Chapter 1648: Drawing fire from under the cauldron
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Seeing that Lekum had a good attitude, Xi Jun looked more relaxed: "Secondly, in order to facilitate trade with Luzon, Datang needs an excellent port to transport goods and dock ships, but you can't build a large port at all.
port, so Datang paid for a piece of land in Luzon to build its own port, and the address was in Lingayen Bay."
Whether the Tang Dynasty needed to trade with Luzon, the three chiefs here did not know, but they knew that Luzon needed to trade with the Tang Dynasty. No one who has seen the silk, porcelain, glass, wine and other luxury goods shipped from the Tang Dynasty can
Refuse to trade with the Tang Dynasty. If these things disappear one day, it is unimaginable what a gloomy time it will be.
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They are chiefs, and they devote all their efforts to worshiping one person. Naturally, they want to enjoy the best food and clothing. If they cannot enjoy the best things in the world, how can they show their dignity? What is the meaning of life?
Moreover, the gold and rice transported from Luzon in the Tang Dynasty were all exchanged at equal value, not robbery. The most important thing is that the three major tribes are still in a relatively primitive stage, and there is no concept of "country", so naturally there is no "territory"
"Consciousnesses like this have been fought between them for thousands of years, and the land controlled by each other has been constantly changing. Today,
The sun belongs to you, and tomorrow belongs to me. What’s the big deal about giving Datang a piece of land?
What's more, people are "buying", and how much they pay for it is not the issue at all. What everyone wants is this "respect"...
The three chiefs looked at each other and without even discussing the price, they agreed and immediately decided: "No problem."
In order to show his surrender, Lecombe added: "When you need manpower, just ask, as many people as you want, no need to pay wages, just take care of the food."
The other two chiefs were very regretful that such a favored good thing had been snatched away by Lekum, and they were very unhappy and said that they could do it too.
There are many giant trees. 'Eastern Datang Company' plans to lease these forests to harvest timber, and will pay some fees. However, during the lease period, Datang will operate in this area.
You have no right to interfere in the exercise of sovereignty."
The three chiefs did not agree happily this time. It was not that they dared to refuse Datang, but they were a little confused. They all knew that there were countless towering trees in the mountains and forests, but could the wood be sold for money? That was all
It is a mountain forest that has existed since the beginning of the world. It has been growing and dying on its own for hundreds of millions of years. Sometimes, a
The mountain fire burned everything, and it grew again after more than a hundred years... How can things that have never been looked at twice be sold for money? Lecombe asked tentatively: "Of course it is no problem to rent the forest, you can rent it for as many years as you want.
It doesn't matter how many years you rent it, or whether you pay or not... But those kinds of giant trees are all over Luzon. Since Datang needs it, can we also do it?
Can it be mined elsewhere and sold to Datang?"
Xi Junmai happily said: "Of course you can! As long as the level is qualified, there are as many Datang as there are." Today's Datang, with the influx of huge wealth, is carrying out large-scale construction across the country, causing excessive logging of mountain forests and causing many growths.
Mountain forests that have existed for hundreds of thousands of years have been cleared. Although Sichuan, Lingnan and other places have
There are also giant trees, but transportation is inconvenient and far less expensive and faster than purchasing them from overseas.
The shortage is huge and demand exceeds supply.
The three chiefs were overjoyed. This was a very fast way to make money.
Everything is settled, sign the contract immediately.
Xi Junmai signed the text on behalf of Datang and felt relieved.
... After seeing off the three chiefs, Yang Zhou asked in confusion: "It's just a barbarian land. If you take it, you will take it. How dare they resist? Why spend money to buy a piece of land? Signing a contract with such pretentiousness is unnecessary."
.now
The Tang Dynasty was so powerful that they didn't dare to say anything about the land they occupied. If the Tang Dynasty declines in the future, they won't care about overseas lands. Even if they have a contract here, they will break their promise."
The money was not much, just a few thousand pounds of silk, porcelain, and glass, but he thought it was completely unnecessary. Xi Jun took a sip of water and patiently explained: "The general situation in the world has been ups and downs, and the Tang Dynasty will inevitably have its national power decline.
When we don’t care about overseas lands, these overseas lands may now be occupied by local indigenous people and their deeds will be torn up.
About... But when the Tang Dynasty prospers again, how to get these lands back? Our Tang Dynasty lives in the world, a country of etiquette, and everything must be done according to the master's reputation."
Yang Zhou suddenly realized: "Just like Annan and Champa?"
When General Fubo put down the "Second Expedition Uprising", he erected a copper pillar as the junction. There was an inscription on the pillar: "If the copper pillar breaks, Jiaozhi will be destroyed." After that, every time the Yue people passed under it, they would throw tiles and stones at it, forming a hill.
When the navy dispatched troops to Annan, the slogan was "Annan has been the land of China since ancient times". It was because of the copper pillars buried by General Fubo. This was remembered in history and the Vietnamese could not deny it, so the navy's dispatch was famous.
The same is true in Luzon. As long as the purchase of land is recorded in history and marked with landmarks, there is no fear of being invaded by local indigenous people.
As long as the country is strong in the future and the army comes across the ocean, the sentence "this territory of the Tang Dynasty has been in the Tang Dynasty since ancient times" will be famous and justified. Yang Zhou was sincerely convinced: "No wonder the navy's favorite thing to do is wherever it goes.
It is a standing stone, with inscriptions engraved on it, even an island or a reef in the South China Sea will not be spared. Even if this place is lost for various reasons in the future, when we have the strength, we will not miss it.
When it is taken back, the sentence 'since ancient times' can be justified and upright! This far-sightedness is amazing!" Xi Junmai laughed loudly: "This is what the Duke of Yue ordered when he founded the navy, and the navy has followed it to the letter.
