Changsun Wuji carefully explained to Li Xiang why these major families came together. It turned out that all the threats came from Li Xiang. There were indeed conflicts among them before, which was also caused by Li Xiang's products.
However, the leaders of the major families are smart after all. The fact that they can get to this point is related to their unity. Fighting cannot affect the overall unity. If the major families are separated, the entire Tang Dynasty court can easily disintegrate them. So when Li Xiang left the capital, these people came together again and regarded Li Xiang as their biggest threat.
"Do you feel scared?"
Changsun Wuji looked at Li Xiang with great interest. After all, since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, only Li Shimin had enjoyed such treatment as being regarded as a threat by several major families.
"I'm not afraid, but I do feel a bit troubled. People should continue to fight while they're alive. Their alliance also gives me a sense of purpose. It seems that just as my uncle said, there are stories in Chang'an City every day. If I leave for too long, Chang'an City will give me a huge surprise."
Li Xiang said with a hint of excitement. This was not Li Xiang pretending to be calm, but he really felt the beating of his blood. If life were to become a stagnant pool after rebirth, Li Xiang would also feel that life would be meaningless. Only if you are truly strong can you make my life interesting.
"Return to Chang'an without worry. We can't completely hand this place over to them. Didn't you leave a hidden trick? The Emperor has already approved the establishment of the Western Liang Protectorate in the area outside Liangzhou. The Emperor's men will serve as protectors, and Zat'erk will serve as a guard."
After hearing this, Li Xiang breathed a sigh of relief. Although it was different from his previous plan, at least the general direction had not changed. The emperor appointed someone as the protector of this protectorate, but he didn't know much about the local area. He would definitely have to rely on Zatlk. Although there was no way to let Zatlk take office directly, it was the same for him to hold power behind the scenes. If that kid couldn't even do this, then he didn't deserve to follow us.
"Is my uncle interested in the grasslands here? Are the ministers and wealthy people in Chang'an interested?"
Li Xiang had been away from Chang'an for too long and was not familiar with the situation there. Although he had a good plan to auction the grassland here, if no one was interested, he might not be able to sell it for the money, and his contribution would be discounted.
"Half and half, but now that this matter has been handed over to these major families, they will definitely find a way to make it prosperous. If my guess is correct, they will definitely send people over to understand the real situation here. If there is any benefit, they will definitely not mind taking it all for themselves."
Changsun Wuji said helplessly that it was no longer the early years of the Tang Dynasty, and the power of the imperial court had reached its highest state, but when facing these big families, there was always a sense of powerlessness, so the imperial court had to make concessions in some aspects. After all, they had existed for so long, and various forces had penetrated into all aspects of society.
"If they really want to swallow it up, then let them do it. The imperial court will never give them such a large piece of land for free. They will also need to make a lot of money. When they give up some of their industries, we can take advantage of the situation."
Li Xiang immediately thought of some other things. The big families were not printing money. If they wanted to buy the grassland here, they would have to sell some other industries. Although they would have some savings, they would not be able to buy the grassland here. Li Xiang had been waiting for a long time. Even if the big families sold unprofitable industries, with Li Xiang's ability to turn stone into gold, he could make them regret it.
"You're right. Several major families have already started operating in the country, but the land they've sold is not very good, including some mountainous land. What use are you getting from buying those places?"
Changsun Wuji said with some doubt, if all the fields sold were good fields, then there would be no need to mobilize anyone, and others would have bought them long ago. But all of them are dry fields that cannot be irrigated. Who would be willing to buy these things?
"Of course it's useful, but I won't buy it now. Their price isn't very low right now. When they need money urgently, I believe the price will drop again. Then I'll buy them all. It doesn't matter what kind of field it is, as long as there's soil."
Li Xiang smiled confidently. Changsun Wuji, standing beside him, looked like a spendthrift. "Everyone knows you make money easily, but why are you buying all this wasteland?" And your father, when you were on the front lines, desperately plundered whatever land was available and brought it to the Eastern Palace, spending all your savings.
The two talked about some other things, and Li Xiang went back to prepare. According to the requirements of the imperial edict, Li Xiang only had three days to prepare, and he had to return to the capital for the rest of the time. Changsun Wuji still had to deal with some other things here, so he did not go back with Li Xiang.
Tuyuhun Guild Hall.
Before leaving, Li Xiang had to meet with Zatlk. After all, the good situation was gone, and Li Xiang had to appease this guy first.
"This is a reply letter. Your uncle rejected you..."
Zatlk once said that he would send a letter to his uncle, and then someone would come to him for help. Unfortunately, this guy was too confident in himself. After the letter was delivered, the other party replied immediately.
Zatlk immediately opened the letter and took a look. It was indeed a handwritten letter from his uncle. He felt ashamed in front of Li Xiang again. Zatlk didn't know how many times this had happened. He thought he still had some dignity on the grassland, but now it seemed like he was nothing. During the days he stayed in Chang'an City, his father had been trying to eliminate his influence. It seemed that he had had this idea for a long time.
"It doesn't matter, the situation has changed now..."
Fortunately, Zat'rk didn't recruit people from the grasslands. If he had brought in a few large tribes, Li Xiang would have only given him a staff position in the Protectorate, and this guy probably wouldn't have been willing. At that time, he had agreed to be the Protectorate, and now he has been reduced from a Protectorate to a staff position. Everyone knows the difference in the middle. But if you don't have the bargaining chips in your hands, then you have to do whatever you are told to do...