Prosperous Tang Blood Blade

Chapter 957 The Arms Race 300 Years Ago
Chapter 79 The Arms Race 300 Years Ago
Although it is said that Yang Guang's three conquests of Goguryeo had a very negative impact on the ruling regime of the Sui Dynasty.The three large-scale wars not only severely depleted the national power of the Sui Dynasty, but also caused the people to live in poverty, seriously aroused class conflicts, and finally led to the outbreak of peasant uprisings at the end of the Sui Dynasty.

However, after all, Goguryeo was a small country and few people. After three national wars, although the Sui Dynasty failed, Goguryeo was not happy.This is the most typical fat pig smashing sheep to death.After the three wars, the Sui Dynasty lost millions of troops, but Goguryeo also lost a lot.

In the eighth year of Daye, Yang Guang conquered Goguryeo for the first time. Although Wende in Eulchi was in Weishui (Datong River), he used the method of building a dam to store water to replace the troops, and flooded the nine armies including Yu Wenshu. The 30 troops were completely lost.However, Goguryeo killed and injured more than [-] people due to the war.

By the time of the third Eastern Expedition in the tenth year of Daye, there were only 27 households left in Goguryeo, a population of less than 200 million.If we followed the example of Laihuer's attack from the waterway and attacked Goguryeo, we would not need a hundred five-tooth warships, because Goguryeo's navy was extremely weak.

Although Goguryeo's navy claimed to have more than a thousand warships, most of them were small boats of less than a hundred stones. Even if the Tang army dispatched ten five-toothed warships, the Goguryeo navy could not resist and could only retreat to the water village.

Even if Datang attacked Goguryeo, water warfare would definitely not occur, and the biggest role of the water army was to act as a transport team.

In terms of transportation, Hengyangzhou is actually far stronger than the five-tooth warship, and the cost is cheaper.As early as the Sui Dynasty, the horizontal ocean boat built by Jiangning could carry [-] shi of materials, even if it was carrying soldiers, it could transport more than [-] people.However, the cost of this kind of horizontal ocean boat is less than one-third of that of the five-tooth warship, and one can be built with less than [-] guns.

Why spend more than 200 million guan to do something that can be done with [-] million guan?

Li Jiancheng hesitated for a moment, but did not explain too much to Li Jing.

The purpose of Li Jiancheng's construction of the five-tooth battleship was not to deal with Goguryeo.But to deal with Li Shimin.

Li Shimin is far away in the Fusang Continent tens of thousands of miles away, and has a good foundation.As Li Jiancheng got more and more information, he became more and more frightened.

In just over three years, Li Shimin has owned more than 100 cities and 200 million Dingkou.It is almost equivalent to half of Guanzhong, but the actual territory is far more fertile than Guanzhong.

Under Li Shimin's rule, there are corn with an yield of up to five stones per mu and sweet potatoes with a yield of more than ten stones. Even if there are only 200 million people, they can easily support an army of no less than 20.

The Tang army was going to conquer the Fusang Continent tens of thousands of miles away. A small ship would not be able to do it at all. The ship is too small to face the wind and waves and has no ability to resist. Only the big ship with thousands of stones can barely protect itself.

Even if it is an elite expedition to the Americas, the number of people should not be too small, if it is too small, only food will be delivered.

Therefore, at all costs, building the five-tooth warship and Hengyang boat is the most important thing for Datang right now.

……

After Li Jing took the order, he bowed and retreated.

He hoped that Wei Zheng and Fang Xuanling could use their power to refute Li Jiancheng's rebellious order.

However, it was beyond Li Jing's expectation.

This imperial decree was successfully passed in the sect, even Fang Xuanling, who has always been known for being harsh and picky, did not interfere with it.

Li Jing really couldn't figure it out, but he had no choice but to go south to Jiangning in the identity of Shangshu Youpushe and a political adviser in accordance with the imperial edict, and went to Jiangning to recruit craftsmen to start shipbuilding.

At this time, the ministers of the province already knew about Li Shimin's situation in the Fusang Continent, although Fang Xuanling knew that at this time, it was not suitable for Datang to build a five-tooth warship at all costs.

However, Fang Xuanling couldn't stop it.After all, Datang's biggest enemy right now is not the extinct Eastern Turks, nor the dying Western Turks, but Li Shimin, who is eyeing Datang covetously.

Following the passage of Li Jiancheng's imperial decree by Menxia Province, the war machine of the Tang Dynasty, before it cooled down, turned on its full horsepower again and ran quickly.

