In the Jinyang Governor's Mansion.
Li Shimin sat on the main seat, drinking tea slowly.
Li Chengqian, Changsun Wuji and Cheng Yaojin were sitting next to him.
"Your Highness, you will lose miserably this time."
Cheng Yaojin looked at Li Chengqian proudly.
Thinking of the sheep being driven back to the south and the mountains of fur goods, he felt that he was sure to win.
After all, this is obviously a losing business, so how can it possibly make money?
Li Chengqian also took a sip of tea and said, "Uncle Cheng, don't be anxious, just wait."
Li Chengqian came from a later generation. He clearly remembered that during the late Wude period and the early Zhenguan period, the Northern Desert was plagued by heavy snows year after year, causing heavy losses to the northern herdsmen.
If not for this, Datang would not have killed the Northern Desert Turks so quickly.
"You lose anyway."
Cheng Yaojin said with a swish, "When the time comes, don't lose your pants."
"I would also like to tell Uncle Cheng the same thing."
Li Chengqian and Cheng Yaojin were in tit-for-tat confrontation.
Changsun Wuji and Li Shimin, who were watching the excitement on the sidelines, were extremely happy.
"Old Cheng is really still Old Cheng, he hasn't changed at all."
"It's really dumbfounding for him to be so competitive with children."
Changsun Wuji whispered beside Li Shimin.
Li Shimin couldn't help but laugh and said: "But this time, he will definitely lose."
Li Chengqian's recent performance really satisfied him.
Besides, even if everything was in vain this time, it still gave Li Chengqian some experience, which was a good thing.
Furthermore, if they purchase a large amount of Turkic supplies and then send troops to Liangshidu, it will be very difficult for the Turks to accumulate food and grass in a short period of time.
No matter what, it is very beneficial to yourself.
Li Chengqian, on the other hand, is as confident as ever.
…
Of course, Datang's actions could not be hidden from the eyes of the Northern Desert Turks.
When Jieli Khan found out about this, he was furious and immediately issued a nationwide decree prohibiting the sale of cattle and sheep to the Tang Dynasty, and even prohibited the sale of leather goods to the Tang Dynasty.
But how can this stop those people who have already made money and gained fame?
After the decree was promulgated, even if they took the risk of taking small roads and going around the ravines, they still had to go to Datang to do business.
After learning about this situation, Jieli Khan also became ruthless and directly issued a decree. Anyone who went to Datang to do business would be killed without mercy if caught.
In this way, the situation of Turkic people selling their cattle, sheep and horses was finally slowed down.
Although he saw through Datang's plan, his bloody methods still caused widespread resentment among the people.
Water can carry and capsize a boat. This truth is no joke.
And the most important thing is that Li Chengqian's prediction was not wrong at all.
…
In December of the first year of Zhenguan.
Heavy snow fell in Turkic territory.
Many cattle, sheep, and horses on the grassland suffered from frostbite and frostbite.
At this time, many herdsmen secretly rejoiced that they had sold all their cattle and sheep, otherwise their losses would have been huge.
But now, the official way to do business with the Tang Dynasty has been blocked, and they can only risk going to the border of the Tang Dynasty to buy food and cotton-padded clothes for the winter.
The result is not clear even if you look at it, and you will be shocked when you look at it.
At this time, prices in Datang had risen to sky-high prices.
They had previously bought a sheep for a maximum of 150 yuan each, and a piece of leather goods sold for almost 50 yuan.
But now a bushel of rice can be sold for one hundred yuan, while a sheep before could only buy fifteen kilograms of rice.
The asbestos used to make cotton-padded clothes has also increased rapidly from the previous two hundred yuan to five hundred yuan.
Fifteen kilograms of rice is not enough for those families on the grassland for two days.
Asbestos is the main material for making cotton-padded clothes. They used to sell all their leather goods, but now if they don't buy asbestos to make cotton-padded clothes, they will have no choice but to freeze to death.
At this time, many herdsmen were dumbfounded, but they had no choice but to bite the bullet and buy it.
In the past, Datang used 150 yuan to buy Turkic sheep at a premium of 100 yuan, and used 50 yuan to buy Turkic leather goods at a premium.
Nowadays, Turks use 100 yuan to buy Tang Dynasty rice at a premium of 30 yuan, and use 500 yuan to buy Tang Dynasty asbestos at a premium.
Those herdsmen who repaid the grain with money in advance are okay.
The other herdsmen had no money to buy cotton-padded clothes from Datang, no cattle, sheep, and no food, so they could only wait to starve to death and freeze to death.
This year is definitely the most unlucky year for Turks.
…
On the other hand, in Datang, all the materials purchased at a premium were sold domestically by Li Shimin.
Although it was not sold at a premium to the acquisition price, it still made money.
In addition to using asbestos and other substances, the herdsmen also made a lot of money.
This time, the originally thin treasury became increasingly abundant.
However, things don't end here yet.
The people in the border towns of Datang are still living in dire straits.
They couldn't afford sheep, let alone grain.
Many people who had no food stored were also suffering from hunger and cold.
At this time, the dawn from the imperial court illuminated the land.
At Li Chengqian's suggestion, Li Shimin issued a decree to sell grain to the people in the border towns at the price of ten cents per liter.
According to the number of people going door to door, each person is limited to ten dou.
As for the one hundred kilograms of grain, no one cares whether they sell it to make money or what.
Anyway, if they sell, starvation will be their own problem.
It would be okay if they sell less and make some money themselves.
Li Shimin also turned a blind eye to this.
In this way, Comrade Taizong gained a large number of fans among the people.
Wherever he passed, he could hear shouts of long live Taizong.
Li Shimin was so happy that he kept patting Li Chengqian on the shoulder happily.
"You kid, you really didn't disappoint me. I will reward you well when you return to Chang'an."
Li Chengqian chuckled and said, "Forget about the reward from my father. I can just keep it for myself."
"But Uncle Cheng...well...I can't let it go."
Li Chengqian looked at Cheng Yaojin: "Uncle Cheng, can our bet still count?"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Yaojin's face darkened: "Of course it counts. Can I, old Cheng, still default on the debt?"
"When I return to Chang'an, Lao Cheng will send the money to your home."
When he said this, Cheng Yaojin almost said it through gritted teeth.
He, Old Cheng, had always taken advantage of others. When had he ever been taken advantage of like this?
He has now begun to study how to take revenge.
Unexpectedly, Li Shimin spoke at this time: "Zhijie, you are an adult after all. Don't default on a bet with a child."
After hearing this, Cheng Yaojin felt like he had eaten a fly.
"Your Majesty, don't worry, Lao Cheng will definitely not default on his debt."
"That's good."
"But I also know your difficulties."
"If you are asked to take out so much money at once, you will definitely not be able to come up with it."
"So I will set a rule for you."
Li Shimin said slowly: "From now on, I will pay Qian'er 30,000 yuan as pocket money every year until he reaches his age. What do you think?"
Doesn’t this mean that you ask me to help you raise your son?
Cheng Yaojin felt bitter in his heart and said reluctantly: "I obey my order..."
Thirty thousand dollars is nothing to Cheng Yaojin, who has a monthly salary of eight thousand and numerous additional incomes.
It's just that he, Lao Cheng, can't afford to lose this person.
I made a bet and lost to this eight-year-old guy again.
Li Chengqian was extremely happy on the sidelines.
"In this case, won't I become Uncle Cheng's biggest creditor?"
When these words came out, Li Shimin and Changsun Wuji both laughed.
