The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Walking back to the East Palace from Fengtian Hall, Zhu Houzhao was still in high spirits.

Gu Dayong said: "Master Yan promised His Highness, but then shied away in the main hall. It is really cunning. I am very loyal."

"Lao Gao will definitely find a way for me." Zhu Houzhao looked happy and unfazed.

Lao Gao is in the main hall, just to delay the attack.

But since I promised him, I will keep my promise. As for what method to use, he can't think of any way. Looking at the angry look of his father and the princes, this matter is as difficult to handle as begging for fiefdom.

Returning to the duty room, Yan Chengjin fell into deep thought.

Zheng Qian strode in and said, "Sir, the censors from Xi'an and Jingyang, Shaanxi, have sent me an urgent report."

Yan Chengjin opened his eyes and saw that the dikes between Xi'an and Jingyang had burst.

The Yellow River surrounds Shaanxi and has spawned many water systems. Managing the Yellow River is the most troublesome thing for the imperial court. Once treated, it will only be effective within three to five years, and it will flood again.

"The breach now not only hurts the farm work, but also covers dozens of miles of mud and sand. The carriages are stuck in it, making it difficult to do business." Zheng Qian was worried.

Early in the morning, early morning.

Standing in front of Zuoye Gate, Yan Chengjin heard the Zhang brothers cursing that the tea shipped to the northwest was flooded and moldy, causing heavy losses.

The trade in the northwest is mainly tea.

Nomads eat meat all year round and drink tea to relieve fatigue. There are even rumors that drinking tea can help you live longer.

Therefore, tea is very popular.

Emperor Hongzhi said: "In many places in Xi'an, Jingyang, Liquan, and Gaoling, Shaanxi, dykes broke for more than 23,900 feet and flooded for more than 200 miles. How do you think we should deal with it?"

There was silence in the hall.

In the breached area, the only option is to re-build stone gates and then build dikes. This extravagance will definitely increase local agricultural taxes and corvee labor.

Jiang Mian said: "I think we can order the craftsmen from the Qingli Division of the Ministry of Industry to go there."

"The breach was more than 20,000 feet, and there were at least 250,000 slaves. How did the Ministry of Works get so many people?" Han Wen shook his head.

Although the water across the river was not controlled, when Han Wen allocated funds to Liu Daxia for water control, he liquidated the labor force.

Generally aware of the loss of human and financial resources.

Wang Qiong nodded: "The Yinshu East Dam in Liyang, south of the Yangtze River, has a river course of more than 4,300 feet and more than 200,000 slaves.

In places such as Xi'an, the rivers are long and there are often hundreds of thousands of people.

Without the support of the imperial court, repairs would be impossible. "

There was silence in the main hall for a while.

Li Dongyang thought for a while and said: "If it cannot be repaired, the people from Xi'an, Jingyang and other places can only be relocated to other places."

Yan Chengjin sighed in his heart.

This is how refugees are born.

When people leave their original land, they lose their role.

The imperial court issued an order for resettlement, but local officials did not have any extra land to allocate, so they could only obey and disobey.

When they are extremely hungry, people will flee from their resettlement areas, disguise themselves as beggars, and scatter to various parts of the world, becoming refugees.

Liu Jian shook his head: "There are more than 500,000 people in Xi'an, which is comparable to the capital city. Where can we find the land to resettle them?"

"Yan Qing's family, I think you have an idea?" Emperor Hongzhi took a deep look at Yan Chengjin, and he would not say anything without kicking this guy.

The hall slowly became quiet.

The ministers are used to this kind of silence.

Jiang Mian looked around for no apparent reason, and Zhang Sheng reminded him in a low voice: "This son needs to prepare his words for a while. Brother Jing will get used to it in the future."

After a moment, Yan Chengjin said: "There are two breaches, and it coincides with the summer tax season, so it is quite difficult.

Give me five days, and maybe I can figure out a way with a little bit of confidence. "

Emperor Hongzhi's face was solemn, and he must have had a solution in mind, "I'll give you three days."

Jiang Mian was a little horrified. His Majesty trusted Yan Chengjin so much, and all the officials didn't object?

After leaving the court, the ministers dispersed.

Zhu Houzhao was waiting at the corner of the hall, blocking Yan Chengjin's way, and whispered: "Lao Gao, when will you ask for begging?"

I eavesdropped on the morning court today, but I didn't see the court discussing the ban on marriage between good and bad people.

