Fenghou

Early the next morning, the cavalry of the Yong army led hundreds of Jurchens to the south...

Chapter 530 National Policy

In the early morning, a fleet of dozens of thousands of stone ships arrived at Guangyuntan outside the east city of Jingzhao City. Guangyuntan is still being excavated and constructed. It will be built into the world's largest shipping transit terminal. Meet here.

Dozens of thousand-stone cargo ships came from Xiangyang in the Yangtze River system. It was Liu Dajiang and his thousand men. They reached Tianzhu and Xilan as far as they could, and then returned to Nanyang. All the way back to the Yong Dynasty.

Liu Dajiang is not an official. Although he has a title, he has no official position. He is the emperor Chen Qing's imperial merchant, and he specializes in overseas trade for the emperor Chen Qing.

This time he brought back ten thousand stone ships worth hundreds of thousands of guan, mainly cat's eyes, gemstones, green and red orbs, white bean curds, magnolia bark, musk, ambergris, etc. goods, and purchased a large amount of spices in Nanyang.

Of course, not all of these goods will be shipped back to Jingzhao, and about half of them will be shipped to Pingjiang Mansion, which is Suzhou, which is the economic center of the entire Jiangnan, and Jiangnan is the most affluent place in the world, with the largest grain output in the world.

There is an astonishing demand for luxury goods such as spices and precious stones. Chen Qing’s imperial merchants are not just merchants, but also merchants. Huangshang is responsible for distribution and wholesale of goods shipped by Liu Dajiang from overseas.

Even if Pingjiang Mansion took away half of the goods, the goods carried on the dozens of thousand-stone cargo ships are only a small part of the other half, and a large amount of goods are hoarded in Xiangyang.

When the cargo ship arrived at the dock, it was immediately transported into the warehouse, while the soldiers went home on vacation, and they would return to the capital to assemble at the end of January next year.

Liu Dajiang took an ox cart to the palace. After a while, the ox cart arrived at the Taiji Palace. Liu Dajiang jumped off the ox cart with a big box in his hand.

When he walked to the city gate, he took out the pass gold medal and showed it to the soldiers. The soldiers didn't stop him and let him in directly...

At this time, the emperor Chen Qing was holding a court meeting. The court meeting was also divided into a large court meeting and a small court meeting.The ceremonial court meeting, such as the first day of the first lunar month and the birthday of the emperor, is attended by all civil and military officials in Beijing.

The Grand Court Meeting is held once a month, with the participation of civil officials of rank seven or above and some military officials.

The Xiaochaohui is held on the fifth and tenth of every month, which is actually once every five days, and officials above rank five participate.

In addition, there are special special court meetings from time to time, which are basically attended by officials above the sub-officials of various temples, that is, officials above the ministers and Shaoqing.

Today's court meeting was a special discussion, and Chen Qing received an urgent eagle letter from Niu Gao who turned around on Yanshan Road.

"Everyone has also seen the latest information. It is indeed unexpected. There is actually a Jurchen army and tens of thousands of Jurchen people in Ketun City. Wanyan Wushu is also hiding there, but the situation is quite special now. The Xiliao army and the Naiman tribe Beginning to invade the Mobei Grassland, is the enemy's enemy our friend? Not necessarily, Xiliao is also our enemy, so can we reconcile with the Jurchens? It is even more impossible, so the current situation is very complicated, I called everyone to discuss , I mainly want to set a principle, and then all our subsequent deployments must be carried out around this principle, since it is a discussion, let's speak freely!"

Jiang Yanxian coughed and said, "Your Majesty, do you think there is a possibility of reconciliation between the Jurchens and the Khitans? For example, if the two families jointly deal with the ministries of the grassland and the Yong Dynasty, Xiliao occupies the grassland, and the Jurchens take back Liaodong. Is there such a possibility?"

Chen Qing said slowly: "We all know that the Jurchens and the Khitans have hatred for the destruction of the country. At this stage, it is absolutely impossible to reconcile, but there is a possibility of reconciliation, that is, the older generation of Khitans and Jurchens are all dead. , The new generation comes up, the new generation does not have the same hatred as the old generation, they may reconcile for the common benefit, but not now, the hatred between Wanyan Wushu and Yelu Dashi is irresistible."

