Li Tai didn't wait long in the side hall. He almost arrived at the palace and was taken to the Liangyi Hall where political affairs were handled.
After Li Tai saluted, looking at Li Shimin's tired look, he decisively spoke first:
"Aye, the banquet lasted until late at night yesterday, and you have to get up so early to work today. It's really hard!"
When Li Shimin heard Li Tai's praise, he stroked his beard with satisfaction. No matter how he looked at it, he was still very pleased with his son. In comparison, Li Chengqian was not so considerate.
"King Yue, it's almost noon!" Wei Zheng said forcefully from one side.
Li Tai looked at Wei Zheng and felt that Li Shimin could hold this guy around instead of strangling him to death. This was something only a wise king could do. If it were him, he would have found someone to beat him in the dark.
The back of his head and then dragged away.
"Ahem!" Li Shimin coughed, bringing everyone's attention back to their senses, and said, "Qingque, do you know why I announced your arrival?"
"Qingque doesn't know!" Li Tai shook his head obviously, but calling his name Qingque didn't seem to be an important thing.
Li Shimin didn't speak but looked at Fang Xuanling. Fang Xuanling stood up decisively and said:
"It's like this. Su Guogong sent a letter from Lingnan, saying that you are planning to establish an agricultural school in Lingnan, so I came to you to ask about the charter!"
It is impossible for Fang Xuanling to say that we think you are crazy, so we called you over to see if you are still normal!
"I didn't expect that this matter would reach your ears!" Li Tai was a little surprised.
After all, I just opened a branch school in Lingnan, and to receive the attention of the country's top and second-ranking officials was really flattering.
In Li Tai's view, although this matter may become a very important plan in the future, for now, this move is really not very important.
"Qingque, let's talk about this from the beginning!" Li Shimin said in a deep voice after hearing Li Tai's words.
"No! Aye!" Li Tai heard Li Shimin's words and replied, "This matter will start when Feng Ang comes to Chang'an from the Zhu Kingdom.
Because I wanted to trade cane sugar, I planned to look for a place to grow sugar cane in Lingnan.
We also sent technicians from agricultural universities to make some simple technical improvements, hoping to produce cane sugar in large quantities."
When Li Shimin and Fang Xuanling heard Li Tai's words, they were a little stunned. They didn't expect that it was actually related to sucrose. Li Shimin came back to his senses, as if he had agreed to this matter not long ago.
Li Shimin said quickly, "I remember you told me about this, but what does this have to do with opening a branch of Xuefu Branch?"
"This is the introduction!" Li Tai said matter-of-factly, "I really didn't want to open a branch in Lingnan.
But I didn't expect that there would be a Liao rebellion in the Lingnan area, which gave me another idea.
I remember Secretary Wei said that there was great chaos and great rule. Since the Liao people rebelled in the Lingnan area this time, it must have had a considerable impact on the local area.
I want these students from agricultural institutions to go to the Lingnan area to familiarize themselves with the local environment and spread advanced farming techniques.
The warehouses are solid, they know etiquette, they have enough food and clothing, they know honor and disgrace, and the officials rebel, the biggest reason is probably that there is no food to eat!"
Hearing this, Li Shimin and Fang Xuanling couldn't help but look at each other.
To be honest, because Li Tai's behavior has always been too rational, and his eyes are a bit like looking thousands of miles away.
When Li Tai said such a natural but unbelievable reason, both Li Shimin and Fang Xuanling couldn't help but feel ashamed for a second, of course only for a second.
Fang Xuanling said without embarrassment, "The King of Yue is kind. It is a royal blessing to have such benevolence and do justice."
At this moment, Li Tai shook his head and said: "It's not fair and benevolent.
If I were just benevolent and just, I might send people to Lingnan instead of establishing an agricultural school on Lingnan Road.
Because there is the value of establishing an agricultural school there!"
"Oh!" Li Shimin couldn't help but was stunned when he heard Li Tai's words. He knew that his son was quite capable of making money.
If it can be called valuable by Li Tai, it should be worth at least a million dollars!
After all, the annual central fiscal revenue of the entire Tang Dynasty is only 2,000 to 30 million yuan.
Li Tai nodded and said, "Because research conducted by agricultural universities in recent years has found that crop growth is closely related to temperature.
Although the heat and humidity in the south are unbearable, it is a good place for farming matters.
I wanted to see if the food grown in the Lingnan area could be matured in more than a year. All this needs to be tested by agricultural universities.
And whether it can be successful, I'm afraid it will take two to three years just like cultivating wheat.
So I planned to establish a branch there.”
