Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5174 Super Broker
"Goguryeo people? Were they engaged in the slave trade?"

Li Jinxing was a little surprised. He was just a naval lieutenant before, not even a middle-level officer. He had no idea about those things that only high-level generals knew.

But how did Li Yifu know this?

No wonder the Marshal suppressed this guy before. He is indeed not a good person...

Li Yifu shook his head. "A group of slaves from a fallen country are just trying to survive. How can they control such a profitable business? The real buyers are the mines, workshops, and industries of the aristocratic families, and the one who is running around and connecting them is Jin Renwen."

Jinren asked?

"Kim Chunchu's son, Kim Beommin's brother, Queen Seondeok's nephew, and Princess Jindeok's cousin."

"..."

Li Jinxing widened his eyes.

Li Yifu nodded: "Yes, whether it is the Goguryeo people or the Buyeo people, the supporter behind them is Jin Renwen, and Jin Renwen is also a collaborator of many aristocratic families in the slave trade... Only with his background can he do this. The Yu family in Luoyang once wanted to get involved in the slave trade, but they were almost confiscated by Madam Wu."

Behind Kim In-mun are his aunts Queen Seondeok and Princess Jindeok. Princess Jindeok married into the Fang family as a concubine, while Queen Seondeok submitted to the Tang Dynasty and lived in Chang'an for a long time. Everyone knows that she is Fang Jun's confidante. Both the queen and the princess of the Jin royal family are devoted to Fang Jun, which shows how strong Kim In-mun's foundation is.

However, Li Jinxing was still puzzled: "The Marshal is the richest man in the world, how could he be interested in such a filthy business?"

No matter how profitable the slave trade is, it is ultimately an unscrupulous act. Given Fang Jun's status, power, and character, how could he do such a thing?

Li Yifu explained: "The Duke of Yue naturally would not take the money, but he took an indulgent attitude towards this kind of trade and did not care about it."

"Why?"

Li Jinxing looked confused. He was good at charging into battle and deploying troops, but such political means were not his forte.

"Let me ask you, why did Emperor Yang of Sui devote all his national strength to the three expeditions to Goguryeo, even though he caused the wrath of heaven and the people's resentment and the people's livelihood was in dire straits? Although Emperor Yang of Sui was stupid and cruel, Emperor Taizong was so wise and powerful, but he still vowed to destroy Goguryeo?"

"Goguryeo has become a powerful force, occupying Liaodong and growing in power. It has become a huge threat to the empire's borders. If we fail to destroy it, it will sooner or later become a major concern. We must defeat it and incorporate it into our territory before it has the energy to invade the Tang Dynasty."

"That's exactly the point! But the threat is not just to Goguryeo, Japan is also a potential danger!"

Li Jinxing expressed reservations: "Goguryeo has a vast territory, a large population, and a well-trained army with sufficient food. It may threaten the empire, but Wa is just an island with a small land area and few people. How can it threaten the empire?"

"Haha, before the Sui Dynasty, when did Goguryeo threaten the Central Plains Empire? Although Japan is weak today, how can we know that it will not rise one day? It is the worst policy to expend huge resources to annihilate it when the time comes. It is the best policy to prevent it before it happens. However, Japan is a barren land and far away overseas. Apart from a few minerals, it has nothing to offer. It is useless for the Empire to take it, and it will cost military expenses to defend it. It is unwise to occupy the country."

"So we should just indulge those defeated and ruined Goguryeo and Buyeo people, and let them go to Japan to plunder slaves and sell them all over the world, destroying their bloodline and cutting off their descendants!"

Li Jinxing suddenly realized and couldn't help shuddering. Isn't this too cruel?
Li Yifu disagreed. In his opinion, this person was too self-righteous and indecisive. Why should he care so much about his reputation when dealing with those barbarians? He could just send troops to kill them all.

"What does the General think of Iyo Island?"

Li Jinxing thought about it carefully and nodded, "It's very suitable."

Li Yifu said: "Then I will send someone to contact Jin Renwen. He happens to be in Huating Town. Let him handle this matter."

……

That night, Jin Renwen visited the couple's residence.

The candlelight illuminated the main hall brightly. Jin Renwen was wearing a round-necked long gown and a fu hat. Although he was a member of the Silla royal family, his manners, accent and tone were no different from those of the Tang people. He had a handsome face, elegant demeanor, and a humble, gentle expression with an excellent temperament.

After greeting each other and sitting down, Jin Renwen asked with a smile: "Brother Li said he had something important to discuss with me. I wonder what it is? You also know that my identity is a bit sensitive. I will help if I can, but if I really can't help, don't embarrass me."

Straight to the point, seems very straightforward.

Li Yifu and Li Jinxing looked at each other, then whispered the details of the incident...

Jin Ren asked with a raised eyebrow: "Are you working for Madam Wu?"

"Exactly!"

"Iyoshima?"

"good."

Jin Renwen pinched his chin and thought for a while, then said, "It's indeed a good place, very suitable."

Li Yifu was looking forward to it: "Then you see this matter..."

Jin Renwen thought about it carefully for a while and said, "It's not difficult, but the procedure is too complicated and requires a lot of effort."

Li Yifu immediately asked, "What do you want?"

