While Xu Fanghai was busy with religious inventory and Lu Lun was busy with compulsory education, Lu Ensheng from Anxi was standing in the inner hall of the Department of State and Municipal Affairs of the Ministry of Household Affairs. Looking at the man in front of him, he was so shocked that he couldn't speak for a moment.
Words come.
Kang Kejing looked at the baby-faced by-election clerk in front of her and asked, "Do you know me?"
Lu Ensheng: "You are Young Master Kang of the Kang family in Shicheng Town. Anyone who is doing business in Anxi has heard of your name."
Kang Kejing: "Listen to what you said, I am somewhat famous."
Lu Ensheng: "The Kang family in Shicheng has trading houses in Qiuci, Yanqi, Khotan and other places, and their business is also prosperous. And the young master of the Kang family is extremely intelligent and capable, and the merchants in Anxi regard you as
example."
Kang Kejing smiled and waved her hand: "I have handed over the Kang family's business to others, and now I am a member of the National and Municipal Affairs Bureau."
Lu Ensheng quickly bowed and said, "Exceptor Kang."
Kang Kejing: "I also know your name, Lu Ensheng from Lu Family Trading Company, right?"
Lu Ensheng was a little surprised: "Does Mr. Kang know about Mr. Lu?"
Kang Kejing: "You may not know it, but His Majesty once mentioned your name."
Lu Ensheng was surprised: "Your Majesty has ever mentioned me?"
Kang Kejing first smiled and nodded, and then changed the topic: "From now on, when you serve under me, you will be an official of the Tang Dynasty. The atmosphere in the trading firm must be slowly let go, and you can no longer bring it into the country and the city."
Already."
Lu Ensheng nodded in agreement, suppressed the excitement in his heart, and asked Kang Kejing: "Exceptor Kang, I wonder what I need to do in the National and Municipal Affairs Bureau?"
Kang Kejing stood up: "Come on, there is a meeting to be held next."
Following Kang Kejing, they came to the outer hall of the Guoshi Siguan Office. Lu Ensheng walked into the hall and saw a large number of guests wearing silk and satin standing in the hall.
When these guests saw Kang Kejing, they quickly came over and cupped their hands and said, "Exceptor, Mr. Kang."
Kang Kejing nodded slightly, came to the upper position, sat down, and said to everyone: "The things you asked about earlier have now come to fruition."
The guests in the hall were nervously waiting for what would happen next.
Kang Kejing: "The emperor nodded in approval."
When the guests heard this, they couldn't help but cheered softly.
Lu Ensheng on the side was confused and didn't know what was going on here.
Kang Kejing added: "Laizhou Port and Yuyang Port have been closed for a long time due to the war. Now the palace has relaxed its stance and opened a sea ban. You should all know what to do, right?"
The guests nodded.
Kang Kejing: "The ugly words are here. Everyone here is a businessman. Making money is important, but the interests of the court come first. If someone makes trouble after the sea ban is lifted, I don't need to tell you what will happen next.
You should also know."
Everyone in the hall nodded.
Kang Kejing: "Okay, after explaining the rules, let's talk about business. The imperial court will open Laizhou Port and Yuyang Port and allow you to go out to sea for trade. At the same time, the imperial court will provide you, the maritime merchants, with a rough sea map of the eastern part of the Tang Dynasty.
."
Someone asked: "The eastern part of the Tang Dynasty? Does it mean Silla and Japan?"
Kang Kejing: "No, it's farther and farther than there."
The merchants looked at each other in confusion, and finally asked cautiously: "Exceptor Kang, can we take a look at the chart first?"
Kang Kejing nodded and ordered someone to take out a printed chart.
On the chart, the coastline of Datang Hebei is at the far left, Silla and Japan are to the right, and the Bering Strait and the Aleutian Islands are to the right. At the far right of the map, there is a huge piece of land connecting the north and the south.
There are two big characters written on it: America.
After looking at the chart, the merchants were dumbfounded. Someone asked: "Beautiful... America? There is such a large piece of land in the east, thousands of miles away from the Tang Dynasty?"
Kang Kejing: "This picture was given by the palace. It is a secret treasure passed down in the early years. Look carefully."
Hearing this, the merchants hesitated: "The distance is far and the journey is dangerous. Even if we find this continent, we may have a narrow escape."
Kang Kejing heard this, picked up a book from the sea chart, opened a few pages, and said to everyone: "There is countless wealth on the American continent, and it is said that there is also a city made of gold. Among them, the emperor
We pay special attention to two local products, take a look."
When everyone came closer and took a look, they saw two strange crops drawn on the pages.
Kang Kejing: "These two local products, one is called corn, and the other is called potatoes. Their appearance, place of origin, and taste are all written here. If someone can bring back one of them, the person in charge can be promoted to a third-grade official and given
In Yongye Tian, the family can be granted titles and honors, which can be inherited from generation to generation. The accompanying banquet can also be promoted to the seventh rank or above, and it will be given tens of thousands of gold and a mansion."
Hearing the reward behind them, all the merchants were stunned on the spot, and then rushed to ask: "Is Kang Yuanwai's statement serious?"
Kang Kejing: "The emperor has an imperial edict. If you don't believe it, you can go to the official office and have a look."
When the maritime merchants learned that this was indeed the case, they were all overjoyed.
If you can really go to the American continent and bring back any native product, it means that your family can prosper for generations.
Kang Kejing saw people's expressions, smiled softly, and said: "Even if you can't bring back local products, you can still draw coastlines and topographic maps, and record the customs and customs during the journey. Any records that are useful to the New World will be kept by the imperial court."
Reciprocal rewards will be given according to the importance."
When the merchants heard this, they kept nodding.
Kang Kejing: "The emperor also said that the sea route is not as good as the river transport, with high winds, strong waves, and reef whirlpools. It is difficult for one person to build a sea-going ship. The Hebei Navy will provide you with some design suggestions based on shipbuilding experience.
Help. In addition, the court will provide convenience for the use of land and the provision of interest loans."
The merchants thanked him profusely.
Kang Kejing talked with the merchants for a while, then took Lu Ensheng and left first.
On the way back to the official residence, Kang Kejing asked Lu Ensheng: "The emperor allowed the reopening of Laizhou Port and Yuyang Port, and also provided nautical charts of the New World to encourage people to sail. Do you know the purpose of this move?"
Lu Ensheng hesitated for a moment and replied: "I don't know."
Kang Kejing glanced at Lu Ensheng: "When An Lushan rebelled against the Tang Dynasty, the Central Plains business almost stagnated, and Anxi business suddenly emerged. However, Anxi was too far away from the Central Plains and was inconvenient to manage. At this time, the emperor lifted the maritime ban and proposed the emergence of navigation and development.
Sea trade, this is actually a signal."
Lu Ensheng: "Signal?"
Kang Kejing: "The emperor is planning to move the focus of business from Anxi back to the Central Plains, and put business matters under his watch."
Lu Ensheng: "The emperor is worried about Anxi's trading firm?"
Kang Kejing: "No, on the contrary, the emperor recognized Anxi, but he knew that no matter how it developed, Anxi's business could not escape the problems of vast land, sparsely populated areas, and harsh environment. The war in the Central Plains is about to end, and business relocation is the key.
The focus for the future.”
This chapter has been completed!