Although the principle is such a principle, the words used both internally and externally are all borrowed.
But the question is, will they really pay it back then?
Lu Heng looked at Xu Qingqiang and smiled and said, "Your Majesty, is it inappropriate to turn the free payment into a loan?"
Xu Qing sighed and said, "My country of Chu really wants to help your country, but our country of Chu is really in trouble. After two consecutive years of fighting, where is the extra money? Besides, it's not like we won't pay it back, so what do you have to worry about?"
?”
Lu Heng listened to Xu Qing's words and felt only a wry smile in his heart.
It seems that if we want to get the Chu State to send troops, we can’t do it without spending the military expenses.
Thinking about the current situation in Zhao State, Lu Heng said: "This envoy needs to report to His Majesty that I will make the decision."
Xu Qing nodded, took out a military supply list, and said: "This is natural. Anyway, our country of Chu has no money now, so there is no point in hurrying."
The corner of Lu Heng's mouth twitched as he opened the military supply list handed over by Xu Qing.
Really, our Zhao country has been invaded by foreign enemies, so we can't just hope for their benefit, okay?
But when Lu Heng scanned the piece of paper in his hand, he couldn't help but swallowed: "So many? How many people do your country plan to send?"
Xu Qing coughed twice and said, "I have misunderstood. This money is not just for the military expenses of this expedition. Our Chu State's treasury is empty and heavily in debt, and I want to borrow two million to relieve our urgent needs."
Lu Heng:???
When this occurs in my mind, it’s not that I have a problem, it’s that I think you have a problem.
He has no intention of acting at all, right?
Good guy, you also borrowed two million?
They originally wanted the Chu State to send troops to fulfill the following contractual obligations.
It's better now. Not only do we have to pay for the military expenses, but we also need to lend them two million!
This is like what?
I asked the other party how much it would cost to build a brothel worth 20,000 silver.
The other party replied that I would need about 100,000 taels, because I also want to build a ten-cent house and a restaurant and also open a bank.
Is there anyone like him?
Not only do you need military expenses, but you also need to borrow two million taels?
Lu Heng even thought that if he continued to talk to this envoy of the Chu State, he would become angry and sick.
Then I thought about it, after all, the money spent by the court was not spent on my own, and His Majesty didn't say anything, so why should I be anxious?
Anyway, Your Majesty is not short of money.
You have paid tribute to Shezhao for so many years, so what’s wrong with lending it to Chu?
After the first round of negotiations ended, Xu Qing and Long Binger arrived home one after another.
It is impossible for two people to get together. There are many people in the capital and they have to avoid suspicion.
Besides, Xu Qing had just defrauded Zhao State of so much money. If someone saw that the envoys and deputy envoys of the two countries were walking away together, and the envoy of Chu State also blackmailed Zhao State for a sum of money, it would be very harmful to Long Bing'er.
It had an impact on the reputation of Zhao State.
Andinghou Mansion
Long Bing'er was still washing vegetables, and Xu Qing had just lit the fire.
Xu Qing looked at Long Bing'er and said, "I can't help it. The country is in a bit of trouble and the money required is a bit too much. You don't mind, right?"
Long Bing'er said with an indifferent expression: "Anyway, if you don't give it to the Chu State, you still have to give it to the Chu State. There is still a little less."
When Xu Qing heard this, he immediately showed an annoyed expression: "Oh, it's still going to be less."
Long Bing'er said: "Then we are not allowed to raise the price. The money of the State of Zhao is also the wealth of the people. Those merchants evade taxes more and more. If they cannot pay in full, the government can't do anything."
Xu Qing nodded and said, "Okay, since my wife has spoken, I will naturally obey her."
Long Bing'er blushed when she heard Xu Qing's frivolous words: "Who is your wife..."
Xu Qing said: "You don't admit it now, do you? When we were at the Liuzhou Inn, you pressed me against the wall..."
Long Bing'er immediately put the washed vegetables on the cutting board, her eyes evasive: "After washing, I...I'll cut the meat..."
Xiao Ruxue, who was huddled at the door of the kitchen and peeked in secretly, was full of curiosity. What happened to Sister Bing'er when she was at the Liuzhou Inn?
I used to help wash the dishes myself, but now Sister Bing'er has taken them away...
The capital of Zhao State
In an inconspicuous little courtyard
Standing in front of Prime Minister Qin of the State of Zhao, who was dressed in regular clothes, was a man in blue.
At this time, Prime Minister Qin didn't look very good. He looked at the man in blue and said, "Are you crazy? Why are you attacking the border so day and night?"
The man in blue smiled and said: "We did what Xiang Qin said. The Emperor of Zhao was unwilling to increase the annual payment, so we attacked one of his cities and two cities to let him know whether the annual payment should be increased.
I would also like to thank Prime Minister Qin for giving us the border information so that our attack could go so smoothly. General Long, who uses his troops like a god, is nothing more than that. It seems he is getting old."
At this point, the man in blue seemed to have just remembered something, and said: "Oh, by the way, this is a matter of mutual benefit. We Onuma don't need to thank Prime Minister Qin. After all, how can we still do this?
If it rises, the benefits that Prime Minister Qin can earn from it will naturally rise with it."
Prime Minister Qin said solemnly: "Is it just a matter of simply attacking one or two cities? I have never seen your attacks be so fierce in the past. Are you not afraid of excessive casualties?"
The man in blue chuckled and said: "We can't help it. It's all thanks to Prime Minister Qin who told us that all the combat power of the Zhenxi Army has been transferred to encircle and suppress King Ming. Today's Zhenxi Army is not even elite, not even fully organized.
Well, we don’t encounter such a weak Zhenxi Army every time, so the offensive will naturally become more intense.”
Prime Minister Qin snorted coldly and said, "Is that an offensive to increase the annual payment? You are clearly targeting the capital!"
The man in blue said: "We are used to being ministers, and we also want to try what it's like to be a king. If we can finally capture the capital, Prime Minister Qin will be our biggest contributor. Naturally, Prime Minister Qin will be indispensable.
benefits.”
Qin Xiang gritted his teeth and said: "You... how dare you..."
The man in blue kindly reminded: "If Prime Minister Qin is fine, it is best to go back as soon as possible. If the prime minister of a country is found to be conspiring with me, it will also be a trouble for Prime Minister Qin."
Just as the two talked.
Even with General Long and the Zhenxi Army guarding the border, Shezhao State was able to successfully force Zhao Guo to hand over more annual tribute every time. A large part of the reason was that Qin Xianghui deployed the Zhenxi Army in a timely manner.
The secret was passed to Shezhao Kingdom.
As long as the state of Zhao pays more annual payments, then Prime Minister Qin will also earn more benefits from it.
It can be said that every increase in the annual payment has a share of the credit of Prime Minister Qin.
The greatest hero of Shezhao was not in Shezhao, but in the court of Zhao.
At the same time, the emperor of Shezhao admired General Long very much.
The person who understood how powerful General Long was better than the Xian King was none other than the Emperor of Shezhao.
Even though they had advance knowledge of troop deployment, baits, traps, etc., General Long was still able to make timely adjustments to inflict heavy casualties on them.
Such a general can indeed be described as using his troops like a god.