Xiao Yu suddenly smiled at this time: "Thanks to Su Chen."
"If he hadn't invented high-yielding crops and efficient equipment, which greatly reduced the difficulty of conquering the wilderness, we really wouldn't have the courage to go to those wild places overseas."
When Xiao Rui heard Su Chen's name, he felt as if he had eaten a fly!
Xiao Yu glanced at his eldest son and sighed: "The reason why our family is in this situation is indeed because of Su Chen, but we cannot ignore our own reasons."
"Su Chen has been hiding in Sujiazhuang for so many years, right under our noses, and we have turned a blind eye."
"It wasn't until Li Er accidentally discovered him that it brought us disaster."
"If we could have taken Su Chen into our hands earlier, what would have happened to Li Tang?"
Xiao Rui was not interested in what his father said. He was still confused about things overseas.
"Father, even though it is not that difficult to conquer the overseas wilderness now, I discovered after this time that we are still not as good as Su Chen in shipbuilding and navigation. If there is a conflict..."
"Then there will be no conflict!"
Xiao Rui was stunned: "How is that possible!"
"What's impossible? A person's energy is limited. Su Chen has his own things to deal with, and he doesn't have the time to bother us all over the world."
Xiao Rui was not so confident: "It's hard to say, Su Chen is not a good person."
"And even so, if the Tang Dynasty is so powerful now, what's the use of us hiding overseas?"
Xiao Yuyou glanced at Xiao Rui and said with a disappointed face: "I told you to study more, but you just don't listen!"
"How can there be an empire that is always strong in this world? You don't understand the principle of a waxing moon?"
"Li Tang seems to be strong now, but there are many internal conflicts, which are just covered up because of the rapid growth of national power!"
"Once it enters a period of calm, these conflicts will explode immediately."
"Furthermore, Li Tang's rule is reaching its limit and it is impossible to expand indefinitely."
"Once the external expansion is over, it will be time for internal forces to compete. When the time comes... hum!"
Xiao Rui was a little distracted by everything his father said!
In his opinion, they are all conjectures and not convincing at all.
Xiao Rui's expression fell in Xiao Yu's eyes, which made Xiao Yu feel disappointed and secretly sighed:
"Fortunately, Yue'er is smart and courageous, and can take up my position as the head of the Xiao family. Let's leave the boss to Li Er. I can live safely as a consort."
…
This interception of the grain transport fleet was a large-scale joint operation by the family members, and the losses were not limited to the Xiao family.
After hearing the result of the Battle of Wuhu Sea, Zheng Yuanshou, the head of the Zheng family in Xingyang, also had a dark look in his eyes!
His family's losses were even greater. Fifteen of the sixty-two pirate ships belonged to the Zheng family in Xingyang!
After Zheng Yuanshou recovered his breath, like Xiao Yu, he began to prepare the Zheng family's children to go overseas.
"Renkai, you are the one with the highest level of shipbuilding in our Zheng family. You still need to go to the shipyard in Luzon Island in person. Thank you for your hard work!"
Zheng Renkai handed over to Zheng Yuanshou and said: "Don't worry, uncle, my nephew has already sent some craftsmen and guards to Luzon Island, and also captured a lot of Kunlun slaves to work as coolies. The shipyard will be ready soon."
"I heard that Xiao is also planning to build a shipyard there?"
Zheng Yuanshou nodded: "When it comes to shipbuilding, only the Xiao family can compare with me, the Zheng family,"
"Now is no different than before. We all have to work together to overcome difficulties. With Mrs. Xiao here, everyone can take care of us."
"Besides, Luzon Island is so big that it cannot be occupied by one or two families."
Seeing Zheng Renkai frowning, Zheng Yuanshou said again: "Renkai, don't worry, we will have no disputes with the Xiao family in the future. Xiao Yu has already sent someone to request a marriage with my Zheng family,"
"She is the eldest daughter of his younger brother Xiao Jin. You have also seen her. She has all four virtues! What do you think of Ren Kai?"
Zheng Renkai smiled: "My nephew's parents died early, so it is my uncle who makes the final decision."
Zheng Yuanshou nodded and said: "As long as you agree, I saw you looking troubled and thought you had other ideas..."
Zheng Renkai sighed and said, "My nephew is just unwilling!"
Zheng Yuanshou patted him on the shoulder: "There's nothing to be unwilling to do, I'm just avoiding the edge for the time being!"
"Li Tang's strength will not last long. When the time comes, you will be able to honor your ancestors!"
Zheng Renkai said: "Is there no other way? I heard that the Great Food Army is in full swing, and Tianzhu is also..."
Zheng Yuanshou smiled bitterly and shook his head: "If Su Chen hadn't invented the train, everyone would have joined forces and used Tianzhu and Dashi as well as the surrounding barbarians who hated Li Tang to drag Li Tang into the war.
That was the original plan too.”
"But with the train, Li Er's control over Datang will reach an unprecedented level..."
"Isn't the train not finished yet?"
Zheng Renkai was unwilling to admit it.
"Although it's not done yet, it's coming soon. Su Chen has already built a machine to crush rocks. That thing is already very frightening!"
Zheng Renkai: "There's a bunch of idiots in the north, they can't even delay Su Chen!"
Zheng Yuanshou said helplessly: "The matter has come to this, it is useless to say more!"
Like the Xiao family of Lanling and the Zheng family of Xingyang, other aristocratic families were frightened and extremely angry after hearing the results of the Wuhu sea battle.
In addition to fear, grief and anger, they all, like the Xiao family and the Zheng family, began to quietly transfer their elite disciples overseas!
At the same time, a large number of people they have hidden for a long time are also quietly and slowly transported overseas through various means!
The aristocratic family has been standing for thousands of years, and the power accumulated among the people has long penetrated into every corner of society. Li Er quickly discovered these secret means of transferring people outwards.
And even if they were discovered, it would be difficult to stop them. They were all hidden shackles of aristocratic families, and the government did not have their household registration at all.
Of course, the prefectures and counties under the jurisdiction of Guanzhou Governor's Mansion are different. After Su Chen's several killings, the influence of the aristocratic families here has basically been eliminated. The remaining children of the aristocratic families have either fled to other places, or are hiding in the manor fearfully and not daring to move.
.
In addition, Su Chen's population census went relatively smoothly, and then everyone was surprised to find that after last year's locust plague and the inability to farm this year, Guanzhou's population actually increased instead of falling.
And the increase was actually as high as 20%!
You can imagine how many people the family usually hides.
If Datang hadn't been in troubled times right now, Li Er would have wanted to conduct a nationwide census!
Li Er and Su Chen knew nothing about the big secret moves of the aristocratic family.
Su Chen continues to be busy making his own trains and building railways;
While Li Er was trying to figure out why the Turks suddenly rebelled, he also did not take the Great Northwest lightly.
He always felt that there was a big conspiracy there.
