Henan is one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization. It is known as the Central Plains and has been a place with a strong presence since ancient times.

Due to its unique geographical location, it is a transportation center for the east, west, south and north, and has been a strategic location since ancient times.

It is still okay in peacetime, but once it comes to wartime, that is where the princes compete for supremacy, and the war will never stop.

In Henan Province, the Yellow River burst its banks in February this year, and disaster relief was provided once during that period.

The flood has not yet passed, and the locust plague and drought have come, and now a major plague has come.

The report said that about 300,000 people were affected, but Zhu Yuanzhang was very clear about the statistics.

Much more than that!

If a disaster like the plague is allowed to spread, it is very likely that the number of people affected will increase tenfold.

Moreover, things like plague are impossible to count, and everyone avoids them. No one knows how many people have been affected.

After listening to Ru Hong's story, Zhu Yuanzhang's frown showed no sign of relaxing.

After a while, he asked Zhao Mian, the Minister of Revenue, "How much food has been prepared for disaster relief?"

Zhao Mian was shocked when he heard this, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue has already started emergency preparations last night when it learned about the disaster. Currently... Currently, we can mobilize more than 30,000 dan of grain."

More than 30,000 shi is about 4 million kilograms of grain.

But facing tens of millions of disaster victims, how long can more than 30,000 stones last?

Zhu Yuanzhang was a poor peasant since childhood. More than 30,000 shi may sound like a lot at first, but for the disaster-stricken Henan area, it was really a drop in the bucket.

"Explain to us why there are only more than 30,000 stones." Zhu Yuanzhang asked grimly.

Zhao Mian quickly said, "Your Majesty, Henan has been hit by famine since February this year, and the relief grain has never stopped, and we have been delivering it as much as possible."

"Now, all the grain that the Ministry of Revenue can prepare has been prepared. We still need to purchase a batch of more than 30,000 shi from grain merchants."

"Rice is expensive now, and the autumn harvest has not yet arrived. Even grain merchants don't have enough grain, and the cost has far exceeded the limit."

"In addition, there have been continuous disasters in various places this year, and taxes have been reduced. The national treasury is now in a state of emergency. I really can't think of a way to withdraw funds."

Zhu Yuanzhang scolded him, "Two months ago, we asked the Silver Bureau to approve three million strings of banknotes. Tell me, it's only been two months and it's gone?"

"Where did the money go? Could it be that you, the Ministry of Revenue, embezzled it?"

Zhao Mian was so frightened that he immediately knelt down and explained, "Your Majesty is wise. Since I took office as the Minister of Revenue, I have not dared to slack off in the slightest. Before Your Majesty sent the imperial notes, the Ministry of Revenue had already owed a large amount of wages to the military."

"As soon as the silver banknotes arrived, they were immediately distributed to pay off the outstanding wages, which cost nearly 1.2 million strings of banknotes and 130 shi of rice."

"There is no money coming in, but the money is constantly going out. I am like a skilled cook who can't cook without rice. I hope Your Majesty can see clearly."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang grabbed the armrest of the dragon throne with his right hand to suppress his impending outburst.

Normally, if faced with such a situation, Zhao Mian would either be executed directly or dismissed from his post, but now Zhu Yuanzhang could not bear it any longer.

Following the method taught by his eldest grandson, Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. Only then did he feel a little better.

Then he asked, "In this situation, do you have any other way to deal with it?"

Zhu Yuanzhang did not mention the idea of ​​"work-in-lieu of relief". In the face of such a large-scale famine, using work-in-lieu of relief would be meaningless.

Work-for-relief can only have a significant effect on small-scale disasters where the number of affected people is within tens of thousands.

Once the number of people approaches or exceeds 100,000, work-for-relief will no longer be of any significance.

In response to His Majesty's question, the ministers below looked at each other and remained silent, including the ministers behind them, who also lowered their heads and remained silent.

What can we do? When faced with a famine, the first thing we have to do is provide relief. But as it stands now, the Ming Dynasty is running into a fiscal deficit and the treasury is almost empty.

To squeeze out more than 30,000 shi, it was obvious that the Minister of Revenue Zhao Mian was quite capable. If others were faced with the current situation, they would probably only be able to watch helplessly.

"Regarding the plague, the Imperial Hospital has sent medical officers to study and deal with it. The Silver Bureau has also printed another 2 million coins to be used for this famine. The local medical offices will coordinate to deal with the plague."

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke.

The Imperial Medical Service was under the Ministry of Rites, but since there was no Minister of Rites now, Zhu Yuanzhang gave the order directly.

The Ming Dynasty is now very familiar with famine. For the past 25 years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, disaster relief has always been the main theme in the court. This matter is discussed every year and every month, and the routines are very familiar.

