Chapter 69: Unworthy of being a citizen of the Song Dynasty
Drinking peach juice and honey water, Lu Sen said slowly: "Can I know the details?"
"Of course you can." Luo Jixiang said generously: "Since you want to ask Master Lu for the sea route map, I will naturally not hide it from you."
Luo Jixiang then explained the reasons and conclusions of the discussion among the officials of the Three Departments.
The price of spices in the Northern Song Dynasty was extremely expensive at this time, and most of them were transported by the Semites.
In addition, the Semites were extremely secretive about the source of the spices and did not let the Song people know at all.
Because this is the only bulk commodity they can use to hedge against the silk and ceramic trade.
As for other high-quality weapons, colorful glass, rare treasures, they are just icing on the cake.
According to annual calculations by the Maritime Customs Offices in Quanzhou, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and other places, although the Song Dynasty now has a trade surplus with the outside world, spices have indeed offset about 40% of the profits from sea transportation.
In other words, the people of the Song Dynasty had to spend at least 10 million strings of cash every year on buying spices and seasonings.
This is because there are still many people who evade taxes, resulting in an undercount.
If the imperial court could control the source of spices, then the Song Dynasty would not only spend much less money in the future, but it would even be possible to export spices to the north.
You know, our two northern neighbors actually want spices too.
However, land transportation there is extremely inconvenient. Even tea from the Song Dynasty is priced sky-high, let alone spices!
It can be said that although the Northern Song Dynasty was wealthy, the court also spent money like water. The main reason was the large military expenditure. In order to defend against the two northern neighbors, the court stockpiled a large number of troops and forged a large number of weapons, which was like a bottomless pit.
But at the same time, he was extremely wary of military generals.
The task of the Sansi Envoy was simple. Since it was impossible to cut costs, he was responsible for increasing revenue.
Spices are an excellent business, and any Song Dynasty person with a little common sense knows that this is an excellent "source".
After listening to Luo Jixiang's words, Lu Sen was silent and thoughtful.
Luo Jixiang was not in a hurry either. He drank honey water and leisurely enjoyed the surrounding scenery.
After a while, Lu Sen raised his head slightly and asked, "How far do the three envoys want to go? Do you have a more complete plan?"
"What do you mean by a more complete plan?" Luo Jixiang was a little puzzled.
"There are natives in the Spice Islands. How does the court get along with them?"
"The climate there is hot and humid, and there are poisonous insects everywhere. How can the first batch of pioneers ensure their own safety?"
"Do the three envoys intend to colonize the raw material land for a long time, or just harvest once a year and leave?"
“How to maintain the safety of maritime freight lines?”
Lu Sen asked several questions in succession.
Luo Jixiang's face gradually became shocked when he heard this, and then he smiled awkwardly, "So there is such a saying?"
"It seems that you haven't made any preparations." Lu Sen looked at the door of his house. He remembered that the other party brought two Semites with him. "You dare to ask me for the sea route map? You even brought two Semites with you. Aren't you afraid that the route will be revealed? Will the Semites know about it and take it over?"
"Hahaha!" Luo Jixiang stroked his beard complacently and said with a smile, "Regarding this matter, please rest assured, Master Lu. The two elders of the Semu people came from afar and have been raised in Song territory for two generations. They speak Mandarin better than us, and are well-read. They named themselves 'Pu', and are no longer barbarians. The two of them provided a lot of information about the customs and habits of the Semu people, which allowed the Maritime Customs Office to make great progress in controlling the tax evasion of the Semu people."
Even though it suffered successive military defeats in foreign wars, the Northern Song Dynasty still had the image of the "Celestial Empire" rooted in its blood.
The barbarians came to the Song Dynasty, bowed their heads and kowtowed, and regarded the Song Dynasty as their country. Isn't this a very normal thing?
In his opinion, these two Semites were already half Song people, so they were naturally trustworthy.
After so much difficulty in transforming from barbarians to Song people, would they surrender back to being barbarians? That's impossible!
However, Lu Sen's expression suddenly turned a little cold: "Is their last name 'Pu'?"
Luo Jixiang has been in the officialdom for thirty years, so how could he not notice the change in Lu Sen's expression?
He asked doubtfully, "Is there anything wrong with these two people's surnames?"
"I don't like this surname when I hear it." Lu Sen stood up and said, "Luo Jixiang, you should make more preparations for the sea route map, and... I personally think that no Semu people should be allowed to participate in this matter."
Seeing Lu Sen's unhappy look, Luo Jixiang seemed to be thinking about something.
He had also heard that Taoists who were proficient in magic could occasionally gain divine connection and be able to avoid disaster and seek fortune.
Could these two Pu clan Semites have any influence on his open source plan?
"Then I will take my leave first." Luo Jixiang stood up, bowed and said with a smile: "After we make a more thorough plan, we will come back to bother Master Lu."
