Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

As May arrived, good news kept coming in.

First, the imperial court successfully auctioned off the land in the Liaohetao region, with 10,000 square li of land sold for 18 million.

The imperial court received half of it, which was nine million taels, plus the fifteen million taels previously sold to meritorious officials.

The revenue of 24 million taels of silver made the imperial treasury extremely prosperous.

Not only were previous debts repaid, but funds were also allocated for the construction of the meritorious officials' residence, the continuation of the war in Annam, the development and immigration of Northeast China, and the naval shipbuilding plan.

Even the Indian campaign plan and the autumn military exercises on the Grand Canal were budgeted for.

The Ministry of Revenue had never been so well-off, and Bi Ziyan and others exclaimed that they should conquer several more small Jiangnan regions.

The Pingjiang Protectorate, dubbed the "New Jiangnan," naturally attracted the attention of the court officials. They all demanded that the Lancang River Delta be conquered as soon as possible.

The news from Annam was also very favorable to them.

After several months of clearing, the Red River Delta was basically pacified, and the forces resisting the Ming Dynasty fled south into the mountains.

Zhang Shize, a descendant of the Duke of England, performed exceptionally well, leading the Duke's guards to firmly keep them under control in the area.

The Annam Protectorate nowadays doesn't need to worry much about war; its focus is on the development and management of the Red River Plain.

This made all the court officials realize that the enfeoffment was the right thing to do:

The imperial court ate meat while meritorious officials drank soup and gnawed on bones, which greatly reduced the pressure on the imperial court.

Under these circumstances, even though Liu Zongzhou vehemently criticized some policies after arriving in Annam, he did not change the court's policies.

It was simply clarified that Liu Zongzhou was a special envoy for education in Annam, and that he was tasked with finalizing the educational measures for Annam.

The court did not pursue the various events that occurred during the war, and Zhu Youjian even used his newly acquired power of amnesty to pardon the soldiers who had made mistakes against the local people during the Annam War.

In short, this matter is now in the past.

The imperial court is organizing migration to Annam to develop the land there.

Surprisingly, there is a shortage of immigrants; the Ming Dynasty currently lacks sufficient displaced people.

This greatly surprised Zhu Youjian, who issued a strict order that no region should obstruct the migration of people, and that no one should be intercepted if they wished to go overseas or beyond the Great Wall.

However, the number of immigrants is still insufficient. According to reports from local authorities, the Ming Dynasty does not currently have that many displaced people.

Therefore, Zhu Youjian convened a special court assembly to discuss the issue of immigration.

Zhang Mengjing, who had returned to the court due to illness and was appointed as a senior minister, submitted a memorial stating:

"Since the imperial court established the Governor-General of Immigration and encouraged immigration, 300,000 immigrants were relocated in the first year of Chongzhen's reign."

"In the second year of Chongzhen's reign, it increased to 500,000, and in the third year of Chongzhen's reign, it increased to 600,000."

"Last year saw the largest number of people relocated because Liaodong is closer, with a total of 800,000 people moving there."

"The number of these cases counted by the imperial court is as high as 2.2 million."

"If we add those who died on the way and those who fled the famine on their own, the number of people who migrated from the Northwest would be no less than three million."

This is the result of four years of immigration. Each year may seem small, but in total, two to three million people have moved away.

The officials were all astonished by this number, because according to the previous Yellow Register, the total population of Shaanxi was only 4.5 million.

If we follow the original figures in the Yellow Register, more than half of the people in Shaanxi would have been relocated.

This is clearly impossible. According to reports from Shaanxi officials, the current population of Shaanxi is approximately seven million.

A new Yellow Register is being compiled, with the aim of obtaining detailed population data.

Zhang Mengjing continues to report:

“Shaanxi is now under military control in all areas except Guanzhong and Hanzhong.”

"The population figure is much more accurate than before; seven million is credible."

"Of the province's arable land, approximately 30 million mu, 10 million mu of high-standard farmland have been basically achieved."

"Except for northern Shaanxi, no other parts of Shaanxi have experienced a severe drought this year, and the estimated harvest of grain is no less than 40 million shi (a unit of dry measure)."

"Your Majesty's exemption of taxes means that, based on a population of seven million, each person can harvest an average of nearly six bushels of grain, enough to allow the people to have a good year."

This surprised Zhu Youjian, who said in a somewhat strange tone:

"So, the people don't want to migrate because they can have enough to eat this year?"

Zhang Mengjing, looking relaxed and smiling, said:
"exactly!"

"Four years after the imperial court provided relief, Shaanxi has been out of trouble."

They believe that after several years of hardship, good times have finally arrived for Shaanxi.

The officials of the Ministry of Revenue were overjoyed, because if Shaanxi were to escape its predicament, it would not only no longer need the imperial court to provide disaster relief, but would also be able to contribute taxes.

Immediately, officials from the Ministry of Revenue proposed levying taxes on Shaanxi this year.

This was a situation that Zhu Youjian had not anticipated. What he did not know was that the fifth year of Chongzhen's reign was the year with the least severe drought in Shaanxi during the Chongzhen drought.

The drought then worsened again, evolving into a severe drought across the entire north.

