I'm sure of the prosperous age of Kangxi and Qianlong!

Chapter 436 My country is picturesque
It's summer.

After having been hot for countless days, we finally had good weather today.

Not only was the temperature not as hot as the previous days, but with the gentle breeze blowing, it seemed particularly comfortable in this early summer.

Zhu Yijiong had nothing to do in the past few days. Fortunately, he took advantage of the rare good weather to take his concubines and children with him, traveled from Chaoyang Gate in the east of Nanjing's inner city, and drove straight to Xiaolingwei.

This was originally a place where Lao Zhu raised horses and hunted, and was also used as a military training ground. Later, when Lao Zhu died, he was buried here.
The entire Xiaoling Guard, together with Xuanwu Lake, Zijin Mountain and other vast areas, was designated as a restricted area by the Qianming Dynasty, and civilians were strictly prohibited from entering.

It wasn't until the Qing Dynasty conquered the world that the place was reopened and produced many specialties.

In addition to the wine-making industry that is gradually booming, there is also the velvet shearing and textile industry that has always existed, and the cemetery watermelon (commonly known as Maling melon).

Especially for the Maling melon, Ji Xiaolan even wrote a poem to praise it: "Growing the Aventurine melon is the best variety in Yizhou. The coolness of the ice and snow is as sweet as honey, and the warmth of the Guzhu tea is gone."

For Nanjing people who grew up in one of the three big stoves, maling melon is also a rare summer treat.

However, although the place name of Xiaolingwei has been used to this day, there has never been any official evidence in history to prove that this place is indeed called Xiaolingwei.

"Meet Your Majesty!"

The emperor's car arrived here, and soon the guards guarding the Xiaoling Mausoleum came to kneel down.

These mausoleum guards were all sent by the Ming Dynasty. Although there were not many in number, they were established by the imperial court. They mainly visited the tombs of Lao Zhu and Empress Ma's family.

Zhu Yijiong said: "Everyone, get up. I am just traveling by chance today, no need to be polite."

It was said that it was an accidental trip, but after all, Zhu Yijiong took the queen and the emperor's eldest son into the Xiaoling Mausoleum and offered a stick of incense to Lao Zhu.

Compared with the initial anxiety, the offering of incense and worship seemed a bit more calm this time.

"Old Zhu! Although we are not your descendants, we have taken back the Han people's world. The Manchu Tatars are now withered bones in their graves, so you can rest assured."

After some worship, everyone went to Xiaolingwei Horse Farm.

Today, the Xiaolingwei Horse Farm has less than a thousand horses, and they are mainly gathered by the lake.

Since Liaodong was restored, there were many horse breeding lands there, and they were gradually restored.

In the future, Nanjing Xiaolingwei Horse Farm will gradually move to Liaodong and Tamluo counties. Although the original horse farm will not be abandoned, it will no longer breed war horses. Instead, it will be converted into a royal horse farm, exclusively for royal horses.

When the emperor's chariot arrived at the lakeside, the horse breeder immediately came forward to serve him, not only bringing in a few good war horses, but also more than twenty southern mares for breeding.

Zhu Yijiong was very happy and pointed casually: "Don't be cautious about going out today. You can go wherever you want to ride horses!"

The two strong concubines from Guangxi were the first to step forward to pick up the horses.The Zhuang people in Guangxi have a fierce folk custom, and they just ride horses, so it's no problem.

With these two concubines taking the lead, the other concubines gradually let go and went up to pick ponies to ride on.Most of them only run in one circle, and the guards and female officers still have to follow them and walk slowly.

The Queen and Concubine Yao didn't go because they were both taking care of their children. Fortunately, they ordered the palace maids to spread out the food boxes and snacks they had brought, and they were ready to have a picnic by the lake.

"drive!"

Zhu Yijiong was dressed in casual clothes and galloped along the lakeside on a horse, followed by a group of imperial soldiers following on horseback.

There are a lot of government affairs on weekdays, so it is rare to get out and relax today.

In the surrounding areas of Xiaolingwei and Xuanwu Lake, many residences and shops had been built at this time.On the vast Xuanwu Lake, some pleasure boats and boats appeared today. Most of them were dissolute people who took advantage of the good weather to go out and have fun.

