Chapter 482: One Tree, Thousand Harvests, Farming Ceremony
The plowing ceremony in March of the sixth year of Hongzhi was unprecedentedly grand.
A mighty royal procession set off from the Meridian Gate Square, left Beijing via Zhengyang Gate, and headed straight for the Shanchuan Altar on the west side of the official road.
Even the short journey was heavily guarded, and countless people and students had already paid homage to both sides of the road to welcome Emperor Hongzhi as he passed by.
Zhu Youtang was wearing a dragon robe and a golden crown. He slowly entered the gate of Shanchuan Altar in a golden carriage. When he got off the golden carriage, he saw the Taisui Palace in front of him.
This Shanchuan Altar is like a royal garden. In addition to the Taisui Hall, there are also the God's Kitchen Storehouse, the Farming Room, the Farming Platform, the Gufu Hall, the Qingcheng Palace, the God's Storehouse, the Sacrificial Vessel Storehouse, and the God's Altar.
"I respectfully greet you, Holy Ann!" Liu Zhong, Minister of Agriculture, has led a group of relevant officials to pay respect here for a long time, appearing to be polite.
Their faces were filled with gentle smiles, and they knew that the farming ceremony was not just a ceremony, but also an emphasis on agricultural production and concern for people's livelihood.
Now that the emperor can come in person to participate in the plowing ceremony, this is not only a blessing to the people of the world, but also a high regard for their Ministry of Agriculture.
Zhu Youtang seemed to attach great importance to today's plowing ceremony. After bowing his head to the kneeling officials, he immediately ordered the ceremony to begin.
The plowing and borrowing ceremony is not only a kind of etiquette, but also one of the current propaganda platforms for Ming Dynasty agriculture. The details of this etiquette can be published to the world by the "Ming" magazine.
The spring is bright, and the one-third-acre field is made of black soil from the Northeast. Under the careful care of relevant personnel, the soil now appears to be very fertile.
Zhu Youtang changed into different clothes according to the process, and finally stood on the farmland, holding the plow with his own hands, driving the obedient old cattle in front to draw neat ravines on the land.
When the soft soil is turned up, the air is filled with the smell of earth, and this is also the smell of the times.
All the officials watching the ceremony suddenly started whispering to each other, because they were very excited when they saw Baozhong being taken out by the eunuchs and officials.
For these three seemingly ordinary treasures, the imperial court not only spent a lot of money to build three Mingyuan treasure ships, but also sent officials and crew members across the East China Sea to the mysterious continent to search for the treasures.
It took two years, and after losing more than half of the crew, Liu Zhang finally brought back the treasure species. Now everyone is full of expectations for the treasure species.
"A tree with one harvest is a grain; a tree with ten harvests is a tree; a tree with a hundred harvests is a human being; a tree with a thousand harvests is a treasure seed!"
"Don't exaggerate. It's not as exaggerated as you heard that one tree can produce a thousand catties per mu!"
"You are not a farmer, and you don't know the difference between a yield of 500 jins per mu and a yield of 1,000 jins per mu. Doubling the harvest means more than raising twice as many people!"
…
Although the officials who were watching the ceremony had not been verified, they were already full of optimism after receiving Baozhong's yield data per mu from Liu Zhang.
In the past, they might have doubted something that had not been confirmed, but this was a dream entrusted to His Majesty by Taizu, not to mention that Liu Zhang had already confirmed it.
There is a new continent on the other side of the East China Sea, and the new continent really has the treasure species described by your majesty. Now the treasure species was brought back by Liu Zhang in two years. Such things are enough to dispel their immature suspicions.
Because of this, they all believed Liu Zhang's statement about the treasure species producing thousands of catties per mu, and they were full of expectations for the treasure species growing in the New World of the East China Sea.
Liu Zhang, wearing a first-grade official uniform, stood among the officials in the front row, but there was no joy on his face.
Since he returned to Tianjin Port on a treasure ship, he has received a grand welcome from the imperial court. Especially when he returned to the capital, he was welcomed personally by the emperor and hundreds of officials just like Liu Zhong did.
What an honor this is, enough to make him proud of his ancestors.
This time when he returned from successfully completing his mission, the imperial court not only promoted him to the rank of Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Agriculture, but was also awarded the title of New Tubo. Now he is responsible for cultivating and promoting the cultivation of the precious seeds he brought back in the Ming Dynasty.
Because he was granted the false title of Crown Prince and Grand Master by the emperor, he was now a first-rank official, so he was ranked ahead of Liu Zhong, Minister of Agriculture, and became a real high-ranking official of the imperial court.
"New Tubo, why are you so unhappy?" Jia Jun, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, noticed the serious expression on his former subordinate's face and asked curiously.
