The Ming Dynasty started with caution

"What is the relationship between building the Great Wall and settling refugees?" Emperor Hongzhi was surprised.

In the early Ming Dynasty, the court levied taxes and labor to build the Great Wall, but it was too expensive. Only one section was built before it was forced to stop due to insufficient funds.

Once the construction started, it would cost countless money.

"I have something to say, I wonder if I should say it?" Yan Chengjin raised his head slightly and glanced at Emperor Hongzhi.

"That's what Mr. Yan said."

"It was because there was no protection of the Great Wall that the Tatars repeatedly invaded the northwest territory, leaving countless fields barren.

The labor of building the Great Wall can be used by refugees from Jingxiang, and four cents of silver can be paid every day.

After the construction is completed, the refugees will be settled in the northwest. The northwest is vast and has many fertile fields, where corn can be grown.

In this way, the refugees in Jingxiang can be settled, and the northwest will gradually become a stable place."

To settle the refugees in Jingxiang, they must be given a place to settle down.

Looking at the Ming Dynasty, the northwest is the most vast.

But due to the constant war, the fields were trampled by soldiers and horses, and plundered by the Tatars, forcing the people to flee.

Do you think that if the Tatars plundered everything, you can avoid paying taxes this year?

No, the government still has to collect taxes.

Without food to pay taxes, the people had to flee and become refugees.

Because of the constant wars in the northwest, it was the birthplace of the main refugees of the Ming Dynasty.

"Speaking of which, when I went to Hetao, I saw countless fertile fields turned into wasteland under the iron hoofs of the Tatars, and only five out of ten people survived." Baoguogong sighed.

Emperor Hongzhi frowned and thought.

After the Tumubao Incident, the Oirat and Tatars continued to send troops to the south to plunder, and there were constant changes in the court, and the construction of the Great Wall was always stopped and started.

Although there were city walls built in the northwest, the two cities were dozens of miles apart and were not connected.

Han Wen said, "Master Yan, do you know how long the northern territory is? How much silver will it cost to build just one zhang?"

The Ministry of Revenue has the accounts of the construction of the Great Wall in the past dynasties, which is an astronomical figure.

"Your subordinate knows that what you want to build is only the Great Wall in the three northwest areas to connect the gaps."

Yan Chengjin drew the Great Wall in the northwest and carefully calculated the current length. There are too many gaps and it can't stop the Tatars.

Only by plugging these gaps can the Great Wall in the northwest really play a role.

"The Ministry of Revenue calculates how much silver it will cost."

"I am not talented, so I calculated one." Yan Chengjin took out a booklet that he had prepared from his sleeve.

Emperor Hongzhi took a look and said, "It will cost two million taels of silver to build a bridge from Jiayuguan to Shanxi Town?"

Han Wen's legs went weak when he heard this, and he almost fell to the ground. He blew his beard and glared at Yan Chengjin: "Two... two million taels of silver?"

"Don't be angry, Mr. Han. You can pay it in twelve installments instead of paying it all at once." Yan Chengjin estimated that the Ministry of Revenue had more than 2.3 million taels of silver in reserve.

Han Wen's acting is really good...

Seeing his reaction, Emperor Hongzhi really thought that the Ministry of Revenue had no silver.

However, it is true that the treasury needs to reserve silver for emergencies.

In the hall, everyone's face was twisted, except Yan Chengjin.

Li Dongyang and Liu Jian frowned.

The court has not started such a large project for a long time. More than two million taels of silver are comparable to a year's summer tax.

"Just to resettle refugees, isn't it a bit too expensive..." Liu Jian felt that the silver was not worth spending.

Two million taels of silver, two meals of porridge a day, are enough for the refugees in Jingxiang to eat until they die.

Yan Chengjin is so good that he even asked the refugees to go to the northwest to build the Great Wall. Isn't this a superfluous move?

Xie Qian, Han Wen and others nodded.

"Mr. Liu is right. May I ask the Ministry of Revenue, how much difference is there between the taxes paid by the northwest in the early Ming Dynasty and the taxes paid now?" Yan Chengjin asked.

Han Wen hesitated a little, and Emperor Hongzhi said loudly with a cold look on his face: "What Mr. Han said is true, why cover it up."

"This... I have to verify it."

With that, Han Wen strode out of the hall, and after a moment, hurried back.

"If the total taxes of the three borders in the northwest are converted into silver, it is about 100,000 taels less each year compared to the early Ming Dynasty."

This 100,000 taels is the sum of rice and tax silver.

In the early Ming Dynasty, the Tatars were kept in check by Zhu Yuanzhang and did not dare to invade.

The northwest is relatively stable, and the people don't have to flee, so they naturally pay more taxes.

Nowadays, the Tatars treat the northwest as an ATM, and they come to rob whenever they have nothing to do, and everyone runs away.

