Chapter 21 Zhu Liangzu roars at court
Fall with the sound.
A tall official wearing a python robe and a fierce face came out.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at it and saw that it was Zhu Liangzu, the Marquis of Yongjia!
Zhu Liangzu served the Yuan Dynasty in his early years, but was defeated and surrendered.
Later, as a general under Zhu Yuanzhang, he participated in the annihilation of Chen Youliang, Zhang Shicheng, and Fang Guozhen.
Later, together with Fu Youde and Liao Yongzhong, he led the army to pacify Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan and Guizhou.
Zhu Yuanzhang granted ministers great titles in three years.
Zhu Liangzu granted him the title of "the founding auxiliary of the country, the sincere and powerful military minister", the Ronglu doctor, the Zhuguo, and the title of Marquis of Yongjia.
As a general who is not from the Huaixi Group, he can be canonized as a marquis.
Zhu Liangzu was also a tiger general with great military exploits.
He was highly regarded by Zhu Yuanzhang.
Seeing Zhu Liangzu, he jumped out on his own initiative.
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded secretly, knowing that this guy would jump out on his own initiative.
Zhu Liangzu was the courtier who occupied the most fertile land among the secrets submitted by Mao Xiang.
In three years, more than 7 acres of fertile farmland were occupied.
According to the Ming Dynasty tax of three kilograms of tax grain per mu, more than 7 acres of fertile land would have tax evasion of more than 20 kilograms of tax grain.
This number is enough to cover the taxes and grain of a poor county.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the rebellious Zhu Liangzu coldly and asked sharply:
"Yongjia Hou, why don't you want to hand over your fields?"
Zhu Liangzu was unmoved and refused to accept: "Your Majesty, the land acquired by me was all purchased with my money, as evidenced by the land deed."
"These fields were not stolen and robbed by humble ministers."
"The hundreds of members of Weichen's family depend on these fields for their living."
“I’m dedicating these fields to let our family members drink from the northwest wind?”
"Bah!"
Zhu Yuanzhang stood up suddenly and kicked the imperial case in front of him away, hitting it on the imperial steps.
"Full of nonsense!"
"Yongjia Marquis, I remember that when you were enthroned in the third year of Hongwu, your salary was [-] shi."
"In the fifth year of Hongwu, I will grant you another thousand acres of public land."
"Aren't these enough for your home?"
"Think about the fact that there are still ninth-rank officials in the imperial court who earn more than ten shi on salary. Should they all starve to death?"
wow-
As Zhu Yuanzhang became furious, all the officials knelt down instantly.
"Emperor calm down!"
Li Shanchang knelt on the ground and turned around to glare at Hu Weiyong.
Last night at his residence, he asked Hu Weiyong to arrange for the princes and nobles with whom he had made friends to see him in court today.
Although Zhu Liangzu was not an old man from Huaixi, he had always been close to Li Shanchang and Hu Weiyong.
He can also be considered a member of their faction.
Unexpectedly, Zhu Liangzu openly defied the emperor in the court hall.
Isn't this looking for death?
Zhu Yuanzhang walked down the imperial steps like a tiger and a dragon.
Standing in front of the officials, he looked at the ministers and nodded:
"Get up!"
All the officials stood up one after another, lowering their heads and not daring to look into Lao Zhu's eyes.
"Where is Fu Youwen?"
Zhu Yuanzhang called his name again.
"The minister is here."
Fu Youwen, Shangshu of the Ministry of Revenue, bowed out.
"Fu Aiqing, you are the Minister of Household Affairs. I am asking you a few sets of figures. You must answer truthfully."
"Once the emperor inquires, I dare not deceive in the slightest."
"Okay, let me ask you, how much land did I have in the five years of Hongwu?"
Fu Youwen replied without hesitation:
"Back to the emperor, in the fifth year of Hongwu, the Ministry of Household Statistics calculated that our dynasty had a total of 5000 acres of fertile land."
"Ok!"
Zhu Yuanzhang stroked his beard, snorted, and then asked: "So, how much land do I have now?"
