Seeing this situation, Xiao Rui no longer hesitated, "Fifth brother, now that the deal has been concluded, the Prime Minister is not an outsider, but our guest. Instruct the kitchen to hold a banquet at noon, and I will entertain the distinguished guests."
Li Junxian agreed and immediately went out to deliver the order.
"Xiang Guo, how about we talk about specific cooperation matters?"
"What I wish for!"
…
Half an hour later, Lu Dongzan was stunned. He was shocked by Xiao Rui's generosity. He originally thought it was some simple handicrafts, some ordinary carpenters and masons, but he didn't expect that there was even salt and iron? Aren’t these high-end industries controlled by the imperial court? Can you, a champion, have the final say?
Thinking of this, Lu Dongzan suddenly felt uneasy and asked tentatively: "Master Marquis, not counting anything else, but what about salt and iron? Can you make the decision to spread it to Tubo?"
Xiao Rui agreed, "Of course! There is no business in the world that I, the Xiao Family Chamber of Commerce, do not do, including salt and iron. However, I, not to mention the Prime Minister, also understand that the salt and iron craftsmanship that can be passed on to Tubo is not the best in the world. It’s almost equivalent to... the level of Lingnan. It’s no problem to make kitchen knives, cooking stoves, farm tools, etc.”
"As for those top-notch salt and iron craftsmanship, not to mention this prince, even your majesty dare not give it. If Tubo can cast refined steel and forge it into magical weapons, haha, how can you lead troops into the Tang Dynasty if you don't do it well? What to do? Aren’t you the enemy?”
Lu Dongzan nodded and said with a smile: "Of course, of course. I understand that it would be great to have these basic salt and iron crafts. We are poor in Tubo, Lord Marquis. We dare not talk too much about catching up with the Tang Dynasty. As long as we can pass Just go on a normal day.”
"The Tang Dynasty and the Marquis were so kind, and Tubo would never forget them. How could they go against the Tang Dynasty?"
hehe? Never forget? What a liar! Xiao Rui smiled without revealing it.
"Can't we sit down and have a good talk earlier? It's not like we are stingy and don't give up. You insist on coming to kiss and steal the teacher? There has been so much unhappiness." Xiao Rui sneered, "But you and I can't be considered strangers. As long as you two Not to mention the marriage, I don’t mind making Tubo a little richer.”
Lu Dongzan raised a question, "Master Hou, why are you so resistant to marriage?"
Um?
Xiao Rui narrowed his eyes slightly, but did not answer.
Knowing that the other party was moody, Lu Dongzan quickly changed his question: "I just want to say that Mr. Hou is so courageous. Others are afraid that the surrounding area will become bigger and try their best to suppress it. How come you dare to lead us to become stronger?"
Hearing this, Xiao Rui smiled and sighed: "Those who suppress their neighbors and fear that their neighbors will become stronger are all weak. Are I and the Tang Dynasty weak? No matter how strong you are, Tubo, can you be stronger than the Tang Dynasty? I, the Tang Dynasty, are afraid Are you getting stronger?"
Forehead……
Lu Dongzan looked at Xiao Rui in surprise.
Xiao Rui sneered and said: "There is a saying in the Tang Dynasty that war is bound to perish. Therefore, we never take the initiative to expand outwards. We all say passive counterattacks and do not raise unjust soldiers or unknown divisions."
"Are the northern Turks Jieli strong enough? Two hundred thousand cavalry with armor! What's going on now? Jieli often comes to perform dances for our emperor. What's the reason? It's not because they are strong, but because they are ignorant and take the initiative to offend the great emperor. Tang, we have a reason to send troops, so... let’s destroy them.”
ah? That's it? Are you kidding me? Do you think the war to destroy the country is so lighthearted? Is it that simple?
Lu Dongzan expressed doubts.
Xiao Rui also saw that the other party didn't believe it, "Don't believe it? Haha, what do you think is the most difficult thing in the Tang Dynasty's war against the Turks? Troops? Weapons? Logistics? Command?"
"Haha, none of them! It's the stubborn old men in power in the imperial court. If they hadn't held back and refused to start the war for various reasons, I would have been able to sweep across the northern border in the second year of Zhenguan."
