A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 434 The sweet date has been given, so what are the conditions?

Song Xuan knew that Wang Zhu was not a believer in gods or Buddhas.

But after he finished vomiting, he started begging for this and that.

Song Xuan, of course, understood his behavior.

We also lack advanced medical facilities nowadays.

Whether you can get through it depends entirely on your physical condition.

Wang Zhu understood this in her heart, but she still had a sliver of hope that a miracle could happen.

Actually, he gave up hope after the doctor's apprentice said there was no cure.

Perhaps because of this experience, Wang Zhu paid great attention to medical books.

Later, after he became a Hanlin Academician, he discovered Zhang Zhongjing's three-volume medical book on bamboo slips in the national library.

Much of this book was lost during the wars, so the Song court urgently commissioned someone to revise and compile it into the "Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber" that has been passed down to this day.

After Wang Zhu finished praying, Song Xuan spoke:
"Master, there is still two days' worth of food in the food box. Don't feed the child anything for the next two days. Let the child eat more sugar or drink sugar water. Don't let him eat anything today. If he can't stand it tomorrow, let him drink some meat porridge."

"Okay, I remember."

Song Xuan didn't linger. Who knew if the insects could be completely eradicated?

Wang Zhu escorted him to the door, and Song Xuan turned around and said:

“Master, if he cannot withstand the use of poison to fight poison, there is nothing I can do.”

Wang Zhu nodded repeatedly, indicating that he understood.

Wang Zhu was extremely grateful that Song Xuan could find a way to help with this matter.

Otherwise, they'd still die, and the bad reputation would fall on the students themselves.

Wang Zhu watched Song Xuan leave, and he prepared to wait for three days.

Song Xuan sat at the tea stall drinking tea.

I overheard a customer next to me talking about how he bought some "rose water," which is also a common name for perfume.

The best quality comes from the Arab world, with a rich and long-lasting aroma. It must be sold in Tokyo to fetch a high price of 1,000 kan per bottle.

A wave of envy and compliments arose from the crowd.

Song Xuan chuckled upon hearing this.

He knew that the people of the Song Dynasty attached great importance to makeup.

In an era where even men wore flowers in their hair, how could they not love beauty?

Moreover, regardless of gender, after applying makeup, people will definitely spray a few drops of perfume on themselves before going out.

Why is this young master laughing?

"Did you source your goods from Guangzhou?"

"That's right, the sun is too strong over there, look at me."

Song Xuan nodded in agreement; he was indeed tanned to the point of looking like a black monkey.

"Then you must not know that the perfume auctioned in Tokyo last year sold for several thousand or even tens of thousands of strings of cash."

"what?"

The black monkey immediately sat down:

"Is what you say true, young master?"

"If it's true, it was auctioned at Fanlou. A single piece of glass artifact was sold for one million strings of cash. You can easily find out if it's true or not by asking around."

Not only him, but several others were also dumbfounded. One million strings of cash.

Glass is quite popular in the Abbasid Caliphate, but it has never sold for such a high price before.

If we could get some glass from the Abbasid Caliphate and sell it, wouldn't we make a fortune?

Song Xuan put down his teacup and glanced at him:
Is commerce thriving in Guangzhou?

"Prosperity, prosperity."

The black monkey nodded repeatedly, sizing up Song Xuan's appearance. He was definitely a scholar, and he was willing to share in order to obtain more information.

After all, in this era, much information was passed down by word of mouth, and although literacy rates had increased, they were not widespread.

"So that you may know, young master, that as far as the eye can see on the sea off Guangzhou Prefecture, there are ships everywhere, and they are all large ships!"

"I've heard that because of improvements in shipbuilding technology and aerial bombs—no, I mean, in waterways—trade ships no longer need to transfer to smaller boats in India. Our Song Dynasty merchant ships can directly reach the Persian Gulf."

Song Xuan nodded.

He had heard before that they had gone to "East Africa," but he didn't know if it was just bragging.

In any case, the Northern Song Dynasty sailed much farther than the Tang Dynasty.

African ivory and spices were also luxury goods in the Song Dynasty.

Song Xuan wasn't sure if it was a transaction en route or if the merchant ship had actually arrived there.

"Is silk now the main commodity in foreign trade?"

"No, no, no, that's ancient history."

The black monkey sighed: "I heard from people who travel by boat that silk has been a best-selling product since the Han Dynasty."

