and finally stopped thinking about it at all, and concentrated on the situation in Beijing.

Soon, they arrived at the Xihua Gate of Miyagi, and along the way, Zhu Gaochi also had to admire the second child's ability to govern.

Beijing is very prosperous by him, the people have their own jobs, and there are soldiers and horses from the Soldiers and Horses Division on the streets, and few people dare to violate the ban.

Along the way, he also talked a lot with the head of the Ministry of Rites.

There are 72 primary schools and two middle schools in Beijing, which can accommodate 100,000 students, and this has solved the education problem of the people in Beijing.

As for sewers, outfalls, sewage treatment, etc., they are also well planned.

Cleaners in blue coats are everywhere, although the wage is only ten cents a day, which is a low salary in this capital, but fortunately, the work is easy, after all, there is not much garbage in this era.

In addition, there are open gardens, zoos, gardens, and landscape trees on both sides of the streets.

These things all made Zhu Gaochi incarnate Grandma Liu, as if he had walked into the Grand View Garden alone.

"How did you say that the second child got this Beijing city, and it was so good that the four of us entered the city like peasants."

With his hands in his pockets, Zhu Gaochi communicated with Zhu Zhanji, Zhu Gaosui, and Zhu Zhan beside him.

They walked on the Wuyingdian Square in the Forbidden City, and while walking towards the Wuyingdian, they couldn't help but look around.

"This palace city is too, built so tall, the second child made it according to his own length, right?"

Zhu Gaochi kept complaining, to say that he is not short, in this era of five feet three (≈ 170cm) per capita, his figure of five feet four inches is still quite good.

Just compared with Zhu Gaoxu, he seemed to be incarnated as a dwarf, more than six inches shorter.

The Forbidden City designed by Zhu Gaoxu, whether it is a city gate or a palace, the height makes people feel small.

Not only that, but even the steps of the palace, Zhu Gaoxu is as high as possible, quite a feeling of "the princes are facing west and facing under the chapter platform".

"This step is going to die......"

Looking at the Wuying Palace, which was nearly three zhang high on the light pedestal, Zhu Gaochi was already out of breath before he started to climb.

"I said boss, you said all the way, are you thirsty?"

Zhu Gaosui looked at Zhu Gaochi, who was still in high spirits all the way, he really wondered if the boss was confined to his home by his sister-in-law, and he had not been allowed to go out for many years, why did he still talk so much at such an old age......

"Don't say it, don't say it, I'll go up and drink two cups of tea at the meeting, kowtow to my father, and I'll say goodbye."

Zhu Gaochi thought of his father, and a smile appeared on his face.

"His Royal Highness the King of Han, His Royal Highness the King of Zhao, bring the prince of Han, and the prince of Zhao ask to see!"

Standing at the gate of the palace, the singing of the eunuchs on duty sounded, and Zhu Di and Zhu Gaoxu, who were sitting in the hall, were also ready early.

"Xuan!"

Zhu Di opened his mouth quite majestically, and soon saw the eunuch on duty bowing, and then the sound of footsteps came.

After six years of separation, the father, son and brother saw each other again, Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui took Zhu Zhanji and Zhu Zhan Kun and hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed.

"Zhu Gaochi, King of the Han Dynasty (Zhu Gaosui, King of Zhao), see Your Majesty, Long Live Your Majesty, Long Live ......"

"Get up!"

Zhu Di got up and walked, and Zhu Gaoxu also followed behind.

Looking at the way they came, Zhu Gaochi lowered his head very self-consciously.

"Boss, what's going on with you?"

Not surprisingly, Zhu Di really began to inquire about Zhu Gaochi's figure, and when Zhu Gaochi heard this, he immediately said:

"Dad, it's all tired......"

Zhu Gaochi really talked nonsense, although he knew that Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochu had spies in the Han Palace, but this did not prevent him from talking nonsense.

