This Northern Song Dynasty is a bit weird

Chapter 69 Unworthy of Being a Great Song Zimin

Drinking the peach juice and honey water, Lu Sen said slowly, "May I know the details?"

"Of course." Luo Jixiang said generously: "Since I want to ask Lu Zhenren for a map of the sea route, I naturally won't hide it from you."

At the moment, Luo Jixiang explained the reasons and conclusions of the discussions among the officials of the three divisions.

The spices in the Northern Song Dynasty were extremely expensive, and most of them were brought by the people of Semu.

In addition, the Semu people are extremely secretive about the origin of the spices and do not let the Song people know at all.

Because this is the only bulk commodity they can hedge against the silk and ceramics trade.

As for other high-quality weapons, colorful glaze, and rare treasures, they are just icing on the cake.

According to the annual accounting of several shipping companies in Quanzhou, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and other cities, although Da Song now has a trade surplus with foreign countries, the spice thing has indeed washed away about [-]% of the profits of shipping.

In other words, people in Song Dynasty spent at least 1000 million guan a year on spices for seasoning.

This is still a lot of people who evade tax and evade taxes, which leads to a small result.

And if the imperial court can grasp the source of spices, then the Song Dynasty will not only spend a lot less money in the future, but may even export spices to the north.

You know, the two neighbors in the north actually want spice.

It's just that the land transportation there is extremely inconvenient. Even the tea leaves from the Song Dynasty are expensive to transport there, not to mention the spices!
It can be said that although the Northern Song Dynasty was wealthy, the imperial court spent money like flowing water, mainly because of the relatively large military expenditure.

But at the same time, he is extremely guarded against generals.

The task of the third envoy is very simple. Since it is impossible to save money, he is responsible for open source.

Spices are an excellent business, and any Song person with a little common sense knows that this is an excellent 'source'.

After listening to Luo Jixiang's words, Lu Sen thought silently.

Luo Jixiang was not in a hurry, drinking honey water, and at the same time enjoying the surrounding scenery very leisurely.

After a while, Lu Sen raised his head slightly and asked, "How much do the three envoys want to achieve? Is there a better plan?"

"What is a better plan?" Luo Jixiang was a little puzzled.

"There are natives in the Spice Islands, how does the court get along with them?"

"The climate over there is hot and humid, and there are poisonous insects. How can the first pioneers ensure their own safety?"

"Does the three envoys plan to colonize the raw materials for a long time, or will they leave after harvesting every year?"

"How to maintain the safety of sea freight lines?"

Lu Sen asked several questions in a row.

Luo Jixiang's face gradually became shocked, and then he smiled a little embarrassedly: "So there is such a statement?"

"Looks like you didn't make any preparations." Lu Sen turned his eyes to the door of his house, he remembered that the other party also brought two people with serenity: "Just like this, you dare to ask me for a map of the sea route? Even brought two Semu people came over, not afraid of revealing the route? Was it known by Semu people, and then occupied?"

"Hehehe!" Luo Jixiang stroked his beard complacently and said with a smile: "On this matter, please rest assured Lu Zhenren. The elders of the two Semu people came from the ocean and have raised two generations on Song soil. They speak more eloquently than us, and they have read poetry and books, and they are not barbarians. The two of them have provided a lot of customs and habits of Semu people, so that the Shibo Division can control the tax evasion of Semu people. There has been great progress.”

Even if the foreign military suffered successive defeats, the Northern Song Dynasty was still rooted in the blood of the 'Celestial Empire' demeanor.

When the barbarians came to Song Dynasty, they paid their respects and worshipped Song Dynasty.

In his opinion, these two Semu people are already half Song people, so they are naturally credible.

After finally turning the Yi people into the Song people, will they return to the Yi people? This is impossible!
However, Lu Sen's expression suddenly turned cold: "The two of them are surnamed 'Pu'?"

What did Luo Jixiang say? He has been scrambling in the officialdom for 30 years, how could he not notice the drastic change in Lu Sen's face.

He asked suspiciously, "Is there something wrong with the surnames of these two people?"

"I don't like this surname when I hear it." Lu Sen stood up and said, "Luo Jixiang, you should be more prepared about the sea road map, and... I personally think that you must not let any lustful eyes. People get involved in this."

Seeing Lu Sen's displeased appearance, Luo Ji thought about it.

He has also heard that a Taoist with a successful technique has the ability to avoid misfortune and seek blessings.

Could these two 'Pu' Semmu people have an impact on their own open source plans?

"Then the official will leave first." Luo Jixiang stood up, bowed his hands and smiled: "I will disturb Lu Zhenren after I have made a more thorough plan."

"Waiting for Luo Jixiang's next visit." Lu Sen sent Luo Jixiang to the door.