"However, some country called Bai stole our silkworm breeding techniques, saying that it was like Proso stealing fire from heaven, so now our Song Dynasty silk is not selling very well there."

Byzantium?

Song Xuan blurted it out.

"Correct."

The black monkey's eyes showed surprise:

"Young master, have you also been to Guangzhou Prefecture?"

"Never."

Song Xuan waved his hands repeatedly:

"I only saw the names of some countries in the imperial gazette."

"Oh?"

Black Monkey scrutinized the young man in front of him again. Judging from his age, he didn't seem like an official. He must come from a family of officials.

That's why they understand each other so well, and thus their relationship has become increasingly warm:
"Young master is truly knowledgeable and worldly-wise. My name is Chi Yan. Please give me face and call me Chi Sanlang, the White Streak in the Waves."

Song Xuan couldn't help but laugh. Sure enough, these nicknames were nothing new; they were all passed down from generation to generation.

"May I ask your name, sir?"

"My name is Song Twelve, and I live in this Song City."

Chi Yan could understand why the young man in front of him hadn't signed up:
"Does Twelve Lang have any interest in maritime trade?"

"There are some things I'd like to know. Reading documents isn't comprehensive enough, and I'd like to hear people talk about them."

"Good good."

Chi San immediately patted his chest and said:

"Twelfth Brother, please feel free to ask me anything. I will answer whatever I know. It's almost lunchtime. Why don't we go to Qinglou Restaurant? I've heard that although it can't compare to Fanlou, it's no worse than the other seventy-one restaurants in Tokyo."

"also."

Song Xuan nodded, stood up, and tossed down some copper coins:
"I'm here to treat you."

"No, no, no, Twelfth Brother, there's no need to save money for me. I also occasionally make money in the maritime trade."

Chi San chuckled.

He wouldn't have done justice to his tanned, oily appearance if he hadn't made a fortune.

Upon entering the Qinglou gate, the doctor glanced around and immediately called out:

"Twelfth Brother is here."

"Shopkeeper, Twelfth Brother is here."

"Who?"

The shopkeeper put down his pen, which he was using to do the accounting, and took a closer look.

"ah."

He quickly came out from behind the counter, and said with great surprise:
"When did Shierlang return?"

"Not long after, I came back to attend Zhang Dalang's wedding. I missed the taste of your food, so I came here specifically to have some."

"Hurry up."

The shopkeeper hurriedly urged them on, and even called out the head chef, saying that they had to put in some effort today.

The people from our hometown have really come back!
Everyone was overjoyed and quickly escorted them to a private room.

Chi San and his friends looked puzzled and began to speculate about the man's identity.

As for having the owner of Qinglou and many diners gather around to greet him?

Once inside the private room, another serving of fine tea was presented.

"Gentlemen, guests are guests, so this meal will be on my tab. The chef will cook to my liking today."

Song Xuan gestured for the others to sit down, and he naturally took the seat of honor.

Chi San didn't dare to argue any further, but he was still a little confused.

After taking a sip of fragrant tea, he finally mustered up the courage to ask:
"May I ask, Twelfth Brother, what official position do you currently hold?"

"Magistrate of Kaifeng County"

Chi San and the others looked at each other in bewilderment.

The main reason is that Song Xuan is simply too young.

They would be away at sea for at least a year or two at a time, and they really didn't know much about the affairs of the capital city of Bianjing in the Song Dynasty.

This means they've found a large quantity of goods and want to do business in Tokyo.

Only there can you sell it for a high price.

They traveled north and stopped here to rest for a while.

"really?"

Chi San wondered how the capital of the Song Dynasty could be controlled by such a young person.

To be fair, his father is still capable of doing this at his age.

"Haha." Song Xuan laughed a few times:
"Do you think I could collude with Qinglou and the surrounding diners to deceive you, a group of merchants from out of town?"

"Then I must be quite capable."

"You absolutely cannot escape my grasp, so don't worry."

Having spent time overseas, Chi Yan and his companions naturally understood that most powerful pirates were supported by local governments.

In reality, they just wanted to collect two fees, and they also benefited from supporting a bandit to enhance their own prestige.

However, since maritime trade is very profitable, as long as there are no major storms, it is profitable.

The person is still alive, and they can afford to pay two protection fees.

Besides, coming to Qinglou for dinner was a spur-of-the-moment decision, or rather, it was he who brought it up.

They stopped at the tea stall to drink tea and rest, and no one gathered around to watch.