In fact, when Liu Zhang returned from overseas this time, he could clearly feel that Liu Zhang seemed a little different, and he often appeared to be worried.
It's just that the identity of the other party is not what it used to be, and two years of overseas experience may also change a person, so he has never been able to point it out directly.
But today I saw Liu Zhang still looking depressed on this big day, so I finally couldn't help but ask directly.
Liu Zhang was slightly stunned at first, then forced out a smile and said: "Jia Shangshu, I'm afraid you have misunderstood. I am very happy in my heart, but I am not good at showing it on my face!"
"Originally, we all thought that the matter of the title of uncle could be postponed for a while, and it would not be too late to award the title when the precious seeds are harvested. However, His Majesty defied all opinions and granted you the title of knight. Your Majesty is very kind to you. You It's not because of yourself, right?" Jia Jun, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, suddenly became excited and analyzed it frankly.
Liu Zhang did not expect that his former boss spoke so straightforwardly, so he immediately nodded and said: "Not only has your Majesty been knighted, but I have also been promoted to an official position, and I have received many additional rewards. How can I be dissatisfied!"
But after saying these words, I suddenly realized that the nod I just made was inappropriate. Isn't this tantamount to admitting in disguise that it is because other people are unhappy?
"It seems that my guess is correct. You are doing this because of Su Can's family! Last year's Jiangnan case involved a wide range of people, and Su Can's family was also involved. His uncle was suspected of cooperating with the White Lotus Sect to place gunpowder in the canal, so the court could not forgive Su Can's family!" Minister of Industry Jia Jun thought of Su Can who went to the Americas with Liu Zhang, and sighed.
Since Su Can became rich, Su Can's family has a certain status in Jiangnan.
Because Su Can's uncle not only joined the Jiangnan business, but also participated in the assassination of the emperor, he became a person involved in the Jiangnan case, and Su Can's family was implicated.
Because the Mingyuan treasure ship went to the Americas for nearly two years and did not return, everyone thought that Liu Zhang and Su Can had already betrayed the country, or had already been buried in the ocean.
But who would have thought that it was not long after the beginning of the year that they learned about Liu Zhang's return.
Although Su Can had died overseas, Su Can had made such a great contribution to the court's treasure hunt, and his family should not be killed.
That's right. Although the court's approach was inappropriate, it was also a trick of fate.
"The court's approach was not wrong, and I am not dissatisfied!" Liu Zhang had already known the whole story, and he expressed his position bitterly.
Jia Jun, the Minister of Works, looked at Liu Zhang deeply, and patted his shoulder heavily again: "Your Majesty is leading the Ming Dynasty to create a prosperous era. Those who are disloyal to Your Majesty are the countercurrent of the court officials and the public enemy of the people. I hope you can think twice!"
Liu Zhang was put on the shoulder by this hand, and he immediately felt the strength of a million pounds, and a stream of sweat silently slid down his forehead.
At this time, the emperor's personal farming ceremony ended, and then it was the turn of their important officials to participate.
It is said that the emperor does not personally farm, but in fact, these important officials have already experienced a life of luxury, and naturally do not know how to work.
Fortunately, they can stand in this position, all of them are smart and studious, and naturally they will also preview in advance, so they know how to farm.
Wang Yue was an exception. He had competed with Hu Daniu in harvesting rice, so he naturally knew how to plow the fields.
Perhaps it was the experience of exile that made him understand the difficulties of life for the lower-class people, and he also understood how wise it was for the emperor to spend a huge amount of money to find precious seeds.
When it came to the sowing stage, this year was different from previous years.
Since Zhu Youtang added cotton seeds in the first year of Hongzhi, three kinds of precious seeds were naturally introduced this time. Because the land of one acre and three points of land was limited, in addition to planting three kinds of precious seeds, only cotton, barley and rice were left.
The current "Ming" magazine is edited by Xie Qian, who also recorded this change.
Because the court added the Ministry of Agriculture, the sowing stage was mainly operated by Liu Zhong and Liu Zhang.
Liu Zhang, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, was in charge of this acre and three points of land, so he was very alert and carefully planted the seeds in his hand.
His fate has been deeply tied to the treasure seed. Not only did he get the title of Xintubo for finding the treasure seed, but he was also responsible for the cultivation and promotion of the treasure seed as the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Agriculture.
But when he was planting potatoes, he wanted to say something several times but suddenly felt a piercing gaze.
When Liu Zhang turned his head and looked over, he actually saw Su Can staring at him coldly, but when he thought of looking closely, he found that Su Can was not in the crowd.
"What's wrong with Liu Zhang?"
"He gives me a strange feeling!"
"I heard that he was frightened in the American continent, and he should be fine later!"
...
The civil and military officials present noticed Liu Zhang's abnormal behavior, but they also expressed their understanding when they thought of the hardships and obstacles that Liu Zhang had experienced for two years.