Jiang Yanxian continued to ask: "Does Your Highness think that Wanyan Wushu will lead the army to evacuate again?"

Chen Qing shook his head, "In fact, Wanyan Wushu and his Jurchen army have no way out. If he escapes, firstly, the grassland ministries will not tolerate him, and secondly, he has nowhere to go. He dragged tens of thousands of Jurchen people back to Liaodong Impossible, going south is even more impossible, either they go north, which is possible, but there is a prerequisite for going north, they were defeated by the Xiliao army, so the biggest possibility is that Wanyan Wushu and his Jurchen army Become the leader of the grassland again and lead the troops of the grassland to fight against the army of the Western Liao Dynasty. Once they win a big victory, the Jurchens will become stronger again and become the overlord of the grassland."

Zhou Kuan said: "Your Highness has made a thorough analysis, but the question now is, do we want Xiliao to defeat Jurchen, or do we want Jurchen to defeat Xiliao? Should we tolerate Xiliao's reoccupation of the grassland, or the resurgence of Jurchen?"

Zhang Jun shook his head, "It's definitely unacceptable. The best way is to let them kill each other. The two sides are almost exhausted. Let's send troops again to make them both lose."

Zhang Jun's idea is good, but it is not realistic. The main reason is that it is difficult to grasp the opportunities inside.

Chen Qing coughed slightly, and everyone focused on Chen Qing again.

Chen Qing said calmly: "Actually, I have been thinking about this issue for a year, but I didn't realize that there was a Jurchen army before. Now I can tell you my thoughts frankly. I hope that the Western Liao army will win. It is impossible for the Xiliao Army to severely damage the tribes in the grassland for me, and it is impossible to wipe them out completely, at least they will not be able to recover for decades."

"But what about Xiliao?"

Jiang Yanxian asked worriedly: "Xiliao is not a loose tribal alliance, it is an empire. Once it is powerful, it will be more difficult to deal with than a loose tribe!"

Chen Qing said indifferently: "That's what I said, but Xiliao is fighting in a different place. We can completely force it to withdraw from the grassland by encircling Wei and saving Zhao. For example, if we defeat the Xiliao army in Anxi, Xiliao will inevitably withdraw from the grassland in a hurry. "

Zhang Xiao said with a smile: "But in this way, the Naiman tribe will grow up in the grassland. They will probably unify the grassland and become a strong grassland. Your Majesty may not have considered this."

Chen Qing pondered for a moment and said: "Zhang Xiangguo reminded you well, I really didn't consider the Naiman tribe, there are too many variables, we can't participate, so in conclusion, it is wise to prepare actively and adapt to all changes without change. "

Chen Qing's active preparation and strategy of keeping the same and responding to all changes won the unanimous support of everyone. Everyone reached a unified opinion and sent 30 troops to actively respond to the changes in the grassland and Western Liaoning.

……

Chen Qing returned to the Imperial Study Room, Yang Tai bowed and said, "Your Majesty, there is a man named Liu Dajiang asking to see him. He has His Majesty's gold medal, so I asked him to wait outside."

Chen Qing laughed and said: "He is Yao Zhaoyuan's uncle, and also my overseas royal businessman, you will know in the future, let him come to see me!"

"Wei Chen understands!"

Yang Tai hurriedly went, and not long after, Liu Dajiang walked into the imperial study room, and there was a guard behind him carrying the box for him.

"Wei Chen sees His Majesty!"

"We haven't seen each other for almost a year, thank you!"

Liu Dajiang took out a booklet and handed it to Chen Qing, "This is Weichen's procurement catalog for this year!"

Chen Qing took the brochure and put it aside, usually not for him to read, but for his wife Lu Xiu, and they went to discuss it.

"What's in the box?"

Chen Qing was very interested in that big box.

"It is a crop that is very similar to potatoes, but sweeter than potatoes. Unfortunately, half of them have gone bad, and there are only seven left."

"What is it?" Chen Qingrao asked with great interest.

The guard opened the box, Chen Qing stepped forward to take a closer look, and was stunned for a while.

Inside the box were seven sweet potatoes wrapped in soil.

The first thousand and 530 chapters of wheel paddle

The guard brought back the seven sweet potatoes that had been cleaned. Chen Qing looked carefully, and found that the seven sweet potatoes were all intact, with clear eyes. He couldn't hold back the joy in his heart and asked, "Where did you find it?"

