It took Songtsen Gampo a full cup of tea to calm himself down. He was even angrier than Lu Dongzan because he knew better than Lu Dongzan that if there was no food, his position might be shaken.
When the chieftains rebelled before, he had already felt that although the chieftains around the holy city were still obedient for the time being, these people's hearts were no longer with him. They were actually waiting and watching. If he could get food, perhaps he could reassure them, but if he couldn't get food, these guys might join the rebel camp. By then, let alone quelling the rebellion, whether he could keep his core territory would be another matter.
"Tell me, where can we get food? Aren't you usually quite talkative? If you can't come up with an idea now, I'll strip you of your titles."
The ministers of Tubo also came in from outside. After hearing that the plan to purchase grain had failed, there was no joy on their faces. If it were in the past, they would probably have jumped for joy. This matter was handed over to the prime minister, and the prime minister has always been in control of the court. Now that you have messed up, the Zamp will definitely blame you, and then we will have a chance to come out.
But now they feel more of a chill in their hearts, and have no intention of taking advantage of others' misfortunes. Perhaps only when the crisis comes, they will know that they must overcome the difficulties together. Millions of people on the plateau have no food. If this news spreads, those slaves will probably not stay in their posts and work honestly, and some people may stand up and resist.
In fact, it was not just the slaves who had no food. Including the soldiers outside the tent, they could only hold out for more than a month at most. They didn't even have enough food to survive the winter. Everyone knew how cold the winter was on the plateau. If there was no food to survive the winter, more than half of these people would probably die.
"Everyone, get out of here."
After a silence of about half an incense stick, Songtsen Gampo asked these people to get out. He knew that these people were of no use. If the food crisis was to be solved, it had to start with Lu Dongzan. So after these people left, Songtsen Gampo asked Lu Dongzan to sit down. This was a slap in the face followed by a sweet date, which was what almost all superiors would do. Lu Dongzan almost knew what he was going to say next.
"Go talk to Li Xiang. No one else has any food except him. He's the only one we can trade with. Twenty-five cents is twenty-five cents. We promised him that we must ensure the army has enough food."
Songtsen Gampo also frowned. He had a calculation in his mind. Although there were two or three million people in Tubo now, he only needed to ensure that some of them had enough food to eat. As for the rest, they could eat whatever they wanted. In Songtsen Gampo's eyes, they were all a group of untouchables and deserved not to have food to eat. Anyway, they were not important to Tubo.
"I'm afraid that won't work. My relationship with him has become a bit strained, and it's not as good as it was in the Tang Dynasty. If I were to go, the price might be too high. I'd better let someone else go."
Lu Dongzan was no fool. If he went to Li Xiang now, he'd probably humiliate him. How could he possibly go? Furthermore, the price of grain wasn't cheap. If he negotiated down to forty coins, he'd be a criminal in Tibetan history. Once they got through this difficult time, there would be plenty of people looking for trouble. You might be considered a hero for buying grain now, but once those people used your food to get through this difficult time, they'd dig up this whole thing and maybe even think you and Li Xiang were colluding and profiting from it.
Songtsen Gampo knew that this was true. There had been tension between the two men in recent days. Songtsen Gampo also knew that the relationship between the two was not really that good, so he was thinking about who to let speak up about this matter.
"Huyan, you go."
When Songtsen Gampo said this, Lu Dongzan still wanted to refuse, but when he saw Songtsen Gampo's eyes, he knew he could not refuse. He did not let you go in person, but only let your general go. This was already giving you face. If you send someone else, you, as the prime minister, might not give him advice. So let General Huyan go. After all, the general and the prime minister are one, and almost everyone knows this.
"Your humble servant obeys your order."
General Huyan didn't want to go either, but he could see the current situation clearly. Lu Dongzan didn't need to show up directly, there had to be a puppet in front of him, and he himself was the puppet.
"May I ask the Zanpu, what is the final price that can be negotiated?"
Since it involves his core strength, Lu Dongzan did not dare to make a decision on his own. He had to get the truth from Songtsen Gampo. If the negotiation ended and he was unhappy, General Huyan could be made a scapegoat at any time. Lu Dongzan pushed his men into such a position and spent countless efforts over the years. Of course, he could not be a scapegoat.
"Thirty coins, thirty coins per pound..."
Songtsen Gampo gritted his teeth and said that this price was already sky-high, almost sixty times higher than that of Chang'an City. Even if the freight was deducted, it would still be around thirty or forty times. As long as the Tang Dynasty transported the grain over, they would make a fortune. However, Lu Dongzan felt a little uneasy. Why did he always feel that the transaction would not be possible at this price?
He still remembered what Li Xiang said last time. Whenever you come to me again, the price will be forty coins per catty, no matter who from your side goes. If you still can't reach an agreement the second time, then the third time will be sixty coins per catty, it depends on how much money you Tubo have.
"I'll take my leave."
After hearing this number, General Huyan was extremely dissatisfied. It was obvious that two kilograms of grain cost one cent. Even if it was sold at a higher price on the Tibetan Plateau, it was still one kilogram of grain for one cent. Now it had reached sixty cents. He really didn't know how to say this.
Lu Dongzan also hurried to take his leave. He could not stay here under such circumstances. Songtsen Gampo's anger might reach him at any time. He had to go to the gate of the camp with General Huyan to wait for Li Xiang to come back from hunting soon.