In Zhaoqing, inside the palace, Li Xuan was discussing the final plan for opening the port to trade with the ministers at a regular imperial study room meeting.
"In the more than two years since Lianzhou and Guangzhou opened ports for trade, the effect is obvious. Through sea trade, we have obtained a large amount of tariffs, and at the same time, we have also gained a large number of opportunities to export various commodities. The export of these commodities is not only
It can earn profits for businessmen engaged in industry and commerce, and it can also feed a large number of people. At the same time, we have also obtained a large amount of rare strategic materials!"
Liu Bagou continued: "So the opening of ports for trade requires expansion of scale. As a trade port, Quanzhou can export tea from Fujian nearby. By opening ports for trade in Ningbo and Songjiang, a large amount of porcelain, silk, etc. can be exported nearby.
Products, whether tea, porcelain, or silk, are our traditional export commodities in China and have irreplaceable advantages in maritime trade!"
However, some people have also expressed their opinions, that is, if ports are opened for trade in Ningbo, Quanzhou, and Songjiang, pirates will be rampant in the surrounding waters, and the safety of seagoing ships may not be guaranteed.
However, Vice Admiral Bao Yifen also spoke at this time: "Our navy has already discussed the issue of maritime security. In view of the current rampant piracy activities in the waters of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, our navy has decided to dispatch warships every half a month.
The escort fleet will set off from Nan'ao Island, opposite Songjiang Port, and then merchant ships can form a merchant fleet to accompany our navy's escort fleet!"
"In addition, our navy also plans to carry out daily patrols in the waters of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, and gradually clear up the waters of Zhoushan!"
"But at the same time, our navy also hopes that the cabinet can cooperate and strictly investigate coastal areas. Judging from the large number of pirates we have captured before, most of them come from coastal provinces, especially coastal villages and towns.
host!"
"Nowadays, there are a large number of pirates who work for the people and even decent gentry on land, but when they go to sea, they are pirates!" Bao Yifen said: "To eradicate pirates, both military and political measures must be taken at the same time!"
At this time, Liu Bagou said: "This problem is not big. Our cabinet is currently conducting large-scale investigations in various places along the coast of Guangdong. Once anyone is found to be engaged in piracy activities, he will be severely punished. It is expected that investigation operations will be carried out in Fujian after the year.
The coastal areas of Zhejiang and two provinces are unfolding!"
Li Xuan, who was sitting on the dragon chair, was sitting on it as usual, just listening quietly and not talking much. When they were almost finished discussing, Li Xuan said: "It is not advisable to delay the opening of ports for trade between the three places for too long.
, try to confirm it before going to Jinling. The specific regulations can follow the regulations of Guangzhou and Lianzhou!"
Liu Bago immediately said: "I obey the order!"
Now that the matter of trade has been talked about, it has basically been decided. The next step is to make the final improvements, and then it can be officially promulgated. So after the discussion, everyone talked about other things.
And things that can be discussed in front of Li Xuan are usually not trivial.
For the Tang Dynasty, although there have been many recent events, there is only one real major event, and that is the relocation of the capital.
Now the whole of Zhaoqing, including Jinling City, is making a lot of preparations for moving the capital.
Even within the royal family, preparations are being made for moving the capital. Empress Dowager Bai has already sent several confidants with a large group of nuns and maids to Jinling City. After they arrive at Jinling City, they will first move the former Duke of Wei's mansion.
Now that the Royal Courtyard has been sorted out first, it cannot be said that the whole family of the royal family has been sorted out in a hurry after arriving at Jinling City.
In the busy green, December is passing by in a hurry!
This year's Spring Festival is still nothing special for Li Xuan. As usual, there will be a state banquet, then a family banquet, and finally a vacation.
On the sixth day of the first lunar month of the fifth year of Xuanping, Li Xuan officially issued an imperial edict and would set off for Jinling after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month to order all ministries to make final preparations.
So after this year, the ministers of the Tang Dynasty are still very busy!
On the eighth day of the first lunar month, Li Xuan issued the decree to open the sea in the fifth year of Xuanping, announcing that Quanzhou, Ningbo, and Songjiang would officially open ports for trade, and each would set up a commercial zone specifically for foreign trade.
After this news came out, it immediately caused a stir, and many people were already gearing up to enter the sea trade to get a piece of this huge piece of cake.
However, this is not the first time that a port has been opened. Guangzhou and Lianzhou have already opened ports for trade before, so after people exclaimed for a while, there was no further explanation.
At this time, they were more concerned about moving the capital.
In addition to the matter of moving the capital, many people are also concerned about this year's conference.
Because the capital is to be moved, this year's examination will be held in Jinling City, and the time will be postponed to April, when it will be held at the same time as the palace examination, so as to give candidates from all over the country time to travel.
But these are not what Chen Lifu is concerned about. What Chen Lifu is concerned about is the recruitment of officials into the officialdom of the Tang Dynasty.
