"Don't dare!" Wang Wenzuo took something out of his sleeve and handed it over with both hands. Liu Renyuan reached out and took it and looked at it: "The house deed? It's from Chang'an City. Where did you come from?"
"A friend gave it to me!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "The house is not big, but it is enough for a family to live in. Mr. Liu, it will be inconvenient if you don't have a place to stay in Chang'an City this time, so please accept it!"
"How is this possible!" Of course Liu Renyuan knew the weight of this gift and quickly declined: "The house in Chang'an City is not cheap. It will probably take you twenty or thirty years to rely on your salary? How can I accept such a heavy gift?"
"This gift is not small, but it is not as good as Mr. Liu's kindness to me!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "Besides, when I come to Baekje this time, I don't know how many years it will take before I can return to the capital. I don't have any family, then. The house can only be left empty. Liu Gong, if you use it to live in, you can at least clean it up for me, so as to prevent it from being left unoccupied for a long time and burning down!"
"Your friend gave this house to you, but you gave it to me. I'm afraid your friend won't be happy, right?"
"Since he gave this mansion to me, it belongs to me. I can do with it whatever I want. Why should he be unhappy?" Wang Wenzuo forced the deed into Liu Renyuan's hands: "Mr. Liu, don't worry about so much. Yes, just accept it, even if you can’t live there, you can live there when a caring junior goes to Chang’an for a study tour!”
Wang Wenzuo's last sentence struck a chord in Liu Renyuan's mind. At his age and encountering the prophecy again, his life is basically over, and the only thing he cares about is his children and grandchildren. At that time, the Tang Empire had begun to develop from martial arts to civil administration. Even the Guanlong gentry, which was very martial-minded, began to have a large number of young people who studied hard and hoped to become officials. However, the imperial examination system at that time was not as sound as that of later generations. Being favored by the nobles and then recommended to become officials is the way out that many young scholars long for. Therefore, Chang'an has gathered a large number of scholars from all over the country. Most of these scholars have to rent houses everywhere, and some even live in In the temple. If Liu Renyuan can have his own house in Chang'an City, which is equivalent to a high-quality school district house, then the descendants of the Liu family will undoubtedly win at the starting line. Based on this alone, Liu Renyuan would be reluctant to categorically reject Wang Wenzuo's gift.
"In this case, I won't be polite to you, Sanlang!" Liu Renyuan put away the house deed with some emotion, and said with a wry smile: "This is a big favor from you, Sanlang. I can't pay it back in this life. I can only look forward to my children and grandchildren." Work harder so that I can repay your favor, Saburo!"
"Why did Mr. Liu say this? Without Mr. Liu, I would not be able to take charge of the Xiongjin Governor's Mansion!"
"This is the emperor's discerning eye for talents!" Liu Renyuan said with a smile: "By the way, I still have one more thing I want to entrust to Sanlang, and I ask Sanlang to agree!"
"What's the matter?"
"That's what happened. Do you still remember that after the Fuyu Fengzhang Rebellion was put down, I wanted to erect a merit monument to record our achievements in stone and immortalize them for future generations. Unfortunately, I have been procrastinating. The foundation of the tower has just been built, and the stone monument has not yet started. The court summoned me back, so I have no choice but to leave it to Saburo!"
"That's easy to say!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile upon hearing this: "Don't worry, Mr. Liu, I will definitely build this stone monument beautifully so that future generations will never forget Mr. Liu's achievements!"
Seeing Wang Wenzuo agreeing so happily, Liu Renyuan felt happy: "Now that I think about it, it may not be a bad thing for the court to replace me with you this time. After all, I will always go back, and it is better than sending someone who doesn't know what's going on. Be strong for me. Although the current situation in Baekje seems to be peaceful, it is actually full of dangers. If you are not careful, all your efforts will be wasted. With you on my behalf, I will feel at ease when I go back!" At this point, the corners of Liu Renyuan's eyes were slightly moist.
Seeing this, Wang Wenzuo also guessed a bit of Liu Renyuan's thoughts. The monument built by Liu Renyuan in history has been fortunately preserved after more than a thousand years of washing. This stone monument is located in Buyeo County, Chungwon South Road, North Korea today. , has become ironclad evidence of the glorious martial arts of the Tang army officers and soldiers on the Korean Peninsula. But the achievements he established were not so lucky. In 670 AD alone, the Silla people seized the old land of Baekje from the Tang people. It is very likely that Liu Renyuan was still alive at that time and witnessed his greatest achievement in life. Bubble, this feeling is difficult to describe in words.
