Long before the establishment of a city in the southeast to trade, Qian Yuan discussed shipping with Zhang Juzheng, who was still close friend at the time. Later, after returning to Beijing, he also discussed with Gao Gong, and Gao Gong also regarded shipping as part of his future rule.

It is their common understanding that sea transportation should not be completely replaced by canal transportation.

Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng and others considered that sea transportation would replace canal transportation, which would lead to hundreds of thousands of canal residents living in poverty and turmoil.

Qian Yuan considered that the North and South Canals are the main arteries that connect the north and south. The transportation of goods from north and south depends on the canals. Commercial activities other than sea trade cannot be borne by sea. At least 50% of them need to be borne by the North and South Canals.

Even for sea trade, if there is no smooth canal, it will be very troublesome to transport goods from Nanjing to Zhenhai. You can’t just set up customs on Chongming Island, right?

What's more, Qian Yuan once asked Dong Bangzheng, a general who was good at naval battles in the southeast. Although Chongming Island was established, it was really not suitable for sailing out of the sea in this era.

In general, Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng were considering stability, while Qian Yuan was considering business channels.

Tang Shunzhi was considering another question: If sea transportation replaces canal transportation and if the Southeast affairs were always under Suiyuan, would Qian Zhancai's power expand to a point where it would make the court uneasy in the future?

Will it be controlled by Suiyuan?

Tang Shunzhi was at least 50% sure. If you were to travel by sea, it would be difficult to get by Wang Zhi. After all, Wang Zhi had a considerable influence from the sea to the north from Zhenhai to the sea, let alone those big sea boats, only Wang Zhiyou.

And Tang Shunzhi was sure that there were other secret connections between Qian Yuan and Wang Zhi besides Tan Qizhi.

If you can't get around Wang Zhi, it's hard to get around Suiyuan, which also means you can't get around Qian Yuan.

Tang Shunzhi leaned against the head of the bed with his eyes closed. The officials in the court wanted to seize business. If this time fails, there will be a next time. It will be successful in the end, but what about the shipping matter?

If it is in the hands of Suiyuan, if sea transportation is replaced by canal transportation... In essence, Tang Shunzhi still cannot get rid of the thinking model of the scholars and officials of this era, and is loyal to the emperor and patriotism.

Why is canal transportation so important?

A large amount of grain was transported to the north by canal, such as Beijing, Tianjin, Tongzhou, and far away as the northwest border, and then to Jimen and Liaodong.

A large amount of grain was hoarded in Dezhou, Cangzhou, Linqing, Jining and other places on both sides of the canal. Those merchants largely determined the level of grain prices, but this was also controlled by the government.

If the shipping is completely controlled by Suiyuan, it means that Suiyuan can seize the lifeline of the court at any time... Tang Shunzhi could even speculate so.

The maritime transportation was piloted, but the canal transport was not stopped. It remained unchanged for ten years and twenty years. The northern grain and rice were mostly transported by sea transportation, and the canal transport was gradually weakened without realizing it.

Most of the grain and rice in the world come from Huguang and southeast. If the sea transportation suddenly stops twenty years later, will the imperial court have the ability to restore large-scale grain transportation in a short period of time and maintain stability in the north?

Some people in the court once vaguely accused Qian Yuan of separating the three prefectures of Ning Shaotai. If this was true for twenty years, separatist would probably become a reality.

If sea transportation is replaced by canal transportation, if Suiyuan is in control, it will not be a good thing for the Ming government in any aspect... Especially Tianjin is so close to Beijing.

Tang Shunzhi had so many doubts, so many of them. The root cause was that he couldn't understand and could not see clearly what Qian Yuan wanted to do?

Just keeping your name in history like Huo Ruliang?

Just like Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng, he held the power?

Tang Shunzhi twisted his body unconsciously and remembered the small envelope under the pillow.

