Chapter 129: Lao Pei, you have a younger sister?

My mother, is there any unexpected gain?

Li Xiang secretly wondered if he could ask Aunt Changle to take care of the logistics.

Noticing Li Xiang's gaze, Li Lizhi smiled gently.

At this moment, Li Shimin also walked back from Liangyi Hall.

"Wow, it's so warm?"

Old Li's first reaction after entering the Lizheng Hall was to say this.

After being outside in the cold wind for a long day, it feels so good to come back home and feel the warm air.

"Yeah, is Ye back?" Li Shu turned his head.

Old Li walked in from outside and nodded to his three daughters and his big grandson.

"Yeah yeah (Aong)."

The four of them greeted each other together.

"Is this another good thing made by Xiang'er?" Li Shimin looked around and saw the copper water pipe.

He reached out and knocked on it, and said with a sigh: "Wow, it's made of pure copper. How much did it cost..."

"It's not expensive, maybe a few hundred strings of cash per set." Li Xiang said with a smile.

Li Shimin sighed and patted the heater with his hand, but was burned so much that he pulled his hand back with a "hiss", as if he had been electrocuted.

"It's hot enough, but also expensive." Li Shimin said with great emotion: "It would be great if it were cheaper so that every household could use this heater..."

What you said... Li Xiang really wants everyone to use heating, but the problem is that now both copper and iron are ridiculously expensive.

If we really want to lower the price of steel, we have to mine coal and use coal to produce steel.

There are so many things to do that Li Xiang wishes he could divide himself into several parts to do different things.

"Xiang'er just told his daughters something that sounds good." Li Shu said with a smile.

"Oh?" Old Li immediately became interested: "Tell me quickly."

Li Shu glanced at Li Xiang, and when he saw him nod, he said, "Xiang'er said that he has formed a caravan to go to the grasslands for trade. He wants to buy their wool at a low price, use the wool to weave into yarn, and weave into various clothes to keep warm."

"Oh?" Li Shimin was indeed tempted. Of course he knew the prices of goods on the grassland. Wool... To be honest, grassland people generally don't use it. They just keep some when making felt after peeling the skin.

If this wool business is feasible, not to mention the profits, just look at how low the cost of clothes made of wool is...

"Weaving into thread?" He asked again hesitantly, "Is it that simple? Can this thing also be woven into thread? Why didn't the grassland people figure it out?"

"I learned it from Big Ear Teacher." Li Xiang said simply, "I forgot the details, I only remember the general idea, and we still need to ask the craftsmen to study it."

"Okay, okay!" Li Shimin was already numb to Li Xiang's 'lack of knowledge' and was too lazy to complain anymore. He just tapped the table and said, "The first caravan must be formed as quickly as possible. We must reach the grassland as quickly as possible to purchase wool!"

"Yes, Aung!" Li Xiang replied.

"And there's cotton..."

"What is cotton?" Not only Li Shimin, but also the three aunts were puzzled.

"It's the Baidiezi from the Western Regions." Li Xiang said concisely.

Li Shimin frowned and said, "White floribunda? I remember that the flowers of white floribunda are very beautiful and are generally used for viewing. Can this thing also keep out the cold?"

"Of course, ordinary people can plant a row of it in the fields, which is enough for the whole family." Li Xiang said with a smile: "Since you have seen this thing, you should know that it will leave a ball of white flocs after it blooms. This thing is a good thing to keep out the cold."

Li Shimin was very moved, but still said: "Farming is related to the country and the people, and crops cannot be easily changed. If we plant white sedge, it will delay the grain harvest, which is not good."

Princess Gaoyang immediately responded, "Yes, my daughter has an idle manor. We can try planting it there first. After it matures, we can see how it works and then spread it to the entire Tang Dynasty."

Li Shimin sighed and said, "People don't know that white folds can keep out the cold. Even if the court promotes it, if the people don't want to, there is nothing we can do."

"Then let the court sign a contract. The court will purchase Baidiezi with grain according to a certain proportion, so that the people can have a stable income regardless of drought or flood. Naturally, they will be willing to plant it." Li Xiang said with a smile.

Li Shimin reached out and patted Li Xiang's head gently: "You kid, food doesn't fall from the sky. If the people change to planting white sorghum, there will be no food harvest. What will you do?"

No food? What can we do?
I'm not afraid that you worry about having no food, I'm just afraid that you don't ask.

If you ask, the elephant will find a way!
"Old Man, you don't know..." Li Xiang said, and took out a somewhat messy map from the side - that was roughly the idea.

