Neon Clothes and Iron Clothes

"That's great!" Jumong laughed. "Then Gugal, can you contact the Javanese?"

"No need, the Javanese will soon figure out who defeated them! They are not stupid, and it would be great if they can solve the problem with money!"

"Can money solve the problem?" Jumong heard the hidden meaning of Gugal: "Gugal, what do you mean? Are you saying that the Javanese will try to win us over?"

"That's right! If they may have misunderstood the power of the Tang Dynasty before, now everything is clear!" Gu Jiaer laughed, "For the Javanese, warships are much more terrifying than cavalry. If you stand on the side of the Khmer people, not to mention that they can't take over Water Chenla, even the South Sea Islands will be difficult to defend! If I'm not mistaken, within a few days, the Javanese will send people to ask you to redeem the captives and ships, and apologize to you for the conflict just now! Then they will try every means to win you over! Of course, the Khmer people will do the same!"

"Both sides want to win me over. This is really embarrassing!" Jumong laughed, without any trace of embarrassment in his eyes.

"Prince Jumong, Prince Jumong!" Bayon ran over.

"You don't have to be so polite to me!" Jumong said with a smile, "We are already very familiar with each other. You can just call me Jumong, or call me an envoy!"

"Is that so?" Bayon smiled. "How about I call you the envoy? You are the envoy of the upper country. It would be too rude if I just call you the envoy or call you by your name!"

"Okay!" Jumong nodded: "What's the matter?"

"I want to discuss with you how to deal with these Javanese and the ships!" Bayon said with a smile, "You have seen that our fleet suffered heavy losses in the naval battle with the Javanese. These six ships are all very good ships, and the Javanese on them are also excellent sailors. Can you hand over these ships and the Javanese to us? Of course, our country will definitely pay a sum of money to express our gratitude!"

"The Khmer Kingdom wants these ships and Javanese captives?" Jumong pointed to the Javanese warships around him.

"Yes, that's right!" Bayon hurriedly said, "Please rest assured, the amount of money will satisfy you!" He knew that Jumong attached great importance to money and was prepared to be severely blackmailed.

"It's not about money!" Jumong laughed.

"It's not about money?" Bayon was stunned, thinking to himself, what does this guy mean? You can't take these ships and prisoners back, why not sell them to us? Are you raising the price on the spot? Thinking of this, Bayon's face also looked a little ugly: "Then may I ask, what do you plan to do with these ships and prisoners?"

"That's what happened!" Jumong said, "Although we just fought a battle with the Javanese, it was just an accidental conflict. In fact, there is still a peaceful relationship between the Tang Dynasty and Java. If I hand over the captured ships and people to you who are fighting with Java, it means that the Tang Dynasty has become the enemy of Java, which is beyond my authority!"

"But, but aren't you going to join forces with us to attack the Linyi Kingdom?" Bayon was confused.

"Yes, the Tang Dynasty does intend to work with your country to quell the Linyi Rebellion, but that does not mean we will become an enemy of Java!"

"But, but you also know that the prince of Linyi has borrowed 10,000 soldiers from Java. As long as your country sends troops to Linyi, it is only a matter of time before there is a conflict with the Javanese!" Bayon was anxious.

"Then there is no conflict yet, right?" Jumong said with a smile, "Perhaps once the Tang army flag arrives, the Javanese will retreat without a fight? Even if we really send troops to Linyi, it means becoming an enemy of Java. Isn't the agreement not signed yet?"

After hearing this, Bayon finally understood what Jumong meant. He suppressed his anger and said, "You are right, sir. So what are you going to do with these captives and ships?"

"I don't like fighting with others, but I like to resolve conflicts!" Jumong said with a smile, "I came here this time and saw that your two countries were fighting, killing and injuring many people, and I want to resolve the grudge between the two countries. What do you think?"

"How to resolve the feud between our country and Java?" Bayon was slightly stunned. "How to make peace?"

Jumong did not answer, but said with a smile: "Just watch me do what I do!"

Jumong stopped the boat at the pier, and the Khmer people provided accommodation and hospitality. In the evening, when Gu Jiaer was about to go out for dinner, he saw a man coming in from outside. It was Bayon. He looked gloomy and asked directly, "What did the Tang envoy say today about resolving the conflict and seeking peace? What is his plan?"

