Corban pondered for a moment before looking at Ang Lee. "Assistant Minister Li, I came to Chang 'an this time to deliver gifts to Assistant Minister Li, as well as an important mission regarding the railway."
"About the railway? Is the Stone Kingdom interested in the railway as well? "
Ang Lee pretended to be confused and put on a haughty front.
Corban's expression was tense as he said, "I won't hide it from you, Assistant Minister Li. The railways are very important to our Stone Kingdom. Our people are the best at doing business, and as long as the railway passes through our Stone Kingdom, we'll be able to do better business. As such, the railway is very important to our Stone Kingdom. Everyone, from the king to the people, knows that.
"Oh, so the people of the Stone Kingdom value the railway so much! However, His Majesty and the ministers are more inclined to build the southern route, going south from Shu-lik Town, passing through Telemanchuan and into the Tocharian region. Then, the river countries can work together with the Tocharian countries to build a crisscrossing railway between them. "
Ang Lee said.
"What, the southern route? How can that be? "
Corban was very nervous and quickly said, "Assistant Minister Li, the southern route will pass through Telemanchuan, and the terrain is very winding. It is very difficult to build a railway, so the northern route should be built."
Ang Lee saw Corban's anxiety and smiled slightly. "But the northern route is not easy to build either! Botaling is a dangerous place, and it is not easy to build it. Moreover, from what I have seen, His Majesty seems to want to build the southern route. After the southern route is built, the northern route will be built in seven or eight years. By then, the Stone Kingdom will have access to the railway. "
Corban was very anxious when he heard that and said nervously, "Assistant Minister Li, is there no room for negotiation?"
"His Majesty has not made up his mind yet, and there is still room for negotiation. However, whether the southern route or the northern route is built first, it does not make much of a difference to the Tang Dynasty. His Majesty is more concerned about which route is more beneficial to the Tang Dynasty. And from the current situation, it seems that building the southern route first would bring more benefits!"
Ang Lee said, and Corban's anxiety was greatly relieved. At the same time, he was very curious as to why the Tang Dynasty would gain more benefits by building the southern route first.
"Assistant Minister Li, I have a good understanding of the southern and northern routes. The Tang Dynasty will definitely spend more to build the southern route than the northern route, and it would be more cost-effective to build the northern route..."
Corban was from the west, and naturally, he knew the Tang Dynasty.
"Haha! Corban, you are absolutely right. Building the southern route would indeed cost more, and His Majesty was more inclined to build the northern route in the beginning. But the Tocharians also understood that, and so they made a lot of concessions to the Tang Dynasty, which moved His Majesty quite a bit. But you Hezhong countries did not do so, and so His Majesty's mind changed, and he is more inclined to build the southern route. "
Ang Lee said.
"The Tocharians made a lot of concessions. Just how much of a concession did they make to move the Tang Dynasty's Emperor?"
Corban quickly asked.
As the envoy of the Stone Kingdom, he was very concerned about this issue. After so many days, he had never heard of any agreement between the Tocharians and the Tang Empire.
Ang Lee pondered for a moment, and said, "The Tocharians have promised His Majesty that the railway to the Tocharians will all belong to the Tang Dynasty, and the places it passes through will all belong to the Tang Dynasty. To put it simply, the railway line that runs three miles on both sides will belong to the Tang Dynasty, and all profits from running the railway will also belong to the Tang Empire, and they will not interfere in any way. Moreover, they will provide a lot of manpower for free to help the Tang Empire build the railway, and the Tang Dynasty can also station troops along the railway line. Corban, don't you think that this offer is very attractive?"
He then looked at Corban, but found that Corban's face was pale, and he seemed to be very worried.
"Assistant Minister Li, you are not joking, are you? How could the Tocharian Empire make such a huge concession? Impossible, this is impossible. "
Corban shook his head, feeling that Ang Lee's concession was too big. The land that runs three miles on both sides of the railway line will belong to the Tang Dynasty, and this is selling out the country! In this way, they will lose a lot of their rights, and the Tang Empire will gain a lot of benefits.
