Dugu Xiude glanced at Xiao Cheng and frowned slightly.
Although they are both descendants of aristocratic families, they are still distinguished in terms of hierarchy. Both he and Gao Shen are the heads of powerful clans. Although Xiao Cheng is favored by Xiao Jing, he is far behind them in terms of status.
Seeing how Xiao Cheng was calm and calm and on an equal footing with them, Dugu Xiude naturally didn't like it.
Leave it in Luoyang, hum...
Dugu Xiude cursed secretly, which meant that the Dugu clan had suffered setbacks one after another, and things were different from the past. Otherwise, how could this guy have the right to pretend and point fingers in front of him?
At the same time, he also had some resentment towards the owner of this room, Gao Shen. Since he came to talk to me, the Dugu family, why did he drag the Xiao family along? He is still such a dandy...
He has a bad temper, but after being the head of the Dugu family for several years, his posture is very good. He does not show his anger and just speaks expressionlessly.
"That's wrong. It's said that the emperor was interacting with the Turks when he was in the north. Otherwise, given the emperor's background... he wouldn't have gotten rich so quickly. I think he would have frequent contacts with the Turks in the future.
We should look high and have a long-term view. We should not just look at the present. We should always take a longer-term view.
You are still young and have never seen the grand scene of those years. When Qimin Khan came back and knelt down at the steps to pray for the emperor to clean the courtyard, many Turkic nobles came to join him. Is there any family in Chang'an that has not interacted with them? ?
For many years after that, everyone who knew about the Turks' affairs was in a high position... Now, we are just taking a step early. Think about it, if one day I have a problem with the Turks, who should go to fight with the Turks outside the Great Wall? People talk?”
Dugu Xiude was talking eloquently, but Xiao Cheng didn't listen to much. He even muttered in his heart that he was relying on his elders and betraying his elders. He thought that he had listened to "teachings" a lot in the Xiao clan.
The Luoyangzi in front of me has only been the head of the Dugu clan for a few years, and he is just showing off...
Furthermore, it was just a matter of sending a few caravans north to see if there was any advantage to be taken, but it seemed as if they could accomplish much. It was really ridiculous.
He turned a deaf ear to Dugu Xiude's words, and only thought about his family background in his heart... Because he was a young son, his life was relatively "poor", so he had to think carefully about visiting a brothel and finding a lovely person to talk to.
As a descendant of the Xiao family of Lanling, my money is embarrassingly tight, and I have long wanted to make some extra money like other people to make my life more comfortable.
Speaking of the past, which family did not maintain several caravans? Not to mention going to the Western Regions or the Turks, the Xiao family went to the south. With those of the same clan taking care of them, they could always gain a lot from the trip back and forth.
Otherwise, there are so many aristocratic families in Chang'an and Luoyang, all of whom have mansions, beautiful families, and hordes of servants. How can they afford to support them with their little salary?
Damn the war, damn Yang Guang... everyone's life has become "poor". They can only hoard food, and their lives are getting harder and harder day by day.
The current emperor is not a good person. He actually wants to collect taxes from everyone, rob their village and build a bullshit academy. He is really a wolf-hearted man. Without our support, can your throne be secure?
Despite his gentle appearance, he is full of complaints in private. He doesn't like everyone, but in fact they all have no money for him to spend and have fun.
Otherwise, they would not have just heard some rumors and then eagerly come forward to "conspire" with people like Gao Shen and Dugu Xiude in the name of the Lanling Xiao family.
And because the Lanling Xiao family is now quite prosperous in Chang'an, and because Empress Xiao is related to the Turkic Khan and is valued by the emperor and the Khan, even though he is not important enough, Gao Shen still happily accepts him and allows him to participate.
Got a share.
But considering Xiao Cheng's family background, it's really not that impressive and he's still timid. It's no wonder that Dugu Xiude is angry.
Gao Shen, on the other hand, nodded and smiled: "What Brother Dugu Xian said is absolutely true. What we are planning is just a mere treasure? Of course we have a long-term plan...
And my nephew doesn’t have to worry too much. I had a pleasant conversation with a Turkic envoy when he visited me some time ago, and we have some friendship. All I need to do is take my letter to the north, and someone will naturally take care of me..."
Having said this, I glanced at the two of them, feeling quite proud in my heart. Dugu Xiude seemed unaware that during Ashina Mudan's stay in Chang'an, the Dugu family would naturally be on the list of people to visit.
He also had a very pleasant conversation with that woman, but he just didn't bother to mention it. He even thought that your Gao Shen letters might not be as useful as my Dugu when we get to the north.
Xiao Cheng was very envious. When the Turkic envoys were guests of the Xiao family, they had nothing to do with him. Even his father Xiao Jing was not able to attend.
But he was also proud of it. In those days, the Turkic envoys stayed in his aunt's house. If his uncle had not strictly prohibited the Xiao clan from disturbing her, he might have gone with his father to visit her.
And the Turkic envoy turned out to be a woman, tsk tsk, I wonder what the Turkic daughter is like...
