"Stop pretending!" Li Shimin rolled his eyes at Li Mu and said, "You asked Gao to inquire about it, and you forgot it so quickly?"
Li Mu showed a frustrated look, glanced at Eunuch Gao, and muttered: "I have to report such a small matter to His Majesty, but my words are too lax."
Eunuch Gao chuckled and said: "Master Hou, our family has long said that our loyalty is to His Majesty."
"Don't sing harmoniously here." Li Shimin interrupted the two people's performance and said: "When I talk about this matter, I don't mean to deal with them. In fact, some of them are in secret communication with Goguryeo, and they are my
arrange."
"Your Majesty's arrangement?" Li Mu was surprised. Is there anyone in this world who would trick him?
Li Shimin nodded and said: "To be precise, this is a plan made by your father and me."
Li Mu was a little confused. He pointed at himself and said: "Whose father? Minister?"
Li Shimin looked at him displeased, and Eunuch Gao promptly reminded him: "Master Hou, you have agreed to be the heir of Prince Yin. Your father is naturally Prince Yin. He has been posthumously named King Xi by Your Majesty, and you will be the king from now on."
The prince."
"Ah," Li Mu nodded blankly and said, "I understand, I understand."
Li Shimin cleared his throat and continued: "This happened in the second year of Wude. At that time, the Tang Dynasty was first established and the four parties were not yet settled. The Central Plains were in danger. Goguryeo had been watching the Central Plains for a long time, always thinking about conspiring with the anti-kings on one side of the separatist regime.
It is good to occupy a place in the Central Plains. Although most of the powerful Central Plains regard Goguryeo as barbarians and disdain to associate with them, it is inevitable that some scum will come into contact with them. These things are very secretive and it is very difficult to find out clearly. So the emperor brother proposed
, since this matter cannot be avoided, it is better for us to take the initiative to contact it. In this way, the conspiracy becomes a conspiracy, eliminating the need for guessing, and we can also communicate with each other."
Li Mu was stunned for a moment and said: "But how does this work? Your Majesty cannot control who the Goguryeo people cooperate with. What if they don't want to cooperate with the people your Majesty has prepared?"
"Oh, why can't I understand!" Li Shimin said anxiously: "High-ranking officials, tell him!"
Li Mu looked at Eunuch Gao, and Eunuch Gao took over the words and said: "The idea for this matter came from King Xi, and the plan was made by His Majesty. Our family is responsible for liaison, so we know it in detail. That's what happened, for example.
, if the Goguryeo people want to profit from smuggling furs, they must find a channel that is willing to help sell them. The Wang family gave Liu Guan a piece of skin, and our people gave Liu Guan five coins to let them earn more. And what the Goguryeo people want
Let’s sell things to them at a cheaper price. In business, if there are no mistakes and no information will be revealed, the nobles of Korea will benefit, and a network of relationships will naturally be built.”
"So that's it." Li Mu looked like he suddenly realized it, and then gave him a flattery, saying: "Your Majesty is far-sighted, and I really can't match it. This matter is easy to say, but it must be difficult to implement, and it must be an absolutely reliable person.
OK."
"That's natural." Eunuch Gao continued to explain: "The names of the Five Surnames and Seven Sects are too famous, the goals are too big, and the court does not have enough control over them to take on big responsibilities. So they can only be found from middle-level families.
The Lanling Xiao family is your majesty's cousin and can be trusted. There is also the Dugu Clan, who are also related to the royal family. They are the two main companies currently doing business with Goguryeo."
Li Mu wondered: "I know the Xiao family. When did the Dugu clan become related to the royal family?"
"The Supreme Emperor is the nephew of the former Empress Dugu of the Sui Dynasty. When it comes to marriage, the Dugu Clan is better than the Xiao Clan."
I bet they are all relatives of the emperor.
Li Mu clicked his tongue, and Li Shimin looked at him and said, "The Xiao family came to report that Goguryeo's special envoy, Crown Prince Gao Bin, went to the Xiao family on a starry night to conspire to get the secret method of building the Wanshi Ship. I have asked them to agree.
Already."
"Your Majesty, are you really prepared to let Goguryeo know?"
Li Shimin asked instead, "Can you really build a ten-thousand-stone ship?"
Li Mu said speechlessly: "I don't think there is any need to doubt this matter. When has it ever been impossible to do what I said? When I say ten thousand stones, it must be ten thousand stones. It can only be more, not less. Your Majesty, if you
I really agreed, but if I can't keep this important weapon of the country, I will learn from Goguryeo."
"You have no way to defend yourself?"
"There is a way."
