Chapter 305 Going to sea
The twenty-second year of Li Yuan.

This year… Zhao Xin is forty-seven years old.

To be honest, it’s impossible for this person to refuse to accept his old age.

and……

Zhao Xin really feels that he has been a bit lazy recently.

After getting up every day, the thing I want to do most is to do like a Chaoshan person, boil a pot of tea, then look at the trees and the lake outside, and then just sit there in a daze.

of course!

Sometimes I also take care of serious matters.

For example…

Take a look at the latest scientific research progress of the Academy of Sciences. If you have time, write them some instructions to guide their research direction.

basically……

This is what Zhao Xin is doing most of the time.

As for Zhao Zhe, since Zhao Xin handed over most of the things to him, Zhao Zhe was now very busy every day.

Things in the Song Dynasty are already busy enough.

The Liao Kingdom also has to hold a meeting.

There are also Western Xia and Tubo.

This is probably the disadvantage of a large territory.

If there is a radio, that would be great.

Unfortunately……

If you ask Zhao Xin to research such advanced things now, he might not be able to do it.

and……

If Zhao Xin remembered correctly, this radio must at least first develop an electronic component. What was it called?

Hey~
I can only say that I don’t remember it very well.

Rectifier?
What resistor or capacitor?

Ok!

Zhao Xin quickly gave up struggling.

Then he supported his head with his hands, lay on his side on the mattress-covered bed, looked at the lake in the distance, where ripples were created by the breeze, and continued in a daze.

then……

I couldn’t help but think that this was probably the rest of my life.

Good thing…

Just as Zhao Xin was thinking this, Crown Prince Zhao Zhe brought Zhao Xin the latest news from Southeast Asia.

This is not!

The envoys from various Southeast Asian countries returned to their territories one by one.

Immediately afterwards…

He also conveyed Zhao Xin’s words to their king.

Zhao Xin’s request to Srivijaya was that Srivijaya could not prevent the merchant ships of the Song Dynasty from passing through, nor could it collect taxes from the passing merchant ships of the Song Dynasty.

however……

Isn’t this nonsense for Srivijaya?
The key is whether you have one ship or two ships, that’s fine.

After all, this will naturally not affect their interests too much.

But this time Zhao Xin sent fifty ships.

However, this is not the most important thing. The most important thing is that Zhao Xin also told them that in the future, whether Srivijaya pays tribute to the Song Dynasty or sells goods to the Song Dynasty, it must report to the Song Dynasty in advance.

otherwise……

If you have too many spices, they will become worthless.

The starting point of the Song Dynasty was to control the amount of spices pouring into the Song Dynasty.

When Srivijaya heard this, they felt something was not right.

In addition, you have sent out merchant ships to do business in Chola. So, what will we have to do with the trade routes and the spice market in the future?

This means that…

From now on, the business of this entire sea area will be decided by you, the Song Dynasty?

As the saying goes, cutting off someone’s financial resources is like killing his parents.

This naturally soon aroused the dissatisfaction of Srivijaya.

The words of the Song Dynasty clearly indicate an attempt to infringe upon their interests.

to this end……

Srivijaya also asked briefly about how many kilograms of various spices they could pay tribute to and sell to the Song Dynasty every year.

Then the envoy sent by Zhao Xin replied: “It depends on how much the Song Dynasty needs.”

Srivijaya asked again: “How much is needed?”

The envoy said, “It’s hard for me to say, anyway… just wait for the news.”

Let them wait for news, and then the Song Dynasty sent another fifty merchant ships.

Ok!

This is indeed a way to steal business.

The result is…

The leaders of these merchant ships actually went to Srivijaya and started purchasing spices directly from the local area at low prices.

soon……

The local administrator also discovered this situation and reported it to the King of Srivijaya.

The King of Srivijaya was no fool either.

The Song Dynasty had done so clearly, how could they not know what the Song Dynasty wanted to do? They could only call the envoys and express their disagreement with the Song Dynasty’s approach.

after that……

It was considered a relatively courteous act as they drove away the Song Dynasty’s merchant ships.

But the Song Dynasty did not give them any face.

Since you don’t welcome us, we will go to your neighbor’s house to buy.

Exactly!

At this time, Srivijaya had a rival kingdom in the southeast, Java.

Since they all hang out in this area, naturally, there are many feuds among them.

The merchant ships of the Song Dynasty were quickly loaded with goods here, planning to pass through the gate of Srivijaya again and then transport the goods back to the Song Dynasty.

This time…

Srivijaya finally couldn’t bear it anymore.

Because in principle, everything that passes through them has to pay taxes.

The subordinates of Srivijaya have ordered the Song Dynasty merchant ships to pay taxes.

I don’t know if Da Song is fishing or something.

You said that you were going to send out fifty ships at once. When the men from Srivijaya encountered you, they would probably be a little scared when they saw how large your fleet was.

but……

However, the Song Dynasty only sent two ships back.

Now he was caught by the people from Srivijaya. It was also the fault of the tax collectors in Srivijaya who were used to being arrogant.

He ignored the explanation of the Song Dynasty merchant ship.

They seized one-tenth of the cargo on the Song Dynasty merchant ships as tax, and the most important thing was that they beat people.

This news reached Zhao Xin’s ears.

Then this is a perfect opportunity for him to send troops.

He immediately called a meeting and began to consider forming his own navy.

In terms of number of people…

Five thousand people should be enough.

If there are too many, it will be difficult to raise them.

Then there were warships, about eighty to a hundred.

only……

I definitely couldn’t go there directly back then.

The earliest we can go now is probably next year or even the year after.

Because not only do we have to build ships, but we also have to train the navy.

of course!

Considering that there is no point for me to stay in Youzhou City now, and… Yuanyuan and the others don’t need me anymore.

Zhao Xin decided to do it himself in the end.

Anyway…

First, let’s post the notice.

Recruiting navy soldiers, led by Zui Xinglai himself, recruiting people who are willing to work hard and have dreams.

Sima Guang, Wen Yanbo and others were speechless after hearing what Zhao Xin said.

But fortunately!

The prince is now useful.

can only say……

Their official is often a little too willful.

You talk about him!

I feel like I’m going to be scolded.

Don’t you say anything about him!
never mind!

Sima Guang just shook his head.

Fortunately, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is different from his father.

Your Highness, there is still hope.

of course!

The officials below were worried.

Because so many people were recruited at one time, you have to understand that this was equivalent to the loss of almost 5,000 households of people.

Then who should compensate for the tax losses of these 5,000 households?

Often at this time…

In those counties where too many people have been drawn away, the government will check the population and the land, and then tell you openly that it is because all the people have left. Next, in order to prevent some people from paying more taxes, we will start to square the land.

to this end……

Although Sima Guang had nothing to say.

But inexplicably, some “loyal ministers” jumped out to give you desperate advice, saying that the journey is long and what if an accident happens?
Especially at sea, it is difficult to predict what will happen.

Then persuade Zhao Xin not to take such risks.

Zhao Xin also asked Zhao Zhe to remember the names of these people.

Because these people are definitely the ones who have done the most tax evasion and land annexation in the court.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so anxious to persuade themselves.

(End of this chapter)