Outlaws of the Marsh

Chapter 597 This is Your Majesty's Harem (please subscribe!)

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After Li Yan promulgated the order "Abolish all written characters and use Chinese characters only", Wang Lun came to report: "Your Majesty, there are more than [-] Song merchants asking to see you."

It was normal for Song merchants to come to see Li Yan, because Li Yan had already cut off the trade route between the East and the West, and now the trade between the East and the West is no longer possible, so it's no wonder they were not in a hurry.

Then why did Li Yan do this?

Isn't it obvious that Li Yan wants to redefine the big cake of international trade.

Today, Li Yan says that whoever allows merchant ships to pass through the Indochina Peninsula will make a lot of money, and whoever does not allow them to pass through the Indochina Peninsula will lose his fortune.

Therefore, anyone who engages in high-level international trade, no matter who it is, has to come to Li Yan to obtain an international trade license.

In fact, not only Song merchants, but also Arab and Venetian Genoese merchants also asked to see Li Yan, hoping to obtain a license for international trade from Li Yan.

Moreover, Arab and Venetian Genoese merchants have a sharper sense of smell than Song merchants, and they have already come to see Li Yan first.

It's just that Li Yan didn't meet Arab and Venetian Genoese merchants.

Li Yan didn't do this because the Arab and Venetian Genoese merchants were of different species from him.

In fact, Li Yan was deliberately suppressing Arab and Venetian Genoese businessmen.

At the western end of the Silk Road, whether by land or by sea, there has never been direct commercial exchanges between the Roman Empire and China. All commercial exchanges between them were conducted through middlemen such as Arabs. Western Europeans wanted to obtain China. All the silk and porcelain that are sold must also pass through these Arab and Venetian Genoese merchants.

There are basically Arab and Venetian Genoese merchants in all port cities on the ancient Seven Seas Route.

Arabian and Venetian Genoese merchant ships were found throughout the known seas of the Old World, from the Mediterranean Sea to the South China Sea.

The Tang Dynasty called the ships of these Arabian and Venetian Genoese merchants from afar "South China Sea Ship", "Western Region Ship", "Nanman Ship", "Kunlun Ship", "Lion Ship" or "Borneo Ship", the most common collective term It is called "Persian ship".

Before the mid-Northern Song Dynasty, Chinese businessmen or monks went abroad, and most of them took "Fanbo". It was not until the mid-late Northern Song Dynasty that China's navigation industry surpassed the Arab world.

but--

Because the government of the Northern Song Dynasty was weak, the merchants of the Song Dynasty could only go as far as India. If they went west, they had to hand over the commodities, that is, the huge profits, to the Arab and Venetian Genoese merchants.

This is what Li Yan does not want to see.

Although the merchants in Shuibo Liangshan have just joined the international trade, Li Yan does not want them to be monopolized by Arab and Venetian Genoese merchants on the routes of the Arab world, and thus lose huge benefits.

Of course, the most important thing is that Arab, Venetian, Genoese merchants and Song merchants did not go to the territory of Shuibo Liangshan, so Shuibo Liangshan would not be able to prosper.

In other words, Li Yan not only wants the prosperity of the Indochina Peninsula, but also the prosperity of his other territories.

The Liaodong area is too remote, and there are no very advantageous international trade commodities-the commodities in Liaodong, such as the most popular oriental commodities in international trade, such as tea, silk, and porcelain, are available in Song Dynasty, and the quality It's better than Liaodong. Those profit-seeking businessmen really don't need to travel more than ten days by sea to Liaodong.

Under such circumstances, Li Yan naturally had to use some extraordinary means to force all these businessmen to Liaodong.

In Li Yan's vision, merchants in Shuibo Liangshan had to go out and trade directly with Europe and Africa across the Arabian region, while businessmen from all over the world came directly to Shuibo Liangshan for trade.

This is very difficult, especially when Li Yan does not have the land of the Central Plains.

However, no matter what, Li Yan had to try.