However, on the other hand, Corban seemed to have understood something, and he suddenly felt that it was possible. After all, as long as the Tang Dynasty first extended the railway line to the Tocharians, then the Tocharians would replace the position of the land in the middle of the river as a trade hub, and thus gain a lot of economic benefits. In this way, even if they did not gain any benefits from the railway line, and even lost some of their land, the benefits they gained would still be huge.
Although land was regarded as a very important national resource in later generations, and was sacred and inviolable, in the era of the Tang Dynasty, the weak and small countries around did not have a strong sense of territory. After all, they were too weak, and only when the Tang Dynasty recognized a piece of land as theirs could they legally own it. Otherwise, even if they thought that all the land in the world was theirs, if they did not have the power to defend it, what was the point?
Moreover, at the end of the day, land was also a matter of benefits. Land could contain minerals, produce crops, and even provide a strategic buffer for an empire. In short, land could gain a lot of benefits, but if losing a small amount of land in exchange for greater benefits, why not?
For the small countries in the Tocharians, there was the possibility of losing their land at any time. As long as the Tang Empire needed it, it could conquer them at any time. Therefore, there was nothing wrong with losing part of their land and giving it to the Tang Empire. Moreover, by losing their land and part of their benefits, they could let the Tang Dynasty take the lead in building the railway line to their place. In this way, they could replace the countries in the middle of the river and become the transit hub between the East and the West. In this way, the benefits they gained would always be more than what they lost, and for the people of the small countries who valued benefits, it was a big gain.
Once the Tocharians became the transit hub between the East and the West, their economic strength would be greatly enhanced. At the same time, their strength in other aspects would also be strengthened. With the Tang Dynasty stationed along the railway line, the countries in the middle of the river would not dare to stir up trouble. Otherwise, they would be going against the Tang Empire. In this way, the countries in the middle of the river would completely lose their status as the transit hub between the East and the West, and thus lose a lot of economic benefits.
Realizing the seriousness of the problem, Corban began to feel nervous again. When he was on his way to Chang 'an, the King had given him a death order to do everything he could to make the railway line of the Tang Dynasty enter the river through the northern route, and pass through the capital of the Stone Kingdom, Taros.
That was the King's death order, and if Corban could not complete it, it would be difficult for him to explain himself when he returned. However, the King's conditions were that he could give away money and women as he pleased. He did not say that he could give away land and let the entire railway system completely belong to the Tang Dynasty. If he dared to silently make such conditions, the King would probably die of anger.
However, the situation before them was already there. If they did not cough up some blood and give away all the benefits of land and railway to the Tang Dynasty, they would not be able to compete with the Tocharians.
Seeing Corban's nervous expression, Ang Lee smiled easily and said, "Corban, my friend, why would I lie to you? His Majesty told me the conditions of the Tocharians in front of me, and asked me if there would be any technical difficulties in building the southern route. Of course, I am more inclined to build the northern route, but the conditions of the Tocharians are too tempting. His Majesty is already a little moved, but he has not decided yet. If you countries in the middle of the river can make the same conditions, His Majesty will definitely change his mind. After all, it is easier to build the northern route."
Having said that, he looked at Corban and observed his expression.
When Corban heard that, he looked troubled and said, "Assistant Minister Li, I really can't make the decision on this. Our King really did not expect the Tocharians to make such conditions. The conditions are too high, and we can't lower them a little."
"Corban, the Tocharians have already made such conditions, and His Majesty is also very moved. You should hurry back to the Stone Kingdom and ask your King! However, you only have half a month. After half a month, His Majesty will decide which railway to build. "
Ang Lee said, which was considered an ultimatum. The railway was already connected to Anxi anyway, and as long as they went back and forth as quickly as possible, half a month would not be a problem.
"Half a month? Isn't time too tight? Assistant Minister Li, please talk to His Majesty and tell him not to rush into a decision. I will return to the Stone Kingdom and discuss this with the King."
