"Your Majesty, you know how to name people." Li Qing cupped his hands in a teasing tone.
Zhu Di's face heated up, he glared at him angrily, and said to the Jin Yiwei behind him, "Go and transport these Yongle rice back to the palace and give them to the prince so that they can be stored safely."
"I obey the decree."
A group of Jin Yiwei came forward and began to carry it. Li Qing took the opportunity to grab a large handful, thinking about planting some at home.
Although the planting season has been missed, there are no conditions to create conditions. It is only mid-July now, and the temperature in Jinling is high, so we only need to pay attention to heat preservation in the later period.
The group of people stepped off the ship and stood on the shore of the port, watching the officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works consigning the goods, their faces full of joy.
"Next time you trade at sea, you must prepare more goods." Zhu Di tasted the sweetness, "Sambo, the Longjiang Shipyard will start construction in a few days. Please take the time to go and see more."
"I obey the decree." Sanbao agreed with a smile.
…
"Sir, what is this?" The three women looked at the bright yellow corn with surprise on their faces, "Is this also rice?"
"Hmm... that's right!" Li Qing nodded, "This is what Sanbao brought back from his voyage to the West. The emperor gave it the name Yongle Rice."
"With such a large amount of rice, the yield per mu must be extremely high." Wan Ling said.
Li Qing shook his head and laughed, "It's not as simple as you think. You can't plant this thing too densely. Planting three thousand plants in one acre of land is enough. If you plant too much, it won't produce rice."
While explaining the characteristics of corn to the three girls, he directed his servants to work. In an hour, about half of the land in the sunny area was plowed.
Li Qing personally planted the seeds, planting one every half a foot, and one and a half feet apart in each row. A total of about two hundred seeds were planted, and some were removed after the seedlings emerged, and they were almost ready.
After finishing all this, it was lunch time. Li Qing washed his hands and went back to the backyard lobby with the three girls.
On a hot day, people have little appetite, and there is no big fish or meat. Cucumber mixed with preserved eggs is crisp and refreshing, and paired with iced bayberry wine, the taste is endless.
The alcohol content of the fruit wine was very low, and the three girls also drank a lot. After lunch, the four of them returned to the 'air-conditioned room' to cool off.
The three girls were very interested in this novel crop, corn, and kept asking questions.
"Sir, can this Yongle rice really grow taller than a human?"
"Sir, would it be delicious if cooked?"
"How long does it take to harvest?"
Li Qing was wearing big underpants, half lying on the bed, and answered questions one by one.
"It won't take long. The maturity cycle of this crop is very short, about a hundred days." Li Qing said with a smile, "I guess it can be cooked and eaten in three months."
After chatting and laughing for a while, seeing that they were getting sleepy, Li Qing stretched himself and said, "You guys go to sleep. The medicinal wine I promised to Duke Liang is ready. Let's go out."
~
Liang Guogong Mansion.
Lan Yu opened the wine seal, her nose twitched a few times, showing an intoxicated look, "What a wine!"
As he said that, he poured himself a bowl, took a small bite, and said with satisfaction: "I haven't tasted such delicious food in a long time. It's so enjoyable!"
"Although the wine is good, don't drink too much." Li Qing asked with a smile.
"Don't worry, I still want to live a few more days." Lan Yu smiled, "I'm just waiting for your wine, otherwise I would have gone far away."
"You are already this old, where are you going?" Li Qing said angrily, "Why don't you just rest at home?"
Lan Yu shook her head and sighed: "Go back to your hometown and see if you don't go back, I'm afraid I won't have a chance in the future."
After a pause, "Let's take a look at Yunxi."
Li Qing was silent for a moment and nodded slightly.
He heard Lan Yu talk about family affairs. Lan Yu became an orphan at a very young age. It can be said that she grew up with her sister and brother-in-law, and she has an unusually deep affection for her sister and her family.
Naturally, I love my niece as my only flesh and blood.
To be honest, it means that the fourth brother rebels. If the fourth brother does not rebel, Jianwen will continue to work hard for a few more years, the generals' patience will reach the limit, and Lan Yu will join forces with the generals to support Zhu Yunxi's rise to power.
However, the fourth child rebelled early.
"Be more open-minded. The current situation cannot be better." Li Qing consoled him, "Actually, this is quite good. Although he has no power, his glory and wealth have not disappeared."
Lan Shuai smiled bitterly and nodded: "I'm already this old, and I can't do it even if I want to. Besides, I don't have the strength anymore;
Alas, that’s it!”