"Look, this is Champa, and this is Indochina. Ah, don't ask why it's called this. Anyway, the rice in this place can be harvested three times a year, and the soil is extremely fertile. People there just scatter seeds on the ground and don't have to worry about anything. They just harvest them when they are ripe."

When Li Shimin heard this, his body trembled.

There is such a good place?

"Although the south is a place of malaria and difficult to travel, we can go by sea. Once the ships are repaired, we can not only use them in Goguryeo, but we can also send a fleet south and send people to exchange silk and porcelain for food." Li Xiang said with a chuckle.

The Central Plains dynasty’s thirst for food is engraved in its DNA.

Especially for an ambitious emperor like Li Shimin, the expansion of territory requires sufficient food and grass to support it, but the current grain production of the Tang Dynasty... is indeed not enough for him to consume.

"Does such a blessed land really exist?" Li Shimin looked at the map obsessively and muttered to himself.

"Has the teacher ever lied to me?" Li Xiang laughed.

Li Shimin suddenly realized that with so many things that happened before as a foundation, he certainly believed in Li Xiang and his dream.

After all, in his opinion, my Holy Ancestor, Emperor Xuanyuan, would definitely not lie.

What do you call this? This is called having two phoenixes to debate the sutras for me...

"By then, the rulers of the peninsula will see that grain can be exchanged for silk and porcelain belonging to our Tang Dynasty, and they will certainly force the people to grow grain for their own extravagance. By then, God will be angry and people will resent us, and we can naturally punish the criminals in the name of the Celestial Empire." Li Xiang continued.

"This important granary should belong to our Tang Dynasty!" Li Shimin slammed the table angrily.

"That's right. If you don't take what heaven gives you, you will suffer the consequences!" Li Shu also joined in. Even the two quiet women, Li Mingda and Li Lizhi, agreed with Li Shu's words.

Li Xiang looked at the four hawkish father and daughter in the room with great satisfaction, and felt very satisfied.

Now that the emperor’s desire for land has been aroused, the next step is... it’s time to refresh the Tang army in Indochina Peninsula!

"In that case, I will send someone to investigate." Old Li stroked his beard and thought about the candidate in his mind.

Well... it just so happens that the Indian envoy is about to return home. It was originally planned to send Li Yibiao, a doctor of the imperial court, as the chief envoy and Wang Xuance as the deputy envoy to send him back to his country. It would be better to let the chief envoy Li Yibiao go to India, and Wang Xuance be another chief envoy to go to the peninsula that Xiang'er mentioned and gather some information.

To be honest, Li Xiang had really forgotten about this powerful man named Wang Xuance, but due to the inertia of history, Old Li really remembered this person.

While thinking about it, he felt that the name Indochina Peninsula didn't sound good. "The name Xiang'er chose for Indochina Peninsula doesn't sound good." Li Shimin pondered for a moment, pointed at the peninsula and said, "An island is one that is surrounded by water. What kind of island is this? And why call it 'Indochina Peninsula'? It doesn't sound good."

After pondering for a moment, Li Shimin thought of a good name.

"This is clearly my Han Jiaozhi County. After the restoration, it will be made into Jiaozhou Road!"

Li Xiang gave a thumbs up sincerely, otherwise why would his grandfather be called the Heavenly Khan.

Look at this... this literary accomplishment, this historical awareness, this sense of mission, he is extraordinary.

Due to the tight time schedule and heavy workload, Li Xiang did not stay in Lizheng Hall for long.

Since this time the task was urgent, Li Xiang hastily selected a group of people, led by Li Jingren, who volunteered to lead the team, and assigned him a few experienced and steady shopkeepers to go to the grassland to purchase wool.

I originally planned to let Hegan Chengji lead the team, but then I thought about this guy's bad temper in Jiangnan... forget it.

It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Of course, Hegan Chengji is still of great use. He had worked as a guard in the Prince of Qi's Palace for a period of time before. It is just right to send him to investigate Li You now.

The cargo this time mainly consisted of necessities such as tea bricks, as well as some medicinal materials, porcelain, silk, etc. Lao Li's order was to hurry up and do it quickly so that the wool spinning experiment could be carried out as soon as possible.

Li Xiang was not worried about whether wool could be woven, after all, it had been proven feasible by later generations.

Li Daozon was worried about his son, so he went to the Grand Historian to calculate an auspicious time before letting him set off.

The Grand Historian chose the third quarter of the morning on the fourteenth day, saying that it was the "Emperor's Prosperity" time period and just right for this trip.

It was still snowing in the morning.

The sky was covered with dark clouds and the north wind was howling. Li Xiang and a group of friends trembled as they bid farewell to Li Jingren at the Ten-Li Pavilion.

