Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 195 With everything in ruins being rebuilt, why should the Ming Dynasty not usher in a new golden age?

What is the crux of the Ming Dynasty's problems?

Faced with his youngest son's questioning, Zhang Juzheng frowned and responded.

"This is an age-old problem: land annexation is a chronic disease, and official corruption is like a worm infesting the government. Every single one of these issues is a deep-seated ailment."

"wrong!"

Zhang Yunxiu said with absolute certainty.

"To put it simply, it's just a dilemma about dividing the pie."

The means of production or land of the Ming Dynasty were likened to a pie.

In the early years of a dynasty, things were relatively evenly distributed, but as time went on, the strong became stronger, creating a scale effect, and the weak, no matter how hard they tried, had no chance of rising to prominence.

When most people can no longer even afford to eat, they will rise up in rebellion and together plunge the Ming Dynasty into an abyss!

Zhang Juzheng's pupils suddenly contracted, as if he had suddenly realized something, and he spoke with a hint of urgency.

"So, your idea of ​​increasing productivity is a process of expanding the pie. With more pie, the people will have a livelihood, and naturally, they will be able to live in peace, and the court will also enjoy long-term stability?"

"It's not that simple, but this is the general idea."

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and nodded, as if guiding a young child in their early education.

"Just like expanding territory, if one can expand territory at a very low cost, one can naturally transfer internal conflicts."

Ultimately, the root of the conflict lies in the unequal distribution of wealth.

If new living spaces can be created and internal resistance can be avoided, the people will have a means to survive and will naturally not cause trouble.

"Without uprisings in various places, and with a prosperous and strong nation, what is there to fear even if there are raging external threats?"

“Therefore,” Zhang Juzheng said, seemingly enlightened but lacking confidence, “if we want to bring order to the world, we must focus on science, vigorously develop productivity, and then supplement it with economics. A revival can then be achieved.”

"Wonderful!"

Zhang Yunxiu slammed his hand on the table, his eyes full of admiration as he spoke.

"Uncle Da truly lives up to his reputation!"

As expected of a prime minister of all time, he was able to answer his own questions with just a little guidance.

"I am your father!"

Zhang Juzheng glared at him feigning anger, but when he turned his head, his eyes were full of inquiry.

He asked again.

"I understand to some extent the principles you spoke of for governing the world, but can the principles of economics really be effective?"

In ancient times, there were strategies for governing the country from figures like Sang Hongyang and Guan Zhong, but times have changed.

Blindly applying this approach could backfire.

This was Zhang Juzheng's concern, and also why he insisted on making a trip to Xishan.

From his perspective, Zhang Yunxiu's economics couldn't possibly have been created by a celestial being descended to earth, could it?

Zhang Juzheng preferred to believe that his youngest son was exceptionally gifted, and that he had attained enlightenment on his own and created economic theories simply by reading "Discourses on Salt and Iron" and "Guanzi." This interpretation seemed much more reasonable.

However, if that's the case, it would be too difficult to apply it to the new policies.

Zhang Yunxiu shook his head dismissively: "Father is too narrow-minded. Who said I acted according to the theories of these two people?"
Our Xishan Peiwen Academy has always adhered to the principle of seeking truth from facts. All our theories are derived from scientific research and are by no means mere theoretical speculation!

Arrogant!

Zhang Juzheng said with great displeasure, "Since you are so complacent, I will test you."

Your economic principles, such as the invisible hand in the market, are not entirely true in practice.

Throughout history, natural disasters have ravaged people, whether it be floods, droughts, or locust plagues.

When crops fail, countless people suffer from hunger, but at such times, merchants and gentry always hoard grain and drive up prices.
If there truly is an unseen hand, when grain prices soar, there must be a continuous influx of goods. Why then do the people suffer from hunger and exploitation?

He seemed somewhat indignant as he spoke.

"If economics were truly so effective, how could there be so many human tragedies?"

His impassioned speech was completely ignored by Zhang Yunxiu, who instead looked at his father as if he were a fool.

"Why is Father sometimes wise and sometimes foolish?"

Zhang Juzheng was somewhat annoyed: "Zhang Shiyuan! Do you really think I'm some kind of clay idol?!"

"Father, please calm down."

Zhang Yunxiu was already quite adept at controlling his father's temper.

Zhang Juzheng's sometimes supernatural and sometimes supernatural interpretations are understandable, since economics was still a very new concept for people in ancient times.

Limited by past thought patterns, there will naturally be many errors.

In order to promote his ideas, Zhang Yunxiu continued to patiently explain.

"The invisible hand is not omnipotent. As I have said before, economics is based on productivity. Without productivity, everything is in vain."

Our Great Ming Dynasty has a large population and limited land, resulting in a very high demand for grain. As a result, grain prices have been rising along with population growth.

Food is already in short supply, and production capacity can't keep up. How can we regulate it through economic means?

Zhang Juzheng had some understanding of money and grain, and he immediately shook his head and said.

"Although the grain production of our Great Ming Dynasty is not abundant, if we can really mobilize it, it is more than enough to meet the needs of a region."

Zhang Yunxiu then spoke eloquently.

"Father still doesn't quite understand. From a local perspective, there is indeed no shortage of food, but overall, the Ming Dynasty is severely lacking in food."

I estimate that last year, the entire Ming Dynasty's grain production was only 100 million shi (a unit of dry measure). Based on a population of 100 million and an annual grain requirement of 2 shi, the shortfall is more than half of that.

