The imperial capital of the Ming Dynasty, Nanjing.
The person in charge of government affairs now is Zhang Zhao, who is the Prime Minister of the Cabinet.
Lu Xuan led his army to leave the Ming Dynasty and go on an expedition against Japan. All government affairs fell on Zhang Zhao. Fortunately, over the years, he had accumulated countless experiences and was extremely familiar with the handling of court affairs.
In addition, although Gu Yong, Kuai Liang and Yan Xiang were deputy prime ministers, they did not oppose Zhang Zhao in government affairs.
Overall, the cabinet operates very stably.
Everyone knows that when Lu Xuan is away on an expedition, he needs the stability of the cabinet and the court. At this stage, once whoever starts the fight first will cause trouble at the rear to affect the front, they will eventually be dealt with.
The cabinet, the prime minister's house.
What Zhang Zhao is checking now is the situation of this year's autumn harvest. On the one hand, it is the grain harvests across the country; on the other hand, it is the sweet potato, corn and potato harvests in Nanjing County.
This year, new grains will be promoted in Nanjing County.
The world is stable, the place is stable, and the people are living a good life. Even if the weather is cold, fortunately, the harvest will not have much impact. Ordinary food remains stable, and sweet potatoes, corn, and potatoes have another bumper harvest.
Countless people are aware of the situation of sweet potatoes, corn and potatoes. The governors of various states have written to the court, hoping that the court will allocate grain seeds to ensure planting in the coming year. In addition, the local government has requested that people who know how to farm be assigned to give guidance on planting next year.
After Zhang Zhao read it, a smile appeared on his face.
His Majesty's arrangement is indeed good. It will be promoted in Nanjing County first to ensure that countless people know about it and to ensure the expansion of influence. In this way, the local people expect that there will not be any resistance, but on the contrary, they hope to get grain seeds.
It will be promoted across the country next year, and planting will begin on a large scale soon.
Local food will be further improved.
Zhang Zhao reviewed the memorial, and when he was about to pick it up and read it again, there was a rush of footsteps, and an assistant came in and reported: "Prime Minister, Your Majesty has an edict to return."
"Hand it over."
Zhang Zhao quickly gave instructions.
He took Lu Xuan's edict from the hands of his subordinates and read it quickly.
The beginning of the edict talked about Lu Xuan's successful landing in the Japanese country, defeating the emperor's army in the Japanese country, and surrendering Sun Quan who was occupying the Japanese country. Following that, it involved the first batch of Japanese sent back, more than 9,000 people.
Ship back.
These Japanese were sold as slaves.
Later in the letter, Zhang Zhao was asked to encourage scholars and children of big families to go to the Japanese country, and to mobilize the people to live in the Japanese country.
Zhang Zhao read through all the subsequent content, thought about it, and figured out how to arrange things. After he was confident, Zhang Zhao arranged for someone to notify Gu Yong, Yan Xiang and Kuai Liang to discuss the matter.
It didn't take long before the three of them entered together.
Kuai Liang, Gu Yong and Yan Xiang saluted and sat down. Kuai Liang took the initiative and said, "Xiang Zhang, what can I do?"
Zhang Zhao directly took out Lu Xuan's letter and handed it over, and briefly explained the situation of the Japanese country, the slaves sent back, and the arrangements for the internal migration of common people and scholars to the Japanese country.
Then, Zhang Zhao slowly said: "Your Majesty's current arrangements for the Japanese country are generally a strategy. All Japanese men will migrate to the country and become our slaves."
"The slave trade is easy to arrange."
"Many families, or businessmen, etc., have needs in this regard."
"It's just that when it comes to migrating scholars and people, it's a little difficult. But your Majesty's plan is generally to let our people live in the Japanese country and become the masters of the Japanese country."
Zhang Zhao said in a deep voice: "What do you suggest we do about this matter?"
Kuai Liang read the edict carefully and said with a smile: "Your Majesty has already arranged it, so there is no room for maneuvering. It must be implemented. However, the letter also mentioned rewards for scholars and common people. Anyone who is willing to go
Scholars can at least be officials."
"If a scholar from the Five Classics Hall goes there, he will start as a county magistrate."
"I think this article alone is attractive to scholars. In addition, it is also good that people can allocate land when they go to Japan. However, I think there is one article that is not clearly explained in the letter."
Zhang Zhao said: "What does Prime Minister Kuai think it is?"
Kuai Liang replied: "According to your majesty's policy, all men from the Japanese country will be captured and sent to the country as slaves. This means that many, many women from the Japanese country will stay. Under this premise, the men who go can
Assigned to women. Isn’t this wrong?”
Zhang Zhao's eyes lit up and he said with a smile: "Xiang Kuai's analysis is indeed reasonable."
Gu Yong said: "So the women of the Japanese country can be included in our propaganda. Now the population in the Ming Dynasty is increasing, especially in Yangzhou, Jingzhou and Xuzhou. The population is growing rapidly. Allocating women and allocating land can attract more people.
Human."
Yan Xiang said slowly: "I think it is still not enough. In order to complete His Majesty's arrangements, it cannot just be these propagandas. Because everyone has a fear of the unknown and uncertainty about the future."
"Moreover, there is also a nostalgia for my hometown. I am worried that I may not be able to come back after leaving, and I am unwilling to leave. Therefore, in the current environment, we need greater interests to guide us."
Zhang Zhao frowned slightly.
Where do greater benefits come from?
The Japanese country was originally a barren land.
Zhang Zhao did not refute and asked, "What do you think, Vice Minister Yan, should we do?"
Yan Xiang smiled slightly and said: "I believe that there is no need to hide the world situation any longer and can be announced. Telling the people of the world that Your Majesty's crusade against the Japanese country is only the first step."
