Hongwu Survival Guide

Chapter 55
The Fang family occupies the eastern part of Zhejiang Province, and at its peak, it was said to gather hundreds of thousands of soldiers.This is pompous.But there are still [-] to [-].

Unlike Zhang Shicheng's fierce resistance, the Fang family chose to surrender soon after the Western Wu army suppressed the border, and they did not experience too much consumption.However, there were only 3000 soldiers in the Shuibu and Shuibu armies of the surrendering subordinates of the Fang family incorporated into Western Wu at the beginning. Where did most of the rest go?
It's easy to imagine.

In order to ensure the stability of eastern Zhejiang, the part of the Fang family who surrendered was taken to the southern expedition. What Zhu Yuan had to do was to regroup part of the other old Fang family that had collapsed.

This is why Lao Zhu chose Fang Guozhen's eldest son, Fang Li, to follow him to Mingzhou.

Fang Li naturally understood this better. Hearing what Zhu Yuan said, he immediately got up and cupped his hands, "I will definitely not disgrace my life."

Zhu Yuan hummed, and turned to Chang Duan, commander of the Mingzhou Guards, and said, "Commander Chang, you need to mobilize 1000 people to assist Fang Langzhong in raising manpower, and the people gathered will be placed next to the Mingzhou Guards' garrison in the east of the city."

Even if Fang's family has shown enough obedience, Zhu Yuan will not give Fang Li any thought.

Lao Zhu transferred Fang Li to serve as a civil official like Ying Haisi Langzhong, rather than a military post under the Navy's Governor's Mansion, and his intention was obviously the same.

Chang Duan, who was sitting under Zhu Yuan's head, also immediately got up and clasped his fists: "I take orders from my post."

Zhu Yuan looked at the crowd again: "The remaining 1 people will be drawn from fishermen in various counties in the southeast. I just said the conditions. Those who participate in the shipping will be exempted from tax and corvee for the whole family, and their children will have priority in going to school in the future. Liu Doctor?"

Liu Lian, who was taking minutes of the meeting, quickly raised his head, put down his pen and cupped his hands and said, "Your official is here."

Zhu Yuandao: "Write all these conditions clearly into an official document, print hundreds of copies, and post them widely in coastal states and counties."

Liu Lian agreed: "The next official will take orders."

Zhu Yuan looked around again: "Do you have any other questions about this, can you talk about it?"

As soon as the words fell, Xue Shu, who was driven to the side by Zhu Yuan before, had already clasped his hands and said loudly: "Master, I have something to say."

Zhu Yuan nodded: "You can call me 'Hanlin', don't use such a weird name."

Xue Shu choked again.

Calling Zhu Yuan "Envoy" is because of that "Yinghai Envoy" and also because it is also a kind of honorific title. I realized that I misunderstood Zhu Yuan before, and I also carried Xue Shu's own apology in it.

I didn't expect... to be disgusted.

Xue Shu didn't bother, and instead said, "Hanlin, April is the Shitou fish season. Fishermen in the counties and counties in eastern Zhejiang get more than [-]% of their fish every year. If they are conscripted to transport food, they may be exempted from tax and labor throughout the year. Fishermen Livelihoods may also be affected."

Zhu Yuan was puzzled: "Totoaba?"

Tao Qian, the magistrate of Mingzhou who happened to be in Zhu Yuan's line of sight, cupped his hands slightly and said, "Shishou, also known as Huanghua, is named after the white stone in his head."

Zhu Yuan understood.

Big yellow croaker.

Another point has also been accurately grasped. More than [-]% of the annual catch of coastal fishermen comes from this large yellow croaker flood.

In this day and age, fishing is not a year-round operation.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuan looked at Xue Shu again and asked, "Will people starve to death because of this?"

Xue Shu was taken aback.

Zhu Yuan didn't wait for his answer, and continued: "Since I'm here, I assure you that no one in the southeast will starve to death because of this recruitment. Besides, the sea transportation, there are priorities. Before I set off from Jinling, there are family members around me. From Shandong, it is said that many people starved to death in Shandong last winter. Although it is spring now, I also know that the spring famine is also a hurdle. The sooner we transport food to the north, in addition to being used by the army, we can also help the people and save some people from starvation. .Xue Zhixian, how do you think I should choose?"

Xue Shu hesitated for a while, then cupped his hands again, but still said: "Hanlin, according to the former court regulations, those who participate in the sea transportation of grain will be rewarded, which is called 'the foot price of grain transportation'."

"It seems that you have done your homework, but you don't know everything well," Zhu Yuan said, "The precondition for the 'grain transportation price' in the previous dynasty was that the peasants should prepare their own boats and not be exempted from taxes and labor. A kind of employment system. We are recruiting this time, and the ships are provided by the government, and they are exempted from tax and labor, which is also equivalent to paying remuneration."