Price is always negotiable.

Unexpectedly, Jin Renwen waved his hand, looking slightly displeased: "Since I am working for Madam Wu, I would be happy if I could help, so how can I ask for benefits?"

After a pause, he said, "First, we need to contact the Goguryeo or Buyeo people to go to Iyo Island to burn, kill and plunder... Let the Buyeo people go, the Goguryeo people are stupid and stubborn, and it is not easy to manipulate... Secondly, we need to let the Japanese on the island ask for help from the navy. Thirdly, the navy must send troops to help the Japanese expel the Buyeo people who have entered the island. Then, General Li and Brother Li must go. Next, we even have to negotiate with the Japanese to seek Iyo Island... Although it is troublesome, it is not difficult."

Next, the two sides agreed on some details. Jin Renwen asked them to wait for news and then said goodbye and left.

Li Jinxing was surprised: "How can this person be so capable?"

The Buyeo people, the Japanese, the navy... are all within his plan, and this can only be accomplished if all parties cooperate and proceed according to the plan.

Li Yifu said: "Of course he has abilities, but the reason why he is so successful in this industry, apart from his background, is more importantly because all parties need such a trustworthy person to connect them."

As the Tang Dynasty continued to expand, various fields such as economy and military experienced unprecedented progress. Even iron smelting and mining had been upgraded, and the number of slaves needed was almost astronomical.

No one dared to send Tang people to do the hardest, most tiring and even life-threatening work. Moreover, even if there were Tang people willing to do it, the remuneration would be a huge expense. How could it be better to buy some slaves to do the work?

Eat less, work more, and don’t need to be paid…

But the slave trade is, after all, an outrageous thing. Those aristocratic families who always talk about benevolence and morality would certainly not want it to be made public and known to everyone.

Li Jinxing nodded to show that he understood.

In fact, the entire Tang Dynasty is now in a stage of rapid development. Those aristocratic families that have suffered heavy losses are desperately investing in infrastructure, mining, iron smelting, weaving, etc., in order to gain profits and make up for their previous losses.

As for the flesh, blood and bones of those foreign slaves, no one cares because... the country benefits from it.

As for why Jin Renwen didn't take the money, Li Jinxing knew it very well.

Jin Renwen's background is the Jin royal family. Now Silla has long been annexed by the Tang Dynasty, and the Jin royal family has long become a thing of the past. Everything depends on the two outstanding women in the royal family - Queen Seondeok and Princess Jindeok.

The reason why these two people are able to maintain a strong influence is that they are all committed to Fang Jun.

But a mistress and a concubine are lacking in status and morality. If Jin Renwen can use this to please Madam Wu, everyone will be happy.

So Li Yifu didn't just find anyone to do this. Jin Renwen was a "super broker" in the navy...

……

Ten days later, a letter from Liu Renyuan, the governor of Japan, was delivered to Su Ding's plan.

Su Dingfang unfolded the document and read it carefully, his gray eyebrows furrowed. Buyeo Sheng, the remnant of Buyeo, led more than a thousand retainers across the sea to Iyo Island, where they burned, killed and looted, causing heavy casualties to the Japanese and ruining their homes...

He stood up and walked to the wall. He found the one of Japan among more than ten hanging nautical charts. He looked at it carefully and understood everything.

Today, the war continues on the main island of Japan. The Ainu people are invading from the north to the south, and are defeating the Japanese step by step. Most of the main island has fallen. Fortunately, with the help of the Tang Dynasty, the Japanese have been able to hold on to the territory east of Asuka Kyo.

However, on Chikushi Island and the easternmost part of the main island of Japan, the Goguryeo and Buyeo people, who had just fallen, crossed the sea and landed, burned cities, captured people, and looted food. The Japanese people in the area were so miserable that many of them crossed the sea by boat and rushed to Iyo Island.

Now someone is planning to go to Iyo Island...

"Governor, Jin Renwen is outside seeking to see you."

Jinren asked?

Su Dingfang was stunned.

Of course he knew this person. The reason why there was such a commotion in Chikushi Province and the Japanese were complaining so much was because this person was the man behind the scenes, and he also controlled the largest slave trade in secret.

He didn't want to see this person, but he had to.

After all, this is the person who calls the Marshal "Uncle"...

Soon, Jin Renwen walked in quickly, bowed from a distance, and was very respectful. He did not show any arrogance as if he was relying on Fang Jun, which made Su Dingfang feel much more comfortable.

The two of them sat down, and Su Dingfang asked, "Your Highness is a rare guest, but I wonder what advice you have for me?"

Jin Renwen smiled bitterly and said, "As a man of a fallen country, I am lucky to be blessed by my elders and survive. I can do some work to make a living under the care of my elders. What's the point of talking about being a 'crown prince'? It's really embarrassing for me!"

Su Dingfang listened to his words and understood his intention: "If you have any difficulties, you may as well speak frankly."

Jin Renwen then whispered something...

Su Dingfang suddenly realized: "How difficult is this? I will have someone draft a military order and execute it immediately."

Although Madam Wu's consistent performance can be described as "not inferior to men", she is still a beautiful girl after all. It is normal for her to have some little thoughts in her heart. It won't hurt to help her out.