The taxes of the Ming Dynasty are collected per capita. Without people, the money cannot be collected.

"Two million taels of silver may seem like a lot, but it is worth it. After the Great Wall of Hetao is repaired, it can resist the invasion of the Tatars.

The refugees cultivate the land, and the taxes can be increased. The court will open the tea and horse market in the northwest, and the business and travel in the northwest will soon prosper.

In this way, since the problem of refugees in Jingxiang can be solved, the troubles in the northwest can also be solved."

Yan Chengjin said slowly.

Before entering the palace, he deduced these problems several times.

Nowadays, there is no concept of direct economic losses.

When the Tatars enter Hetao to plunder, in addition to robbing cattle, sheep and food, they also cause the good farmland to be abandoned.

These are all direct economic losses.

"What do you think?" Emperor Hongzhi had a certainty in his mind and asked indifferently.

"I think it's not feasible." Han Wen said.

"Your Majesty, I think it can be repaired. Although it is not beneficial at the moment, it can benefit future generations. In the future, the crown prince..."

Li Dongyang's words were obscure, but Emperor Hongzhi could understand them. If he didn't solve the problem of Jingxiang, the prince would have to solve it in the future.

Seeing Houzhao's careless look... Oh, let's build it.

"This is a major event that will benefit future generations, and I think it makes sense."

Emperor Hongzhi felt an inexplicable pain in his heart. He had accumulated two million taels of silver for a long time, and now it was all gone.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. It's just that building the Great Wall requires supervision to prevent the invasion of the Tatars. How about letting the Duke of Baoguo supervise the construction of the Great Wall?"

Zhu Hui and Zhang Mao trembled slightly. Your Majesty and the nine ministers had talked about Jingxiang and the Great Wall for a long time, and they had forgotten about them.

"Your Majesty, I don't want to go. The Great Wall will take a few years to a dozen years to build. I have to lead the army to fight." Zhu Hui was not happy.

Emperor Hongzhi's chest rose and fell slightly, and his eyes were wide open: "You disobeyed the order twice, and you still want to lead the army to fight?"

Zhu Hui lowered his head and did not dare to contradict him.

Li Dongyang glanced at Yan Chengjin. This guy saved the life of the Duke of Baoguo.

The problem of refugees in Jingxiang is a concern of His Majesty. If it can be solved, it will be a way to make up for the mistakes.

It will take several years to build a Great Wall. By then, His Majesty will have long forgotten about the disobedience.

"I think the Duke of Baoguo can do it!" Zhang Mao was afraid that this fool would refuse.

"The Duke of Baoguo disobeyed my order twice. This crime should be executed. Sending him to build the Great Wall is not a bargain for him." Emperor Hongzhi knew that this would help Zhu Hui escape the crime.

Seeing His Majesty's anger, the ministers were silent.

"Your Majesty, the Duke of Baoguo has fought countless battles for the court, so he is killed..." Ma Wensheng hesitated, and seeing His Majesty's face, he dared not say more.

At this time, Zuo Zongyi, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of War, strode into the hall.

"Your Majesty, General Yan sent back a victory report!"

"Quick, present it!"

Emperor Hongzhi opened the victory report, which started with a long chapter, starting with Yan Kesong and Zhu Hui fighting for the general seal.

Then there was the deployment of troops and the battle with the Tatars.

Then there was the inventory of the spoils.

Yan Chengjin, Li Dongyang and others looked eagerly, and saw that Emperor Hongzhi's face kept changing.

After reading it, Emperor Hongzhi sighed sincerely: "The writing style of Mr. Yan is really good!"

"???" Yan Chengjin couldn't help but complain, Dad wouldn't write the memorial as a novel, right?

"Your Majesty, this victory report?" Liu Jian also wanted to see it.

Emperor Hongzhi said: "In this case, the Duke of Baoguo will go to Jingxiang and recruit refugees."

Li Dongyang and others looked at each other, and Anding Bo pleaded for the Duke of Baoguo?

Yan Chengjin sighed, yes, Dad is a good man, and he must have mentioned it in the memorial.

It was expected that he would plead for Zhu Hui.

"I... thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Hui and Zhang Mao bowed slightly, and immediately stood up and left the hall, finally saving their lives.

After the two left, Yan Chengjin felt that it was time for him to leave, and said goodbye to Emperor Hongzhi.

"Wait, do you think I can't see that I deliberately arranged for Baoguogong to supervise the construction of the Great Wall?"

"Your Majesty misunderstood, I really didn't do it on purpose, but for the refugees in Jingxiang."

Li Dongyang, Liu Jian and others looked at Yan Chengjin.

This kid connected the Jingxiang incident with Baoguogong's disobedience, and cleverly saved Zhu Hui from a disaster.

Chapter 2 A little later