In the thirty-third year of the first emperor, on the twenty-fifth day of the third month of spring, the end of the day. 、

The first westward expansion.

Under the auspices of Yingcheng, in the Dalu Mansion, in the midst of the changes in the world, it was held silently.

There are 82 participants, all of whom are wealthy families, all in the name of dart shops.

Yingcheng sits, below.

Lees got up to pay respects.

Instantaneous.

In the entire hall, a solemn and solemn sound of worship sounded one after another.

"Foreign minister, meet the prison country!"

A mess until the last aftermath fades away.

Yingcheng said at this time: "You are all the pillars of my Great Qin, you don't need to be polite, today's discussion of going west, there is no need to be nervous, but what is said, all are innocent." ”

"Please take a seat!"

"The ministers (foreign ministers) thank the prison country, and the prison country is shengming!"

It's like.

At this time, in the temple, a knife was cut into two camps.

The imperial court camp headed by Yingcheng has no noble camp of principals.

Xungui has no principal, although Yingwang Li Feng is a top noble.

But.

Sigui left Guanzhong and entered Nanjun, which is really not top-notch.

Yingcheng waited for a moment until the hall was quiet, and he also knew that although the nobles had their own thoughts, they were all shrewd like monkeys, and no one would make a bird.

Immediately, he didn't elaborate much, and said: "The matter of westward expansion is a decision made after the imperial court has agreed many times. ”

"Its purpose is to create a beast that can replace the ploughing ox in the Western Regions, a donkey of a strange animal!"

"This donkey, like a horse, is not as tall and strong as a horse, with pointed ears and rabbit lips, or may be irritable, but after the lecture is well-behaved and docile, and is a beast that replaces the ploughing ox."

"This time, you will go to the land of the Western Regions of Hexi for the sake of profit."

"Therefore, in order to encourage you, the imperial court will buy donkeys from strange animals at a price of 500 yuan per donkey."

"As for whether you can get something, it's all up to your own efforts."

Yingcheng's calm announcement, this is the result of the imperial court's left and right trade-offs.

The donkey of the strange animal is definitely not worth five hundred yuan, but in order to encourage westward expansion, the price of the donkey can only be raised to allow more people to participate in it.

As soon as Yingcheng's words fell, everyone in the hall looked left and right and muttered.

"Five hundred dollars a donkey, that's more than the price of a cow."

"Is there really such a strange donkey in the Western Regions, is this a rare thing?"

"It can replace the cultivated cattle, then there is only a very large number, but these five hundred dollars a head, if this is a donkey that gets more than a dozen strange animals in one trip, isn't it, easy ten gold?"

The various noble families were surprised.

Although the target of their trip was not the so-called donkey of the strange animal, the price offered by the court was still beyond their expectations.

"Foreign Minister Sanchuan Shen's Shen Leopard!" In the midst of everyone's doubts, one of them got up and asked from his home: "Dare to ask the prison country, in this land of the Western Regions, there are more or fewer donkeys of strange animals." ”

"Yes, Jianguo, if there are only a few hundred or thousands of donkeys in this Western Regions, I am afraid it will not be enough for us to stuff our teeth."

"Indeed, if there are only a few hundred, then so many of us go together, and that family only gets two or three, wouldn't it be a trip in vain."

Facing everyone's doubts, Yingcheng smiled and said confidently: "You don't have to worry, this strange donkey is like an ant on the ground in the Western Regions, and there are countless of them. ”

"This, we have never seen or heard of the land of the Western Regions, dare to ask the prison country, do you have any evidence?" Shen Bao asked again.

This is not an inquiry.

On the contrary, this is exactly the doubt in the hearts of all nobles.

The donkey of the strange animal was only known by them from Yingcheng's mouth, they had never seen or heard of it, and it was impossible for them to take a huge risk just because of Yingcheng's words.

Shen Bao took the initiative to ask, and it can be said that every question was asked on the hearts of each noble, and one by one they also pricked up their ears to listen to Yingcheng's explanation.

However.

Yingcheng knew that he couldn't talk too much, and he hadn't been to the Western Regions, how could he know what the situation was in the Western Regions now, and he replied truthfully:

"There is no evidence, among the many documentary records, only the Dog Rong Gazetteer has this record, and the imperial court has not confirmed this."

"Therefore, the imperial court cannot guarantee that when you go to the Western Regions, you will definitely find a donkey with strange animals."

Yingcheng's words silenced everyone in the hall.

But.

If this matter had been replaced by something else, there would have been an uproar in the hall a long time ago.

But at this time, after Yingcheng truthfully explained, no one objected, and no one said that Yingcheng was not there.

