Two days later, Yunying and Cao Che recovered from the cold, so Yunxi took them and his two uncles Zhu Su and Zhu Mo to patrol the Leizhou Peninsula.
Leizhou Prefecture, also known as Zhanjiang City in later generations, has long been the largest sugar production base in China. Until the 21st century AD, it was still one of the three major sugar-producing areas in China. Especially in Xuwen County, there are almost no people growing food locally.
They are all growing sugar cane, and many businessmen in Hai'an Port privately call it Sweet Port.
In this era, sugar production is a hugely profitable industry. Not to mention clean white sugar, even brown sugar is extremely expensive. Before the market opened, spices were more expensive than sugar. After the market opened, sugar is almost the most expensive in the world.
The seasoning is expensive. Unless it is a festival, ordinary people will hardly buy sugar. Even if they buy it, they will buy the cheapest brown sugar, or just buy molasses.
Yunxi was also very concerned about the sugar industry. To put it bluntly, at this time, the sugar-making technology of Nanyang countries was much behind that of the Ming Dynasty. It was an important local export industry and could earn real money for the country's exports;
Speaking more broadly, the only large-scale handicraft industry in Leizhou Prefecture is the sugar industry. If the sugar industry can be further developed, it can drive local economic development.
However, Yunxi did not know how to make sugar. Although he visited several sugar laboratories as a "Central Special Correspondent" and felt that their sugar making technology was very backward, he did not know how to improve it.
However, Yunxi at least understood that for cash crops like sugar cane, it was more suitable to develop plantations than to have a small-scale peasant economy one by one. However, Leizhou Prefecture happened to have a small population and many fields were abandoned.
As a special commissioner, Yunxi summoned several local sugar businessmen and small and medium-sized landowners whose families had no officials, and told them about his ideas for plantation economy and encouraged them to develop plantations.
The plantation economic system appeared in the Age of Discovery and was invented by the Fu Loong country. It generally covers an area of several thousand to tens of thousands of hectares and employs thousands of farmers or uses thousands of serfs to engage in large-scale production. Number of plantations
There may not necessarily be many in a country, but they occupy an important position in the production of cash crops in the country. The plantations have a complete set of production and living facilities. Many plantations not only have agricultural and transportation machinery, but also domestic
Road systems, agricultural product processing plants, agricultural machinery maintenance plants, power supply and water supply, as well as education and health facilities.
Compared with the small farmer economy, the plantation economy has a higher ability to resist risks. At the same time, because the land is managed in a unified manner, it can be planned consistently on how to plant crops. In addition, it has advantages over small farmers in terms of agricultural tools and water conservancy. Before the invention of modern agricultural machinery,
It can be said that the highest efficiency has been achieved.
But the people he summoned were still hesitant. The development of plantations is highly suspected of land annexation, and Chinese dynasties have restricted land annexation. Even if this official said this, if the local government does not act according to his words,
Who did they turn to to make up for the losses? But even if they didn't listen to the officials from the central government who explained the matter later, they still promised to do it after they returned.
Yun Hei heard that their tone was a little perfunctory, sighed, and waved them away. These people didn't quite believe what he said, and he couldn't force their heads to do as he said.
But after these people retreated, Zhu Su, who had just pretended to be another special commissioner, said: "Guan family, it sounds like this so-called plantation makes sense, as it can produce more crops than each farmer.
"
"However, these people who work in the plantations are all long-term workers. No, they are not as good as long-term workers. Long-term workers are actually not busy all year round. They are only busier during sowing and harvesting every year, and they are usually more leisurely;
And the people in this plantation are very busy all year round. In the Ming Dynasty, few people would voluntarily come to the plantation to work. If you want them to work, it is best to buy slaves."
"But the Ming Dynasty strictly prohibited slaves. It is a serious crime for ordinary people to buy many slaves, so it is not suitable to use plantations in the Ming Dynasty."
