It has been mentioned that the court meeting of the Ming Dynasty is divided into the Great Dynasty, the Shuowang Dynasty and the Chang Dynasty, the Great Dynasty Meeting is generally only held on major festivals, or when there are important celebrations, usually only a few times a year, for example, yesterday's one is considered a great court meeting, and the local officials in Nanjing have participated, with more than 1,000 people. The scale of the Chang Dynasty was much smaller, and only officials above the fifth rank were eligible to participate.

On the eleventh day of July in the third year of Jiajing, the sky was only brightened in the Chang Dynasty, and the officials who were qualified to participate in the Chang Dynasty gathered beside the Jinshui Bridge. The nouveau riche faction headed by Xu Jin, the head of the household department, and the Pu Yi faction headed by Yang Tinghe, the first assistant of the cabinet, the officials of the two factions were clearly distinguished, or they raised their eyebrows coldly, or glared angrily, or even gritted their teeth, and the smell of gunpowder was full. It can be expected that there will be another battle of dragons and tigers at the upcoming court meeting.

Although the rank of the Like is only seven grades, as a special functional department, it is qualified to participate in the Chang Dynasty. At this moment, the two of them looked at each other, and it was difficult to hide the joy in their eyes, because yesterday afternoon, Emperor Jiajing summoned the two of them after returning to the palace from Xu Jin's residence, so the two of them were very much looking forward to today's court meeting. As long as the Puyi faction headed by Yang Tinghe is overthrown and the emperor "recognizes" his father, then they will soon be able to soar.

Yang Tinghe, the first assistant of the cabinet, was dressed in a crimson official robe, wearing seven beam crowns, holding a jade wat solemnly at the front of the civil official queue, his expression was as serious as ever, but there was a trace of solemnity in his eyes. For Yang Ge Lao, yesterday let Xu Jin sit in the position of the left squire of the household department, which has reduced his prestige, if he fails again in preventing the opening of the sea ban, then his prestige will plummet, and he will not want to lead the ministers in the future, so in this battle this morning, he can only win but not lose, otherwise he will have no shame to take charge of the cabinet again.

Xu Jin was dressed in a crimson three-grade official uniform, wearing five beam crowns, and stood calmly behind the new household secretary Qin Jin, looking calm.

Qin Jin, the head of the household department, was originally a person who was not smiling, but at this time, he suddenly turned around and asked in a low voice with a complicated expression: "Xu Shilang, this official heard that you brought back a crop called corn from Nanyang, why haven't you handed it over to the household department so far?" ”

Xu Jin said indifferently: "Recently, everything has been busy, and it is too late to deal with this matter. ”

Qin Jin nodded and said no more, turned around and stood up. After a while, the bell and drum sounded, the Hongzheng Gate opened, and under the leadership of the officials of the Ministry of Rites, a group of civil and military officers entered in order, and came to His Majesty Dan in front of the Fengtian Palace.

At about seven o'clock, Jiajing Emperor Zhu Houxi ascended to the throne in front of the Fengtian Palace, and after the monarch and ministers paid homage, the celebrant and eunuch Bi Yun walked to the throne with a solemn expression, and shouted to the ministers below: "There is a book to play, but there is no book to retreat." ”

Bi Gonggong's words are equivalent to announcing that war can be started, let's copy the guys!

So, Xu Jin coughed lightly and took the lead in standing up and saying loudly: "The minister has this to play!" ”

Emperor Jiajing immediately said with a pleasant face: "Xu Qing, let's play!" ”

Xu Jin solemnly took out the recital that had been prepared a long time ago, and read it aloud in a subdued tone, and all the officials of the old school stretched out their ears to weigh the words and sentences as if they were facing a great enemy, and silently beat the draft, preparing to refute Xu Jin's recital to the fullest.

"Sun Tzu said: Soldiers are impermanent, and water is impermanent. The minister thinks that the way of governance should also be the same, and the national policy should also be adapted to local conditions and governed according to the time. At the beginning of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Taizu ordered the sea to be banned in order to prevent the rebels from plotting against the remnants of the party. However, in the more than 150 years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the country has been prosperous and stable, and the coastal pirates have also been flattened.

