In the quiet room, after Zhang Yang finished speaking, he looked out the window at the night. The starlight tonight was very weak, but the moonlight was bright.
From the window, you can see the foothills of Mount Li in the distance. The mountains look beautiful.
No matter how history changes, only this scenery remains unchanged.
Hearing the noise of children outside the window, Zhang Yang pulled his thoughts back, "How much money can your Majesty save in a day? How much money can you save in a day to support such a large fortification?"
Li Shimin frowned and thought about all the thrilling scenes that year. After slowing down his breathing, he slowly calmed down and considered how to deal with these words.
In the past, on the battlefield, or at the Xuanwu Gate, the dangers we faced back then could be said to be walking on the edge of a knife, with no retreat and no choice.
Looking at Zhang Yang and Li Tai in front of them, this little difficulty is nothing.
Zhang Yang's tone was calm and he continued, "Based on the fact that the palace spends ten guans a day, even if your majesty saves five guans a day, the maximum is 5,000 guans a year. I'm right, right."
Seeing that Li Shimin did not answer, Zhang Yang added: "Now the government is still stretched thin. Until this situation is alleviated, all your Majesty's expenditures will remain unchanged. It will take at least two years for your Majesty to save enough money to start the fortifications."
After listening to what his brother-in-law said, Li Tai closed his eyes and said, "But once the fortifications start, it will not only be a one-year matter. It may take three years, or it may be five years. The two years of savings will be used to build the fortifications. According to the father's method of saving money."
At this speed, the original three to five-year fortification work will be delayed for six to ten years, and my father will be almost fifty years old by then."
"His Royal Highness the King of Wei is right. The Hexi Corridor is not as good as Guanzhong. The climate there is not stable. Once the windy season comes, work will stop."
"But your majesty, don't forget that the Hexi Corridor is not only used for defense and offense, but also has great commercial value. Now that the Western Region has been pacified, it is only a matter of time before the four towns of Anxi are returned. Tubo will no longer cause chaos. Perhaps next year, the Western trade route will be the most stable
The period is also the best time for trade. I call this window period, and it is also the best time. If you miss this opportunity and want to wait for the next time, you don’t know how many years it will take.”
"The opportunity is rare, and the right time and place will not only be on the side of the Tang Dynasty. The former Sui Dynasty missed the Hexi Corridor because of its relaxation of the Western Regions, and was occupied by Tuyuhun. Once this road was cut off, it was cut off for many years."
"If commercial taxes can be set up in the Hexi Corridor, Your Majesty can recover the cost in a short period of time, and you can even use the extra tax revenue for other arrangements. Why not?"
Li Shimin analyzed these words calmly. Fang Xuanling, Changsun Wuji, Yuchi Gong or Cen Wenwen had all analyzed the pros and cons of this matter.
Building Jiayuguan Chaozhong requires a huge cost. If you endure the pain for a while, the benefits will last to future generations.
Zhang Yang's words are also correct. This is indeed a good opportunity, if it can be solved once and for all.
Zhang Yang whispered: "Yueer's grandpa said that His Majesty has changed. Where has the courageous General Tiance gone?"
These whispers kept lingering in his mind, and Li Shimin said coldly: "I don't need you to tell me what to do."
Zhang Yang sat upright again, with a smile on his face, "I made a mistake."
Li Tai kept his eyes closed, not wanting to face his father like this. If anyone else dared to talk to his father like this, he would have been killed long ago.
Just sitting like this, you can feel your father's anger burning.
Li Shimin listened to his own breathing, "Can Lishan give out 10,000 guan?"
Finally speaking, Zhang Yang smiled and nodded, "You can lend your Majesty 10,000 silver coins first. As for how much money will be needed for subsequent fortifications, Your Majesty can make a decision later, for the sake of the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty."
"For the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty? Why do I think you are seeking benefit for yourself?"
Zhang Yang smiled and said: "Your Majesty has misunderstood me. I just hope to have an opportunity to cooperate with Your Majesty. Helping Your Majesty build achievements and contribute to the country is what I should do."
Li Shimin took a sip of tea and said, "You can negotiate the terms."
"Here." Zhang Yang cupped his hands and said, "First of all, give me the sacred mountain of Tubo as a mortgage."
"Just the snowy mountains in Tubo?"
"This is just the premise."
As the saying goes, don't hit the smiling person, knowing that the emperor in front of you may have an attack at any time.
Zhang Yang tried his best to smile kindly and said, "If this prerequisite is met, we can discuss the subsequent conditions."
Li Shimin nodded slightly, indicating to continue talking.
