Neon Clothes and Iron Clothes

Chapter 821 Two choices
"My child meets his father!"

"Stand up! Sit down and talk!" Wang Wenzuo couldn't help but feel a little dazed when he saw the two energetic teenagers in front of him. Compared with youth and life, what are power, wealth and other external things? Even if he was rich and powerful, he couldn't go back to the age of 18.

"Thank you, Father!" Yuanbao and Sutuo sat down on the left and right sides and looked at each other subconsciously. They were brothers from the same mother. Although they were very affectionate, their competition with each other became increasingly intense. This time they followed Cao Wenzong to investigate the assassination case of Liu Peiji. As usual, Wang Wenzuo would comment on him and reward him for his merits. The two of them had worked hard for half a year and were waiting for this moment. Naturally, they were very nervous.

"This time you investigated the assassination case of Liu Peiji. You two did a good job in it! Especially Yuanbao!" Wang Wenzuo paused: "I heard General Cao say that when you deal with those involved in the case, let them have more time. He used money and silk to replace punishment, and without any effort he forced him to release a large number of slaves and enrich the population of Cangzhou. Yes, yes, he knows how to use economic means to achieve political goals. He is worthy of being my son, Wang Wenzuo!"

Hearing his father praising him, Yuan Bao stood up happily and said, "My children all do what their father teaches them every day!"

Hearing Wang Wenzuo praise his brother, Sutuo's neck straightened up: "What about me? How did I do?"

"Sutuo also did a good job! But after all, there are some things that I haven't figured out, and the natural effect is not as good!" Wang Wenzuo was not in a hurry, and analyzed bit by bit: "The reason why I want to strictly investigate the assassination case of Liu Peiji, in the final analysis, is to get rid of Liu Peiji's assassination case. The gentry in Hebei used part of their population so that they could develop the salt fields and ports in Cangzhou, and then colonize various places in the east of the sea through sea routes. "

Sutuo asked with some dissatisfaction: "Father, if we only want the tribal servants of those noble clans, then why not just wipe out the human clan involved in the case? Anyway, according to their crimes, the clan annihilation is also deserved. At that time, not only the population will be ours , the family property is also ours, wouldn’t it be better?”

"Haha!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "Sutuo, it's not impossible to do this. But if it's good to do this, then I might as well just give an order and move all the powerful clans and tycoons from all over Hebei directly to Cangzhou, right? ? With my current power, few people would dare to disobey, right?"

"This -" Sutuo was stunned. In fact, the method Wang Wenzuo mentioned was very common in ancient Chinese society. For example, when the Qin Dynasty and the Western Han Dynasty were established, some of the powerful families in Guandong were forcibly moved to Guanzhong, and even more so in the early and middle periods of the Western Han Dynasty. The wealthy and powerful clans from various counties in Guandong were systematically moved to the "Lingyi" around Chang'an in order to strengthen the central power and weaken the unstable local forces. When Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty built the eastern capital of Luoyang, he also moved all parts of the country to Luoyang. Tens of thousands of wealthy merchants moved to Luoyang. With the military power Wang Wenzuo currently possesses, he is able to take advantage of Liu Peiji's assassination to "migrate the powerful and replenish Cangzhou" to the Hebei region.

"Sutuo!" Wang Wenzuo said in a deep voice: "You brothers have been on the same island since you were young. Although you have learned both civil and military skills, your main energy is still spent on offensive and combat skills. There is nothing wrong with this. After all, you are me If Wang Wenzuo's son is not skilled in martial arts, it will be difficult for him to inherit my inheritance, even to save his own life. But you must understand this truth: soldiers are an ominous weapon, and saints must not use force as a last resort! Just do whatever you want, otherwise you won’t last long!”

"Yes, I have remembered it!" Sutuo nodded in confusion: "But I don't understand what this has to do with the handling of Liu Peiji's assassination case? Please ask father to explain!"

"It's very simple. If we kill people on a large scale, or force the powerful people from various states to move to Cangzhou, they may be forced to submit by force now, but others will definitely die in grief and become hostile. In this way, the problems of governance will only become worse in the future. The more trouble there is, the more trouble there will be.”

"I don't understand, kid. If you're fined with money and silk like Yuan Bao, wouldn't it make you sad and have bad intentions?"

