Zhang Yang followed Li Chengqian and Fang Xuanling all the way to Wude Hall.

"Since Grandpa Huang went to Lishan, my father would often come to Wude Hall to relax." Li Chengqian explained as he walked along, and asked again: "I wonder how Grandpa Huang is doing in Lishan now?"

"He lived a very fulfilling life in Lishan."

"Tian Gu will also go to Lishan Mountain to meet Grandpa Huang in a few days."

Talking along the way, he followed Fang Xuanling to Wude Hall.

Li Shimin was sitting in the palace, eating his meal.

Fang Xuanling walked in front and stepped into the palace and said: "Your Majesty, the negotiations between the Foreign Affairs Council and Lu Dongzan have ended."

Li Shimin nodded slightly, still eating mutton in his mouth.

Fang Xuanling handed over several volumes of documents, "Your Majesty, they have all been recorded in the eucalyptus."

The Tian Khan first wiped his fat hands, then picked up the documents and looked through them, still chewing them in his mouth.

I don’t know if the emperor washes his hands before eating, but his concept of hygiene is as worrying as ever.

"Zhang Yang, did Lu Dongzan agree to these conditions?"

Hearing this and seeing Fang Xuanling's eyes, Zhang Yang stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, regardless of whether Lu Dongtsen and Songtsen Gampo agree or not, this is what Datang wants to fight for."

After flipping through these documents, Li Shimin smiled again, "Five thousand hectares of land, plus 300,000 guan. If you don't give it, we will take away the holy mountain of Tibet, and Songtsen Gampo will come to pay tribute next year..."

After saying this, Li Shimin put down the documents and said, "You really can speak."

"Your Majesty, since Songtsen Gampo is the monarch of Tibet, he must pay the due price for his words and deeds and the reason why he attacked the Tang Dynasty."

Li Shimin asked again: "If these five thousand hectares of land are to be managed, will the court need to send more manpower and officials?"

Zhang Yang nodded, "That's right. We need to send people to educate the Tibetan herdsmen, let them learn Guanzhong dialect, and make them literate and write articles."

"How much money do you think this will cost?"

Zhang Yang frowned and said, "Is Your Majesty negotiating the cost with me?"

Li Shimin nodded and said: "How easy is it to govern a bitter and cold place like Tubo?"

Zhang Yang cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, there are three great lakes in Tubo."

"Three Great Lakes?"

Taking another step forward, Zhang Yang said in confusion: "Zhabu, Sugan, and Xihai are the three largest salt lakes in Tubo, and they are rich in minerals."

"Salt? Salt Lake?" Li Shimin swallowed hard the mutton he was chewing, and then took a sip of tea. "Is it really Salt Lake?"

"That is natural, it is recorded in the classics, and His Royal Highness the King of Wei is asking Cen Wenwen and others to compile geography. I think His Majesty knows all these things."

After another thought, Zhang Yang spoke again: "If your Majesty feels that governance is too troublesome, it is better to leave it to me. Although I don't have many manpower at my disposal, as long as I take my time, I will be able to develop it sooner or later."

Li Shimin cleared his throat vigorously, "Have I said no? I'm just... thinking about manpower arrangements."

Zhang Yang nodded clearly, "That's right, then I'll be relieved. I still advise your majesty to study more and become a literate person. Even such a big salt lake doesn't know how to deal with it. If this happens,

It’s very embarrassing to be laughed at.”

"You mean I haven't studied enough?"

"I urge your Majesty to study more."

"..."

Li Shimin stared and was speechless for a while.

I still have some doubts and puzzles in my heart. Tubo actually has three large salt lakes in these five thousand hectares of land?

If you don't know about this, you have to think of your son's compilation of topography, and later on geography.

Of course, just after hearing these words, who knows what Qingque asked people to compile.

I have never asked about it, and I will not be idle reading the topography about Tubo.

Li Shimin put his hands on the table, "I will arrange for people to manage them. Are these three salt lakes very big?"

Zhang Yang nodded and said: "It's very big. There are salt lakes along the snow-capped mountains for nearly ten thousand miles. Congratulations to Your Majesty that the court will be able to produce its own salt in the future. However, the salt from the salt lake needs to be refined before it can be eaten, and it is all fine salt."

"Of course I understand." Li Shimin still nodded. As the emperor, he now felt that the three hundred thousand guan was not important. If it was true what Zhang Yang said, there would be no shortage of salt in the Tang Dynasty.

Fine salt has always been expensive, so I certainly understand its value.

Although his heart was burning, Li Shimin looked very calm, "Is this the explanation you want to give me?"

"Of course that's not all. The snow-capped mountains to the west of Tubo can also be captured. Once the snow-capped mountains are captured and the Tubo herdsmen are civilized, there will be no more wars in the west of the Central Plains. Congratulations to your majesty, we are one step closer to the great cause of eternal life."

Fang Xuanling and Li Chengqian also bowed and saluted.

What is the concept of North Korea and China being able to obtain fine salt? There is no need to guard against these salt merchants in the future.

