After returning home, Li Mu realized that something happened during his absence.
For example, after Li Shimin allowed Bai Qiaoqiao and others to leave Luoyang and come to Yangzhou, it wasn't long before he arrived in Luoyang and spent the summer in the Ziwei Palace in Luoyang. Naturally, the civil and military officials from all over the dynasty followed him, and this move was
Thinking it was Li Shimin's attempt to move the capital, land prices in Luoyang soared for a while. But for some reason, just a few days before Li Mu's return flight, Li Shimin returned to Chang'an and had already bought shops in Luoyang. The officials and merchants in the mansion responded and paid compensation.
A lot of money.
Some people tried to find out Li Shimin's thoughts in a roundabout way, but found nothing. It was as if Li Shimin really came to Luoyang to spend the summer. Li Mu couldn't guess why Li Shimin was like this, and he didn't bother to guess. Everything in Luoyang had already entered
On the right track, even if he doesn't go there for two years, nothing will happen. Now developing Yangzhou Port and Mingzhou Port is the focus of his work. As long as Li Shimin doesn't come to Yangzhou, he can do whatever he likes.
Winter is gradually approaching. Although Yangzhou Port is a non-freezing port, after the onset of winter, the Hesitation River transportation has stopped and the Grand Canal has also been suspended. The freight volume of Yangzhou Port has been reduced by half, and the port has become deserted. There are more people entering and leaving the port.
It's a shipping vessel.
In addition to spending time with his children and his wife, Li Mu also goes to the port every day. He is waiting for a ship. A ship that departed at about the same time as him when he went to Japan. This ship was supposed to arrive a month ago.
It came back, but it hasn't come back yet.
There was no satellite phone at this time, and even a fleet of ships could not be contacted from a little distance away. All Li Mu could do now was wait, only wait.
This ship was sent by him to explore the waterway. He wanted to find a waterway that could stably transport grain back from Linyi and Chenla.
It’s not that there are no navigation channels now, it’s just that the existing navigation channel is not stable enough. Furthermore, some of the routes are far away and take a long time.
The long time it takes means that the crew members have to consume more food. It also means more risks and uncertainties. The 'expedition team' sent by Li Mu will be transported by sea from Yangzhou
It is composed of the most senior sailors, and their ship is also a newly built standard Qianshi shipping ship. Logically speaking, the chance of risk is extremely small.
But for some reason, the ship never came back.
It's already a month later than the agreed time.
Gu Sizhi indirectly told Li Mu that usually going to sea may be delayed, but usually a delay of seven days and a half is the maximum. Like this, if the delay exceeds a month, there is basically no possibility of returning.
But Li Mu didn't give up, so he came to the port every day. Day after day, he returned without success.
The crew members’ families had already come to see them once, and Li Mu promised them that if there was no news by the end of the month, they would be given twice the agreed-upon pension. After hearing that Li Mu was willing to give them double the pension, all the crew members’ families
It all subsided and no one made any more trouble. As Yangzhou people, they were used to seeing situations where they could not come back from going to sea. Their men were sailors, and this day would come sooner or later. In the past, when encountering such a situation, the owner would pay for the goods again and again.
Basically, no pension will be given if you get off the ship, and the quarrels made by the family members are in vain.
Not only did Li Mu provide a high pension, but he also promised to double the pension this time. What else could he say?
But Li Mu felt very sad.
In his eyes, those who dare to explore the navigation route are undoubtedly warriors.
But in the eyes of their family, it is just a sum of money after all.
Maybe the fate of sailors is like this. When a person dies at sea, the only thing left to his family is the money he earned from his life.
But Li Mu still felt very sorry and deeply frustrated.
Seeing that the sun was setting again, the carriage to pick him up had already arrived. Dugujiu stepped out from the side, put a cloak on Li Mu, and said: "Brother, it's almost time, it's time to go back."
Li Mu nodded and said: "Let's go... don't delay when you go back, and give the pension to everyone -" Suddenly he stopped and stared blankly at the horizon. Dugujiu followed his line of sight and said in surprise: "
That's not... Yunlong Banner, it's that ship!"
Li Mu called himself General Yunlong, and this ship went to sea under his order, so a Yunlong flag was prepared on the ship's mast.
This flag was only found on the Chang'an and the pathfinder ship, so when he saw this flag, Dugujiu recognized it immediately.