With the end of the farming ceremony, the emperor's guard of honor returned directly to the palace.
Zhu Youtang is now like the engine of this empire. Although the central and local government offices have their own responsibilities, important things are still started by him.
Since the emperor entered the West Garden, the pattern here has been constantly adjusted.
An independent office of the cabinet was built to the south of the Yangxin Palace, but now a courtyard has been built opposite, which is the newly established Military Affairs Office.
Anyone can see that the emperor established the Military Affairs Office to strengthen the country's military decision-making ability and to decentralize the cabinet.
There are only three members of the Military Affairs Office now, namely Wang Yue, Zhao Chengqing and Zhang Yong.
Wang Yue naturally has no objection. If he was not a poet, he should be the chief minister of the cabinet now. The newly promoted Jingguo Duke Zhao Chengqing relied on military merits to be promoted and also had the qualifications. The one who opposed it was the eunuch Zhang Yong.
Zhang Yong was originally a eunuch in the palace. Because Zhu Youtang, who had just ascended the throne, wanted to control the military camp, he sent Zhang Yong and twelve other eunuchs to serve as the commanders of the twelve camps.
Because of his outstanding performance, when Zhu Youtang built the Heavy Cavalry Shield Camp, Zhang Yong was directly promoted by the emperor to be the first commander of the Shield Camp.
The Shield Battalion has fought in many battles over the years, and has won every battle. It has become the most powerful army in the entire Ming Dynasty, and the people of the Ming Dynasty are also proud of the Shield Battalion.
Although Zhang Yong was selected as a member of the Military Affairs Council and was criticized to some extent, the prestige of Emperor Hongzhi was enough. Even if some officials expressed their dissatisfaction, they were easily suppressed.
In fact, the opposition mainly came from the civil service group, and the military group did not raise any objections. Even military generals such as Ping Liaobo Tie Xiangshan supported Zhang Yong very much.
Zhang Yong's fighting style is very fierce, and his ability to lead the army has won everyone's unanimous recognition. If he was not a eunuch, he should have been made a marquis long ago.
Since three heavyweights formed the Military Affairs Office, the power of the Military Affairs Office now overwhelmed the cabinet led by Yin Zhi.
After the farming ceremony ended, the empire's eyes naturally fell on the north again.
Summoned by Zhu Youtang, the three people from the Military Affairs Office passed the report in front of the door and came to the Yangxin Palace filled with sandalwood.
Zhu Youtang, wearing a dragon robe, sat at the table to deal with the memorials of the two capitals and twelve provinces. Seeing the eunuch leading the three people to the audience, he gently put down a memorial in his hand.
Although the Ming Dynasty is now stable, it is not without any problems.
The ban on silver in Jiangnan has achieved results, but it also takes time to thoroughly implement the new currency throughout the country. Some minor problems still need to be properly handled.
It is gratifying that the construction of national debt has been recognized by the general gentry and the people, and now the new currency is actually quietly tied to the interests of the people.
When Zhu Youtang saw the three people appearing, he said straight to the point: "The Queen Mother of Beishun has replied. She said that the last raid on Jizhen was Yibulayin's personal behavior. Now she has deprived Beishun of his status as the Grand Master and promised to send troops to help us encircle and suppress Yibulayin's tribe. What do you think of this in the Military Affairs Office?"
This time, Yibulayin led his troops to raid Jizhen, which can be regarded as Beiyuan tearing up the peace agreement.
Although Zhu Youtang has always had the idea of annexing Mongolia, the cost is too high, and he does not want to gamble with his own selfishness and national destiny.
What the Ming Dynasty needs now is to develop national strength. If it costs billions of silver to take down Mongolia, not to mention that Mongolia's output value cannot be filled at all, and Mongolia may have to rely on the court's finances for supplies.
What's more, there is also a beloved concubine between the two countries, especially since that crazy night, Beifei's belly seems to have moved.
That's right. Now Manduhai has taken the initiative to draw a line with Yibulain and has even expressed his willingness to send troops to support him. Yibulain's surprise attack on Jizhen can be interpreted as Yibulain's personal behavior.
"We in the Military Affairs Office unanimously believe that it is not appropriate to go to war with Beishun State. We, the Ming Dynasty, can just wipe out Yibulain's tribe this time!" Wang Yue and the other two exchanged glances, and Wang Yue answered.
Zhu Youtang knew that the three of them were important officials who could take the overall situation into consideration, so he nodded gently: "In this case, let's discuss it today and formulate a strategy to wipe out Yibulain!"
As soon as these words came out, it foreshadowed that a war would be fought in the sixth year of Hongzhi, a crazy revenge against the southward advance of Mongolia. (End of this chapter)