minions live

Liu Wan didn't speak immediately, but took a sip of tea.

"Shengnan, the Gu Family Caravan is the hard work of your Gu Family, and it is also the most loyal caravan of the Bo Mansion. For it, you, as a girl in the past, put down your needlework and pulled the reins, working hard and tirelessly with the caravan running around."

"All of these are seen by the Bofu, and they are kept in mind."

"Now that the Duke's Mansion is thriving, one day it may be able to restore the former glory of the Duke's Mansion. It is now able to spare a hand to help the caravan."

Having said this, her gaze passed through the curling tea smoke and fell on Gu Shengnan's face, which looked a little tired but still energetic.

"Tell me, what do you think of the development of the caravan?"

Gu Shengnan's expression froze and he straightened his back subconsciously.

"I wonder what Madam means..."

She was a little confused for a moment.

Liu Wan didn't answer and slowly put down the teacup.

"I am returning to my parents' home today, not only to visit my grandmother, but also because His Majesty has chosen our Liu family..."

She described in detail what had happened in the afternoon.

"Your Majesty means that in the next three years, the Liu family will produce a large amount of cloth for the court. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but also a huge challenge. We need a large amount of raw materials - cotton, linen, kudzu, silk, and time is running out..."

Gu Shengnan frowned slightly and spoke after thinking for a moment.

"Madam, do you mean that we need the caravan to help us collect these raw materials?"

As a large caravan, the Gu family caravan has absolutely enough vehicles and horses.

However, materials such as cotton and linen were never within the scope of transportation of the Gu family caravans.

As the saying goes, every trade has its own challenges. If the quantity is small, it would be fine, but it would be difficult to gather such a large quantity.

Besides, with the end of wars in various parts of the empire, Guangxin's rubber products, fruits, timber, Nanfeng's spices, etc. have become very popular, and the Gu family caravan is now overwhelmed.

"No."

Unexpectedly, Liu Wan shook her head.

"Your Majesty knows how to raise cotton and linen, the raw materials for making clothes. It is not our turn to interfere."

"I want to ask you if your caravan will still take the east-west route in the future?"

As far as she knew, the Gu family caravans used to travel along the east-west route most of the time.

Gu Shengnan breathed a sigh of relief, but a strange look flashed in his eyes.

"Madam," she reminded carefully, "Have you forgotten? The East Sea Barrier was founded by your ancestors."

Liu Wan was stunned for a moment, but quickly reacted.

She was speechless and said, "Are you saying that the Gu family caravan took the north-south route from the beginning?"

Gu Shengnan nodded with a smile and complimented, "Madam, you are very insightful and you guessed it right at once."

The Mansion of the Earl of Loyalty and Bravery was originally the Mansion of the Duke of Protecting the Country.

The world-famous East China Sea Barrier was founded by the first Duke of Protector of the Country. It can be said that the Xiao family's main influence is on the East China Sea and the seaside.

The Gu family originated from Pinghai County and was one of the first forces to attach itself to the Duke of Huguo's Mansion.

Therefore, when the caravan was first established, they took the north-south route, and by water.

Unfortunately, the Duke of Huguo's Mansion was repeatedly suppressed by the royal family, and its resources became less and less, and various affiliated families left one after another.

Eventually even the affiliated caravans were not spared.

For example, the Gu family lost all their merchant ships and had to travel by land.

They even took the most troublesome and difficult east-west route, and the cargo they transported was the heavy Panlong Stone dug out from underground in Dingxi County.

"I see." Liu Wan quickly sorted out her thoughts and sighed, "It's the Bo's Mansion that's holding you back."

"Why do you say that, madam?" Gu Shengnan smiled and shook his head.

Her face was full of sincerity.

"The ancestors of the Gu family once passed down a family motto that without the Duke of Huguo's Mansion, there would be no Gu family caravan. Since the establishment of the caravan, the Gu family has shared weal and woe with the Xiao family. The two families prosper together and suffer together."

"However, things are unpredictable. Although there is sunshine, there are also hazes. Fortunately, the trials that God has given to the Bo family have finally passed, and the Gu family has also seen the future and hope. The caravan has been expanded from a small and medium-sized caravan to a large caravan again."

Having said that, Gu Shengnan bowed respectfully to Liu Wan.

