Fu Tang

Li Congjia exhausted his imagination and felt that these people were at most just an ordinary lucky boat, but what did he see now?What he saw was a whole battleship!

The Fuchuan at the beginning should be the famous Dafuchuan in history. The Dafuchuan has triple towers, a wide bottom and a high head and tail. This guy can accommodate at least a hundred people.

"Your Majesty." Seeing that Li Congjia was a little surprised, the Inspector of Changle Mansion couldn't help but smile and said, "Please board the boat."

Li Congjia boarded the big lucky boat under the guard of everyone, and walked around the deck first. The whole lucky boat was surrounded by fenders. The governor of Changle Prefecture said: "Your Majesty, the fenders of this boat are made of bamboo , erected like a wall, it is very difficult for the enemy to board the ship."

Li Congjia asked, "How much water can you drink?"

The governor of Changle Mansion immediately said: "It can reach ten and a half feet."

Li Congjia made some calculations in his heart, and felt that it was about the same. He walked to the bow and asked, "Is this the place reserved for Xuanwu Pao?"

The governor of Changle Mansion nodded and said: "Yes, not only the bow but also the stern, there is also a place for the firecrackers."

Li Congjia nodded, and after just turning around, he realized that the whole ship was almost a mobile fortress, with a hard shell and huge weapons surrounding it.

The governor of Changle Mansion continued to introduce: "Your Majesty, the Dafu Ship has four floors. The lowest floor is the ballast stone, the third floor is for fresh water and food, and the second floor is the soldiers' quarters."

Li Congjia asked: "Have you reported the weapons you need? Have you included the weight of the weapons before?"

The governor of Changle Mansion said: "It has been reported to the Privy Council, but it has not been approved yet."

Li Congjia nodded, and walked around again. In this era, this ship is probably the tallest. Li Congjia can imagine that when the battle starts, all the soldiers will look down and strike from a height. It is a real weapon of naval warfare!

Li Congjia patted the governor of Changle Mansion on the shoulder and said, "Good job, how did you come up with such a boat?"

The governor of Changle Mansion grinned and said, "Didn't your majesty mention it before? At that time, you said that this boat is not easy to make, so let us make the lucky boat. Later, after we made the lucky boat, we felt that the big lucky boat is not Is the Fuchuan zoomed in? It’s not too difficult, so let’s study it together.”

Li Congjia laughed. He knew that although the governor of Changle Mansion said it lightly, the big blessing boat was not just the result of the enlargement of the blessing boat.

After all, Fuchuan was a warship in the Ming Dynasty, and it is more than 400 years away from the present. The technological development of these 400 years cannot be done overnight, but it turned out that these people actually did it.

However, Li Congjia could also see that due to the limited number of firearms available, the positions left on the ship were relatively single, and there was even a place for archers, but he was more happy to see changes based on the actual situation.

Li Congjia got off the big lucky boat and walked around on the ordinary lucky boat. Basically, it was not much different from the lucky boats of later generations, so he felt relieved.

In fact, Li Congjia is already very satisfied with having a battleship of this scale. For example, warships divided into several levels in later generations are a bit too extravagant in this era. Of course, they can be divided if they really want to, but artillery Warships and ordinary warships are not of the same level, and it is impossible to barely form a fleet.

The next step is the sea trial. No one dares to ask Li Congjia to come in person for such a thing as a sea trial.

After getting off the boat, Li Congjia said, "Let's put aside the sea trial."

The governor of Changle Mansion's smile froze on his face, and he hurriedly asked anxiously: "Is your Majesty not satisfied with something? We can change it."

Li Congjia shook his head and said, "No, it's just that the paint smells too strong. These things are not good for people's health. I don't want soldiers to fall under the paint before going to the battlefield."

The governor of Changle Mansion was a little at a loss, he didn't understand what happened to the paint, but as long as the emperor was not dissatisfied with their ship, it would be fine.

Although after getting off the boat, Li Congjia still felt surrounded by the smell of paint and wood, but he was still very happy. When he returned to the palace where he was staying, Shi Xueting looked at him and smiled, "Why are you so happy?"

Li Congjia soaked himself in the pool and said, "Of course I'm happy. These guys are completely beyond my expectations. With such a fleet, why worry about Goryeo?"

Shi Xueting laughed and shook his head, but when he saw these warships just now, he was very shocked. Everything is difficult at the beginning. Now that the first big blessing ship has been built, there will be a second and third ship. It is said that in the future, the sea warrior will be invincible in the world.

Even Shi Xueting couldn't help being fascinated when he thought of the word invincible, let alone Li Congjia.

