Although it is already spring, there is hardly much greenery to be seen outside Beijing, and even some shallow streams have not yet thawed, reflecting the gray wall tiles and mottled corner towers on the city wall, revealing an indescribable depression.

Only the more than 40,000 Ming troops surrounded outside Xizhi Gate, Desheng Gate and Dongzhi Gate, and the formation of the purge brought infinite vitality to this ancient city.

However, the shining armor on the shoulders of these soldiers and the fiery guns in their hands that reflected the dazzling sunlight made the captives at the head of the city feel a little colder.

In the camp of the Ming army seven miles east of the city, Zhang Jiayu was holding a roster to the Son of Heaven, "Your Majesty, in addition to the rebel army that passed with the army in Xianghe, Sanhe, Wuqing, Baodi and other counties before, today there are more than 1,300 people from the Zuo Yuhe Department of the Fangshan County Righteous Army, more than 900 people from the Zhao Tong Department of the Daxing County Righteous Army, and more than 2,200 men and horses from the Qiu Yongyan Department of the Shunyi County Righteous Army, and they are all camped five miles away from the northeast.

"In addition, a large number of rebels are coming here, such as the Li Xueming Department of Changping County and the Jiangxin Department of Huairou County......

Zhu Linmiao hurriedly raised his hand to interrupt him, "Let's just say how many people there are, Fang Yizhi and Lin Zunbin outside have been waiting for more than an hour." ”

"Yes." Zhang Jiayu glanced at the total number at the back and said, "Back to Your Majesty, there are more than 18,000 volunteers from all walks of life outside Beijing at present, and there are still 30,000 or 40,000 people on the way, and they will arrive within five days." ”

Zhu Linmiao smiled bitterly in her heart. Since a few days ago, the Long Wei army broke through the defense line of Jianyu at Bali Bridge in only half an hour, and bombarded Tongzhou City in half a day, the Jianyu around Beijing have abandoned their garrisons and fled into Beijing one after another.

After all, no matter how powerful the rumored Ming army is, it can't withstand the shock to Jianyu from taking Tongzhou, which is heavily garrisoned.

At the same time, the rebels from all over the country rose up one after another, chasing after the retreating Jianyu and beating the water dogs, which was also quite successful. In just a few days, 50,000 or 60,000 troops will gather outside Beijing, and many more are coming.

In other words, if Zhu Linmiao wanted to, it wouldn't take long to be able to assemble an army of 200,000 horses!

Of course, there is no need to count on the combat effectiveness of these rebels, and the siege of the city cannot be relied on at all. Moreover, the logistical supplies of the Ming army were prepared according to 45,000 men and horses, and if so many people were added to "eat for nothing" at once, the grain and grass would soon be in an emergency.

He thought for a while and instructed Zhang Jiayu: "The enthusiasm of these rebels is commendable, but the actual combat effect is really limited, so let's commend them and let them go back to their hometowns."

"Ah, by the way, you have made a note of those who have really killed the enemy, and then ordered the military department to send someone to select some of the best ones to be used as the team of the police force in the future."

Jianyu has a deep influence on Beizhili, and none of the original army Zhu Linwei is planned to be retained, and it is unrealistic to transfer them all from other places, but it is quite appropriate for these rebels to be trained.

Zhang Jiayu briefly reported that Tan Bai went out of the city last night to sneak attack, and was annihilated by the broken camp of more than 1,000 people, and then retreated.

He went out of the tent with his front foot, and more than a dozen courtiers such as Fang Yizhi, Lin Zunbin, Zeng Jian, and Tian Zhuangfei followed Shi Lin in, and almost everyone from all departments had it, and it was like a small court meeting.

There was no way, the Son of Heaven had been driving in person for a long time, and Yang Tinglin and the cabinet did not understand many of the new things he handled single-handedly, or had no way to interfere, and the courtiers who were doing the work were worried that it would be difficult to explain clearly, so they simply "organized a group" to come to Beijing to play.

