Traveling through Tianlong: Starting from the Zhenlong chess game

Chapter 178 A plan to please both sides

As a businessman in Zhao Mu's previous life, he saw so many good things being wasted and had no way to convert them into economic value. He really wanted to cut out his heart with a knife.

Zhao Mu had also thought before that if he invested some money, he would collect these things and then sell them to Song Di. If you sell grain, cloth, cotton and other things from Song Dynasty to Dali, you will definitely get huge profits.

If it weren't for the laws of the Song Dynasty that gentry were not allowed to do business, Zhao Mu would have taken action long ago. After all, if this business is done, the money will come faster than robbery.

If Gao Shengtai had asked someone else, this matter might be really difficult to handle.

But Zhao Mu is confident that this can be done. Zhao Mu also wanted to seize this opportunity to sell both ends. Not only did he seek benefits for the Song Dynasty, he also won Zhezong's trust. And he can make Dali owe him a favor.

However, Zhao Mu was not in a hurry to agree. Zhao Mu pretended to be embarrassed and said: "That's it. Lord Gao, Brother Duan, have you ever heard of the allusion of Song Dynasty wielding a jade axe?"

Gao Shengtai replied: "Of course I have heard that Emperor Taizu of your country personally conquered Bashu in order to clear up Liuhe and unify the world. After Meng Chang, the king of Shu, returned and surrendered, his subordinates presented an atlas and urged Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty to go south to destroy Dali and capture Yunnan and Guizhou. However, However, Taizu of the Song Dynasty waved his jade ax on the map and said, 'The rest are not mine.' So he and I, Dali, crossed the river and ruled, and we have not had any contact with each other since then."

Zhao Mu nodded and said, "That's right. When Taizu refused to go south to acquire land, he just didn't want to repeat the mistakes of Nanzhao's rebellion against the Tang Dynasty. And even Taizu was unwilling to do it, so naturally the emperors of the Song Dynasty were not willing to do it either. For this reason, other things can be discussed, but making Dali a vassal of the Song Dynasty. This is indeed not an easy task."

Gao Shengtai and Duan Yu looked at each other after hearing this, and then Gao Shengtai asked: "So this trip is in vain?"

Duan Yu also let out a sigh of relief and said: "At least the emperor of the Song Dynasty does not object to marrying me in Dali. This trip can be regarded as worthwhile."

Zhao Mu could tell from Gao Shengtai's tone that they seemed to have not mentioned this matter to the Song Dynasty officials. This is a good opportunity for Zhao Mu. Neither party knows the other party's details, and he, the "middleman," can profit from it.

Seeing that Zhao Mu was silent, he lowered his head and thought deeply. Gao Shengtai asked: "Master Zhao, is there anything you can do?"

Zhao Mu pretended to come back to his senses and said: "Oh, I was thinking about the feasibility of this matter. Although there are Taizu's ancestral precepts, no matter which angle I look at, Dali's surrender to the Song Dynasty is Things are mutually beneficial to both countries. If Dali trades with the Song Dynasty, then the salt, cloth, and grain from the Song Dynasty can be transported to Dali for sale. And Dali’s medicinal materials, pig iron, and leather can also be transported to Dali. Song Dynasty sells goods. This is undoubtedly a good thing for the people of the two countries."

Listening to Zhao Mu's words, Gao Shengtai and Duan Yu nodded. Especially Gao Shengtai.

Although Gao Shengtai was the actual controller of the Dali Kingdom, he did not reject the idea of ​​becoming a minister to Song Dynasty. After all, the people of Dali State only have a small amount of people. If the people are not made rich and various taxes are increased, it will not be conducive to their rule in the long run. If the ports are opened to trade, commercial taxes and import and export duties will soon enrich the treasury of Dali State and the private treasury of their nobles.

Gao Shengtai asked anxiously: "Does Mr. Zhao think this is feasible?"

Zhao Mu pursed his lips in pretense again and shook his head.

Seeing Zhao Mu's reaction, Gao Shengtai's mentality was really about to explode. Seeing Gao Shengtai's appearance, Zhao Mu smiled inwardly, and then said: "But I can try. I will do my best to facilitate this."

