Chapter 501 Father and Son Meeting
"What do these people know? These large ships are the naval power of our Tang Dynasty. They control the ocean, protect the maritime rights of the Tang Dynasty, and safeguard the maritime rights and interests."
"These large ships are not only warships of the navy, but also merchant ships that travel around the world for business and trade."
"This is the economic lifeline of our Tang Dynasty in the future, and it is an indispensable part of the Tang Dynasty's development path of enriching the country and strengthening the army." Li Chengqian objected.
The Maritime Silk Road is the road that opens the Tang Dynasty to all parts of the world, and it is an indispensable part of the Tang Dynasty's transformation from an agricultural power to an economic power.
Li Chengqian disagreed, and Wang Quan did not dare to say anything more. Anyway, the ministers suggested giving up the construction of large ships every day.
"Reply to Di Renjie and tell him that the court is in trouble now. I can't give him too much money and food now. Let him figure it out on his own."
"I heard that there are many corrupt officials and profiteers in the local area, especially those who take advantage of the continuous disasters to exploit the people. Let him investigate them himself."
"All the money and food seized do not need to be reported. They will all be used for disaster relief. If he can't even do these things well, what do I send him to do?" Li Chengqian said.
The current situation is that it is time to kill the rich and help the poor, and severely punish corrupt officials. The court has raised so many pigs that exploit the people.
The pigs were fat and white, but now they couldn't make ends meet. It was time to kill a few pigs to "make ends meet".
"I understand! I will write back to Di Renjie and convey everyone's opinion to him." Wang Quan replied, retreated, and sent a letter to Di Renjie by pigeon.
After receiving the letter from Chang'an, Di Renjie immediately carried out severe punishment on the corrupt officials and illegal merchants around him.
Di Renjie received 2 million taels of silver and 8 million shi of grain. The money and grain he received were enough to delay the disaster victims for a while.
But this was only a temporary solution, not a fundamental solution. Di Renjie organized people to explore water sources in various places and install pressure wells to inject water into the drought-stricken land.
On the one hand, they organized people to find suitable camping sites and build temporary residences in flooded areas, and reclaimed fields around them for planting and self-sufficiency.
On the other hand, in Chang'an, Li Chengqian issued an edict to vigorously encourage coastal areas to engage in commercial trade and sell Tang Dynasty porcelain and tea to all parts of the world.
As the status of merchants improved, the Tang Dynasty opened up a model of overseas trade.
This would bring endless wealth to the Tang Dynasty. The Maritime Silk Road was easier to travel than the Silk Road in the Western Regions.
After all, there was no need to pass through the hot desert. If you couldn't get out of the desert, you might die of thirst on the road.
Although the Maritime Silk Road did not have such worries, the sea was also full of dangers. If one was unlucky, the ship might be destroyed and people might die.
Even so, the merchants were enthusiastic. They had already smelled the taste of profit. In order to get rich, some people even went to the sea to develop trade at the cost of their property.
In order to better manage maritime trade, the court specially set up the Maritime Customs Office in various ports in coastal areas to unify the management of foreign trade.
In December, Li Xiang and his family rushed to Chang'an from Hengzhou. In addition to Li Xiang, Li Chengqian's other adult sons were also summoned to Beijing to meet the emperor.
After they settled their families, they went to the palace to meet the emperor.
"Your son greets the emperor!" Li Xiang saluted Li Chengqian.
"No need to be polite, stand up! Please give me a seat!" Li
Chengqian said. "Thank you, father!" Li Xiang said in gratitude.
The eunuch brought a chair to Li Xiang and put it in the first seat on the left. Li Xiang walked over and sat down. Opposite him sat Xu Wang Li Sujie, who had entered the palace before him.
"Third brother is here too! It's time." Li Xiang said.
"I arrived just before you, elder brother. As soon as I got off the carriage, I went to the palace to see father. I heard that elder brother had a son again, and Sujie has not yet congratulated elder brother." Li Sujie said.
"A boy was born in our family a few months ago." Li Xiang smiled.
"I am relieved to see that you brothers are in harmony. Xiang'er, what is your son's name? Has he obtained a certificate of ordination in the Zongzheng Temple?" Li Chengqian said.
Seeing that the brothers were treating each other with respect, Li Chengqian was very pleased and asked about Li Xiang's son.
"I haven't had time to name the child yet, so I haven't written it into the family tree." Li Xiang said.
"What name do you plan to give your child?" Li Chengqian asked.
"This, I am also in a dilemma. I don't know what name I should give him." Li Xiang said with a look of embarrassment.
In his mind, he was thinking about how to let Li Chengqian ask to name his son.
"Since you don't know how to name your son, then I will give him a name, Li Kang, and hope he can live a long and healthy life." Li Chengqian said. "
On behalf of your son, I thank you for your grace! Name him Li Kang." Li Xiang hurriedly stood up and bowed.
"Okay! Don't be so formal! We are all family. Today, there are only fathers and sons here, not monarchs and subjects. There is no need for so many rules and regulations between fathers and sons." Li Chengqian said.
"Yes!" Li Xiang and Li Sujie saluted and responded.
"Li Wen and Li Wu should have arrived in Chang'an soon! Where is the prince? Why hasn't he come yet?" Li Chengqian asked.
"To everyone, the King of Changsha and the King of Yue have already entered Chang'an. They should be settling their families now. They will soon enter the palace. I have sent someone to the East Palace to invite the prince. He will be here soon." Wang Quan said.
"You have returned to Chang'an, but you haven't visited your mother yet!" Li Chengqian nodded, turned around and looked at Li Xiang and Li Sujie.
"Father, I lost my mother when I was young. It has always been my wet nurse who has been taking care of me. When I left my fiefdom, my wet nurse went with me to my fiefdom." Li Xiang said.
He had never seen his mother when he was young, and no one had ever mentioned her. He didn't even know where she was buried.
Li Chengqian didn't know what to say. He knew nothing about Li Xiang's biological mother. He didn't even know whether she was alive or dead. He couldn't even find any trace of her. It was as if this person didn't exist in this world.
"Father, as soon as I returned to Chang'an, I immediately went to the palace to see you. I haven't visited my mother yet. I beg you to allow me to leave temporarily so that I can pay my respects to my mother." Li Sujie broke the deadlock.
"Your mother will be very happy that you are so filial. Go ahead! Just don't forget the banquet tonight." Li Chengqian said with a smile.
"Your son, take your leave!" Li Sujie stood up, bowed and left, and went to Xiao Guifei's place.
At night, Li Chengqian's family dinner was held in Zichen Hall. In addition to his sons, the empress, Xiao Guifei and other concubines also attended the dinner.