Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 4715 Drawing fire from the bottom of the cauldron
Seeing that Lekum had a good attitude, Xi Junmai's expression eased a little. "Second, in order to facilitate trade with Luzon, the Tang Dynasty needs a good port for transporting goods and docking ships, but you simply cannot build a large port, so the Tang Dynasty paid to buy a piece of land in Luzon to build its own port, located in Lingayen Gulf."

The three chiefs present were not sure whether the Tang Dynasty needed to trade with Luzon, but they knew that Luzon needed to trade with the Tang Dynasty.

Anyone who has seen the silk, porcelain, glass, fine wine and other luxury goods shipped from the Tang Dynasty would be able to refuse to trade with that country. If these things were gone one day, it is unimaginable what dark times that would be.

They are chieftains. The whole clan supports one person. Naturally, they want the best enjoyment. If they cannot enjoy the best things in the world, how can they show their dignity? What is the meaning of life?
Besides, the gold and rice that the Tang Dynasty transported from Luzon were exchanged at equal value, not robbed.

The most important thing is that the three major tribes are still in a relatively primitive stage. They have no concept of "country" and naturally no awareness of "territory". They have been fighting each other for thousands of years, and the land controlled by each other has been constantly changing. It may belong to you today and to me tomorrow. What's so great about giving a piece of land to the Tang Dynasty?

What's more, they are "buying" it, so how much money they pay is not the problem at all. What everyone wants is this "respect"...

The three chiefs looked at each other and agreed without even discussing the price, saying, "No problem."

To show his submission, Lekum added: "When you need manpower, just ask. Any number of people will do. You don't need to pay wages, just provide food."

The other two chiefs felt very regretful that such a good opportunity was snatched away by Lekum, and they said unhappily that they could do the same.

Xi Junmai said: "Third, there are many giant trees in the mountains along the Lingayen Bay to the north. The 'Eastern Tang Company' intends to lease these mountains and forests for logging. It will pay some fees, but during the lease period, the Tang Dynasty will exercise sovereignty over this area, and you have no right to interfere."

The three chiefs did not agree readily this time, not because they dared to reject the Tang Dynasty, but because they were a little confused.

They all knew that there were countless towering trees in those mountains and forests, but could wood also be sold for money? Those were mountains and forests that had existed since the beginning of the world, and had been left to fend for themselves for millions of years. Sometimes a forest fire would burn them all down, and they would grow again a hundred years later... How could something that they had never even looked at be sold for money?
Lekum asked tentatively: "Of course there is no problem with leasing the forest. You can rent it for as many years as you want, and it doesn't matter if you pay or not... But those giant trees are all over Luzon Island. Since the Tang Dynasty needs them, can we also mine them somewhere else and then sell them to the Tang Dynasty?"

Xi Junmai said happily: "Of course! As long as the level is qualified, I will take as many Tang as I can."

With the influx of huge wealth into the Tang Dynasty today, large-scale construction is being carried out all over the country, resulting in over-logging of forests. Many forests that have grown for hundreds or thousands of years have been cut down. Although there are also giant trees in Shuzhong, Lingnan and other places, they are inconvenient to transport and are far less cheap and quick than those purchased from overseas.

The shortage is huge and demand exceeds supply.

The three chiefs were very happy, as this was a way to make money very quickly.

Once everything is settled, sign the contract immediately.

Xi Junmai signed the document on behalf of the Tang Dynasty and felt relieved.

……

After sending the three chiefs away, Yang Zhou asked in confusion: "It's just a barbarian land. They dare not resist if we occupy it. Why spend money to buy a piece of land? And they signed a contract in a serious manner. It's unnecessary. Now that the Tang Dynasty is strong, they dare not say much if we occupy their land. If the Tang Dynasty declines in the future and doesn't care about the overseas land, they will break their promise even if there is a contract here."

The money was not much, just a few thousand strings of cash for silk, porcelain, and glass, but he thought it was completely unnecessary.

Xi Junmai drank a sip of water and patiently explained: "The world's situation has ups and downs, and the Tang Dynasty is bound to have a time when its national strength is declining and it can no longer care about its overseas lands. Now these overseas lands may be occupied by local indigenous peoples and the contracts will be torn up... But when the Tang Dynasty prospers again, how can we get these lands back? Our Tang Dynasty is located in the center of the world and is a country of etiquette. Everything must be justified."

Yang Zhou suddenly realized: "Like Annan and Champa?"

When General Fubo suppressed the "Er Zheng Uprising", he erected a bronze pillar as the boundary. There was an inscription on the pillar: "The bronze pillar broke, Jiaozhi was destroyed". After that, the Yue people threw tiles and stones at it whenever they passed by, and it turned into a hill.

When the navy was sent to Annan, the slogan was "Annan has been the land of China since ancient times". This was because of the bronze pillar buried by General Fubo, which was recorded in history and the Yue people could not deny, so the navy had a legitimate reason to go out.

The same is true in Luzon. As long as the purchase of the land is recorded in history and marked by landmarks, there is no need to worry about it being occupied by local indigenous people.

As long as the country becomes strong in the future and the army comes across the ocean, the sentence "This is the territory of Tang since ancient times" will make the army justifiable and legitimate.

Yang Zhou was convinced: "No wonder the navy's favorite thing to do wherever they go is to erect stones and carve inscriptions, and they don't even miss an island or a reef in the South China Sea. Even if they lose this place for various reasons in the future, when they have the power to take it back, they can justify it with the phrase 'since ancient times'! This is foresight and amazing!"

Xi Junmai laughed loudly: "This is the strict order issued by the Duke of Yue when he founded the navy. The navy is following it. We must not only expand our territory, but also carve words and stamp seals on these lands, so that they will belong to the Han territory forever!"

