The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Wang Qiong said: "Eunuch Xiao is in charge of eunuchs. The imperial farm is deserted. You should ask the Imperial Household Department."

Emperor Hongzhi looked straight at Xiao Jing.

What surprised and puzzled the officials was that although the imperial farm was deserted, the grain money collected by the imperial farm every year was sufficient.

Liu Jian said in a deep voice: "Where does the money come from in the imperial farm every year?"

Xiao Jing's legs were like gluten, and he was so scared that he collapsed on the ground: "Your Majesty, I have to check it out."

Just as the officials frowned, Yan Cheng thought deeply about another question.

In theory, the imperial farm would not be deserted.

But after five years, the reform in the capital and Liangxiang has initially caused changes in the surrounding areas of the capital.

He knew that this change had betrayed history.

Just like grafting new branches on an old tree, the new branches have sprouted, and history has become two parts, one part follows the original script, and a small part has changed due to the reform.

He was excited, but a little nervous.

Most of it still follows the old history, and if we leave it alone, we can know what will happen.

And the part that has changed needs to be predicted through deduction to predict how it will change?

This is an extremely difficult question.

It may be like Wang Anshi's reform, which is irreversible, but if the deduction is successful, it may lead the Ming Dynasty to prosperity.

In governing a country, a small decree will change history in an unpredictable direction. If he is beheaded, he will become the fourth person in history to fail in reform.

Silijian, duty room.

After Xiao Jing spoke violently, he was still trembling with anger. The faces of the eunuchs were printed with red palm prints: "The imperial manor is deserted, where did you collect the silver from, and what else do we not know!"

"Master Xiao, Dong'an Imperial Manor is under the jurisdiction of Zhang Jun..." A big eunuch said cautiously.

An hour later, Zhang Jun was dragged to the duty room, and the little eunuch closed the door, frightening Zhang Jun like a sieve, his teeth trembling.

Xiao Jing asked with a gloomy face: "Where does the tax silver paid by Dong'an Huangzhuang come from?"

Zhang Jun knew that Xiao Jing was ruthless, so he crawled over on his knees: "The tax silver collected from the passengers and goods traveling between Jinning and Xiaohe. Master Xiao, you spared me, but I had no choice. The court changed the system many times, and people ran away..."

"You damn thing, you even dared to covet commercial goods!"

"If I let you go, can Yan Chengjin let me go?"

Xiao Jing kicked Zhang Jun away. He knew Yan Chengjin's temper. Maybe he had his impeachment in his sleeves.

...

Wanping County, Huang'ao Huangzhuang.

Emperor Hongzhi went out of the palace for a visit and brought the officials here. Looking around, it was lush and green, with grass knee-high and flooding the fields.

Huang'ao Huangzhuang was the first Huangzhuang of the Ming Dynasty royal family.

It was established by Emperor Gao, and it has been nearly a hundred years since then. Every year, a lot of tax silver has been deposited into the warehouse.

Emperor Hongzhi couldn't believe it: "This, this is the imperial farm?"

Wanping County Magistrate He Qia's face was pale and he trembled: "Reporting to Your Majesty, it is the imperial farm. It was abandoned three months ago. After the court implemented the household contract responsibility system, it can be used without tax, and peanuts, mulberry leaves and sweet potatoes can be planted in exchange for silver.

Not only the Yishi Yamen collected it, but also the Liangxiang Chamber of Commerce collected it. Seeing the silver, the tenants and laborers all ran away and followed the contracted land..."

Hearing that Your Majesty came to Wanping for a visit, He Qia was so scared that he rode here on horseback while the case was halfway through.

Emperor Hongzhi looked around and saw that the surrounding dry land and mountains were reclaimed and planted with grain.

This scene looked very strange.

The fertile fields were barren, while the wasteland in the mountains and forests was planted with grain.

Liu Jian said angrily: "I said at the beginning that the system should not be changed!"

Zhang Sheng and others nodded.

Yan Chengjin insisted on reforming the system, so the imperial farms are now deserted, right?

The Hongzhi Emperor's eyes moved slightly, and he ordered the Jinyiwei to investigate how many imperial farms were deserted.