After speaking, Zhang Yunxiu's expression became even more solemn.

"Not to mention, with the current princes and nobles living in luxury and the wealthy merchants indulging in extravagance, this deficit is likely to only increase."

"Has it deteriorated to this extent?"

Zhang Juzheng looked surprised.

In the past, the memorials I had seen were nothing more than descriptions of the people's suffering, hunger, cold, and lack of clothing. But never before had such precise figures been used to vividly depict the living conditions of the people of the Ming Dynasty.

Does this sound like an extension of the previous "chart method"?

Zhang Yunxiu continued his analysis, saying, "Grain is expensive, and most of it is controlled by gentry and powerful people. They can reap the benefits locally, so why bother transporting grain from afar?"
The arduous journey, extortion at checkpoints, and banditry all posed obstacles to trade.

Therefore, it's not that economics has stopped working, but rather that fundamentally, there is no fertile ground for the 'invisible hand' to operate.

He then looked at Zhang Juzheng meaningfully.

"Father is busy with countless affairs of state, managing military and political affairs, so he must know the difficulties of the canal transport."

Zhang Juzheng's pupils contracted instantly; he immediately understood Zhang Yunxiu's meaning.

His implementation of the Single Whip Law was precisely to reduce losses during grain transport.

Historically, land taxes were always transported in kind, and half of the grain would be lost or damaged en route to the capital.

This back-and-forth undoubtedly places an even heavier burden on the people.

At this moment, Zhang Juzheng finally gained a deeper understanding of the economy and people's livelihood.

He sighed deeply, "Is there really no other way?"

“Of course there is,” Zhang Yunxiu said, narrowing his eyes. “If there were something that could travel a thousand miles a day, promoting trade and exchange, losses would be greatly reduced, food distribution would be faster, and the problem of famine would naturally be alleviated.”

"Does such a thing exist in this world?" Zhang Juzheng asked, his face full of doubt.

Zhang Yunxiu said confidently, "Just because it doesn't exist now doesn't mean it won't exist in the future."

Zhang Juzheng sighed: "I'm afraid it won't be that easy."

He already had a high opinion of his youngest son's ability to tinker with things.

However, it is also clear that each of the magical artifacts invented by the youngest son was not something that could be easily achieved.

Thinking of this, Zhang Juzheng sighed again, realizing that his youngest son's method was not a panacea at all.

"In the end, it was just a castle in the air, but the Ming Dynasty couldn't wait any longer, and neither could the new policies."

So your economics is still useless; without productivity, everything is in vain.

But is productivity so easily increased?

He understood somewhat.

Economics is meaningless without productivity.

But how can the Ming Dynasty improve its productivity?

The young boy spoke lightly, yet he could find a place that could produce a continuous and massive amount of grain, just like mining briquettes.

Food! It is the foundation of everything!

The Ming Dynasty no longer had the energy to expand its territory, let alone rely on Zhang Yunxiu's coal to support its millions of people.

If this "pie" can't be made bigger, then there's no hope of a solution.

Only when the world is in chaos and half the people are beheaded can the remaining people survive.

Isn't this the case throughout history?

In the past, Zhang Juzheng had hoped that the Wanli New Deal could restore order and revitalize the dynasty.

Now he understands that no matter how well he does, at best he'll just be another Huo Guang.

In any case, the Ming Dynasty was destined to decline, it was just a matter of ten years sooner or later.

Within this grand historical narrative, Zhang Juzheng felt his own insignificance for the first time.

The tide was surging forward, and even with his extraordinary abilities, he was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

“Father is wrong again,” Zhang Yunxiu said, shaking his head. “Economics is not useless; it is applied to productivity, but it also reacts to productivity.”

Are you playing tricks on me again?

Zhang Juzheng sighed heavily; he didn't even have the strength to be angry anymore.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Zhang Yunxiu's expression suddenly became more serious, and he stared intently at his father.

“Father, if there were a place with an inexhaustible silver mine;

If there were a place where one could dig up thousands of taels of gold anywhere;
If there were such a place, where each mu of grain could produce a staggering thirty shi of grain;
If we can acquire enough gold, the Ming Dynasty will not experience a shortage of currency, and its economy will be more vibrant.

If we can cultivate this high-quality grain variety, we can produce enough grain to double the population of the Ming Dynasty.

Do you think this will solve the problem, Father?

Zhang Juzheng paused for a moment, even raising his eyebrows, seemingly quite interested.

But just a moment later, he burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha-"

"Shiyuan, you're getting better and better at joking."

Zhang Juzheng smiled with great satisfaction, shook his head and sighed.

"It's kind of you to comfort this old man."

But Zhang Yunxiu looked very serious.

"Uncle Zhang, I'm not joking."

If such a place truly existed, and the maritime ban were lifted, countless private merchant ships would set sail, amassing enormous wealth from overseas, and no gentry would dare to hoard their silver anymore.

Gold and silver are like flowing water entering a channel, revitalizing all industries!

If you keep pouring money in, it will naturally be like a tree without roots.

Therefore, it is necessary to use actual production such as coal mines as the backbone, and then introduce high-yield and high-quality seeds to make the world's food abundant.

With this, the Ming Dynasty can collect commercial taxes again, so why worry about the national treasury not being full?
We should vigorously apply economics, develop scientific productivity, and promote the prosperity of industry and commerce.

With everything in ruins and everyone having enough to eat, how could we not restore a prosperous era!

(End of this chapter)