In addition, hundreds of thousands of people along the coast of our Ming Dynasty rely on the sea for their livelihood, and the ban on the sea will definitely cut off their livelihoods, and if the people are not allowed to eat, it will cause trouble. And the Japanese merchants and foreign traders could not trade, so they had evil thoughts, and went out to rob the coast of our Ming Dynasty, and last year the Japanese thieves were suddenly rampant, all of which were caused by the strict implementation of the sea ban. Just as the ancient Dayu controlled the water, it should be sparse and not blocked, and the lifting of the sea ban is imminent.

Moreover, as the so-called stone of other mountains, you can attack jade. I should confidently open the door of the country, invite guests from all over the world, keep pace with the times, and promote our strengths and avoid weaknesses. It is not enough to close off the country and rest on its laurels.

To sum up, the minister thinks that I should lift the sea ban, and it is urgent! ”

Xu Jin closed the recital and raised it above his head, and a small yellow door quickly stepped forward to take the recital and sent it to the throne, Zhu Houxi took the recital and pretended to flip it over, and then nodded and said: "What Xu Qing said is very reasonable, and I also think that the sea ban should be abolished!" ”

"The Emperor's ——!" Mao Cheng, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, pounced on the ground and said loudly: "The old minister thinks that it is absolutely impossible to abolish the ban on the sea, and the emperor must not listen to the greedy words of the villain." Xu Jin, you treacherous and wicked minister, Hugh has to confuse the public with this fallacy, deceive the king, and wait for the traitorous villain, everyone will be punished! ”

Xu Jin couldn't help but secretly exclaimed, Uncle you, can you not pretend? Can you talk well? Can you stop buttoning your hat? Can you stop shouting and shouting to kill?

Zhu Houxi's face turned pale and reprimanded: "Mao Shangshu, I asked myself if I was not a faint monarch, whether Xu Qing was a demon to confuse the public, I knew very clearly." Xu Qing's recital is justified, but you are accusing and slandering for no reason at the moment, which is really the identity of the Ministry of Rusten. Quickly retreat, Hugh is a mistake! ”

Mao Cheng was reprimanded by Emperor Jiajing in front of the Manchu Dynasty's civil and military affairs, his old face couldn't help but turn red, he was angry and ashamed, he originally wanted to exaggerate, take the lead, and then refute Xu Jin one by one, but who knew that the little emperor caught this point against the army, so that he was ready to make a belly of words and didn't have a chance to publish.

Mao Cheng retreated into the ranks with an aggrieved confession, and at this time, Yang Dan, the secretary of the ministry, came out. Yang Shangshu obviously learned Mao Cheng's lesson, and only listened to him say eloquently: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that Xu Shilang's performance is full of errors and is not enough. ”

Although Emperor Jiajing does not have the right to make decisions directly, as the "host" of the court, it is not easy to control the rhythm and pull the bias, I saw this kid say with a straight face: "The so-called matter is more and more clear, and the more the reason is argued, the clearer it is, dare to ask Yang Shangshu, where is the fallacy?" ”

Yang Dan had already typed the draft, so he was not stunned, and immediately said: "First, my Chao Taizu is indeed to prevent the Japanese from issuing a ban on the sea, although the current Japanese plague is temporarily eliminated, but it is difficult to guarantee that the Japanese will not come back, so the ban on the sea is still necessary."

Second, opening the sea and trade can indeed solve the source of livelihood of the coastal people, but agriculture is the foundation of the country. If our dynasty opens the sea to trade, it will inevitably lead to a great boom in trade and the people, lured by heavy profits, will inevitably stop production, which will not only breed a large number of traitors who are difficult to manage, but will also lead to a great reduction in grain production. In this way, in the event of a famine, the consequences will be unimaginable, ranging from riots and turmoil to endangering the country. Therefore, the minister thinks that it is not appropriate to abolish the ban on the sea, please think twice! ”

I have to say that Yang Dan is indeed an old official with rich experience in struggle, and he hit the nail on the head as soon as he made a move, and because of the relationship between the productive forces of feudal society, agriculture has always been the country's primary industry, and it is related to the rise and fall of the country, so the feudal monarch tried every means to tie the people to the land and let them produce food honestly.

As the so-called Shinong industry and commerce, why do businessmen come to the end?

Because the businessmen traveled from south to north and saw a lot of ideas, they naturally had more ideas, and the more ideas this person had, the more difficult it was to manage, so the rulers invariably adopted a policy of valuing agriculture and suppressing commerce, because this was conducive to their rule, and opening up the sea to trade was obviously contrary to the principle of "valuing agriculture and suppressing commerce."

