Compared with the prosperity and crowdedness of Yangzhou, Shandong is really in decline.
Zhao Han sailed all the way north and found that the cities in Shandong on both sides of the canal were not as prosperous as when he passed by when he fled. This was still the result of insisting on immigration every year. Otherwise, the cities and villages in Shandong would be even more dilapidated.
The four major factors are natural disasters, war, famine, plague, and sharp population decline.
Especially the plague, one death wipes out a street, and one death wipes out half a city. However, there are still many people who fled into the mountains to escape the war. In recent years, they have come down to the mountains to organize households and divide their fields. The population of Shandong is definitely more than what was originally counted.
Now that the country is basically unified, it is time for another census.
When passing by Linqing, Zhao Han called Zhizhou over. After some questioning, he learned that the permanent population in and around Linqing City was more than 80,000. This number is not bad, but compared with the early years of Chongzhen, it was completely
Not enough.
Linqing may seem inconspicuous, but with the merchants coming and going, and the gathering of waterworks, the population approaches one million during busy times, making it the most populous city in Shandong during the Ming Dynasty.
The missionary Matteo Ricci commented: "Linqing is a big city, and few other cities surpass it in commerce. Not only goods from the province, but also a large number of goods from all over the country are bought and sold here, so
A large number of tourists often pass through here.”
In the Ming Dynasty, there were eight large-scale tax cards in the country, and Linqing was the largest one, even surpassing Yangzhou, Hangzhou, Huai'an and Jiujiang...namely: the eight major tax cards, headed by Linqing.
In the future, Linqing will definitely no longer be as prosperous as Beijing is no longer the capital and water transportation has been completely cancelled.
Hurrying slowly, we finally arrived in Tianjin.
This year Hebei was officially established as a province, and its administrative divisions also underwent major changes.
Shuntian Prefecture was changed to Beiping Prefecture, the government was located in Beijing, and the jurisdiction was slightly reduced.
For example, Baoding County and Wen'an County were separated from Beiping Prefecture and placed under the jurisdiction of Hejian Prefecture. Moreover, in order to prevent confusion between Baoding Prefecture and Baoding County, Baoding County was changed to Desheng County, named after Desheng Lake in the southeast.
This kind of name change happened in more than one place.
Tongzhou next to Beijing is still called Tongzhou. Tongzhou on the Yangtze River has been changed to Nantong.
Like Jinling Prefecture, Beiping Prefecture is under the direct jurisdiction of the central government, and the prefects are all of a higher grade. This is to reduce the rapid decline of Hebei after losing its status as the capital, and also to strengthen grassland control.
Baoan Prefecture and Yanqing Prefecture are all under the jurisdiction of Beiping Prefecture.
Xuanfu Town, one of the Nine Borders of the Ming Dynasty, will be changed to Xuanhua Prefecture in the future, and the government will be located in Xuanhua. From now on, Zhangbei County, Chicheng County, Shangyi County and other places in the north of the Great Wall will be placed under the jurisdiction of Xuanhua Prefecture.
Better control of grassland areas.
In later generations, the main population of Chengde, Kuancheng, Qinglong, Xinglong, and Luanping were Mongolian, followed by Han, and Jurchen again. All were placed under the jurisdiction of Hebei Province and were set up as Chengde Prefecture. For the time being, there were still few Han immigrants, but
Two regular divisions are stationed.
With this addition, Hebei Province's territory immediately became much larger.
Shanhaiguan also belongs to Hebei!
Hejian Prefecture, which had several more counties, became the capital of Hebei Province. The prefecture was still in Hejian, but the provincial capital became Tianjin.
In other words, the political structure in Hebei Province is relatively complicated. Beiping Prefecture was set aside for direct jurisdiction, and Beijing has big bosses in charge; Tianjin became the capital of Hebei Province, and there are big bosses in charge. Hejian Prefecture is the capital of Hebei, and the prefect does not need to be attached.
Guo Provincial City is relatively comfortable.
In addition, Tianjin Wei was changed to Tianjin County.