Upon hearing Zhao Mu's agreement, Gao Shengtai quickly raised his hands and said, "Then this matter will trouble Mr. Zhao!"

Zhao Mu waved his hands when he heard this and said: "Master Gao, there is no need to rush to thank me. First of all, although this matter is not impossible to handle, it is indeed very difficult to handle. First of all, with the instructions of Taizu, no one wants to fall into the trap of an unfaithful person. The reputation of unfilial piety. Secondly, the emperor has not officially taken charge of the government, and many major decisions in the court still need to involve the Queen Mother, the Queen Mother, and the ministers under their command. If this kind of matter is discussed by many people, it will be difficult to unify power. , and it’s hard to make a decision. Besides, women have long hair and short knowledge, so what do they know about national affairs!”

Zhao Mu said this from the bottom of his heart. He didn't look down on women, but he really looked down on the two empress dowagers. If Empress Dowager Xiang hadn't chosen a loser as emperor for her own selfish purposes, the Song Dynasty would not have been destroyed. The Empress Dowager, a temptress who did not accept loyal advice, was half responsible for Huizong's crimes.

At this time, a voice came from outside the door and said: "I don't agree with Mr. Zhao's words. Let's not talk about Wu Zetian of the former Tang Dynasty, the Empress Dowager Xiao of the Liao Kingdom is a hero among women. Who said that women only have hair and wisdom? short?"

Everyone heard the sound and went out, only to see Ruan Xingzhu and Ah Zi standing in front of the door. But after Ruan Xingzhu finished speaking, he realized that he had almost said the wrong thing. I felt a little embarrassed for a moment.

When Duan Yu saw Ruan Xingzhu, he immediately stood up and saluted.

Gao Shengtai couldn't help but sweat when he heard this. Mentioning the people of Liao in front of the princes of the Song Dynasty is simply not giving any face.

Gao Shengtai was just thinking about how to explain to Ruan Xingzhu. Zhao Mu couldn't help but laugh. He said: "Empress Xiao? If she was really wise and powerful, she would not have made any alliance with Zhenzong. She was able to show off her courage for a moment, not because she was too strong, but because there were treacherous officials in the Song Dynasty at that time. , there were strong enemies outside, so the Song Dynasty was just too weak."

Hearing Zhao Mu's words, Azi said: "So, brother-in-law, do you think Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty was a coward?"

Zhao Mu said with a smile: "Of course. The failure of Taizong's expedition to Liao was just because Taizong himself was not a military general. After destroying the Northern Han Dynasty, his troops were exhausted and his horses were exhausted, which led to the defeat. Although Taizong was not good at martial arts, his martial arts skills were passable. As for Taizong, he was not good at martial arts. Zhenzong, the battle of Chanzhou was a great opportunity to swallow up the main force of the Liao army, but this coward sent someone to sue for peace and signed an alliance under the city that would humiliate the country. If Taizu was still alive, or if I went out to fight, what Xiao Tianzuo, Xiao Tianyou , I don’t even pay attention to Empress Dowager Xiao. If one day the Liao Dynasty is destroyed and the Song Dynasty is revived, I will go to her tomb and place my Song Dynasty military flag on her tombstone."

In fact, Zhao Mu wanted to dig up her tomb and whip her body three hundred times, but Wu Zixu was scolded for thousands of years for doing this. It's not easy for him to say it face to face.

This topic was too sensitive. At this time, Gao Shengtai smoothed things over and said: "Okay, we are here to form an alliance with the Song Dynasty and deal with the princess's marriage. We can talk about other business later. By the way! Mrs. Ruan is here to find us. What's important to us?"

Ruan Xingzhu pushed little Ah Zi forward and said, "I'm not here to look for you, it's Ah Zi who insists on coming to see Young Master Zhao."

Ruan Xingzhu smiled sweetly at this time and said to Zhao Mu: "Mr. Zhao, Xingzhu has offended a lot just now. Xingzhu is a prostitute. Mr. Zhao doesn't have to be the same as Xingzhu. This kid Azi really doesn't want to go back to Dali. She wants to stay with you, Young Master Zhao. Ah Zi is a naughty child, so please take care of Ah Zi for the sake of Prince Zhao and Miss Mu. Xingzhu would like to thank you."

(End of this chapter)