From Anxi to the western countries of the Tang Dynasty, railways could not be built everywhere. High mountains and glaciers could not be built. The border between the Tang Dynasty and the western countries of the Tang Dynasty were mostly high mountains and snowy mountains. There were only a few places where railways could be built. However, there were two routes that the officials of the Tang Dynasty valued the most.
One route was from Shu-lik Town to the south, through Telemanchuan to the Tocharian region to connect the Tocharian countries and promote trade between the Tang Empire and Tocharian.
The other route was from Pakhuan City to Suiye City, through the dangerous Botaling, and then through Suiye City to Talos in the Stone Kingdom. It would continue to connect the small countries in the middle of the river to promote trade between the Tang Empire and the countries in the middle of the river.
In the western part of the Tang Dynasty, there were mainly these two groups of small countries. One was the Tocharian region, and the other was the countries in the middle of the river. To connect to the Tocharian region, one needed to go through the southern route, and to connect to the countries in the middle of the river, one needed to go through the northern route. Both the southern route and the northern route had a lot of dangerous terrain, which was a great challenge to the construction of railways.
The Tang Dynasty was powerful, but it still felt a lot of pressure to build railways. If both routes were built at the same time, together with the domestic route, the pressure would be very great. Therefore, Li Longji and most of the officials wanted to choose one of the two routes, build one first, and then build the other. As for which route to choose, Li Longji and the other officials had not decided yet.
After half a month of discussion, they still could not come to a decision. Among them, there was a game between the influential officials of the Tang Dynasty, and also a game between the countries in the middle of the river and the Tocharian group.
The countries in the middle of the river were all rich small countries. They joined forces to bribe the influential officials of the Tang Dynasty, asking the Tang Dynasty to build railways to the countries in the middle of the river to promote the economic development of the countries in the middle of the river.
The Tocharian countries were not to be trifled with. They also used the method of bribing the influential officials of the Tang Dynasty, asking the Tang Dynasty to build railways to Tocharia first to promote the development of Tocharia.
Both sides were dozens of small countries, and their strength was almost equal. Therefore, it caused a fierce confrontation in the imperial court.
In fact, the countries in the middle of the river and Tocharia were all together. The countries in the middle of the river were in the north, and Tocharia was in the south. Therefore, no matter where the railway line was built by the Tang Dynasty, it would eventually connect to them.
If they took the northern route, they would set off from Bihuan City, pass through Botar Ridge, and reach Suiye City. Then, they would continue west until they reached Talos City, then south until they reached Tuozhe City, then south until they reached Saweijian. After crossing Mount Bosch, they would continue south until they crossed the Wuhu River and entered the Tocharian region.
Similarly, if one took the southern route, they would depart from Shu-lik Town, pass through Telemanchuan, and enter Hu Mi Country. Then, step by step, they would enter the Tocharian Country, cross the Wuhu River, and enter the countries in the river.
Regardless of which route they took, they would eventually be able to connect the land in the middle of the river to the Tocharian region, thus increasing the connection between the two regions and the Great Tang.
But from a commercial point of view, the areas that were directly connected to the railway line of the Tang Dynasty would undoubtedly gain more benefits, and the benefits would be huge.
After all, in any era, the transportation hub was always the most important. Any area with a transportation hub would be prosperous. The areas that were connected to the Tang Dynasty would definitely be the transportation hub, and there would be opportunities to gain more wealth.
Think about it. When the railway line of the Tang Dynasty passed through Botaling and entered the countries in the middle of the river, the railway continued south and entered Tocharia. In this way, the goods from the Tang Dynasty had to pass through the land in the middle of the river to enter Tocharia. Similarly, the goods from Tocharia had to pass through the land in the middle of the river to enter the Tang Dynasty. In this way, the countries in the middle of the river became the destination for the goods from the Tang Dynasty and Tocharia. A large number of merchants from the Tang Dynasty and Tocharia had to stop and rest when they passed through the land in the middle of the river. Accommodation and meals were indispensable. This would naturally promote employment in the countries in the middle of the river and make the countries in the middle of the river richer.
