Traveling through Tianlong: Starting from the Zhenlong chess game

Chapter 183 If you show courtesy for nothing, you must ask for something.

Zhao Mu stood up straight and did not rush to sit down again. He still bowed his body and said: "Your Majesty, I have a heartfelt request."

Hearing Zhao Mu's words, Zhe Zong smiled and said, "Oh? Could it be that the emperor's uncle thinks that my reward is not enough?"

Zhao Mu replied: "I don't dare. To me, thunder, rain and dew are all your kindness. How dare I be greedy?"

Zhe Zong asked: "What is this, Uncle Emperor?"

Zhao Muhan smiled and replied: "I want to keep these dancers with Your Majesty for a while."

Emperor Zhezong was stunned by Zhao Mu's request: "Ah!?"

Zhao Mu continued: "It's like this. The minister's residence has not yet been completed. The Ministry of Works has said that it will take a month at the earliest. I am currently staying in the Guanyi. Your Majesty has rewarded so many people for me. This Guanyi I'm afraid some of them won't be able to live in. It won't be too late to relocate them after the minister's mansion is completed."

Emperor Zhezong smiled and said: "Haha, okay! Then I will follow the emperor's wish. But speaking of the emperor's purchase of the long-abandoned Yingguo Duke's Mansion, this is not only a worry for the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Households. It also gives my heart. I have added a lot of money to my savings. I would also like to thank my uncle."

At this point, Zhezong was afraid that Zhao Mu would think too much, and then said, "Oh! Don't be suspicious, uncle. I don't want to trace the source of the emperor's property. Besides, the emperor only has a title and salary but no official position, so the money is not worth it." Obtained through corruption and abuse of law. I just care a little about the emperor's uncle."

"The emperor's uncle has spent a lot of money to purchase the house, but he still has money left to hire people for the Dali Kingdom? After all, the emperor's uncle is a member of the royal family of the Song Dynasty. This marriage is related to the relationship between the Song Dynasty and the Dali Kingdom. It is also related to our Song Dynasty. I have no face, so I cannot be stingy. I can’t touch the money in the treasury before I personally take charge, but I still have 800,000 taels of silver in my internal funds, of which 500,000 are given by the emperor’s uncle. I think How does the emperor feel about using this money to prepare his wedding?"

Faced with Zhe Zong's sincere treatment, even though Zhao Mu was a sinister and cunning person, he felt a little moved in his heart. Although it is just like the ripples of a pebble falling into water, at least there is some.

Zhao Mu replied: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am so grateful." As he spoke, Zhao Mu pretended to squeeze out a few tears. Then Zhao Mu wiped them away and said, "Your Majesty does not need to worry about these small things. I have been busy these days." I have prepared all the betrothal gifts for the Dali Kingdom. They are all Princess Zhaohua's favorite things. I just want to take them back to the Dali Kingdom when the Dali Mission returns. I also want to ask your Majesty to send a strong cavalry force to escort the Dali Mission all the way. return."

Although Zhezong is now curious about where Zhao Mu got so much money, he has just said that he will not pursue it, so even if he is curious, he can only swallow it for now.

Zhezong said: "This is as it should be. This is a major matter for our Song Dynasty and Dali, and I will deal with it carefully. Don't worry, uncle." Then Zhezong said a few more polite words, and then the uncle and nephew poured wine Wine to drink.

But after drinking for three rounds, Emperor Zhezong put the wine glass on the table and sighed: "Alas!"

Zhao Mu heard Zhe Zong's sigh and felt that the atmosphere was about to change.

He also gave me a beautiful woman and planned to give him money. This boy must have some troublesome things to deal with on his own. However, he took people's money to eliminate disasters. Zhao Mu immediately asked: "Why do you sigh? Although I am not talented, I hope to share your majesty's worries." Zhe Zong said: "Uncle, you said before that Dali has always wanted to Seeking the canonization of the Song Dynasty. Is this possible?"

