"30 km!"

Liu Cheng was stunned for a moment, and then said in a deep voice:

"Dear Sultan, the Great Song Dynasty and Egypt are friendly diplomatic relations and fraternal countries. If it's 30 kilometers, I'm willing to give you 1 million gold collars. That's the highest price I can give! As you know, this desert is barren land, and it's useless to have more. ”

1,000,000 gold collars, which is within the control of the imperial court. And the gold comes from South Africa and West Africa, a little more and less, and I don't feel distressed.

"Dare to ask the general, is the Great Song really just for trade?"

There are still slave owners who are too careful and ask unconsciously.

For the devastated Egypt, with this huge amount of money, it can solve many problems.

"Honorable guys, do I need to lie to you? If it weren't for the expansion of trade, why would my Great Song Dynasty be like this. If the canal is opened, it will be the Sultan and you who will benefit the most. What do you think? ”

Liu Cheng strongly felt that the slave owners of the Ayyubid Dynasty were already moved.

"General, digging the canal requires labor, do you have to pay for the labor you recruit?"

Another slave owner asked.

"Of course! To dig a canal, it takes hundreds of thousands, hundreds of thousands of people. When the time comes, we will need your help! ”

Pu Shouchen was smiling, but he was muttering secretly in his heart.

These greedy slave owners are afraid that they have already planned the abacus for the slaves in their hands.

"General, let me think about it and give you an answer in a few days."

Sultan Camille said aloud, smiling.

"Honorable guests of the Great Song Dynasty, as the Sultan of the Ayyubid, on behalf of the people of the entire Ayyubid Dynasty, I would like to treat you well!"

After the banquet was over, they returned to the room of the post house, where everyone sat around the table, and the next person brought tea.

"Dear Best, the merchants and family members of the Great Song Dynasty in the Great Song City are more grateful to you for taking care of them, a little meaning, not a respect."

The guards outside were on guard, Liu Cheng signaled, and Pu Shouchen handed over a delicate wooden box.

Best opened the box, his fingers trembling slightly.

The box was filled with yellow and clear gold collars, at least as many as twenty or thirty, and a thousand taels of gold.

The Song people are big and full of sincerity.

Liu Cheng and Pu Shouchen looked at each other, and their hearts were much more stable.

These slave owners were greedy for money, gold, silver, and jewelry, and they were invincible. And for Da Song, they don't feel distressed at all about things that can be solved with money.

"General, this is all as it should be. The Great Song Dynasty and Egypt are brotherly states, and of course I have to do something for the merchants of the Great Song Dynasty! ”

Best closed the lid of the box, handed it to the attendant on the side, and said with a smile on his face.

The Great Song Dynasty is indeed a big country in the East, in addition to the strong ships and guns, the rich are also flowing oil. If you can cooperate with Da Song for a long time, there are great benefits.

"Respected Best, the Great Song and Egypt trade is good for both countries. But I heard that the robbers in the desert, and some native Egyptians, had bad intentions towards my Great Song merchants and their families, so that my Great Song people were killed and wounded. I'm sorry for such a thing! ”

What Liu Quan said was the truth, and he was by no means alarmist.

When you go out to do business, thousands of miles away, it is inevitable that some accidents will happen. In addition, the Egyptian people were struggling to make a living, there were many bandits, and it was common to rob wealthy Song merchants.

"General, in fact, most of the locals are pretty good. Such a thing will not happen again in the future. ”

Best sneered, he also believed that Liu Cheng was telling the truth.

If you don't rob the merchants of the Great Song Dynasty, who will make you so rich. Having said that, the merchants of the Great Song Dynasty had a large entourage, bows and crossbows and firearms, and most of the robbers failed to rob, but suffered many casualties, which is also true.

"Dear Best, in order to prevent this kind of thing from happening again, I, Da Song, want to rent the area around Da Song City and build houses for my family to live in, and the Song people themselves provide defense, and the bad guys can't come in casually, and the good people in the local area can also be protected, so that they can be safe with the locals in the future. What do you think? ”

According to the emperor's original words, the rented place is called "concession", that is, "a country within a country", with a lease period of 99 years, slowly encroaching on whales.

This Best, the slave owner of Suez City, without his full support, the canal excavation may not go smoothly.

"Rent?"

Best was stunned for a moment.

In the past, it was necessary to build a canal in the desert of more than 300 miles, and now it is necessary to rent the "Great Song City". Da Song, is this a lot of money, or is he stupid?

