Settled in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 168 The Saint Wants to Keep People

"Here!"

Xue Lang responded, and said, "In fact, there are two conditions for the development of commerce. One is convenient transportation, and the other is a large population. Looking at the present, wherever the economy is developed, it must either have both, or have both. One, otherwise, business will be very difficult to develop.”

So there is no need to worry about too many merchants and no one farming, which will cause the country to shake.

The development of the modern economy has a lot to do with the great development of transportation.As long as the transportation is convenient and the population is large, the economy is more developed, such as the east.However, in places with inconvenient transportation and a small population, it is actually very difficult to develop the economy. This is the reason why the development of the west is lagging behind.

Ancient and modern times each had their own economic operation models and characteristics, and fantasizing about economic warfare or even dumping in ancient times is basically whimsical.Firstly, the productivity cannot be reached at all; secondly, the backwardness of the logistics and transportation industry greatly limits the circulation of goods; finally, most ordinary people have no spare money at all.Bartering is still the way of trading in many places in the countryside at this time, and even money is rarely circulated.

In summary, how to engage in dumping?Not to mention playing capital operations!There is no real currency, let alone banks, and capital operations... Is this from Mars?

Xue Lang said: "Nowadays the foundation of the country has just been established, there are still people who oppose Wang Weiping, and private commerce cannot develop. When there is spare capacity, the commerce between countries can actually be done. However, it is too early now, and there will be in a few years." If you have spare energy, you can do something to replenish the emptiness of the treasury."

Xue Lang said something casually, King Qin's eyes lit up, Li Yuan nodded and said: "Xue Qing's family has a long-term vision, and when the time is right in the future, we can bring it up and discuss it at that time."

"Here."

Li Yuan is quite pragmatic, and he can accept advice with an open mind. As the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, he naturally has his advantages.No one is perfect, and the emperor is also a human being, of course there will be advantages and disadvantages.From the standpoint of a subordinate, Xue Lang thinks that Li Yuan is a good boss, but he is not as wise and wise as Her Highness the Princess, and Her Highness the Princess is number one.

Li Yuandao: "Regarding Xue Qing's proposal to build a vermicelli processing workshop to assist and drive the promotion of sweet potatoes, do you have any suggestions?"

"I have no objection."

"There are no ministers."

All the ministers agreed.Li Yuan made a decision: "Since that's the case, we will promote it around Chang'an next year. Regarding the vermicelli making workshop, we should take the lead in implementing it."

Xue Lang estimated the days, and said: "Sage, the sweet potatoes transported to Beijing can be selected. The high-quality ones can be kept for seeding, and the unqualified ones can be made into vermicelli. Take this opportunity to train a group of people. Come out, and when it rolls out on a large scale next year, you don’t have to worry about the lack of manpower.”

"good."

Li Yuan nodded approvingly, looked at Xue Lang and said, "Now that I've come to this point, Xue Qing, I plan to transfer you to the Ministry of Civil Affairs as a servant. With the talents of Qing's family, you will be able to display your strengths and talents in the Ministry of Household Affairs. .”

The saint really took a fancy to Xue Lang, and appointed him as an official of the real power department as soon as he came.Xue Lang is still young, he is doing practical things, and the department with real power can make more achievements and contributions. This is the heavy responsibility of the saint to him.Although some official positions are noble, in fact, there are almost no opportunities to make contributions, so it is difficult to get ahead.

Xue Lang understood the saint's kindness and was truly grateful, but he couldn't rest assured of Her Royal Highness at all.Therefore, Xue Lang said: "I would like to thank the sage for valuing it, but I can only repay the sage's kindness later. I have no plans to leave Weizeguan and leave the princess mansion."

Now, not only the sage, but even the crown prince, King Qin and ministers looked at him strangely.These days, going to Beijing to be an official is the real vacancies. Only Beijing officials can get their salaries and enjoy many benefits from the imperial court.There is no salary to be an official outside, and the income depends entirely on the harvest of the public farmland. There are many officials who have a good time when the weather is good, but if the year is not good, there are many officials who have a difficult life.

The saint was not angry, but said: "Although I have only known the Qing family for a short two days, I can see that the Qing family is not a free-spirited person, but a down-to-earth and hardworking person. I think there must be a reason for this, what is the reason? And come slowly."

Xue Lang sincerely saluted and said: "I thank the saint for understanding. There are two reasons for my minister to stay in Weize Pass. First, I have received the great favor of Princess Pingyang. Now, Liu Heita is making trouble, and it is the servant of Weize Pass. At that time, the princess had a great kindness to the minister and entrusted him with a heavy responsibility. If the humble minister did not repay the great favor, how could he leave on his own when His Highness needed someone? If such a dishonest and unjust thing was done , can you still count as a human being?"

Li Yuan nodded without commenting.Xue Lang continued: "Secondly, I still have unfinished business at Weizeguan, and I cannot let others take over. The so-called beginning and end, since it was proposed by me and led by me, naturally it should be in my hands. Besides, when this matter comes to fruition, I think the saint will be happy that Weichen did not go to Beijing but stayed in Weize Pass."

What Xue Lang said, it's for sale.The sage laughed and said: "The Qing family said so, I have already begun to wonder what the Qing family did? But something as earth-shattering as trying to grow sweet potatoes?"

Xue Lang said with a smile: "Sage, since the sage wants to know, I should know everything without saying anything. Wei Zeguan is trying to grow Baidiezi."

"Baidiezi?! I know that the Gaochang State has a secret recipe for spinning baidiezi into white drapes, but the weaving method is a top secret. Does the Qing family even know?"

Li Yuan asked in surprise.Xue Lang said: "To the sage, the weaving method of white folded cloth is actually not difficult, but Wei Zeguan tried to plant white folded seeds, not for the purpose of white folded cloth, but to keep warm from the cold. If it is successful, from now on, nothing but Homeless beggars, as long as there are people who plant Baidizi, there will be no one who will freeze to death!"

Li Yuan, who was kneeling on the throne, suddenly got up: "The Qing family's words are serious?"

The Crown Prince, the King of Qin, and all the ministers all stared at Xue Lang——

In the era when there were no quilts, the twelfth lunar month was the most troublesome time for politicians, because people would freeze to death every year.

Wealthy people can burn charcoal, wear furs, and go out less when it’s cold, sleep at night to keep warm, and cover them with silk quilts when they’re out of charcoal.

However, these things, especially silk quilts, are real luxuries in ordinary people's homes, and ordinary wealthy people can't afford them.What is the only fur that ordinary people can keep out of the cold?Sheepskin jacket!

In the era when there were no cotton-padded clothes, only sheepskin jackets and single clothes, even if ordinary people burned a fire to keep warm, it was okay for strong adults, but it was extremely difficult for the old, young or infirm. If one was not careful, he would freeze to death.

Xue Lang said loudly: "Sage, what I said is true, if there are false words, the sage can take the head of my minister."

Li Yuan sternly said: "Does Xue Qing know how many people freeze to death every year in the cold winter months, regardless of the north or south?"

Xue Lang said: "I don't know the specific data, but based on the current living standards and clothing fabrics, it is estimated that more people will freeze to death in poor families."

The prince said: "Every winter, there are people who freeze to death, and people who die from charcoal poisoning because of burning charcoal to keep out the cold. In winter, dead people are common. It is rare that there are no dead people in winter."

Qin Wang continued: "If Duke Xue really solves the problem of keeping warm from the cold, it will not only be due to the court, but also immeasurable."

(End of this chapter)