"Humph!" Zhu Di snorted coldly: "Get up." ”

Obviously, he didn't want to pursue Zhu Gaochi, after all, Zhu Gaochi was thirty-eight years old, and he was about to enter the age of not being confused, so there was no need to teach him a lesson as a son in front of his grandson.

"The main reason for summoning you here this time is to let you come to Beijing to have a look, recognize the door, and come back in the future."

"In addition, our father and son haven't seen each other for many years, this time I am going to take you to Yanshan to hunt and see if your equestrian skills have fallen."

Zhu Di talked about his arrangement, and others didn't feel anything after hearing it, only Zhu Gaochi, who had eaten, drank, and watched dancing and music all these years, secretly complained to himself.

"Daddy......"

"It's decided, you can do it, second child!"

Before Zhu Gaochi finished speaking, he was scolded back by Zhu Di.

"Sit down!"

Zhu Di returned to his position, and at the same time let the five people with Zhu Gaoxu sit together.

After they sat down, Zhu Di chatted about homely things, nothing more than asking how many grandchildren the two brothers gave birth to them, and asking about Zhu Zhan's marriage.

Due to Zhu Gaoxu's intervention, Zhu Zhanji, who was supposed to marry as the emperor's grandson in the eighth year of Yongle, is still an "older" young man.

For Zhu Di, who was anxious to hold his great-grandson, Zhu Zhanji's situation made him very concerned, so Zhu Di said:

"This time Zhanji is here, then take this opportunity to help Zhanji and Zhan Yan choose a concubine together!"

"Huh!" Hearing this, Zhu Gaochi decisively agreed, but Zhu Gaochu said:

"Dad, Zhan Yan is still studying in the military academy, even if he gets married now, he doesn't have time to marry, why don't you wait?"

"What are you waiting for?" Faced with his top priority of holding his great-grandson, Zhu Di showed his courage:

"He also has a holiday every winter and summer vacation, so if he doesn't come to Beijing, he will stay in Nanjing and give birth."

"I've already made a holy decree on the Ministry of Rites, and I'll start drafting girls soon."

"Two months is almost enough for draft girls."

"When the time comes, you let Zhan Yan go north after the exam, and the draft girl will only take a month and a half, and then he will get married and enter the cave house and then go south."

"At the military academy, you can tell him, ask him for a month off, and go back to make up for the class."

Zhu Di explained to Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Gaoxu could only shake his head helplessly when he heard this, which can be regarded as recognizing this draft.

Seeing this, Zhu Zhanji stood up and said, "Grandpa, in fact, my grandson has something I like." ”

"Oh? Who do you like, say and listen. Zhu Di asked with interest, and Zhu Gaoxu and the others also looked at him sideways, very curious.

Don't talk about them, even Zhu Gaochi is very curious.

"She is the daughter of Sun Zhong, the chief bookkeeper of Yongcheng County, I noticed her when I went to Nanjing to see my grandmother, and now she has come to Beijing with her grandfather."

As soon as Zhu Zhanji spoke, others could still smile, but Zhu Gaoxu looked strange.

Sun Zhong's daughter, isn't that the orthodox demon queen Sun, who spoils Zhu Qizhen as an arrogant guy.

He has messed up so many things, and his eldest nephew is still as affectionate as ever.

"That's good, if you like it, then I will reward you, but you still have to choose a concubine."

Zhu Di obviously didn't want a palace maid to become the concubine of his own grandson, and Zhu Zhanji, who heard the words, wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Zhu Gaochi suddenly standing up.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, and Jungi doesn't thank you Grandpa."

Zhu Gaochi was obviously worried that his son had angered the old man, Zhu Zhanji also reacted, and finally could only kneel down depressedly to thank him: "Thank you grandpa for your grace......"

"Get up!"

Zhu Di raised his hand and motioned for them to get up, and then continued to talk about the selection of concubines.

However, at this time, Zhu Gaoxu had already flown out of the sky, thinking in his heart whether the Ming God of War would be captured this time, or who would be captured......

(End of chapter)