For this purpose, Song merchants are also the enemy of Shuibo Liangshan, and they are also the biggest enemy of Shuibo Liangshan——Song merchants can set off from Guangzhou directly after loading the goods, and then go west. There is really no need to go to Liaodong. At present, since the Song ships have completely surpassed the Fan ships, the eastern route of international trade is mainly in the hands of Song merchants, and even the long trade route to India is mainly controlled by Song merchants. If it is not broken, Liaodong will only be marginalized by international trade as before.

So, after hearing from Wang Lun that Song Shang asked to see him, Li Yan said, "It's not time to see them yet, so you send them away for me."

As the future helm of Indochina Peninsula and the executor of the system formulated by Li Yan, Wang Lun naturally knew Li Yan's plans and ideas. Therefore, after receiving Li Yan's reply, Wang Lun didn't say much, but rushed Li Yan bowed, then went down to send Song Shang away.

After Wang Lun left, Zhao Yuannu asked Li Yan, "Why doesn't your majesty see them?"

Nowadays, Li Yan has too many things to deal with, so Li Yan's secretarial team is also expanding day by day. The harem concubines like Zhao Yuannu and Hua Xiangrong, who are talented in handling political affairs, have all been hired by Li Yan. Among the secretarial team, let them help themselves with political and public affairs.

What Li Yan didn't expect was that Zhao Yuannu was very talented in handling political affairs and public affairs. In just a few months, he surpassed other female officials and became Li Yan's fourth proficient in political affairs after Xiao Puxian, Li Shishi, and Yuzao. He is a female official on public affairs, so Li Yan has been fond of Zhao Yuannu recently, and has been staying in Zhao Yuannu's palace for three consecutive nights, so Zhao Yuannu dared to ask this question.

Miss Xiao Puxian raised her eyes and glanced at Zhao Yuannu, then lowered her head and continued to deal with complex political and public affairs.

Tamamomae shook his head secretly while continuing to give instructions on political affairs and public affairs.

Li Shishi put down the copy in his hand, thinking: "I have to find a chance to mention a few words to Sister Yuan Nu, otherwise she will be thrown into the cold palace in a short time."

Li Yan's other "secretaries" also have their own ideas.

Where there are people, there are rivers and lakes, let alone a huge harem?

Today, in Li Yan's harem, if there are not 1000 people, there are still [-].

Although, under the management of Liu Huiniang, who is virtuous and capable, Li Yan's harem will not be as ruthless as in the legend of Zhen Huan, but competition for favor is indispensable.

This is also impossible, after all, they only have one man, but their competitors have hundreds of people, and there may be more in the future.

Li Yan didn't raise his head, and said, "Don't ask what you shouldn't ask."

Zhao Yuannu felt aggrieved after hearing this!
Back then, how many people spent a lot of money to see her, but they couldn't.

Now, she took the initiative to act like a spoiled child to Li Yan, but Li Yan liked to play with him, making her unable to step down in public.

At this time, Xiaoman, who was temporarily pregnant, and Min Zhi, who was the bed-in-waiting female official, came to Li Yan and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, where will you stay overnight?"

Hearing Minzhi's question, Zhao Yuannu's ears immediately perked up, hoping that Li Yan would stay overnight in her Yuannu Garden like the previous three days.

But what Li Yan said was, "Xian Yuan."

After speaking, Li Yan got up and left Wende Hall.

After Li Yan left the hall, Xiao Puxian slowly put down the pen in her hand.

Seeing this, the two extremely pretty maids behind Xiao Puxian immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, what are your orders?"

Miss Xiao Puxian is so experienced, how could she not see that her two attendants are a little excited?
Miss Xiao Pu understood them, this is their rare opportunity to change their destiny, how could they not be excited?After all, who is willing to be a servant for the rest of his life?Who wouldn't want to be a master to be served?

Xiao Pu Xiannv said: "Have someone clean the palace a few times, and also invite Yelu Dalibo back to the palace." - Xiao Pu Xiannv knew Li Yan's bad taste, so she asked Yelu Dalibo to come back.

