Huangming

Chapter 334 Abundant Food and Clothing, Strategies for Governing a Country

The reason why women from other ethnic groups often possess a unique and passionate charm is largely due to their uninhibited and vibrant spirit.

Yesterday, Zhu Youxiao truly experienced the unique charm of Zhe Zhe, this woman from the grasslands.

This Mongolian noblewoman, who was once Huang Taiji's principal wife, possessed a fiery passion that could melt anyone. Her intense pursuit last night even left the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty feeling somewhat overwhelmed.

This spirit, while containing the innate cheerfulness and uninhibitedness of the people of the grasslands, also concealed her deep concern for the Khorchin tribe.

After all, her life, family, and clan's safety all depended on the emperor's decision, and her desperate plea for help was all shown in bed.

At this moment, the warmth of last night still lingers on the Luohan bed in the inner room of the East Warm Pavilion, beneath the brocade quilt.

Zhu Youxiao leaned against the headboard, holding Zhe Zhe, who was still taking a nap, in his arms, and could clearly feel the youthful vitality surging in her body.

Unlike the reserved and gentle women of the Central Plains, her skin had the warmth of the sun, and even her breathing was more rapid than others.

Zhe Zhe's eyes were closed, her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her brows were furrowed, as if she was still attached to something in her dream.

Clearly, she had been exhausted from pleasing him all night and had fallen asleep, but her sleep was not peaceful.

Zhu Youxiao raised his hand, his fingertips gently brushing across her furrowed brows.

Perhaps startled by this subtle movement, Zhe Zhe's eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Those eyes, once brimming with panic, were now misty with sleep. Seeing the emperor's enigmatic smile, a blush instantly rose, and she instinctively snuggled closer to him, softly calling, "Your Majesty..."

But this movement seemed to aggravate her discomfort. She suddenly bit her lower lip, her white teeth slightly sunken, and a trace of pain flashed between her brows. Her already flushed cheeks became even more pitiful.

Seeing this, Zhu Youxiao's heart stirred slightly, and he softened his tone: "You look tired, go and rest properly."

Upon hearing this, Zhe Zhe's eyes flashed with gratitude, but she hesitated as she looked up at him, as if afraid that once this brief moment of tenderness faded, she would have nothing left to rely on.

"Your Majesty, regarding the Khorchin tribe..."

Zhe Zhe's voice was hoarse from just waking up, and her eyes were full of anxiety. Clearly, even after a night, the safety of her mother's clan was still her biggest concern.

Seeing her like this, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but smile slightly.

"The fate of the Khorchin tribe will ultimately depend on their own choices in Liaodong. Here's what I'll do: I'll grant you the title of a concubine, and you're free to write back to them as often as possible."

If your elders are sensible and know which side to stand on, and truly serve the Ming Dynasty in Liaodong, why would I treat them harshly?

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of casual allure: "The benefits that the Jurchens have now may well be given to the Khorchin tribe in the future. It just depends on whether they have the fortune to accept them."

These words sound generous, but in reality, they leave plenty of room for maneuver.

Whether or not the promise is fulfilled, and how much is delivered, depends entirely on the performance of the Khorchin tribe.

Anyway, saying some nice things to the woman in my arms won't take much effort and will appease her. Why not?
When Zhe Zhe heard about being "made a concubine" and the promise to the Khorchin tribe, her eyes lit up. Half of the weight in her heart was lifted, and her previous fatigue and shyness were washed away by a surge of joy. Even her eyes were filled with tears when she looked at Zhu Youxiao, and her heart was quietly fluttering with spring fever.

She bit her lower lip, and despite her discomfort, struggled to move closer, clearly wanting to serve him well again.

Upon seeing this, Zhu Youxiao quickly pressed down on her shoulder.

The passion of last night was still vivid in his mind; although his body was young, it couldn't withstand such exertion.

Besides, he still had a pile of memorials to review today, and he needed to make decisions on everything, including the aftermath in Shandong and the deployment in Liaodong. He simply didn't have the extra energy to linger on this.

