He said goodbye to the Hejian County Prince's Mansion. On the way home, Li Mu kept silent. Dugujiu knew that Li Mu was thinking about something, so he slowed down the car. It was still early and he was not in a hurry to go back.
Although Li Xiaogong finally said that if Li Mu wanted to be tough, he would not sit idly by and ignore it. But Li Mu did not want to owe this favor. He could understand Li Xiaogong's situation. Although no one dared to provoke him, he relied on...
It's nothing more than the guilt in Li Shimin's heart.
Is this guilt effective? It is undeniable that it is very effective. However, it is not unlimited.
It is impossible for anyone to feel guilty for one thing for a lifetime, even if it is a life-saving favor, repay once, repay twice... After a few times, even if he does not repay enough, this person will feel in his heart that I have repaid him.
When this thought appears, it means that the number of uses of this 'guilt' has expired.
Li Mu couldn't waste the number of times Li Xiaogong used it, and he couldn't afford to pay such a high price for the matter in front of him.
The matter must be resolved because it involves his grand plan. If Gaochang is connected to the Western Regions, he will definitely be able to get many rare seeds. Seeds, in Li Mu's eyes, are the most precious things. Because his system cannot buy seeds,
Counting on a 'lucky bag' has little hope, and the price is too high. He can't place his hope on an event with such a low probability.
"You can't say it yourself...who can you tell..." Li Mu thought in his mind, one person after another passed through his mind, and finally settled on Changsun Wuji. When it comes to national affairs, the person who has the greatest influence on Li Shimin
, it is definitely Changsun Wuji.
And this matter has some benefits with Changsun Wuji.
It’s you!
Li Mu said: "Turn around and go to Zhao Guogong's Mansion."
Dugujiu responded, turned around, and ran towards Zhao Guogong's mansion.
…
Zhao Guogong's Mansion, in the study.
Changsun Wuji looked at Ju Zhisheng who was full of hope and didn't know how to respond to him.
In such a small place, the small country of Zuer actually dared to open his mouth to marry the princess of the Tang Dynasty... Changsun Wuji just wanted to laugh. If it weren't for Ju Zhisheng being a 'foreign guest' and the etiquette of diplomatic relations between the two countries was involved, Changsun Wuji would have laughed so hard that his stomach hurt.
No, he must have driven them away, and maybe he would also order someone to give Ju Zhisheng a few whips.
Just when he was thinking of how to politely refuse, the housekeeper came in. Changsun Wuji knew in his heart that an important person was visiting, otherwise the housekeeper would not easily enter the study while he was discussing things.
The housekeeper came to Changsun Wuji's side, glanced at Ju Zhisheng, and whispered a few words in his ear. He was just right, and even though Ju Zhisheng raised his ears, he didn't hear anything clearly.
Changsun Wuji stood up and said: "There are some things that need to be dealt with. The prince will stay here for a moment."
Ju Zhisheng said hurriedly: "Uncle Guo, feel free to go, Xiao Wang is not in a hurry."
Changsun Wuji left the study and followed the housekeeper to the front yard. Li Mu was drinking tea in the lobby, and Changsun Chong was waiting beside him. When he saw Changsun Wuji coming, he hurriedly put down the teacup and said, "It's really too late to disturb my uncle so late.
No, please excuse me first."
Changsun Wuji smiled and said: "Whatever you say, we are relatives, so we naturally want to move around more. I will be happy if you can come. Don't leave. I will order a banquet and we will stay here tonight."
"No, no, no, there's no need for a banquet. My mother is going crazy thinking about the child. She keeps telling her to work hard... I have to go home." Li Mu smiled and changed the subject, "It's important to bother me today.
We need to discuss the matter with my uncle."
"Oh?" Changsun Wuji waved his hand, and all the servants waiting in the lobby retreated, leaving only Li Mu, Changsun and his son.
Li Mu didn't beat around the bush and said, "Has your uncle met the Crown Prince Gaochang?"
Changsun Wuji thought for a while and replied truthfully: "I have seen it."
"What does he want from Uncle Guo?"
Changsun Wuji frowned slightly. He didn't like Li Mu's interrogative tone, but he was more curious about what kind of medicine was sold in Li Mu's gourd, so he still said truthfully: "He wants to marry the Princess of Tang Dynasty, and he wants to come to me to ask for help.
I absolutely could not agree to this, and just when I was about to refuse, you came."
Li Mu let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Changsun Wuji was not confused and did not agree to Ju Zhisheng's plan. If he really wanted to help, it would be hard to talk about the matter.
"Apart from the marriage, he didn't mention anything else?"
Changsun Wuji was really unhappy and said coldly: "There is nothing else. Are you here today to interrogate me?"
Li Mu hurriedly apologized: "My uncle said something serious. I came here to discuss something. Since Ju Zhisheng didn't say anything, let me do it." At that moment, Li Mu informed Changsun Wuji of Ju Zhisheng's three conditions.
Changsun Wuji frowned after hearing this.
Li Xiaogong guessed it right, and Changsun Wuji was indeed on guard. It was not that he had never thought about the day when Li Mu would participate in national affairs. It was a matter of time, but Li Mu wanted to participate now, and he still felt that it was a little too early.
If Changsun Wuji had any clues, he said: "This Prince of Gaochang is really good at finding ways to find opportunities, and he knows that you are the most able to speak in front of His Majesty, ha."
