Chapter 279: Soaring Food Prices (6,200 words long chapter)

The whole city of Guangzhou was full of soldiers and people kneeling outside. There were old people in their 60s, children who had just grown up, women, children and farmers, all worshiping Zhu Houzhao as if they were worshiping gods and Buddhas.

"Long live my emperor!"

……

Zhu Houzhao did not expect that even though he asked these scholars to stand up, these scholars and people would still rush to kneel down and worship him. He had no choice but to walk out, stand on the carriage, and waved hello.

But when Zhu Houzhao saw that Jin Yiwei, Liu Jin and others were so nervous that they were afraid of being assassinated, he had no choice but to get into the carriage with a layer of steel plates.

Frankly speaking, it is indeed very satisfying to have so many people worship him, and it makes Zhu Houzhao really feel the feeling of being a superior person and seeing all the small mountains at a glance.

He even felt that he was so great that he had even forgotten that he was actually just an ordinary loser in his previous life.

But Zhu Houzhao knew that he was able to get so many people to kneel down and worship him when he appeared outside Guangzhou in plain clothes and in plain clothes today, not because he was really nobler than them in terms of blood, intelligence, and power, but because he had given these common people more benefits. , let him They have the opportunity to live a better life, and in this era of unintelligent people, you can make them live a better life. For these common people, that is the gift you have given them. The only thing they can do is to use Kneel down to express gratitude to yourself.

Zhu Houzhao tried his best to warn himself in his heart not to get carried away because of this, thinking that he was really great, as great as a god. He was just an ordinary person. If he made a wrong policy and harmed the interests of the people of the entire Ming Empire, he would still Will be pulled off the altar.

Although the Han people advocated centralization of power, they were not really stupid enough to let those in power deceive them, and there were some cases where they were willing to kill themselves to bring down the emperor.

Therefore, Zhu Houzhao had to warn himself.

Although Zhu Houzhao was not complacent because of this, Liu Jin, Guo Rong and others who stayed around Zhu Houzhao felt honored because they were close ministers of the emperor and followed the emperor to look down at the kneeling common people. Under the scene, Emperor Zhu Houzhao felt like a god.

At noon, the people dispersed one after another, and Zhu Houzhao continued to move forward. He couldn't help but shook his head: "Now, more people know that I am on patrol. Liu Jin, you lead a team of people and go first." Entering Beijing, tell the officials along the way that I want to meet you. I feel cold, so I don’t need to ask for permission. I have returned to Beijing in advance.”

Zhu Houzhao said and then ordered: "Guo Rong, follow me back to Beijing secretly!"

"I obey the order!" Liu Jin and Guo Rong replied in unison.

Zhu Houzhao didn't say anything more. He looked at the increasingly prosperous city of Guangzhou and lamented that with the development of capitalism after the opening of Guangdong and Guangxi, the urbanization of Guangdong and Guangxi has become more and more obvious. Whether the bourgeoisie and the working class were a curse or a blessing to the long-term stability of the Ming Dynasty.

After all, in other areas of the Ming Dynasty, especially in the north, there were many large landowners, and many were even relatives of the emperor. Will these powerful people, who have been parasitic on the people of the Ming Dynasty for hundreds of years, compete with the increasing number of bourgeoisie and citizens? The working class is in conflict.

Zhu Houzhao didn't dare to think about it, and he didn't know how to think about it. He was the emperor of Ming Dynasty and the largest landowner, but he was also the largest capitalist. He himself didn't know whether to save his life or to kill himself. , Fortunately, it is now possible to alleviate the increasingly fierce class conflicts within the Ming Dynasty through external plunder and transfer of conflicts. Otherwise, Zhu Houzhao really does not know how to face the two classes of the powerful and the common people.

Urbanization in the south is developing rapidly. The development of handicraft industry has replaced agricultural development. A large amount of farmland has been converted from rice to mulberry in pursuit of higher profits. However, the north is still densely populated with manors, and a large number of people flowing in from other places continue to become A tenant farmer of a large landowner.

But what Zhu Houzhao didn't expect was that it was the north that experienced food shortages and soaring food prices.

"Your Majesty, I have come to report from the capital. Recently, the price of food has risen to one yuan and seven yuan per stone! In Baoding, Daming, and Hejian, it has even risen to one yuan and eight yuan! The people in the city still have no food to buy. Some families even have to eat porridge. They all say that food is expensive when they flee to other places!”