Therefore, even Emperor Jiajing couldn't help but show a deep thought after listening to Yang Dan's reasoning, of course, this could not shake his determination to open the sea ban, after all, Xu Jin had already instilled in him the idea that he was preconceived.

Xu Jin, as a "defender", since someone stood up to challenge, he naturally had to fight, and he bowed to Yang Dan and said: "Yang Shangshu only refuted the first two reasons of the lower official, does it mean that Lord Yang also recognized the third reason of the lower official?" ”

Yang Dan said calmly: "That's right, the stones of other mountains can attack jade, I really should humbly absorb the strengths of other countries, but this has little to do with the ban on opening the sea, my Ming Dynasty has never refused to communicate with other countries, begging for this reason, every year there are surrounding subject countries to pay tribute to my Ming Dynasty." Therefore, Xu Shilang's so-called seclusion and seclusion is simply nonsense. ”

Xu Jin sneered at each other: "Tributary trade is not considered trade, thick and thin, several times or even dozens of times the return to the tributary country, this will only increase the burden on the treasury, harmful and useless, why should Lord Yang cover his ears and steal the bell and deceive himself!" ”

Yang Dan was suddenly speechless.

During the Yongle period, due to Zheng He's seven trips to the West to promote the prestige of the Ming Emperor, the effect was quite obvious, the countries of the Nanyang came to the Ming Dynasty to pay tribute, and found that it was profitable, some countries even paid tribute several times a year, and sent hundreds of tributary missions of thousands of people at every turn, which really caused a heavy burden to the treasury of the Ming Dynasty. No reception will be given, and all will be repatriated in place.

After Xu Jin took Yang Dan's army, he continued: "Lord Yang just said that the opening of the sea and trade will hurt the root of Nongsang, but the lower officials dare not agree for a long time. First, our dynasty has a strict household registration system, and the government has to issue road guides for people who are 100 miles away from home, so it is impossible to trigger a large-scale peasant abandonment of farming and business. In addition, there are profits and losses in business, not everyone can make money from business, and businessmen who can't make money honestly return home to produce. ”

Zhu Houxi nodded and said, "Xu Qing's words are reasonable!" ”

Xu Jin continued to say: "Just now, Lord Yang also said that in order to prevent the Japanese from coming back, so it is even more ridiculous to continue to ban the sea. Don't you see that I have been forbidden to the sea for more than 150 years, and have you ever cut off the Japanese Kou? It can be seen that the forbidden sea is useless to prevent the Japanese invaders, and only trade can eliminate the Japanese invaders. ”

Zhu Houxi's kid immediately nodded again: "That makes sense!" ”

Shi Xuan, a scholar from Hanlin, immediately jumped out and said coldly: "Xu Jin, you just said that due to the restrictions of household registration, opening the sea and trade will not lead to large-scale agricultural to business, but the local gentry and merchants will inevitably open factories and workshops in order to make heavy profits, and the people can earn a lot of income through part-time work, which will inevitably lead to large-scale agricultural to industrial transformation. ”

Xu Jin couldn't help but sweat secretly, it seems that although this Shi Xuan has a bad temper, but he is a person who understands, commercial development will inevitably lead to the rise of industry, once the industry is prosperous, the demand for labor will be greater and greater, see that there is money to earn, the peasant brothers will naturally abandon farming in large numbers, and at that time, the capital righteousness of the Ming Dynasty should sprout!

But so what? This is the inevitable law of social development, and with the continuous improvement of the productive forces, mankind will produce more and more surplus products, and commoditization is inevitable, and capitalism is also inevitable. For example, in today's society with the globalization of the commodity economy, as long as there is money, where can you not buy food? If you don't have enough food produced in your own country, you just need to import it from other countries!

Of course, it is impossible for Xu Jin to explain the law of social development to a group of ministers, the era in which the ancients lived limited their thoughts, so that their eyes had to stare at the one acre and three points of land, in their opinion, no matter how much silver can not fill their stomachs, only food is fundamental, there is no food, and everything else is in vain!

Therefore, if Xu Jin wants to convince a group of officials, the key is to solve the food problem. Sure enough, the focus of the next debate between the two factions revolved around "will the opening of the sea and trade hurt Nongsang?" And unfolded.