There were rapid footsteps outside and remembered that a young man rushed over with a sad face, rushed into the room and knelt on the edge of the bed, "Father, Father..."

"My son was praised by the villagers since childhood. He was as gentle as jade. He has always been calm and calm. Why is he like this today?" Tang Shunzhi smiled and said, "Is it because he followed Zhan to change the streets and change... Cough cough cough cough cough..."

"Father..." Tang Hezheng could no longer hold it back, tears rolled down his face, and soon he cried silently.

"Although I have regrets for my father in this life, I have no regrets. Why do I cry?" Tang Shunzhi looked at Zheng Ruozeng who appeared quietly and smiled and said, "My son should get up, there are a few things behind me."

Zheng Ruozeng sighed and helped Tang Hezheng up and sat at the desk, "Mr. Jingchuan still needs to be treated by his nephew, so listen carefully."

"My son is not very knowledgeable, but he has a self-knowledge and has no worries in this life. My daughter is in the woods. Although the husband is not smooth in the imperial examination, he is a good gentleman and has no obstacles in family affairs."

Tang Shunzhi coughed twice, and saw a faint redness on his mouth, and sighed, "I just sigh that I can't return to Wujin again."

"Father, I will definitely see my hometown again when I set off tomorrow..."

"I can't go back." Tang Shunzhi said calmly: "Wujin only sets up a tomb of clothes and clothes."

"What?"

"Mr. Jingchuan intends to bury his bones in the sea and wait for Taoshan." Zheng Ruozeng whispered.

"Beru has chosen the site for his father." Tang Shunzhi smiled and said, "There is no need for Feng Shui treasure land, you just need to be able to witness Zhenhai County."

Zheng Ruozeng bowed to the point, looked at Tang Shunzhi's expression, turned around and picked up the inkstone and dripped a few drops of water, then picked up the ink ingot and slowly ground the ink.

"My son holds the pen."

"Yes." Tang Hezheng wiped away the tears from his face and picked up a brush that had been prepared long ago.

"Qiantang magistrate Haigangfeng is as clear as water and as honest as mirror. Although he is suspected of being too ruling, his strength is in line with the situation in the southeast..."

"When Taoshan buried his bones, the Southeast tax and silver are exported to Beijing, causing the world to wither and change, and under the nine springs, I can see the peace of mind..."

Just a few words, Tang Shunzhi said casually, and Tang Hezheng passed by in a flash.

"Mr. Jingchuan?" Zheng Ruozeng was surprised to see Tang Shunzhi take out a small envelope from under the pillow.

"Qian Yuan's personal search." Tang Shunzhi looked tired, "and wrapped in that letter."

Tang Hezheng did as he did, and couldn't help asking: "Father, they all sent it to Qian Longquan..."

"After the Marine Affairs Bureau, he can be relieved for the time being." Tang Shunzhi turned his head and looked at Zheng Ruozeng, "Hangzhou should have the Qian family guards coming and going to pass on messages. When will he arrive in Beijing?"

"It's only ten days." Zheng Ruozeng whispered.

Tang Shunzhi nodded slightly, exerted force on his hands, and suddenly sat up from the bed, "I have to worry about boiling some hot water."

Three quarters of an hour later, Tang Shunzhi, who was bathing and changing clothes, sat cross-legged on the cushion in the room with his back straight, looking calm, and said with a smile: "I am not what I wish for when I am old. I will not regret going west here today."

On the side, Zheng Ruozeng and Hai Rui bowed and Tang Hezheng knelt on the ground, sobbing and mourning.

"Calculate the time, my son should have achieved fame and fortune in four years. Remember, don't enter Suiyuan."

Zheng Ruozeng and Hai Rui all changed their faces, and Tang Hezheng was even more surprised. He had a good relationship with Qian Yuan in Linhai, Taizhou, and admired the other party's agility and strategy. He had been in exchange for letters over the years, so why did his father explain this?
Chapter completed!