The Grand Canal is such a good thing.

Especially during the reign of Yang Guang, the new Jiangnan Canal was built, which directly connected Hangzhou with Luoyang.

In addition, there was originally a waterway connecting Chang'an and Luoyang, and it can be said that the waterway of Datang is more developed than many people imagined in later generations.

Several major rivers such as the Yellow River, the Huai River, and the Yangtze River are connected together by the Grand Canal, which has made a great contribution to the flow of materials throughout the country.

After all, the loading capacity of shipping is much higher than that of land transportation.

In later generations, everyone felt that the speed of shipping was not good, and it was not as fast as land transportation.

However, in the Tang Dynasty of this era, except for a few places where cement roads were built, road transportation may be faster than water transportation, and in most other areas, shipping transportation is faster than road transportation.

Yu Chihuan and Fang Yiai are now going down the Grand Canal to Chang'an City.

Since the beginning of this year, the East China Sea fishery has obviously increased its investment in Hangzhou, and there is no need for the fleet to go down to the South China Sea to make a detour back in Dengzhou.

"Brother Wei Chi, this time we brought so many things back, but I still don't think there are enough ships."

Fang Yiai stood at the bow of the boat, looking at the fleet behind him with no end in sight, revealing an expression of underwhelming.

This time, the East China Sea fishery went to the South Seas, bringing more than twice as many boats as before.

After Hangzhou was converted into a river boat, it took more than 100 ships to fill up.

This kind of obscuring the sky and the sun completely shocked the state capitals along the way.

"Half of this boat is used to load rice. The prince is really, inexplicably let us bring so much rice back, although the rice in Linyi is more than half cheaper than Chang'an, but we can't make money by pretending to be rice than pretending to be rice. ”

Wei Chihuan recalled that the fleet was already in Hangzhou, but His Royal Highness the King of Chu suddenly arranged fast horses to chase all the way, and told him to bring back as much rice as possible from all over the South Seas before he went to sea.

He was completely confused.

Although the East China Sea fishery also transports some milled rice from the Wa Kingdom back to Dengzhou from time to time, rice has never been the main material of the maritime trade.

Besides, the East China Sea fishery has found a spice island in the South Sea, so what is it bad to pretend to, it has to be filled with rice?

Yu Chihuan glanced at the fleet behind him with a little resentment.

When I returned to Chang'an this time, I must suggest that the prince increase the size and frequency of the fleet in the South Seas, anyway, the East China Sea fishery has established several transit points in the South China Sea this time.

Whether it's the islands that were originally looted from pirates, or the Spice Islands, there are now regular crew members living there to supply passing ships.

In addition, Linyi, Champong, and Donghai Fishery have also selected a suitable port as a long-term foothold, and have also opened shops in the local area.

The South China Sea will be the focus of the future development of the East China Sea fishery, which is clear to both Yu Chihuan and Fang Yiai.

Of course, it is not that the trade of the Japanese country is not important, but the development space is relatively limited, and it is enough to build the gold, silver and copper mines there and catch the slaves.

"Who knows, the prince said so, let's just do it."

Fang Yiai is not so attentive, and the execution is not bad.

"The shipbuilding workshop in Hangzhou has to speed up the construction progress, and when the time comes, we will directly take dozens of big ships to the South Seas, and there will be no problem with any rice and spices."

"A shipbuilding workshop is already being built in Quanzhou, and now it is being built in Hangzhou, so Dengzhou shouldn't be able to spare so many people for a while."

As the only flying clipper boat making workshop in Datang, the shipbuilding workshop of Donghai Fishery in Dengzhou has become a large workshop with more than 1,000 craftsmen after several years of development.

However, it is far from satisfying Datang's demand for ships.

Mainly stimulated by the Iwami Silver Mountain and the Spice Island, the enthusiasm of the wealthy merchants of the noble family to go to sea soared.

Even fishermen from all over the country became popular, and some people went to recruit sailors.

"This time back to Chang'an, we have to have a good exchange with His Royal Highness the King of Chu, I think there seems to be a lot of world outside the South Seas."

Yu Chihuan thought of the Tianzhu merchants, Persian merchants, and Arab merchants he met in various ports this time, and felt that it seemed to be a loss to sell silk, porcelain, and the like to the South Seas.

Also, at the time of the city, there were so many Arab merchants there, and it is said that this Arabia is also a very large country. If we were able to transport the goods there directly, the profits would be much higher. ”

The two stood at the bow of the boat and talked while looking at the scenery on both sides.

Looking down from the sky, you can see a long fleet of boats heading along the canal towards Chang'an.

……

In Chang'an City, Fang Xuanling had just returned home from duty, and he took the initiative to talk to his wife.

"Master, with your expression, isn't there something going on outside?"

Lu Shi saw that Fang Xuanling was a little abnormal today, and asked with a slight frown.