Moreover, there were many merchants in the countries in the middle of the river. They were very good at doing business. They could buy goods from the Tang Dynasty and Tocharia at the same time and sell them in their own countries. In this way, the merchants from the Tang Dynasty could buy the goods they needed without entering Tocharia. Similarly, the merchants from Tocharia could buy many goods from the Tang Dynasty without going to Chang 'an. If this continued, the land in the middle of the river would become a commercial and trade center and become richer and richer.
Similarly, if the railway line went south and entered Tocharia first, the situation would be completely opposite. Tocharia would become a commercial center and become richer and richer. Even many years later, it would completely replace the countries in the middle of the river and become a trading hub between the Tang Dynasty and the West.
As for the countries in the middle of the river, once they lost their status as a trading hub, they would become poor and backward over time.
Since ancient times, there were only a few reasons for the decline of a city or a region, such as war, climate change, and the loss of its status as a transportation hub. Once such a situation occurred, the people in the countries in the middle of the river would migrate to Tocharia in large numbers. Just like the people in the backward mountainous areas in the western part of Hua Xia, they would always try their best to move to the developed cities in the East and West so that they could live a more comfortable life.
Therefore, the competition for the railway line would be a competition between the countries in the middle of the river and Tocharia for the trading hub. This was a matter of life and death for the countries in the middle of the river and Tocharia, so it could not be underestimated.
Especially the countries in the middle of the river, they were the most nervous. After all, they had always been the trading hub between the Tang Dynasty and the West, and they had always suppressed Tocharia. Once they lost their status as a trading hub, they would be overtaken by Tocharia, which would make them feel very sad.
Tocharia was also very nervous. Although their status in trade had always been inferior to the countries in the middle of the river, if the railway line was built, the gap would become more obvious, and the gap would become bigger. In this way, they would be suppressed even more seriously.
Whether it was the countries in the middle of the river or Tocharia, they were all planning for their own interests. They tried their best to please the nobles of the Tang Dynasty in order to gain the support of the nobles of the Tang Dynasty and achieve their goals.
There were also all kinds of competition between the countries in the middle of the river and Tocharia, and even the cities within a country were in competition. After all, only the railway built by the Tang Dynasty could bring prosperity and wealth to a place.
The debate over the railway line between the North and South continued, and the houses of the nobles of the Tang Dynasty were often visited by the envoys of the western countries. Especially important figures like Ang Lee, who was the focus of the envoys' visits.
"Alang, there's a man called Corban outside, and he wants to see you."
Zhao Liu said.
Ang Lee was resting in a rocking chair, and when he heard that, he was annoyed for a moment, but then he smiled and said, "Corban is my friend, let him in!"
The reason why he wanted to meet Corban in person was not because of feelings, but because Ang Lee already had a plan in mind, and had even told the Emperor about it. He just asked the Emperor not to make it public for the time being, to create the illusion that the North and South lines had not been decided, and to confuse the western countries, so that the Tang Dynasty could gain the most benefits.
"Corban, my friend, we haven't seen each other in a long time."
As soon as Ang Lee saw Corban, he rushed to him enthusiastically, which made Corban very surprised.
"Assistant Minister Li, my friend, we haven't seen each other for almost half a year. I didn't expect Assistant Minister Li to remember an old friend even though you're so busy."
Corban said excitedly.
"How can you forget a friend? No matter how busy you are, you can't forget a friend! By the way, is the King of the Stone Kingdom satisfied with the generator? "
Ang Lee's smile was very sincere, and his words were full of nostalgia for Corban. Of course, there was also a hidden agenda behind it.
"Satisfied. The King was very happy after getting the generator and light bulbs, and knew that it was Assistant Minister Li who had helped him a lot, and said that he must thank Assistant Minister Li. For that, he prepared many gifts for Assistant Minister Li. Men, bring the King's gifts in."
Corban said excitedly, and had his men bring in the gifts.
"Assistant Minister Li, these are all local products of the Stone Kingdom. Please accept them, Assistant Minister Li."
A strange look suddenly flashed in Corban's eyes, and it was a look that all men would understand.
"So many gifts. The King of the Stone Kingdom is really a good friend."
Since it was a gift from the King of the Stone Kingdom, it would be a waste not to accept it. However, a rather large box had piqued Ang Lee's interest.
The packaging of the box was very extravagant, and it was also very large, and it was obvious that it was filled with good stuff.
