Emperor Ming's grandson

Chapter 41 North loses and South makes up for it
Zhu Yuanzhang summoned Prince Zhu Biao and a group of famous generals in the Fengtian Hall. Except for Duke Xu Da of Wei and Duke Tang He of Xin State, who were currently stationed in Peiping to guard against the Northern Yuan Dynasty, several other princes arrived. It has the responsibility of "participating in important military affairs".

At this time, Deng Yu had been dead for many years, and his son Deng Zhen was not outstanding in ability, and he was not qualified to participate in top-level meetings of this level. As for generals in their prime, such as Fu Youde and Lan Yu, they have not yet been named Dukes. Reaching the highest level of the Ming Empire, so he was also missed.

When everyone arrived, Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath and told them the news of the Little Ice Age in a deep voice.

This news immediately set off a storm in the hearts of everyone. Although the faces of the princes were relatively calm, their hearts were obviously not calm.

Korean Duke Li Shanchang has always been known for his calmness, but at this time, his eyes showed a look of surprise that was difficult to conceal. He looked at Zhu Yuanzhang tentatively.

However, when he saw the solemn expression on Zhu Yuanzhang's face when he looked at him, Li Shanchang knew that the news was probably true.

Li Shanchang couldn't help but feel a sinking feeling in his heart. He understood what the Little Ice Age meant to the Ming Dynasty.

Prince Zhu Biao was silent for a moment. He was born in the first year of Longfeng. Zhu Yuanzhang made him the crown prince when he called him King Wu. When the Ming Dynasty was established at the age of thirteen, he became the crown prince naturally.

Zhu Biao studied the classics with Song Lian, and he was taught carefully since he was a child, and he has always lived a pampered life. Although he experienced the war in the late Yuan Dynasty when he was a child, his impression was not deep, and he did not have too deep an understanding of natural and man-made disasters. Although Zhu Biao cannot specifically understand the pain of farmers suffering from natural disasters, as one of the top leaders of the Ming Empire, he can understand what will be the outcome of the Ming Empire if the weather continues to get colder.

Therefore, when Zhu Biao heard the news that the Little Ice Age had arrived, he felt the powerlessness rising from the bottom of his heart. How should people fight against destiny?

Well, if this was the Yin Shang Dynasty, large-scale sacrifices would probably be organized at this time.

But this is the Ming Dynasty, and fortunately the Ming Dynasty monarchs and ministers still know that although the weather will continue to get colder year after year, at least in the short term, or in the two generations of Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, it will not waver. The Ming Dynasty ruled, so there is no need to panic yet.

What they can do is to find solutions in their generation, rather than trusting the wisdom of future generations. Zhu Yuanzhang has never had any idea that "the old Zhu family will give birth to descendants with abilities that exceed his own in the future." Fantasy, that's why he has to make rules for everything, just like a mother who bakes a cake for a mentally retarded child and hangs it around her neck when she goes out for fear of starving.

However, the fact that they were so restless was actually because Zhu Xiongying didn't explain it clearly. In other words, Zhu Xiongying left after listening to half of the lecture, and he didn't fully understand that the Little Ice Age really didn't keep getting colder, but dropped by tens of thousands. Years later, it will rise for several decades, which is a bit like a turtle climbing a well, except that it will generally go downwards.

In short, the monarchs and ministers of the Ming Dynasty don’t know!
And because they happened to catch up with the decades when the temperature continued to drop, based on simple life experience, coupled with the historical records corresponding to the previous Little Ice Ages, it was natural to conclude at this time that the temperature would not rise, only It will continue to fall. In fact, by the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the temperature will still rise.

The Duke of Zheng, Chang Mao, and the Duke of Cao, Li Wenzhong, also had solemn expressions on their faces.

The entire Fengtian Hall was silent, with only the sound of everyone's breathing echoing in the air.

They are all trying hard to digest the impact of the news that "the Little Ice Age has arrived", and at the same time thinking about how to deal with it.

After a while, Zhu Yuanzhang finally broke the silence.

"We know this news is difficult for you to accept, but escaping is not an option. Tell us what solutions you have to deal with this matter."