On the contrary, one by one it became extremely quiet, and whether there was a donkey with or without strange animals did not seem to be as important as imagined.

Even Shen Bao, who asked two questions in a row, did not continue to ask, but bypassed the topic and asked:

"Qi Qi Jian Guo, although the Shen family is not a powerful person, but this westward march is also going with all the strength of the clan."

"It stands to reason that we are blessed by the imperial court and enjoy peace, and now that the imperial court is in need, we must do our best to go at any cost."

】

"However, we are dedicated to going to the soup for the imperial court, and I think the imperial court will definitely not treat us badly."

Although Shen Bao didn't mention the benefits in every word, he wanted the court's promise in every word.

Today's deliberations are full of attention, and if the court allows it under such circumstances, it must be a categorical matter, and it cannot be disobeyed.

That's why it's there.

That's where the requirements come in.

To put it mildly, they can be driven by the imperial court to go to the Western Regions to find the so-called strange donkeys, but this requires the imperial court to give enough benefits.

"The foreign minister Nanjun is a communist." As soon as Shen Bao finished speaking, another powerful figure got up and followed: "Yes, Jianguo, I will think about the imperial court, and the imperial court will also consider it for us." ”

As the two families raised questions, the nobles in the palace also echoed one after another.

In the face of everyone's questions, Yingcheng smiled, this situation had been expected for a long time, and this was in line with common sense, there was nothing surprising.

I also understand.

Regarding the policy of donkey policy, the imperial court only issued a 'document on the policy of donkey government', which was brief in content, only slightly mentioned in various aspects, and had no specific policy support.

The reason why many nobles responded quickly.

It was also because of the pressure of changing the law that Xungui was forced to transform, and even had other thoughts, so he formed a dart line and began to recruit warriors with the permission of the imperial court.

And now that the matter of westward expansion has officially been put on the agenda, the nobles have begun to really pay attention to this matter.

And this, there must be some specific interests involved.

"Regarding the donkey policy, the imperial court always has three strategies, one is diplomacy, the second is military, and the third is business travel!"

Yingcheng did not hide it, and said solemnly: "Among them, the diplomatic policy is in charge of the Westward Diplomatic Department under the Dianke Mansion, and the imperial court has sent a competent official of the Dianke Mansion to Hexi to establish diplomatic contacts with the Qiang tribe. ”

"The main purpose is to facilitate the administration of trade and to facilitate your passage in foreign lands."

"Military strategy, used for deterrence, my Qin people walk in a foreign land, no matter where they are, no matter what the forces are, they must treat each other with courtesy."

"If there is neglect, the sword will be given."

"Both of the above are the responsibility of the imperial court, so you don't have to worry."

"And the third strategy for business travel is related to you."

As Yingcheng talked, all the nobles below listened carefully with bated breath.

The policy of the donkey policy is already a strategy that has to be issued on the bow, and they are not here today to determine whether they want to go west, but the specific policy of westward expansion.

"In commerce, the imperial court is not limited to any form of ordinary." Yingcheng also continued:

"After consultation with the princes, for the time being, they will usually be divided into three categories."

"Normal trading!"

"The imperial court has found out that the world is centered on my Huaxia, and the four wild lands are all barbarian lands, and the barbarian people are not as smart as my Chinese ancestors, and they are noble in all directions."

"The barbarian land still maintains a barbaric nomadic life, and because of this, the gorgeous silk and porcelain of my Great Qin are sought after by everyone."

"In particular, one thing that is very interesting is that the barbarians still maintain a state of barter, and there is no currency."

Yingcheng paused, looked down at the nobles below, and said in a deep voice: "Therefore, in all transactions with the barbarians, copper, silver, and gold are not allowed to be traded. ”

Before Yingcheng's words fell, the nobles in the entire hall were shocked.

One by one, they exclaimed for some reason: "This, if it is a normal transaction, not traded with gold, silver and copper, then what is the transaction?" ”

"Yes, Jianguo, this, currency is a transaction to measure the value of goods, if it can't be measured in currency, then normal trading, how to trade?"

"This, what is the situation of the westward expansion, now we are still ignorant, especially, what kind of connection has the imperial court established with the countries of the Western Regions, if the countries of the Western Regions do not recognize the currency of the imperial court, then even if we have money, we will not be able to buy what we need."

"In this case, normal trading is nonsense."

"No, there is only one way to rob the brothers who connived at the dart line."

Seeing that the hall was noisy for a while, Yingcheng gently raised his hand and signaled everyone to be calm and quiet, and then said with a smile: "As mentioned before, the barbarians are sought after for luxurious silk and porcelain. ”

"Therefore, the reason why the trade of gold, silver and copper is prohibited is also because the imperial court will not recognize that foreign countries have the right to mint legal currency."

