The main reason why Ilt is so eager to obtain the secret recipe for canned food is the special military environment of their country. The Byzantine Empire is also the so-called Eastern Roman Empire. In fact, they and the food empire established by the Arabs can be said to be a pair of old friends.
Enemies, the two sides have been fighting for who knows how many years. Even if they work together to force Li Qi out, it is just because at that moment, their interests are unified, but in fact they are still hostile in private.
This is why he rushed to see Li Qi before Muhammad did.
However, Byzantium's wars with countries such as Cathay or Africa were almost fought around the Mediterranean.
The reason why the Byzantine Empire was powerful was that they had the most powerful Mediterranean navy in the early Middle Ages. Therefore, the power of the navy was extremely critical to their survival and the expansion of the empire.
Nowadays, if they want to further consolidate their hegemony at sea, canned food is indispensable. In fact, the emergence of canned food in later generations is because the soldiers at sea suffered from scurvy because they could not eat fresh vegetables and fruits for a long time.
, losing lives is a problem that is difficult to solve for the navies of various countries today. However, due to Li Qi's time travel, canned food was released hundreds of years in advance, and this problem was solved very well. It is conceivable that
, a navy with cans will obviously have an absolute advantage when facing a navy without cans.
It's a pity that Li Qi also understands this truth. If he was just a businessman, he might be tempted, but he still shoulders the responsibility of training a powerful navy for the Song Dynasty, and canned food is the biggest advantage that he can bring as a cook
.
This is really a rich man. If others give money and treasures, why don't you just give them to the island? Li Qi was a little stunned. If this happened in later generations, he would have agreed, but now there is no international law. Everyone is like a bandit.
Same. The Mediterranean Sea is thousands of miles away from the Song Dynasty. Without the protection of the army, any guarantee is useless. Therefore, he still rejected Yilt.
This made Ilt very disappointed, but there was no way, his navy couldn't defeat it, so he had no choice but to return disappointed.
The next day, Muhammad led a group of envoys to seek an audience with him.
During this day, Li Qi had asked Qin Hui to find out more about the grievances between Byzantium and Dashi. Last night, he had already expected that Muhammad would come to see him today. He also understood why they would rush to see him and the bet.
The root cause of the occurrence.
Li Qi went out with a group of servants to greet him.
As soon as Muhammad saw Li Qi, he gave Li Qi a deep bow in the Han Chinese way and said gratefully: "Saudi Arabia cannot repay the economic envoy's life-saving grace. I also ask the economic envoy to accept Saudi Arabia's gift."
Li Qi did not expect this. He was stunned and quickly helped Muhammad up and said: "Prince Saudi Arabia made a strong statement. In fact, I am also responsible for this matter."
"ah?"
Muhammad looked at Li Qi in astonishment.
Li Qi stretched out his hand and said, "Everyone, let's talk inside the house."
As soon as they arrived at the house, Muhammad and others gathered around the burning fireplace and marveled. In fact, it was not the first time they had seen this fireplace, but they asked many people. No one knew the secret, they only knew this
It was invented by Li Qi.
A food envoy smiled and asked: "Economic envoy, I heard that you made this fireplace?"
If I say yes, you will definitely ask me to tell you the secret. This technology also costs money! Li Qi shook his head and said: "To be honest, I actually came up with the idea of this fireplace, but I didn't make it.
It was developed by the skilled craftsmen of our Song Dynasty."
Sure enough, after hearing this, Mohammed's eyes flashed with disappointment. Obviously, it would not be easy for them to take this fireplace back to the Western Regions. At the same time, he also understood that the opponent he encountered today was definitely a
A businessman who was careful about calculations said with a smile: "Your country is really full of outstanding people, and this fireplace is really a good thing."
Sample! Play this trick with my brother. Li Qi said very "generously": "Prince Saudi Arabia has given me the award. This is just a stove. If your country needs it, wait until our Zuixianju construction team comes back from Jiangnan."
, I order them to go to your country again and help your country build this fireplace. They can even send a team to station in your country."
This man is really shrewd. Even if it is a small stove, he will not let go easily. Muhammad glanced at Li Qi and knew that it was rare to take advantage of him today. He smiled and said: "That's troublesome.
The economy worked.”
"Where, where."
Li Qi stretched out his hand and said, "Everyone, please sit down. Please sit down."
A group of people sat down in front of the fireplace.
Muhammad asked: "By the way, what did the economic envoy say just now in front of the door mean?"
Li Qi sighed and said: "Actually, that night, I saw you getting more and more excited after eating. In this winter day, you were sweating like rain, so I knew that you had overdosed. What I could have stopped at that time was just -
--."
Although Li Qi had not finished what he said, Muhammad had already understood and hurriedly said: "The economic envoy must not say that. Even if the economic envoy tried to stop me at that time, I may not necessarily listen. If I don't do it, I will still feel in my heart."
I was suspicious. Now that I think about it, in fact, you have told me secretly several times. It’s just that I was too stupid to react. All of this is my own fault. If it weren’t for financial reasons, I’m afraid I would have---all in all, thank you very much for this time.
The economy worked.”
"Prince Saudi Arabia is too polite. You are all my most distinguished guests in the Song Dynasty. How can I refuse to save you?" Li Qi said politely.
Muhammad nodded slightly to express his gratitude, and then said: "I heard from the people below that the economic envoy seemed to know this fruit very well, and said that this fruit is called coffee beans in the economic envoy's hometown? Could it be that the economic envoy's hometown also has this kind of fruit?
fruit."
