Rubber has a wide range of uses and is used in almost every corner in later generations.
Many experiments could not be carried out because there was no rubber.
"Your Highness, did you bring back some of this tree species? The juice would be fine too." Rong Xi asked hurriedly.
Wei Zhan shook his head and said, "It does look strange, but it's useless to bring it back."
Rong Xi couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.
Guo Zigui couldn't help feeling a little annoyed. If he had brought her back at the beginning, her husband wouldn't be so sad.
"Is it useful?" Qin Ke asked.
Rong Xi suppressed his emotions and said with a smile: "No problem, there will be caravans traveling back and forth between Wei and Baisha in the future, and I can buy them with a large sum of money."
"Why buy it?" Wei Zhan drank a cup of tea and said with great pride, "Little Golden Retriever is interested in doing business with the imperial court. Isn't it easy for you to just want a few trees?"
Rong Xi smiled and said, "Your Highness, what you said makes sense."
Wei Zhan rested in Linxi for two days and then immediately rushed to Shengjing.
When he arrived at the palace, he took out the letter written by Jin Jili himself and handed it to the emperor, saying: "Your Majesty, the King of Baisha requests to establish diplomatic relations with the Great Wei."
The emperor was very pleased after reading it and said, "Great."
Soon, the Baisha Kingdom sent an envoy to the Wei Dynasty, and the emperor hosted a banquet in the main hall to entertain them.
During the dinner, the envoy of Baisha Kingdom expressed the hope that a maritime trade route could be established between the two countries.
The emperor did not agree immediately.
After the banquet, he summoned all the ministers and Wei Zhan to discuss the matter.
"Your Majesty, the Baisha Kingdom is just a tiny country. Why do you need to care so much about it?" An old minister was puzzled.
Prince Shun was furious. "You have never experienced it yourself, but you only heard it from others, and yet you say that other countries are weak. Aren't your vision and mind smaller than a bullet?"
He had always been rude, and the emperor had long been accustomed to it and did not feel offended. Moreover, what the old minister said did make him unhappy.
Prince Shun had already told him that Baisha was rich in mineral resources, and if the two countries established a maritime trade route, it would be a hundred benefits to Wei.
Qin Ke also submitted a secret report, saying that there was a very valuable tree in Baisha Country. If the two countries could have exchanges, they could introduce this tree and plant it in southern Xinjiang. This would not only benefit the people of southern Xinjiang, but also provide raw materials for workshops. It would kill two birds with one stone. Why not do it?
Although he did not know what the tree was used for for the time being, he trusted Qin Ke and Rong Xi, and it was not difficult for the court to start trade with the Baisha Kingdom.
Once the emperor opened his mouth, all the ministers had no objections.
In the winter of the second year of Qingfeng, the Great Wei established diplomatic relations with the Baisha Kingdom and opened up a maritime trade route.
At the same time, the emperor ordered the establishment of a navy and coastal defense, which was supervised by Prince Shun Wei Zhan.
But Wei Zhan was unwilling to do so. He went to the emperor with a sad face to plead his case.
"Your Majesty, can the position of the Navy Governor be replaced?"
The emperor was surprised. He had finally put aside his prejudice and appointed Wei Zhan as the governor of the navy, but Wei Zhan refused.
"Why?"
Wei Zhan sighed and said, "I promised Little Golden Hair that I would visit him often. If I were to become that damn governor, wouldn't I have no time to go to Baisha Country?"
In fact, he wanted to go himself, and Jinjili didn't invite him at all.
"Then tell me, besides you, who else in the court can be qualified to be the governor of the navy?"
In terms of identity, qualifications and ability, Wei Zhan is the best.
Wei Zhan said: "Qin Ke!"
The emperor laughed and said, "He is in charge of the Military Equipment Bureau and has no time to spare."
Wei Zhan was in a dilemma and couldn't help but frown and said, "Your Majesty, I cannot go back on my word!"
The emperor thought for a moment and suggested: "See if this is feasible. You train the generals yourself and select the best ones to succeed you, and then you can be free."
Although this method takes some time, it is feasible and is better than spending your whole life!
Wei Zhan nodded in agreement.
In the spring of the third year of Qingfeng, the first batch of merchant ships from the Wei Dynasty went to Baisha Kingdom and brought back some rubber tree species and rubber slurry.
