Xiao Yu said calmly: "Interests are relative and mutual. What your Majesty wants now is the stability of Jiangnan. We will focus our energy overseas, which is in line with the emperor's wishes. As for interests...the interests of my family, even if it is gold and silver,
, how can you put it in the eyes of His Majesty, who is rich all over the world?"
He didn't take these words seriously, but in fact he had no choice but to do so.
The Xiao family has a great business, and although it has fertile land and vast hectares of shops and forests, such a steady stream of industry obviously cannot support the family's luxurious life of enjoying food and dinner.
It is impossible to reduce expenditures. How can the arrogant and extravagant habits developed over hundreds of years be easily changed? Source of income has become the top priority. The Xiao family has always been engaged in overseas trade, but for such huge profits, it is accompanied by high risks.
I have never made much investment. Once I go to sea, dangerous waves and raging pirates often cause the boat to overturn and people to lose their money. This kind of loss is not something that anyone can bear casually...
However, since the establishment of the Royal Navy, pirates have been eradicated and trade routes have been opened up. The benefits of sea trade have suddenly increased, and security has been greatly improved. With the Royal Navy escorting, all offshore routes are covered by the Navy, and pirates can be seen from a distance.
If you see the navy's white sails and the rumbling cannons, you will avoid them. How can you dare to bring them to your doorstep to seek death? Every shop near the water in the south of the Yangtze River is swarming to carry out maritime trade, and the scale is increasing day by day.
At present, due to Xiao Yu's strength in the court and the Xiao family's background, the Xiao family has occupied one-tenth of the Tang Dynasty's maritime trade, becoming the leading maritime trade merchant.
Profit makes people crazy.
After tasting the huge profits from sea trade, some of the highly respected elders of the Xiao family were gradually dissatisfied with doing business in a regular manner under the control of the Shipping Department. The taxes that were taken away by the Shipping Department seemed to them like they were torn from their bodies.
The next piece of bloody flesh made them so painful that they couldn't even eat it raw.
As a result, smuggling began to become rampant...
Xiao Yu is in the center, and his eyes are naturally not comparable to those of the old people living in the countryside. Rather than chasing huge profits from smuggling, why not pay taxes in a safe and sound manner.
The relationship between family and country is mutually reinforcing. Although the country collects taxes, it also builds a navy to protect the environment and the people, and feeds merchants. On the contrary, if the national finances are unsustainable, the political situation will be turbulent and the people will be uneasy. Where can merchants make money?
In the troubled times of the late Sui Dynasty, people were like grass and grass, and the lessons of Yin were not far away...
However, those short-sighted clan elders have been blinded by violence, and have trained a large number of domestic slaves to serve as sailors, and then armed themselves to participate in smuggling on sea ships.
This would be fine in ordinary times. No one dared to make trouble on Xiao Yu's head in the country. With all the gossip officials under his leadership, who would have no intention of impeaching him? As for overseas, a large number of domestic slaves were armed.
His strength should not be underestimated, and even ordinary pirates should stay away.
But now, Xiao Yu is a little worried and a little regretful.
If you fail to knock down Fang Jun, you will most likely suffer its backlash...
But he still had the confidence. Even if Fang Jun wanted to retaliate, it would be limited to a certain scale. Moreover, as long as he and Fang Xuanling negotiated properly, Fang Jun could only stop fighting even if he was still angry.
How could Lanling Xiao's daughter be a free gift?
Xiao Rui was still worried: "That guy Fang Jun... his temper is really bad, and he can't get enough oil and salt. Now that Fang Xuanling is going south, he should tell his family to be more careful. Fang Xuanling is a gentleman, and he must not bend the law for personal gain."
Once he learns that smuggling is becoming increasingly rampant in the south of the Yangtze River, there is no guarantee that he will not become furious."
When Fang Xuanling gets angry, Fang Jun must calm down his father's anger, and those families involved in smuggling will be in trouble. Fang Jun has a black face, and no matter who his family is, he has no human feelings at all.
"It's natural."
Xiao Yu nodded and said: "My father is going south this time to take advantage of the opportunity of officiating for Emperor Jing to warn the elders in the family that if you continue to be greedy like this, there will be no good consequences."
Everything should be done in moderation, and going too far is never enough.
The stupid elders in the family are greedy and will cause big trouble sooner or later. Your Majesty now has to stabilize the sacred land in the south of the Yangtze River for the Eastern Expedition, but this kind of patience has its limit. Once the emperor's bottom line is touched, Thunder will be furious.
.
If you don't stop, I'm afraid it will be too late...
*****
The dusk is getting darker and the autumn wind is blowing.
Two fast horses galloped out of Song Guogong's Mansion, passed through the city gate and arrived at Fangjiawan Pier in the south of the city. They boarded a Xiao family cargo ship, untied the cable and sailed down the river, heading south along the waterway.
Xiao Yu was still worried that the elders in his family would not restrain themselves and would cause great trouble, so he sent his confidants to go south overnight...
When Fang Jun returned to the house, the lights were already on.
The house was lit with earth dragons and fire pits, and it was as warm as spring.
