Chapter 330 – Yang Rong’s Killing Move

Zhu Di is worried and annoyed at the same time, at this time, he really needs someone to give him some ideas.

This Yang Rong, in particular, tends to be insightful and acts cautiously and steadily, a person who looks after the big picture.

The eunuch then led Yang Rong and Hu Guang to have an audience.

When Zhu saw them, he was full of haggard, dusty looks.

The party’s anger had dissipated quite a bit.

“There is no need to salute, the ministers have worked hard.” Immediately, Zhu Di straight to the point: “The two ministers have not been on duty recently, I think the affairs of the dynasty, many still do not know.”

Zhu Di paused, then said: “South Zhili disaster, more serious than I imagined, thought it was just a drought some days, after all, Jiangnan is a water town, there are always ways to solve. But now the government reported to the situation, the situation is very critical …… to come, take the South Zhili government of the first to the two Secretaries to take a look.”

The eunuch accompanying him then bowed, to fetch the sangha.

Yang Rong, however, said abruptly, “Your Majesty, there is no need to look.”

This statement made many people feel astonished.

Because that’s not really surprising if it came out of someone else’s mouth.

However, Yang Rong, a person, is very alert and cautious, and seldom defies Zhu Di in a straightforward manner.

Zhu Di wants to show you the zhangzhi, but you flatly refuse, this …… is still Yang Rong?

Zhu Di frowned up, vaguely a few points of anger, so he continued to stare at Yang Rong, said, “Yang Qingjia …… why do you say this?”

Yang Rong said, “Your Majesty learned that the situation is that all the provinces have reduced production on a large scale, but Minister and Hu Gong to Taiping Province, but found that the situation is very different. In this way …… then I am thinking …… about this matter, it may not be a natural disaster, but a man-made disaster.”

These words were undoubtedly like dropping a bomb here, and the crowd’s bodies shook unanimously.

Jin Youzi, Xia Yuanji, Jin Zhong, Jin Junren, and so on, each of their faces swept through a few different colors.

Natural disasters are the responsibility of the imperial court, and you can even say that it is the responsibility of the emperor. After all, from the perspective of the celestial senses, this must be the result of the ruler doing something that angers the heavens and angers the people and angers the heavens.

Consequently, all the emperor had to do was to hold his nose and honestly grant an amnesty or a reduction in food, and the matter could be covered up.

But if it is a man-made disaster, it is the responsibility of a specific person.

If that had come out of an ordinary person’s mouth, it might have just been a vent of anger.

But if it is from the mouth of the Wen Yuan Ge University scholar, this may mean that a big prison has quietly started.

Zhu Di frowned and said, “Could it be that this heavenly drought …… is not the truth?”

Zhu Di paced a few steps, his face could not hide the color of cover, then added: “South Zhili is the foot of the Emperor, not the end of the world, is not a drought, we all have a number in mind.”

Yang Rong took a deep breath, he was indeed very cautious, this is being mentally organizing his words.

While Hu Guang’s heart was a bitter smile, because he realized that in fact, Yang Rong could have chosen other words to say, because the same piece of fact, with a different statement, gives a completely different feeling to people’s ears.

For example, Yang Rong is perfectly capable of reporting what has happened in the Taiping Mansion in the form of a good news report.

And Yang Rong didn’t, he just took what happened in Taipingfu as normal governance.

Since it is normal governance, the other governments ……

Yang Gong …… usually treats people mildly and never offends people, but today …… it is like a sword that violently reveals its sharpness, and it is also like a big cat that is supposed to be docile, but steeply reveals its fangs. In a flash, Hu Guang realized that he was actually a fierce tiger.

Yang Rong said, “What fear of drought is there in the land of Jiangnan?”

Zhu Di said, “What does the Secretary mean ……”

Yang Rong calmly asked, “Dare I ask Your Majesty how much production has been reduced in each of the provinces?”

Zhu Di said: “serious is Huai’an Province and Fengyang Province, production has been reduced to more than 40%, the other provinces, but also more than a reduction of two or three percent.”