"Once the Jiayu Mountain fortifications are completed, 50% of the future tax revenue from trade in the Hexi Corridor will be allocated to Lishan, and we, Lishan, will be allowed to take the lead in selecting locations to open branches in the Hexi Corridor."
"It's all for the sake of building merits, Zhang Yang, what you said is true, it's all for profit."
Zhang Yang cleared his throat and said, "Your Majesty, you must believe in my character."
Li Shimin relaxed his body, put his weight on the backrest, and placed his wrists on the armrests. "You have negotiated terms with me over and over again. Do you know how many times I wanted to chop you alive?"
Zhang Yang blinked innocently, "Your Majesty, do you have any prejudice against me?"
"I shouldn't have let Zhang Gongjin be your teacher. What on earth did he teach!"
"I think I must have died many times in Your Majesty's dreams, and the symptoms of death must also be very rich."
Li Shimin snorted coldly: "You dare to say that."
"If Your Majesty thinks it's okay, how about we make a written agreement on this?"
The mountain wind was a bit strong at night, and Li Shimin was still hesitant.
Li Lizhi's words came from downstairs. It seemed that she wanted to go upstairs to see her father but was stopped by the eunuch.
Li Shimin looked at the eunuch standing aside and said, "Bring me a pen and ink."
"Here."
A piece of rice paper was spread out, Li Tai took the brush and whispered: "Father, please come and write."
Li Shimin nodded.
Every time Zhang Yang said something, Li Tai wrote something down.
A contract was written on the paper. After writing it, Li Shimin confirmed it.
"Your Majesty, if you think there is no problem, you can sign it."
The eunuch took out a wooden box, and then took out a seal from the box. This seal was from the Prince of Qin's palace, and the words "Admiral Tiance" were written under the seal.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Zhang Yang also wrote his name on the contract.
After doing all this, Zhang Yang put away the contract and stood up, "I will have the money delivered tomorrow."
Li Shimin also stood up, "I don't want outsiders to know about this."
"That's natural. In fact, if Your Majesty can't pay back the money soon, I'll consider it as a shareholding. The meaning of becoming a shareholder means that I will share the taxes on the Hexi Corridor equally with Your Majesty."
He felt that there was something wrong with what he said, so he changed his words and said: "Your Majesty, everything we receive from Lishan is commercial tax, and Lishan will not touch any other taxes."
"Okay, it's time for me to go down. The children are getting worried."
Li Tai quickly stood up and saluted.
When she walked downstairs, Li Lizhi stopped making noise and was playing chess with Li Yue.
Looking at the chess game, Li Lizhi's defeat was obvious.
As Li Yue pushed the cart forward, "General."
Li Lizhi looked at the chessboard at a loss. She still hadn't figured out how she could lose so quickly, and her little face was full of annoyance.
"How about I play a game of chess with Yue'er?"
Li Yue arranged the chessboard, "Actually, my daughter wanted to ask her father for advice before."
The father and daughter sat opposite each other, and Queen Changsun took the children upstairs to prepare for a rest.
Li Tai also left.
Zhang Yang stood aside and watched the father and daughter play chess.
Li Yue's chess strategy is actually very simple.
On the other hand, Li Shimin showed no mercy to his daughter, and was murderous at every step.
Li Yue slowly took a step to respond.
Seeing that Li Shimin was still thinking, Li Yue asked, "I wonder if what Mr. Dao Dao and my father have discussed will go well."
Li Shimin moved his pawns and said, "This construction of Jiayuguan will be completed smoothly with the help of you and your wife."
Li Yue nodded and said: "With the reward from our father, we have the financial resources we have now, and we deserve it for the sake of the country."
Having said that, Li Shimin would not let his daughter and son-in-law go bankrupt to support the country.
It is foolish to kill the goose to obtain the eggs. It is better to watch the development of Lishan and have a son-in-law who is good at making money. Li Shimin would prefer Lishan to become Sheji's money bag.
"My son-in-law's appetite is really getting bigger and bigger. Who dares to raise taxes on the Hexi Corridor? Who can say such a thing?"
Zhang Yang stood aside and said nothing.
"Father, the factories in Lishan are growing more and more, and the taxes we pay every year are the largest. Last year, the taxes we paid in Lishan were equal to the sum of several surrounding counties. My daughter thinks that father should be congratulated."
"If the money Lishan takes out does not recover its cost, Lishan's development will stagnate. This is a result that neither the father nor the daughter want to see."
The father and daughter made their stance clear in a few sentences.
Li Shimin complained to his daughter that his son-in-law asked for too much.
Li Yue explained to his father that the money from Lishan was not given in vain. If the cost could not be recovered, her husband would not pay, and his father could only worry in the palace.
The Queen said more than once that Li Yue grew up very quickly.