"In the future, there will be Tianzhu, the European and Roman Empire in the far west, and the American Federation in the far east. If you want to get benefits, you can go to the Japanese country to follow His Majesty, and you can make meritorious deeds together in the future. Only
Only in this way can we incite more people to go."
"No, that's inappropriate!"
Kuai Liang shook his head and said: "Such an announcement has too great an impact and can easily cause people's hearts to wander. A lot of news can be spread privately, but it is different when the government takes the initiative to publicize it."
Zhang Zhao stroked his beard and said: "I also agree with Prime Minister Kuai's analysis. The government cannot arrange it like this."
Yan Xiang immediately stopped talking.
Anyway, he just expresses his opinion, which he thinks can be promoted.
It's not a big deal.
Gu Yong always cherished words like gold. He smiled and said: "Actually, I think there is an arrangement that will definitely work."
Zhang Zhao said: "What did Prime Minister Gu think about it?"
Gu Yong looked serious and said seriously: "The general arrangement is still what Prime Minister Kuai mentioned just now. Giving preferential treatment to scholars and giving land and women to the common people are helpful. In addition to these, we should make some more arrangements.
, guide the major families to take the initiative and make them think it is profitable, then countless people will go."
Zhang Zhao's eyes lit up and he asked: "How to guide?"
Gu Yong explained: "The best guidance is not to issue a decree and force the arrangements, and many people will resist. On the contrary, if you quietly make the arrangements yourself, many people will not be able to figure it out, and they will think it is profitable, so
I feel like I have a chance."
"So, my suggestion is that each of the four members of our cabinet should send a scholar from his family to the Japanese country. In addition, each of the six ministers' families should also send a scholar to Japan."
"That makes ten people."
"You can even inform the Governor and ask him to send someone from the Zhou family to join him."
"All of us made our own arrangements and spread the news quietly. Then what will the major families and many officials below discover the situation and they can't figure out the situation?"
"It must be following the trend!"
A look of determination flashed across Gu Yong's eyes and he said: "Following the trend will attract countless people and lead to countless big families. In addition, the local people will not panic and worry when they see that we have arranged for family members."
Yan Xiang's stiff face showed an expression of approval, and he said: "It is indeed clever, this method is really powerful. It triggers following the trend, triggers a herd mentality, and triggers speculation in the hearts of individual scholars, thinking that we are profitable.
This will encourage more people to go. And after these people go, the scholars will be resettled and become officials, so they will naturally be willing to stay."
Kuai Liang also laughed and praised: "Xiang Gu's arrangement is indeed exquisite."
A big stone in Zhang Zhao's heart also fell to the ground.
Managing the Japanese country is obviously Lu Xuan's next strategy, which is to continuously expand the territory. If he fails to do this, it is his dereliction of duty. Now that he has Gu Yong's advice, it will be easier.
Zhang Zhao looked around the three of them and said in a deep voice: "Since we all have no objections, then it's settled."
He changed the topic and continued: "One more thing. I feel that Your Majesty went to Japan to fight continuously, and his troops also suffered a loss. In addition, the horses he brought with him the first time were insufficient. Should we send further troops and cavalry there?"
Gu Yong said: "I think it's feasible."
Yan Xiang said: "This matter must be discussed with the Governor Zhou Yu."
Kuai Liang said: "Xiang Zhang's consideration is very necessary. I also believe that arrangements should be coordinated with the Governor of Zhou Dynasty."
Zhang Zhao nodded and said: "Since there are no objections, I will come forward to coordinate with the Governor of Zhou. This time, we will try to send another 3,000 cavalry and 5,000 infantry to ensure your majesty's safety. After all, the ship coming back this time,
Once you have experience, you will be able to make better arrangements.”
Gu Yong, Kuai Liang and Yan Xiang also nodded.
The cabinet reached a unified opinion and decided on the next steps. The slave trade was very easy, and it was easily completed first. Immediately afterwards, the imperial court announced the news calling for scholars and people to go to the Japanese country.
At first, there was no movement.
Immediately after a rumor spread, the cabinet, the governor's office and the chief officials of the six ministries all arranged for family members to go to the Japanese country, because if they went to the Japanese country, they would be promoted quickly if they could make meritorious deeds.
After the news came out, the big family was moved by the news.
Many people are seeking information.
However, Zhang Zhao, Gu Yong, Kuai Liang and Yan Xiang did not elaborate further, and the six ministers were also tight-lipped. As a result, the news became more and more outrageous, and it became that if you go to the Japanese country, you can become an official and you can have a successful career.
The advantage is that it is easy to switch back in the future.
In short, it seems to be gold plating.
Countless big families and common people are actively making arrangements. Under this premise, some local small families in Yangzhou have arranged for people to respond, and in the blink of an eye it is November 29th.
At the ferry wharf outside Nanjing, warships gathered one after another, all carrying scholars and common people. Anyone who wanted to come gathered here. At a glance, it was full of black heads, and there were countless common people.
and scholars.
Tens of thousands of people gathered, including many scholars.
Groups of common people and scholars boarded the ship, and another 3,000 horses, 3,000 cavalry, and 5,000 infantry also boarded the ship.
This time the total number of people was smaller than when Lu Xuan went, but there were more horses.
The ships consumed are also larger.
Fortunately, the Ming Dynasty now dominates the world. It is easier to integrate resources and build warships. With enough craftsmen and enough resources, large-scale production can be ensured to ensure everything goes smoothly.
When everyone boarded the ship, the warships left the port one after another, quickly entered the Yangtze River and went to sea, heading towards the direction of the Japanese country.
