strictlysupreme Chapter 1843 You Can Owe It First
Chapter 1843 You Can Owe It First
After a long while, Jin Chunqiu finally came to his senses. He looked at Li Shen and said tentatively:
“Your Highness Prince Ji, we can’t even afford 60 coins.
The treasury doesn’t have that much money, let’s see if we can…”
"It doesn't matter if you don't have money. I can allow you to owe me some first. I also know your difficulties. It won't be too late to settle the bill after you are stable."
Before Jin Chunqiu could finish speaking, Li Shen had already given a solution.
You said you have no money, so I allow you to buy on credit.
"This..." Jin Chunqiu looked embarrassed. The price was still a bit too high.
"What? Is it possible that even though I'm selling you grain at a loss, Envoy Jin still thinks the price is too high?
Are you planning to let me give it to you for free?"
Li Shen saw Jin Chunqiu's ugly face and immediately frowned and asked.
“I dare not, but the price is still a little difficult for us in Silla to accept, and I cannot make the decision.
I need to ask the Queen for permission after I return." Jin Chunqiu wanted to say that it would be best if he gave it away for free.
"That's fine. Since the Jin envoy can't make the decision, you should go back and ask the King of Silla for instructions.
Anyway, I am not in a hurry. It may take you two months to go back and forth, and it will take some time for me to collect food and grass.
I hope you can hold on." Li Shen nodded expressionlessly.
Upon hearing this, Jin Chunqiu hesitated again. That's right, it would take them two months to go back and forth, and it was unknown how long it would take to collect food.
“Your Majesty, since Envoy Jin cannot make the decision, there is no need to rush.
Let’s wait for them to discuss with the King of Silla before making a decision.
There is a severe drought in Guanzhong now, and the imperial court is mobilizing grain from the south. What if we don’t have enough grain in the Tang Dynasty by then?
If we sell grain to Silla, we may be impeached by someone in the court.
In my opinion, it is better to take a long-term view. "
Wang Xuance took the opportunity to persuade him.
From what Jin Chunqiu heard, he felt that Wang Xuance seemed unwilling to sell the grain to them.
And he suddenly remembered that the Tang Dynasty had indeed said that it would mobilize grain from the south to Guanzhong, which was not a small amount.
The population of Guanzhong is larger than that of Silla. What will they do if they run out of food?
This is not just tens of thousands of dan of grain, but millions of dan of grain.
Thinking of this, Jin Chunqiu made up his mind:
"Your Highness Prince Ji, how about this? Your Highness will purchase the grain first, and I will report back to the Queen. After the Queen agrees,
Your Highness Prince Ji can immediately transport it to Silla. What do you think?"
"Haha, not so good. What if the King of Silla disagrees? Who will I sell all this expensive grain to?
If I were to ask you, it would be better for you to discuss it first, and then make plans after the discussion is in place. At that time, whether Silla lives or dies will depend entirely on God's will."
Li Shen sneered twice. You are still a little naive to play this trick on me. If I don't force you, you really don't know what it means to be anxious.
As expected, Jin Chunqiu seemed a little anxious after hearing Li Shen's words.
I thought to myself, Prince Ji is indeed not easy to deal with.
"Your Highness Prince Ji, don't you believe us?"
“It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s that you haven’t decided whether to do it or not.
Although I want to help you, I cannot take the risk. I hope you understand. "
What Li Shen said was already very straightforward, there was no need to say anything else.
Jin Chunqiu was silent. This was their only chance and they couldn't afford to miss it. But if they had to wait for half a year, it was unknown whether they could hold on.
Li Shen saw that the time was almost right and prepared to continue forcing it.
"Since the Jin envoy has not made up his mind, why not go back and discuss it, or send a letter back to your country to ask your King of Silla to make a decision.
But it would be better if it were quicker. I am going on a long trip in a few days and it will take at least two months for me to come back.
If you miss it, you can only talk about it after I come back.
Xuan Ce, escort the golden messenger out for me."
Li Shen calmly ordered them to leave, which caught Jin Chunqiu off guard.
"Your Highness Prince Ji, wait a minute."
Jin Chunqiu hurriedly stopped Li Shen who was about to leave.
"Is there anything else, Messenger Jin?" Li Shen turned around and asked in confusion.
"Your Majesty, why don't you sit down and have a good discussion with us? Time is running out and we can't notify the Queen.
Foreign officials as envoys can make the final decision." Jin Chunqiu said.
"You can make the decision? Then let's talk about it." Li Shen sat back in his seat.
Jin Chunqiu organized his words and asked:
"May I ask Your Highness Prince Ji if these guys can surrender again?"
"This is already the lowest price and it can't be lowered any further." Li Shen shook his head in denial.
"Then Your Highness Prince Ji can really let Silla delay the payment for the goods and pay it back later?" Jin Chunqiu continued to ask.
Li Shen nodded and replied:
"Of course, this king keeps his word, but the time frame cannot be too long, you must pay it back within two years.
Otherwise, if you say you will pay me back in a hundred years, I won’t live to see that time.”
"Two years? I wonder if His Royal Highness Prince Ji can give us a few more years. I wonder if the war between us and Baekje has subsided in two years.
If we continue to fight for two years, I am afraid we will still ignore the repayment."
Jin Chunqiu thought for a while and asked, two years was a bit short, they had been fighting with Baekje for many years.
“Don’t worry, if you are still at war two years later, I will not ask you for money.
This king is not unkind.
In fact, I have another plan, I wonder if you are willing to listen to it."
Li Shen said with a smile. He was ready to ask for what he wanted.
"The foreign minister is willing to hear the details."
“Emissary Jin, you have been fighting with Baekje for so many years, and it seems to me that your strength is far inferior to Baekje’s.
Even if the Tang Dynasty gives you food this time, you won't be able to hold out for long and will eventually be annexed by Baekje.
There is no escape from the fate of a country destroyed and a family ruined.
This is what the king said, right?"
After hearing what King Ji said, Jin Chunqiu remained silent. Although what King Ji said was unpleasant, it was the truth.
Without the help of the Tang Dynasty, they would have little chance of winning the war on their own.
Seeing this, Li Shen continued:
"So, I think what you lack is not food, but how to defeat Baekje."
"Then I wonder what your Highness Prince Ji thinks?" Upon hearing this, Prince Jinwen asked.
“It’s not a brilliant opinion, it’s just a little insight.
What you lack now is not only food, but also weapons and armor.
Swords are sharper than those of Baekje, armor is harder than that of Baekje, and bows and crossbows can shoot farther than those of Baekje.
There are also war horses that run faster than Baekje's.
When you are able to fight one against two, or even one against five, think about it, doesn't victory belong to you?
The reason why our Tang Dynasty has strong soldiers and horses is because our swords are sharp, our armor is strong, and our bows are far-reaching.
They could defeat ten with one, a hundred with one, or even more than ten thousand people, and force Goguryeo to retreat and flee.
Do you think what the king said is right?"