Yangtze River, Yellow River.

These two rivers running from west to east gave birth to the Yanhuang tribe and allowed the Chuxia tribe to grow and expand.

The meandering rivers flow through the area, which is mostly an elite place. People along the river can irrigate their farmland and plant millet. With the development of the Chu-Xia tribe, the three emperors ruled the world, and the five emperors established their relationships.

To this day, the importance of these two rivers to the Chu-Xia nation is self-evident.

This is the mother river of the Chuxia nation and the source of development of the Chuxia nation.

But these two rivers also often cause disasters. Raging floods will submerge everything along the way and bring countless sufferings to the people along the river...

Since Zhang Haogu presided over the New Deal, in addition to reforming official administration, reforming scientific research, equalizing land distribution, returning land to rivers, establishing a new army, and promoting the investigation of things, what he valued most was river dredging and riverside management.

It is impossible for Zhang Haogu to forget how violent waves are hidden beneath the calm waters of these two normally seemingly docile rivers. Once a storm breaks out, it will be an unspeakable disaster.

The vegetation in the Gansu and Shaanxi areas is incomplete, so Zhang Hao ordered the governor of Gansu and Shaanxi, Shi Kefa, to plant trees and protect the vegetation along the river to prevent soil erosion. In the middle and lower reaches of Henan and Shandong, he ordered the governor of Henan, Zhou Jinyong, and the governor of Shandong, Yuan Yingtai, to dredge the river and strengthen the river embankments.

, dig ditches and build reservoirs to fight drought and floods.

In the northern part of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Haogu did not dare to say that it was perfect, but he did his best.

But even so, the Yellow River in Henan Province burst its banks due to continuous heavy rains, affecting 27 counties in four prefectures. It is unknown whether there will be greater damage.

What about the South?

Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi and Jiangnan, this huge area was an important grain producing area for the imperial court. Hunan and Guangzhou were famous all over the world, and Jiangnan was a land of plenty and a major financial and taxation center.

The weather during the Little Ice Age has been severe repeatedly. This summer has been rainy, but now Yellow Crane has already had a problem. If floods also break out in the south of the Yangtze River, then the court will not have to do anything else this year, next year and the year after that, let alone this year.

Zhu Youxiao was also aware of this problem, and he immediately asked: "Has the cabinet made a decision?"

Zhang Haogu said: "I have ordered the surrounding provinces to dispatch government officials and township warriors to support Henan. At the same time, I have dispatched new troops to Henan to repair the river embankments. In addition, I have dispatched money and food for relief. Henan should not suffer any greater losses."

"What I'm worried about right now is not Henan. The damage to Henan province can be stopped. Hebei and Shandong have not yet been affected. The Yellow River flooding cannot sweep across the north, but if the Yangtze River in the south floods..."

Zhu Youxiao also frowned, "Yeah, what's the situation in the Yangtze River?"

While the monarch and his ministers were worried, Huang Liji, Wei Guangwei, Lu Xiangsheng, and Zhang Ruitu all came in a hurry.

"Your Majesty, my ministers came immediately after hearing that the Yellow River burst its banks."

Zhu Youxiao looked at the cabinet ministers who came in a hurry and handed over the flood report: "Everyone, please take a look."

Huang Liji, Wei Guangwei, Lu Xiangsheng and Zhang Ruitu looked at the flood report together, and each of them frowned: "The flood situation in Henan is so serious..."

Wei Guangwei asked: "Yuanfu, Henan has been reporting various flood control project measures, applying for funds and mobilizing civilian workers, but now the Yellow River still bursts its banks, flooding four prefectures and twenty-seven counties. This land in Henan is going to...

Don’t you want to check it out?”

Check Henan.

Zhang Haogu narrowed his eyes, this Donglin Party really didn't miss any opportunity.

In this situation, the first thing they think about is not how to provide disaster relief, but accountability?

Glancing at Wei Guangwei and Huang Liji, Zhang Haogu's expression remained unchanged: "The Yellow River bursting its banks needs to be investigated whether it was a natural disaster or a man-made disaster, but not now. Right now, disaster relief is being carried out throughout Henan, and disaster relief is the top priority. We will talk about it after the disaster relief is completed.

other."

Huang Liji stroked his beard and said, "Yuan Fu's words are quite good."

"However, now that Henan is undergoing disaster relief, the Holy Driver is out on patrol. He is about to go. If Henan is not available, where should the Holy Driver patrol?"

Zhu Youxiao was a little unhappy: "Now that the Yellow River in Henan has burst its banks, how can I still think about going on patrol?"

