"Uncle, the weapons of the Tang Dynasty are just bullying in this era. Compared with the Tang Dynasty, there is nothing stronger. They are simply not good enough."
Li Shimin asked in a different way, "If it weren't for the things you gave me, how would this place compare to the Tang Dynasty?"
"There's no need for the Tang Dynasty. If we look back a few hundred years, China's strength would have easily overwhelmed them."
"During this period, there were many Indian tribes living there, such as the Iroquois Confederacy."
"These tribes had their own territories and leaders, and mainly engaged in fishing, hunting, gathering and simple agricultural production, leading a relatively primitive life."
"Their social structure is relatively simple, usually based on the family or clan as the basic unit, and managed by tribal leaders or elders. They have not yet formed a unified political entity or a complete state institution."
Li Shimin was shocked, "Isn't this a primitive tribe?"
"Yes, the Tang army went there without any pressure. It didn't become part of China because it was too far away, separated by the strait. For a long time, they didn't even know there was a continent over there."
"What is the land environment like over there? Is it suitable for living and farming?" Li Shimin continued to ask.
"Later generations selected three places with the best geographical locations. The climate, environment, and soil in these places are more suitable for human habitation and development. One is here, and the other is here."
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's eyes lit up, "This is a great place! Oh, and where is the other one?"
Xiao Ran pointed at the map and said, "Go west, the area near the Mediterranean is also suitable for farming and living."
"It's a pity that it's too far, it's really too far!" Li Shimin also had some ideas.
"If we take over Goguryeo, this place will become the granary of the Tang Dynasty. With this place as a base, we can go to the continent over there."
"This is such a cold place! A granary?" Li Shimin felt incredible.
"This place will be a granary in the future. The land here is fertile, even more fertile than the land of fish and rice in the south of the Yangtze River."
"Ah?" Li Shimin handed the bean curd in his arms to Empress Zhangsun, "Xiao Ran, tell me in detail."
Li Shimin had never thought about this problem before.
Xiao Ran pointed at the map and said, "This area has vast and flat plains with fertile land and diverse soil types. It has good water retention and air permeability, and has the potential for large-scale reclamation and cultivation of grain crops."
"The region has many rivers and abundant water resources, which can provide sufficient water for agricultural irrigation and meet the water needs of crop growth."
"The land is fertile and there's plenty of water. These conditions are indeed suitable for farming, but it's cold and bitter here!" Li Shimin looked at Xiao Ran, "How can we solve this problem?"
"There are many reasons why this area hasn't developed. For example, the Central Plains dynasties had relatively weak control over the northeast, with effective control limited to Liaodong. They mostly used a tributary system for areas further north, resulting in a very loose governance structure and difficulty in establishing stable rule and carrying out large-scale development."
"Also, these regions have many ethnic groups, frequent conflicts, and instability. Can these problems be resolved now?"
Li Shimin nodded and said, "After destroying Goguryeo, the Tang Dynasty can completely incorporate Goguryeo into its territory. Conflicts can be suppressed and gradually reduced."
"The problem with the cold is that there were no cotton and other cold-weather supplies in the early days. Now that cotton has been widely planted and promoted, it also lays the foundation for Datang to enter the Northeast! We can even prepare some farming equipment now that Datang has oil, so these machines can continue to be used."
"The emergence of machinery and equipment can actually replace manpower. It's highly efficient, and a smaller population doesn't matter."
"With enough land, things like corn can also be grown in the Northeast. The conditions are a bit difficult, but it's completely feasible!"
Li Shimin became more and more excited as he listened. "These cotton can be used to make quilts, but there shouldn't be enough for clothes. Winter is really too cold. How can we solve this problem?"
“Heating is not practical, but a warm bed is still okay…”
A "flue-fire wall" facility was discovered in the semi-underground House No. 1 belonging to the Wojiu people in the Han Dynasty, more than 2,000 years ago. Together with the same facility found in the earlier House No. 2 in Dachengzi, Dongning, it constitutes the earliest known physical example of winter heating by ancient northern ethnic groups, laying the foundation for the later emergence of kangs.
Before the Liao and Jin dynasties, the Jurchens had already become quite proficient in using kangs.
As the Manchus took control of the Central Plains, the traditional heating method of residential buildings, the kang, was brought into the palace and was greatly promoted and popularized in the northern region.
This is the most feasible option Xiao Ran could think of.
"Hahaha, good, that's fine. Looks like I need to speed up. Once we take down this granary and plant corn, potatoes, and other grains on a large scale, the people of the Tang Dynasty won't starve."
Xiao Ran checked the time and stood up, "I have to pick up my second sister Mingda from school."
"Xiao Ran, I'm not kidding about the fiefdom. I'll give it to you. You pay for its development..."
Now Li Shimin knew that Xiao Ran was extremely rich.
Nowadays, these things have extremely high profits and the money earned is basically from the rich.
The same is true in this era, most of the wealth is in the hands of a very small number of people.
Places like supermarkets and cinemas make money from the rich.
Monopoly materials have high prices and make money very quickly.
"Let's talk about it when I get back." Xiao Ran was not in a hurry.
"Sizi and the others also have a lot of money. If they are willing to invest, they can be given fiefdoms!" Li Shimin added.
Xiao Ran stopped and said, "Uncle, isn't this place a bit bad? What if others object? This feels a bit like a feudal system."
"If a noble family is willing to develop such a remote place, I have no objection, provided that this is the Tang Dynasty."
Xiao Ran also understood Li Shimin's meaning and encouraged him to explore.
Xiao Ran drove to the kindergarten, where many parents were waiting.
Xiao Ran didn't expect that even in the Tang Dynasty, he still had to pick up and drop off his children to school.
Sometimes I feel a little dazed, and I am afraid that I have traveled through time.
As the bell rang, a group of children left the classroom.
Li Shimin had too many sons and daughters, and many of his illegitimate children had to be taken care of by others. Empress Zhangsun Li Shimin really couldn't take care of them all.
Li Chengqian and Li Lizhi, some of the older ones, will take better care of him, but compared to normal children, he lacks a lot of love from both parents.
But they are princesses and princes after all, and at least they have a high status and don’t have to worry about food and clothing.
The two little princesses walked out of the classroom hand in hand, carrying their schoolbags, and looked around for Xiao Ran.
Xiao Ran walked over with a smile, "Mingda, second sister!"
The two little princesses trotted over to Xiao Ran. They were used to Xiao Ran picking them up every day, and they would feel uncomfortable if he didn't come.
"Young master, go home!" The little princess pulled Xiao Ran.
"Yeah, okay!"
When she saw Xiao Ran, the little princess started talking about the interesting things that happened in kindergarten.
Like to share with Xiao Ran.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