Those deserts, what's the use, are they useful?

"Yes, it's rented."

Liu Cheng nodded, calm and composed.

"Best, you also know that once the Sultan is willing to sell or lease this section of the desert to me for the Great Song Dynasty, the excavation of the canal will be on the agenda, and when more Great Song people arrive, we will also need a place to settle so many people. When the time comes, I will also have your support from Best. Of course, your benefits are indispensable! ”

"The Great Song Dynasty is the kingdom of the Heavenly Empire, the state of etiquette, and the meaning of the general, I understand."

Best suddenly realized, and then smiled.

These desert barren lands, he really couldn't think of anything that the Great Song could do with them that was unfavorable to Egypt.

"Dear Best, if the canal is dug and the trade between the East and the West is exchanged, the tariff of the canal will be counted as 20% for you."

Egypt was a slave state, and Best's presence in the Suez Canal section was significant. Not only will they have to deal with Sultan Kamil, but Best will also have to be pacified.

"If Camille is willing to sell the land, then where he is, how is the general going to reply?"

Best's ball was kicked back.

"If the Sultan can sell us this piece of land, in addition to the 1 million gold collars, we are willing to give him another 20% of the tariff after the canal is built. Best you are the same, in addition to the tariff of 20%, there is another 500,000 pieces of filial piety. ”

Liu Cheng looked at the door and said in a low voice.

According to the will of the imperial court, as long as the whole does not exceed 3 million, he can decide.

500,000 times!

Best's eyes were full of smiles.

Paying 1.5 million guan for a desert land, it seems that the Song people are still sincere.

"General, this piece of Great Song City is rented to you, 20 kilometers around, how much gold collar are you willing to pay?"

Best's interest soon shifted to the leased land in the Great Song City.

20 kilometers to the north, it borders Suez City, which is also under his supervision.

"Dear Best, if you want, how about 20,000 a year?"

Liu Cheng pondered for a moment and made a decision. Before the canal was opened, the Great Song Dynasty definitely needed a piece of territory to garrison, and the bigger the better.

It is 20 kilometers long and wide, with an area of 400 square kilometers, and although it is a desert, it is also large enough to be horizontal.

"20,000? Too little! At least 50,000 kan! ”

Although it is said that the port's tariff income to the merchants of the Great Song Dynasty is also more than 100,000 yuan, it involves the interests of many people, and there is not much to divide.

"Dear Best, if it's 50,000 pieces, then the surrounding area should be expanded by another 10 kilometers. If the Sultan had agreed, more and more Great Song merchants would come to Egypt. I'm worried that there won't be enough places to live when the time comes. ”

This guy is really greedy enough.

But that's fine, as long as this guy sees the money, everything is easy to say.

The emperor had a good saying that anything that can be solved with money is not a thing. That's a true saying.

"General, 30 kilometers around, let's make a decision! However, there is one point, the Song people must not have a major conflict with the local population, otherwise it will be difficult for me to explain to Camille. ”

Best was a rare sober few.

"Of course! We are also to prevent robbers and protect the merchants of the Great Song Dynasty. Let's make a decision, and we must use the contract as proof! ”

There is no problem with Best, and Liu Quan's heart is also a little more stable.

"However, all this will only work if the Sultan is willing to rent this land to us."

In fact, it doesn't matter if Camille agrees or not, the "concession" of the Great Song City has always been rented to facilitate the living of the merchants of the Great Song Dynasty. The reason why I say this is also to urge Best, let him urge Camille.

"Rest assured, the Sultan will agree. And, I'll agree too! ”

Best said calmly, seemingly very determined, and also confident in his strength.

Best said goodbye and left, and Liu Cheng asked about the people around him.

"In your opinion, in your opinion, Sultan Kamil will lease this section of the place to us?"

Pu Shouchen is a big cannibal, and his surname "Pu" is a transliteration of the common Arab name Abu (Abon), from which the surname Pu is derived.

"General, Camille is in a state of flux now, he can even cede Jerusalem and Acre to the Roman Emperor, what else can't he do! So much money, just a piece of desert, don't say rent, he is willing to sell! ”

Having frequent dealings with these slave owners in the Arabian Peninsula, Pu Shouchen knew a lot about the temperament and greed of these people.

These guys, in order to maintain their luxury of food and clothing, the ancestors are willing to sell it, not to mention a useless desert.