As early as the Ming Dynasty returned to Nanjing, officials suggested reclassifying this area as a restricted area.

However, the emperor did not agree, because the houses and shops here had been built a long time ago. Reclassifying this place as a restricted area meant that these shops and houses had to be relocated.

Regardless of whether the court bears the cost or not, it will undoubtedly be a loss and will cause public resentment.

The literati on the boat cruise soon discovered that the emperor was traveling with his royal chariot, because there was such a large crowd of people at the lakeside, and the emperor's dragon flag was hanging.

That's the bad thing about being an emperor. No matter how low-key you are, people will always find you out. Unless you take the White Dragon Fish suit, then you are just seeking death. "Xuanhuang Emperor Longqi, that is His Majesty's chariot, why are you here at Xuanwu Lake?"

"Haha, Brother Li, you are confused. The weather is very good today. We can take a boat trip to the lake. Why can't His Majesty take the ladies out for an outing?"

"Haha, that's true. It's just a pity that I can't go to see him."

"..."

Although these people were itchy and unbearable, they also knew that the emperor had not made an announcement in advance and must have come out to play, so naturally they did not want to be disturbed.

Even so, ships would still pass by the lake from time to time, leaving the officers and soldiers of the imperial camp who were responsible for guarding them quite speechless.

At first, they thought someone was trying to assassinate Wang Shajia, but it turned out they were all here to join in the fun.

I thought I had done it covertly and not been discovered.

Compared with these literati, there were so many common people. They were so far away that they still didn’t know that the emperor had also come to Xuanwu Lake.

If you are close, just take a look from a distance and then do what you need to do.

It's rare that the weather is nice today, so it's time to go out and look for work.

Not to mention Zhu Yijiong’s Ming Dynasty, but later generations... ahem, the people at the bottom will always have to run for a living.

Today is the time when the Ming Dynasty was founded. A few years ago, you could still see dead bones on the roadside, but now you can hardly see them.

No matter how poor you are, as long as you work hard, you will not starve to death in the Ming Dynasty.

Moreover, even if you really can't find a job, you can still apply to be arranged by the government. Immigration to the north, Liaodong and other places is the responsibility of the government, which is certainly not like the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

It’s really hard to describe the immigration of the Manchu and Qing dynasties. The lakes of the Manchu and Qing dynasties filled Sichuan for 300 years.It's not because Sichuan has ten empty houses, but because the Manchu and Qing immigrants don't care about anything.

Most of the early immigrants died on the road or fell into the bellies of tigers and beasts in Sichuan.

Zhu Yijiong just rode along the lakeside and stopped at a lakeside. Immediately, a soldier from the imperial camp handed over a telescope.

Lifting the mirror and looking across the lake, I saw crowds of people and houses and shops arranged in layers.Vendors and goons pass by on the street from time to time, and there are also vendors selling goods along the street.Although the voices cannot be heard, one can still see these people's longing and hope for life.

There is also a painting boat in the lake. There are scholars holding wine glasses and talking about something unknown. They seem to be composing poems.

I don’t know how long I watched, but smoke rose from the houses across the lake. It was lunch time.

In the past, due to heavy corvee taxes, most people only had two meals.

Now, with lighter taxes, various tax reduction policies, high-yielding sweet potato crops, and exemption from corvee labor, the people have gradually begun to have three meals a day.

Moreover, eating three meals a day is also beneficial. You won’t have no energy when working, and you can make more money.

"Your Majesty, the ladies have called you to have a meal." Zhang Ashan, the commander of the imperial camp, rode over personally to remind him.

Zhu Yijiong suddenly asked: "Zhang Qing, what do you think of the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhang Ashan was a little confused. After thinking for a long time, he finally managed to say something: "The country of Ming Dynasty is as picturesque as a brocade!"

Zhu Yijiong smiled and said: "Haha, it's my picturesque country!"

"drive!"

After that, he tightened the rope and turned back.

Zhang Ashan quickly followed with the rest of his soldiers on horseback.

(End of this chapter)