Li Shimin sat on the main seat, drinking tea slowly.
Li Chengqian, Changsun Wuji and Cheng Yaojin were sitting next to each other.
"Your Highness, you will lose miserably this time."
Cheng Yaojin looked at Li Chengqian proudly.
Thinking about the sheep being driven back to the south and the mountains of fur goods, he felt that he would win.
After all, this is obviously a losing business, how can it possibly make money?
Li Chengqian also took a sip of tea and said: "Uncle Cheng, don't be anxious about everything, just wait and it will be fine."
Li Chengqian came from a later generation. He clearly remembered that during the late Wude period and the early Zhenguan period, the Northern Desert was plagued by heavy snowfalls year after year, causing heavy losses to the northern herdsmen.
If not for this, the Tang Dynasty would not have killed the Northern Desert Turks so quickly.
"You lost anyway."
Cheng Yaojin said with a swish: "When the time comes, don't lose your pants."
"I would also like to tell Uncle Cheng the same thing."
Li Chengqian and Cheng Yaojin were in tit-for-tat confrontation.
Changsun Wuji and Li Shimin, who were watching the excitement on the sidelines, were extremely happy.
"Old Cheng is still the same old Cheng, he hasn't changed at all."
"It's really dumbfounding for him to be so competitive with children."
Changsun Wuji whispered beside Li Shimin.
Li Shimin couldn't help but laugh and said: "But this time, he will definitely lose."
Li Chengqian's recent performance really satisfied him.
Besides, even if everything was in vain this time, Li Chengqian gained experience, which is a good thing.
Furthermore, if they purchase a large amount of Turkic supplies and then send troops to Liangshidu, it will be very difficult for the Turks to accumulate food and grass in a short period of time.
No matter what, it is very beneficial to yourself.
Li Chengqian, on the other hand, is as confident as ever.
…
Of course, the actions of the Tang Dynasty could not be hidden from the eyes of the Northern Desert Turks.
When Jieli Khan found out about this, he was furious and immediately issued a decree throughout the country , it was forbidden to sell cattle and sheep to the Tang Dynasty, and it was even forbidden to sell leather goods to the Tang Dynasty.
But how can this stop the common people who have already made money and gained fame?
After the decree was promulgated, even if they took the risk of taking small roads and going around ravines, they still had to go to Datang to do business.
After learning about this situation, Jieli Khan also became ruthless and directly issued a decree. Anyone who went to Datang to do business again would be executed without mercy if caught.
In this way, the situation of Turkic people selling their cattle, sheep and horses was finally slowed down.
Although he saw through Datang's plan, his bloody methods still caused widespread resentment among the people.
Water can carry and capsize a boat. This truth is no joke.
And the most important thing is that Li Chengqian's prediction was not wrong at all.
…
In December of the first year of Zhenguan.
Heavy snow fell in Turkic territory.
Many cattle, sheep and horses on the grassland suffered from frostbite and frostbite.
At this time, many herders secretly rejoiced that they had sold all their cattle and sheep, otherwise their losses would have been huge.
But now, the official way to do business with the Tang Dynasty has been blocked, so they can only risk going to the border of the Tang Dynasty to buy food and cotton clothes for the winter.
The result is not clear even if you look at it, and you will be shocked when you look at it.
At this time, prices in Datang had risen to sky-high prices.
In the past, the most they sold for a sheep was 150 yuan, and a piece of leather goods was sold for almost 50 yuan.
But now a bushel of rice can be sold for one hundred yuan, while a sheep could only buy fifteen kilograms of rice before.
The amount of asbestos used to make cotton-padded clothes has also increased rapidly from the previous two hundred yuan to five hundred yuan.
Fifteen kilograms of rice is not enough for those families on the grassland for two days.
Asbestos is the main material for making cotton-padded clothes. They used to sell all their leather goods, but now if they don't buy asbestos to make cotton-padded clothes, they will have no choice but to freeze to death.
At this time, many herdsmen were dumbfounded
But I have no choice but to bite the bullet and buy it.
In the past, Datang used 150 yen to buy Turkic sheep at a premium of 100 yen, and used 50 yen to buy Turkic leather goods at a premium.
Now the Turks use 100 yuan to buy rice at a premium of 30 yuan from the Tang Dynasty, and 500 yuan to buy asbestos at a premium from the Tang Dynasty.
Those herdsmen who exchanged money for food early were fine.
The other herdsmen had no money to buy cotton-padded clothes from the Tang Dynasty, no cattle and sheep, and no food, so they could only wait to starve to death and freeze to death.
This year is definitely the most unlucky year for the Turks.
…
On the other hand, in Datang, the materials purchased at a premium were all sold domestically by Li Shimin.
Although it was not sold at a premium to the purchase price, it still made money.
In addition to using asbestos and other substances, the herdsmen also made a lot of money.
This time, the national treasury, which was originally thin, became increasingly rich.
However, things don't end here yet.
The people in the border towns of Datang are still living in dire straits.
They couldn't afford sheep, let alone grain.
Many people who had no food stored were also suffering from hunger and cold.
At this time, the dawn from the imperial court illuminated the land.
At Li Chengqian's suggestion, Li Shimin issued a decree to sell grain to the people in border towns at the price of ten cents per liter.
According to the number of people going door to door, each person is limited to ten dou.
As for the one hundred kilograms of grain, no one cares whether they sell it to make money or what.
Anyway, if they sell, starvation will be their own problem.
If they sell less and they make some money, that's fine.
Li Shimin also turned a blind eye to this.
In this way, Comrade Taizong also gained a large number of fans among the people.
Wherever he passed, he could hear shouts of long live Taizong.
Li Shimin was extremely happy, happy He kept patting Li Chengqian on the shoulder.
"You boy, you really did not disappoint me. I will definitely reward you well when you return to Chang'an."
Li Chengqian chuckled and said: "Forget it about the reward from my father, I just want to keep it for myself."
"But Uncle Cheng...well...I can't let it go."
Li Chengqian looked at Cheng Yaojin: "Uncle Cheng, can our bet still count?"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Yaojin's face turned dark: "Of course it counts. Can I still default on my debt?"
"When I return to Chang'an, Lao Cheng will send the money to your home."
When he said this, Cheng Yaojin almost gritted his teeth.
He, Old Cheng, had always taken advantage of others. When had he ever been taken advantage of like this?
He has now begun to study how to take revenge.
Unexpectedly, Li Shimin spoke up at this time: "Zhijie, you are an adult after all. You should never default on a bet with a child."
After hearing this, Cheng Yaojin felt as if he had eaten a fly.
"Your Majesty, don't worry, Lao Cheng will definitely not default on his debt."
"That's good."
"But I also know your difficulties."
"If you are asked to take out so much money at once, you will definitely not be able to come up with it."
"So I will set a rule for you."
Li Shimin said slowly: "From now on, I will pay Qian'er 30,000 yuan as pocket money every year until he reaches his age. What do you think?"
Doesn’t this mean that you ask me to help you raise your son?
Cheng Yaojin felt bitter in his heart and reluctantly said: "I obey my order..."
Thirty thousand dollars is nothing to Cheng Yaojin, who has a monthly salary of eight thousand and numerous additional incomes.
It's just that he, Old Cheng, can't afford to lose this person.
I made a bet and lost to this eight-year-old guy again.
Li Chengqian was extremely happy on the sidelines.
"In this case, won't I become Uncle Cheng's biggest creditor?"
When these words came out, Li Shimin and Changsun Wuji both laughed.