Li Congjia leaned into Shi Xueting's ear and said, "The Dafu Ship can not only be used as a battleship, but also as an ocean-going cargo ship!"

Shi Xueting said immediately: "Ocean-going cargo ship? Who else would dare to use such a cargo ship except the imperial court?"

Of course, the most important thing is that the biggest deterrent on the Dafu ship is all kinds of firearms, which are strictly controlled by the imperial court. Generally, the local arsenals only have the most basic ammunition, or the kind that is basically popularized by the entire army. Why? Possibly for common merchants?

Li Congjia took it for granted and said: "But the warships of the imperial court can be rented out when they are not fighting. Usually, the maintenance costs of warships are very high. It may be difficult to rely solely on the appropriation from the imperial court. The money will not come out, and the fleet must have its own income."

Shi Xueting immediately thought of the important point: "If the Dafu boat is rented out, it is only the location of the warehouse in the rented ship?"

"Of course, the entire Dafu boat will still be under the control of the navy."

Shi Xueting asked again: "Is it detrimental to the military's prestige to let the army bear the responsibility of transportation?"

Li Congjia sneered and said, "Military prestige? Military prestige is obtained by defeating foreign enemies, not by playing prestige with one's own family. If you ship goods, you will lose your military prestige? The military prestige of the navy is too worthless. "

Shi Xueting liked his arrogant appearance, couldn't help but hugged him and said: "This is also a way, but I'm afraid it won't be easy."

Li Congjia was a little puzzled: "Why is it not easy?"

Isn't it good to let the army make money by itself?I'm afraid those people in the household department will die of happiness.

Shi Xueting only said two words: "Water transport."

Li Congjia immediately understood what he meant. When sea transportation was underdeveloped or almost cut off, water transportation was the main transportation in the Central Plains. Many goods traveling between the north and the south relied on water transportation. If sea transportation is vigorously developed, it will definitely affect water transportation, and it will also affecting the livelihoods of many people.

Of course, this is not the most important thing. Places such as Hangzhou that rely on water transport can also rely on sea transport. What will really touch the interests of many nobles, because many nobles will invest in water transport.

In fact, as long as you don't do something that is particularly outrageous and grievances, and change the living habits of the common people a little, the common people will not have much reaction except for a few complaints, but these nobles.

Li Congjia said calmly: "That's simple. Since they can invest in water transport, can't they invest in sea transport?"

Shi Xueting asked: "Didn't you want the army to undertake the transportation?"

Li Congjia shook his finger and said: "No, no, no, no, the navy can transport part of it. This is to supplement the repair cost of the warship. In fact, if shipping really rises and the port throughput reaches a certain level, the navy's point Transportation can be said to be a drop in the bucket, and if you want to complete all the transportation volume, you must have other shipping teams.”

Shi Xueting asked: "Then shall we start making preparations?"

Li Congjia hesitated for a moment, then decided decisively: "No, we don't interfere in shipping, people can't eat alone, now we are the largest business firm in the Tang Dynasty, even in Khitan Khotan our business is not small, it has already made many people jealous Well, this means that everyone knows that this is a royal business and dare not do it, otherwise someone would have thought of a way to annex us. Of course, the most important thing is that I am too strict about the title. Everyone was satisfied when the benefits were shared, but With the stability of the country and the development of the family, they will become dissatisfied. At this time, we must find something for them to do, otherwise I am afraid that we will form a big family like the Shandong gentry."

It doesn't matter to Shi Xueting, now their concept of money is just some numbers, no matter how extravagant people are, if they use the best food and clothing, how much money can they spend?

Seeing that Li Congjia was worried about the title, Shi Xueting said, "You only have one son, the crown prince, and there are not so many princes to divide their interests. They won't have any dissatisfaction in a short time."

Li Congjia said: "I know that I am stricter now, but I would rather be stricter now than find ways to find them guilty and take away their titles after they settle down."

Shi Xueting said: "What many ministers are most worried about now is that after the First World War in Goryeo, the Tang Dynasty will probably have no wars for many years. Once there is no war in the Tang Dynasty, it will be very difficult for generals to perform meritorious service. They have nothing to do. Learning civil servants, the Privy Council is actually very nervous now, because the Privy Council will not prohibit the children of civil servants from entering, and now many civil servants will select more talented nephews, let them practice martial arts and learn the art of war, in order to enter the Privy Council in the future .”

