Yangzhou is located at the starting point of the canal and can be regarded as a place where military strategists must fight for, communicating between the north and the south. From here, you can cross the river to Yuezhou, or go down the river to go to sea from now on.

Of course, sea transportation was not yet developed at this time. Even if it was a river transportation, although it was a communication between the north and the south, it was mostly just a communication between military and official ships.

This location, in later generations, was the thoroughfare of nine provinces. Chen Zhengtai had to admire that Emperor Yang of Sui had amazing vision!

Although this guy is the king of the country who has lost his country, he feels quite arrogant and has a mess of handling specific matters, but at the strategic level, he has a very far-reaching gaze.

If it weren't for the flaws in this person's personality, how could he become the king of the country that was destroyed?

He ordered people to open up the canal and then brought people to Jiangdu. To some extent, Jiangdu... is definitely suitable as the center of an economy.

The Guanzhong and Guandong areas, although they still maintain strong military power due to year-round wars, have begun to take shape due to land transportation and the development of Jiangnan. With the continuous development of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and the Southern Dynasties, and the large number of expatriates in the south, the prosperity of Jiangnan has begun to take shape.

Once the canal is built, the north and south will directly become a whole. As for Yangzhou, which is the Jiangdu of the Sui Dynasty, it naturally jumped into the center of the world's economy.

Unfortunately, with the demise of the Sui Dynasty, the noble regimes in Guanzhong took back the power of the world.

Although this place is the starting point of the canal, it connects important nodes between the north and south of the Yangtze River and may even become an outlet for sea transportation in the future. Now everything has gone into nothing, and coupled with the repeated wars, it has become increasingly slumped.

Chen Zhengtai took his people to walk through the streets and alleys, and even saw the ferry and canals here. After seeing it, he couldn't help but feel swaying.

The most important thing to solve for a huge empire is the transportation problem. If fast and low-cost transportation cannot be achieved, to a certain extent, no matter how large the territory is, it cannot last!

Jiangnan has gradually become richer and its population has gradually increased, which has given Jiangnan a complete strength to control the country.

Due to the long-term division of the Jiangnan clans, to some extent, it is essentially difficult to have a sense of identity with the nobles in Guanzhong and the aristocrats in Guandong.

This is why people like Wu Ming once tried to benefit Li Tai to separatist the country. If it weren't for the early Tang Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty had enough strength, all this... might not have been a reality.

Therefore, Chen Zhengtai asked someone to start mapping Yangzhou maps, of course, not the simple ones before, but need to be extra detailed.

Immediately, Chen Zhengtai sent someone to submit a memorial to explain the importance of Yangzhou and asked the court to pay special attention to this.

Then he started to do nothing. Most of the time, Lou Shide would handle the matter here, so Chen Zhengtai had to be a hand-off manager.

Naturally, food for disaster relief has begun to be distributed, and all evidence of the rebels' crimes have been listed, and the rebels' families, land, land, including the troops, were also listed.

What Chen Zhengtai didn't know was that in Chang'an, a huge chaos had begun.

The Prophet of Spring Warm Duck, in the past two days, all kinds of rumors have been spreading in Chang'an City.

Some say that Chen Zhengtai was chopped for meat sauce, some say that Chen Zhengtai cried bitterly and had surrendered to the rebels. Now he is stepping up printing IOUs. Soon, the IOUs in the world will be issued super-issued.

Some people also believe that once Chen Zhengtai surrenders, it will inevitably lead to the court's hostility towards the Chen family. His Majesty will be furious. Based on the previous lessons of the Deng family of Gaoyou, the Chen family is probably going to be finished.

In panic, the stock exchange was very lively, but there were many people selling, but few people buying.

In order to maintain the stock price, the third uncle had to stand up pitifully and start buying back a large amount of Chen's stock.

Most of these stocks have fallen to the bottom, especially Chen's Steel, which was originally worth two cents and three hundred coins per share, but now there are only more than four hundred folks left.

This price plummeted several times at once. Such a big drop was something that had never been seen on the exchange before, so the Chen family was also panicked.

But you can't make it without repurchasing it. After all, everyone is selling it, and the price continues to plummet. In the end, Chen's Steel will be finished.