As soon as Zhu Houzhao crossed the Huanghuai border, he received a report from Dongchang. He couldn't help but frowned for a moment, thinking that as far as he knew, there was a great famine in Wuzhong during the Wanli period in history. Six cents for a bucket of rice surprised the world. Now the price of grain in Gyeonggi Province has risen to one yuan seven Money, even though the development of the Ming Dynasty’s commodity economy has led to meager agricultural output and less grain transported from the north to the south, it is not so high. Doesn’t the market play a role in regulating the economy? When grain prices are soaring, why don’t businessmen take advantage of this opportunity? Purchase grain on a large scale and sell it in the north? ”

Zhu Houzhao, full of doubts, ordered: "Send someone to ask the Grain Industry Bureau how much grain has entered the territory of our Ming Dynasty from overseas farming. In addition, the Capital Procuratorate will strictly investigate the Municipal Shipping Department's violation of the ban on grain shipments." Exporters, your East Factory must also strictly investigate the malfeasance censors who refuse to investigate or correct!”

Not long after Zhu Houzhao finished speaking, when he entered Linqing, Shandong Province, he saw a large number of ships moored on the bank of the Linqing canal, with a large "Kong" flag hanging on them. Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but feel curious and hurriedly gave instructions. Jin Yiwei: "Go and ask, who is the owner of these ships and what are they transporting?"

Not long after, Jin Yiwei came back and reported: "Returning to Your Majesty, I have found out that their owner is the Kong family of Yanshenggong, and they are transporting grain. They say it was transported to Liaodong in exchange for salt!"

Zhu Houzhao saw that the draft of these ships was very deep and stretched for no less than two miles. He could guess that if these ships were transporting grain, there would be a lot of them.

Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but think that Kong Yanshenggong, as the largest landowner in Qufu, and even the entire Qufu had almost become an independent kingdom of his Kong family, was like a "vassal king with a different surname" in the Ming Dynasty, and he could actually do this kind of salt merchant thing.

"Let me ask, how are the grain prices in Shandong recently? Are they going well?"

Zhu Houzhao ordered.

A few days later, a Jin Yiwei came to report: "Reporting to Your Majesty, a member of the Shandong Province said that this year there will be great prosperity in Shandong, with no drought or floods, and a large grain production. The price of grain is as low as eight yuan per dou. The high price of ten yuan was higher than the price that the government paid for Changpingcang! So much of the new grain went into the hands of merchants. ”

“I didn’t expect that Shandong gentry would be very active in alleviating people’s poverty. But why is there such a huge gap in grain prices between Gyeonggi and Shandong?”

Zhu Houzhao asked questions in his heart.

After traveling all the way to Tongzhou, Zhu Houzhao changed to the land route to Beijing. In this era, transportation was not convenient, and he was delayed for nearly two years when he went to Guangdong and Guangxi. In this era without radio, what is the situation in Beijing and the court? He has royal guards and secret ministers, but he cannot fully grasp the recent events in the capital.

Therefore, Zhu Houzhao rushed back to the capital as quickly as possible as soon as he changed the land route.

"Mom, I'm hungry!"

But as soon as Zhu Houzhao arrived in the capital, he saw a little girl sitting on the threshold without a girl, leaning on her mother's arms. For a moment, Zhu Houzhao couldn't bear it, so he ordered Jin Yiwei to give the little girl a bag of rice noodles that he had brought with him.

Without waiting for the little girl to thank him, Zhu Houzhao hurriedly rode back to the palace. On the way, he saw that all the grain shops in the Daming Gate area were closed. Some people gathered outside the grain shops angrily and shouted to open the door. Some grain shops also Although it is still open, it has raised the price of food to a high price of two yuan per qian per stone.

After Zhu Houzhao returned to Beijing, he immediately summoned Liu Yu, the chief minister of the cabinet, to inquire about the rising food prices in the capital.

"Although the price of food soared due to the severe drought in Gyeonggi Province last year, it should not be so high. I guess some merchants must be hoarding it, but please don't worry, Your Majesty. I knew this would happen last year and have already done so. The Grain Industry Bureau urgently transported 2 million tons of grain to Beijing, and it is estimated that it will soon arrive in Tongzhou! By then, the people's poverty will be relieved!"

Liu Yu, the chief assistant of the cabinet, replied.

After hearing this, Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but nodded: "That's good. Food is the first priority for the people, and civil unrest cannot be caused by lack of food. We can first use the existing food in the capital to relieve people's poverty, lower food prices, or use national reserves to Merchants buy grain to transfer the burden on the people due to soaring food prices.”

