Of course, the food issue had to be addressed. If Li Xiang didn't cut a piece of meat from Lu Dongzan, then what was missing from his Tibetan strategy? Not only was there a lack of money, but the Tibetan economy would also have to continue to collapse. All this money would be used to buy food for the Tang Dynasty. How could they develop their own economy?
Therefore, Li Xiang must get this money both for public and private reasons. Li Xiang has also realized in the past few days that perhaps Lu Dongzan has other ways. If this is the case, then we have to give him some catalyst to let him know that we will not stay here forever. We have a lot of things to do in the Tang Dynasty and may leave here at any time. If you want to buy food, then you have to hurry up.
After listening to Li Xiang's explanation, these people also understood what was going on. It turned out to be the same old trick again. We have to spread some smokescreen to let the Tibetans know that we are going back, so that they will be nervous. Then, doing business will be a small matter and returning to Chang'an will be a big deal.
After a night of farce, the Tubo army camp was also restless, and many people were very uncomfortable. However, the security outside Li Xiang's tent was tight. In addition to the prime minister's men, Li Xiang's men were not a joke either. Just looking at those shining steel knives, the weapons in their hands were no match.
During these few days, many Tibetans have seen that special steel knife, and some noble children also want to buy two. Of course, Li Xiang is not unwilling to sell it. Thirty thousand strings of cash per knife, as long as you can afford it, we can sell it to you at any time.
When it was in the Tang Dynasty, the price was only ten times of three thousand strings of cash, but now that it has come to your Tubo, I have to increase the price tenfold. If you are willing to buy it, buy it, if you are not willing to buy it, forget it. Li Xiang also got a message from Xiao Liuzi that the Cui family will also transport such weapons to the plateau. The last transaction price was fifty thousand strings of cash. We are much cheaper than the Cui family. If you can do the math, you will know what to choose.
Although Tubo was poor, there were many rich people there. Three thousand slaves worked for a year, and all the money was collected by the slave owners, so there were many people who could come up with tens of thousands of strings of cash. Li Xiang had already sold more than ten swords in the past few days.
At that time, Changsun Chong almost had a fight with Li Xiang. You know what the relationship between us and Tubo is. If you sell such a good thing to them, will we still have the advantage when we meet on the battlefield in the future?
Although the other generals did not say anything, they thought the same thing in their hearts. However, Li Xiang silenced them at that time, took out a knife that was to be sold, and chopped it against the knife in Chang Sun Chong's hand, instantly breaking the knife that was to be sold.
Although this knife is sharp, it is far inferior to those used by the generals of the Tang Dynasty. However, if it is used against ordinary knives of this era, it has a great advantage. So Li Xiang has nothing to worry about. To be more precise, what he sold in Tubo was actually a batch of inferior products, which could not be compared with the fine products of the generals of the Tang Dynasty.
But even these inferior products were considered top-notch in the Tubo military camp. Many soldiers had seen their generals practicing, and the Tubo-made knives were no match at all. They didn't know how many of them were broken in one night. So even if they wanted to teach Li Xiang a lesson, they were very afraid of this kind of weapon.
Early in the morning of the second day, more than a dozen war horses rushed in from outside the camp gate. These people were wearing Han Chinese clothes, but they were much more gorgeous than those of ordinary Han people. It was obvious that these people came from the capital Chang'an.
These people must be here to look for Li Xiang. After the guards at the door questioned them, they immediately let them in.
Songtsen Gampo and Lu Dongzan immediately sent someone to inquire. In less than a cup of tea, their men came to report that the imperial edict came from Chang'an. It was said that there was a problem on the northern border, which seemed to be a matter of Goguryeo, so Li Xiang was ordered to return to Chang'an quickly.
"Hurry up and negotiate with him about the grain issue. No matter how high the price, we must have food to get through this difficult time. At the very least, we must ensure food for the army and the nobles. If we don't have food this winter, you know better than I do what the consequences will be. I see they've already started packing, and they might come to say goodbye soon."
Songtsen Gampo was the first one who couldn't sit still. If he had stayed in the holy city, Lu Dongzan might have thought carefully about how coincidental this matter was. Lu Dongzan obviously wanted to wait for a while, but he didn't expect the imperial edict to come from Chang'an. Did you all calculate it?
"Your Majesty, don't you think this matter is too strange? We clearly wanted to leave him alone for a while, but he received this imperial edict so soon. Is it such a coincidence?"
Lu Dongzan raised his hand. It was indeed not easy for him to still maintain such rational thinking. He could become the prime minister of Tubo only because of his own talents. But it was different for the group of stupid teammates around him.
"No matter what this matter is, he may leave Tibet. Now the initiative is in their hands. We have no cards left. Winter is approaching, and it will take nearly two months to transport this batch of grain. Can you guarantee that there will be no riots during these two months? If the news of the empty granary spreads, do you know how many slaves will rise up in rebellion?"
Songtsen Gampo said loudly, and the people around him nodded. We should plan when it is time, but we can't plan now.
If I didn't have enough time, we would have many ways to overcome the difficulties, but now we don't have it. Taking into account the time it takes for the Tang Dynasty to transport grain, we must decide within the next two days. After Li Xiang returns, it will also take time to mobilize grain. If the Tang Dynasty and Goguryeo go to war, the price of grain in the Tang Dynasty will also rise. At that time...
Thinking of this, many people stood up, and some even volunteered to negotiate with Li Xiang.
"Get out of here, you're not cut out for this. You're the only one left."
Originally, General Huyan was asked to go, but he was delayed by a woman. So now Songtsen Gampo doesn't care about anything else and lets Lu Dongzan go to discuss this matter in person. If you don't go, I'm afraid this matter will not be discussed.