"Alright, you're still feeling tired, go and rest for now."

He waved his hand, his tone tinged with helplessness, and then deliberately teased, "Once you've recovered, I'll teach you some new tricks, and then you can serve me properly."

Upon hearing this, Zhe Zhe's cheeks instantly turned bright red, and even the roots of her ears turned pink.

She gave Zhu Youxiao a reproachful look, but there was no dissatisfaction in her eyes; instead, there was a hint of shy anticipation.

In the end, she obediently replied "Yes," and with the help of a palace maid, she carefully got up and got out of bed. Her steps were still a little hesitant, but she could not hide the ease in her eyes.

At least, she and her people have a glimmer of hope for the time being.

Watching Zhe Zhe being helped away, Zhu Youxiao leaned back against the headboard and rubbed his temples.

This Mongolian woman became an unexpected pawn; whether the Khorchin tribe could seize the opportunity depended on their own fate.

He threw off the covers and got up, dressed with the help of palace servants. Then his gaze fell on the pile of memorials on the table, and the languor in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by the sharpness and solemnity of an emperor.

As Zhu Youxiao regained his composure and began to govern, a thick stack of memorials soon piled up on his desk in the Qianqing Palace. From the post-war resettlement in Shandong to the military deployment in Liaodong, every single one of them required his review.

Just as he was engrossed in his documents, Wei Chao, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, walked in with a beaming smile, holding a booklet in his hands.

"Your Majesty, great news! The sweet potatoes at the imperial estates outside the capital have finally been harvested in the last few days!"

Wei Chao's voice was filled with barely suppressed joy. Having served Zhu Youxiao for many years, he knew best what the emperor valued most at the moment.

Besides the silver that fills the national treasury, there is also the grain that can fill the people's stomachs.

What the emperor cared about was what this eunuch was supposed to do.

Ever since Xu Guangqi brought back sweet potato seeds from Jiangnan, Zhu Youxiao had high hopes for this crop and was determined to promote its cultivation in the north.

In the suburbs of Beijing, those low-grade fields that could only grow coarse grains and produce meager yields in the past have been set aside this year to try planting sweet potatoes.

After all, this crop is not picky about the soil; it can take root even in barren sandy soil or on slopes.

"Oh? How was the harvest?"

Zhu Youxiao immediately put down his vermilion brush, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.

In the present Ming Dynasty, natural disasters are frequent, and famines often occur in many parts of the north and south. If sweet potatoes can really be produced in large quantities, it will undoubtedly provide an extra layer of insurance for the people's livelihood and greatly alleviate the food crisis.

Wei Chao quickly presented the booklet in his hand and said with a smile, "From the time the seeds were sown in March until now, a full five months have passed. The harvest from the imperial estates under Shuntian Prefecture is all recorded in this booklet. This servant has checked it three times to make sure it is correct!"

Zhu Youxiao took the booklet and eagerly flipped through it.

When he saw the numbers above, his eyes lit up and his breathing quickened.

The imperial estates under the jurisdiction of Shuntian Prefecture, namely Daxing, Wanping, Tongzhou, and Changping, have yielded a staggering three million shi (a unit of dry measure) of sweet potatoes this time!

When converted, the average yield per mu is close to 1,000 jin!

This number is truly encouraging.

It should be noted that this was the first large-scale trial planting. The land was uncultivated and had never been used to grow sweet potatoes before. Most of the farmers responsible for the cultivation were also unfamiliar with the crop's habits and had not yet figured out the tricks of watering and fertilizing.

Given time, if farmers figure out the tricks of the trade and choose more fertile land to plant, the yield will surely be able to increase even further.

"Good! Good!"

Zhu Youxiao said "good" twice.

At the same time, I was filled with emotion: No wonder that during the Qing Dynasty, this sweet potato could increase the population of the country to 400 million. Such a yield is indeed well-deserved!
He stood up, paced a few steps in front of the imperial desk, and had already made up his mind.

