The battle between the Ming Dynasty and Annan was also the first such a wealthy battle fought by Emperor Longqing since he came to the throne. It was also the first attempt by Emperor Longqing to transcend his ancestors.
Therefore, the food, grass, military pay, and equipment of the three armies are all provided with sufficient leverage!
Last year, Emperor Longqing took back the large-scale land confiscated from the wealthy salt merchants in Jiangnan and distributed it to the people again.
So the grain harvest at the end of this year is definitely much better than last year.
Although natural disasters occurred year after year in the late Ming Dynasty, if all land utilization rates were sufficient, the basic needs of the people could still be barely guaranteed.
Coupled with the popularity of emergency food sweet potatoes, the pressure on the court has been reduced a lot.
The most important thing is that most of the grassroots officials in the south are now hard-working young talents that Emperor Longqing has been looking for for more than ten years. They are full of motivation. The collusion between officials and businessmen in Jiangnan has also been cleared up, and the overall development is in a good place.
As for the problem of collusion between government and businessmen, it will definitely reoccur in the future. There is nothing we can do about it, but for at least five years, Ming Dynasty can maintain a high-speed operation.
In fact, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty were fully aware of Emperor Longqing's "ambition".
He continued to stir up trouble among the northern Mongolian tribes, secretly bribed some Mongolian nobles, and continued to collect intelligence.
Policies have also been implemented in Tibetan areas to support weak political regimes, prevent the unification of Tibetan areas, and increase internal strife.
In fact, in the early to mid-Ming Dynasty, Zhu Di had actual control over Tibet, and Zhu Di even granted five dharma kings in Tibet in one go, thus dividing the power in Tibet.
But the bad thing is that Tibet is a plateau and the soil is so poor that ordinary people cannot adapt to it and cannot cultivate it.
So the emperor of the Ming Dynasty decided not to station any troops, but just sent an official to watch over them from time to time.
As a result, with the decline of the Ming Dynasty, Tibet also became disobedient.
Originally, Emperor Longqing did not intend to pay attention to the rebel leaders in Tibet. Due to geographical restrictions, Tibet's strength was only the same. Whether it was independent or not would not delay the Ming Dynasty, let alone the ability to counterattack the Ming Dynasty.
But things are different now. Xue Hong wrote a letter saying that products from Tibet in the West are needed to make fertilizer, and it can ensure that crop yields are doubled!
Now Emperor Longqing couldn't sit still. If this thing can really come true, he will have bragging rights with his ancestors Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di, as well as his great grandfather Zhu Qiyu!
As a result, Emperor Longqing began to actively prepare to attack Tibet.
Originally, Emperor Longqing was planning to use Zangdi to operate first, but since Annan was seeking death, let's try the knife on Annan first!
As for fighting on two fronts, unless it is absolutely necessary, it is pure slander. Emperor Longqing thought that the Ming Dynasty was far stronger than Tibet and Annan, so he would not do that. If this really overturned, it would be a disaster for the Ming Dynasty!
…
After Xue Hong went to court, he went to the Ministry of Industry to report in detail about chemical fertilizers to the Minister of Industry.
Then he assigned some tasks to his subordinates, rewarded them with gold and silver appropriately and recorded their achievements.
Many times, if a subordinate can complete the task well and does not affect the interests of the boss, only a fool will point fingers.
Just like that, Xue Hong went home early again.
However, after returning home this time, the housekeeper came to report that Aunt Xue, Baochai, Xue Pan and an unknown boy and a girl were waiting in the main hall of the Hou Mansion.
Xue Hong asked the housekeeper about the age and appearance of the boy and girl, and he roughly guessed who they were.
It was Xue Biao and Xue Baoqin, brothers and sisters.
Xue Hong returned to the room first, changed out of his court clothes and put on a pair of light-colored casual clothes before walking to the main hall.
As soon as I entered the main hall, I heard Xue Pan's loud voice cursing.
"The Mei family's assholes! They are looking for trouble! Let me see if I don't kill them!"