, we not only need to open up new territories, but also engrave words and seals on these lands so that they will always belong to the territory of the Han family.
!”
Yang Zhou praised: "The Duke of Yue has planned the strategy and his achievements will last for a long time. He is a hero in the world!"
The two flattered Fang Jun for a while, and then the soldiers came to report that it was Lecombe who asked for an audience...
Yang Zhou wondered: "This guy left and came back again, shouldn't he regret it?"
Xi Junmai was very domineering: "How dare he?! If he goes back on his word tonight, this time next year will be the memorial day for all his 'Tagalogs'!"
Do you really think the Tang people didn’t kill people?!
"Let him in!"
"Here!"
The soldiers turned around and went out. After a while, Lecombe and the translator entered again.
Xi Jun bought and Yang Zhou sat on a chair. The latter drank tea, and the former asked: "Why did you go and come back?"
Lecombe smiled humbly and said, "I have a suggestion."
The translator whispered at the side...
Xi Junmaiqi asked: "Is there any suggestion that I couldn't say just now, but you will say it now?"
Lekum rubbed his hands and said with a smile: "As far as I know, the most urgent material in your country is rice. Is that true?"
Xi Junmai narrowed his eyes and said, "What do you want to do? Do you want to raise the price of rice?"
"No, no, no, how dare I do this!"
Lekum was startled. If he was misunderstood by the Tang general in front of him and took the opportunity to threaten him, would he still need his head? He quickly said: "My suggestion is about rice. Although Luzon has a mild climate,
, abundant rainfall is suitable for rice growth, but in fact there are many mountains and deep forests on the island, so there are not many places suitable for growing rice... It just so happens that the narrow strip of land from north to Lingayen Bay is a plain with dense rivers and flat terrain.
, is the place where most rice is grown on the island. Datang can buy it or rent it, so why not grow rice here? That’s better than buying it.
Rice is much stronger!"
"Um?"
Xi Junmai was slightly startled, and then he called to his soldiers: "Bring the map." The soldiers hurriedly went to the nearby barracks to dig out the map of Luzon, and when they came back, they unfolded the map and hung it on the wall. Xi Junmai and Yang Zhou stood up.
After watching carefully, Lecombe also moved closer to take a look. At first glance, his eyes almost bulged.
come out.
This, this, this... is actually a map of Luzon Island?!
Relying on my inner understanding of the topography and landforms of Luzon and corroborating it with the map in front of me, I immediately came to the conclusion that this is the map of the entire Luzon Island.
Almighty Batala!
How can this be?!
We have lived on Luzon Island for generations and there has never been any detailed description. Only a few days after the Tang Dynasty came, he even drew a map?
Sweat dripped from Lekum, and the fear of the Tang people in his heart could not be greater. Such a powerful country was simply invincible. Whoever dared to be an enemy of the Tang Dynasty would be destroyed.
Too powerful, too terrifying... Swallowing, Lekum pointed to the narrow and flat area extending from Manila Bay to the north to Lingayen Bay: "General, please look, this is the most powerful place in the entire Luzon Island."
Flat areas are most suitable for growing rice, such as
If there is a lack of labor, you can hire 'Iluo people'. They have rich experience in rice cultivation for generations and are the best farmers. As long as they don't starve to death, there is no need to pay money."
Xi Junmai and Yang Zhou looked at each other, and both could see the smile in each other's eyes. Savages are savages, and their self-righteous cleverness was seen through by the two of them at a glance.
Living on the same land, tribes are mortal enemies of each other. After all, the living space is only so small. If you have more, I will have less. It is inevitable to attack each other for the land. The Tang people urgently needed a large amount of rice to let Lekum
Aware of the huge danger, because only the "Ilo people" are better at farming, once a huge amount of rice trade occurs between the two, the "Tagalog people" may be kicked out, and
The "Iluo people" who have successfully attached themselves to the Tang people are very likely to have a surge in strength. If they go to war with the "Tagalog people", what can the "Tagalog people" do to resist? So Lekum came.
With such a move, they encouraged the Tang army to directly occupy this land, which is most suitable for growing rice. This is the place where the "Iluo people" have cultivated for generations. Conflict will inevitably break out between the two sides, no matter what.
In the end, whether the "Iluo people" will surrender to the Tang army or be exterminated at the hands of the Tang army, the biggest threat of the "Tagalog people" will be eliminated.
The savage's calculations were rattling loudly.
But how can Xi Junmai let him get what he wants? Datang's overseas policy has never been to eliminate anyone, but to support some groups and suppress others to achieve regional balance, so that all parties must rely on Datang's support to survive.
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Xi Junmai smiled and ordered the soldiers outside the door: "Send someone to invite the chief of the 'Iluo people', saying that we have something important to discuss."
"Here." The soldiers outside the door were ordered to leave.
Lecombe's expression changed drastically, he opened his mouth and said with a smile: "This... that... I'll take my leave for now, so as not to delay the general's handling of important matters."
As long as I am not present, I can explain to the "Iluo people" afterwards that this is actually a conspiracy of the Tang people to sow discord. But if they are confronted in person, I can't quibble. How can the "Iluo people" hate me to death?
Xiaofeixiao: "Since the chief offered such an ingenious strategy, he is a hero of the Tang Dynasty. I don't need to hide anything from you. It just happened to be in front of the chief of the Yiluo people, so we can discuss this matter.
,Datang
We have always advocated common development and shared interests, and we must never let one party suffer."
Lekum forced a smile with a grimace, and greeted Xi Junmai's eighteenth generation ancestors in his heart. He realized that his plan had been seen through, and he originally wanted to kill the "Iluo people" with a borrowed knife, but now
But they were pushed into a situation where the "Iluo people" were directly confronting each other. The Tang people were too cunning...