The Ming Dynasty started with caution

After all the officials left, Zhu Houzhao turned to look at Yan Chengjin:

"Old Gao, are you really going to Tang and Song with an imperial decree?"

The Ministry of Rites had to arrange the ceremonial guards and send envoys to accompany the envoys, and he was reluctant to spend money.

"It's up to the new emperor, but I have another matter to discuss with the new emperor."

Yan Chengjin raised his eyes slightly. It didn't matter whether the decree was issued or not. Zhu Houzhao didn't care about the emperor's virtue. The officials were used to this guy's cheating. The promised diligence was also reduced from the original four hours to three hours.

Anyway, as long as you are thick-skinned, the officials have no choice.

Zhu Houzhao's eyes lit up: "What?"

"Check the population in the Yellow Book. Most of the vassal kings have moved away from the Central Plains. They may take the people of the fiefdom with them. The last time the Yellow Book was checked was five years ago. It's time to check it."

Checking the Yellow Book requires the power of the whole country and consumes countless manpower.

But Yan Chengjin came from the previous life and knew the importance of the census. It can find out the ratio of men to women, the degree of population distribution in various places, and the aging situation.

The policy of governing the country comes from here, and the princes took away a large number of people. It is necessary to know the distribution of the people in order to reasonably guide farming.

"My father has been in power for 23 years, but he has only checked three times. I have checked three times so far. Why do you want to check the yellow book again?"

But after thinking about it, the light in Zhu Houzhao's eyes gradually lit up.

I don't know how much the good governance in these years has increased the number of people. If it is to double, it is...

"Gu Banban goes to the cabinet to convey my will."

………

Cabinet duty room,

"I haven't seen the new emperor's imperial edict yet. Should we urge it?" Zhang Sheng looked at Li Dongyang.

Li Dongyang shook his head. The new emperor was a spy of Tang and Song. How could he issue an imperial edict?

At this time, the little eunuch walked into the duty room, put the imperial edict on Li Dongyang's desk, and turned around and ran out.

After the new emperor ascended the throne, even the eunuchs became lazy and did not even read the imperial edict.

Li Dongyang picked up the imperial edict and took a look, "The new emperor wants to check the Yellow Book."

"Checking the Yellow Book is good, but it is a bit wasteful and labor-intensive." Xie Qian nodded.

The Yellow Book is usually checked every four years.

But a thorough check of the Yellow Book requires the whole country's strength. Some emperors only checked the Yellow Book once during their reign, such as Zhu Zhanji, the Cricket King during the reign of Renxuan, who checked it once every ten years.

In order not to waste people's money, the government does not need to cover up bribery.

"Since the new emperor ascended the throne, he has checked three times. Is it too diligent?" Wang Qiong cried and objected in a tactful way.

Since he became a cabinet minister, he began to have black circles, and they became heavier and heavier. He even had double vision when reading memorials.

If he was asked to check the population of the Yellow Book again, he might not be far from being loyal to the court.

He was a little scared.

"Don't you know what the new emperor's order is? Let's pass it on to the Ministry of Revenue."

Li Dongyang sighed. It was useless to beg for Zhu Houzhao's order.

Xie Qian and Han Wende exchanged glances and remembered the bet with the new emperor to double the population, land and silver in the treasury.

Now, the number of land has been achieved by expanding the land of Tang, Song and the island country.

After discovering the Golden State, the silver in the treasury will be achieved sooner or later.

Only the people are left!

The clerk did not dare to neglect it and sent it to the duty room of the Ministry of Revenue.

After Wang Qiong was promoted to the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, the position of Minister of the Ministry of Revenue was vacant. After receiving the memorial, Qiao Yu, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, stroked his beard slightly.

"The bet between the new emperor and the gentlemen is to double the population of the Yellow Book. I'm afraid this population is difficult to check."

It is said that when Prince Shou moved to his fiefdom in the Western Regions, he took nearly 10,000 people with him.

Dozens of vassal kings may take hundreds of thousands of people with them, or even more.

"After Lord Yan was promoted to the position of Prime Minister, the Ministry of Revenue has been slow to select a minister. I'm afraid..." another chief clerk spoke meaningfully.

The position of the Minister of Revenue is vacant, and it is obvious that Yan Chengjin wants to place his own people.