Of these three million bushels of sweet potatoes, some can be saved as seeds and widely promoted in disaster-stricken areas such as Shandong and Henan the following year.

The other portion could go into the national treasury and be mixed into the government grain to provide relief to disaster victims.

In this way, we can not only solve the immediate problem, but also let the people see the benefits of sweet potatoes with their own eyes, and there will be less resistance to promoting them in the future.

Seeing the emperor so happy, Wei Chao also smiled and said, "Lord Xu once said that these sweet potatoes 'harvest ten times the yield from one plant, are resistant to barren soil and famine,' and now it seems that it is absolutely true. I have already had some of the largest and plumpest ones selected and sent to the imperial kitchen. Would Your Majesty like to have a taste today?"

Zhu Youxiao nodded with a smile: "Approved. In addition, issue my decree that the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works immediately draft a plan to promote sweet potato cultivation in Beizhili, Shandong, and Henan provinces next spring."

The necessary seeds will be allocated from this harvest; as for agricultural instructors to teach the people how to cultivate the land, Xu Guangqi will select some experienced ones from Jiangnan.

"However, with a large harvest of sweet potatoes, preservation has become a tricky problem."

Zhu Youxiao's fingertip paused on the booklet, his brows furrowing slightly.

“This stuff has a high moisture content. If it’s not handled properly, it will sprout and rot in a few days, and the harvest of three million shi will likely be greatly reduced.”

Wei Chao was prepared and quickly bowed, replying, "Your Majesty is wise; the people of the imperial estate had already thought of this. Xu Guangqi's 'Treatise on Sweet Potatoes' specifically included methods for preservation, and we are following them now."

He explained slowly:
"One method is to dig cellars for storage. Choose a high and dry place to dig a cellar, lay dry grass at the bottom, stack the sweet potatoes neatly, and then seal it tightly with soil. It can be stored until the following spring. The second method is to steam them, dry them in the sun, and make them into sweet potato chips. They can be stored for a long time and are easy to carry. The third method is to cut them into thin slices and sun-dry them to make sweet potato flour, which can be mixed into grains to cook porridge or make cakes."

Zhu Youxiao nodded upon hearing this, his eyes showing approval:
“Well done. Besides, if there’s really no time to process it, it can also be used to brew wine. Sweet potatoes have a high alcohol yield and less loss than brewing wine with sorghum or millet. The wine can be used in the inner palace or sold outside, which is a considerable source of income for the imperial estate.”

"This servant has noted it down. I will immediately pass on the decree to the steward of the imperial estate and instruct them to comply."

Wei Chao readily agreed, his admiration for the emperor's thoroughness growing ever stronger. Not only had he considered grain reserves, but he had also taken care of ways to generate wealth. No wonder His Majesty, at such a young age, was able to manage state affairs so well.

He stepped aside and watched as Zhu Youxiao picked up his vermilion pen again and wrote a reply to the memorial on the promotion of sweet potatoes. The scratching sound of the pen tip across the paper was particularly clear in the quiet, warm pavilion.

The memorials on the emperor's desk were still piled up like a mountain, concerning the border troubles in the north, the grain transport in the south, and the aftermath in Shandong...

Every single matter was crucial to the foundation of the nation, yet Zhu Youxiao's brows now bore a noticeable lack of their usual solemnity.

With the major threat of food security resolved, there will be one less obstacle to implementing new policies, and there will be more confidence in rectifying official corruption and appeasing the people.

This tiny sweet potato may be the fulcrum to pry open the deep-seated problems of the Ming Dynasty.

As long as the people can have enough to eat, the foundation for stability in the country is firmly established.

At dinner time, the imperial kitchen specially served newly harvested sweet potatoes, some steamed until soft and powdery, and others roasted until crispy and fragrant.

Zhu Youxiao picked up a roasted sweet potato, peeled off the crispy skin, and a hot, earthy smell wafted out.

