Before hanging himself, Chongzhen lifted the table

Chapter 195 Changes
Although it is said that after this year, grain production was strictly controlled, and sweet potatoes were planted in non-farmland, which was the responsibility of local officials, and various imperial ministers were sent to inspect the local grain planting situation.In addition, the [-] shi of grain from Zheng Zhilong in the early stage has also been delivered, but the food gap is still huge.

The most important thing is that the area west of Yingtian Mansion and all the way to the Yunnan-Guizhou region was under military disaster this year.Not only are the farmlands uncultivated, but a large number of people are in need of relief.

The growth of food cannot be achieved by shouting the next decree.If the planting season is missed, there will be no chance of re-seeding.

Therefore, the food available to Emperor Chongzhen was still limited, not to mention that the area from the north of the Yangtze River to the capital also needed food imports.

The better thing is that this is already the 18th year of Chongzhen. Years of war have led to a sharp decrease in population. Compared with the early years of Chongzhen, there are many fewer people to eat.This favorable factor is bloody.

Based on this, Emperor Chongzhen was not in a hurry to recover the Central Plains and other areas occupied by Li Zicheng's troops.Just because if we go to recover at this time, we will have to bear the rations of the people for the winter.If the court doesn't care, there will still be famine.

He learned from the prisoners' mouths that Li Zicheng's so-called million-strong army not only plundered food from the provinces in the Yangtze River Basin, but also collected food from the areas he ruled.Otherwise, after so many years of war, he would not be able to produce so much food out of thin air.

The Central Plains is still dominated by drought, and the Yangtze River flooded once when Emperor Chongzhen went south.The existence of these natural disasters has also hampered the harvest of food.

………………

The time soon came to the end of the 18th year of Chongzhen, and the Chinese New Year was coming in three days.

This year is different from last year. There was no wind disaster. There were a few snowfalls, but they were not as heavy as last year.

Emperor Chongzhen was reviewing memorials in the Wuying Hall of the Forbidden City in Nanjing.Many of them are memorials transferred from the capital.

The land of Gyeonggi Province has been basically peaceful for a year, so farming has recovered quickly. The planting of sweet potatoes is similar to that in the south, and there is no difference between oranges and oranges.

Under the auspices of Zhang Guowei and Chen Zilong, Jin not only built water conservancy projects, but also planted farmland and sweet potatoes, which produced a bumper harvest.It is expected that the experience in northern Shanxi will be extended to the entire Shan region next year.

According to the cabinet's estimates, the north will basically be self-sufficient in food next year, which is probably enough.Among them, sweet potato plays an important role.Since it does not occupy farmland, any amount you plant will equal an increase in production!

Emperor Chongzhen was pleased with this memorial and gave instructions to promote Zhang Guowei and Chen Zilong to one rank each.He also sent a message that farming is the foundation of the country. As long as the two of them do it well and make great contributions to the country, they can also be knighted!
Just when he was about to review the next memorial, he suddenly heard rapid footsteps coming from the door of the palace.

Emperor Chongzhen was a little sensitive to this. He immediately looked up and saw that there was another urgent military intelligence report, right?
To be honest, in this era, the most common thing is emergency military intelligence report, and it is not a good thing!
But this time, he saw at a glance that it was Lu Jiude who hurried in with a smile on his face.As soon as he entered the palace and saw the emperor looking up at him, he immediately said happily: "Long live my lord, Marquis Pinghai has escorted 90 shi of grain to Nanjing Ferry."

Emperor Chongzhen couldn't help but be a little surprised when he heard this.

He and Zheng Zhilong had made an agreement to ask him to raise 100 million shi of grain to the court every year, but he never thought that he would be able to do so this year.

Unexpectedly, Zheng Zhilong even supplied 100 million shi of grain to the court this year!
I have to say, this Zheng Zhilong really knows how to behave!

These 90 dan are equivalent to unplanned food!

OK, OK, OK!

Emperor Chongzhen was really happy and immediately ordered: "Send a message to Jin Yiwei Xiaoqi Zheng Sen and ask him to go to meet his father!"

Zheng Sen was just an ordinary Jinyiwei at the beginning, but he must have received special care, that is, he was doing clerical work with Fang Zhenghua. After more than three months, he did a good job and was promoted to the rank of Jinyiwei Xiaoqi.

When Lu Jiude heard this, he quickly accepted the order and walked backwards out of the palace to deliver the order.

………………

The Nanjing Navy was temporarily commanded by Gu Sanmazi, and its strength was also expanded during these three months.

