Chapter 758 Teach you step by step how to do business
When Su Dingfang heard this, his attention became more focused, his eyes began to light up, and his lips began to tremble, "Your Majesty... Your Highness, if I help you train your navy and expand your fleet, will you appoint me?
For the water main?"
As for the commander-in-chief of the army, he couldn't even think about it.
There are too many strong men in the Tang Dynasty today. Not only Li Xiaogong can serve as the commander-in-chief of an army, but also Li Shiji, Li Jing, Liu Hongji, Huang Junhan and many other figures who have already served as commanders or senior marching managers of a certain route.
There are three people named Li here, among whom Li Xiaogong can be regarded as a real relative of the emperor. The Li family where Li Jing belongs, if they really want to pursue Ben Shuoyuan, they can also have a relationship with the royal family, so Li Shiji is an outsider.
Therefore, the position of commander-in-chief was not his turn.
This is not the period in history when Li Zhi was in power. He and Li Shiji monopolized the position of commander-in-chief of the Tang Dynasty.
Now there are many powerful people standing side by side. There are many people who are stronger than him, have more seniority than him, and have a deeper background than him.
So he could only fight for the waterway master.
When Li Yuanji faced his question, he was a little angry and a little funny: "You can't be a bit promising, don't you want to be the commander-in-chief of the army?"
Su Dingfang kept shaking his head and smiled bitterly: "I think so, why don't I want to? But my qualifications are not as good as Li Shiji's, my ability is not as good as Li Jing's, and my background is not as good as that of the King of Hejian. If they take the initiative to ask for help, what can I do to fight with them?"
Li Yuanji rolled his eyes at Su Dingfang and said, "You can't compete with the King of Hejian, you can't compete with Li Jing, and you can't compete with Li Shiji?"
Su Dingfang was stunned for a moment and asked excitedly: "What do you mean by your highness?"
Li Yuanji sat up slightly and said angrily: "With King Hejian's current achievements, do you think I would still send him to lead troops in battle? With Li Jing's achievements, after conquering the Turks, he can still lead troops alone to fight.
?"
Su Dingfang was stunned again, and his thoughts suddenly opened up.
Yes, it is not an exaggeration to say that Li Xiaogong, the king of Hejian, has made more contributions than his master now. That is to say, Li Shimin is still alive, and Li Shimin's contribution is greater than him, so he does not appear to be so outstanding.
Once Li Shimin does something good, he becomes a pearl in the gravel, a crane among the chickens, and his brilliance can no longer be concealed.
Therefore, no matter how powerful he is, Li Yuan and Li Yuanji will never use him again.
Otherwise, the tail will be too big to fall off.
The same is true for Li Jing. He performed very well during the period when he was conquering Liang and recruiting Jiaozhou and other separatist forces.
Later, he achieved great success in the process of conquering Fu Gongyou and raiding the Turkic royal court. If he can take the credit of conquering the Turks again, he will have achieved a level of great achievements.
Once something goes wrong between Li Shimin and Li Xiaogong, he will be the most dazzling.
Therefore, after he conquered the Turks, neither Li Yuan nor Li Yuanji would use him again.
And he only needs to compete with Li Shiji.
Although Li Shiji has more seniority than him and has a little more credit than him, Li Shiji is still Li Yuan's minister, and he has become Li Yuanji's confidant, and Li Yuanji is now in power in the Tang Dynasty.
If nothing else happens, Li Yuanji will be in power in the future.
As Li Yuanji's confidant, if Li Yuanji orders a general, he will give priority to him.
So he only needs to make some achievements before Li Yuanji appoints him as a general to make up for the gap between him and Li Shiji. When the Tang Dynasty conquers Goguryeo, Li Yuanji can naturally appoint him as a general.
Overwhelm a group of arrogant soldiers with his own merits.
In a moment, he thought a lot. He not only thought about the future endings of Li Xiaogong and Li Jing, but also thought about the advantages of his competition with Li Shiji. At the same time, he also heard the implication of Li Yuanji's words.
He was a little excited, but also hesitant and asked: "Your Highness, what do you mean, are you planning to appoint Li Jing as general during the northern expedition against the Turks?"
Li Yuanji corrected him: "To be precise, I worship Li Jing as my commander-in-chief."
Su Dingfang started to speak but stopped.
Seeing this, Li Yuanji asked, "Why, do you have a more suitable choice?"
Regardless of Li Jing's ability, judging from Li Jing's performance in history, it is a sure thing to appoint him as commander and let him conquer the Turks.
With such a sure-fire commander at his disposal, why would he risk choosing someone else?
Wouldn't it be better to ignore the sure-win situation and go for abuse?
Isn’t that cheap?
When Su Dingfang heard this, he quickly shook his head and said: "No, I don't have any other more suitable choice. I just want to know, if I, the Tang Dynasty, want to conquer the Turks, will you appoint me as a general?"
Now that Li Yuanji has decided to appoint Li Jing as commander, he can only try to win over the other marching commanders, try to show his face and get some credit.