Huang Liji bowed and said: "Your Majesty, the embankment breach in Henan is limited to one province. The cabinet only needs to issue an order for all provinces to support and assist. How can we delay the imperial plan because of flooding in one province?"

"The Holy Driver's Parade is to review the country of the Ming Dynasty and check the livelihood of people everywhere. It is the Emperor's review of the Ming Dynasty. Now that all preparations are completed, if the Holy Driver's patrol is canceled because of the disaster in Henan Province, it will be more of a loss than the gain."

"What's more, the emperor can also take this opportunity to check the flood control projects in various provinces."

After Huang Liji finished speaking, Wei Guangwei said immediately: "Your Majesty, what Mr. Huang Ge said is not unreasonable."

Lu Xiangsheng frowned: "In this case, where will the Holy Driver go on his inspection tour? Gansu, Shaanxi or Shandong?"

Huang Liji smiled and said: "Mr. Lu Ge, why do you only focus on the north? Isn't the south our country of the Ming Dynasty?"

"Now that Jiangnan\Hunan and Hubei are also implementing the New Deal, Shengjia can definitely go to Jiangnan."

Zhang Haogu understood that the Donglin Party members were talking about this, and they must have made preparations in private for the emperor to inspect Hubei.

After all, Hubei Governor Chu Xingyu was a new star promoted by the Donglin Party. After looking at Zhu Youxiao and seeing his expression, Zhang Haogu knew that he was interested.

Speaking of which, Zhu Youxiao has been king of the world for ten years. He has not been to many places in the Ming Dynasty. How much control can an emperor who has been sitting on the throne of the imperial city have over the place?

Especially now that the Ming Dynasty is conquering the north and south, clearing the grasslands, and annexing Annan, it is majestic and proud of the world.

Zhu Youxiao, who went from one victory to another, controlled the military, political, and financial power, and could be said to control the world.

He has come a long way in martial arts, but the emperor has always been a solitary man. Even if he doesn't understand anything at first, he will gradually learn the art of balancing and controlling people, and he will gradually become wary of the people around him, regardless of this.

Are people your relatives or your brothers from childhood to adulthood?

Zhu Youxiao is also in the same situation now.

How was the governor-general implemented, how well did the Ming Dynasty control the local areas, and what was the attitude of the southern provinces towards the imperial court.

He wanted to know. This tour was a good opportunity to explore various places. The emperor could not leave the capital and the palace easily.

No one knows what will happen once we leave this center of power.

That is to say, it was the founding emperor and those monarchs in the prosperous times who had the confidence to go on patrol without worrying about causing chaos in the process. Today's Zhu Youxiao naturally has this confidence to go on tour.

Zhang Haogu understood that Zhu Youxiao would not give up this opportunity. This was not only an opportunity to review the people's livelihood and the government's ability to govern, but also an opportunity to demonstrate the imperial power to the world.

Sure enough, Zhu Youxiao nodded slowly: "In that case, get ready to go down." Huang Liji and Wei Guangwei immediately bowed: "Your Majesty, your Majesty."

Zhu Youxiao added: "On this tour, Master and Huang Aiqing can just fight with each other. Zhang Aiqing, Wei Aiqing and Qiao Aiqing will stay in the capital. Zhang Aiqing will take the lead in government affairs. The information about disaster relief in Henan will be submitted directly to the camp."

The Holy Driver's tour was thus decided. The Holy Driver left the capital, passed through Shandong, entered the south of the Yangtze River, and then arrived at the two lakes.

The accompanying officials included Zhang Haogu, the chief assistant of the cabinet, Huang Liji, the elder of the cabinet cabinet, as well as the accompanying censors, military officers and civil servants, hundreds of people, the inner palace's ritual supervisor, divisional supervisor, imperial horse supervisor, Shangbao supervisor, and seal ribbon supervisor.

The supervisor, magistrate, and other eunuchs and eunuchs accompanied him, as well as soldiers and horses from the three battalions of Jinyi Guards Tiqi, Dongchang Fanzi, and the number reached up to 10,000.

The cabinet first notified all the provinces passing through to prepare for the mission, and then the Holy Mission completed preparations and began its southern tour in a grand manner.

The Supervisor of Ceremonies and the Supervisor of Ceremonies set up a guard of honor, and all kinds of flags fluttered in the wind and spread for miles. Thirty-two people carried the dragon, and behind it there were carriages drawn by eighteen handsome white horses. The accompanying officials and generals were also in court uniforms and armor.

Dress neatly, ride a horse and ride in a sedan chair.

