Cao Wei had dealt with Su Si Luo before, and he had some understanding of Su Si Luo's current situation.
When he was a teenager, Sosiluo was kidnapped by Li Lizun and taken to Kuozhou, where he became the puppet "Zanpu" of various Tubo tribes.
In this situation, a young man relied on his own personal strategy to not only protect himself, but also secretly cultivated a group of confidants.
Looking at Xiansiluo's resume, this person is definitely not a thing in the pool.
Cao Wei even suspected that even without the intervention of external forces, Xisiluo could win the final victory and then unify the Tubo tribes.
It is precisely because of this concern that Cao Wei recommends ‘use with caution’.
If the Xisiluo unified the Helong area, given the potential of the Tubo tribes, it would probably become another Xixia.
“How about opening up mutual markets?”
Although Li Jie knew about the regime and the current situation of the country, historical data are just historical data after all.
There are certainly many things that Cao Wei, a veteran who has been in the western region for decades, is not as clear about.
Mutual market?
Cao Wei pondered for a moment and began to think carefully about the feasibility of mutual trading.
Tubo is also a nomadic people. The Hehuang area has rich water and grass and fertile soil. It is a natural horse breeding land and has abundant cattle and sheep resources.
And these are exactly what this dynasty lacks most.
War horses guarantee mobility, cattle are important production materials, and sheep are also very delicious edible meat.
In Tokyo, the most people like to eat mutton.
It is no exaggeration to say that no sheep can get out of Tokyo alive.
In addition, there is no precedent for opening up the market (government-run mutual market), which can be traced back to the Taizu period.
At that time, although the Song and Liao dynasties did not have their own official offices in the market, peripheral trade also existed objectively.
During the Taizong period, although the tea market trade was banned for a period of time, it was later liberalized and tea production was resumed in Xiongzhou (now Xiong County, Hebei Province), Zhenzhou (near Shijiazhuang, today in Hebei Province) and other places.
Later, it was abolished for a time. In the fifth year of Xianping (1002), the Liao State took the initiative to propose to the court to reopen the market trade.
Generally speaking, nomadic peoples such as the Liao Kingdom have a demand for the commodities in the market.
Such as tea, silk, spices, porcelain, lacquerware, rice and other daily necessities and high-end products, even if all the nomads were added together, in terms of production technology, they would be beaten by the Northern Song Dynasty.
This is determined by the nature of civilization. Nomads herd cattle and horses, which determines that they cannot live in one place forever.
Living without a fixed place and living with water and grass is the living condition of nomadic people.
Without a fixed residence, it is naturally impossible to study the production techniques of porcelain, lacquerware, spices and other items.
In fact, Cao Wei was in favor of opening up the market for trade, as long as certain materials were strictly controlled from flowing into the Tibetans.
Materials related to national security, such as mercury, salt and iron, rice grain, sulfur, etc., must be strictly controlled and smuggling must be prohibited.
Money attracts people's hearts. Although it cannot be completely banned, it can still be done to prevent large-scale inflows.
The areas open for sale are basically endless plains, and it is absolutely impossible for large-scale caravans to hide their whereabouts.
"I think it's feasible at this time, but I'm afraid there will be disputes between the ministers of the two governments."
Hearing this, Li Jie smiled slightly.
It is inevitable that the ministers of the two governments will refuse.
After all, those who are not from our tribe must have different minds. In the imagination of some Zhuhe faction, it is best to let the tribes in the west become a mess.
But this group of people don’t want to pay certain benefits.
Wanting the horse to run but not letting the horse eat grass, countless histories have proven that this kind of decision-making that both wants and wants will most likely not work.
They are nomadic people, and they are indeed illiterate, but they are not fools either.
Why should I sacrifice my life for you if I don’t give you some sweetness?
What's more, like Li Jiqian, even though he was promised the land of Lingzhou and Xiazhou, he was not only ungrateful, but also wanted to get more.
Nowadays, the northwest region is at peace, but Xixia feels that it is not strong enough and does not dare to easily provoke Song Ting.
Xixia does not have a good attitude toward other tribes in the western region.
If you don't obey, you'll be beaten.
The territory was all snatched away!
Not at home?
Rob!
Is someone else’s better?
Rob!
Li Jie's support for Xi Xia was not just to check and balance Xixia, but Xixia was not worth his troubles.
The real purpose is to buy horse bones with thousands of gold!
He wants to tell the tribes in the west that if they follow me, they will get better and better.
Exquisite silks, gorgeous porcelain, high-end incense, rare ivory, rhinoceros horn, etc., we have everything in the Song Dynasty.
As long as you are obedient, all these can be exchanged for cattle and horses. There is no need for war, no need to risk your life, or to rob.
You can get all this by raising horses safely and working for the Song Dynasty.
War is the continuation of politics, and politics is the continuation of economy. These theories are well-known to everyone in later generations. However, in the time and space of a thousand years ago, I am afraid no one could clearly understand their essence.
What Li Jie wants to fight is an economic war, using trade to obtain the supplies that the dynasty desperately needs, and then use the money earned to build guns and cannons.
Finally, use these things to conquer and intimidate various tribes.
War is not an end, it is just a means.
If we could invade the tribes silently, wouldn't it be more beneficial than fighting?
Why do beautiful countries in later generations want to stir up wars everywhere? The ultimate goal is to support the country through economic plunder.
‘Colonies’ have always existed, but the method has changed, from colonial colonization by force to economic colonization.
It is foreseeable that if the tribes in the northwest learn that Li Jie hopes to expand the scale of the market trade, most of them will applaud and welcome Master Wang.
After all, the goods of the Song Dynasty were real, especially those in high positions in the Tibetan tribe. What they lacked was not money or people at all.
What they lack are high-end supplies and purchasing channels.
Why go out of your way to grab something you can buy with money?
Anyway, I have piles of cattle and sheep, but when the number is small, I let those untouchables raise them.
After a long while, Li Jie smiled and said lightly.
"As for the matter of negotiation, I can temporarily agree to the agreement until I take charge. I feel that the ministers of the two governments will not object."
"General Cao, you are very familiar with the affairs in the northwest. Do you have anyone in mind for the envoy?"
"My son Cao Qian can go there."
Without any hesitation, Cao Wei reported Cao Qian's name.
Going to Helong was bound to be full of crises, but Cao Wei still recommended his son Cao Qian.
The reason for this is, on the one hand, because he trusts Cao Qian, and on the other hand, it is also to show his determination to the officials.
He is willing to send even his own children out. This heart can be learned from the sun and the moon!
That's right, Cao Wei has now completely let go of his worries. He and Cao Qian have made the same judgment, and they will do their best to support the official family!
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PS: TI has started, RNG’s little bear stealing tactics are really dirty, but I like it!