Prince Zhu Biao was the first to speak: "Father, I think we should start with agriculture first. Since the Little Ice Age will cause coldness, it will extend the maturity time of crops and reduce output. Therefore, the court needs to guide the people to plant more and more crops." Cold-resistant and drought-resistant crops, and the court must also increase grain reserves to cope with disaster years." South Korean Gong Li Shanchang added: "More construction of water conservancy facilities such as canals and dams must be increased to ensure that farmland can be adequately supplied during droughts. Irrigation, when the Qin State's national power overwhelmed the six Kanto countries, building canals was the key. In fact, although natural disasters are terrible, they are more of a trigger. If water conservancy facilities are not repaired enough, even a small disaster will turn into a major disaster. This is the case in various places in the south of the Yangtze River. Isn’t it the frequent occurrence of waterlogging disasters caused by too few water storage and drainage facilities?"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in agreement. He had farmed his own land and knew very well what a difference there was in agricultural production with and without canals and reservoirs.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the remaining two princes and asked, "Do you have any other suggestions?"

Chang Mao, Duke of Zheng, thought for a while and said, "Your Majesty, I think it is better to fight him out."

"Fight it out? Where to fight?"

"Fight south."

Cao Guogong Li Wenzhong's eyes lit up, and he added: "Your Majesty, I read the history books. In the Spring and Autumn Period, Wuyue was just a barbarian land. It was gradually developed during the Sun Wu period. After Yi Guan crossed south, it was only densely populated, but Lingnan, further away, is still an uninhabited place full of miasma, but what about now? After the Tang and Song Dynasties, Lingnan has gradually become more prosperous."

"So what I mean is that Zheng Guogong's suggestion is reasonable. The Ming Dynasty can go south and develop it slowly. The farther south the place is, the warmer it is. Similarly, in Annan, Champa and other places, rice is often harvested three times a year. Needless to say, food production is also high. No matter how cold the weather is, there is a limit. If the Ming Dynasty can occupy all those areas in the south and grow food, at least the food in the south will be guaranteed. If there is a disaster in the north, it can be transported there. It’s just disaster relief.”

"This is exactly what the Jin people meant when they 'lost the north and made up for the loss in the south'."

"Losing in the north and replenishing in the south" refers to the fact that after the Jin Dynasty failed in the Battle of Yehuling with Mongolia, in order to make up for the lost land, it attempted to conquer the territory of the Southern Song Dynasty southward. Of course, history has proven that this was a bad strategy. This decision put the Jin Kingdom into a dilemma of fighting on two fronts, and was finally destroyed by the Song and Mongolian coalition forces in Caizhou.

As for today's Ming Dynasty, the "loss" here is not the land, but the decrease in grain production in the north caused by the Little Ice Age, and what needs to be "replenished" is the grain production obtained from the further south.

However, times have changed, and this strategy still looks good for the Ming Dynasty. After all, the surviving Northern Yuan Dynasty cannot compare with Mongolia back then. The small countries in the south that have just established exploration and trade, such as Annan, Champa, Siam, and Chenla The Ming Dynasty was not as powerful as the Southern Song Dynasty, and the Ming Dynasty's national power was naturally not comparable to that of the Jin Kingdom, which was compressed between the Yellow River and the Huaihe River.

At this time, Zhu Biao advised: "This strategy may not be unfeasible, but the Bei Yuan Lu Ting entrenched in Mobei and the Naha Chu headquarters occupying Liaodong are the Ming Dynasty's most serious concerns. Although the Little Ice Age is fatal, But we are not in a hurry to solve it immediately, nor can we say it can be solved immediately. Even if we want to go south to obtain food, it is not necessary to use troops."

After listening to everyone's suggestions, Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a moment and said: "It is feasible to build water conservancy projects, increase storage, and plant cold- and drought-resistant crops. The South Korean government will draw up a plan. As for whether to send troops south, we must proceed with caution." , the Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth Army will first make a plan for using troops, and then ask the envoys and guards to investigate the situation in the southern countries, and then make a decision after finding out."

Everyone agreed in unison, but they were not very confident in their hearts. Zhu Yuanzhang also saw their mentality, so he said.

"The second batch of radio stations has been delivered. It will be demonstrated in front of all civil and military officials to boost morale."

"When it comes to the Little Ice Age, don't tell anyone outside this hall. Now that you have thought of a way, you don't have to panic. When the Yin Yang Qi Sea opens next time, let's ask Da Sun if there is any way to deal with it. .”

After hearing this, everyone suddenly felt a lot more relaxed. As the same saying goes, the person who tied the bell must untie it. Of course they have to work hard to find a way to deal with it, but if they really want to solve it completely, I'm afraid they still have to look to His Highness Shengsun.

(End of this chapter)