Rubber production was scarce and Rong Xi earned little. He led the craftsmen in the workshop to study the properties of rubber and guided them to come up with many creative ideas.
He knew that many things could be made from rubber, but he didn't want to just suggest how to make them.
What he knew and thought were all based on the experience of later generations. He did not want to use his own experience to restrict the creativity of craftsmen.
In the summer of the third year of the Qingfeng reign, a craftsman accidentally discovered that rubber could actually erase pencil markings. He was very excited, but rubber was easily perishable and had to be processed before it could become stable.
Later, craftsmen discovered that rubber was waterproof and used it to make rain gear.
As maritime trade became increasingly smooth and busy, the import volume of rubber increased greatly, and Rong Xifang began to develop tires.
Rubber tires are a major innovation in the transportation industry. If they can be mass-produced, Dawei will become more prosperous.
However, natural rubber is so scarce that Rong Xi is temporarily unable to produce synthetic rubber.
Tires, axles, valve ports, etc. are all delicate items, which are quite difficult for the Wei craftsmen to make, but no one is willing to give up.
In the spring of the fifth year of Qingfeng, Prince Shun Wei Zhan resigned from the post of naval governor and led a group of loyal guards to travel frequently between the Great Wei and the Baisha Kingdom.
Due to the frequent travel of merchant ships, piracy is extremely rampant between the waters of the two countries.
Wei Zhan was angry that they were harming the interests of the people of Wei and Baisha, so he took the initiative to arrest the pirates and escort the merchant caravans, and was highly respected by the merchant caravans of both countries.
Within a few years, the maritime trade route not only led to the Baisha Kingdom, but the Great Wei also established diplomatic relations with other countries and conducted trade exchanges.
Because the Wei navy was powerful, other countries did not dare to invade.
Linxi Rongzhai.
As soon as Rong Xi and Qin Ke returned, Liu He came to report: "Sir, the Second Young Master has sent a letter."
He handed the letter to Rong Xi and left respectfully.
After reading the letter, Rong Xi couldn't help but smile and said, "My second brother said that in a few years, the rubber trees can be tapped for rubber liquid, which is great."
The Wei Dynasty today is completely different from what he saw when he first came here.
Scenes familiar to later generations can be seen everywhere.
"Lanzhi, how about going to Shengjing with me on my birthday?" Qin Ke hugged him in his arms and asked softly.
Rong Xi was stunned for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, "It's my honor."
The afterglow of the setting sun falls on the windowsill, and a few rays pass through the glass windows and are projected onto the floor inside the house, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere.
Rong Xi believed it on the case, turned around and hugged Qin Ke.
"Sizhi, how do you think future generations will judge you and me?"
Qin Ke lowered his head and kissed him on the lips, "What does it have to do with me how future generations will judge me?"
He doesn't care whether it is praise or criticism, praise or contempt.
Rong Xi smiled and said, "There was a god of war in the Wei Dynasty. His surname was Qin, his name was Ke, and his courtesy name was Sizhi. He was brave and good at fighting, and had a beautiful appearance. He had no wife and died alone."
If Qin Ke was recorded in history, his life might be even briefer and drier.
“It can be seen that historical books may contain errors and omissions.”
Qin Ke felt really uncomfortable when he heard this. He and Rong Lanzhi were clearly going to grow old together, so how could he talk nonsense?
He thought for a moment and said, "Why not borrow your storybook to spread the word about our relationship?"
If the official history does not record it, the unofficial history will definitely record it.
“This method is very good!”
Rong Xi's curved eyebrows and eyes, set against the setting sun outside the window, made him so handsome that it made people's heart beat faster.
Qin Ke raised his lips and smiled faintly, his eyes full of doting.
Time flies and the world changes dramatically.
Hundreds of years have passed in the long river of history, leaving only fragments for future generations to admire.
The prosperous Qingfeng era is, in the minds of future generations, a magnificent chapter that cannot be surpassed.
And Rong Xi is the most dazzling existence in this chapter.
According to historical records, he never married in his life.
However, in the folk stories, he and the Wei Dynasty's god of war Qin Ke stayed together for decades and never left each other until they were old.
The author has something to say: There are exactly 66 chapters, a very auspicious number! It's over. I sincerely thank the fairies for their continued support.
The sequel "The Enemy Is Sweet and Sticky" is a modern novella, please continue to support it~ It will be released in early or mid-May~
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