First Minister of Ming Dynasty

But if the big guys gather the surplus food in the village, the food will be more and the scale will be bigger, the situation will be different all of a sudden.

The village community can build a warehouse to store grain, keep the grain properly, and sell it to outsiders when the price is right... And the village community has money when it has grain.

Use it to run schools, build reservoirs, build ditches...the enthusiasm of the people is released.

"In the final analysis, a single family is still too weak. It can only be done by twisting into a rope... We have raised the status of merchants, and business is no longer a cheap industry. If the status of farmers is not improved as soon as possible, most of them will die. They will be exploited by merchants. Compared with wealthy families, they are not much less."

Jiang Nan opened her eyes wide, listened carefully, and nodded from time to time in agreement.

She couldn't help laughing and said: "Xianggong is really considerate of the people, even the ancient Mingxiang can't compare to him!"

Being praised by his wife, Zhang Ximeng is quite beautiful, and continued: "Actually, there are too many things hidden in it, and what you see is only the first layer... Let me ask you, if the village commune has stored food, can they put it away?" Exchange it for money and lend it to merchants?"

Jiang Nan was very surprised, "Is it okay to ask farmers to lend money to merchants?"

"Isn't it okay? Farmers have a surplus, and merchants need money. What's wrong with that?"

"Then, what is the purpose of doing this?"

"Naturally, it is to concentrate resources... The village community lends money to merchants to help merchants and help them develop overseas markets. In turn, through borrowing, farmers can share some benefits when they have harvested. We can turn foreign trade into It is a good thing that benefits everyone and makes the people rich."

"It's just that these ideas can only be done if the village community below is really capable... I figured out that two things are very important. One is to read and write, so that the people can understand. The other is to send capable officers. My idea is Send some veterans down and let them take care of the affairs of the village community. They must be literate, have a public heart, and be willing to do things. We abolished the big gentry and distributed the land to the common people. The matter cannot end like this.”

"We also have to explore new ways to reorganize the people so that they can become prosperous and healthy."

The husband and wife chatted more and more speculatively. Zhang Ximeng spoke out most of what he had in mind... Jiang Nan listened patiently and asked questions from time to time, not even the slightest bit impatient.

When the couple stopped and looked up, the window paper turned white and the rooster crowed.

The two looked at each other, "This...is the bridal chamber candle?"

Chapter 5 and One

Many years later, the great-granddaughter asked Zhang Ximeng, who was famous all over the world, what is the craziest thing you have done in your old life?

Zhang Ximeng stared at the sky, and said two words without hesitation: "Marry!"

Originally, he could fish and be lazy in private, but since Jiang Nan was by his side, he didn't even have time to fish.He even suspected that Zhu Yuanzhang had sent his wife to oversee the work.

"Ma'am, let's stop busy, okay? It's not worth it for their old Zhu's family to sleep and forget food, and they don't give us two extra salaries."

Jiang Nan kept smiling, lowered her head to tidy up her things, and asked, "Aren't you afraid of being heard by Your Majesty when you say that?"

"I hope he hears, it's best to remove my officer, and then I can rest at home."

"Don't even think about it!" Jiang Nan said with a smile: "I'm dismissed from your position, am I still an officer! When the time comes, I will order you to do things for me."

Zhang Ximeng rolled his eyes, "What's the difference between that and now?"

"Of course there is. Now people are asking for help from Mr. Xianggong, so don't pretend. I know that Mr. Xiang is the one who sympathizes with the common people and cares about the suffering of the people the most. Right?"

"That's right! Ma'am is right!" Zhang Ximeng said, "Where are we going?"

"Of course I went to Chenliu. Let's revisit the old place and see if the village has changed." Jiang Nan prepared his belongings, pulled Zhang Ximeng up, and the husband and wife rode out of the city on a donkey.

……

"Godfather, my eldest brother and sister-in-law have just left the city." Zhu Ying complained to Lao Zhu.

"Going out of the city?" Lao Zhu was stunned, the noodles in the bowl were no longer fragrant, "They, they just got married on the third day, why go outside?"

Zhu Ying said helplessly: "Godfather, I'm in a hurry. My sister-in-law is all about her business. I don't worry about anything else. When will my elder brother's lineage spread?"

After hearing this, Lao Zhu was even more speechless. It was probably the first time that he felt that it was not good for a courtier to be too hardworking.

Mr. Zhang has to spread his branches quickly and have a few children.

Our sons are already four, and we expect them to play together and develop a relationship since childhood!If Mr. Zhang and his wife are both busy with business, wouldn't it be a delay.

"Zhu Ying, what do you think Mr. Zhang cares about? Can we prescribe the right medicine?"

