Perhaps it was the mobilization of troops against the Central Plains last year that gave him confidence, and he felt that his force even surpassed that of Datang. The current Eastern Turks are as inflated as the United States, and they always feel that they are the best in the world, and they dare to meddle in anything.

However, although the approach was excessive, this matter was beneficial to the Eastern Turks.

Unlike the Eastern Turks, the Western Turks had more power than the Eastern Turks, although both the Eastern and Western Turks were khanates. Jieli, the khan, can be called a real emperor in his own territory, and he is much more carefree than Tongye Hu.

"If the Tang Dynasty is friendly with the Western Turks, within five years, they will be able to integrate the army and work together against the Eastern Turks. Although an ethnic group split off, the Western Turks did not have much affection for the Eastern Turks. I don't know if Jieli's words were intentional or unintentional, anyway, this plan has been frustrated. ”

Seeing Wei Zheng's depressed appearance, Li Chengqian couldn't help but say: "Gong Zheng, the ancients, fortune and misfortune depend, the failure of the alliance between the Tang Dynasty and the Western Turks is not necessarily a bad thing. The so-called alliance is actually just a partnership robbery. If the Tang Dynasty and the Western Turks join forces to attack Jieli, there will definitely be another dispute over the division of the Eastern Turkic lands. The so-called covenant and pro-clan are just a joke. But if we Datang send troops by ourselves, won't the territory we fight down at that time be our own? ”

Wei Zheng smiled, noncommittal to the prince's thoughts.

He was a civilian official, so he never speculated about the combat effectiveness of the army. The only thing he thinks about is the attrition of war.

In the case of the Western Turkic Alliance, even if a war is launched, the losses of the Tang Dynasty will be much less. That's what he values. For other civil officials, opening up territory is the merit of military generals, and as civilian officials, as long as they promote the alliance, it is a great achievement.

After the complaint was over, Wei Zheng didn't stay to eat, today there is a colleague's child marrying, he took the post, why do you have to show up.

After sending Wei Zheng away, as soon as he returned to the study, Li Chengqian saw Li Shi looking at him with interest.

"Boy, don't tell the old man any excuses for land, you can deceive Wei Zheng, but you can't deceive the old man. You've just made an excuse for it. Tell me, what do you think is the real reason why the failure of the alliance is a good thing? ”

Li Chengqian didn't expect Li Gang to know him so well, and he made up an excuse temporarily, which can be seen.

Sitting on the chair honestly, Li Chengqian said: "You can see it very accurately, the disciple really hopes that the alliance will break. As for the reason, it is not because of the land, but because of the matter of harmony. Master Li, the disciple has a question, why do you want a woman from the Central Plains to marry a foreigner? Why can't it be a foreign woman who marries into our Central Plains? ”

Li Gang was stunned, he didn't expect Li Chengqian to ask such a question.

Indeed, the marriage of clan girls in the Central Plains to foreign clans is already a fixed procedure for affinity. But to say why based on this incident, it really stumped him.

After closing his eyes and pondering for a while, Li Gang opened his eyes and said, "Although I don't know what it is for, the old man probably guessed a few reasons. First, we Central Plains people have always attached importance to bloodline. If he marries a woman of a foreign race, he gives birth to a child of impure blood. If it's a concubine, it's easy to say, but if it's the eldest son, isn't it a joke?

In addition, don't blame the old man for telling the truth. Your Li family originally had Xianbei blood. Although at the beginning of Emperor Taishang's accession to the throne, he respected Lao Tzu as the ancestor of the Li family, but everyone in the world knew what was going on. The sentence 'a woman with five surnames would rather marry a commoner than enter the royal family' is the result of a talk on the surface. Originally, your own bloodline was not pure, if you marry a foreign girl again, you still have to let the world laugh at it? If you don't believe it, when you get married, the eldest concubine will definitely be a pure Han girl. ”

Li Chengqian was a little embarrassed, although to tell the truth, it was the merit of the old gentleman, and it was also the privilege of a person of his age. But being directly talked about about his own bloodline still made him a little helpless.

That's right, the issue of bloodline has always been a scar on the Li family. Li Chengqian also knew that his father's bloodline was not pure, and his mother's bloodline was not pure. Obviously, they are all human, but the bastards of Shilin have to make some blood to say it together.

It's all yellow people, what are you doing with all these vain. What bloodline is pure and impure, it is the same as distinguishing between Husky Samoyed Alaska.

