"Tong Guan!"

In an instant, everyone in the entire vertical arch hall couldn't help but be stunned, including Tong Guan himself.

"Fan Taicheng, I ..................." Tong Guan looked left and right, trying to defend himself.

Fan Zheng got up and came to Tong Guan's side, and said loudly: "Everyone, please see Gonggong Tong, who is tall and has the demeanor of a military general, not to mention that he is a close attendant of the official family, naturally he can also represent the Great Song Dynasty, and he is even more loyal to the official family, and he can also reassure the court in charge of such an overseas huge fortune." ”

Su Song glanced at Tong Guan and couldn't help but bow slightly.

It took a long time to open up the Maritime Silk Road, and the sea turmoil continued, and the frail civil servants were naturally incompetent, although the military generals were physically strong, but the Great Song Dynasty used literature to control the military, and there was a lot of distrust in the military generals, and they were not at all worried that a military general would control the military power and financial resources and hang overseas.

The members of the royal family are naturally very suitable, but the overseas risk is quite high and it is not suitable, and Tong Guan has the demeanor of a military general, and is a close attendant of the official family, proficient in royal etiquette, and can better represent the imperial authority, for example, Zhang Qian was the Lang official next to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, and he was indeed a suitable candidate.

Lu Dafang frowned and said: "With eunuchs as envoys, is there no one in the country?" ”

The old party attached the most importance to etiquette, and Lu Dafang naturally couldn't get used to it, and a eunuch went to overseas countries as an envoy.

Zhang Dian also nodded and said: "If there is no suitable candidate, the minister proposes that Wang Di, a scholar of Hanlin, be an envoy to overseas countries. ”

If it is successfully completed, it will surely go down in history as Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions.

At that moment, he thought of the depressed Wang Di, once Wang Di returned from his mission to overseas countries, he would definitely be able to rise to prominence.

At the moment, the new party and the old party coincidentally began to oppose Tong Guan as an envoy, and both wanted to elect themselves as envoys.

Seeing this, Tong Guan couldn't help but show a trace of regret in his eyes, the eunuchs of the Great Song Dynasty were not inactive, and they could become powerful ministers for the prison army, and their godfather Li Xian was the general in the army who held great power.

Tong Guan also had a chance to get ahead at that time, that is, when Fan Zheng proposed to build Pingxia City, he could go to Pingxia City as a supervisor, but at the beginning of Pingxia City, he did not strive for it, and finally Fan Zheng stepped forward and personally served as a supervisor, and since then after the First World War, he has become famous.

In the future, Tong Guan regretted it and was determined to seize the opportunity in the future to secretly study the art of war, and prepare to show his skills when he had the opportunity to supervise the army in the future.

However, Fan Zheng once again proposed the integration of civil and military forces, and implemented the system of dual commanders of generals and supervising the army in the army, and the supervising army was controlled by civilian officials from then on, and Tong Guan lost the last chance to make meritorious contributions.

Just when Tong Guan was disheartened, Fan Zheng actually recommended him as an envoy to overseas countries, which immediately made Tong Guan overjoyed, but he did not expect to be opposed by the two prime ministers of the current dynasty.

Although Su Song did not express his position, it was not that the medical party did not have talents, and he was not moved by this envoy position, but because of Fan Zheng's face, he did not object.

Zhao Xu was also suddenly caught in a dilemma, on the one hand, his close attendants, and on the other hand, the opposition of the two prime ministers.

Seeing this, Tong Guan sighed helplessly: "The slave is more willing to serve you by the side of the official family." ”

Tong Guan is the best at observing words and feelings, and naturally understands that the trust of the official family is his greatest capital, and if he forcibly asks for the important task of sending envoys to overseas countries, and offends the officials and the prime minister, I am afraid that in the end, the gains will outweigh the losses.

Zhao Xu also nodded slightly, ready to have the opportunity to compensate Tong Guan in the future.

However, Fan Zheng still said: "The minister still thinks that Gonggong Tong is the best candidate to go to overseas countries. ”

Tong Guan couldn't help but be shocked, and looked at Fan Zheng in surprise again, even more surprised than Fan Zheng recommended him for the first time.

Lu Dafang looked at Tong Guan and Fan Zheng suspiciously, and sneered: "Fan Taicheng is so insistent on recommending Tong Gonggong, it is ............. ”

Lu Dafang's words can be described as murderous, when the ministers of the court colluded with the personal eunuchs of the official family, if this was spread, it would definitely cause the ministers to be impeached.

Even Su Song and the others looked at Fan Zheng puzzled.

Tong Guan's face turned pale suddenly, and he hurriedly defended: "The official family is clear, the slave has absolutely no transaction with Fan Taicheng, and Fan Taicheng proposed to open up the Maritime Silk Road, and then discussed the matter of going to sea here, during this period, the slave and Fan Taicheng did not have the slightest intersection. ”

Zhao Xu nodded slightly, turned his head to look at Fan Zhengdao: "Fan Aiqing, what other reasons do you have for insisting on promoting Tong Guanke?" ”

Zhang Dian snorted coldly, if Fan Zheng couldn't explain it today, he would definitely impeach Fan Zheng for the crime of privately befriending the eunuch.

