The banquet in the palace was very successful. The Emperor, the ministers, and the princes were all very satisfied after tasting the American food. They praised America for being a good place with so many delicious foods.
After leaving the palace, Ang Lee did not stay idle. There were many seeds and vines from America that had to be dealt with as soon as possible to avoid more and more losses.
Now, in addition to Ang Lee's greenhouse, many princes and nobles had greenhouses in their homes. The imperial court had even built a greenhouse that was much larger than Ang Lee's so that it could provide the palace with an endless supply of fresh vegetables when the weather was cold.
At present, many plants and seeds from America had been transported to Chang 'an. It was urgent to plant these plants and seeds into the soil as soon as possible.
There were many agricultural experts in the imperial court of the Tang Dynasty, but they were only proficient in the crops of the Tang Dynasty. They knew nothing about America's crops. There was no doubt that they had to rely on Ang Lee's help to plant America's crops well.
Ang Lee went to the greenhouse base of the imperial court and gave detailed instructions in front of the officials. He told them how to plant America's crops.
In addition, these officials proposed to test these crops under different conditions to verify the yield of these crops under different conditions and to find the optimal planting method.
Li An agreed with the ministers, but vetoed some of the obviously wrong plans. These plans would directly lead to the extinction of crops, and would greatly waste the plants and seeds shipped from America. This was something that Li An could not tolerate.
The planting methods of many crops in America were different from those in the Tang Dynasty. Ang Lee was naturally very clear about this. However, many people in the Tang Dynasty, including the agricultural experts, were not necessarily clear about this.
For example, the planting of sweet potatoes had to be done on uplifted soil. This way, the yield would be higher and the harvest would be more convenient. However, none of the crops in the Tang Dynasty were planted in this way. Therefore, when Ang Lee made this request, many agricultural technical officials frowned. They felt that it was very troublesome to build gullies on the ground.
After a detailed explanation by Ang Lee, these agricultural technical officials understood the characteristics of sweet potato planting and gradually approved of Ang Lee's method. They immediately arranged for the technical personnel to modify the soil of the greenhouse to meet the requirements of sweet potato planting.
During this voyage to America, in addition to bringing back a large number of finished sweet potatoes, the fleet also brought back a considerable number of sweet potato vines. These sweet potato vines could also be planted. Moreover, each planting site only needed a small section of sweet potato vines. With this combination, sweet potatoes could be popularized in the Tang Dynasty at a faster rate.
The planting and transplanting of corn, potatoes, and other crops were all completed under the personal guidance of Ang Lee. After all, only Ang Lee knew more about these crops. Others really did not have the ability to plant these crops.
After instructing the agricultural technical officials of the imperial court, Ang Lee returned to his vegetable greenhouse base. A large number of American plants had been transported here. They were specially left for Ang Lee to study.
"Alang, you are finally back. We have never seen these things before. We don't know how to plant them."
Zhao Liu had been waiting outside the greenhouse. He knew that Ang Lee would definitely come to the greenhouse after finishing his work in the imperial court. There was no doubt about this. He knew Ang Lee very well.
Ang Lee looked at the crops and seeds piled up in the greenhouse and said loudly, "Go and gather everyone. I will personally instruct you."
Zhao Liu responded and went to gather all the manservants.
After everyone was gathered, Ang Lee began to instruct them. He asked the manservants to use tools to change the flat land into wavy uplifts and plant sweet potatoes and sweet potato vines in the uplifts.
In order to save these precious sweet potatoes and sweet potato vines, Ang Lee asked the manservants to put sweet potatoes and sweet potato vines at a certain distance. As long as these guys grew, they would soon fill the entire space.
After the sweet potato vines filled the entire space, the excessive sweet potato vines could be trimmed. The trimmed sweet potato vines could be planted somewhere else. Thus, the sweet potato plant could be popularized in the Tang Empire. It would benefit the people and improve the living standards of the people.
All the manservants worked very hard. They were not lazy at all. It was as if they were working for themselves. This was also because Ang Lee was too good to them. He usually took care of them, so these people wanted to repay him.
Because sweet potatoes were the most important, Ang Lee prepared a total of five mu of land to plant sweet potatoes, two mu of potatoes, two mu of corn, and five mu of pepper because there were more varieties. There were also other kinds of plants. In total, they used about thirty mu of land to plant the crops transported from America.
Due to the lack of manpower, they had only finished the planning and planting techniques. It would take a few more days to complete the thirty mu of land. Fortunately, the temperature in the greenhouse was relatively high. It would not be a big deal to leave it for a few more days. After all, it had already taken a lot of time to transport these materials from America. A few more days would not make a difference.
In addition to the imperial court and Ang Lee's family, many ministers and nobles were also given some plants and seeds from America. They tried to plant them in their own greenhouses. Of course, the techniques were all from Ang Lee. The servants in their mansions also ran to Ang Lee's vegetable greenhouses from time to time to learn from Ang Lee. Of course, they were not qualified to meet Ang Lee. They could only ask the servants in Ang Lee's house to learn from them and obtain the necessary knowledge related to planting American crops.
A few days later, Li Longji summoned Ang Lee to the palace again. As for what the matter was, Ang Lee guessed that it must be related to the matter of America.
"Your humble subject pays his respects to Your Majesty."
"Assistant Minister Li, you came at the right time. Come and look at the map."
Li Longji stood in front of the map and carefully observed the location of America. He seemed to be thinking about a grand strategy.
"Your Majesty, are you planning to send another fleet to America?"
Ang Lee did not need to think to know that Li Longji intended to send another fleet to America. After all, America had so many good things that the Tang Dynasty did not have. A few more trips to America could bring back more urgently needed supplies to alleviate the needs of the Tang Dynasty.