Seeing that Li Chengqian showed an embarrassed expression, Li Gang didn't say much about the issue of bloodline, and continued: "Second, those who marry foreign clans are generally clan daughters, plus princesses. In this way, the emperor of the Central Plains became the father-in-law of the leader of the foreign khans, and the Central Plains was directly one generation higher. But whether this has any effect or not, I don't need to say more about it. ”

Li Chengqian almost laughed out loud, there is such a reason why the daughter of the emotional clan marries a foreign leader. turned a foreigner into a son-in-law for no reason, and still felt that he took advantage of his seniority? That's right, he did take advantage of the seniority, just like Jieli, because one of his wives was Princess Yicheng, and when he was on the bank of the Weishui River, the old gentleman was able to help him raise his seniority to Jieli.

However, in the end, there is only a little market in the Central Plains. Foreigners, how can they care that they are hacked to death by their own uncles or grandparents? Just like on the bank of the Weishui River last year, if there was no deterrence from the fake eight-bull crossbow, Jieli would have led his troops to cut it over, who cares if you are blocking the bridge with the prince or the prince?

"As for the third, it's similar to the first, and it's also related to bloodline. Sending Central Plains women into foreign clans can assimilate their bloodline. If it is the second generation, with the power of the Han bloodline, and then marries the daughter of the Central Plains, won't the bloodline of the Central Plains have the advantage? ”

After three in a row, Li Chengqian took a sip of tea and said with a wry smile: "As far as the result is concerned, it's useless at all, isn't it?" Even if the leader of a foreign clan has the advantage of the Central Plains bloodline, but he grew up in a foreign clan, and when it is time to invade the Central Plains, I don't think he will be merciful. In the final analysis, the existence of a country depends on its own strength, not on its seniority. ”

Li Gang smiled slightly: "It's good to understand, so, the old man hopes that you can inherit your father's throne, if it's you, then it's not impossible for the Tang Dynasty to repeat the majesty of the Han Dynasty and the barbarians." ”

Not again....

Although he wanted to tell the old gentleman what he thought, now he found that he could not speak.

It is indeed good to avoid the competition for the throne and be your own peaceful and idle prince in peace. However, such an ending depends on the compassion of the next prince. What's more, it's rare that he was sent to Datang, or near Zhenguannian, so he just did nothing, is it really good?

Fang Sheng's appearance successfully rescued Li Chengqian's stuck.

Today's lunch is simple white rice, simple cabbage stewed tofu.

Even if he is rich, Li Chengqian has not always been at large. Improving the "food" twice a week has become an agreement between him and Li Gang, and other than that, there are no extravagant meals.

After eating lunch and walking his legs, the old gentleman needed to take a nap, and after settling him, Li Chengqian returned to the study.

Li Tai and Li Ke had already returned to the palace for dinner, and the afternoon time was also allocated by themselves.

No one bothered, so Li Chengqian opened the account books that Li Dahai and Zhao Yongsheng sent to the palace.

Now that it is the lunar month, this account book is considered an annual report.

These two people have now hoarded more than two dozen granaries and more than a dozen warehouses of jerky. According to their estimates, this food is enough for the entire Chang'an population to eat for three or four months.

"It's not the people of Chang'an who want to be fed, but the people from all over Guanzhong!"

It was already an astonishing amount of reserves, but Li Chengqian still felt that it was far from enough.

Zhao Yongsheng of Chang'an even used water transportation to buy grain in various bumper state capitals along the river.

Li Dahai, who gathered a large number of people, not only deceived the Eastern Turks, but also Xue Yantuo and the Western Turks, which became his households. The winter is cold, but the caravans between Chang'an and the grassland are still endless.

Everything that can be done has been done to the extreme, but in the face of unknown disasters, Li Chengqian still feels that he is so weak and powerless.

Closing the account book, I couldn't help but think about being happy, and Li Chengqian also fell asleep....

Harem - Liangyi Palace

Although the dormitory is a manna hall, Li Shimin is still used to handling government affairs here with his eldest grandson, and even the so-called imperial study rarely goes.

As long as the emperor is handling government affairs, the eldest grandson will always find an excuse to avoid it. Although the emperor did not guard against her, it is an ancient precept that the harem does not interfere in politics, and the eldest grandson will not make trouble for his husband for no reason.

The same account book was also sent to the emperor's desk by the Hundred Horsemen.

Unlike the Alliance of the Inferior, what Zhao Yongsheng and Li Dahai did was on the surface, and naturally they couldn't escape the eyes of the Hundred Cavalry Division.

Seeing the record at the back of the account book, Li Shimin sighed and shouted to the apse: "Guanyin, come out and see, your prince's son is doing something terrible!" ”

When it comes to Li Chengqian's matter, the eldest grandson will not shy away from suspicion.

