Fang Xuanling glared at Su Chen: "I know most of my knowledge about overseas countries from your mouth,"
"Not to mention me, most of the ministers in the DPRK don't know how far Luzon is from the mainland. After all, there is no exact record."
"Although there are records in the history books that Java came to pay tribute to the Central Plains, in the past hundred years, the farthest voyage of a ship from the Central Plains has been accurately recorded, that is, the previous Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty sent a ship to Liuqiu."
Su Chen smiled: "We in the Central Plains used to not care about overseas at all, so that a wise man like you, Prime Minister, didn't even know how far the Luzon Islands are from the mainland. This has to be said to be a tragedy."
"On the contrary, those remnants of the wealthy family are very familiar with Nanyang. They all know that they sent a fleet to Malacca to block my naval fleet from returning home."
Fang Xuanling glared at Su Chen: "Stop talking sarcastically. When you get back, sort out the specific situation in Nanyang and report it to the court."
"The nobles are not as familiar with Nanyang as you said, otherwise your spice island would have been gone long ago."
Su Chen: "The Spice Island is far away, it's still east of Java Island!"
"But that's also a problem. Those bastards will find the Spice Island sooner or later."
With that said, Su Chen turned to Li Chengqian and said, "Your Highness, it is up to you to explain this matter to His Majesty in detail."
Li Chengqian: "When we go back this time, we should declare that the spices are shipped from Dashi. We can hide it for a while!"
Su Chen: "Your Highness, this is a good idea, but I forgot to explain this matter when I wrote to Changle. Who knows if she will tell it."
"Also, did His Highness mention this matter when he wrote to His Majesty?"
Li Chengqian glared at Su Chen and ignored him.
Su Chen said to Fang Xuanling: "Don't worry, Mr. Fang, His Highness has already regarded the entire Nanyang as our territory of the Tang Dynasty."
"The South Sea has not only spices, but also various precious woods, gold and silver minerals, pearls, corals and other treasures."
"Your Majesty probably won't watch these treasures being snatched away by the remnants of the family."
Fang Xuanling: “Precious wood?
It seems that a large amount of valuable wood has indeed appeared in our Datang this year,"
"The King of Han seems to have given His Majesty a set of red sandalwood tables and chairs."
Hearing what Fang Xuanling said, Su Chen immediately gritted his teeth and said: "It must be the remnants of the damned clan who transported the precious wood from Southeast Asia back to the Tang Dynasty!"
Historically, Southeast Asia was rich in various precious woods. After the Song Dynasty, most of the precious woods used by the royal family of the Central Plains came from Southeast Asia.
By the late Manchu Qing Dynasty, most of the valuable timber in Southeast Asia had been cut down.
Su Chen had long been interested in the precious woods and spices from Southeast Asia, but damn Dashi was causing trouble.
When he came back from a big trip, the remnants of the wealthy family had already taken the lead and started selling valuable timber to the Tang Dynasty.
This made Su Chen very angry!
Fang Xuanling glared at Su Chen: "It's just some wood. It's nothing compared to your dozens of ships of spices. Does the Protector have to be so gnashing his teeth?"
The three of them were chatting and strolling, and they came to the edge of a field.
Fang Xuanling looked at the deserted fields: "The climate here is similar to that of Lingnan, and crops should be able to be harvested three times a year, but these fields are actually deserted."
Su Chen: "It should be the farmland cultivated by the indigenous residents here. Those Tu residents are probably harmed by the remnants of the clan."
Fang Xuanling looked around: "The rebellion of the Tang Dynasty suddenly rose in Luzon. This Ryukyu Island lies between the mainland and Luzon. Its strategic position will be extremely important in the future."
"After I return to Beijing, I plan to write to Your Majesty to formally incorporate Liuqiu under the rule of the Tang Dynasty, build a military port here, and send a large army to colonize it."
"What do Your Highness and the Protector think?"
Li Chengqian nodded: "Liuqiu will be our coastal defense front line in the Tang Dynasty, so we should pay attention to it."
Su Chen glanced at Fang Xuanling: "Is this the purpose of Fang Xiang's insistence on coming to Liuqiu?"
Fang Xuanling: "If I don't take a look in person, I won't be able to submit a letter to His Majesty!"
It turns out that Fang Xuanling had to come here to ask for help, and that was his plan.
Su Chen: "The Prime Minister's idea is very good. Liuqiu is indeed very important to us in the Tang Dynasty. We will definitely have troops stationed there in the future."
"However, I think it is not enough to garrison troops or establish military camps. It is best for the Prime Minister to suggest that Your Majesty immigrate to Liuqiu and start developing Liuqiu."
Fang Xuanling shook his head: "I'm afraid this won't work. It has only been ten years since the war ended in the Tang Dynasty, and the population is only over two million households. There is no extra population to develop this wild land."
Su Chen: "Xiang Fang, with the promotion of new agricultural tools and the improvement of steel smelting technology, the agricultural tools of our people in the Tang Dynasty have almost been updated in recent years, and the farming efficiency has been greatly improved."
"The original cultivated land no longer requires so many manpower, and there is already a surplus of labor in some densely populated areas."
"Furthermore, with the improvement of the performance of agricultural tools and other tools, it has become much easier to reclaim and develop wild lands. Otherwise, the remnants of the powerful families would not dare to transfer their elites overseas on a large scale."
"Also, hasn't His Majesty always wanted to do a population census? It's time to uncover those hidden populations."
"When I left Guanzhou, I recalculated the population of Guanzhou and it turned out to be nearly 20% more than before. Guanzhou is not a place with powerful clans. Who knows how many people have been hidden by those crazy clans in other places!"
Fang Xuanling still shook his head: "Even if there is some surplus population, we will develop the territory of the Tang Dynasty first. It is not yet available here."
"Not to mention that the officials above and below don't agree, even the common people are not willing to come to this barbaric land!"
Su Chen: "As long as we give you enough benefits, there are still people who are willing to come out and try it out!"
Fang Xuanling waited for Su Chen: "Duke Guoguo, don't mess around!"
"At present, it is difficult for the people in the country to settle down, and various projects require a large amount of labor..."
Su Chen smiled and said: "Why is the prime minister so anxious?"
"If you can't find a few people from the Tang Dynasty for development, it's enough to find a few big families to send a few servants and take care of a few families."
Fang Xuanling's eyes widened: "This place is a wilderness, what's the use of having so many people here?"
"Besides, who wants to come here?"
Su Chen pointed to his nose with a smile: "Oh my, my Sujiazhuang has been overcrowded for a long time. It's just time for the villagers to send a few young people to spread the branches."
"Mr. Fang, do you think if I, Chang'an, shout out, how many of the ministers in the DPRK will follow suit?"
Fang Xuanling rolled her eyes at Su Chen: "Half the court will follow!"
"Who doesn't know your ability to make money?"
"Last time the DPRK responded to your call and invested in Guanzhou, who didn't make a lot of money?"
"Your Majesty is still speechless. Everyone is required to pay taxes according to regulations, and Guanzhou is now rich thanks to them!"
"As long as you say there is money to be made in developing Liuqiu, I believe it!"