However, in the past, His Majesty would kill several people as a sacrifice to the heaven, but today there was no action, and the ministers were a little uncomfortable with it.

Zhu Yuanzhang had experienced things like this for more than 25 years, but every time he encountered it, he would always feel powerless.

The Ming Dynasty’s finances have always been its sore spot, and the country has become accustomed to the annual deficit.

Not only disaster relief, but also the military pay and ministers' salaries were in arrears, which had become a common practice.

Of course, the part that is owed is not money.

The Ming Dynasty's treasure notes were always distributed on time. After all, it was not difficult for the silver bureau to print something like a few pieces of paper.

At present, the salaries of the officials of the Ming Dynasty are a combination of banknotes and physical goods.

In addition to the Ming Dynasty's treasure notes, there were also silk, cloth, and rice.

Silk and cloth are easy to deal with, but rice has always been in arrears. After all, Zhu Yuanzhang was well aware of the purchasing power generated by the Ming Dynasty's treasure notes in this era of soaring prices and depreciation of the treasure notes.

It is just the regulation of the market economy. Endless printing of treasure notes will only cause the Ming Dynasty treasure notes to continue to depreciate.

How could Zhu Yuanzhang not know that two strings of banknotes could only be exchanged for one tael of silver? But what could he do if he knew?

After the court session.

Zhu Yunwen did not go to see the Emperor. If he went to see the Emperor to talk about his elder brother's affairs at this time, he would not get any benefit at all.

No one would offend Your Majesty at this point. Even if there is something, just suppress it if possible.

In the Huagai Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang did not directly review the memorials, but sat at the desk in a daze.

Zhu Yuanzhang could fully empathize with the current situation in Henan Province, as he had experienced the same thing in the past.

It was just that I was lucky. Even though it was a little difficult, I managed to make it through.

But there are quite a few who can't make it.

In Henan Province today, the practice of cannibalism is commonplace.

"Your Majesty, I think we can talk to His Royal Highness Changsun and maybe he can find some solutions." Guard Jiang Lin hesitated for a long time and finally couldn't help but speak.

"Grandson? What can we do by asking him for help with such national affairs?" Zhu Yuanzhang frowned when he heard this.

When Jiang Li heard that His Majesty did not refuse immediately, he explained: "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness Changsun is good at business, and the money he earns from the Qunying Chamber of Commerce every year is incalculable."

"The profit from the snowflake salt alone is estimated to be as much as one million, and it must be real money."

"When I was investigating His Royal Highness Changsun's power, I found that it seemed that His Royal Highness Changsun controlled a large amount of food. Every winter, the Heroes Chamber of Commerce would carry out a round of expansion, and the main source of personnel was among the hungry people."

"The reason why His Royal Highness Chang Sun was able to spread his power across the Western Regions, the desert, and the grasslands so quickly was that he had enough food supply."

"Perhaps His Royal Highness Changsun has some unique insights on this. Your Majesty, why don't you ask him and give it a try?"

In fact, the Jinyiwei has never stopped investigating Zhu Ying.

As long as Your Majesty does not issue an edict, this investigation will not stop until Zhu Ying enters the palace and announces his identity.

At first, after Zhu Yuanzhang determined that his eldest grandson was his biological grandson, he wanted to stop the investigation, but every time the Jinyiwei reported intelligence related to the eldest grandson, Zhu Yuanzhang would be surprised.

It seems that every time something is investigated, it is just the tip of the iceberg of the power under Da Sun, making it full of mystery.

Zhu Yuanzhang was also very curious about how much his eldest grandson had done in the past ten years in opposition.

So he simply let the Jinyiwei continue the investigation so that he could get more familiar with the situation of his eldest grandson.

At this moment, when Zhu Yuanzhang heard Jiang Lin's words, he immediately remembered some records about Da Sun's power in the intelligence.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang at that time was just watching it for fun, and did not have any in-depth associations with asking his eldest grandson to take the responsibility or do something.

I was more focused on training my eldest grandson and never thought of letting him share the financial burden.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang seemed a little embarrassed after hearing Jiang Lin's words.

Zhu Yuanzhang felt uncomfortable as he was going to touch his eldest grandson's money before he even entered the palace.

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness Changsun will eventually enter the palace. The affairs of the Ming Dynasty are naturally His Royal Highness Changsun's affairs. I think His Royal Highness Changsun has insights in this regard that ordinary people do not have."

"During the last famine, His Royal Highness Changsun proposed work-for-relief, which is something that our ministers have never thought of. This time, I think we can ask His Royal Highness Changsun for his opinion."

