Daming Town Haiwang

Inside the Study Room of the Emperor Qianqing Palace of the Great Ming Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, this year my Ming Dynasty has good weather and good news from all over the country, and a bumper harvest. It is estimated that the grain harvested this year will be enough for my Ming Dynasty to eat for ten years!"

Hubu Shangshu Tong Rui reported this year's autumn harvest to Emperor Zhengde Zhu Houzhao with a smile on his face.

In the past few years, there were either droughts or floods. This year finally ushered in a year of good weather, and all parts of Daming also ushered in a year of bumper harvests.

"Okay, the grain grown in one year is enough to last for ten years, and I, Ming, don't have to worry about famine anymore."

When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he immediately nodded happily.

Farming and mulberry are the foundation of the country. Only when agriculture is developed and food is sufficient, society will have no problems, and other industries can prosper on this basis.

If there is a problem in agriculture, if there is not enough food to fill their stomachs, talking about anything else is nonsense. The first task is to solve the problem of feeding more than 4 million people in Daming.

"The grain produced in this year is enough for ten years, which is much more than the grain produced in previous harvest years."

After Liu Jin listened, he thought about it and said.

"Yes!"

"According to the statistics from various places, in recent years, the area of ​​grain planted in various places in Ming Dynasty has increased significantly, especially in Heitu Province, Hezhong Province, Liaodong Province, Guangdong and Guangxi, and North Golden Continent."

"In these places, there is a large amount of land that has not been cultivated. In the past, there was a bumper harvest of grain, and the price of grain was extremely low and could not be sold. Farmers were not motivated to cultivate the land, and more cotton and other cash crops were planted."

"In the past few years, our grain has been exported to all parts of the world, especially Europe, the Ottoman Empire, the Middle East and other places. Although the price of grain is still very low, if we can sell it, the enthusiasm of farmers for farming is much higher. "

"Especially in Black Soil Province and North Gold Continent. These two places are close to Europe, and grain can be easily transported to Europe for sale. Therefore, a large amount of land has been reclaimed."

"Both Black Soil Province and North Gold Continent have vast fertile plains, which are very suitable for mechanized farming. The farming efficiency is high, the harvest is good, and the efficiency is very good."

"In addition, the population of our Ming Dynasty is much larger than before. With the growth of a large number of new generations, they have gradually become an important labor force in society."

"The combination of these factors has made our Daming's arable land many times larger than before, and the grain production has naturally increased greatly."

Tong Rui reported to everyone the situation of Daming agriculture in detail.

Generally speaking, Daming has a vast land, a large population, and a large amount of uncultivated land. Now that these lands are slowly being developed, coupled with mechanized farming methods, the output will naturally increase.

In the past, farmers were not very willing to farm land, because the income from farming was not good, and it was difficult to sell this kind of grain, and it was difficult to sell it at a price. Who would farm the land?

It's better to use some land to plant pastures, raise cattle and sheep, and use good grain to raise chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, etc. Even if there is land, I don't want to farm it.

"Then the price of this grain will definitely be very low again this year. The price of grain will hurt farmers. We still have to find a way to sell this grain."

Wang Shouren thought about it and said worriedly.

This bumper harvest of grain should be a happy thing, but when there is too much grain to eat and sell, it is a headache.

Farmers have worked hard for a year, but they all hope that the grain can be sold for some money back. There is a bumper harvest in all parts of Daming, and the price of this grain will definitely drop sharply, and the grain in many places cannot be sold at all. go out.

"Well, we must find a way to sell these grains."

Liu Jin also nodded in agreement.

The Ming Dynasty can have a bumper harvest of grain this year, not because of the large-scale export of grain to Europe, the Ottoman Empire, the Middle East and other regions in the past few years.

Exporting grain at extremely low prices is cheaper than locally produced grain when it is shipped to the local area.

It is such a low price that a large amount of grain is exported to Europe, the Ottoman Empire, and the Middle East, allowing farmers to sell their grain, which increases their enthusiasm.

If it cannot be sold now, the farmers' enthusiasm for farming will be frustrated again, and I am afraid that next year's grain planting area will drop significantly.

"How is the grain harvest in Europe this year?"

Zhu Houzhao thought for a while and asked.

"Returning to Your Majesty, according to the current situation, the grain production in Europe will drop sharply this year."

"On the one hand, it is because of the continuous war in Europe, and many places have been affected by the war, which has greatly affected agriculture, especially France, a major producer in Western Europe. It has been attacked by Spain from the north and the south. It is already in jeopardy, and food cultivation has been greatly affected. "

"Secondly, our layout in Europe in the past few years has made many nobles in Europe choose to raise sheep in enclosures, which has greatly reduced food cultivation."

