"Why so much?" Zhao Yu couldn't believe his eyes after seeing the bill: he had never seen so much money in his life, let alone owed so much money.
In order to support his "restoration", the Tang Empire spent a total of 300 million Tang Yuan, plus supplies and loans.
Such a large amount of money, let alone Zhao Yu now, even during the heyday of the Dahua Empire, Zhao Kai could not afford it. It can be said that even if Zhao Yu is sold now, he is not worth so much!
"Your Highness, every bill here is signed by you and applied to you." Officials from the financial department of the Tang Dynasty handed Zhao Yu the IOUs one after another and asked him to read them carefully.
Zhao Yu didn't dare to look at it, so he just asked his confidants to check again: In fact, the Tang Empire did not make any fraud. Every note on it was true, and it was a loan certificate that Zhao Yu had personally agreed to.
This includes purchasing arms, food, and oil, hiring consultants, and training pilots... Of course, there are also advance payments for mercenaries.
There was also interest on the advance payment. Although the Tang Empire very kindly waived part of the interest, the remaining interest was enough to bankrupt Zhao Yu.
"Is there... any other way?" Zhao Yu also knew that he relied entirely on the support of the Tang Empire to survive today. It was definitely impossible to default on the debt, unless he wanted to die.
What's more, the throne is close at hand, and he is about to become the emperor of the Great China Empire. How can he back down at this time? Wouldn't it be a fool to shrink back at this time?
"Repudiation?" The financial department official of the Tang Empire was stunned and admired Zhao Yu for having such courage.
"No! No! No! How could you refuse to pay?" Zhao Yu immediately waved his hand: "Misunderstanding! Misunderstanding! I'm asking if there is any other way to repay."
"According to the previous secret agreement, the Tang Empire will help you become the emperor of the Dahua Empire. The reward you have to give to the Tang Empire is the sovereignty of Jiange and Nanku, and the downgrade of the Dahua Empire into the Kingdom of Dahua." Sitting aside The diplomat warned: "You can't change this part."
"I understand, I understand! Then I will cede Fengjiang to the Tang Empire...what do you adults think?" Zhao Yu gritted his teeth and decided to use some land to repay related debts.
This is almost the only option he can choose: the financial empire of Great China has collapsed, and it will be impossible in this life to rely on the tax profits of the empire to repay debts.
What is left of the Great China Empire is nothing more than hard currency such as land and population resources. Zhao Yu knew the ambitions of the Tang Dynasty Empire. He proposed to use land to repay the debt, and the Datang Empire would definitely agree.
Sure enough, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Tang Empire across the street immediately started talking to each other, and officials from the finance department also began to write calculations on papyrus.
After a buzz of discussion, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Tang Empire said: "We have just discussed it. It is possible, but the specific value of each city and each piece of land must be calculated."
"Isn't a Fengjiang worth 300 million?" Of course Zhao Yu hopes to sell Fengjiang for 300 million, or even preferably 500 million, so that he can have money to squander for a few more years. But in fact, the Tang Empire is really not willing to spend 500 million to buy Fengjiang now.
"Your Majesty! Fengjiang is now in ruins. Such a ruin is not worth 300 million! We have calculated that it is only worth about 40 million." An official from the Tang Dynasty Finance Ministry shook his head and put a piece of paper He handed it to Zhao Yu's confidant.
The confidant looked at the reconstruction data, costs, and manpower and material resources invested above, and nodded awkwardly to Zhao Yu: The other party did not give less, and even gave a little more.
Zhao Yu saw that his confidant had no objection, so he could only hold his nose and admit it: "Then add Shanping! Shanping has not been through the war, how can it be worth 100 million?"
"Shanping is not a traffic artery, and the price cannot be that high. We plan to invest 30 million to purchase Shanping." Officials from the Datang Empire gave a relatively reasonable reason.
There is absolutely no need for them to make any fuss about this, they can just buy it with real money. Anyway, a large part of this money was used by the Tang Empire to balance the world trade balance. It was just a waste of money after giving it out.
"Then Guiguang! Guiguang is a traffic artery, and the city has not experienced war, so it is also very important to you... Guiguang 100 million!" Zhao Yu could only sell a bigger and more important city in the end, because this was the only one Cities are more valuable.
"Actually, Your Majesty, you are underestimating. We plan to invest 110 million to purchase Guiguang. If you plan to sell Guiguang, Shanping, Fengjiang... then you still owe us 120 million." The officials of the Tang Empire smiled and gave Zhao Yu another ten million.
Guiguang is an important transportation hub connecting Jiange and Shanping. By controlling this place, the Tang Empire can completely cross the Zangjian Gorge and connect the occupied areas west of the Zangjian Gorge.
