back to ancient times to be emperor

Chapter 128 War Dividend
Naturally, Yeluliang did not dare to agree to the conditions of Lu Chengqi, who was so arrogant. It would be better if the money was less, but after calculation, the ransom paid by these generals alone has exceeded one million yuan, how could he dare to agree?

If he agrees, he, the privy envoy of the Tongzhi South Court, will be done.When did the Liao Kingdom give in? If he dared to agree to these conditions, he would definitely be included in the history books of the Liao Kingdom. As a typical traitor, he would be scolded by future generations for generations.

In fact, Lu Chengqi's asking price is really not high, a million dollars is exactly the total amount of pensions and rewards for the forbidden army and frontier army this time.If the salaries given by the promoted officers are included, Lu Chengqi only loses but not earns.

It's not that Lu Chengqi didn't have the guts to ask for a higher price, it's just that Lu Chengqi calculated that the compensation that the Liao Kingdom could accept was so high based on the secret report from the supervisors in Liao. If there was any more, Yelu Hongji would feel distressed.Unlike Dashun, the Liao Kingdom has a prosperous business tax and agricultural tax revenue, and its tax revenue has not been high.In addition, in this era, there is no Chanyuan Alliance, and the Liao Kingdom does not have the yearly coins worth millions of coins that are earned without work, so life has always been very difficult.

Realizing that Liao's economy is so weak, Lu Chengqi really couldn't bear to ask for too high a price. Millions of dollars was his bottom line.As the saying goes, when the cannon fires, there is ten thousand taels of gold.Putting it in this different time and space is also a wise saying.Just mobilizing tens of thousands of troops in this way, Lu Chengqi's rewards and military pay exceeded one million yuan. Sure enough, wars cost money.Only the Song Dynasty in the official history could support the protracted war, which lasted for 25 years just around the sixteen prefectures of Youyun.If it was the Ming Dynasty with a weak economy, it would have been dragged down long ago.The end of the Ming Dynasty was an example. The imperial court had no money, and the army had no pay, and they were unwilling to fight with their lives. In the end, the peasant uprising inside and the Tartars outside joined forces to overthrow the already crumbling Ming Dynasty.

There is no money for war, and it is not like nomads who plunder, who is willing to sacrifice their lives?Lu Chengqi secretly sighed in his heart, it's better to use less weapons in the future, otherwise the economy will collapse, and the fun will be great.

Seeing that Lu Chengqi was so tough, Yeluliang suddenly became tough too: "Your Majesty, if you continue to push each other like this, aren't you afraid that the two countries will use swords again?"

Lu Chengqi didn't know that he was just intimidating, he was strong outside, if he was so tough, he would have summoned the army a long time ago, and started the war without saying a word, why would he send an envoy?Lu Chengqi was not worried, and said: "In that case, let's see you on the battlefield. I am not afraid of fighting. Even if ten soldiers were exchanged for one of you, there are still people in Dashun. Do you have that population?"

Yeluliang was momentarily overwhelmed by Lu Chengqi's tough attitude.He had always thought that Dashun was weak and could be bullied, but now this habitual impression was no longer relevant, and Yeluliang didn't know what to do.He thought to himself: "If he could fight, His Majesty would have already fought. Why would he send me here? Presumably this little emperor has figured out my point. I can't be led away by him."

After making up his mind, Yeluliang said: "Your Majesty, if we can fight, why should I come to Dashun? Your Majesty, you also know that Liao's tax revenue is not high, and a million guan is really difficult for others. Half of the tax may be reduced, or it can be compensated." come out."

Seeing that he had given in, Lu Chengqi said: "It's impossible to reduce the exemption by half. I know that your cattle, sheep and horses are not worth much, but Dashun's cattle, sheep and horses are very valuable. So, according to Dashun's market price, I allow you to use cattle, sheep and horses to pay the bills, this is the final bottom line, if you don't agree, don't even try to take a person away from me!"

