The red coral tree, one person tall, has a well-proportioned branch and is almost damaged. Its width is like a door panel, standing in the center of the side hall.

The afternoon sunlight passes through the window and leaks into the hall, which increasingly reflects the dazzling brilliance of the red coral trees.

Li Li stood in front of Coral with his hands behind his back and looked carefully. After looking at it, he felt that this thing was very suitable for showing off his wealth.

Such a large coral should be very common in the sea, but red corals may be relatively less. After all, it is not easy to catch them from the sea.

It is really not easy to transport corals of this size intact to thousands of miles away, and it is inevitable that the vehicles and ships will be bumpy during this period.

Therefore, this almost perfect coral tree has a great value, and it is most suitable to use it as a bonsai showing off its wealth.

As the sea trade is in full swing, more rare treasures pour into the Central Plains, and in the future, larger coral trees may be transported.

Li Li thought again: This coral tree looks so beautiful, but in this way, the royal family's expenses are becoming increasingly extravagant.

"This is a tribute from the maritime merchants. It seems too luxurious to use as interior furnishings. Zu Qing thinks what to do with it?"

Li Li asked, and Zu Yi, who was watching with him, immediately replied: "I think Your Majesty should accept it and place it in the place where the ministers are summoned in daily life, so that the court officials can feast their eyes."

Li Li looked at Zu Yi when he heard this. Zu Yi continued, "In this way, I can place smaller coral trees on my humble house."

"You are opening the way for me."

"I don't dare, but I heard that Your Majesty has led the army for many years. It is said that the general leads the army. If this is not the case, the three armies cannot use their lives..."

"Let me take the lead and lead civil and military officials to be extravagant?"

"I'm brave enough to ask your Majesty, is it considered extravagant to use gas lamps?"

“…”

I have to admit that people like Zu Qi are really "silent and silent when they flatter. Li Li looked at the red coral in front of him again and smiled, "Since that's the case, I will accept it with a smile."

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"Stop this. This year, the court will use troops in Guanlong, prepare for food and supplies, recruitment of manpower from various places, and preparations for water transportation. You must urge all departments to speed up."

"Yes, I understand."

"Also, wars need to be fought, and transactions cannot be stopped. Neither the border trade in the north nor the sea trade in the south can be delayed."

"Yes, I understand... Your Majesty, I have a good news to report."

"speak."

"Although the final result of the marine trade has not been counted, it is expected to increase by about 50% year-on-year compared with last year."

"Fifty percent, it's not bad, but how about the outflow of copper coins?"

"Year-year, preliminary statistics have doubled."

“…”

Although the outflow of copper coins was profitable for the court, such a terrifying growth rate still made Li Li silent for a while.

After a moment, he asked, "What are these copper coins flowing overseas?"

This was asked clearly, and Zu Yi replied: "Many countries in the South China Sea believe in Buddhism. It is said that many kings melted copper coins from the Central Plains and cast Buddha statues."

"Is that right?" Li Li touched his chin, "It doesn't matter, Raozhou Copper Mine can hold on."

The dialogue came to an end for the time being, and Li Li looked at the red coral tree in front of him, thinking about allusions.

That year, the Three Kingdoms returned to Jin and the world was unified. So the Jin Dynasty sang and danced in and out of the country and the people of Jin State to peace. Emperor Sima Yan stopped the prefectures and county soldiers, and began a luxurious "new life" with the families of aristocratic families.

Under Sima Yan's leadership and advocacy, the powerful and powerful fought for wealth and showed off their wealth to become a trend.

The most famous ones are Shi Chong and Wang Kai’s fighting wealth.

Wang Kai was a relative of the foreign power and surpassed Shi Chong in terms of power, but Shi Chong's family wealth was even better.

Shi Chong, who came to Beijing from a local office, heard that Wang Kai was very famous for his "richness", so he wanted to compare.

For example, it is said that Wang Kai used malt sugar water to wash cookware at home, so Shi Chong asked his kitchen to burn candles as firewood. As soon as this spread, people said that Shi Chong's family was more generous than Wang Kai's family.

Wang Kai was dissatisfied and walked forty miles on both sides of the road in front of his house, woven with purple silk as a barrier.

