Lu Dongzan stared at the young but cunning postman in front of him, his temples beating with anger.
After all, we are also the Prime Minister of Tubo, and this time we are here as the only envoy of a powerful country in the world that can compete with the Tang Dynasty. You here are actually chasing debts to the door?
Are you looking down on Tubo and afraid that you can't afford the money?
Lu Dongzan's face was livid, he waved to an entourage who was managing money, and said: "Write... write him an IOU."
Tang Ren:…….
Tubo people:…….
For a moment, the whole place was silent.
Lu Dongzan was also embarrassed himself. The dignified Prime Minister of Tubo actually wanted to write an IOU to the Tang people? But there was nothing he could do. The Tubo army was not afraid of death and was strong enough to destroy all the countries in the world. It was also the only strong army that could compete with the Tang army. But in the end, Tubo was really poor!
As the Prime Minister of Tubo, his annual salary is only a mere 300 guan, and these 300 guan are paid in highland barley, horses, yaks, furs and other goods. There is not even 100 guan in real copper coins. . Nowadays, the Tang Dynasty is the most powerful country in the world, and merchants from the Tang Dynasty are spread all over the world, which directly leads to the "Kaiyuan Tongbao" becoming the most valuable coin in the world. For countries like Tubo that lack copper mines, they even make imitations. Unexpectedly, he maintained the "ancient style" of bartering without currency at all, which further made the value of Tang money inflated.
Even in Luoxe City, it was not easy to collect more than 1,800 yuan of Tang Dynasty money in a short period of time, let alone the Tang Dynasty, which was far away from Tubo.
The money will definitely not be withdrawn. Failure to pay will damage Tubo's reputation. The goods carried in the convoy are tributes sent to the Tang Dynasty by Zampu. Everything is recorded in the certificate of credence, and cannot be used privately. , then I can only write an IOU...
The entourage quickly fetched paper and pen, all of them looked embarrassed, and the military attache who bought the horse almost stuffed his head into his crotch.
If it weren't for his incompetence in doing things, why would the Prime Minister of his family be so embarrassed that he had to write a debt note to the people of the Tang Dynasty with the dignity of the Prime Minister?
Lu Dongzan took the paper and pen with a sullen face. Unexpectedly, the postman didn't buy it at all: "Wait a minute, wait a minute, did the envoy misunderstand it? These are small operations of a small family. You are a dignified Tibetan envoy, not I can’t believe you, but this debt note is written down. Could it be that in the future, everyone will go to Tubo to collect debts from you?”
When he said this, the cattle dealers stopped working and expressed their opposition.
"I have never been out of the mountains in my life, and I dare not go to Tibet."
"They say Tubo barbarians are wild. If we dare to go to collect debts from you, I wonder if we will kill them."
…
Immediately, some impatient ones took the animals and walked back.
"We trade fairly. We pay with one hand and deliver the goods with the other. You son of a bitch, you don't have the money to buy a stupid animal? Let's go, you're a guy with a broken head, you're delaying things!"
When everyone heard this, they started to drive their animals away in a noisy manner.
Lu Dongzan became anxious when he saw it. He must buy the livestock. Otherwise, he would have to wait for at least four or five days for his horse to stop diarrhea before regaining its strength. Then he would miss a big deal!
He hurriedly said: "Everyone, please be patient! We are short of horses, so we are very lucky to have all of you to help us. How dare we let you go to Tubo to collect debts again? When I arrive in Chang'an and have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, the Tubo people on the ground For Zanpu’s credentials, His Majesty the Emperor will definitely give you a reward. Not only will he give rewards to Tibet and Zanpu, but he will also give me some personal rewards! By then, I will definitely send someone to deliver the money to you in full. If there is any delay , Abandoned by both humans and gods!"
Seeing the dignified Tubo envoy swearing to the sky, the cattle dealers had no idea and looked at the postman one after another. After all, this was an official of the Tang Dynasty, and he would definitely favor them, the Tang people, and would not let them suffer.
The postman thought for a while and said: "Logically speaking, we can trust the envoy. But please understand the envoy. These people are businessmen from small families. They don't have much money at home. It is difficult to make a single transaction." After that, take the money and buy livestock again, and so on, over and over again, until you can earn a little money to support your family. Now you write down a piece of paper. After traveling more than a thousand miles to Chang'an, you still have to submit your credentials and meet with His Majesty. , discuss state affairs, come and go, and I'm afraid I won't be able to come back in three to five months. It doesn't matter to you. These small businessmen have their capital on you. Is it possible that they will have nothing to do in these few months? No income at all?"
