Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 75: Yu Qian descended from heaven, and God was kind to the Ming Dynasty

It was already midsummer. Although the palace had cool rooms and palace maids fanning, Zhu Qizhen still couldn't stand the heat. He wiped his sweat and wailed, "It's too much. This damn place doesn't even have an air conditioner!"

It just so happened that Yu Qian came to report on the matter of suppressing the rebellion in Fujian and Zhejiang. Ningyang Marquis Chen Mao had won several great victories and it would not take long to completely suppress the rebellion.

"A mob can't cause any trouble." Zhu Qizhen stood up and said, "Old Yu, let's go outside the city and enjoy the cool breeze."

Then, he changed into casual clothes and took Yu Qian out of the city. They rode along a river, and the cool breeze made them feel refreshed. They stopped their horses by the river and walked slowly along the ridge of the field.

"Look at the rice seedlings, they are growing well." Zhu Qizhen reached out and touched the rice seedlings. "It looks like there will be a good harvest this year."

Yu Qian, who was following behind, shook his head. "That's not certain. It depends on whether God is willing. If there is no drought, heavy rain, or locust plague, the people can still produce some grain. But they still have to pay the land tax. If they are unlucky and encounter a locust plague, they still have to pay back the grain owed to the government and wealthy families. The remaining grain may not last until the beginning of summer next year."

Zhu Qizhen, who traveled through time, was deeply touched and sighed: "This is still a good year. Alas, the difficulties in farming and the suffering of the people, just these eight words, I can't see them when I sit in Wenhua Hall and read the memorials. The capital is full of flowers and brocade, but how many miles outside the city? There is not a single tile on the roofs of the people."

"Your Majesty, you haven't gone far enough." Yu Qian snorted, "After all, this is still around the capital."

"Old Yu, don't underestimate me." Zhu Qizhen laughed at himself, "I have been to Tumubao, which is not far. After returning, I have seen the real Ming Dynasty. I understand that the capital is the face of the Ming Dynasty, and those are the inner core of the Ming Dynasty."

The two men walked to a thatched pavilion and sat down. A cool breeze blew and Zhu Qizhen looked around. Under the scorching sun, an old farmer was working, facing the loess and his back to the sky.

……

Zhu Qizhen frowned slightly and sighed, "Taizu once said that when the country was first settled, the people were in financial difficulties, just like a bird that has just taken flight, its feathers cannot be plucked, and a tree that has just grown planted cannot be shaken of its roots. It is only necessary to let it rest and recuperate. But it has been almost a hundred years, and the people are still in this situation."

"Except for the reign of Emperor Renzong, which emperor didn't fight a war?" Yu Qian snorted.

"Old Yu, you have a lot of resentment." Zhu Qizhen smiled.

Yu Qian found that he had lost his manners in front of His Majesty, as if he were facing a friend. He bowed slightly and said, "Emperor Taizong led five expeditions to Mobei, and Emperor Xuanzong also led one to Mobei. I know that they wanted to fight a war to achieve a hundred years of peace. But the people are the ones who suffer. How can they rest and recuperate? The people have suffered even more in recent years because their land has been annexed."

"The key to rest and recuperation is peace." Zhu Qizhen said, "The land of the people around the capital will be occupied, and I don't know what will happen to other places. Old Yu, I strongly advocate the recovery of the people's land, but now I think that I was too simplistic before."

Yu Qian was startled, raised his eyes and asked: "Your Majesty, are you going to back down?"

Zhu Qizhen smiled bitterly and spread his hands: "Local gentry and nobles have joined forces with local officials to obstruct us in various ways. Why? Because their interests are the same."

Yu Qian knew all this, and his expression became serious: "Your Majesty, you can't give up, otherwise the Ming Dynasty will be in danger!"

Zhu Qizhen shook his head and smiled: "I will not give up! I have thought about it. If we want to make fundamental changes, we need a new policy."

"New policy?" Yu Qian was shocked.

Zhu Qizhen pondered for a moment, and then explained in detail to Yu Qian the main contents of Zhang Juzheng's Reforms and Yongzheng's New Deal that he had seen in his previous life.

The performance evaluation system and the one-whip system required officials and gentry to perform their duties and pay taxes together, and to share the land tax.

After hearing this, Yu Qian's eyes lit up: "Great, Your Majesty, it would be great if these new policies could be implemented. They would improve the efficiency of the court and reduce the burden on the people."

"But I don't have the final say now." Zhu Qizhen shrugged.

"Your Majesty, I fully support you." Yu Qian bowed. Zhu Qizhen smiled, his goal was to get Yu Qian's support, but it was not the right time to implement the new policy, at least he should really rule the country himself, right?
"Old Yu, it will take some time." Zhu Qizhen said, "When I can make the decision, we can start."

Yu Qian understood what the emperor meant and hesitated to speak.

Zhu Qizhen did not continue the topic, stood up and continued walking in the fields, and Yu Qian hurriedly followed.

……

"Oh, I have something for you to do for me." Zhu Qizhen said, "Suzhou is a tax-intensive place. Wang Wen and his family are also in Suzhou, right? I want to know the real situation in Suzhou. So, you select some of the rich, big, small, and tenant households in Suzhou and invite them to the capital. I will summon them to the Fengtian Palace."

"I obey your order!" Yu Qian was puzzled. "Your Majesty, why don't you let the Jinyiwei do it?"

"The Imperial Guards have been busy lately, and they are also at the center of the storm." Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and said, "You go and do it. I am relieved. Pay attention. What I want is the truth. Don't let anyone fool me."

"I dare not!" Yu Qian nodded.

Zhu Qizhen smiled, as if he felt a lot more relaxed. He ran towards the clear river, taking off his clothes as he ran, and finally dived into the river.

Yu Qian looked at him with a smile on his face. After all, His Majesty is young and sometimes even acts like a child.

Zhu Qizhen swam in the river, and the cold water made his mind clearer.

No one could subdue Yu Qian, but Yu Qian was after the world, so he could be used! Think about it, God was very kind to the Ming Dynasty, with Yu Qian in the early stage, Zhang Juzheng later, and Sun Chuanting in the end.

"Your Majesty, be careful of the cold water." Yu Qian reminded while standing on the shore.

"Old Yu, it's so hot, come down and cool down." Zhu Qizhen greeted.

"Forget it. I will help Your Majesty to watch over here. Please don't let anyone come." Yu Qian looked around.

Zhu Qizhen was very upset: "Old Yu, don't be so arrogant! Are you afraid of being seen while swimming?"

Yu Qian refused to go into the water. Zhu Qizhen did not force him, and swam on his back in the river, looking at the sun in the sky, which was very dazzling. However, his brain was working rapidly.

First, he had to oust the Queen Mother, rule the country himself, and then he could implement the new policy. But the Queen Mother had a huge influence, so it was easier said than done.

As he thought about it, his head sank.

Yu Qian on the shore was stunned. Where is His Majesty? Could he have been drowned?

He jumped into the river without hesitation, then realized that he couldn't swim. He floundered in the river, shouting, "Your Majesty... A-pu A-pu..."

Zhu Qizhen emerged from the water and saw Yu Qian struggling in the water and about to sink. He quickly grabbed him and pulled him to shore.

"Hahaha, Old Yu, it turns out you can't swim." Zhu Qizhen laughed, "Then why did you jump down?"

Yu Qian: “!!!”

(End of this chapter)