From when she was a fourteen-year-old girl, to now Li Yue behaves dignified and generous, and is good at thinking and understanding.
Time is magical, and now Li Yue Wanru has completely transformed, becoming a daughter that even a father like me dare not underestimate.
There is no timidity in her eyes, but more of respect, and there is a hint of Zhang Yang in her conversation and gestures.
When my daughter grows up, she is naturally happy to be able to be a father on her own.
But when his daughter grew up to be a person that his father could not underestimate, Li Shimin felt both relieved and helpless.
It was Zhang Yang who accompanied Yueer when she grew up, not me.
Whether Yue'er's skills are her own talent or Zhang Yang's careful teaching, she has lost the ignorance she had as a child and can sit and talk with me without showing any timidity.
Finally, the chess game between father and daughter came to an end, and the game ended in a draw.
"Father agreed."
"Hehehe..." Li Shimin said with a smile: "It's not that I gave in, it's that I'm unfamiliar with it."
"Father, you are tired from dealing with state affairs, so you should pay more attention to your health."
Li Shimin raised his eyes and looked out the window at the night, "It's getting late, you should go back early."
"My daughter resigned."
Li Yue stood up and was held by her husband to leave.
Not long after, Queen Changsun walked up behind Li Shimin and asked, "Your Majesty, what do you think of Yue'er now?"
Li Shimin sighed: "The couple will be very wealthy in the future."
Empress Changsun smiled kindly.
Under the darkness of Lishan Mountain, the couple were walking to their residence.
Li Yue walks very fast, and she never gets tired of seeing the scenery here.
Even if there were more changes in her land, she would be able to observe it for a long time.
Aunt Yang happened to come over, and she whispered: "Xiao Wu and the little bear are going back first."
Walking by the Weishui River, Li Yue nodded, "Actually, the game of chess was deliberately drawn. My father's mind seemed to be very confused."
"Your father owes our family another sum of money. It's surprising that he is in a good mood."
As he spoke, Zhang Yang took out the contract from his arms and said, "This is the contract. I also want to bring over the snowy mountains of Tubo."
Li Yue took the contract suspiciously.
After returning home and lighting the oil lamp, she opened the contract and looked at it carefully. In addition to 50% of the future commercial tax on the Hexi Corridor, she actually mortgaged the sacred mountain of Tubo and handed it over to Lishan.
Li Yue held her forehead, "My husband is really..."
"In order to make my wife happy, am I being particularly generous?"
"Snowy mountains are in Tubo and cannot be moved here. I can only visit this property in my lifetime." Li Yue took a sip of warm water in despair, "I thought your husband would want something more practical."
"More practical?"
"Yes." Li Yue nodded, "It would be better if we could get a few more acres of land."
The value of the vast snow-capped mountains in Tubo is not worth as much as a few acres of land in the eyes of my wife.
Zhang Yang wanted to say loudly that that mountain range is where the Himalayas are located.
Li Yue put down her tea cup and said, "Forget it about the Snow Mountain. The contract has been made, so naturally it cannot be changed. If we can run the Hexi Corridor properly by then, and if we can make up for the money through commercial taxes, the Snow Mountain will be in vain."
"
After saying this, Li Yue nodded again and said: "If you master the snow mountains, you will master the rear of Tubo."
Zhang Yang was sitting on the recliner, shaking a fan and holding a book in one hand, "Actually, Tianshan is not bad. We have to wait until the Western Turks are pacified before we can take the idea of Tianshan."
"Tianshan?"
"There is a pass from the Western Region to the West. Even if the Persians want to enter the Western Region, they have to pass through that road before entering the Central Plains. It starts from Kami in the east, passes through the Yinli River, and crosses the valley to the hinterland of the Tianshan Mountains. Here,
It is the Tianshan Road, which stretches for 20,000 miles and reaches another world in the west."
Li Yue has never seen Tianshan, let alone been there. It is only slightly recorded in classics, and even the record is only one or two sentences.
"Is there really Tianchi and Snow Lotus on Tianshan Mountain? Has King Zhou Mu really been there?"
"Who knows, who can say clearly about this kind of thing."
Li Yue took out the clothes to change from the room and said, "Husband, go to bed early."
On the second day after Li Shimin spent his summer vacation in Mount Li, Li Yifu also prepared his luggage for Goguryeo.
Zhang Elephant and Xu Jingzong sent him off together.
"What is written in this file is what you need to do in Goguryeo."
The file was sealed with sealing wax and he was about to open it.
Xu Jingzong hurriedly said: "We won't wait until we reach the border of Liaodong to see."
Li Yifu looked at Dongfang, "I've been here for a few years. I hope that when I come back, Shi Lang Xu can keep his promise and give me a future."