After Xin Sheng led the navy into the palace, he went to see the saint alone, while the soldiers chatted with the guards in the palace.
"Let me tell you, there are countless spices in Nanyang, and the mountains and plains are very spectacular!"
"Really?"
"Of course, that kind of spectacular scene is really beyond what we can imagine in Xianyang!"
Surrounded by guards, the naval officer showed off proudly.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said there are natives there, have you ever encountered them?"
"Haha! Of course! But I think those people shouldn't be called natives, they should be called rich people!"
"Rich man? What does this mean?"
"The natives on the island are very strange-looking. They are tanned all over, their hair is curled up on their heads, and they are wrapped in a few pieces of broken leather. They don't have many utensils at home, but they use gems as big as eggs to smash fruits. Using blood-colored corals as clothes hangers and pearls as playthings, isn’t this a wealthy person?”
"What? The natives on the island are so rich?"
The navy officer's words really shocked the palace guards.
In Xianyang, even the richest businessman would not be able to say that he would use a gem as big as an egg to smash fruit!
If there was one, it would have to be wrapped in three layers and hidden in the most hidden place in the house. How could it be shown to others for fear of being stolen?
Still using pearls as playthings? It’s better to be an ancestor!
A pearl the size of a fingernail is enough for a family to live for a year or two.
If it's an older one, it won't have to worry about for half its life. How can it be used as a plaything?
"Actually, it's not that the natives on the island are rich, it's that they have no idea about money at all!"
"These guys eat wild fruits from the trees, or roast the prey directly on the fire. Even the salt is collected naturally from the seaside. They can't do anything else. Give them a broken water bag and they can be happy. He gave us the gems, and in the end he has to thank us!"
"What? Are they so stupid?"
"That's not true! We hired them with some unwanted shabby clothes to help pick spices, and they seemed to be happy about it!"
"They once thought our ship was a monster, and they kowtowed to it, which looked very funny!"
…
The soldiers talked about the situation on the island to the palace guards. The guards listened with envy in their eyes.
At first, I thought that it would be too dangerous for naval officers to travel by wind and waves to unknown places. They were not as safe as working as guards in the palace, so I didn't sign up.
Now they are so sorry that their intestines are green!
Last time I went to sea with His Royal Highness, everyone got a lot of military honors and rewards.
This trip was even more fruitful!
Although they were safe in the palace, they still had no way out.
Looking back, I have to learn how to swim well, and try to be selected for the next navy recruitment!
…
In the imperial study room, Xin Sheng bowed to Ying Zheng.
"Your Majesty, I have fulfilled my mission and returned safely with my naval officers and picked more than three million kilograms of spices!"
"I love you, no gift!"
Upon hearing this number, Ying Zheng suddenly became happy.
“Then Nanyang Island is really full of spices?”
"Your Majesty, indeed...!"
Xin Sheng nodded, "Spices are all over the mountains and plains, and you can't even pick them all!"
"Great! From now on, I, Da Qin, will have endless spices!"
Spices are like fruits on a tree. After picking this batch, there will be another batch. As long as they are not destroyed, they will never be finished.
"yes!"
Xin Sheng nodded and reported to him in detail some other situations on the island, as well as the natives.
Ying Zheng was in a rare good mood and listened with interest.
…
After Xin Sheng left, Zhang Han immediately ordered people from the Ministry of Revenue to board the ship to load the goods.
After seeing so many spices, everyone's eyes lit up, and they put handfuls into big cloth bags, put them on their shoulders and left, as if they were tireless!
An hour later, the carriage began to turn around and enter the city in an orderly manner!
"This...aren't these all spices?"
News that the navy had returned with a large amount of spices had spread, and the people were stunned when they saw the bulging bags on the carriage.
"How many spices does this require?"
"I don't know how much, but I heard from people watching the excitement at the pier that not even one ship has finished unloading these!"
"What? So many carriages, not even a ship has been unloaded? Good guy!"
After hearing the news, the people's faces were even more shocked.
The carriage was so majestic that it was like a long dragon, with no beginning or end visible at all!
Every car is packed to the brim, but not even a ship?
How much spice will the navy officer need to bring back?
"Such a large batch of spices has entered the treasury, and now the treasury is rich again!"
"That's not true! You haven't seen how Zhang Shangshu's face is smiling?"
"If the treasury has money, the court can do practical things for our people!"
"Yes! I heard that the prince brought back a lot of money after pacifying the Three Kingdoms last autumn. Just after the new year this year, the Ministry of Industry has sent people to conduct on-site survey. After the survey is completed, construction of the railway can begin!"
"No! There is a small river in my backyard. The water rises every rainy season and sometimes floods the house. This year, the government also started sending people to clean up the river to ensure smooth flow. At the same time, we built dams to prevent the river from swelling during the rainy season!"
"This time the imperial court found so many spices, and after selling them, it cost a lot of money. We no longer have to search for them!"
"Yes! Good times are coming for us people...!"
When the court makes money, the people are also happy.
The imperial court is rich, and the people can also borrow money from it!
If nothing else, the biggest benefit last fall was the tax reduction!
This relieves a huge burden on them!
Today's taxes are just a symbolic charge.
After Ying Feiyu learned that the navy had returned from Nanyang, he also ran to the treasury to see it!
Just as the carriages were arriving one after another, bags of spices were being loaded into the warehouse!
"Your Highness, you are here at the right time. Look, the navy has brought back so many spices, weighing three million kilograms! Hahaha!"
Zhang Han had sharp eyes, and even though there were busy workers and the figures passing back and forth blocking him, he still spotted the familiar figure at a glance and ran towards it.
Ying Feiyu nodded, "Yeah! If it weren't for the ship restrictions, the soldiers would probably be able to pick more!"
That old guy Ying Zheng is worried about money and is only willing to buy thirty ships, so he can only bring back so many spices!
But then again, no one has been to Nanyang, so Ying Zheng is unsure whether there are any spices.
Being able to purchase thirty ships at one time is already considered bold!
"Prince, come and take a look. The quality of these spices is quite good. If you pay ten gold, you will definitely not be able to sell them. It will cost you at least fifteen to twenty gold!"
Zhang Han led Ying Feiyu to the warehouse, happily opened a cloth bag, and said proudly.
"Well, the quality is indeed good!"
Ying Feiyu grabbed a handful in his hand and nodded in agreement.