Gao Shen naturally didn't know that he hadn't heard much of this guy's serious words, but in his heart he was already running towards Xiasan Road. He showed off a little, and then continued: "The war will not stop this year and next. The year is not good, and now
I went just for testing. I took the route to Yulin. When the fighting in the south stops, I should be able to change to the direction of Dali City.
I have an old relationship with Yu Wenxin, the general manager of Daizhou, so it will be more convenient then, but because of this, I can go to the Turkic Royal Court this year and interact with the nobles there."
A smile appeared on Dugu Xiude's face. He and Gao wanted the same thing, profit was secondary, and friendship with Turkic nobles was the main goal.
The Dugu family has always been able to connect the north and the south. In his imagination, that is what a powerful person in the world should be like. Unfortunately, Dugu Huai'en, that loser, could not succeed, making the Dugu family the laughing stock of the world.
Now that he is the head of the family with Dugu cultivating virtues, he will naturally restore the Dugu family to its former glory. And with the help of the Turkic nobles, the weight of the Dugu family's words in the court cannot be compared to what it is now.
At this point, they became more and more bold when speaking.
Xiao Cheng began to complain, "What does the emperor think? He can do business with the Turks in the north, but others can't. Isn't this too overbearing?"
Dugu Shunde didn't want to talk to him, but these words also touched on the hearts of him and Gao Shen. In their impression, the current emperor achieved great success by relying on the power of the Turks to go south.
But now it looks like it's quite hostile, huh, who are you pretending to show?
"What is the emperor afraid of? It's not obvious. He just wants to secure his position before talking about anything else. Just look at it. In the next two years, Dali City will not be the only place where there will be mutual trade..."
"The two families are now married. They take everyone's wealth and offer it to the Turks. It is no different from other people."
The three people gradually revealed Li Po's background with each other's words, and vividly expressed the faces of people in the powerful family of this era.
They don't have much fear of the imperial power. What they fear most is the sword and ax in your hand. When they know that you are quite tolerant of people in the family, they become more and more courageous, especially the nobles of Kansai.
Discussing the emperor's family background, and even other people's family background, and the past, with a common language, the barriers between several nobles disappeared a lot without realizing it.
Gao Shen took advantage of the situation and asked people to get wine and food, and started drinking with the other two people in the study.
While drinking, Gao Shen talked about the current tax system, Xiao Cheng talked about Zhuangzi, whose family had been robbed, and Dugu Xiude complained that there were too many Jin people and they occupied many high positions, which was really annoying.
After three rounds of drinking, Dugu Xiude squinted his drunken eyes, and his mouth was completely speechless.
"Now that the war is going on, there was a move to mint money a while ago. Brother Gao is in charge of the Ministry of Household Affairs, so he should have a lot of money and grain, right?"
Gao Shen was also drunk and said with a nonchalant smile: "The household department is very busy now, so today I can only take a break from my busy schedule to drink with my good brother and my nephew.
Do you have a lot of money and food? It's almost impossible to count... What's the matter? Can't Xiandi want to serve in the Ministry of Household Affairs? It's easy... Xiandi said it too late, otherwise the position of minister was vacant some time ago, and Xiandi's family background,
It’s easy to get.”
Dugu Xiude laughed loudly, and then said, "Brother Gao is looking up to me. I just thought that with so much money and food, I might divert some of it to add some glory to this trip?"
Xiao Cheng was young and often hung out among flowers and willows. He had a good drinking capacity and was still very sober at this time. After hearing this, his heart jumped a few times and he thought that this was no joke. He quickly looked at Gao Shen.
.
What frightened him was that Gao Shen was stunned for a moment, put down his glass, and actually considered it carefully instead of rejecting it outright.
Gao Shen said for a long time: "It's not impossible. Now everyone in the household department is busy working for the army's food and fodder, and they can't take care of much other things. A little planning will not affect the overall situation."
Dugu Xiude's words completely opened up a new way of thinking for Gao Shen. If the caravan goes out now, it will be able to turn around before winter, just in time to make up for the misappropriated space before the Ministry of Revenue's inspection at the end of the year.
Even if he can't make up for it, he is the Minister of Household Affairs and the head of the Gao family. He can cover up a little or two and get over it. Who else dares to compete with him?
Dugu Xiude smiled and raised his glass, "Then there is Brother Lao Gao. We, the people, have to save face by sending people to the Turks. If it is too shabby, wouldn't it be looked down upon by the Turks?
Come, let me toast to brother Gao and wish us a smooth and good year this year."
Xiao Cheng was extremely worried there. Before, he had only stopped a few caravans from going to the grasslands to trade with the Turks in exchange for some rare items to make some money, but now these two people were going to embezzle the user department's money.
This was far from what he imagined. If something happened, the two of them might still be able to withstand it. He, Xiao Cheng, was small and weak, so he might not know what would happen to him.
At this time, Dugu Xiude and Gao Shen had a drink and looked over with drunken eyes, "Your nephew is conspiring with us. Please don't talk nonsense when you go out."