Traveling through Tianlong: Starting from the Zhenlong chess game

Chapter 180 Takes Both Sides

When Zhao Mu heard the conditions offered by Gao Shengtai, he couldn't help but complain: "It's a bit too much."

When Gao Shengtai heard this, he immediately said: "If Mr. Zhao feels unsure, then it is negotiable that we in Dali will take 30% of the trade tariff and give your country 70%. However, your country must protect our merchants and goods."

Zhao Mu shook his head and said, "I'm not saying, Lord Gao, that your demands are too much. But that the conditions you offered are really, really true."

Gao Shengtai and Duan Yu looked at each other, and Duan Yu asked, "What is it really?"

Zhao Mu suddenly thought of a word and said: "It is really a loss of power and humiliation to the country."

Zhao Mu's words shocked everyone. This time it was Duan Yu, Gao Shengtai and Zhu Danchen's turn and were stunned.

Gao Shengtai asked, "Master Zhao, what does this mean?"

Zhao Mu smiled bitterly and said: "We are talking about the issue of Dali becoming a vassal, not the issue of Dali being annexed by the Song Dynasty. Besides, the Song Dynasty has no interest in annexing Dali."

What Zhao Mu said is true. In this era, Yunnan, Guangxi and Guangxi are called "Lingnan". In the eyes of the Central Plains people, even the Khitan people, this is an uncivilized and barbaric land full of miasma and poisonous insects. Only those who have committed heinous crimes will be exiled here.

The monarchs and ministers of the Song Dynasty were not very interested in occupying land where the cost of rule was higher than the return.

Gao Shengtai asked in confusion: "Then according to what Mr. Zhao said, what should we do?"

Zhao Mu let out a sigh of relief and said, "What Marquis Gao just said is right. In addition to being the Duke of the Song Dynasty, I am also the consort of Dali. Naturally, I will not let Dali suffer. I will change my title to Emperor." King, these are all possible. However, it is not necessary to cede territory and station troops. If it is possible, I have some conditions here. If Dali agrees, then I will have a good idea. "

Gao Shengtai stood up at this time, raised his hands to Zhao Muyi and said, "Master Zhao, please speak."

Zhao Mu said: "Actually, my request is very simple. The First Marquis just said that our two countries should trade, which I think is good. But instead of letting the merchants of Dali come to the interior, the merchants of the Song Dynasty went to southern Xinjiang. I think it would be better for us to build a few new cities on the border between Song and Li, specifically for the transfer of goods and trade. However, the cost of building the cities has to be borne by Dali alone. We, the Song Dynasty, are not responsible. And these border cities are between us and you. We will send troops to jointly manage, and the income and taxes will be equally divided. Moreover, we have the right to propose the main trade goods to Dali, such as medicinal materials, pig iron, leather, etc. Dali needs to prepare these things and send them to the border town to trade with us in the Song Dynasty. Dali is not allowed to Restrict the entry and exit of these goods.”

Gao Shengtai said excitedly: "No problem, we in Dali can bear the cost of building the city, including the food and wages for the Song army stationed there."

When Zhao Mu saw Gao Shengtai agreed, he immediately said: "The second step is 'joint operations'. If we in the Song Dynasty are in need, then Dali must send troops to assist us."

"Joint operation?" Gao Shengtai and Duan Yu exclaimed at the same time.

Zhao Mu nodded and said: "Yes. The Song Dynasty has Liao Kingdom in the north, Xixia and Tubo in the west. These are all threats to our Song Dynasty."

"Brother Zhao, don't you want us in Dali to send troops to help you attack Liao or Xixia?" Duan Yu murmured. Zhao Mu shook his head and said: "That's not necessary. The target of the joint war between the Song Dynasty and Dali is Tubo, which borders Dali. The country of Tubo has been a capricious villain since the Kaiyuan period of the former Tang Dynasty. If the Central Plains is weak, it will invade, and if the Central Plains is strong, it will invade He shamelessly asked to marry the princess and make a marriage. Now that Song and Liao are in a stalemate, Xixia, a clown, is taking advantage of it, and Tubo is also ready to make a move. So if Song and Liao start a war in the future, they will definitely not sit idly by. So I need Dali. Help us suppress Tubo from the side, so that we can concentrate on dealing with the two enemies of Liao and Xixia."

Zhao Mu immediately said: "Of course, if Dali is willing to send troops, we will not let Dali suffer. Once the Liao and Xixia are eliminated, we will concentrate on dealing with Tubo. Once Tubo is defeated, Dali can swallow I want to expand my own territory by acquiring some territory from Tubo. I wonder if the Marquis will agree to my terms? If the Marquis agrees, then I will be 30% sure that I can convince the emperor and officials about the canonization of Dali."

Zhao Mu knew very well that the opinions of brother Duan Zhengming were not important. The real controller of Dali Kingdom is Gao Shengtai in front of him. As long as Gao Shengtai can agree to these things, it means that Dali Kingdom has agreed.

As for the "land ceding and compensation" mentioned by Gao Shengtai, Zhao Mu didn't take it to heart at all. This is not because Zhao Mu is thinking about Dali, but there is a lot of room for maneuver here, and it may be a trap.

As a professional businessman in his previous life, Zhao Mu knew the bloody truth that "free is the most expensive".

Dali was indeed willing to cede territory to the Song Dynasty, but they did not specify the specific place. If they ceded barbarian lands that they could not actually control to the Song Dynasty, then it would be equivalent to throwing a hot potato to the Song Dynasty. This routine is called "distressed asset transfer" in Zhao Mu's eyes. This kind of thing can only fool cheap fools.

As for the Song Dynasty's garrison in Dali, Zhao Mu felt that it was even more of a trap. He always felt that the old fox Gao Shengtai wanted Da Song to help him deal with the chaos. Zhao Mu would not be fooled by spending other people's money to do his own things.

After thinking about it, Gao Shengtai said, "If Dali doesn't agree, how confident is Mr. Zhao?"

Zhao Mu said: "Less than 10%."

Gao Shengtai immediately said: "Master Zhao, please go and talk about this matter. The request made by Master Zhao will be made clear to the emperor and the emperor's brother after I return to Dali. I think there won't be any big problems." . As for the joint operations, after Mr. Zhao and the princess are officially married, I will report to the emperor and make Mr. Zhao the general of our Dali. The border garrison of Dali can be mobilized by the general. "

Zhao Mu said: "Okay! Since Lord Gao has agreed, Zhao Mu will be fully responsible for the canonization of Dali. It's just that Dali must obey my arrangements and not act rashly."

Gao Shengtai said: "It's a deal!"

Zhao Mu also admires this old fox. Although the joint operations in the future have been agreed, Gao Shengtai still left a trap, that is, Zhao Mu, the "general", only has the power to mobilize the border troops and does not have the power to mobilize other armies. . The most elite army of Dali Kingdom is the Royal Forest Army and the Shence Army. Moreover, Gao Shengtai held the food and salary supplies for the border army and his family members. This was Gao Shengtai's backup plan for himself.

However, Zhao Mu was satisfied. At least he now had enough chips to control Dali and Song Dynasty.

As long as he facilitates this matter in front of Song Zhezong, Zhezong will regard him as a confidant, and Dali will also regard Zhao Mu as a great benefactor. It's really a beautiful thing to eat both sides.

(End of this chapter)