Chapter 537

In the Great Tang, the Left Chancellor and Right Chancellor of the Secretariat are both Prime Ministers.

These two positions are currently held by Fang Fang Xuanling and Du Yan.

Meanwhile, Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji’s position is Minister of Works, which is the true pinnacle for civil officials.

By comparison, Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji’s official rank is higher.

Therefore, when facing Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Fang Xuanling adopts a very humble posture.

Having received the thousand-year-old ginseng sent by the Emperor, Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji and the three great clans all set their minds at ease.

It seems the Emperor still wishes to reconcile, pretending as if nothing had happened.

"Fang Xuanling, have there been any major events in the Central Plains recently?

We have been here in this remote backwater supervising shipbuilding, so our information is somewhat sluggish."

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji feigned ignorance, hoping to pry more information out of Fang Fang Xuanling.

Perfect!

Fang Fang Xuanling was just about to take this opportunity to tell them about the Emperor’s arrangements.

"Recently, I followed His Majesty on a diplomatic mission to the Great Qin.

While there, I unexpectedly made the acquaintance of people from the three great empires and discussed some business with them.

This business is no small matter; it concerns the interests of an entire nation!

His Majesty is too busy to handle it, so he wishes for you esteemed lords to take on this heavy responsibility."

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji and the other cunning individuals understood immediately.

This was the sincerity the Emperor was putting on the table.

He intended to grant them the interests of a nation.

This was, of course, excellent!

"Prime Minister Fang, I wonder what kind of business was discussed with these three great powers?"

Someone was already tempted.

What moved them was not just the profit, but the opportunity to travel abroad on a diplomatic mission.

In the past, not a single person from the four great clans would have been willing to serve as an envoy to a foreign land.

Because they looked down upon them.

But now, things are different.

This time, there had been an opportunity to rebel, but in the end, it did not come to fruition.

It was precisely because they could not find even a single ally.

If there had been a few foreign states supporting them from behind the scenes, perhaps the four great clans would have truly rebelled.

But, there were none!

This meant they had no choice but to fight to the death, with absolutely no way out.

Consequently, they lost their nerve.

Now that there is an opportunity to serve as envoys to the three great powers, they can use this chance to find allies for themselves, and who knows, they might rebel again one day.

Fang Fang Xuanling naturally guessed what was in their minds.

In fact, this idea was Fang Fang Xuanling’s own, intended specifically to lower the guard of the three great clans.

Looking at it now, it was indeed a good move.

"In the West, there is a Great Food Empire with immense national strength, but there are some matters they find inconvenient to handle themselves. Thus, they are cooperating with our Great Tang: we provide a pirate fleet, and the Great Food Empire provides the money and grain. The business involves raiding on the Western seas."

Hearing the nature of this cooperation, Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji’s heart stirred.

This was somewhat similar to what he had been doing.

Fang Fang Xuanling paused for a moment, then continued.

"There is also a prosperous great power in the West called Byzantium, with a population of over ten million, comparable to the national strength of the Great Tang.

They want to negotiate a deal with the Great Tang to sell plow oxen at a low price.

The profits from this business are also extremely huge!"

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the three great clans widened simultaneously.

Each of their families possessed at least several hundred thousand mu of fertile land, and they were extremely sensitive to the price of plow oxen.

Fang Fang Xuanling watched their reactions, a satisfied smile already appearing on his face.

"There is also Kievan Rus, which can assist us in transporting the plow oxen back, charging some shipping fees.

Additionally, Kievan Rus is rich in furs, which are extremely cheap; this is also a business with exorbitant profits."

.......Begging for flowers...0

The Emperor could be said to be full of sincerity this time.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji and the people from the three great clans were all tempted by these business opportunities.

Moreover, besides the benefits from the business, they could also take the opportunity to recruit foreign allies.

How could they refuse this?

"Fang Xuanling, since the Emperor values us so much, we accept these tasks.

As it happens, the first batch of prisoners of war being transported for the Great Qin is currently resting here; let me take you to see them." Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji deliberately found an opportunity to mention the temporarily detained prisoners.

This could also be considered his way of showing his attitude to the Emperor.

As long as there is reconciliation, these Great Qin prisoners will immediately head north and be sent to Liaodong.

Fang Fang Xuanling was also secretly startled.

If the three great clans were to detain all these prisoners of war,

they could become their endless source of soldiers.

This was also the capital the three great clans had to confront the imperial court.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji said he would take him to see them, but in reality, it was equivalent to telling him that they were not soft persimmons to be squeezed by others.

Let everyone be harmonious and make money.

If the imperial court still wanted to target the clans in the future,

they could replenish their armies with those prisoners at any time to confront the court.

An invisible confrontation was taking place between Fang Fang Xuanling and Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji.

On the surface, everything appeared harmonious, with no hint of murderous intent.

But these old foxes were all people who had long mixed in official circles; how could they not guess the deep meaning behind it?

Speaking Wu Li Ke this was very exhausting.

Li Tai, that little fox, could also understand.

But these matters had no direct relation to him, and the benefits all went to the clans.

"Prime Minister Fang, I also want to contribute to the imperial court. Is there any other cooperation available? I also wish to represent the court as an envoy." He suddenly blurted this out.

Li Tai’s words drew everyone’s attention.

All along, he had been treated as a tool, and no one had ever cared about his thoughts.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji looked at Li Tai suspiciously, wondering what his nephew wanted to do. Could it be that he was unwilling to be manipulated and also wanted to start cultivating his own power? Fang Fang Xuanling reacted quickly, immediately plastering his face with a smile.

"Your Highness, Prince of Wei, there is indeed a matter suitable for you, though it might be a bit arduous."

"I am not afraid of hardship, tell me!"