A scholar of Zhenguan in the Tang Dynasty

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Gu Qing said with a smile, "Firearms are just one aspect. The national power of a country cannot be measured only by firearms. Firearms can also be developed in many ways. The transformation of firearms and the use of firearms are what Datang is doing now."

"The disciple knows."

"It's getting late, go to bed early." Gu Qing comforted.

Li Xiang left the study obediently, and Fan Jian came to Gu Qing's side and said, "It is said that the young master has earned money in the academy today."

"This kid really made money?" Gu Qing was also a little surprised.

Fan Jian explained, "The young master also used an idea of ​​a lottery, earned [-] Wen, and lost seven sets of pens, inks, papers and inkstones, which seems to be a loss. on the head."

The corner of Gu Qing's mouth twitched unconsciously, "This brat actually used the ideas I used to tell him stories to make money, and even put the blame on himself."

Fan Jian smiled at Shudu, "The little master lost seven sets of pens, inks, papers and inkstones. It seems that this sale is a loss."

"He won't suffer. It seems that the kid who is losing money is stealing now. You need someone to keep an eye on him. I'm afraid he will make a big fuss." Gu Qing said in a low voice.

Fan Jian nodded slightly, "There is another piece of news that the current Empress Su has lived in Ganye Temple."

"Does Li Xiang know?"

"It seems that I don't know, and it seems that I don't want too many people to know." Fan Jian replied.

"Is there any news from Li Ran?"

"Madam intends to meet Li Ran in a few days. It seems that Li Ran has not made any moves. The bank is about to open. Madam plans to greet the owner of Li Ran in Zhaojun after the matter of the bank is settled." Fan Jian glanced at Gu Qing. Said, "The condition of the factory is not bad now, a bus has been made and it is still being tested."

Gu Qing calculated the date, "It's time for the ships in the East China Sea to come back."

"There should be news in the next few days." Fan Jian replied.

As the sun rose from the coast, Xue Ji and his fleet sailed across the ocean for seven days and finally saw the coastline.

"It's coming!" Xue Ji shouted loudly.

People at the back of the deck also passed messages to each other, and all the more than a dozen large ships in the rear were all full of sails and headed towards the shore at full speed.

Yan Liben also stood on the coast and saw the fleet in the distance. He took out the binoculars brought by Gu Qingtuo and saw the flags on the sails, and said loudly, "Ready to pick up the ship!"

"Pick up the ship!" The whole port also began to get busy.

In less than half an hour, Xue Ji landed on the shore, stepping on the long-lost land.

"It's been hard work for the past six months." Yan Liben patted Xue Ji on the shoulder and said, "It's good to be back safely."

"I'm finally back." Xue Ji stomped hard on the ground under his feet, "Standing here makes me feel at ease."

The manpower at the port is all arranged to receive the ships. Next, the heavy and heavy ships will change their course and go south along the ocean current to enter the Jiangdong Haikou all the way into the inland, and go all the way to Chang'an along the waterway.

Xue Ji noticed a steel monster on the port, "This is..."

"This is an iron boat." Yan Liben said, "If this big iron lump can go into the sea, long voyages will no longer be a dream."

"Can iron still be used to build ships?" Xue Ji was also surprised, "I'm afraid the sails can't move it."

Yan Liben also shook his head, "This is really difficult. Not only are there too many difficulties in making it, but also how to make the iron float on the sea is even more difficult. A few days ago, His Royal Highness King Jin wrote to say that he has already found a way to make the iron float on the sea. I am more patient, but this iron boat is not driven by sails but by something called an engine, which was also proposed by Gu Qing. If we have this kind of iron boat, we will not need to rely on wind power in the ocean in the future. We can go wherever we want.”

Xue Ji nodded. It is true that it would be much better if there were iron boats on the sea. If the wooden boat encountered strong waves at sea, the whole ship would be crumbling.

Yan Liben continued, "His Royal Highness King Jin also said in his letter that we should go to the South China Sea to find an island first. I have sent ships south three days ago."

"Are you in such a hurry to open up the South China Sea?" Xue Ji wondered.

"Now our ships are closely related to the war situation in the west. The DPRK and China hope that we can grasp the coastline of the South China Sea all the way to Tianzhu as soon as possible. This time, we will rely on this kind of iron ship to win Tianzhu. His Royal Highness will continue to study everywhere. You Just rest for two days before returning to Chang'an, I have already prepared a banquet for you, wash it well, eat delicious food, His Royal Highness Jin Wang doesn't want to see you looking so sloppy."

Xue Ji glanced at his embarrassing clothes, life at sea was indeed difficult, and he hadn't showered for several days, "I feel uncomfortable all over now when you say that."

Many civilians who came back from the voyage, many of them vomited on the spot when they returned to the coast, but none of them had a depressed face. They are very proud of the food. Many folks who returned to the shore saw that the current port has changed a lot since it was when they left. Not only has the place become bigger, but there are also several giant monsters.

Yan Liben ordered, "Hurry up and pass the news to His Royal Highness King Jin. The sea ship has returned, and then inform His Highness King Wu in Soochow and all the waterways in the Central Plains to prepare for dredging the waterways. Seventeen large ships will return. Chang'an."