"In the grocery store on Yongnan Island, the owner said that it was given to him by a passing ship, but I don't know the exact source."

Chen Qing nodded, "What about the rotten ones?"

"Weichen didn't throw it away either. He cut off the rotten part in Quanzhou and planted it in the soil to see if it could germinate and grow like a potato."

"That's a great idea!"

"Excuse me, Your Majesty, what kind of crop is this?"

"This is a potato, which is in the same category as yams and potatoes. It is very sweet. You can call it sweet potato or sweet potato. Its yield is large, even higher than that of potatoes. Moreover, it has a lot of sugar and a good taste. It will definitely be better than potatoes. popular."

"That would be great, Weichen will instinctively keep crops that he has never seen before."

"It's a good habit!"

Chen Qing asked again: "How is the situation in Nanyang?"

"I'm afraid the situation is not good?"

Chen Qing was taken aback, "Why?"

"Does Your Majesty know about the Zhu Luo Kingdom?"

Chen Qing pondered for a while, "There is a Zhuliye Kingdom in "The Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty", so it should be it?"

"It should be it. It is an ancient country in the south of Tianzhu. It has a history of more than 1000 years. It must have existed during the Tang Dynasty. This country is very warlike. It often sends troops to invade and plunder other small countries. In the middle of the Northern Song Dynasty, it once invaded the Sanfoqi Kingdom. , plundered a large number of people and wealth, this time I went to Tianzhu to trade with Zhuluo Kingdom, an official in Xilan told Weichen that a serious financial crisis broke out in Zhuluo Kingdom, in order to alleviate the crisis, it is likely to go back again Invade the East, that is, the Three Buddhas Qi Kingdom."

"Does the Three Buddhas Qi Kingdom know?"

"I should know. At that time, there was another ship from the Three Buddha Qi Kingdom in Xilan Port. They also got the news. I guess that there will be an envoy from the Three Buddha Qi Kingdom to ask us for help soon."

"When will the Chola Congress invade Srivijaya?"

"Weichen probably will be at the turn of spring and summer next year, and the last invasion was around this time."

"How is Zhu Luo's combat effectiveness?"

"They have big ships, many people, and powerful bows and arrows, but it is said that the soldiers' combat effectiveness is very weak, but they can also use kerosene. It is said that they learned it from the far west. This is their invincible weapon. Back then, the Three Buddhas Qi's naval fleet was defeated by Huoyou."

Chen Qing nodded, guessing that the later Asan Army and the ancestor Zhu Luo Army were in the same line.

Chen Qing thought for a while and asked again: "Can I go to Nanyang now?"

"Of course we can. We are wheel and paddle boats, basically unaffected by the wind direction."

Chen Qing nodded, "Will paddle cars and boats be easily torn apart by huge sea waves?"

"My Majesty, the earliest wheeled and paddle boats were relatively easy. They were the same as those in inland rivers. The wheels and paddles were directly exposed to the outside. Now it's different. When the ship was built, the outer shell was built at the same time, and it was integrated with the hull. The outer shell is very Thick, as long as the hull is not broken, the outer shell will not be broken, and the wheels will be safe, but Wei Chen heard a saying on the dock that he plans to use copper sheets to make wheels, do you know if it is true or not?"

"Where's the pier?" Chen Qing frowned.

"It is Jingzhao's Guangyuntan Wharf. Weichen heard from the wharf officials that a few days ago someone from Taixue was experimenting with copper paddles in Guangyuntan."

Chen Qing suddenly became interested, and he smiled at Liu Dajiang: "Go home and have a good rest, if there is anything, I will send someone to call!"

"Wei Chen retire!"

Liu Dajiang bowed and took his leave.

Chen Qing immediately said to the guards: "Get ready to drive, I'm going to Taixue!"

……

Although Chen Qing has ascended the throne, he is far from the ostentation of the emperor, and his tour is also based on safety considerations, not etiquette and ostentation.

When he went to Taixue to inspect, he also walked through the wall passage to the south gate, and then went to Taixue from the south gate, so that basically he would not disturb the people, but the guards inside Taixue were heavily guarded.

On the street from the gate of Taixue to the farmyard, all soldiers stood guard, one post at three steps and one sentry at five steps, and all students were not allowed to go out.