"That's a big difference! People can't be resurrected after death, and moving a clan away from the state is uprooting it! Not many people can afford it! And money and silk are nothing more than personal belongings!" Wang Wenzuo said: "I'll fine you some money and silk." When something big happens, those nobles will just be happy to have escaped! When we are in power, we will plucking more feathers and keep the goose’s voice low!”

"I understand, kid!" Xutuo and Yuanbao nodded in seeming understanding. Wang Wenzuo also knew that they were still young and might not understand what he meant. Most of his achievements in this life were achieved by force, and these sons were raised completely in the way of samurai. The easiest mistake to make is to use yourself as an example and rely on force to do everything. It may be beneficial for a while, but it will not end well in the end. So no matter whether they understand it now or not, they still have to say some things that should be said. They may not understand it now, but they will eventually understand it in the future.

"Okay!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "I said before that after the two of you have completed the mission of Liu Peiji's assassination, I will arrange two missions for you and let you choose. Now I will put the two on hold. It’s still the same rule when it comes to choosing the errands. Yuanbao’s last errand did better, so he picked first, and the remaining one was Sutuo’s.”

Hearing that he had the privilege of picking first, Yuan Bao's face was filled with joy. He glanced at his brother proudly and said with a smile, "Thank you, father!"

"Well, but let me make it clear in advance that these two missions each have their own advantages. In fact, there is no difference between them. The one chosen first may not be at an advantage, and the one chosen last may not be disadvantaged! Sotuo, you don't have to Frustrated!”

"Yes!" Sutuo responded with renewed energy.

"The first assignment is to be the governor of Cangzhou! You all know that this governor is also the salt inspector. In the future, there will be things like building ports, towns, roads, and canals. It's a heavy responsibility and a lot of work. Mr. Lu is doing it now. I promised him that I would let him come back within six months, and one of you two brothers will take over! What do you think?"

Upon hearing the first mission, both Sutuo and Yuanbao's eyes flashed with excitement. Both of them knew the role of Cangzhou in Wang Wenzuo's future blueprint. In the future, it would not only be Hebei's largest salt producing area and seaport, but also be connected to other parts of the Tang Dynasty through the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Its future was by no means a mere governor. As for what Wang Wenzuo said about heavy responsibilities and numerous affairs, Yuanbao and Sutuo knew the meaning behind their father's words best: the greater the responsibility, the greater the credit, the more numerous affairs, the greater the rights. The two elder brothers Hu Liang and Yan Liang were already ahead, and they couldn't be left too far behind.

"How about it? Yuanbao, are you willing to take this job?" Wang Wenzuo smiled.

Yuan Bao swallowed and resisted the huge temptation: "My child also wants to hear about the second mission!"

"Insatiable greed!" Sutuo cursed in his heart, but there was nothing he could do. His father had already said that Yuanbao had priority, and there was no point in being greedy. He could only wait obediently for the other party to finish picking, and then go and get the remaining one.

"That's fine!" Wang Wenzuo nodded: "Do you still remember the Namba-Cangzhou Port Regatta a few days ago?"

"Of course this kid remembers it!" Sutuo replied first: "The champion this time is the boarding long boat. It only took thirteen days from Namba to Cangzhou Port. The second place is from Dinglin Temple, but it's a pity that four The catamaran at Tianwang Temple has a third place!" "Well, just remember!" Wang Wenzuo nodded: "This second mission has something to do with the sailboat!"

"Is it related to the sailing ship?" Brothers Sutuo and Yuanbao exchanged glances, and they both cheered up. Although the "Haidong Land" controlled by Wang Wenzuo has a large area of ​​land, most of these areas are It is very difficult to pass through sparsely populated swamps, snowy areas, forests, and wastelands. Therefore, water transportation, especially sea transportation, played an extremely important role in Wang Wenzuo's military and political group.

Therefore, after Wang Wenzuo took control of Japan and Baekje, he invested a lot of manpower and material resources in the shipbuilding and navigation industries. Especially after occupying Hebei, Wang Wenzuo organized the Namba Capital-Cangzhou Port Sailing Race. Every year, he used his own private purse to use huge sums of money as prizes to reward the fastest ship from Namba Capital to Cangzhou Port.

