The journey from Jiangnan to the north was relatively smooth. Di Renjie held a compass in his hand and looked at the north and south on the map.
Li Zhi had been seasick for the past two days and had a hard time. Fortunately, the boat slowed down and things got better. "How is it? Is the direction right now?"
Surrounded by endless sea water, there is no land in sight. If this voyage can go smoothly, it will prove the importance of the compass in navigation.
Di Renjie looked at the compass in his hand. This time the pointer was finally stable and sighed: "It's finally good, otherwise we would have deviated from the direction and gone to Goguryeo."
The boatman is an experienced seafaring boss. Even if he does not rely on a compass, he can identify the direction through experience and successfully reach the northeast coast of Youzhou.
It was just that Li Zhi and Di Renjie wanted to verify the function of the compass, so they handed over the heading to them.
Gongsun Xiaoniang was holding a telescope in her hand and was looking into the distance. However, after looking at this kind of scenery for a long time, she felt very boring. The sky and the sea were connected together, and there was no other scenery at all. It was very boring along the way.
Di Renjie called: "Boss of the ship."
The old boatman stepped forward with a smile on his face, "What are your orders, Mr. Di?"
"Are there really big fish like whales?"
The boss of the boat was an old boatman over forty years old. He was wearing a simple and wear-resistant coarse cloth clothes. He smiled honestly and said, "I have never seen it, but I have heard of it."
"Where can I find such a big fish?"
"Maybe it's farther out to sea and can't be seen near here."
Hearing the words of the ship boss, Di Renjie was discouraged and said: "What a pity."
The boatman laughed and said, "If you are lucky, you might be able to see them. I heard there are them on the southern sea, but we probably won't be able to see them if we go north."
Di Renjie was lying on the deck, the skin on his face was a little red from scratches, he picked up the drink beside him and took a sip, "It's really boring."
The boss of the ship added: "In addition to whales, there are many creatures in this sea. Some of them have lived for hundreds of years, longer than humans. According to legend, the huge creatures in the sea have become intelligent, but they are unwilling to interact with us. It’s just people talking.”
After that, he smiled naively, "But these are all stories I have heard since childhood. They are stories of us sea people. We have had a deep respect for the sea since we were young."
Di Renjie thought, "I have indeed seen relevant records in the classics."
After getting over the novelty of going to sea, the days at sea are boring.
Li Zhi relieves his boredom by playing chess all day long.
During the night, Di Renjie had been discussing navigation experience with the ship boss.
"So, my west is Shandong, and our east is Baekje?"
The ship's boss looked at the map and nodded, "That's right. When we go north, we enter the boundary of Liaodong, and we can dock in Liaodong."
Di Renjie held a magnifying glass in his hand and looked at the small marks on the chart, "This picture is really correct at all."
This is a large nautical chart, or in other words, a world map that can see all the oceans around the world.
For sailors, this chart has great appeal.
Di Renjie added: "If I give you this picture, you can go further."
The captain of the ship sighed: "Master Di is joking. Although this picture is good, life and death in the open sea are unpredictable. There is a narrow escape from death. This is a picture that makes people seek death. The villain dare not accept it."
"Why do you say it was a narrow escape?"
"For us sea people, we live by the sea. The sea is both a blessed place and a dangerous place for us. Mr. Di can leave it to those who don't care about their lives."
It seemed that there was a storm, and the ship shook. Di Renjie quickly held on to the oil lamp.
It took a while for the shaking to subside.
The boss of the ship stood up and whispered: "We can reach Liaodong in three days."
In the cabin, Di Renjie felt tired and planned to lie down and rest. He glanced outside the cabin and saw that His Highness Prince Jin was still holding a telescope and looking at the stars in the sky.
The sea is vast and the starry sky is vast. It feels very comfortable to watch the stars on the sea. Li Zhi likes this feeling very much.
After three more days at sea, land finally appeared in front of him. Li Zhi asked: "Renjie, is that Yuguan?"
Di Renjie nodded: "But I prefer the name on the map, Shanhaiguan."
Li Zhi smiled and said: "Yuguan is adjacent to Yanshan Mountain in the north, connected to the Bohai Sea in the south, and guarding the main road of Youzhou. It is not bad to call it Shanhaiguan, which sounds more majestic."
A ship came in the opposite direction, and a man stood on the bow waving and shouting.
Li Zhi took out his binoculars and looked at the person who came, "This person is wearing the official uniform of a county guard. Who is he?"
Di Renjie explained: "The person currently serving as the governor of Liaoxi County is Zheng Jingxuan."
The ships met on the sea, and the two ships kept pace with each other. However, the other ship was not a steam engine ship, so turning was very troublesome.
