Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 237 Development and Inheritance (ask for tickets, ask for subscription)
Huguang in March is full of spring, with warm wind blowing slowly. After a few months of damp and cold, the muddy ground has begun to dry, which is beneficial for merchants.

The cuckoos chirped non-stop, and a few new swallowtails held scissors and leaped happily.

On the overgrown road, an ox cart was slowly advancing under the protection of hundreds of cavalry.

Zhu Yixi looked at the tired Sun Xuan'er, and couldn't help laughing: "If you are tired, take a rest!"

"It's nothing!" Sun Xuan'er hurriedly picked up her thigh, and beat it carefully, helping His Royal Highness Prince Yu relieve his fatigue.

Seeing this, Zhu Yixi didn't say anything.

From patrolling the army to going to the local area, the hard work is hard to describe.

"The official road should also be repaired."

Through the curtains, the slightly bumpy ox cart made King Yu a little restless.

Since the reign of Chongzhen, the local official roads have become more and more disused, and with the gradual cancellation of post stations, the traffic between various places has become even more blocked.

In the huge Ming Dynasty, from the central government to the local government, the news was transmitted very quickly, relying on post stations and postmen, otherwise the central court would be deaf and blind.

Thereby promoting the place to sit bigger.

The more he thought about it, Zhu Yixi became a little annoyed, because Emperor Chongzhen had too many tricks.

"His Royal Highness, here we are!"

Outside the car, Thirteen called softly.

"Ok!"

Stepping out of the bullock cart, a gust of spring breeze rushed towards me.

Overlooking it, I saw a farm, surrounded by fences, and dozens of soldiers with limbs and arms, standing upright, lined up at the door to welcome them.

"Humble duty to greet His Royal Highness King Yu—"

The leader, with red eyes and tears, shouted loudly.

"Thank you!" Zhu Yixi nodded, looked at the man, and patted him on the shoulder.

This is one of the largest military settlements in Xiangyang Prefecture, with a thousand captives, a hundred remnants, and [-] mu of land.

Of course, it is also the largest grain and grass supply near Xiangyang City.

The man's name was Zhu Mancang, one of the clans of the Qin Dynasty, and a rare clan in the army. He was deaf in his right ear and had two broken fingers, so he was sent to the army.

"Your Highness, the village is preparing to raise seedlings, and the seedlings will be planted in two days."

Zhu Mancang said happily: "There is no shortage of water, no shortage of people, and the village can turn in at least [-] shi of grain this summer."

"Not bad!"

Zhu Yixi nodded.

Tuntian, especially military garrison, is part of the extensive grain accumulation, an indispensable measure in troubled times.

A large number of captives who are like residues are forced to farm in the army, which can not only resettle and tame them reasonably, but also accumulate food for the shogunate.

Looking around, I saw those captives with dark skin, full of timidity and fear in their eyebrows and eyes, and their fierce aura had dissipated.

Nodding in satisfaction, King Yu said softly: "It's not good to suppress too much, tell them, stay well for five years, and then they will be free."

"Isn't it too cheap for them?"

Zhu Mancang hurriedly said, looking a little panicked.

In fact, he was even more worried. If these captives were gone, what would they do for these retired veterans?
"There will be prisoners, don't worry."

King Yu said noncommittally.

He walked slowly, the expensive moccasin boots touched the ground and splashed some mud, he didn't care and continued to step on it.

Not far away, bean seedlings are densely packed, stretching for thousands of acres, and you can't see the end at a glance.

"The chief of staff asked us to plant them." Zhu Mancang said: "It is said that the ground soybean oil and bean dregs are all wanted in the barracks, so we asked us to plant a lot."

"Have you given money?"

"The Chief of Staff wants it, not money."

"Yeah!" King Yu nodded: "The account book must be done well, and all transactions must be well recorded."

There is no need to worry about fertilizers. In Huguang, where the land is vast and sparsely populated, it is good to be able to plant wasteland.

Looking up, I can see that beside the river, there are all kinds of water wheels and bobbins, and the water mill is squeaking around, husking the rice.

On the other side, the fruit trees are growing vigorously, bearing brightly colored flowers, which look extraordinarily beautiful.

Sun Xuan'er looked at it, and was a little crazy for a while.

"The fruits are used to make wine." Zhu Mancang explained: "Not only can wine be made in Tunli, glutinous rice can be grown to make vinegar, and soybeans can also be made to make soy sauce."

"The army has become a manor."

Zhu Yixi laughed and sighed: "If you continue to develop like this, the military village will not only be self-sufficient, but even make a lot of money!"

Chai, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar tea, except for tea and salt, can basically be provided. This military village is really an eye-opener.

The benefits are obvious, it can boost the market and increase the supply, thus making the market more abundant.

But the disadvantages are also great. If it continues to develop like this, the interests of the army will be too great to get rid of, and it will become a profit-making tool for some people.

Obviously, the Chief of Staff needs to conduct more detailed management of the military settlements.

In my impression, the solidified thinking that military villages can only produce food is unacceptable.

Agriculture is indeed fundamental, and once it matures, commerce will naturally develop.

After a hasty look, Zhu Yixi left the military camp here.

Military settlements, large and small, are dotted around Xiangyang City. According to the estimates of the Chief of Staff, the summer harvest in the first year of Hongguang can provide at least one million shi of military rations.

In the chaotic situation in Huguang, the military colony is the biggest income of the shogunate.

Back in Xiangyang, His Royal Highness, who had been exhausted for several days, lay reclined and asked casually, "How much tax can Sichuan pay this summer?"

"Deducting the local use, there will be about a million stones."

"what?"

Zhu Yixi straightened up in an instant, and he was really shocked: "There are only a few million stones in the army, and there are millions of people in Sichuan. Why are there so few?"

"Your Highness, you have been exempted from three payments, so it would be nice to have these."

Zhao Shu said helplessly: "During the reign of Chongzhen, Sichuan was only worth a million stones a year. If the summer tax can collect one million stones this year, it will be a high incense."

"Sichuan's tax collection also needs to be reformed."

Zhu Yixi raised his head and said angrily: "Three to seven points, it must be three to seven points, and we must not let it mess around."

After the taxes of the Ming Dynasty were collected by the local government, the expenditures for the coming year were calculated in advance, and the budget part was retained, and the rest was turned over to the state treasury.

It has great flexibility and is very friendly to local governments, but it is very difficult for central finance, because the amount of taxation is uncontrollable and it is easy to overspend.

The Huguang area has been reformed, and the shogunate and the local government are divided into three or seven, which is barely fair.

Of course, this is suitable for relatively affluent areas such as Huguang, while Yunnan, Guizhou and other places are already barren, not only not enough, but also have to be subsidized by the court.

"Then it will be implemented this autumn!" Zhao Shu said softly, "The summer harvest cannot be delayed."

"Wang Yingxiong should know how to read."

Zhu Yixi smiled deeply.

"By the way, did Zhang Shenyan agree?"

"It has already agreed, but I don't know how His Highness plans to arrange him."

"Replacement?" King Yu thought about it, looked at Zhao Shu with a calm expression, and said softly: "There are no high-ranking positions in the shogunate, so we might as well place them in the palace."

"Zuo Changshi of Prince Yu's Mansion, consult with you."

"It's just right." Zhao Shu was inexplicably relieved, showing a smile, and said flatteringly.

(End of this chapter)