Since he was given the choice, Gao Shengtai would naturally not let the military lords of the Song Dynasty ruin the Gao family's territory. But Gao Shengtai didn't expect that the lords of the Song Dynasty were really picky. He recommended several places but they didn't agree. It wasn't because he disliked Li.
The water was far away, but the terrain was not good, and he even had to pay attention to Feng Shui. He had no choice but to let the people of Tianchao choose.
After choosing and choosing, they finally chose the Dongchuan area along the Beipan River, with high mountains and deep waters, and clusters of peaks. This area nominally belongs to the Gao family, but it is close to the Duan family's Yuchan Mansion. Gao Shengtai is naturally happy for them to harass the Duan family.
, and agreed immediately.
The problem of military rations was not so easy to solve. The Song army asked for 200,000 dan of rations! Gao Shengtai was so sad at that time... Even if the Song army really had 60,000 people, 200,000 dan would be enough for half a year! Plan
Long term stay or what?
And the Song Army not only wanted food? They also had to eat salt, meat, vegetables, and oil... Looking at the long list issued by the Song Army, Gao Shengtai felt dizzy for a while. If it were left to them, the Gao family's seemingly
The rich family fortune must be emptied out.
But he didn't dare to offend the uncle of the Song Dynasty, so he had to beg Chen Ke for a reduction or exemption.
But Chen Ke just sneered and said: "Your Gao family is unwilling to pay this money and food, but some of them are willing to pay."
Even though the clay figurine was also earthy, Gao Shengtai finally couldn't help but retorted: "You may not know that in Dali country, if our Gao family can't afford it, other families can't afford it either."
"That's not necessarily the case. If the Gao family doesn't want to go out, we, the Duan family, will go out!" With a clear and sweet voice, Duan Mingyue, the princess of Dali, dressed in a pink palace dress, appeared in the big tent. She gave Chen Ke a deep blessing and raised her head.
Come, there were tears on that pretty face. She took two steps forward and said in a trembling voice: "Sir, it turns out you are still alive..."
"Haha," Chen Kexin said. This little girl's acting skills have improved. When she wanted to cooperate, she felt murderous intent behind her... Then she remembered that Liu Yue'e was still there, so she immediately put on a serious face and said: "It's a long story, but to make it short
, that is, in short, I am still alive."
A strong life doesn't need a reason, I just don't die. What's going on?
"It's great." Duan Mingyue wiped her tears and said, "Nu Nu thought that she would never see the master again. For a moment, all thoughts were lost, and she wanted to follow Quanxia. Who knew that she heard that the master appeared to attack Nong?
Among the heavenly soldiers under my command, I hurriedly came from Dali City to have a look. Sure enough, I saw the Lord..." As he said this, he couldn't help but shed tears.
As soon as he saw Duan Mingyue appear, Gao Shengtai's expression changed. He was no longer as groveling as before. Instead, he regained the reserve of a young master from an aristocratic family. How could he tolerate Duan Mingyue, who kept getting close to Chen Kezhi? He said in a deep voice.
: "Sister Mingyue, don't cry or cry. Your Excellency is discussing something with your brother."
"What I'm talking about is serious business." Duan Mingyue turned around, no trace of crying could be seen and said: "If your Gao family doesn't want to take two hundred thousand stones of military rations, my Duan family will pay for it!"
"Sister, don't be too harsh with words. Your Duan family only digs up a single area, but also supports tens of thousands of clan members in the capital. How can you get 200,000 shi of food reserves?"
"The Duan family has more people but less land. The food rations are tight. But the army of the Celestial Empire is here for us, so we should reduce our clothing and diet in order to treat the king." Duan Mingyue looked at Gao Shengtai calmly and said: "The Xichan Mansion has just
The summer grain collected is exactly 200,000 dan, and the Duan family is willing to contribute all of it."
"Then there are tens of thousands of people in the capital, so why don't you drink the northwest wind?" Gao Shengtai didn't believe it.
"I don't have to worry about it anymore, Your Majesty." Duan Mingyue said calmly.
"You..." Gao Shengtai became angry and looked at Duan Mingyue coldly.
Duan Mingyue also looked back at him coldly.
"Hahaha. Okay..." Chen Ke walked down from the tent, separated the two people from looking at each other, invited Princess Mingyue to take the seat and said: "Princess, I understand the righteousness, and I am deeply grateful. On behalf of our commander-in-chief, I would like to express my gratitude to the Duan family.
My most sincere thanks. The Duan family will always be our good friends!"
Seeing Chen Ke leaving him aside, Gao Shengtai knew that he was deliberately trying to ignore him, and felt angry, but he had to look at him and said: "Sir, it is too difficult for the Duan family to sell iron, so let us, the Gao family, do it."
"Isn't it true that the Gao family can't afford it?" Chen Ke glanced at him and said, "It's really hard to do anything..."
"Let's do our best, but at least we don't have to take away the people's food rations like the Duan family did." Gao Shengtai laughed dryly and said: "I hope the master and the commander-in-chief can understand the sincerity of the Gao family."
"Hahaha..." Chen Ke turned around, took Gao Shengtai's hand and said, "Of course, the prince and I hit it off right away. When it comes to friendship, there is no one in Dali who is stronger than us."
"Sir, my Duan family's grain will be delivered today." Duan Mingyue said from behind him: "Zhenchan Mansion is rich in products and all industries are prosperous. We are willing to serve the Song Dynasty wholeheartedly."
