Everyone tried to persuade her to stay, but when they saw Fang Xuanling insisting on leaving, they all breathed a sigh of relief. If Fang Xuanling really stayed, it would be difficult.
In the officialdom, sometimes we are really in a dilemma...
Seeing that Fang Xuanling was about to turn around and board the ship, one of the officials walked out, took two steps forward, and saluted: "This official is from the Xiao family in Lanling. On the order of the head of my family, I would like to express my welcome to Prime Minister Fang.
When the Prime Minister settles down in Huating Town, the head of my family will visit him personally and discuss important matters with the Prime Minister."
The dock fell silent for a moment.
All the officials looked at this man in surprise. Could it be that the Xiao family planned to form an alliance with the Fang family?
I really don’t know what the old guys in the "Golden Bamboo Garden" who live in a small building and don't see outsiders but are in charge of the power of the Xiao family are planning...
Mu Yuanzuo's eyes flashed. If the Xiao family really united with the Fang family, he would be happy to see it happen.
In recent years, although Fang Jun, a very powerful figure, has stood behind him to support him, the land of Jiangnan has long been infiltrated by these noble clans. There are children of noble clans at all levels. He is equivalent to one person against the entire Jiangnan noble clan.
, only oneself knows how difficult and sad it is...
If you have the Lanling Xiao family, who is the leader of the Jiangnan noble clan, as your ally, it won't be too comfortable!
Fang Xuanling narrowed his eyes and said with a kind smile: "That being the case, I will be waiting for the Duke of Lanling County in Huating Town."
Xiao Jing was once the assistant minister of Huangmen during the Wude period, and was later transferred to the secretary's post and was granted the title of Duke of Lanling County.
Saying goodbye to everyone again, Fang Xuanling boarded the boat, and the sailors untied the cables. The ship slowly left the dock, the sails on the mast were raised, the river wind filled the sails, and the ship sailed down the river.
Huating Town.
On the pier, Mu Yuanzuo felt refreshed, straightened his back, looked around, and said with a smile: "In a few days, the Japanese officials will go to Huating Town to visit the Prime Minister. If you are interested in following, please go home and make some preparations."
Although the Prime Minister is honest and honest, we cannot go to see him empty-handed, right? We still need to prepare some gifts, they don’t have to be expensive, but they still have to express our sincerity."
All the officials said softly and did not dare to say more.
Obviously, this governor must be a close confidant of the Fang family. Otherwise, given Fang Xuanling's status, why would he deliberately stop the ship and dock to support him?
Fang Xuanling's prestigious status and Fang Jun's strength and arrogance brought extremely heavy pressure to the Jiangnan clan.
It seems that when facing the Suzhou governor in the future, it is better to relax a little, otherwise once Fang Jun's stick is angered, and if Fang Xuanling makes a few unpleasant words to His Majesty... it will really be more gain than loss.
Mu Yuanzuo's goal was achieved, and he clearly felt that these officials who came from aristocratic families were becoming more and more respectful to him. He finally found his self-esteem as a governor. Feeling relaxed and happy, he led a group of officials back to the city in a grand manner.
Got to the Yamen...
*****
on board.
The speed of the ship gradually increased, and the turbulent river breeze poured in through the open window, mixed with wet and cold rain, and the temperature was extremely low.
The attendants quickly came forward and closed the window.
Fang Xuanling took the warm handkerchief handed over by the servant, wiped her face, drank another cup of ginseng tea, breathed a sigh of relief, and sighed to Li Jing in front of her: "I am really old, just for a moment,
I feel cold all over my body. If I delay any longer, I'm afraid I'll get seriously ill."
Li Jing also sighed for a moment.
Thinking about those years of fighting and iron horses galloping like tigers for thousands of miles, it seems like it was just yesterday. However, time is like a fleeting moment, just a moment, the youth is gone, the green hair has turned into snow, so much glory and glory have become fleeting smoke, and only an old look is left. The remnants of the body are gone, but there is no such ambition and pride anymore...
The cabin fell into silence for a moment. The two great men, who had stood at the top of the wave of this era and criticized Fang Qiu, were both silently remembering the prosperous years in the past and looking at each other in silence.
The fleet was following the wind and the current at a speed as fast as flying. After waiting for a long time, a servant came in from outside the cabin and said respectfully: "My ancestor, Mr. Wei, we have arrived at Wusongkou. We only need to go up the Wusong River and we will reach the dock of Huating Town." , and a little further on is the Royal Navy’s military port.”
After hearing the words, Li Jing stood up, walked to the window and opened it. A stream of moist and cool air blew in his face, and he suddenly exclaimed "Ouch!"
Fang Xuanling asked curiously: "What's wrong?"
Li Jing pointed out the window and praised: "Come and take a look."
After hearing this, Fang Xuanling stood up curiously and came to Li Jing's side, stood side by side and looked out the window.