Yang Zhou exclaimed: "Duke Yue is a master of strategy and his contributions will last for generations. He is a hero of the time!"

The two men praised Fang Jun for a while, and then the guards came to report that Lekum wanted to see him...

Yang Zhou was surprised and asked, "This guy left and came back. Could it be that he regretted his decision?"

Xi Junmai was full of dominance: "He dares?! If he changes his mind tonight, this time next year will be the day of death for all his 'Tagalogs'!"

Do you really think that Tang people don’t kill people?!

"Let him in!"

"Here!"

The guards turned and went out, and a moment later, Lekum and the translator came back in.

Xi Junmai and Yang Zhou were sitting on chairs. The latter was drinking tea, while the former asked, "Why did you leave and come back?"

Lekum smiled humbly and said, "I have a suggestion."

The translator quietly translated...

Xi Junmai asked curiously, "What suggestions could you not say just now, but are you saying now?"

Lekum rubbed his hands and said with a smile: "As far as I know, the most urgent material in your country is actually rice, is that right?"

Xi Junmai narrowed his eyes and said in a dignified manner: "What do you want to do? Do you want to raise the price of rice?"

"No, no, no, how dare I do that!"

Lekum was shocked. If the Tang general in front of him misunderstood that he was taking the opportunity to blackmail him, would he still have the head?

He said quickly, "My suggestion is about rice. Although Luzon has a mild climate and abundant rainfall, which is very suitable for rice growth, there are actually many mountains and deep forests on the island, and there are not many places suitable for growing rice... It just so happens that the narrow strip of land from here to the north to Lingayen Gulf is all plains, with dense rivers and flat terrain. It is the place on the island where the most rice is grown. Whether the Tang Dynasty buys or rents it, why not grow rice here? That's much better than buying rice!"

"Ok?"

Xi Junmai was slightly stunned, and then he called to his personal guards: "Bring the map."

The personal soldiers quickly went to the barracks nearby to get out the map of Luzon, then came back to unfold it and hang it on the wall. Xi Junmai and Yang Zhou stood up to take a closer look, and Lekum also leaned in to take a closer look. When he saw it, his eyes almost popped out.

This, this, this... is actually a map of Luzon Island? !
With my understanding of Luzon's topography and landforms, and verifying it with the map in front of me, I immediately concluded that this was the map of the entire island of Luzon.

Oh, the almighty Batala!
How can this be? !
We have lived on Luzon Island for generations and have never had any detailed records. The Tang people have only been here for a few days, but they have even drawn a map?

Lekum's sweat dripped down, and his fear of the Tang people was beyond words. Such a powerful country was simply invincible. Whoever dared to be the enemy of the Tang Dynasty would bring about his own destruction.

Too powerful, too terrifying...

Swallowing his saliva, Lekum pointed to the narrow flat area extending from Manila Bay to Lingayen Gulf in the north and said, "General, please look, this is the flattest area in the entire Luzon Island, and it is most suitable for growing rice. If you are short of labor, you can hire the Ilo people. They have been growing rice for generations and are experienced. They are the best farmers. As long as you don't starve to death, you don't need to pay them money."

Xi Junmai and Yang Zhou looked at each other and saw the smile in each other's eyes. A savage is a savage, and his self-righteous cleverness was seen through by the two at a glance.

Although living on the same land, the tribes are mortal enemies of each other. After all, the living space is limited. You have more and I have less, so it is inevitable that they will attack each other for land.

The Tang people's urgent need for large quantities of rice made Lekum realize the great danger, because only the "Ilo people" were better at farming. Once a huge amount of rice trade occurred between the two, the "Tagalogs" might be kicked out, and the "Ilo people" who successfully attached themselves to the Tang people would most likely increase their strength. As a result of the decline of one and the other, if they went to war with the "Tagalogs", what could the "Tagalogs" use to resist?
Therefore, Lekum used this trick of "cutting off the firewood from under the pot", instigating the Tang army to directly occupy this piece of land that was most suitable for growing rice. This was the place where the "Ilo people" had been cultivating for generations. Conflicts were bound to break out between the two sides. Regardless of whether the "Ilo people" eventually surrendered to the Tang army or were exterminated by the Tang army, the biggest threat posed by the "Tagalogs" would be eliminated.

This savage's calculations were clattering loudly.

But how could Xi Junmai let him have his way? The Tang Dynasty’s overseas policy was never to eliminate anyone, but to support some and suppress others, to achieve regional balance, so that all parties had to rely on the support of the Tang Dynasty to survive.

Xi Junmai smiled and ordered the guards outside the door: "Send someone to invite the chief of the Yiluo people and tell him that there is something important to discuss."

"Yes." The guards outside the door received the order and left.

Lekum's face changed drastically. He opened his mouth and said with a smile, "This... that... I will take my leave for now. I won't delay the general from handling important matters."

As long as he was not present, he could explain to the "Yiluo people" afterwards that this was actually a conspiracy of the Tang people to sow discord. But if he was confronted face to face, he would not be able to quibble, and the "Yiluo people" would hate him to death, wouldn't they?

Xi Junmai smiled and said, "Since the chief has offered such a brilliant strategy, he is a hero of the Tang Dynasty. There is no need to hide anything from you. Let's discuss this matter in front of the chief of the Yiluo people. The Tang Dynasty has always advocated common development and sharing of benefits. We must not let any party suffer losses."

Lekum forced a smile with a bitter face, and cursed Xi Junmai's ancestors in his heart.

He realized that his plan had been discovered. He had originally wanted to kill the "Yiluo people" by borrowing a knife to get rid of their archenemy, but now he was pushed into a situation where he was directly confronted by the "Yiluo people". The Tang people were too cunning...