"Your Majesty, Fang Shenghong, welcomes you!" Fang Shenghong, the governor of Hebei Province, led local officials to greet him outside Tianjin.
Brothers Fang Shengchang and Fang Shenghong came to join the army with two and a half counties after their own uprising, and they voluntarily gave up the army and became civil servants. Now, Fang Shengchang has become minister, and Fang Shenghong has also been transferred from Fujian to be the chief envoy to Hebei to take charge of the government.
This is the main reason for the formation of the Jiang Right faction. There are too many heroes from Jiangxi.
Although the Fang brothers' territory was relatively poor, it was not much smaller than Zhao Han's territory. After they surrendered, the territory under Zhao Han's rule instantly increased by one-third. Strictly speaking, they were considered business partners.
Can you not give me a high position?
At present, Hebei has a small population and only one chief envoy. Fang Shenghong has great power and heavy responsibilities.
"Your Majesty, no courtesy." Zhao Han nodded.
The two princesses, Zhao Zhenlan and Zhao Zhenfang, and their husbands, had arrived in Tianjin long ago to wait for their royal chariot.
Zheng Sen has resigned as the magistrate of Xuzhou and currently has no other official position. He is responsible for supervising the construction of the cemetery of the late emperor and the queen mother. When Zhao Han ascended the throne, he gave his deceased parents honorary titles. They were also the emperor and queen of the new Datong Dynasty.
"How is the cemetery built?" Zhao Han asked.
Zheng Sen stepped forward and replied: "In compliance with His Majesty's will, it has been built!"
Zhao Han said: "Let's go to the city first."
It was quite sad to revisit my old place.
Zhao Han got off the boat and walked, and when he was about to cross the moat, he pointed there and said: "When I took my young sister to the south, I passed by this bridge. There were hungry people outside the bridge, the meat was fragrant, and all the food was cooked. I took it in my hand.
He was carrying a bamboo gun with half a pair of scissors tied to the tip of the gun, and it was almost robbed by the hungry people. The ten-year-old child had a fight before he left."
Fang Shenghong sighed: "I think it will be very difficult and dangerous."
Zhao Zhenfang said: "I was so scared at the time that I pulled the corner of the emperor's clothes, thinking that everyone would pounce on him and eat him."
Zhao Zhenlan was moved by the scene, thinking of her dead parents, the danger her brothers and sisters were in, and then remembering herself being taken to the south by human traffickers. Unknowingly, her eyes were moist, and she was wiping tears as she walked.
When they came to stay in a separate courtyard in the city, the concubines each chose a room, and Zhao Han left the chief envoy and the magistrate of Tianjin to stay.
Zhao Han ate tea cross-legged and asked: "How is the situation in Hebei?"
Fang Shenghong said: "The population is still too small, and everything is waiting to be done. With the immigration from the south, and people who have fled into the mountains, the population of Hebei Province is estimated to be one million."
This million people do not include Beiping Prefecture, which is under the direct jurisdiction of the central government.
Currently, Zhang Tieniu is stationed in Beijing, Fei Ruhe is stationed in Taiyuan, Huang Shun is stationed in Shanhaiguan, Li Dingguo is stationed in Chengde, and Wan Sitong is stationed in Xuanhua. The northern defense line is filled with the main force of the Datong Army.
This situation also stimulated the economy in the north and along the canal. Most military supplies were transported northward by merchants. Some medium-sized merchants even took the initiative to move to Hebei to settle down, because business in the south was too complicated, and they could still get some military business in the north.
leftovers.
"Have the Zhangjiakou merchants moved?" Zhao Han asked.
Fang Shenghong said: "When Li Zicheng left, he arrested all the merchants in Zhangjiakou and tortured them. At least half of those traitors who were colluding with the Tatars were killed by Li Zicheng, and they spit out countless gold and silver treasures. There are no big merchants in Zhangjiakou anymore, all of them are
They are small businessmen, and we will have to rely on them to do business with the grasslands in the future."
