"You are right, Your Highness. My master passed away early and there was no one to urge me on, so I couldn't help but slack off these few months!"
In this kind of situation, you couldn't reason with your elders, quibble, or find all kinds of excuses. The best choice was to follow their words and retreat in order to advance. This was the experience that Li Zexuan had summed up in countless "battles"!
"Haha, you are worth teaching!"
Li Xiaogong's forthright laughter soared into the sky. He patted Li Zexuan on the shoulder and said, "This King knows that you have been assigned to the Directorate by His Majesty, but you still have to find time to practice martial arts! Uh … Ahem, I am being a bit nosy, don't blame me, kid! "
Li Xiaogong suddenly realized that he wasn't here to preach, but to do something else. He couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed.
"What are you talking about, Your Highness? I am already very grateful that you can give me some advice! Please have some tea! Uncle Qin, please have some tea too! "
Although Li Zexuan was complaining in his heart, he didn't show it on his face. He poured a cup of tea for the two of them and personally served it to them.
After taking the teacups, Qin Qiong began to talk about the main topic.
"Xiaoxuan, I came with His Highness to talk about the grain trade in the South. There are some things that His Highness needs to ask you face to face. I hope that you can answer truthfully. Some things are related to the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers!"
Li Xiaogong also nodded and said, "Shubao is right. The locust plague prophecy was proposed by you, and the three ways to deal with the locusts were also thought of by you. I thought that it would be better to ask you, the person involved!"
Li Zexuan had already expected this. He cupped his hands and said, "Feel free to ask, Your Highness. I will tell you everything I know!"
"Good!"
Li Xiaogong pondered for a moment. His sharp eyes rested on Li Zexuan's face for a while, and then he said, "Boy, you told His Majesty that there would be a plague of locusts in June next year. Since His Majesty and several important ministers believe you, then this old man will also believe you for the time being. But how did you know that the small country of Nanyang would be rich in grain? Have you also been to the sea?"
Li Zexuan felt Li Xiaogong's sharp gaze. He didn't dare to hesitate. The relevant thoughts flashed through his mind and he answered, "My master did take me to travel around the world in his later years. I've been to a small country in Southeast Asia a few times. I have a little understanding of the local conditions and customs there. At that time, I was indeed amazed by the rice that matured three times a year!"
"Then how did you get out of the sea?"
Li Xiaogong continued to ask.
"A merchant ship, about seventy to eighty feet long and ten feet wide. My master and I entered the Yangtze River from Yuezhou (The Yangtze River was called the Jiang in ancient times. After the Sui Dynasty, it was called the Great River and the Yangtze River). Following the river, we passed Ezhou, Hongzhou, Xuanzhou, and entered the East Sea from Yangzhou. Because the merchant ship was small, it couldn't withstand too much wind and waves. Our ship sailed not far from the coast. We went all the way south and entered the South Sea through Liuqiu (Taiwan was called Liuqiu in the Tang Dynasty. That's right). Finally, my master and I arrived in Myanmar. After traveling around the countries in the South Sea for two months, my master and I turned back the way we came."
This was Li Zexuan's current state. He had no choice. If he didn't tell the truth, Li Xiaogong would definitely not believe him. If he didn't tell the truth, he would be done for. Of course, he only made up the experience. He didn't say the route blindly. It was a route that he came up with after careful consideration.
Li Xiaogong stroked his three-inch beard and fell into deep thought. He had never been to the sea before. Naturally, he didn't know whether Li Zexuan was telling the truth or not.
"Then, kid, can you draw a map of the sea for me? To be honest, although I have commanded the navy many times, I have never been to the sea. I have only heard of the dangers of the sea, but I have never experienced them. With a precise map of the sea, the dangers of the south will be much smaller. "
Li Xiaogong thought for a long time, but he couldn't find any loopholes in Li Zexuan's words. Thus, he revealed the most important purpose of his trip.
Li Zexuan thought about it seriously. In his previous life, he was very good at geography. When he was in high school, he once complained about why science students didn't study geography, but biology. It was really a trap! Now, with his abnormal mental strength, it shouldn't be a problem for him to recall a rough map of the sea. At most, he could ask others what some places were called in the Tang Dynasty. Moreover, this matter concerned the lives of tens of thousands of people. This map must be drawn!
"This kid is willing to help. Your Highness can go back and wait for a few days. After this kid finishes drawing, I will send someone to deliver the map to your residence. In these two days, this kid will do his best to recall and ensure that the map is as detailed and accurate as possible! "
Li Xiaogong smiled and politely said, "Then I will have to trouble Xiaoxuan!"
Li Zexuan repeatedly said that he didn't dare. He hesitated for a moment and slowly said, "Your Highness, actually, this kid thinks that there are a few aspects of sailing that Your Highness must pay attention to. Otherwise, when the time comes, there will be a lot of losses for the crew and soldiers."
"Oh ~? Then, Xiaoxuan, quickly tell me. If it is reasonable, I will definitely do it! "
Li Xiaogong's hand that was holding the teacup suddenly paused as he hurriedly said.
Li Zexuan secretly nodded. Li Xiaogong's performance showed that he indeed loved his soldiers as if they were his children. Otherwise, with his status as a prince, he wouldn't be so polite to him.
"Firstly, the fleet should have enough fresh water and food. I don't need to say this. As a general, Your Highness should be able to think of it. "Secondly, the fleet must not go far along the coast. This way, on the one hand, the fleet can go to the shore to take shelter from the wind when there are big storms and waves. On the other hand, when the fleet is short of supplies, they can also go to the shore to replenish at any time.
"Thirdly, all the crew members must eat fruits every day. My master once said that if the crew members of an ocean voyage don't eat fresh fruits for a long time, they will suffer from septicemia. In serious cases, they will even lose their lives."
"Hiss ~!"
Qin Qiong and Li Xiaogong gasped.
"There is actually such a thing?"
Li Xiaogong's face was full of disbelief.
Li Zexuan nodded with certainty and said, "There is indeed such a thing. My master was also a medical sage when he was alive. Uncle Qin and Your Highness should believe what he said, right?"
"Yes, yes, of course this old man believes."
Qin Qiong nodded. Even Li Zexuan's half-baked medical skills could cure his illness. How could Qin Qiong not believe that Li Zexuan's master's medical skills were brilliant?
"This prince also believes. When the time comes, we will do as you say."
"Yes. Fourthly, ocean voyaging is a very lonely and lonely thing. Being alone for a long time can easily cause mental problems. Many crew members did not die from the waves or septicemia, but in the end, they died of mental disorders, which is to say, losing their minds. So I hope that Your Highness, on the one hand, can organize more crew members to communicate with each other. On the other hand, when we reach the shore to replenish, let the crew rest on shore. "
"This prince has heard of such things. I didn't expect you to be so knowledgeable!"
Li Xiaogong stroked his chin and praised.
"Your Highness, you flatter me. Fifthly …"
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