Zhenguan: I, Dou Fengjie, will not be the first cuckold.

Chapter 83 Li Tai, the Shepherd

The Duke of Zan's Mansion.

While enjoying the tea soup made from Shuzhou Tuancha, Dou Fengjie watched with great interest as Kavad and Ibn fought like cockfighting roosters.

The hostile atmosphere between the two sides has already taken hold; the fact that they can avoid a fight when they meet is already a testament to their good manners.

Their customs, power, beliefs, and interests are all in conflict. If they were to meet in the desert, one side would likely be wiped out.

Dou Fengjie was too lazy to speak. He lined up ten one-carat synthetic diamonds and then slowly ate the tea soup prepared by Dou happy.

Dou Xi's tea-making skills still have a lot of room for improvement, but Dou Fengjie feels at ease eating the tea soup he and Dou Shang brew.

"May Allah bless you! Your Majesty the King of Zan, your faithful Arab friend Ibn is willing to serve you."

Ibn bowed with his hand on his chest, his manners instilled by the ongoing compilation of the Quran, yet he exuded a subtle fierceness and extraordinary confidence.

This is the benefit that a rising nation brings to its people; that kind of spirit and energy is something that people of declining nations cannot possess.

"I want the Arab world to promise that, no matter what the situation, it will not obstruct the Silk Road."

"I need a large herd of horses, and they must be stallions; castrated ones are not acceptable."

"I want the Abbasid Caliphate to promise to be inclusive of the people of the Tang Dynasty with different faiths and to actively seek their help when they are in danger."

Dou Fengjie put forward his own requirements.

Even after the Suez Canal was opened multiple times, the route remained within the sphere of influence of the Abbasid Caliphate.

In this era, the Arab world was an essential passage for exchanges between East and West, and Dou Fengjie's words were also a precautionary measure.

Dou Fengjie was quite envious of the fine, large-horse horses. Wouldn't it be a good thing if the coarse and fine horses of Longyou could be improved?

Protecting its citizens who were away from home was also a responsibility that the Tang Dynasty should fulfill.

After careful consideration, Ibn replied solemnly, "The Duke of Zan has the world in his heart, and I believe that the Abbasid Caliphate is also willing to become a friendly neighbor with the Tang Dynasty."

Fifty large synthetic diamonds are quite valuable and easy to carry. If Ibn didn't do this deal, he wouldn't be a profit-driven Arab.

Kavad glared angrily upon hearing this. Did Ibn's last words mean that the Abbasid Caliphate was going to annex Persia?

However, disregarding his pride, Kavad clasped his hands and said, "Your Excellency, Duke Zan, Kavad of Persia is willing to do anything for you."

Of course, Kavad's abilities were limited; even if he were asked to betray Persia, he wouldn't have the capacity.

Dou Fengjie's words were also concise: "We need to find a large quantity of wrought iron, as we will need it for a long time."

"Bring over swordsmiths from Damascus, doctors from Persia, and all sorts of medicinal herbs that are unavailable in the Tang Dynasty as soon as possible."

If it were any later, the aging Persians might be destroyed by the vigorous Abbasid Caliphate.

This cannot be said; Kavad must experience it for himself.

These merchants, who travel far and wide year-round, are able to judge whether a country is in danger of collapse.

After pouring another bowl of tea, Dou Fengjie looked at the three people present seriously and said, "There is one more rule: while serving me, none of you three are allowed to attack each other."

If they hadn't been reminded of that, who knows what might have happened to them on their journey west.

Otherwise, why would each caravan hire so many guards?

Besides preventing raids from kingdoms like Gaochang, they wouldn't mind acting as predators themselves when the time is right.

Few merchants who travel far and wide have no blood on their hands.

As Master Ma once said, every copper coin a merchant possesses is stained with blood.

There's a saying: "If business is slow for three days, even relatives will kill each other."