The two maids also knew that Li Yan liked this, so they responded, "No."

Xiao Puxian turned her head to Yuzao again and said: "Sister, let me pick ten people, is that okay? Most of the people in my palace, Your Majesty, have been lucky enough to be there, and there is no novelty anymore."

Yu Zaoqian was in charge of managing the new maids who entered the palace, so anyone who wanted someone had to ask her.

Yuzao said with a smile: "My sister opened her mouth, why can't I do it, I will pick someone with you in person."

Miss Xiao Puxian smiled and said, "Then thank you, sister."

The two maids beside Miss Xiao Puxian couldn't help biting their lower lips, and said in their hearts: "Your Majesty wants ten new brides, so will I still have a chance to get close to Your Majesty?"

Miss Xiao Puxian saw all of this, and then said in a low voice: "Don't worry, when did I treat my own people badly? As long as there is a chance, I will be the first to recommend you to the king tonight, and I want ten newcomers. Just in case, you are still the first sons, you don’t understand your majesty..."

Xiao Puxian's voice became smaller and smaller, and finally only the two court ladies could hear what Xiao Puxian said.

However, although I didn't hear what Xiao Puxian said, maybe the female officials who helped Li Yan in handling political and public affairs in the Wende Palace were not favored by Li Yan many times. What they are talking about is nothing more than how strong Li Yan is. When he is interested, let alone ten, even twenty are fine.

really!

As soon as Miss Xiao Pu finished speaking, the faces of the two court ladies immediately flushed red, and at the same time, there was infinite surprise and anticipation in their eyes!

After talking to the two court ladies, Miss Xiao Pu began to tidy up the memorials in front of her, and then picked up the urgently reviewed memorials to be brought back to the palace for approval. At the same time, she said to others: "Sisters, I will take a step first.", After that He rushed to Yuzao alone and said, "I'll go find you at your place later."

After speaking, Miss Xiao Puxian also left.

Zhao Yuannu looked at Xiao Puxian's back, very unwilling, and said in his heart: "Could it be that just because you once served as regent, you have been suppressing me?"

Li Shishi saw all of this, but she didn't point out Zhao Yuannu immediately.

It wasn't until the others left that Li Shishi stopped Zhao Yuannu and said, "You know, you made three mistakes today. If you can't correct them in time, you will be in danger."

Zhao Yuannu is not stupid, besides, there is Li Yan's previous attitude.

Zhao Yuannu hurriedly said, "I beg my sister to give me advice."

When Li Shishi was in Bianliang, Tokyo, she made friends with Zhao Yuannu. She liked Zhao Yuannu, a younger sister who was a little prettier than her, and now in this harem that needs an alliance to stand firm, their relationship is natural It's better than before.

Li Shishi said: "The first mistake you made was to be arrogant because of being favored. This is the harem, the harem of the emperor, not the Fanlou. There are several queens and queens of other countries here. There are countless, here, how dare you shake your pride as the number one prostitute in the capital?"

Hearing Li Shishi say "the No. 1 prostitute in the capital", Zhao Yuannu's cheeks blushed immediately. If someone else said this, Zhao Yuannu would never do this. How dare Zhao Yuannu accept Li Shishi's words?Who doesn't know in Bianliang, Tokyo, it's because Li Shishi suddenly disappeared, and she became the No. 1 prostitute in the capital because of Li Shishi's sudden disappearance.

Zhao Yuannu said: "Sister, don't be ashamed of my little sister, we sisters, if you have anything, just say it, my little sister will definitely listen to you."

Li Shishi nodded secretly, thinking: "Sister Yuannu is still very smart."

Li Shishi said: "The second mistake you made is that you shouldn't be involved in politics. This is the king's taboo. My sister is so smart and virtuous, and the king won't let her interfere in politics, let alone you?"

The elder sister Li Shishi mentioned was Liu Huiniang, and those concubines whom Li Yan favored called Liu Huiniang elder sister.

