Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

The emergence of the conflict between population and land brought a new topic of discussion to the Ming Dynasty court and the general public.

Needless to say, this was something the emperor brought up during a conversation with the chief minister, and any official with a discerning eye would take it seriously.

Following the discussion on religion, the media and academic circles have found a new hot topic and are actively discussing this issue.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Hanlin Academy, under the leadership of Qian Qianyi, published the second issue of "Hanlin".

The quality of the articles in this issue is not as good as that in the first issue, but the emperor's article "On Contradiction" is enough to ensure that every official and scholar has a copy.

The Hanlin Journal began to gain a foothold and became one of the highest academic publications in the Ming Dynasty.

The journal *Science*, edited by Zhang Pu, was also busy. It invited officials from the Ministry of Revenue to write papers on data regarding population, arable land, and other matters mentioned by the emperor.

This style of speaking with numbers has become a distinctive feature of Science.

Science, as a discipline based on mathematics, is also deeply rooted in people's minds.

Under these circumstances, the Imperial Lectures resumed on February 12th, and Zhu Youjian invited Xu Guangqi to explain population and arable land.

Xu Guangqi was excited about this, because he had been subjected to much criticism in the court and among the public during this period due to his belief in Nestorian Christianity.

The emperor's decision to have him lecture was an affirmation of his abilities; at least others would no longer attack his loyalty and scholarship.

Having received advance notice, he made preparations well in advance. Based on the "Study of the Well-Field System" in the "Complete Treatise on Agricultural Administration," he wrote a paper.

During his lectures, he made his views clear: the Ming Dynasty should not encourage childbirth, but rather limit the population and pay attention to the population issue.

He addressed the emperor and his court:

"The birth rate doubles approximately every thirty years. Unless there is a major war, it cannot be reduced."

"Based on this calculation, the current population of 150 to 200 million in the Ming Dynasty could reach 300 to 400 million in 30 years."

"Based on a population of 400 million, even if the 800 million mu of arable land were divided equally, each person would only have two mu of land."

"Based on an average yield of 2.3 shi per mu, two mu of land would yield 4.6 shi of grain. After paying taxes, only about four shi would remain."

"The imperial court's standard for disaster relief for refugees was 3 dou of rice per person per month, which would amount to 3.6 shi per year for twelve months."

"People have many needs beyond food, and farming is also subject to disasters. Harvesting about four bushels of grain a year is a struggle between life and death."

This harsh reality, through scientific calculations, is laid bare before everyone.

The court officials all realized that what the emperor said was not an exaggeration; the current population of the Ming Dynasty had indeed reached its limit.

Knowing how unevenly land was distributed among the people, they knew that even in the Ming Dynasty, many people owned less than two mu of land.

In the Ming Dynasty, more than half of the farming households owned less than ten mu of arable land. Assuming each household had five members, these families had less than two mu of land per person and were already struggling to survive.

They were able to barely survive because they could rent land from large landowners.

However, if the population doubles again, renting a place will become very difficult.

Some people will inevitably be unable to rent land, or even lose all their land and become homeless.

What happens when there are too many refugees? Most likely, they will rebel.

After the emperor put forward the five-level theory of needs and faced up to people's basic survival needs, they all realized that if the people did not have enough to eat, they would revolt.

Thinking of Xu Guangqi's words, "It cannot be reduced without a major war," these people felt a chill in their hearts and vaguely understood the reasons for the demise of previous dynasties.

At the same time, it became clear why a golden age is more likely to emerge after the initial stability of a nation:
In terms of population and arable land, after the chaos of the fall of the previous dynasty and the founding of the new one, as long as the land is distributed relatively evenly, the people can live and work in peace and contentment. With the recovery of production, a golden age will naturally follow.

Then, with the increase in population and the shortage of arable land, people will go hungry again, and chaos will begin to break out in the world.

The Ming Dynasty has already reached this stage, and if they do nothing, chaos will descend in the blink of an eye.
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Just thinking about it sends chills down my spine," said Grand Secretary Han Kuang.
"Your Majesty, the conflict between manpower and land is indeed the main contradiction facing the Ming Dynasty at present."

"The Ming Dynasty should limit its population and increase arable land."

He proposed two measures to resolve the conflict between people and land, and fully accepted the emperor's view that the conflict between people and land was the primary contradiction.

Upon hearing his words and seeing that none of the ministers objected, Zhu Youjian immediately praised him, saying:

"What the Grand Secretary said is exactly what the court needs to do."

"However, how to limit the population and how to increase arable land still need to be discussed carefully."

"Mr. Han, what do you think we should do?"