"I look forward to seeing you next time, Minister Luo Jixiang." Lu Sen sent Luo Jixiang to the door.
Then he asked Heizhu to pick some raw vegetables and send them to Luo Zhao.
During this period, Lu Sen's eyes were always on the two Semites named Pu.
His expression was cold.
And Luo Zhao also discovered this.
The two Semites felt somewhat uncomfortable under Lu Sen's gaze.
At this time, Lu Sen suddenly asked, "Do these two Pu family Semu people have any ambitions?"
At this time, one of the Semu people took two steps forward and said in a rather aggrieved tone: "Master Lu, we are already Song people and have household registration. Please don't call us barbarians anymore."
Lu Sen chuckled and asked again: "Okay, Song people... do you have any ambitions?"
"We should serve the Song Dynasty, even if it means death." The Seljuq man said excitedly.
"That's a good point." Lu Sen smiled and said, "But the Spice Islands route is of great importance at this time. I don't think you two are qualified to participate in it for the time being. After all, you are not officials yet."
The Seljuq sighed and said slowly, "We originally wanted to move to Guangzhou, but Luo Jixiang suddenly sent people to find us brothers, so we followed him here. If Master Lu is not happy, we will no longer participate in this matter."
Lu Sen raised his eyebrows slightly and smiled, "Guangzhou is indeed a good place. It seems to be quite suitable for your surname 'Pu'."
If Lu Sen's memory is correct, the Pu family had entered the Central Plains very early, and then lived in Guangzhou for a long time, becoming rich. It was only during the Southern Song Dynasty that the whole family moved to Quanzhou to serve as officials and became the Supervisor of the Maritime Customs.
If it matches, it must be that Pu.
The Semu man was somewhat surprised: "Oh, is what Master Lu said true?"
Lu Sen is now very famous, at least everyone in the city of Bianjing knows him.
This Seljuq man had naturally heard of this, and he was quite respectful and convinced of Lu Sen, the recognized "immortal". Especially after watching the immortal shadow play for a long time, he had even more respect for him.
Lu Sen ignored him and turned away.
The Seljuq man laughed dryly twice. He felt that it was his own rhetorical question, which showed a kind of disbelief, that made Lu Sen unhappy, and he was too lazy to answer him.
But he had no idea that after Lu Sen turned around, there was only unconcealable "anger" and "disgust" on his face.
Luo Jixiang was standing not far away. He saw the conversation just now and the disgust in Lu Sen's eyes. His expression became more and more unfathomable.
When Lu Sen returned to the courtyard and sat down, he happened to bump into Yang Jinhua who was washing rice in the mountain stream. When she saw Lu Sen, she curled her lips slightly and was about to speak, but then she became puzzled, walked into the wooden building, put down the rice basin in her hand, and asked, "Sir, who irritated you?"
"No one!" Lu Sen shook his head.
Yang Jinhua naturally didn't believe it. She was a very sharp-minded girl, and Lu Sen was not the kind of person who could hide his thoughts and was not very cunning.
She said rather dissatisfiedly: "Sir, husband and wife are one body. If you have something that is not going well, you can tell me. Even if I can't help you, I can help you share some of your depression and irritability."
"There's really nothing going on. Even if there is something going on, it will be a long, long time in the future."
Well... after hearing this, Yang Jinhua didn't ask any more questions .
She knew that her husband had great powers, and if there were things he didn't want to say, it would be inappropriate for her to ask too much.
I heard that leaking the secrets would backfire.
She naturally didn't want the official to get hurt.
But she secretly took note of this matter and took the time to ask Heizhu who the official had met today.
After hearing that they had encountered two Semites, the official became unhappy and privately set rules for Heizhu and others that no one in the family could have any contact with Semites from then on.
On the other side, Luo Jixiang returned to his official residence and summoned everyone.
In the spacious room, there were two rows of low black tables. Luo Zhao and Luo Jixiang sat in the main seats in the middle, while behind the two rows of low black tables, a dozen officials, some old and some young, sat on the floor.
"Today I went to the low mountain and met Master Lu. I talked to him about the Spice Islands." Luo Zhao laughed at himself, "He asked me if I was ready, but I didn't know the answer. It was really embarrassing."
Upon hearing this, a young official clasped his fists and asked, "Prime Minister Ji, does Master Lu also understand business?"
“It’s more like business politics than business affairs.”
When the people below heard this, they all understood.
The meanings and levels of expression of affairs and politics are completely different.
Things are just about "dealing with" and focusing on what you gain and lose at the moment.
Politics means "strategy", which is the laws and regulations of a continent or a country for decades or even hundreds of years.
"When I summoned you, I took advantage of my free time to write down all the questions Master Lu asked, for you to circulate."
After Luo Jixiang finished speaking, a clerk beside him took the white paper covered with words in both hands and placed it to the official at the top left.