"This was my father's last wish before he died, and now it has finally been fulfilled. The Gu family should be grateful to the Bo family for their great help."

"Well said." Liu Wan nodded.

In her heart, she had a higher opinion of this ordinary-looking female business leader. Gu Shengnan didn't know what the master opposite her was thinking, so she hesitated.

"Madam, you just asked me about the future development of the merchant fleet. I think that if possible, I hope to rebuild the Gu family merchant fleet."

Liu Wan was slightly stunned.

She didn't know much about caravan operations, but she knew that compared to land transportation, water transportation was much more cost-effective in terms of both time and energy.

This is also the reason why Ren Ning asked the Ministry of Works to continue digging the canal.

The Gu family caravan that Tieshu is currently leading is mainly taking the route from Guangxin to Xingji City and then to Beihai Pass and the three Heitu counties.

With the end of the war in Huayang County, sea transportation became unimpeded again and caravans could head north along the waterway.

After arriving in Sulan County, it is quite hassle-free and labor-saving whether you take the Xinglan Grand Canal to Xingji City or continue north to Dinghai Wharf or Beihai Customs.

"Let's put it this way." After a long while, Liu Wan finally spoke, "Regarding the reconstruction of the merchant fleet, I will verbally agree to it now. You can go back and make preparations first. I will discuss it with the Lord after I return to the mansion and then formally notify you."

Xiao Zheng and Xiao Gang have been fighting outside.

Almost all matters in the Marquis Zhongyong's mansion, no matter how big or small, were decided by her.

Therefore, the decision made by Liu Wan usually represents the decision made by the Loyal and Brave Marquis’s Mansion.

However, rebuilding the fleet is extremely costly and usually takes years or even decades, and it will not produce benefits in the short term. Liu Wan had to discuss it with Xiao Zheng.

Gu Shengnan was not surprised and bowed solemnly.

"Thank you, Madam."

Liu Wan nodded, was silent for a while, and suddenly spoke.

"In fact, I suggested before that the caravan could reconsider the east-west route. First, it would give the caravan more resources. Second, Your Majesty seems to have found the raw materials for spinning in Dingxi County, and the scale is huge."

Gu Shengnan understood and soon opened his eyes wide in surprise.

"Madam, are you really talking about Dingxi County?"

Gu Shengnan didn't dare to say that he knew everything about Dingxi County, but he had been there many times.

Except for a small area near the Luoxia Mountains, the climate there is hot and the land is dry.

Basically, apart from the timber from Luoxia Mountain and the Panlong Stone underground, the only things worth transporting are the cattle and sheep from Xiliang. Where are the raw materials for spinning?

However, Liu Wan nodded heavily.

"I don't know the details, but the news from the palace seems to be true."

----

royal palace.

Royal study room.

Ren Ning sat on the dragon throne, with two people standing respectfully in front of him.

His eyes fell on the middle-aged man on the left who was wearing the county magistrate's uniform and had an elegant appearance.

"Mr. Ren, long time no see. You have been serving as an official in Misty County, a place where the sun is always thick and foggy, for more than five years. Are you feeling well?"

Ren Jie, the fourth master of the Grand Tutor's Mansion, is the current governor of Misty County, or Ren Ning's former "adoptive father".

He bowed respectfully.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Misty County is now well connected. I am still young and have been exercising regularly, so I am still energetic. As long as Your Majesty and the Empire need me, I will do my best and live up to my mission."

Haha.

Ren Ning laughed heartily, "That's good, that's good."

"I thought you were like the former county governor, your health was ruined."

Having said this, he paused.

"But according to convention, I should transfer your family to another place to serve as an official."

"But now the canal from Misty to Laigu County is ready to be dug. This is a river that is related to the thousand-year destiny of the empire. I am not at ease leaving it to others, so I need your family to continue to keep an eye on Misty County for a while."

Ren Jie subconsciously looked up at the huge map of Yunchui hanging on the left wall.

The direction of the new canal is first outlined in red.

As long as the construction is completed, the personnel and materials of the east and west of the empire will be connected by a river and quickly transported to the east of the Luoxia Mountains.

"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty. While I am properly handling the affairs of Misty County, I will also work closely with the Ministry of Works to carefully monitor the construction of the new canal, and strive to leave a new canal for the empire to travel unimpeded for a thousand years." (End of this chapter)