After getting together with Tang He and others, Han Du returned to his usual leisurely days.
More than a month later, the Ordnance Bureau finally built the blast furnace. Heizi completed ten sets of molds and began to officially cast revolvers and bullets. Everything was on track, and Han Du became the hands-off shopkeeper again. He was just waiting for the weapons.
The Bureau completed the production of the first batch of revolvers.
In the Fengtian Palace, the old eunuch hurriedly came to report.
"Your Majesty, Qin Tianjian would like to see you."
"What happened?" Lao Zhu suddenly had a bad premonition in his heart, and his voice couldn't help but become lower.
The old eunuch's heart trembled, and he replied cautiously: "Qin Tian Jian came to report that there may be a drought this year."
"Drought?" With Lao Zhu's world-dominating spirit, he couldn't help but be moved after hearing this.
It's not that Lao Zhu hasn't seen big scenes, but drought is actually the dynasty's biggest enemy.
When the food supply is very tight, a drought may cause a large reduction in food production. If there is not enough food, it is very likely that the people in the world will starve. Even the end of a dynasty is not
Nothing is possible.
For example, the reason why the Tang Dynasty died at its peak was not only due to rebels, but also the drought at the end of the Tang Dynasty, which led to a reduction in food production, was also an important reason.
If the people have no food to eat, it will naturally cause chaos in the world.
"What's going on?" Lao Zhu's face suddenly turned gloomy.
At the same time, the old eunuch's expression changed and he was about to break out in cold sweat. He couldn't answer the emperor's question.
"Forget it, tell the supervisor quickly."
"I pay my respects to the emperor, long live my emperor..."
Before the prisoner could finish his salute, Lao Zhu stood up impatiently and walked to him.
He asked sharply: "There will be a drought this year? What is going on? Why didn't you report it as soon as possible?"
Jian Zheng was asked three questions in a row and was immediately overwhelmed.
After a pause, he replied: "Back to the Emperor, according to the predictions of my ministers, there will indeed be a drought this year. Last winter, there was a lot of frost and no snow, and there has been no rain since the beginning of spring this year. I'm afraid the drought is a foregone conclusion."
As the saying goes, auspicious snow heralds a good year. On the contrary, of course, if there is no snow, there will not be a good year in the coming year. In addition, in the spring, not even a drop of rain falls.
You know, spring rain is as expensive as oil. There is no snow in winter, which freezes insects and other things to death. In spring, crops are in need of moisture and nourishment, and there is no rain. In this case, even if there is no drought in the future, food production will be reduced.
It is also inevitable.
Therefore, Qintian Supervisor had to come. Now that he is here, at most he will be reprimanded by the emperor, and he will lose his official position. If he really loses his official position, it may not be a bad thing for him.
If he doesn't speak up now, if something goes wrong later, there is no doubt that he will lose his head.
"The drought is a foregone conclusion? This is your answer to me. Why didn't you come to report it earlier?" Lao Zhu waved his sleeves angrily.
It's already a foregone conclusion, so I just came to report. Why did you go there earlier?
When Jian Zheng saw that the emperor was angry, he was naturally frightened. He quickly argued: "Your Majesty, there is no snow in winter. It happens from time to time. As long as there is rain in the spring next year, it will not have any impact on the crops. It's just because of the rain in spring this year.
Before it rains, the signs of drought are obvious, and I have come to report it in time."
There are quite a few snowless winters in Jinling City. You can't report every time that there may be a drought this year, right? It would be fine if there really is a drought, but most of the time there won't be. As a supervisor of Qintian Prison,
If he often sends out wrong messages, how can he have the dignity to sit in the supervisory position?
Therefore, without complete certainty, it is impossible for the supervisor to report to Lao Zhu.
Lao Zhu calmed down and understood that Jian Zheng was not to blame.
I had no choice but to ask angrily: "Then do you know how extensive the drought will be this year?"
The prisoner looked troubled. He was not a god. How could he know how extensive the drought was?
But when faced with the emperor's question, he had to answer. He had to lower his head and replied: "This is God's will, and it cannot be predicted by ordinary people like Weichen."
What a waste. He doesn't know anything about anything.
Lao Zhu sighed helplessly and waved his hand for Jian Zheng to get out.
When Jian Zheng walked out of Fengtian Hall, he still couldn't believe that he had escaped like this just now. He didn't even dare to look back at Fengtian Hall and left quickly. He was afraid that he would be called back by the emperor if he walked too slowly.
"Pass an edict to summon Xu Da, Tang He, and Li Shanchang to the palace to discuss matters."
"According to the decree."
Lao Zhu met the three of them in the imperial study room and just sat down.
Xu Da saw that Lao Zhu's face was not good and he looked worried. He couldn't help but asked: "Why are the ministers waiting for you to come in such a hurry?"
Tang He and Li Shanchang looked at Lao Zhu together without saying a word, quietly waiting for Lao Zhu's words.
Lao Zhu sat down, pondered for a while, and then said: "Qin Tianjian came to report that there will be a drought this year."
drought!
The three people's hearts suddenly sank, and they finally understood why the superior was sighing.
"Is it serious?" Xu Da asked immediately. Although Xu Da knew that it would not be a trivial matter to make his superiors so moved and even hurriedly bring the three of them to discuss it. But it was about drought, and he still couldn't bear it.
I asked him out.
Although things like drought are not very serious sometimes, no one dares to take a gamble. It is like putting a bullet in the revolver, knowing that there is only a one-sixth chance of death. But let me ask you,
Do you dare to bet one sixth?
Lao Zhu made some calculations and said: "I'm afraid it's not small, otherwise the Qintian Prison wouldn't take the risk to come and report to me."
After the three of them heard this, they fell silent again.
Lao Zhu ignored them, and just sighed alone: "Originally, I wanted to make another Northern Expedition this year and complete the victory in one battle. I didn't expect that God would not bless us, and we would encounter drought, which would in vain allow the remaining Yuan to linger for a few more years."
After saying that, he looked at Xu Da with a disappointed expression.
Xu Da thought for a moment, then comforted him: "Your Majesty, since things are already like this, what if we let them linger for a few years? In a few years, when my Ming Dynasty recovers, I will naturally be able to give them a thunderous blow, and I will definitely be able to completely defeat them."
Eliminate them. On the contrary, the court must prepare for the drought in advance. If the drought is severe and leads to a serious food shortage, this will be a major event that can shake the country."
As Xu Da is the number one person in the military, whether he is preparing for the Northern Expedition or canceling the Northern Expedition, Lao Zhu must discuss it with him first and let him know.
Xu Da was also sensible and had no intention of forcing the emperor to go to the north under such circumstances.