Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

Over the years, the northern part of the Ming Dynasty has suffered many disasters.

Not to mention the first year of Chongzhen, Shaanxi was a barren land with many bandits.

Then came a severe drought in Shanxi, followed by a locust plague.

Nowadays, the bandits in Shaanxi and Shanxi are quiet, mainly due to two reasons.

Firstly, Lu Xiangsheng had been guarding Shanxi, and secondly, Sun Chuanting and Hong Chengchou had been guarding Shaanxi. These three brothers were all "quite capable of fighting".

Secondly, these two provinces have been suffering from disasters for ten years, and almost all those who could die have died.

Since a few years ago, the focus of the drought has shifted to Henan and Shandong, especially Henan.

Drought and locust plague came at the same time, and I heard that there was also plague in several places in central China.

Fortunately, Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong both rushed to Sichuan. If they had really taken a detour to Henan for a stroll, Zhang Shikang would have really cursed him.

He already knew the hardships that the lower-class people lived during this period of history, and as he had experienced it himself, he naturally understood more about the current situation of the Ming Dynasty.

So when he heard Brother Chongzhen lamenting the hardships of people's lives, he wanted to laugh.

You think you know the truth, but you are only seeing the tip of the iceberg.

"Shikang, I know you are used to it, but I just feel uncomfortable." Emperor Chongzhen said in a low voice.

At this moment, he suddenly understood what Zhang Shikang had said before. The people were neither good nor bad. They only rebelled out of their survival instinct when they were about to starve to death.

If you were in that situation and someone said that you could have enough food to eat if you followed him, what would you choose?

The whole world was like this, and he suddenly didn't hate Li Zicheng and other bandit leaders so much.

If he could feed everyone in the world, who would be willing to risk their lives to rebel?

"Brother, don't be too upset, it's useless to be upset.

As the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Let's take it one step at a time.

First drive out the Jiannu, and then find a way to deal with the bandits. Of course, the biggest problem is still the Donglin Party.

Once we have dealt with this group of people, there will be fewer obstacles in doing other things.

By then, we will find a way to promote those high-yield crops. I believe that in a few years, the people will not be rich, but at least they will be able to have a full meal every now and then.”

Zhang Shikang couldn't bear to see Brother Chongzhen so depressed, so he comforted him.

It’s not the brother’s fault that he has a bad attitude. It’s just that over the years, he has heard very little good news.

There were either bandits here or famine there, and the Jiannu would occasionally invade the pass to extort money.

Not to mention this old man, even I couldn't hold it anymore.

"How high can a high-yield crop be?" asked Emperor Chongzhen.

"In fact, the yield is not that high. The yield of potatoes per mu is at least a thousand kilograms. As for corn and sweet potatoes, the yield is about the same.

The main thing is that this thing is not very picky about the soil, and is especially resistant to drought. "Zhang Shikang thought for a while and said.

In modern times, potatoes can easily produce 4,000 to 5,000 kilograms per mu, but Zhang Shikang knew that potatoes in later generations had undergone many improvements.

Nowadays, the output is certainly not that exaggerated, but even so, it is definitely much higher than wheat and rice.

At this time, under normal circumstances, the wheat yield in the north was only two dan, which is about more than two hundred kilograms but less than three hundred kilograms.

The rice yield is better. If the weather is good, we can produce three to four hundred kilograms, but it won’t be higher.

When talking about potatoes, corn and sweet potatoes, Zhang Shikang thought of Kang Mazi and Old Man Shiquan.

The later generations praised the so-called Kangxi and Qianlong prosperous eras to the sky, but in fact it was not that exaggerated. First of all, they entered the pass and killed people everywhere, and the population loss alone was over ten million.

Secondly, after a hundred years, potatoes, corn and sweet potatoes have also been promoted. Ordinary people can eat potatoes and sweet potatoes, which is the so-called prosperous age.

But he still underestimated Emperor Chongzhen's view on high productivity.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier, Shikang, that there is such a high-yield crop?" Emperor Chongzhen said with a slightly complaining tone.

Zhang Shikang scoffed at this.

"Brother, it's not that I don't want to tell you, but what's the point of telling you?

The land of our Ming Dynasty is not in the hands of the common people. Even if they cultivate the land, they still cannot have enough to eat.

What's more, promoting crops requires tremendous energy and manpower, and of course, a lot of money.

Do you have any, bro?"

Emperor Chongzhen was silent again.

"Look, brother, let me smooth it out for you.

If we want the common people to have enough food to eat, first they must have land, but the land has been annexed by the landlords, so we have to fight against the landlords.

But the landlords will not give us the land obediently. Which big landlord doesn’t have a backer in the court? Yes, you guessed it right, it’s the Donglin Party.

If you want to fight the landlords, you must first fight the Donglin Party. If you want to fight the Donglin Party, you must have an army. If you want to gain the loyalty of the army, you must have money and food.

But the money and food are in their hands. See, the logic is closed, right? "

The implication is, look at what a broken state this Ming Dynasty ship has become.

"So what?" Emperor Chongzhen didn't know how to refute Zhang Shikang, so he could only ask what he meant.

"That's why I let you lead the army in person!

Let’s generate power for love together!

I tell you, when you get to the military camp, you have to stand up straight and not look so discouraged.

There is only one goal, to boost morale and get them to join us in generating power for love!"

Zhang Shikang said this word in front of him more than once, and Emperor Chongzhen roughly understood what it meant.

To put it bluntly, they are not given any money or food, but are still forced to risk their lives.

The so-called emperor leading the army in person, after all, isn't this what it means?

Alas, I have ended up like this, I am really ashamed of my ancestors!

"I'll do whatever you say. As long as it can make the situation better, I'll do whatever you say."

"That won't do, brother, you have to use your brain more often and can't always rely on me.

We have agreed that when the situation improves, this Admiral of the Beijing Camp and this Grand Marshal will be replaced.

A gentleman's word is as good as his bond. You are the emperor, you must keep your word." Zhang Shikang muttered.

He didn't plan to always be a firefighter for this old man. It might seem impressive, but it was actually like working like a beast of burden and very tiring.

He had planned it out long ago. After dealing with the Jiannu bandits and the Donglin Party, he would retire from the army, marry two, three, four or five wives and concubines, have five, six, seven or eight children, and enjoy the happy time in the Ming Dynasty.

"I think you are lazy." Emperor Chongzhen said unhappily.

"What does this have to do with laziness? I fought for you all the time, so can't I enjoy myself after I'm done?"

"Humph, you don't have the final say on this. It depends on your performance when the time comes."

"No bro, we can't cheat."

The two chatted for who knows how long, and they both fell asleep while chatting.

Wang Chengen, who had been waiting outside the big tent, entered the tent quietly, covered the emperor and his minister with a blanket, and then left quietly.

It was the end of late autumn and the beginning of the winter solstice. Outside the big tent, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse, and everything was silent.

Wang Chengen looked up at the deep night sky, and when he went back, a relieved smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

……