During the previous Battle of Dashengguan, Yan Yingyuan robbed some of the Dashun Army's ships, and selected some ships suitable for transformation into warships and incorporated them into the navy. As for sailors, there was no shortage of sailors in the Yangtze River Basin.

Therefore, at this time, the Nanjing Navy already had more than 600 large and small warships, which was more than double the original size.

And because of his previous military exploits, Gu Sanmazi has been appointed as the deputy commander-in-chief of the Nanjing Navy. He is very energetic when training such a huge warship.

Unexpectedly, Zheng Zhilong's arrival hit him immediately.

90 shi of grain, even if Zheng Zhilong shipped all of it on large sea-trading ships, there would still be thousands of ships.Going up the Yangtze River in a mighty way, it can be said that from the head of the fleet, the tail of the fleet cannot be seen.

Even the Nanjing Navy before the storm had absolutely no such a huge fleet.

Suddenly, the people in Nanjing City, as long as they were free, heard the news and came to the dock to watch the excitement.When they knew that so many ships were supplied by Marquis Pinghai with food to the court, they all burst into joy.

Although food in Nanjing is no longer as strictly controlled as it was at the beginning of the year, it has not reached the point where people can eat whatever they want if they have money like last year.Now that so much food has arrived, it is foreseeable that food prices will become cheaper and food controls will be loosened. This is a good thing for everyone!
Zheng Zhilong, who was on the big boat leaning against the pier, was waiting to see him. He couldn't help but feel happy when he saw this scene on the pier.

He was a good man. When he recognized Li Dan as his adoptive father, he served Li Dan very well. Therefore, after Li Dan died, he chose him as his successor and gave him his fleet and property.

Now, he has decided to truly surrender to the imperial court, and the emperor also went to Quanzhou in person, showing great sincerity. He will serve his new master just like he served Li Dan, and he will definitely do it right.

After Emperor Chongzhen left, he had to collect 90 shi of grain before the end of the year to send to Nanjing and place it in front of the emperor. It took him a lot of thought and difficulty to do it.

Of course Zheng Zhilong knew that even if he stopped sending food to the court within this year, the emperor probably wouldn't say anything.However, he just wanted to put his effort into doing this, because he knew that if he did this, the emperor would definitely be very happy.Perhaps this is what makes him different from other pirates, and it is also one of the abilities that finally makes him stand out from many pirates.

At this time, while he was watching, he saw a few more people coming out of the cabin. However, it was the Tagawa family who came to Zheng Zhilong surrounded by two maids. He looked at the dock and asked, "I don't know what Sen'er can do in front of the emperor." If he can't get used to it, will he be punished? Hey, he is a child. Although he is the father of the child, he is still a kid at heart and a little ignorant. Without the care of his family, I really don't know if he will get into trouble..."

Listening to his wife's nagging, Zheng Zhilong couldn't help but think of the things his son had done.If it was at that time, he must have thought that his son had to give up, and actually stabbed him in the back.

But now that he looked back and thought about it, the emperor's words at that time became very clear: For the sake of you having a good son!
In today's world, if the emperor is respected, it may be the most correct thing for his son to do this.If I had been short-sighted at that time, with the current emperor's wisdom and prowess, the Zheng family might really be exterminated in the next few years!

This is not only because the situation in the world has become clearer, but also because Zheng Zhilong has worked with Yan Yingyuan for several months, which made him greatly admire Yan Yingyuan's talents. This also shows that the emperor can use people!
Comparing Zheng Zhilong himself with Yan Yingyuan, if we don't talk about what he saw on the sea, but only about the Ming Dynasty, then he used to be huddled in Fujian, and he was really much more ignorant.

That's fine. My son can't be like me. When he stands in the field of vision of the entire Ming Dynasty, he may be more promising than himself in the future!

He was thinking about it when suddenly, he heard Tagawa next to him shouting in surprise: "Husband, look, Sen'er, it's Sen'er here!"

When Zheng Zhilong heard this, he immediately retracted his thoughts and looked towards the dock upon hearing the sound.

I saw a small group of knights driving over at a cantering speed on the pier.These knights all wear flying fish uniforms, and at first glance, they look very majestic.

The Jin Yiwei represents the imperial power. No matter what their status is, people on the dock will avoid them after seeing them.

Zheng Zhilong recognized at a glance that the leader was his son Zheng Sen.However, although he recognized it at a glance, he felt a little strange.

