hsntnovel Chapter 2770 Selling the City
Chapter 2770 Selling the City
The time has finally come to discuss business. Li Shen presented this map today with another purpose: to do business with the imperial court.
He and Wang Xuance had already discussed it not long ago.
The city of Malacca cannot have its military strength increased any further, otherwise the Prince Ji's residence might collapse at any time.
After finally confessing the extent of his armed forces to his father, if he were to acquire a city with several thousand men, his father might be very unhappy, and the consequences would be severe.
"How much money does His Highness Prince Ji want?"
Changsun Wuji asked cautiously, "The things belonging to Prince Ji are not cheap."
Li Shen smiled and extended one hand:
"Not much, five million strings of cash."
"How much?" Li Shimin thought he had misheard.
“Only five million strings of cash,” Li Shen repeated.
Before Li Shimin could even speak, Tang Jian had already jumped out:
"Where would the imperial court get so much money? No, absolutely not."
"Minister Tang, I just gave the court 16 million strings of cash not long ago. It's been less than a month, and you're already saying the court has no money?"
"Did you embezzle it?" Li Shen immediately retorted.
I knew this old man Tang would jump out.
“Your Highness, please do not falsely accuse this old minister. This old minister is loyal to the court and would never embezzle. It’s just that your price is too high.”
Tang Jian retorted.
"Expensive? Do you want to hear what you're saying? Don't you know how much it costs the imperial court to build a city?"
"I spent over ten million strings of cash on Qinghai, a strategically important city. Malacca is a battleground, and I only asked you for five million strings. You still think it's too expensive?"
Li Shen pointed the stick at Tang Jian and roared.
"Your Highness Prince Ji, is this city also a major city of the same size as Qinghai?"
Tang Jian immediately countered with a question.
"This... is slightly off. But not by much; the city wall is still four zhang high."
Li Shen's momentum waned.
"May I ask Your Highness Prince Ji, did you use cement bricks and stones?" Tang Jian asked again.
"Hmm...they used stones and rammed earth." Li Shen's tone softened further.
"May I ask, Your Highness Prince Ji...?"
Before Tang Jian could ask any further questions, Li Shen waved his hand, interrupting Tang Jian.
"Don't ask anymore. That city is a port city. Do you know how many ships dock there every year?"
With mooring fees, food, entertainment, clothing, food, housing, and transportation, one can easily earn over a million strings of cash a year.
If the imperial court were to occupy the entire Srivijaya region, we could completely transform it into a massive trade market.
To allow passing ships to stop and trade on the island.
The imperial court only needs to rent out the land; wouldn't that make them a fortune?
Li Shen spoke eloquently and persuasively, and he actually convinced Li Shimin and the ministers before him.
If we can really capture Srivijaya, it can be used as a trading area, so that foreigners won't have to come to Tang territory to trade, and there will be much less risk.
Furthermore, the imperial court could profit from setting up a trading area here, as all goods brought in would be registered.
These nobles and powerful families could also take advantage of this to gain access to the people.
"Your Highness Prince Ji is indeed a man of great talent and has unique insights. This old minister admires you." Changsun Wuji had to admit that what Li Shen said was indeed very tempting.
"It's just that the price is a bit high." Tang Jian repeated the same point.
"So, what do you think is a suitable price?" Li Shen asked.
The group exchanged glances, then walked to the door and began to whisper.
This move surprised Li Shimin and Li Chengqian. What was going on? Were they discussing matters without the emperor and the crown prince?
Little did they know, these nine people had already categorized the two of them as Li Shen's family members, and they were not allowed to participate.
Otherwise, given His Majesty's favor towards Prince Ji, it would be easy for him to offer a high price.
It took a while before they returned.
“Your Highness Prince Ji, we have discussed it. It doesn’t actually cost much to get to the city, just some labor costs. There’s rammed earth and stones everywhere.”
We can only give you 500,000 strings of cash.
Changsun Wuji spoke as the representative.
"How much did you say?" This time it was Li Shen's turn to be surprised. How could you have the nerve to ask such a question?
"Duke of Zhao, if you were not so old, I would have beaten you to a pulp right here."
Five hundred thousand strings of cash? Ha! Are you trying to humiliate me?
"The name 'Prince Ji' alone is worth more than 500,000 strings of cash."
Li Shen was so angry he almost vomited blood. Good heavens, other people could cut the price in half or at most get another 20% off, but you guys only offered 10% of the price.
I want five million strings of cash, and you give me five hundred thousand!
Li Shen really wanted to rush up and beat all those old bastards with a stick, to make them insult him again.
However, no one took it to heart; every one of the veteran officials here was skilled in both literature and martial arts and had been on the battlefield.
Changsun Wuji, Tang Jian, and Hou Junji were all accomplished in both literature and martial arts.
"Your Highness, please calm down. We've already offered a high price, and we still haven't seen the exact size of the city."
"If it's just a fishing village, wouldn't the imperial court have to pay compensation?" Changsun Wuji explained.
"Duke Zhao, I am not so low as to deceive the court with rubbish. I guarantee that the city wall is four zhang high and is definitely a large city."
Li Shen's face was gloomy. This group of people not only insulted him, but also questioned his character.
"Since Your Highness has said so, the court can accept a loss and add another 500,000 strings of cash."
Changsun Wuji gritted his teeth, looking extremely reluctant.
"Hmph, fine, I won't sell it to you. I'll charge for it myself and play it myself. I can easily earn a million strings of cash a year."
If all else fails, I can sell it to other countries, to India, to Tibet; I think Songtsen Gampo would definitely be interested.”
Li Shen snorted and ignored them.
"Your Highness Prince Ji, you are aiding the enemy! You are actually selling our Great Tang's possessions to another country. How is this any different from treason?"
Gao Jifu rebuked him righteously and sternly.
"Hmph, this is my city, not the Tang Dynasty's. I built it with a lot of gold."
"If I weren't lacking in protective capabilities, would I have sold it to the imperial court?"
Li Shen stared directly at Gao Jifu, showing no fear whatsoever.
“Your Highness Prince Ji is a prince. How can the royal family have private matters? Your Highness Prince Ji is a citizen of the Tang Dynasty, so your city naturally belongs to the Tang Dynasty as well.”
I also hope that His Highness Prince Ji will prioritize the overall situation and not waste His Majesty's investment of his talents.
Seeing Li Shen's tough stance, Gao Jifu also began to fight back.
Li Shen narrowed his eyes, inwardly scoffing. "Go to hell, trying to morally blackmail me again. Haven't you noticed how immoral I am all these years?"
"Gao Jifu, stop spouting such high-sounding rhetoric. If that's what you think, why don't you donate your valuable family fortune?"
You are a citizen of the Tang Dynasty, and also the Duke of Xiu County. Your Gao family's property belongs to the Tang Dynasty.
Minister Tang just said that the national treasury is empty, so why don't you donate funds to the national treasury?