Li Mu helplessly spread his hands and said, "Your Majesty, why do you always think about fighting?"
Li Shimin asked strangely: "How can we bring peace to the world if all the barbarians are unjust? They provoke me, but if I don't fight, will they be able to obey?"
"I can take it!"
Li Shimin was unconvinced and said: "How to convince? They are afraid of talking about reason? Li Mu, you have also been on the battlefield, don't you know that there is no reason to fight on the battlefield?"
"I know." Li Mu said calmly: "Your Majesty, it's not that I don't support your Majesty's war. I just feel that if the matter has not reached the stage where war is necessary, your Majesty should not use war as the first choice to solve the problem."
Li Shimin was confused and asked: "What do you mean?"
"I have a question that I would like to ask your Majesty." Li Mu looked at Li Shimin and asked seriously: "Your Majesty, do you think the territory of the Tang Dynasty is large enough?"
"This..." Li Shimin did not answer easily and asked again: "What do you mean? Just tell me."
"I think it is already big enough, and I strongly advise against it. Your Majesty should continue to expand the territory."
Li Shimin's face darkened and he said: "Li Mu, do you know what you are talking about? Which of the ancient emperors didn't do this when they established meritorious deeds and expanded their territories? Why can't I do this?"
"Your Majesty, it's because the territory of the Tang Dynasty is already large enough." Li Mu said seriously: "Your Majesty should focus on people's livelihood now. Once the people's livelihood is improved, it will not be too late to expand the territory."
"My humble opinion, as the emperor, why does your majesty sit firmly on the throne? Is it because of force? Since ancient times, no wise king showed off his force. The most talked about is virtue."
"The virtues of ordinary people, filial piety and trustworthiness, can be praised only if they have one of them. The virtues of a minister, on this basis, can be considered as being loyal to the emperor and patriotism. What about the virtues of a king? And
It is a lot broader, but the most basic thing is only one point. There is a saying in "Historical Records: Biography of Li Sheng and Lu Jia" that the king regards the people as his heaven, and the people regard food as his heaven. The minister's understanding is that the monarch wants to do what he wants.
The emperor must at least give the people a mouthful of food."
"Take Tubo as an example." Li Mu picked up the pen on the desk, dipped it in ink, and sketched the boundary between Tubo and Tang Dynasty on the paper. He said to Li Shimin: "Your Majesty, please see, Tubo is located on a plateau.
The climate is dry and cold, there is snow all year round, and the roads are inconvenient. When we Tang people first arrived there, we usually had some adverse reactions, such as vomiting, dizziness, difficulty breathing, and even miasma, etc."
"There are few products there. You can't grow grains. You can only grow highland barley. The yield is small and it's not delicious. Why did Datang attack such a place? Incorporate it into the territory? Is it possible to take Datang's grains?
To raise them?”
"Your Majesty, I calculated this matter with a business mentality." Li Mu followed the temptation and said: "We have to spend money to fight. For example, when I attacked Gaochang, why did I finally decide to fight? One of them
The big reason is because I have calculated that after Gaochang is destroyed and their treasury is wiped out, your majesty will not only be able to pay for the money and food for sending troops this time, but also make more money. And the excess money can be used for other purposes. This is a
A good fight!"
Li Shimin suddenly realized and said: "So you killed all the Ju clan members just to get rid of the money."
"That's right!" Li Mu said with an expression that you only understand now: "If the Ju clan continues to manage Gaochang, how will the Tang Dynasty get this money? Whether it is for righteousness or personal love, Your Majesty has to give it back, right?
?”
Li Shimin nodded. It was indeed as Li Mu said. If the Ju family continued to govern Gaochang, they would not be able to get the money. Is it ridiculous for the lord of heaven to come to the country and rob the treasury of a small country?
"Fighting Tibet is completely opposite to this situation."
Li Mu said seriously: "The price is too high. Needless to say, if we lose, we will lose it. If we win, what can we get? We will get nothing at the same time. Therefore, whether we win or lose, we will lose everything."
Is it a loss of money? Can you still do this kind of business?"
Li Shimin thought about it for a long time, then frowned and said: "Li Mu, I admit that what you say is reasonable, but you also need to know that some things cannot be judged as making money or losing money. What must be done must be done even if it is paid for!"