"General, according to my words, Camille has been tempted today, and I am afraid that he will sell this piece of land to us. The Ayyubid dynasty was a slave society, and he would not have so many scruples at all. A small piece of desert can not only allow him to squander, but also alleviate his current predicament in the country, he will not refuse. ”

Zhao Chongxuan also nodded and said.

When Best asks about the slaves, he must be trying to make money for himself by selling the coolies of the slaves. With all that in mind, there is no problem in selling land.

"General, you shouldn't be too enthusiastic about this matter, in case Camille and Best will sit on the ground and raise the price."

Pu Shouchen reminded Liu Quanlai seriously.

"General, if Camille is willing to sell this land, we don't have so many gold collars on our ship. What to do then? ”

Thinking of buying land, Zhao Chongxuan became worried again.

"Pu Tongshi just mentioned, don't overheat. Besides, even if it is negotiated, it is not necessary to pay 1.5 million gold collars at a time. It's entirely possible to pay half upfront and pay the rest later. ”

Liu Cheng smiled slightly, but he was full of confidence.

"Zhao Tongshi, you go to the Great Song City, make an appointment with the Great Song merchants who have heads and faces in it, and let them borrow a little first. It is a major matter related to the imperial court, and it is also related to their business in Egypt, and I believe that they will not sit idly by. ”

The merchants of the Great Song Dynasty who greeted the Great Song Dynasty sailors on the dock inexplicably gave Liu Cheng a lot of hope.

The merchants of the Great Song Dynasty are all wealthy, as long as they find about 10 people, tens of thousands of yuan per person, and hundreds of thousands of yuan, I believe it will not be a problem.

"General, do you really want to spend so much for this barren land? Is it worth it? ”

Zhao Chongxuan was uneasy and asked again.

"If you control this section of the canal, you will control the throat of the east and the west, and the ships coming and going are under the control of my Great Song Dynasty. Moreover, the reclamation of Africa can also be carried out in this way. You'll know how powerful it is later. ”

With the topography of Egypt on the world map flashing in his mind, Liu Cheng was full of confidence.

As long as you have seen the map, the illiterate rough people will also understand the importance of the canal communication in the future.

"General, if Camille is willing to sell this land, what is our bottom line?"

Zhao Chongxuan asked again.

"As long as he is willing to sell, he can give him 1.5 million or even 2 million yuan, and he can also give him another 30% of the tariff. This is the biggest concession and our bottom line. ”

Liu Cheng looked at the stunned crowd and smiled slightly.

"Ladies and gentlemen, don't look at this barren land now, when the canal is built and ships come and go, it will soon be a different scene."

By that time, Camille and Best just wanted to regret it, but it was too late.

"General, what if Camille doesn't sell or rent?"

As if thinking of something, Pu Shouchen frowned.

"General, Camille, although greedy, has a soft personality and is easy to get along with. But the Mamluk Janissaries, all of whom were ambitious, were well-trained. I'm afraid it will be a big trouble for my Da Song in the future. ”

Pu Shouchen carefully analyzed. At this time, he had already regarded himself as a real Song Zimin.

"It doesn't matter so much! Salute first and then soldier, this is our last resort. As for the Mamluk Janissaries, the same is true, if you have to, you can only meet with swords! ”

Liu Cheng smiled coldly. If gold and silver can't open the way, you can only see whose fist is hard.

"General, what next?"

"Let Best send a guide and take our people to survey the terrain. I don't think Camille will let us down. ”

For these slave owners, only profit is the root of their pursuit.

"General, on the east side of the canal is the Kingdom of Jerusalem under the Roman Empire. What if the Roman Empire sent someone to obstruct the canal when it was dug up? ”

Pu Shouchen thought about it for a moment, but still asked the question.

"Pu Tongshi, do you think that when the time comes to dig the canal, my Great Song Dynasty will not send officials and soldiers to come?"

Liu Cheng smiled coldly and asked rhetorically.

As an important place connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe, the emperor is bound to win, how can he let a few thousand people fight alone here?

There are also tens of thousands of sailors and soldiers in Africa, and hundreds of thousands of Great Song immigrants, who can be reinforced at any time if necessary in the future.

Pu Shouchen nodded slightly, but he was puzzled in his heart.

Overseas colonization can give the Great Song Dynasty a steady stream of supplies, so that the Great Song Dynasty can enrich the country and use troops. But Europe, where the countries big and small, are not weak, and it seems that there are no resources to plunder, and no land to cultivate.

What did the emperor enter Europe for?