……

Fang Xuanling suddenly came back to his senses, and found that Wei Zheng was staring at him seriously.

Fang Xuanling smiled bitterly and said, "Xuan Cheng, is there a flower on XX's face?"

Wei Zheng spread his hands and said, "You have been standing here for half an hour!"

Fang Xuanling smiled wryly, "This... the world, why is it so difficult to want peace?"

Wei Zheng said silently: "Xuan Ling, don't worry..."

Fang Xuanling smiled and said, "What are you worried about?"

Wei Zheng shook his head.

Fang Xuanling said: "Xuancheng, you are worrying too much. Xuanling is a former minister of the Qin Palace, but not a slave of the Qin Palace, but a minister of the Tang Dynasty!"

Wei Zheng was stunned.

……

When Li Jiancheng mobilized all the forces of Datang to develop naval equipment, the Forbes Island Shipyard far away on the mainland of Fusang was also rushing to build large ships overtime.

Yin Fubusi people are also descendants of Yin merchants. In fact, they have turned into a fishing and hunting people.One-third of the tribe neither farms nor nomads, but relies on fishing for a living.

However, they can only build boats of about a hundred stones to develop offshore fishing.There is no way for such a small boat to go to sea.

When Li Shimin brought Du Ruhui and others to inspect Forbes Island, when he was still a dozen miles away from the pier, the scouts suddenly said excitedly: "My lord, I saw it, I saw it!"

Li Shimin's boat sailed forward with full sail, and the battleship gradually approached the two big ships, and everyone exclaimed.

Li Shimin was also very shocked that the Qianshi battleship looked so small in front of these two giants. Although he had seen the same huge Yang Guang's dragon boat, these two horizontal ocean boats seemed to be a circle larger than Yang Guang's dragon boat. .

It is about thirty feet long and more than ten feet high, which is equivalent to a ship of [-] tons in later generations.At this time, there are more than hundreds of craftsmen on the big ship who are busy.

Clean the cabin, brush the deck or sides with tung oil, strengthen the mast, and weave sails (ancient Chinese sailboats used bamboo strips instead of canvas)

The construction of these two horizontal ocean boats began when Li Shimin captured King Qin City.After two years and seven months of busy work, the project is finally nearing completion.

Du Ruhui looked at the two Hengyang boats that were about to be completed, and said excitedly: "I thought that I would not be able to return to Chang'an in this life, but now... in my lifetime, I can return to my roots!"

Li Shimin nodded and said: "I have never given up on returning to Chang'an, we will definitely be able to return to Chang'an!"

Speaking of this, Li Shimin continued: "I have decided that Fusang Datang needs to build fifty horizontal ocean boats..."

Du Ruhui shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, fifty horizontal oceangoing boats can't return to Chang'an!"

Du Ruhui naturally didn't mean that he couldn't go back. In fact, according to Zhang Zhongjian's fleet organization, a dozen or so oceangoing boats were enough to cross the ocean and reach the mainland.What he meant was that fifty horizontal boats that could carry 4 horses would not be able to take Guanzhong.

Li Shimin said with a smile: "Fifty ships are not enough, then we will build a hundred ships, and a hundred ships are not enough, then we will build two hundred ships..."

Chen Ying, who was far away in the Western Regions, didn't know it, because the appearance of him, a butterfly in another world, triggered an arms race in advance.

In order to be able to completely eliminate Li Shimin, Li Jiancheng vigorously developed the navy and planned to eliminate Li Shimin before Li Shimin's wings were fledgling.

But Li Shimin did the same, for the dream of returning.They worked hard to build, but what was surprising was that the two brothers built Hengyangzhou, which was the pinnacle of large ships in the Sui Dynasty.

The only difference is that Li Jiancheng devoted all his efforts to building the five-tooth warship, while Li Shimin focused on building the Hengyangzhou transport ship.

……

Li Xiuning and Chen Ying continued to march westward, but Li Xiuning discovered an interesting story at this time.

Although these refugees are wearing new clothes, there are printed words on the clothes.This dye is the same as the dye used to dye cloth, and it does not fade when washed.

"Wu Ji scissors are the best in the world!"

"Daiji warehouse is of high quality and low price."

"Niu Kee farming implements are strong and durable."

"Liu Kee credits small profit discounts."

……

Li Xiuning was stunned for a long time, looking at the beaming people.

"How dare these merchants from the Wei Kingdom actually target the refugees with their advertisements?"