"That is, in any measurement of the value of goods in foreign countries, there is only one kind of coin, my Great Qin coin, and the Great Qin coin will not exchange anything that exists in the form of money."

Hearing Yingcheng's explanation, a monstrous wave gradually rose in the hearts of the people below.

Yingcheng's explanation, they understood.

It was precisely because I understood it that I felt the terrible strategy of westward expansion.

"Dare to ask the prison country, what is the trade?" Wang Fu couldn't help but get up and asked.

Can't sit still.

Don't even guess.

At a glance, it can be seen that the imperial court is playing a big game of chess.

The westward expansion is by no means as simple as it seems.

Yingcheng smiled, raised his hand and everyone was calm for a while, and said, "Silk, porcelain!" ”

"Silk, porcelain?" As soon as Yingcheng's words fell, the entire hall resounded with a burst of panicked voices.

"Prison Guomo is not joking, although this silk is a valuable thing in my Great Qin, but whether it is valuable or not, everyone knows it." Wang Fu couldn't help but say: "To say something unpleasant, all the people here today are wealthy families, and silk is an inexhaustible thing for us. ”

"And the imperial court resolutely so, as long as the imperial court attaches importance to the matter of mulberry silkworms, and when the spring ploughing, the imperial court has issued the matter of mulberry silkworms in each county, and this year's silk will be far more than in previous years."

"If silk is used as the currency of a foreign country, the foreign minister has no opinion, and he applauds it, but the foreign person may not admit it."

"As for porcelain, it's the same as silkworms, and porcelain is even much easier than silk."

"It's also an inexhaustible thing."

Wang Fu's words aroused the unanimous approval of everyone.

They naturally have no opinion on the imperial court's use of silk and porcelain as foreign currency, but the problem is that both parties must be willing to buy and sell, and if one party is unwilling, it is also empty talk.

Now the question is why the foreign countries should agree to use silk and porcelain, which were casually made by the Great Qin as currency.

Yingcheng smiled and nodded at Nei Shiteng.

Immediately, Neshi Teng got up and said with a smile: "Quiet, everyone, please be quiet." ”

As Nei Shi Teng got up, the nobles in the hall also quickly quieted down, and no one dared to underestimate an important minister of the inner dynasty who was in charge of the world's money and grain.

With the quietness, Nesteng also said with a smile: "You don't have to worry about this matter, the Department of Commerce will send competent personnel to the Western Regions to coax silk and porcelain." ”

"No matter what means are used, the imperial court will definitely find ways to make silk porcelain a dream of a foreign country, and it is difficult to buy for thousands of dollars."

"You are all smart people, you have heard the story of a thousand gold buying horses, a thousand gold buying deer, with the means of the imperial court, in the face of barbarians, it is not difficult to calculate the status of silk and porcelain to compare the price of gold."

Be quiet.

The nobles in the entire hall were extremely quiet, and the needles could be heard.

There have long been waves in my heart.

How can they not know such stories as buying horses and deer.

The problem is that it is precisely because of this knowledge that we know the terrible intentions involved.

Although the reasoning in this is different, this method of the imperial court is tantamount to sucking the blood of a foreign land.

Moment.

One after another, the eyes of surprise and uncertainty turned to Yingcheng.

Don't say looting.

Even if it is a normal transaction, the benefits in it are enough for them to spend their money to do it.

Now, what really cares them is what role the imperial court is going to play.

To know.

If the imperial court wants to do this, it will take a lot of effort.

"Huh!" Yingcheng smiled in his heart, seeing so many doubtful eyes, how could he not know what these nobles were thinking.

Nothing more than that.

The imperial court has invested a lot of money in the matter of westward expansion, and will invest huge manpower and material resources, and standing in the position of the nobles, there is no doubt how much the imperial court will extract from this huge benefit.

And how much this extraction, whether it is in line with the interests of these nobles, if the imperial court extracts too ruthlessly, it must be seriously discussed.

But.

Yingcheng smiled heartily: "Presumably, you also want to know, what does the imperial court want at such a great cost?" ”

"Now, please take it to heart."

"The imperial court will not collect any customs duties in the matter of westward expansion, and the imperial court will not collect any customs duties until the imperial court has issued an order to collect inbound customs duties."

"As long as you can trade any items in the Western Regions, you can transport them back to my Great Qin without any loss, and you can do whatever you want."

"Of course, the premise is that you don't have the heart to rebel, profit from raising private soldiers, and raise troops to rebel."

"As for the tariffs, this country can also assure you that as long as we see it one day, ten years, it will not collect tariffs from you."