Just when Chang Yuchun was organizing troops to besiege Wuchang from all sides, Zhang Ximeng was also doing something. He called Luo Fulen in front of him and asked him carefully about his views on the governance of Huguang.
"Xueshi Luo, you are admonishing the lord with the word "Don't kill". Depending on what you mean, there should be a lot more to say, so you might as well say it!"
Luo Furen pondered slightly. He naturally knew Zhang Ximeng's status, and he also knew very well that the major policies of the Ming Dynasty were all carried out by Zhang Ximeng. To solve Huguang's predicament, Zhang Ximeng's support was naturally indispensable.
But it’s a long story to talk about…
"Xiang Zhang, Huguang and other places are considered to be the places where the Red...Turban Army started the earliest uprising. When Monk Peng entered Huguang and fought against the Yuan army, Tanzhou and other places were almost slaughtered... people from Bashu and Henan and other places...
The Yuan army arrived and fought with Monk Peng repeatedly, causing heavy losses to the people of Huguang. Then Ni Wenjun suddenly rose up and was replaced by Chen Youliang. Although the Yuan army was driven away, neither of them knew how to restore people's livelihood. They only knew how to squeeze and loot and treat the people with contempt.
For the sake of fish and meat, he exploited them without any mercy."
When Luo Furen said this, he couldn't help but pause for a moment before he dared to continue: "Prime Minister Zhang, according to my estimate, the number of people in Huguang right now is probably less than five million, and most of them are old, weak, women and children. I advise your majesty not to kill.
, that’s the reason. If there are no people left, and the land of Huguang is empty, what’s the use of it?”
When Zhang Ximeng heard this, he really sighed in his heart. Huguang is not just two provinces. In fact, most of Guizhou was included in Huguang during the Yuan Dynasty.
In other words, the three provinces cannot even gather five million people. This is evident from the devastation caused by the war.
Moreover, since all the young people were lost in the war, the labor gap was even greater and the matter was more difficult.
"Xueshi Luo, you are right in admonishing not to kill. But given the current situation in Huguang, it will not be easy to restore vitality, right?"
Luo Furen was speechless for a moment, his face was miserable, and he looked very helpless. In the end, he had to sigh and said, "Prime Minister Zhang, if you want to quickly restore the vitality of Huguang, there is nothing you can do. But if you say it, countless villagers will poke me.
's backbone."
Zhang Ximeng thought for a moment, then smiled and said: "Are you planning to immigrate?"
"yes!"
"Immigrate from Jiangxi?"
Luo Furen nodded and agreed again, with a look of misery on his face that became even more intense. He was from Jiangxi, and if he encouraged his fellow villagers to immigrate, he would be afraid of being struck by lightning and being scolded for his ancestors.
Zhang Ximeng saw Luo Furen's dilemma and said in a deep voice: "Xueshi Luo, let's talk openly and honestly... Can you tell me what is the difficulty of this immigration? Is there any way to resolve it?"
Luo Fulen is miserable. If this matter were so simple, there would be no need to worry.
"Xiang Zhang, where do these immigrants choose from, where do they send them, which roads they take during the process, and how they settle down after arriving at their destination, how they put down roots and live a stable life... It can be said that every step is difficult.
, I’m afraid the road to immigration will be full of bones!”
Luo Furen sighed, but there was no exaggeration.
Because in many cases, the complexity of things far exceeds the imagination of literary works. Millions of immigrants may immigrate at every turn, and maybe even the earth will follow. But actual immigration, especially ancient immigration, is simply too troublesome.
First of all, people generally settle down and relocate and are unwilling to take risks. How can we find enough immigrants?
It's definitely not a notice posted and there are so many people responding.
It is roughly to determine where there are many people, and then issue an order, asking the whole family to move, or one out of three, two out of five, support the old and the young, leave their hometown, and travel thousands of miles to the destination.
The operation is similar to catching a young man, even more cruel.
When a Latin man catches a husband, he stares hard at the young man.
However, immigrants usually move as a family, including the elderly and children.
In order to prevent escape, people need to be tied up and driven forward like livestock.
Along the way, countless people died due to fatigue, injuries, diseases, and acclimatization.
It is not surprising that one to two percent, or even more, people died on the road.
After a hard journey, does it feel bright when you reach your destination?
Obviously not.
Suddenly arriving in a new environment, not to mention anything else, even if you are an experienced farmer, you may not adapt to the local environment immediately after arriving in Huguang from Jiangxi. You may still have to adapt to how to farm.
You don't even know much about the local wild vegetables... If you want to get some wild vegetables and pick some mushrooms, you might send the whole family away.
Not to mention having no place to live, living in the open air, rain, snow, wind and frost... Gu Xi
These contents are just small things.
In addition, when you arrive in a new place, how do you get along with the locals? What should you do if a conflict breaks out between the two parties?
Therefore, Luo Furen's concerns are right. It is not impossible that he really wants to encourage the people of Jiangxi to move to Huguang and lose half of the population.
If he did this, it would be natural for him to be cursed by the elders in his hometown for hundreds of years.