In other words, the fifth year of Chongzhen's reign was the best year of the entire Chongzhen era, and things got worse year by year after that.

Although Zhu Youjian was unaware of this situation, he knew that there had been a severe drought during the Chongzhen era, and the worst of the drought was yet to come.

Therefore, he naturally disagreed with levying taxes on Shaanxi, and rebuked the officials of the Ministry of Revenue, saying:

"Shaanxi has suffered from drought for several years. How can the people afford to pay taxes?"

"If the harvest is good this year, we'll give them some savings."

“The Book of Rites says, ‘After three years of farming, there will be enough food for one year.’ Let them rest for a few more years, and we can discuss collecting taxes again after they have three years of farming.”

He then addressed the officials of the Ministry of Personnel:
"The reduction in immigration is certainly an obstacle to the development of overseas regions and border areas."

"But it also shows that Shaanxi's governance has been very effective, and Shaanxi officials should be commended."

“Sun Chuanting, the Governor-General of the Three Border Regions, has been in Shaanxi for five years. He should be transferred back to the capital for an important post and be included in the list of candidates for the Nine Ministers.”

"The position of Governor-General of the Three Borders..."

After a pause, Zhu Youjian said:
"Now there are more than three border towns in Shaanxi, and the imperial court is going to build a large three-line border defense."

"It is no longer appropriate to call him the Governor-General of the Three Borders. He should be renamed the Governor-General of the Northwest, who will also oversee Shanxi and Henan."

"The drought in these two provinces is also very serious, and we need to coordinate our efforts to manage it together."

"Shen Zizhang, the governor of Shaanxi, was promoted to governor-general of the Northwest for his outstanding achievements and was in charge of disaster relief in the three provinces."

He directly appointed Shen Zizhang, without allowing the court officials to recommend him.

He valued this official who was skilled in water conservancy, because even under such difficult circumstances in Shaanxi, he was able to renovate tens of millions of acres of high-standard farmland.

If the same achievement were made in Shanxi and Henan, it would bring stability to more than ten million people.

Therefore, citing the current martial law in Shaanxi, he directly appointed officials.

However, this reason clearly failed to convince the court officials. Grand Secretary Han Kuang said:

"Your Majesty, Shaanxi and Shanxi are under martial law, but Henan is not."

"Since the Governor-General of the Three Border Regions has been changed to the Governor-General of the Three Northwest Provinces, I believe it should be recommended by the court."

Other ministers echoed this sentiment, and mid-level officials also actively supported it.

Because the Governor-General, like the Ministers of Personnel and War and the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, was recommended by officials of the fifth rank or above. Higher-ranking mid-level officials already had the power of recommendation.

Zhu Youjian hadn't expected that changing the Governor-General of the Three Border Regions to the Governor-General of the Northwest would cause this trouble. He frowned and said:

"Shaanxi and Shanxi have suffered from severe drought for years, and the disaster situation in Henan should not be underestimated."

"I believe these three provinces should all be placed under martial law and managed by capable officials."

"If you think I cannot directly appoint the Governor-General of the Northwest, then I will first declare martial law in Henan as well."

The intention is to include Henan in the martial law zone and strengthen the ability to interfere there.

However, the court officials were unwilling to accept this proposal, and in the end, they had no choice but to shelve it.

However, Zhu Youjian still established the Northwest Governor-General position, and he included Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces under the jurisdiction of the Northwest Governor-General.

Both provinces were under martial law, so he could directly issue imperial edicts to appoint officials.

Shen Zizhang became the Governor-General of the Northwest, directly governing the two regions.

Zhu Youjian demanded that he strictly enforce the immigration measures, requiring all men with less than two mu of their own land to relocate.

In short, immigration cannot stop. Disaster relief in the Northwest and overseas development both require the relocation of people.
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To encourage immigration, he also emphasized a policy that allowed people to pan for gold and receive half of the profits.

He addressed his ministers:

"The imperial court is now planning to issue vouchers with gold as reserves, which requires sufficient gold."

"As I said before, any Ming citizen who settles overseas or beyond the Great Wall can obtain half of the profits if they are willing to pan for gold."

"As long as the gold panned out is sold to the imperial court, no additional taxes will be levied."

He ordered the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works to draft the "Gold Law" and submit it to the National Assembly along with the new "Currency Law".

The imperial court needed to control precious metals such as gold and silver in order to have sufficient reserves to issue paper money.

However, this regulation was not plunder, but rather the forced purchase of gold at market price.

Zhu Youjian had already imposed mandatory gold purchases in the capital some time ago, but he wasn't confident in the implementation in other places, so he focused on controlling gold mines and purchasing gold at the source.

The advantage of this is that, in addition to the Yukon River gold mine discovered the year before last, his personnel have discovered another gold mine, which is very conducive to attracting immigrants.

He brought out the two gold mines and announced them publicly:
"The Yukon River gold mine and the Mohe gold mine were both discovered by people sent by the inner court."

"However, I will not monopolize these two gold mines. In addition to the reward for the discoverers, 20% will go to the local garrison and government offices, and 20% will go to the Imperial Gold Reserve Association, and will also be used as tax."