Zhu Ying thought for a while, "My eldest brother cares about money...not all money, he is a gentleman who loves money and gets it in a proper way. How about this, the godfather issued an order, saying that the officials' family should have more children , you can receive the reward, my elder brother will definitely stay at home honestly."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and praised: "This is reasonable, let's do it according to your wishes."

"Let's pass the decree. Tell the following, all officials above the fifth rank, who have been married for one year and have no children, will be fined half of their salary. That's it!"

Someone has gone to preach.

But Zhu Ying was dumbfounded, I mean asking her godfather to reward her with money and encouragement, how did it become a penalty?

This means the opposite is completely different, completely twisted?

Zhu Yuanzhang said helplessly: "Godfather doesn't have so much money to reward, so I can only do this, but the effect is the same."

Different!

Zhu Ying is not stupid. He has been with Zhang Ximeng for a long time, and he has learned a lot of messy things.Originally, the money was rewarded, but many people including the elder brother could get the reward.

If you do this now, there will be a very small number of unlucky people who will lose half of their salary together with their eldest brother!

God!

what did i do?

Why did you offend the officials again?

Zhu Ying wants to cry but has no tears. She offended so many civil and military officials at the wedding just now, and now it's coming again... What's wrong with me?Even with godfather and elder brother covering me, I can't go farther and farther on the road to death!The county magistrate is not as good as the current one, and being an official cannot be offended.

Either, or else, I'd better go back to Lingnan to enjoy the sea breeze and eat sea crabs.

Zhu Ying was so frightened that she rolled up her bed all night and was about to run away... Zhang Ximeng didn't care about Zhu Ying. The couple revisited their hometown and returned to Chenliu's village.

When he came this time, Zhang Ximeng was delighted to find that besides the keel waterwheel still turning, there were actually several cattle in the field, busy plowing the ground.

Zhang Ximeng immediately became interested, and with a smile on his face, he happily walked to the field to check the situation... Jiang Nan followed closely, with a smile on his face.

My husband obviously likes to watch this, so why pretend?

When I can't see it?

This is called having fun.

Jiang Nan was really right, Zhang Ximeng was indeed happier the more he looked at it.

In order to get rid of the salinity, the people not only dug drainage ditches and used irrigation to remove the salinity, but also dug mud from the river ditches and covered the surface.

They also dumped rotten leaves, plant ash, manure, and farmyard manure on the ground, and mixed these things with the soil to improve the salinity.

The appearance of the land after leveling has been greatly improved.

Some of the villagers are busy tidying up the land, while others are busy plowing the fields.

Even children who are only five or six years old obediently follow behind, carrying a small basket with seeds in it. Every time they squeeze out how many seeds, they strictly follow the instructions taught by their elders, for fear of making a mistake.

The serious appearance makes people laugh.

But the children didn't feel at all that they seemed to be doing something sacred.

Grow up quickly!

When the grain grows, you can eat white rice and steamed buns in autumn.

Thinking of this, my mouth is watering.

Taking advantage of the people's lunch break, Zhang Ximeng invited the old farmer again, along with several other farmers, including Du Guang'an.

When they saw Zhang Ximeng, they would kneel down and kowtow.

"Don't do that."

Zhang Ximeng asked the old farmer to get up and everyone to get up.

"If you still treat me as a court official, I won't come here next time."

The old farmer was terrified, "How can that be done! What's more, I also want to invite adults to a banquet to celebrate the harvest."

Zhang Ximeng immediately said, "A good harvest? Are you sure?"

The old man was stunned for a moment, and finally forgot about saluting, and concentrated on talking about the crops, the more he talked, the more delighted he was.

"It's a lot of confidence, look, our village has five more cows, all of which are the best bullocks, the court is still kind, the emperor is also good, by the way, and my lord, thank you Lord Qingtian. "

He wanted to kneel down, but Zhang Ximeng quickly stopped him, and turned his gaze to Du Guangan again.

"Tell me, did you borrow money to buy these cattle?"

"no!"

Du Guang'an shook his head, "Mr. Zhang, the common people are still worried about borrowing money. They feel that there is a burden on their shoulders, and their lives are not stable."

"Then, how did you get the cattle?" Zhang Ximeng asked curiously.

When this matter was mentioned, several other farmers grinned. Their wrinkled faces could hardly conceal their pride, as if they had done something important to honor their ancestors.

Du Guangan told Zhang Ximeng that although it was mainly a loan, the court still raised some cattle. In addition, Zhu Ying brought a lot of money, and Zhu Yuanzhang also took out some to buy cattle and other things to help the people and resume production.

There are not many of these things, so it is naturally impossible to distribute them by head.

We need to look at the results of water control by the people.

