(The timeline of the previous chapter jumped directly to 1610 for the sake of story continuity, but the timeline of this chapter is still in 1609)

November 10, 1609, Nanjing Xunhui.

"Your Highness, heavy rains across Fujian Province in May this year caused multiple landslides, which in turn caused heavy casualties in all states, prefectures, and counties across the province. Various statistics have been completed so far."

"Hey..." Zhu Youdong rubbed his head tiredly and sighed.

Since ancient times, there has been a catastrophe in China for three hundred years. There have been both natural disasters and man-made disasters. I won’t talk about man-made disasters. The dynasty has been established for too long and has basically no ability to innovate itself. As time goes by, problems in all aspects will arise.

.And natural disasters? According to the laws of the Little Ice Age, they began to erupt intensively around this time.

In addition to heavy rains in Fujian in May, an earthquake occurred in Jiuquan, Shaanxi Province (Gansu had not yet been established as a province at this time) in June of that year. Drought continued in Xuzhou in March, 1978, and in September, a typhoon landed in Guangdong... In addition to the Jiuquan earthquake, these things

, other matters must be handled first by the Nanjing Sixth Department according to the customs made before the Ming Dynasty. At this time, Zhu Youdong was in Nanjing, so of course he was the one to handle it.

"Tell me, Zhang Qing, how miserable is it in Fujian?"

"Yes, Your Highness, according to statistics from Fujian's state governments, the heavy rains in May this year killed more than 100,000 people in total, and caused the loss of no less than 2 million acres of cultivated land in mountainous areas."

I believe you, you are such a bad old man!

It is certain that the disaster in Fujian is serious, but for the Ming Dynasty's officialdom, which is already in ruins, large-scale natural disasters are a good opportunity for disaster!

These are people, 100,000 people! Landslides, mudslides, etc. will definitely cause casualties, but don’t more people know how to run? In any case, it is impossible for 100,000 people to die. The reason why local officials reported so many people

, isn’t it to take this opportunity to facilitate the gentry from all over the country to embezzle the population, or to fill in the holes in the previous yellow books? With people like this, the loss of cultivated land is really more than two million acres? Two hundred thousand acres is almost enough!

This natural disaster, from an absolutely cold-blooded and inhumane standpoint, was a great thing for the local officials of the Ming Dynasty: First, was it in vain to let the gentry usurp the population and farmland? Local officials are all exiles, and generally they do not

When you buy property in your office, the gentry who benefited from it should use money to pay tribute. Secondly, if the disaster is reported more seriously, the court will naturally get more pensions, which is another source of income. This can be eaten

Things at both ends are really wonderful...

"How much money has the Ministry of Household Affairs calculated for disaster relief?"

"Your Highness, at the end of May, the Chief Secretary of Fujian Province requested 100,000 taels of silver in advance for disaster relief. At that time, the Ministry of Revenue urgently reported to Your Highness, and with His Highness's approval, the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue directly transferred 100,000 taels of silver. Now that the disaster relief has been completed, mainly

To appease the refugees, Fujian requested the Ministry of Household Affairs to allocate another 100,000 taels, and requested that Fujian’s entire land tax be exempted this year.”

"Does the household department still have any money?"

"Your Highness, I'm ashamed. The money collected by the Nanjing Household Department this year has been transferred to Beijing in September, but at this time, I can't get any money out."

"It doesn't matter, this money will go to Nanhua Palace."

"Your Highness's kindness to the people is the blessing of the Ming Dynasty."

"The so-called taking it from the people and using it for the people, lest the censors whisper in private that it is a glutton that can't get in and out."

"I don't dare."

"Hey." Zhu Youdong waved his hand casually and said with a smile: "Gu didn't talk about you. But, you have worked with Gu in Nanjing for so many years, and you know Gu's temper. Gu's money is not so easy to get.

The Nanjing Ministry of Household Affairs sent a minister to handle this matter in detail. Gu will send Mr. Cao Huachun and Mr. Yuan Keli to follow the officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs to Fujian. As you all know, Mr. Yuan is Gu's teacher now, so Gu sent a team of Jin Yiwei.

It should be okay to protect him, right?"

When Zhu Youdong said this, some of the Nanjing officials present felt their hearts sink, and some were gloating about the misfortune - Yuan Keli's reputation as a god in deciding cases has long been known. In the past, this guy was so powerful without a backing, but now he has his grandson.

Isn't it true that his backing is even more unscrupulous in settling the case? I don't know how many officials in Fujian are going to be unlucky now!

Huh, who makes you guys so arrogant that you dare to report the death of 100,000 people in a heavy rain? Hey, just ask for your own blessings this time.

"In addition, there is a drought in Xuzhou this year, and the harvest will definitely be affected. I will first allocate 30,000 taels of silver to the Ministry of Revenue for disaster relief. If it is not enough, the Ministry of Revenue will then apply to Gu, but the accounts must be clear and can withstand inspection! Also,

Let’s tell the local officials in Xuzhou that this year’s land tax will not be paid for the time being. It’s already November, and if we can’t collect it now, will it be the same if we continue to pay it? I will report to the emperor to exempt Xuzhou’s land tax this year.”

"Yes, I will take your orders."

After ten minutes of meeting, Zhu Youdong was about to get on his carriage when Wang Chengen hurried over: "Master, I just received the news that Xu Xianchun is back!"

"Yes." Zhu Youdong's face remained unchanged and he nodded in a calm tone: "You go ahead and ask him to wait in Nanhua Gongwu's study."