Yang Rong directly and dryly said, “But according to the situation that I investigated in Taipingfu, Taipingfu is an increase in production of more than 70%.”

When these words came out, the hall full of monarchs and ministers were directly jaw-dropped.

Increased yields by 70% …… still more.

But then I heard Yang Rong continue, “This does not include the reason for the new grains, which also take up land, but the minister, for the sake of fairness, has only counted the production of the rice club for the 6 meters.”

Zhu thought he had heard wrong.

Even Natsubara Ji was confused, “What did you say, 70%? Is it an increase or decrease in production?”

“Increase production.” Yang Rong raised the tone of his voice, and then decisively said, “The same drought, Taiping Province did not reduce the drought by as much as the other provinces, but why is the difference so great? If you say that the northern drought, all the rivers are dry, no lakes, this is the past. But the south of the Yangtze River, all around are water towns, the river did not cut off the flow, although the lakes are shrinking, but there is still a lot of water.”

“After the beginning of spring, there are signs of a major drought, the spring rains that were supposed to fall, has been a long time but not, so from that time onwards, the Taiping Province organized countless laborers, began to dig irrigation canals, began to think of every possible way to store water to build reservoirs. Nine counties of Taiping Province, in just half a year, the construction of irrigation canals are hundreds of miles long, on the higher ground, also built waterwheel diversion, nine counties of large and small reservoirs, there are sixteen, to cope with such a small drought, as easy as a hand.”

At these words, the crowd could not help but be shocked again.

Yang Rong’s words are obviously not finished, he continued, “I and Hu Gong in the process of investigation, almost did not hear about the lack of water, even if there are places, originally dry land, really lack of water, but this year to take the opportunity to solve it all together. The village chiefs, there are specialized county clerks liaison, water diversion difficulties in the villages, the county officials are responsible for liaison, the government to give money to give food, conscripting the people to repair water conservancy.”

“Such a drought, in the view of the Taiping government, is nothing more than that, not only that, the village chief, but also dug cesspools, for fertilizer, the village stockbreeding animal husbandry, pig dung and cow dung, can also be used as fertilizer in the land. Encourage the people to use farming tools, provide food seeds, not only easily cope with the drought, but also make the food greatly increased production, the original ten acres of land, grain production of thirty stone, now, can produce more than fifty, this is what I see, I dare to ask your majesty …… the other provinces, whether man-made disasters.”

When Zhu Di heard this, his eyes widened slightly and his face appeared a bit stiff as he was greatly shocked.

Natsubara Yoshi and the others, too, frowned and were actually silent.

Yang Rong said: “In fact, if you say that the provinces have been seriously affected, I …… actually do not agree, because …… other provinces, there is also irrigation, how can it reduce production so much? In my opinion, I’m afraid that it is the farmers who have reduced production! Once the drought comes, their land, simply can not be irrigated, and large-scale irrigation measures, but also non-they have a few acres of land of small farmers can afford.”

“And the family has a thousand hectares of good land people, they have enough manpower and material resources, is absolutely can build water conservancy, they can lead the water to their own fields, small farmers, how dare and they grab? Therefore, on my way back, I also had a look with some of the neighboring prefectures, but also roughly know some of the general, not a lot of food production has been reduced, but food production has indeed been reduced, ordinary small farmers, the loss can be described as heavy. But on the other hand, the big family home, the loss is very light, just these land …… according to the minister to know, there is no clearing, is the so-called hidden field, so all over the government reported up, on the surface of the report is a reduction in production, but they reported, it is not possible to mention to the situation of the hidden field.”

When Zhu Di heard this, he became furious.

He smiled coldly, feeling only comical at this point.

Natsubara Yoshi chimed in, “Is this all true?”

“Of course it is the truth.” Yang Rong said: “is to prevent, the understanding is not the truth, so I and Hu Gong, not only to go to the grain station in Taiping Province to understand the situation, but also want to find a way to go deep into the village, and farmers to talk. And then …… minister here, there is the latest out of the Taiping House of the number of food levies …… this year’s summer food levies, in Taiping House can be described as well organized …… ”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier!” Zhu said sharply, “How much summer grain is in Taipingfu this year?”