Li Zhi, Di Renjie and others felt more at ease as they stepped on the ground, "Thank you for your hard work."
The other party had a smile on his face and said, "Your Highness, Prince Jin, I'm leaving."
Li Zhi gave this ship boss a lot of money. Firstly, this person was Xu Qidan's man, and secondly, he mastered the latest method of driving the Tang Dynasty's sea-going ships.
Watching Liaoxi County Governor Zheng Jingxuan still tossing the ships to dock on the shore.
Li Zhi said to the old man: "It's not good for you to resist the open sea like this. The people of the Tang Dynasty will eventually go out. Even if you don't want to go out, your future children and disciples will all be ready to go to the open sea."
The captain of the ship saluted and said, "The little man will teach you disciples and children who can travel far."
Li Zhi patted him on the shoulder, and after the boat boss's boat sailed away from the shore again, the boat of Liaoxi County Governor Zheng Jingxuan docked.
He just got off the boat and saluted with a respectful look on his face: "I have met His Highness King Jin."
There was another person next to Zheng Jingxuan with a flattering smile.
Li Zhi asked curiously: "This person is..."
Zheng Jingxuan quickly introduced: "He is Jin Chunqiu, the envoy of Silla."
Li Zhi thought for a moment and said, "Ah, come to think of it, you are the Silla envoy who wants to be a dog to the Tang Dynasty."
Jin Chunqiu winked and smiled, "Your Majesty, I have met His Highness Prince Jin."
Li Zhi asked curiously: "You are from Silla, why are you still here?"
Jin Chunqiu said: "His Majesty the new Tang Dynasty hoped that Silla would be included in the Tang Dynasty and establish a state capital, so he came to western Liaoning to ask for advice from Governor Zheng."
Li Zhi looked at this busy port and walked all the way inland.
Zheng Jingxuan kept introducing this place, "This port was established by General Wen, and he rebuilt Yuguan City. It is bordered by the sea. If you control this place, you can guard Liaodong and send troops to Goguryeo and Silla."
Jin Chunqiu said with a smile on his face, "Silla people will also become Tang people in the future."
He deliberately emphasized his presence.
Zheng Jingxuan glanced at the Silla envoy displeased, and was tired of his talkativeness, so he continued to introduce this place.
The construction of Youzhou and Liaodong began in the 10th year of Zhenguan. During this period, Zhang Daan spent a lot of effort and money as the governor of Liaodong.
When Di Renjie saw the cartloads of coal being pulled out, he asked, "Where are these being transported?"
Zheng Jingxuan replied: "It was shipped to Guanzhong. We have several mining lands here that are not all owned by the Marquis of Lishan County. They were given to Lishan by the Khan of Heaven."
Speaking of Lishan, Zheng Jingxuan smiled all over his face.
Li Zhi handed him a file, "Go back now and bring the names of names from all over Youzhou to me."
"Here." Zheng Jingxuan first agreed and then asked: "Then His Highness Prince Jin..."
"You don't need to take care of me. There are so many guards around me."
"Hey." Zheng Jingxuan turned to leave, but when he saw Jin Chunqiu still standing there, he pulled people away and left. Apparently King Jin was annoyed and didn't want this Silla man to disturb King Jin's elegance.
It is still some distance from Yuguan City.
There were traders and civilians coming and going at the port, but after walking out of the port, there were far fewer pedestrians.
Di Renjie asked several local villagers about the situation here.
Li Zhi found that there was a braised pork vendor here, so he ordered a bowl and waited for Di Renjie to ask about the situation here and report back.
I don't know why I always feel that the villagers here are strange, especially Zheng Jingxuan. He is the county guard of this place, but the villagers here are very alienated from this county guard.
Gongsun Xiaoniang said: "Have you eaten enough, Your Highness the King of Jin?"
Li Zhi handed the bowl to her, nodded and said, "I'm full."
Gongsun Xiaoniang wiped her mouth and smiled: "Well, it tastes the same as Chang'an City."
The strong man selling braised pork had a smile on his face and was washing the dishes.
Not long after, Di Renjie came back and hurriedly asked for a bowl of water.
Li Zhi asked: "How was the investigation?"
Di Renjie calmed down and said: "This county governor in western Liaoning was an official sent here only in the 17th year of Zhenguan. It has only been two years now. Since Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty conquered Goguryeo, the population of eastern Liaoning has declined, and many villagers here have I don’t really trust the government.”
"Later, Zhang Daan came to Liaodong and governed Liaodong to convince the villagers here. He also established household registration for many villagers and gave them fields. The villagers in Liaodong and west Liaoning respected Zhang Daan very much. However, after Zhang Daan returned to Chang'an, The villagers here were very distrustful of the later officials."
