Faced with such a question, Gao Lishi didn't know how to answer. If he said that he didn't agree, what should he do? If he said that he agreed, wouldn't that be too much?
Seeing that the Emperor was waiting for a reply, he could only say, "It depends on the matter. If it's a place that has no contact with Great Tang, it's fine to let the Zhang Family and Wang Family use the name of the imperial court. However, if it's a place that has relations with Great Tang, it's definitely not allowed."
"En, that's right. I've decided to let them use the name of the imperial court to do things outside. I can even give them blank imperial edicts for them to fill in the rewards."
After hearing Gao Lishi's words, Li Longji made a decision.
"Your Majesty, isn't it inappropriate to give empty imperial edicts? If the Zhang Family and Wang Family use the name of the imperial court to do bad things or do things that are only beneficial to them, wouldn't that be …" Gao Lishi advised.
"Wouldn't that be what? If it's a place that has no contact with Great Tang, what can it do to Great Tang? The Zhang Family and Wang Family's intentions were clear. Even if they sent people out, they would be doing things for the imperial court. Otherwise, if they didn't use the imperial court's name, who would know? Who can stop them?
Having a name is always better than not having one. This is what it means to be loyal to the emperor and patriotic. Furthermore, the Zhang Family and Wang Family didn't say that they would go personally. They are still in their respective places, so how can they fake the imperial edicts? Even if what they spread is true, I can't do anything about the rewards and official positions that they give.
Those who know Great Tang will naturally obey when they see the fleet that represents the imperial court. What's the use of the name if they don't know Great Tang? Isn't it still the fleet that shows off its prestige? It's better to use the name of Great Tang than to use the names of the Zhang Family and Wang Family. "
Li Longji had already thought it through. There were many places outside that didn't know about Great Tang, especially the various islands. They didn't care where Great Tang was. If they went over to trade, they might attack. The Zhang Family and Wang Family could use their names to defeat the enemy and casually give them an identity.
If that was really the case, they might as well use the name of Great Tang.
Gao Lishi thought about it and felt that it made sense, so he replied, "In that case, how many sealed edicts does Your Majesty want to send?"
"That'll depend on their ability. If they really manage to control a place, they'll need at least twenty rewards, as well as the various officials. Send two hundred over first, but make it clear that they're not allowed to use them in the Great Tang. If they're discovered, have Xiao Bao and Cuckoo called over and flogged them."
Li Longji was really considerate of others, and his threat was also very light. He really didn't think that Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan would use Kong's imperial edict to cause trouble. If they really wanted to cause trouble, they would have done it long ago.
"I'll arrange it right away." Gao Lishi went to do it happily.
On the other hand, Li Longji was no longer in the mood to continue listening to the play. He muttered, "Take up more space. When the time comes, it will all belong to Great Tang. If there's anything good, bring it back."
*****
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan didn't know that Wang Maozhong had been agitated and actually came up with a hasty plan. If they knew, they would definitely curse. With wings, they would provide an upward force, but this was done by relying on resistance. The speed could only be slower, not faster.
The two of them were still bringing their younger brother and sister around, looking at the scenery of the fields and introducing them to the construction site. Their days were pretty good.
Five days after Zhang Zhong's arrival, they were almost done with the viewing and were preparing to bring back the officials from Luoyang this time.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan's families couldn't bear to part with them. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan's mother had been preparing good food for the two of them for the past few days. Even though they knew that they couldn't continue staying, they still hoped to see their children more.
Xiaobei and the rest didn't follow them back this time. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan felt that they had wasted a lot of time educating their children, so they wanted to stay in the county to continue teaching them personally.
When the two families and the officials left, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan sent the group out of the county. As they rode on their horses, they watched the group disappear from sight bit by bit. At the same time, they sighed.
Wang Juan looked in the direction where the group had left and said to Zhang Xiaobao, "We'll have to part eventually. In life, the time of parting is different, but perhaps the feelings of parting are the same."
"It's fine once you get used to it. It's not like we'll never meet again. Many times, it's a life and death parting. Even if you're reluctant to part, time will pass. When the construction here is done next year, we can be together again. Besides, it's fine to leave. Many people have jobs, but they might not be able to return home even once a year. Isn't life still the same?"
Zhang Xiaobao actually didn't want to leave. He was the one who cherished his family the most, but sometimes, he had no choice but to do it.
Wang Juan nodded and said, "That's right. It's not a life and death parting. We can see each other whenever we want. Many soldiers who went to war never came back. That kind of pain really tugged at one's heartstrings. Many people who followed me in Tubo also died."
"It's enough to stay strong and live on. Cherish the time we can be together. This is what a real person is. Let's go back. Xiaobei and the rest should have fallen behind in their education. We have to catch them." Zhang Xiaobao sighed and didn't want to continue speaking. He called out and left first.
Wang Juan followed behind. As they walked, she said, "What do you think we should do with the many orphans? Even now, I can't really understand the thoughts of orphans. I just feel that they are pitiful. "
"They don't need to be pitied, but they know how to be grateful. They will remember the people who helped them, and they will not forget the people who harmed them. Of course, human nature is very complicated. A portion of orphans will forget their past after they grow up and become capable. Or it could be said that they don't want to deliberately think about it and escape. They only have themselves in their hearts and lost their original companions.