Yang Rong was silent for a moment, and then he reported a number: “Two million six hundred and seventy-seven thousand stones ……”

“……”

All at once, everyone was dry-silenced.

Every one of them, silent.

What is the concept of two million six hundred and seventy thousand stones?

Daming’s entire summer grain tax system, the South Zhili’s tax is the most, accounting for the world’s two percent, in the past, when there is no Taipingfu, is in the two million two hundred and thirty thousand stone up and down.

And now, the Taiping Prefecture expanded and became nine counties, yet it levied more than the entire eleven prefectures of Nan Zhili.

Although the nine counties of Taiping Province, is indeed the food production in the South Zhili heavy. Can to, these two provinces of the tax, up to only four or five hundred thousand stone or so, accounted for two or three percent of the South Zhili just.

And now …… more than 20% of the world’s grain fu …… actually comes from the nine counties of Taipingfu.

Yang Rong seriously said: ”I have checked, on the one hand, it is the Taiping government has found a large number of hidden fields, the number of hidden fields in the nine counties, is extremely considerable. On the other hand, the Taiping government’s grain tax, the loss is extremely small, in that case, there are a few more percent. Furthermore, after the division of land, the Taiping government added 10% tax to all the divided land. The people do not have to pay tenant rent, but only 10% more taxes, completely supply, coupled with this year’s Taipingfu harvest, under all initiatives, the summer grain of the South Zhili, I calculated that, according to the previous years of the world’s land tax to calculate the district of nine counties, the income of the tax, will occupy the entire world’s twenty-two percent.”

This is an extremely frightening number.

It has gone far beyond anyone’s imagination.

The hall was directly plunged into a deathly silence.

Zhu Di even felt as if he was dreaming.

When the three counties of Taiping Province, it was enough to impress him, but in this year of drought, there is such an achievement, which can no longer be described as a capable official.

Into the motherfucker, this is Guan Zhong and Le Yi.

I am afraid that …… only Guan Zhong and Le Yi are just like that.

Zhu Di’s pupils contracted and he couldn’t even speak as he dropped his butt onto the imperial chair.

But at this time, Xia Yuanji, as the Minister of the Household, felt that it was better to ask for clarification.

Because it was different from what he knew about food collection in the Ministry of Revenue.

So he said, “Lord Yang, I have some questions, and I hope I can clear them up.”

Xia Yuanji paused, then added: “Fangcai Yang Gong’s words, said that in this Taiping Province, a large construction of water conservancy, levied so many laborers, this …… is not …… increase the burden of the people? The people are serving the corv茅e, how can they care about their own fields, according to the past situation, this may trigger the people’s grievances. Then again, after levying so much grain, are the people overburdened, and will there be people …… who will breed chaos because of the tyrannical levies of the government. The old man does not know much about the situation in the Taiping Province, which is why he has this doubt.”

Yang Rong seems to have had a plan for a long time.

In fact, this question of Xia Yuanji was only the question of everyone in the hall.

Zhu Di also looked at Yang Rong with suspicion and uncertainty.

Yes …… collected too much, although Zhu Di has always smacked the tax is not enough, but now suddenly came so much tax, Zhu Di instead feel a little hot.

After all, there were too many lessons learned in the previous dynasty because of excessive corv茅e and levy.

Yang Rong said, “What Xia Gong said, indeed …… right, large-scale construction of water conservancy, the end of the Yuan Dynasty, there have been, such as the Yuan people repair the Yellow River.”

At the mention of this …… everyone laughed dryly.

Speaking of which, without the Tartars repairing the Yellow River, this Daming may not have the world yet.

Yang Rong said, “But …… the situation that Xia Gong said, if it is in other places, it is true that there is nothing wrong, cross levies, necessary to cause civil unrest. Only unfortunately …… this Taipingfu, but greatly different, because …… Taipingfu Latin …… really give money and food.”

Yang Rong purposely aggravated his accent when he said the word really.

