I am Li Shen and Li Shimin, the free kings of the Tang Dynasty

Lu Dongzan has been in Chang'an for more than a month. After Li Shen disrupted the situation, he knew that his plan to marry the Tang princess had failed. But he wasn't idle either. During this time, he led people to investigate the Tang Dynasty's iron-making and textile planting technologies. I also bought a lot of books secretly.

Some craftsmen with knowledge of these technologies were also recruited at a high price. Purchased some crops for planting. He believes that their productivity will be even higher within a few years after returning this time.

It's just a pity that she didn't succeed in marrying Princess Daotang this time. Otherwise, some tribes in the country will be more honest. Songtsen Gampo set his capital in Loxe (Lhasa) because the country was unstable at that time, and it was convenient to control and stay away from the established tribal forces. What he hates most now is Li Shen.

He investigated whether Li Shen had money or power. Several of Li Shen's properties were very profitable and had been coveted by him for a long time. Lu Dongzan applied to Li Shimin to visit Li Shen's properties. Li Shimin refused on the grounds that private industry had no right to interfere.

Lu Dongzan also proposed to Li Shen in various ways that he wanted to visit. As a result, a man named Wang Xuance met him every time. Tell him that the prince is busy and has no time. He will report the matter when he has time.

Today Lu Dongzan came to Prince Ji's Mansion again. He was going to see if he could see Li Shen directly for the last time, because he was going to leave for Tubo tomorrow.

"Your Majesty, that Lu Dongzan is here again. He said he will return to Tubo tomorrow. Come and visit today to make a good relationship." Wang Xuance reported to Li Shen.

"Oh, I have to leave. Then we have to meet. You can't let people say that I, the Tang Dynasty, have no manners, right." Li Shen thought for a while and decided to meet.

After a while, Lu Dongzan was taken to the front hall. Along the way, Lu Dongzan sighed at the wealth of the Tang Dynasty. A prince's mansion was so luxurious. Although it is winter now, there are still green cypresses and pine trees along the way. Lu Dongzan was not an ignorant person. He knew that these were fine green pine trees that had been transported from other places. We have to keep it from dying all the way, and the consumption can be imagined.

"I have met His Royal Highness Prince Ji" Lu Dongzan saluted Li Shen

"No need to be polite, please take a seat, Prime Minister." Li Shen asked Lu Dongzan to sit down. After the servants served tea, he continued, "I heard that the Prime Minister will return to China tomorrow. Why don't you stay a little longer."

"I have been out for a long time. Now that my marriage proposal has failed, I should go back and assist Zanpu to make Tubo more stable." Lu Dongzan looked at Li Shen and said

"Well, that's right. Now your Zanpu has just unified all the ministries and moved the capital. There are also several big tribes around you. Several old tribes inside are also unsettled. We really need you to go back." Li Shen pretended. express agreement

Lu Dongzan was shocked inside. The Tang Dynasty actually knew Tubo so well. Could it be that we sent a spy?

"I don't know where the news from His Highness King Ji came from. After the unification of Zampu in our country, the tribes are at peace and stable. The surrounding neighboring countries are also living in harmony. Your Highness's news is probably out of date."

"Really? Maybe I just heard it from hearsay. That's what the Hu businessmen over there said." Li Shen said without caring.

"Your Majesty, I have admired the culture of the Tang Dynasty for a long time, and I also like the calligraphy and painting of the Tang Dynasty. I heard that Your Majesty has a paper mill, and I wonder if I can buy some paper." Lu Dongzan said the purpose of this trip

"I need to buy paper. There are some in the East and West markets. I'll have someone deliver it to you then. The papermaking mill is too far away in the mountains to the east of Chang'an." Li Shen had known that they were interested in the papermaking mill.

"Your Majesty, we also want to see how the papermaking technology of the Tang Dynasty is different from ours. Let's learn from each other."

"There is no need to learn from each other. If you have the ability, you can learn papermaking technology from the famous family." Li Shen suddenly said this sentence, which made Lu Dongzan stunned.

"Prime Minister, you and I are both sensible people. There are no outsiders here. It's too tiring to talk with pretense. I know the purpose of your trip. And I know everything about you and the family. They smuggle salt. Iron, and even provide you with technology. There are also food weapons.

Why should I provide you with low-priced food? Am I crazy? You should have heard people from the aristocratic family say how greedy I am for money. You should also know my relationship with the family, I just don’t let them make money. After squeezing their food out of Tubo. I started targeting them with salt and iron. I think their transactions with you every year should be not a small amount. "Li Shen pretended to be cruel. He needed to give Lu Dongzan a reason before the plan succeeded. Lu Dongzan was not an ordinary person. He didn't believe in benevolence and righteousness.

"In this case, if Prince Ji can provide me with Tubo's papermaking technology, we will promise not to purchase food from the noble family in the future. I wonder what your wishes are, Your Majesty." Lu Dongzan climbed up the pole.

"Prime Minister, do you think this is possible? Papermaking technology is a cash cow. If aristocratic families pay a high price for it, you will definitely sell it. Will I still have an advantage in Datang by then? Don't make any guarantees to me. Your guarantee is worthless. It’s worth it,” Li Shen said decisively.

"Then if this happens, we can only continue to buy food from the family and not your food." Lu Dongzan began to threaten.

"Hahaha, don't you think it's childish for the Prime Minister to say this? I can definitely organize people to sell directly to the people. Your food price is three times ours. I can sell it at half the price. Who do you think the people will buy? . And if I sell grain to those big tribes in Tubo, do you think they are willing to buy it?" Li Shen laughed.

"Hmph, we can completely block your food and prevent you from entering Tubo." Lu Dongzan snorted coldly.

"Are you sure? Do you think the blockade of Tibet will cause greater losses to you or to me? Don't forget that I am a prince, not a wealthy businessman who is at your mercy. If I also block the border, and then say that you forced me, you Tell me what will happen. I just want you to know that only what our Tang Dynasty gives you is yours. Do you really think that the court doesn’t know about the affairs between the family and you? They still block the border. What a joke. In that case, you Tubo Will the tribal leaders in the country let you go? Do you know how much loss this will cause them? What a joke!" Li Shenyi curled his lips and said disdainfully

"You..." Lu Dongzan wanted to get angry but didn't dare. It's true that Li Shen said he is a prince.

"Okay, I don't want you, mine. Go to the East and West Market to buy paper, and don't have any other ideas. Remember what I said and don't touch things that don't belong to you." Li Shen was about to see off the guests.

"Okay, Your Highness Prince Ji also remembers that Tubo is not a small country. We also have hundreds of thousands of soldiers." After saying this, Lu Dongzan threw up his sleeves and left.