Gu Jiu was not polite to Pei Rong.
She said bluntly, "I have two small requests. First, do not start a war with Xiliang, and try to restrain small-scale conflicts. The prerequisite for delivering a large amount of goods to Xiliang Royal City is that both sides temporarily shake hands and make peace. General Pei understands this better than I do."
"What is the second requirement?" Pei Rong asked directly.
Gu Jiu didn't keep it a secret, "I accept the Pei family and the Northwest Army to invest in this business."
Pei Rong secretly exchanged glances with Mr. Dou and already had an idea in his mind.
He was equally straightforward. "I can agree to your second request. But 500,000 taels of goods is too little. We need to prepare at least 1 million taels of goods, and less ironware."
Gu Jiu frowned. "One million taels of goods, shipped to Xiliang Royal City, is worth at least six million taels. With such a large scale, can General Pei guarantee that Xiliang will agree to allow this batch of goods to enter the country?"
Furthermore, reducing iron resources means reducing our appeal to Xiliang. Only with sufficient iron resources can the wise people of Xiliang risk maintaining long-term friendly trade with us. If General Pei is worried about iron flowing into Xiliang and being melted down and made into weapons, he is wrong. Our Great Zhou weapons are at least thirty years ahead of Xiliang's.
"What's the use of thirty years? Every time Xiliang gets a piece of ironware, it means one more person will die in our Great Zhou." Pei Rong had a murderous look on his face.
Yu Ge'er's body tensed up and he felt fear.
Gu Jiu touched his head and calmed him down.
Pei Rong looked at Yu Ge'er and frowned slightly.
Yu Ge'er opened his mouth and whispered, "Hello, General Pei!"
"Aren't you afraid of me, General?" Pei Rong asked casually.
Yu Ge'er shook his head, "I'm afraid! But mother said you wouldn't kill anyone in front of us, so I'm not that afraid."
Pei Rong laughed heartily, "Madam Zhao, do you understand what war is? Do you understand what death is?"
Gu Jiu said expressionlessly, "General Pei has completely ignored my first request."
"Whether to start a war is not up to this general to decide."
"But you can influence the decisions of both sides. Let me ask you one question: General Pei, do you want to start a trade war or go to war with Xiliang?"
Pei Rong picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp.
Gu Jiu snorted coldly, "According to your way of fighting, we won't be able to solve the problem of Xiliang in five, ten, twenty, or even thirty years. In recent years, Xiliang has been recuperating and relying on plundering the countries in the Western Regions, its national strength has become increasingly powerful.
Unless we launch a war against Xiliang, we will not be able to weaken Xiliang's national strength with our current tactics. However, if we launch a war against Xiliang, Beirong will surely take advantage of the situation. Attacked from both sides, the consequences will be disastrous.
Mr. Dou coughed lightly. "Let me interject. Madam Zhao just mentioned that Xiliang plundered the Western Regions. If that's the case, wouldn't our plan to weaken Xiliang through trade be counterproductive? Xiliang has no money, so they can just plunder other countries."
Gu Jiu said, "This is exactly what I meant by driving away the wolf and devouring the tiger. The more Xiliang oppresses the Western Regions, the greater the resentment will be, and war will break out sooner or later. When Xiliang is surrounded by the Western Regions, it will be unable to send troops to fight against the Great Zhou because it cannot afford it and has no money to fight.
At that time, the Northwest Army can seize the opportunity to advance the front westward. Sihai Trading Company is willing to sponsor the cement needed by the Northwest Army, build forts and fortresses along the way, and relocate people to farm and graze.
Pei Rong chuckled, what a big ambition.
Before they even had a chance to make a living, they dreamed of migrating people to the west to farm and graze.
Is this treating the Northwest Army as a pawn?
However, Pei Rong didn't mind cooperating with Gu Jiu.
It is hard to say who will be whose pawn by then.
He said to Gu Jiu, "General, I can impose no restrictions on the ironware trade, but the specific terms of trade with Xiliang will be determined by our Northwest Army. You only need to organize the supply and ensure that the goods are delivered to the Northwest in a timely manner."
Gu Jiu shook his head. "Since it's a cooperation, there must be sincerity in cooperation. Your Northwest Army is responsible for the safety of the caravan and for contacting Xiliang. But business matters must be decided by my people. My people will follow us throughout the process."
"Have your people ever been to the northwest? Do you know where Xiliang is? Have you ever been to the grassland? Follow them all the way, be careful not to die on the way." Pei Rong said to Gu Jiu bluntly.
Gu Jiu sneered.
Pei Rong is a bastard, he wants to destroy the bridge after crossing it.
Before we even start working together, you want to seize power. Do you really think she is a pushover?
No wonder he and Liu Zhao disliked each other. They were two bastards, so of course they disliked each other.
Gu Jiu was too lazy to talk nonsense with him and winked at Xu Yousi.
Xu Yousi whistled, and suddenly a group of fierce soldiers rushed down from the distant hillside.
The leader was none other than Liu Zhao, a bastard as good as Pei Rong.
Pei Rong's personal soldiers were facing a powerful enemy. They fired their weapons and quickly formed a battle formation.
Just wait for Pei Rong's order and then fight with the people coming down from the mountain.
