Xiao Rui: "..."
"Ahem, that's the truth, and it's true! Just say, if we change the place and put you in my position, will you agree to the marriage?"
Forehead……
Lu Dongzan looked careless, shook his head and said: "I don't have the magical power of the Marquis, I dare not think about it. However, since the marriage between the two countries has existed since ancient times, of course it will not be so simple. It must be good for the diplomatic relations. of."
benefit?
Xiao Rui cursed in his heart, how shameless! In the countless marriages over the past few hundred years, which one was not for the purpose of exchanging daughters for peace? The Han Dynasty married Wang Zhaojun to the Huns because the Huns were so powerful that the Han Dynasty did not dare to fight and was forced to marry a daughter to seek peace. Similarly, the former Sui Dynasty married Princess Yicheng to the Turks because she could not defeat them.
But our Tang Dynasty is now invincible, why should we marry you? You are really shameless!
Of course, even though Xiao Rui scolded him thousands of times in his heart, he still didn't expose it. He didn't want to break his face, otherwise today's talk would be in vain.
"Just now the Prime Minister mentioned kindness, haha, is it because the nobles forget things? Does the Tang Dynasty really have no kindness to Tubo? If we are cruel and control the southwest border and prohibit your caravans from entering the Tang Dynasty to do business, then you say goodbye to Tubo Talking about daily necessities, I’m afraid I can’t even eat salt.”
you……
If he hadn't been frightened by the situation, Lu Dongzan would have really wanted to spit in the face of this guy in front of him. Damn it, you Datang sold us salt and daily necessities at a high price to suck the blood of my Tubo. It's good that we don't have any resentment. Being treated like this by you First of all, we still have to be grateful to you? Do you want Bilian?
"Haha, what are you saying, Mr. Marquis? The two countries trade equally, and it is not a gift and assistance from one side to the other. We in Tubo are poor and need material supplies, and the Tang Dynasty does not suffer any loss. It makes money by selling the materials to us. .”
Xiao Rui picked up the teacup, glanced at Lu Dongzan, and said in a dissatisfied tone: "What do you mean? Our Tang Dynasty relies on Tubo to make money?"
This is clearly confusing concepts. Of course, he left the second part unsaid: If you go out and ask around, except for you, Tubo, and the surrounding countries, who of us will not make any money? Doing business with you and making money from you is giving you an opportunity, so don’t be ignorant!
Lu Dongzan waved his hand and said: "Of course not. I just think that this is equal trade and does not involve favors."
oh……
Xiao Rui put down the tea cup and made a long note, "It turns out that the Tubo people think so. Anyway, I have newly received the title of Minister of Household Affairs, and I am worried that I have nowhere to start with the national trade reform. So let's start here. From now on, the Tang Dynasty will cut off all trade routes with Tibet, and no more exchanges of goods will be allowed, and anyone who violates the prohibition will be immediately put in jail."
"We in the Tang Dynasty will no longer make money from the Tubo people in the future, lest people call us vampires behind our backs. I believe that the great Tubo people can live a beautiful and happy life with their own talents and hard work."
puff……
Lu Dongzan almost vomited blood. Is this a mind-reader?
"Master Marquis, please calm down. Why is this so important? That's not what I meant..."
Xiao Rui smiled and said: "Of course, I believe that the Prime Minister is a good person, and of course I will not feel that I am threatening you."
"I also ask the Prime Minister to go back and tell the Lord Songtsen Gampo of your country, please believe that we in the Tang Dynasty are really not short of money. The surrounding countries are rushing to do business with us. The supplies we produce are in short supply, so Tubo will temporarily take care of it. Not available, sorry!"
Here……
Lu Dongzan really wants to strangle this guy to death. Are you apologizing? Hong Guoguo's threats are like a breath of fresh air from you, and the Smiling Tiger is not as thick-skinned as you, right?
"Master Marquis, if the trade route between the two countries is cut off, aren't you afraid that the people below will cause chaos?" Lu Dongzan asked tentatively.
Are the people in rebellion?
Xiao Rui's expression dropped, "Is the Prime Minister trying to scare me?"
Lu Dongzan shook his head and said: "No, I just want to remind the Marquis that it doesn't matter if the Tubo trade route is cut off. The merchants of the Tang Dynasty lack a way to make money. Could it be..."
Xiao Rui laughed loudly and said: "I have only heard that the people rebelled, and there has never been a time when businessmen could turn the world upside down. The Prime Minister should take care of his own people. Don't come to our Tang Dynasty to cause trouble because of your chaotic life. I, the Marquis We have sent reinforcements to the southwest, and they are all Turkic warriors. The border defenders will no longer be as merciful as before."
Turkic warrior? Lu Dongzan was shocked. He knew that the Tang Dynasty defeated the Turk Jieli, but he never expected that the Tang Dynasty would actually absorb Jieli's territory and dare to recruit Turks to join the Tang army? Those people were different from the people of the Tang Dynasty. They were bloodthirsty and warlike, and the Tubo people really couldn't take advantage of them.
"Master Hou..."
Lu Dongzan wanted to say something more, but Xiao Rui had already stood up, "Business cannot be done without righteousness. Since the prime minister is anxious to go back, I won't stay. Come and see your guests off."
Li Junxian strode in, "Xiangguo, please!"
Here……
Lu Dongzan reluctantly moved out and couldn't help but ask: "Master Hou, before, the Marquis said that he wanted to do a private deal with Tubo. I don't know what the specific deal is?"
Xiao Rui waved his hand and said: "Nothing. Our Xiao family caravan wants to open up the Tubo trade route. We want to use some handicrafts and simple manufacturing industries to do some small business in Tubo, and buy some local specialties, such as medicinal materials. I heard that Xiangguo The medicinal materials brought by the envoy were sold at a sky-high price in Chang'an, haha, but it's a pity that the quantity is too small, not enough for me to open the furnace once."
What? ? ? Did you, Mr. Marquis, collect the previous batch of medicinal materials? Why is it so generous?
Lu Dongzan exclaimed.
Immediately I regretted it. After a long time of procrastination, you told me your purpose. You wanted to buy medicinal materials from us for business. How could I disagree? What trade routes and state affairs are you talking to me about? I thought you were going to suppress Tubo.
"Ahem, Lord Marquis, what medicinal materials do you need? Why send someone to buy them? Just make an order and we will send someone to deliver it to your house."
Xiao Rui didn't seem to hear, Li Junxian urged: "Let's go, Prime Minister, the Marquis invited you to come over to discuss business, not to give him gifts. Who in the country doesn't know that my Marquis is the most honest?"
Buy or sell? ? Right to buy and sell! Lu Dongzan immediately realized that he would never leave again.
"Mr. Marquis, there is a misunderstanding. It is purely a misunderstanding. I just misunderstood what Mr. Marquis meant. How about we talk about it again? Regarding the business, we will make a fortune together. How can we refuse?"
Xiao Rui sneered: "Prime Minister, let's make a fortune together?"
"Oh... bah bah bah, no, it was the Tang Dynasty and the Marquis who helped me get rich in Tubo. Don't worry, we will cherish this opportunity and be grateful to the Tang Dynasty and the Marquis..." For the industries that Xiao Rui mentioned, Lu Dongzan's eyes were shining, how could he dare to pull? He immediately became groveling.
