My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 211 Hongli sets national policies, and Yongzheng is invigorated!

A light autumn rain is falling.

The bannermen of the Bordered Blue Banner placed their freshest fruits and vegetables on the table, hoping that their master, Hongli, would enjoy them.

This is how they express their gratitude to Hongli for improving their situation.

Hongli chose to go into a Manchu household's home and sit for a while, asking about the Manchu children's studies and horsemanship practice.

For the Manchu bannermen, whose primary responsibility was to serve in the military and pay the blood tax, the two most important things were riding and archery, and studying.

The Manchus began to engage in production and business only because the soldiers needed for the current war were not enough to absorb the ever-growing Manchu population.

Therefore, what Hongli was most concerned about was their reading and riding skills.

The number of schools under his command has increased significantly, and the rate of education coverage has also improved considerably.

But all of this is predicated on the premise that his numerous factories can continue to generate more profits.

Fortunately, these factories did not disappoint him.

In the Qing Dynasty, where agriculture was the primary industry, there was no easier way to make money quickly than through factories related to agriculture.

The demand for fertilizers and feed is surging.

Demand for coal briquettes surged as the income of Manchus increased.

Emperor Hongli was very satisfied after inspecting these factories.

However, now there is a situation where demand exceeds production capacity.

There was no other way; improving grain yields and soil quality were essential needs for both landlords and commoners.

They may be conservative in accepting new customs and doctrines, but they are incredibly open-minded and proactive in increasing their own resources.

Fortunately, the fourteenth prince has already expressed his willingness to give him his rank.

Therefore, Hongli had no shortage of labor and land to expand the factory.

During the process of Hongli establishing factories for fertilizers, coal briquettes, and feed, a large amount of copper coins flowed into the hands of the lower-level bannermen, making the economy of his Banner Commander of the Bordered Blue Banner more active.

Many Han Chinese merchants began to trade in his banner-affiliated territories, and he also designated specific trade zones for each banner-affiliated territories to promote economic exchange between the two sides.

But this will undoubtedly lead to a further surge in demand for copper coins.

Fortunately, the amount of copper coins minted during the Yongzheng reign has been increasing rapidly.

"A report came from Yunnan that Yunnan's copper production has increased to 6.5 million jin this year, and overseas copper purchases have also increased to 3 million jin. With these 9.5 million jin of copper, more than 1.2 million strings of copper coins can be minted."

"That's why there are so many copper coins in the Money Hall now."

The Ministry of Revenue's Money Management Hall was the official government office in the Qing Dynasty that stored copper coins.

Having tasted the benefits of increasing the issuance of copper coins, Emperor Yongzheng specially brought Hongli to the Ministry of Revenue, which was supervised by the thirteenth prince, on this day to inspect the Ministry's copper coin reserves.

When Yongzheng brought him here, the thirteenth prince pointed to the copper coins stored in the Qianfatang warehouse and talked about the copper imports this year.

When Hongli saw that the wooden shelves that filled the entire wall were filled with gleaming copper coins, he felt very reassured.

Moreover, he had to admit that after realizing that increasing the circulation of copper coins and trying to solve the problem of the coin shortage could increase tax revenue, Yongzheng was genuinely serious about increasing copper mine production and purchases.

He also believes that with so many copper coins, as long as they are released through increased infrastructure investment, people will be more motivated to produce, which will lead to greater wealth growth.

And when he becomes emperor in the future, which is about ten years later, the scale of the empire's annual revenue will be unimaginable due to these proactive financial measures!
However, when Hongli came to Yongzheng's side the next day to learn about government affairs, he found that Yongzheng was not happy about the large increase in copper coins after learning that the Ministry of Revenue had increased its reserves; instead, he looked worried.

"What's wrong with Father?"

Hongli then asked Yongzheng a question about this.

Yongzheng, with his hands behind his back, said, "The river repair projects in the capital, such as the Yongding River, are about to be completed. What should be done with the landless people who rely on labor to make a living in the capital?"

“Some ministers suggested that they return to their hometowns, but after returning home, they would only work for the gentry or even become slaves and servants, which would not bring any benefit to the court. Instead, it would increase the power of the gentry in the local areas.”

"There are also ministers who want them to leave the pass to reclaim wasteland, since the ban on leaving the pass has been abolished. But those who are willing to leave the pass have already left. Unless the court forces them, the rest are probably unwilling to leave the pass to reclaim wasteland. If the court wants to force them, it will need to use a large army. It is not an easy thing to use a large army to force hundreds of thousands of people to leave the pass."

"More importantly, once they leave, many businesses in the capital will be affected, and tax revenue from places like Xishuiguan will be greatly reduced."

After Yongzheng said this, Hongli nodded.

He understood that the problem now was not the lack of copper coins to distribute as wages, but how to keep the hundreds of thousands of newly landless Han Chinese in the capital who had been created by the new policies such as the land tax reform in Beijing, and how to get them to continue to participate in infrastructure projects that would help stabilize the country.

We can't just tear down the newly repaired riverbed and rebuild it.

Hongli had actually been thinking about this matter for some time and had come up with a solution.

Therefore, he took the initiative to say to Yongzheng: "What Father said is right. It is not appropriate to let these people return to their hometowns. That would only allow the gentry to increase their exploitation of the local people, increase their wealth, and thus increase their power."

"As for leaving the pass, it is indeed difficult to force hundreds of thousands of people to leave the pass at once, as that would cause many problems."