"Back!" A smile appeared on Li Mu's face. He glanced at Dugu Jiu. Dugu Jiu understood and turned around to make arrangements.
The dock instantly became lively, and Li Mu sent three boats to pick up the ship and guide the pathfinder ship back to the port.
He walked to the dock himself and watched the ship enter the harbor.
The crew members gathered on the deck. Although they were a little dusty, everyone was still in good spirits. As they got closer, Li Mu could see clearly why the ship was moving so slowly. It turned out that the ship was already fully loaded, and the deck was covered with precious corals.
You can smell the spices from far away. You can imagine how many precious spices there are.
A familiar figure squeezed out of the crowd. Seeing him, Li Mu felt truly relieved.
This person is none other than the deposed King of Qi Li You. He is the envoy of this 'exploration' ship. Originally, according to Li Mu's character, he would definitely not let Li You go. First of all, from a professional level
, Li You has almost no knowledge of navigation. Secondly, Li You's identity is sensitive after all. If something happens to him, it will be difficult for Li Shimin to explain.
But this time, I don’t know what kind of medicine Li You took, and he turned into a stubborn person. The road was dark. Li Mu didn’t agree to him, so he stayed at the Yuelai Inn as a waiter, without making any noise or making any noise.
, just treat yourself as a servant and serve him.
It's not that Li Mu couldn't stand Li You's service. He didn't look at the monk's face or the Buddha's face. Even if Li You was demoted to a commoner, he was still a prince. He was served by Li You, and Li Shimin couldn't handle it.
In the end, there was really nothing he could do, so Li Mu asked Li You to write a "disclaimer" in his own handwriting, saying that it was his voluntary choice to go to sea, and also wrote down how he forced him to go to sea, so that if anything happened
Li Shimin had an explanation for what happened.
Li Mu has been coming to the dock every day these days, which actually has something to do with Li You. Li Shimin went to Luoyang, so he must know that Li You is no longer in Luoyang. He hasn't asked yet, but it doesn't mean that the matter has passed. It's almost the New Year's Eve.
, if he cannot give an explanation, even if Li You is a commoner, this matter will definitely become a knot in Li Shimin's mind.
After all, he was his biological son. Li Mu knew in his heart that the only person who could kill Li You was Li Shimin himself, and nothing could happen to him because of him.
Fortunately, Li You is back.
"You're finally back, why so late?"
The sea breeze blew for half a year, turning Li You, a fat and white boy, into a dark-skinned boy. He grew taller and his muscles became stronger. He lost all the arrogance he once had, and his eyes were awkward, but there was still a trace of Li Shimin.
heroic spirit.
"Brother, when we were returning to the sea, we encountered an ocean current and the ship deviated from the channel. But it was a blessing in disguise. Along the way, we clarified the channel of the Nanyang generation. We used the silk and porcelain that were originally made as gifts on the ship to exchange for a lot of money.
A boatload of gems and spices." Li You grinned and said, "This trip is a profit!"
This is a smile that comes from the heart, a sense of pride after having accomplished something.
Li Mu looked like he was holding Li You and didn't know what to say.
People can change so much. I think about what Li You was like a year ago, and then look at Li You now. I wonder what things he encountered during this trip to sea can actually make him grow so much.
Li Mu said nothing, patted him on the shoulder and said: "Have a rest first, your father -" After a pause, Li Mu changed his words: "Your father already knows about your going to sea, so it's better first
Think about how to reply."
"Hey!" Li You agreed, seemingly not worried at all.
Li Mu asked Dugujiu to arrange for Li You to be sent to rest, and also made arrangements for the other people on the Adventure. As for these things on the ship, before going to sea, Li Mu had promised that as long as they completed the mission, how much things would be brought back from this trip?
Owned by the crew.
Looking at these things on the boat, Li Mu couldn't help but wonder if these bastards were deliberately doing business along the way because of these words, causing them to come back late.
However, these are no longer important. Coming back half a month later and exploring more Nanyang waterways is a very cost-effective deal.
…
After resting for a night, Li Mu called Li You over early the next morning. He had already asked the people on the ship yesterday, and he called Li You here today to see what he had to say. The results were already there, but the truth was actually not much.
It is important, but if the number is not correct, it will be very difficult for Li Shimin to explain it.