Chi San smiled in agreement:

"It's not that I look down on people, but someone as old as Twelve Lang probably hasn't even taken the imperial examinations. How could he possibly become the magistrate of this land?"

"As far as I know, those who can become county magistrates there are either capable officials or people with connections who can pave the way for their promotion. I wonder which one Twelfth Brother is?"

Song Xuan held up two fingers.

"Oh, so it's the second one."

Chi San did not believe that any powerful or influential person in the Song Dynasty could arrange their offspring in this way.

"No." Song Xuan lowered his hand: "I have both."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed drastically.

"Hahaha." Chi San couldn't help but burst into laughter:
"Twelfth Brother, please don't blame us. It's not that we look down on you."

"In reality, we are often away on ships, and if we are not on guard, our bodies would have been fed to the fish and shrimp long ago."

"Understand, understand."

Song Xuan picked up his teacup and smiled:
"You can send your two brothers to Song City to inquire about my name, Song Twelve, and then we can discuss matters related to maritime trade."

"Anyway, there's still enough time, but it will take a little time to serve the dishes."

"Being careful and cautious is my only way to survive when I'm out and about. Please don't take offense, Twelve."

Chi San looked up and gestured to his men to go out for a stroll.

He still couldn't believe that such a talented young man could emerge from the Song Dynasty.

The innkeeper personally served the dishes and took the opportunity to speak with Song Xuan.

Upon hearing this, Chi San's eyebrows twitched; he felt that they had set a trap for him.

Not to mention having to be careful along the way, even once they entered Tokyo, these merchants had to be even more careful.

Whether it's the No-Life Society, the Worry-Free Cave, or even some scoundrels, they will cause trouble for them, and even try to rob or kill them.

Chi San resupplyed in Songcheng.

They had heard that a few years ago, the child prodigy Yan Shu served as the prefect here, and all the ruffians and scoundrels disappeared, and the area reached a state where doors were left unlocked at night.

Only then were Chi San and his group willing to stay here for a while.

After the shopkeeper left, Song Xuan didn't say anything more.

It wasn't until Chi San and his two subordinates returned and gave a detailed report of what they had found out that the investigation finally began.

Chi San was utterly shocked!

He re-entered the private room and immediately bowed:

"I was blind and didn't recognize Mount Tai. I really didn't know that Lord Song was right in front of me."

"Get up."

Song Xuan glanced at him and smiled:
"Only those who venture out to sea cautiously like you can live long. I need you."

Upon hearing this, Chi Sanyi was overjoyed:

"Thank you, Lord Song, for employing a scoundrel."

He stood up and quickly drank three glasses of wine to apologize:
"I never imagined that my Great Song Dynasty would have such a person. I am truly impressed and hope that Your Excellency Song will not take offense."

Song Xuan picked up his teacup and said, "Chi Sanlang, can we talk about things overseas now?"

"Yes, yes, your humble servant and his brothers will certainly tell you everything they know."

Song Xuan told everyone not to be reserved and to try Qinglou's cooking. Although the other brothers didn't know much about it, they knew that the person in front of them was not someone to be trifled with.

Otherwise, Chi Sange would never have bowed his head like this.

"Now that other countries are seizing the market for silk, what is the largest export commodity of our Great Song Dynasty?"

"So that Lord Song may know about the porcelain."

Chi San quickly explained:
"The countries that traded porcelain with our Great Song Dynasty included Champa, Zhenla, Srivijaya, Lan Wuli, Danmaling, Xilonggong, Japan, Goryeo, and Sanyu, among others. They loved our Great Song porcelain the most."

“Even the people of the Three Islands often gather in groups of three or five, lying in ambush in the bushes, and use hidden arrows to injure people, causing many to suffer.”

"But as soon as we throw out those cheap porcelain bowls used for drinking tea in the ballast, they scramble for them and leave happily."

"I asked them, and they said they like the delicate and smooth appearance, the crisp and melodious sound, the colorful patterns, and the seamless integration of the body and the glaze."

"They can't make something like this, and they can't steal the secret recipe."

Chi San put down his chopsticks:
"I have heard that some barbarian countries have spent a lot of money to crack the secrets of how our Song Dynasty porcelain was made."

Song Xuan responded.

When the shopkeeper came to deliver the dishes, Song Xuan asked him to bring him a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

He noted that the artisans who made porcelain were not allowed to board the ship.

Chi Sanyi was overjoyed to see that Song Xuan still needed to take notes, which meant that he was indeed useful.

