Ming Dynasty Strategy Notes [Transmigration Book]

When Xia Ziling came back from Zhou Ting, he happened to meet Mu Sheng in the yard.Speaking of which, the two lived in the same courtyard, and they were busy with their own business recently, but they seldom met face to face.It was still early today, so we went to a noodle stall in the west of the city to eat noodles together.

While eating, Xia Ziling asked, "How is it? Is there any progress on the collapse of the imperial city wall?"

"This matter is a bit tricky. The reason why the east wall always collapses is that the site selection was too hasty back then, and there happened to be a water source underground that has not been proven. Now every time it collapses, it can only be repaired. It takes time and effort to rebuild the damaged Groundwater erodes, but it can't last for a few years."

"No, Liu Shou said that he only repaired it when he first took office three years ago. He didn't expect another accident to happen so soon. He sent someone to dig it up a few days ago. It turned out that the groundwater was leaking hard," Mu Sheng sighed, " This time it will inevitably be rebuilt again, the rebuilt is small, but this time it is a big mess, and the emperor will know, I am afraid I can't hide it, I am worried about how to report this to the emperor."

"Underground water?" Mu Sheng said a lot, but Xia Ziling was most concerned about these three words.

"That's right, Fengyang has been suffering from severe drought for the past few years, and finally there is a large water source, but this location is very unfortunate."

"Can you take me to have a look?" Xia Ziling became interested, and said to Mu Sheng after grilling his face in twos and threes.

"it is good."

After eating noodles, the two walked all the way to the east city wall. The collapsed bricks and soil had just been dug up and placed aside, so Xia Ziling could clearly see the sparkling water under the moonlight.

"What a huge stream of water!" The groundwater seemed to be extremely shallow, but now it was only three feet dug out, and it gushed out.Xia Ziling stepped forward, bowed a handful, and tasted sweet.

Xia Ziling frowned and said, "Wouldn't it be a pity to bury such good water?"

"Then what should we do? The imperial city is right here. It is absolutely impossible to demolish the east wall alone and leave three walls." Reminiscent of the lack of water to irrigate the farmland in the suburbs of Zhongdu and the difficulty of drinking water for the common people, Mu Sheng Why don't you feel that the water is a pity, but there is no solution.

"Actually..." Xia Ziling paused, and then said softly, "Don't you think that the entire capital city of Zhongdu is just a decoration here, and it's useless?"

"Bojia," Mu Sheng smiled helplessly, "Your words are too straightforward."

Xia Ziling rubbed his nose and said, "That's just to tell you, I definitely wouldn't talk about it in front of others. But this is something that all civil and military officials, even the emperor himself, know very well, isn't it?"

I don't know if Emperor Hongwu calmed down sometimes, would he regret the costly construction of Zhongdu?

"So what, Zhongdu is already here. If it can be solved, it doesn't have to be delayed until Hongwu 19 years."

"But didn't the emperor not know that there is groundwater here? Let me think about it, maybe there is a way to solve it." After Xia Ziling said, he sat on the pile of bricks and soil beside him, and began to meditate like an old monk in a trance.

Seeing his serious look, Mu Sheng was slightly moved in his heart.This guy has been very energetic since he came to Zhongdu.No, it should be said that it was the same in the past. His deep thought always makes people unable to take their eyes off.

After a while, Xia Ziling jumped up.

Mu Sheng said, "What? Got an idea?"

"No," this matter is not simple, and it can't be solved by just speculating and thinking of a small solution, "but now the four princes are performing martial arts in Zhongdu, maybe we can use their power to do something, and I will talk to Shu when I go back." The king discusses and discusses."

Mu Sheng looked at Xia Ziling with watery eyes and said, "Then... let's go back."

"it is good."

When approaching the mansion, the night wind was cold, and Xia Ziling couldn't help but sneezed.

"It's late autumn, why don't you wear more clothes when you go out at night?" Mu Sheng said as he took off his cloak and put it on for Xia Ziling.

"I came back because I wanted to eat some noodles." Xia Ziling wanted to refuse, but Mu Sheng moved too quickly, and the cloak had already been put on, and it would look unfamiliar to hand it over, Xia Ziling simply stopped being polite to Mu Sheng.

This scene happened to fall into the eyes of a person standing at the door.

"My lord?!" The two were about to step into the gate, when Xia Ziling was suddenly startled by a figure hidden in the corner of the door.

"My lord is here, could it be that... he came out to admire the moon?" Mu Sheng immediately teased.

Subconsciously, Xia Ziling looked up at the sky. It was the end of the month, and there was no moon either.

"Hmph," Zhu Chun snorted softly, "I'm here to find Xia Ziling."

"My lord, please." It seems that Zhu Chun probably came to discuss the "Ten Strategies for Governing Shu" with him.

Farewell to Mu Sheng, brought Zhu Chun to his room, Xia Ziling served tea and said: "My lord..."

Just as he opened his mouth, Zhu Chun interrupted him, "Where did you and Mu Sheng go?"

Xia Ziling answered honestly: "I went to eat some noodles, and then went to see the collapsed city wall in the east of the city together."

"It's Mu Sheng's duty to investigate the collapse of the city wall, why are you joining in the fun!"

"..." Why does Xia Ziling feel that Zhu Chun's attitude towards Mu Sheng is not very friendly today? Aren't they close friends?

"Forget it, let's leave this matter aside, I have already read the "Ten Strategies for Governing Shu" you brought that day."

Xia Ziling nodded, but Zhu Chun took half a month to read something that was only a few hundred words, which is really long enough.

"What you mentioned is generally feasible, but there are still a few points that I feel suspicious about." Zhu Chun paused, and continued: "You said that the land tax in central Shu is not paid in grain, but in silver taels. Ordinary people Most of the silver taels paid in are broken silver, and the government needs to smelt them before putting them into the warehouse as whole silver, so will it happen that the silver taels put into the warehouse are less than the amount of land tax received?"

Zhu Chun's mention mentioned the key flaw in the first article of "Ten Strategies for Governing Shu" drafted by Xia Ziling. Xia Ziling had to admire the sharp vision of the King of Shu.

His suggestion was based on Zhang Juzheng's "One Whip Method". Later, the implementation of the "One Whip Method" was hindered. The biggest reason was that the officials paid more to the farmers on the grounds that the need to smelt silver would cause "fire consumption". Tian Fu has bred many talents.

"What the prince said is true, but the taxation method will have disadvantages no matter how it is determined. There are many mountains in the middle of Sichuan, and it is difficult to grow grains in many places. It is better for the mountain people to collect medicinal materials, bamboo shoots, and even hunt game for a living. , but under the current grain tax law, farmers have to grow grain regardless of whether the land is fertile or poor. Land taxes are apportioned, and life like this will become more and more impoverished."

"As for the matter of smelting silver, we can do some investigation first, and then collect after deducting the fire consumption." Xia Ziling's consideration of * is not in Xia Ziling's consideration. No matter what tax law, this is inevitable. Emperor Hongwu hated corrupt officials the most. Officials are usually skinned and used as grass when they are caught. Such severe punishment cannot be stopped, and Xia Ziling cannot have a better way.

The one he mentioned was just to choose the best according to the situation in Sichuan.