……

……

Seeing Zhao Junchen's cautious appearance, there was a faint hint of facing a great enemy, and Zhou Shangjing couldn't help but be even more curious. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

With Zhao Junchen's powerful position and scheming methods, what else can make him so cautious?

You must know that even when Zhao Junchen decided to deal with the "Eight Kings Boat Travel" and the Nanjing Sixth Department at the same time, he was still a calm and calm appearance.

So, Zhou Shangjing stretched out his hand to take Zhao Junchen's recital and read it carefully.

Then, a hint of surprise flashed between Zhou Shangjing's expressions.

I thought that Zhao Junchen attached such importance to something must be extremely important and far-reaching, but I didn't expect the content of Zhao Junchen's recital to be so "insignificant".

In Zhao Junchen's recital, most of them are some suggestions related to agriculture, and the content is very trivial, but in a word, it is about the word "heavy agriculture".

For example, after the household department recently gathered the old peasants and sorted out the agricultural books, it compiled a new agricultural book, which basically talked about the methods and experiences of crops to protect against cold and drought, and hoped that the imperial court would publish it and hand it over to the local yamen, and strictly ordered the local yamen to guide the peasant households in cultivating according to the requirements of this new agricultural book.

For another example, Zhao Junchen believed that corn and potatoes were cold and drought tolerant and had high yields, and suggested that the imperial court should promote them, while trying to reduce the cultivation of fruits, tobacco, cotton and other crops by southern farmers.

For another example, Zhao Junchen hoped that the imperial court would issue a decree to limit the quantity and scale of liquor brewed by the people, so as to save grain and fill the grain depots in various places.

In addition, Zhao Junchen also hoped that the imperial court would allocate a large amount of silver to build agriculture-related infrastructure such as canals, waterwheels, and dams.

In short, they are all "insignificant" trivial matters, which are not worth worrying too much about important ministers at the level of Zhou Shangjing and Zhao Junchen, because they still have many more important things to deal with - such as temple games, such as the overall situation of the imperial court, and such as the distribution of interests.

However, Zhao Junchen wrote such a note, and between the lines of this note, it shows Zhao Junchen's good intentions.

In fact, since Zhao Junchen deduced the arrival of the "Xiaoice Period", he has always attached great importance to it, and during this time, Zhao Junchen has spent most of his energy in this area except for caring about the affairs of Nanzhili and "Jingcha".

Because of this, Zhao Junchen felt more and more that his strength was insignificant and not enough to affect the overall situation, so after hesitating for a long time, he finally found Zhou Shangjing, planned to communicate with Zhou Shangjing, and got Zhou Shangjing's support.

In the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty, although Zhou Shangjing was recognized as a powerful minister, he was not just fighting for power and profit, but was still willing to do some practical things.

*

On the other hand, Zhou Shangjing is experienced after all, but after a little doubt, he quickly saw the true content implied in Zhao Junchen's recital.

On the surface, this note is only a relevant suggestion to urge the imperial court to pay attention to agriculture, but if you analyze it in depth, you will find that every suggestion in this note is to avoid too much damage caused by natural disasters.

After thinking of this, Zhou Shangjing's expression was a little more serious, and he raised his head and asked Zhao Junchen, "What is the purpose of this recital?" Could it be related to the drought in Shaanxi, Gansu and Shanxi? ”

Zhao Junchen's face was serious, and he nodded and said: "Elder Zhou Ge, I'm afraid it's not just Shaanxi, Gansu and Shanxi, I just received the news, Henan has also had very little rain this year, and the situation is not optimistic. Therefore, it is likely that the imperial court will need to provide relief to the victims of the three disasters at the same time in the future, among which the situation in Shaanxi, Gansu and Shanxi is particularly serious. ”

Speaking of this, Zhao Junchen's expression was faintly worried, and he said: "If this is the case, with the current grain stock of the imperial court, it can probably barely hold on, but the younger generation is even more worried that the situation will be further worse in the future." ”

"Further bad? What do you mean? Zhou Shangjing's gray eyebrows furrowed slightly and asked.

Zhou Shangjing is certainly one of the smartest people in this era, but after all, limited by the vision of this era, if Zhao Junchen explains to him the causes, principles, and harms of the "Xiaoice Period", Zhou Shangjing may not understand it at all, but will think that Zhao Junchen's idea is a fantasy.

