Translated by: Hypersheep325 Edited by: Michyrr Wang Chong received Ablonodan and Ablonodan in his residence.
It had been a long time since they last met, and the two monks had clearly gotten much tanner, as if they had been exposed to the sun. After Wang Chong spent several months in the Kunwu Training Camp, the two of them returned to Sindhu.
One reason was that they needed to report to the High Priest, and the other reason was that Sindhu was currently experiencing a rare civil war.
How could the two of them remain idle over such a major matter? No matter what, they had to return to take a look.
"Gongzi!"
Upon seeing Wang Chong, the two monks immediately clasped their hands together and bowed deeply.
What was even more surprising was that the two monks, who usually only spoke Sindhi, were actually speaking to Wang Chong in the unfamiliar language of the Central Plains. From this, one could easily imagine how much respect they had for him.
"Hehe, great monk, there's no need to be so polite."
Wang Chong waved his hands with a smile.
Ablonodan and Ablonodan had stayed in the Wang Chong Residence for a period of time, and they had even taught Wang Chong the Tortoise Breathing Art and Arm Connection Art. As a result, Wang Chong was already on good terms with them.
When they first met, they would still call him Grandmaster, but as their relationship grew closer, they would just call him great monk. This was a sign of their close relationship.
"Of course. To us Sindhu, gongzi is a true living Bodhisattva, a great Buddha who has truly saved us. Gongzi, please accept our bow. "
With reddened eyes, the two pressed their palms together and insisted on bowing to Wang Chong once more.
If they hadn't returned to Sindhu, they wouldn't have known what the situation was like there. Although Sindhu suffered from famine all year round, and people would die every year, there had never been so many deaths.
Starving corpses, skeletons, and flies were everywhere. If not for Wang Chong's food, who knew how many more people would have died?
The two of them had heartfelt respect for Wang Chong.
"Hehe!"
Seeing how insistent the two monks were, Wang Chong knew that they weren't doing this for him but for the Sindhi. Thus, he didn't say anything else.
Just from the expressions of the two, Wang Chong could tell that the situation in Sindhu had improved significantly.
"Since Sindhu's condition can be alleviated, that's good. However, Great Monk, it is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. If Sindhu wants to break free from starvation, it can only rely on itself. What I can do is only a cup of water on a burning cart of firewood. I can treat the symptoms, but not the root cause. Great monk, those who help themselves are helped by the heavens. In the end, Sindhu can only rely on itself! "
Wang Chong said. The relationship between him and Arloja and Ablonja was purely based on interests. However, Arloja and Ablonja's respect for him touched him a little, which was why he said those words.
The famine in Sindhu wasn't a temporary one, but a perennial one. This wasn't without reason.
In this transaction with Arloja and Ablonja, he had sent them a lot of rations, cows, goats, chickens, and ducks. If Sindhu was good at making use of the rations, they could just leave a portion of the rations to plant and raise the cows, goats, chickens, and ducks.
The cows and goats could give birth next year, and the chickens and ducks could lay eggs.
If the Sindhi were good at making use of the rations, the famine might be greatly alleviated, or if they were diligent enough, they might even be able to put an end to it.
However, Wang Chong knew that it was impossible.
The rations and livestock he had sent over would only be eaten up. The Sindhi High Priest had only been thinking of treating the symptoms. As for treating the root cause, it probably wasn't within his considerations.
This made Wang Chong recall a joke he had heard in the past. A neighbor saw that a man's family was so poor that he didn't know where his next meal would come from. Out of kindness, he wanted to help the man improve his family's circumstances and lift him out of poverty. Thus, he spent a huge sum of money to buy a cow that could give birth to calves for the man, urging him to let the cow graze well. When the cow gave birth next year, his life would become much better.
In the beginning, the man also worked hard and made up his mind to change his past decadence and treat the cow well. He wanted to change his life and escape from poverty.
However, he soon couldn't stand the hunger. Thinking that cows were more valuable than goats, he decided to sell the cow and buy a sheep. In any case, sheep could also give birth, and the extra money could be used to fill his stomach.
However, out of worry for his neighbor, he struggled for a long time. In the end, he sold the cow and bought a sheep, and enjoyed a hearty meal.
However, the money he earned from selling the cow and sheep was quickly spent. Thus, the man thought that since sheep were more valuable than chickens, and chickens could also lay eggs, he could sell the sheep for a chicken. With the extra money, he would be able to eat his fill.
Unfamiliar the first time, but familiar the second time. This time, he didn't feel any psychological burden.
On the third day, the chicken didn't lay eggs for half a day. In a panic, the man decided to kill the chicken and eat it. Thus, after going around for a while, the man's house was still empty, but the cow was gone!
This was the situation that Sindhu was currently facing. No matter how many times they saved them, no matter how much food and livestock they gave them, they were still the same Sindhu, impoverished and weak.
