Ming Jiajing: Starting from Immortality

Chapter 113: All fire damage will be publicized, and those who disobey the order will be killed!

It’s approaching August 15th.

In the 40th year of the Jiajing reign, the capital city experienced the hottest autumn weather in 20 years.

At this time of year in previous years, even if there was no wind in the entire capital city, the Forbidden City, due to its favorable feng shui, would still have the "king's majestic wind" blowing through the halls and into the houses.

But this year, for ten consecutive days, the willow branches over the moat did not sway.

Except for the concubines and the leading eunuchs of the twenty-four government offices, there were ice cubes in the rooms to cool down, so people could still endure the scorching heat.

The other eunuchs and palace maids in the Forbidden City were in a miserable situation. They had to wear long robes according to the rules. Many of them had prickly heat spread from their bodies to their faces. Those with severe symptoms even developed boils, swelling, pain and ulcers, and were unable to perform their duties as usual.

The Imperial Pharmacy had to urgently transfer a lot of anti-heat medicine from outside, and finally people in the Forbidden City were not dying of heat.

Zhu Houcong specially ordered that the Hat and Scarf Bureau use tens of thousands of pieces of thin silk to sew some single clothes for the eunuchs and palace maids. He also ordered the "Ling people" to take out the ice from the ice cave in Shanyin near the imperial palace and distribute it to the eunuchs and palace maids to relieve their fever.

Countless eunuchs and palace maids were grateful to the emperor.

The doors and windows of Yuxi Palace were all open day and night, and no ice was used to cool down the body. This was incredible to ordinary people.

But the eunuch on duty did not feel hot at all, nor did he sweat, and his whole body felt cool.

When Zhang Juzheng's cabinet arrived, they did not understand what it meant. But when they walked into the hall, they felt cool and even their anger subsided.

Just as the eunuchs said, the emperor has a "body of a god", so the place where he lives is warm in winter and cool in summer.

"Your Highness, I wish you long live the emperor! Long live the emperor! Long, long live the emperor!"

Zhang Juzheng's cabinet praised the emperor in unison.

The emperor and his ministers responded.

As usual, Zhu Houcong would allow the ministers to sit on low stools. It was a very hot day and it was a collective audience, so he allowed them to sit as usual.

"Has there been another disaster somewhere?" Zhu Houcong's voice sounded distant and near, as if it was there and not there, in Zhang Juzheng's cabinet.

Zhang Juzheng quickly replied, "Your Majesty, apart from some drought in the north, there is no major disaster. This visit was initiated by Yifu."

Disassociate yourself from the matter.

If Chen Yiqin goes crazy and has a conflict with the emperor later, it will have nothing to do with the three of them.

"That's strange. Chen Yiqin, what's the matter?" Zhu Houcong's words seemed to pour into the ears of several people from a long distance.

In some important court affairs, the cabinet was basically led by Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong, but today it became Chen Yiqin, whose presence was not particularly strong. This is strange.

Chen Yiqin still had some inner strength. He actually lifted up his robe and knelt down. "Your Majesty, this year, the two capitals and thirteen provinces have all had a good harvest, and grain prices have dropped sharply. However, low grain prices hurt farmers. I think we should adapt to the situation and allow farmers to switch to growing other crops."

Zhu Houcong was chewing over these words.

Huang Jin, who was waiting beside him, immediately said, "Lord, the emperor didn't ask you to kneel, so you should stand up and answer."

Having said that, Huang Jin went over to support him.

The arrogance in the cabinet was restrained in Yuxi Palace, and Chen Yiqin stood up with the help of the support.

Didn't sit back on the embroidered cushion.

Zhu Houzhao looked up at Zhang Juzheng, Gao Gong, and Li Chunfang, who were a little embarrassed, and said bluntly: "The fact that this incident has reached the imperial court means that the cabinet has not reached a consensus. Do you disagree with Chen Yiqin's idea?"

