"However, we have not been idle during the extra time. According to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's previous description, we found a lot of rubber trees and cut some rubber!"
Xin Sheng happily ordered someone to take the rubber he brought back and show it to the prince for inspection.
"Yeah! Not bad! It's indeed rubber!"
Ying Feiyu looked carefully and nodded happily.
The hot climate in Nanyang is most suitable for the growth of rubber trees. Unexpectedly, they actually found it!
The application of this thing is quite wide, and it is much easier to use than the current Eucommia gum!
"In addition, the cabin is full of spices and some precious woods!"
Xin Sheng continued to report.
"Spice? Is it still as much as last time?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Han's head immediately came up and he asked with interest.
As soon as the navy docked, he wanted to ask this question.
But with the prince in front, he didn't want to overstep too much. He waited until now and felt anxious in his heart!
After hearing that the navy had returned, he immediately transferred all the carriages and horses from the Ministry of Revenue and hired many civilians.
Just waiting for the spices this time!
"That's right! Just a little more...!"
Xin Sheng nodded firmly, then looked at Ying Feiyu and cupped his hands, "I have something to ask His Highness for forgiveness!"
"What's the matter? But it doesn't matter!"
"There was a sudden storm when we were about to return, so I ordered the navy officers to go to the island to look for rubber trees, and promised them that they could pick some spices and take them with them, and it would be considered their private property when they returned!"
After staying on the island for several months, the soldiers were eager to return home. They finally filled all the cabins, but they encountered wind and waves, and everyone was in a bad mood.
In order to encourage the soldiers, Xin Sheng came up with this method.
"It's all trivial!"
Ying Feiyu waved his hands indifferently.
Going to sea is the most risky. One person may not be alive, so what's the harm in picking some spices and coming back?
Moreover, it is with Xin Sheng’s permission!
"Zhang Shangshu?"
Then, Xin Sheng looked at Zhang Han again.
"Okay, I know, please take me to see the spices!"
Now, his mind is filled with the spices in each cabin, and he doesn't care at all about the soldiers' dozens of pounds.
"good!"
Xin Sheng called a soldier over and led Zhang Han to the cabin.
"This old guy, looking at how anxious he is, might have thought that his own ship had entered the harbor!"
"No! The imperial court's entry into Hong Kong excited him to this extent. If it were his own entry into Hong Kong, wouldn't this old guy go crazy with excitement?"
"Haha! Yes, you have to look at him when you look back. Don't get excited and something else happens to your body...!"
Seeing his anxious look, Wang Ben and others laughed jokingly.
"By the way, General Xin, do you know when our ships will be able to enter the port?"
After ridiculing, several old guys surrounded Xin Sheng again and stared at him eagerly. Their intensity was not much worse than that of Zhang Han.
"Several ministers' ships are following the imperial warships. We saw them when they entered Nanhai County. It is estimated that they will be able to enter the harbor in the evening or early tomorrow morning at the latest!"
Xin Sheng said.
"Haha! Great!"
Kang Anping slapped his thigh excitedly, completely forgetting how he had just laughed at Zhang Han.
"Just come back safely!"
After all, the other old guys were older and were not as excited as him, but they were also happy from ear to ear, looking at the Weishui River with their feet anxiously.
In addition to them, there were also many wealthy and distinguished people gathered at the port.
They all bought steamships and sent their families to follow the navy. They were all looking forward to waiting for their ships to enter the port.
"The carriage... Hurry! Come here, the carriages! Hurry up and get on the boat to load the spices for me!"
After seeing the cabins full of spices, Zhang Han became crazy about them again and quickly called for the carriage that had been prepared in advance to come forward.
Seeing the bags of spices being loaded from the cabin onto the carriage and being transported towards the treasury, the onlookers and nobles were even more anxious.
"With so many spices, if they are dried and sold, the court will have a lot of money, haha!"
Zhang Han smiled brightly.
"Even without these spices, the imperial court is not poor. Didn't Wodao just send a batch of gold and silver?"
"Haha! Wodao belongs to Wodao, and Nanyang belongs to Nanyang. The two are not the same. Besides, the court has too many places to spend money. How can we do it without making more preparations...?"
Zhang Han rolled his eyes at the old guys and continued: "You all just don't know how expensive firewood and rice are. The Ministry of Industry needs money to build bridges and pave roads. The Ministry of War needs money to prepare food and grass and replace protective gear when going on an expedition. The Ministry of Rites holds celebrations and prepares for scientific examinations." We need money, the Ministry of Punishment prisons need money to renovate, and your salaries also need money. If you don’t have a minister to plan carefully, where will all your money come from?”
"Forehead……"
After being retorted by Zhang Han, the old guys suddenly lost their arrogance.
Because what he said is correct, the three provinces and six ministries all reached out to Zhang Han to ask for money. Fortunately, he has a man who regards wealth as his life. Every penny is calculated to the bone. If it were anyone else, he really wouldn't be able to manage it!
"Okay, okay, Lao Zhang, thank you for your hard work. Next time the Ministry of War asks for money, please be a little more relaxed!"
"That's right! Don't button up and search all day long!"
Several old guys laughed.
The naval officer assisted the Ministry of Works and loaded all the spices and goods in the cabin onto the carriage. Then he went home and showed his family the spices he had brought back from Nanyang!
The family was very excited.
According to the current price of spices, these can be sold for hundreds of dollars at least!
Early the next morning, the old guys met before dawn and went to the dock to wait for their ship to enter the port.
But when they arrived at the port, they found that there were bedding everywhere, and some were sleeping directly on the rocks!
"It's really amazing that I didn't come home all night!"
They waited until dark before returning to the city. They slept lightly for two hours and then came out again.
Unexpectedly, these guys were more ruthless than them. They waited at the port and didn't even return home.
It's autumn now, and the wind in the port at night is not as strong as usual. These guys are willing to risk their lives for money!
It’s like if the ship docks and no one comes to pick it up, the spices will be taken away!
"Woooo..."
A few old guys and their servants stood at the port with their hands clasped, waiting quietly.
It wasn't until the sky turned white that I heard the whistle of the steamer.
"Coming, coming, finally back!"
The veterans looked around excitedly.
At the same time, the noble people sleeping in the port were also awakened and quickly got up.
"Great! Our ship is back!"
When they saw the steamer, they cheered excitedly.
From far to near, the steamer can already see the flag flying on the ship.
"Zhao, Qian, Sun, Li...Wang! Over there, our Wang family is over there!"
One of them found his own boat by counting the last name on the flag.
"Liu! My Liu family is back too, haha!"
"That one belongs to my Zhang family!"
"Great! Everyone is back...!"
In order to easily confirm the identity of the ship at sea, everyone made a flag and wrote their surnames on it.
As long as the people on the shore follow the surnames on the flags, they can find their own ships!
