hsntnovel Chapter 2297 True Nobility
Chapter 2297 True Nobility
The prosperity of Chang'an City is known to everyone, not only the nobles with status, but also the common people.
In the far east, there is a city called Chang'an, which is the capital of the prosperous Tang Empire.
Legend has it that the place is like a fairyland, where people leave their doors open at night, live and work in peace and contentment, and never worry about their livelihood.
There is wine and meat every day, singing and laughter, and life is happy.
This was also confirmed by the merchants who passed by. Chang'an City was huge, majestic, and had a population of millions.
The water there is sweet, the sky there is bluer, and the moon there is round and big.
It is a place that people all over the world yearn for.
So when Li Shen asked Han Wei, Han Wei said something completely different without hesitation.
Yuanqu City, known as the capital of Yanqi, is not only inferior to Chang'an City, but even the main cities of the upper-class prefectures and counties cannot compare with it.
"Yes, it is a world of difference compared to Chang'an City. If I were the king, I would definitely go to Chang'an City to take a look.
Seeing the prosperity and bustle of Chang'an City is better than staying here."
Li Shen nodded naturally after hearing Han Wei's answer.
When Li Shen arrived at Yuanqu City, he discovered that this was actually a basin, a very large basin surrounded by mountains, and Yuanqu City was right in the center of the basin.
To be honest, Li Shen didn't know there was a basin here, whether in his previous life or this life.
He had heard of the Turpan Basin, the Tarim Basin, and even the Junggar Basin.
But he had never heard of the Yanqi Basin. This name was also his own idea. After all, this is Yanqi.
But when Li Shen came here, he found that the terrain here was different from the outside. There was a river here, and more than one.
Located in the center of the basin, it forms a plain with fertile land and large grasslands.
The reason why they are poor in resources is entirely due to their backward technology. If they develop it a little, whether it is growing crops or other things, it will be very good.
However, Li Shen has his own plans, so naturally he can't say that this place is good.
After Li Shen finished speaking, he stole a glance at these nobles and found that many of them showed interest on their faces.
If you can really become a noble of the Tang Dynasty, it will be much better than being a noble of Yanqi.
"Your Highness Prince Ji wants Yanqi to be incorporated into the Tang Dynasty? Or does the Tang Dynasty want to annex us like it did Gaochang?"
The new king of Yanqi, Xian Nazhun, asked at this time, his face looking a little unhappy.
He had just come to power, and this prince wanted them to give up Yanqi. He was going to step down as a king without even exercising his power for a single day?
What's more, this is the root of several generations of their royal family. How can they give it to others?
"No no no."
Li Shen immediately shook his head after hearing this:
"I don't have any other intentions, I just think you are a little too narrow-minded. You should go out and see how big the world is.
I don’t know if you have ever been to Xizhou City. It is almost as big as Yuanqu City.
Yuanqu City is indeed richer than other cities, because you are on the trade route to the Western Regions and the Tang Dynasty.
But the so-called wealth is only compared with cities like Suiye.
You have not seen what true wealth is."
When Li Shen said this, his eyes were filled with memories. He suddenly remembered the more than 30 million strings of gold his father had at that time.
That was the real wealth. If the treasury had not been tightly guarded, Li Shen would have wanted to play the role of a horse thief and rob it.
“Thank you, Your Highness Prince Ji, for the reminder, but this is our Yanqi anyway, and our ancestors have been here for generations.
The people here are our people and our subjects. We cannot abandon them and make them slaves just for the sake of enjoyment."
Hearing Li Shen's words, Xian Nazhun replied respectfully, but there was a hint of rejection in his words.
Here he is the king and can call the wind and rain, but if he goes to Chang'an City, he can do nothing.
First of all, the area reminded everyone that they have a noble status here and are respected by everyone.
But if they went to Chang'an City, they would have no rights at all except for their noble status.
The feeling of being in control of other people's destiny is something these people are unwilling to give up.
If you make sure first, you will get a lot of approval and nods from others.
"Oh my!" Li Shen was surprised. He hadn't expected the new king of Yanqi to have any sense at all, to use the superiority complex of the powerful to refute him.
It seems that people born in the royal family are not simple. They are influenced by the environment since childhood, so they no longer understand politics and conspiracy.
You will also learn something more or less, this is the importance of living environment.
No, I have to keep trying, Li Shen said to himself, and then his face turned disdainful:
"Generations? Haha, based on my observation, the population of Yuanqu City is probably less than 50,000, right?
Even the larger county towns in my Tang Dynasty have a larger population than Yuanqu City.
Haven’t your ancestors managed the business here well?
Being a noble is inherently noble and admired by thousands of people, but Yuanqu City only has a population of tens of thousands.
Seeking a sense of superiority in front of a mere few tens of thousands of people is simply like looking at the sky from a well. You have never seen what true nobility is."
Li Shen's words were full of ridicule towards everyone present.
They are like frogs in a well, and can only find a sense of existence in Yuanqu City, and there are only a few tens of thousands of them.
"Then may I ask, Your Highness Prince Ji, what does a true noble look like?"
Upon hearing the kings look down on them, some nobles immediately asked back.
Although the person in front of you is a prince of the Tang Dynasty, as a fellow aristocrat, you are just a little richer than them.
They are all aristocrats, living a life of luxury, so there should be no difference in their treatment.
"A true noble? Xuan Ce, tell them what a true noble is."
Li Shen sneered and gave an order to Wang Xuance beside him.
Wang Xuance immediately understood and stood up and bowed to everyone. He was the lowest official here.
"Everyone, I am the Chief Secretary of Prince Ji's Palace.
Please forgive me for speaking frankly. Although you are all nobles of Yanqi and enjoy offerings from the people of Yanqi, in my opinion, you are no different from ordinary wealthy businessmen in our Tang Dynasty.
It's just that they have more power than ordinary people.
In terms of wealth, perhaps you are not as rich as some wealthy businessmen in our Tang Dynasty.
In my Tang Empire, a true aristocrat not only needs to have wealth, but also power and status.
Prince Ji is the son of the emperor of the Tang Empire, so his power and status are naturally needless to say.
Let’s talk about wealth first. His Royal Highness Prince Ji has a fief of 2,500 households, which means 12,500 people, assuming five men are required.
These more than 10,000 people only serve His Royal Highness Prince Ji.
The total population of the workshops, shops, and industries under Prince Ji's Mansion is now at least 50,000.
In other words, 50,000 people rely on Prince Ji's Mansion to support their families.
Their number must be greater than the people of Yuanqu City, right?"
(Oops, late again, sorry sorry.)