What Song Xuan didn't know was that in Europe, many kings, nobles, and scientists spent countless hours and resources exploring this secret that captivated them.

Success was not achieved until the mid-18th century.

During the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, the Netherlands alone purchased more than three million pieces of porcelain, and in twenty years, Sweden alone imported more than ten million pieces of porcelain.

"So, on the surface, porcelain is your most profitable product?"

"Correct."

"What about smuggling?"

Upon hearing Song Xuan's question, none of the people at the table dared to speak.

After all, the person in front of them was indeed an official, and smuggling was not something that could be discussed openly.

"I'm just looking into the situation. First, I'm not wearing official robes; second, I don't have any subordinates; and third, I have no control over maritime trade. My main concern is that I also want to get involved in this business."

Everyone listened to what was said earlier with discernment, but when they heard that Song Xuan wanted to get involved in the business and make money together, they realized that he was a kindred spirit!
Given Song Taisui's promising future, I would be happy to have him protect my maritime trade business in the future, or even give him a share of the profits.

Chi San breathed a sigh of relief:

"So that Lord Song may know that these are actually copper coins from our Great Song Dynasty!"

"Still copper coins?"

Song Xuan put down his pen, somewhat surprised:

"All I know is that the Khitans really like the coins of our Great Song Dynasty, and they are the only ones in circulation. They even gave up their own right to mint coins because of this. Do other countries that trade with the seas not like gold and silver?"

"Yes, they really like the copper coins of our Great Song Dynasty."

Not only did the Khitans like to use it, but all the countries in East and South Asia actively embraced the copper coins of the Song Dynasty.

Money from our own country? What a load of rubbish! We don't even care about it.

Only the copper coins of the Song Dynasty were the best in the world.

Therefore, foreigners were proud to own Song coins, considering themselves superior.

Maritime trade was already in operation before the establishment of the Song Dynasty.

There was an outflow of copper coins, but the scale was limited and not obvious.

However, after the Northern Song Dynasty unified the south, it began to produce copper coins. These coins were of good quality and were well-received as soon as they were issued.

Therefore, the law specifically prohibits the smuggling of copper coins abroad, and especially prohibits private merchants from dealing in copper coins in overseas trade.

Emperor Taizu of Song then ordered that anyone who circulated two strings of cash would be exiled for one year, and anyone who circulated five strings of cash would be executed.

Emperor Taizong of Song was more lenient, reducing the amount of money from two strings of cash to four strings, and from five strings to twenty strings. He also changed the punishment from public beheading to facial tattooing for military service.

If the laws are relaxed even slightly, the smuggling and trading of copper coins will become unstoppable.

The outflow of Song Dynasty coins was extremely severe, exacerbating the currency shortage and price inflation.

Until the Qingli era, anyone with a "guan" (a unit of currency) was executed, while those with less than a "guan" were exiled to harsh prefectures like Lingnan to serve as soldiers.

Those from Guangzhou Prefecture, Liangzhe, Fujian and other places in the south were exiled to Shaanxi to serve as soldiers.

But even if the Song Dynasty law was strict, could those who fled to the sea be considered good people?

There are many risks on the road, so naturally, people will do whatever is most profitable.

That ship could easily hold tens of thousands of strings of cash as ballast.

The Song Dynasty coins unearthed in Japan and Korea are the most numerous.

Small countries in South Asia even stipulated that Song coins could be brought in but not exported; they could be used domestically without any problem, but absolutely could not be sold to foreigners.

As a result, the coins, originally a treasure of China, are now used by barbarians from all directions.

Song Xuan coughed and asked, "Besides smuggling, what other ways do these barbarian tribes obtain copper coins?"

"These were the rewards they received for coming to pay tribute, as well as the money they made."

Song Xuan understood the concept of reciprocating gifts, but copper coins were usually a minority; the "buying spree" involved the government spending money to purchase goods from foreign merchants.

Song Xuan then noted down these two points. He decreed that in the future, gold, silver, and copper should not be used for marking; other equivalents should be used, such as ordination certificates, titles, porcelain, silk, or even silver coins, which would be more convenient.

"If the Song Taisui wants to prohibit these two, he needs to carefully refute those who go to the capital to pay tribute. I have heard that some of them impersonate envoys to cheat for rewards, and some do business without paying taxes."

"Yes, that's a very good suggestion."

