Datang Lingnan King

Chapter 427
The next day, Li Shimin summoned Theodora, and the two had an affectionate conversation. After more than half a year, Theodora not only admired the prosperity of Datang, but also learned Datang dialect, at least communicating with each other. It doesn't sound too difficult, it's just that the accent is not very accurate.

Jiangnan Road is the first place to plant two-crop rice and three-crop rice except for Lingnan, and the hybrid seeds have been bred in Liaoxi, and the yield is quite gratifying. Now it is one of the main supplies to Guanzhong.

The first thing Li Shimin checked was the grain that had just been harvested. During this period of time, not only the official warehouse was full of grain, but also a lot of grain was purchased in order to balance the price of grain, and it was being transported to the dock, so along the way, you could see a convoy of convoys, all packed food.

There was an interpreter beside Theodora to explain to him, and he was also listening and observing. He was already very surprised along the way, and thought that Datang was going to war, so he only transported food. After listening, he realized that it was to buy people. .

When I arrived at the official warehouse, I realized that what I saw before was just the tip of the iceberg. The guards were deep and strict. The warehouse built with bricks, stones and cement was not only fireproof, but also more spacious.

An official storehouse contains millions of stones of grain, like hills, standing one after another in the middle of the camp. The grain in the official yard is three feet above the ground, layered on top of each other. The ground is not only cement, but also a foot thick of lime, so it looks very dry.

Theodora was already stunned. So much food was piled up, and it was not a time of war. This was very rare in the heyday of Eastern Rome.

What's more, the interpreter told him that this is only one of the six official warehouses in Jiangnan Road, and there are dozens of other official warehouses like this in the whole country.

After the group left, they randomly selected several textile workshops, and finally visited the frosting sugar workshop.

All this is impacting Theodora and the entourage who came from Eastern Rome. I did not expect that there are so many silks that are more expensive than gold, and the people, workers, and slaves are all dressed neatly, unlike their country. , The people are all in rags, and it is rare to have a decent one.

"This respected Chief Fang, silk, frosting sugar, and grain, can you trade some more for us?" Theodora asked Fang Xuanling with a smile, speaking the unproficient Tang dialect.

"Grand Duke Theodora, there is no problem with these, but the distance is far away, and the price of food transportation is too expensive." Fang Xuanling has been in charge of the business for several years, and he has already had many unique opinions. He smiled elegantly at the moment. explained.

Theodora thinks about the same reason, and thinks that even the Nile River Basin, the largest food producing area in the empire, can receive only one-twelfth of what he has seen in tax revenue every year. He can't help but feel the gap between the two countries.

Moreover, the people who can be seen everywhere along the way use iron tools for farming, and all soldiers are equipped with knives of different lengths. One can imagine the difference in weapons and equipment. You must know that they use long guns the most, because The long gun is simple, just need to install the iron gun head on the gun head.

"His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, I wonder if you can sell us some weapons." Taking advantage of Li Shimin's free time, Theodora stepped forward two steps, bent down and saluted.

"No problem, just discuss it with them. These are trivial matters. If you need to trade something, you should be optimistic first, and then go to discuss with them. Next time the fleet leaves, just take it with you." Li Shimin said grandly, and then Pointing to Fang Xuanling, Li Jing and others, he said that these trivial matters are really not worth mentioning, so there is no need to trouble yourself.

Theodora was bitter in her heart, and she didn't think that the things she valued were not worth mentioning in the eyes of others.

In the next few days, Li Shimin and others visited the village and visited the city, then they stopped and set off for Lingnan.

Feng An of Lingnan had already received news from the merchant ship, understood Li Shimin's intentions, and did not make a big fuss, but only brought a few officials to receive him.

When the monarch and his ministers meet, they will naturally feel a lot of emotion and talk, and the two are still in-laws, so of course they are more intimate.

The Feng family didn't need to bully others, they just relied on agriculture and commerce, and they were extremely wealthy. As a Lingnan port, Jiaozhou was naturally very prosperous. What's more, when the slang and prostitutes moved out of the cottage in the early years, they also moved here.

At the same time, many soldiers from Lingnan fought for Li Shimin, and they received a lot of rewards, especially women of various ethnic groups, Turkic women in the early years, and Japanese slaves later. It seems densely populated, and there are a lot of children, big and small.

"These children will take vacations when the farming is busy, and go back to help with some work. They also learn to farm. They come to school again when they are free. Thanks to the grace of the Holy Spirit, most of the children can now read a lot of words." Feng An is proud. Touching his beard, he introduced.

"Kang is honest and knows etiquette. If you have enough food and clothing, you must read more to understand etiquette, so as not to lose yourself and become a philistine. Aiqing has done a very good job in this regard." Li Shimin nodded in satisfaction.

"Your Majesty is wise, and I think so too. My mother taught me since I was a child that I must be polite, otherwise I will be like a native of the village, ignorant and like a wild beast.

These ministers have always remembered it in their hearts, and they also deeply believe it when they grow up. "Feng Ang said with emotion.

"The Feng family has a good family tradition, loyal and good for generations, and let me offer a stick of incense to the old lady." Li Shimin patted Feng An's shoulder gratefully and said.

"Minister... I thank you for your grace!" Feng An was so moved that he quickly bowed his thanks.

"Aiqing, please hurry up, this is the honor that your Feng family deserves. Just because Aiqing has added so many people to the Tang Dynasty, it is a great achievement." Li Shimin helped Feng An himself, and comforted him.

Feng An was also very satisfied with the development of Lingnan in the past ten years. Li Shimin praised it to the bottom of his heart, and immediately took them to visit the city.

Although there are still countless different accents and local dialects in the city, they all wear Tang costumes and use Zhenguan Tongbao. The bustling scene is not inferior to other places in Guanzhong.

Moreover, no one was found to have a disheveled face among the people who came and went. They all had healthy faces and neatly dressed, and they could tell that they were living a good life.

There are many shops on the street, filled with all kinds of goods, and some people continue to bring in various special items, set up stalls, and there is an endless stream of people entering and leaving the shops. Obviously, the business is not bad.

That night, Feng An invited dozens of nearby cottages and tribal chiefs to come to worship and thank Li Shimin. Whether it was the singing and dancing full of Tu ethnic customs, or the thanks of the local Tu people, Li Shimin's vanity was satisfied.

And Theodora learned that this is a remote mountainous area in the Tang Dynasty, and no emperor has come to see it for hundreds of years. They are all so rich that they almost popped their eyes out. In his heart, it is completely unimaginable that such a rich place , the emperor seems to have never paid attention to it, and it is even more unimaginable what the legendary Chang'an looks like. It should be the same as heaven.

(End of this chapter)