"In my humble opinion, the only option is to find new construction projects in the capital. The solution I have come up with is to take this opportunity to renovate the shacks and houses in the inner and outer city of the capital."

"Many of the Manchu people's houses in the inner city have become dilapidated and need to be renovated. As long as the court is willing to provide low-interest loans and allow Han people to form engineering teams to enter the inner city to repair the Manchu people's houses, I believe that many Manchu people will be willing to renovate their houses. After all, many Manchu people have stable incomes and so-called 'ironclad' incomes."

“Many Han Chinese in Beijing still live in shacks outside the city, which is more chaotic and too far from the outskirts of Beijing. After all, the southern suburbs of Beijing are mostly government land, which is not easy for the government to control and is prone to the growth of cults and epidemics.” “Therefore, the court can also provide low-interest loans, allocate government land in the outskirts of Beijing, allow imperial merchants to buy it, and hire construction teams to build houses for sale to Han Chinese. Even if Han Chinese do not have enough money but have stable income, they can also take out loans to buy houses.”

"At the same time, the court can use the money earned to build more city walls, gates and new government offices, which will naturally help to control these Han people."

After Hongli expressed his thoughts, Yongzheng smiled and said, "Wouldn't this make both Manchus and Han Chinese spend all their hard-earned money, even their entire life's savings, on houses?"

"And it has become an even more magnificent capital city of my Great Qing!"

Hongli replied.

"An even more magnificent capital city."

Emperor Yongzheng began to imagine the grandeur of adding another layer of city walls to the capital.

After imagining this, Yongzheng said thoughtfully, "At present, our Great Qing is prosperous and we are not worried about bandits or foreign invaders attacking the capital and repeating the Gengxu Incident of the Ming Dynasty. However, it is hard to guarantee that our descendants will not be unworthy and allow the enemy to grow stronger, thus endangering the capital."

Hongli smiled slightly.

He naturally couldn't openly say that the Qing Dynasty's national strength would eventually decline to the point where the capital would be in danger.

But he didn't expect that Yongzheng himself would say it out loud.

“This is a good idea. Rather than letting these people return to their hometowns to be exploited by the gentry, it would be better for them to stay in the capital and build houses for the court.”

Yongzheng suddenly patted Hongli on the shoulder and said.

Emperor Hongli laughed and said, "In this way, not only will these people keep the money they earn here, but they will also keep themselves here, and even their descendants for three generations will have to stay here. They will completely only know about the country and the marketplace, and will not know about their clans!"

Upon hearing Hongli's words, Yongzheng was taken aback.

Clan?

Emperor Yongzheng thought about the origin of his Qing Dynasty's Han Banner Army and felt that the emergence of a large Han Chinese group without a clan would undoubtedly allow him to select outstanding individuals from among them to supplement the Banner Army.

Hongli had also thought of this, but he did not mention it.

Furthermore, he also thought that once many similar construction companies and engineering teams emerge in the future, he could use high profits to attract these teams to build a large number of bastion-like garrison towns outside the Great Wall, thereby bringing a large population to the area.

At that time, he had a better foundation for expanding his civilization abroad.

"I am very pleased that you could think of this!"

"I need to discuss this strategy with your thirteenth and sixteenth uncles tonight. Find an opportunity to meet with Longkodo and reveal this idea to him."

Yongzheng suddenly said.

Hongli knew that Yongzheng was setting a trap for Longkodo.

But seeing the meaningful smile on Yongzheng's face, which undoubtedly made him realize how much he cared for him, he pretended not to understand: "Father, why do you want me to tell Longkodo?"

"Although this man is exceptionally capable, he is arrogant and greedy because I call him uncle."

"But now, I lack a reason to settle accounts with him in the future, and I don't want to go too far against the entire Tong clan after settling accounts with him in the future. Therefore, I allow you to take more benefits from him as a means to deceive the officials."

"You should not appear too distant from the officials now, especially Manchu nobles like the Tong family."

Yongzheng turned to Hongli and said this.

Hongli looked moved and said, "Yes, sir!"

Upon seeing this, Yongzheng smiled with satisfaction, and his spirits lifted considerably.

Immediately, Yongzheng gave Hongli the key to open the secret memorial and handed him a copy of the memorial: "This is a secret memorial from Shengjing concerning Li Fu and Xie Jishi. Open it and read it yourself."

Upon hearing this, Hongli perked up and hurriedly took the key and the secret report.

Afterwards, he went to the East Study to read the secret memorial.

He also learned that Li Fu and Xie Jishi had crossed the border and arrived in Shengjing, and that Li Fu had settled down in Shengjing. Both of them had also met with local Manchu officials and gentry.

Hongli sneered at this and immediately, based on the contents of the secret report, pointed out some faults about Xie Jishi and assigned the two of them new places of exile.

Li Fu went to Hunchun, which was under the jurisdiction of the Ningguta Deputy Military Governor.

Xie Jishi went to Heilongcheng, which was under the jurisdiction of the Deputy Governor of Heilongjiang.

Although it's only August, it's already quite cold outside the pass.

Li Fu had not yet adapted to the climate here, so he soon fell ill.

But before he was fully recovered, he received a new imperial edict ordering him to serve at the front lines in Ningguta.

This made him involuntarily close his eyes.

Xie Jishi had just arrived in Ningguta, braving the freezing wind, and before his frozen limbs had fully warmed up, he received an imperial decree to serve at the front lines in Heilongjiang City.

"Why is it happening like that?"

Xie Jishi could hardly believe the imperial edict he had just received, and stood there dumbfounded.

(End of this chapter)