Song Xuan picked up his pen again and wrote:
"You can't go untaxed on my turf. Only by paying taxes can I protect the safety of your people and goods."

Chi San nodded repeatedly in agreement.

What reassured him most was that most of the ruffians and scoundrels in Kaifeng County had been wiped out and sent to work.

The Meiming Society was completely destroyed, and three of the four branches of Wuyou Cave have been wiped out. The remaining branches dare not even breathe loudly.

Chi San then realized that Song Xuan was a man of skill and resourcefulness.

Otherwise, these scourges would have plagued merchants for years without being resolved.

Song Tai Sui was a top scholar!
He took action to solve the problem as soon as he took office, and importantly, he solved it!

This shows that he is a capable official who truly wants to get things done.

As for Song Taisui's tax refund operation, Chi San couldn't understand it.

Simply put, Song Xuan has a lot of ideas, which will inevitably win him the support of businessmen.

“I understand that it’s difficult to investigate the smuggling of copper coins.”

Song Xuan put down his pen, picked up his chopsticks again, and continued eating.

“I remember that from Qingyuan in the north, through Fujian in the middle, to Guangzhou in the south, along the coast for thousands of miles, countless ships would travel there every year.”

"The government sent people to intercept them, but at such a wide distance, there was simply no chance of interception."

“What Lord Song said is absolutely right.”

Chi San felt that Song Xuan was no ordinary person. This was not because the government was negligent, but because with limited manpower and ships, it was simply impossible to defend against him.

Smuggling is the most profitable business, and many people are willing to take risks for it.

Moreover, they kept copper coins at the bottom of the ship's hold to buy supplies "around the world," and those were extremely valuable coins.

Many people are willing to do business with them, thus gaining a significant advantage.

Because Song Dynasty coins were extremely valuable, and were highly sought after.

Aside from the domestic currency, one string of cash could be used as several hundred strings of cash. With such an exchange rate, it was equivalent to one RMB being exchanged for several hundred USD, which could be spent freely in the outside world.

The items I bought for a small amount of money were all valuable, and they could even be sold for high prices in the Song Dynasty.

Let alone merchants smuggling, even those online trolls who act as lookouts will knowingly break the law.

They received their salaries from the imperial court with a blind eye, and could even acquire more money.

Who wouldn't want to cooperate?
Not to mention the lowly soldiers who get to eat meat, the officials who collude with businessmen eat meat in large quantities.

The fundamental reason for this phenomenon is the huge market demand, which has created such a booming situation.

In particular, the three kingdoms of Jiaozhi, Wa (Japan), and Goryeo (Korea), especially Jiaozhi, were under Chinese jurisdiction for a long period from the Qin and Han dynasties to the Five Dynasties.

The political, economic, and cultural systems of Jiaozhi were integrated into the Central Plains system until they established themselves at the end of the Five Dynasties period. The Song Dynasty also indirectly recognized their independence.

The coins they produced themselves were so crude that they greatly welcomed the influx of high-quality Song Dynasty coins into the market.

It was precisely because of the huge demand for Song coins from overseas countries that the Song Dynasty itself minted a lot of coins, yet there was still a coin shortage, and the coins all disappeared into thin air.

Some people couldn't help but sigh, even if a wealthy family hoards it, there will eventually be a day when it's spent, and even if it's cast into bronze Buddha statues, there will be a time when it's cast back.

Only a small boat can sail into the sea, never to return.

Nowadays, the Song Dynasty does not use the gold or silver standard and lacks reserves of precious metals.

As for Jiaozi, although it was the world's first paper currency, its credit was fragile. It was not supported by hard currency such as gold and silver, and it was extremely prone to problems such as over-issuance and inflation.

Song Xuan then wrote down the two characters "交子" (jiaozi).

It seems that we will need to raise more gold and silver from various sources and use paper money for transactions to stabilize this commodity and reduce the severity of the money shortage.

What kinds of products do you usually import?

"It's probably treasures, spices, herbs, everyday items, and some fresh knives."

As he spoke, Chi San fiddled with the small knife he had obtained from the Arab merchant; it was even inlaid with gemstones.

Song Xuan glanced at it and said, "Isn't this a gemstone?"

"Song Taisui has a good eye; this is crystal."

Song Xuan clicked his tongue twice: "The Arabs really know how to do business."

"Song Taisui knows all this."

Chi San, beaming with joy, recounted his experiences in the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate.