Li Mu hurriedly said: "Uncle Guo has misunderstood. Such national affairs should be decided by the princes in the court. How dare I get involved. I came to uncle Guo today to remind him something."
"Remind me of what?"
"I secretly think that if Gaochang can join the Tang Dynasty, it will be a great thing for my uncle."
"Ha," Changsun Wuji said with a smile: "You are still here as a lobbyist. Didn't you say you won't participate?"
Li Mu looked calm: "Young man can't participate, but uncle Guo must participate."
"Why is this?"
"Longyou Road."
Li Mu slowly uttered three words, and Changsun Wuji frowned.
"If Gaochang surrenders to the Tang Dynasty, it will be equivalent to opening the door to the Western Regions. From then on, there will be an endless stream of merchants from the Western Regions. After passing through Gaochang, these merchants will cross the desert and grassland and come to Chang'an. The route they take will be
It’s Longyou Road.”
"Uncle Guo, think about it, how do you make money building roads?"
Changsun Chong rushed to answer: "Collect tolls!"
Li Mu smiled and nodded, and then asked, "How do you collect tolls?"
"According to the value of the goods..." Changsun Chong understood it completely and said: "Father, if the Western Regions trade route is opened, there will be an endless stream of merchants on Longyou Road. We can collect a toll from them coming to Chang'an from the Western Regions
, we can still collect a toll from Chang'an back to the Western Regions. Moreover, these merchants must be carrying a large amount of goods back and forth, so the toll will be high."
"I know!" Changsun Wuji glared at the eager Changsun Chong, cursing in his heart, what does this ignorant boy look like! Look at Li Mu, so calm and composed, you are still two years older than him
, can't keep calm at all.
Changsun Wuji looked at Li Mu, thought for a moment, and said: "What you said makes sense, but I still have questions. How does the situation you mentioned have anything to do with Gaochang's surrender? If the Tang Dynasty sent troops to destroy Gaochang, wouldn't it?
Can we trade in the same way?"
Li Mu said seriously: "There are three reasons."
"explain."
"First, he started his career without a name."
Changsun Wuji smiled and said: "This is not a reason. The winner is the king and the loser is the bandit. The strong is respected. Some people may talk about it for a while, but in a few years, no one will mention it."
Li Mu was not in a hurry and continued: "Secondly, Gaochang is seven thousand miles away from Chang'an, passing through grasslands and deserts. The Tang Dynasty just fought a war. The treasury is empty and there is no food and grass to sustain. If we force the army to raise troops, for the people,
It’s like knocking on the bones and sucking out the marrow.”
Changsun Wuji remained silent, he also knew that Li Mu was telling the truth.
"Thirdly, if the Tang Dynasty attacks and destroys Gaochang, the countries in the Western Regions will be panic-stricken. Under such circumstances, will they still come to the Tang Dynasty to do business?"
Changsun Wuji thought for a while, nodded and said, "I understand."
Li Mu stood up and said: "Uncle Guo, it doesn't matter to me, Li Mu, at this time. The affairs of the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Internal Affairs have already made me very worried. But it concerns Uncle Guo, and I have to remind you. It's getting late, and it's getting late.
Then I took my leave."
Changsun Wuji signaled to Changsun Chong and said: "Since you are pregnant with your mother, I won't keep you. I'll remember the reminder. Let Chong'er see you off and I'll think about it again tomorrow.
Court meeting, you"
Li Mu answered: "I will attend the meeting tomorrow."
Changsun Wuji smiled and nodded, saying: "Very good."
Changsun Chong came back after seeing off Li Mu. When he saw Changsun Wuji who was still thinking, he couldn't help but said: "Father, Li Mu did something good this time. It seems that he is also afraid of you and wants to ease the relationship so he came here specially."
"Pa!" Changsun Wuji suddenly stood up and gave Changsun a punch.
Changsun Chong covered the back of his head and said blankly: "Father, why? What did the child do wrong?"
"When I see Li Mu and then you, I get very angry. Can you be as good as him? Idiot, idiot! You're so fat! How could I have a son like you!"
Changsun Chong was about to cry and said aggrievedly: "Father, I, I am also... losing weight!"
"No dinner allowed!"
Changsun Wuji snorted, tossed his sleeves and left. Changsun Chong was about to cry but had no tears, so he could only mutter in his heart and scolded Li Mu again.
…
"Ah sneeze!"
Back in Fengqiuhuang, Li Mu got off the carriage and sneezed repeatedly.
"Who is scolding me again?" Li Mu muttered, looking around for Bai Qiaoqiao's shadow. Suddenly, a strong wind came, and he couldn't see clearly even in the dark. Li Mu screamed in fright and almost got under the car. Dugu Jiu also
He drew his sword, but when he saw the person coming, he didn't move, so he put the sword back.
"Who, who?"
"It's me!" A thick voice rang out. When Li Mu heard this familiar voice, he let out a sigh of relief and said, "Uncle Cheng, you are so scary. What are you doing? Don't you do everything you promised?"
Are you there? The gate is about to close, please go home and go to bed..."
"You still dare to say that?" Cheng Yaojin grabbed Li Mu's lapel and said with a pair of bull's eyes: "You actually used members of the racecourse to replace the brothel in Pingkangfang. Are you crazy? Why don't you discuss this matter with me?