Of course, Liu Ziqiu has no better candidate now. Hua Yun also gave birth to a son, but little Liu Siwu is only two years old, and there is no telling what he will be like in the future. Therefore, Liu Ziqiu still adopts the delaying tactic: "Everyone, love
Sir, since everyone knows that the matter of establishing a crown prince is related to the foundation of the country, how can we be careless? I think that we need to consider it in the long term."
Wei Zheng smiled and said: "Your Majesty, the eldest prince is talented, intelligent and possesses divine power. He is the perfect choice for the crown prince, so there is no need to discuss it again."
Liu Ziqiu was also dubious about Daoxin's magical words, but vaguely, he always felt that something special would happen to Liu Sigen. And if a dynasty wants to have long-term stability, the most important thing is stability. Since he already suspected that something special would happen to Liu Sigen
It is impossible for Liu Ziqiu to bet the future fate of the dynasty on him. Thinking of this, Liu Ziqiu sighed: "I am still young, I am afraid that I will not be able to withstand the great fortune. I want to wait and see."
In that era, the death of children was common, and people often used superstition to explain these phenomena, thinking that it was due to the children's poor luck. Liu Ziqiu's words just hit the minds of the ministers, and there was a sudden silence in the hall, and no one said anything.
I dare not propose to enthrone Liu Sigen now. If something unexpected happens to Liu Sigen, then those who forced Liu Sigen to be crown prince will have their lives and fortunes in danger.
Liu Ziqiu then laughed and said: "Don't worry, I know the prince's affairs well and will not mess around."
Suddenly, a chamberlain outside the palace came to report: "Your Majesty, there is an old gentleman named Sun outside the palace coming to see you!"
"The old gentleman named Sun?" Liu Ziqiu was slightly startled. Who came to ask for an audience but dared not to give his full name? Could it be Sun Simiao? Liu Ziqiu couldn't help but perked up and waved: "Please come to the side hall first, that old gentleman."
Rest, I will go and see you after the court is over!" He also said, "Dear ladies, what else do you have to say?"
Li Jing raised his hand and said: "Recently, a caravan returning from the west brought news that a war broke out again between the Sassanid Dynasty of Persia and the distant Byzantine Empire."
Persia was the only route for the Han Dynasty to the West and an important transit station on the Silk Road. In the past, caravans from the Central Plains only reached the Western Regions, and transactions further west were generally taken over by Persian merchants. Only after Liu Ziqiu unified the world
, this encouraged the Han caravans to go abroad and go to wider spaces. However, the traditional education received by the Han people made them develop the habit of not wanting to stay away from their homeland, so most of these caravans only set foot in Persia.
The dynasty is not willing to move forward.
This war broke out between the Sasanian Dynasty and the Byzantine Empire because the Byzantine Emperor Maurice was killed by his important minister Phokas. The Sassanid King Khosrau II took advantage of the civil war in the Byzantine Empire to launch an invasion.
This war has lasted for seven years. Khosrow II sent generals Shahbaliz and Shaheen to attack Medapotamia and Armenia respectively, and captured many fortresses successively. And the latest one
The war was to capture Antioch in Syria.
The war between Persia and the Byzantine Empire had nothing to do with the Han Dynasty, but it affected the trade route connecting the East and the West, and the importance of this trade route to the Han Dynasty has become increasingly apparent. The current commodities are mainly silk.
, but some porcelain and tea also began to sell well in Persia, bringing a lot of wealth to the Han Dynasty. Of course, silk, porcelain and tea were just the main products, and many other products would also be sold to the West.
It was with this wealth that Liu Ziqiu was able to devote all his efforts to accomplish many important things and build a powerful army. Therefore, every war between the Sasanian Dynasty and the Byzantine Empire affected the Han Dynasty.
nerve.
Of course, the current situation is favorable to Persia, and the impact on the Han caravan has not yet appeared. However, Liu Ziqiu likes to consider the long term in everything.
After listening to Li Jing's words, Liu Ziqiu couldn't help but ponder: "The Sasanian Dynasty has been fighting for years, and the treasury will inevitably be empty. I am afraid that it will impose heavy taxes on the people, and our Han caravan will not be immune. Once the tax is heavy, prices will inevitably rise. It is almost winter now,
In the spring of next year, we can select a few envoys to go to Persia. King Kusilao II submitted a note asking the Sassanid Dynasty to protect the interests and safety of our Han Dynasty caravan! Of course, we cannot place all our hopes on the Silk Road.
We must find another way!”
Things in the world often affect the whole world. The war between the Sassanid Dynasty and the Byzantine Empire seemed very far away from the Han Dynasty, and would not pose a direct threat to the Han Dynasty's caravans. But in order to launch a war, Khosrow II
Taxes will definitely increase, and the increase in taxes will naturally affect the purchasing power of the people. Without money in the people's pockets, the Han's goods will not be sold. And if the Han's goods cannot be sold, it is not just the caravan that will suffer.
, the common people who produce these goods will also be affected, and will eventually affect the court's tax revenue. This is an interlocking chain, and it has also become an obstacle that the Han Dynasty cannot get around. The most fundamental reason lies in this
Trade routes are too fragile.