Oops! You went too far. Li Qi rolled his eyes and suddenly let out a long sigh and said: "Speaking of these coffee beans, oh, I am so unfilial!"
Muhammad asked curiously: "Unfilial? How can we start talking about economics?"
Li Qi began to lie: "To tell you the truth, my ancestor once visited your country and saw this fruit. Later he bought some seeds and cultivated them in his hometown, and named them coffee trees. Unfortunately, I am young and ignorant.
.I killed the three remaining trees in my family, so that my father beat me violently---well...I blamed me. I once swore a vow that I would give my father three coffee trees back in my lifetime.
Tree, but now it seems that this is more difficult than climbing to the sky."
As he spoke, his voice began to choke. His acting skills were amazing!
After all, this was the second time Muhammad had dealt with Li Qi. Who would have thought that this economic envoy was completely different from the ordinary officials of the Song Dynasty. He did not understand the way of a gentleman at all. He would lie when he opened his mouth. Those who were deceived by him
, there are countless others. When I saw what he said so emotionally, I believed it deeply and thought, he and I have the grace to save my life, why don’t I use this to repay him this favor and establish a friendship. Hehe said: "Economy makes true
I am a filial son. In fact, what is the difficulty in this? I did not know that the economic envoy had such a fate with this fruit, so I did not bring saplings here. However, when I returned this time, I immediately sent someone to send some saplings to the economic envoy.
Do you think it’s okay to repay the economic mission’s life-saving grace?”
Of course not, do you know coffee? Besides, I have to wait until the end of the Year of the Monkey for you to deliver it slowly! Li Qi said ecstatically: "That's really grateful. However, how dare I trouble Prince Saudi Arabia to do it myself. I
Look, when you go back, there will be some businessmen from the Song Dynasty who are also going to your country to do business. Just let them bring them with you. I just want to trouble the Saudi prince to help them. Also, I hope the Saudi prince will not ask for it.
What kind of salvation are you talking about? Li Qi really deserves it!"
"Yes, yes, just do as the economic envoy says. The economic envoy is kind-hearted and Saudi Arabia really admires him."
Wow! In my two lifetimes, this is the first time I heard someone say that I have a kind heart. It’s really touching. However, this guy doesn’t know much about Chinese and uses idioms randomly, right? Li Qi had tears in his eyes,
He said: "Prince Saudi Arabia is very understanding of me. I have a hunch that these coffee beans will become a testimony of the friendship between our two countries."
This economic envoy is really a very affectionate person! Muhammad couldn't help but feel a little surprised when he saw that Li Qi was moved by him so easily. Little did he know that Li Qi was excited and happy about the coming coffee culture.
How can I not be impressed by a bearded man?
For Li Qi, coffee beans are the top priority today. There is no coffee today, and Arabs still use the most primitive and barbaric method to directly eat coffee beans and absorb the juice. It is conceivable that once coffee is developed,
How much of the economy will be stimulated, and the court will also gain a lot of profits, or even more than that.
However, this process was much simpler than Li Qi thought. The main reason was that he saved Muhammad's life. Secondly, the value of the coffee beans is just this, far less than that of food. That's why Muhammad
Xie Di readily agreed. But he didn’t know whether he would be proud of this decision or depressed if he drank his first expensive cup of coffee a few years later.
Several people exchanged some polite words. Muhammad then said seriously: "To be honest, I am waiting for you today because I have something to ask the economic envoy for help."
Obviously, he already knew that Yilt had failed and returned, so he did not imitate Yilt and directly use money to impress Li Qi. Instead, he used the word "begging", which undoubtedly increased his sincerity.
Li Qi smiled bitterly and said: "Isn't the Saudi prince here also for canned food?"
Muhammad said: "Exactly."
Li Qi shook his head and said: "Prince Saudi Arabia must have known about this matter. I rejected Yilt yesterday. I think Prince Saudi Arabia's trip will be in vain."
At this time, a big food merchant said: "Recently I heard that your country is going to open up maritime trade under the advice of the economic envoy. However, if there are no cans, we will not dare to take a boat to your country easily. Where will this maritime trade come from?
Talk about it. Moreover, this is not a good thing for the newly established five-nation summit. I believe that economic envoys should focus on the overall situation."
Muhammad immediately said: "Yes, there are gains and losses in doing business. If you make all the money, then other people's business will not be done. We in Dashi have always attached great importance to our contacts with your country. If there are cans
, only then will maritime trade develop well. If the economy is in control, this maritime trade will probably be a game between your country and Korea and Japan, two small countries."
When they said this, Li Qi really seemed to be a little unreasonable. It was much more powerful than Ilte's money offensive yesterday. You said that you should vigorously develop maritime trade, but you restricted the circulation and continuity of maritime trade. This is not natural.
Are you slapping yourself in the face?
In fact, Li Qi doesn't care about such a small amount of money. Whether the canning technology is made public or not has nothing to do with him personally. The key is that it also contains the interests of the Song Dynasty. The Song Dynasty with canning technology will occupy a certain share of the sea.
Dominance can even play a full role in the military. Now that all the countries around the Song Dynasty are eyeing it, how dare he make this secret recipe public to the world.
Li Qi pondered for a long time, then shook his head and said: "What you said makes sense. Ilte has also told me this question, but I still can't agree. I won't say the reason. You should be able to guess it. However, you
Don’t worry, I will definitely find a way to help you solve this problem and try to deliver the cans to your country.”
ps: I have to shed tears on April Fool’s Day and ask for a monthly ticket!!! (To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature, the novel is better and updated faster!