"The meaning of the widow is to form a caravan of five thousand people."

Qing Ji, who was sitting on the majestic platform, said earnestly: "There are 1,000 real merchants and scholars, and 4,000 elite soldiers, coachmen, and miscellaneous servants who are responsible for escorting and transporting. ”

"Merchants and scholars can be recruited from the people and selected, and the coachmen and miscellaneous servants must be the elite soldiers of our Wu country, and they must ensure that the goods are not lost and the safety of the caravan is ensured."

“……”

Qingji was obviously well thought out, otherwise it would not have been possible to make such a thoughtful plan.

Because from the state of Wu to the Achaemenid Empire, and even further to the west, tens of thousands of miles, there may be many situations in it.

For example, bandits and robbers block the road, and even some small countries in Fanbang do not allow passage, and they may even have the intention of killing people and stealing goods.

Therefore, it is necessary to prevent problems before they occur.

This was the first trade of Wu and China with the West, and Qingji attached great importance to it and could not afford to lose.

"A caravan of five thousand?"

Dazai was dumbfounded and said, "King, is there too many people in this caravan?" The number of carriages and horses required must not be a small amount......"

"Dazai, at this time, you and Prime Minister Zuo are in charge."

Qingji waved his hand and said: "Anyone who enters this caravan must go through a period of training, and can avoid hardships and dangers, and forget about death!" ”

"If there are dead or wounded, their families should also be treated as martyrs."

"No!"

Ji Ran and Wen Chong immediately agreed.

At this time, Shi Fan Li frowned and said: "Great King, the minister thinks that the huge caravan of my Wu State is okay after passing through the territory of Chu State, if you enter Qin, I am afraid you must inform Qin Jun in advance to avoid misunderstandings." ”

A caravan of 5,000 people, which can be said to be a huge army.

And they're all heavily armed elite soldiers.

How could the Qin State not be afraid of a sudden attack by the Wu State?

"Where is Confucius?"

"The minister is here!"

Daxing ordered Kong Qiu to be called by Qingji's name, and hurriedly stood up.

"You are responsible for sending an envoy to the Qin State to inform the Qin monarch and widow of the intention of forming this caravan, and be sure to let the Qin people open the way to avoid misunderstandings."

"No!"

Kong Qiu immediately agreed.

At this time, Wu and Qin were allies, and presumably the Qin people would not be embarrassed.

As we all know, a caravan from one country to another country to do business must collect a certain degree of tariff in order to be unimpeded.

Now the Qin people may not collect customs duties in order to befriend the state of Wu.

However, Qingji should at least say hello!

Maybe one day, the Silk Road will really be started by Qingji, and the last to benefit is the Qin State.

Who let the Qin State occupy the geographical advantage, just stuck at the starting point of the Silk Road?

However, Qingji didn't mind that Qin Guo would take advantage.

Because of how much advantage it takes now, it may be spit out later.

Not to mention anything else, if the Persian army were to go east, it would be the Qin State that would bear the brunt of it......

Sun Wu seemed to realize this, and immediately came out and said: "Great King, the minister thinks that since the Achaemenid Empire is so powerful, the caravan of my Wu Kingdom is going to the west again. ”

"Why didn't the king send messengers to make friends with the Persians?"

Sun Wu's thoughts coincided with Qingji.

Qingji chuckled and said, "The widow has decided to let Judy lead the team. She is fluent in Persian and can communicate with Persians. ”

"The king is wise!"

Sun Wu praised.

"Another ......"

Qingji looked around again and said slowly: "The widow plans to open up another trade route and trade directly with Westerners. ”

"Whether it is the Qin people or the Persians, if there is a contradiction, then the trade route of our Wu State to the West will inevitably be interrupted."

"So, the widow is ready to open a trade route by sea."

Not bad!

Qingji's idea is to open up another maritime Silk Road.

The Maritime Silk Road is a sea passage for transportation, trade and cultural exchanges between ancient China and foreign countries, also known as the "Maritime Ceramics Road" and the "Maritime Spice Road".

The Silk Road was not opened until the time of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.

The maritime trade routes, namely the Maritime Silk Road, are different.

The Maritime Silk Road sprouted in the Shang and Zhou dynasties, developed in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, formed in the Qin and Han dynasties, flourished in the Tang and Song dynasties, and changed in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

China's Maritime Silk Road is divided into two routes: the East China Sea Route and the South China Sea Route, of which the South China Sea is the center.

In this era, the Baiyue people in Lingnan have opened up a trading circle linked by ceramics in the South China Sea and even the South Pacific coast and its islands.

This is the South China Sea route.

The East China Sea Route was driven by the Qi State.

The East China Sea Route is also known as the "Eastern Maritime Silk Road".

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the Qi State opened up a golden passage on the Jiaodong Peninsula to the Liaodong Peninsula, the Bangzi Peninsula, the Wako Islands and Southeast Asia......

Therefore, the era in which Qingji lives is the pioneering period of the Maritime Silk Road!

For Qingji's idea of opening up the Maritime Silk Road, the ministers all agreed.

After all, there is a precedent for this.

For example, the people of Qi are in the north and do business with small countries in Fanbang.

The people of Wu may not be able to do business with the small countries of Fanbang in the south of the South.

However, Qingji's ambitions are even greater.

"The meaning of the widow, this maritime trade route, starting from Panyu (Guangzhou), to trade with the South Seas, this is the south. In the east, starting from Yanling (Changzhou), trade with the East was carried out. ”

As soon as these words came out, the ministers once again exchanged heads and whispered.

"The king, the minister thinks it's inappropriate!"

Wen Chong hurriedly stood up and said: "This foreign trade, especially ocean trade, is extremely risky, and it requires a large number of manpower and ships. ”

"Yanling is just that, it has a good foundation, and it is not a problem to go to sea and go to sea, but this Panyu ......"

After a pause, Wen Chong smiled bitterly and said, "King, forgive the minister. Although Panyu has been incorporated into the rule of Wu State in the early years, it can be regarded as rich among the six counties in Lingnan, but relatively speaking, it is still poor and white. ”

"If you want to open up a port in Panyu and sail to the sea, I am afraid that the state will need to invest a lot of manpower, material and financial resources, and the ministers are afraid that the gains will outweigh the losses!"

Hearing this, Qingji just shook his head and said, "There is a give-and-take." This time, the widows took Panyu as the starting point of the South China Sea trade route, which was to prepare to drive the economy of the six counties in Lingnan and carry out large-scale development. ”

“……”

As soon as he heard this, Wen Chong and Ji Ran glanced at each other, and only then did they understand Qingji's good intentions.

The voyage of Wu to the sea and foreign trade will undoubtedly drive the economy of various parts of Wu State.

The first and foremost is naturally the economy at the beginning of the Maritime Silk Road.

The place of Yanling, as the native of Wu, is very rich in itself, which is the icing on the cake.

Panyu is different.

The six counties of Lingnan have not been incorporated into the territory of Wu for a few years, and they are still in a state of poverty and whiteness.

Qingji naturally can't favor one over the other.

82 Chinese Net