Always do one thing, if there is a reference, 'reading from the script' is the most convenient way.Therefore, Zhu Yuan has of course had a detailed understanding of the grain transportation mode of the Yuan Dynasty recently.

The Yuan Dynasty also used official grain transportation at first.

However, because the efficiency was not high and the amount of grain transported was small, a grain transport system similar to the employment system was started.

The government pays the remuneration, and the folks prepare their own ships to transport food for the court.

During the most prosperous period of grain transportation by sea in the Yuan Dynasty, it basically operated in this way, and the annual grain transportation exceeded 300 million shi.

However, the price is also high.

At that time, a stone of grain in the south was worth about three taels of central banknotes based on the paper money of the Yuan Dynasty, but the shipping price charged by the Yuan court for each stone of grain was eight taels, which was more than twice the price of grain in the south.

Then, Yuan Ting also found that it was too expensive to do so, and he could not afford the money. He kept reducing the price of grain per shi, and the rapid depreciation of Zhongtong banknotes in the late Yuan Dynasty, so that no one was willing to build ships to transport grain. The thriving shipping system quickly collapsed.A few years ago, Zhang Shicheng and Fang Guozhen joined forces to transport grain to the Yuan court, and there were only a little over [-] shi left in a year.

Knowing this at the beginning, it is not that Zhu Yuan has not considered the employment system.

The conclusion is that it is currently not feasible.

This is first of all because the Ming Dynasty has just been established, and the sense of belonging to the new dynasty is still weak between the north and the south. It is hard to say what the result will be if they rashly hand over the grain to private individuals.The second is that the southeast has been in war for many years, and all industries have withered, and it is impossible to gather too many civilian ships to transport food for a while.

So it can only be done officially.

In the hall, it's not that Xue Shu doesn't know about this, he just hoped that a certain little adult didn't know, and wanted to get more compensation for the people.

Since he didn't succeed, Xue Shu bowed his hands and fell silent.

Zhu Yuan looked around: "Are there any other questions?"

I thought no one would speak, but suddenly I heard the square-faced man next to Chang Duan clasped his hands and said: "I know Xingji, the official salt transporter. If there is any need for the assistance of the salt transport department for this food transport, I will fully cooperate."

Zhu Yuan looked over and nodded with a smile.

clear.

This is an attitude.

I didn't know what happened at the pier yesterday, and I didn't think much about it.

I still think so.

Xing Ji... the name is quite 'suspicious'.

I was about to skip it, but then I remembered it again.

Salt transport...

Well, if I remember correctly, the Ming Dynasty also had the practice of asking salt merchants to help transport grain in exchange for salt imports. I remember there was a special name called "Kaizhongfa".

However, on second thought, this is actually an employment system.

So back to the previous train of thought.

It is not feasible for the time being, so I can only write it down first.

Nodding to Xing Ji again, Zhu Yuan said, "If nothing else, let's discuss the second topic, ships."

After speaking, he turned to Hua Gao, who had not spoken all the time: "Is there any news from the south?"

Hua Gao originally let the young boy beside him do his best, but unexpectedly he turned to himself, quickly put down the teacup in his hand, leaned over, and said: "Wu Zhen has already set off, depending on the wind direction, it can be as short as ten days, as long as... …It’s hard to say, but it’s definitely possible to arrive in March. Zhang Cun’s Daoist Department… the news from Jinling that Zhang Yi’s old man is in a ring with the lord, it may be later.”

Zhu Yuan was puzzled.

Hua Gao got closer and explained in a low voice: "Zhang Cundao's troops, Zhang Yi made an agreement with the master in advance, and promised that they would be able to return home after conquering Fujian."

Zhu Yuan understood.

I made an appointment with him, but Lao Zhu wanted to break the agreement.This...Zhu Yuan looked at Liu Lian behind the square table not far away: "This paragraph is pinched, don't remember."

Liu Lian: "..."

I'm a decent clerk, don't I want to behave?
Everyone: "..."

Tsk, Your Majesty is so... um...

Zhu Yuan turned to Huagao again: "How many ships can you bring?"

Hua Gao grinned: "I don't know that, the group in the south is not a fuel-efficient lamp, even if there is an edict from the lord...it depends on Lao Wu's ability to grab things."

Zhu Yuan had a bad feeling.

Why...it depends on ability?
Hua Gao didn't stop, and poured another bowl of cold water over: "Zhang Cun Daoist, a small commander, even if you can come, you don't have much hope."

Zhu Yuan suddenly had a bad feeling.

I thought there would be no shortage of ships.