After taking off her official robe and washing her hands and face, the maid had already prepared dinner, which included seven or eight exquisite side dishes, a bowl of fragrant rice, and a pot of warm rice wine. There was no entertainment at night these days, even if the couple was in bed.
Do some exercise and go to bed after ten o'clock at most. Eating too much is not good.
After eating all the rice and drinking half a pot of rice wine, the fatigue of the day was swept away.
The maids heated up hot water and waited for Fang Jun to take off all his clothes and soak naked in the wooden tub. Fang Jun rested his head on the edge of the tub comfortably, feeling that the hot spring pool in the farm was more suitable for bathing.
My parents know how to enjoy themselves better than me, so they almost never go back to the house.
However, my father will leave for Jiangnan tomorrow, and I will definitely not stay at the farm. After all, if I had not taken care of my father recently, I would never be able to leave her two eldest grandsons.
In the current Fang family, the status of the two dolls is higher than anything else. Not to mention that Fang Jun has no status in front of the dolls. Even the father and Princess Gaoyang will be scolded for neglecting to take care of the dolls. Not to mention that every time
The eldest brother Fang Yi, who has always been told by his mother to "exercise" more and give birth to a child as soon as possible every time they meet, wants to fly to the sky and escape...
Squinting his eyes slightly, he felt two pairs of smooth little hands rubbing his shoulders and back. After a moment, he felt something was wrong. When he opened his eyes and looked back, it turned out to be Princess Gaoyang and Wu Meiniang.
Fang Jun said helplessly: "Don't make trouble, okay?"
Princess Gaoyang shrugged her little nose and said: "We two sisters serve you, why are you not satisfied?"
Wu Meiniang also pursed her lips and smiled: "You dislike us for being careless and not as gentle and petty as the maids, right?"
"It's unfair! How dare you, a young man? You two are rich and noble, but His Majesty found out that you gave me a bath at home. How could you be so angry that you caught me and whipped me severely? The other one is even a heroine.
I don't want to give in to men, and I control the wharf so that all the merchants in Guanzhong are subservient. I don't know how many officials and dignitaries want to marry home and have a kiss... Oh, why are you pinching me?"
Wu Meiniang retracted her pointed nails, while Princess Gao Yang snorted coldly: "Is it nice to say these weird words?"
Fang Jun glared and said, "Haha, it's going to be a big deal, isn't it?"
Princess Gaoyang's pointed chin was raised slightly, and her handsome face was full of disdain: "What's the matter, you are so rude in front of me, do you understand the superiority and inferiority?"
Fang Jun sneered, he was not afraid of any princess: "You, a woman, are bossing around in front of your husband, so let me teach you what it means to be superior and inferior..."
As he said that, he stretched out his wet arms from the bathtub, grabbed Princess Gaoyang's slender waist, picked up her light body sideways, and wrapped her into the bathtub.
Princess Gaoyang's beauty turned pale, and she screamed with water splashing everywhere. In an instant, she was carried into the bathtub by Fang Jun, shouting: "Mei Niang, save me! Oh..."
A big hand has already been along the skirt of the clothes, got inside like a spiritual snake, and grasped a plump ball.
After being caught in a critical situation, Princess Gaoyang let out a "squeak" and collapsed into Fang Jun's arms like a boneless body. She gasped and struggled feebly for a few times. Her pretty face was blood red and she said coquettishly: "You, you, you... let me go.
Otherwise, I want you to look good... uh huh..."
Fang Jun raised and lowered his hands, seeing that His Highness was trying to show off his power as a princess at this time. He couldn't help but feel happy, and he became more and more energetic in teasing her. Princess Gaoyang couldn't bear to give in, and struggled and twisted in his arms. Fang Jun's blood gradually boiled as she rubbed against him.
, her whole body was so hot that she couldn't help but lift up her skirt and put her hand in...
Wu Meiniang ignored Princess Gao Yang's cry for help, she just leaned slightly and stood outside the bathtub, rolled up her sleeves, exposing two forearms that were as good as the snow, and gently rubbed Fang Jun's hard shoulders and arms.
Suddenly, Princess Gaoyang's snow-white neck was raised straight up, her little cherry-like mouth let out a soft cry, and her whole body suddenly stiffened.
Wu Meiniang asked curiously: "What's wrong, Your Highness?"
No one answered her, only the geothermal water in the bathtub rippled gently, making ripples in circles...
Wu Meiniang's pretty face turned red, she spat bitterly, and cursed: "Adulterer and adulteress, shameless..."
Even though he was extremely embarrassed, he did not walk away. Instead, he pursed his lips and rubbed Fang Jun silently, his cheeks red and hot.
Her husband was about to leave, and his fate on the battlefield was unclear. She and Princess Gaoyang wanted to take advantage of her husband's farewell to serve him well, so that he could remember the taste of his lovely wife and concubine at home, so that he would not be charmed by Jiangnan.
Zi hooked away Hun'er...
Princess Gaoyang's breathing became more and more intense in her ears, and Wu Meiniang seemed to feel a fire burning in her heart. Suddenly, a big wet hand wrapped around her neck, and her hot lips pressed against it.
She only had time to be confused for a moment before Wu Meiniang became addicted to it.
As long as he is happy, let him do whatever he wants...