"The food is a bit simple, Master Zhang, please make do with it."
A meal of nine dishes and one soup for three people might not seem too simple to ordinary people, but compared to the status of Li Xiang and Xiao Yu, it was indeed a bit too simple.
"I dare not."
Lord Zhang just ate something casually, but no matter what he ate, it tasted like chewing wax. When this guy was in power in the past, every meal would have more than 20 dishes. It was not his business whether the outsiders could eat or not. As long as he could eat happily, it was fine.
"Then let's eat and talk. Master Zhang, please introduce us to the four great chieftains of the mountain. It would be best if you can be more specific."
After two glasses of wine, it was time to get down to business. Zhang Jiuli shook his head to sober himself up a little so as not to miss anything when talking later. Although he had no way to deal with these chieftains, if the information he provided could give Li Xiang an idea, it would be a meritorious service.
The most powerful chieftain on the mountain is Longchuan chieftain, who is also the in-law of Zhang Jiuli's children. Now the two daughters are still in the mountains. As to whether they are safe, it is really hard to say. After all, what happens in the mountains may be reported up. Although we have been doing very close work, there is no guarantee that all the loopholes can be plugged.
The Tusi masters have been running this place for generations, and it's not just one generation now. So it's hard to say whether there are still spies hidden in Chengdu. Moreover, the news of Li Xiang coming from the north has long been known in the mountains. In addition, they are now cut off from Chengdu. Even if no word has been spread, they should be able to guess something with their own brains...
The Longchuan chieftain had the largest land area and the most soldiers under his command, with a total population of more than 300,000 and more than 40,000 troops.
The second one is Tusi Adu. He has just succeeded to the throne and is not very old, but the strength under his command is no joke. He has a total population of 250,000 and an army of more than 30,000.
Ranked third is the chieftain of Shama. He has a salt well in the mountains, so he is the chieftain who has the least shortage of salt. According to the rules in the mountains, when the major chieftains need to buy salt, they must buy from Shama first, and then buy from the Han people. This can be regarded as keeping the benefits within the family.
When Li Xiang heard this, his eyes lit up. This was the first point we could take advantage of. The land of Shama Tusi was not very good, and salt was a very important source of income. If we could cut it off, then we would have to get rid of him first.
The fourth place is the Longquan chieftain. To put it simply, there is a spring in his territory. However, his strength is the smallest among the four chieftains. He has only more than 20,000 troops, which is smaller than that of the Shama chieftain.
Through Zhang Jiuli's simple introduction, two lines appeared in Li Xiang's mind. One line was naturally the salt well. Others might not have a lot of salt, but Li Xiang had plenty of it, and the quality was much higher than there. If we were to distribute the goods in large quantities to the mountains, then the Shama chieftain would probably cry in the salt well.
The second line is Chief Adu. This guy has just become the chieftain and is still a young man. He must be more calculating than the others. Perhaps this is where we can open up the situation. Once there is one person who can come over, the other chieftains will be useless.
Xiao Yu was listening very carefully. Regarding the matter of salt, Xiao Yu had the same idea as Li Xiang. As long as this kind of goods were put on the market, other salt merchants would have no way to survive. We just need to be cheaper than others, and the market will make the right choice. Now most of the time in the Tang Dynasty is in the hands of Li Xiang, and others can only be wholesalers from Li Xiang.
Although the situation on the mountain is different from that at the foot of the mountain, it is basically the same. Everyone wants to buy cheaper and better goods. Even if we had an alliance before, as long as there is profit, there will naturally be people who smuggle salt. When there are more and more people smuggling salt, I am afraid that there will be no salt to sell on the mountain.
After Li Xiang expressed his idea, he asked Zhang Jiuli to think about it and see if there is anyone who can become our partner. After all, we have no foundation in the mountains. If we want to take down the chieftain with a soft knife, we must find someone from the inside. The external fortress is too strong.
"My second son-in-law..."
Zhang Jiuli immediately thought of a person. He married his two daughters to the two sons of Longchuan Tusi, but Longchuan Tusi did not like Han people, so he had to find two daughters-in-law for himself. The daughters-in-law of the old family had to drink a bowl of safflower when they went up the mountain, and they were told not to have children in the future. This was equivalent to the eldest daughter in Zhang Jiuli's family, who would not even have a child in the future. You can imagine what a childless woman in such a feudal society is like with your toes.
But the second son is different. The second son of Longchuan Tusi does not need to inherit the position of Tusi. He just needs to have fun. Moreover, this guy can do things like walking cats and fighting dogs, so his daily expenses are naturally a bit higher.
In the past, he had done business with others. Even if it damaged the business of the chieftain in the mountains, people would not bother with him for the sake of his father's face. Of course, he was also very sensible and would not do anything to cause a war between the two chieftains.
"You said it yourself, he's a very measured person. We're bankrupting another chieftain this time. Are you sure he'll listen to you on this matter?"
Xiao Yu said disdainfully, many people say that the sons of princes are brainless and all they do every day is play and eat, but that is all nonsense from the lower class people. As long as you stay in Chang'an City for a period of time, which son of princes is brainless? If he was brainless, he would have died long ago. Why would he have to wait until now?
"Listen to me, old man. This kid may seem cowardly on the surface, but he's just trying to hold himself back. Actually, he's quite courageous. However, this requires your Highness's cooperation. He's the second child in the family and doesn't have the right to inherit the chieftainship, but your Highness can give him that right. Then, appeal to his emotions and reason..."
Zhang Jiuli said calmly, and Li Xiang snorted coldly beside him, "You really think about your son-in-law, and this is also for your own benefit. If your son-in-law really helps the court to take down the chieftain, then we won't be able to kill you no matter what."