"I guess he thinks he can get greater benefits from the Javanese!" Gugar laughed.

"Waiting for a good price? Just two ships? Hundreds of people? Is he worthy?" Bayon snorted coldly.

"You have seen today whether it is worthy or not!" Gu Jiaer said with a smile: "The Javanese besieged only eight ships, two of which were sunk, six were captured, and four to five hundred people were killed or injured, while the Tang people were almost unscathed. Yes, if it is just these two ships, it is indeed not enough, but if there are 20 or 200 ships, will it be enough? There is not enough now, but there may be in the future! Besides, even if there are only these two ships, the difference between you and the Javanese is huge!"

Facing Gugar's statement, Bayon remained silent. After a while, he asked, "How have you figured out the secret of the Tang people's thunder power?"

"Not so fast!" Gugal shook his head.

"How long will it take?" Bayon asked anxiously.

"I don't know!" Gu Jiaer said, "You should know the importance of such secrets. It's not so easy to get. Besides, where is the silver you promised me? I have at least told you part of the secret first!" "Okay!" Bayon nodded, "I will have someone send half of the silver when I go back, so you should hurry up!"

"Thank you very much!" Gu Jiaer said with a smile.

"Also, I want to ask you a question!" Bayon asked, "Gugar, which side are you on?"

"Have you forgotten?" Facing the obvious threat from the other party, Gu Jiaer smiled and said, "I am a businessman, and businessmen are of course on the side of money!"

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Gugal's prediction was accurate. On the third day after the naval battle, the Javanese envoys arrived at the city of Paratipat and asked to meet with the Tang envoys. After meeting Jumong, the Javanese envoys expressed their apologies and said they were willing to pay 400 kilograms of gold as ransom for the captured ships and people. Faced with the high price offered by the Javanese envoys, Jumong did not give an immediate reply.

"Don't you think it's not enough? We can raise it a little bit, like 500 kilograms of gold!" Although it was a bit painful, the Javanese envoy began to offer a higher price. This money was not only to redeem the ship and the people, but more importantly to restore the damaged relationship with the Tang people. Everyone has seen the power of the Tang people's maritime force. If the Tang people were driven to the Khmer side because of this conflict, it would be a disaster for the Javanese. Compared with this, what would an extra 100 kilograms of gold mean?
"No, no, you misunderstood!" Jumong waved his hand: "It's not a question of price. Four hundred kilograms of gold is enough."

"So what do you mean?" The Javanese envoy's heart skipped a beat. "Your Excellency, the conflict two days ago was entirely our fault. Those guys were so confused that they dared to offend the majesty of the Tang Dynasty. Our Javanese country has no intention of provoking a big country. After those guys are redeemed, our king will definitely punish them severely to serve as a warning to others!"

"Don't worry, envoy!" Jumong said with a smile, "To tell you the truth, I have never doubted Java's obedience to the Tang Dynasty, otherwise I would not have met you today, and those captured people and ships would not have been left until now. The Khmer people also paid a high price to buy them from me. You don't think that only you Javanese are willing to pay, right?"

"Yes, yes, the angel said so!" The Javanese envoy kept saying yes, his mind was racing. The Khmer people's purpose for wanting these ships and people was simple, but why did the Tang envoy tell him this? Was he trying to show his good will to him? But why would he show his good will to him? Wasn't he on Khmer territory?

Jumong seemed to have seen through the thoughts of the Javanese envoy: "I came to Paratiba City this time at the invitation of the Khmer King to join the army to quell the rebellion in Linyi. Since the King of Linyi was killed, the country has been in chaos and the people have suffered. Linyi is adjacent to Jiaozhou of our Tang Dynasty. If the chaos continues, it will sooner or later spread to Jiaozhou. So after the Khmer King made this suggestion, the Governor of Jiaozhou ordered me to come and discuss this matter with the Khmer King!"

"So that's what happened! The superior country is indeed compassionate! I admire you!" The Javanese envoy said, but in his heart he was thinking about Jumong's intention in saying this to him: So that's what happened. The Tang people wanted to take the opportunity to divide Linyi with the Khmer people, but why did he tell me this? Did he already know that our country also intervened in Linyi's affairs?
“I can’t say whether it’s merciful or not!” Jumong waved his hand: “But when I came here, I found that things are a little different from what the Khmer king said!”