"Does it take more than a year to mature?" Fang Xuanling couldn't help but lick her lips when she heard Li Tai's words, and finally couldn't help saying,
"How long does it take a year for that place in Lingnan to mature?!" There was even a bit of excitement in his words.
"I don't know! It's just a study at the Agricultural University on cultivation and temperature!"
Li Tai shrugged and said, "Whether it can be planted needs to be tested, and northern wheat is definitely not suitable for southern cultivation.
So I think we still need to improve the crops we cultivate. I don’t know when this research will be completed.
But the sooner you arrange it, the sooner it will be finished.”
Just as Li Tai was drawing a picture of a better future, a hard voice came over again:
"But it is really difficult to transport materials from the Lingnan area to Chang'an, let alone Chang'an. As long as they can transport them to Yuhang, the land of Lingnan will not be disliked by Chang'an.
In fact, the entire Jiangnan Road is classified as Jiangnan Road, isn't it because the taxes from these places can either pass through the Yangtze River or through Yuhang, and then be transported to Luoyang and then to Chang'an!
As for Lingnan, even if they are willing to pay taxes, it will be difficult to transport it out!"
When everyone heard these words that were not in line with the atmosphere, they couldn't help but turn their heads and look at the person who made the voice to see who was so embarrassing!
I only saw Wei Zheng appearing in everyone's sight, looking upright.
Oh, it’s him!? Then it’s okay!
"Indeed!" Li Tai nodded in agreement and did not refute Wei Zheng's words.
Then Li Tai turned his attention to Li Shimin and said, "Aye, can I talk about Youzhou's plan?"
When several important ministers present heard what Li Tai said, they couldn't help but pricked up their ears, as if they wanted to listen carefully.
After all, Li Tai's plans are famous. Especially the water transportation plan has brought a lot of money to the central government, and a group of people can't wait to develop the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal!
As for why we didn't start immediately, firstly, it was because Du Ruhui had not finished his inspection, and secondly, because there were not enough mathematical talents under the unified weights and measures model, so we left it alone for now.
But as long as the talents from the Jiangnan branch come out, it is basically time to start comprehensively dredging the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal and establish water transport terminal rules.
The imperial court did not want one agricultural school to dominate, and the aristocratic family members were unwilling to do this work, so they had no choice but to wait for the Jiangnan School.
At this moment, Li Shimin waved his hand and said calmly:
"The ministers present are all important ministers of the country, and they are also my confidants. As long as it is for the country and the public, I will say nothing to them!"
After hearing this, several people present silently saluted Li Shimin. They were still very touched by Li Shimin's attitude.
And Li Tai said, "Because I don't plan to go by land, I plan to go directly by sea!"
"Sea transportation?!" After hearing this, everyone present was stunned, but they did not expect this answer.
"It's not easy to transport by sea!" Dou Jing, Minister of Civil Affairs, came forward to retort to Li Tai at this moment,
"I have been to Youzhou and seen Shaohai. I know that although the ocean is vast, it is not a thoroughfare.
There are tens of thousands of ravines below, and the sky is full of wind and rain. The journey to sea is by no means smooth!"
"Yes!" Li Tai nodded after hearing Dou Jing's words, "What Dou Shangshu said is true.
Even so, because land roads are too difficult to travel, at least taking the sea route can transport grain from Guangzhou to Yuhang, and then let Yuhang deliver the grain to the court. At least this is the only way currently.
In fact, there is no need for us to argue on this point, because what we are saying now is just empty words.
At least until the Guangzhou area can really grow grain that matures for more than a year, it is actually nothing more than a useless place for my court.
But if there is really food that can be cooked for more than a year, I don’t think I need to say anything more. Even if the court doesn’t do anything, the people will eventually find a way to open this road."
Everyone heard a hint of sarcasm in Li Tai's words, but they couldn't understand what the sarcasm was about.
However, Wei Zheng said, "Since the people will open the road spontaneously, why did it involve Youzhou?"
Li Tai explained, “Although the people will open up this trade route spontaneously, the size of the people themselves determines the size of the ships.
For them, transporting high-value items that are smaller and can be stored is the first choice, such as solid sucrose.
But unless there is a food disaster that causes food prices to rise, people will not take the initiative to transport food because it is not cost-effective!
Under such circumstances, ships that are large enough, or even a fleet of sufficient size, are needed to transport food.
Under normal circumstances, only the country can be the bearer, and the warships in the navy that are constantly retired are the best choice.
It is very important to have a team that can transport large amounts of grain to Yuhang at any time, and then transport the grain to various places through the waterways connected by the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal.