Corban begged.
"Don't worry, Corban. Now that the railway is connected, half a month is enough for a round trip. You just have to work a little harder."
Ang Lee said with a smile.
The reason why he did not give Corban more time was to prevent any unforeseen circumstances. The sooner the railway was decided, the sooner they could start work, and the sooner they could control the land in the river.
"If that's the case, then I'll go back and prepare. Assistant Minister Li, please rest early."
With that, Corban bowed to Ang Lee and turned to leave.
Seeing Corban walk out of the door, Ang Lee smiled faintly and walked to the backyard, ready to admire the little loli sent by the Stone Kingdom's King.
'Mei' er. Sounds interesting. I wonder how her skills are? '
Ang Lee grinned, feeling an indescribable satisfaction in his heart.
In a restaurant in Chang 'an, Corban sat in a small private room with a bitter expression. Ever since he came out from Ang Lee's courtyard, he had been wearing such an expression.
When he set off from Talos, he was full of confidence, thinking that his trip would be very smooth. After all, the Emperor had provided him with a lot of money and beauties, and he could bribe many of the nobles of the Tang Dynasty. He did not expect things to progress so far beyond his expectations. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that the Tocharian Kingdom would come up with such tempting conditions, not hesitating to sell their land in exchange for the railway line of the Tang Dynasty.
However, until now, Corban was not sure if Ang Lee was telling the truth. Although he could not see a trace of falsehood in Ang Lee's expression, and the Tocharian Kingdom might very well do something like selling their land for future benefits, he still had some doubts. After all, the conditions that the Tocharian Kingdom came up with were too surprising, and he could not rule out the possibility that Ang Lee was lying to him.
Corban kept drinking glass after glass of spicy wine, perhaps only then could he feel a little better. Although time was tight, with only half a month, he did not have to rush. At the very least, he had to figure out if what he said was true.
Just as Corban was drinking spicy wine, in the private room next door, the people that Ang Lee had arranged were already in place, and they were drinking while discussing the railway. They were not speaking very loudly, but it was enough to ensure that Corban could hear them. If Corban was interested, he would have to prick up his ears and lean against the wall to eavesdrop. After all, if they were too loud, it would arouse Corban's suspicions.
"Don't worry, Doctor Zhao. As long as the railway of the Tang Dynasty passes through our Feiniao Kingdom, we can extend the railway line five miles to the left and right. As the land of the Tang Dynasty, all the revenue from the railway operation will belong to the Tang Dynasty. The people of Feiniao Kingdom are all willing to let the Tang Dynasty build the railway."
A voice came from next door.
"Don't worry, don't worry. His Majesty is now leaning towards building the southern line, and the southern line will inevitably pass through your Feiniao Kingdom. It's just that the northern line is easier to build. If the other countries in the northern line make the same request, His Majesty may change his mind and build the northern line first."
A man with a bureaucratic tone said.
"The other countries in the river will definitely not offer conditions that exceed ours. His Majesty should make a decision as soon as possible. The sooner the railway is built, the sooner the people of the Tang Dynasty and other countries will benefit."
"Don't worry, I'll try my best to persuade the Right Chief Minister and have him urge His Majesty to set the route as soon as possible. As long as there are no accidents, the railway will definitely pass through your Feiniao Kingdom. When that time comes, your Feiniao Kingdom will have a better life."
"Oh, thank you, Doctor Zhao. Here's a small token of appreciation. Please accept it."
"No, no, no. I'm too embarrassed."
It was another very hypocritical refusal.
"Doctor Zhao, you've said so many good things for our Feiniao Kingdom. I must accept this token of appreciation. Otherwise, it would be looking down on our Feiniao Kingdom."
"Cough, cough, cough. Why would I look down on your Feiniao Kingdom? Since it's hard to refuse such kindness, I'll accept it. By the way, I still have some business to attend to. Farewell. "
"Take care, Doctor Zhao."
"No need to see me off."
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