Whoever builds the most ditches, whoever builds the most reservoirs, and whoever levels the most land... will be rewarded!

"Zhang Xiang, the big guy sleeps next to the canal day and night... After working hard for a long time, he finally won the prize and earned five cows for the village!"

It turned out to be like this!

Zhang Ximeng was not without surprise, "Old man, you have worked hard."

The old farmer quickly waved his hand, "What's the hard work... This, these are not five cows, this is our capital, our lifeblood... In autumn, whether we eat dry or drink water, it all depends on them ! Speaking of which, this cow is much more useful than a human.”

Zhang Ximeng was also happy for them, "With cattle, can we open more fields?"

The old farmer nodded, "I can drive a lot more, but I can't be tired... adults may not know that people's strength gets better the more they are used. Animals are not good. Don't look at them because they are big and strong, but they work all day long. , It won’t work. During this period of work, we have to rest. But cows rest, people don’t rest. We are thinking, when there is a lot of rain, we should build more ditches, level the land more, and sow grass seeds first. , By next year, we will be able to plant crops."

Zhang Ximeng nodded with a smile, "Indeed, the old man is right... I want to ask you something, tell me, if every household receives rations, then put the remaining food in the village, and the village will keep it and sell it. Do you think so?"

The old man froze for a moment, he thought carefully, and then looked at several other farmers.

"Then, is that going back to the village, or what's going on?"

"No... the food is still owned by the big guys. It's just that there are more people and more strength, and the food can be sold at a good price. Moreover, there will be natural and man-made disasters in the future. There is food in the village, which can take care of everyone." Zhang Ximeng said again: "Of course, this is my idea. I hope that the villagers can unite, so everyone can add firewood to the flames! But if you have any difficulties, you can speak up and discuss."

The old man lowered his head, thought for a while, and then said: "If this is done, everyone must know how much grain there is in the village. How much money is earned from buying and selling grain, and how much each household should get, must also be counted. I understand, I must be clear, otherwise, once the money is handed over, it will be ugly even if it is not ugly, and the reputation in this life will be ruined even in front of the folks."

Zhang Ximeng nodded, "That's right, I will find a way to assign the village a professional accountant, and I will arrange a school in the future so that the children can read, understand the truth, and know the king's law, so that they will not be deceived by others."

Hearing what Zhang Ximeng said, the old man finally felt happy.

If this is the case, in addition to guaranteeing the food rations of each family, the land they developed will have a grain surplus of thousands of shi, all of which will be returned to the village, which is not a small amount!

If this is used well, the small village will be able to take on a new look.

"My lord, this method is good. I, we must try it. There are more people, more strength, and more people will not be bullied!"

Zhang Ximeng nodded happily, and chatted for a while. He asked the big guys to go, and he and Jiang Nan were about to return...just as they were about to leave.

Suddenly, I don't know who took the lead and shouted, "Your Excellency, live a long life, Madam will give birth to a precious son early!"

In an instant, Jiang Nan's face turned red, and Zhang Ximeng could only smile dryly...

Chapter 5 Zhu Yuanzhang Treats Guests

The common people were all amazed when they learned that the two high officials in front of them were actually husband and wife, and they had just got married.I also heard that a few days after they got married, they came to see how they were doing. They were even more pleasantly surprised and kept saying good things, warm and simple, warm and sincere.

The husband and wife kept thanking each other, and came out of the village with the couple full of blessings. Zhang Ximeng and Jiang Nan walked for almost ten miles.

A dark-faced boy rushed out from the side road. He was wearing rags with several patches, a pair of straw sandals under his feet, and sweat on his forehead, but he was holding a delicate flower basket in his hand.

The flower basket is woven with pure white reeds. Inside the flower basket, there are more than a dozen kinds of bright flowers and several kinds of herbs.

"My lord, my lord!"

He yelled loudly, rushed to Zhang Ximeng, and raised his hands high.

"The fourth grandfather asked me to send it, saying that our village wished the lord a long life and that the wife would give birth to a precious son early."

Zhang Ximeng was slightly surprised, but he also reached out to take it, touched it in his arms, and took a closer look. The basket was woven with care, and the flowers and plants were also bright and energetic.

He took the largest red flower, put his hand on Jiang Nan's head, and then took another vanilla, put it in his arms, and said with a smile: "Look, do we look like the people in Qu Yuan's Nine Songs?" ?”

Jiang Nan's flushed face became even more vivid, but he said: "I have chased you so far, and given this gift, you should return it."

Zhang Ximeng quickly touched his bosom, but there was no decent gift, only a bag of mung bean cakes from Zhu Yuanzhang, which was originally used for the couple to feed their hunger.