He took a bite, and his brows involuntarily furrowed.

The taste is really not good.

Not only is it blandly sweet, but the fibers are so coarse they irritate the throat, and it leaves a dry feeling when swallowed. The so-called "sweet and mild" taste is nowhere to be found.

Xu Guangqi's statement in "Sweet Potato Treatise" that "raw sweet potatoes taste like kudzu, and cooked sweet potatoes taste like honey" is, in his opinion, an exaggeration.

"No wonder the people in the north don't like this stuff."

Zhu Youxiao put down the sweet potato, wiped his hands with a napkin, and looked troubled.

These days, sweet potatoes haven't been selected and improved, so they not only have a rough texture, but eating too many can also cause bloating, and the lingering earthy taste makes them hard for many people to swallow.

Even if such crops have high yields, people probably won't be very interested in planting them if the varieties can't be improved.

However, throughout the Ming Dynasty, those who understood breeding and improvement were extremely rare.

Although Xu Guangqi was an advocate, he mostly focused on introducing new varieties. When it comes to the detailed selection and cultivation of new varieties, he probably lacked the ability.

This matter needs to be considered carefully.

Just then, Wei Chao tiptoed in and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe is outside requesting an audience."

Zhu Youxiao nodded and pushed the remaining half of the sweet potato aside: "Let him in."

Fang Congzhe has been frequently visiting the Emperor lately, either to report on cabinet affairs or to discuss the details of new policies, and his attitude has always been very respectful.

This old chief minister seemed to have a thorough understanding of the emperor's temperament. He never acted like a senior official, nor did he get involved in the intricacies of factional struggles. He fulfilled his duties as a "subject" flawlessly, placing himself in a position completely under the emperor's control.

Before long, Fang Congzhe entered, dressed in an official robe, and bowed, saying, "This old minister, Fang Congzhe, greets Your Majesty."

"No need for formalities, Grand Secretary Fang. Please have a seat."

Zhu Youxiao pointed to the chair next to him.

"Is there something important that you've come at this hour?"

When Fang Congzhe saw the emperor asking about the key point, he knew he couldn't be vague.

He bowed forward, his tone solemn: "Your Majesty, although the rebellion in Shandong has been quelled, the root cause lies in the deep-seated corruption within the officialdom, which has driven the people to take desperate measures."

If we merely suppress the problem without addressing the root cause, future troubles will inevitably arise.

This old minister believes that we must take drastic measures to purge the Shandong officialdom, uprooting those deeply entrenched corrupt officials to prevent future troubles.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao put down his vermilion brush, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He looked at Fang Congzhe, the former chief minister, who was known for his steadiness, but today he showed such a resolute attitude, which was somewhat unexpected.

"Oh? The Grand Secretary is so concerned about this matter?"

Zhu Youxiao's tone carried a hint of inquiry.

Fang Congzhe nodded solemnly: "Your Majesty, the officialdom in Shandong is deeply entrenched and rife with corruption, which cannot be easily untangled by outsiders."

Although Yuan Keli was talented and ruthless, he was ultimately less familiar with the Shandong officialdom than the native local officials.

To clean up this mess, we need people who are familiar with the inside story to get to the heart of the matter.

Having said that, Zhu Youxiao understood what he meant.

This is where we recommend candidates.

Fang Congzhe was doing a good job in the cabinet, and if he wanted to recommend someone, he couldn't refuse if the reason was appropriate.

Zhu Youxiao pondered for a moment and asked, "In your opinion, Grand Secretary, who is suitable for this position?"

"Your Majesty is wise. This old minister has someone in mind whom I recommend to take on this important task and clean up the officialdom in Shandong."

Fang Congzhe took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind, and bowed his head, saying, "This man is Qi Shijiao. This old minister humbly requests Your Majesty to appoint him as the governor of Shandong and to take charge of the rectification of officialdom in Shandong."

"Qi Shijiao?"

Zhu Youxiao's brows furrowed instantly, and the surprise in his eyes deepened.