In front of the holy cavalry were Tiqi wearing the Feiyu uniform and straight body armor clearing the way. On both sides and behind were cavalry and infantry guards from the fifth army camp. A guard of honor of more than 10,000 people departed from the capital, marched by land and water, and went straight down to the south of the Yangtze River.

In the summer of the tenth year of the Apocalypse, Chu Xingyu led Hubei's civil servants, military generals, gentry and wealthy people to wait quietly at the junction of Hubei and Jiangnan.

Only five days after Shengjia arrived in Jiangnan and the emperor checked into the Nanjing Palace, Shengjia set off again, with his destination being Hubei.

Chu Xingyu, who had received the news early, had already cleaned up his governor's office, and at the same time ordered all prefectures and counties to clean up the streets and remove all things that should not be there, such as homeless people and beggars who should be put in prison.

In the prison, those who should be driven into the mountains should be driven into the mountains. In short, they cannot appear in front of the emperor.

What?

You ask why the Ming Dynasty was already a prosperous time when all nations came to court and guests from all over the world served. Hubei was also a pilot for the implementation of the New Deal. It was also an excellent province that the Donglin Party members constantly praised as an excellent province that did not pick up items on the road and did not close its doors at night. Why did there appear beggars and homeless people?

This has to be mentioned in Hubei's excellent gentry farm system and the integration of officials and gentry. After all, various places in the Ming Dynasty have their own realities, and it is normal for each place to be different.

With the sound of the gong, the ceremonial guard composed of the imperial cavalry and the ceremonial supervisors who were clearing the way could be seen in the distance. Chu Xingyu immediately said: "Hurry, the Holy Master is here, cheer up and get ready."

The officials, military generals and gentry in Hubei immediately cheered up and respectfully watched the arrival of the holy driver. From a distance, the mountains, rivers, sun and moon flags and dragon flags of the Ming Dynasty were fluttering in the wind and making a hunting sound.

After the holy driver's ceremonial procession entered Hubei, it stopped. A servant came forward and asked, "Where is Chu Xingyu, the governor of Hubei?"

Chu Xingyu quickly stepped forward and said, "My lord, Hubei Governor Chu Xingyu has seen an angel." Sheren said, "Governor Chu, the emperor wants you to come forward and ask questions."

Chu Xingyu's eyes lit up, and he quickly followed Shiren through the layers of ceremonial guards and arrived in front of the dragon drawn by eighteen white horses. Then he knelt down respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, Chu Xingyu, Governor of Hubei Province, bows to the Emperor. Long live my Emperor!"

Long live."

Long Chu's door opened, and Wang Tigan came out and said, "Governor Chu, come in."

"Long live thanks." Chu Xingyu stood up and patted the dust on his body, then stepped on the bench and boarded the Dragon Palace. This Dragon Palace is not small. It can be regarded as a small palace. The interior is divided into several rooms, where the emperor rests and handles matters. Government affairs, meals, etc.

Chu Xingyu followed Wang Tiqian to Zhu Youxiao's office room. When he saw Zhu Youxiao, who was wearing a regimental dragon robe, he immediately bowed: "My lord, long live Chu Xingyu, Governor of Hubei."

Zhu Youxiao nodded slightly: "Chu Aiqing, I heard that the implementation of the new policy in Hubei is different from that in the north and south of the Yangtze River?"

Chu Xingyu said: "Back to the emperor, this new policy in Hubei is indeed different from that in the north."

"Since the implementation of Hubei's New Deal, there has been no bloodshed, no gentry resistance to the law, official corruption, etc. It can be said that it is a completely peaceful New Deal. People all over Hubei applauded and praised the emperor's benevolent government. ah."

"Oh? Gentlemen do not resist the law, and officials do not commit corruption? I am curious how Chu Aiqing did it?"

Chu Xingyu said with unconcealable complacency on his face: "Back to the emperor, I believe that the key point of the new policy is to equally distribute the land and pay the grain as one, so that the people will not only benefit from it, but also provide enough taxes to the court."

"The biggest difference between the Hubei New Deal and the Northern New Deal is the attitude towards the gentry."

"Different from the northern vigilance against the gentry, I believe that the gentry have cultivated, read and passed down books for generations, and they have mastered knowledge and principles that ordinary people cannot possess. Even if ordinary people can enter Datong Academy to study, it often takes several or ten years to acquire it. The level of the gentry.”

"These people's management of farms and students' management of various prefectures and counties often have great limitations. This is due to their lack of knowledge and experience. They lack experience in this area."

"The implementation of this new policy does not have to use strong methods to forcibly divide the land of the gentry, causing public resentment to boil. Not only will the people be alienated from the court, but the people who are forcibly selected do not have enough experience and will often make things messy."