As long as the contestants have subsidies, in addition, the top five winners can also share a total of 200,000 gold prizes. In addition to the prize money, the top five captains and shipbuilders can also receive titles and rewarded farms. During the first three awards, Wang Wenzuo even went to the scene to present awards to the winning contestants. For a time, this sailing race was unparalleled in popularity.

Some nefarious people compared this sailing regatta with the imperial examination in Chang'an, believing that the winners of both the sailing regatta and the imperial examination could achieve success in one step, and that the sailing regatta would even be better. After all, the imperial examination did not have such generous bonuses at that time.

"I plan to organize an expedition voyage, using the best ships, the best captains and sailors, to sail northward, beyond our current northernmost trading station, continue to the north, continue to the east, and see the land under our feet. Where is the end, what does it look like, and what is beyond this land? Is it the sea, the void, or is there another new land?”

The light in Yuanbao's eyes dimmed: "Father, is your second mission the commander of this expedition fleet?"

"Not bad! Yuanbao, which one do you choose?" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile.

Yuan Bao hesitated for a while, and finally said: "I choose Cangzhou governor, I'm sorry, father!"

"Yes!" Wang Wenzuo nodded: "There's nothing to be sorry about. I told you that you have the right to choose one of the two!" His eyes then turned to his other son: "Xudao, are you willing to go?"

Sutuo's face became ugly, as if he had just eaten a dozen expired oysters and vomited out the bile. He hesitated for a while and said: "I don't like the second mission, but I am willing to go."

"Oh? Why?" Wang Wenzuo asked.

"Father, you will not give meaningless orders, and you have made so many preparations for this voyage. If I don't go, another brother will go. In that case, it is better to let me go!"

"Very good!" Wang Wenzuo nodded approvingly. He stood up, hugged Sotuo into his arms, and kissed his forehead and hair: "You are worthy of being Wang Wenzuo's son, very good! I haven't said anything just yet. After all, the person who serves as the commander of this voyage will be the owner of half of my private treasury. In addition, you will have half of the ownership of all the territories you discover during this expedition. "

"What? Father, half of your private treasury?" Yuan Bao was stunned. If the second promise Wang Wenzuo just gave was still a blank check, then Wang Wenzuo's first promise was very scary. Wang Wenzuo's income mainly comes from several sources: mines, fleets, farms, maritime trade, canal trade, etc. Even close ministers like Di Renjie don't know how much wealth Wang Wenzuo has in his private treasury. Yuanbao only knew that one time when he was chatting with Sanqiu, he heard the other person mention something casually: The master he knew only had an annual income of about 7 million guan, and Sutuo could get half of it? This is a treatment that neither brother Yanliang nor Huliang has! If I had known earlier, I would have chosen the second one! Yuan Bao felt heartbroken when he thought that he had missed this golden mountain.

"Yuanbao? Are you a little regretful?" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile, how could he not see his son's little thoughts? But if he knew what his second promise meant, he would probably faint immediately. Theoretically speaking, Wang Wenzuo left the entire New World to Sutuo and his descendants - if he could find it.

"No, no!" Yuan Baoqiang smiled and said: "Sutuo is my brother from the same mother, so what's the difference between him and me! Sotuo, don't you think so?"

"Yes!" Sutuo had not recovered from the huge impact just now, so he could only agree subconsciously.

"That's good!" Wang Wenzuo showed a playful smile: "Don't regret whatever you choose. Don't eat from the bowl and look at the pot. It's the most annoying thing, right? Yuanbao!"

"Father said it!" Yuanbao's forehead was already covered with sweat. He felt that his little thoughts were clearly seen by his father, and his hands and feet couldn't help but tremble.

"As long as you understand, Yuanbao, you can go out first! I still have some things to talk to Sutuo alone!"

"Yes, the child is out!" Yuan Bao carefully knelt down and bowed to Wang Wenzuo, walked backward to the door, raised his head and wanted to glance at Sotuo, but found that his father's eyes were looking at him, so he quickly bowed his head and retreated.

"Sutuo, please close the door first. What I say next cannot be heard by outsiders!" Wang Wenzuo said.

"An outsider?" Sutuo was stunned when he heard this. He subconsciously said, "Father, Yuanbao is also your son. He is not an outsider!"

"Sutuo!" Wang Wenzuo said coldly: "I have many sons, but just having sons doesn't mean anything. When Yuan Bao didn't choose the second mission, he was already an outsider!"