"You mean that your Song Dynasty is very suitable for plantations?" Yunxi heard the implication of his words.
"That's it! Officials, the situation of our Nanyang vassal states is different from that of the Ming Dynasty. Whether it is my Song vassal or the twenty-first brother's Luo vassal, there are some local people who are unwilling to obey our orders. We killed these people rashly
It’s not good, but it’s even worse without punishment. Most of the people caught now are used for mining and building cities.”
"If there is a plantation, these people can be treated as slaves, and the government will send people to manage the plantation and let them work." Zhu Su said.
"You mean, state-owned plantation?" Yunxi asked.
"State-owned plantation?" Zhu Su frowned and immediately relaxed his eyebrows. Although he had never heard of this term before, it was still easy to understand. He immediately said: "It is a state-owned plantation."
Yunxi thought about it and thought it was good. Historically, private plantations were always armed to prevent serf uprisings. The vassal kings he consecrated to Nanyang were not very strong. Even if private plantations were opened,
They will definitely have trouble sleeping and eating when they see the armed forces on the plantation. At this stage, it is more in line with the national conditions to be state-owned.
"Then when you go back, you will implement state-owned plantations." Yunxi said.
He felt as if he was laughing or laughing. What he originally wanted to promote in Guangdong was finally taking root in Nanyang.
Zhu Su agreed and was about to speak when he suddenly heard a female voice: "Third brother, what is a plantation?"
The three of them looked up and saw Yunying walking in. They had just been talking to the locals, and as a woman, Yunying was unable to appear. She waited until those people had left before walking over from the backyard.
Yunxi gave a rough explanation and said: "In fact, Taiwan can also promote plantations! There are many barbarians in the area who are not convinced by the king, and they can be allowed to work like this."
"It is indeed suitable," Yunying said happily: "Taiwan's local water and soil are very good, and the implementation of plantations can increase the yield of local crops." This can increase the government's taxes, and there is another way to make money.
.' She added the second half of the sentence in her heart. You don't know how expensive firewood and rice are when you are not a householder. Although Taiwan Town, as a military town of the imperial court, has a fixed allocation, the money is enough to support the soldiers, but they have too many things to do, and it is still not enough.
She, a princess who had no concept of money before, had to find ways to make money everywhere.
"But Third Brother, there will definitely be some costs in implementing the plantation at the beginning. The money the court gives to Taiwan Town every year is not enough. You have to allocate some money to us separately." She added.
"And we, steward, we don't have much money at hand, so we have to allocate some money from the court." Zhu Su said loudly.
Yunxi first smiled and scolded Zhu Su and Zhu Mo: "I asked you, Uncle Nineteen, why did you say it so clearly? It turns out that you are waiting for your nephew here and want to ask the court for money. However, the court now gives you money every year.
There is a lot of money to build the city, so don't be too greedy. My nephew will not allocate money to you for this."
He immediately turned to Yunying and said: "Taiwan can allocate money, but it won't be much."
"Third brother!" Yunying said coquettishly.
"The imperial court spends too much money, and now it doesn't have much money." Yunxi said 'sincerely'.
Yunying knew it was a lie as soon as he heard it: the Municipal Shipping Department only pays so much tax every year, and there is also the increase in commercial tax after the subordinate officials were changed to the police. The tax revenue of the imperial court now is far more than that in the Hongwu period. Even with the many projects under construction, there are still
There is money in the treasury as a result of fighting Annan.
She was about to speak out and continue to plead, but she rolled her eyes and said, "Third brother, do you still remember the bet we made the day before yesterday?"
"Remember, what happened?"
"Third brother, let's do this. If the younger sister wins the bet, the court will allocate money to Taiwan according to the expenses. If the younger sister loses, let's leave it as it is. How about that?" Yunying said with a smile.
"Sure." Yunxi agreed immediately.
"Guan family, eldest niece, what bet did you make?" Zhu Su asked at this time.