Crowd: “……”

Yang Rong said: “I also seriously ascertained clearly, the recruitment of a strong man, the daily give is money three Wen, grain two pounds, cured meat one or two, salt three money, and the same day settlement, in addition to the reward money, if can be completed on time and according to the amount of the final completion of the final time, but also to give each of the strong man of one hundred Wen to 500 Wen of reward money. Your majesty, gentlemen …… this price …… people should be recruited, is enough for their own food and drink, but also can barely get some money to subsidize the family. Because of this, the construction of water conservancy, the people are willing to go, also willing to go. ”

“Of course, in fact, this number, if it is put into the price of doing labor, and not much, especially in the absence of bounty, but also just barely …… enough to eat, eat still good, savings is certainly not. But on the other hand, is that the Taiping Province to build these water conservancy, is not to benefit a family, but to spread in the Taiping Province counties, Taiping Province farmers, almost every family has land, the people are well aware of the benefits of water irrigation, if the repair does not work, their own family land, there is no water irrigation, all of this is closely related to them!”

“Thus, the government conscription, although some people will occasionally have complaints, but the vast majority of people, but in the agricultural leisure time is very enthusiastic, are willing to contribute to the effort and hard work, and even when the project is urgent, the strong man is still in the construction of water conservancy, the family’s land, even in the busy farming, often the strong man outside, the family women and the elderly people fiddling with the crops, is really compelled to do so, the strong man to take a couple of days off to go home. ”

“This third, is the government, the government early will be everywhere in the water conservancy situation, are drawn into drawings, posted to the village, the water conservancy after the completion of the benefit to the fields, by and large, are clearly understood, we see this water conservancy also benefit to their own homes, with reservoirs, days of heavy rain can be used to reservoirs to store water, so that their crops will not be waterlogged, with irrigation canals, own With irrigation canals, their land can be irrigated in times of drought so that they will not be left without water, so their morale will be even higher.”

“Your Majesty, during the Han Dynasty, there was a system whereby the good families of the six counties of Longxi, Tianshui, Anding Shangxian, and Xiehe were selected for the Feilin and the period gate to serve as officials with their talents, and that is why there is a reputation that many famous generals come out of Yan. Most of these good families had thin family capital and owned land. Once they were chosen to join the army, all of them were forbidden to do anything and joined forces together. As a result, the Han Dynasty was able to pacify the civil strife, discuss the South Vietnam, and exterminate the Xiong Nu in the north, and the four barbarians in the world were all at war when they heard the name of the Han Dynasty. The end of the Han Dynasty, the military prosperity, even to the end of the Han Dynasty, has not declined.”

“When I read the Book of Han, I still have doubts in my mind, and I always think that the name of these six counties’ good families is exaggerated. But today I realize that the six counties of good family, is by no means a waste of time, whether they are in the army, or labor, most of them do not want to violate the law, can do the professionalism of the same team, once the government requisitioned, there will be very few grievances, out of the force, all brave, very few treacherous generation.”

“And this Taiping Province, in fact, is the entire Taiping Province up and down hundreds of thousands of households, all of them have become a good family with property and employment, not only the government organization, everyone enthusiastic, pay money and food taxes, but also no complaints, but also very little speculation, most pragmatic. This hundreds of thousands of people, only half a year, will complete the entire nine counties since the founding of Emperor Taizu Gao, decades have not been completed all the water conservancy, and the quality is far beyond imagination. In my countryside, there are already very few bandits in Taipingfu, and these good families, without even needing the government, take upon themselves the great task of protecting the territory and pacifying the people, and if there are outsiders, they are willing to take out their family’s good wine and meat, even though they are wary of them.”