Li Shimin looked at his son-in-law again. The way this boy was bargaining with me was very annoying, but the benefits this boy can bring to the court are also huge.

Looking at Fang Xuanling again, Li Shimin said: "How does Mr. Fang think we should prepare for this matter?"

Fang Xuanling bowed and said: "Your Majesty, I think we should send people to Tubo to inspect the three major lakes. If salt can be produced, the salt can be transported to Guanzhong. Zhongshu will discuss with the provincial capital to arrange manpower and send officials to manage it."

Zhang Yang added: "Your Majesty, although these three lakes are a huge wealth, we must seize the three hundred thousand silver."

"I understand."

"Why does Your Majesty nod so perfunctorily?"

"..."

Li Shimin was speechless for a while. Do you want me to hold a banquet to thank him for his contribution to the Tang Dynasty?

Listening to the conversation between his father and Zhang Yang, Li Chengqian held his forehead in pain, and it was like this again. Zhang Yang didn't know what was wrong with him recently, so it was fine to just listen to him say a few words. If he talked too much, he would feel like he would be choked to death.

.

Could it be possible that he also learned this from Mr. Zheng?

Soon, Li Chengqian immediately rejected the idea. Zheng Ping was very kind and comfortable talking to him, unlike Zhang Yang, who hit the nail on the head and made it difficult to refute.

A huge fortune was in front of him, and Li Shimin felt that paying off his son-in-law's money was just around the corner.

Asking the eunuch on the side to remove the food in front of him, Li Shimin stood up and said loudly: "Zhang Yang, do you have any specific arrangements in mind? There are only the prime minister and the prince here, so you don't need to be secretive."

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! "I understand." After saluting again, Zhang Yang continued: "First, control the Western Regions, and secondly, contain and govern Tubo. If Tubo can also conquer all the people,

If we return home, then we can talk about Tibet's inclusion in the territory of the Tang Dynasty. I think it will be the best time to let Songtsen Gampo come to Chang'an next year."

Seeing Li Shimin nod, Zhang Yang continued: "Your Majesty should eat less meat and wine, as this is not good for your health."

Li Shimin, who just felt in a good mood, was poured cold water on him again.

"Your Majesty should also pay more attention to the establishment of official schools. As for the affairs of Western Turks, please leave it to the Foreign Affairs Council to handle it with full authority."

Li Shimin nodded slowly, "I will ask Xuan Ling to go to your Diplomatic Academy. For your arrangement, the Ministry of Public Affairs can also arrange manpower for you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will take my leave first." Just as he was about to leave, Zhang Yang turned around and warned again: "Your Majesty, eat less greasy food and drink less alcohol. Your Majesty looks bad today, so you should pay more attention to your health."

"I understand."

Li Shimin was extremely annoyed. This guy was becoming more and more like Wei Zheng, and he might even be worse than Wei Zheng in the future.

The achievements made by the Foreign Affairs Academy are no different from opening up new territories.

This was the first time that Li Shimin felt that if the Diplomatic Academy could be used well, it could have military exploits comparable to those of thousands of troops.

After discussing with Fang Xuanling for a long time, Li Shimin returned to the Zhengzheng Hall. He hung up a huge map, which showed the territory of the Tang Dynasty and the territory of Tubo.

Seeing the smile on Li Shimin's face, Empress Changsun smiled and said: "Your Majesty seems to be in a good mood."

"I used to underestimate the Foreign Affairs Academy."

"Is the matter with Tubo completed?"

"Well." Li Shimin drew a circle on the land, enclosing the Western Regions, Tubo and Gaochang. "This boy often encourages me, saying that I must be ambitious. As long as things go well, this large area will be my Tang Dynasty."

territory.”

Empress Changsun put a coat on Li Shimin and said, "I congratulate Your Majesty."

Li Shimin nodded and said: "Recovering the four towns of Anxi during the Han Dynasty and recovering Tubo seems to be not enough for Zhang Yang."

"Zhang Yang is usually a diligent and frugal person. How could someone like him be so ambitious?"

"Ms. Guanyin, does she know that when Zhang Yang erected a monument for his teacher, he has never paid homage to her yet?"

Queen Changsun said doubtfully: "Your Majesty should not speculate on the thoughts of your ministers like this. Since it is a matter of erecting a monument, you cannot think about Zhang Yang's character like this."

"You mean I shouldn't pursue it?"

"It's not that we shouldn't be held accountable, but we can't be held accountable." Empress Changsun said in a low voice: "Those days are not the same as they are now. Zhang Yang has been a country boy since he started his career in Chang'an. I think it doesn't matter who he studied under, the important thing is

What kind of person is Zhang Yang?"

Li Shimin nodded and said, "What you said makes sense."

Empress Changsun bowed slightly and said, "I have made a mistake."

In front of other concubines, His Majesty will not talk about court affairs. Only in front of the Queen can His Majesty talk about trivial matters in the court, and can also say some true words in front of the Queen.
To be continued...