Fu Tang

It is a terrible thing that there are only sellers and no buyers in the mutual market, because if there are no buyers for a long time, the sellers will gradually evacuate the city, and these cities that have been transformed and cannot be used for ordinary life will only end in ruins.

The most important thing is that it will make Datang's early investment all in vain.

Hubu Shangshu analyzed and analyzed, and felt that the herdsmen might not know that there is a mutual market here. After all, there may be such a tribe on the prairie with a radius of a hundred miles. The information exchange between each other is not enough, and the information from the outside world is even less. sensitive.

Li Congjia watched as the Minister of the Household Department rushed to find the Minister of Honghe Temple, and asked him to find a way to send someone to the Tatars to tell them the news of the mutual market, but the Minister of Honghe Temple said with a bitter face: "Shangshu Ji, no I refused to send people, but I sent people to preach the law of the Tang Dynasty before. These herdsmen were very resistant to the envoys. At that time, many envoys came back after a narrow escape. I am afraid that I have not waited for them to send people again this time Talk, and the Tatars are about to strike."

Li Congjia didn't think it was a big deal to watch the excitement, and said cheerfully: "Do it? It's just right to do it, we can kill them all directly."

Fan Zhi shouted: "Your Majesty, speak carefully!"

Li Congjia had no choice but to withdraw his out-of-shape appearance just now, and watched the Minister of the Household Department and the Minister of Honglu Temple discuss how to make the officials sent to achieve the purpose of propaganda without being killed.

In the end, even the cabinet began to discuss, and the result of their discussion was to find capable people who are not afraid of death, preferably good-looking, so that the herdsmen would not be willing to kill them after seeing them.

This brain hole... seems a bit big, Li Congjia looked at them without saying a word, and soon the group of people really negotiated and found a suitable person.

This time Li Congjia couldn't sit still, and quickly changed from a state of passers-by to a state of fighting - the result of these people's discussions was to let Shi Xueting go!

Indeed, no matter where you look at Shi Xueting, it is very suitable. First of all, he has a red heart towards the court. It seems that they all followed the court.

This will ensure that Shi Xueting will not screw up due to other selfish motives during the mission, but because he is a Buddhist, according to Honglu Temple's understanding of the situation, the herdsmen do not have nothing to do with Buddhists, even if If you are a Buddhist, your own racial issues will be ignored.

Even if the status of a Buddhist cannot be guaranteed, then...you can only rely on Shi Xueting's face. After all, he is good-looking, so maybe the herdsman won't have the heart to do it?

Needless to say, there have been scholars in history who were released because they were so good-looking that the enemy was reluctant to kill them.

However, Li Congjia would not agree to let Shi Xueting go. Shi Xueting disappeared for half a month before, and now he finally came back. .

What's more, what if the daughter of some herdsman leader takes a fancy to Shi Xueting and wants to detain him as a son-in-law?Isn't this contradictory?

Li Congjia said: "You have put in so much effort just to tell these herdsmen that there is a mutual market? What's the use of telling them? If they still have resistance, they won't come even if the mutual market is opened!"

Hubu Shangshu was about to turn his hair gray with worry, and he didn't know what to do, could he just watch the exchange market come to an end without a problem?

Li Congjia said helplessly: "You guys, haven't you thought about finding some babysitters?"

Everyone: What do you mean?

Li Congjia resisted the urge to roll his eyes, and told himself that these are all ministers of the imperial court, and he could not be rude to them, so he had to say: "Leave this matter to me, you all learn a little bit, Honglu Temple Secretary, go and send the party envoy Your Excellency, please come."

Party items?Everyone was a little puzzled, what does this have to do with party items?

It didn't matter at first, but if Li Congjia wanted them to have a relationship, they would naturally have a relationship.

As an ethnic minority, the relationship between Dangxiang and the Tatars is not bad. After all, the races with small populations will naturally form a group and will no longer hate each other. That will only benefit Datang and Khitan. The reason why the Tatars are so bullish is not Niao Datang is mainly because it can communicate with Dangxiang, and where does Dangxiang's stuff come from... Does it need to be said?

The Dangxiang envoy was stationed in Chang'an for a long time, in order to communicate with the imperial court on behalf of Dangxiang, so he was sent by Li Si, a member of the Dangxiang royal family, but most of the time he had nothing to do, and he lived a good life every day.

Now Li Congjia suddenly called him into the palace, and Li Si walked into the palace with doubts in his heart. After entering, he was asked questions related to the Tatars.

Li Si said cautiously: "Because Tatars live after water and grass, we often meet Tatars when we are grazing, and that's the way we talk about it."