I think at least as far north as Youzhou, south as far as Yuhang, and all the places where the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal is located, even if there is a turmoil, the imperial court will be able to calm it down as soon as possible!"
To be honest, in Li Tai's opinion, there was no problem that food could not solve in the feudal era. If there was, then add another bowl of rice!
Li Tai's plan made the ministers present speechless.
To be honest, some things naturally have no feeling when they exist, but after being exposed, the officials present felt that the value of Lingnan has greatly increased!
Of course, no one plans to dive into Lingnan even if the value increases significantly.
One of the very real issues is that all this is based on the fact that the Lingnan region can harvest more grains a year.
If this is not true, then all Li Tai's plans will be in vain.
Even if Li Tai improved wheat cultivation and completely rectified the name of the agricultural school, he would still be able to grow food that matures for more than a year.
To be honest, the ministers in the imperial court may not believe that what Li Tai said is true, so they should wait and see.
"King Yue, you said that using the warships that are constantly decommissioned in the navy for commercial use is a bit too extravagant!"
At this time, Wen Yanbo stood up and said seriously to Li Tai, "It is not easy to build such a sharp weapon, let alone commercialize it!"
"Aren't warships just dumplings?" Li Tai said matter-of-factly at this moment, "You take warships too seriously.
To be honest, warships should not be used as sharp weapons, but as dumplings in the water, so that the navy can play its role!"
"What are dumplings?" Wei Zheng looked at Wen Yanbo who was being criticized and asked beside Fang Xuanling.
"There is a kind of pasta in "One Hundred Ways to Eat Noodles" written by the chef of the Yuewang family!" Fang Xuanling said softly.
"What the King of Yue said is so frivolous!" Wei Zheng said seriously, "Look at Wen Yanbo's face changing with anger!"
"Just shut up!" Fang Xuanling pulled Wei Zheng and said.
"King Yue, do you know how much people's fat and oil are needed to build a naval warship? In your eyes, it's just pasta!" Wen Yanbo said.
"Um..." Li Tai was stunned for a moment, and then respectfully said to Li Shimin, "Aye, can you stand up for a moment?"
"Qingque, what are you going to do!" Li Shimin heard Li Tai's words, hesitated for a while and stood up, and then said: "Don't mess around!"
Li Tai said seriously, "Aye, Qingque understands that Qingque just wants to tell everyone present.
It’s not that I look down on you, but that your economic ability compared to mine is like a firefly compared to the bright moon.
So don't use your thinking to think about my abilities!
As long as I am the governor of Youzhou and have the right to operate Hebei Province, give me three to five years, and the warships will be like dumplings!"
Seeing Li Tai's arrogant and domineering posture, everyone was grinning from ear to ear for a moment, and the entire hall fell silent.
Because they really didn't expect Li Tai to be so arrogant, let alone that Li Tai would say this.
Even Wen Yanbo, who came out to refute, was blushing at this time and wanted to say something, but couldn't answer.
Because everyone saw Gao Ling's changes, and because they knew Li Tai's ability, it was difficult to refute Li Tai's arrogant words now.
No one knows whether Li Tai could let the warships drop dumplings, but in three years Li Tai really developed the barren land of Gaoling into almost the richest place in the entire Guanzhong.
It can be said that there are many wealthy businessmen gathered there, living in a state of dissipation and wealth!
"Sage, since the King of Yue intends to take charge of Youzhou, why not let him visit Youzhou!" Fang Xuanling jumped out decisively.
"Yes, yes!" Wen Yanbo glanced at Fang Xuanling gratefully and reacted, saying,
"This is the perfect way to bring out the talents of the King of Yue! After all, doesn't the sage hope that my Tang Dynasty warship will be launched into the water like a dumpling?"
"This..." Although Li Shimin felt that Li Tai had exaggerated a bit, he would not directly kick Li Tai to Youzhou because of this.
You guys really don’t need to feel sorry for a child like this!
"The King of Yue has the wisdom of Cao Chong and the ability of Gan Luo. Counting carefully, the King of Yue must be twelve years old this year.
I believe that the King of Yue will definitely be willing to go to Youzhou to prove his ability as a Gan Luo!" Wen Yanbo said to Li Tai with a smile.
"Aye, when the Zheng Bai Canal is completed, wherever the Tang Dynasty needs Qingque, Qingque will be willing to go!" Li Tai accepted decisively.
"Qingque, you!" Li Shimin agreed when he saw Qingque coming forward directly, without even giving himself any room to refuse.
When he thought of this, Li Shimin gave Qingque a hard look and said, "Go back to Gaoling and reflect. We will discuss this later!"