"What's in there, Corban? You've made it so mysterious. "
Ang Lee looked at the extravagant box and asked with a smile.
"Assistant Minister Li, why don't you open it and you'll know?"
Corban kept him in suspense.
Ang Lee chuckled and walked over to open the box, and was shocked by what he saw inside. In fact, it could not be called an item, but a living person, a beautiful little girl.
When Li An saw the little lolita suddenly emerge from the box, he thought that it was an inflatable doll. After all, in his previous life, Li An had secretly bought such a toy before. He was very familiar with inflatable dolls and the degree to which they could pass off as real dolls.
However, Ang Lee soon realized that the little girl in front of him was not an inflatable doll. In the Tang dynasty, such things were not produced yet. Moreover, the little girl in front of him was too real, and did not look like an inflatable doll at all. She was a living person, and by the looks of it, she looked like an exotic little girl from the Western Regions.
"Greetings, master. Mei 'er salutes you."
The pretty little girl smiled and saluted Ang Lee.
"Haha! You speak the Tang language so fluently. What a great little girl! What's the meaning of this, Corban? "
Ang Lee smiled slightly, but he was asking the obvious. In this era, sending women as goods was the most common thing, regardless of whether it was a large or small country. In ancient society, women were just appendages, and their status was indescribably low.
"Assistant Minister Li, this is a beauty of our Stone Kingdom, carefully selected by the king to give to Assistant Minister Li as a gift to thank Assistant Minister Li for your help."
Corban smiled and licked his lips.
"Corban, didn't you tell your king that I have many wives?"
Ang Lee frowned and said.
Corban was stunned for a moment, and then shook his head, as if he did not understand what Ang Lee meant.
"You sent me such a beautiful little girl, are you trying to tire me to death?"
Ang Lee said jokingly.
"Oh, hahaha! Assistant Minister Li is so young, how can he be tired? Even if you send a few more, Assistant Minister Li won't be tired! "
Corban grinned, obviously praising Ang Lee for being stronger in that aspect.
"Master, Mei 'er will serve you well, and won't let you tire yourself out."
The young lady from the Stone Kingdom smiled, appearing to be very understanding.
"Such a reasonable little girl, looks like you've nurtured her for a long time! Your king didn't keep such a beauty for himself, but gave her to me instead. What a good friend! "
Ang Lee sighed.
"Haha! As long as Assistant Minister Li likes her, it's fine. Mei 'er, you must serve Assistant Minister Li well. "
Corban grinned, looking rather wretched.
"Alright, since this is a gift from a friend, I'll accept it. Mei 'er, come out! Go take a walk in the yard and familiarize yourself with the environment. "
Li An happily accepted this gift. In this era of the Great Tang, accepting a gift from a beautiful woman was the most normal thing to do. There was nothing shameful about it, nor was there anything to be embarrassed about.
"Master, Mei 'er can't come out. Master, carry Mei' er out."
Mei 'er, who was standing in the big box, had a hard time coming out on her own. Ang Lee had overlooked that, and Mei' er began to act coquettishly as soon as she appeared, which surprised Ang Lee quite a bit, and made him feel even more that Mei 'er before him was a complete beauty, and would probably enjoy it! Ang Lee's days from now on would probably be even more blissful.
"Mei 'er, don't call me master. Call me Alang from now on. Remember that. Come, let Alang carry you out."
Ang Lee, of course, had nothing to be shy about. He immediately reached out and carried Mei 'er out of the big box, and gently placed her on the ground. However, with such a soft body in his arms, Ang Lee could not bear to put her down. After all, the body of a little loli was soft, and Mei' er was rather mischievous. When Ang Lee carried her out, she deliberately wrapped her arms around him, making it so comfortable that Ang Lee did not want to put her down.
"Mei 'er, don't be naughty. Let go and take a walk in the yard!"
Ang Lee gently pried Mei 'er's hands away and let her move around. He knew that Corban was definitely not here just to give him a gift, and that there must be something more important. And Ang Lee knew very well about that important matter: it had to do with the railroad.
Watching as Mei 'er followed a maid to another yard, Ang Lee turned to Corban and said, "Corban, you didn't come all the way here just to give me a gift, did you? If there's anything, just say it! "
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