strictlysupreme Chapter 1831 Li Shen Lost
Chapter 1831 Li Shen Lost
After Li Shen finished speaking, he picked up the teacup and took a sip. His expression was relaxed and he didn't look nervous at all.
This is the skill of negotiation.
It's just like a game, no one uses a skill and everyone knows what's going on, and whoever runs out of tricks in the end loses.
This is what happened between him and Li Chengqian at the moment.
Unlike previous negotiations with Li Shimin, Li Shen seemed more relaxed as he was no longer under the suppression from his bloodline.
In the past, his father would always glare at him and use family rules to punish him, and Li Shen would have lost momentum from the very beginning.
It’s different now. He doesn’t have any pressure at all when dealing with Li Chengqian. His father is still alive. I don’t believe you dare to hit me.
If you hit me, I will go to my dad and make things difficult for you.
So Li Shen is in high spirits now.
What he didn't know was that Li Chengqian was just using him as a training ground today. He didn't feel any pressure and was in a calm state of mind.
Seeing Li Shen's arrogant look, Li Chengqian felt amused and followed Li Shen's example, picking up the teacup and drinking slowly.
After taking a few sips, he slowly put down the cup:
"Eh? If you hadn't told me, I would have forgotten about this matter.
Recently, various places have submitted memorials, saying that a group of pirates have appeared near the coast of our Tang Dynasty.
They specialized in robbing passing ships. Many ships, along with the people and boats, disappeared without a trace, which made maritime merchants miserable.
All places requested the court to send out navy to wipe out this group of pirates.
It just so happens that the Laizhou navy is resting in Laizhou. Do you think I should send troops to protect the well-being of the people of the Tang Dynasty? "
Li Chengqian looked at Li Shen with a smile. He naturally knew that the pirates in the Silla waters were Li Shen's men.
As the crown prince, Li Shimin did not hide anything from Li Chengqian.
This pirate group is Li Shen's second pirate group, the Straw Hat Pirates. After switching positions with the Roger Pirates, they have been guarding the near sea.
Li Shen felt depressed when he saw Li Chengqian's smug smile. He knew this would happen.
After his second pirate group was launched, he only told his father about it, since it was an armed force after all.
It seems that his father betrayed him and told Li Chengqian.
The Laizhou navy has 500 ships and 40,000 soldiers. If they attack their own pirate group, they will have to run away.
Wouldn't the trade route be open by then? I couldn't really rob the imperial merchant ships.
Li Shen pondered for a moment before continuing:
"Brother, it is inappropriate to use the navy to waste people's money and labor just to do business.
If the outside world knew about this, it would affect the reputation of the court.
It's not good for your reputation, brother.
Do you think what I said is right?"
"That's fine. As long as we plan carefully, I believe that with the capabilities of the three provinces and six ministries, no one will know about it."
Li Chengqian shook his head.
"But I know. Don't you know what kind of person I am? I'm not careful. It's not impossible that I might let something slip.
By then, all the foreign vassal states in the world will know that the Tang Dynasty has gone back on its word, done despicable things to the foreign vassal states, and cheated them of their money.
I'm afraid Aye, the Heavenly Khan, wouldn't be comfortable sitting there either.
Just because of my brother's momentary greed, I let Aye be humiliated. Isn't it worth it?"
Li Shen looked confident, as their father cared most about his reputation.
This is more important than anything else. Anyway, Li Shen is now like a dead pig that is not afraid of boiling water.
Li Shen didn't care about the crime of leaking secrets at all. He knew that Li Chengqian didn't dare to gamble.
By now everyone has revealed their cards.
At the moment, Li Shen still has the upper hand. Li Shen drinks tea proudly and waits for Li Chengqian's move.
Li Chengqian, however, looked fearless. He looked at Li Shen with a smile, but said nothing. Time seemed to stand still.
Neither of them spoke, and Li Shen responded to Li Chengqian with wide eyes.
The two brothers stared at each other.
After a long while, Li Chengqian retracted his gaze and sighed:
“Ah~~~~”
Li Shen thought he had won and was about to say something polite when Li Chengqian said:
"In this case, I will have to ask Aye to make the decision. I am devoted to the court and do not know how to adapt.
I cannot allow you to harm the interests of the court for your own selfish reasons.
I will write a memorial on this matter and submit it to Aye for him to decide.
Tenth brother, what do you think? "
"Aye decides?" Li Shen's heart tightened, "Brother, I think we shouldn't disturb Aye about such a small matter.
Aye is recuperating in Cuiwei Palace and doesn't like to be disturbed."
"There is no other way. This is not a trivial matter. It involves a huge amount of money, hundreds of thousands of strings of cash." Li Chengqian looked serious.
Li Shen stared at Li Chengqian for a while before making up his mind:
"Well, since you are devoted to the country, I will help you. As the saying goes, brothers fight together and fathers and sons fight together.
If I don't help my elder brother, then who will? Just do as he said, twenty cents a dou, then twenty cents a dou.
Not for anything else, just for our many years of brotherhood."
After Li Shen finished speaking, he stepped forward and held Li Chengqian's hand, looking very loyal and righteous.
But in his mind he was thinking about all sorts of things, how could he have forgotten the head of the household, Old Li’s family.
Li Chengqian actually wanted their father to decide. Judging from Li Shen's many years of struggle experience,
If their father knew about this, he might have to pay forty cents for a bucket of rice, and then the loss would be even greater.
It would be better to buy a favor for Li Chengqian, even though this favor is bought and sold immediately.
Li Chengqian felt amused when he saw Li Shen's look. He thought his younger brother was really flexible.
He knows how to make choices and when to advance and retreat.
As soon as his trump card was revealed, he compromised immediately without any hesitation.
However, he also had some understanding of his own fighting ability, and he still had many shortcomings if he wanted to negotiate with his younger brother.
But the victory still made Li Chengqian very happy:
"Haha, Tenth Brother is indeed righteous, thank you very much.
Then I'll leave it to you, my tenth brother. I'll ask the Ministry of Civil Affairs to select a few charity granaries, and you can talk to the Ministry of Civil Affairs when the time comes."
The winner must naturally respect the loser, so as to demonstrate his own demeanor.
Li Shen also had a smile on his face. Although he was defeated, he still had to keep looking good.
"Don't worry, big brother. I will never let you down if you leave this matter to me. In a few years, the Liaodong Three Kingdoms will become an inseparable part of our Tang Dynasty.
Since there is nothing else to do, I will take my leave now." Li Shen stood up and bowed.
Li Chengqian sent Li Shen to the gate of Liangyi Hall, and the two bowed and said goodbye.
After leaving Liangyi Hall, Li Shen's face changed immediately. He walked out of the palace angrily, and he ignored anyone who spoke to him on the way.
Going to the palace and getting a business deal should have been a happy thing, but Li Shen felt that his failure in negotiations today was like losing money.
"Hmph, incompetent children are the ones who ask their parents for help." Looking back at the imperial city, Li Shen snorted coldly and got on the carriage back to Prince Ji's Mansion.