Li Yuanji said angrily: "You can't use your brain? If I appoint you as a general, let you conquer the Turks, and let you gain huge military exploits, then how can I make you my commander when I conquer Goguryeo?"
"
Su Dingfang was a little confused when he heard this.
Li Yuanji explained speechlessly: "A king always pays attention to a balance when doing things. If I appoint you as a general when I conquer the Turks and let you get some credit, then your credit will be stuck between Li Jing and Li Shiji.
between.
When I, the Tang Dynasty, start to conquer Goguryeo, if I worship you as my commander, then King Hejian and Li Jing will also come out to fight.
Because it is risky for me to be your commander, and it is also risky for me to be their commander. Why not take more risks and be my commander?
After all, they are better than you in terms of qualifications and merit.
Once they start to fight, those old ministers who strive for stability will definitely come out to oppose.
Not only will they not get what they want, but you will also become cannon fodder when they fight with the veterans, which will only benefit Li Shiji.
Therefore, not only can you not participate in the conquest of the Turks, but you must also strongly recommend Li Shiji to go."
Su Dingfang is also a smart man. After listening to these words, he instantly understood the meaning.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! He immediately bowed with gratitude and said: "Thank you, Your Highness, for clearing up the confusion. I understand what to do..."
Li Yuanji curled his lips in disgust and said, "That's why I tell you so much and even help you plan because you are mine. If you were not mine, I wouldn't bother to tell you so much.
"
Although these words were unfair to An Xinggui, Shi Wanbao, Li Jing, Li Shiji and other generals who had fallen under his feet, they were heart-warming.
Especially Nuan Su Dingfang and other former members of the Qi Palace.
"I would like to thank His Highness for your kindness. I will definitely live up to Your Highness's expectations."
Su Dingfang bent down again and spoke sincerely.
Li Yuanji waved his hands and said disgustedly: "Okay, hurry down and send a message to the people on the water and sea transportation. Don't let them bring back gold, silver and jewelry that cannot be eaten or drunk. Let them transport more food.
Medicinal materials, leather goods.
I hope that within three years, you can help me fill the granaries in Luoyang, Dizhou and Yangzhou.
Within five years, the number of granaries in these three places will be doubled.
I will write to the local governor later and ask them to expand the granaries in these three places.
It’s up to you whether you can fill them up.”
Hearing this, Su Dingfang did not dare to ask for help. The granaries in Dizhou and Yangzhou were not very small, but they were not particularly large either. They were easy to fill up. Even if they were doubled, the existing ships would not be able to carry them.
The amount can be filled within five years.
But the granaries in Luoyang are different. As one of the old capitals of the former Sui Dynasty, Luoyang not only has several granaries that were passed down a long time ago, but also granaries that were expanded by the former Sui Dynasty.
It is said that at its peak, the Luoyang granary stored enough grain to feed the world for three years.
If it is expanded further, more food can be stored.
This large amount of grain cannot be transported within five years, let alone the existing ships. Even if the number of ships is doubled, it cannot be transported within five years.
So after Su Dingfang was stunned for a moment, he said with a troubled face: "Your Highness, the granaries in Dizhou and Yangzhou are okay, but if the granaries in Luoyang are expanded, just with the ships under my command, even if they don't stop for a moment,
Shipping, there is no way to fill it up.
Even if I triple the number of ships under my command, it will be difficult to fill them up within five years.
Besides, with the amount of cultivated land in Jiaozhou now, we won’t be able to produce so much food in five years.”
Don't look at the fact that after the opening of maritime transportation in the Tang Dynasty, a lot of grain was transported back from Jiaozhou. During the war between the Tang Dynasty and the Turks, they also helped prepare a batch of military rations, so they thought that Jiaozhou's food was inexhaustible.
In fact, as far as the fertile fields currently cultivated in Jiaozhou are concerned, the grain produced each year is very limited.
The previous few shipments had brought back 50% of Jiaozhou's grain reserves, and a few more shipments would have emptied Jiaozhou's grain reserves.
There is no way it can go on forever.
Unless Datang abandons its roots and engages in large-scale development in Jiaozhou, vigorously promotes three-season rice in historically famous places such as Champa, etc.
Otherwise, with Yangzhou's current grain production situation, it would be the limit to be able to fill Yangzhou's granaries within five years.
"Tell me, are your ears blocked by donkey hair? Didn't I tell you to use your brain more? There is not so much food in Jiaozhou, and there is none in Linyi? There is no other place in the Tang Dynasty.
?
You control the entire water and sea transportation, and you can transport grain anywhere in the Tang Dynasty along water or sea transportation.
You can also go far away to Linyi and exchange large quantities of grain and grass from Linyi.
If it doesn't work, you can open a hole in water transportation and sea transportation, let those wealthy merchants with wealthy family backgrounds also participate, exempt them from taxes, and let them use grain to compensate.
You can even ask them to help transport part of the food to the court while selling goods.
You can discuss with them the specific percentage of grain and goods.
As long as you make them feel it is profitable, they may agree to pay as much grain as you ask them to deliver, or to transport as much grain as you ask them to.”