Li Congjia chuckled: "I know what they are worried about. They are worried that once the children of civil servants enter the Privy Council, the civil servants will be able to intervene in the affairs of the Privy Council. It is not forbidden for military commanders to enter the civil servant system. The cabinet is not easy to enter, so is it easy for the Privy Council to enter? They can completely let their nephews study essays and let their children enter the civil service sequence. Wouldn’t they be able to influence the cabinet in the future? ? Why are you so overwhelmed?"

Shi Xueting chuckled: "They will soon find out that this is a thankless effort."

Li Congjia was a little surprised: "Huh? How should I say it?"

Shi Xueting walked back with him in his arms, changed a comfortable position and said: "No matter what, there are circles. Civil servants have circles of civil servants, military generals have circles of military generals. Civil servants want to control the Privy Council, but the Privy Council is now in charge. Who is the privy envoy? You don’t need to mention the privy envoy. The deputy envoys are His Royal Highnesses, the King of Chu and the King of Shu. The backbone is Qin Guogong and others. My son, even if you have great abilities, you will be severely suppressed after entering the military system, and wanting to enter the Privy Council is simply a dream."

When Li Congjia thought about it, it was true that the descendants of civil servants would not have military positions, so if you want to be a general, you have to start from the lowest level of soldiers. No matter how well-connected your family is, you have to go this way. ?

For an emperor, civil servants and military generals are distinguished, and the two sides constrain each other, which is conducive to the balance of the court, but for Li Congjia, this is very entangled.

Now that he controls the Privy Council, he can also suppress the cabinet, so everything is easy to say, but what if future generations are too weak to suppress it?Will there be a situation where the generals in the Ming Dynasty were extremely low in status and cautious in speaking and doing things?After all, military generals seem to be inferior to civil servants when it comes to forming parties for personal gain and so on.

Li Congjia was worried if they didn't form a group, and Li Congjia was also worried that the emperor was not an easy job to do.

Li Congjia decided, that's it. As long as the military power is firmly in the hands of the emperor and not emptied, then everything will be fine. Those civil servants who want to suppress the generals can support them with the support of the emperor.

Of course, if future generations lost their military power, then... Li Congjia can't help it. He can't see hundreds of years at a glance, and there is no good way to prevent this kind of thing. After all, Li Congjia is now sitting in the emperor's position. He has come all the way here with blood and blood, made mistakes constantly, and was often educated by veteran cabinet ministers and Shi Xueting. How could he have the ability to take care of so much?

He did his best, let the future generations take care of the affairs of the future generations.

Thinking of this, Li Congjia was very relieved to go to bed.

Before falling asleep, Li Congjia said: "I will stay here until the trial voyage is over."

Shi Xueting immediately asked: "The trial voyage is over? When you came out, didn't you say you would go back after seeing the boat?"

Li Congjia closed his eyes and said vaguely: "Yes, but after reading it, I was worried that they were putting on a show to show me. In fact, the ship is not that good, so I have to wait for them to test the voyage. Isn't this normal?"

Shi Xueting: You can just say that you don't want to go back?

Seeing that Shi Xueting was silent, Li Congjia flinched into his arms and said, "Remember to speak for me when you go back, I think the ministers in the cabinet seem to like you more, you said if they know your real identity, Do you regret that you did not become the emperor?"

Shi Xueting patted him and said: "Don't talk nonsense, the old masters are strict with you because they want to help a generation of wise kings, if you are not successful, do you think they will be so strict?"

Li Congjia yawned and said: "You know what you don't know, I'll ask them to find a way to improve the Dafu boat, see if they can make it better, and then let them do it little by little, so that we can go to sea together to become pirates in the future." !"

Shi Xueting laughed: "A good emperor shouldn't be a pirate? What's wrong?"

Li Congjia muttered: "I'm happy." Then there was no sound.

Listening to his long breathing, Shi Xueting knew that he had fallen asleep. Looking at the moon outside, she actually felt a little hopeful about Li Congjia's future pirate career.

In the past, Li Congjia said countless times that he wanted to abdicate and travel the world with him, but Shi Xueting always felt that it was impossible. Li Congjia had too many responsibilities, how could he leave early?But now he was persuaded by Li Congjia, and he actually began to hope that the prince would grow up and mature quickly.

Because Li Congjia refused to allow the new ship to test the sea immediately, the day of the trial was delayed for another half a month. After half a month, the Dafu Ship set sail with several lucky boats, sailed all the way to Hangzhou, and then turned back from Hangzhou.

It took nearly a month to come and go. When Fuchuan came back, Li Congjia was satisfied to find that all the indicators were above the expected value, but this was the most preliminary trial voyage, and the weapons had to be installed next. , and let the navy board the ship to get used to this way of fighting.