What kind of personality Fang Xuanling is, Lu really knows too well.

If it was for official business, he would never show such an expression in front of him.

As for private matters?

What personal matters would make him feel embarrassed?

Could it be ...... He's got someone out there?

Lu Shi chuckled in his heart, and his face changed.

She can tolerate Fang Yi directly accepting concubines, she can tolerate Fang Yu falling in love with Qinglou, and she can tolerate Fang Yu making trouble in the house every day.

However, she absolutely couldn't tolerate Fang Xuanling's messing around.

Don't say it's a concubine, even if there are people outside, it's absolutely not okay.

There's no way, it's one thing to treat your son, and it's another thing to treat your husband.

In fact, this situation is also very common in later generations.

Many middle-aged women have no opinion on their sons changing girlfriends twice in three days, or even having several girlfriends at the same time, and sometimes even regard it as something that can be shown off.

However, if her husband dares to raise a mistress outside, she will have to make trouble.

"Madame, what kind of eyes do you have? Why are you looking at me like that? ”

Fang Xuanling was still thinking about how to tell his wife what happened today, but he found that the other party's eyes were not quite right.

"Humph! Fang Qiao, if you don't do anything wrong, no matter how I look at you, you don't have to be weak! ”

The Lu family is used to being strong at home, and Fang Xuanling has always been afraid of guilt.

Fortunately, the surrounding maids and subordinates are not in front of them, otherwise......

"I said you...... What do you think about all day? ”

Fang Xuanling was also smart, and quickly guessed the reason.

The jealousy of his wife has become a joke in Chang'an City.

"Don't pretend there, if nothing happens, would you be like this?"

"Something, it's true, but it's not the kind of thing you think." Fang Xuanling smiled bitterly, and quickly cut to the point, "After going down to court today, His Majesty suddenly summoned me alone. ”

"What's so strange about this, as the left servant of Shangshu, don't you have to face the king alone every once in a while?"

"No, this time is different, Your Majesty is talking about private matters this time."

"Private?"

Lu Shi had a puzzled expression on his face.

The plot is broken. As Li Shimin's right-hand man, Fang Xuanling's status in Li Shimin's heart is still very high.

As an emperor, it is basically the usual operation of various emperors to win over heroes by marrying princesses.

Through marriage, the relationship between the two families can become closer, and the same is true for the emperor's family.

Li Shimin is naturally no exception.

"Madam, Your Majesty came to me today to talk about the bereavement."

Fang Xuanling recalled the content of today's conversation with Li Shimin in the Xuanzheng Palace, and began to explain it to the Lu family.

"Bereavement? Your Majesty is so dignified, how can you mention your bereavement? ”

Lu Shi looked confused, and at the same time, he also felt helpless about this second son.

Since he was a child, he has never let himself worry about it.

Now I'm obsessed with going to sea again, so that the mother and son can't see each other for a long time.

"Madam, you listen to me first."

Fang Xuanling took a sip of fragrant tea and continued: "Your Majesty first asked about the bereavement, especially whether he was a relative. ”

"Marriage?"

Lu Shi immediately reacted, "Your Majesty is ......"

"Well, Your Majesty then mentioned the situation of Princess Gaoyang. Look at that meaning, it is intended to give marriage. ”

A courtier like Fang Xuanling actually didn't really want to marry a princess as a daughter-in-law deep down.

This is completely for no reason to invite a squat Buddha back to the family, and the life is very smooth.

It's good if you meet some sensible princesses, but if you meet a rude one, don't mention how sour it is.

However, Princess Gaoyang has always had an arrogant reputation, although she is very favored by Li Shimin, but if she marries home......

"Princess Gaoyang? It's really time to get married. But if you marry the princess, ......"

Lu Shi is also more entangled.

On the one hand, as the daughter of Fan Yang Lu's family, she hopes that her son can also marry the daughter of the family.

On the other hand, Fang Xuanling is now shooting as Shangshu's left servant, and Li Shimin's action is obviously to further win over the Fang family, and it is impossible to refuse.

"I hope the two of them can be humble to each other in the future, I estimate that when the bereaved love comes back from the sea, the will of the palace will be issued."

Fang Xuanling is most worried that his second son does not know how to advance or retreat, and when the time comes, he will be in a dilemma with Princess Gaoyang.

It's just that Princess Gaoyang is not a person who knows how to be humble, and when these two people meet together, they may not know what tricks they will come up with.

……

Once again, the Weishui wharf was clogged up by an overwhelming fleet of ships.

A few of the ships that had wanted to leave were completely out of order, and they were squeezed aside and waited silently.

At this time, no one dared to say anything.

A fool also knows that such a large fleet will not be an ordinary person.

And those who have a strong eye immediately reacted, this must be the return of the South Sea fishing fleet in the East China Sea.

Last year, the shipload of spices brought endless impact to the noble families and merchants of Chang'an City.