Half an hour after returning to the Fengtian Palace, Mou Bin strode into the palace: "Reporting to Your Majesty, there are 11,800 hectares of deserted imperial farms in the five imperial farms in the capital, and the laborers and tenants have fled."

Hiss~

The ministers took a breath of cold air.

The laborers wanted to escape, and the government could not stop them, but the laborers and tenants often did not escape, and they had to rely on the imperial farms to live.

For a time, voices to punish Yan Chengjin were everywhere.

Xiao Jing wiped the sweat from his forehead: "I am a eunuch and dare not discuss politics, but it is indeed related to Lord Yan's reform. People have fled, and the tax collector dare not default on taxes, so he can only think of other ways."

The imperial farms would be deserted, which has never happened since the Hongwu period.

Unbelievable!

"Fine your salary for five years!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I have sent all of you to the Jinyiwei prison." Xiao Jingru was pardoned.

Emperor Hongzhi looked extremely unhappy.

There are five imperial farms in the capital, with a total of more than 13,800 hectares, all of which are excellent farmland.

One hectare is one hundred mu of land, and one mu of land can produce two shi of grain.

11,000 hectares means a loss of about 2.2 million shi of grain, half of the summer tax.

The tax revenue from the imperial farms is used to pay for the expenses of the royal family and vassal kings.

If it is not enough now, it will be paid from the national treasury.

The cabinet and the six ministers looked unhappy, and their eyes looking at Yan Chengjin were a little unfriendly.

Zhang Fuhua looked at Yan Chengjin. He had rarely heard of Yan Chengjin in Nanjing, but this boy was in the cabinet at a young age.

Apart from flattering the emperor, he could not think of any virtue or ability to hold a high position.

Zhang Fuhua said: "The court cannot force people to work, and the government orders cannot be easily abolished. If the expenses of the vassal kings are added to the national treasury, the finances will be tight. This is why the system is changed rashly."

"Master Yan, don't you want to say a few words?" Zhou Xi, the secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, said.

Yan Chengjin said, "I want to take a three-day leave."

There was silence in the hall. You are the one who changed the system, and you still have the nerve to run away.

The officials looked at Yan Chengjin angrily.

Emperor Hongzhi did not want to punish Yan Chengjin, but the desolation of the imperial farm was indeed caused by the change of the system: "What you said makes sense. The imperial farm has been desolate. How to deal with it in the future requires a compensatory countermeasure."

"I am taking a leave to think about this matter. I can reply to your majesty in three days."

Yan Chengjin knew that this was the first time that the change of the system brought about obvious conflicts, and there would be more changes brought about by the change in the future.

This is an inevitable change.

As he thought, it needs to be carefully deduced to avoid disasters.

Emperor Hongzhi knew that at least half of the three days were redundant, and frowned and said, "Two days."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After the court was dismissed, Xiao Jing came out of the Fengtian Hall with a smile and said, "Lord Yan, I am telling the truth. You don't have our impeachment in your sleeve, right?"

Yan Chengjin said, "Don't worry, Eunuch Xiao, there is none yet."

Xiao Jing's face turned pale. Are you really going to write it?

When he was stunned, Yan Chengjin had already walked down the steps.

Li Dongyang seemed to be waiting for him, and said worriedly, "The reform is unpredictable. This time it even hurts the imperial farm. How are you going to deal with it?"

The reform not only hurts the interests of the gentry, but now it also hurts the interests of the royal family!

If it were Emperor Gao, Emperor Wen, or even Emperor Xianzong, this kid would have been dragged out and beheaded.

The imperial farm is the financial source for the royal family's enjoyment and extravagance. It's gone.

When the new emperor ascends the throne, he will also be beheaded.

Yan Chengjin bowed: "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Li. I wonder if Mr. Li has any solution?"

Li Dongyang snorted coldly, feeling depressed: "The farming season has passed, what else can we do?"

The loss is certain, I am afraid it will be barren in the future.

Even if I hire people to farm, it is not a long-term solution.

"I will think of a solution."

The last two days of the month, I am asking for monthly tickets, thank you for the generous reward from Yishun book friends, thank you~