"I think that the gentry can communicate with each other. Our country has been raising scholars for 260 years. How can it be that the gentry are all oppressing good people and not loyal to the court? Are all the officials corrupt and bending the law and not being law-abiding people?"

"The state favors the gentry and scholars. How can the gentry not be loyal to the emperor and reimburse the court?"

"I show affection to the officials in Hubei and use reason to make them reflect on themselves. The emperor is wise and kind, and has repeatedly warned officials all over the world. I also warned the officials in Hubei that things in the past should be forgotten. In the future, they must serve the public wholeheartedly, as if If you commit it again, you will be punished for several crimes and will not be forgiven!"

"In response to the emperor's kindness, officials from all over the country were grateful and changed their minds to serve the imperial court wholeheartedly."

"At the same time, the minister also urged officials from all over the country to talk to the gentry about the truth, so that the gentry understood that the new policy of equally dividing the land and collecting grain from one body was a national policy that the court could not reform, and it needed to be abided by and implemented by all localities, and discussed with the gentry from all over the country. In the end, today's Hubei was created New Deal.”

"All prefectures and counties in Hubei set up farms based on villages and towns, and selected local respected gentry to serve as farm owners to mediate conflicts among the people and handle farm affairs."

"In this way, whether it is a land for the gentry or a land for the common people, they are one and the same. The common people and the gentry work together to farm and receive food. In addition, in their free time, the gentry can teach the common people the principles of saints and teach them how to read and write."

"Nowadays, people in Hubei province live and work in peace and contentment. They don't pick up things on the road and don't close their homes at night. This year there is another bumper rice harvest. It is expected that the tax revenue will not be inferior to that in Henan..."

Zhu Youxiao's eyes lit up after hearing this: "Oh? It seems that these gentry from Hubei are all talents from our Ming Dynasty?"

"Then I want to take a look."

Chu Xingyu said quickly: "Your Majesty, the gentry in Hubei are now waiting for the arrival of the Holy Emperor, eager to see the dragon's face."

Zhu Youxiao smiled and said: "In that case, let's get started. I am very curious about the new policy situation in Hubei."

Chu Xingyu bowed and said: "Your Majesty, don't worry, Hubei's new policies will not disappoint you."

The holy driver continued to march, seeing the dragon getting closer and closer, the gentry and officials on both sides of the road leaned over and kowtowed: "Long live my emperor, long live, long live my emperor."

Zhu Youxiao looked at the gentry officials on both sides through the car window and was quite satisfied. Looking at the situation in Hubei, it was not much worse than in the north.

If these gentry were really loyal to the country and willing to serve the court as Chu Xingyu said, then he, the Ming Emperor, could not relax the rope around the necks of these gentry.

Zhang Haogu listened to the entire conversation between Zhu Youxiao and Chu Xingyu with a calm expression and did not speak.

However, Zhang Haogu was dubious about what Chu Xingyu said. At least a Hubei official and gentry was a loyal and patriotic hero of the country. Zhang Haogu did not believe this.

There are certainly benevolent gentry and upright officials in this world, but there are all in Hubei, and Zhang Haogu definitely doesn't believe it.

Is it possible that all the honest officials and the gentry who care about the people came to Hubei because of gambling?

If you look at the implementation of the New Deal in the north, you will know that it is not that there are no gentry who are aware of current affairs, nor that there are no gentry as farm owners, but these are not common phenomena.

After all, who is willing to share their land with Mud Legs and end up paying taxes to the court like Mud Legs?

The gentry of the Ming Dynasty did not have to pay taxes for more than two hundred years. Now that these gentry are required to pay taxes, it is strange that they are willing.

The gentry were so well raised and pampered by the Ming Dynasty. They really thought that they had the final say in this world and the common people were just bastards serving them.

Paying the grain as one body and dividing the land equally means taking flesh from the gentry.

Maybe some gentry will agree, maybe there are discerning people in the gentry's family, but most gentry are definitely not willing to lose their land and their privileges.

The New Deal fought against the entire gentry class. The North used strong tactics to achieve the New Deal. In the northern Gyeonggi region, where clan power was not very strong, the implementation of the New Deal was extremely difficult. In the South, where clan power is deeply entangled, it was difficult to implement the New Deal.

How could the New Deal be implemented so smoothly far away from the capital?

Zhang Haogu didn't believe it at all. Are these Hubei gentry not gentry?

Just because of your few words, Chu Xingyu, they obediently handed over their fields and started paying taxes?

If the New Deal is so easy to implement, what else does he need to do with swords? The New Deal is not about treating guests to dinner, it is about life and death!
Chapter completed!