Chapter 371 Old Wei's lecturing is terrifying.

Ada.

As evening approached, Qin Shandao suddenly woke up with a jolt.

I looked around.

Then he slipped out of the Qin residence and ran to the Wei residence.

What's fun to do at the Qin Mansion?

Do they have Brother Jiji and Brother Aiai? Are they fun?

"Wang Xuance!"

Upon seeing Wang Xuance sweeping the ground in front of the Wei residence, Qin Shandao immediately became unhappy.

It was this bastard who got himself drunk and caused him to lose.

Just as he was tiptoeing, intending to sneak up and deliver a fatal blow...

Wang Xuance suddenly turned around!

The moment their eyes met, both of them froze on the spot.

"Wang Xuance greets his senior brother."

Wang Xuance put down the broom and bowed to Qin Shandao: "I have offended you in the past, and I hope you will forgive me, senior brother."

Senior brother?

Qin Shandao looked around and, seeing that no one else was around, pointed at his own nose and said, "Are you talking to me?"

"That's right, senior brother!"

"..."

What's going on?

I slept for most of the day.

Does that mean the bad guys reform and join the side of justice?

"Cough cough..."

Qin Shandao straightened his body and put his hands behind his back: "Since I am your senior brother, shouldn't you listen to me?"

"What are your instructions, Senior Brother?" Wang Xuance replied obediently.

"Give me... a whole roast chicken."

Qin Shandao rubbed his stomach: "We haven't eaten all day."

"Please wait a moment, senior brother..."

Without any hesitation, Wang Xuance turned around and went to do it.

So obedient?

Has he lost his mind?

Forget about him, let's find our older brother first.

"Big brother, big brother..."

Qin Shandao ran into the Wei residence.

Before he could even speak...

*Smack*

Fang Yi'ai raised his hand and smacked him on the head.

"Look at you, you're such a grown man, and you still get goaded? Are you stupid?"

*Smack*

Choi Shin-ki raised his hand, and his head was covered in spittle.

"Haiyan... no, Xiaoshandao, you'd better be more careful."

*Smack*

Wei Shuyu raised his hand and smacked him on the head again.

"Stop making noise, my brother just fell asleep!"

"Waaah..."

Qin Shandao covered his head, looking aggrieved.

I haven't even said anything yet, and you've already started hitting me.

Still, all three together...

That's going too far!

"Go stand at the door in a horse stance, and also copy Sun Tzu's Art of War eighteen times!"

Wei Shuyu spoke coldly.

Eighteen times?

Qin Shandao was dumbfounded.

"Brother, I can recite Sun Tzu's Art of War by heart, so I don't need to copy it, right?"

*Smack*

Choi Shin-ki smacked him on the head with his other hand.

"Whatever the big boss says goes."

"Eighteen times isn't enough, at least thirty-eight times!"

"How about we round it up to forty times?"

"Forty is unlucky, let's go for sixty-six, sixty-six is ​​auspicious!"

"I think 88 is better, 888, it sounds like 'prosperity'."

"Ninety-nine, nine is the ultimate!"

"Since it's already ninety-nine, why don't we round it up and make it perfect? ​​Let's do it a hundred times!"

The two idiots kept talking incessantly, which frightened Qin Shandao so much that his face turned pale.

Do you guys really not treat me like a human being?

If you keep talking, even the numbers in the Tang Dynasty can't contain two people's nonsense!

"Shuyu, come with me."

Just then, Wei Zheng suddenly walked in.

"oh."

Wei Shuyu abandoned the three goods and followed closely behind.

Inside the study.

Wei Zheng's expression was somewhat solemn.

"I heard you weren't home during the day today?" Wei Zheng sat upright at his desk.

A few days ago, Wei Shuyu specially commissioned a craftsman to make a set of tables and chairs.

I must say, it is indeed much more comfortable than the previous futon.

"Mmm."

Wei Shuyu nodded: "It's just that Xiao Shandao and Wang Xuance had a little falling out..."

"I had heard of Wang Xuance before he became my father."