"I, the Gao family, lead the thirty-seven divisions in eastern Yunnan, and I will do my best to serve Master Wang!" Gao Shengtai also risked his life.
"This..." Seeing that the two of them were still inevitably fighting each other, Chen Ke snickered in his heart, but said with a distressed look on his face: "I didn't expect that the people of Dali are so enthusiastic. Who do you want and who don't? It puts us in a dilemma." After a pause.
He said at once: "Well, let's rest for a while, and let the officials go and ask for instructions from the commander-in-chief."
"Sir, all the food and grass needed by the Chinese army in Dali." Gao Shengtai gritted his teeth and said with determination: "The Gao family has shouldered all the responsibilities!"
"Oh?" Chen Ke looked at Duan Mingyue, meaning, can your Duan family do it?
Duan Mingyue shook her head with a pale face. The Duan family was really powerless...
"Both of you, sit down for a moment. I'll be back soon after I leave." Chen Ke nodded to the two of them and left the tent.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As soon as Chen Ke went out, everyone from the Song Dynasty left. Only Gao Shengtai, Duan Mingyue, and their servants were left in the tent.
The two of them sat facing each other, staring at each other with big eyes and small eyes. Gao Shengtai usually coveted Princess Mingyue, who was known as the 'Dali Mingyue', but at this moment, he felt that her pretty face was so disgusting: "
Mingyue, what is the involvement of women in men’s affairs?”
"There are some things in this world that are easier for women to take action than for men." Duan Mingyue chuckled and said, "Don't you know that Master Chen is Nunu's teacher?"
"Master Chen..." Gao Shengtai couldn't hold back the evil fire in his heart and said sarcastically: "Didn't he get assassinated in Dali City?"
"Nu Nu doesn't know what's going on," Duan Mingyue said with a faint smile: "Didn't Mr. Chen just say it - it's a long story. If you are surprised, just ask him directly."
Gao Shengtai said heartily, I am full after eating, and said in a low voice: "I know what you are here to do, but you can't even think of succeeding."
"I also know what you are here to do, and you can't even hope to succeed!" Duan Mingyue said tit for tat.
"Haha..." Gao Shengtai sneered and said: "I don't believe it. My Gao family is two thousand miles east of Yunnan and millions of people can't stand up to your four taels! Besides, the commander-in-chief of the Celestial Army is not Mr. Chen.
But there is someone else!"
"You bastard!" These words were too damaging, pointing directly at Duan Mingyue for betraying her lust. She was so angry that her pretty face turned red and she said, "Don't forget, my brother invited the Celestial Army!"
"Whatever China wants, my Gao family can do. And we don't need the Chinese army to do anything!" Gao Shengtai sneered repeatedly: "But you are different, you want them to fight for you! I don't trust the officials of the Chinese Dynasty.
We will not know what choice to make."
"You..." Although Duan Mingyue looked unhappy, she had to admit that what the other party said was right.
In fact, the Gao family flattered the Song people so much just to keep the Celestial Army away from the battlefield of the Dali Civil War. The Duan family's purpose was exactly the opposite. They hoped that the Song army would arrive in Dali City as soon as possible, eliminate the Yang rebels, and help them suppress the rebellion.
To house those ambitious princes... To put it bluntly, it means to keep the Gao family in check.
This is also the result that the Duan family wanted in exchange for their willingness to offer their land and become their subjects.
But the Gao family intervened and changed things - in fact, the Gao family did not want the Song army to enter Dali, so they hurriedly took off Nong Zhigao's head and presented it to the heaven. But this still could not stop the Song Dynasty.
After all, Duan Silian's invitation was the reason for the army's entry, so he came with confidence!
The Gao family could only settle for the next best thing, hoping that the Chinese army would stay as far away from Dali City as possible.
For their respective goals, both the Gao family and the Duan family are willing to pay a heavy price. However, the Gao family is far richer than the Duan family. This is an indisputable fact. Moreover, the Gao family is also keen to grasp that the Song army's expedition will definitely
Try to avoid meaningless losses and be sure that you will win.
After an excruciating wait for a long time, Chen Ke finally left and returned. He smiled apologetically at Duan Mingyue, bowed to Gao Shengtai and said, "Your Majesty, our commander-in-chief has invited you."
"Sir..." Duan Mingyue's voice was like a cuckoo weeping blood. It was unbearable to hear: "The Song Dynasty can't cheat the Duan family!"
"Princess, what are you talking about?" Chen Ke smiled and said, "The commander-in-chief will talk to the prince, and I will talk to you. Do you think I am not high enough?"
"I don't dare..." Duan Mingyue said sadly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gao Shengtai was led to the commander's tent and met Fan Zhen, the commander-in-chief of the Song army.
After the great ceremony and worship, Fan Zhen gave him a seat and said: "Zhong Fang told me that the Gao family is willing to bear the food and grass for the Song army in Dali to welcome him?"
"Yes." Gao Shengtai said with blood in his heart. Although the Gao family has a vast territory and sufficient food, it can feed another 60,000 mouths, but in this way, all the money saved for the sake of becoming king and hegemony will have to be emptied.
But for the sake of the overall situation, we can only tighten our belts first and suffer the hardships of all the people...
"The Gao family is not a royal family," Fan Zhen did not thank him, but looked at him steadily and said, "Why do you have to shoulder such a heavy responsibility?"