In particular, they castrated all the Kunlun slaves they sold, ostensibly to protect the bloodline of the Tang Dynasty, the Celestial Empire.

In reality, they wanted to sell them generation after generation, and they couldn't let these Kunlun slaves reproduce like cattle and horses in the Tang Dynasty, thus cutting off their source of income.

Arabs have an extremely strong belief in making money.

Even during the turmoil of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, they still traded with the Central Plains via the Silk Road.

Although the Western Xia blocked the way in the northwest, merchants and monks would still pass through from time to time, entering the territory of the Song Dynasty without being discovered by them, and coming to trade.

They might even detour to the Southwest Silk Road to trade valuable items like jewelry, ivory, and rhinoceros horns in Chengdu.

Compared to Li Yuanhao, his father, Li Deming, was extremely welcoming to these merchants passing through the area.

Even if they don't pass through the Western Xia territory, we specifically asked people to come here.

Because as long as you travel along the route taken by the Western Xia, you have to pay a "toll protection fee," which is officially called a tax.

The practice of charging one-tenth of the taxes caused these merchants a great deal of distress.

Most choose to cross the border secretly or take a detour.

Maritime trade is naturally booming nowadays.

Song Xuan didn't seem to care: "Will you lose your way while sailing?"

"As long as there isn't a major storm, we can still argue our point."

Chi San said with lingering fear:

"The storm was so strong that even large ships would fall apart in an instant, and people would be swept into the air. Even fish as big as the Sea Dragon King would be blown ashore."

"As for people who are then swept into the sea and become food for fish and turtles, there is absolutely no chance of escape. I have seen it once from the shore, and it was truly terrifying."

"Oh, this situation is unavoidable."

Chi San was surprised to find that Song Xuan didn't care at all about the storm he described, and was taken aback by his calm tone.

To the sailors, this was a matter of life and death.

"Does Scholar Song think I'm lying?"

"Of course not, I know what you're saying is true."

"You seafarers live by the sword, risking your lives. As the saying goes, life and death are predestined, and wealth and honor are determined by fate!"

Song Xuan looked at Chi Sandao:
“Ike Saburo, I thought you were mentally prepared for this, which is why you enjoy adventuring on the sea so much.”

"Life and death are preordained, wealth and honor are determined by fate?"

Although this saying was uttered by Yan Hui, it is not widely circulated.

They, a group of people who have hardly received any education, are even less aware of this.

Chi San pondered these words carefully and immediately felt that they were truly powerful!

No wonder he was the top scholar who passed all three levels of the imperial examinations; those words really resonated with him.

From now on, we must pass on this saying to our descendants so that they will all remember it.

The others looked at each other, thinking, "They're all scholars; their words are truly extraordinary."

Song Xuan spoke up, "How did you refute the direction?"

Chi San snapped out of his daze, quickly smiling, and pointed to the person beside him:
"The naval commander knows geography; at night he observes the stars, and during the day he observes the sun."

"You are a capable and hardworking person, so your salary must be quite high."

"Thanks to Lord Song for his praise, I am indeed quite tired. Fortunately, Brother Chi is willing to share more of our money."

Ike Saburo laughed heartily, saying that they were all good brothers who shared the same pot of food, and that they had to make a fortune on this trip.

Do you use a compass?

The boatman's smile vanished because Ike Saburo hadn't finished speaking; there was another part: "The gloomy compass."

"Used."

Song Xuan nodded:

"Yan Su was an official in the capital. He invented the odometer and wrote a treatise on ocean tides. Now he wants to draw a nautical chart. He told me that I can use a compass, which can also be used for military campaigns."

"If you know how to draw nautical charts, you can help draw them for various places. After this is done, I will certainly recommend you for credit."

Chi Sanlang quickly assured Song Taisui that he would do as he was told.

He wasn't afraid that Song Xuan wouldn't order them around; as long as he did, there would be conflicts of interest.

In this way, they will be able to mingle more easily within the territory of the Song Dynasty.

seriously.

Who would want to spend their whole life at sea?

Once life is comfortable and enough wealth has been accumulated, they will return home in glory.

On the high seas, the law of the jungle applies: the strong eat the meat, and the losers are eaten.

But if I go back to my hometown, can I do such a thing?

With so much wealth, it's bound to attract the covetous eyes of others.

With government officials looking after them, the benefits extend to three generations.

Even with the protection of two generations of ancestors, it's enough to allow you to settle down and re-establish yourself in your hometown.

