As the Royal Navy of the Tang Dynasty traveled thousands of miles across the East and Southeast Asia without a single defeat, countless barbarians from other countries succumbed to the military might of the Tang Dynasty. They either leased ports, ceded land, or opened commerce, and competed with the Tang Dynasty in military and economic affairs. The exchanges with the Tang Dynasty continued to expand, and countless benefits flowed into the Tang Dynasty, which not only enriched the national treasury, but also further accumulated private wealth.
Among them, the biggest interests were swallowed up by the "Eastern Datang Company". Each route was like a blood vessel, continuously gathering overseas wealth to Datang.
Although Fang Jun had witnessed the most tragic and brutal black slave trade in the world, and had more than once strictly prohibited the "Eastern Datang Company" from making bloody money, and Wang Xuance also gave repeated orders to his fleet, but to this day, The largest transaction of "Eastern Datang Company" is still human trafficking.
Well-behaved and hard-working Silla maids, short curly-haired Kunlun slaves, and even dirty and lazy Tianzhu people continuously poured into the Tang Dynasty through sea and land, and became slaves of nobles, officials, and wealthy businessmen. The amount of transactions involved was It's an astronomical number.
In addition, wood has also become an important trading item.
Although the Tang Dynasty is a vast land and rich in products, it has been developed for nearly a thousand years since the Qin and Han Dynasties. Generations of talented emperors and wealthy and extravagant nobles have tried their best to enjoy themselves. There are countless palaces, palaces, and flying pavilions in China. The earth rose up from the ground, and then was annihilated by wars and natural disasters, causing the giant trees that grew in ancient times to be rapidly consumed.
Taking Guanzhong as an example, the most critical reason for the slow construction of the Daming Palace on Longshou Plain is the insufficient supply of giant trees needed to build the palace. Lishan, Longshan, Zhongnanshan... these majestic and majestic mountains. The mountains are densely forested, but all the giant trees of sufficient age and size have been cut down.
For example, the golden nanmu needed to build the main hall could only be cut down from the mountains in central Sichuan, then discharged downstream along the waterway, and then transported by land to Chang'an. It required recruiting civilians, organizing water transportation, and cooperating with the government along the way... Countless manpower, force, and financial resources were consumed. The burden on the government was extremely heavy and the people were miserable. As a result, each giant tree was worth more than gold.
In the forests of Goguryeo, Wa, Annan, Johor, Srivijaya, and other countries, towering giant trees can be found everywhere. The "Eastern Datang Company" only needs to pay a very small price to organize the local indigenous people to enter the mountains. It is cut down and then transported to the port. After being loaded on a ship, it is transported back to Datang. It can be reached in any big city along the waterways and canals. The value is astonishing.
To build Luoyang, the most needed materials are stones and huge trees...
……
Fang Jun thought for a while, nodded and said: "You can inform Wang Xuance about this matter, but you still don't put interests first. Enough is enough."
He knows very well what kind of methods and ambitions his concubine has hidden in his heart. If he doesn't remind or warn him, maybe after the construction of Luoyang is completed in the future, most of Luoyang city will be the property of the Fang family...
Wu Meiniang's beautiful eyes were shining and radiant, and she said with a smile: "I don't have to worry about you, sir, don't worry."
Although she does not have any thoughts of seeking to usurp the throne, she cannot take time off. She must always prepare an indestructible foundation for her husband. The most important thing in this regard is naturally her political allies, and Building Luoyang is obviously an excellent opportunity.
She knew very well what great ambitions her husband had. He didn't care about becoming famous or famous all over the world. What he cared about was how to continue the inheritance of the empire. What he cared about was how to provide a better life for the poor people who were struggling to survive.
To do what you want to do, power alone is not enough. You must also bring more people to the front of the same interests, unite with sincerity, and seek common development together.
While talking, there was a sound of footsteps outside, and not long after, Wu Shunniang was seen walking in with her two children. Wu Meiniang quickly stood up and asked with a smile: "Why is sister so free today?"
Princess Gaoyang sat still, but smiled and said: "Sister, please take a seat."
Wu Shunniang said hurriedly: "How can I bear the title of 'sister' from Your Highness? I don't dare to overstep my bounds."
His eyes flashed across Fang Jun's face, and his heart felt slightly warm.
Then he pulled the two children behind him and whispered: "Call someone quickly."
"Min'er has met His Highness, his uncle, and his aunt."
"Yan'er has met His Highness, uncle, uh..."
He Lan Minzhi, who is seven or eight years old, is thin and tall, with a face like a crown jewel. His talent as a Yushu Linfeng can be seen at a young age. He also has lively eyes and clear speech. Wu Meiniang held her in her arms and loved her endlessly.
He Lanyan is still a little lolita of three or four years old. She is naturally beautiful in pink and jade, but her speech is not as sharp as her brother's. She is also a little shy of strangers. She is confused and extremely cute.
After inviting Wu Shunniang and her son to sit down, Princess Gaoyang held He Lanyan in her arms, looked up and down at the little Lolita's eyebrows, and said in surprise: "This girl has beautiful facial features without any flaws. She will definitely be a natural beauty when she grows up. ”
Fang Jun looked at it with a smile and didn't say much.
Wu Meiniang hugged He Lan Minzhi for a moment, then looked at her sister and asked, "Is something wrong, sister?"
She was well aware of the ambiguity between her sister and Fang Jun. Wu Shunniang seemed to have noticed that she was feeling something, either because she was ashamed or avoiding it. In short, she would not come to the door easily. Today, she knew that Princess Gaoyang was also there. Come here too, obviously there must be something going on.