"Brother! Please stay! Wait for good news from my brother!" Li Jingren sat on the horse and bowed to Li Xiang.

But he was dressed like a cotton cover, which looked really funny.

"Jingren!" Li Xiang crossed his arms sincerely: "Be careful on your journey!"

Li Jingren waved his hands, and when he looked back and could no longer see his brothers, he decided not to pretend anymore and slipped into the carriage covered with thick fur.

"Let's go back." Li Xiang shrank his neck. In fact, it was not very cold, but the feeling of the snow blowing into his neck with the breeze was really uncomfortable.

When seeing off Li Jingren, Li Xiang sent people to Fang Xuanling's house and Changsun Wuji's house respectively to invite the two aunts to the restaurant to discuss the matters of the next caravan's purchase of goods and the establishment of a workshop.

Li Jingren traveled in a hurry and did not bring much or all the goods.

While Li Jingren was going to the grassland to do business and it would take time to go back and forth, Li Xiang drew out a long list and asked the playboys to purchase the goods.

When he had nothing to do last night, he wrote down on paper the techniques of washing and degreasing wool, spinning yarn, and knitting sweaters.

After returning to the restaurant, Li Xiang took his brothers over to introduce them.

"Brothers, this is my aunt, Princess Changle. This... you all know her. She is my aunt Gaoyang. You can just call her aunt." Li Xiang introduced with a smile.

"Hello, two aunts!" everyone responded with their hands folded.

It was the first time that Li Lizhi witnessed such a lively scene. She covered her lips with her hands and smiled, asking everyone to stand up. Her smile made the years peaceful.

Li Su was in high spirits, as he was no longer surprised by such scenes.

Li Xiang handed the list and the paper with the technical information to Li Lizhi and said, "Aunts, this is the replenishment list I wrote last night. Please take a close look at it and see if it is complete and if there is anything that needs to be supplemented."

Li Lizhi nodded slightly, as quiet as a painting.

"Don't worry, little elephant." Li Shu said with a smile.

"This is about wool technology. Please keep it carefully and arrange for the craftsmen to study it first." Li Xiang pondered for a moment and said, "There are still many sheep in the palace. I have asked Wang De to shave all the wool from those sheep and send them to my aunt's house tomorrow."

"Okay." Li Shu nodded solemnly.

After talking for a few more words and entrusting his brothers to the care of his two aunts, Li Xiang walked out.

The two aunts were very capable and Li Xiang trusted them, so he just became a hands-off manager.

Lao Xiao taught us well that as a leader, the worst thing to do is to do everything by yourself.

Unless you are in very good health, as good as Zhu Yuanzhang's Terminator body, you'd better not endure it too much. Please refer to Zhuge Liang's fate.

Besides, if there is too much control, the subordinates will feel aggrieved and think that the leader does not trust them and cannot give full play to their talents.

Of course...it's also because he's a bit lazy.

Li Xiang also knew Princess Gaoyang's character very well. She was a woman who liked the spotlight and liked to be sought after.

In that case, then build the stage for her, let her enjoy the popularity of the crowd, and let her work wholeheartedly for me.

The restaurant has already introduced hot pot and lamb in water basin, two of its main winter dishes.

Li Xiang returned to the restaurant, planning to have a nice hotpot meal to warm himself up.

When the weather is freezing cold, it's best to eat something hot.

But when Li Xiang looked around, he suddenly realized that all his brothers had been assigned to work under his aunt and had gone out to assign tasks, so he couldn't find anyone to eat hot pot with him for a while.

After thinking about it, Li Xiang thought of Su Dingfang whom he had met in the restaurant before.

Thinking of this, Li Xiang sent someone to Zuowei to find Su Dingfang to have a chat at the restaurant.

Anyway, he is just a kid of twelve or fourteen years old, so he is not afraid of any rumors.

Not long after, Su Dingfang rushed into the restaurant in a hurry.

"My humble general greets the Prince." Su Dingfang saluted with his hands crossed.

"General Su." Li Xiang reached out and took Su Dingfang's hand, smiling and saying to him, "Just now I saw the heavy snow falling, and it reminded me of the time when the snow fell in Rabbit Garden, when King Liang summoned Zou Sheng and invited Mei Sou. Seeing this snow today, I have to appreciate it, and the hot pot is warming up, so I invite you to the restaurant for a while."

Fortunately, Su Dingfang was also a scholar, so he understood what he said.

"Since the prince has summoned me, how dare I disobey?"

Li Xiang was about to speak when he saw Su Dingfang looking behind him.

He looked back and saw a young man behind him and a graceful woman standing next to him.

(The third update is here, my brain is boiling!)
(Guess who this woman is?)
(End of this chapter)