Now, the two people who can be the Minister of Revenue are Song Jing and Xie Pi, the left and right assistant ministers of the Ministry of Works.

Qiao Yu took a deep breath, and a firm look flashed in his eyes, "No matter what he wants, I will fight for it!"

...

Duchayuan, duty room.

Yan Chengjin opened the yellow book of Shuntian Prefecture, and Zheng Qian walked in with someone: "Sir, Lord Xie is here."

Xie Pi was a little confused and bowed to Yan Chengjin: "I wonder if Lord Yan wants to see me?"

Putting aside the official position, just based on the science department founded by Yan Chengjin and the many drawings he gave to the School of Science, he sincerely admired him.

"I want to recommend you to be the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue."

Let Zhu Houzhao check the Yellow Book, firstly to find out the population of the world, see the marriage situation of men and women, and make policy adjustments.

Secondly, it is to recommend Xie Pi to be the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

Qiao Yu and Jiang Mian belong to the same type of people. They are Jinshi in the 20th year of Chenghua. Yan Chengjin does not want him to be the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, an important chaebol department, to hinder the reform.

Xie Pi said: "I am still young and I am afraid it will cause trouble to you."

There are many ministers in the court who are more experienced than him.

If Yan Chengjin recommends him, he will be charged with forming a party.

"Zhang Xian is more decisive than you. He never asks me for my reasons. The court puts communication first. Don't worry. I will send you a copy of the Yellow Book." Yan Chengjin said.

Xie Pi's heart moved slightly. After taking the Yellow Book of Shuntian Prefecture, he walked out of the duty room.

A month has passed since the imperial court ordered people to check the Yellow Book. All prefectures, counties and cities have successively sent the numbers in the Yellow Book to the Duchayuan Duguan, and then copied them to the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works.

Qiao Yu sat on the official hat chair, picked up the account with his right hand, and looked at the clerk who sent the Yellow Book:

"Why send it to the Duchayuan first!"

"The Prime Minister's order, I am also following orders!" The clerk muttered to himself. This is indeed against the rules, but what can he do?

Guessed it right.

This guy really wants one of Xie Pi and Song Jingzhong to be the Minister of Revenue. I have to calculate the population of the Yellow Book quickly, otherwise, the position of the Minister of Revenue will be snatched by the two.

Li Hu Li Bing Xing Gong, the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War, are all his people!

If the Ministry of Revenue is added...

Qiao Yu's heart moved slightly.

At this time, a little eunuch walked in from the outside: "Master Qiao, the population of the Yellow Book has been calculated. The new emperor summoned the six ministries to the East Warm Pavilion to discuss matters."

Calculated?

Qiao Yu looked up in astonishment and put down the abacus in his hand, "I am not slow in arithmetic. Together with the chief clerks of each department, I have only calculated the twelve provincial governments. Who can be faster than me?"

"It's Master Xie."

………

East Warm Pavilion,

Li Dongyang looked up at Zhu Houzhao's book.

The court has made many good policies, but I wonder if the population has increased or decreased?

"New emperor, I wonder what the total population is in the Yellow Book?" Zhang Sheng looked at Zhu Houzhao. There were more than 65 million people during the Yongle period, but only more than 50 million people during the Xuande period.

The population will decline.

The faces of the gentlemen were nervous and expectant.

Zhu Houzhao did not answer, but flipped through the books, which made the gentlemen quite upset.

Qiao Yu strode into the hall, saluted Zhu Houzhao, and then looked at Xie Pi: "I heard that Lord Xie has calculated the Yellow Book?"

Xie Pi nodded: "I have checked with Lord Song, and the population is 180,374,927 people."

Li Dongyang was stunned.

The highest peak of the previous emperor was in the first year of Yongle, with more than 66 million people, and never broke through 80 million.

"So many people?" Zhang Sheng frowned, a little unbelieving.

Wang Qiong smiled and said, "I would also like to ask how Lord Xie calculated it. I remember once that it was less than 80 million people."

"Count the hidden households and children, Lord Wang can check the accounts." Xie Pi took out the backup from his sleeve.

Wang Qiong looked through it for a few times and saw that every account was written clearly.

Suddenly, a voice sounded slowly: "I recommend Xie Pi as the Minister of Revenue."