Lu Dongzan was a Tibetan wise man who had always been unparalleled in his rhetoric. However, now he felt that what the postman said was reasonable and could not be refuted, so he could only say: "The situation is like this. You can't let me give the tribute to His Majesty the Emperor." You pay for the animals, right? Tell me, is there any way to get the best of both worlds?"
The postman pondered for a moment and said: "So..."
The military attache on the side suddenly felt blessed and interjected: "Do you need more money?"
The postman patted his thigh: "Brother, this is a great idea! How do you do, envoy?"
Before Lu Dongzan could speak, the military attache was already furious and said: "What a businessman! I have already given you more money before, how can you be so greedy?"
The postman spread his hands and retorted: "You ate last night, so don't you want to eat tonight? In the same way, the reason for the increase in money was because we wanted to drive the animals here, and we fulfilled the contract, so You have to add money, and now you want to pay after arriving in Chang'an. This will not only delay everyone's payment cycle and affect the business, but also bear huge risks. For example, if you make a mistake after arriving in Chang'an and get angry Your Majesty, the reward must be gone, right? For example, when you are on a boat, there is a storm and the boat capsizes and everyone is killed. Who cares about the money? Or, the mountains are high and the mountains are deep, and bandits are infested. What if those bandits kill people and steal goods? Isn’t this money wasted..."
The military attaché was speechless and speechless.
Thinking about it carefully, it seems quite reasonable...
Lu Dongzan praised the first and the second, his wisdom was to counsel on state affairs and give guidance to the country, and it was not wasted on such nonsense. He quickly waved his hand to stop the postman and asked: "Tell me, how much more?" "
The postman turned back to discuss with the livestock traders: "How much do you think is appropriate?"
The bearded man thought for a while and said hesitantly: "Three..."
The postman patted his thigh: "Okay!"
He turned around and praised Ludong: "What do you think, do you want to increase the price by ten guan for every 30 guan?"
The military attache was already furious: "Why don't you go and grab it?"
The postman looked like he had seen an idiot, shook his head and said: "In the Tang Dynasty, robbery is a serious crime and requires beheading, but doing business is not illegal. As long as you are willing to do so, the king's law cannot interfere! The money is yours." It's in your pocket and you can take it out if you want. If you don't want to, everyone will turn around and leave."
Go, we definitely can't let them go.
After all, Lu Dongzan was the Prime Minister of Tubo. He was very courageous and immediately said: "Okay!"
With a swipe of his pen, he wrote down an IOU, and at the end he pressed his fingerprints and stamped his own seal.
He had been on several missions to the Tang Dynasty, and he knew the customs of the Tang Dynasty very well. He understood the principle that "people have to bow their heads under the eaves." This postman was obviously a cattle dealer who raised prices on the ground, but what could he do? People clearly understand that no one can be deceived, and what matters is the relationship between you and me. If you are determined, you have to buy these animals...
The agreement was reached and the sale was established.
The cattle dealers handed over their animals to the Tibetan people, and the postman raised his hands and said: "I wish the envoy a safe journey to Chang'an! We are waiting for news from the envoy. If we don't see the money, then we will have no choice but to trek to Beijing and kneel down. Outside the Zhuque Gate, I implore His Majesty the Emperor to seek justice for us!"
Lu Dongzan was very graceful. Even though he was gritting his teeth with anger, he remained sincere and kind on his face: "Don't worry, everyone, even if I Lu Dongzan dies in Chang'an, the Tubo people will pay the full amount, and they will never do it." One penny is missing."
The postman laughed and said: "This is the best, then let's take our leave..."
Returning with a group of happy cattle traders.
Lu Dongzan hurriedly ordered his men to gather the animals, and then set up a car one by one. Fortunately, these animals were accustomed to handling, and the Tubo people were all good at driving. After a while of busy work, the caravan finally set off slowly. .
…
On the other side, the postman returned to the post station. As soon as he entered the door, he saw a young warrior in black clothes and leather armor sitting in the hall leisurely drinking tea. He quickly stepped forward and saluted: "Fortunately, I have not insulted my order, Mr. Wei." The matters assigned to me have been completed by my subordinate."
The young man in black smiled, put down the teacup, and said, "I am just a servant, how can I dare to be called 'Young Master'?"
The postman smiled and said: "The seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister's door. Although your Erlang is not the prime minister, he is not much worse. We, the postmen of the Tang Dynasty, are able to be so nourished now because of the gift of Fang Erlang. I am grateful." , willing to do the work of dogs and horses."