Anyone who wants to go to Wang Kai’s house has to pass through the forty-mile purple silk barrier.

Such luxurious decoration caused a sensation in Luoyang City.

As a result, Shi Chong used colorful satin that was more expensive than purple silk to lay a 50-mile barrier, which was longer and more luxurious than Wang Kai's barrier.

Wang Kai couldn't swallow this and looked for his nephew. Emperor Sima Yan borrowed a red coral tree more than two feet tall and placed it at home to invite guests to watch, including Shi Chong.

When everyone saw this, they were amazed, but Shi Chong sneered and stepped forward to smash the coral tree.

Wang Kai was shocked and angry at the time. The guests' faces changed drastically, but Shi Chong said, "I'll compensate." Then he asked someone to bring several coral trees from his home and let Wang Kai choose.

These coral trees are better and bigger than the coral trees borrowed by Wang Kai. Wang Kai failed to show off his wealth and was slapped in the face in public.

The story of Shi Chong and Wang Kai fighting for wealth has been passed down to later generations. It is not said that it is well-known, but it is still very well-known.

Not long after the Western Jin Dynasty unified the world (compared with the lifespan of a dynasty), the world was in chaos, and the Central Plains fell into the abyss. The extravagant life of the Western Jin Dynasty rulers and ministers, with Shi Chong and Wang Kai as microcosm, became the target of criticism by many people.

Now, Li Li looked at the red coral tree about seven feet tall in front of him, thinking about the "learning from the past", and then thinking about what Zu Yi said, "Is it extravagant to light a gas lamp?", and mixed feelings.

The reason is that if the various rare treasures brought back by the Marine Trade cannot form a luxury market justified, how can we drive the Marine Trade to set sail?

The emperor did not take the lead in "extraordinary extravagance". How could the civil and military officials below let go of their hands and feet to consume these luxury goods?

Not to mention gas lamps, just talking about valuable instruments such as pianos, organs, and "stick music boxes". He took the lead in "promotion". In the eyes of others, isn't it "extraordinary"?

How many families can the price of a high-end piano be worth the rations?

How many people in Chu are struggling with hunger and cold? The emperor takes the lead in inciting wealthy families to purchase a large number of precious musical instruments. Doesn’t his conscience hurt?

However, the accounts are not settled in this way.

Li Li looked at Zu Yi who had been silent and said:

"We must hurry up on the sea trade, and it doesn't matter if copper coins are outflowed, but the purpose is not to obtain more luxury goods. The purpose is to drive foreign trade and domestic industrial development."

He turned to the topic and Zu Yu listened with stern eyes.

"The southeast wind blows heavily, and imported products ride the wind to the north and pour into the Central Plains."

"Overseas merchants use various incense medicines and rare treasures to exchange for all kinds of products such as tea, silk, porcelain, fine wine, paper, etc. from the Central Plains."

"These products are produced in tea gardens, porcelain kilns, workshops, etc. in the Central Plains. Countless people rely on the money earned by working in these places to support their families and subsidize their families."

"Foreign trade drives industry, industry drives employment. People who have no land to cultivate can find a bowl of rice by relying on industry. Therefore, the prosperity of maritime trade will benefit the country and the people."

Speaking of this, Li Li asked: "Can any personnel realize such a prospect?"

The ones mentioned here are of course the various departments of the Shangshu Province. The Shangshu Zuo Pushe Zuo, who is the actual head of the Shangshu Province, replied:

"Scholars, farmers, industry and commerce have never had any 'work' or 'commerce' to prosper the country since ancient times."

"Also, foreign trade cannot return enough food, and the maritime merchants who get rich will purchase a large amount of real estate and merge land in China. After all, the profits of maritime trade are much higher than those of operating a manor and operating a workshop."

Li Li replied: "There are always more solutions than problems. You can't be idle. Think more and share my worries."

"Yes, I understand!" Zuo Yi answered neatly. His term of office as Zuo Pushe had passed four years, and there were three years left, so we had to lay the foundation for future "development".

He did not think that businessmen could revive the country, but since the emperor had this idea, he certainly had to be a pawn and be a pawn.

As for whether this will happen in the future...
Chapter completed!