hsntnovel Chapter 2688 Money in Hand, Ready to Depart
Chapter 2688 Money in Hand, Ready to Depart
The conversation between Li Shen and Lu Dongzan seemed like a mere squabbling or idle chatter, but it was actually a constant test and a subtle competition between them.
This is a common phenomenon in negotiations.
Although Li Shen was lawless, he wouldn't actually kill Lu Dongzan and Songtsen Gampo in Chang'an.
This isn't a question of whether or not one dares; it involves far greater implications, stemming from pressure on Fang and the punishment from his father, the Emperor.
This is no simple punishment. No matter how much the emperor protects him, he cannot be allowed to kill the ruler of a country.
Everyone wants to settle scores and seek revenge, but how many entanglements exist in reality?
Li Shen's only bargaining chip right now is his emperor father. If you don't pay, I won't let you succeed in the peace talks.
It seems that Lu Dongzan's purpose in coming here is to establish a relationship with Li Shen in order to achieve their future goals.
“Your Highness, our king is sincere,” Gar Tongtsen said, continuing to express the king’s wishes.
However, Li Shen would never agree to this. If he really married Samaga, what would happen to Samaga when Tibet was destroyed in the future?
Kill him, after all, even a day as husband and wife is a hundred days of kindness. But if you don't kill him, keeping someone who has a grudge against you by your side will make you restless and unable to eat or sleep.
Furthermore, if he marries a princess from Tibet, will his father, the emperor, and the crown prince be wary of him in the future? After all, he is so wealthy, and with the support of Tibet, he would have the power to rebel.
Considering all these factors, Li Shen was determined not to marry the Tibetan princess.
“Lu Dongzan, I know what your Zanpu means. Go back and tell the Prince of Xihai that I am a prince and marriage is not something I can decide.”
To ensure the legitimacy of my royal bloodline, the royal family will not allow me to marry a princess from a foreign land.
There is only self-interest between you and me.
Lu Dongzan, I am a businessman, and businessmen only care about profit. Don't think that I want peace between our two countries.
Believe it or not, if the two countries were to go to war, I would earn even more.
Therefore, whether or not peace talks can be held, how to hold them, and whether the peace talks will be successful are not matters of interest to me.
What interests me is money, gold, and the five thousand taels of gold you promised me. Otherwise, you wouldn't even be qualified to enter my Prince Ji's residence today.
You can relay what I have said to your king and let him consider whether or not to fulfill his promise to me.
Once you've made up your mind, send over the five thousand catties of gold.
"Alright, I have said all I need to say. I have important business to attend to later. Guards, see the guest out."
Li Shen felt he had said enough and didn't want to waste any more words on Lu Dongzan.
After saying that, Li Shen stood up and waved his hand, and Wei Fugui, who was standing at the door, immediately walked in.
"Your Highness Prince Ji..." Lu Dongzan wanted to speak again.
Li Shen frowned and looked at Lu Dong with displeasure: "Hmm...?"
Lu Dongzan swallowed back the words of persuasion he was about to say, and bowed deeply.
“Your Highness Prince Ji, we will definitely deliver those five thousand catties of gold. I will also convey your words to the Zanpu.”
We also hope that His Highness Prince Ji will give our King's suggestion a serious consideration.
"Hmm, I will consider it when I have time." Li Shen nodded in satisfaction upon hearing that the money would be delivered.
"Then this humble subject will take his leave." Lu Dongzan bowed again, and was then escorted back by Wei Fugui.
Watching Gar Tongtsen walk away, Li Shen fell into deep thought. Gar Tongtsen's arrival this time signified that Songtsen Gampo was still unwilling to give up.
Even though they were already in Chang'an and knew they couldn't go back, they still tried to do some underhanded things.
"Stone, send someone to inform Wang Hongfu to have someone keep an eye on the Tibetan delegation, and report any unusual activity to me immediately."
As Li Shen walked out, he gave an instruction to the stone beside him.
After nodding, Shi Tou immediately ran out to arrange for someone to notify them.
When Li Shen arrived at the group, everything was ready, and everyone was waiting for him in the carriage.
Li Shen got into the lead carriage and sat in one carriage with Lu Dingniang, while the children sat in another carriage with their wet nurses.
At Li Shen's command, the convoy began to exit through the middle gate of the Prince Ji's residence and head towards the south gate.
The south gate of Chang'an City had three gates: the one facing Zhuque Avenue was called Mingde Gate, the one to the west was called Anhua Gate, and the one to the east was called Qixia Gate.
Li Shen's Qinrenfang was under the jurisdiction of Wannian County in the east of the city. After leaving the market, heading south, one would pass through Qixia Gate.
Then, proceed west from Qixia Gate to the main gate.
When Li Shen's convoy arrived outside Mingde Gate, the area was already under martial law, with a long line of carriages, numbering at least several dozen.
It is marked with various icons, representing which one it belongs to.
Li Shen immediately spotted the carriage with the yellow dragon flag at the front and quickly walked over.
"Oh, isn't this our Prince Ji? What a grand procession! He's the last to arrive."
As soon as Li Shen walked over, he heard a strange voice coming from the side. Li Shen didn't even need to guess to know that it must be his old man, Wu Yi.
Who would dare to engage in self-deprecation when they have nothing better to do? Besides, who would be so naive as to cultivate themselves in such a way?
"Haha, Father, please calm down. I was delayed by something. Please forgive me."
Li Shen put on a smiling face and bowed to Li Shimin.
Li Shimin walked out from the crowd, accompanied by Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Zhi, with ministers and nobles such as Changsun Wuji, Ma Zhou, and Yu Zhining behind him.
There were at least a hundred people.
"Hmph, you Prince Ji are just a busybody all day long. I've been waiting for you here for half an hour."
Li Shimin approached Li Shen and snorted.
"Tenth Brother, I've been waiting for half an hour," Li Tai said with a smile.
“Your Highness Prince Ji, we old ministers have been waiting for more than half an hour,” Changsun Wuji chimed in.
As soon as he opened his mouth, everyone started attacking Li Shen. Some said they waited for an hour, some said they waited for two hours, and Cheng Yaojin even said he waited for half a day.
Looking at this group of old immortals, Li Shen rolled his eyes. These old geezers were used to being casual with his father when they didn't attend court.
Most of them were heroes who had followed their fathers through thick and thin.
Li Shen ignored the group of old scoundrels, stepped forward, and whispered to Li Shimin:
"Father, the deal for 800,000 strings of cash has been finalized, and it will be delivered to Chang'an on a chosen day."
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's angry expression immediately changed, and he patted Li Shen on the shoulder:
"Well, you've just returned to Chang'an. It's understandable that the Prince Ji's mansion is so large and busy, but we can't delay you."
"Thank you for your understanding, Father." Li Shen shouted loudly, looking at the old ministers behind him and raising his chin slightly to indicate that they had seen it.
"Alright, it's getting late, let's set off." Li Shimin waved his hand.
They each began to board their own carriages. Li Chengqian gave Li Shen a thumbs-up, something he had learned from Li Shen.
Li Shen shrugged silently, indicating that he also wanted to keep a low profile, but his abilities wouldn't allow it.
(My condition is better today, but it seems to be worse:)
How deep the courtyard is, how many fallen petals remain, and no one speaks.
The courtesan, oblivious to the sorrow of a fallen nation, still sings "The Flowers of the Rear Courtyard" across the river.