These ministers in the court were all smart people, and they quickly understood the meaning of this sentence. Zhao Ling quickly bowed and said: "Your Majesty's foresight is really a blessing to all people! I just don't know what your Majesty means by finding another way?"
"
Liu Ziqiu nodded and said, "Zhao Aiqing can send people from Shu to search for the mountains in southern Yunnan. Maybe they can find an ancient road."
There is a rich collection of books in the Chongwen Palace, and Liu Ziqiu often browsed various classics in the palace during this time, and what he read the most were the records of some historical books about the surrounding countries. There is a paragraph in the records of the Western Regions in the Han Dynasty.
Zhang Qian, who was on an envoy to the Western Regions, discovered Shu cloth there. These cloths originating from Shu obviously did not arrive there through the Silk Road. Apparently there was a trade route in the south of China. It was just due to years of war or other reasons.
Let this trade route be lost and unknown to future generations.
Zhao Ling cupped his hands and said: "I obey the order, but the mountain roads are difficult and dangerous, and I'm afraid it will be difficult for large caravans to pass. May I ask Your Majesty, do you want to dig mountain roads in Shu and Yunnan?"
Liu Ziqiu laughed, waved his hand and said: "The road to Shu is difficult, and it is difficult to reach the sky. The mountain roads there are not something we can open now. It would be good if we can make use of the existing roads. In addition, please pass on my decree and order
Chen Leng and Zhang Zhenzhou organized a large fleet to set off from the coast of Lingnan and travel south to west to open up a maritime Silk Road!"
Compared to the unknown trail in southern Yunnan, Liu Ziqiu, who came from later generations, obviously valued maritime trade more. Although we are still far away from the 21st century where sea power is supreme, Liu Ziqiu does not mind dividing a part of it first.
Power seeks breakthroughs on the ocean. Moving along the Asian and African continents, which is the route Zheng He took to the Western Ocean hundreds of years later, as long as we proceed step by step and explore step by step, we should be able to find a Maritime Silk Road to the West.
Wei Zheng was shocked and said: "The sea is boundless, it is safer to take the land route. I hope your Majesty will think twice!"
Liu Ziqiu waved his hand and said: "Chen Leng went to Liuqiu and experienced turbulent waves. If he wants to make some breakthroughs, how can there be no danger? I believe that my good sons and daughters of the Han Dynasty will definitely be able to explore a path that has never been explored before. The path traveled!”
Of course, facing the vast sea full of unknown situations, one can imagine the hardships of this road, and many good people are destined to be buried in this blue world. However, as long as a few new continents can be discovered, All the efforts are worth it.
…
This was the longest court meeting in Liu Ziqiu's history. Of course, the issue of the canonization ceremony was solved, and the issue of establishing the crown prince was successfully postponed. A strategy was also formulated to open up two new trade channels in the southwest and the sea, which achieved great results. It is also quite significant.
After the court was dismissed, Liu Ziqiu rushed to the side hall impatiently. Before he reached the door of the hall, he heard Liu Sigen's cheerful laughter coming from the main hall. When Liu Ziqiu entered the side hall, he saw an old man with white hair and a childish face teasing him. That little guy with a tiger-like head and a tiger-like brain is not Sun Simiao, but he is.
It turned out that Sun Simiao saw that Liu Ziqiu was not coming, so he asked to meet Gao Xiuer. Back then in Xishan, Luoyang, Sun Simiao and Gao Xiuer had a close relationship. When they heard that Sun Simiao was coming here, Gao Xiuer naturally came to meet her. She was a person who valued affection and righteousness. Although this woman is now a queen and has given birth to a pair of children for Liu Ziqiu, she does not dare to forget Sun Simiao's life-saving grace. Not only did she come herself, but she also brought Liu Sigen and her infant daughter.
Sun Simiao fell in love with this little guy as soon as he saw Liu Sigen. He even praised him that he would become a great person in the future. He even grabbed his wrist and carefully took his pulse, which made Liu Sigen itchy and he couldn't stop laughing.
Seeing Liu Ziqiu coming in, Gao Xiuer hurriedly greeted him and said happily: "Husband, grandpa is here."
Sun Simiao also quickly let go of Liu Sigen and was about to bow down, but Liu Ziqiu held him back.
Liu Ziqiu smiled and said: "Mr. Sun, it is indeed you. Over the years, you have made me easy to find!"
Sun Simiao bowed deeply and said: "Your Majesty, I was indeed right about you back then. In the past year, Your Majesty has set up medical clinics in various places and issued thousands of gold prescriptions, and I have noticed it. I am here to thank Your Majesty for all the people in the world. It's just that I travel all over the world to treat diseases and save people, but I can't always be at your Majesty's side."
Liu Ziqiu said with a smile: "What the old man said is wrong! Even if the old man has three heads and six arms and does not rest for twelve hours a day, how many patients can he cure? I have already set up a hospital in Luoyang to teach medicine, but there is still no shortage of medicine." As a person in charge, I hope the old gentleman can help me!"