"Your Majesty said it well!" Li Mu spread his hands and said, "The former Emperor Yangdi thought the same way when he was attacking Goguryeo."
Li Shimin stared: "You dare to compare me to Emperor Yang of Sui Dynasty?"
"Your Majesty wants to be Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty. I am just comparing it." Li Mu said sternly: "Your Majesty, please look through the history books and see how many kings were born to be violent. Let's talk about Emperor Yang. When he was young,
Isn't he also the sign of a wise king? It is only because he later only focused on building his own great achievements and dreamed of doing everything in the world at once. This led to the people being in dire straits and the people not having enough to eat.
They will rebel!"
"This is what I think. Things should be arranged in order. Today's Tang Dynasty is a time of recuperation. What your Majesty should do is to let the people recuperate and recuperate. This is like building a house. Only when the foundation is laid can the house be completed.
.When Your Majesty has the capital in hand, there is no harm in doing a loss-making business once or twice. But now, Your Majesty doesn’t even have the capital in hand, so he is going to do a loss-making business. Could it be said that you want to choose this business and quit it?
Already?"
Li Shimin couldn't think of any words to refute, so he said anxiously: "You are right, I agree. But this matter is not something I can decide. I can just stop fighting if I don't want to fight. You also saw it a few days ago, at the Tubo-Chen Bing border
, everyone knows what they want to do. If I don’t make preparations, why don’t I just wait for them to march straight in?”
"Of course that's not possible."
"You know it's not possible! What you said is all nonsense!"
"I think we can think of other ways." Li Mu whispered in Li Shimin's ear. Li Shimin looked at Li Mu and said, "Can this work?"
"Your Majesty, how will you know if you don't try?"
"But you are not in Chang'an now. This -" Li Shimin hesitated and said tentatively: "How about I find a reason to kill you again..."
"Forget it." Li Mu quickly interrupted and said, "I think Luoyang is very good and very challenging. I can't stay in this sad place like Chang'an. I am happy because there is no one to care about me in Luoyang.
"
"Your Majesty only needs to cooperate a little. I will shoulder these matters myself."
"Alas," Li Shimin suddenly sighed and said, "Li Mu, I can't help you. How about you give me some time and I restore your title?"
"You are not joking, Your Majesty. You have just been deprived of it for a few days and then restored it. How do the people in the world view your Majesty?" Li Mu smiled and said: "Your Majesty, it doesn't matter. Sooner or later, I will still be able to perform meritorious services. Then your Majesty will just seal you."
"Okay." Li Shimin didn't insist. It was true as Li Mu said, you are not joking, it is too childish, so he lost his fear.
Perhaps in order to make up for the shortcomings in his heart, Li Shimin asked Eunuch Gao to carry his dragon boat and send Li Mu out of the palace. Li Mu was not polite, sitting on Li Shimin's dragon boat, swaggering through the market. This scene was praised by everyone.
With all the forces on the side in sight, all kinds of noise soon started, and rumors were flying all over the sky.
…
The next day, the imperial edict arrived. Li Shimin thought about it all night, and still felt that there were some things that Li Mu had to do, and it couldn't be done by someone else. Of course he was on guard against Li Mu, and of course he wanted Jun Wu to talk about it, but things still happened.
He had to do it, so he issued an imperial edict to restore Li Mu to his position as Minister-in-Chief of the Internal Affairs Bureau, and granted him permission to supervise matters in other places. In other words, when Li Mu was in Luoyang, he could also take charge of matters in Chang'an.
This is a bit unreasonable, but what is surprising is that no one in the civil and military circles of the court jumped out to impeach. Even Li Mu's enemies acquiesced. If you think about it carefully, it is not surprising.
It is not an exaggeration to say that the Ministry of Internal Affairs now affects the economic pulse of the Tang Dynasty. Who among the powerful families has not done business with the Ministry of Internal Affairs? They all rely on this pot to cook. Who can not want the Ministry of Internal Affairs to do well? Li Mu
When managing the Ministry of Internal Affairs, various new methods emerged in an endless stream. Although it may be difficult to adapt to it, as long as you adapt to its rules, you can make money steadily. But since Li Mu left Chang'an City and handed over the Ministry of Internal Affairs to people like Chang Sun Chong
After that, they just followed the rules and followed the rules, with almost no new changes. Many things were obviously unreasonable, and they did not dare to stand up and say what should be done.