It was obvious that he was unwilling, but there was nothing he could do.
Li Qing didn't know how to comfort him. Lan Yu's life was brilliant, but he also lived a miserable life.
When he was young, he was said to have gone through the backdoor. As an adult, he was suppressed by veterans such as Chang Yuchun, Xu Da, and Li Wenzhong. He finally became famous in the first battle at Yuerhai, but the prince he supported died again.
Later, the nephew and grandson were also defeated in the battle for the rightful son. Later, the fourth son Jingnan was successful, but he was still not reused.
It can be said that Lan Yu spent almost all her life in depression.
Lan Yu was arrogant, but he was also really capable. With such a person, such a temperament, and such an experience... Li Qing couldn't help but sigh.
In the end, Li Qing sighed and said with a smile: "Come back early, and I will take care of your future wine."
"Haha...thank you very much."
The two chatted for a long time. Seeing that the scorching sun gradually became gentle, Lan Yu said, "I have to leave, so I won't leave you here. Let's have a good talk when I come back."
"Did you tell the emperor?"
"I told you a long time ago." Lan Yu said with a smile, "Don't worry, I am no longer what I used to be. Now that I have many children and grandchildren, I will consider them."
"I send you!"
"No need." Lan Yu waved her hand, "Things have been packed a long time ago, so I won't bother you, a busy person. With our relationship, we don't need this."
Li Qing smiled and nodded, stayed for a while, and watched the carriage go away before going back.
…
…
Time passes day by day, and the clearing of the land has been completed. After this re-measurement, there are more than 20 million acres of cultivated land in Ming Dynasty.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Household Affairs, the total cultivated land owned by officials and people in the world totals 80 million, or 70 million acres.
However, the area of one acre of land in this era was smaller than that of later generations. One acre of land was only about 610 square meters, and the grain output was far less than that of later generations.
The annual yield per mu is more than three shi in the south, but less than three shi in the north. This is without drought or flood.
If the crops of this era are slightly damaged, the output will be greatly reduced.
After clearing out the land, taxation became easier to handle. After taxation was simplified, the fiscal revenue of the Ming Dynasty became relatively clear in the future. With clear taxation, it was also convenient for the emperor to coordinate and mediate.
The national policy of allocating a small person to an acre is proceeding in an orderly manner. It has been implemented in Jiangsu and Zhejiang and is gradually radiating outward.
The reason why it went so smoothly was that the imperial court took into account the interests of the officials and gentry. They enjoyed a 30% tax discount and the conflict of interest was not too big.
There's nothing wrong with compromising sometimes.
If we really want to apply it across the board, this policy simply cannot be implemented.
Even so, according to calculations by the Ministry of Household Affairs, Ming Dynasty's annual tax revenue will increase by more than 30% in the future.
After the system of small landowners was first implemented in the south of the Yangtze River, the landless and landless people were completely liberated. More and more people came to work in the cities, and the handicraft industry also flourished.
Such as: furniture industry, female prostitute industry, rouge and gouache, tailor shop...
Invisibly, it brought another wave of tax revenue to Ming Dynasty, and at the same time, the economy also developed.
However, the flow of population has also brought a lot of troubles to officials in various places, and voices opposing the lifting of restrictions are constantly being sent to the capital.
When people move around, there will be more things to do, and this situation is unavoidable.
~
Royal study room.
Zhu Di cursed and licked his pussy very hard, "Everyone knows how to complain, why don't you do more work?
Besides, the common people are only allowed to move within their own prefecture and counties, so they still care about those people. What’s there to feel aggrieved about?
Damn, I’ve been fooling around all day long. I have time to write memorials and do a lot of things.”
"Li Qing!"
"I'm here!"
"You proposed this national policy, and you have to take responsibility." Zhu Di said angrily, "Do you have a plan?"
Li Qing said sarcastically: "Yes, yes, but... the emperor probably won't agree."
"How do you know I won't agree if you don't tell me?" Zhu Di said angrily, "Say it quickly."
"It's very simple, raise your salary!"
"You fart...!" Zhu Di was furious.
In this regard, he is just like his father, they are just like him, even the wording is the same, "The salary I gave them is enough, there is still some leftover."
"...Your Majesty, please don't worry."
"Needless to say, it is impossible to increase salary." Zhu Di said decisively, "The money of the imperial court does not come from the strong wind. As a person, you must be content, and the same is true for being an official."
After a pause, "You know me, I'm not a stingy person, but you can't spend money like this."