Fan Zheng nodded and said: "The reason why the minister recommended Gonggong Tong as an envoy is because Gonggong Tong has an incomparable advantage over other ministers, that is, he is a eunuch. ”

"The body of a eunuch?"

Zhao Xu couldn't help but be stunned, what kind of reason is this, Tong Guan is a eunuch is a well-known thing, how can it become an incomparable advantage.

And Su Song's heart moved, and he suddenly thought about it.

Fan Zheng explained: "You only see the risk of going overseas and the honor comparable to Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions, but you don't realize that there is another crisis, that is, the problem of people themselves. ”

"Man's own problem?"

Zhao Xu was puzzled.

"If you want to go to overseas countries, it can be as short as half a year or as long as a year, and if you are alone overseas for such a long time, according to medical research, it will naturally produce physiological needs." Fan Zheng said unequivocally.

"Physiological needs?"

The three prime ministers couldn't help but look at Fan Zheng with strange expressions.

"Ahem! Cough! ”

Zhao Xu was directly choked by his own saliva, he had already gotten married, so he naturally knew what his physiological needs were, but Fan Zhengtang talked about it in the court, but he was caught off guard.

"And there is a tradition on the sea, which is to forbid women on ships."

Su Songnai is a Confucian doctor and a double cultivator, he understands what Fan Zheng means best, and his ancestral home is Fujian, and he also understands the rules of going to sea, there is not a single woman on the whole ship, plus all of them are men, and they have been adrift at sea for a long time, but their physiological needs cannot be met.

In this way, there are only two ways to solve it, one is to find a local woman to solve it when you get off the boat, and the other is Longyang's good.

As an envoy to overseas countries, no matter which of these circumstances may damage the reputation of the Great Song Dynasty, it seems that the eunuch who has no physical needs is the most suitable candidate.

At that moment, everyone's eyes once again turned to Tong Guan.

Tong Guan couldn't help but jump in his heart, he had already given up this opportunity, but he didn't expect Fan Zheng to help him win it again, although the method used was more evil.

"Tong Guan, you are willing to represent the imperial court in overseas countries." Zhao Xu looked at Tong Guan and said solemnly.

Tong Guan suppressed the ecstasy in his heart and said: "The minister is willing to serve the official family to the death and raise the prestige of the Song Dynasty!" ”

Lu Dafang and Zhang Dian couldn't help but sigh with regret, although Fan Zheng's reasons were evil, they were irrefutable.

When Zhang Qian went to the Western Regions, he was captured by the Huns, married his wife to the Huns, and gave birth to a son, but in the end he stayed in the Huns and did not bring it back, which became a stain on his life.

……………………

"Thank you! Fan Taicheng strongly recommended it, and Tong Guan was grateful. ”

After the three prime ministers left, Tong Guan found Fan Zheng and said solemnly.

Fan Zheng waved his hand and said: "Fan recommended Father-in-law Tong from the perspective of a doctor, because Father-in-law Tong is the best candidate, and he was slightly offended in language before, please forgive my father-in-law!" ”

Tong Guan said with a miserable face: "Fan Taicheng is polite, it's too late for our family to be grateful, how can we blame it, no one thought that our family's physical disability turned out to be our family's biggest advantage!" ”

Tong Guan is a eunuch, and he was already discriminated against by courtiers, but who would have thought that his status as a eunuch would become his biggest advantage as an overseas envoy.

"Look up to the sky and laugh and go out, how can I be a Penghao person! Tong Gonggong's mission to overseas countries, its significance is the same as Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions, if this trip is a great success, promote the prestige of the Song Dynasty, the name of the eunuch Tong Guan can not go down in history. Fan Zheng said solemnly.

"Gone down in history?"

Tong Guan couldn't help but breathe, he was not the famous eunuch and six thieves in later generations! There is also a certain ideal ambition to make contributions, and he is naturally particularly excited about going down in history.

Seeing Tong Guan's performance, Fan Zheng nodded slightly, sending overseas countries to hang overseas, Tong Guan is in power, plus he is disabled, the dark side of his heart will explode, and the only thing that can restrain Tong Guan is reputation.

"Tong Guan, thank you Fan Taicheng for your advice!" Tong Guan said solemnly to Fan Zheng.

He naturally knew Zhang Qian's deeds, and when he thought of being comparable to Zhang Qian, he was suddenly excited and couldn't help himself.

"It's just that our family is trusted by the official family, and we suddenly took over this important task, lest we delay the official family's major affairs, and it is Fan Taicheng's idea to open up the Maritime Silk Road and send envoys to maritime countries, and I ask Fan Taicheng to give me some more advice." Tong Guan said again.

