Chapter 100

He had never encountered such a difficult opponent in his life.

Deep scheming, supreme strategy.

Manipulating the entire world with his own power!

Turning the Great Tang upside down, making the Great Tang Emperor unable to sleep or eat in peace!

A talent of the Qilin!

"Your Majesty, well said. Our time is indeed running out."

Fang Fang Xuanling nodded in deep agreement and said: "Your Majesty, since that is the case, we must not act rashly. Attacking the thirty-six states of the Western Regions is a small matter; trading books with Great Qin is the top priority!"

Fang Fang Xuanling knew what the foundation of strength was!

It's not technology, nor is it military strength.

It's talent!

It's a continuous stream of talent!

How to create so much talent?

Knowledge!

Books!

Only these two things can allow a country to have enough talent.

Only then will the court have people to use!

Only then will reforms not be hindered by aristocratic families!

Attacking the thirty-six states of the Western Regions is a waste of money and manpower, and besides gaining a reputation that the Great Tang is not to be trifled with, it has no meaning at all.

Compared to trading books with Great Qin, which is more important and which is less, it is clear at a glance!

"I understand what you mean; this matter must be grasped tightly!"

"But Your Majesty, once the war begins, Great Qin, as the suzerain of the thirty-six states of the Western Regions, will certainly uphold justice for them. Wouldn't the trade between us and Great Qin be closed immediately?"

"Rest assured, Fang Xuanling. I ordered Cheng Yaojin to lead 100,000 troops just as a feint. Once they leave the Great Tang border, they will quietly disappear for a period of time, and then they will claim to have fought a great battle with the thirty-six states of the Western Regions."

"Your Majesty, do you mean to say that it is only a nominal dispatch of troops, and not actually initiating a war?"

Fang Fang Xuanling widened his eyes and looked at Li Er in disbelief.

It seems that influenced by Qin Mu.

His Majesty's brain seems to have started to become flexible too!

"Correct, I am doing this to stabilize the mood within our Great Tang."

"After all, thirty-six countries severed ties with us at the same time; if I don't take a stand, I really can't afford to lose that face."

"But once the war begins, the book trade will be completely ruined."

"For now, this is the only way to ensure the Great Tang's reputation and also conduct the book trade with Great Qin." Li Er nodded.

This is truly a helpless move, but it must be done!

"What a great strategy! Your Majesty kills two birds with one stone; it is truly wise!"

"It seems our Majesty is no worse than that Qin Mu! In time, who will win is still unknown!"

Fang Fang Xuanling was spirited and very happy in his heart.

His Majesty is so diligent and quick-thinking; only then does this war have a foundation to be fought!

"Hahaha! That's true; we old guys can't be beaten down by a young brat."

Li Er also laughed heartily.

Potala Palace, Lizheng Hall.

Qin Mu was bowing his head to handle government affairs.

After the alliance and trade matters were finalized, the rulers of the thirty-six states of the Western Regions had left one after another.

Qin Mu planned to establish a trading post directly in the Hexi Corridor.

And build a traffic artery spanning the Hexi Corridor, Tuyuhun, and Tubo!

In this way.

Great Tang goods traded by Great Qin from the Jiannan Dao trading post could be transported from this traffic artery to the Hexi Corridor trading post.

According to the geographical location.

The Hexi Corridor, Great Qin, and the Great Tang are arranged in an "I" shape.

The Hexi Corridor is located at the very top of the Tubo Plateau, passing through the Tuyuhun plains.

And Great Qin, where the Tubo Plateau is, is at the turning point.

Jiannan Dao is in the lower right.

With such a geographical distribution, the Tubo Plateau where Great Qin is located will become a transit station connecting the two trading posts.

This transit station has huge benefits.

What is the most profitable?

Naturally, it's the middleman making the price difference!

Qin Mu can buy Western Regions goods at a low price and sell them to the Great Tang at a high price.

Of course, he can also buy Great Tang goods at a low price and sell them to the Western Regions states at a high price.

Anyway, he doesn't lose out on either side.

Wooling from both sides, isn't it fragrant?

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Shen Kuo and Jiang Huai are waiting outside the hall." Wei Wei Zhongxian walked in silently and reported.

"Call them in."

Qin Mu said without raising his head.

In the blink of an eye.

Shen Kuo and Jiang Huai had already entered the hall.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

The two bowed respectfully at the same time.

"No need for formalities!"

"Jiang Huai, how is the situation in the Hexi Corridor recently?"

Qin Mu raised his head and smiled.

He still quite appreciated this general before him.

His ability is very good, and there is no problem with his loyalty.

Having lived in the Hexi Corridor for over 30 years, Jiang Huai had mastered the terrain there clearly, and it had even become part of his life.

This is also one of the abilities Qin Mu values most in him.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Hexi Corridor has completely fallen into the hands of our Great Qin."

"The craftsmen sent by Your Majesty are all top-notch experts. In such a short time, they actually managed to build 800 fortresses quickly and well; it is truly sigh-inducing."

Jiang Huai smacked his lips, still savoring those 800 fortresses.

Of course!

Not only these fortresses, but also 20,000 Great Qin Iron Eagle Sharpshooters!

Jiang Huai had never seen such fierce cavalry.

Their combat effectiveness was so strong it was hard to imagine.

For example, once.

10,000 Turkic cavalry attacked a fortress being built in the Hexi Corridor.

..0

At that time, the force guarding the fortress was only 2,000 Iron Eagle Sharpshooters.

Good fellow!

Those 2,000 Iron Eagle Sharpshooters didn't say a word, rushed in, and just fought!

In less than two hours.

10,000 Turkic cavalry were actually wiped out!

Jiang Huai witnessed the whole process and was so shocked he didn't recover for three days.

Since then.

The entire Hexi Corridor became completely peaceful.

Only at that moment did Jiang Huai finally understand how powerful Qin Mu and Great Qin were.

"Hmm, that's good."

"I called you here today because there is a task for you."

Qin Mu didn't pay attention to Jiang Huai's words.

After all, those craftsmen were all elites, and building a few hundred fortresses was naturally not a problem.

Furthermore.

Under Yan Song's control, Tuyuhun spared no effort to provide money and manpower to help with the construction.

With so much manpower and material resources, the fortresses were a matter of minutes!

"Your Majesty, please instruct!"

Jiang Huai arched his hands and said solemnly.

"Our Great Qin has become the suzerain of the thirty-six states of the Western Regions, and there will be a lot of trade with them in the future."

"However, the Tubo Plateau has inconvenient transportation, and trading here is time-consuming and laborious."

"So I order you to build a large trading post in the Hexi Corridor, using the craftsmen who built the fortresses before, as well as the money, grain, and timber from Tuyuhun."

"Here are the construction blueprints for the trading post; give them to the craftsmen, and they will know how to handle it."

"As for the security of the trading post, it is all entrusted to you."

Qin Mu explained his plan in detail.

— Author's Notes —

.......Seeking flowers...0