Jiang Li said in a somewhat euphemistic way. He did not talk about how much wealth His Royal Highness Changsun had, but instead talked about it from the perspective of His Majesty's assessment.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly, thinking that this matter was a very good way to test his eldest grandson.

Then he turned to Liu He, the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department, and asked, "Did you get back the memorial that you sent to your eldest grandson yesterday?"

Liu He said, "Reporting to your majesty, His Royal Highness Changsun told Guo Zhong yesterday that it would be afternoon until today, and it is not yet time."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "That's perfect. Prepare the car. We can go there directly and handle both matters at once. We have been eating the food in the palace these days and our mouths are almost dry. It would be nice to go to our eldest grandson's place to improve our food."

"I obey your order."

…

In the Five Military Commandery.

Lan Yu talks with his elder brother Lan Rong.

Lan Rong currently serves as the commander of the Right Guard of the Palace Army and is one of the twelve personal guards of the emperor.

The news was received before Lan Yu returned.

However, for the sake of keeping it confidential, he did not specifically tell his brother Lan Yu about the matter for fear of causing misunderstanding.

But deep down I'm still quite happy about this matter.

In terms of blood relationship, Lan Rong and Zhu Ying are also uncles.

In fact, the commander of one of the emperor's twelve guards holds a very high position of power.

"Brother, how could you let me know about such a big thing? I was so nervous when I received the imperial edict and returned to the capital."

Lan Yu said with some complaint.

The Five Military Commanders' Office is also the office of the Emperor's Twelve Guards. The two of them were having a secret conversation in Lan Yu's exclusive office room.

Lan Yu was a little nervous about being recalled when he received the imperial edict.

That was why he left his two sons and a group of loyal subordinates there and did not follow him, because he was worried that his military power would be stripped away.

"I wasn't the first person you came to see when you returned to Beijing. You know my position and I can't just go out casually. Even if you returned to Beijing, I wouldn't know if it wasn't for the morning court today."

Lan Rong explained that Zhu Yuanzhang's edict was conveyed directly, and how could he, a commander of the right guard of the palace army, go to inquire about the news from the Ministry of War.

On the contrary, as the commander of the emperor's personal guards, he needs to avoid suspicion to a large extent.

After hearing this, Lan Yu had nothing to say, so he said, "You haven't met His Royal Highness Chang Sun yet."

Lan Rong replied: "When I was on night patrol, I heard that His Highness had spent the night in the palace."

"Has he entered the palace?"

Lan Yu exclaimed, he was currently unaware of this matter.

Lan Rong smiled and nodded, "Yes, I think His Majesty has thoroughly investigated the situation of His Royal Highness Chang Sun, and there is no deviation."

"In this case, with His Royal Highness Chang Sun here, you and I won't have to worry too much in the future."

When Lan Yu heard this, he nodded in agreement, and then said, "Don't underestimate His Royal Highness Chang Sun. Yesterday, His Royal Highness Chang Sun took me to the Gunpowder Department to observe the latest firearms."

"You haven't seen it before. That fire gun called a matchlock gun has a power close to that of a small general's cannon. Most importantly, its accuracy is as accurate as a crossbow within fifty steps. It's simply incredible."

"It's a pity that the current output is not enough, only a few per month. Once the output increases in the future, the army will be equipped with such muskets. Tsk tsk, it will become much easier to fight in the future."

Lan Rong was shocked when he heard this.

Since his brother Lan Yu had said this, he had no reason not to believe it. But this statement was indeed a bit exaggerated.

If we really had such a magical weapon, suppressing the enemy would be a piece of cake.

"Don't disbelieve me. It's too early to say this now. I tried it myself yesterday. As the emperor's personal guard, I think it won't be long before you can see it. Then you will know whether what I said is true or not."

Seeing the look in his elder brother Lan Rong's eyes, Lan Yu thought that he didn't believe it, so he spoke again.

"Okay, then I'll wait and see. But are these the only things you asked me to come here today?" Lan Rong asked with some confusion.

Although they worked in the same office, the Emperor's Twelve Guards and the Five Military Commanderies were two distinct areas and rarely interacted with each other.

Normally, the two of them would talk after get off work to avoid suspicion.

This time, Lan Yi called Lan Rong over in the name of military affairs, so Lan Rong had such doubts.

"If you hadn't said it, I would have almost forgotten what I was doing." Lan Yu said with some annoyance, and then explained:

"I am following His Majesty's order to mobilize 5,000 troops for His Royal Highness Changsun to train. His Majesty said that some personnel should be drawn from various departments, and he did not want to draw some from you."

Hearing this, Lan Rong couldn't help but say, "Five thousand men? Your Majesty wants Your Highness to build a personal guard."

Lan Yu nodded and replied, "That should be the case."