The only thing Zhao Yu is willing to sell now is a deserted city on the northern border. The economy there is not very good, there is only animal husbandry, and it is a bitter cold place. He doesn't feel bad if he sells it.
But if he wants to sell the wasteland, he must first sell Hezhe. Hezhe is an important transportation town, and Zhao Yu is reluctant to sell it. What's more, if Hezhe is sold, Wanliang will become an isolated city enclave, which is definitely not possible.
Therefore, if you want to sell it, you can only sell Hezhe, Wasteland and Wanliang together! This is equivalent to selling the area currently occupied by Zhao Yu.
Zhao Yu gritted his teeth and said, "He Zhe, Wan Liang, and Wasteland! I want 300 million!"
He knew that he would have to sell these places anyway, so he might as well ask for a high price and leave some funds for himself.
"270 million!" Many officials from the Tang Empire gathered together, discussed in low voices for a long time, and came up with a number that surprised Zhao Yu.
He thought that the Tang Empire would not agree to his big offer, and would only give him a price of 100 million at most. In the end, he still owes the Tang Empire tens of millions in debt, and it must be repaid as soon as possible.
Who would have thought that the Tang Empire only cut the price by 30 million yuan, and generously left him 150 million yuan in working capital.
"I'm sorry, we can't give you all the extra 150 million in cash. We will provide you with 20 million in cash, and another 40 million for arms and food, and 60 million after the war. Construction financial support..."
"Okay!" After thinking about it, Zhao Yu still pinched his nose and accepted. Now that his finances have almost collapsed, it is already considered good to get 20 million in cash.
To put it bluntly, when his father, Zhao Kai, was in the most difficult situation, it was hard to say whether he had 20 million in cash.
The Tang Empire has actually taken advantage of it: Wanliang is an important grain-producing area in the Great China Empire. This area is really hard to find, and it will definitely be sold for no amount of money.
Now Wanliang was not only sold, but also sold at such a "reasonable and fair price". This in itself was taken advantage of by the Tang Empire.
Further north is Hezhe, which is the barrier of Fengjiang River and a transportation hub, and its value is immeasurable.
Just giving 270 million to these two places is not much. Wasteland City is completely giving it to them for free.
"Since Your Majesty has no objections, let's sign all these documents." Without any intention of concealing their preparedness, the diplomats of the Tang Empire took out agreements one after another from their document bags. document.
The expressions of the confidants around Zhao Yu were extremely ugly, but they also knew that as long as they signed these things, they would receive a material support worth 150 million, and at the same time, within two months, they would become Dahua Empire&or become the master of Dahua Kingdom!
Zhao Yu will become the King of Dahua, and these confidants will soon become the ministers of this kingdom and control the power of the entire kingdom.
Therefore, when Zhao Yu looked at them, they could only nod slightly to express their support. Zhao Yu gritted his teeth and began to write his name on these documents.
After he finished writing one copy, he handed one to his subordinates, who stamped Zhao Yu's seal on it. On the other side, officials from the Tang Empire's financial department handed the corresponding IOU to the other party.
A few minutes passed, and all the eight hundred miles of the Dahua Empire belonged to the Tang Empire, and Zhao Yu also got his wish and became the "His Majesty the King" of the Dahua Kingdom.
"Don't worry! Your Majesty! We will fulfill our obligations to help you capture the imperial capital..." The diplomats of the Tang Empire stretched out their hands, shook Zhao Yu's hand gently, and then left with the signed agreement.
"Your Majesty, your Majesty...this, these..." the confidant holding the IOU and the IOU carefully reminded Zhao Yu.
"Burn! Burn them all!" Zhao Yu waved his hand and ordered irritably.
He now has a more difficult problem in front of him, and he must think carefully about how to solve it.
He must think carefully about how to explain to the people of Dahua how he sold nearly one-third of the country's territory to the Tang Empire in lieu of debt...
The few confidants with a little bit of vision also frowned: they had gained glory, wealth and corresponding power. But now they have become the sinners of history, unforgivable traitors from the standpoint of the Great China Empire.
"Alas..." I don't know who it was, let out a long sigh.
Zhao Yu heard this. He was not furious, as if he was infected. He also sighed, over and over again, full of melancholy: "Alas..."
However, his mood soon improved: now, he is the king of Dahua! Those enemies of his, be it Zhao Jie or Zhao Ji... how could they be his rivals against the Tang Empire?
Just kidding, he, Zhao Yu, unites with the Tang Dynasty Empire and kills indiscriminately!
——
Update tomorrow
(End of chapter)