Because he had to get used to it, he couldn't do anything about Goryeo right away. Now Li Congjia can bear his temper completely. Anyway, this time he is aiming at the idea of ​​finishing all his achievements in one battle, and directly smashed up Goryeo without slaughtering the city. Migration, not allowing them to stay in their homeland, and then moving some of the Han people there, but that place cannot be used as an agricultural city, and it can simply be turned into an industrial city.

Well, before Koryo was defeated, Li Congjia had already thought about the functions of that island.

Goryeo, on the other hand, was trembling before, fearing that Datang would attack, blocked the coast in various ways, and even sent Koreans to operate in Datang, but all of these people were caught out by the intelligence department.

After waiting for a while, I found that Datang didn't seem to be moving, so I started shaking again. The whole world said that the emperor of Datang was afraid and dared not hit Goryeo. tribute.

When Li Congjia found out, he sneered, and sooner or later he would let these people know how powerful he was.

Of course, the King of Korea, Wang Zhao, still has a bit of a brain. The serious official letter of credentials is humble and respectful, and it keeps saying that he wants to reconcile with Datang. It was all detected by the intelligence department, and there was no way to use it as evidence.

The only thing Li Congjia is worried about now is that the cabinet is really persuaded by Goryeo, and he wants to restore peace with Goryeo and stop fighting, so where will he put his face?

But soon Li Congjia was relieved, because the first assistant Fan Zhi severely reprimanded Goryeo's treachery, and at the same time labeled the assassin who assassinated Li Congjia as a Goryeo.

It is not suitable to fight Dali now, so let Goryeo take the blame again. After the fight against Goryeo, it depends on the situation. No one will come to blame them.

Oh, at most, Khitan would express dissatisfaction, but Li Congjia didn't care at all.

After the weapons were installed, the entire fleet conducted a drill. The drills at sea did not require any opponents. Anyway, the current weapons are not very accurate. Most of them are to expand the strike area. After the long-range strikes are over, send soldiers to harvest Well, this harvesting is still for the soldiers to get military merit. After all, military merit is still counted as a head these days. Otherwise, there is no need for the harvesting procedure.

Li Congjia was very satisfied with the results of the military exercise. Such a big ship is like a ghost at sea, because the bow is pointed and covered with iron, it is really extremely hard. If it is not as strong as the Dafu boat, the Dafu boat If one hits, the other side will definitely be smashed to pieces.

After Li Congjia was satisfied, he gave a transfer order for the fleet to go to Dengzhou to prepare, and he... under the expectation of everyone in Chang'an, he finally returned.

It was already late autumn when Li Congjia came to Changle Mansion from Chang'an. He stayed for two or three months, and it was already snowing there when he returned. If it wasn't because the Chinese New Year was approaching, he probably would have stayed in Changle Mansion for a while.

On the way back, because I was going north, it was getting colder and colder. Even if I walked slowly, even if I prepared a lot of things, Li Congjia didn't have that for a while, and wished to hide in Changle Mansion and come back after spring.

Seeing that he was afraid of the cold, Shi Xueting had no choice but to act as a human heater whenever he had the opportunity. Li Congjia was very envious and jealous. It is good to practice martial arts, and he is not afraid of the cold.

However, no matter how cold it was, when he was on the road, Li Congjia would often go to some small villages and towns to check the living standards of ordinary people in the Tang Dynasty.

But Li Congjia found that even such a simple requirement could not be met. In winter, many people could only burn firewood for heating at home, without any heating. Although the clothes they wore looked thick, they were not very warm.

Li Congjia sighed deeply, and missed the cotton of later generations very much. In the Tang Dynasty these days, there is only kapok, and even the output of kapok is not high!

This year, there was a drought in spring and locusts in autumn, and the whole sky was very strange. With the current temperature, Li Congjia always felt that this year would be very cold, and maybe many people would freeze to death!

Li Congjia frowned, thought about the feasibility of central heating, and immediately dismissed the idea. This technology is still too advanced for now, and there is no way to solve the problem of water circulation.

Li Congjia couldn't help thinking about how to keep warm in future generations, down jacket?Well, the fabrics are not good these days, and there is probably no way to solve the problem of drilling wool. Maybe...wool products will be a better choice.

Seeing Li Congjia staring at the map, Shi Xueting couldn't help asking, "You've been staring at Khitan for a long time, what do you want to do?"

Li Congjia raised his head and smiled at Shi Xueting: "I thought of a good way, maybe we can weaken the Khitan's strength without fighting."