Li Si knew that Datang had been annoyed by the Tatars recently, so his first reaction was to distance himself from the Tatars.

Li Congjia stroked his chin and said, "Aren't you familiar with it? That would be a bit troublesome, and I want you to do something."

Li Si asked immediately, "What does His Majesty want us to do? Party Xiang Li will definitely live up to His Majesty's trust!"

Alas, the Dangxiang people have been waiting for this day for too long. As a leader with a normal mind, Li Guangrui, after analyzing and analyzing, found that the only thing Dangxiang can do now is to follow in the footsteps of Datang, but even if it is not so It's easy to follow, they don't want to become a marginal nation, they hope to be reused by the court like the Ashina family of the Turks in the former Tang Dynasty.

But the problem is that now that the world is gradually entering a period of peace, there are fewer places to fight, and the Tang Dynasty has no shortage of powerful generals, and the party members are just so-so in fighting wars. If they want to get ahead, they don't know how to do it. What can be done must be done, otherwise there will be no next time.

And the result of not having a next time is probably that there will be no benefits in the future, and Datang will not think about party items.

Li Congjia nodded and said, "You don't need to do anything, as long as you take the best grain and cloth to trade with the Tatars."

Li Si:? ? ? ? ? ?

What kind of mission is this?

Li Congjia looked at Li Si's expression and smiled, "I don't understand?"

Li Si nodded decisively, and there was no shame in admitting to the emperor that he didn't understand.

Li Congjia continued: "I don't know how often you trade with the Tatars, but I think it should be considered frequent. During the transaction, try to let the Tatars know that you got these things from the border exchange. After they all know about it, you cancel the transaction with them and tell them that there is not enough supplies, because the border cross market is to facilitate the Tatars to buy various materials. There will be discounts at the beginning of the trade market, but party members cannot get discounts , so I dare not buy too much.”

Li Si didn't understand for a moment, and asked directly: "Then... then can we go to the mutual market to buy things?"

Li Congjia said: "Of course you can, you can also sell things, as long as you abide by the terms."

Li Si struggled for a while and asked cautiously: "Then... will it really limit our supplies?"

Li Congjia waved his hand: "Of course not, it's just to win the trust of those Tatars."

Although Li Si didn't understand, he still gritted his teeth and agreed, "I'll tell Khan when I get back."

Li Congjia understood his thoughts very well, and said directly: "Don't worry, you won't suffer, it's just that the imperial court doesn't want to go all over the grasslands to find those Tatars to tell them the news of the mutual market, so I just use your mouth to publicize it."

Li Si was relieved immediately, and said with a chuckle: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, we will definitely be able to handle this matter."

After Li Si left, Hubu Shangshu couldn't help asking: "Your Majesty, is this really useful?"

Li Congjia thought that it was more reliable than yours anyway, but he didn't answer. He just said, "I remember that when you first formulated it, both buyers and sellers had to pay customs duties, right?"

Hubu Shangshu's heart tightened, and he replied in a low voice: "It's all in accordance with the laws of the Tang Dynasty."

Li Congjia stroked his chin and said, "According to the logic, it is already the land of the Tang Dynasty, and everyone is a citizen of the Tang Dynasty, so there should be no tariffs, but... the Tatars are too ignorant, so we should collect tariffs at the beginning. Well, I still have to change it, after changing the tariff to a certain amount, you can exempt part of the tax, don’t feel disadvantaged, this is to stimulate those Tatars to buy things.”

Hubu Shangshu still understands this very well, and it is a good way when he thinks about it. The only thing that needs to be entangled is how much to set this value. If it is set less, Datang will definitely lose something, and if it is set too much, it is not appropriate.

Li Congjia felt that this matter was really simple, and said directly: "Send someone to Dangxiang, track down the transactions between the Dangxiang people and the Tatars, and then estimate their purchasing power."

This is a very good way, Hubu Shangshu turned his head and started to look for candidates. This time, there is no need for Honglu Temple to send people, anyway, the people of Honglu Temple may not be able to understand these things.

Li Congjia thinks that everyone has not been bombarded by various marketing messages these days, Tatars should not be able to resist the temptation of good quality and cheap, not to mention that some people collect wool in the mutual market, which should be very attractive to them, right?

After Li Congjia went back, he discussed with Shi Xueting. Shi Xueting hugged Li Congjia and said, "Well, if I have a chance, I really want to go to the grassland. I have always read about the people there. How, how, I have never personally experienced it.”

Li Congjia blinked and said, "I want to go too."