Wei Zheng nodded in agreement: "He speaks appropriately, is knowledgeable and reasonable, and is even knowledgeable in both literature and martial arts. He is a fine talent."

"So-so."

Wei Shuyu sighed: "He just tends to overthink things."

"Alright, let's not talk about him anymore."

Wei Zheng poured himself a cup of water, then moved the teapot closer to Wei Shuyu.

It indicates that if you're thirsty, you can pour it yourself.

"Have you prepared any plans for tomorrow's court assembly?" Wei Zheng asked, taking a sip of tea.

"Do we still need this?"

Wei Shuyu scratched his head awkwardly.

"Nonsense!"

Wei Zheng suddenly slammed his teacup on the table, his face showing extreme anger.

"The cancellation of the return gift to Baekje will be led by your Ministry of Commerce."

"At tomorrow's court assembly, your Ministry of Commerce will definitely become the target of everyone's criticism."

"Do you know that envoys from various countries are already in contact with each other?"

Wei Zheng's expression was extremely solemn.

Every move of the envoys from various countries was under the surveillance of the Tang Dynasty.

The Tang Dynasty naturally knew what they were up to.

Similarly...

Other countries also knew of the Tang Dynasty's purpose.

This is a war that is understood without words!

At first, the foreign tribes might not have realized what was happening because they hadn't suffered much loss!

The tribute system was changed to a system of accompanying tribute... Overall, they still made a profit.

but……

However, their nature is different.

In the past, when they paid tribute, they received gifts that strengthened themselves, but at the same time, they weakened the economy of the Tang Dynasty.

It could even bring the Tang Dynasty to a standstill.

But once the tribute trade began...

The Tang Dynasty only accepted a small portion of the tribute, while the rest flowed into the hands of merchants.

At first glance, it seems that the Tang Dynasty did indeed lose some of its gifts in return.

Further investigation reveals...

Not only did the Tang Dynasty not lose money, it could even make a profit.

Because merchants are required to pay taxes on their transactions!

Foreign countries also have to pay customs duties when they bring the purchased goods back to their own countries.

Merchants would take the tribute goods to other places to sell, which would incur additional tariffs.

There is also a market tax for border trade.

Merchants rarely buy and sell goods in just one transaction...

You once, I once.

The various taxes collected, when added up, were enough to make the Tang Dynasty a fortune.

"This time, you represent the Tang Dynasty."

"We must be fully prepared and mentally rehearse every possible scenario countless times."

"What if something unexpected happens..."

"It's not just you who's lost face, or just the Wei family, but the entire Tang Dynasty!"

Here it comes...

Old Wei has started again.

"Father, you should have prepared some books, right?"

Wei Shuyu naturally extended his hand: "Can I take a look?"

*Smack*

Wei Zheng slapped his son's hand away.

"This is not child's play."

Wei Zheng said with a solemn expression, "It's impossible for your father to prepare all of this for you every time."

"Shuyu, now that you are in charge of the Ministry of Commerce, your status is vastly different."

"We must never act impulsively again!"

"As your father, I know you are confident, which is a good thing..."

"But confidence doesn't mean you'll never lose!"

"Take the retired emperor as an example..."

"How glorious was the establishment of the Tang Dynasty? Countless capable ministers and generals served the Tang Dynasty, which flourished ever since..."

"But what was the result?"

"A person can succeed countless times, but just one failure is enough to plunge them into utter ruin!"

Wei Shuyu was helpless.

Old Wei's lecturing is terrifying.

When he got into a long, rambling speech, even Li Shimin would be speechless.

"Dad, it's getting dark, time for dinner."

Wei Shuyu quickly changed the subject: "We can't keep Mother and my brother waiting for us."

"etc……"

Just then, Wei Zheng suddenly spoke again.

He pulled out a few sheets of paper from under the inkstone and handed them to Wei Shuyu.

“These are some possibilities that I listed last night…”

"Take a look at it."

"At tomorrow's court assembly, we must deter the villains and demonstrate the might of our Great Tang Dynasty!"