Liu Jin also quickly reported to Zhu Houzhao.

"That just happens to continue to dump grain to Europe this year, and we can sell it cheaper than last year, as long as the grain sells to meet demand."

"Let them eat cheap food for a few years first, and when the time comes, we will take it back with interest."

When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he immediately said with a smile.

"Yes!"

Liu Jin nodded solemnly.

Now is the beginning of the Little Ice Age, the climate is volatile, and years of famine often occur. It is very easy to acquire Europe.

The impact of low-priced food on agriculture across Europe has made them dependent. When the price is suddenly raised at the right time, they will eat it even if they don’t eat it. Even if the price is high, they will buy it with tears in their eyes. down.

It's impossible not to eat.

This trick was used by Lao Mei in the later generations. I don't know how much wealth of the place has been harvested.

Food is definitely the most terrifying weapon!

Compared with the current Ming Dynasty, it is nothing, because the technology has not yet developed to the level of genetic technology, and it is impossible to produce genetically modified food and seeds.

If technology develops, it will not only be able to control the food, but also the seeds of the food. At that point, it will be the most terrifying thing. Even the seeds will be controlled by you. Even if you want to plant the land yourself, you can plant it It can't be done.

Once it reaches that point, it is basically the meat on other people's cutting boards, and you can eat whatever you want.

"Your Majesty, Qi Zuo, the governor of Huguang, hopes to build a bridge across the Yangtze River in Hanyang."

Fang Yongliang, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, stood up and reported to Zhu Houzhao.

"Do you want to build the Yangtze River Bridge?"

When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he immediately regained his energy.

As a generation of emperors, of course they want to leave something to future generations. A bridge that can benefit future generations is undoubtedly an excellent thing.

The Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge built during the reign of Emperor Hongzhi has now become a landmark building of the Ming Empire. A bridge flies from north to south, and the natural moat becomes a thoroughfare.

Because of the existence of the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, the travel between the north and the south of the Yangtze River in the Ming Dynasty has become extremely convenient and fast, and the train can go directly from the north to the south.

Now Huguang Hanyang is going to build the Yangtze River Bridge again, which absolutely must be supported.

"What's the approximate budget?"

Zhu Houzhao thought for a while and asked.

The budget system was also developed by Liu Jin. When Liu Jin was the Minister of the Ministry of Households, he developed the budget system. All expenditures will be planned in advance and a budget will be given. It will be more reasonable and can take care of all aspects.

This is completely different from the situation in the previous household department. The capital of the previous household department was unable to make ends meet. Many times, they knew that they would blindly save money. The control and influence over the entire country is very weak.

The budget system has continued since its inception to the present, and everyone has become accustomed to check the relevant budget first, and do it if possible.

"It is estimated that about [-] million taels of silver will be needed!"

Fang Yongliang quickly said: "Huguang can raise about 2000 million taels of silver, and the imperial court needs to allocate 3000 million taels of silver."

"The model also adopts the model of the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge. Whoever invests will benefit, and it will be listed on the Tianjin Stock Exchange for trading."

"It doesn't need to cost a lot of money. Huguang is located in the middle area. It would be nice to have a bridge. What do you love?"

Zhu Houzhao also nodded after hearing this. The money is not much to spend. Now the annual financial revenue of the Ming Empire is close to 20 billion taels of silver. Spending 3000 million taels of silver is nothing at all.

Besides, this is an investment, and it can gradually pay off in the future. For example, the current rate of return of the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge is not bad, and it can receive several million taels of tolls every year.

"Your Majesty, this is a good deed that will benefit the present and benefit the future. Of course, we must support it."

"However, the standard still has to refer to the standard of the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge. The bridge can be built, but it should be built higher, so as not to affect the navigation of the Yangtze River."

Liu Jin also nodded to show his support.

Although the infrastructure of Daming is not bad, compared with later generations, it is still a lot worse. The Yangtze River Bridge can definitely be built, but it cannot affect the navigation of the Yangtze River just because of the bridge construction.

We must know that because of the Yangtze River, Huguang, Jiangxi and other places are developing extremely rapidly, and the convenient water transportation of the long sword makes the difference between these places and coastal areas not much.

In the early stage, a lot of money was spent on dredging the Yangtze River, building wharves, etc., not all to maximize the value of the golden waterway of the Yangtze River.

Facts have proved that it is very useful. The development of Huguang and Jiangxi is very rapid, and it has also driven the development of Guizhou, Chongqing and other regions.

This Huguang has also developed, and when it has money, it was able to conceive the idea of ​​building the Yangtze River Bridge.