Daming Town Haiwang

Chapter 2055, hard work and talent

Inside the Study Room of the Emperor Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Hongzhi was watching the memorials from various places. After about ten days of strict control measures, the epidemic situation in basically all places in Ming Dynasty has been brought under control, and production and living order are gradually being restored.

The incubation period of the plague is very short, usually it will erupt in one or two days, and it will not last longer than five days, so the ten-day blockade can basically completely control the epidemic.

"Fortunately, I listened to Liu Jin's suggestion in time and took strict control measures to bring the epidemic under control in a timely manner. Otherwise, it would definitely not be as simple as tens of thousands of deaths."

Emperor Hongzhi couldn't help feeling rejoicing in his heart. Fortunately, he listened to Liu Jin's suggestion in the first time, and decisively issued the most stringent containment measures, which brought the epidemic under control.

Otherwise, even if it is a day or two late, the situation may be completely different.

One day later, the number of infected people will increase exponentially. Once it reaches a certain point, it will be really difficult and difficult to control, and it will cause a huge impact and load on Daming's medical system.

I'm afraid that if it gets to a certain stage, the number of deaths may be hundreds of thousands or millions, which will undoubtedly be a heavy blow to Daming.

The current Ming Dynasty is in a stage of rapid development, capitalism and the industrial revolution are developing rapidly, the population is gradually concentrating in the cities, and urbanization has reached a certain scale.

If it wasn't strictly sealed off, the consequences would be unimaginable. Fortunately, Daming's current medical technology and level have been greatly improved, especially in the research on bacteria and viruses, which has achieved great results. It also greatly reduced the death rate.

But in the end, thanks to the strict containment measures, which reduced the spread and infection, the epidemic was brought under control.

"What about Liu Jin's memorial?"

Thinking of Liu Jin, Emperor Hongzhi recalled the memorial written by Liu Jin again, about establishing a complete defense and prevention and control mechanism.

"Your Majesty, that memorial?"

Zhang Zhong, the eunuch who was accompanying him, asked quickly.

"It's the memorial from last winter."

Emperor Hongzhi said quickly.

"Your Majesty, I'll let someone find you."

Zhang Zhong hurriedly searched for him. Zhang Zhong is Xiao Jing's godson. Xiao Jing is over 80 years old and can't do it anymore. So he recommended Zhang Zhong to continue to serve Emperor Hongzhi. This Zhang Zhong is similar to Xiao Jing. One of the few good eunuchs in the history of the Ming Dynasty.

He was not well-known in history, because Zhu Houzhao ascended the throne after the death of Emperor Hongzhi, and Zhu Houzhao reused Liu Jin and others, causing turmoil in the government and the opposition.

Soon, the memorial written by Liu Jin was found out, and Emperor Hongzhi looked at it carefully again.

"It turned out that Liu Jin had already predicted that there would be a plague after the severe drought and flood. This year, when we encountered an unprecedented drought in the north of Ming Dynasty, there would definitely be a plague."

"It seems that what Liu Jin said is very reasonable. Maybe my Ming Dynasty has no shortage of food, but if there is a plague, it will not be as simple as food. It is indeed necessary to establish and improve related systems. , Once various disasters occur, the relevant early warning and prevention mechanisms will be activated in time to minimize losses.”

After carefully reading Liu Jin's memorials again and again, Emperor Hongzhi also had to be impressed by Liu Jin's foresight.

Last winter, Liu Jin had already anticipated what might happen this year.

It was very cold in winter, the weather was too cold and abnormal, and then this year was extremely dry, and the northern region suffered a severe drought that was rare in a century.

The severe drought led to the emergence and ravages of the plague. The whole thing came together, not alone, and the disasters were related.

"This year is only one year. If it is true that as Liu Jin said, there may be droughts, abnormal weather, plagues, locusts and other disasters in the last few years during the Little Ice Age, then The consequences are really unimaginable.”

Emperor Hongzhi sat in his chair, thinking carefully. There was a pile of memorials on the desk, but Emperor Hongzhi had no intention of reviewing them, because most of the memorials inside were meaningless memorials.

He is very clear that what he wants to think about is a major event that really affects the national economy and the people's livelihood, and it is related to the country and society.

"In this epidemic, all the officials of the practical group performed very well, but all the officials of the conservative school performed very poorly."

"Mao Ji, Liang Chu, Jiang Mian, Tang Mu, Xu Ming."

Soon, Emperor Hongzhi remembered the epidemic again, and there were huge differences in the performance of various local officials and court ministers.

Those who performed well, such as Fang Yongliang, the chief minister of Henan, and Tong Rui, the chief minister of Shaanxi, performed very well. The epidemic in the two places was the first to spread, but they were also the first to be controlled.

"Talent comes from hard work!"