The big ship they were riding on could just see the Wusong River Estuary in the distance. Under the drizzle, countless warships were sailing out of Wusong Estuary and entering the Yangtze River waterway. The boats were tilted due to inertia. From their perspective, they could even see that the rushing river water was almost overflowing the sides of the boats...
The bows of the scissor-type sailboats broke through the waves of the river, forming a trail of white foam at the stern. The white sails, which were blown up by the river wind, poured out from the mouth of the Wusong River in groups. A semicircular trajectory was drawn on the river, heading straight down the river towards the seaport like a galloping horse.
Hundreds of teams are vying for the current, thousands of sails are competing against each other, the sky is overwhelming and the land is overwhelming, majestic and majestic!
Even Li Jing, who was used to seeing millions of heroes fighting on the battlefield, could not hide the excitement in his chest at this moment, and praised: "Even Xiao Mian, who claimed to have hundreds of thousands of naval troops occupying half of the country, never had a navy of this size. A certain person who often heard about the tyranny and power of the Royal Navy across the seven seas in Chang'an once thought it was an exaggeration. But when I saw it today, I realized that the legend was not only not exaggerated in the slightest, nor did it fully describe the majestic spirit of these mighty sailors who looked down on the world! Fang Erlang, nice!"
This last sentence really comes from the bottom of my heart.
Li Jing, who once led the Tang Dynasty Navy to defeat Xiao Xian, knew very well that the combat power and scale of the original Datang Navy could not compare to one percent of the majestic navy in front of him.
And all of this is due to Fang Jun’s contribution.
This navy created by Fang Jun, even if it makes no progress in the years to come, is still enough to shock the seven seas for a hundred years!
Fang Xuanling didn't have much excitement and heroic spirit. She just stroked her beard and smiled. The pride and pride overflowing from the corners of her eyes could not be concealed...
If you have a son like this, what else can you ask for?
All the merchant ships on the river moved their sails closer to the shore, leaving the waterway in the middle of the river open to the navy. Almost all the sailors, merchants, and travelers ran onto the deck to witness this ship sweeping across the ocean and shocking all nations. One ship after another, the navy sailed past. When they got closer, even the smooth heads of the navy soldiers on the ship could be clearly seen...
"Why are all the soldiers bald? Could it be that they collectively suffer from hair loss?"
"Your Excellency is really ignorant. Don't you know that the first and most important item in the sailor's drill code compiled by Fang Erlang is that all sailors are required to shave their hair?"
"Ah? How can this happen? How can we look down upon our parents who are affected by our body and soul? This is a great act of unfilial piety!"
"How ignorant! It is indeed filial piety to keep your hair long, but when sailors go to sea for as little as three to five days or as long as several months, lice and fleas grow in their hair, which can easily cause diseases and cause plagues. Is it possible that the small amount of clean water on the ship is not used?
Instead of drinking it, why don’t you use it to wash your hair?”
"Oh oh oh, that's it. Even though shaving one's head goes against filial piety, things must happen for a reason, so it's not like we can't make a trade-off..."
Some merchants and travelers on various ships were puzzled when they saw that all the sailors were bald, and even said angrily, thinking that this was against filial piety. However, after the merchants who often went to sea explained, they all expressed that they could accept it. After all,
Everyone knows that going out to sea is equivalent to leaving half of your life in the hands of God. All measures that can avoid danger and save lives cannot be overstated.
Naturally, the big ship that Fang Xuanling and others were traveling on also had sailors who were going south for the first time. The servants were amazed at this, and after hearing the explanations from others, they were relieved.
Li Jing stood at the window, listening to the discussion on the deck, and said to Fang Xuanling: "Young Master is thoughtful and thoughtful, and he is truly an unparalleled handsome man."
Fang Xuanling was very reserved: "Wei Gong exaggerated. He only achieved some small achievements with some cleverness. He cannot bear the word 'unparalleled'."
Li Jing turned his head to look at Fang Xuanling's pretending to be calm. He felt unhappy and a little jealous. He snorted and said, "Very proud?"
Fang Xuanling pondered for a moment, nodded and said, "I am indeed proud."
Li Jing didn't expect that he would be so disrespectful. He was stunned for a moment, then his eyes met, and the two of them laughed at the same time.
Who can be displeased with a son like this?
A full hour later, the fleet of naval vessels that were connected end to end and covered the sky just poured out of the Wusong River and headed straight down the river to the sea. The big ship on which Fang Xuanling and others were riding raised its sails again and mixed in with the crowds.
The merchant ships formed a group and entered Wusongkou upstream.
Compared with the slightly deserted Yangtze River waterway, this section of the Wusong River waterway is obviously much more lively.
Many merchant ships poured into the slightly narrow Wusong River waterway from the wide Yangtze River waterway. They spontaneously moved the ships to the right bank and moved forward slowly. The oncoming ships also passed along the right bank on the other side.
A deep-draft merchant ship loaded with goods would sail into the Yangtze River from here, and then go upstream. The goods would be transported along the waterways to all parts of the country. Currency would circulate and wealth would accumulate, which would lead to the prosperity of the empire.