Fan Zheng pondered for a moment and said, "Do you know why the imperial court opened up the Maritime Silk Road and sent envoys to overseas countries? ”

Tong Guan said without hesitation: "Because of the national debt crisis!" ”

He has experienced court disputes throughout the whole process, and naturally knows that the origin of all this is that the national debt of the Great Song Dynasty is about to explode.

Fan Zheng nodded and said: "Yes, the national debt is the biggest weapon for the official family to carry out the grand cause, but the huge pressure of the national debt will be harmful to the Great Song Dynasty, so if Gonggong Tong wants to open up the Maritime Silk Road and send envoys to the maritime countries, the most important thing is money." ”

"Money?" Tong Guan was thoughtful.

Fan Zheng nodded and said: "Yes, it takes a lot of money to build an ocean-going fleet, it also needs money to send missions to overseas countries along the way, it also needs money for the food and salary of soldiers, and the officials also need money to make up for the gap in national debts, and the core of everything is money." ”

Tong Guan stayed there for a moment, and after Fan Zheng reminded him, he suddenly realized how heavy his task was, and I was afraid that even Wan Guan would not be able to fill this big hole.

"Please also ask Master Fan to save me!" Tong Guan did not hesitate to ask for help.

Fan Zheng nodded: "Fan once said that disaster leads to the east. ”

"Use businessmen to make money for the Great Song Dynasty?" Tong Guan's eyes lit up and said: "Tong will recruit businessmen, buy silk, tea, porcelain and other goods, and make money for the Great Song Dynasty!" ”

Fan Zheng shook his head and said: "What Gonggong Tong said is wrong, Gonggong Tong is an envoy of the imperial court, and he is destined to go down in history in the future, and he is as famous as Zhang Qian, how can he manipulate the affairs of businessmen, wouldn't that leave a stain on his reputation." ”

Tong Guanyi gritted his teeth and said: "For the sake of the official family, for the sake of the Great Song Dynasty, Tong doesn't care about the name behind him!" ”

Fan Zhengdao: "Even if Gonggong Tong doesn't care about his name, but he needs to worry about buying goods, pulling them to sell in other countries overseas, and then buying specialties from other countries, and returning to the Great Song Dynasty to sell, how many things need to be worried about, I am afraid that it will miss the major affairs of the official family." ”

"Ugh!" Tong Guan was stunned for a moment.

"And the business of running a business, it is in the territory of the Great Song Dynasty, and it is blamed by scholars, and after experiencing so much money, the slightest mistake will cause trouble, and then the goods have profits and losses, and everyone is happy when they make money, and it is naturally the responsibility of Tong Gonggong to lose money." Fan Zheng said again.

As Fan Zheng brought about the disadvantages of Tong Guan's personal manipulation of Shang Jia, Tong Guan suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.

"If it weren't for Master Fan's guidance, our family would have been ruined, not to mention, and we would have almost missed the official family!" Tong Guan's heart palpitated.

Fan Zheng continued: "We are people in the court, and what we should do is our duty, that is, to collect taxes!" ”

"Collect taxes?" Tong Guan was confused and looked at Fan Zheng puzzled.

Fan Zhengdao: "Overseas countries have a lot of demand for the Great Song Dynasty, and the Great Song Dynasty also has a great demand for overseas curiosities, so naturally there are fleets willing to follow the Great Song Dynasty Shenzhou to envoy to other countries. ”

"Five hundred?" Tong Guan thought in his heart.

Ten ships followed that was 5,000 guan of money, and 100 ships was 50,000 guan of taxes, and it was a continuous stream of profitable and loss-making transactions, and he himself did not have any risk. ”

Of course, Father-in-law Tong can not just collect money, but also need to ensure the safety of merchant ships, and escort the trade of merchants, and even when merchants encounter trouble in other countries overseas, Father-in-law Tong must send someone to solve it for him, so as to achieve a win-win situation for the mission and merchant ships." Fan Zhengdao.

"Let our family protect those merchants?" Tong Guan frowned and said, he is an envoy representing the imperial power, how can he directly lower his status and protect the businessman.

Fan Zheng spread his hands and said: "Gonggong Tong protects the safety of the merchant ships that follow them, so that those merchant ships make money, and he is naturally willing to pay taxes for the mission, and at the same time attract more merchant ships to follow the mission. ”

Tong Guan couldn't help but be shocked, and suddenly understood that the mission and the caravan could be said to be one, and even when necessary, he could even use the power of merchant ships to boost the country's prestige.

"The miscellaneous family knows that Lord Fan's medical prescription is rejuvenated today, and with Master Fan's prescription, our family's trip will definitely be successful." Tong Guan was convinced.

If it weren't for Fan Zheng's guidance, he almost made a big mistake, and now that he has obtained Fan Zheng's prescription, there will be no obstacles to this mission to overseas countries. (End of chapter)