"For your information, Your Majesty, according to statistics from the first ten days of the eighth year of Hongwu, there are still 2000 acres of fertile land."
Upon hearing this number, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Fu Youwen with three years, the Ming Dynasty lost more than [-] acres of farmland.
What a shocking number.
He was even more shocked than the numbers on the secret fold provided by Mao Xiang.
In other words, in three years, the Ming Dynasty lost more than one-third of its tax revenue.
The money lost was enough for him to attack Bei Yuan several times.
some time ago.
Zhu Yuanzhang and Xu Da were also worried about attacking Duo'er Buhua because of money and silver.
Zhu Yuanzhang clenched his fists and looked at the rebellious Zhu Liangzu, with murderous intent in his eyes.
After calming down, Zhu Yuanzhang suppressed the anger in his heart and continued to ask: "Fu Aiqing, what was the population of our dynasty in the fifth year of Hongwu? What is the population now?"
The reason why Zhu Yuanzhang asked Hongwu about the number for five years was because he heard Lin Che talk about it in prison.
Since the fifth year of Hongwu's implementation of the public land subsidy and salary policy.
As a result, farmers sold a large amount of land, land was annexed, and the population was lost.
I just asked and learned that in three years, [-] acres of land across the country have been lost.
What a terrifying number.
Now it seems.
What Lin Che said about 'the Ming Dynasty is in danger' was by no means alarmist.
Fu Youwen, the Minister of Household Affairs, thought for a moment and replied loudly: "Your Majesty, in the fifth year of Hongwu, the number of households registered in the Ministry of Household Affairs: 260."
"Registered population: 54 Erding."
"In the eighth year of Hongwu, the Ministry of Household Registration re-registered the number of households: 830 households."
"Registered population: 720, 340 [-]th."
When Fu Youwen finished reporting the numbers, the court hall fell silent.
From the fifth year of Hongwu to the eighth year of Hongwu.
three years.
Whether it is acres of land or population, the huge gap cannot be explained by any natural or man-made disaster.
In today's Ming Dynasty, except for the rebellion caused by the remnants of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, the country is peaceful and the people are stable.
Emperor Hongwu also introduced a rest and recuperation system to encourage people to reclaim barren mountains and wastelands.
Moreover, there have been no major floods or droughts in recent years.
Logically speaking, both the number of acres of fields and the population of Ming Dynasty should increase.
Judging from the numbers registered by the Ministry of Household Affairs, not only did they not increase, but they shrank significantly.
Where did the lost fields and people go? now.
Some ministers in the court had vaguely guessed something.
……
at the same time.
Prison.
"I said Zhu Er, it's still dark, why are you calling me here so early? It's still early for the lecture!"
Lin Che yawned and walked into the luxurious prison cell with her eyes half-opened.
Seeing Zhu Ming sitting on the chair and smiling stupidly at her, Lin Che muttered and asked:
"Why are you giggling? It's okay. I'll go back to sleep. I hate being disturbed during sleep time."
"Drowsy, no inspiration at all."
previous life.
Lin Che was a night owl, staying up until two or three in the morning every day, and sleeping until she woke up naturally in the morning.
Now the prison is quiet and dark, at most five or six o'clock.
I don't know what's wrong with this kid, so he sent someone to pick him up so early.
Seeing Lin Che turning around to leave, Zhu Ping rushed forward and grabbed him.
"Mr. Lin, please don't leave. I have something to tell you."
Zhu Ming pulled Lin Che to a chair and sat down. He turned around and took out half a frame of lychees from the corner and placed it on the table.
That's leftover from yesterday's meal.
Zhu Xi peeled off a fresh lychee and handed it to Lin Che.
Lin Che took the lychee and put it into her mouth with her eyes closed.
A refreshing and sweet feeling instantly spreads in the mouth.
Lin Che cheered up, opened her eyes, took a lychee herself, and asked:
"Tell me, why did you call me here so early?"
"Mr. Lin, do you still remember what I told you yesterday?"
(End of this chapter)