The third year of Kaiyuan.

May.

A large sailboat sailed from the Han River into the Yu River, and the huge red nine-headed bird emblem on the sail was so conspicuous.

Zhang Chao stood at the bow of the boat, stroked the side of the boat and sighed, but he was back.

A month ago, he received an urgent report from his home that Lao Tieqin was seriously ill.

Brothers Zhang Yue sent the old iron spear back to Hanjing for treatment from Yanbei.

But even the best imperial physician in Hanjing announced that he was helpless. The Prince of Java was already in his seventies. He fought endlessly in his early years and left too much trauma. Although he was well maintained later, it was time to get out of oil and dry up the lamp.

Lao Tieqin was very free and easy. In his words, he had already died in Hebei. Zhang Chao traveled thousands of miles to Hebei to cure him with magical medicine, which allowed him to prolong his life for almost twenty years.

This life is enough for him.

I have enjoyed all kinds of blessings and have no regrets.

After receiving the letter, Zhang Chao immediately explained the affairs of Luzon and then took a boat back to Beijing.

After traveling all the way, day and night, I finally returned to Hanjing.

In recent years, Zhang Chao and Lao Tieqian have spent less time together, and Lao Tieqian has spent most of his time operating his territory in Qinglong, western Liaoning.

"The banks of the Yu River are becoming more and more prosperous." Zhang Chao sighed.

More than 200 miles from the Han River to Hanjing, the river has become more and more wide and deeper, with white sails. There are also villages, towns and towns everywhere along the coast.

Spread across the marina.

This section of river, known as the Yu River, is called the most prosperous section of waterway.

Hanjing and the large number of surrounding commercial towns have made this plain a large population, with millions of people. Such a large population will inevitably consume a huge amount.

In this era, due to transportation issues, many commodities are produced and processed locally.

Not to mention anything else, vegetables, fruits, meat, poultry and eggs are mainly produced in Gyeonggi.

Especially the line next to the Yuhe River, which is convenient for transportation, which makes the surrounding fields basically grow vegetables and fruits, and the breeding industry is even more prosperous.

It is said that there are hundreds of pig farms, chicken farms, duck farms, and goose farms on this line, providing Gyeonggi with sufficient pork and poultry eggs.

Without freezing technology, it is unrealistic to transport pork from a distance to Beijing. Transport live pigs is equally difficult and costly. Therefore, it is the most cost-effective to breed in a place close to Gyeonggi and close to the canal.

Because of the great rise of these breeding industries, the land around Gyeonggi, except for growing vegetables, is the most grown potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, and soybeans, because these can be fed to pigs.

Large-scale pig farms are different from family farming, and they can raise pigs with just a little pig grass. Large-scale pig farms must have feed, while pig farms such as soybean and sweet potatoes are cheaper and can make pigs nutritious and quickly slaughtered.

In a not-so-large Gyeonggi area, the grain consumed every day can be transported from far away places, but fresh vegetables, fruits, pork, mutton, poultry and eggs must be supplied nearby.

There are many workshops, Shang Town is everywhere, along the river, there are docks everywhere, boats come and go on the river, and there are vegetable and fruit planting and farms everywhere on the shore.

In the past, no one wanted to eat pork, but now the pork consumption in Gyeonggi far exceeds that in mutton.

"It's all market rules, and there will be supply when there is demand. People in Gyeonggi found that growing vegetables is more cost-effective than growing grain, so they grow vegetables. If they don't rely on the river, they grow potatoes and sweet potatoes to pig farms. There are many boats in the river, so there are more docks and more large and small business towns. Many merchants directly set up workshops near Gyeonggi to produce various commodities for supplying them to the capital, saving transportation costs. At the same time, the demand here is greater, and the materials may be more sufficient and the production costs are also low."

Many things do not require too much interference, they have their own rules.

I heard that a censor once reported that the fertile plains of the Gyeonggi region have not had a few acres of land to grow grain, saying that everyone is chasing merchants and profits, and that it is also said that it is forbidden to plant too many fruits and vegetables in the Gyeonggi region, and that it is forbidden to raise too many pigs, sheep, chickens and ducks, etc.

As a result, his memorial was sprayed with slander by many officials.

The imperial court now had sufficient food. In addition to the East-West Canals, the Yangtze River, and the Yellow River, there are many newly opened land roads. Many grains are transported more conveniently, and there are granaries everywhere. The imperial court often had to sell the unfinished old grains to merchants to make wine, and even feed cattle, horses, pigs, chickens and ducks.

The industry and commerce in the Gyeonggi region were booming, and the imperial court did not know how much tax it would be collected from it for a year. It was even because of these large workshops and breeding farms that the cost of living in a capital of such a large Hanjing was not too high.

The people of Hanjing have a rich basket of vegetables, and there is sufficient supply of fruits, vegetables, meat and eggs every day. The prices are not cheap, and various other daily necessities are also sufficient and not expensive. The people of Hanjing have a high happiness in their lives, and these low living costs are beneficial to the huge supply chain in Gyeonggi.

“The court hasn’t been very peaceful recently.”

Ke Qing said aside.

He came back first than Zhang Chao and had a clearer understanding of the situation in Hanjing.