Li Longji grinned and looked at the vast land of America. He said, "Not only will I send a fleet to America, but I will also send an army of ten thousand people to build cities in several strategic locations in America and rule over America. In this way, the Tang Dynasty will be able to continuously transport enough supplies from America."
Ang Lee was stunned when he heard this. This old man Li Longji's ambition was not small. Not only did he want to obtain the products of America, but he also wanted to occupy the entire America and colonize the rich America.
However, there was nothing strange about this. Any ambitious emperor would probably like to conquer! This was because conquering a piece of land could bring great joy to a person, especially an Emperor. He already had everything he wanted and was not interested in ordinary delicacies and beauties. Opening up a large piece of land could fill this empty feeling.
"Your Majesty wants to open up a large territory in America. With the current strength of the Tang Dynasty, it is completely possible. However, if we want to manage America well, we must have enough ships. The shipbuilding industry must be vigorously developed. Otherwise, America will become an enclave."
Ang Lee also approved of the Tang Dynasty's rule over America. After all, the indigenous forces of America were very weak now. With the strength of the Tang Dynasty, they could easily conquer these backward civilizations. However, without a strong maritime force, the core of the Tang Dynasty and America would not have enough frequent exchanges. The territory opened up in America was very likely to develop into an independent country. Moreover, it would be a strong country like the Tang Dynasty. In this way, the gains would not make up for the losses.
Li Longji nodded in agreement and said, "I have thought about the problem that Assistant Minister Li mentioned. The shipbuilding industry must be vigorously developed. Only when the Tang Dynasty has enough large steam-powered seagoing ships can we effectively control America. In addition, Australia must also be taken. These empty lands will belong to the Tang Dynasty in the future."
Looking at Li Longji's domineering expression of wanting to take all of America and Australia, Ang Lee was both shocked and impressed. He was so old, but he still had such great ambitions. No wonder he was the emperor of the Tang Empire.
"With Your Majesty's full support, the shipbuilding industry of the Tang Dynasty will definitely develop better and better. At present, shipbuilding and railways are the top priorities of the Tang Dynasty. Shipbuilding can connect remote places such as America, and railways can lead to the western countries, making it convenient for the western countries to have effective trade with the Tang Dynasty and promoting the prosperity and prosperity of the Tang Dynasty."
Ang Lee said. For the current situation of the Tang Dynasty, shipbuilding and railways were the top priorities. As long as these two industries developed well, the Tang Dynasty would become more and more powerful. It would be so powerful that the small foreign countries would have to bend their knees and not dare to look up to it.
"Shipbuilding and railways? These two industries are indeed very important. Only when shipbuilding and railways are developed well can the Tang Dynasty control the whole world. Assistant Minister Li, do you have any plans that are best for the future development of the Tang Dynasty? "
Li Longji continued to look at the world map in front of him and asked softly.
Ang Lee walked to the map, pointed at it, and said, "Your Majesty, if the Tang Dynasty wants to become richer and richer, we must trade with other countries. There are two main trade channels. One is the Silk Road leading to the west, and the other is the sea, where we can trade with ships. There are more places for trade. The islands and ports along the way can be traded with each other, and it can even lead to America and Australia. We can call it the Maritime Silk Road. The two main channels on land and on the sea can connect almost the whole world. In this way, the Tang Dynasty will surely prosper, and these two channels can be called the One Belt, One Road."
"One Belt, One Road? Why is it such a strange name?"
Ang Lee hurriedly explained, "The One Belt, One Road refers to the Silk Road Trade Belt on land and the Maritime Silk Road of the Tang Dynasty. It is abbreviated as One Belt, One Road."
Of course, this was the grand strategy of the Hua Xia Empire in the future. It was a strategic policy to dominate the world. Ang Lee took it and modified it, and then it became his own. As for the grand strategy of One Belt, One Road, Ang Lee had always been very optimistic. He felt that this plan was also very suitable for the national conditions of the Tang Empire, so he copied it.
"The Silk Road Trade Belt, the Maritime Silk Road of the Tang Dynasty, One Belt, One Road, is good. It is a good grand strategy. I am very optimistic about it. Assistant Minister Li should develop more railways and shipbuilding to realize this grand strategy."
After listening to Ang Lee's explanation of the One Belt, One Road strategy, Li Longji agreed very much. He said that he would fully support Ang Lee and let Ang Lee do something big.
"Assistant Minister Li, the supply points in the south of Japan have been built very well. Next, these islands that have been discovered will also be built into supply points. In this way, not only can steam ships reach America, but also ordinary ships can go there."
Li Longji pointed to several islands in the Pacific Ocean and decided to build supply points in those places to facilitate the fleet going to America. They could effectively resupply on the way and also maintain the ships to prevent a long voyage at sea, which would cause great damage to the ships.
"Your Majesty is wise. These islands are on the route to America. Of course, we should build supply points. As long as they are large enough and have fresh water, they can be built on the route to America. In this way, going to America will be more reliable and safe."
Ang Lee was very sure of Li Longji's opinion and expressed his full support.
"Assistant Minister Li, how many large steam ships are there now?"
"Your Majesty, including the ones that have just been launched and those that have returned from America, there are more than 40 in total. The latest model of large steam ships is still in the research and development stage."
Ang Lee answered.
"More than 40 ships are enough. I plan to immediately send these large steam ships to America again and build three cities here, here, and here. They will be the foothold of the Tang dynasty in America."
Li Longji chose three locations to build the cities of the Tang dynasty and rule America for a long time.
Ang Lee saw very clearly that the three locations that Li Longji pointed to were North America, Central America, and South America. There was a city in each location. As long as the three cities were well developed, they could completely control the whole of America. After all, the American population was very small, and they were all rude natives. They were not strong enough to fight against the Tang Empire.
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