"Yes." Wang Chengen answered the order and turned around to leave. He was still thinking in his mind: My master's qi-nurturing skills are getting better and better. As my personal follower, I have to learn from him. But he only ran a step or two.

Then I heard a voice coming from the carriage behind me: "Don't be afraid of bumping me, just run forward for me!"

Soon, Zhu Youdong arrived at Nanhua Palace, but Xu Xianchun had not arrived yet. Zhu Youdong simply stood outside the palace gate and waited.

"Your Majesty, Xu Xianchun, pays homage to His Highness. His Highness, Lao, is waiting outside the door in person. It is a capital crime!"

"Hahahaha, you deserve it! It's been three whole years, you stupid guy. I told you three years, and you stayed there honestly for three years! You are such an honest person! Come on, let me

I took a closer look, and hey, it’s extremely dark! But it’s also stronger than it was three years ago.”

"Your Highness has grown a lot taller than three years ago. If it weren't for His Highness's black uniform, I would not dare to recognize him."

"That is, I am only nine years old this year, but I am almost five feet tall. Come on, let's not talk outside the door. Let's go in and talk. Go in and talk."

After the two entered the study, Zhu Youdong personally made tea for Xu Xianchun, which made Xu Xianchun feel grateful again. Then, the emperor and his ministers began to answer the questions correctly.

"You have been in Siam for more than three years, but what do you think of this country?"

"Back to Your Highness, the revitalization of this country is already obvious. If the imperial court does not take precautions early, sooner or later it will be a big trouble for me heading south!"

"Well..." It's been four years since the time traveler from the south ascended the throne, right? After such a long time, it's really time to make some achievements.

"Please speak carefully for me."

"Yes, Your Highness. When I first arrived in Siam, I felt that although the country was very prestigious in the south, neighboring Chenla, Myanmar and even Johor further south were afraid of it. But when I really went deep into the country, I only saw various places.

There are many wealthy manors, and the servants in the gardens are like armies. Outside the wealthy manors, the land is barren and starving people are everywhere. Among the ordinary people, are they all old, weak, sick, disabled, or orphaned? In short, it is rare to see a strong man. Especially

I saw that many women were willing to sell their children, daughters, or even themselves in order to survive. Even so, it was difficult to find food and clothing... In fact, it was just a weak fire that was being held up there. And since the new king of Siam came to the throne four years ago,

Later, he changed the national policy of fighting everywhere, rested with the people, provided disaster relief everywhere, comforted the people, and even went to work in the fields himself... In the more than three years since I stayed in Siam, I really saw with my own eyes the country's rapid recovery day after day.

.

Although the King of Siam was only a child, just like His Highness, he was born with knowledge. He improved agricultural tools, built water conservancy projects, and reclaimed a large amount of wasteland. The people returned to their homes and farmed with peace of mind. Business also began to prosper, and other industries gradually recovered.

Last year, the King of Siam began to tighten his power, stipulating that the domestic wealthy families could no longer build their manors like forts, and required the wealthy families to release their slaves. This of course aroused resistance from the wealthy families everywhere. The king either sent generals, or

Personally leading the army to suppress it can be said to be a victory in every battle.

At the beginning of this year, the King of Siam issued an order to rectify the civil service and re-revise the official system. The country's court now has a prime minister under the king. Under the prime minister are as many as twenty ministries, and each minister is called a minister. On the military side

, the same level as the Prime Minister is the General, uh, Your Highness, this is a bit similar to our Chinese system of the Han Dynasty. "

"This is different. Well, go on."

"Yes, I was preparing to leave in June this year. Before leaving, I heard the King of Siam issued an order saying that a new army was to be formed, so I stayed for three more months."

"How about the new army?"

"What the King of Siam is talking about this year is to form a new army of 5,000 men. The organizational names of this new army are a bit strange. They are called regiments, battalions, companies, platoons, and squads. Of course, this title is a bit strange.

, What really surprises me is that the uniforms, equipment, and military pay of this new army are all extremely extraordinary. Your Highness, this new army's blunderbuss can be fired without a match rope, and its military pay, converted into Ming Dynasty's silver, is about

One or two per person per month. And there are actually Hongyi people among the instructors of the New Army..."

"Xianchun, you have been away from Ming Dynasty for more than three years, and you may not understand some things well. I also have such a new army, and it is no worse than this guy."

"So that's the case, then I'll be relieved."

"Well, do you think that after this new army is trained, where will the King of Siam attack first?"

"Chenla! Your Highness, this country is small and rich in products, and the people are not as warlike as Myanmar. Therefore, if Siam wants to expand, it must choose Chenla first."

"Well..." After standing up and walking around for a few times, Zhu Youdong said: "It seems that if Siam really wants to invade our Ming Dynasty, it will be at least five or six years later. However, people who do not have long-term worries must have short-term worries, and some

Things need to be done in advance to show your purity."

"I'm here."

"I have worked hard for you for more than three years. In addition to the ten thousand taels of silver I gave you in the beginning, I will give you another three thousand taels of salary. In addition, I will give you half a year's leave. You can go back and take care of yourself.

Accompany your father in the hall."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"Don't thank you in a hurry. In half a year, you will return to Nanjing first and study at Fangshan School and Henghaiwei for three months. After that, I will move to the position of Qianhu in Yunnan Jinyiwei for you. If everything goes well, over there in Yunnan
Chapter completed!