If you want to truly understand the victory of the Silla people, you must set your sights on a wider scope
. In September 668 AD, the Tang army captured Pyongyang, and Goguryeo ceased to exist as a country. This also announced the end of the Tang-Silla alliance. After the victory of the Tang army, they forcibly moved the Goguryeo nobles and hundreds of thousands of people into the interior and dispersed them. This immediately aroused fierce resistance, and while the Silla people seized the homeland of Baekje, they sent troops to support the resistance of the remaining Goguryeo parties in an attempt to squeeze the Tang army out of the Korean Peninsula. At the same time, Tibet in the northwest entered the eighteen prefectures of Zhiji, and led Khotan to capture Kucha and change the city. As a result, the four towns of Anxi were abolished, and the Tang Dynasty had to take a defensive position on the Korean Peninsula. The defeat of Dafeichuan soon followed. It broke the myth of the invincibility of the Tang Empire, which also laid the foundation for the years of game between Tang and Silla. After many years of conflict, the two sides used the Datong River as the boundary to divide their respective spheres of influence: Tang was able to retain Liaodong and Silla. The northern part of the Korean Peninsula, while Silla occupies most of the Korean Peninsula.
Of course Wang Wenzuo cannot know all the details that happened in history, but he is certain of one thing - if the Tang army always regards itself as a foreign conqueror, then the final winner of this war can only be the Silla people . The Tang people could move away the royal family, nobles, warriors, officials, craftsmen, and farmers in the suburbs of Baekje and Goguryeo, but it was impossible to move away the farmers, hunters, and herdsmen living in remote mountain villages, let alone what would happen after the migration. Large vacancies appeared, and the Mohe and Khitan people would naturally fill these gaps and become new residents. These outsiders were more savage, tough, and hostile than the original Goguryeo people. The Silla people don't have to worry about this problem. Their territory is surrounded by the sea on three sides, and only borders the Tang Dynasty in one direction.
Therefore, the key to victory or defeat is not just on the battlefield, but whether the Tang people can quickly "localize" after the conquest - instead of smashing the state machines of Baekje and Goguryeo and then moving their personnel back to the country, just Instead of leaving a piece of white land behind, it was incorporated into the state machinery of the Tang Empire, and local power was used to rule the local area. This is the only possible path to success, otherwise no matter how powerful the Tang Empire is, it will be impossible to overcome the disadvantages brought by geographical distance. You may win once or twice, but you will still lose in the end.
Therefore, from the beginning, Wang Wenzuo has been cautious, even stingy, in using military means - he prefers to use Baekje people to deal with Baekje people, Silla people to deal with Silla people, and Japanese people to deal with Japanese people, because this not only can To avoid the attrition of the Tang army, it can also avoid being considered a conqueror and be regarded as a fair mediator. This is also the role that the Tang Empire should really play in Northeast Asia. Pure military conquest would cost a lot of money and cause endless troubles. In the war with the Tang people, the surrounding peoples would learn the weapons and equipment, strategies and tactics, military systems, and political systems of the Tang army and become stronger and stronger. In the end, even the empire itself would be destroyed by the war. Destruction, forgetting to fight will lead to danger, and being eager to fight will lead to death. Wang Wenzuo still understands this truth.
"Saburo, Saburo——"
"Oh!" Wang Wenzuo was stunned for a moment, only to realize that he had been lost in thought for too long. Liu Renyuan was looking at him curiously and hurriedly smiled: "What's the matter, Mr. Liu? I was distracted just now! Please forgive me!"
"It doesn't matter, I was just talking about Du Changshi! Although he sometimes doesn't sound like a pleasant person, he is still very steady in handling things——"
"Please rest assured, Mr. Liu, as long as Du Changshi is willing to stay in office, I will naturally not touch his official position!"
"Okay, okay!" Liu Renyuan was overjoyed to see Wang Wenzuo agreeing so readily: "Then everything is entrusted to you!"
"Don't worry, Mr. Liu! As long as I, Wang Wenzuo, are here, the flag of the Tang Dynasty will always fly in the land of Baekje!"
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"This is the list of goods you want!" Cao Sengnu took out a book from his sleeve and presented it with both hands. Sancho took the book and handed it to Wang Wenzuo.
"Sit down and talk!" Wang Wenzuo took the book and pointed to the chair beside him while flipping through it. Cao Sengnu sat down carefully, hesitated for a moment, and asked carefully: "Ming Gong, I have something that I don't know whether to talk about or not!"