However, there is indeed no shortage.

Before coming here, I learned from Lao Zhu, not to mention the ships that the Daming Navy itself is continuously building, but the southeast all the way from Zhang Shicheng to Chen Youding, and there are also a thousand or two thousand large and small seagoing ships seized.

The problem is that most of these ships are in the hands of a group of arrogant soldiers from the Southern Expedition Army.

Putting himself in their shoes, if Zhu Yuan was in their position, he would not easily hand over the boat he got, and even how to evade it, he would quickly think of a bunch of excuses.

Who doesn't want their troops to be stronger and stronger?

Sitting down again, Zhu Yuan thought for a while, then looked at Chang Duan, commander of the Mingzhou Guard, and said, "Commander Chang, how many ships does the Mingzhou Guard have?"

I already knew in advance that because of the Southern Expedition and the Northern Expedition, the large troops were on the front line, and there were only 2731 people in the Mingzhou Guard before.

I forgot to ask about the boat.

Chang Duan clasped his fists and said, "Mingzhou Guard has [-] ships in total, two of which are [-]-material sea-going ships, and the rest are flat-bottomed inland river boats."

Zhu Yuan: "..."

Not surprising.

At the same time, I don't expect any more reports from other coastal guards.

It must have been raided by the frontline armies.

Moreover, it is different from later, like Mingzhou Wei, which mainly guards the various states and counties on the land of Mingzhou at present. As for the sea, although Japanese pirates have begun to make troubles in the Yuan Dynasty, it is not a serious problem at present, and the threat is not even as good as those who fled to the sea. Wu Canbing.

Gently tapping on the armrest of the Grand Master's chair, Zhu Yuan quickly considered.

Even if Wu Zhen and Zhang Cundao didn't bring many ships, counting the ones I had before, and the coastal guards, and even those sea merchants... the combination of all parties can satisfy the first batch of 20 shi of grain. Shipping shouldn't be a problem.

As for the others, you can only figure out your own way.

After a while, Zhu Yuan raised his head and looked at Yao Feng, another camp officer who had already returned after explaining the matter: "How long will it take to build 800 ships with five hundred materials?"

Yao Feng got up and cupped his hands and said, "My lord, the biggest obstacle in this matter is the timber. A total of 40 timber of various kinds is needed, where does it come from?"

For shipbuilding, material is a quantifier.

Zhu Yuan knew about this matter specially.

A standard piece of wood is about one foot in diameter and two feet long.

Yao Feng, who helped explain at the time, also gave another image example. A folk carpenter makes a bed, of course it is not the kind of mahogany carved bed in a wealthy family, but a double bed in an ordinary family, which just needs a piece of wood.

Zhu Yuan thought about it for a while, and asked, "How long will it take to start logging now?"

Yao Fengdao: "Depending on the type and use of the wood, the drying time in the shade can range from half a year to three to five years."

Zhu Yuan asked: "Is there a way to speed up drying in the shade?"

Yao Feng nodded, then shook his head: "My lord, the loss outweighs the gain."

"Ok?"

Yao Feng explained in detail: "The method of acceleration is boiling or baking. Boiling can only be used for small pieces of wood. Baking needs to build a kiln and bake slowly with a low fire. Baking also takes one or two months, and a little carelessness will cause the wood to crack due to improper fire control and become waste."

Zhu Yuan propped his hands on the table next to him, and frowned with his cheeks propped up: "Don't dry in the shade, let's work together, can't you?"

Yao Feng shook his head immediately, like a rattle: "My lord, if the wood is not dried in the shade...it is alive, and after building a boat, lower officials dare not sit on it."

Live?

Why does it sound a little creepy?

Zhu Yuan looked at Hua Gao.

Huagao also turned into a rattle in an instant: "I don't sit down either. Hanlin has been like this for thousands of years, but it can't make a living. Back then, Chen Youliang used raw materials to build ships, and the hundreds of thousands of troops in Poyang Lake suffered a complete defeat. This wood does not dry in the shade. It's dead, it has grievances, and it will dismantle the boat after it goes into the water."

This sounds even scarier.

Feeling that breaking the feudal fan trust is a long way to go, Zhu Yuan felt that he should let it go first, but he couldn't believe it, so he turned to Tao Qian: "I learned before I came that there is a shipyard outside the capital city of Mingzhou, how much wood is there in reserve?"

Tao Qian shook his head: "There is nothing left. General Liao let his subordinates take over the shipyard a few years ago. When he left, it was empty. He even took many craftsmen with him."

Zhu Yuan: "..."

Liao Yongzhong, please change your name to Liao Sanguang.

Huagao next to him grinned, and began to recall the "excellent years" of the past: "Lao Liao was better than me in those days."