Let Heizhu pick some raw vegetables and send them to Luo Zhao.

During this period, Lu Sen's eyes kept falling on the two 'Pu' Semu people.

Looking cold.

And Luo Zhao also discovered this.

Under Lu Sen's gaze, the two serene people were a little uncomfortable.

At this time, Lu Sen suddenly asked aloud, "Do these two Pu's semen have ambitions?"

At this time, one of the Semu people stood two steps forward and said in a rather aggrieved tone: "Lu Zhenren, we are already Song people and have household registration. Please don't call me barbarians again."

Lu Sen chuckled and asked again, "Okay, Song people... do you have ambitions?"

"I think it is to serve the Great Song Dynasty, and I will not hesitate to die." Said the serene man enthusiastically.

"That's a good point." Lu Sen smiled and said, "But the Spice Islands route is of great importance at this time. I don't think you two are qualified to participate in it for the time being. After all, you don't have official status."

The Se-mu man sighed and said slowly: "Our family originally wanted to move to Guangzhou, but Luo Jixiang suddenly condemned people to find our brothers, so he followed. If Lu Zhenren doesn't like it, I will wait. Get involved again."

Lu Sen raised his eyebrows slightly. He smiled and said, "Guangzhou is really good. It seems to match your 'Pu' surname."

If Lu Sen's own memory is correct, the Pu family had entered the Central Plains very early, and then lived in Guangzhou for a long time and became rich. Only in the Southern Song Dynasty, the family moved to Quanzhou to become an official. The city ship division lifted.

That's right, it should be the 'Pu' who didn't run away.

The serene man was a little surprised: "Oh, is what Lu Zhenren said true?"

Lu Sen's current reputation is already very big, at least no one in Bianjing City knows it, no one knows it.

Naturally, this man has heard of it. He also admires and convinces Lu Sen, a recognized 'immortal', especially after watching the fairy's shadow play for a long time.

Lu Sen ignored him, turned around and left.

The sly-eyed man laughed dryly. He felt that it was his rhetorical question, and he had an attitude of disbelief, which made Lu Sen unhappy and didn't bother to answer himself.

And he didn't know that after Lu Sen turned around, there was only 'anger' and 'disgust' on his face that could not be hidden.

Luo Jixiang stood not far away, and saw the conversation just now and the disgust in Lu Sen's eyes, and then his expression became more and more inscrutable.

And when Lu Sen returned to the yard and sat down, she happened to bump into Yang Jinhua washing rice in the mountain spring. She saw Lu Sen, her mouth was slightly raised, and she was about to speak, but she was puzzled and walked into the wooden building. Putting down the rice bowl in his hand, he asked, "Guanren, who annoyed you?"

"No one!" Lu Sen shook his head.

Yang Jinhua didn't believe it, she was a young girl with a keen mind, and Lu Sen was not the kind of person who could hide his mind and was very shrewd.

She said rather dissatisfiedly: "Officials, husband and wife are one body, if you have something unsatisfactory, you can talk to me, even if I can't help you, I can help you share a little depression and depression. "

"It's really nothing, even if there is something, it will be a long, long time later."

Hmm... After hearing this, Yang Jinhua didn't ask any more questions.

She knows that her officials are very talented, and if she doesn't want to say something, it's not good for her to ask more.

I heard that leaking the secret will be backlashed.

She naturally did not want officials to be hurt.

But she secretly wrote down the matter, and took the time to ask Heizhu who the officials met today.

After hearing that they had met two Semu people, the official was unhappy, so he privately set rules for Hei Zhu and others, and no one in the family could have contact with Semu people in the future.

On the other side, after Luo Jixiang returned to the official residence, he called him over.

In the large room, there were two rows of small black tables. Luo Zhaoluo sat in the middle of the main seat, and behind the two rows of small black tables sat a dozen or so officials, old or young.

"Today, the official went to Dwarf Mountain, met with Lu Zhenren, and talked with him about the Spice Islands." Luo Zhao laughed at himself: "He asked me if I was ready, but I didn't know if I asked, but it was true. Shame."

Hearing this, a young official clasped his fists in a salute and asked, "Master Lu also knows business affairs?"

"It's business affairs rather than business affairs."

When everyone below heard this, they were all stunned.

The meaning and level of affairs and politics are completely different.

It's just a matter of 'responding', focusing on what's gained and lost.

Governance is a 'strategy', a law that has been imposed on a continent and a country for decades and hundreds of years.

"When I called you, I took advantage of my free time to write down all the questions asked by Lu Zhenren for you to circulate."

After Luo Jixiang finished speaking, a small official next to him took the white paper full of words with both hands and placed it at the top official on the left.

