Rebirth of the Ming Dynasty: Sixth Generation of Glory, I don't want it

In the first year of Yongle, the national population of the Ming Dynasty registered in the Yellow Book was 69 million.

In the tenth year of Yongle, Zhu Gaochi had people re-register the Yellow Book, and the national population had increased to 91 million.

As the population increases, the demand for salt will increase rapidly, among other things.

According to the Imperial Medical Bureau, a person needs about five kilograms of salt a year to stay healthy.

Even if we use it sparingly, it would take at least four pounds of salt.

With a population of 90 million, at least 360 million kilograms of salt would be needed.

But in terms of the amount of official salt sold by the court, it was less than half of this number.

Therefore, it is obvious where the salt that ordinary people usually use comes from.

It can only be private salt.

The rules established during the Hongwu reign of the previous emperor stipulated that the punishment for those who smuggled salt was extremely severe. The punishments ranged from hanging to beheading, with no room for leniency.

Apart from the government, the only people who could sell salt were some salt merchants who specialized in selling salt.

But now, even the salt merchants can't make ends meet and have to take the risk of smuggling salt. The reason is very simple: "hug".

Because no one can make money except by smuggling salt.

Even though the price of salt has become so high that a pound of salt costs almost the same as a pound of pork, it is still impossible to make money.

There are certainly some human factors involved, but ultimately it is because the salt production is insufficient.

“Reopen the saltworks along the coast.”

Zhu Gaochi proposed.

Since the opening of sea trade, in order to control the entry and exit of sea trade ships, the existing coastal salt fields around the several Maritime Customs Offices have been closed down. Now everyone is used to taking the route and paying the tariffs.

You can relax a little.

"That's not much."

Zhu Di knew without thinking that it would not increase production much.

If the current gap is so big, how much can be produced by several salt fields?

"We have to go find Uncle Wu's people. They can refine cinnabar into water mist that can cause poisoning when people inhale it, so can't they figure out how to turn seawater into salt? And the method already exists, so let them think about how to improve it and increase production. If production can be increased, we can set up several in each place along the entire East China Sea coast, and supply the entire country. Without the transportation costs, the price of salt can drop."

Zhu Gaochi once again felt that Zhang Xin was wise and brave.

This experimental workshop in the suburbs is very prescient.

"That's true."

It was rare for Zhu Di to agree with what Zhu Gaochi said all of a sudden.

"Right? Otherwise, why don't I go there today? Bring Dahua with me. Let those Taoist priests see Dahua, too."

When Zhu Gaochi heard about Master Zhang before, he wanted to take Zhang Xin to the laboratory.

The alchemists also practiced Taoism.

Who knows, there might be some secret trick.

"Then go ahead."

Zhu Di waved his hand and let his son go.

The response between Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Di did not last long. When Zhu Gaochi returned to his own courtyard, Zhang Xin had just finished acupuncture and was listening to Yao Niang's description of her symptoms with Xu.

Xu's face was serious, while Zhang Xin seemed calm.

"After the acupuncture, the Crown Princess' pulse is slightly smoother than before, but the blockage has not been eliminated. I don't know what will happen next."

Yao Niang looked embarrassed and tried to express her meaning in less scary words.

"Don't know? Just tell me!"

Xu asked.

"Perhaps nothing will happen forever, or perhaps one day, the Crown Princess may lose her memory or become unable to move. Eventually, she may not be able to eat. If there is an external cause, she may suddenly lose consciousness and die."

Yao Niang gritted her teeth, looked at Zhang Xin, and told her the worst possible outcome.

"What do you mean by external factors?"

Xu asked again.

"Emotional shock, a blow to the head, or a fall."

Yao Niang listed a few.

“What should I pay attention to in my daily life?”

Xu wiped the corner of her eyes and asked again.

"Rest more, work less mentally and physically, but don't be completely still. Keep your mood relaxed."

After saying this, Yao Niang covered her mouth to stop her crying.

"How long do I have?"

Zhang Xin understood and ignored the first sentence "nothing will happen" and the external factors that followed.

"Your Highness—"

Yao Niang couldn't bear to continue.

"It's alright, just tell me. What's destined to happen will happen."

Zhang Xin smiled calmly, groped his way forward and held Yao Niang's hand.

"It's hard to say. Maybe three to five years. Maybe fifty years."

Yao Niang's eyes were red and she almost cried out loud. The veins on her hand, which was held by Zhang Xin, were bulging.

"Three to five years, that's not bad, at least I can hear my grandson being born."

Zhang Xin breathed a sigh of relief.

"Bullshit! Three to five years is not enough. I will never let you go. Roll up your sleeves and help the Crown Princess change her clothes. Let's go to the laboratory."

Zhu Gaochi couldn't stand it any longer, so he went in, bowed hastily to Xu and started to make arrangements.

"Your Highness is back? What are you doing in the laboratory?"

Zhang Xin asked, tilting her head.

"Well, I'm back now. I'll go find a Taoist priest over there to help you. Also, there's the matter of Dad's salt administration."

"Oh. Are Dad and Mom going together?"

Zhang Xin turned and asked Xu.

"I'm not going. You guys go. I'm going back to your father."

Xu had already stood up and was about to go back to find Zhu Di.

The letter to Zhu Chun not only needed to have more content, but also had to be delivered faster, so she had to go back quickly to make arrangements.

"Okay, then take care."

Zhang Xin knelt down to pay her respects and sent Xu off before being led back to the house by her sleeves rolled up to change clothes.

After the change, Zhu Gaochi hurriedly took Zhang Xin and set off.

The experimental workshop is neither close nor far.

But with Zhang Xin along, the carriage couldn't be driven steadily, so the speed naturally couldn't be increased.

When we arrived at the laboratory, it was already dark.

Wen Beijiao couldn't examine Zhang Xin's eyes, but he took Zhang Xin's pulse carefully and came to the same conclusion as Yao Niang.

[Small science: The actual population of the Ming Dynasty - 24 years of Hongwu. 1 years of Yongle. The data in this article is inferred from this.

Throughout the Ming Dynasty, the data in the later period is outrageous. The population recorded in the Ming Shilu has remained at around 6 million. The peak population was 7185 million.

For example, the Ming Dynasty had a maximum territory of 1100 million square kilometers and a peak population of 7 million. The Northern Song Dynasty had a maximum territory of 315 million square kilometers and a peak population of 1.2 million. The Chinese Empire had a maximum territory of 960 million square kilometers and a current population of 14 billion.