Chapter 1198 The Southern World

Hearing Li Xiang talk about business, Changsun Ze also took out all the information he had compiled during this period. Although some of it had been briefly sent up, if he wanted to introduce it in detail, of course it would be best to say it in person here.

"Going back to Your Highness, the development on the other side is 20 years behind ours. Not only do they also admire the culture of the Tang Dynasty very much, and they regularly send envoys to Chang'an to pay tribute, but they only give us things that are not very valuable. Instead, they are from the Tang Dynasty. Chang'an of the Tang Dynasty was exchanged for many valuable things."

When talking about this matter, Changsun Ze's face was a little unhappy. Doesn't this mean that we, Datang, are fools? If this is the case, then every time you go to pay tribute, you are actually going to make money every time.

Li Xiang knew this kind of thing a long time ago, and it was clearly stated in some unofficial history books of later generations. Many of the so-called Wan Guo Lai Dynasty were faked by local people, but the emperor of the Central Plains was willing to see this, so everything happened If they are rewarded with large amounts of gold and silver, it would be better to go to Chang'an than to work for an old age. Who wouldn't want to continue paying tribute?

This is simply a good way to make a fortune, so in recent years, as long as there is a small tribe in the south, they have to go to the Tang Dynasty to pay tribute, take a bunch of local worthless things, but Chang'an City does not have these things, and then exchange them for the imperial court's gold silver.

"How is the military situation?"

Don't worry about these things now, just wait for the general accounts to be settled in the future.

"According to the news I have received over the years, there are a total of about 30,000 troops in the Pyu Kingdom, but many local people live in the mountains and forests. They are basically the same as our chieftains in Sichuan and Shu. On the surface, their military strength Not very good, but if there really is a fight, it is estimated that all capable men in the country can become soldiers."

Chang Sunze once sent a small team to enter the country and had a conflict with an enemy village. As a result, all the men in the village, including children aged fifteen or sixteen, were able to fight with weapons, and their weapons were also diverse.

But one thing is for sure, these weapons are deadly.

"Your Highness, please forgive me for talking too much. This place doesn't look like a good place. Most of it is hills, and there are no people in many places. Why are we occupying this place?"

Changsunze thought for a while and said, if it were another person, Changsunze would naturally not dare to say this, but Li Xiang always likes others to play devil's advocate, and corrects his own affairs in the process of playing devil's advocate.

"Many people have this question, so let me ask you a simple question first. If you withdraw, and there is a conflict between the people on the opposite side and the people from Nanzhao, who do you think will win?"

Li Xiang knew that it was useless to talk too profoundly, and they were even more confused about talking about the outlet of the Indian Ocean. Who knows where the Indian Ocean is?

Li Xiang got to the point of the conversation in just one sentence. Chang Sunde and the generals behind him were also shocked. Why didn't we see this? If there was a conflict between the two of them, Nanzhao's generals would definitely not be able to resist it.

If Nanzhao is occupied, it will soon become our exclusive area.

What they are best at is fighting in the mountains and forests. This is their strength. Once they reach the Sichuan and Shu regions of our country, even if we deploy troops to besiege, it is impossible to take them down immediately.

"But they shouldn't be able to attack Nanzhao. I think they usually live in poverty. Even if they have two meals a day, they will be without food for at least two or three months every year."

After Changsun Ze finished speaking, he felt that it was a bit unjustifiable. Isn't this the kind of fluke that His Highness Taisun said?

"Think about it for yourself. I can tell by your expression that you should have thought of the key point. As the army of the Tang Dynasty, what we consider is not the gains and losses of this city or place, nor is it our false reputation. It’s about how beneficial it will be to the development of Datang in the future.”

Li Xiang patted Changsun Ze on the shoulder and was about to leave the pass.

"Your Highness is going to enter Piao Kingdom?"

Changsun Ze quickly stopped in front. It was already very risky to allow Li Xiang to climb the wall of Anxi City. If he entered the territory of another country, it would not be a joke. What if something happened? No matter how much credit you have made, this will wipe it out for you.

"We are already here. Of course we have to go and have a look. Don't worry, there won't be any big problems. They won't make things difficult for me, the Tang Dynasty merchant, right?"

What Li Xiang said is true. Many businessmen in the Tang Dynasty often go there to do business, and I have never heard of them making things difficult for our merchants. This is mainly because the local living materials are lacking. Businessmen in the Tang Dynasty can enrich their lives.

"Shanzi camp preparation."

Upon hearing that Li Xiang was preparing to go over, Chang Sunze immediately ordered his most elite Shanzi Battalion to prepare.

"Wait a minute. If you take them with you, then no one will have any idea about me. Then you have to find out who I am. Take your guards and guides with you, and the rest will No need, don’t you think they can’t guarantee our safety?”

If he brought the whole battalion with him, there would be no 300 taels of silver here, so Li Xiang planned to bring only a small number of people. His 30 guards were enough to ensure their safety. These people all have a combat strength of 25 people. To put it bluntly, That is a martial arts master.

Chang Sunze hesitated for a moment, but thinking of the terrifying combat power of Li Xiang's men, he finally chose to agree, but he had to follow him in person, otherwise, he would feel uneasy.

The group of people dressed up as business travelers and left Anxi City. They immediately carried some food and other things on their backs, which were in short supply abroad.

In the 21st century, these places are good places to produce rice. Unfortunately, many local areas have not yet been cultivated, and their seeds are not good, so they still starve most of the year. It is like holding a golden bowl. It’s like begging for food.

After leaving Xi'an City, Li Xiang saw that people on the road were constantly coming and going.

"Which city are we going to?"

Li Xiang, a city outside the country, has a dark eye.

"The place we are going to is called Wacheng. It is in their Piao Kingdom, just like Luoyang and our Tang Dynasty."

As soon as he heard the name of this place, Li Xiang understood. Isn't this the city in central Myanmar, Mandalay? It turns out that in this era it was called Wa City, and Li Xiang became more and more interested in this city. (End of chapter)