Lu Dongzan's eyes changed, as if... there was some truth. The man in front of me can be called the God of War, and he is powerful.
Xiao Rui smiled: "So, I advise you to be well-behaved, and I will lead you to development and progress, so that we can all get rich together. Just be obedient. Don't cause trouble for me. If you are not well-behaved and violate the border, a few people will die or a person will be lost." Two cities, these are small things, even I am happy to see them come to fruition. Do you know why?"
Why?
Xiao Rui said with greed and bloodlust in his eyes: "Because we have another reason to send troops, I can gain military exploits again. If we do it well, we can legitimately incorporate Tibet into the territory of the Tang Dynasty."
Forehead……
"Ahem, the Marquis is joking. We in Tubo don't have that intention. We just want to make good friends with the Tang Dynasty and consolidate our diplomatic friendship." Lu Dongzan didn't know if he was scared or not. Maybe he was frightened by Xiao Rui's eyes, so he hurriedly Haha.
Xiao Rui refilled the other party's cup of tea, and his tone returned to gentleness: "When I have no military exploits, I can only make some money by doing business. I am different from those small profiteers. I pay attention to win-win cooperation in business. Only when everyone makes money Once you have the money, this business can last for a long time.”
"Otherwise we will get richer and richer, and you will get poorer and poorer. This is not business, this is blood sucking!"
"Even if it's blood-sucking, I don't bother sucking poor people. How much money do poor people have? Only by making you rich and wealthy can I make more money from you."
"Are you right, Prime Minister?"
Lu Dongzan wiped away his sweat and nodded repeatedly: "That's right. I thought that the Marquis was an outstanding military general, but I didn't expect to understand after listening to your business experience. In terms of doing business, you are also beyond the reach of merchants all over the world. I admire you! I admire you. !”
Xiao Ruixin said that he was worthy of being a prime minister, and it was so flattering to him.
"In this case, I will arrange manpower and send people there in the spring of next year. There will be several hundred caravans and two thousand accompanying guards..."
puff……
Wait, how much? two thousand?
Lu Dongzan exclaimed: "Master Hou, a caravan is not an army. Why does it need two thousand guards? You, you shouldn't..."
What is it?
Xiao Rui rolled his eyes: "Are you afraid that I will send two thousand people to cause trouble for you? Or are you afraid that my two thousand people will destroy your Tubo?"
puff……
Lu Dongzan wanted to vomit blood. It was so uncomfortable to talk to this person. Why did he keep talking about destroying the country? It's not that big of a deal.
"No, the Marquis has misunderstood. It's just that a caravan is yours, Marquis. Since you are here to help us make a fortune, and your caravan enters Tubo, we should naturally ensure its safety. Is there no need for thousands of guards..."
"Master Marquis, you also know that our place is different from the Tang Dynasty. People here will not adapt to the local environment."
etc……
Speaking of this, a flash of lightning flashed in Lu Dongzan's mind! He looked at Xiao Rui with horror on his face.
That’s not right!
Did he, did he set another trap for me?
He is the champion Hou Xiaorui, who is known as the most ruthless person in the Tang Dynasty. He is a murderous devil. How could he be so kind and kind to help us Tubo get rich? There are even festivals for people who are not relatives or friends.
There is absolutely no free business in this world, and no one will treat you well without asking for anything in return! Not even biological parents.
Lu Dongzan suddenly woke up and murmured in his heart, what does Xiao Rui want to do after talking so much?
By the way, two thousand guards, two thousand! It's not a small amount, this is his real purpose. What he said about communication technology and making money through business were all just a pretense. His real purpose was to send these two thousand people to Tibet.
After thinking about this, Lu Dongzan said in a deep voice: "Master Hou is so calculating that I was almost deceived by you. After a long time of trouble, you are still plotting against Tubo. You want to send two thousand soldiers and horses into Tubo to adapt to our Tubo culture. , in the future, will we gradually encroach on and annex us step by step?"
"Or maybe they want to rotate these two thousand escorts. In less than three to five years, the Tang Dynasty will have an elite soldier who is familiar with the soil and water of Tubo... Tsk, tsk! Lord Marquis, am I guessing right?"
Xiao Rui's eyes narrowed and he secretly thought bad food! I was a little impatient.