The impression I have of this son is that he is a little out-of-the-box by nature and does whatever he wants.He and his brother were discussing something in the lobby, and this son could lead his brother in and rush in!

But now, seeing his son in front of him, Zheng Zhilong's first instinct was that his son was calm and promising!
In other words, this is not intuition, but his son's temperament. Compared with before, it has really changed a lot. He is calm and capable. From Zheng Zhilong's perspective, he feels that he can do things!

Seeing his son's change, he couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.

At this time, Zheng Zhilong did not know that this was the reason why Emperor Chongzhen asked Zheng Sen to welcome his father for an audience.Tell Zheng Zhilong in a practical way that your son is not with him as a hostage, but is really nurturing him.

When Zheng Sen reached the end of the pier, he quickly dismounted and saw his parents at a glance. He walked steadily to the side of the boat, then held the handle of the embroidered spring knife at his waist and said seriously to his father: "Feng It is His Majesty’s decree that Marquis Pinghai has an audience with you!”

When Zheng Zhilong heard this, he quickly knelt down to receive the order.Mr. Tagawa, on the other hand, was a little surprised by this situation.

After a set of procedures was completed, Zheng Sen clasped his fists towards Zheng Zhilong and his wife, and finally showed a hint of excitement. He raised his head and said, "My child has seen his father and mother! We haven't seen each other for three months and fifteen days. I miss you so much!"

At this moment, Zheng Zhilong seemed to see a familiar shadow in his impression.I don't know why, he smiled and said: "Your mother is also thinking about you and must come to see you. Your wife and children will also come, but the children are too young and I dare not let them sit on the boat for such a long time."

Mrs. Tagawa looked at her son who had become more stable and mature. She seemed to have a thousand things to say. She even thought about what she would ask her son when she saw him on the way. But at this moment, she could not say a word, but her eyes were red. He was red, staring at his son, and nodding.

Seeing his mother's appearance, Zheng Sen quickly said: "Wait until the child is off duty, then talk to mother! Now we can't delay, we have to take father to see him immediately."

After hearing this, Mr. Tagawa quickly raised his hands and said: "Go, go, business matters are important!"

Zheng Zhilong listened and nodded slightly.With his son's previous temper, he would definitely talk to his mother for a while if he saw her.But at this time, it was obvious that the seriousness of the matter was obvious.

Working by the emperor’s side is indeed a sign of progress!

Therefore, he did not dare to stay longer, gave a few instructions to the Tagawa family, and then immediately followed his son to the palace to pay his respects.

In the Wuying Hall, when Zheng Zhilong came to the audience, he naturally did his best and behaved very modestly, which made Emperor Chongzhen even more satisfied. He said to Zheng Zhilong: "There are only three days until the New Year, and you can't return to Quanzhou to celebrate the New Year. It just so happens. I can’t go back to the capital. This year’s Chinese New Year, just celebrate the Chinese New Year with me!”

It is also an honor to be invited by the emperor to celebrate the New Year. People who are not valued by the emperor will naturally not get this treatment.

Zheng Zhilong naturally thanked him quickly. This year was destined to be extraordinary.

As for Emperor Chongzhen, after meeting with Zheng Zhilong, considering the additional 90 shi of grain, he decided to advance the plan.

Therefore, he gave an order to Fan Jingwen, the chief assistant stationed in Zhending, asking him to lead troops into Henan immediately after the year, recover Henan and the southern area of ​​​​Jin, and then send troops to Tongguan.

In addition, he himself plans to march westward along the Yangtze River immediately after the year. After taking over Xiangyang and other places that are still controlled by the Dashun Army, he will send Gao Yigong and Li Laiheng north to take back southern Henan and join forces with Fan Jingwen. Tongguan.

Emperor Chongzhen led his army into Sichuan along the Yangtze River, quelled Zhang Xianzhong's bandit army, and recovered Sichuan.Then go north and follow Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition, attack Shaanxi from Shu, form a pincer attack with Tongguan, and capture the home base of the Dashun Army.

Of course, these are all things after the year.The big thing at this time is to have a good year!

However, although Nanjing is going to have a good year, for the imperial officers and soldiers in Sichuan, they are encountering an unprecedented crisis.

Just like in the original history, Zhang Xianzhong's plan to capture Hanzhong was sabotaged by Dashun general He Zhen, and Sun Kewang fled back to Shu in embarrassment.Seeing that his plan to capture Hanzhong was not feasible, Zhang Xianzhong concentrated his efforts and began to attack the remaining territory in Sichuan that was still in the hands of the imperial army.

(End of this chapter)