Who asked this world to have no right or wrong, only the strong and the weak? Orphans are actually more willing to become strong. A portion of them want to live a peaceful life, a portion of them succeed, and a portion of them want to take revenge on this society. This is also the reason why humans are strong. "
Zhang Xiaobao didn't want to mention orphans. He had a home now, a warm home. He also had a mentality of escape.
Wang Juan rushed to Zhang Xiaobao's side and said, "I don't care about whether human nature is good or bad. I just want to achieve my own goal. I have decided that in the future, a portion of the money earned by the clothing industry will be used to help others. If there is one Zhang Xiaobao among 10,000 orphans, my money will not be wasted."
"Then the world will be in chaos. Do you know how many orphans there are? With so many of me, I don't think anyone will have it easy. "Zhang Xiaobao knew that Wang Juan was praising him. He smiled and waved the whip. The horse's speed increased.
*****
When Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan returned, Xiaobei and the others had already started to learn. They had their own learning tasks every day. Of course, even if they didn't want to learn, no one forced them. However, when they listened to the stories, they couldn't keep up because the stories told them what they were supposed to learn every day.
For example, in the story of Ali Baba, the incantation to open the door was not Open Sesame, but the content of the Thousand-Word Poem. If you didn't know, you could only be anxious, but there was nothing you could do. As long as you didn't say the incantation, the plot of the story wouldn't continue.
Luo Xianger didn't go home this time. She stayed in the county and learned with them. She wanted to learn some skills before going back. There were two people at home to take care of each other. If anything happened, someone would come to report.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan quietly came to the courtyard where the younger brother and sister were learning. They first listened to what they were reading, then they could make up a story according to the content.
"Xiao Yuan's memory is the best. He has almost reached the level of a retentive memory. The previous stories are not suitable for him to tell. We have to design a special one for him."
Zhang Xiaobao listened for a while and found that Wang Juan's younger brother, Xiao Yuan, was reciting Er Ya, which was a dictionary. This was what he and Wang Juan had learned in the past. He was much better than the others in this aspect.
"Then what story are you going to tell Xiao Yuan?" Wang Juan also found that her younger brother was very good. This was a talent that was discovered in advance. It couldn't be wasted.
Zhang Xiaobao thought for a while and said, "Tell him some stories with philosophical ideas, or stories with mathematical problems. For example, the tortoise and the hare can be expressed in numerical terms. How fast is the tortoise swimming in the water? How fast is the current? How far is the rabbit on land? What's the frequency of each breath?
Look at Xiao Yuan's calculation ability. If he is still so good in this aspect, we can only let him write a thesis. It's probably impossible. His memory method is not suitable for abstract logic. "
"Xiao Bao, you're right. We should give them mathematics lessons. How should real mathematics lessons be done? We can't ask what one plus one equals, right? " Wang Juan was also very attentive to the education of her younger siblings. She hoped to teach all her skills to her younger siblings, but she was afraid that they would become another her.
"That kind of education method is boring. The two of us don't have many people to teach. Let's change the method. Give them money and let them buy what they like. We'll do this in the early stages. First, we'll learn addition and subtraction. When the time comes, we'll let them buy things one by one and learn multiplication and division."
Zhang Xiaobao decided to use practical actions to let his younger siblings understand calculation.
Wang Juan shook her head. "Real mathematics is actually addition. All the rules are based on this."
"But real education is not the education of addition. Life's failure and success are not as simple as adding positive and negative numbers. Teaching them knowledge is also teaching them survival skills."
Zhang Xiaobao did not want to nurture younger siblings who were very good at education.
"Then you'll design the curriculum. Ask me if you don't know. I'll discuss with Pomegranate and the others about their marriage. We'll be doing it together next year. We have to prepare now. Don't let them feel that they're not being valued."
Wang Juan handed the matter to Zhang Xiaobao. She believed that Zhang Xiaobao could do it well.
"Go, go, I'll make up a story. Let's see which one is better. I'll teach them finance. I'll teach them the orthodox ones first, then I'll teach them calculation." Zhang Xiaobao did not want to disturb his younger siblings. He turned around and returned to his room to make up a story.
*****
Two days later, the letter from Lu Zhou to the capital arrived in Bao Xin County.
"Sure enough, it's the Japanese. They've messed up Luzon Island and want to benefit from it." After reading the letter, Zhang Xiaobao was convinced of his original guess. Only the Japanese had such ideas and abilities.
It was not that he looked down on the people of other places. The people of the Great Tang did not dare to do so. The people of other places had ideas but did not know what to do. The Japanese were different. They were not lacking in anything. They were also very smart. They worked hard to learn the good things of others and then turned them into their own.
It had always been like this.
"Yes, it's really the Japanese. We met by chance, but the result was different. I'm not looking down on the Japanese. Compared to Silla, the Japanese are much better. At the very least, the Japanese at that time still admitted that they inherited a lot of Chinese writing and culture. At that time, Silla insisted that they were the ones who created it and that what others had was also theirs.