Li Zhi sighed: "During his reign, my father repeatedly advocated the cultivation of national strength, such as providing loose governance policies and providing education support policies to various regions. Hasn't it been effective in Liaodong?"
Di Renjie replied: "It's effective, but in Liaodong besides the county guard, there is another place."
"Landou?"
Di Renjie followed Li Zhi's footsteps and continued walking while explaining the current situation.
The local leader was a man named He. This man and Wen Ting were stationed in Silla and Baekje, and they also killed all the Japanese slaves in the territory.
Later, after returning with many Liaodong disciples, this man still maintained his prestige, and even the county governor had to look at his face to act.
According to rumors, this person has many relationships with Lishan, and even many connections between Guanzhong and Liaodong are based on this person.
Li Zhi thought about this person's identity and guessed it somewhat, then said again: "Let's meet him."
Di Renjie scratched his head and glanced around, "Where can I find it?"
Li Zhi said nonchalantly: "It's simple, just say that Lishan disciples are here. We don't need to go see him, he will find them himself."
Hearing this, Di Renjie and the guards behind him gave instructions.
They immediately went to spread the news.
Everyone was resting in an official post. This was Li Zhi who had been drifting at sea for ten days and was finally able to sleep soundly for the first time in a long time.
Going out on a boat for the first time in my life was an unforgettable experience.
Feeling tired, he fell into a deep sleep.
When I woke up again, the sun shone in from the window. I forgot to close the window when I went to sleep last night, so I was woken up by the dazzling sunshine.
When he opened his eyes, he saw Gongsun Xiaoniang sitting awkwardly by the bed, and sitting in her room was a middle-aged man with a full beard.
"Your Highness, this person is from Liaodong."
Li Zhi rubbed his eyes, took a closer look, and said happily: "It is indeed you! Uncle He!"
Why bother said in a deep voice: "After His Royal Highness the King of Jin arrives in western Liaoning, a certain family will know about it. There is no need to spread the news that the Lishan disciples have arrived. If you want to see a certain family, just let the officers and soldiers here know."
“I’m new here and I’m not very familiar with the rules here.”
Gongsun Xiaoniang looked at King Jin suspiciously and then at the middle-aged man with an unshaven face, very curious.
He actually met His Highness Prince Jin, but the guards who protected His Highness Prince Jin were beaten to the ground by him alone.
This man was very skilled, and then he sat in the room and waited for King Jin to wake up.
After being worried for a long time, it turned out that he knew King Jin.
Di Renjie sat on the threshold outside the house with a bruised nose and a swollen face. His face was full of indignation. He had been beaten badly. He thought that it was His Highness the King of Jin who knew this fierce man. He beat so many guards so badly.
Why bother sitting on a bar stool and frowning: "What is your Highness, Prince Jin, doing here?"
"Travel, walk around and look around." Li Zhi sat down and said: "Uncle He, Uncle Ding missed you after you left. Do you still remember Uncle Ding? He is the uncle who sells soy sauce."
Why bother to say with a straight face: "Of course I remember."
"Uncle Ding is different now. He is a wealthy man in Guanzhong and has made a lot of money with his brother-in-law."
Why bother said calmly: "It would be strange if you don't make money if you follow Zhang Yang."
Li Zhi sat cross-legged, holding his ankles with both hands, as if he was a well-behaved child, "That's what Uncle He said."
Di Renjie slapped his forehead and remembered the origin of this matter. When the Marquis of Lishan County came to power in Chang'an City, he was the first person to follow the Marquis of Lishan County. He helped the Marquis of Lishan County conquer Nanzhao, and then came to Liaodong.
After realizing it later, he thought about it and said in his heart: "I didn't expect that the Marquis of Lishan County had such a fierce man under his command."
However, this man looked ferocious and came to visit late at night. He went to King Jin's room without saying a word and stopped him. He didn't say anything, and then they started fighting.
Di Renjie sighed as he looked at the mess on the ground and the dozens of people covered with bruises in the post house.
The people who follow Lishan are not ordinary people, let alone Pei Xingjian, a disciple of Lishan, he is an extraordinary person.
The conversation in the room continued.
Why bother asking about the current situation in Lishan, Li Zhi replied sentence by sentence.
"A certain family had a drink with Tian Khan back then and thought the emperor would behead him."
"How could my father kill my brother-in-law? Uncle He was joking."
"It seems that Tian Khan is still showing his loyalty. He didn't kill Zhang Yang. It's better to step down from the throne, so as to save a certain family from worrying about whether Lishan will rebel."
Li Zhi smiled even more happily, "Uncle He, tell me about the Japanese slaves."
He Bai still had a straight face and the cool look of a middle-aged uncle, and replied: "I don't have anything to say, they are just a bunch of dwarfs who want to kill hard."