"Oh!" The Javanese envoy said hurriedly, "The Khmer people are always cunning and insidious. The envoys of the upper country must be careful and don't fall into their trap!"

"Really?" Jumong glanced at the Javanese envoy and said, "You have also intervened in Linyi, right? I heard from the Khmers that you have sent 10,000 people to the Linyi prince, is that right?"

"This..." The Javanese envoy showed an embarrassment: "The mother of the King of Linyi is my Javanese princess. She is a relative of our king. It is normal to send troops to help relatives in trouble, right? But the Khmer king has always been greedy. He intervened in Linyi just to annex land!"

"I don't mean to blame you!" Jumong said with a smile, "You are right. When the descendants of our relatives are in trouble, it is reasonable to send troops to help. Moreover, after I came to Water Zhenla this time, I found that the Khmer king intended to involve the Tang Dynasty in the war between your two countries. Isn't this treating me as a fool? It must not be allowed!"

"Yes, yes, the angel has a good idea!" The Javanese envoy was overjoyed, nodding his head like a chicken pecking at rice: "The Khmer people are insidious and cunning, and want to use the prestige of the Tang Dynasty to attack our country. In fact, we Javanese are the most respectful to the Tang Dynasty. We are not like the Khmer people who are respectful on the surface but despicable in their hearts!"

"This is all a matter between your two countries. It is hard to tell what is right and what is wrong at the moment, so I won't speak nonsense!" Jumong said, "But the death of the previous King of Linyi is also related to our Tang Dynasty. If this prince ascends the throne as queen, will he bear a grudge against the Tang Dynasty? This is absolutely not allowed!"

Hearing Jumong's words, which seemed to indicate that he was keeping out of the situation, the Javanese envoy was secretly delighted and hurriedly said, "That's easy to say. Since the upper country doesn't want that person to be the king, then we can just change him!"

"Change people? How?"

"One person can be sent from our country or your country to become the King of Linyi after the mission is accomplished!" The Javanese envoy said with a smile: "As for this person, let him become a monk and practice well!"

"Is this possible?" Jumong pretended to be surprised.

"Of course you can!" The Javanese envoy smiled and said, "Anyway, there are still many daughters of the previous Linyi king. As long as we invite a noble person to marry a princess of the previous king, he will have the right of inheritance. As for this person, he will become a monk as soon as possible, get rid of reincarnation as soon as possible, and enjoy endless blessings. How many people envy him!"

"If that's the case, then there is a princess in Jiaozhou!" Jumong said with a smile, "I have a younger brother who has a very good relationship with the princess. Why not let my younger brother take over the princess's position?"

"This..." The Javanese envoy was stunned. He didn't expect that Jumong would find a brother to be the King of Linyi. Wouldn't all the hard work of Java be for others? But it was difficult to refuse in person, so he froze.

"How about this!" Zhu Meng said with a smile: "I think Linyi has a long and narrow territory. If something goes wrong, the east and west will not be able to take care of each other. It is better to divide it into two parts. The part adjacent to Jiaozhou will be Upper Linyi, and my brother and princess will rule it. The other half will be Lower Linyi, and your country will choose a king. The two sides will be close friends and live in harmony for generations. What do you think?"

Hearing what Jumong said, the Javanese envoy thought to himself that if he refused here, the Tang people would probably turn to the Khmer side. If the two sides joined forces, not to mention Linyi, the land of Water Zhenla would probably belong to the Khmer. He might as well agree to him here first. Anyway, whether it was Upper Linyi or Lower Linyi, it would still take one sword and one gun to really get it done. When the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally straighten itself out! Thinking of this, he smiled to Jumong and said, "This is a good thing!"

"That's good!" Jumong said with a smile, "I will thank the envoy on behalf of my brother!" At this point, he bowed to the Javanese envoy, who quickly stepped aside. The two sides thanked each other a few times, and the atmosphere became much more lively. Jumong smiled and said, "If everyone can turn hostility into friendship like this, I don't know how many lives will be saved!"

"The angel is right!" The Javanese envoy said with a smile, "Now that the matter of Linyi has been settled, let's discuss the matter of the captives!" (End of this chapter)