"San Uncle, San Uncle..." Someone hurriedly found San Uncle and said anxiously: "It's amazing, Chen's Steel has listed more than 7,000 shares, and the listed price is only 330 cents."

All have fallen to this point.

The Chen family had already started buying back actions before, but these actions obviously did not work much and did not increase market confidence.

After all, many people already believe that Chen's basic foundation has been shaken.

Now, not only are the copper coins in the Chen family being exchanged crazily, but almost all industries involved in it are plummeting, and the entire Chen family's assets are beginning to be emptied at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The third uncle was frightened when he looked at the account every day, and he was very worried about Chen Zhengtai. He was ten years older overnight, but at this time... he knew very well that the more he and Chen Jiye would have to be calm and composed. Otherwise, even if Chen Zhengtai didn't die, the Chen family would have to finish it.

Even if there are copper ore, there are countless industries and white salt, they cannot withstand such a crazy run.

The third uncle's eyes were covered with blood, and his wrinkled face was very haggard. The person who came in a hurry was a grandson of the third uncle, named Chen Xinye, who was a relative of the Chen family's distant family.

Over the past year, the children of Chen family were very resentful at first. Everyone was lying leisurely and laying down, but he lifted the person up, kicked him away, and sent him to mining. Some entered the steel workshop, and some were responsible for salt trading. At the beginning, there were countless blood and tears.

He was obviously a family member of aristocratic race, but no matter whether you were close or distant relatives, he was not polite. When he was sent to the mine, he was really crying and crying. He wanted to survive and fill his stomach. At first, he was uncooperative. If you have the ability, you starve me to death, but soon, they discovered the cruel reality because... Chen Zhengtai was even more cruel than everyone imagined. If he really didn't work, he might starve you to death.

After a few days of hunger, everyone became honest and worked obediently, and shuttled through the mines and workshops every day. This period was the most difficult time. After all, they fell from the gentle village to hell, but Chen Zhengtai never cared about them, as if they had no such relatives at all.

The children of the Chen family suddenly lost all their sense of superiority and could only work hard every day like ordinary labor.

Half a year later, everyone gradually got used to this kind of life, but with the expansion of Chen's business, they have become the backbone, and they have begun to enter increasingly important positions.

Some became foreman, some were responsible for stock trading, and some were responsible for shops. As the Chen family soared, the anger of the past began to fade gradually.

They began to marvel at the fact that Chen Zhengtai was able to revitalize his family business. When anyone talked about Chen, he was no longer disdainful, but a little awe.

After getting used to hard work, they have become capable and began to exert their abilities in many positions.

At this time, they mentioned the head of the family, who was more or less complicated and they were both respectful and fearful.

But until now, the bad news came, and the bad news was caught off guard. Suddenly, the whole Chen family was in turmoil.

The Chen family has a sense of fear that the building is about to collapse. This panic atmosphere permeates every Chen family's child, even Chen Xinye, who is responsible for the transaction.

Chen Xinye is just a distant relative of the Chen family. Only after four or five generations can he have some connection with Chen Zhengtai. But at this time, he was very worried, his eyes turned red, and he couldn't sleep for a night. When he got up, he sighed. The crisis that this cousin encountered was similar to his dead father for him!

This is by no means an exaggeration, because he knew very well that once Chen Zhengtai's death was confirmed, the Chen family would be completely finished. The business he had finally managed now, his plan for his future life, including the livelihood of his wife and children, was gone at this moment.

Many times he didn't even know what he should do. In the past, Chen Zhengtai was there, as long as everyone was busy doing things, and there was no need to worry about other things. The head of the family has used many things to prove that he could always make the right choice, but now, this general sense of anxiety and confusion has exhausted every Chen child.

At this moment, he looked at his third uncle.

Uncle San said in a daze: "Has the price reached this point? Find a way, find a way to continue repurchasing. Zhengtai said at the beginning that if the price plummets, only repurchasing can be... "

Chen Xinye said bitterly: "But the third uncle, this clearly shows our Chen family..."

"Don't care." Uncle San gritted his teeth and said, "Even if all Chen's stocks on the market are repurchased, the price must be raised. How much does it have and how much it is for me to buy back for me, our Chen family must not be underestimated. Otherwise, how can we be worthy of Zhengtai's Heavenly Spirit?"

The third uncle waved his hand, and obviously he was trying hard.