After hearing the emperor raise the issue of the conflict between population and land, Han Kuang pondered deeply. Now, hearing the emperor ask for his advice, he immediately replied:

"I believe that the upper limit of population should be determined based on the amount of arable land in each region, especially high-standard farmland."

"Anyone exceeding the limit will be emigrated; no migrants will be allowed to exist, and no farmers will be allowed to lose their land."

"We should also strengthen our overseas expansion, using the Ming army to open up more land for the Ming Dynasty."

“Forcibly relocate those farmers who have lost or have little land to that place.”

In terms of foreign policy, it has completely hardened and supports going to war with other countries.

The policy was even harsher on farmers, who were forced to relocate.

Zhu Youjian smiled and nodded, then asked him:
"So how do you think this upper limit should be set?"

"Should we set the limit based on the current estimate of up to 200 million people, or let the population continue to grow and increase to 400 million before setting a limit?"

Han Kuang, of course, dared not add any more, and immediately said:
"The Ming Dynasty is already filled with refugees; the number should not continue to increase."

"I believe that a cap of 200 million should be set. If the population exceeds this number, mandatory emigration should be enforced."

"After completing the compilation of the Yellow Register and compiling population data in various places, we immediately organized the migration."

To add to his persuasiveness, he further stated:
With a population of 200 million, each person can have up to four mu of arable land, and two mu of high-standard farmland.

"As long as we ensure that high-standard farmland is guaranteed against drought and flood, even if a place suffers a major disaster, the imperial court can mobilize enough grain for relief."

"Therefore, I believe that the population cap in each region should be linked to arable land, especially high-standard farmland."

"Two mu of high-standard farmland corresponds to one person."

Use the data Xu Guangqi just presented to enhance your persuasiveness.

Zhu Youjian highly praised his use of data to support his point, and added on his behalf:

"The figure of 200 million is not a problem. It should indeed be based on high-standard farmland, and the population carrying capacity of ordinary arable land, forest land, and grassland should be determined."

"My requirement is that the agricultural population of the Ming Dynasty in the future should not exceed 200 million." "In the future, the population ceiling and migration standards should be determined based on the population carrying capacity of each region."

A red line should be drawn for the agricultural population, and restrictions should be strictly enforced.

If any place exceeds the limit in the future, then we will enforce immigration as Han Kuang suggested.

This policy will be implemented in conjunction with high-standard farmland. Zhu Youjian instructed Han Kuang, Bi Ziyan, and others to determine the upper limit of the agricultural population when delineating the number of high-standard farmland in various regions.

The courtiers, who had previously expressed strong opinions about high-standard farmland and the associated tax rates, stopped resisting it after learning that the amount of farmland was related to the upper limit of the agricultural population. They even wished for more high-standard farmland in their hometowns.

They certainly didn't want their descendants to be forcibly relocated overseas. In this era, the mortality rate for those who ventured overseas was very high, and with the current transportation conditions, it was very difficult to return once they moved overseas; it was akin to a separation by death.

Some officials believed that forced immigration caused separation and death, which was inhumane, but they had no way to deal with the excessive population.
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Zhu Youjian did know some methods, but he didn't reveal them himself. Instead, he continued the discussion with his ministers and asked Xu Guangqi:

"Mr. Xu, you are the main speaker at this lecture. What do you suggest we do?"

Xu Guangqi had already given this idea a thought, and immediately offered his suggestion:
"In addition to the methods mentioned by the Grand Secretary, I believe that we should increase agricultural production."

"Whether it's high-yield crops from overseas or better fertilizers and irrigation, they can all improve production."

"If the average yield per mu increases from 2.3 shi to 2.5 shi or even higher, the grain harvested from the current farmland can feed more people."

"In particular, the construction of high-standard farmland should be accelerated. The quantity and average yield per mu of high-standard farmland should be included in the assessment, and a special official should be appointed to be in charge."

Zhu Youjian nodded in approval and instructed the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue to do the job.

He further instructed the Ministry of Rites to increase the number of skilled farmers nominated for the title of "Filial Piety and Diligent Farmer" in various regions. He also invited them to join the Academy of Agricultural Sciences to experiment with different planting methods and promote more effective farming practices. Similarly, he ordered increased agricultural production in forestry and animal husbandry.

The Academy of Agricultural Sciences was headed by Xu Guangqi, so he was naturally delighted and offered another suggestion:
"In order to distribute the land as evenly as possible, I believe that we should also encourage immigration."

"The South has a large population and little land, while the North has a large land and a small population. Shuofang, Wuyuan, Yun, Dai, and Liaoxi are all arable land, but they are abandoned and overgrown. I believe that we should relocate people to cultivate them."