“Right, I also learned that many of the people, after getting the land, life than last year, can be said to be a leap of a thousand miles, in the past are the people have food, but in this Taiping Province, most people are more robust, and now most of the family, not only can feed a family, coupled with the government conscripts, or farming into the county chancellors or Qixia labor, every family this year, there is a surplus of money, all over the market, generally prosperous, women’s rouge, comb, hairpin, flower cloth, sell all good, as well as sub-pigs, chickens, farming equipment, cattle market, also better than other provinces. The market, generally prosperous, women’s rouge, comb, hairpin, flower cloth, sell all good, and the son of pigs, chickens, farming equipment, cattle market, also compared to other provinces, I do not know how many times better. Such a situation, very rare, not to mention other, often in the nine counties, once upon a time is to the beginning of the month, the middle of the month, the end of the month three days, will be in the townships have a market, but now, in the townships, there are actually a lot of merchants and businessmen, the permanent market, 30 days in January, are selling goods, such a situation in the countryside, almost rare, but in the townships of the Taiping Province, has become a common practice.”

Said here, Yang Rong seems to be ringing something, pause, only then continued: “I also heard that the townships of young adults, the will to join the army is relatively strong, just as the six counties of the good family in general, although they are also honestly plowed the land and work, but also quite ambitious. Willing to enter the model battalion and the official school academy, to build a career …… This is the other provinces a few impossible, the other provinces of the people, most of the people today only think of the next meal, not to mention the ambition, that is, tomorrow’s events, are rarely willing to plan, this situation, but with the Taiping Province the complete opposite.”

Young Wing spoke eloquently.

The others, however, were like listening to a heavenly book, and each of them stared blankly at Yang Rong.

Yang Rong obviously do not care about other people’s reaction, then said: “I am not personally see, it is difficult to imagine, Taiping Province changes have been so great, I walked in Taiping Province counties six or seven days, although I do not dare to say that, fully understand the situation, but can be here, to your majesty with the head of the guarantee, Taiping Province, there is no any people’s poverty and weakness of the situation, and even more so, there is no people due to the tyrannical levying and grievances and indignation. I also dare to guarantee that the nine counties of Taipingfu have no bandits, no starving corpses, and no grievances.”

These three no’s are really like a mirage.

At this point, Yang Rong is really considered a talent. On the one hand, he understands the situation, on the other hand, he is a top reader and has rich experience in politics.

It was for this reason that he was able to describe what he had heard and seen very vividly, especially with quotes from scripture and metaphors from the good families of the six counties.

It’s more intuitive.

Yang Rong added, “If Your Majesty and all the princes don’t believe me, you can ask Lord Hu.”

Hu Guang: “……”

Hu Guang, whose name was named, face twitched, and a hint of helplessness flashed quickly in his eyes.

Hu Guang felt that he had come together in the beginning, when it …… was really rash.

Originally, I thought I was following Yang Rong to be a supervisor.

Who ever thought that today is pulled to give Yang Rong endorsement, his role as a tool man, is the rhythm of the proper pad back ah.

Yang Rong this statement, can be regarded as a direct to be very full affirmation of Taipingfu. And this kind of affirmation …… in a sense, like a sword, pointing directly to the south directly under the other provinces, is to accuse them of causing a ‘man-made disaster.’

This is a very serious accusation, one that could kill someone.

On the other hand, for the praise of the Taiping government, and so on, directly and firmly on the side of the Taiping government, since then, for the Taiping government’s new policy, he, the Wen Yuange university scholar Yang Rong carried out the guarantee.

As for Hu Guang, these are really witnessed, and he can t help but admire Zhang Anshi, but …… he can t help but still be sour in his heart, because …… the prosperity of the Taiping House is to pay a price.

This price …… is precisely this community of interest from which Hu Guang himself originated.

Thinking of this, Hu Guang could not help but sigh in his heart.

Hu Guang is not stupid at all, of course he knows clearly, if he also affirms Yang Rong, it means that he is also considered to be completely cut off from many people in the past, it is considered to be the opposite of the enemy.

But …… let him deny it?

Hu Guang is an honest person, this kind of thing that he saw with his own eyes, if he did not see it, he can still pretend to turn a blind eye, but now …… how can he cheat people?

After sighed quietly, Hu Guang has a kind of good family woman into the green house to sell a smile of aggrievement, but still honestly said, “Yang Gong see …… sentence is true, the minister …… with which I see slightly the same!”

This one is a definite buy.