The officials of the old school obviously thought that they had grasped Xu Jin's Achilles heel, and one by one they attacked desperately as if they had been beaten with chicken blood, quoting scriptures and classics, saying how serious they were, as if once the sea was opened for trade, the Ming Dynasty would immediately reduce grain production, and then all parts of the country would be hungry, and the people would be eaten, and finally the edifice of the Ming Empire would collapse......

In this way, the officials of the two factions quarreled in front of the Fengtian Temple, spraying each other fiercely, and half an hour passed quickly, and the conservative officials who had seized the "Achilles heel" obviously gained the upper hand.

However, Yang Tinghe felt more and more uneasy, because not only Xu Jin, but even Zhang Xuan, Gui Cao and other upstart factions were too calm, and on the surface it seemed to be arguing fiercely, but in fact, it was to lead the problem to the food aspect, something was wrong, and there must be something greasy in it.

Just when Yang Ge was suspicious, he saw Xu Jin "annoyed and angry" and said loudly: "In this way, you all think that as long as I have enough food, I can lift the sea ban?" ”

Shi Xuan sneered: "That's right, as long as the country is not shaken, the people have enough food and clothing, and the official agrees to lift the sea ban!" ”

"Exactly, as long as the food is sufficient, the official has no opinion." All the old-fashioned officials nodded triumphantly in agreement, as if they were choking Xu Jin's seven inches, in other words, as long as you Xu Jin have the ability to solve the problem of food shortage, you can toss whatever you want.

This is not the carelessness of the old school officials, it is really too difficult to solve the food problem. Today, the population of Daming is nearly 60 million, and the output of several major food crops in China is too low, so the food gap is very large, more than half of the population is hungry, and less than half of them can maintain food and clothing. Therefore, it is really difficult to make the people of Daming have enough food and clothing!

Just as the old-fashioned officials were triumphant, Zhang Xuan and other upstart officials showed strange smiles. Fei Hong, the second assistant of the cabinet, glanced at Yang Tinghe next to him, and couldn't help but secretly shake his head and sigh, his old partner, who has worked together for many years, is afraid that he will be planted in Ziqian's hands today.

Sure enough, after Xu Jin took the words to trap a group of old-fashioned officials, Shi Shiran turned around and saluted the throne, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, God really bless me Daming." The minister sent troops to Nanyang this time, and found two kinds of high-yield crops in Manlaga, one is called corn and the other is called potatoes, and their yield per mu can reach more than 1,000 catties, and the yield of potatoes can even reach sweet potatoes. Moreover, both of these crops are suitable for cultivation in most areas of our Ming Dynasty.

Chen dares to guarantee that once these two crops are popularized, it will not be a problem for our Ming Dynasty's grain output to triple and it will be able to feed the population of the whole country. ”

Emperor Jiajing was "overjoyed" when he heard this, and suddenly stood up and said "excitedly": "Xu Qing is this true? ”

Yang Tinghe chuckled in his heart, and finally figured out what the problem was, daring to love that everyone had fallen into Xu Jin'er's trap, how could it be reasonable, and the old man was angry!!

Yang Tinghe's face was cold, Mao Cheng's beard trembled, Yang Dan was shocked, and Shi Xuan's eyes widened angrily!

At this time, I saw Xu Jin replied solemnly: "Back to the emperor, this matter is true, and the minister does not dare to say half a lie." ”

The hot-tempered Shi Xuan snorted coldly and said: "Hearing is false, seeing is believing, Xu Jin, you think you say it casually, I will believe it later." ”

Xu Jin smiled and said: "What Lord Shi said is extremely true, as the saying goes, seeing is true, and hearing is false, so the lower official specially asked people to prepare corn today, and asked the emperor to allow the official to distribute the corn to your colleagues to taste." ”

Zhu Houxi laughed and said, "Yes, I can't wait to taste this rare thing called corn." ”

Soon, a group of palace people used jade plates to cook corn on plates, and now in front of the Fengtian Palace, anyone with a discerning eye can see that this has obviously been prepared a long time ago.

However, the golden corn cobs were neatly stacked in the jade plates, as dazzling as piles of gold bars, which immediately attracted the attention of all the officials present. The tempting aroma came to the nose, and all the civil and military officers couldn't help but swallow their saliva.

At this time, a plate of corn cobs was presented to the throne, and the others were distributed to the officials present.

