Emperor Hongzhi is reading memorials from various places. After about ten days of strict control measures, the epidemic has been brought under control in most places in the Ming Dynasty, and production and living order are gradually being restored.
The incubation period of plague is very short. It usually takes one or two days to break out, and it will not last longer than five days. Therefore, a ten-day lockdown can basically bring the epidemic under complete control.
"Fortunately, I listened to Liu Jin's advice in time, adopted strict control measures, and controlled the epidemic in time. Otherwise, it would definitely not be as simple as tens of thousands of people dying."
Emperor Hongzhi couldn't help but feel happy in his heart. Fortunately, he listened to Liu Jin's advice as soon as possible and decisively issued the strictest lockdown measures, thus bringing the epidemic under control.
Otherwise, even if it is a day or two late, the situation may be completely different.
In one day's time, the number of infected people will increase exponentially. Once it reaches that point, it will be really difficult to control it, and it will have a huge impact and load on the Ming Dynasty's medical system.
I'm afraid if it really gets to that point, the number of deaths may be hundreds of thousands or millions, which will undoubtedly be a heavy blow to the Ming Dynasty.
Today's Ming Dynasty is in a stage of rapid development. Capitalism and the industrial revolution are developing rapidly. The population is gradually concentrated in cities, and urbanization has reached a certain scale.
If it were not for strict lockdown, the consequences would be really unimaginable. Fortunately, Ming Dynasty’s current medical technology and level have been greatly improved, especially in the research on bacteria and viruses, which has achieved great results. It also greatly reduced the mortality rate.
But in the end, the epidemic was brought under control thanks to strict containment measures that reduced the spread and infection.
"Where's Liu Jin's memorial?"
Thinking of Liu Jin, Emperor Hongzhi recalled the memorial written by Liu Jin, which was about establishing a complete defense and prevention and control mechanism.
"Your Majesty, that memorial?"
Zhang Zhong, the eunuch who was serving him, asked quickly.
"It's the memorial from last winter."
Emperor Hongzhi said quickly.
"Your Majesty, I will send someone to find you right now."
Zhang Zhong hurriedly went to find someone. Zhang Zhong was Xiao Jing's godson. Xiao Jing was already over 80 years old and couldn't do anything anymore, so he recommended Zhang Zhong to continue serving Emperor Hongzhi. This Zhang Zhong was almost the same as Xiao Jing. One of the few good eunuchs in the history of the Ming Dynasty.
He was not well-known in history, because after the death of Emperor Hongzhi, Zhu Houzhao ascended the throne. Zhu Houzhao reused Liu Jin and others, causing turmoil in the government and the public.
Soon, the memorial written by Liu Jin was found, and Emperor Hongzhi read it carefully again.
"It turns out that Liu Jin had already predicted that this severe drought and flood would be followed by a plague. This year, the northern part of the Ming Dynasty encountered an unprecedented drought, and the plague was bound to be raging."
"It seems that what Liu Jin said is very reasonable. Maybe there is no shortage of food in my Ming Dynasty now, but if a plague occurs, it will not be as simple as food. It is indeed necessary to establish and improve relevant systems. , once various disasters occur, relevant early warning and prevention mechanisms should be activated in a timely manner to minimize losses."
After carefully reading Liu Jin's memorials again and again, Emperor Hongzhi could not help but be impressed by Liu Jin's foresight.
Last winter, Liu Jin had already anticipated what might happen this year.
There was a severe cold in winter, and the weather was extremely cold. Then this year was extremely dry, and the northern region suffered a severe drought that has never been seen in a century.
The severe drought also led to the emergence and raging of the plague. The whole thing came together, not alone. The disasters were related.
"This is just one year in which such a situation has occurred. If it is true, as Liu Jin said, that there may be several consecutive years of drought, climate anomalies, plague, locusts and other disasters during the Little Ice Age, then
I really can’t imagine the consequences.”
Emperor Hongzhi sat in his chair, thinking carefully about the pile of memorials on his desk, but Emperor Hongzhi had no intention of reviewing them, because most of them were meaningless memorials.
He knew very well that what he wanted to think about was a major matter that really related to the national economy and people's livelihood, and related to the country and the country.
"In this epidemic, all the officials who are practical and practical have performed very well, but all the officials who are conservative have performed very poorly."
"Mao Ji, Liang Chu, Jiang Mian, Tang Mu, Xu Ming..."
Soon, Emperor Hongzhi remembered the epidemic again. There were huge differences in the performance of various local officials and court ministers.
Those who performed well, such as Henan Chief Minister Fang Yongliang and Shaanxi Chief Minister Tong Rui, performed very well. The epidemic in the two places was the first to spread, but they were also the first to control it. They are also the first to unblock the epidemic and are in good order.
“Hard work brings out talents!”