Zhu Yuan: "..."

Seeing Zhu Yuan coming over, Mr. Hua immediately restrained his expression and shared the same hatred with the enemy: "Liao Yongzhong, the guy who smacks the goods, the thief!" After speaking, he immediately turned to Liu Lian, imitating Zhu Yuan's tone: "This paragraph is pinched, don't remember. "

Liu Lian: "..."

Mr. Liu can only say silently in his heart, I am not a historian, and I don't need to be ethical.

Not required!
Zhu Yuan ignored the person next to him, and looked down at the hall: "Tell me, I can't wait three to five years for 40 lumber, what should I do?"

After saying that, a man with a long beard and a round face standing behind the people on the right stepped forward slightly and cupped his hands: "Xiaguan Changguo Zhizhou Xu You."

There is no Mandarin in this day and age, Zhu Yuan was taken aback when he heard a certain name, and asked, "Xu You?"

Did I cross the Three Kingdoms again in an instant?

The man changed his tone and said again: "Xu You."

Zhu Yuan understood.

It's 'Xu', not 'Xu'.

As for Changguo Prefecture, which was later Zhoushan City, it is currently under the jurisdiction of Mingzhou Prefecture, which is about the size of a county.

Seeing Zhu Yuan's understanding, Xu You continued, "I suggest that you can collect wood from the people. In the counties and counties in the southeast, there are a lot of shipbuilding wood stored by the people. It should not be a problem to raise 40 wood."

When Zhu Yuan heard what Xu You said, he immediately became transparent.

However, the voice of Xue Shu on the other side immediately sounded: "Hanlin, this plan is impossible. The war in the southeast is initially settled, and the people along the coast need to build ships to restore their livelihoods."

After Xue Shu finished speaking, he bowed to Zhu Yuan again, then turned to Xu You, glaring unabashedly.

Zhu Yuan thought for a while and said, "I won't solicit for nothing." Turning to Yao Feng, he asked, "How much is a piece of wood?"

Yao Feng said: "Master, all kinds of wood are different."

Zhu Yuan waved his hand and said, "Based on the calculation of 40 yuan, give me an approximate average price."

Yao Feng pondered for a while before finally saying: "The cost of a sea-going ship with five hundred materials is about eight hundred guan, of which the wood is the bulk, so it is five hundred guan, and the average material is...one guan."

In total, it is 40 guan.

Everyone in the lobby looked at Zhu Yuan, this was not a small amount.

Zhu Yuan was very relaxed, and was about to open his mouth when Xing Ji, a colleague of Yan Yun next to Chang Duan, suddenly said: "My lord, I have a plan to offer."

Zhu Yuan looked over.

Xing Ji said: "Your Excellency, there are many soldiers and civilians. Maybe new materials can be harvested and replaced with the folks. Just add some compensation."

Zhu Yuan nodded.

This is also a good idea.

So he didn't speak in a hurry, and looked at everyone: "Any other ideas?"

Yao Feng said: "My lord, if you collect from the people, it will be difficult to transport. You can open workshops in various places and build ships nearby."

Zhu Yuan nodded again.

Then everyone in the hall spoke freely again, Zhu Yuan either nodded or shook his head until he confirmed that no one spoke again, and then said: "Yao Langzhong, you will be responsible for making an official purchase price of various types of wood later, and then according to Mr. Xing's suggestion, Also make a replacement plan. The two methods are parallel, and the finished wood is collected from the people for a fee.”

Yao Feng stood up solemnly and agreed with his hand.

Zhu Yuan asked again: "If there is enough wood, how long will it take for 800 ships?"

Yao Feng was about to sit down, but when he heard the words, he stood up again and said: "Gather the artisans in the southeast, and with enough soldiers and civilians to help, it can be done in two months."

Zhu Yuan nodded.

Two months is acceptable.

After continuing to order some other things, Zhu Yuan looked around: "The last question, food... Well, this is definitely not a problem. I won't talk about it."

tired.

And there's really no need to talk about it.

I knew it before I arrived, but there are still 19 shi of grain in Mingzhou, even after it must have been 'searched' by the Southern Expedition Army again.

Not to mention Jinling.

There are ten large official warehouses, with a grain storage of 300 million shi.

In recent years, Lao Zhu has been giving tax exemptions to a large number of prefectures and counties under his rule.

There is too much food, and some of them cannot be used up.

Therefore, there is really no shortage of food in the south, it is just a problem of transportation.

When he got here, Zhu Yuan sorted things out a bit, clapped his hands again, and said, "The meeting is over. According to the plan we just agreed on, let's go to work. By the way...is the person from the former Taicang City Shipping Department here?"

(End of this chapter)