Chapter 4715: Drawing firepower from the bottom of the cauldron
Seeing that Lekum had a good attitude, Xi Jun looked more relaxed: "Secondly, in order to facilitate trade with Luzon, Datang needs an excellent port to transport goods and dock ships, but you can't build a large port at all. , so Datang paid for a piece of land in Luzon to build its own port, located in Lingayen Bay. ”
Whether the Tang Dynasty needed to trade with Luzon, the three chiefs present did not know, but they knew that Luzon needed to trade with the Tang Dynasty.
Anyone who has seen the silk, porcelain, glass, fine wine and other luxury goods shipped from the Tang Dynasty can refuse to trade with the Tang Dynasty. If these things disappear one day, it is unimaginable what a gloomy time it will be.
They are chiefs, and they devote their entire clan to worshiping one person. Naturally, they want to enjoy the best food and clothing. If they cannot enjoy the best things in the world, how can they show their dignity? What is the meaning of life?
Besides, the gold and rice transported by the Tang Dynasty from Luzon were exchanged at equal value, not robbery.
The most important thing is that the three major tribes are still in a relatively primitive stage and have no concept of "country". Naturally, they have no sense of "territory". They have been fighting among themselves for thousands of years, and the land they control each other has continued to change. Change, today belongs to you, tomorrow belongs to me, what's the big deal about giving Datang a piece of land?
What's more, people are "buying". As for how much money to buy, it is not the problem at all. What everyone wants is this "respect"...
The three chiefs looked at each other and without even discussing the price, they agreed and immediately decided: "No problem."
In order to show his surrender, Lecombe added: "When you need manpower, just ask, as many people as you want, no need to pay wages, just take care of the food."
The other two chiefs were very regretful that Lekum had taken advantage of such an unwelcome good thing, and they were very unhappy and said that they could do it too.
Xi Junmai said: "Thirdly, there are many giant trees in the mountains along Lingayen Bay to the north. 'Eastern Datang Company' plans to lease these forests to harvest timber and will pay some fees. However, during the lease period, this area will The Tang Dynasty exercises sovereignty internally, and you have no right to interfere.”
The three chiefs did not agree happily this time. It was not that they dared to refuse Datang, but that they were a little confused.
They all know that there are countless towering trees in those mountains and forests, but can the wood be sold for money? Those are the mountains and forests that have existed since the beginning of the world. They have been growing and dying on their own for hundreds of millions of years. Sometimes a mountain fire will burn them all, and then grow again after more than a hundred years... Things that have never been looked at twice are actually... Can it be sold for money?
Lekum asked tentatively: "Of course there is no problem in leasing the forest. You can rent it for as many years as you want, and it doesn't matter whether you pay or not... But those giant trees are all over Luzon. Since the Tang Dynasty needs it, then should we Can it be mined elsewhere and sold to Datang?”
Xi Junmai said happily: "Of course you can! As long as the level is qualified, there are as many Datang as you want."
In today's Tang Dynasty, with the influx of huge wealth, large-scale construction is going on all over the country, which has caused excessive logging of mountain forests. Many mountain forests that have grown for hundreds of thousands of years have been cut down. Although there are also giant trees in Sichuan, Lingnan and other places, However, transportation is inconvenient and far less expensive and faster than purchasing from overseas.
The shortage is huge and demand exceeds supply.
The three chiefs were overjoyed. This was a very fast way to make money.
Everything is settled, sign the contract immediately.
Xi Junmai signed the text on behalf of Datang and felt relieved.
……
After seeing off the three chiefs, Yang Zhou asked in confusion: "It's just a barbarian land. If you take it, you will take it. How dare they resist? Why spend money to buy a piece of land? Signing a contract in a pretentious manner is superfluous. Now. The Tang Dynasty was so powerful that they did not dare to say anything about their land. If the Tang Dynasty declined in the future, they would not care about overseas lands and would break their promises even if they had a contract here. "
The money was not much, just a few thousand pounds of silk, porcelain, and glass, but he thought it was completely unnecessary.
Xi Junmai took a sip of water and explained patiently: "The world's general situation has been ups and downs, and the Tang Dynasty will inevitably have times when its national power is declining and it cannot care about overseas lands. Now these overseas lands may be occupied by local indigenous people and the contracts will be torn up... But when the Tang Dynasty prospers again, how to get these lands back? We, the Tang Dynasty, live in the world and are a country of etiquette, and we must pay attention to the principle of success in everything."
Yang Zhou suddenly realized: "Just like Annan and Champa?"
When General Fubo put down the "Second Zheng Uprising", he erected copper pillars as the junction. The pillars had the inscription "If the copper pillars are broken, Jiaozhi will be destroyed". After that, every time the Yue people passed under it, they would throw tiles and stones at it, forming a hill.
When the navy dispatched troops to Annan, the slogan was "Annan has been the land of China since ancient times". It was because of the copper pillars buried by General Fubo. This was remembered in history and the Vietnamese could not deny it, so the navy's dispatch was famous.
The same is true in Luzon. As long as the purchase of land is recorded in history and marked by landmarks, there is no fear of being invaded by local indigenous people.
As long as the country is strong and powerful in the future, and the army comes across the ocean, the phrase "This has been the territory of the Tang Dynasty since ancient times" will be famous and justified.
Yang Zhou was sincerely convinced: "No wonder the navy's favorite thing to do wherever they go is to set up stones and carve inscriptions, even to an island or a reef in the South China Sea. Even if this place is lost for various reasons in the future, when the time comes, When you have the power to take it back, the sentence "since ancient times" can be justified and upright! This vision is amazing! ”
Xi Junmai laughed loudly: "The Duke of Yue State gave such a strict order when he founded the navy. The navy will adhere to it. We must not only open up the territory and expand the territory, but also engrave and stamp these lands. Let it belong to the Han family’s territory forever!”