Xue Hong: "Brother Pan, how can you behave properly if your mouth becomes dirty?"
When everyone saw Xue Hong coming back, they all said hello.
"Master Hou."
"Brother!"
"Brother Hong."
Xue Hong: "Why is my place so busy today? Brother Xi and Bao Qin also came to visit. Brother, I thought you had forgotten me."
Xue Biao: "I don't dare. It's just that my brother and sister have been traveling around with my father in the past few years, so they rarely contact cousin Hong. I hope you won't be offended."
Xue Pan: "Okay, brother, forget about Wen Zou Zou, we are all brothers. Tell me about Bao Qin."
This time Xue Biao brought Bao Qin to Beijing with the intention of getting Bao Qin married to Mei Hanlin's son. The two had already been engaged.
However, the entire Mei Hanlin family quietly went to work in other places during the engagement period, and no letter was disclosed to the Xue family.
This marriage contract was made by Xue Biao and Xue Baoqin's father during his lifetime.
At that time, Mei Hanlin took a fancy to the financial resources of the Xue family and the abilities of the two Xue brothers, so he happily agreed.
However, within a few years, two brothers of the Xue family passed away one after another, and the Xue family was in decline. Mei Hanlin led the whole family to directly request for release, leaving no letter to the Xue family.
In the past few years, the Mei family has been hiding in office, just to find a way to regret their marriage so that Xue Baoqin could retreat.
In the original work, Xue Baoqin still took advantage of the Jia family's influence to contact the Mei family.
The Xue family was different in this life. Xue Hong married Baochai, and the Xue family suddenly became relatives with the upstart Hou Wenhou.
Xue Pan has also become a talented person and has made the Xue family's business prosperous.
It is impossible for Mei Hanlin to break the marriage if he regrets it. There is a high probability that his term has not expired and he will not be able to come back. Moreover, he will send someone to send a letter to want to marry Bao Qin back to his term.
After listening to Xue Hong's analysis, Xue Pan didn't say anything before he became angry: "I just thought that the Mei family in Pangaozhi is not worthy of my sister Baoqin! Seeing that our Xue family is shaking again, then we got together
Come up here, what were you doing earlier!"
Baochai: "Brother Hong, what do you think should be done about this matter?"
Xue Hong just smiled: "Brother Tadashi and Bao Qin just feel free to live in the capital, whether they live in the Xue Mansion or the Hou Mansion, it doesn't matter.
The Mei family is indeed not a good match. With me in everything, I will neither ruin Baoqin's reputation nor delay Baoqin's future. Afterwards, I will personally find a good match for Baoqin."
When the two brothers Xue Gong were still alive, they warned their children to follow Xue Hong's opinion in everything.
Since the Mei family is unkind, don't blame the Xue family for being unjust.
Bao Qin saluted slightly and expressed her gratitude to Xue Hong.
Xue Hong looked at Xue Biao and Bao Qin, who looked cautious, and said nothing.
After all, they were separated for many years and were not related by blood, so it was normal for them to be estranged. They were no longer the two snow dumplings who competed with Xue Pan and Baochai for favor with their short legs when they were young.
But having said that, the painting style of this boy Xue Pan is completely different from that of the other brothers and sisters of the Xue family. Although it is not ugly, it is obviously far different from the others.
The five Xue Hong brothers and sisters stood together, and Xue Pan looked like the one who was adopted, because Xue Pan cried a lot when he was a child.
Although they had not seen each other for many years, Xue Hong and Bao Qin had the same impression of their elder brother in their memories, and there had not been much change. He was still gentle and kind to them, and they gradually felt relieved.
Baochai, as for Baochai, kept her eyes on Xue Hong throughout the whole process, her eyes full of love and never leaving her.
(Some readers reported that the comments disappeared. First of all, I did not delete them. Even the comments that scolded me were left there. I am not generous, I am just plain lazy.
And I found that many of my comments were missing. What happened?)