His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was losing his temper: "You have already issued a sea ban, and you dare to force me to revoke it. Do these Jin Party members really think that I am easy to bully?"
Taifu Kong Wei advised: "Your Highness, I heard that the Shanxi merchants purchased many tobacco leaf subscription contracts at high prices, and the ban on the sea caused the tobacco leaves to be unable to be delivered. They will face huge losses, as much as more than 13 million taels of silver."
His Highness the Prince's eyes narrowed: "It's a good loss. These Shanxi merchants rely on their business all over the world and dare to try to influence the government. But why did they purchase such a huge amount of tobacco leaf subscription contracts?"
Kong Wei said: "I don't know, I only know that Shanxi merchants purchased it through a Liqun Bank in Tumubao. I guess this is probably Yang Xuan's plan."
"Okay!" His Royal Highness slapped the armrest of the chair and said excitedly: "More than thirteen million taels of silver, the imperial court's annual tax revenue is not that much, and these Shanxi merchants are also bleeding money."
"Yang Xuan's way of doing business is really unpredictable. Through trade alone, he has solved the problem of the grassland wolf clan's encroachment. Now the relationship between the Dasheng Dynasty and the grassland is harmonious. In time, the Dasheng Dynasty and the grassland may be able to be integrated.
As one body.”
"This Yang Xuan is really a genius." His Royal Highness the Crown Prince asked, "Then where did Princess Lizhu go?"
Kong Wei reported back: "According to the news a few days ago, Princess Lizhu went to Jingzhou. According to the route, the next step is to enter Shuzhou, pass through Shaanzhou, Bingzhou, and finally exit from Youzhou. The old minister is worried that this Lizhu Princess will go to Jingzhou."
Princess Zhu, will you abduct Yang Xuan to the grassland?"
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince nodded and said: "We have to guard against this matter. Send a secret order to King Yan to stop Yang Xuan and not let him escape."
"yes!"
"By the way, how's it going with Lao San? Have you arrived at Qiongzhou Island?"
"According to the news from Yuezhou Prefect, he should have been on the island in the past two days."
The prince looked into the distance, with a hint of coldness in his eyes: "I have tried to persuade you to stay, but I have not listened. If you insist on becoming a vassal, it depends on how long you can stay there."
On Qiongzhou Island, people in the woods are busy logging and building houses.
According to Yang Xuan's plan, this place will be a residential area to accommodate the migrant population. The name has already been thought of, and it will be called Workers' New Village.
Rows of neat buildings have begun to take shape.
Yang Xuan offered a salary of five cents a day, which attracted many people from Zhanjiang Prefecture to come to work. Together with the residents of Qiongzhou Island, the number of civilians had reached more than 2,000.
Some were cutting down trees to build houses, and some were digging soil to build kilns. Not far away, Xue Xian and his soldiers were training.
Because the third prince said that those who fail the assessment in one month will be expelled.
An income of several hundred cash a month is definitely considered a high salary in Qiongzhou Island.
So these soldiers practiced hard.
After several days of contact, Yang Xuan had become familiar with Qiu Jun and Xue Xian, and his conversation became more casual. Xue Xian saw Yang Xuan coming to the construction site again, so he came over and said mysteriously:
"Your sister-in-law prepared some seafood and came to my house for a drink in the evening."
"Okay, I'll bring two bottles of good wine, and we'll have a drink tonight."
Compared with the inland areas, Qiongzhou Prefecture is the size of a small county, or even a town.
Except for the area around the government office, which seemed orderly, the rest of the place was completely like a village. Ordinary people either lived by the water or by the fields without any planning.
Those who can live next to the government office can basically be regarded as wealthy families on Qiongzhou Island.
Xue Xian's house is just three wooden houses with a fence outside.
As soon as Yang Xuan stepped into the small courtyard of Xue Xian's house, he saw two children of seven or eight years old running away chasing each other, and then a woman with a handkerchief on her head came up to them.
"Mr. Yang is here, please take a seat quickly."
A small table has been set up in the small courtyard. A small stove is burning on the table. The pot above is steaming. The pot is stewed with seafood fished from the sea.
Yang Xuan sniffed: "It smells so good. Is this made with distiller's lees?"
"Yes, since Mr. Yang said last time that this seafood is cooked with wine grains, my family can't live without it every day."
At this moment, Xue Xian also came out of the house, holding a jar in his hand: "Mr. Yang, try the wine made by my wife today. Although it is not as good as the Sansheng Sanshi wine, it still has a unique flavor."
"Then try my sister-in-law's craftsmanship."
The two of them had just sat down when Zhizhou Qiu Jun appeared at the entrance of the courtyard again.
"Hahahaha, it seems I came at the right time." Qiu Jun walked into the yard with a smile, cupped his hands towards the two of them and said, "Thanks to Mr. Yang, I can taste the craftsmanship of my brothers and sisters again."
The two of them sat down while chatting. After a few glasses of wine, Xue Xian asked: "Mr. Yang, I have something I have always wanted to ask. His Highness King Qiong said that he will be assessed after one month. What is the assessment method?"
Yang Xuan said with a smile: "Don't worry, Mr.
It’s qualified.”
After eating and drinking some more, the three of them were all a bit drunk. Qiu Jun took advantage of the drunkenness and said: "There is something I don't know whether I should ask, but it makes me feel uncomfortable if I don't ask."
Yang Xuan chuckled: "Just ask, Mr. Qiu."
Qiu Jun made a sip sound, drank the wine in his glass, collected his thoughts for a moment, and then asked: "This Qiongzhou Island is a barbaric land. Mr. Xue and I were exiled here because we offended our superiors, but...
I see His Royal Highness King Qiong, Mr. Yang and others, but they seem to be enjoying it as much as they can. Why is that?"
As soon as he heard him speak, Yang Xuan knew what he wanted to ask. On the surface, he was wondering why he and others were not uncomfortable, but in fact, he wanted to know what his plans were.
Yang Xuan knew that it was at this moment that he could conquer the two of them.
As long as you express your ideals and ambitions and get their approval, they will follow you. After all, they have no other better choice in this hellish place.
As for ideals and ambitions, Yang Xuan's strengths, let alone the third prince, were fooled by even a shrewd man like Mr. Lu.
I'm a professional at pie painting.
"In Lord Qiu's opinion, this Qiongzhou Island is a wild land, but in my opinion, this Qiongzhou Island is clearly a geomantic treasure."
Qiu Jun was stunned, and the hand that was pouring wine for Yang Xuan paused: "Oh? How do you say this?"
"This Qiongzhou Island is rich in resources. As long as it is developed a little, it will be like sitting on a golden mountain. Throughout the Great Sheng Dynasty, good places have been occupied by people. Only this Qiongzhou Island can allow people to show their talents."
"Mr. Yang, apart from the woods, Qiongzhou Island is home to Li barbarians. How can it be said that it is rich in resources?"