The atmosphere was once very awkward.

This cannot be blamed for Ju Zhisheng. Anyone's thoughts were exposed in person and his reaction was generally like this. At the same time, he also understood that if Li Mu didn't drive him away, things would ease. It was just for a moment that he didn't know what to say.

Li Mu was not in a hurry either, he knew that Ju Zhisheng would compromise eventually.

"Marquis..." After a long time, Ju Zhisheng finally spoke, looking a little depressed, and sighed: "Although this incident was caused by the sudden attack by bandits, Gaochang's national strength was also exposed. A small country with few people, even a small number of horse bandits can be swayed in Gaochang without any hesitation. Xiao Wang dared not go around with the Marquis anymore, and it was the purpose of fools."

"The Marquis should be clear about Gaochang's geographical location. There are Western Turks in the west, Tuyuhun in the south, Jinshan on the north, Jiegu, Xueyantuo on the east, and the Tang Dynasty on the east. The Eastern Turks were originally there, involving various forces. Gaochang wandered in the cracks and could still breathe. However, since His Majesty of the Tang Dynasty ascended the throne, he worked hard to govern and destroyed the Eastern Turks in just four years. The Eastern, Northeast, Southeast, and the Tang Dynasty dominated!"

"Your Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty is a great lord with a great ambition and his father knows it. All the dynasties of the Central Plains were strong, and all of them managed the Western Regions. Gaochang is located at the gateway of the Western Regions and is the first to be affected. Perhaps in the eyes of the monarchs and ministers of the Tang Dynasty, the small country of Gaochang and the land of scabies are not worth worrying. But my Ju family has been operating the land of Gaochang for hundreds of years since the Han Dynasty. How can our ancestors endure the foundation of their ancestors? When we met the emperor this time, we wanted to do our best to protect them."

"Now it seems..." Ju Zhisheng sighed and said, "I am afraid that my descendants will not be able to do it. Even if the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty did not conquer Gaochang, the Western Turks would not let Gaochang go. Even if the Western Turks did not intend to advance east, Gaochang could not cope with the horse bandits in Longyou... The foundation of our ancestors is difficult to maintain in the generation of my father and son - for nothing, this will, if it is done, the only way is to destroy the country and die, and sacrifice the country to repay our ancestors!"

After saying that, he cried again, Li Mu watched from the side, but wanted to laugh.

This Prince Gaochang is really a performing talent. He failed to do one plan and came up with another plan. He used a cheat just now, but now he changed it to gain sympathy. However, this was exactly what Li Mu thought. Seeing him crying, Li Mu quickly comforted him: "The prince doesn't have to be so sad. The situation has not been so bad. Just now, I heard that the prince talk about Gaochang's situation and there was something confused. Prince, who did you hear that I want to conquer Gaochang? Why have I never heard of this before my majesty?"

Ju Zhisheng was already disheartened and said, "Mr. Marquis should not play with Xiao Wang anymore. Isn't this an obvious thing... Gaochang is on the road to the west of the Tang Dynasty. If the Tang Dynasty wants to restore the ancient Silk Road, how can it let Gaochang go?"

Li Mu said in confusion: "Is it because Gao Chang was determined to be an enemy of our Tang Dynasty?"

Ju Zhisheng hurriedly defended and said, "How is this possible! Gaochang people are from Han people, how can they confuse with barbarians! If Gaochang is interested in the Turks, how could my father and son come to see the emperor? Gaochang is in a small place, and it is too late to serve, how dare you disobey the Shangbang?"

"That's it!" Li Mu said strangely: "Since Gaochang is interested in the Tang Dynasty, why are he still so trembling? The Tang Dynasty is about to restore the ancient Silk Road. What is the connection with the conquest of Gaochang? The Holy Emperor does not promote an unknown soldier. If Gaochang sincerely submits to the Tang Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty is a country of etiquette in the Central Plains and will be treated well. Your worries are completely unnecessary!"

Ju Zhisheng looked at Li Mu blankly, he was a little confused. He didn't know whether Li Mu was insulting his IQ or whether it was true, but now, even if it was a lie, he could only listen seriously and murmured: "Don't joke, marquis, the Tang Dynasty really has no intention of conquering Gaochang?"

Li Mu waved his hand and said, "I am a idle person in the court. You also know that I am in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and has nothing to do with the court. I don't know what the prime ministers in the court think, but I don't know what I want to conquer Gaochang according to Your Majesty's words. A few days ago, I heard the envoy say that you and your father were coming to Chang'an to pay a visit. Your Majesty was very happy. He said that since ancient times, foreign countries have been worried and have never had a father and son to come together, but the Lord Gaochang did this, which shows the sincerity of the Lord Gaochang. The Prince thinks that this is a good word or a bad word?"

"Of course it's a good thing!" Ju Zhisheng was excited, stood up and bowed deeply to Tai Chi Palace, sighing: "Your Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty is indeed as broad as the sea. I pity my father and son to judge a gentleman's ambition by the heart of a villain. It's really a great sin, a great sin!"

Li Mu smiled and said, "I don't count the same words. I just say something. It's just a few hearsays that the prince has to control. But in my opinion, if Gao Chang sincerely surrenders to the Tang Dynasty and the Western Regions, and if I go to His Holiness to speak well, it shouldn't be a big deal."