Seeing her walk out quickly, Li Shimin hurriedly ran over to support her, and blamed: "Didn't the imperial doctor tell you not to act like before!" Walk so fast, beware of tire gas. ”

Four months have passed, and the eldest grandson is now showing his belly. She won the emperor's favor, and naturally soon became pregnant with another child.

The eldest grandson was very happy about the emperor's husband's concern, and said with a smile: "The concubine has raised a few children, so there is no need for the imperial doctor to talk too much." Don't talk about this, you just said what happened to Cheng Qian? ”

Li Shimin picked up the account book sent by the Baiqi Division and replied: "Well, this is the accumulation of the prince over the past year, good guy, so much grain and jerky, the total value is not less than 100,000 yuan." Last year, because of the Weishui incident, I promised Cheng Qian not to interfere in the finances of his East Palace. As a result, even I was scared until now! ”

The eldest grandson had also helped the army prepare grain and grass, so he naturally knew the value of grain. When I saw the data in the account books, I made a rough calculation and felt that it was only a little less.

More than 100,000! How much does the Datang treasury earn in a year? As a result, his son actually got so much money. Where did this kid's money come from?

Seemingly aware of the eldest grandson's doubts, Li Shimin said with a smile: "I still underestimate this kid's ability to collect money, Guanyin, you don't know, Cheng Qian likes to tinker with some things on weekdays, and he can also find opportunities to make a fortune in some gadgets." For example, he made a shock absorber based on the spring made of the trumpet flower, which is very popular whether it is mounted on a wheelchair or a horse-drawn carriage.

Yan Lide, the brother of Yan Lide, who was the prisoner, discussed with Cheng Qian, and sold the pictures drawn by Cheng Qian as a prisoner to make money, and the proceeds were distributed to the East Palace. Some time ago, I actually saw in the tax form that I was going to be a prisoner, and I was still in the top rank, but I was shocked.

In addition, Cheng Qian also played with water and played with the production method of high wine. One of the biggest expenses of the palace during this period was this high level of wine. Yongsheng Liquor Fang, a time-honored brand, also failed to escape the snare of Cheng Qian, and forty percent of the income must be sent to the East Palace. It can be said that Cheng Qian doesn't need to do anything every day, just wait for the prison and various merchants to send money to the East Palace. ”

The eldest grandson closed his mouth and said indignantly: "Forty percent? The business that the dignified prince is involved in, these merchants only give forty percent to Cheng Qian, which is too much! Your Majesty, you should condemn it! "Mobile One second to remember →.\B\\\\.\\ for you to provide wonderful \ novel reading。

For his son to make a lot of money by self-reliance, the eldest grandson maintained a supportive attitude. Li Tai always asks her for this and that, and the prince, who is not much older, has now made his own money. Although even if the prince doesn't make money, the inner government will prepare a generous share for him when he becomes an adult, but compared with the current finances of the East Palace, the inner government's share is too small.

Seeing the queen's appearance, Li Shimin could only laugh dryly. Lying down to get a net profit of 40% is already very good. Even some high-ranking officials who solicit businesses to cling to them are just one or two percent of the money for nothing.

"You, do you think that's enough for Cheng Qian to have so much money? In fact, the most profitable is still the Turkic caravans. The Hundred Cavalry Division is very strict with the caravans entering and leaving the border, so he knows what kind of caravan in Li Dahai is and how it makes money. Guanyin, you don't know, the Turks are particularly obsessed with high wine, and at the beginning, a jar of wine was only the price of a sheep. But when the caravan deliberately reduced the supply, the price of one jar of wine slowly changed from one sheep to two sheep and three sheep, and when the price was the highest, even two jars of wine could be exchanged for three cows! ”

"Huh?"

The eldest grandson was taken aback, what is the price of the cow, everyone in the whole Datang knows it. Ordinary people's families, after a few years of work, can't save more than a cow's money. If you have a cow, you don't put the cow in a position above Lao Tzu Niang. And dignitaries, even if they want to eat beef, they can't easily touch it.

But such a valuable cow is only worth a jar of wine in the grassland?

Li Shimin couldn't help but laugh and said: "The cattle in the grassland are not valuable, but they are valuable when they are transported to the Central Plains." Big cattle, old cattle and sheep, caravans slaughtered at the border, or sold to border people. Calves that can still be trained slowly, as long as they are transported to the Central Plains, are all good prices. It's strange that such a two-ended profitable business doesn't make money! ”