Chapter 1166: Testing each other, each playing tricks
"The heart of the Prime Minister is admirable!"
Shen Tang said calmly.
"Hahaha!"
Gao Liangcheng laughed again, then pointed at Shen Tang and said, "Shen Tang, you and I are different! Now that I am in my twilight years, I naturally look forward to leisure, but Shen Tang, you are in your prime, in the next few days The world will be yours for ten years! If you have such thoughts, it will not only be a loss to the Song Dynasty, but also a loss to the world!"
"I think back then, when I was as old as you, I had the same ambitions, and the heroes of the world didn't pay attention to me! At that time, I personally raised troops to pacify the thirty-seven tribes in eastern Yunnan. Now that I think about it, it has already passed. It’s been a long time!”
Shen Tang nodded slightly, Gao Liangcheng's achievements in Dali were indeed extraordinary, which is why no one disrespected him even though he had always been in the right position and his power was getting stronger!
"Your Excellency, this is ridiculous!"
"Okay, I won't say any more! Come on, I've already prepared the food and wine, and I'm just waiting for you, the host and guest, to arrive!"
With that said, Gao Liangcheng pulled Shen Tang directly into the hall.
Inside the hall is a large table. Although it is not as formal as a royal banquet, it can still make the banquet feel more intimate.
"Come, sit down! The last time we were in the palace, although you and I had two drinks together, we still couldn't let go.
Now, even if it’s a family banquet, it’s just you and me. Today, we will definitely not come home until we get drunk!”
Yes, there are only two people in the entire hall, Shen Tang and Gao Liangcheng, even the servants and maids are not there!
After pouring wine for Shen Tang himself, Gao Liangcheng picked up the wine glass and said, "Although you and I belong to two countries, we have similar temperaments!"
Seeing that Shen Tang didn't answer, Gao Liangcheng smiled and said, "You think what I said is wrong?"
Without waiting for Shen Tang's answer, he continued, "I have checked a lot of information about you. You became an official at a young age, but you have made great contributions to the country! Although some of the things you do are not understood by outsiders, I can feel it. Get your heart for the country.
And I, the same young man entered the court, and now it has been decades!"
"As far as I am concerned, the so-called high-ranking officials and generous salaries are nothing but clouds. However, if it can contribute to the stability and prosperity of Dali, I am willing to devote my whole life!"
"So, you and I have different positions, but we are all using our own means to achieve our goals."
When Shen Tang heard this, his eyes narrowed slightly. This high-volume man was obviously not a simple person. He smiled slightly and said, "Shen Tang respects the Prime Minister!"
"Drink together!"
The two drank it all in one gulp, and then Gao Liangcheng pointed to the dishes on the table and said, "Although my cook may not be as good as your cook, these dishes are not luxurious, but these side dishes are But each has its own characteristics!”
Shen Tang nodded. Today's high-volume preparations were obviously extremely rich. These dishes were exquisite and elegant, and they were simply pleasing to the eye.
Not long after, the wine was over three rounds and the food was over five! Gao Liangcheng put down the wine glass in his hand, and then asked calmly, "Shen Tang, you should know that the compensation figure you mentioned is impossible! Even if His Majesty agrees No matter what, I will never agree!"
"Dali can't compare with your prosperous land in the south of the Yangtze River, and the tax and population are even different! So, don't say 20 million, even if it is doubled, it is impossible!"
"There is absolutely no point in continuing this stalemate! So, tell me what your bottom line is! As long as the court can reluctantly come up with it, I will grit my teeth and agree!"
Shen Tang smiled slightly, "Master Xiangguo, this is wrong! Tens of thousands of soldiers and horses from your country invaded our country in the Song Dynasty, and the food, grass, ordnance, and military pay are a huge number! What's more, I don't need to say more, Your Excellency Xiangguo also I know that your soldiers and horses looted many state capitals in our Song Dynasty, causing countless losses!"
"That number may be slightly exaggerated, but it is not without reason! If the compensation amount is too small, Shen Tang will firstly fail the trust of His Majesty and the imperial court, and secondly, he will fail the countless refugees on Guangnan West Road!"
"What your Excellency just said, Shen Tang agrees with one point! Shen Tang is indeed dedicated to serving the country. Therefore, Shen Tang said so bluntly, I hope the Prime Minister will not blame him!"
Gao Liangcheng smiled bitterly, "What you said may be reasonable, but no matter what the number is, it only makes sense if Dali can get it. Otherwise, wouldn't this peace negotiation be a joke?
As you just said, this unexpected dispatch of troops has indeed caused great damage. Now the imperial treasury is completely empty. Let alone 20 million, even if it is 200,000, I have to bite the bullet and raise it."
"Master Xiangguo, although Dali is not as big as the Song Dynasty, it still has thousands of miles of territory! Even if you don't have enough money, there is no shortage of materials! No matter what the materials are, as long as your country can gather this amount, Shen Tang will be responsible for the quilt. Your Majesty will not haggle over punishments."
Gao Liangcheng's eyelids twitched, okay... where is the peace talk?
This is like coming to Dali to scrape the land! Even robbery is not so excessive, okay! Compared with the same amount of money, important materials are obviously more valuable! Some materials cannot even be bought with money, you Song Dynasty Of course we are willing, but we don’t agree...
"Why!"
Gao Liangcheng sighed with a grimace, "Our Dali is different from the Song Dynasty!"
"The Emperor of the Song Dynasty serves as the court and is supported by all the people. However, although my royal family in Dali is also the emperor, there are tribes everywhere in Dali!"
"These tribes only follow the orders of the imperial court on the surface, but in fact they have their own agendas! So, to put it bluntly, the imperial court has no final say in where these tribes live.
Therefore, even if I want to compensate with materials, I can’t do it at all!”
The two of them are going back and forth, each trying their best, but who will be willing to give in?
Moreover, what the two want is very different!
Seeing that this was not the solution, Gao Liangcheng sighed repeatedly in his heart. After all, his side was at a disadvantage, and he still took the initiative to seek peace. This kid had remained calm, so he had no choice but to speak first.
"Shen Tang, I won't make it difficult for you! How about the compensation this time be set at one million taels of silver?
If you are willing, even though the court is empty now, even if I give up this face, I will still collect all the one million taels of silver! In this way, you can go back and do business!"
Shen Tang smiled and said, "Your Excellency, the troops of your country plundered more than ten state capitals in the Song Dynasty, killing and injuring hundreds of thousands of people, and looted and destroyed materials that are incalculable! Your Excellency feels that, Is one million taels enough to express Dali's sincerity?"