"Your Majesty is wise, I will do it now!"

After Liu Yu, the chief assistant of the cabinet, said this, he immediately issued a document to the Guards and sold part of the grain transported by the Guards' garrison in Beijing at a fair price. At the same time, he also directly used 200,000 silver dollars from the national treasury to purchase grain, keeping the price of grain at the same level again. A stable state that does not rise.

Zhu Houzhao had to admit that due to the rapid industrial development of the Ming Dynasty, food shortages in the capital had become more and more frequent recently. Zhu Houzhao was really worried that major changes would occur as a result, and it also made him realize that while industrial development was taking place, agriculture should also be improved. Productivity is also very important.

Zhu Houzhao was thinking of the sweet potatoes that had been brought back from South America by Zhang Yanling, Marquis of Jianchang the year before, so he couldn't help but summon Zhang Zhong, who had summoned Yan Song and the Royal Horse Supervisor, and asked: "How is the promotion of sweet potatoes going?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I have asked all the tenants of Huangzhuang to plant sweet potatoes in their fields in accordance with Your Majesty's instructions. Since Huangzhuang paid for the promotion, the tenants responded very well. Now the entire land of Huangzhuang in Gyeonggi Province has been planted with sweet potatoes. , the harvest is in progress, and the cellars for storing sweet potatoes have been dug!”

Zhang Yong, the eunuch in charge of the Royal Horse Guards, replied.

Here, Yan Song also replied: "I have also followed His Majesty's decree to promote the cultivation of sweet potatoes among the people in Gyeonggi. Millions of acres of land have been planted with sweet potatoes, and they are currently being harvested."

"Very good, let's make statistics immediately to see how many sweet potatoes can be purchased and whether it can solve the grain shortage in Gyeonggi Province." After confirming that sweet potatoes, a high-yielding food crop, have been widely promoted in the Ming Dynasty and will have a large-scale harvest, Zhu Houzhao also slightly I feel relieved and no longer worry about the intensification of conflicts due to food shortages.

But because Zhu Houzhao now had high hopes for the sweet potatoes, the next day, Zhu Houzhao took the cabinet ministers to the outskirts of Huangzhuang to check the yield of these sweet potatoes on the spot. After all, Zhu Houzhao only knew from novels in his previous life that sweet potatoes had high yields and could solve the famine problem. As a modern person who lived in the era of hybrid rice, his impression of sweet potatoes only remained at the stage when rural people used them as pig food. I don’t know if these sweet potatoes can really create a “prosperous age”, and I don’t know if they can solve the food shortage problem by allowing people to eat pig food.

The eunuch Zhang Zhong did not expect that Emperor Zhu Houzhao would suddenly come to the palace, and he did not have time to pull out the sweet potatoes from other fields and stuff them into the few acres of land that the Emperor saw now, creating An auspicious sign such as a hundred stones of sweet potatoes per acre can also make the emperor happy.

Therefore, Zhang Zhong is also a little nervous now. He is really worried that the sweet potato field dug by His Majesty himself will not produce high sweet potatoes. In this case, he may lose his job.

"Your Majesty, the total is twenty-six stones, seven pounds, six taels and four cents." After the acres of sweet potatoes were completely dug out, Zhu Houzhao asked the Royal Horse Supervisor to weigh them. At this time, Liu Yu, the chief minister of the cabinet, first said in shock. He started talking: "What! Twenty-six stones!"

Liu Yu really didn't expect that, because in his impression, the yield of grain per mu was only about two stones, but now the yield of sweet potatoes was as high as twenty-six stones per mu, and such a high yield was even in barren mountainous areas. For a time, he Some couldn't control themselves, and uncontrollably took the scale in the eunuch's hand and took a closer look.

"That is to say, the yield of sweet potatoes is twenty-six dan per mu. In this way, if all the land in the world is planted with sweet potatoes, won't there be no worries about food shortage?"

Wang Qiong also said something at this time, and immediately raised his hands to Zhu Houzhao and said: "Congratulations to Your Majesty, congratulations to Your Majesty, with this crop, the people will not have to worry about famine!"

Other officials who came along followed Wang Qiong to congratulate Zhu Houzhao, and even called it auspiciousness, which was the blessing that the emperor brought to the people of the world.

Zhang Zhong also breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that he didn't expect these sweet potatoes to be so productive.