After reading it, this person showed an expression that said, "Although I don't quite understand it, I am deeply shocked."
Afterwards, the white paper was passed around, and after about half an hour, everyone had finally finished reading it.
Everyone had a similar expression, and they were all subconsciously lost in thought.
Luo Jixiang clapped his hands, pulling everyone back to their thoughts, and then said, "During these questions, Master Lu mentioned a very interesting word, colonization. From the literal meaning, Master Lu meant that we should send people to the Spice Islands to live there for a long time, reproduce and thrive, and then take it as the land of our Song Dynasty. What do you think of this strategy?"
Everyone was talking about it.
Some people think it is feasible, while others think it is not practical.
Because most people in Song Dynasty now have a homesickness and don’t like to travel around.
Even if you work hard outside when you are young, when you are old, you will definitely try your best to return to your roots.
Then someone else said, then let the thieves join the army!
Luo Jixiang was listening to their discussion and felt that the time was almost right, so he said, "In addition to the colonization issue, there are other issues, such as how to prevent poisonous insects, route protection, etc. We have to find ways to solve them. This is also your political affairs for the next two months. Get these things done for me. Otherwise, I will not be ashamed to ask Master Lu for the route map."
Everyone clasped their hands together, bowed and said yes.
Then Luo Jixiang went out and went to Kaifeng Prefecture again. He did not meet Bao Zheng, but went directly to find Zhan Zhao.
It was almost evening and snowflakes were floating in the sky.
Although Luo Zhao was wearing thick clothes, he still felt a little cold, so he put his hands in his sleeves and sat on the chair, huddled up like an old farmer.
At this time, Zhan Zhao came back from his inspection and was surprised to see Luo Zhao sitting in the lobby. He took the initiative to step forward and bowed to greet him, "This subordinate greets Prime Minister Luo Ji."
"No need to be polite." Luo Zhao stretched his body, stood up, and said with a smile: "I heard that Captain Zhan is familiar with Master Lu?"
"Master Lu did not abandon me and made me his friend even though I was so humble." Zhan Zhao said calmly.
On the one hand, Zhan Zhao attaches great importance to official etiquette, but his instinct as a man of the world makes him not care too much about power.
He became a captain of the police because he was moved by Bao Zheng's integrity and justice. Otherwise, wouldn't he be happier being a free and easy Southern Knight?
Although Lu Sen has a very high status now, in Zhan Zhao's eyes, the former is still the Lu Xiaolang he knows, the one on the low mountain.
"Now there is something that is related to Master Lu."
Zhan Zhao was stunned when he heard this. At first he thought that Lu Sen had done something wrong.
After Luo Jixiang told him what happened on the hill, he said, "For some reason, those two Pu Semu people caused Master Lu to be furious. I want you to take some time to investigate this matter. It would be best if you could dig up all the past of those two people."
Zhan Zhao's eyebrows moved, and he clasped his fists and said, "I've made note of this matter. I'll go ask Bao Fuyin for a day off so that I can do my work more conveniently."
"Thank you for troubling Captain Zhan with this matter." Luo Zhao smiled politely and left Kaifeng Prefecture.
The reason why he asked Zhan Zhao to help investigate the two Semites was not for Lu Sen, but for himself.
He was the one who brought these two Semites into the government office because he valued their ability to operate ocean-going ships and wanted them to lead the imperial caravan to the Spice Islands.
If there really was something wrong with these two Semu people, Lu Sen would definitely not be the one to be held accountable.
But himself.
As one of the Three Commanders, he had no right to command Zhan Zhao, the chief constable of Kaifeng Prefecture. After all, he could not get around Bao Zheng.
But for Luo Zhao, taking advantage of the friendship between Zhan Zhao and Lu Sen was a completely natural behavior that he was familiar with.
You can even do Zhan Zhao a favor.
Although Luo Zhao didn't value the favor from the young captain of the police.
Lu Sen didn't know that Zhan Zhao had already started investigating the two Semites. He had been thinking these past few days whether he should find a way to get rid of the two Pu family members, or drive them out of the Song Dynasty so that their descendants would never be allowed to enter the country again.
But...what excuse can I give?
The Pu family already has a registered permanent residence, so they are considered Song people. If they act recklessly, Bao Zheng will have a hard time getting away with it.
He thought about it, and took the initiative to find Bao Zheng during his free time while waiting for the palace gate to open during the morning court the next day.
"Prefect Bao, I don't like the two Semites, but they have registered as residents of the Song Dynasty. If we want to drive them out of the Song Dynasty, is it feasible?"
"Of course not. How can an honest and upright family be oppressed like this?" Bao Zheng spoke with a firm, righteous and stern voice, "However, if these two Semites have done anything sneaky, they are not worthy of being the subjects of the Song Dynasty."
"Well said." Lu Sen couldn't help but applaud.