You must know that although it is the Chang Dynasty today, there are more than 100 officials who came to the court, even if each person has a piece, there will be hundreds, these are all growing grain, not only Xu Jin, even Emperor Jiajing feels that the flesh hurts, this thing is not something that can be bought with silver now, and there is one less to eat. But there is no way, I can't help the wolf with the reluctance of the child, and I have to pay a price to achieve the goal.

Then a spectacular scene appeared, in front of the solemn Fengtian Palace, including Emperor Jiajing, more than a hundred court officials each held a piece of corn and gnawed there, and the sound of clattering and clattering sounded, and the surrounding guards and eunuchs looked enviously one by one.

Because Xu Jin transported back corn from Nanyang, not many people know about it, and even fewer have seen it, plus it was given by the emperor, so many officials feel that this golden stick is precious, including Yang Tinghe, they all eat it carefully, and they only feel that the more they chew, the better it tastes.

While eating, Qin Jin, the head of the household, couldn't help but ask: "Xu Shilang, is the yield of this corn per mu really a thousand catties?" And that...... Where are the potatoes? ”

As soon as these words came out, all the officials couldn't help but keep their ears up and listen. Xu Jin smiled and said: "The yield of corn per mu is 1,000 catties, if it is fake, as for the potatoes, the official has not yet harvested when he leaves Manlaga, and it is estimated that the loyal Boyu Dayou will send a ship back in the near future." ”

Qin Jin couldn't help but sigh when he heard this: "If that's the case, it's really the blessing of my Ming Dynasty, the blessing of my Ming people, Xu Shilang's move is indispensable!" After speaking, he solemnly waved at Xu Jin.

Xu Jin hurriedly returned the salute and said, "Lord Qin is serious. ”

Shi Xuan frowned and said, "This corn tastes really good, but I know if Xu Jin is exaggerating in terms of yield." ”

"Exactly!" The Criminal Division echoed Zhou Yusheng in the matter, and a group of old-fashioned officials also nodded in agreement.

In fact, including Shi Xuan, everyone understands that if Xu Jin is not sure, he will never dare to talk nonsense, after all, this thing will be planted with a stubble, and the yield will naturally be clear, who dares to use this kind of thing to deceive the emperor and hundreds of officials, it is really no different from looking for death.

However, a group of old-fashioned officials have been caught by Xu Jin's words just now, if they admit that this crop can solve the food shortage in the Ming Dynasty, wouldn't that be tantamount to agreeing to the lifting of the sea ban? So we have to continue to hold on strongly!

Xu Jin obviously expected this to be the case, he smiled and said: "These corns were picked by the official with his own eyes in Manlaga, and a total of more than 6,000 catties were produced in four acres and five cents, and the official transported back 5,300 catties this time, and they are still on the ship." In order to confirm that what the official said was true, the emperor could summon the prince of Manla Jiabintang, as well as Gonggong Zhang (Zhang Yong) to find out as soon as he asked. ”

Zhu Houxi immediately said loudly: "Someone is coming, summon the prince of Lagabintang and Zhang Yong to come to meet him." ”

Soon, the big fat man Bintang Wang, who weighed more than 200 pounds, trotted to His Majesty Dan in Fengtian Temple, knelt down, bowed his head and bowed: "Little King See the emperor, long live long live long live!" ”

Zhu Houxi nodded angrily and asked, "Bintang, I ask you, what is the yield of corn?" Tell the truth, don't lie! ”

The fat man's eyes rolled around, and out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Xu Jinzheng next to him looking coldly, and couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart, and hurriedly said truthfully: "Back to the emperor, the yield of corn per mu can exceed 1,000 catties." ”

Zhu Houxi nodded with satisfaction and said, "Very good, you can step down!" ”

So, His Royal Highness the Prince, who only said two words on the scene, left again. Next, Zhu Houxi asked the eunuch Zhang Yong in the court, which also confirmed Xu Jin's statement.

Zhu Houxi waved Zhang Yong away, and said loudly: "It can be seen that what Xu Jin said is true, since this is the case, then my Ming food can be worry-free, I declare that the sea ban will ...... from today."

"The Emperor's ——!" Yang Tinghe shouted at this time, knelt down in front of His Majesty Dan, solemnly took off the beam crown on the top of his head and placed it on the ground, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the old minister is old, frail and sickly, and today he begs for bones, and I implore the emperor to allow the old minister to return to his hometown and take care of his old age." ”