Chapter 1167: Seeing the poor picture, the country retreats
Chapter 1167: The prime minister gives in after a desperate attempt.
"Shen Tang, this is the limit of what I can do!"
"Master Xiangguo, let's drink together!"
Shen Tang didn't answer the call at all! Just gave him away with one million taels of silver?
What a joke!
Gao Liangcheng drank it all in one gulp, then slammed the glass on the table, "Okay! To express my sincerity! One and a half million taels! Even if I borrow it from each tribe, I will never embarrass you!"
"Xiangguo, is this your country's famous flower wine?
How about giving it to Shen Tang?"
Looking at Shen Tang's plain face, Gao Liangcheng almost wanted to throw the wine glass at his face! This cunning boy was impeccable. What he was afraid of was not that Shen Tang would argue with him. If the two of them argued, it meant that there was something wrong. The need to argue may be close to Shen Tang's bottom line, but now, Shen Tang is talking about him, meaning that he doesn't want to talk at all...
"Two million!"
Gao Liangcheng felt that today's drink was a bit on the high side, "Two million taels of silver! Shen Tang, if it's any more, there's really nothing I can do about it! Whether it succeeds or not, at least give me an explanation! If you still shouldn't, then I have no choice but to ask your Majesty to find someone else to preside over the peace talks..."
Shen Tang's heart moved slightly. It seemed that this number should be Dali's limit.
However, it is a pity that what I want is far from being as simple as money!
"Speaking of which, although your country's territory is not small, it is full of mountains and swamps. Its population is indeed only about three million, which is far behind Jiangnan!"
Gao Liangcheng was slightly startled by Shen Tang's words. Could it be that Shen Tang recognized the number he gave?
"good!"
Gao Liangcheng nodded, "If I, Dali, were as wealthy as your country, I wouldn't hurt my face for a little money! At my old age, I would argue with a young man like you over money. Really, my face is dull.
But in the end there is no way..."
"Actually, it doesn't matter how much the money is!"
Shen Tang responded and said, "To be honest with you, Mr. Xiangguo, I, Shen Tang, have millions of gold and silver, let alone the imperial court?"
"Although our Song Dynasty has not had the same tax in recent years as in previous years, the annual taxes are still in the tens of millions! A few million more or a few million less will not have a crucial impact!"
Gao Liangcheng couldn't understand it at all. These words seemed natural to him. Why did he change the direction now?
What does Shen Tang mean?
"Then...what do you think?"
Shen Tang smiled slightly, "Master Xiangguo, if you spend hundreds of thousands of taels of silver every year, it shouldn't have any impact on Dali!"
"This... if this is the case, I can do it even if I grit my teeth! If two million taels of silver are divided into several years, I will indeed feel a lot more relaxed!"
Gao Liangcheng was full of doubts. Shen Tang was so stubborn just now, why did he suddenly react?
At this time, I can't help myself! After all, isn't what Shen Tang said now exactly what he wants to achieve?
"Master Xiangguo, eight hundred thousand taels per year! How about Dali paying tribute to the Song Dynasty?"
Shen Tang said suddenly.
"Eight hundred thousand?
Okay..." Gao Liangcheng said subconsciously, but the next moment, his expression suddenly condensed, "Sui coins?
What kind of coins?"
Aren't we discussing compensation now?
Why did it suddenly become a Sui coin?
"Master Xiangguo, Shen Tang is also considering Dali!"
Shen Tang said with a smile, "With the national strength of Dali, wouldn't it be unkind if Shen Tang asked for too much money?
As the Prime Minister said, 800,000 per year will not have any impact on your country, and I, the Song Dynasty, also have a little face, isn't this a wonderful thing?"
A lot of intentional sneers, Sui coins?
Why didn't you just ask Dali to surrender?
"Tang Shen, you should know that it is absolutely impossible for me, Dali, to agree to this kind of coins, so you should change your conditions!"
Gao Liangcheng refused directly and said!
"Why does the Prime Minister have to assert so much?"
Shen Tang responded calmly, "Rather than spending tens of millions of taels of money all at once, directly damaging the foundation of your country, why not spend 800,000 yuan every year! As for the annual coins, it is just a name! Prime Minister Adults should know that fame is not as valuable as benefits..."
Gao Liangcheng smiled disdainfully. He really thought that Dali was one of those cowardly emperors of the Song Dynasty. "Shen Tang, there is no need to talk about the annual coins! Don't say it's your Majesty, even an old man won't agree."
Shen Tang looked serious, "Master Xiangguo, Jianchang Mansion has been in turmoil for quite some time! Although Jianchang Mansion is not an important place in your country, it has equally wide influence! And, as far as I know, it is precisely because of Did the trouble in Jianchang Prefecture cause undercurrents in various tribes in eastern Yunnan?"
Gao Liangcheng's expression changed drastically. This was definitely a pain point for him! If not, how could he be willing to take the initiative for peace talks?
"Shen Tang, what do you mean?"
Gao Liangcheng asked in a cold voice!
Shen Tang looked directly at Gao Liangcheng, "Master Xiangguo, sometimes fame and fortune are just a matter of trade-off! I think, compared to the stability of the government, mere reputation is nothing at all!"
"Fifty thousand coins every year, or supplies designated by the Song Dynasty! As long as the Prime Minister agrees, Shen Tang will immediately go to His Majesty and ask His Majesty to issue an edict to King Qiongdu not to invade the Dali border! Moreover, the Song Dynasty can do it on his behalf. King Qiongdu promises never to violate the border! This is the minimum requirement of the Song Dynasty for compensation. If the Prime Minister still does not agree, then let them continue talking tomorrow!"
"Shen Tang has plenty of time to continue the discussion with Mr. Xiangguo, but I don't know how much time Mr. Xiangguo has!"
"The strength of the tribes in eastern Yunnan is not weak. Now as long as the tribes in Qiongbu Prefecture retreat, Mr. Xiangguo can easily eliminate this hidden danger. They can only continue to cause it and wait for Mr. Xiangguo to continue to divide and weaken their strength.
However, if there is a rebellion in eastern Yunnan, Shen Tang’s conditions may not be just like this!"
Gao Liangcheng's expression changed, and he stared at Shen Tang with a pair of tiger eyes!
How could he not know the importance of what Shen Tang said?
But, Sui coins...this is Sui coins!
After a long while, Gao Liangcheng suddenly let out a long sigh, Shen Tang's eyes flashed with light, and Gao Liangcheng said, "I can't decide this matter..."
Even so, Shen Tang was ecstatic in his heart! It’s done! At least for this first step, as long as Gao Liangcheng didn’t continue to refuse outright, it meant that he already had a tendency in his heart!
"It doesn't matter, the Prime Minister can discuss with His Majesty first before making a decision!"
Shen Tang said kindly.
Gao Liang smiled bitterly in his heart. This time the peace talks were indeed a bit difficult. The other party was holding on to its own weakness. What else could Dali do besides surrender?
With the current situation, Dali has no confidence to be tough!