Yan Chengjin glanced at Zhu Houzhao, and if he whispered again, it would reach His Majesty's ears.

"I dare not deceive Your Majesty, and I will not ask for this. I will take my leave first."

Of course Zhu Houzhao knew that this was for his father in the main hall, and said happily: "Then I am waiting for you good news."

Emperor Hongzhi walked out of the side door and was confused.

…

Jiang Mansion, middle hall.

A wisp of sandalwood scattered in the air, soothing and refreshing. Jiang Mian invited Zhang Sheng to come to his house to play chess. The two sat cross-legged on the arhat.

Jiang Mian said: "Guan Yan Chengjin's behavior does not seem like he wants to give up."

Zhang Sheng raised his head in surprise: "Brother Jing, why did you say this?"

"This son checked the yellow records of good and bad people in the Ministry of Household Affairs, and ordered people to go to Shuntian Mansion to ask for the music records in the capital." Jiang Mian held the chess piece in his hand and pressed it on the chessboard.

Won.

Zhang Sheng threw away the chess piece in his hand and nodded: "Your Majesty has issued a ban, good and bad cannot intermarry, let alone marry into the royal family as a concubine."

If Yan Chengjin mentions it again, he will be punished for the crime of deceiving the emperor.

And His Majesty is currently worried about the floods in the northwest and has no time to take care of this matter.

Jiang Mian shook his head, "My foolish brother thinks that Yan Chengjin will make a fuss about the northwest affairs."

"It is indeed possible. There is still one day. Let's see first."

For three days, Yan Chengjin took leave of absence and has not left the house.

Zheng Qian occasionally sent some files and information, the most common of which were the registers of good and bad people from the Ministry of Household Affairs.

Wang Qiong said to Yan Chengjin: "My dear nephew, Your Majesty asked you to rectify the floods in the northwest. Why do you count the household registration?"

He was quite concerned about how much money would be spent on the northwest affairs.

"Tomorrow, please ask Mr. Wang to second his opinion."

In the morning court, the three-day deadline agreed by Yan Chengjin has arrived.

Court affairs are not decided in one day. Many important court discussions require multiple discussions by various departments, and the officials are not idle.

Emperor Hongzhi anxiously waited for Yan Chengjin's reply: "Has the Yan family figured it out?"

The officials were nervous and looked at Yan Chengjin.

"I have figured it out, but I dare not say it."

Emperor Hongzhi thought of something and raised his eyebrows slightly: "The Yan family can speak."

"The solution is to allow marriage between the nobles and the common people."

The hall suddenly became quiet.

Jiang Mian's heart suddenly moved. This guy really wanted to beg for this matter: "What does marriage between the nobles and the common people have to do with the affairs of the northwest!"

The officials nodded angrily. The two things are not related at all.

Yan Chengjin said: "The Ministry of Works has no extra laborers to send to Shaanxi, which is why the Shaanxi issue cannot be resolved.

When Cao Yuan was still in the Ministry of Works, he mentioned to the court that the Ministry of Works was short of craftsmen and wanted to transfer the Liangxiang engineers to the Ministry of Works.

Your Majesty, do you know how many extinct households are among the military households and craftsmen households?"

Zheng Qian presented the list.

Emperor Hongzhi took a quick look and found that there were more than 38,700 households that had not married.

Liu Jian and others were all surprised when they saw it.

The court gave the soldiers in the Beijing camp a minimum of 7 cents of silver per day, so getting married was not a problem at all.

Emperor Hongzhi was surprised: "The military households and craftsmen in the capital have money, why don't they get married?"

"Because marriage is forbidden between the noble and the humble, military households and craftsmen are low-class households, and they have to inherit corvée labor for generations, and ordinary people are unwilling to marry them.

If military households and craftsmen want to get married, they can only choose from the slaves, servants, refugees and actors of wealthy households.

Although military households and craftsmen are low-class, they are good households and cannot marry official and private slaves.

So they are in a dilemma."

After hearing this, the officials looked solemn.

Most of the women in the capital are in wealthy households, serving as slaves and maids.

These private maids are for the enjoyment of the host or guests, and cannot lose their virginity, let alone let them get married.

In addition, wealthy families have three wives and four concubines, and have many women.

For military households and craftsmen, it is extremely difficult to get married.

As a result, the income of military households and craftsmen has increased, but they still cannot find wives, and their number has decreased year by year.