Yang Zhou praised: "The Duke of Yue has made great plans and his achievements will last forever. He is a hero in the world!"
The two praised Fang Jun for a while, and then the soldiers came to report that it was Lecombe who asked for an audience...
Yang Zhou wondered: "This guy left and came back again, shouldn't he regret it?"
Xi Junmai was very domineering: "How dare he?! If he goes back on his word tonight, this time next year will be the memorial day for all his 'Tagalogs'!"
Do you really think the Tang people didn’t kill people? !
"Let him in!"
"Here!"
The soldiers turned around and went out. After a while, Lecombe and the translator entered again.
Xi Junmai and Yang Zhou were sitting on chairs. The latter drank tea, and the former asked: "Why did you go and come back?"
Lecombe smiled humbly and said, "I have a suggestion."
The translator whispered at the side...
Xi Junmaiqi asked: "What suggestions can't be made just now and will be made now?"
Lekum rubbed his hands and said with a smile: "As far as I know, the most urgently needed material in your country is rice. Is that true?"
Xi Junmai narrowed his eyes and said, "What do you want to do? Do you want to raise the price of rice?"
"No, no, no, how dare I do this!"
Lekum was startled. If he was misunderstood by the Tang general in front of him and took the opportunity to threaten him, would he still want his head?
He hurriedly said: "My suggestion is about rice. Although Luzon has a mild climate and abundant rainfall, which is very suitable for rice growth, in fact, the island has many mountains and deep forests, and there are not many places suitable for growing rice... As it happens, by This is straight to the north The narrow strip of land to Lingayen Bay is full of plains, densely covered with rivers, and the terrain is flat. It is the place where most rice is grown on the island. Whether Datang buys it or rents it, why not grow rice here? It is much better than buying rice. ”
"Huh?"
Xi Junmai was slightly startled, and then he called to his soldiers: "Bring the map."
The soldiers quickly went to the nearby barracks to dig out the map of Luzon. When they came back, they unfolded the map and hung it on the wall. Xi Junmai and Yang Zhou stood up and looked at it carefully. Lekum also came closer to take a look. At first glance, his eyes They almost stared.
This, this, this... is actually the map of Luzon Island? !
Relying on my inner understanding of the topography and landforms of Luzon and corroborating it with the map in front of me, I immediately came to the conclusion that this is the map of the entire Luzon Island.
Almighty Batala!
How is this possible? !
We have lived on Luzon Island for generations without any detailed description. Only a few days after the Tang Dynasty came, he even drew a map?
Sweat dripped from Lekum, and the fear of the Tang people in his heart could not be greater. Such a powerful country was simply invincible. Whoever dared to be an enemy of the Tang Dynasty would be destroyed.
Too powerful, too terrifying...
Swallowing his saliva, Lekum pointed to the narrow and flat area extending from Manila Bay to the north to Lingayen Bay: "General, please see, this is the flattest area in the entire Luzon Island, and it is the most suitable for planting. For rice, if there is a shortage of labor, you can hire 'Iluo people'. They have rich experience in rice cultivation for generations and are the best farmers. As long as they don't starve to death, they don't need to pay money."
Xi Junmai and Yang Zhou looked at each other, and both could see the smile in each other's eyes. A savage is a savage, and their self-righteous cleverness was seen through by the two of them at a glance.
Living on this same land, tribes are mortal enemies of each other. After all, there is only so much living space. If you have more, I will have less. It is inevitable to attack each other for the sake of the land.
The Tang people's urgent need for a large amount of rice made Lekum aware of the huge danger, because only the "Iluo people" were better at farming. Once a huge amount of rice was traded between the two, the "Tagalog people" might be Kicked out, the "Iluo people" who successfully attached themselves to the Tang people are very likely to increase in strength. If a war breaks out against the "Tagalog people", what can the "Tagalog people" do to resist?
So Lekum came up with this trick to "drain the fire under the cauldron" and encouraged the Tang army to directly occupy this piece of land that is most suitable for growing rice. This is the place where the "Iluo people" have cultivated for generations. Conflict will inevitably break out between the two sides, regardless of the final "Iluo people". Whether the "Luo people" will surrender to the Tang army or be exterminated at the hands of the Tang army, the biggest threat to the "Tagalog people" will be eliminated.
The savage's calculations were rattling.
But how can Xi Junmai let him get his wish? Datang's overseas policy has never been to eliminate anyone, but to support one group and suppress others to achieve regional balance, so that all parties must rely on Datang's support to survive.
Xi Junmai smiled and ordered the soldiers outside the door: "Send someone to invite the chief of the 'Iluo people', saying that we have important matters to discuss."
"Here." The soldiers outside the door were ordered to leave.
Lecombe's expression changed drastically, he opened his mouth and said with a smile: "This...that...I'll take my leave for now, so as not to delay the general's handling of important matters."
As long as I am not present, I can explain to the "Iluo people" afterwards that this is actually a conspiracy of the Tang people to sow discord. But if they are confronted in person, then I can't quibble. Why don't the "Iluo people" hate me to death?
Xi Junmai smiled half-heartedly: "Since the chief has offered such an ingenious strategy, he is a hero of the Tang Dynasty. There is no need to hide anything from you. Just in front of the chief of the Yiluo people, everyone will tell this matter." After some discussion, Datang has always advocated common development and shared interests, and no one party should be allowed to suffer.”
Lecombe forced a smile with a grimace on his face and greeted Xi Junmai's eighteenth generation ancestors in his heart. He realized that his plan had been seen through. He originally wanted to kill the Yiluo people with a borrowed knife, but now he was pushed into a direct confrontation with the Yiluo people. The Tang people were too cunning...
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