I'm a big dick

Chapter 557 Eight Years of Apocalypse
The New Deal has appeared frequently in recent years.Although there have been no particularly drastic changes, the changes in the relationship itself can be felt from common people to officials, from merchants and gentry to scholars.

Lu Luocai, who responded to the imperial government's decree, became a student because of teaching and educating people; Li Zhengdong, who was transferred from official to official and continuously promoted because of his serious work, is just a microcosm of the sentient beings of the Ming Dynasty.

The changes in Ming Dynasty, from the capital to local areas, and then to remote areas, have spread to all parts of the country within a few years.

And these changes are only artificially caused, launched by the imperial power, and implemented to the whole country under the supervision and oppression of the severe torture law.

In addition to man-made, natural disasters, that is, the catastrophe predicted by the emperor, entered Daming with heavy steps, and Shaanxi was the first to bear the brunt.

In the seventh year of the Apocalypse, there was a severe drought in Shaanxi (Yan'an Prefecture at that time). In the spring of the second year, there was still no sign of relief, and northern Shaanxi was the hardest hit.

"There has been no rain since last year, and the vegetation has withered. This spring has not yet rained, and the people in the disaster-stricken area have picked grass from the mountains to eat..."

It has been eight years since the apocalypse, and my life should be worry-free.Liaodong has been flattened, and a catastrophe is coming again. Daming is really troubled!

Listening to the official's report, the emperor knew that the test of the Little Ice Age had finally arrived.Although it is only a part of Shaanxi now, it will soon expand to the whole of Shaanxi.

Shaanxi, Henan, Zhili, Shandong, and even Jiangnan will also be affected. It will take at least 20 years for the peak of the Little Ice Age to pass.

In history, it didn't take 20 years, but Chongzhen was finished in 17 years, and the Ming Dynasty died!
"Relief in case of disaster is only part of Shaanxi, not the whole of Shaanxi, let alone the whole of the north. How can the people pick grass and eat it?"

The emperor's face was gloomy, and he didn't hide his displeasure. He glanced at His Highness's officials with coldness in his eyes.

"I have prophesied the coming of the catastrophe, and I have orders for the provinces, asking them to make preparations in every possible way. Why, are you caught off guard when it comes to this?"

The prediction of catastrophe and the need for all provinces, especially the northern provinces, to make full preparations are indeed not recent decrees.

For at least two or three years, the emperor would not believe that the people would have to eat grass and bark as soon as the disaster arrived.

Yuan Keli pondered for a while, stepped forward and bowed and said: "Long live Qi Zuo, the governor of Shaanxi reported the disaster situation truthfully, it's not that he didn't help the people. The people gathered grass and grass to eat, but they didn't feel hungry and hungry everywhere. Long live Wise, the result of early arrangement."

Seeing Teacher Yuan's report, the emperor's face softened a little, and he said slowly: "Since that's the case, let's add relief, so as not to make our people of Ming Dynasty suffer from hunger and cold, or even stir up civil uprisings."

Exemption from taxes in disaster-stricken areas is the most common method used by the emperor; the money and grain taxes in the northern provinces are not released to the capital, but warehouses are built on the spot for storage.

Even if it can only survive for a year, only some provinces are affected by the disaster.Provinces such as Henan, Zhili, and Shandong can also transport grain to the nearest ones.

Therefore, the emperor was very sure that there would not be the miserable scene of thousands of miles of bare land and uninhabited villages in history.

Of course, the long duration of the catastrophe in Shaanxi and Henan still made the emperor feel pressure.

Especially in Shaanxi, especially the drought.During the 48 years of Wanli's reign, there were records of famines for 25 years. During the Chongzhen period in history, there were almost consecutive famines.

The emperor also knew that the many disasters in Shaanxi were caused by the destruction of the ecological environment and the excessive development of agriculture.But it is easy to damage, and it is not possible to repair it in more than ten or twenty years.

Sighing helplessly, the emperor continued: "In addition to Shaanxi, the cultivation of corn and potatoes must be vigorously promoted in the northern provinces. This catastrophe will sweep across the northern provinces, not just Shaanxi. Cold and drought resistant and high yield The crops are the key to surviving the catastrophe, and the governors of the provinces cannot ignore it."

Corn, potatoes, or rye are grown in the north; sweet potatoes are grown in the south.Being able to promote the planting of these high-yielding crops that are resistant to cold and drought in advance is also the emperor's confidence to survive the catastrophe.

"Immigration and relocation work must continue to be stepped up. The disaster in Shaanxi will also dilute the people's thoughts of being unable to leave their homeland. It is just the right time."

In hard-hit areas such as Shaanxi and Henan, if the population is diluted, the pressure on the imperial court to transport food and relief will also be reduced.At the same time, the people who migrated to other places can also farm and produce, which is much better than staying in the disaster area and not being able to produce and live.

The people in Shaanxi migrated to Guanzhong and Sichuan in an orderly manner, and the landless people in Henan, Zhili, and Shandong migrated to Liaodong; the people in the south had three options: Dongfan, Hainan, and Mekong.

Resettlement work is not only to deal with major disasters, but also to solve social contradictions with more people and less land.The rise and fall of dynasties is often caused by land annexation and peasant uprisings. The emperor knew this.

Yuan Keli led the decree to step down. As the chief assistant, these tasks will naturally be arranged in place.What's more, the plans and measures for disaster relief have already been formulated, so there is no need to be too hasty.

"Long live the Qizuo." Xiong Tingbi, Minister of the Ministry of War, came out of the squad to Qizuo, "Yang Zhaoji, the commander-in-chief of Yansui (now Yulin City), and Mao Chenglu, the deputy commander-in-chief, fought hard and defeated Taiji, the banner that invaded Lanzhou, and killed thousands of enemies. The chieftains withdrew their troops. Go away, the border has been secured."

"Okay." The emperor showed a rare smile, praised him, and then said: "Add the title of Taibao to Prince Yang Zhaoji, Mao Chenglu will be added to the role of governor, and meritorious officers and soldiers will be rewarded."

"My minister complies with the decree." Xiong Tingbi bowed to receive the decree, and said again: "The former Xie Zhang Pan of Dongjiang Town has occupied the shipyard city, and the craftsmen he brought have started building ships. The coach Mao Wenlong, please give the imperial court the first 20 silver. "

The so-called shipyard city is Jilin City in later generations. The Ming Dynasty government once set up a shipbuilding base in Jilin City to strengthen the connection between Liaodong Capital and Nurgan Capital (far from [-] households).

At the same time, it is also responsible for the construction of ships that carry officers and soldiers, grain and grass rewards and tributes, and also uses this place as a transfer station for the Indian Army to transport officers, soldiers, grain and grass.

It's just that, after the Tumu Fortress Change, the Shipyard City has already belonged to the Haixi Jurchen.The advance of the Ming army to this point was not only within the plan, but also made the emperor very pleased.

The emperor turned to Bi Ziyan, the new Minister of the Household Department, and said, "The Household Department may have difficulties in pulling out all the silver."

Bi Ziyan bowed and said: "Long live back, there is enough silver in the household department, and 20 silver can be transferred as much."

The emperor nodded, showing appreciation.Finally, he no longer has to spend his private money, even though it may be temporary, he is very relieved.

"This year, we will stop at the shipyard city, sweep the surrounding areas, and manage them well, as the basis for advancing next year." The emperor felt that it would be safer to build the ship first and then move forward.

Moving north and south, Daming has shown its fangs of expansion.Obtaining land and resources through plunder is also an effective means of surviving major disasters.

(End of this chapter)