After reading it, this person showed an expression of 'although I don't quite understand it, but I was greatly shocked'.

After that, the white paper was circulated, and in about half an hour, everyone finally read it.

Everyone's expressions were similar, and they all fell into thought subconsciously.

Luo Jixiang clapped his palms, pulled everyone's thoughts back, and said: "During these questions, Lu Zhenren said a very interesting 'word', colonization. Take the literal meaning, Lu Zhenren means, let us Condemning people to live in the Spice Islands for a long time, live there, and then take them as the land of our Song Dynasty, what do people think of this strategy?"

There was a lot of discussion.

Some people think it is feasible, and some people think it is not practical.

Because most Song people now have a homecoming complex and don't like to run around.

Even if you work hard outside when you are young, when you are old, you will definitely do everything possible to return to your roots.

So someone said, let the thieves go with the army!

Luo Jixiang listened to their discussion above, and felt that the heat was almost over, so he said: "In addition to the colonization, there are other issues, such as how to prevent poisonous insects, route security, etc., we have to think of ways to solve them. It's also your political affairs for the next two months. Let this official get these things done. Otherwise, this official has no face to ask Lu Zhenren for a route map."

Everyone clasped their fists and leaned over to obey.

Then Luo Jixiang went out and went to Kaifeng Mansion again. He didn't see Bao Zheng, but went directly to Zhan Zhao.

It was almost evening, and there were snowflakes in the sky.

Although Luo Zhao was quite thickly dressed, he still felt a little cold, so he folded his hands in his sleeves and sat on the chair like an old farmer, huddled together.

At this time, Zhan Zhao came back from inspection and was a little surprised to see Luo Zhao sitting in the lobby, so he took the initiative to bow and greet: "Xiaguan has seen Luo Jixiang."

"No gift." Luo Zhao stretched out his body, stood up, and said with a smile, "I heard that Zhan Caitou is familiar with Lu Zhenren?"

"To get Lu Zhenren not to give up, and to make friends with him," Zhan Zhao said calmly.

On the one hand, Zhan Zhao attaches great importance to official ceremony, but his instinct as a Jianghu person makes him less concerned about power.

As a head arrester, he was more moved by Bao Zheng's integrity and justice, otherwise, wouldn't it be happier to be a free Nanxia!
Although Lu Sen's status is very high now, in Zhan Zhao's eyes, the former is still known to him, the Lu Xiaolang on the low mountain.

"Now there is something related to Lu Zhenren."

Zhan Zhao was stunned for a moment. He immediately thought that Lu Sen had done something.

After Luo Jixiang told what happened on the low mountain before, he said: "Those two Semu people with Pu surname, I don't know why, aroused Lu Zhenren's anger, this official wants you to take the time to investigate this matter, it is best I can dig out the past of those two people."

Zhan Zhao raised his eyebrows, clasped his fists and said, "This matter has been written down by the official, and I will go to the Governor of Bao to ask for a public holiday, so that it is convenient for us to do things."

"It's troublesome to show the head." Luo Zhao smiled politely and left Kaifeng Mansion.

The reason why he asked Zhan Zhao to help check the two Semu people was not for Lu Sen, but for himself.

These two Semu people were brought into the government office by him, and it was also because he valued their skills in ocean-going sailing, and wanted them to take the court's caravan to the Spice Islands.

If there is something wrong with the two people, Lu Sen will definitely not be held accountable.

but himself.

As the third envoy, he was not qualified to direct Zhan Zhao, the head of the Kaifeng Mansion, after all, he could not circumvent Bao Zheng.

But making use of the friendship between Zhan Zhao and Lu Sen to make an essay is completely instinctive behavior for Luo Zhao.

He can even sell Zhan Zhao a favor.

Although the favor of the little catcher, Luo Zhao didn't care much either.

Lu Sen didn't know that Zhan Zhao had already started investigating the two Semu people. He had been thinking about these days, whether to find a way to get rid of Pu Shi, or drive them out of Song Dynasty and let their children and grandchildren. , will never be allowed to enter.

Just... what is the reason?

This Pu family has a household registration, and he is a Song Dynasty person.

He thought about it for a while, and took the initiative to find Bao Zheng in the free time he was waiting for the palace gate to open early the next day.

"Fu Yin Bao, I think the two Semu people are unhappy, but they have the household registration of our Song Dynasty. Is it feasible to drive them away from the Song Dynasty?"

"Of course not, how can innocent people be oppressed by this." When Bao Zheng spoke, it was really loud, righteous, and solemn: "However, as long as these two people who have a little bit of smugness, they are all serious. You don't deserve to be my son of Song Dynasty."

"Well said." Lu Sen couldn't help but applaud softly.

(End of this chapter)