Pei Rong sneered, "Madam Zhao actually brought helpers with her. Are you afraid that I will kill you to silence you?"
Gu Jiu chuckled softly, "General Pei, don't you understand the principle that husband and wife are one?"
Pei Rong sneered, "Just relying on Liu Zhao?"
Gu Jiu nodded, "Yes, just rely on Liu Zhao."
After saying that, she pinched Yu Ge'er's cheek and told him to learn more.
To deal with someone like Pei Rong, you have to be prepared.
In a blink of an eye, Liu Zhao led his troops to Wuliting.
He dismounted and pointed at Pei Rong, "Do you dare to fight me?"
"Fight if you want. This general is not afraid of you."
The two people met, said a few words to each other, and then started fighting.
Gu Jiu picked up the teacup and sipped the tea contentedly.
Fight, fight, as long as you don’t kill me.
Mr. Dou was calmer than Gu Jiu, and watched the two people fighting to the death with a cheerful look.
Qian Fu and Lin Shuping walked into the pavilion.
Gu Jiu pursed his lips.
Qian Fu stepped forward and said, "I am a humble person. I have been to Beirong and Xiliang before and know a little about trade. I am willing to join the caravan to Xiliang."
Mr. Dou looked Qian Fu up and down. "Are you Eunuch Qian?"
"Mr. Dou knows our family?"
"How could I not recognize the people around His Highness? You said you've been to Xiliang, but that was many years ago. Xiliang now is very different from what it was back then."
Qian Fu laughed. "Mr. Dou, you haven't been to Xiliang City for many years. Do you still remember the way to Xiliang City?"
This is a tit-for-tat confrontation.
Mr. Dou smiled and said, "If you want to go, no one will stop you. But no one can guarantee that you won't die on the way."
Lin Shuping stepped forward and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Dou. His Highness has several capable men under his command. They have all been deep into the grasslands, to Beirong and Xiliang."
Mr. Dou laughed heartily, "Your Highness has so many talented people under his command."
After saying that, he looked towards Gu Jiu and asked, "Who does Madam Zhao plan to send on this trip?"
"I also want to go to Xiliang King City to see the world, and I'm willing to make this trip for my wife." Deng Cunli stepped out of the crowd. "Mr. Dou, we meet again."
Mr. Dou's beard twitched, as if he had some grudge against Deng Cunli and was not very happy to see Deng Cunli.
"It's Eunuch Deng. I haven't seen him in a few years. Hello, Eunuch Deng!"
"Thanks to Mr. Dou, our family is doing well."
"Amitabha, I am also willing to follow the caravan to the Western Regions to see it for myself."
Master Wuwang remained silent, and everyone almost forgot about him.
Mr. Dou pointed at Wuwang and said, "You're such a dirty fellow, don't just join in the fun."
"Mr. Dou is wrong." Gu Jiu laughed. "Master Wuwang is the goodwill ambassador personally appointed by my wife, and a peace envoy between Xiliang and Da Zhou. He promotes the compassion of Buddhism, the customs and culture of Da Zhou, and helps the poor people of Xiliang."
Mr. Dou's beard kept shaking for a long time before it calmed down.
He said seriously, "I admire your ability to know how to use people well."
The bald donkey Wuwang, in Gu Jiu's mouth, suddenly became some kind of goodwill ambassador and peace messenger.
Mr. Dou was furious!
Wuwang is just a wine-drinking and meat-eating monk with impure six senses. How can he have such virtue and ability?
There is no hope for this kind of sales, but when he arrives in Xiliang, he might be hailed as a national teacher.
Oh my god!
It's funny just thinking about it.
Gu Jiu lowered his voice and whispered, "Mr. Dou has already understood my wife's intention to send Wuwang to Xiliang. I hope Mr. Dou can speak a few good words to the Marquis of Lu to facilitate this matter."
Mr. Dou smiled knowingly, "Madam, you really dare to use anyone."
"Mr. Dou, have you agreed? Thank you so much for your help. This is just a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it."
A wooden box was placed in front of Mr. Dou.
Mr. Dou opened the wooden box with great enthusiasm and found a jade artifact that caught his eye at first sight.
"Madam Zhao really knows how to please others. I really like this jade artifact. I will agree to your request."
"Thank you, Mr. Dou." Gu Jiu smiled with satisfaction.
They reached an agreement, and Liu Zhao and Pei Rong also followed suit and declared a truce.
Mr. Dou put away the wooden box, came to Pei Rong and whispered something.
After hearing this, Pei Rong shouted to Liu Zhao and Gu Jiu, "I'll give you two hundred places. You can arrange the personnel yourself."
"Two hundred is too little, at least three hundred." Liu Zhao bargained.
"Do you think we're going to the market? This is risking your life. What are you doing with all these useless people?"
Liu Zhao was itching to take action again.
Gu Jiu stopped him and said with a smile, "Two hundred is two hundred. General Pei, it's a pleasure to work with you!"
Pei Rong immediately mounted his horse and said in a loud voice, "In two months, I want to see goods worth one million taels. This is our first cooperation, I hope Madam Zhao can be on time."
"General Pei, rest assured. This lady will deliver the one million taels of goods to the northwest on time."
Pei Rong turned around and stared at Liu Zhao, then rode away without saying a word.
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