Although the Zhangjiakou area now belongs to Hebei, it was previously occupied by Li Zicheng.
Li Zicheng was really ruthless. He was so cruel that almost no businessmen could hold on. Wherever the money was hidden, they were all recruited. Six of the so-called eight great merchants of the Manchu Qing Dynasty were killed by Li Zicheng. Once the leader died, there were still some left.
If you buy some real estate, your children and grandchildren will immediately enter the splitting mode.
Fang Shenghong said: "Now, the largest merchant in Zhangjiakou is named Cao Fengji. He always uses the name of an imperial merchant to buy wool in the grassland and sell it to the south. He does not have a tea or salt franchise license, so he buys southern iron pots and transports them back to the grassland for sale. He also sells them in Zhangjiakou.
Cooperate with tea merchants and salt merchants to control the wool of the grasslands. Your Majesty, this imperial merchant... must not be fake, right?"
The reason why Fang Shenghong paid attention to Cao Fengji was that Huangshang's reputation was quite scary, and he was really unsure.
"It's fake, how can there be an imperial merchant?" Zhao Han said with a smile, "But, I did summon this person. If he dares to say that he is an imperial merchant again, just arrest him and lock him up for a while, and then fine him some money.
The wool business is beneficial to controlling the grassland, and he can be regarded as serving the country."
Fang Shenghong added: "Most of the Datong army was stationed in the north, and the Zunhua Iron Works should be rebuilt. I suggested setting up a weapons depot in Zunhua and letting the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of War carry out the matter. However, when the Tatars withdrew outside the customs, they not only captured many
The people of Hebei also robbed all the craftsmen of the Zunhua Iron Works. If we want to rebuild the Zunhua Iron Works, we must immigrate craftsmen from the south, and many miners and charcoal burners must also immigrate."
Zunhua Iron Factory is the largest iron factory in the north and the main weapons production base of the Ming Dynasty.
Zhao Han said: "When the population recovers a little, it is time to organize people to repair the post roads in Yanshan. Chengde Prefecture is extremely important and must be tightly controlled. Each batch of immigrants who come to Hebei should be allocated some to Chengde Prefecture. etc.
After Chengde Prefecture is consolidated, the Datong Army can cross Yanshan Mountain and go to the grassland."
The Chengde area belonged to the Ming Dynasty in the early Ming Dynasty, but was basically lost in the middle Ming Dynasty. After the Tumubao Incident, the Mongols continued to move south to occupy land, while the Ming Dynasty devoted themselves to building the Great Wall, and finally the Great Wall was used as the dividing line between the two sides.
In the Battle of Tianjin, the Mongols in the Yanshan area followed the Tatars and suffered heavy losses.
Horqin, Kalaqin and other Mongolian leaders abandoned the Manchus and fled halfway, and robbed them again on the way back. All the Mongolians in the Yanshan area became beggars.
Therefore, when the Datong Army left the Great Wall north, the Mongolian tribes in Yanshan surrendered one after another.
They are part-farming and part-pastoral, and there are even more farmers, and many of them are Han people. Today, whether they are Mongolians or Han people, all fields and pastures are divided according to population, and the Mongolian nobles have all become commoners.
No one resisted, and no one could resist, because this was not a grassland at all.
Anyway, the establishment of Chengde Prefecture went smoothly, and the Mongolian herdsmen also cooperated with the policy. However, the proportion of Han people was too small, and at least tens of thousands more immigrants would have to be immigrated.
Fang Shenghong said: "Changlu Salt Farm and its surroundings are currently the main immigration areas, and a quarter of the immigrants will be given priority. Changlu produces enough salt, so there is no need to rely on Huaiyan salt, and Hebei will use salt to control grasslands more easily.
"I believe that this policy cannot be changed."
The royal families of the Ming and Qing Dynasties all ate salt from the Changlu Saltworks. This is one of the three largest saltworks in China and must be restored as soon as possible.
Alas, everywhere needs to be restored and everywhere needs people. It is really devastated and full of waste waiting to be revitalized.