"Then it's over!" Li Shimin said angrily: "Of course I can't give them the real secret method. What I want is to let you mislead them. Can you understand the words "waste people and waste money"? Let Goguryeo spend a lot of money to build ten thousand stones.
The ship gives them hope, but it must be controlled so that they cannot succeed. Over time, it will cause internal strife. As long as Goguryeo is in chaos, it will be an opportunity for the Tang Dynasty."
insidious!
Li Mu secretly admired him, he really shouldn't underestimate the ancients. What is the difference between Li Shimin's strategic thinking and the "Cold War" of later generations? During the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, both sides set up "war tactics". Today I throw out a space shuttle.
Tomorrow I will land on the moon, today I will have medium-range missiles, and tomorrow I will go on intercontinental cruise. Some laser guns, electromagnetic guns and the like were still theoretical until Li Mu traveled through, but at that time, they all cost a lot of money.
researched.
In the end, the Soviet Union could no longer bear it and disintegrated, and the war between the United States and the Soviet Union came to an end without bloodshed.
Li Shimin meant the same thing. He actually didn't care whether the Wanshi Ship could be built. In his thinking, he probably never thought about amphibious warfare. He wanted to mislead Goguryeo into building the Wanshi Ship.
, let them spend money and manpower on this matter, and prepare for the war in the future.
"I understand, I will definitely think of a good way to kill Goguryeo." Li Mu promised emphatically. Li Shimin knew Li Mu's evil intentions and was not worried that he would not be able to complete the task. Hearing that he was confident about the Wanshi Ship just now, he asked two more questions.
Sentence, said: "If you can really build a ship of ten thousand stones, I am a little interested. What is your original intention of building this ship? What do you want to use it for? If you really need hundreds of thousands of stones, in my opinion
Come on, why not use it to build cavalry?"
Cavalry, you know cavalry! Li Mu slandered, wishing he could give Li Shimin a big look. But he held back, as a saying goes, one gains wisdom after suffering a loss. If one does not make progress after suffering a loss, wouldn't he become a fool?
"Your Majesty, I am building ships not only for military purposes, but also for the sake of the country and the people's livelihood."
When the word "Sheji" was mentioned, Li Shimin's eyes lit up and he said, "Tell me about it."
"Has your Majesty ever thought of going to sea?"
"Well -" Li Shimin hesitated. In fact, he had never thought about it. Although he was not unfamiliar with the matter of going to sea. But that was mainly because of the many small countries in the South China Sea, Kunlun slaves, trade, etc. As for his ambitions on the sea,
Li Shimin did not. In his heart, the sea was a small land with no merits. Furthermore, the Central Plains was a kingdom of heaven and had been since ancient times. The surrounding areas such as Turks, Goguryeo, and Tibet were all conquered by
Calling it a barbarian, a small country in Nanyang, a place that even barbarians can't reach, what interest can he have in it?
Li Mu asked in confusion: "Does your Majesty want gold?"
"What does it have to do with gold!"
"Your Majesty, do you want silver?"
Li Shimin frowned and said, "What does it have to do with Baiyin!"
"Your Majesty, although the Central Plains is a vast land and rich in resources, gold, silver, copper, etc., which can be used as currency, are scarce in quantity. So in the middle of each dynasty, after the goods were hoarded by a few people, there became no money in the market, which greatly
It hinders trade. But according to my investigation, on the contrary to the Central Plains, the islands on the sea produce a lot of gold, silver and copper. Not to mention, the Japanese country to the east of us has silver production."
"Silver?" Li Shimin said dumbly: "Isn't silver just silver? Is it a lot? How much is there?!"
Li Mu said in a deep voice: "According to my understanding, although it cannot be found everywhere, the silver reserves contained in the tiny land of Japan alone are comparable to those of the Tang Dynasty. What is even more rare is that the silver reserves of Japan
It is very easy to mine and does not require refining. Does your Majesty know what this means?"
This means that tens of thousands of cavalry can be armed!
Li Shimin's eyes sparkled with silver. He was finally interested in the "tiny land" overseas. He wished he could send troops there now to destroy the Japanese country and dig out all the silver mines there.
Take it back and consume it.
"Li Mu, this is a big deal, are you sure?"
"I'm sure." Li Mu sold the Japanese mission without thinking, saying: "I know a young monk from the Japanese mission. The young monk is young and has a simple mind. What I said is...
There is a place called Ishimi in the Japanese country, and people can often dig out silver in the mountains. Coupled with my knowledge, I can basically confirm that there is a large silver mine in the Japanese country, which should be good."
"I have to meet the Japanese envoy." Li Shimin looked at Eunuch Gao, and Eunuch Gao bowed and said, "I will make arrangements now."