The procedures for mortgaging the house were handled by the steward Dou happy, who led them to register in Chang'an County. With the help of Ju Lu from Weishan in Chang'an, the procedures were completed very quickly.

What would take someone else two days to complete the procedures, was finished in half an hour. Shan Julu even helped review the process.

However, the taxes that were due were paid in full.

After all, the government is also counting on these miscellaneous items to improve welfare to some extent.

"Uncle, Qingque is here!"

With the door wide open, Li Tai, who had lost a little weight, swayed his fat buttocks with a smug air.

According to Dou Fengjie's instructions, Li Tai suffered for several days and his spirits improved considerably.

Behind them, Jiang Yaqing, the military advisor of the Yue King's Mansion, led his entourage and staff, laughing and crying as they drove large carts carrying intact Buddha statues, some missing arms and legs, into the mansion and unloaded them in the courtyard.

"Good heavens! You've looted a Buddhist temple!"

Dou Fengjie couldn't help but sigh.

Li Tai is a smart guy; his reputation isn't just for show. He's already figured out Dou Fengjie's quirks.

Ordinary gold, silver, jewelry, silk, and valuables held little appeal for Dou Fengjie. He was currently unable to indulge in wine and women, so only items with distinctive characteristics of the era could please him.

"Hehe, it's not a robbery. This is an abandoned Buddha statue from Wulou Temple in Jinchangfang. It's ownerless. I just thought my uncle might like this kind of thing."

Wulou Temple was built during the Sui Dynasty and has been abandoned in the present dynasty.

According to the original timeline, it was later rebuilt into the Da Ci'en Temple, where the "rotten and cowardly Big Wild Goose Pagoda" in the locals' mouths was built.

Even if it's abandoned, commoners might go in and try to get something for nothing, but they really wouldn't dare touch the Buddha statues.

After all, who knows when the authorities might settle scores later!

Given Li Tai's triple identity, no one dared to utter a sound when he entered Wulou Temple and carried away the Buddha statue. In the Jinchangfang area, even the Left Guard, the Right Guard, and the Martial Guard had to help him.

Because one of Li Tai's identities is that of the Left Guard General!

Li Tai refused to settle accounts with Dou Fengjie using copper coins, after all, money was truly vulgar.

Giving these discarded Buddha statues to Dou Fengjie would be a win-win situation.

Haha, I am truly a genius!

One by one, the Buddha statues were unloaded and placed in the courtyard. In many places, the gold paint peeled off, revealing the copper and clay bodies.

Vaishravana has lost his umbrella, Titrata has lost his lute, and Virupaksha only has half a dragon in his hand.

Dou Fengjie smiled and handed over a box. Li Tai opened it, glanced at it, and was immediately stunned.

Two one-carat synthetic diamonds, one three-carat synthetic diamond, and one five-carat synthetic diamond refracted brilliant colored light under the sunlight.

Li Tai had never seen a diamond so beautiful and exquisite that he was completely mesmerized.

After closing the box, Li Tai was so excited that he couldn't speak.

My uncle really thought of everything for me!

The largest one is to be given to the mother, the middle one to the princess, and the two smaller ones to the two ladies-in-waiting. Perfect!

The chubby boy's eyes gleamed with excitement: "Uncle, is this stuff like cedarwood perfume?"

The biggest problem is whether it can be supplied in bulk.

As for Buddha statues, hehe, there's still the abandoned Zhengjue Temple in Chongyifang, where you can still get some freebies!

Dou Fengjie laughed: "It can be, but its greatest use is not decoration, but cutting."

For example, cutting glass or other objects.

Li Tai, with his hands behind his back and his belly protruding, paced back and forth a few times, a smug look on his face: "Uncle, you don't understand. My princess comes from the Wang family of Taiyuan, and one of the pillar industries of the Wang family of Taiyuan is glass."

What a coincidence?

Dou Fengjie gave Li Tai a look that said, "I have as many as you want."

The supply of synthetic diamonds in the WEY system is unlimited.