Ju Zhisheng has been dealing with Li Mu for too much, and he can already hear some meaning. There are several important points in Li Mu's words: one is the word "sincerity". What is sincerity? How can it be considered sincerity? Second, it is to help the Tang Dynasty trade in the Western Regions, and third, it is to ask for money.

Ju Zhisheng was not worried about this second and third point. The business was originally the lifeblood of Gaochang, and he could do it with or without the participation of the Tang Dynasty. It was even more trivial to ask for money. Gaochang had money, which was not only accumulated over hundreds of years, but also related to the currencies of the Western Regions. From Gaochang to the west, such as the Great Cannibals, Persians, etc., all used gold and silver coins. Gold and silver were precious metals in the Tang Dynasty. With the interest rate spread of several times, the problem that could be solved with money was not a problem.

Ju Zhisheng asked carefully: "The Marquis is serving the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. I believe he can guess what His Majesty thinks. I don't know how the Marquis thinks, how he is 'sincerely surrendering', and he also asks the Marquis to give him advice. Xiao Wang will never ask the Marquis to help for nothing. The father brings some local specialties in Gaochang, and the Marquis will definitely like it and will definitely deliver it early tomorrow."

"It's so strange." Li Mu laughed, and said unintentionally: "I am not very interested in local specialties. However, I heard that Gaochang trades with the countries in the Western Regions, and there are many strange things. I am a person who is more curious. If there are seeds that are not available in the Central Plains and precious objects, I will be very grateful to me for some of them so that I can show off my limelight."

"This is also simple!" Ju Zhisheng agreed and said, "Xiao Wang will collect it for the marquis when he goes back. The marquis will ask for seeds, right? No matter what seeds, as long as Gaochang can see, Xiao Wang will send a portion to the marquis. As long as it is collected, it will also be sent to the marquis. Local specialties cannot be missing. Gaochang has two kinds of local specialties, one yellow and one white. The marquis will definitely like it, and everything will refuse."

"Oh? One yellow and one white?" Li Mu raised his eyebrows and said, "To be honest, I like these two colors, so I'm disrespectful. Just a thousand or eight hundred pounds is enough. Don't be too much. If there is too much, there is no place to put it!"

Ju Zhisheng secretly scolded shamelessly, 1,800 kilograms, and he was not afraid of the wind scurrying his tongue. How much is a thousand kilograms of silver? One kilogram, ten taels, one thousand kilograms are ten thousand taels. That's fine, you also want ten thousand taels of gold, why don't you grab it?

Ju Zhisheng bit his back teeth and said, "Justice Marquis likes it--I don't know the word "sincerity"?"

"Oh, this sincerity, haha--" Li Mu looked at Ju Zhisheng, smiled and said, "I guessed too. If Gao Chang was willing to be a vassal of the Tang Dynasty and regard the Tang Dynasty as the sect leader, he should show his sincerity, right?"

"Fathers..." Ju Zhisheng's heart sank.

Gaochang has been an independent country since the Han Dynasty and has never had a precedent for serving the sect leader. This is different from tribute. The tribute means that I admit that you are stronger than me and are willing to pay protection fees. However, there is a hint of humiliation in it. As a vassal state, it is nominally retained sovereignty, but in fact it is subordinate to and subject to the sect leader to a certain extent in terms of internal affairs, diplomacy and economy. Even if you inherit the throne, you must ask the sect leader to be enthroned.

For a small country like Gaochang, once the vassal relationship is confirmed, it will immediately become a fish on the chopping board. The Tang Dynasty can use any excuse to point fingers at Gaochang. If the monarch and ministers of the Tang Dynasty are not kind, the situation Gaochang will face is not much better than now.

Li Mu's words were like asking the Ju family and his son to make a big bet. Should you choose to die immediately or to bet on the character of the monarch and minister of the Tang Dynasty?

If he did not agree, the Tang Dynasty would likely send troops. If he agreed, Gaochang was the front pawn of the Tang Dynasty who managed the Western Regions, and the Tang Dynasty also saved the swords and weapons. No matter which choice it was, the Tang Dynasty would not suffer any losses. Gaochang would have to bet on the character of the Tang Dynasty. When the Silk Road was unblocked, Gaochang would have no use value and it would not be impossible to be annexed into a state of the Tang Dynasty.

Li Mu could see Ju Zhisheng's struggle and understood that such a big thing was not something he could do, so he said, "There is no hurry to do this. The prince can go back. After thinking carefully, he will reply to me. I have been very busy these two days. By the way, I happened to tell the prince that I will open a brothel in Pingkangfang. If I have the chance, the prince will have to support him."

"Qing, brothel?"

"Yes," Li Mu handed Ju Zhisheng a look that even a man knew. Ju Zhisheng suddenly realized and responded with the same smile. However, he was thinking in his heart that Zhulu Hou was so lustful, but it was good that he had this weakness. The gift his father prepared was very suitable for him.

Thinking of this, Ju Zhisheng said again: "If you have the opportunity, you will support me. Thank you for your advice today. Xiao Wang will go back to discuss with his father. When he comes back, in addition to local specialties, he will also give him surprises to the Marquis."
Chapter completed!