I am Li Shen and Li Shimin, the free kings of the Tang Dynasty

Li Shen left Jin Prince's Mansion, got on the carriage, said something about returning home, and fell into deep thought.

Over the years, Li Shen has been ignoring an important figure, a figure in history who will be the emperor in the future, and that is Li Zhi.

He did not expect that now that the crown prince's position was so stable, Li Zhi would still be willing to compete for the throne.

Is this location really so attractive? Let these people try it one after another with their flesh and blood, and finally lose their lives.

Li Shen really couldn't understand. Isn't it good to live like him now, having to eat, drink, and have money all his life?

Li Shen accepted Wu Mei, and Li Chengqian was not someone who couldn't tolerate his brothers, so why risk his life for that position.

These people just can't get over it.

Li Shen began to feel that he should also keep a distance from Li Zhi.

Since Li Zhi's banquet, Li Shen has not been out of the house and has been at home repairing the palace with peace of mind.

Until Wang Hongfu came to the palace and brought someone with him.

"I've met the prince." Wang Hongfu said after the two of them saluted Li Shen.

"Your Majesty, he just came back from the Anxi Protector's Mansion. He came here specifically to report."

"Anxi Protector's Mansion? Have you found Bai Diezi? By the way, what's your name?" Li Shen was stunned for a moment, then immediately became energetic and asked eagerly.

"Your Majesty, the younger one's name is Zhang Chong, and he went to Anxi with Shopkeeper Wang.

After Shopkeeper Wang took us to the boundary of the Anxi Protectorate, we found that the grassland was too big to find..." Zhang Chong began to tell.

It turned out that shopkeeper Wang who led the team was Wang Hongfu's cousin named Wang Wencheng. They traveled all the way but failed to find the survivors of Gaochang at first.

In the end, Wang Wencheng went directly to the Anxi Duhu Mansion, revealed his identity as Prince Ji's Mansion, and then asked the generals of the Duhu Mansion about the location of the former Gaochang Kingdom survivors. Then when they got there, it turned out that as Li Shen said, the Gaochang survivors were indeed there. We plant Baidianzi, but not many of them are planted.

Wang Wencheng immediately contacted the officials who managed them and bought them all, and also bought a lot of Bai Diazi seeds.

As for the grapes Li Shen requested, there are many grown locally. Wang Wencheng is still buying cotton locally and asked Zhang Chong to come back first to report the news and wait for Li Shen's next instructions.

After listening to Zhang Chong's words, Li Shen said happily:

"Well, you guys are doing great."

"Your Majesty, what should we do next? I can go back and report to Shopkeeper Wang." Zhang Chong asked.

Li Shen stood up, walked outside, looked at the scenery outside, and began to think deeply.

When it comes to the use of cotton, people in Gaochang are more aware than people in the Central Plains at this period. Another issue is transportation. Cotton is light, but it takes up too much space.

"Zhang Chong, how many white stacks did you see there?"

"My lord, it's quite a lot, and I'm starting to collect it now."

"You go back and inform Wang Wencheng to send back a few carts of seeds. Don't send Bai Diazi back. I will let people build a workshop there.

Don’t ship the grapes back either. I will send someone to build a winery. You go home to see your family first, and then go back after I have made arrangements. "

"It's the prince." Zhang Chong accepted the order and left.

"Old Wang, arrange for people to prepare money and some textile equipment, and arrange for a master who can brew fruit wine in the winery to follow Zhang Chong away.

Textile workshops and wine-making workshops should be established quickly. Workers can be recruited locally. "

"It's the prince." Wang Hongfu also hurriedly went to fulfill the request given by Li Shen. He knew that Li Shen would let Zhang Chong go away soon.

The next day, Li Shen went to Liangyi Hall after going to court.

"I've seen Aye."

"Well, what brought you here? Did you get into trouble again?" Li Shimin asked without raising his head.

"Aye, why do you always think you'll get into trouble? I haven't gotten into trouble for a long time."

What this dad said really makes me sad.

"You don't go to the Three Treasures Palace for anything. You said this yourself. Tell me, what's the matter?"

"Aye, I want to buy some land at the Anxi Protector's Mansion." Li Shen said

"Anxi Protectorate?" That place is in the bitter cold land of the north, and it should have been the boundary of Gaochang in the past.

"What do you want in that bitter cold land?" Li Shimin was puzzled.

"Aye, I plan to go there to plant white seeds and grapes." Li Shen told the truth, otherwise others would know about it in the future.

"Baidiezi? Grape?"

"Yes, I discovered that you can grow baidiezi and grapes there. These two are the top priorities for us in Datang."

Seeing Li Shen's solemn words, Li Shimin also took it seriously. He knew that every time Li Shen did something not only to make money, but also always had some benefit to Datang.

"Tell me about it." He could understand the grape. Bai Diazi was only used for viewing in the Central Plains.

"Aye, according to what I sent to the local area to investigate, the white folded seeds they grow can be made into cloth. And the texture is better than linen, soft, comfortable, and warm.

If planted in a large area, it can completely replace linen or even silk, and it is cheap. "

"Is it better than linen and cheaper? Can it replace linen?" Li Shimin doubted what you were saying.

"Aye, Baidiezi Tianzhu people have been spinning cloth to make clothes for a long time. A Tianzhu person I know said it." Li Shen saw that Li Shimin could only make it up if he didn't believe it, but it is true that cotton cloth has been used in the mother river basin of India for a long time. .

"Well, if it is true as you said, it will be a good thing for Datang. However, the place is vast and sparsely populated, so it may be difficult to plant it on a large area." Li Shimin thought for a while and said.

The Anxi Protectorate is indeed vast and sparsely populated, with a total population of only one million in such a large place.

"Aye, I've already thought about this. I plan to contact these dudes and ask them to plant with me. The land is leased to them for free, and they hand over [-]% of the white die every year." Li Shen has been choosing to lease. Questions to think about.

The population of the Tang Dynasty is increasing. If all the land is given out, what will happen if there is no land when the number of people increases? The court has the right to take it back at any time if it is leased.

Even if I use force in the future, I still have an excuse. We will not let future generations say that the royal family has gained weight by breaking its promise.

"Well, yes, but we still have to solve the population problem." Li Shimin felt that it would be a bit confusing to let Li Shen figure it out on his own first, and the imperial court would come forward.

"Aye, I plan to mention the price of Baidiezi in the early stage. The income per mu of land is five times that of corn.

If these people see benefits, they don't need to be promoted by the court, they will naturally do it themselves. At that time, the imperial court will only need to implement land leasing, with a period of five years, and hand over [-]% of the white die.

As for the personnel issue, they will naturally bring people there themselves for the sake of profit. We don't have to worry about it.

I will send people to the local residents this year to tell them to plant their own crops, as the nobles and nobles cannot recruit anyone. "After Li Shen finished speaking, he looked at Li Shimin

"Alas~~ Lao Shi, although you have always done things that are ridiculous, you always have a purpose. You have a long-term vision. I really hope that you can help your eldest brother after he succeeds to the throne in the future." After listening to Li Shen's words, Li Shimin instantly became confused. I understand what Li Shen means.