Zhu Houzhao just smiled. He was used to officials praising him. Of course, he also knew that for the rulers of the Ming Dynasty in this era, it was indeed gratifying to have a high-yielding grain that could prevent the people from starving to death. As for He, after all, if the people don't starve to death, they won't rebel, and the world will have long-lasting peace, and the powerful scholar-bureaucrats can still enjoy their glory.

But only Zhu Houzhao himself knew that these sweet potatoes were okay, but they were not nutritious food. Compared with the content of amino acids, the nutritional value of sweet potatoes was far inferior to that of rice and wheat. Therefore, Zhu Houzhao did not want the people of Ming Dynasty to continue to rely on eating this kind of food. Sweet potatoes may not solve the problem of hunger in the short term, but in the long run it will lead to a decline in the physical fitness and intelligence of the Chinese people.

"This food is only for filling the stomach, not suitable for staple food. Agricultural science must work hard to increase rice and wheat yields," Zhu Houzhao said, but Liu Yu, Wang Qiong and others were still happy because of the emergence of high-yielding crops such as sweet potatoes. People still couldn't suppress their excitement, with smiles on their faces. They followed Zhu Houzhao on the field ridges in high spirits. They were happier when they saw the sweet potatoes popping up in the ground than when they saw the gold and silver treasures.

Yan Song listened to Zhu Houzhao. He had been doing research on elements recently, and his research direction was to find out what elements were necessary for crops, so that he could produce some chemical fertilizers through industry.

Therefore, Yan Song couldn't help but take Zhu Houzhao's words at this time: "Your Majesty! I have recently made great achievements in researching the elements necessary for crops, and I have also made supplements and corrections according to your Majesty's sacred knowledge to create a substance called hydrogen carbonate. Ammonium fertilizer also uses ammonia and carbon dioxide to synthesize urea according to Your Majesty's Holy Scriptures, and it has been used in wheat farming experiments. Your Majesty can go to the Institute of Agricultural Sciences to take a look.

Hearing what Yan Song said, Zhu Houzhao was quite surprised. He did not expect that Yan Song had made such great progress in the past two years. Not only did he correct all the wrong knowledge he thought he had, he actually created two more important fertilizers. , although this is related to some references provided by the emperor, it is not easy to truly realize the technological production of these fertilizers.

Of course, Yan Song had experience in producing and developing original phosphate fertilizers when he was the governor of Nanzhili. Now with the development of Ming Dynasty's steel industry and chemical industry, Zhu Houzhao felt that it was not surprising that he could synthesize these two fertilizers within two years.

Zhu Houzhao hurriedly came to the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, and as soon as he arrived at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Liu Yu, the chief minister of the cabinet, was surprised and said: "Your Majesty, the wheat ears in Shilang Yan's wheat field are indeed much fuller and denser than ordinary wheat ears. ”

"This is the best piece, but there are some that fail. There is a point to fertilizing. Too much is not good, and too little is not fertile enough. Your Majesty and Mr. Ge can see that these wheat fields here are obviously not good and have withered!"< br>

Yan Song said with a smile: "And after comparing the group tested last year with the group tested this year, we found that fertilizer has a greater impact on soil quality and is prone to clumping. In the future, if I, Daming, want to promote this fertilizer, I will also We have to start developing and solving these problems.”

"I don't care about the optimal amount of fertilizer you spray now, nor do I care about how you solve the problem of soil fertility declining due to fertilization in the future. You just tell me, how much can an acre of wheat field increase in this way?" Zhu Houzhao asked.

"Half a stone!"

Yan Song replied.

"Really!" Liu Yu, the chief minister of the cabinet, asked in surprise.

Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but be a little surprised. He knew that fertilizer could increase grain production, but he didn't expect that fertilizer could increase grain production in Ming Dynasty so much. He thought it might be related to the fact that chemical fertilizers were not used on a large scale in Ming Dynasty's soil.

At this time, Wang Qiong once again bowed to Zhu Houzhao and said: "Your Majesty, this is really auspicious! There is a new grain yield of more than 20 stones per acre, and now the old grain can also increase production. This is truly a good sign for a prosperous age! A good sign for a prosperous age!"

"This is all your Majesty's credit! If it weren't for Your Majesty's plan to rule the world, we wouldn't be in this great situation today!" Yan Song also said with a smile.

