Chapter 449 They're All the Same
After receiving Wang Yushi's warning, Qin Mo had been guessing what pretext and method Emperor Zhaowu would use to ask him for money, but he really didn't expect it to be in the name of the temple.
The claim that the Temple envoy believed the official had made a lot of money in the Western Continent and therefore had to pay six million taels of silver is pure self-deception. If the Temple came to Great Xia to negotiate an alliance, would they dare to ask for six million taels from a Great Xia lord without the Emperor's approval?
It's only been a little over two years since the goods from the Dayuan were sold to Xizhou. Whether they've even made six million taels is another matter! Would the people in the Holy Temple dare to open their mouths so wide? It's clearly Emperor Zhaowu, the traitor, stirring up trouble inside.
"Your Majesty! The goods from Dayuan are not sold directly to Xizhou. They are handed over to Xizhou merchants in the Red Sea. They don't even earn a few million taels a year. Yet the temple wants six million taels. Which bastard taught them to ask for such exorbitant prices?"
The veins on Emperor Zhaowu's forehead throbbed with excitement; he had never been insulted so openly before.
"Qin Mo, when your business in Daxia first started, it wasn't this big, was it? But in just a few years, haha, I don't even know how much money you're making in a year?"
"What the hell is it to you how much money I make? Just watch what's in your own bowl, you insatiable wretch!" Qin Mo cursed Emperor Zhaowu's ancestors for three generations in his mind. He couldn't curse eighteen generations, because that might get him involved.
He knew that Emperor Zhaowu was threatening him; as the emperor, he could cut off the official's source of income within the Great Xia territory at any time.
"Hehe! It's just a small business, nothing to brag about."
Qin Mo chuckled, then pretended to be mute, ignoring Emperor Zhaowu's spittle flying from his dragon throne for most of the day.
"Hmph! My beloved ministers, hurry back and prepare. You must arrive at Tongguan and assemble by the beginning of summer!"
"Court adjourned...!"
Emperor Zhaowu put on a one-man show for half a day, and finally got up and left with a long face. He had basically achieved his expectations for today's grand court assembly, with only Qin Mo as the minor flaw. He believed that Qin Mo would soon give in.
The Ministry of Revenue had gathered a large number of mathematical talents to conduct a detailed calculation of Qin Mo's business in Daxia and came to a rough conclusion. This rough conclusion surprised everyone. Emperor Zhaowu believed that Qin Mo would never give up such a large profit.
After Qin Mo left the main hall, she also had a long face, which made Prince Yan, Qin Mu, curse: "It's just a little business! Your father was dirt poor back then, but he didn't lose the prestige of the royal family. What are you afraid of?"
"I'm scared? Uncle, you'll soon find out whether I'm scared or not. Just so you know, don't try to break up the fight later!"
"...Who are you going to fight, kid?"
"The Temple's grandson!"
"Well, I'm going out of town for a horse ride. Do as you please. Tell your sworn brother not to cause any deaths!"
The frustration in King Qin Mu's heart dissipated considerably. He put his hands behind his back and walked away like an ordinary old man, with an attitude of indifference.
Qin Mo returned to her residence and summoned Aiya, giving her instructions one by one.
"Tell the family to immediately cease all business dealings with the Imperial Family!"
"Notify the owners of those workshops not to invest too much goods or money on credit within the Great Xia territory in the near future, in case of unforeseen circumstances!"
"Gain Lin Yongqian's trust and tell him to intensify his efforts to expand business in India and along the Red Sea coast. If necessary, we can use force to support him. We, the high-ranking officials, need markets to dump our goods!"
Having studied modern political economy, Qin Mo wasn't afraid of Emperor Zhaowu's threats. After all, in business, the demand relationship between the two parties determines who has the upper hand. Dayuan goods have always been a seller's market. If Emperor Zhaowu really wanted to ban the sale of Dayuan goods within the Great Xia territory, then the most upset wouldn't be the workshop owners of Dayuan. Qin Mo just needed to make some preparations in advance.
"Allen, a few guys have their eyes on our stuff. Why don't you go and test the Elven race's secret techniques with them?"
"My sword... has been thirsting for blood for a long time!"
Elder Charles had been in the capital of the Great Xia Empire for some time now, and his initial shock at seeing this enormous city had subsided. He even believed that he had seen through the true nature of this outwardly humble but inwardly stubborn people.
The officials of the Honglu Temple of Great Xia treated him with great respect, taking good care of his food, clothing, and lodging. You see, back in the Temple, Charles was known for his enjoyment of life, but here he realized that the people of Great Xia had a far greater understanding of life than he did.
The capital of Bactria was several times larger than Rome, and its population was even greater, but... the people of Bactria were really not united at all.
In the Western Continent, there are various conflicts and grudges among the king, nobles, and temples, and they often dig pits and trip each other up behind the scenes. But compared to the officials of the Great Xia, they are really lacking.
When the attendant beside the Emperor of Great Xia hinted that he could use the threat of threatening the sales of Da Yuan goods in Xizhou to demand a benefit of up to six million taels of silver, he didn't know how to respond.
Because he felt at the time that it was a trap, and that the Great Xia people were likely using the temple to suppress Prince Heng, who had a close relationship with Heatherine.
Charles touched his neck at the thought of Heatherine; the experience of being choked by her in public was a nightmare he had spent countless nights trying to shake off.
But his nightmare was destined to continue, because even though he knew that the Great Xia imperial family was likely using him to suppress Qin Mo, he still made that tempting request to Great Xia in the form of an official document.
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