What Li You said was the same as what the crew members said. Li Mu felt relieved and was about to send Li You away when Li You suddenly said: "Brother, I want to ask you to do me a favor."
"Huh?" Li Mu cast a confused look, then remembered something and said, "If you want to go overseas again, you must tell your father in person. I won't agree to anything."
"That's not the case." Li You smiled and waved his hand. Li Mu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's pretty much it. Let's talk about it. What's the matter."
He knew that Li You was not short of money now. Not to mention anything else, even if the things on the ship were priced and sold, he would get at least ten or twenty thousand guan. He is now a bachelor, where can he spend his money?
"Isn't our Datang going to develop Jiaozhou Port? Brother, I want to be the shipping envoy of Jiaozhou City."
"You fart!" Li Mu suddenly became excited, pointed at Li You and said: "What you are doing is worse than going to sea. Jiaozhou Port has not been established yet. You want to be a shipping envoy? You don't even have hair, how can you be worthy of this important task?
?”
There is another sentence that Li Mu did not say. You are a deposed prince after all. What impact will it have if you become a merchant envoy? Can your father trust you? What will the civil and military councils of the Manchu Dynasty say?
"Brother, I have thought it over carefully." Li You did not back down because of Li Mu's anger. He looked at Li Mu solemnly and said, "Brother, I think I can do this well. If you think I have no experience, you
Let me start from a young age. I believe that one day, I will be worthy of being a merchant envoy of the Tang Dynasty."
"Oh?" Li Mu heard something. He glanced at Li You. This kid was really smart. He actually learned how to ask for a high price and pay it back on the spot. First, he made an impossible request, and then told his truth.
Purpose, it feels like he has taken several steps back, but in fact the last sentence is his true purpose.
Seeing Li Mu's eyes, Li You smiled sheepishly and said: "Brother, I really think I am quite suitable for this. I used to be a prince and became domineering. Later, in Fourth Brother's Literature Museum
I don’t know anything here, everyone else recognizes me, and they always look at me strangely..." As he said that, he lowered his head and looked at him. Li Mu could probably understand how he felt. If he had been in the past
The King of Qi is okay, but after being demoted to a commoner, he will naturally be looked down upon. With Li Tai's blessing in the Literature Museum, who can really take him seriously?
"I knew at that time that I had to find a place where I could start over. Brother, can you understand?" Li You was a little excited and said, "Brother, I have to find a place where no one knows me and start over. In
Although these few months floating on the sea were very difficult, I was very happy because no one looked at me strangely anymore. The people on the boat did not regard me as a deposed prince, but as the same as them.
Brother and friend. When I went to those small countries in Nanyang, as an envoy of the Tang Dynasty, they valued me and respected me. I like to do these things. No matter how difficult or painful it is, I can do it."
"What's more, Jiaozhou is also the Tang Dynasty. Although it is the southernmost point, there must be someone there." Li You smiled bitterly and said: "Unless, father...father can't trust me in his heart, then there is really nothing we can do."
"Let's take this matter -" Li Mugang was about to consider the long term, when suddenly a voice came from behind him: "I agree."
"Father?" Li You stood up instantly as if there was a thorn in his butt. Li Mu also stood up quickly. He didn't know that Li Shimin would appear here.
"Your Majesty, why are you here?"
Li Mu bowed and saluted, Li Shimin waved his hand, but his eyes were on Li You: "It's been almost a year since we last met, and my son has changed. If your mother could see you like you now, she would be very happy."
"Father..." Li You choked and was speechless.
"It would be great if you were like this before." Li Shimin also burst into tears and said: "It's hard to recover from overflowing water. If you do something wrong, you have to bear the consequences. I can't restore your..."
"Father, my child has never thought about it." Li You said quickly: "My child only hopes that he can do more things for Datang and make up for the mistakes he made in the past. He only hopes that his father can still trust him, and he will be satisfied.
"
"You are my biological son. Why don't I believe it? It's just that the responsibilities of a city ambassador are heavy and your qualifications are not suitable yet. I can promise you that I will let you do what you like. It's just about what you do specifically."
I have to think about it before deciding."
Li You was very satisfied to receive this sentence and said respectfully: "Thank you very much, father."
"What you have to do now is to go see your mother. I'll go first. Your mother still has two days to go. You can take a few guards to greet her."