In the coming year, Sindhu would still face the weakening of the Tang Dynasty, and the situation of starvation would continue.
However, Wang Chong didn't intend to do anything.
'Those who fall behind will be beaten'. If he wanted to change Sindhu's situation, he could only rely on Sindhu. No one else could help him.
Arloja and Ablonodan had awkward looks on their faces.
How could they not understand the problems that Sindhu faced? However, this was something that even the High Priest was helpless against. All they could do was try their best.
"Hehe, let's not talk about this anymore."
Fortunately, Wang Chong flung his sleeves and didn't dwell on this problem.
"Great monks, the reason why I called you here is because I have a matter to discuss with your High Priest."
Without beating around the bush, Wang Chong went straight to the point. He didn't summon Arloja and Ablonodan to show concern for the plight of the Sindhi people.
"Gongzi, please speak."
The two immediately said respectfully.
"I wish to discuss a deal with your High Priest regarding the Hyderabad ores. I wish to increase the quota of Hyderabad ores in the Central Plains … Hehe, great monks, please don't feel troubled. It won't be too late to reject it after hearing my words. "
Wang Chong looked at the awkward expressions on the faces of the two monks and smiled as he extended a finger. His expression was confident and calm, brimming with a power that could convince others.
"One thousand gold taels! This is the price I am willing to pay for the Hyderabad ores! I believe that the High Priest will not reject it! "
His voice was resounding and resounding.
"One thousand gold taels?"
Arloja and Ablonodan, who were just about to reject it, were stunned.
"Gongzi, you aren't joking, right?"
Arloja's eyes widened in shock. He couldn't believe that Wang Chong was serious. This was because the price was much higher than the current price.
"Haha, of course I'm not joking!"
Wang Chong chuckled as he stood up from his seat. He exuded a maturity and steadiness that many people of his age lacked, as well as the aura of a leader that others could trust.
When together with him, even Arloja and Ablonodan couldn't help but follow his lead. Even when listening to his words, they would pay full attention, afraid that they would miss out on any information he wanted to say.
This was a completely involuntary process.
At the start, it wasn't like this at all. In fact, the two of them even rejected Wang Chong.
"… There's a reason why I'm offering a high price. I hope that the High Priest will sell the largest amount of ores to me this year."
Wang Chong raised a finger as he walked toward the duo.
The annual production of ores in Hyderabad was very low. In other words, there was a quota. If one place supplied too much, another place would have a corresponding decrease.
That's right!
Wang Chong wanted to snatch the quotas of Arabia and Charax Spasinu!
In his previous life, Arabia and Charax Spasinu relied on their heavily armored army equipped with WuZi Steel scimitars to win the war against the Tang Dynasty in the Western Regions, single-handedly sending the most elite troops of the Tang Dynasty to their deaths.
'Money makes the world go round'. Wang Chong wanted to use his enormous wealth to forcefully snatch the quotas of Arabia and Charax Spasinu's Hyderabad ores and nip their Mamelukes in the bud.
'The superior destroys the conspirators, while the subordinate destroys the soldiers'!
The most brilliant tactic was to 'subdue the enemy without fighting'. Wang Chong didn't ask for an advance of eight million from Li Qingyou just to play around, and even more so, not to become a millionaire.
After deducting the five million required for the Lion City of Jiannan, the remaining three million was used by Wang Chong to snatch the quotas of Hyderabad ores from Arabia and strike at the Abbasid Caliphate and Charax Spasinu.
War didn't necessarily have to be fought with swords and spears. Knocking out the claws and teeth of the other party was still a form of victory.
More importantly, the 'Hyderabad Ores Project' was like a rolling snowball. Finally, the time for Wang Chong to realize his ultimate ambition had arrived.
Wang Chong wanted to make use of the huge sum of money he had accumulated from the Hyderabad Ores Project to build a heavily armored army of WuZi Steel.
He wanted to make the Tang dynasty realize the long-cherished wish of his previous life! He wanted to make those fearsome weapons appear in the army of the Tang dynasty and lend them a helping hand. With his wisdom and strength, he wanted to help the Tang dynasty sweep away all the enemies who were eyeing him covetously!
Wang Chong knew that the Sindhis, including the High Priest, would never be able to reject him. Because there was an irresistible temptation within!
"May I know how much ores gongzi wants?"
Aroyo, who had been silent all this while, asked. His expression was grim, and he seemed to be deep in thought. A thousand gold taels. This was much higher than the price they had sold it to Wang Chong previously.
However, the amount of ores in each region of Hyderabad was limited. Adding one region would inevitably affect another.
This was a grave matter, and it wasn't something that he could make a decision on. He had to get to the bottom of this, then report to the High Priest and let the High Priest make the decision.
"Five thousand jun!"
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