After the salute, Lin Zunbin of the household department was the most urgent, and he didn't have the slightest intention of humility, so he stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, now the spring sowing in all parts of the south of the Yangtze River, including Sichuan and Huguang, has been arranged, and potatoes and sweet potatoes are planted by many farmers.

"It's just that Huai'an Mansion and Shandong Xinfu, although Zhang Butang has already prepared the seeds of potatoes and sweet potatoes, but planting these at this time may delay spring sowing......"

"If you sow potatoes and sweet potatoes in Shandong and other places, is it enough for a month?"

"Back to Your Majesty, except for some distant places in northern Lubei, you should be in time."

Zhu Linmiao said without hesitation: "Then plant." Potatoes and sweet potatoes grow very fast, even if they are delayed for a month, they can at least be harvested this year, and the yield is much higher than that of wheat. But where the wheat has already been sown, don't toss it anymore. ”

"Minister, Commander."

Zhu Linmiao knows very well that during the so-called "prosperous Kangqian era" in history, nearly 400 million people were fed by relying on high-yield potatoes and sweet potatoes. At present, in addition to Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan and Beizhili, the whole country has spread out the cultivation of these two crops, and it is foreseeable that the whole country will be full of warehouses when the autumn harvest is this year. It's enough for the current population of the Ming Dynasty to eat for two years!

And that's without the use of chemical fertilizers.

Lin Shilang retreated, and Fang Yizhi immediately surrendered his hand and said: "Your Majesty, last month, the expedition of the Ministry of Commerce discovered a gold mine in New Guinea, and it is reported that the reserves are quite high, but there are not enough people to pan for gold. ”

Zhu Linmi's eyes lit up when he heard this, he only remembered that Australia was rich in minerals, but he didn't know what mines they were, but he didn't expect that there was an accident.

He hurriedly asked, "How much gold can be produced per month, and how many people are needed to mine it?" ”

"When I returned to the emperor, I have already found out, and I will produce at least 1,500 taels per month. At least more than 1,000 people need to be strong. ”

Sure enough, we still have to actively explore the colony! Zhu Linmiao sighed in his heart, now all gold mines in Daming have an annual output of more than 30,000 taels, and one mine in Guinea has an annual output of 18,000 taels! It is important to know that almost all of this gold is "pure profit".

He immediately ordered: "Transfer 1,000 loyal battalions to the island of Guinea, and allocate 3,000 prisoners to you." In addition to mining, the camp should also be built! ”

"Obey."

Fang Yizhi continued: "Your Majesty, in addition to gold mines, there are several copper mines in Guinea, do you also ...... them together?"

"Mining! Nature Mine Together! Zhu Linmiao immediately said, "By the way, I'm afraid that three thousand people will not be enough." ”

He said and looked in the direction of Beijing, and said with a smile: "There are some captives, you ask the Ministry of Industry to calculate how many people are needed, and the last one is for me." ”

"Yes, I'll do it."

After he finished speaking, Li Guangchun, the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, couldn't wait to say again: "Your Majesty, the list of Gezhike Township Tests in various places has been released, and a total of 360 people in the country have been selected. According to His Majesty's original intention, the guild test and the palace test will be conducted immediately after the township test, but His Majesty is still commanding the army in Beizhi, and Xu Butang wants to send officials to ask for orders, will it be postponed until the end of the year? ”

Zhu Linmiao didn't expect that more than 300 people would pass the first Gezhi Imperial Examination, and it seems that Gezhi Academy has cultivated a lot of talents in the past two years.

He asked Li Guangchun: "When will the people from all over the country enter Beijing?" ”

"Back to Your Majesty, it was scheduled for the beginning of June."

There is still more than a month. Zhu Linmiao was relieved, although Beijing City was strong, he didn't plan to spend much time here.

"If it doesn't change, it's still June. I will triumph at that time and personally preside over the temple examination! ”