He only had a belief in his heart. No matter how difficult it was, he had to support it. Chen's signature was more important than anything else.

…………

Li Shimin has not slept for another night.

Although Cheng Yaojin brought eight hundred cavalry to Yangzhou, after all, the mountains are long and the water is far away, and the water cannot save the nearby fire.

For a whole night, he stood under the map in Lingyan Pavilion, staring at Yangzhou's location for a whole night.

Based on his years of experience in the army, Li Shimin wanted to break his head, but he couldn't think of how Chen Zhengtai could win a glimmer of hope.

This is almost one-sided situation. Even if Li Shimin put himself in his shoes, if he was the one who stayed in Deng’s house, he would be outnumbered.

Many times, absolute strength cannot turn defeat into victory. As for the occasional reversal in history, it is also a mythical level, and it is passed down and eventually becomes exaggerated.

Only people like Li Shimin, who have truly experienced the test of blood and fire, know that many military myths, to some extent, have elements of exaggeration and legend.

Li Shimin felt his eyes very tired. He stood wither all night and his body became a little stiff. He only sighed heavily from his mouth.

Zhang Qian tiptoed behind Li Shimin and whispered: "Your Majesty..."

"Well..." Li Shimin nodded.

Zhang Qian looked at Li Shimin's expression and said carefully: "Your Majesty, it's dawn."

"Oh." Li Shimin still nodded unconsciously, and he felt his head numb.

Zhang Qian continued: "Your Highness the Crown Prince always muttered to go to Yangzhou last night, but fortunately he was stopped."

If it were on weekdays, Li Shimin would never say anything nonsense, but at this time, Li Shimin only smiled bitterly and said, "He is quite a bit of blood..."

Today, Li Shimin did not blame Li Chengqian for his rebelliousness, as if... he could empathize with Li Chengqian's feelings.

Zhang Qian was not sure about Li Shimin's thoughts and said again: "All officials have entered the court and are all waiting for Your Majesty."

"Wait a little longer." Li Shimin said lightly.

"I heard of some things, but I don't know whether to say it or not."

"You said that." Li Shimin turned around and looked at Zhang Qian tiredly.

Zhang Qian said carefully: "I heard that many people learned of the rebellion in Yangzhou and secretly celebrated each other. They all said... This was the disaster caused by His Majesty's killing of Deng's family. This was a repeat of the mistakes of Emperor Yang of Sui..."

A trace of coldness flashed through Li Shimin's eyes, and his voice became a little cold: "Is that true?"

Zhang Qian originally thought that His Majesty would be furious at this moment, but... His Majesty's eyes were sharp, but he seemed not as excited as he could not contain it.

"This is the news that Baiqi found out, and it was all private discussions in some Shilins, and some people even said... this is... this is retribution."

Li Shimin looked up and looked at the copybooks and maps on the walls of Lingyan Pavilion. His eyes were deep, like a deep abyss.

With unfathomableness, he said lightly: "Yes, I want to avenge my enemies, and I will be immediately backfired. Wu Ming and others are treasonable, but how many people are obedient on the surface and are happy to see the current situation behind their backs? Only when Yangzhou rebelled and Chen Zhengtai reached a desperate situation can they stand up seriously and warn me that the destruction of Deng's family is absolutely not allowed."

"And these people are so disinterested. I have to support them with high officials and generous salaries. They can coerce me to the superiors and abuse the people. Isn't this all for thousands of years? Are these actions not their usual means?"

Li Shimin's tone was very calm and his speaking speed was very slow. He said word by word, as if he was having sex.

But when Zhang Qian heard these words, he felt cold on his back and his hair stood up.

He said in fear and fear: "I read very little and don't understand these things very much."

Li Shimin suddenly looked at Zhang Qian sternly: "How could you not understand? You can understand better than anyone else, but you are just afraid! Why are you not afraid? You are just a eunuch, but outside the palace, these people weave huge nets, they control the clear discussion and decide a person's wiseness and tyranny; they occupy prominent positions, and most of their children are officials; although they only have a few families and surnames, they can ignore the palace. Isn't you Zhang Qian also afraid of getting angry?"

As soon as these words were said, they were much heavier than directly scolding Zhang Qian. They were so scared that Zhang Qian bowed without possession, and kowtowed: "Slave... I've died."
To be continued...