Chen Qing saw the glass house from a distance. The glass greenhouse is still there. In midsummer, a big shed will be built to protect it from being exposed to the sun to prevent it from breaking.

Taixue is composed of five colleges, including Armament Academy, Agricultural Academy, Engineering Academy, Business Academy, and Mathematical Academy. Among them, the Mathematical Academy is more complicated, with majors in mathematics, geographic surveying, river management, astronomy and calendar, etc.

There are already 3000 students in Taixue, an increase of ten times compared to five years ago. Everyone is aware of the benefits of Taixue. After entering Taixue, basically there is no need to worry about food and clothing in this life, and all kinds of benefits are quite generous. If you have the ability, you can be an official, just like Yang Du, a doctor of the Agricultural Academy, who succeeded in cultivating potatoes. Now he is not only the head of the agricultural academy, but also the prime minister of Sinong Temple.

When Chen Qing arrived at the Agricultural College, Yang Du, a Ph.D. in Agriculture, greeted him, "I see you, Your Majesty!"

Chen Qing said with a smile: "Today there are new species sent by Nanyang, Dr. Yang has to work hard!"

Yang Du was surprised for a while and said: "I can't ask for it!"

When everyone came to the glass room, Chen Qing asked the guards to bring up the box and open it. The guards opened the box, and Yang Du knelt down and looked at it for a while.

"Your Majesty, this is similar to potatoes."

Chen Qing smiled slightly: "This is also called sweet potato, but it is not the same as the sweet potato in Su Dongpo's poems."

Yang Du nodded, "I understand that the 'sweet potato and purple bud' in Su Shi's poem refers to yam and purple taro."

"The season is not right now, can I plant it?"

"It can't be done outside, but it can be done in the glass house. As long as the temperature and water humidity are guaranteed, it can germinate."

"The yield of this kind of sweet potato is larger than that of potatoes. It is easy to grow and has a sweet taste. It is suitable for all ages. With it, people's hunger for food will become a thing of the past."

"Begin planting today!"

……

Chen Qing then came to the engineering institute again. The chief doctor of the engineering institute is Yan Kuo, who built the gravity clock. Now there is a gravity clock in the larger cities of the Yong Dynasty, which greatly changed people's concept of time.

Chen Qing came to the Research Institute of the Engineering Institute and asked, "How is the steam engine perfected?"

The steam engine was successfully developed last fall, but it was too huge, as high as several floors, and the airtightness was not very good. Chen Qing asked them to continue to improve it.

Yan Kuo nodded, "It's almost there. It's half the size of the original one, and the airtightness has been greatly improved. The first complete steam engine will be built in two months at the latest, and in one month soon."

"Is your first steam engine going to be used on a ship?"

Yan Kuo was stunned, "How does Your Majesty know?"

"Some people say that you are experimenting with copper paddles in Guangyuntan. This thing can't be pushed by manpower. I think it can only be driven by a steam engine."

Yan Kuo nodded, "The steam engine is pulled by the front and rear pistons to generate the front and rear push-pull force, and then the horizontal axis can be rotated through the connecting rod. We first thought of the vehicle and boat. It is completely feasible to use the steam engine instead of human pedaling, and use copper paddles. It can solve the disadvantages of wooden paddles being easily worn."

"Take me to see the actual wheel paddle!"

The steam engine was still under construction, so he didn't want to look at it for the time being, but the copper paddle had been completed, so he was more interested.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the ship is currently berthed in Guangyun Lake!"

"Then go to Guangyuntan!"

……

Guangyuntan is located in Bashang, which is a part of Bashui River. It was excavated during the Tianbao period of Tang Dynasty.

From the year before last, Lu Wei, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, started to expand the Guangyun Lake. He said it was an expansion, but in fact it cleared the silt since the Tang Dynasty and restored the waters in the middle Tang Dynasty.

But this year it began to expand again, this is to build the world's largest water transport terminal.

Chen Qing saw this three-thousand-stone test cargo ship with copper paddles installed on the southernmost side of the wharf. Coincidentally, the test cargo ship was about to set off for Bianliang in two days.

At that time, the vehicle and boat used by Yang Yao in Dongting Lake could only be the first generation of vehicle and boat, a kind of external vehicle and boat, simple and crude, and relatively inefficient.