At this time, it had been semi-publicly revealed at the end of last year, but at this time it had nothing to do with ordinary people, or even ordinary scholars, so it was basically an internal rumor.
But as time passed and the year was almost over, when Zhong and Cai received invitations from the Tang Dynasty officials and went to Guangxi to serve as county magistrates, Chen Lifu could not sit still.
As far as he knew, the Ministry of Personnel had no clear criteria for selecting officials to become official officials this time, and there was no examination or the like. Instead, invitations were often sent to some officials who were expected to become official officials. As long as they agreed, they would be able to serve immediately.
In order to avoid inviting envoys, Chen Lifu stayed at home honestly all the time before and after. He did not go there and just waited for the envoys to come. However, after waiting day by day, the envoys did not come.
It was a good time a year ago. He gave full play to his self-cultivation as a scholar and calmed down. Sometimes he even thought that when the messenger came, he would have to remain reserved and evade it. Finally, he
Will accept it reluctantly.
Even though I dare not say that like Zhuge Liang, I let the envoys of Li and Tang pay three visits to the thatched cottage, but at least I have to let them see that if I want to serve as an official, I need to show my sincerity.
Well, when the time comes, I might have to refuse once and then reluctantly accept it when they come to visit me for the second time.
In this way, he can live up to his reputation. Otherwise, where will he be able to show off his dignity as a top three Jinshi!
But what he didn't expect was that Li Tang's envoy didn't come this year!
During the New Year's Day, Chen Lifu also calmed down. He knew that Li Tang officials were on holiday during the New Year's Day, so he was still not in a hurry and waited at home with peace of mind.
But from the Chinese New Year to now, it is almost the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and in the Li and Tang Dynasty, all the office work has been done on the third day of the Lunar New Year, but the messenger still has not come.
And yesterday, he even heard that an old man from the next town who became an official in his early years and was over sixty years old was invited by Li Tang to become an official.
At this time, he couldn't keep his temper, so everyone in the Chen family could see that the eldest master seemed to be in a bad mood that day. Although he didn't get angry, his gloomy face was.
Let everyone see that I am in a bad mood, so don’t mess with me!
Sitting in the study room, Chen Lifu put down his paintbrush. The drawing paper on the table was a green bamboo, standing proudly in the cold winter wind. Next to the green bamboo, there were several weeds that were blown here and there.
Things like calligraphy, painting and even poetry often represent their thoughts and ideas. Chen Lifu painted the green bamboo, naturally using the painting as an metaphor and comparing himself to the green bamboo.
Since you Li and Tang envoys have not come to invite me, I will not go. Now even if you come to my door and beg me to become an official, I will not go.
Definitely not like Zhong Cai and others, just like a grass that falls in the wind!
After taking a deep breath, Chen Lifu picked up another pen and planned to write an inscription on it to clarify his meaning. However, at this time, the voice of the boy came from outside: "Master!"
After being disturbed by this sound, the master also flicked his wrist slightly, and the tip of the pen instantly hit a big black dot on the drawing paper. The black dot quickly spread on the drawing paper, turning a good picture of cold bamboo into a picture.
It was ruined.
Immediately, his face turned cold, and he turned and opened the door with a gloomy face: "You ruined my Hanzhu Picture. If you don't have enough reasons, you can go get the twenty pieces later!"
When the boy heard Chen Lifu's words, he immediately looked horrified: "Master, please forgive me!"
"I didn't know that the master was painting, and I deserved death for disturbing him!" At this moment, the boy obviously forgot why he came to see Chen Lifu, and he kept begging for mercy.
Chen Lifu saw that he was upset and immediately said, "Why don't you tell me something?"
At this time, the boy came back to his senses and said: "A man who calls himself 'Deputy Section Chief of the Literary and Selection Department of the Ministry of Official Affairs' came outside and said he wanted to see the master!"
When Chen Lifu, the head of the Ministry of Personnel, heard this, his expression suddenly changed twice in a row, from shock to joy. However, he had a good self-control ability and suppressed his facial expressions, and said calmly: "Oh,
Where are people now?"
The boy said: "We are in the front hall now, and the butler is serving tea with us!"
After hearing this, Chen Lifu nodded slightly and said, "You can't neglect this person. You go back and take good care of him. I'll be here in a moment!"
The boy left immediately, but after taking two steps, he stopped again and said: "Master, what about the board?"
At this time, Chen Lifu no longer had a gloomy look on his face, and said: "Write this down first, and don't do it next time!"
Hearing this, the young boy went away happily with an expression on his face as if he had survived the disaster. Chen Lifu himself returned to the room and asked the maids to wait on him to change out of his casual clothes and then put on his clothes.
I put on a set of brocade robes for visiting guests.
I looked carefully at the small mirror sold from the south, and after making sure it was not rude, I walked out slowly!
However, the pace was quite slow, but slowly and unknowingly it became faster. Before this person even walked out of the small courtyard, his pace was already close to a trot!