Song Xuan became the magistrate of the county at a young age, and his political achievements are so outstanding. He will surely become the prime minister in the future.

In the Song Dynasty, having the protection of a prime minister was far more intimidating than having the protection of a military general.

Ike Saburo felt as if a pie had fallen from the sky, leaving him speechless for a moment.

Song Xuan then added:

"Yan Su is very knowledgeable in this area. I heard him say that in the deep sea, there is little space, the sky and water are the same color, and ships come and go. They rely solely on the compass and watch it day and night with utmost care, because the slightest difference can mean the difference between life and death."

"Song Taisui really does know something."

The naval commander nodded repeatedly: "In the past, when we used stars or prominent land features to determine our location, our visibility was greatly affected by the sea weather, and we could only determine the approximate location."

"Often, it is necessary to find a port of call after arriving on shore, which greatly limits safety and efficiency."

"Many merchants outside, and even people on land, play the role of pirates."

"With a compass, we can set off in November or December and reach various countries and India within a month."

“I heard that it used to take months to achieve this, and many crew members would fall ill and die, for reasons unknown.”

Song Xuan knew, of course, that this was sepsis and that eating some oranges would cure it, but he didn't tell anyone.

With a compass, their short voyages were almost risk-free, and they could even pick the fruits stored in the cabin or collect fresh water when they reached the shore.

If the voyage continues for too long, sepsis will develop.

Are you familiar with the sea routes to Japan and Korea?

"nature."

Chi Sanlang hurriedly told Song Xuan that they would travel to Goryeo and Japan during the summer or early autumn with southerly winds, and would return during the spring with northeasterly trade winds.

They all traveled there, especially since Japan had a great demand for Song coins.

What do you think of the military preparedness of the Goryeo soldiers?

Song Xuan then raised another point that interested him:
“During the reign of King Taejong, Goryeo cut off its envoys and stopped paying tribute, but during the reign of King Jinjong, they defeated the Liao army and resumed paying tribute.”

"However, due to defeat by the Khitans, tribute was once again cut off."

"I don't know how to answer what Song Taisui asked."

Saburo Ike was lost in his memories:
"The Goryeo soldiers were not tall, but the bows they used were extremely large, and those who carried the bows were mostly elite soldiers."

"The rest of the soldiers are not strong in combat, and they are even starving. They only know how to oppress the people."

"There was no shortage of Han Chinese who fled to Goryeo because of the war. They could speak two languages ​​and worked in the residences of Goryeo nobles."

"I think those Korean nobles are all arrogant and act like they're the bosses of the world."

"Ah."

Song Xuan replied, "If you win, you kick the bucket; if you lose, you kneel down and admit defeat. I've never seen a Korean before."

Unlike the Tang Dynasty, the Song Dynasty did not become the largest suzerain state in Asia, enjoying the glory of all nations paying tribute.

However, this approach also has the advantage of offering a silver lining when one door closes.

Since the Qin and Han dynasties, the concept of unification has been ingrained in people's minds, and the submission of barbarians from all directions has been regarded as a national honor.

That is, in the economic exchanges between countries, the principle of not competing with barbarians for profit is always followed.

The imperial court was generous in giving but stingy in receiving, disregarding economic benefits and valuing the empty title of suzerain of all nations.

Overseas countries were delighted to receive generous rewards and vied to pay tribute.

However, the actual situation of the Song Dynasty was that it had neither the power nor the ambition to act as the largest suzerain state, and it attached great importance to economic trade.

So generally, friendship is friendship, but business is business!

You can't just send tribute whenever you want; that's obviously not allowed.

Anyway, if I'm doing business with you, I have to make a profit; I don't want to do business that loses money.

In order to obtain more tax revenue, the Song Dynasty vigorously encouraged people in coastal areas to go out to sea for business.

As long as you register in the designated place, obtain the necessary certificates, and pay taxes upon your return, I will definitely support your overseas business activities.

They even had to organize people to worship the sea god and build shrines.

Those who went to sea were very willing to believe in this deity.

If your trade business is successful, the imperial court may reward you with a high-ranking official position.

Therefore, Ike Saburo was very happy to be recruited by Song Xuan.

Otherwise, with their strength alone, they might not be able to rely on the government.

The government's support also led to a sudden change in the situation where maritime trade during the Tang Dynasty was controlled by Persians and Arabs.

A large number of Han Chinese merchants flocked to this business, vying for more say.