Zhao Yuannu's heart trembled, and then he felt aggrieved: "I don't want to be involved in politics, I'm just curious, so I asked..."

Master Li glared at Zhao Yuannu, and said, "Do you know that one word from your majesty can determine the fate of countless people, even the life and death of countless people, can you ask me?"

Zhao Yuannu's face turned pale, and he argued: "I just asked casually, really casually, I...I..."

Li Shishi said: "Okay, Your Majesty still likes you very much, otherwise you would have been thrown into limbo by now."

Empress Zhao Yuannu was terrified and couldn't help saying: "The water in this harem is really deep!"

Li Shishi thought: "Where is the water not deep? Isn't the water in Fanlou deep? It's just that you are too beautiful, too smart, and lucky, so you became the oiran very smoothly, and then took over from me. Having become the No.1 prostitute in the capital, the experience is not enough."

Zhao Yuannu slowed down and said, "Sister, what is the third mistake I made?"

Li Shishi withdrew his mind and said: "You shouldn't show hostility to Concubine Xian, this may get you into huge trouble."

Zhao Yuannu said unconvinced: "I'm afraid what that old woman will do!"

Miss Xiao Puxian is 36 this year, while Zhao Yuannu is only 24 years old, so it is not wrong for Zhao Yuannu to say that Xiao Puxian is an old woman.

Li Shishi said: "Concubine Xian is not old, she looks younger than you and me, and don't forget, her daughter is by Junshang's side every day."

Zhao Yuannu thought: "Although she doesn't look old, how can she be younger than us? Besides, her daughter is just good at fighting and killing, and she is not prettier than us, just taller and wilder. Could it be... ...she still dares to hit me?"

Seeing that Zhao Yuannu was still unconvinced, Li Shishi shook his head slightly and said, "You are really a newborn calf who is not afraid of tigers. Your Majesty once said that if the Liao Kingdom was not riddled with holes, Xianfei might be able to turn the tide. , the building is about to collapse, how can you fight against her like this?"

Zhao Yuannu was slightly disbelieving: "Your Majesty, did you really say such a thing?"

Li Shishi didn't answer Zhao Yuannu's question directly, but said: "Do you know that your majesty is going to set up the post of servant (equivalent to the prime minister in the harem), and this servant is likely to fall on the head of the concubine Xian? "

Zhao Yuannu asked in surprise, "No way?"

Li Shishi said: "Now there are eight or nine hundred people in the harem, and there will be more in the future. Your majesty has set up a servant to help sister manage the harem, why not?"

Zhao Yuannu said: "But... why did you choose Xianfei as the attendant?"

Li Shishi said: "Because she knows best what the Lord taboos and never oversteps, because she is the most capable, because she is the best at pleasing the Lord, because she... In short, you must not mess with her, if she is really as knowledgeable as you , a hundred of you are no match for her."

Zhao Yuannu felt a little uncomfortable, and said, "Then I have no power to protect myself?"

Li Shishi lightly tapped Zhao Yuannu's forehead with his index finger, and said: "How clever you are for a while, as long as the king likes you, not to mention the concubine Xian, even the elder sister, I can't do anything to you."

Zhao Yuannu suddenly opened his eyes, and said: "Yes, this is the harem of the emperor, not the harem of the concubine Xian, why am I so stupid!"

Li Shishi was afraid that Zhao Yuannu would get carried away, and said: "If you want Junshang to like you, don't touch the bottom line of Junshang. Junshang doesn't like jealous women, and doesn't like women interfering in politics."

Zhao Yuannu smiled slightly, and said: "I don't like being involved in politics, and I'm not jealous of women. I'll visit Concubine Yu (Yuzaoqian) in a while, and ask her for some beauties."

Seeing Zhao Yuannu showing this smile, and listening to Zhao Yuannu's words, Li Shishi also smiled. She knew that Zhao Yuannu really understood this time.

……

……

This chapter is a large chapter of [-] words, so that’s all for today.

(End of this chapter)