Gradually, the Ministry of Internal Affairs' work became more rigid, and its efficiency was greatly reduced.
The efficiency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is low, which directly affects the pockets of various powerful families. If Li Mu can return to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, these matters can be solved, how can they not be willing? If they are not embarrassed, they
I had long wanted to go to Li Shimin and invite Li Mu back.
Li Mu's return to the Ministry of Internal Affairs is a "popular return" for everyone. But that's all. They hope that Li Mu can help them find ways to make money, but they don't want Li Mu to have too much power. Li Shimin
The arrangement is just right.
Li Mu didn't care about this. He just wanted to make his work more convenient. The day after the imperial edict was issued, Li Mu ordered that the 'indicators' on trade with Turks in the Ministry of Internal Affairs be stripped away, and all Turkic goods transactions were changed to
Luoyang. And announced the establishment of a 'Luoyang Trading Market'.
Businessmen always have the best nose. After the news spread, many people came to inquire. They understand trading and they understand the market, but they don’t understand what the trading market does. Trading is hand-in-hand.
Money is a barter. If it suits you, you can buy and sell it. If it doesn't, you can sell it. Isn't this a matter of course? Is there anything else that can't be said? And you have to go to Luoyang. Why is this? It's such a big deal.
Son, is there something fishy?
The hard work paid off, and after a round of bribery, these merchants finally got the inside information from an old woman in Feng Qiuhuang.
The so-called trading center is not the east and west cities of Chang'an City. The trading center does not buy and sell goods, but trades 'shares' and 'futures'. These two concepts are not unfamiliar to the merchants of Chang'an City.
The concept of shares, that is, shares, is not Li Mu's 'invention'. A long time ago, merchants in Chang'an City have cooperated in this way. Several people jointly opened a business and divided money according to shares. It has been a long time ago.
It is ubiquitous. But no one can figure out how to trade this thing.
Although I have never heard of futures, in order to help the Turks, Li Mu made an order to pay money first and then wait for the goods. It is easy to think of the word "futures". Among them, the order for furs
, has been sold to more than 30% of the original price. In other words, the person who signed the original order can already make a profit of 30% by selling the order. Now, Li Mu has separated this matter from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
, those who are smarter have already thought that this is futures.
These people who were ready to take action did not have to wait long. Soon, a notice was posted in front of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Datang Salt, Datang Mining, Datang Jianye, Fengqiuhuang, and Bashang Distillery are all planning to be listed on the Luoyang City Trading Center. The so-called listing means to determine the value and then divide it into shares of different equal parts. Anyone can
You can subscribe if you have money, and you can resell it after subscribing. The price may rise or fall. Just like throwing dice in a gambling house, it is very possible to get rich overnight or lose everything overnight.
Risks and opportunities coexist, but the advantage is that in the past, only aristocratic families could participate in transactions with hundreds of thousands of dollars, but now ordinary small wealthy families can also participate. Of course, ordinary people are still not allowed to participate. Even the cheapest stocks have to be purchased.
A dozen coins per share, how can ordinary people have so much money?
In addition, when it comes to futures trading, this market is even broader, and almost anyone can participate, as long as you have needs.
First of all, the market is divided into two parts: supply and demand. Those who can provide goods must first register, what goods they can provide, when they will be delivered, and what price they expect to receive. This forms a contract, which will be judged by a dedicated person to confirm that it can be achieved.
.Then this paper contract becomes a tradable commodity, which can be traded by the demand side. Of course, the demand side can also issue an order, and the supplier can also trade after seeing it.
Just like an order from the Turks, a piece of fur may be worth a hundred guan when the contract is signed in the spring. But with the arrival of winter and the increase in demand, the value will definitely increase. Maybe by winter, this
The value of a single fur will exceed 150 guan, and when the delivery time comes, the person holding the order document will be able to obtain the fur of this order. Every transaction during this period may increase or decrease in value.
The broadness of futures trading is that it is not just the Turks, nor is it just merchants of the Tang Dynasty. The announcement clearly states that all countries that support the coronation of the Khan can participate. In other words, as long as
If you recognize the status of Emperor Tian Khan of the Tang Dynasty, no matter you are Tubo and Tuyuhun, Goguryeo or Silla, you can participate in it and trade what you want to sell in Luoyang City.