Li Xiuning looked at Chen Ying and said with a smile: "Now I understand, I think these new clothes may not be given out for free by the government, but sponsored by merchants... Merchants are after profit, I never thought they would be so benevolent?... Even if it is an advertisement , but these people are illiterate, what's the use of it!"

Chen Ying said with a smile: "It doesn't matter if the refugees are illiterate, there will always be people who can read and write. After these refugees enter the Western Regions, they will be assigned household registrations. They will definitely work hard and move around. As long as people move around, this The effect of the advertisement can be shown. Merchants from other places and those scholars will interpret these advertisements, spread word of mouth, and this advertisement will be published.”

In fact, Li Xiuning guessed right.Most of these clothes are provided by merchants for free for advertising.In this era, the status of merchants is very low, even inferior to that of free people. No matter how rich they are, they have no status in politics.

However, after Chen Ying established the Datang Royal Chamber of Commerce, he set a benchmark for the Datang Royal Chamber of Commerce.At this time, the merchants discovered that they could actually join forces and share resources like the Datang Royal Merchant Alliance.

These merchants also need a backstage, but the clans are restricted by region. Even if it is the Taiyuan Wang family, no matter how strong they are, they cannot go to Xingyang to compete with the Zheng family for profit. This is beyond the bounds.

However, Chen Ying is different.Although he belongs to one of the Eight Great Pillar Kingdoms of the Western Wei Dynasty, he is a first-rank official.It is not subject to geographical restrictions. After all, whether it is in the Western Regions or Lingzhou, even if it is in Henan Province, Chen Ying's name is very useful. Even in Xingyang, the Zheng family will sell it to Chen Ying, unless they don't want to talk to Chen Ying. should cooperate.

Ma Zhou established the Datang Anxi Merchant League in the Western Regions.As the political backer of the business alliance, Chen Ying also gave the merchants a hope that their children can enter the Datang University of Technology founded by Chen Ying, or the various academies in the territory of Anxi Dufu. Give them a chance to be officials.

This offer can be said to be the most exciting for merchants.

Chen Ying is now the first and only dignitary in the world who does not treat merchants with discrimination.These merchants gradually formed an interest alliance with Chen Ying.

They want to get benefits from Chen Ying, especially political benefits.Chen Ying wants to get financial and talent support from merchants.After all, Chen Ying's Chidao network cannot be built by himself.Chidao construction work is a bottomless pit.Now 70.00% of the profits from Chen Ying's creations are invested in the construction of Chidao.

When the merchant alliance was established, Chen Ying drew a big cake for these merchants, and these merchants had such a good idea.

They support Chen Ying, even if they are at a loss, they still support Chen Ying's political actions.Because these predators who are ups and downs in the business world all want to imitate Lu Buwei.

Naturally, after Ma Zhou mediated, Chen Ying reached a consensus with the Shangmeng.Those who have made outstanding contributions to benefiting society can be appointed officials, although they are all small officials from the eighth or ninth rank.

Businessmen are crazy at once, but no matter how rich they are, they still want to be respected by the world.Opportunities presented themselves, wouldn't they seize them?
In this way, in Anxi's move to attract refugees, both large and small merchants contributed their own strength.

Even Chen Ying himself did not realize that, in fact, he had formed a political party himself.The core backbone of this political party is the underprivileged groups of craftsmen, soldiers, farmers, merchants and merchants from all over the world, with Chen Ying as the core.

Just like in the process of developing the Western Regions, the Anxi Chamber of Commerce donated 350 million shi of grain, 13 sets of clothing, and 80 guan of money to the Anxi Duhufu.

Especially Yang Rong from Wu's firm.Taking advantage of Li Jiancheng's favor, Yang Rong auctioned and resold the steel, coal, salt and other mineral resources with proven reserves in Xiazhou, Yanzhou, and Gyeongju.

In just half a year, 270 million coins were cashed out.After earning the money and food, Yang Rong devoted all of it to the development of the Western Regions.

In the eyes of Tang merchants, Chen Ying became the God of Wealth.If you follow Chen Ying, you can definitely make a fortune.

There is no need to publicize the following matters. The businessmen are vying to contribute, as if you don't want me to pay, and I'm in a hurry with you.

With the development of business, the reputation of Datang Tongli Bank has also been established.

At this time, more and more people used banknotes, and even ordinary people were unwilling to use heavy copper coins to buy vegetables. The banknotes of Datang Tongli Bank were not real money, but also became real gold and silver.

(End of this chapter)