"When will the court be peaceful again? This is the center of power, so naturally the struggle will never stop."

Although Zhang Chao was outside, he was very clear about the situation in Hanjing.

In fact, he didn't care that Cheng Qian would do something from time to time. For Zhang Chao, the situation is still under control now, so Cheng Qian would make trouble, and it would not harm the overall situation anyway.

"I know, Su Lie has always wanted to support you in De Tang. There are many people who think the same as him, and many generals and schools in the army will support you."

Zhang Chao smiled.

"Mencius once said to the King of Qi that when the Qin and Chu were fighting, Qi sent troops to attack Yan during the civil turmoil in Yan. Their power was unstoppable and they captured Yan. At first, the people of Yan were very happy that Qi sent troops, because there was a tradition at that time that the princes would interfere in other countries and send troops during civil turmoil in other countries. This was called banning chaos and rioting and restoring peace."

"Under normal circumstances, after pacifying the matter, a new king of the country would be established and then withdrawn his troops. However, after the King of Qi captured Yan State, he did not withdraw his troops, but wanted to annex Yan State. This was very rare at that time. After all, Yan State was a great country, and among the great countries, they often only weakened but did not swallow them."

"Originally, when the Qi army entered Yan, the people of Yan welcomed each other, thinking that they were benevolent and righteous troops. But when the King of Qi did not withdraw his troops, the people of Yan all stood up to attack the Qi army. The words Mencius said to the King of Qi were aimed at this matter. If the King of Qi established a new king of Yan after the King of Yan was defeated and then withdrew his troops back to the country, the people of Yan would always be grateful to Qi, and even Qi would gain control and influence over Yan."

But King Qi did not listen to Mencius, but wanted to annex Yan State, but ended up evacuating in a very embarrassing manner.

"It is true that I have supported the emperor twice with everyone, but I am just that planner."

Su Lie and some others believed that Zhang Chao had the strength to replace Tang Dynasty and became emperor himself. However, Zhang Chao clearly saw that things were definitely not that simple.

In the Battle of the Protector, the Southern Army was in a state of unstoppable power. It was not because of his great reputation, but because of the support of the prince Chengqian.

It is true that Zhang Chao can control the situation in the Tang Dynasty at the moment, but it is not exactly the case. Chu Suiliang, Cen Wenben, and even Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin and others all support him because the current situation is beneficial to everyone.

For example, it is to promote ceasing.

Zhang Chao’s relationship with everyone is not a master or a servant, but an ally.

They share common interests.

"Teacher, do you think everyone would rather see the current situation, or would you like to see a powerful emperor like the Supreme Emperor appear?"

Ke Qing thought for a while, "For the princes, the current situation is of course better."

"That's right, for the princes, the current situation of restricted imperial power is more guaranteed to everyone's interests. On the other hand, there are still many people who support the emperor and are loyal to the Tang Dynasty. Even the people and businessmen are very satisfied with the peace today, and few people are really willing to fight."

Zhang Chao is now the largest and strongest princes, the leader of the princes, so it is right for everyone to follow him.

But that's because he is a prince, and he works together for the princes to limit the imperial power and safeguard everyone's interests.

If Zhang Chao himself wants to be the emperor, it is hard to say how many of the princes who really support him will be.

Many people are unwilling to break the current balance. If Zhang Chao proclaims himself emperor, the princes may not be able to control it with his strength. Then, let alone limit the imperial power, he may return to the time of Zhenguan.

The power of the founding emperor is the most difficult to limit.

Besides, if the emperor and the ministers are established in the new dynasty, a large number of beneficiaries of the old dynasty will inevitably be harmed.

Unless Zhang Chao is determined to beat him up, build order and reunify the unity.

But what about the price?

Even if Zhang Chao himself is willing to establish a constitutional monarchy, will others believe it?

If he had served as the Tang Dynasty, then the last fragile peace at the moment would not be maintained, and there would inevitably be war.

"It doesn't matter whether you are an emperor or not." Zhang Chao said.

Ke Qing shook his head, he couldn't understand this idea.

"How can you ensure the continuation of these systems you envision if you are not an emperor?"

"Can you guarantee the continuation by becoming an emperor? Where does the power come from and how can it be guaranteed?"

What is the essence of power?

Just like Li Yuan and Li Shimin were both emperors, and they were all in one word, but why did they lose power in the end? There were many such emperors in history. For example, Emperor Xuanzong Li Longji, who had been in the decades, had reached its peak. But why did the prince ascend the throne and respect him as the Supreme Empress during the Anshi Rebellion, and his power was lost?

Or in other words, in history, the Tang Dynasty had always had a tradition of harem interfering in politics and eunuchs controlling the government. How did these queens and eunuchs grasp the power?

"I just don't want to be an emperor, I just don't want to ruin this peaceful and prosperous era because of my desire! It's also good not to be an emperor and a king."

"I still can't understand."

"Teacher, we are the pioneers. Every once in a while in history, there are always such pioneers. Just like Duke Zhou's rituals, the ritual system he created was not only implemented in the Zhou Dynasty, but also since Zhou and today, it has been the legal foundation of the Central Plains dynasty, including feudalism, patriarchal law, and various etiquette systems, which laid the foundation for the rule of the country and the court."
Chapter completed!