area51novel Chapter 282
Chapter 282
Soon, Wang Defa led the Linyi envoy to the living room.
"I pay my respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty!"
The Linyi envoy was a middle-aged man who had lived in the Tang Dynasty for five years and spoke with a strong Guanzhong accent.
The envoy's name was Ruan Dabao. He came to the living room and saluted Li Shimin respectfully.
Ruan Dabao only saw Li Shimin twice a year, once on New Year's Eve.
As the suzerain state, the Tang Dynasty usually hosted envoys from vassal states of the Tang Dynasty on New Year's Eve.
The other time was when tribute was paid to the suzerain state every year.
Li Shimin said nothing, Ruan Dabao bowed his body and dared not get up, his heart was beating inexplicably.
On the way here, he kept thinking in his heart, he had never angered anyone in the Tang Dynasty, why did the emperor suddenly summon him today.
And now the emperor said nothing, which made Ruan Dabao even more frightened.
"Look up, I have something to ask you.
If you dare to say something untrue, I will bring the letter of challenge back to Linyi tomorrow!" Li Shimin spoke in a loud voice, with a hint of anger in his tone.
"I dare not! I will tell you everything I know."
Nguyen Da Bo trembled and said tremblingly.
Linyi was originally a small country, surrounded by Annan, Siam and Cambodia. How could it withstand the challenge of the Tang Dynasty?
Previously, because the capital was destroyed by the Sui Dynasty, it became a vassal state of the former Sui Dynasty.
Later, when the Sui Dynasty destroyed the Tang Dynasty, the king of Linyi immediately sent envoys to present the letter of credence and actively attached himself. He wanted to use the name of the Tang Dynasty as the suzerain state to be preserved surrounded by many small countries.
"I ask you, what kind of food does the small country of Linyi mainly rely on, and what is the yield per mu?"
Li Shimin went straight to the point.
"Reporting to the respected Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, our country mainly grows rice, and the yield per mu in one season is about three stones in the Tang Dynasty."
Ruan Dabao told the truth, and he was even more confused.
'Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, why are you asking about the extremely cheap rice? '
Ruan Dabao didn't dare to ask more, and lowered his head after answering.
He didn't even dare to look at Li Shimin.
The Sui Dynasty was so strong, but it was destroyed by the Tang Dynasty. This emperor must be even stronger!
Ruan Dabao has also heard of the title of Tiance General.
Everyone present, except Su Chen, was shocked.
Li Shimin looked at Su Chen and smiled meaningfully.
Su Chen also smiled at him.
After a moment, Li Shimin restrained his smile and glanced at Cheng Yaojin.
Cheng Yaojin understood the emperor's intention after a brief daze.
He shouted:
"Linyi envoys, you are so bold! Why don't you pay tribute with such high-yield crops?
Do you have any ulterior motives? Hmm?"
Ruan Dabao was frightened by Cheng Yaojin's loud voice.
"Your Majesty, it's a misunderstanding!"
Ruan Dabao knelt down quickly. When Linyi ministers meet the king, they must kneel down.
"Your Majesty, it's a misunderstanding! Rice is a cheap thing. How dare you offer it to the honorable Emperor of the Tang Dynasty?"
Ruan Dabao had no words to say. Every year, Linyi offered the most valuable gold, silver and gems to the Tang Dynasty.
When the Tang Dynasty returned the gift, the Linyi envoys only asked for wheat seeds so that they could take them back to Linyi to plant.
Who would have thought that they would anger the emperor because of cheap rice.
"Oh? Rice is a cheap thing in Linyi? You stand up and answer carefully." Li Shimin said lightly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Nguyen Da Bo wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, rice can be harvested twice a year, or even three times a year.
The country has a small population and cannot consume so much rice. A portion is sold to Cambodia every year.
Most of the rest is used to feed poultry. Farmers even spread rice in paddy fields and wait for it to sprout to feed livestock."
Nguyen Da Bo told Linyi about the situation of rice in the country.