He was naturally familiar with this name.

Qi Shijiao, the leader of the Qi faction, had a deep and extensive network of connections in Shandong's officialdom. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he was the "top dog" of the Qi faction in Shandong.

In the previous case of a brawl within the Ministry of Justice, this person was imprisoned due to factional strife, and was only able to escape thanks to Fang Congzhe's strong protection.

Why send someone like that to purge Shandong's officialdom?
Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but wonder.

Qi Shijiao himself was a representative of the old forces in Shandong's officialdom. Asking him to investigate his own accomplices would be tantamount to "using a party member to investigate another party member."
What can actually be found out?

I'm afraid they'll just try to downplay the issue and let it go, or even use the opportunity to eliminate dissidents and consolidate the power of the Qi faction.

He looked at Fang Congzhe and saw that the other party's expression was sincere and did not seem to be fake, which made him even more suspicious.

What exactly is this old fox up to?
Seeing the emperor's furrowed brow, Fang Congzhe knew his doubts and immediately stepped forward, speaking earnestly:
“Your Majesty, Qi Shijiao is a smart man, and more importantly, he is pragmatic. He is well aware of Your Majesty’s ruthless methods and knows that the corruption in Shandong’s officialdom is deeply entrenched. If he dares to show favoritism and cover up wrongdoings, he will be courting death.”

The old minister recommended him not so that he would protect the Qi faction, but rather so that he would be the knife to cleanse the house.

He paused, then continued, "My actions are also intended to help Your Majesty resolve the bitterness of factional strife at its root. Rather than letting the Qi faction completely sink, it is better to select and employ those who are useful."

Since His Majesty ascended the throne, due to factional strife, he has been hesitant in appointing officials, often promoting talented individuals from humble backgrounds, such as Yuan Keli, Xu Guangqi, Hong Chengchou, and Yuan Chonghuan. While they were certainly capable, their shallow political connections often hindered their actions in court.

"However, there are also many talented and virtuous people in the factional struggles. They are involved in the struggles mostly to protect themselves, rather than to do evil. As long as they do not embezzle or break the law, and do not go against the Emperor's will, why can't Your Majesty use them?"
In this way, we can both win over the hearts of the people and maintain a balance of power among the various factions in the court—isn't that a win-win situation?

Zhu Youxiao remained silent for a moment.

Fang Congzhe's words, however, were a wake-up call for him.

During this period, he deliberately avoided the old officials who were embroiled in fierce factional struggles. While this avoided a lot of trouble, it also left the court with fewer seasoned veterans familiar with government affairs. Although the newly promoted officials were ambitious, they inevitably lacked experience.

He waved his hand and said slowly, "I can grant your request to let Qi Shijiao go to Shandong to give it a try. But you must understand that if he dares to mess things up or use the name of rectification to form cliques for personal gain, the first person to be implicated will probably be you, the Grand Secretary."

He subtly reminded him from the side:

"Since Shi Jikai joined the cabinet, he has acted steadily and has won the hearts of the people. There are already many rumors in the court that he is the best candidate to succeed as the chief minister. Moreover... Ye Xianggao will be back soon."

"You know better than I do about that old minister's prestige in the court and among the people. Once he enters the court, he will inevitably become someone many people rely on. If you make a mistake at this time, even if I want to protect you, it will be difficult."

Fang Congzhe's heart skipped a beat, but he still bowed and said, "This old minister understands. If this matter succeeds, it will be because Your Majesty recognizes and appoints people well; if it fails, this old minister is willing to accept punishment and will not utter a single complaint."

He raised his head, a resolute glint in his eyes.

Zhu Youxiao looked at him but said nothing more.

Fang Congzhe was gambling, gambling that Qi Shijiao would succeed, gambling that he could use this opportunity to consolidate his position, and gambling that the Ming Dynasty could truly usher in a turning point in this painful reform.

Only time will tell the outcome of this gamble.

ps:
Five thousand four chapters.

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(End of this chapter)