Although officials like Zhu Houzhao were half really happy because the Ming Dynasty could increase grain production and half were saying complimentary words for themselves, he was indeed very happy and hurriedly said: "Pass the decree to establish the Ministry of Agriculture, and Yan Song will be the Minister of Agriculture." , responsible for the promotion of sweet potato crops and fertilizers! ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Yan Song hurriedly raised his hands and said excitedly, Wang Shouren from the Capital University is already the Minister of the Ministry of War, Zhang Cong is the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Xia Yan has the title of Governor of Nanyang, and he is still the minister of minister, so he is naturally very happy to be promoted to the minister. .

Cabinet and other officials also hurriedly echoed: "Your Majesty is wise!"

Just when Zhu Houzhao was discussing with the ministers how to encourage people to plant sweet potatoes, use chemical fertilizers and increase chemical fertilizer production, Gu Dayong from Dongchang ran over in a hurry: "Your Majesty! There has just been a riot in the Damingmen area of the capital, because the grain store suddenly The price of rice was raised to two yuan and a half, which made the people angry. They smashed the grain store and injured four people. Now they have been detained by the Ministry of Punishment. ”

Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but look at Wang Qiong: "Hasn't the Ministry of Household Affairs stabilized grain prices? Why are these grain dealers still raising grain prices?"

Not long after Zhu Houzhao asked, Yu Wenzhong, the minister of the Hubu Cangchang, hurriedly ran over: "Your Majesty! Something bad happened. The two million stones of grain transported by the Tongzhou Grain Bureau suddenly broke into water (fire), and most of it was burned!" The soldiers and civilians saved less than 50,000 stones, and the rest were destroyed.”

"What!"

The chief minister of the cabinet, Liu Yu, and several other civil servants almost fainted when they heard the news. They relied on the two million shi of grain to maintain the price of food in the capital. Now almost all of it was destroyed by fire. They couldn't imagine what kind of riots would happen. , when the time comes, will His Majesty push his ministers out to take the blame?

And Yu Wenzhong, the minister of Hubu Cangchang, also knew that this matter was serious, and he hurriedly knelt on the ground: "I failed to guard the warehouse well, please punish me!"

"Get up first! There's no point in punishing you now." Zhu Houzhao was surprisingly calm.

Although he did not expect that the two million grains that were heavily guarded would suddenly catch fire, he knew that the most important thing at the moment was to solve the problem of grain shortage in the capital. After all, with the development of industry, there were nearly two million permanent soldiers and civilians in the capital. If it was not solved, The food shortage problem will really cause great turmoil!

"According to the decree, the Guards and Engineers of the capital immediately assisted Huangzhuang in purchasing sweet potatoes. Yan Song of the Ministry of Agriculture immediately organized manpower to purchase sweet potatoes from the people of the capital." Zhu Houzhao gave the order first, and then asked Zhang Zhong and Yan Song: " How many stones are expected to be collected? ”

"Your Majesty, I can collect about one million stones here," Yan Song replied.

"Your Majesty, Huangzhuang can collect about three million stones," Zhang Zhong replied.

"That's good. In that case, all of us in the capital will eat sweet potatoes for a few months during this period. We will also collect the potatoes brought back by Marquis Jianchang. They will also be used as temporary food to satisfy our hunger and be handed over to households. Partial distribution, but the Ministry of Household Affairs still needs to find a way to purchase grain immediately, and the Grain Industry Bureau will re-transport grain to Beijing!

Yu Wenzhong is responsible for the purchase of grain by the Ministry of Household Affairs. This time I will allow you to make meritorious service. If you cannot raise two million shi of grain within three months, I will have to use your head to appease people! ”

Zhu Houzhao said and turned around and left the Agricultural Science Institute.

……

Yuwen Zhong's face was as gray as death. He didn't know when he would come back. He only knew that he was finished now. It was harder to raise two million stones of food in three months than to raise two million silver dollars in three months. .

"Sir, Mr. Kong wants to see you." Just when Yu Wenzhong was at a loss what to do, the housekeeper of his house suddenly came to report.

"Mr. Kong, who is Mr. Kong?" Yu Wenzhong asked.

"He said that he was a Shandong businessman and had two million shi of new grain in his hand. He was about to transport it to Liaodong in exchange for salt, but he heard that there was a shortage of grain in the capital, so he came to ask." After the steward said this, Yu Wenzhong suddenly felt He stood up. He could only see two million shi of grain when he closed his eyes. After all, Emperor Zhu Houzhao gave him an ultimatum. If he didn't raise two million shi of grain within three months, he would have to use other people's heads to appease the people.

Now when he heard a businessman say that he had two million stones of grain, Yu Wenzhong stood up immediately: "Invite him in quickly!"

(End of chapter)