Fortunately, Nguyen Da Bo has been in the Tang Dynasty for five years and has reached a proficient level in Chinese.
Su Chen understood that the yield of Champa rice per mu per season is not much higher than that of Tang Dynasty rice.
Perhaps because of the climate or variety, Champa rice can be harvested three times a year, with a higher annual yield per mu.
Li Shimin and others stared at each other after hearing this.
Rice spread in the fields to feed livestock?
Is there such a thing?
Li Shimin finally understood why the envoy said that rice was cheap.
According to him, it is indeed cheap.
"How can this be? It is a waste of natural resources! How many people in the Tang Dynasty starved or even died due to lack of food.
A tiny country actually feeds chickens and ducks with rice!"
Li Shimin became more and more angry as he thought about it.
"Your Majesty, I have something to report!" Wei Zheng suddenly stood up and bowed to Li Shimin.
"Xuancheng, please speak!"
Li Shimin's mouth curled up slightly.
"Your Majesty, the small country of Jiaozhi has high-yield rice but does not pay tribute. This is disrespectful to the Tang Dynasty!
I think they must be harboring evil intentions. I advise that we should send troops to attack them.
To set an example!"
Immediately afterwards, the two generals Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Laohei immediately came out and cried, and they would lead the troops tomorrow.Conquer Linyi.
Ruan Dabao knelt down again with a thud.
"Your Majesty, please understand that our country has no disrespect for the Tang Dynasty and presents the most precious treasures to your Majesty every year.
I really didn't know that your Majesty valued cheap rice so much... so much valued our country's rice.
I immediately wrote a letter to the monarch of our country, offering 50,000 shi, not 100,000 shi of high-quality rice to the Tang Dynasty every year.
I only ask your Majesty to temporarily stop the wrath of thunder!"
Ruan Dabao knelt down and bowed respectfully.
Li Shimin was very satisfied with Ruan Dabao's performance.
"What do you think?"
Fang Xuanling immediately stood up, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, our Tang Dynasty is a benevolent and righteous country. If the king of Linyi can correct his mistakes, you might as well give him a chance."
"I second the motion!"
"I second the motion!"
Li Shimin nodded, "Linyi envoy, did you hear clearly?"
"Your Majesty, I understand! I will write a letter back to my country, and before the spring plowing in the Tang Dynasty next year, 100,000 dan of high-quality rice will be delivered to Chang'an.
But I have a request, and I hope Your Majesty will grant it!"
Li Shimin frowned slightly.
Cheng Yaojin immediately stepped forward and said loudly: "Your Majesty, in my opinion, it is better to send troops to conquer. What if the monarch of the small country of Linyi disagrees, wouldn't it be a waste of time?"
"No, Your Majesty can rest assured that the monarch will definitely agree.
But Linyi is very far away from the Tang Dynasty and needs to pass through Cambodia.
Just in case, I beg Your Majesty to send your country's elite soldiers to enter the country to support."
Li Shimin nodded, and Ruan Dabao had some brains.
Seeing this, Cheng Yaojin returned to his seat, as if everything just now had nothing to do with him.
"Well, I agree, you stand up."
Ruan Dabao thanked him and slowly stood up.
"Do you have any candidates, which general to send to Linyi?" Li Shimin asked immediately.
"Your Majesty, I, Old Cheng, am willing to lead 10,000 elite soldiers to Linyi!"
Li Shimin did not comment, Cheng Yaojin was not the candidate in his mind.
"Boy, do you have..."
Li Shimin secretly laughed, why would he ask Su Chen about such a thing?
"Your Majesty, is there a person named Xue Wanche?"
Everyone was surprised that Su Chen would mention Xue Wanche, whom he had never seen.
"Haha, do you know Xue Wanche?"
Li Shimin felt that this question seemed inappropriate, so he changed the topic and asked again: "You don't know Xue Wanche?"
Su Chen laughed secretly in his heart.
"Haha, of course I know. During the Xuanwu Gate Incident, I almost broke into your Qin Wang Mansion and dug out your nest."
"I have heard a little bit!" Su Chen said lightly.