The students at the port went to work immediately.

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The land under the feet gives people a very solid feeling, which seems to have been alienated for a long time, no matter whether they are in Japan or at sea, they can’t experience this sense of solidity. The huge changes in the port make these people who have been at sea for half a year feel It has been several years since the past six months, and when I came back to my senses, I remembered that I had only been away for half a year, and the changes in the port were too great, and great changes were happening every day.

Xue Ji devoured the food in front of him, stuffing it all into his mouth.

"Eat slowly." Yan Liben poured him a cup of hot tea, and asked the servants beside him to add more food.

"You don't know what I ate in the country of Wa, the food in the country of Wa is really bad." Xue Ji said while eating.

"Don't talk when you're eating, and be careful not to bite your tongue." Yan Liben said with a smile while drinking the wine by himself.

"The food here is really delicious." Xue Ji looked at the food on the table, "I used to eat dry food when I came here, and I only had a hot meal a day.

"Datang is rich, and everyone is not short of food." Yan Liben said with a smile on his face, "During the six months since you left, many changes have taken place in Datang. There are more and more merchants, and people are starting to go out to earn money. Money, especially in Chang'an today, where Gu Qing's village has become the most prosperous place in the entire Central Plains. The people have money and more food in their hands. I still remember Gu Qing's potatoes, that little thing, Yields are really unusually high."

"People in the Central Plains know how to farm. If one kind of potato grows, it will be out of control. There is too much food to hide at home." Yan Liben said with a smile, "Also, His Royal Highness Wu recently started to try to plant Nanzhao in the East Wu Jiangdong area. Nanzhao’s rice grains are large and ripen quickly, if there is another plague of locusts in the second year of Zhenguan, the Central Plains will surely be able to cross the land.”

Xue Ji experienced the locust plague in the second year of Zhenguan, the scene of no crops in the fields. He was still young at that time, and now thinking about it, he can’t remember clearly. He only knows that his grandfather died in the famine after the locust plague. middle.

Xue Ji picked up a potato and took a bite. The taste was very soft and he said, "It is this thing that makes life better for the people in the Central Plains."

"Every household has seeds, and the bigger ones can be used to fill them up. One seedling can be divided into several." Yan Liben said, "When Gu Qing took out the potatoes, they didn't spread too far, that is, they were planted near Chang'an. So, until the past few years, potatoes are more and more widely grown, and this thing is easy to grow. Sometimes there are potatoes in the wild fields by the roadside. Naturally, there is no need to worry about food. When the port is short of manpower, it will recruit some. We give money to the folks nearby, and they are willing to work.”

"These changes are very slow, and I didn't feel them at first, but after a few years, I was caught off guard and suddenly realized that those poor places had suddenly become comfortable." Thinking of this, Yan Liben smiled. , "I think back when I first came here, there were nearby villagers who would steal our things, but now there are no more, and they will take the initiative to send some food that the family can't finish."

Xue Ji listened to Yan Liben while eating.

"In fact, the biggest change is the change of the labor force." Yan Liben continued, "It seems that Gu Qing started to build factories. Chang'an to the west of Luoyang is dominated by Gu's factories, but south of Luoyang is the area from Dongwu Jiangdong to Shanhaiguan. Many rich and powerful merchants have also started to learn from Gu Qing, learning to open large workshops, on the one hand increasing the quantity of goods on their side, and on the other hand allowing more villagers to earn money."

"From farming to working?" Xue Ji asked doubtfully.

"That's exactly what it means. A long time ago, people only had food in their eyes. Now people can save some money at home. During the first year of Zhenguan, food in people's homes was more expensive than money." Yan Liben sighed, "You said How could such an inconspicuous little potato like Gu Qing bring such a big change to the Central Plains?"

Xue Ji also thought for a while and said, "I don't think it's just the change brought about by potatoes, it's a change of thinking. When I was in Wa country, what touched me the most was that there were few scholars in Wa country, very few. Few people study, the whole Japanese country lives by farming, even if it is farming, there is only one meal, and when the people of the Japanese country work in our branch factory, they know how to work hard without knowing what is in their hands. How much is it worth?"

"If you want to say that Wa country is really inferior to Datang, it is the scholars. If you say scholars, you are the people who study knowledge." Xue Ji said, "How many students have been brought to the Tang Dynasty by the existence of the academy, these students After completing the study, it will bring many new things to the Tang Dynasty, maritime trade is also knowledge, war also requires knowledge, and the court needs wisdom even more."

Xue Ji paused when he said this, "Uncle Yan, you said that if a country has no scholars, what will happen to this country?"

"Aren't there any scholars in Japan?" Yan Liben asked back.

"Too little, too little." Xue Ji said, "There are not many books about the Japanese country. Many scholars are only the nobles of the Japanese country, but even the nobles of the Japanese country use bamboo slips, many of which are used by us in Qin Dynasty. , and the nobles of the Japanese country are not as good as the previous generation. Many of their descendants are unwilling to study. After thinking about some things, I feel a chill down my spine. I don’t know if Master Gu thinks so. If Master Gu is really like this The purpose, then the country of Wa is about to end."

"Let's listen to it." Yan Li was interested.