"In the past, I always stared at these officials in the government and the opposition. These are all talented and well-written articles. However, these officials in the court are still too inexperienced in governing the country. Faced with this sudden situation, there is no way.”

"Often you don't pay attention to it, and you don't take it to heart. This is not okay."

"On the contrary, the chief envoys, magistrates, prefects, etc. at the local level have done a great job, and they have done a good job in all aspects."

"Perhaps in the future, the imperial court's selection and appointment system will need to be changed. After the Imperial Academy comes out, it must be placed in a local area to experience it. Only in this way can we have a better understanding of the local area and be able to grasp the most authentic Ming dynasty. Case."

"The other time, there must be a big change."

Emperor Hongzhi kept thinking in his heart.

Many people's heads were beheaded here in Shandong and Nanzhili, but it doesn't mean that there are no problems in other provinces. It's just that during the epidemic, Emperor Hongzhi still needed these officials to do things, so he didn't choose to move them for the time being.

Now that the epidemic is gradually passing, Emperor Hongzhi is also considering replacing some officials who have a vegetarian diet and do nothing. During the epidemic, some officials directly hid in the beautiful countryside to avoid the plague.

What's the use of keeping such an official? You can't count on big things, and you can't handle small things well. Apart from flattering people and writing good articles, they are of no use at all.

Keep them, if this happens again in the future, it will be another Mao Ji.

Thinking of Mao Ji, Emperor Hongzhi became even more angry.

What time has it been? I have repeatedly issued orders and asked all places to strictly implement prevention and control measures, but this Mao Ji almost ignored Shandong and Nanzhili, which were under his jurisdiction, and probably did not even ask a few times.

Still collecting money, completely disregarding the life and death of the common people below, even though his head had been beheaded, Emperor Hongzhi still felt uneasy.

"Come here, call the cabinet ministers and six ministers to discuss the matter!"

At this time, at Wenyuan Pavilion where the cabinet works, Jiang Mian, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, is discussing new personnel appointments with Han Wen, Yang Yiqing, and Yang Tinghe of the cabinet.

The power of the Minister of the Ministry of Officials is very powerful. He is known as the official of heaven. Officials below the third rank can be directly appointed and dismissed by the Minister of the Ministry of Officials. .

It can be said that in the Ming Dynasty, the Minister of the Ministry of Officials had great power, almost deciding the appointment, promotion, transfer, etc. of most officials, and was called a heavenly official.

"This time the epidemic has fluctuated greatly, and there have been many vacancies in various local government offices, especially in Shandong and Nanzhili, where many important positions have been vacant."

"This is a list of transfers and promotions that I have drawn up. Please take a look at them."

Jiang Mian sent up a list, as the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, this is his duty, and it is also his power. The provinces of Shandong and Nanzhili are not ordinary provinces.

These are two of the thirteen most important provinces belonging to the Ming Dynasty, and they are more important than the provinces overseas and outside the customs.

And for a long time, everyone has also tacitly accepted the rule that local provinces are more important than overseas and non-customs provinces. For example, if you transfer from Heitu Province to the local Shandong Province at the same level, it is actually equivalent to being promoted by half a level.

If one is transferred from Shandong Province to Heitu Province, it means being demoted. Overseas provinces are not as good as local provinces. This is already an unspoken rule in Ming Dynasty official circles, just like Beijing officials are better than local officials.

No way, Ming has a vast territory and many more provinces. There are five provinces in Nanyang, and there are two provinces in Jinzhou, North and South, as well as Australia, Liaodong, Western Regions, Northwest, Central Asia, Hezhong, Nanyun, and Black Soil. In addition, there are Hong Kong in Europe, Xihai in the Mediterranean Sea and other overseas colonies directly under Ming Dynasty.

Although some of the provinces overseas and outside the customs have a vast territory, they have a small population and a poor economic aggregate. Naturally, their status is not as good as that of the thirteen local provinces.

Especially provinces like Shandong and Nanzhili, which are the most important identities of the Ming Dynasty, have a large population, a developed economy, and heavy taxation. They have always been the provinces that the imperial court attaches the most importance to.

If you transfer back to Shandong or Nanzhili from overseas, it will be equivalent to promotion.

Han Wen took the list drawn up by Jiang Mian, looked at it carefully, and couldn't help frowning, because on this list, most of the promoted officials belonged to the old-fashioned school, officials of the hard-working school But not many.

Especially the most critical positions, such as the position of Minister of the Ministry of Industry vacated by Mao Ji, the chief envoy of Shandong vacated by Tang Mu, the chief envoy of Nanzhili vacated by Xu Ming, and the changes after the transfer of related positions, etc. Almost all of them were occupied by officials from the old-fashioned faction, but not many from the practical faction.

(End of this chapter)