"That's ridiculous!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile without even raising his head: "We are old acquaintances and still acting like this, tell me!"
"Most of the goods Ming Gong wants are pens, ink, inkstones, white porcelain, celadon, books, calligraphy and paintings,
Medicines, Buddhist scriptures, Cuju, pots, and incense burners are all good things, but Baekje has been fighting for three years, and the people are so poor that they may not realize the beauty of them for a while! "
"You're right, indeed the Baekje people don't care about this right now!" Wang Wenzuo flipped through the list and threw it aside: "But these goods are not prepared for them."
"It's not for them? Who is it for?" Cao Sengnu was a little confused.
"Prepared for the Japanese people. I am going to be an envoy to the Japanese country and trade with the Japanese people at the same time. These things are sold to the Japanese nobles!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "But I made it clear in advance that two-thirds of these goods belong to me. And I won’t pay you a penny for the goods, it’s all your responsibility!”
"Trade with the Japanese? Okay, okay!" Cao Sengnu only heard these few words, and his ears couldn't hear anything. He didn't hear the conditions that Wang Wenzuo said later, which are worthy of being called a robber. Of course, even if he heard Wouldn't care either. Until modern times, the profit rate of long-distance trade was calculated as several times, dozens or even hundreds of times. A Jun kiln black porcelain wine bottle was worth dozens or hundreds of cash in Luoyang, Henan, even if it was delivered to the palace. Only two or three guan of high-quality goods can be used to survive, and if they can be sent to the Japanese country, they can be easily exchanged for hundreds of kilograms of sulfur. This profit margin can be said to be common in the ocean trade at that time. After all, for the tribal leaders of the Japanese country, they only need to say a word about sulfur, and slaves will naturally go to the volcanic slopes to dig it, and the cost is zero; and the thick and elegant Jun porcelain wine bottles come from the Tang Dynasty thousands of miles away, so they are very expensive. At that time, Japan's local pottery was very good for enjoying for yourself, giving as a gift to friends, showing off your strength, or passing it on to future generations as heirlooms. The price was not expensive at all.
But ocean trade is so profitable that not everyone can do it. Needless to say, ships, routes, wind and waves, etc., the most important thing is that most countries in ancient times were full of hostility and wariness towards foreign merchants, and sometimes even refused Trade with foreign merchants. And Wang Wenzuo solved all the above problems when he went to Japan this time. It's not too much for him to get two thirds for nothing.
"Since you think it's okay, then move the goods to the warehouse first, and wait until my ship is ready before loading it. Then you can also follow me to Japan!"
"Young man, I understand!" Cao Sengnu's voice trembled slightly. He knew very well what a newly opened trade route represented. If successful, he would probably be able to surpass his uncle and become a Sogdian. There are many rich people among them.
"Then you go prepare first!" Seeing Cao Sengnu's attitude, Wang Wenzuo nodded with satisfaction. He had made several preparations for the upcoming voyage. After all, he didn't know whether the so-called "Princess Saitama" was true or false. Even if it was true, Wang Wenzuo didn't think he could take advantage of her at the home court of the prince. But even if the prince, the eldest brother, cannot be solved, trade is beneficial to both parties. He needs enough money to feed his soldiers, build ports, build ships, and please the nobles of Chang'an. Yes, his wallet is quite full now, but compared to his future expenses, it's just a drop in the bucket.
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Silla, Jincheng.
"You shot Jin Huicheng and escaped safely?" The man looked at Xiaoman with suspicion. This woman was really troublesome. He originally thought that he would be out of trouble forever this time, but he didn't expect that she would come back again. , is it true that as those guys said, the gods are still caring for the Holy Bone Family? Otherwise, how can we explain that she came back alive from this fatal situation?
"Yes! You can go check it out!" Xiaoman replied: "I should have shot him in the thigh. The arrow was poisonous, and I heard that there was a lot of blood at that time. At his age, he probably wouldn't survive for a few days. Already."
"I will send someone to verify it!" The man nodded. The life and death of an important person like Jin Huicheng is easy to verify. He forced a satisfied smile: "You did a good job. Did you work hard along the way? Let’s go down and take a rest first!”
"Don't rush to rest yet!" Xiaoman took a step forward. The distance between her and the man had shortened enough to stab her with a dagger. The man became alert and put his right hand into his sleeve: "What's the matter?"
"Look, I have proven myself!" Xiaoman spread his hands to show that he was not hostile: "You can
Fulfill your promise and let me see a few other holy bones, right? "