Yunying roughly said it, and Zhu Su immediately said: "Guan Jia, I will also make such a bet with Guan Jia, if..."
Before he finished speaking, Yun He interrupted: "Don't even think about it!"
Zhu Mo burst out laughing, lying on the table laughing so hard that he couldn't stand up straight; Yunying also covered her mouth with a handkerchief, her face full of smiles.
Zhu Su was about to say more when suddenly a man walked in from outside the house and shouted: "Your Majesty, urgent report from Annan."
Everyone immediately fell silent, not daring to say another word, and all looked at the report in the hand of the man who walked in.
Yunxi opened it and looked at it, with an unwavering expression on his face. He asked Huang Lu to take out a pen and paper and write a document. He thought about it again and said to the guard: "Go and call He Wenchang over." The guard followed the order and came down.
Taking advantage of this gap, Zhu Su asked boldly: "Your Majesty, what happened? Was the army defeated in Annan?"
"It is indeed a small defeat. But that doesn't matter. What matters is that nearly 400,000 troops were blocked under Duobang City. They were beaten back after two consecutive attempts and were unable to advance." Yun He said.
What he just read was the report that Lan Zhen sent back from Dobang City. Two of the tests were dismissed. The first one refers to Mu Sheng's test of losing troops and generals, and the second one refers to Lan Zhen leading
After the entire front army reunited with Mu Sheng, they were unwilling to wait here for the army from other directions to achieve a breakthrough. He ordered hundreds of soldiers to cross the river in the middle of the night and pass through a narrow path, trying to sneak into Duobang City.
Spying on information and at least causing some confusion for them.
But as soon as they walked out of the woods, they were attacked by an unknown number of Annan soldiers. In the dark night, it was impossible to tell where the bows and arrows came from. They immediately fled in all directions. In the end, only a dozen of them escaped. In fact, not many were killed by the Annan people.
, most people broke into the jungle in panic and were killed by poisonous snakes and beasts.
Neither Yunxi nor Lan Zhen cares about this loss of soldiers: although he said in a speech at Haikang a few days ago, "I don't want to hear your bad news, you are all my people, and I don't want you."
"Death in battle", this is not all political propaganda. He does not want Ming soldiers to die or be injured, but he also understands the principle of not being in charge of soldiers, and can accept valuable casualties.
But these people died worthless, and nothing was tested. This meant that if Ming Dynasty wanted to capture Duobang City from the front, it would have to pay a heavy price. This was the reason why he frowned.
He looked up at Yunying and said with a wry smile: "Sister, third brother now hopes that those people you brought from Taiwan can make great achievements. If they can defeat the Annan army in front of them, the Hu family will
The father and son will have to mobilize troops from other places to support them, and there will be holes in the defense, and the army from the north will be able to move south smoothly."
"Third brother, don't worry. Even if those Taiwanese barbarians can't make much contribution, the nearly 150,000 left army army divisions will definitely be able to complete what third brother ordered." Yunying consoled him.
"I hope so. I always think, forget it, let's not talk about it." Yunxi took back his words in the middle and said: "It's getting late, let's go have a meal."
Several people agreed and wanted to have lunch together. At this time, He Wenchang, the general secretary who had been called over by Yunxi before, rushed over. When he saw Yunxi, he bowed and saluted: "I have often seen your Majesty."
"No gift." Yunxi immediately ordered: "I have something to entrust you to handle. Take the decree I wrote and send it to Zhang Wen's Chinese army camp, and tell him a few words.
." Yunxi then said a few words in his ear.
"Yes, Your Majesty." He Wenchang bowed and stepped back after listening to Yunxi's instructions.
Yunxi breathed a sigh of relief and continued to eat with them.
…
…
At this time, on the calm sea surface of the Beibu Gulf, thousands of ships of various types were splitting the waves and heading west.
On the deck of one of the ships, several people were standing on the bow, looking at the land that was yet to be seen and talking about something.