Wu Shunniang's beautiful face was a little shy and embarrassed, and she seemed to find it difficult to speak, but she finally took a deep breath, looked at Fang Jun with warm eyes, and said softly: "It's not that I don't know how to move forward or retreat, but the pressure in the family is too great, so I have to come to plead with Erlang .”
Fang Jun raised his eyebrows and said in a deep voice: "But what did those bastards from the Helan family do?"
Wu Shunnian lowered his eyes, sighed, and said quietly: "Although he has moved out of the Helan family, Minzhi is a bloodline of the Helan family after all, so how can we cut them off? Those people heard that Erlang presided over the formation and reorganization of the Jinwu Guard, so they thought I really have no choice but to go to our mother and son’s residence all day long to find a position.”
Since the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, China has been a clan society. Individuals gather to form clans, and clans combine to form a country. Even though Helan Minzhi's father is dead, the bloodline of the Helan family cannot be cut off, and as a descendant of the Helan family, he is naturally subject to the control of the clan.
If Helan Minzhi is not tolerated by the clan, his reputation will be ruined and his future will be bleak, so he has to come to seek help for the Helan family.
It's just that although she and Fang Jun have a close relationship, they can't see each other in person after all, so they don't ask Fang Jun privately to avoid telling the truth. Instead, they go to ask Fang Jun and show it in front of others. Regardless of whether Fang Jun agrees or not, they will not It will have an impact on Fang Jun's reputation.
Since Wu Meiniang knew about the ambiguity between her sister and Fang Jun, she would naturally not speak for her sister at this time. She would only look at Fang Jun and let Fang Jun deal with it as she pleased.
Princess Gaoyang didn't know the affair between the two, so she said softly: "They are all relatives. If it does not affect the overall situation, it is best to be open-minded."
Fang Jun took a sip of tea and asked: "Who is so motivated?"
Wu Shunniang said: "It's Minzhi's second uncle."
Fang Jun nodded and thought for a moment.
Helan's ancestor was the uncle of Tuoba Gui, Emperor Daowu of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Helan was the chief of the Helan tribe and was the most powerful at that time. Following him was Helanfan, who served as the official secretary of the Sui Dynasty and the third division of Yitong in Kaifu. Helanfan had two sons, the eldest son Helan Shiren and the second son Helanyan.
Helan Shiren gave birth to sons Helan Yueshi and Helan Chushi. Helan Yueshi was Wu Shunniang's husband, and Helan Chushi was Hou Junji's son-in-law.
Helan Chushi once served as the Qianniu Guard of the East Palace. He was implicated when Hou Junji conspired to rebel and lost his official position. Later, the head of the Helan family, Helan Yan, raised troops to respond to the Guanlong rebellion launched by Changsun Wuji. He was defeated and captured, and died in horror.
At this point, the once-prominent Helan family has completely collapsed, and is only one step away from falling into the dust and disappearing into oblivion.
It was normal for some people to want to seek a position and revive their family business, but forcing orphans and widows like this made Fang Jun deeply despised and furious.
"Then let Helan Yueshi go to Xuanwumen in the next few days. I will recommend him as a deputy general, but you must also tell him that after the Jinwu Guards formed an army, military discipline will be strict, and anyone who dares to violate military discipline will be severely punished!"
Fang Jun must give Wu Shunniang a favor, and also get Helan Chushi with him so that he can get rid of him in the future. Such a shameless person will sooner or later continue to persecute Wu Shunniang and her son.
Then he said to He Lan Minzhi in Wu Mei Niang's arms: "Min Zhi needs to be a good student and make progress, study literature and martial arts to become a pillar. When he grows up, he can protect his mother and sister from being abused. Can you do it?"
Helan Minzhi's little face was filled with perseverance, and she said loudly: "Don't worry, uncle, my mother always teaches Minzhi to become a great hero like my uncle. He will definitely know how to make progress. Who dares to bully my mother and sister in the future and smash his dog's head!"
Wu Shunniang blushed and scolded: "The child is talking nonsense, what nonsense!"
What does "always teach you to be a great hero like your uncle" mean? Doesn’t it mean that he often mentions Fang Jun at home? In front of his wife and concubines, Wu Shunniang was so ashamed that she wished she could sew her son's mouth shut.
Princess Gaoyang glanced at Fang Jun with her beautiful eyes, and the corners of her lips were slightly raised: "Yes, such a great hero with great civility, military prowess, and great achievements, not only children and teenagers should follow him as an example, but also countless girls in the boudoir are in love with and dream about him. , Minzhi, you need to learn more.”
He Lan Minzhi's eyes lit up, he looked at Fang Jun with admiration, and said loudly: "This is how a real man should be!"
Fang Jun: "..."
"Poof!"
Wu Meiniang smiled sweetly, stretched out her slender hand and patted He Lanmin on the head, and said angrily: "At such a young age, what do you think about all day long? Your uncle is indeed a great hero, but people are not saints, so naturally they have good intentions. There are bad things, you have to learn from your uncle’s good things, but you must not learn from the bad things.”
He raised his head, with a smile on his lips, and glanced at his husband meaningfully.
Fang Jun glared at Helan Minzhi, who had a blank look on his face, and said in a bad tone: "You did this on purpose, didn't you? Okay, you have been studying and practicing martial arts for the past few years. After a few years, you will come to the academy, and your uncle will educate you!" Helan Minzhi shivered and quickly snuggled into Wu Meiniang's arms, not daring to look up.