Moreover, since they are profit-driven and lack the political attributes of envoys, they naturally pursue whatever makes money.

The booming economy and its driving force enabled these maritime merchants to expand their trade scope, develop trade products, and broaden their trade markets.

You sailed farther and made more money than me, fine, then next time I'll sail even farther than you.

It's about who's the best and who makes the most money.

In any case, the concept of involution has been ingrained in the Chinese people from ancient times to the present.

"The imperial court is very careful in selecting personnel for the Maritime Trade Office. Do you think this method will be effective?"

"Hey hey hey."

Chi Sanlang chuckled a few times: "Song Taisui, it's hard to say about this kind of thing, after all, we don't have any substantial evidence."

Song Xuan raised an eyebrow, knowing there was more to the story than met the eye.

There are some things they can't say.

"The profits from maritime trade are substantial; who wouldn't want to control them?"

Song Xuan then wrote down: "Since you say there is no evidence, then you must have heard some rumors."

"Guangzhou Prefecture is two thousand miles away from Kaifeng Prefecture, so it's normal that many messages can't be transmitted back in time."

"I will find an opportunity to talk to the officials about this matter. The only thing we can do is to frequently rotate these people to prevent them from using their positions for personal gain."

"Song Taisui is absolutely right."

Chi San took another sip of wine: "I've heard people say that no one is perfect, and everyone loves money."

"Yes, it's human nature."

Song Xuan pointed at himself and said:

"I prefer to live a wealthy life rather than a life where I can't even afford food at Dunqinglou."

"How wonderful, how wonderful!"

Chi Sanlang raised his wine cup again and said, "I have seen many officials, but I have never met one as outspoken as Song Taisui."

"They want the money of petty people, but they won't say it outright. They'll keep hinting that I should give it to them voluntarily."

"They didn't want the money, as if it were something dirty."

"But behind their backs, they kept counting and counting, which was quite despicable."

"Hahaha."

Song Xuan clicked his tongue twice: "Scholars and officials have always liked to use the word 'elegance' to cover up their shame. I also dislike pretending with them."

Ike Saburo was too embarrassed to ask what "feigning compliance" meant.

But what Song Xuan said made sense, and he was convinced.

Looking at the whole world, even emperors love money, so who doesn't?
They simply toasted Song Xuan with wine, without urging him to drink.

Song Xuan took a sip of tea: "Since you've come back wanting to sell for a high price, have you considered auctioning it off?"

"What does Song Taisui mean by auction?"

Song Xuan then explained the situation to them and also mentioned the auction of Fanlou.

"I wonder if Lord Song could make an introduction?"

"I don't have time right now, but I can write you a note later. When you get to Tokyo, go directly to Fanlou and find Manager Qian. Tell him you want to see Prefect Liu."

"Which Prefect Liu?"

Song Xuan picked up some food and said, "That's Liu Congde, the nephew of the eldest aunt, the prefect Liu."

"what!"

Chi San was greatly surprised.

He hadn't expected that what Song Xuan said was true, and not just bragging.

Chi San thought that Song Xuan's relationship was with his father-in-law, the Privy Councilor, but what if he got involved with the Empress Dowager?

That certainly means having both ability and connections in the imperial court.

How can one avoid getting promoted and making a fortune?

"Thank you for the note, Lord Song."

Chi San believed that with Song Xuan's protection, he would surely be able to make things go smoothly in Tokyo.

Otherwise, where would he get the chance to curry favor with the aunt's nephew?
The Liu family won't even let you through the main gate.

"Since you're confident in your goods, go ahead and give it a try. You can decide and agree on the commission yourselves. Don't be too lenient with him; you still have to pay taxes when you trade goods."

Song Xuan put down his chopsticks:
“I’ll reiterate this once again in Kaifeng County: as long as you pay your taxes honestly, I’ll protect you.”

"If I haven't returned yet, go directly to the gatekeeper, whose name is Qi Lecheng. He will take care of everything for you."

"Understood, understood." Chi San toasted Song Xuan again.

Song Xuan nodded in acceptance and spoke again:

"If anyone on your ship doesn't want to continue sailing, send someone to open a shop in Tokyo."

"At that time, you can put the goods you have traded overseas there and sell them yourself or participate in auctions."

Chi San spoke again, "I don't know how to repay Lord Song for his arrangements!"

After all, he believed that there is no such thing as a free lunch.

Now that Master Song has given out all the sweet dates, what are his conditions?
(End of this chapter)