Shi Xueting pinched his face and said: "You still say? You haven't been there before? How did Dongsheng Prefecture almost become an empty city?"

Li Congjia held Shi Xueting's wrist and said vaguely: "But I want to go with you."

Shi Xueting let go and said, "Really want to go?"

Li Congjia said: "It's fine to go anywhere with you, preferably just the two of us, but I can only think about it now."

Shi Xueting said: "It's a bit difficult for two people, but it may not be impossible to go out, it depends on how quickly the Tatars are assimilated."

Li Congjia immediately asked: "You mean to patrol outside the Great Wall when it's almost done?"

Shi Xueting nodded and said, "Not only outside the Great Wall, but after the situation is stable, you can also follow Qin Shihuang's example and travel the whole country."

Li Congjia twitched his lips and said, "Come on, all the ministers are worried that I will imitate Qin Shihuang. If I really want to do that, the memorial will probably drown me."

Shi Xueting said with a smile: "It seems that they don't believe you."

Li Congjia waved his hand and said, "It doesn't matter. When Dalang grows up, if he really wants to go out, let Dalang supervise the country. I think he is good. Oh, why is he growing so slowly? Otherwise, you can give him the Zen seat earlier." gone."

"Father, I heard you."

Li Congjia was taken aback, and when he turned his head, he saw Li Zhongyu standing at the door with a blank face. Li Congjia couldn't help laughing and said, "Why this expression? Wouldn't it be good to give you the Zen seat?"

Li Zhongyu bowed his head and said, "My father is in the prime of his life, how can he talk about the Zen position? My son is still young, and he still relies on his father to teach him."

Li Congjia patted Li Zhongyu's head, took a look at the memorial in his hand, and suddenly smiled and said, "Why are you here to join in the fun?"

Li Zhongyu asked curiously: "Father, isn't Khotan not far from us? Why is he so demanding to open a mutual market?"

Li Congjia said: "Actually, we have had a lot of business dealings with Khotan over the years. Under such circumstances, if Khotan still asks to open a mutual market, it can only show that he wants other materials."

Li Zhongyu nodded with a half-understanding, and didn't continue to ask. He had already developed the habit of thinking for himself first when he had any questions. He took a peek at Shi Xueting, and said, "Father, I'm going to play first."

Li Congjia patted his head and said, "Go, be careful."

Li Zhongyu's so-called playing is actually practicing martial arts or riding a horse. In Li Congjia's eyes, it is basically exercising. He also thought about letting Li Zhongyu play some games that children normally play, but after correcting it twice, he found that Li Zhongyu was not like ordinary children. It's just different, not very interested in those.

Li Congjia simply gave up, as long as it doesn't grow crooked, Li Zhongyu can do whatever he likes.

Seeing that Li Congjia was still looking at the memorial in his hand, Shi Xueting couldn't help asking: "What? Do you really want to establish a mutual market in Khotan?"

Li Congjia stroked his chin and said, "No, I was just wondering what Khotan is looking for?"

"Salt, iron, tea, sugar, oh, we don't sell iron in the mutual market with the Tatars, and we can't help it. Do you think they are greedy?" Shi Xueting added: "Especially tea, it seems very important to them. Important, salt is also important, they want all these things.”

But Li Congjia asked: "Do you think it is possible that Khotan itself has not enough supplies?"

Shi Xueting was a little surprised: "Not enough supplies? Why not enough?"

"War, is the Kara Khanate quiet recently?"

Shi Xueting hesitated for a moment. He really didn't pay attention to the issues of Khotan and Kara Khanate. After all, to Datang, these two countries did not pose any threat. Throw it over to the point where a bunch of people are asking for information.

After meeting Li Congjia's expectant gaze, he couldn't help but feel a little helpless, and he didn't know what this guy was expecting.

"I don't know. If you want to know, you can inquire about it. Do you need it?"

Li Congjia said: "Let's keep an eye on the Kara Khanate. Believe me, no matter Buddhism, Taoism or Guangming religion, the offensive power is not as good as the state religion of the Kara Khanate."

Shi Xueting's eyes turned cold: "If this is the case, then this country really cannot stay."

Li Congjia looked up at him and said, "If you can convince the cabinet, I think you can."

Shi Xueting lowered his head and looked at Li Congjia for a while, then said: "Okay, let's talk about the exchange market in Khotan."

Li Congjia looked at him with contempt, and sure enough, Shi Xueting was intimidated in front of the cabinet chiefs.

Shi Xueting felt that because of the good quality of respecting the old and caring for the young, he felt that there was nothing wrong with admitting it, those big bosses were indeed very powerful.