"I will only take one-tenth as tribute, and give the remaining five-tenths to the gold miners."

"This matter must be widely publicized to attract people to pan for gold in the Yukon River and Mohe."

Such a generous concession earned praise from the court officials.

Officials in the Ministry of Revenue, in particular, were very supportive of the policy, thinking that the Gold Reserves Association could obtain 20% of the gold mine revenue out of thin air and also purchase more gold to print more vouchers.

Zhu Youjian requested that the focus of the propaganda be on Henan and Shanxi, and that the main focus of immigration be shifted to these two provinces.

The immigration requirements for Shaanxi are being relaxed, with a focus on relocating surplus offspring.

Given the current land conditions in Shaanxi, if the agricultural population does not exceed seven million, a major famine should not occur.

The situation in Shanxi and Henan is somewhat dire, especially in Henan, which, unlike Shanxi which is near the border and can be easily accessed from beyond the Great Wall, would be very troublesome if a disaster were to occur there.

Therefore, Zhu Youjian hoped that martial law would be declared in Henan and that some people would be relocated ahead of schedule.

However, his ministers, out of consideration for power, did not agree with his ideas.

The decision to impose martial law in Henan has consistently encountered resistance.

However, he was not in a hurry, because as the situation worsened, Henan would eventually declare martial law, and he had enough patience to wait.

Especially after the situation in Shaanxi stabilized, the imperial court had sufficient manpower and resources to target Henan. Construction could begin on resettlement routes such as the Longhai Highway.

He is now more focused on attracting immigrants through gold mining, establishing a few role models, and drawing people over.

Feng Dazhu, who discovered the gold mine in Mohe, was rewarded handsomely. He was promoted to a hereditary centurion and allowed to mine 10,000 taels of gold as a reward, sharing the profits of the gold mine as a centurion stationed there.

Upon hearing the news, soldiers from the Northeast flocked to Mohe. The requests to go to the various garrisons in Mohe kept Ji Jike extremely busy.
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As for Henan, the situation changed in June.

First, the next generation of ministers and chancellors needs to be determined, and ministers with ulterior motives need to curry favor with the emperor.

Secondly, an event occurred in Henan that led the court officials to decide to impose martial law in Henan.

Zhang Jiude, the Vice Minister in charge of river management, submitted a memorial stating:

"Your Majesty, the Yellow River breached its banks at Mengjin, causing countless deaths and injuries among the people, who are now forced to migrate everywhere."

"Fan Jingwen, the governor of Henan, reported that there was a danger of a mass rebellion in the area."

"Your Majesty, I request that martial law be declared in Henan and troops be deployed to stabilize the region."

The matter is far too serious for Zhang Jiude to bear the responsibility.

As the Vice Minister of Waterways, he took the initiative to request martial law, giving Zhu Youjian an opportunity to break the deadlock.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhu Youjian rebuked his ministers, saying:

"The situation in Henan is so dangerous that if a disaster occurs, the people will become refugees."

"Under these circumstances, martial law is absolutely necessary. What are your intentions in trying to prevent it and engaging in such lofty discussions in the imperial court?"

"Let's start the vote now and see who opposes martial law!"

He immediately ordered his ministers to vote on whether to declare martial law in Henan.

If the court officials still do not approve, he will use his imperial power to forcibly declare martial law.

Forced into a corner with no grounds for opposition, the courtiers had no choice but to comply with the emperor's demands and propose martial law.

Zhu Youjian then issued an edict declaring that Henan was under martial law and placed under the jurisdiction of the Northwest Governor-General, with the Northwest Governor-General Shen Zizhang and the Henan Governor Fan Jingwen, among others, responsible for implementing the martial law.

They were also given extensive authority to implement various measures as needed, and were even permitted to confiscate abandoned land and distribute it to landless or land-poor farmers.

As long as it is conducive to quelling the rebellion and providing disaster relief, they can implement various policies, and the imperial court will not pursue any subsequent responsibilities.

At this point, the three provinces most severely affected by the Chongzhen drought—Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Henan—were all placed under martial law.

This state of emergency will last for a long time until the drought ends.

The three regions also have the strictest immigration measures, and anyone who meets the criteria will be forcibly relocated.

As a result, large numbers of people from Shanxi migrated westward, spreading throughout the entire northern frontier region.

People from Shaanxi and Henan have many communities overseas.

This profoundly changed the situation in the three provinces, and also greatly affected the population and culture of the overseas regions beyond the Great Wall.

Qinqiang and Henan operas matured during this process, becoming the familiar sounds of home that many immigrants fondly remember.

Despite Zhu Youjian's desire to prevent local operas from flourishing, they stubbornly continued to develop.

Later, he could only organize the excellent local operas into Yuefu operas and incorporate them into the Yuefu system.

Except for performances in the local dialect, performances in other places must be sung in the standard dialect.

This gradually became a standard, making the Ming Dynasty Pronunciation Standard (大明正音) a language that could be understood in various regions.

Although homophony in speech has not been fully realized, it has become a consensus among many people through the development of Yuefu opera:
People from different places use standard pronunciation when communicating. (End of Chapter)