Zhang Juzheng could no longer play dumb after being named by the emperor, and replied: "Your Majesty, grain prices rise with the market and fall with the market, which is in line with the natural law of all things. I think..."

When he said this, Zhang Juzheng raised his eyes, trying to see whether the emperor was happy or angry, but the emperor had no expression on his face and could only say, "Your subjects think it is best not to interfere."

Very tactful, but the position is clear.

Food prices belong to the market, and their rise and fall have nothing to do with the court.

Zhu Houcong slowly looked towards Chen Yiqin, and Chen Yiqin was also looking at Zhu Houcong with sincerity.

Zhu Houcong nodded, then shook his head, "Cheap grain prices hurt farmers, Chen Yiqin's concerns are reasonable, and expensive grain prices hurt the people, Zhang Juzheng's considerations are not unreasonable.

However, I think you all understand the principle of "prepare for famine in years of plenty and provide relief in years of famine."

During the Hongwu period, Emperor Taizu Gaodi set up the "Changping Granary" to regulate grain prices, which were too low in good years and too high in bad years. However, over the past hundred years, there have been few good years, and the Changping Granaries in various places have been almost abandoned.

Now that a good harvest has arrived, the granaries should be reopened. Can the cabinet discuss how much grain prices will benefit farmers and the people?"

More than a hundred years of famine.

Zhu Houcong did not explain to Zhang Juzheng and the other three what the Little Ice Age was. After all, in the eyes of people at that time, astronomical phenomena and the good or bad harvests were all related to the emperor's character.

In the future, the Ming Dynasty will surely have bumper harvests every year. Although it may not be praised by the people, at least it will not be scolded.

Changping warehouse?
This new yet not-so-new term stunned Zhang Juzheng's cabinet.

Only then did he remember the backup plan that Emperor Taizu Gao had prepared to regulate grain prices, which was for the imperial court to purchase grain from the people, store it, and use it in times of famine.

As a result, there was less food in the market and the price of food went up again.

But according to what the emperor said, he is not going to purchase grain from the people at the market price, but is willing to add a little to the market price to increase farmers' income.

The imperial court is actually going to do a losing business?

Zhang, Gao, Li and Chen were all shocked.

When has the emperor ever done a business that lost money? He can't remember, or maybe he has never done it.

The emperor eats everything except the one who suffers no loss.

Golden words.

No matter how shocked they were, Zhang Juzheng's cabinet had no choice but to meet to discuss the matter. Gao Gong and Chen Yiqin argued fiercely in the hall.

The money for the court's loss-making business had to be paid by the Ministry of Revenue, and the Minister of Revenue was Gao Gong, who of course was unwilling to pay more, so he kept lowering the price.

Chen Yiqin cited classics and argued for farmers all over the world, and kept raising the price.

In the end, after Zhang Juzheng and Li Chunfang's hard work in reconciling, they got a price that both parties could accept.

Five cents of silver for a dou of rice.

During the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, one coin of silver could be exchanged for one hundred wen. During the Chenghua period, the ratio dropped to eighty wen. During the Hongzhi period, it dropped further to seventy wen. From the Zhengde period to the present, in the past fifty years, it has decreased by another twenty wen.

Five cents of silver is equal to two hundred coins. According to the Ming Dynasty standard, one dou is equal to twenty jin.

In other words, it costs about ten cents per pound of rice.

Rice has been a refined grain since ancient times. One pound of japonica rice can more than exchange for three pounds of wheat, which is about three cents per pound of wheat.

The price is neither high nor low. In a good year, farmers may not become rich, but at least they can have enough food and clothing.

Moreover, it has little impact on the three classes of people: scholars, workers, and businessmen.

"The Ministry of Revenue has allocated 10 million taels of silver to purchase this year's new grain at this price to reopen the Changping Warehouse. However, all losses from grain purchase and storage will be returned to the public. This also applies to taxes and levies collected this year. All fire losses will be returned to the public. Order the Jinyiwei to investigate secretly. Anyone who secretly adds to the tax will be executed!"

(End of this chapter)