"It's useful." Li Jing nodded simply, "How many have your Highness made?"
"one thousand."
"Okay, I'll form a thousand cavalry and test it out." Li Jing nodded.
"Well, then I'll leave this matter to you, Duke Dai." Li Ke nodded.
"Then... Your Highness, how will you implement your garrison plan?" Li Jing looked at Li Ke and asked. He had been holding back for a day. He didn't ask yesterday, but he was going to ask today.
"Lu Hai, are our supplies and personnel ready?" Li Ke asked.
"Your Highness, some of the relevant materials have been delivered this time, and one hundred and thirty craftsmen have arrived this time." Lu Hai said respectfully.
"Have the iron ore and limestone mines been found?" Li Ke asked.
"Yes." Lu Hai nodded simply.
"What do you mean, Your Highness? There are iron mines and that limestone mine nearby?" Li Jing didn't know what the limestone mine was for, but he knew about the iron mine.
"Yes." Li Ke nodded. Not only are there iron ore and limestone mines, there are also copper mines and gold mines nearby. It's just that the mining needs to be done step by step.
"Actually, my caravan has discovered these minerals near here, but it was not within the territory of our Datang before, so we couldn't start construction." Li Ke added, of course, this was explained to Lu Hai and the others in advance Yes, Li Ke actually looked for it based on the mineral distribution map in his hand.
These mineral distribution maps record all domestic minerals that have been mined and are being mined, as well as minerals that have been proven but have not been mined due to technical and cost-effective reasons. For Li Ke, mines can be found everywhere in the country.
An iron mine, the easiest to mine, a limestone mine and a copper mine have been selected nearby.
"You have a day off today. Starting tomorrow, I will have someone escort you to the relevant places to start mining minerals." Li Ke said.
"Yes, Your Highness, the workers?" Lu Hai hesitated.
"Aren't these Tuyuhun people very good workers?" Li Ke said lightly, grazing. It is indeed necessary to continue grazing here, but it is enough to leave some people behind. There is no need to leave so many herdsmen.
And if you want to feed so many herdsmen, you must become nomadic. The population of Tuyuhun is actually not large, only a few hundred thousand people in total.
"Your Highness, are you going to use them?" Li Jing hesitated. The Tuyuhun people currently under their control are actually quite honest, and the dishonest ones are all dead. These nomadic people have long been used to it. Each of their tribes are motivated by In the process of constant conquering and being conquered.
When someone more powerful comes to fight, they will surrender honestly and will not have any second thoughts, unless they are some nobles or the like.
These ordinary herdsmen will obediently surrender, work, receive signs from new rulers, and help the rulers fight until they are conquered by more powerful people, and the cycle continues like this.
"Yes, don't worry, I know it well. In fact, these ordinary herders are also easy to control." Li Ke said calmly.
Li Jing nodded and said nothing more.
"Have you brought the people I need?" Li Ke looked at Lu Hai next to him again.
"Yes, Your Highness." Lu Hai nodded immediately.
"Let them come here, there is something they need to do." Li Ke greeted directly.
Lu Hai immediately put his hand to his mouth and whistled. After calling a guard, he asked to find someone.
Soon, a total of nine people came over. Li Jing noticed that these people were wearing scribes' uniforms and they should all be scholars.
"I've met His Highness, I've met Duke Dai." Several people came over and saluted.
"Well, I have something to give to you guys now." Li Ke said directly.
"Your Highness, please speak, we will be utterly devastated."
"It's very simple. You are now divided into two groups and are sent as envoys to the Qiemo Kingdom and the Nuqiang Kingdom on my behalf. After you go, ask them directly why Murong Fuyun entered Tulunchuan and they did not report to me and ask them to send people. Come to Chihai, or come to Chihai in person to explain to me, otherwise, the Tang army will sweep away everyone who colludes with Tuyuhun!" Li Ke said with a serious face.
"It's Your Highness! It's their fault that these two countries didn't report to Your Highness." One of the scholars raised his head and said seriously.
"After you go, tell them that I am very poor, and I was sent to the Western Regions by my father, so I am very unhappy." Li Ke said again.
"Your Highness, do you want to take over their land?" the leading scholar asked immediately.
"Why do you want their land? Now is not the time to capture them." Li Ke shook his head, "But I want them to know that the Tang Dynasty's Xizhou Protectorate has been established, and the Tang Dynasty will have the final say in this area from now on. Otherwise, , they cannot bear the consequences, and if Datang’s caravans trade with them, they are not allowed to collect taxes!"
"Yes, I understand. After I go there, I will tell them your request, Your Highness, and say that you are very unhappy. Then I will show a greedy attitude towards money. They will definitely bribe me and ask me to help with this idea. At that time, I will tell them that you are very poor, your highness, and ask them to bring tribute to you, and open trade for your caravan to trade." The leading scholar immediately replied.
Li Ke nodded with satisfaction. This brain is very flexible. It is worthy of being trained by me. "What's your name?"
"When I return to Your Highness, my name is Wang Zheng." The scholar said immediately.
"Very good. You are divided into two missions. Can you recommend who is more suitable for the other one?" Li Ke nodded with satisfaction.
"I think Yang Cheng can do it." Wang Zheng replied immediately. Following Wang Zheng's words, another middle-aged man in his thirties came out from behind him.
"Very good, then Yang Cheng and you will each form a mission to go to Qiemo and Ruoqiang." Li Ke said.
"It's a long way, Your Highness, let's set off now." Wang Zheng raised his head and raised his hand to Li Ke.
"Duke Dai, please send two teams of guards." Li Ke turned to Li Jing.
"No problem." Li Jing was speechless as he listened. Does His Highness King Qin also have such...such weird thoughts?
"Your Highness, I would like to know, what tribute do you want them to bring?" Wang Zheng asked again.
"Gold, from today on, His Highness only likes gold." Li Ke said confidently.
"Yes!" Wang Zheng and others did not feel anything wrong, but directly bent down and saluted.
Li Jing: "..." Why do I always feel that after Your Highness came here, it was completely different from Chang'an.