The officials of Dashun present were all high-ranking officials. Where had they ever seen such a tit-for-tat negotiation?Lu Chengqi saw their astonished expressions of not knowing why, and thought to himself: "You have never seen how negotiations were conducted during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. They talked while fighting! This battle is so small that you sit down to negotiate after the fight is over. several times."

Yeluliang pondered for a long time, but still felt that he could not be this historical sinner. Just as he was about to speak, Lu Chengqi did not wait for him. Seeing his hesitant expression, he knew that he was not sincere in negotiating.With a big wave of his hand, Lu Chengqi got up and left.The little servant beside him hurriedly proclaimed: "The emperor is driving!"

After all the officials bowed and retreated, Yeluliang still stood there stupidly, at a loss.It wasn't until the Khitan deputy envoy pushed him that he realized it.After leaving the palace, Yeluliang asked them in Khitan dialect: "In your opinion, what is the meaning of this little southern emperor?"

One of the deputy envoys said: "Although the little emperor from the south is young, he has a high spirit. He is just at the age of full-bloodedness, and I am afraid he is not a person who is afraid of war. We threaten him with war, and I am afraid it is in his favor. Why don't we agree? His conditions, after all, we have too many cattle and sheep, so they are not worth much."

Another deputy envoy also said in Khitan dialect: "Cows and sheep can be given, but horses are not. You and I both know that Dashun lacks horses. If we give them horses, it must be us Khitans who suffer." He said that the Khitan people were not stupid, they knew Lu Chengqi's intention, and they came here just for the horse.They can also see that the current advantage of the steed Liao Kingdom lies. If Dashun equalizes this advantage, then their life will be difficult.It can be said that in this world, no one is a real fool, they all know what can and cannot be done.

At the same time, Lu Chengqi announced to see Feng Chengping, the twelve ministers of the cabinet and Minister of Rites, Jiang Yu, the privy envoy of the Military Staff Department, Pan Xingyi and Peng Jinkang, the deputy envoys of the Privy Council, in the Chuigong Hall.

"You all must know why I summoned you. The so-called matter is nothing more than the fact that the envoys of the Liao Kingdom asked for my Dashun captives. Do you think that I am too philistine?" Lu Chengqi took a sip of tea and said leisurely Said.

The position of Feng Chengping, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, is equivalent to that of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He had to keep silent when everyone was silent.He said cautiously: "Your Majesty, I think that your actions today are not in accordance with etiquette." He did not dare to say that what Lu Chengqi did was wrong, but that what he did was not in line with etiquette.I have to say that scholars are like this, if they want to accuse you, they have to beat around the bush.

Lu Chengqi put down the white porcelain teacup. If this white porcelain from the official kiln was released to later generations, collectors would definitely be crazy about it.It's a pity that in this different time and space, Lu Chengqi, who is familiar with it, is no longer surprised. He often sighs in his heart that if he can bring a few white porcelains to travel to later generations again, he will become a millionaire, and he won't have to work hard for a living every day.

Lu Chengqi said slowly: "I know that you can't accept this kind of negotiation for a while. But I want to warn you that this will be the case in future negotiations, and you will not give an inch. What is negotiation? Isn't it for the best interests! Negotiations between countries are all carried out around interests. I once said that between countries, there are no eternal friends or enemies, only eternal interests. If you can't see it clearly, You can't sit still under your buttocks anymore." After finishing speaking, Lu Chengqi glanced at Feng Chengping from the corner of his eye.

Feng Chengping was personally reprimanded by him, and immediately broke out in cold sweat, saying: "What Your Majesty said is the truth!"

Lu Chengqi snorted coldly, and said, "Don't you understand why I did this? I did it for the dead soldiers and border residents who were killed! Besides, we are the ones who won the battle this time, why should we ask for justice? Compromise by the Liao Kingdom? Listen clearly, these Khitan captives, especially the Khitan generals, are my war dividends. I want you to know that wars can also make money!"

(End of this chapter)