Only by facing yourself can you develop. What are you going to do? Send troops to fight. Now, there's no need to really send troops. Even if you scare them, they will immediately come over and admit their mistakes. "
Wang Juan and Zhang Xiaobao had the same attitude when it came to their evaluation of the surrounding countries.
Zhang Xiaobao shook his head. "Economic matters have to be solved through economic means. Unless there's really no other way, then it can be solved through administration and military force. Although this is the most direct method, when there's a day when military force can't be used to solve the problem, won't it be over?
This time, the method the Japanese used was not direct military force, nor was it economic. It was deceit, just like how I deceived Yamamoto and the others. It was just a little different, but in the end, it couldn't be separated from the word deceit. Then we'll use the same method to deal with it.
Continue to suspend trade and let the merchants in Zhejiang cooperate with us. Go to other places to look for rubber, build more boats, and surround the island more tightly. "
"Yes, you finally used your deceit this time. You tricked people into buying radishes, tricked them into buying a lot of thermometers, and even tricked them in the cement. Do you really think you're the best in the world? Aren't you afraid that they will react? "
This time, when Zhang Xiaobao used his deceit, Wang Juan did not object because it was not targeted at the people of Tang.
Zhang Xiaobao smiled. "Even if I'm the best in the world, it's too late to react. When that kid attacked the pound sterling, how could the British not know? But there was nothing they could do. When that kid attacked the Thai baht, how could the Thai not know? How did the Star Wars plan come out? How was the former Soviet Union divided?
After the deceit was exposed, as long as people are not stupid, they will understand the reason. But in the process of deceit, how many people can understand? How many people who thought they were smart were deceived? How many countries were deceived? As long as it's done well, it's half the battle.
I don't believe that there's anyone in Japan who can see through it. Besides, even if there are some people who can see through it, it's useless. No one will listen to them. They can only grieve by themselves. "
"That's right. It's the same on the battlefield. Sometimes, other people's opinions may not be accepted. Power, this is the charm of power. You don't listen to me either. How many times have we lost because people were too confident? But how many times have we won because of that? Tell me, what are you going to do next?"
Wang Juan agreed with Zhang Xiaobao. When a deceit was exposed, people would laugh at the person who was deceived for being stupid. But who knew that the person who laughed at others would also be stupid one day?
"You really want to hear it? You don't want to guess it yourself? You admit defeat? "Zhang Xiaobao did not directly talk about the plan. Instead, he began to talk to Wang Juan about winning and losing.
"Can't you let me win a little? I already told you the plan when we were fighting. You don't want to tell me now. This is not fair. "Wang Juan reached out to pinch Zhang Xiaobao's face.
"Stop! With this move of yours, I'll give you fairness. There are times when strength truly is useful. Between countries, without strength, there is no fairness. In truth, my method is very simple. I'll go and explain to the people of Luzon how good our Great Tang is, but it's useless.
Because there was a Japanese who had an accident on a boat and drifted to the island. He was rescued by the locals. Later, he contacted the Japanese and was able to carry out the plan. Similarly, people who do favors are more willing to believe the person who is being helped. So, any explanation is useless.
Then there is no need to explain. We will smuggle. Every once in a while, we will send people to pretend to be Japanese to smuggle. We will only give this treatment to a small portion of the tribes. We will not care about the rest who are allied with the Japanese. During the smuggling process, we will give more benefits to the other party to make them feel more comfortable.
This way, they will not be worried about poverty, but they will be worried about inequality. This will turn their external unity into internal conflicts. When the time comes, we don't need to send troops to fight. They will be in chaos themselves. Anyway, we are very strict now. No one can enter. Without the support of accurate information, what do you think they will do? "
Zhang Xiaobao explained his plan.
"You want them to kill each other?" Wang Juan finally knew what Zhang Xiaobao was going to do. She continued, "Then, are you going to support the local people and form a group of independent people? When the time comes, you will pull people close to you and attack people far away. You will let them sink into endless war? "
"That's right. Isn't it simple? It is practical and convenient. Many countries have used it. We have also used it a lot in ancient times. As long as we don't make any internal mistakes and deal with the ambitious people of the other party as soon as possible, we will be able to maintain it. The longer it lasts, the more benefits it will bring to us. "
Zhang Xiaobao didn't need to think too much about this method. It was very simple. As long as the military force could be guaranteed, there was no need to directly use military force to solve the problem when it came to real work. Those who should be pulled, those who should be beaten, will be beaten. When the time comes, if they want to get any benefits, they will do it under this situation.
"What about Japan? Should we send a letter to them and ask them not to send people over? "Wang Juan meant whether to use military force to threaten Japan or not.
"They will not admit it. That is a personal action. The people who were caught said it. The Japanese government doesn't know about this. Our Tang Empire can't fight a landing battle. We should leave a gap and let the Japanese on the island feel hopeful. They will continue to ask for domestic support. When the time comes, we will specially attack their ships and let them talk about this matter first."
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