Zhao Mu nodded and said, "Of course."

Zhezong confirmed that he remembered correctly, and then said: "But I don't think Dali sent envoys this time. I also have the intention to join Dali in the fight against the northern barbarians, but Dali has not taken the initiative to propose such a thing. It’s hard to speak frankly. Uncle Emperor, what do you think this is about?”

Hearing that Zhezong was worried about this matter, Zhao Mu thought to himself: "Of course I can't let you form an alliance so easily. Otherwise, how can I benefit from it?"

Zhao Mu immediately replied: "I have met with King Zhennan and Marquis Shanshan before. They did not receive the order from Emperor Baoding to seek canonization when they came this time. And Weichen had talked with Emperor Baoding in Dali before. At that time Emperor Baoding mistakenly thought that Wei Chen was a close family member of the emperor. Indeed, he mentioned that he wanted me to be canonized in Dali during the Song Dynasty. After that, Dali in the Song Dynasty opened up trade, and both sides could exchange what they needed." Zhao Mu said with a wry smile, "At that time, I said, He was in a humble position and had a "Nanzhao Kingdom Rebellion" before him and later Taizu's "Song Dynasty wielding a jade ax". Naturally, Wei Chen did not dare to agree to such a big thing, so he just made a few excuses. Now think about it, what if I was that person? It’s time to agree. Hey~~~”

When Zhezong heard this, he also cried out in his heart that it was a pity. He now really regretted not getting to know Zhao Mu earlier. However, the responsibility for this matter did not lie with Zhao Mu. After all, a young marquis with hundreds of households in the city was really not capable of taking over such a big business. matter.

Seeing Zhe Zong's depressed look, Zhao Mu said: "But don't worry about it, Your Majesty. Although Dali Kingdom did not mention it this time, it does not mean that it will not be mentioned in the future. If Your Majesty also intends to facilitate this matter, I and Zhaohua After the princess gets married, she can use the in-law relationship to make indirect inquiries."

Hearing that Zhao Mu had agreed, Zhezong immediately became happy and said: "In this case, I will entrust this matter to the emperor's uncle. If the emperor's uncle can help me relieve my worries, it will be a blessing for the country and the country. . If the worries in southern Xinjiang are solved, then we can concentrate on dealing with the north."

Zhao Mu replied: "Leave this matter to me. I will do my best. However, your majesty, please make a decision first if you have something to do."

Zhe Zong held the wine glass and said: "It's okay for the emperor to speak directly if he has anything to say. I authorize the emperor to do so without any guilt. As long as the emperor is thinking about the country and the country of the Song Dynasty, he can speak to me clearly."

After hearing Zhezong's promise, Zhao Mu said: "In that case, I'll speak out. I want to know what your Majesty's bottom line conditions are? For example, do you just want to form an alliance with Dali, or do you want Dali to completely become a vassal and pay tribute?"

After Zhezong analyzed the current situation, he was not in a hurry to express his opinion, and then asked: "What do you think, uncle Huang?"

Zhao Mu said: "I think the top priority now is to make an alliance with Dali, open up trade, purchase the military supplies we need from Dali, and sell our things to Dali to balance the income from trade. I went to Dali this time to find an army. However, because the map drawn by my master was decades ago, the mountains and rivers were completely different from those of today, so I got lost in Dali for more than a month. However, I also used this month to visit the country of Dali. There are few places.”

"Dali is rich in pig iron, leather, and high-quality Panax notoginseng to treat wounds. These things are extremely difficult for us to collect in the Song Dynasty. Pig iron can be used to cast high-quality weapons, leather can be used to make armor, and those Panax notoginseng can be made into These are the necessary accumulations for His Majesty's grand ambitions. And what they want is only salt, tea, silk, porcelain and other things from our mainland. As for whether to be a minister or not, it is unacceptable. I think the tribute issue can be put aside for the time being."

(End of this chapter)