"There will never be a mutual market with Khotan, but if Khotan really confronts the Kara Khanate, we can sell them some things at a discounted price, for example... some weapons and the like .”

Before, Shi Xueting just felt that Li Congjia was too boring because he was too comfortable recently, and Li Congjia was too boring, so he focused on the Kara Khanate, but now he is sure that Li Congjia is really afraid of this country.

Among Li Congjia's transactions with neighboring countries, the most stringent thing is weapons. It can be said that apart from the fact that the current situation forced the sale of thunder boxes in the early days, he will basically never spread the weapons of his country to the outside world. If they are eliminated, maybe It will be sold, but none of the weapons in service will be sold out. Even if it is designated for some military use, it will not even be able to get out of the army's territory.

Now Li Congjia actually wants to let go of the conditions and sell weapons to Khotan. This shows that Li Congjia wants to use Khotan to confront the Kara Khanate. A country with threatening power is also a good deal.

But the question is, can Khotan withstand the Kara Khanate?Shi Xueting felt that it was really necessary to find out.

In fact, it is not difficult to understand. After all, Khotan is a neighboring country of the Kara Khanate, and there must be many people who understand them, but it may be that they are not objective enough.

In order to get information as soon as possible, Shi Xueting directly used money to clear the way, but he really bought a lot of information, the more he looked at it, the more frightened he became.

In the past, when Li Congjia said that this country or this religion was very offensive, Shi Xueting didn’t take it seriously. Buddhism was also very offensive. It’s still been hit again and again, and now it can’t recover. the point?

However, after he saw the teachings of this religion and the actions of this country, he had to admit that this religion is really very offensive. At least the offensiveness of Buddhism is hidden. It’s okay, there is a cover, but this religion is not, it is straight and naked. If you don’t believe in me, then go to death.

After Shi Xueting handed over all the information to Li Congjia, he said: "No wonder you have always been facing the enemy of the Kara Khanate. If such a country becomes strong, it will indeed be a nightmare for many countries."

Li Congjia said, "Huh? So fast?"

Shi Xueting said, "Yes."

Li Congjia asked: "Are these...collected in Khotan?"

Shi Xueting sighed and said: "That's right, I also tried to send people into the Kara Khanate, but that country... is too xenophobic and does not allow the existence of heretics, it is very difficult."

This is the most difficult situation that Shi Xueting encountered after taking over the intelligence department. No matter how difficult it is to get in before, there are always people who can succeed, or can bribe the other party to deliver information to them. However, this time even such a thing is difficult. It does not exist, that country controls its own citizens too much.

Li Congjia said: "I have to say that Musa, that is, Arslan Khan of Callahan is really powerful. If I had a vested interest, I might choose this religion too. After all, the ruling ability is stronger."

Shi Xueting said: "The Turkic people have their own beliefs, but now they are... really powerful."

Li Congjia said: "Let's put it aside and see how Khotan behaves. If they don't ask for help, we don't need to rush to deliver things to them. After all, we don't have enough supplies."

Shi Xueting said: "If Khotan really loses to the Kara Khanate, it is better for us to strike first, anyway, sooner or later we will face the Kara Khanate."

Li Congjia said: "First of all... we need supporters."

"Everyone in the Privy Council supports you." Shi Xueting laughed after finishing speaking. He knew that the factor restricting Li Congjia was never the Privy Council, but the national reserve.

"Okay, don't think too much, I'm just saying casually, it's better to look at the situation of the exchange market if you have this time, have the party members started recently?"

Shi Xueting said: "The party members acted very quickly, and it seems to be effective now. At least a few Tatar tribes have begun to tentatively contact merchants in the mutual market."

Li Congjia said triumphantly: "So there is nothing that one nurse can't solve. If there is one, another one will come."

Li Congjia hadn't finished complacency when Shi Xueting heard the sound of the pigeon whistle and said in surprise, "News at this time?"

Li Congjia lowered his head and continued to critique the memorial, but when Shi Xueting came back, he looked up and saw Shi Xueting's expression... It was very complicated.

Li Congjia suddenly asked in his heart: "What's the matter?"

Shi Xueting said: "Dali has started to station troops on the border."

Li Congjia couldn't help but put down the ink brush in his hand and asked, "What's going on? Wasn't it fine before?"

They just finished a big deal with Dali, so they are going to fight anyway.

While handing the note to Li Congjia, Shi Xueting said, "The daughter of the head of the Gao family and Lei Youzhong... eloped."

Li Congjia: "What?"