Although there are some other fleets following the trend in the South China Sea this year, neither the scale nor the harvest can compare to the fingers of the East China Sea fishery.

"There must be hundreds of ships, right? Weishui Wharf has never had so many ships come at one time. ”

"Everyone, hurry up and go to the dock to help."

"It's a big job, and I guess I won't be able to move it in the next few days."

The coolies next to the dock rolled up their sleeves excitedly, ready to do a big job.

Although the East China Sea Fishery has its own staff next to the wharf, it certainly does not understand the handling of so many goods.

For these slender coolies, the generous fishing industry in the East China Sea has always been the best customer.

"Bereavement, Tuesday Fu stayed behind to supervise the handling of goods, let's go find the prince first."

More than 100 ships of goods, including spices, rice, bird's nests, and many other things, could not be carried in a moment.

And Wei Chihuan didn't want to wait here for a quarter of an hour, he desperately wanted to show off in front of Li Kuan.

"I don't know if Brother Cheng hasn't come back from the Wa Kingdom, this time, we have to get together."

Fang Yiai jumped off the side of the boat with a stride and went to the dock.

"You'll know when you're in town, let's go!"

……

Wuhe was in the center, and Xiao Kai and Cui Qing sat there drinking relatively wordlessly.

At the beginning of the year, the two of them joined forces and arranged for five seagoing ships to go to the South Seas at one time.

The ships were all filled with silk and porcelain, and even some glass mirrors and burnt knives.

According to their assumptions, this trip, even if they can't earn a million yuan back, hundreds of thousands are still no problem.

Who knows, a few days ago, the head of the fleet returned to Chang'an in disgrace.

Of the five ships, two of them were sunk by storms, and the other three ships also reached Linyi, but there were some conflicts with the Arab merchants, and not only did they not receive a large amount of spices at a low price, but even the silk they brought with them did not sell at a good price.

Although it was not a loss, the things brought back by the fleet, once it was resold, and then counting the loss of the ship's manpower, it was not a thousand yuan that was earned.

It's a bit of a big blow.

"Brother Xiao, will we arrange for a ship to go to the South Seas next year?"

Cui Qing had never dealt with the sea trade before, and his perception of the risks of going to sea was not very high.

This time, the incident brought him quite a lot.

"Go, why not? The shipbuilding workshop has already imitated the clippers of the East China Sea fishery, and when the time comes, we will only arrange for the clippers to go to sea, just like the East China Sea fishery. ”

Xiao Kai was born in Jiangnan and has a deeper understanding of the rich benefits of maritime trade.

Besides, the Xiao family is one of the few shipbuilding families in the south of the Yangtze River, and they have seen many shipwrecks over the years.

Naturally, they will not retreat because they lost two seagoing ships this time.

"Okay, but I suggest that this time we follow the East China Sea fishery, and we will leave whenever they go."

Cui Qing also completely pulled down his face this time, regardless of whether he would be laughed at or not, I will follow you anyway.

Of course, in the vast sea, whether he can keep up is another matter.

"That's fine. I've heard that the East China Sea fishery has a chart of the South Sea, and by following them, at least some reefs can be avoided. I don't think they'll keep us going, though. ”

Xiao Kai knows more about navigation than Cui Qing, and knows that whenever the East China Sea fishing industry wants to get rid of its fleet, there are countless ways.

Now bet that the rumors that His Royal Highness the King of Chu supports and encourages everyone to go to the South Seas are correct, then at least before reaching Linyi, the East China Sea fishery should let its fleet follow.

As for the latter, it is estimated that it is difficult to say.

"This time we didn't return, and we don't know what the situation is with the fishing fleet in the East China Sea. If their losses were similar to ours, I would feel better. ”

Cui Qing's psychology at this time is the same as that of shareholders who speculated in stocks and lost money in later generations.

I lost 20,000 yuan, and if I found that my colleagues and friends next to me had lost more than me, I would immediately feel comfortable.

"The storm at sea comes and goes without a trace, and the East China Sea fishery was so lucky last year, and it is difficult to say whether it can continue to be so smooth this year."

As soon as Xiao Kai's words were finished, a small servant hurriedly came in from outside, found a table behind him, and said to the Hu man: "Shopkeeper, the fleet of the East China Sea Fishery in the South Seas has returned, bringing a lot of spices, are the spices in our shop sold at a reduced price?" ”

That Hu man was Abdul, and he suddenly got up from his stool, "The East China Sea fishery has brought back a lot of spices?" I didn't let people live. ”

After finishing speaking, he immediately threw down two silver coins to the table, and hurriedly walked out of the restaurant with the little servant.

Leaving Xiao Kai and Cui Qing looking at his back, they looked at each other.

The fleets of the East China Sea fishing industry in the South Seas are back?

And brought back a lot of spices?

Why is God so unfair!

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