Therefore, Zhao Junchen picked out some content that Zhou Shangjing could understand, and said slowly: "Old Zhou Ge, you are already an old minister of the two dynasties, don't you think that in the past thirty or forty years, natural disasters in various parts of the imperial court have become more and more frequent?" ”

Zhou Shangjing was slightly stunned, and then nodded thoughtfully: "Originally, the old man hadn't noticed this situation, but after hearing Junchen's reminder, he found that this was indeed the case. For example, this year's drought in Shaanxi, Gansu and Shanxi must have attracted the attention of the world 34 years ago, but in recent years, it has become strange and accustomed to it. ”

Zhao Junchen sighed softly and said: "The younger generation has checked the relief accounts of the household department in previous years, and since the beginning of the first queen's period, natural disasters in various parts of my dynasty have gradually become more frequent. Ten years before His Majesty ascended the throne, there were 11 droughts, waterlogs, floods, locust plagues, and earthquakes on a larger scale, and 17 times in the second decade of His Majesty's accession to the throne, and 23 times in the last 10 years! Especially in the past three years, all kinds of natural disasters seem to have become commonplace, if this trend continues to spread, the younger generation can't help but be a little worried, I don't know if the imperial court can cope with it......"

Then, Zhao Junchen frowned slightly, and said: "Don't hide it from Zhou Ge Lao, in recent times, the silver money of the household department has gradually become abundant, but the grain stock of the treasury is already on the verge of danger!" If this trend continues, the household department will only be able to hold out for two years at most, and it will no longer be able to provide food to the people. ”

Zhou Shangjing pondered for a long time and asked, "Junchen, do you mean that in the future, natural disasters will occur more and more frequently in various parts of the imperial court?" ”

After seeing Zhao Junchen nodding, Zhou Shangjing was a little unconvinced, shook his head and said, "I'm afraid Junchen is worrying about the sky, right?" God's thing, who can guess? Maybe the next two years will be smooth and the world will have a good harvest. ”

After a pause, Zhou Shangjing said again: "What's more, although the household has less grain, but there is also more surplus silver, if the grain turnover is not open, you can use silver to buy from the people, why should Junchen be so worried?" ”

Seeing Zhou Shangjing say this, Zhao Junchen sighed lightly in his heart.

Even Zhou Shangjing's vision is limited by this era after all.

However, if Zhao Junchen really wants to make a difference, he must get Zhou Shangjing's support.

So, Zhao Junchen patiently explained: "The concerns of the younger generations are not groundless, the younger generations have specially investigated, and found that the temperature in various parts of the imperial court has become colder and colder in recent years. Most of the people still wear long-sleeved shirts.

Zhou Ge Lao, you also know that weather changes are closely related to the harvest of crops, and will also indirectly affect the occurrence of drought and floods.

Maybe all this is just the unfounded worries of the younger generation, but the younger generation, as the head of the household, saw that the household food was gradually depleted, but did not dare to put all hope on God's mood, and now there is still time to prepare, so it is natural to do everything possible to prevent it from happening. ”

After hearing Zhao Junchen's explanation, Zhou Shangjing fell into silence again, and his old eyes were full of thought.

Zhao Junchen continued: "Also, Zhou Ge Lao, you said that you should let the household department go to the people to buy food for emergencies, but the actual situation is probably even more shocking than Zhou Ge Lao imagined!" The people's grain storage is already very dangerous! Even if the household department has silver, I'm afraid it won't be able to buy much food!

Nearly half of the grain in our dynasty is produced in Jiangnan, but in the past hundred years, in order to earn more silver, farmers in Jiangnan have abandoned their cultivated fields and turned to planting tea, cotton, spices, fruits and other things with higher value! The grain production is less than three percent of a hundred years ago! In order to cope with the imperial court's requisition, all parts of Jiangnan have to buy grain from other places every year, and the grain grown locally in Jiangnan is a little reluctant to meet the needs of the local people. “

Zhao Junchen said these things, Zhou Shangjing, as the first assistant of the current dynasty, naturally knew it, but he had always looked at these things in isolation in the past, but now after being reminded by Zhao Junchen, Zhou Shangjing finally connected several things.

Then, Zhou Shangjing came to an astonishing conclusion - if natural disasters continue to occur frequently in various parts of the imperial court in the next two years, there will soon be no food to help the victims! At that time, there will inevitably be a large-scale revolt of displaced people! Coupled with the various shortcomings of the Ming Dynasty over the years, the situation is bound to be completely erosive and out of control!

Thinking of this, even if the city government is deep and experienced like Zhou Shangjing, he shuddered.

Then, Zhou Shangjing finally understood Zhao Junchen's thoughts, and his expression gradually became serious, and said: "These speculations do have some truth. But I'm afraid it won't be enough to convince His Majesty and the hundred officials, if Junchen tells these thoughts, you may end up with a charge of bewitching the public. “

Zhao Junchen sighed and said, "Therefore, the juniors only dare to tell Zhou Ge that you are alone......

Zhou Shangjing nodded again, and once again picked up Zhao Junchen's recital to review it in detail.