Li Mu added: "The ten-thousand-stone ship has a deep draft and is conducive to long-distance navigation. As early as the Three Kingdoms period, Soochow was trading with Southeast Asian countries in Yangzhou, Quanzhou and other places. I studied ancient books and learned that somewhere in Southeast Asia, there was a
On some islands, it is summer all year round, crops can be harvested three times a year, and fruits are available all year round.”
"You're talking weird things again." Li Shimin didn't believe it: "How could there be a place like this? It exists all year round. Isn't it a fairyland?"
Li Mu did not argue with him, but just said: "I don't know whether it is three-crop or whether it is common. But what I can be sure of is that Zhenla's rice seeds can indeed achieve two crops a year, and
The output is quite high. If there are ten thousand stone ships, I can transport grain back from Zhenla every year. Sea transportation does not require too many manpower, and the losses on the road will be greatly reduced. As long as it is transported to Datang, part of the big problem can be solved.
The food problem of Tang people."
Li Shimin thought about it for a moment, frowned and said, "Do I still have to pay for it?"
Li Mu thought to himself, is it possible that you still want to rob it?
"No need to buy, barter, silk, porcelain, there are too many good things from the Tang Dynasty, but they don't have them. Let's take our cheap things and exchange them for their expensive things, and take the things we don't need and exchange them for the right ones."
For us, what is necessary is a sure profit."
"Well -" Li Shimin pursed his lips and thought, he had never thought about going to sea and knew nothing about it. Li Mu said it very well, but building a ten thousand stone ship cost a lot of money after all. If such an effect is achieved,
That's all, but if it cannot be achieved, the losses will be considerable, so it is better to prepare ordnance and expand the cavalry.
Although the cavalry is a cliché, it is the safest choice. After all, the land conquered is a continuous stretch of land and can be controlled by the hands. Overseas Yang Wei is an enclave after all, so it is not so safe.
"You should take care of this first. The matter of going to sea will be discussed after you build the Ten Thousand Stone Ship. Don't talk so much that it won't be built before it is built, which will make people laugh." Li Shimin waved his hand and told Li Mu to get out. Eunuch Gao said with a smile.
After seeing Li Mu out of the palace, he didn't stop at the door, but followed Li Mu down the steps.
Li Mu said strangely: "Father-in-law, just send him here. Come back."
Eunuch Gao laughed and said: "Master Marquis, our family is also going to deliver an edict. On the way, didn't your Majesty say that you want to see the Japanese envoy?"
"Oh." Li Mu understood and said nothing more. Eunuch Gao walked side by side with him for a while and suddenly said, "We have been thinking about it for a while, but there are some things that we still want to talk to Mr. Hou."
"Father-in-law, please speak."
"It's about King Xi."
"Oh," Li Mu must be indifferent. Even though he now knows that Li Jiancheng is most likely Li Mu's biological father, he still feels that it has nothing to do with him, as if he is listening to other people's affairs.
Seeing his appearance, Eunuch Gao couldn't help but remind him: "Master Marquis, since you have agreed to become King Xi's heir, then King Xi is your father, and you should respect him."
"I understand, I didn't realize it for a moment," Li Mu laughed, and said cooperatively: "I wonder what the profound meaning of my father-in-law's mention of my father is? Is that okay?"
Eunuch Gao sighed and said: "Master Marquis, you really shouldn't be teasing me like this. His Majesty's decision to ask you to be King Xi's heir this time is definitely not a whim, but something that was finally decided after thinking about it for a long time." He paused.
After a while, Eunuch Gao said again: "Do you know what happened before and after King Xi decided to give his posthumous title?"
"How could I possibly know this?"
"In the second year of His Majesty's accession to the throne, the Ministry of Rites submitted a report to decide on a posthumous title for King Xi. This was something that could not be avoided, and His Majesty did not stop him. He asked the ministers to submit a report and express their own opinions. In order to cater to His Majesty's thoughts, some people speculated on the holy will and said
We should give King Xi a posthumous title of "戾", which means "violent". If we conclude this way, when future generations read history, they will regard King Xi as a cruel and unprincipled person. In this way, the Xuanwu Sect's affairs will not be resolved.
It makes sense.”
Li Mu understood immediately upon hearing this that this was a whitewash.
"Then why isn't it decided this way?"
Eunuch Gao shook his head and said: "Your Majesty rejected it, and during the court meeting, he severely reprimanded the minister."
Li Muqi asked: "Why is this?"
"Because in His Majesty's heart, although the brothers are at odds with each other, he still regards King Xi as his eldest brother and does not want to see his ministers belittle him like this."