"In the past, I always stared at these officials in the government and the public. They are all talented and write beautiful articles. However, when it comes to governing the country, these officials in the court are still too inexperienced. Faced with such emergencies,
There is nothing we can do about the situation.”
"Often they don't pay attention to it and don't take it to heart. This is not okay."
"On the contrary, the local chief envoys, prefects, prefects, etc. are doing a great job and doing well in all aspects."
"Perhaps the imperial court's selection and employment system will need to be changed in the future. After the Hanlin Academy comes out, it must be put into the local area to experience it. Only in this way can we have a better understanding of the local area and grasp the truest reality of the Ming Dynasty.
Case."
"In addition, this time, there will definitely be a big change."
Emperor Hongzhi kept thinking in his heart.
A lot of people were beheaded here in Shandong and Nanzhili, but that doesn't mean there won't be problems in other provinces. It's just that during the epidemic, Emperor Hongzhi still needed to use these officials to do things, so he didn't choose to touch them for the time being.
Now that the epidemic has gradually passed, Emperor Hongzhi is also considering replacing some officials who have done nothing and have done nothing. During the epidemic, some officials directly hid in the beautiful countryside to avoid the plague.
What's the use of keeping such officials? They can't expect big things and can't handle small things well. They have no use at all except being able to flatter others and write good articles.
Keep them, if this happens again in the future, it will be another Mao Ji.
Thinking of Mao Ji, Emperor Hongzhi became even more angry.
How long has it been since he made repeated orders to require all localities to strictly implement prevention and control measures? However, as for Mao Ji, he almost ignored Shandong and South Zhili, which he was responsible for, and probably didn't even ask a few questions.
He still collected cash, completely disregarding the life and death of the people below him. Even though he had already chopped off his head, Emperor Hongzhi still felt that he was still angry.
"Come here, summon the cabinet ministers and six ministers to discuss matters!"
.....
At this time, in the Wenyuan Pavilion where the cabinet works, Jiang Mian, the Minister of Civil Affairs, was discussing new personnel appointments with Han Wen, Yang Yiqing and Yang Tinghe of the cabinet.
The power of the Minister of Personnel is very great. He is known as the Heavenly Official. Officials below the third rank can be directly appointed and dismissed by the Minister of Personnel. Officials above the third rank are recommended by the Minister of Personnel, and then reviewed by the cabinet, and finally appointed by the Emperor.
.
It can be said that in the Ming Dynasty, the power of the Minister of Civil Affairs was very great, and almost determined the appointment, promotion, transfer, etc. of most officials. They were called heavenly officials.
"This time the epidemic has fluctuated greatly, and there have been many vacancies in various local government offices, especially in Shandong and South Zhili, where many important positions have been vacant."
"This is a transfer and promotion list I have drawn up. Please take a look at it."
Jiang Mian handed over a list. As the Minister of Civil Affairs, this was his responsibility and also his power. Shandong and South Zhili provinces were not ordinary provinces.
These are two of the thirteen most important provinces in the Ming Dynasty. They are more important than overseas and provinces outside the customs.
And for a long time, everyone has tacitly accepted the rule that local provinces are more important than overseas and foreign provinces. For example, if you transfer from Black Earth Province to the local Shandong Province, it is actually equivalent to being promoted by half a level.
If you are transferred from Shandong Province to Black Earth Province, it means you have been demoted. Overseas provinces are not as good as local provinces. This is already an unspoken rule in Ming Dynasty officialdom, just like Beijing officials are better than local officials.
There is no way. The Ming Dynasty has a vast territory and many more provinces. There are five provinces in Nanyang. There are two provinces in the Golden Continent: the North and the South Golden Continent. There are also Australia, Liaodong, Western Regions, Northwest, Central Asia, Hezhong, Nanyun, and Black Earth.
and other provinces, in addition to Hong Kong in Europe, Xihai in the Mediterranean and other overseas colonies directly under the Ming Dynasty, etc.
Although some of the provinces outside China's borders are vast in territory, they have small populations and poor economic aggregates. Naturally, their status is not as good as that of the thirteen provinces in the mainland.
Especially provinces like Shandong and Nanzhili, which were the most important status of the Ming Dynasty, had a large population, developed economy, and heavy taxation. They had always been the provinces that the imperial court paid the most attention to.
If you are transferred back to Shandong or Southern Zhili from overseas, it is equivalent to a promotion.
Han Wen took the list drawn up by Jiang Mian and looked at it carefully. He couldn't help but frown at this look, because most of the promoted officials on this list were officials from the old school and hard-working officials.
Not many.
Especially the most critical positions, such as the position of minister of the Ministry of Industry vacated by Mao Ji, the chief envoy of Shandong vacated by Tang Mu, the chief envoy of Southern Zhili vacated by Xu Ming, and the changes that occurred after the transfer of related positions, etc.
Almost all of them were occupied by officials from the old school, and not many of those from the practical side were able to gain anything.