Although Zhou Shangjing still didn't believe Zhao Junchen's inference and felt a little alarmist, he had to admit that this situation was indeed possible, and the consequences were very serious, so it was necessary to take precautions.

*

On the other side, after seeing Zhou Shangjing's performance, Zhao Junchen felt a little weak in his heart.

Since ancient times, all powerful ministers have been capable ministers first and foremost! Only after becoming a capable minister can he climb to a high position and dominate the world.

Zhou Shangjing is like this, he is experienced, long-term, thoughtful, flexible, and willing to do some practical things for the imperial court, but even so, Zhao Junchen spent a lot of effort to convince him!

Even Zhou Shangjing is like this, if Zhao Junchen still wants to persuade more people to accept his judgment, it will be even more difficult!

"It seems that I am afraid it is difficult for me to count on others when it comes to dealing with the Xiaoice Period."

Zhao Junchen thought secretly.

Just when Zhao Junchen was thinking in secret, Zhou Shangjing reviewed Zhao Junchen's recital again.

Then, Zhou Shangjing raised his head and asked Zhao Junchen: "Do you hope that the imperial court will strictly order the yamen in various places to guide the people in farming according to the new agricultural book compiled by the Ministry of Households, as well as to promote the cultivation of corn and potatoes, just to prevent the frequent occurrence of natural disasters in various places?" ”

Zhao Junchen nodded and said, "That's right." ”

Zhou Shangjing frowned and said: "These two things seem to be very simple, but the people have always been sticking to the rules, and most of the local governments are also more than one thing is better than less thing, with the support of you and me, it is not difficult for the imperial court to issue a few decrees, but whether these decrees can be implemented smoothly is another matter!" I'm afraid that the people and the government will deal with things, and the yang will disobey the yin. ”

Zhao Junchen said: "Now I can only do my best, maybe the officials and households can combine these things with the official assessment, and strictly supervise, maybe the effect will be better." ”

Zhou Shangjing nodded noncommittally, and then pointed to Zhao Junchen's other suggestions and said: "However, Junchen wants to reduce the cultivation of fruits, tobacco leaves, and cotton by the people, as well as limit the scale of private winemaking, these two things are probably more difficult to do, and they have touched the interests of too many people!"

In fact, if it weren't for today's conversation, the old man would never have supported Junchen's ideas, because the old man also owns a lot of land in Jiangnan, and most of the tenants grow tea, fruits, and cotton...... The old man thinks like this, not to mention the thoughts of the officials, this is cutting off people's money......"

Zhao Junchen was silent, and he also knew that it was difficult for his suggestion to be supported by hundreds of officials in the imperial court.

After a long time, Zhao Junchen sighed and said, "The juniors also know that it is difficult, just try their best!" “

Zhou Shangjing was still noncommittal, and pointed to Zhao Junchen's last suggestion, and said: "As for the matter of letting the imperial court allocate a large amount of silver to build canals, waterwheels, and dams in various places, it is even more difficult!" If you just allocate a little silver, no one will say anything, but there is only so much silver in the imperial court, and if you use a large amount of silver to build canals and dams, it is equivalent to less silver allocated by other yamen, which will inevitably attract a backlash from hundreds of officials...... Even, even His Majesty will not agree. ”

Zhao Junchen had his own thoughts this time, and reminded: "Elder Zhou Ge, do you know how much silver Huang Yourong seized from Nanzhili this time?" ”

"How much?" Zhou Shangjing asked.

"Nearly nine million taels! After our plan succeeds, the six feudal kings of Nanjing and the eight feudal kings will also be unlucky, and this number will increase further. Zhao Junchen explained in detail, his eyes flashing with essence.

A hint of surprise flashed on Zhou Shangjing's face, and he asked, "Oh? So, you're eyeing this money? ”

Zhao Junchen nodded, as if he had made up his mind, and said with a calm expression: "If you have silver, you will naturally have to use it, if the household silver is too rich, Your Majesty will not pay attention to the younger generation, which is not a good thing for the younger generation!" If you have to use all this money, why can't you do something practical? ”

After a pause, Zhao Junchen said: "In addition, those eight vassal kings all occupy a large amount of cultivated land, and if they fall, these cultivated land will be returned to the imperial court, which can also play a great role. “

Hearing Zhao Junchen's thoughts, Zhou Shangjing was surprised again.

is not only surprised by Zhao Junchen's thoughtfulness, but also surprised by Zhao Junchen's good intentions to worry about the country and the people.

Who would have thought that a notorious corrupt official like Zhao Junchen, when faced with a large sum of money, would first think about how to stabilize the country and benefit the people?

……

First update! There's also a big chapter around the wee hours of the morning.

……