"Xiang Zhang, I know that immigration is a good thing. It has many benefits for Ming Dynasty. But I really don't have the best of both worlds now. I, I am ashamed!"
Zhang Ximeng listened patiently, but smiled, "Xueshi Luo, you are not advocating immigration, nor are you blindly opposed to it, but the fact that you can think of these things is already better than many people. We might as well think carefully about whether immigration is necessary
?”
Luo Fulen thought for a long time and said helplessly: "Is it more than necessary? I think Prime Minister Zhang advocates equalizing land. Jiangxi is densely populated, much more than Huguang. How can we balance the land without moving the people?"
Zhang Ximeng nodded, "That's good. Let's first confirm that immigration is necessary. The next thing to talk about is how to immigrate, how to avoid losses on the road, and how to allow people to immigrate and live and work in peace and contentment quickly..."
It was also the first time for Luo Furen to talk to Zhang Ximeng about government affairs. He could clearly feel that Zhang Ximeng was different. Things were difficult to handle. Some people opposed it and some supported it, but Zhang Ximeng was more concerned about how to do it!
"Scholar Luo, let me say something first. This time around, we must not give an order to evacuate a village or town, or move half of it, like livestock, and drive it to a strange place. We must prepare a complete set of measures.
Plan. I plan to let some veterans from Jiangxi and scholars from Jiangxi pass the imperial examination and become officials in the Ming Dynasty! The first task for them is to organize the people from their hometowns to immigrate, and let them make things clear.
Allay people’s concerns.”
"Secondly, the immigration route must be planned well. Rest stops, food and medicine must be prepared along the way, so that the people cannot be damaged on the immigration road. Finally, at the destination, houses must be prepared, land must be zoned, and personnel must be arranged to help the people settle down.
.Also, farm tools, seeds, and cattle must all be prepared and distributed to every common person."
Zhang Ximeng talked a lot. Luo Furen listened and was quite pleasantly surprised, but when he thought about it, he couldn't be happy again.
"Prime Minister Zhang, it's easier said than done! I'm afraid that the people below may not be able to do things according to Prime Minister Zhang's wishes. And in some places, even if they have the intention, they may not have the strength. It is difficult to immigrate, difficult to travel, difficult to settle down...
The three difficulties are stacked together, and I'm afraid it won't be easy to handle no matter what!"
Zhang Ximeng nodded, but said seriously: "Master Luo, I believe what you said, but I'm afraid this cannot be used as a reason to oppose immigration. For example, during the process of escorting immigrants, we can send officials to accompany them and ask them to eat together.
If you can't bring the people safely, you will be held accountable. Also, in this war, many of Chen Han's soldiers and horses will definitely be captured. One hundred thousand or two hundred thousand? These strong laborers can be used to build houses.
, open up farmland. Also, if people move from densely populated areas, many acres of land will be left over."
"The people who stayed behind have to pay an extra sum of money if they want to get the land, and the people who voluntarily give up their land and participate in the immigration can be given some rewards. Each person will be compensated thirty to fifty guan, or more. Also,
Yes, you can borrow money at low interest rates to help them settle down."
Zhang Ximeng talked about many implementation measures this time, each of which is to the point and very feasible.
Although there are no detailed steps yet, the general direction is clear... organizing immigrants, providing assistance and compensation... As long as you are willing to use your brain, there are always more methods than difficulties.
"Scholar Luo, I might as well say a few more words. As the saying goes, it is easy to know but difficult to do. Scholars and officials cannot just sit and talk about it, but they must also get up and do it. Only by doing difficult things, doing big things, and doing things that are beneficial to the country can we gain something and achieve something.
OK! If you are afraid before you even start, how can you do it? Of course, you don’t have to do things recklessly. You have to use your brain and come up with corresponding methods. What do you think? "
Luo Furen was much older than Zhang Ximeng, but he was impressed by these words.
No wonder Zhang Ximeng had such a special status under Zhu Yuanzhang, and he was indeed outstanding.
"Xiang Zhang, I am sincerely convinced and have been taught a lesson!"
Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "In that case, is Luo Xueshi determined to take action and do a good job in immigration?"
"This...I am willing, but I ask Prime Minister Zhang to give me enough authority, otherwise I'm afraid it will be self-defeating!"
Zhang Ximeng nodded, "Of course power must be given. Let's go see the lord!"
The two of them made an agreement and made an appointment to come to the royal tent.
At this moment, Chang Yuchun had already conquered Wuchang and even entered Chen Youliang's palace.
When he arrived at the palace, Chang Yuchun was also stunned by the scene in front of him.
A huge dragon bed. The most surprising thing is that this big bed is entirely made of gold, shining with golden light... Chang Yuchun has heard of ivory beds, but has never seen a gold bed. If he sits on this bed, he should
What does it feel like?
By some strange mistake, he stretched out his hand to touch...but he quickly retracted his hand as soon as he reached it halfway.
Is this something you can touch?
"Quick, come here! Take this dragon bed as a trophy and offer it to the superior. This is a golden dragon bed, and only we, the superior, can sleep on it!"
In this way, a hundred people, plus thirty pack horses, delivered this exaggeratedly sized golden bed to Zhu Yuanzhang...