This is what the imperial court is doing, Zhu Youjian said:
"Development in western Liaoning and other areas is already underway."

"However, as you know, the north will experience a severe drought that will last for more than a decade."

“We must be cautious about cultivating these places. We cannot plant crops in places that are not suitable for cultivation. Not only will the harvest be meager, but it will also bring disaster.”

"The direction of large-scale immigration should be overseas, such as Southeast Asia."

"Conquering Annam is about seeking living space for the increased population of the Ming Dynasty."

The courtiers offered their congratulations upon hearing this, praising the current emperor for his concern for the people.

Those ministers who previously criticized the immediate commencement of the Annam campaign after the Liaodong campaign have now changed their tune and become supportive.

We simply cannot do without supporting it. If the Ming Dynasty does not expand outwards, widespread poverty and refugees will ensue.

Chaos can break out at any moment, and no one can escape it when chaos comes.

Considering the population loss caused by those chaotic times, officials who were previously indifferent to dynastic changes have all become supporters of the Ming Dynasty.

Under the theories of the contradiction between people and land and the need for survival put forward by Zhu Youjian, these Ming Dynasty officials finally realized that they and the court were one and should maintain stability.

Officials who previously paid little attention to the emperor's spending on emigration are now beginning to take notice of this issue.

The importance of immigration work was further enhanced. Zhu Youjian appointed Zhang Mengjing, who had returned to the court, to continue to be in charge of immigration affairs. A special immigration group was established under the Committee for Suppressing Rebellion and Relief to coordinate immigration matters.

Zhu Youjian also offered his views on how to immigrate:

"During the migration, priority was given to relocating displaced people, followed by farmers who did not own their own land."

"Then, those with little land, less than two mu per person, will be given priority for relocation."

“Especially the remaining members of these families, we encourage them to move overseas.”

“As long as they go overseas or to the border regions, they will be allocated at least fifty acres of land so that they can settle down and have permanent property there.”

Following the model of the surplus labor system of the military garrisons, a system for the migration of surplus laborers was established.

If a family's remaining members did not receive any land, or only had less than two mu of land, then a relocation would be organized.

Once they reach adulthood at the age of sixteen, they are included in the relevant register as prospective immigrants, allowing them to choose their own place to migrate.

If someone hasn't moved away by the time they reach adulthood at twenty, the imperial court will force them to relocate and arrange for them to farm overseas.

What if you really don't want to go overseas? Actually, there is another way: to engage in industry and commerce.

Xu Guangqi then offered the following suggestion:
"Agricultural populations exceeding the limit do not necessarily have to migrate overseas; they can also switch to industry and commerce."

“Some workers can produce enough products for dozens of people, and if they produce enough, they can feed even more people.”

This was also a direction Zhu Youjian had prepared, and he said with great pleasure:
"What you say is very true, sir. The court's next priority is to develop industry and commerce."

"Industrial and commercial enterprises can absorb surplus population, and in the future, agricultural and urban household registrations should be separated."

"The agricultural population is limited based on the amount of arable land, while the urban population is limited based on the local grain reserves. This grain can come from the interior or from overseas. As long as there is enough grain, it can feed them."

"But in areas with food shortages, the urban population should also be restricted."

“Urban residents who have been unemployed for a long time and are unable to make a living should also be forced to migrate overseas.”

Give those who do not want to migrate overseas a way out, and let them engage in industry and commerce in the city.

However, if they cannot survive in the city, they will still be forced to immigrate.

The population cap for each city should also be based on food production.

This regulation fully demonstrates the importance attached to grain. Some nobles who participated in the imperial lectures were overjoyed by this.

Because they realized that going overseas to establish vassal states and cultivate land was now a virtually guaranteed way to make money.

Every city that wants to expand its population must find a stable source of food.

They actively supported this measure, believing that the number of industrial and commercial workers should also be limited, and that efforts should be made to expand overseas in order to settle immigrants.

Through active discussions between the emperor and his ministers, measures to resolve the conflict between population and land were proposed one by one.

Regarding population control, Zhu Youjian also proposed raising the marriage age, setting the legal marriage age for men and women at twenty and eighteen, respectively. This was intended to slow the rate of population growth and promote eugenics.

The restrictions on agricultural and urban household registrations should be based on grain availability.

At the same time, in order to encourage the increase of arable land, Zhu Youjian reiterated the "Expansion Act," encouraging the people of the Ming Dynasty to expand outwards and increase their living space.

Resolving the conflict between population and land resources has been established as a national policy and has become a key focus of the imperial court's work in recent years. (End of Chapter)