Chapter 952: 953Two different options
Chapter 952 953 Two different choices
In fact, the pattern of Qin’s seemingly good southward strategy only began to take shape in the past two or three years. The situation before was completely different, and Qin's strategy of going south did not exist at all.
First of all, Qin and Shu are both slave states of the Great China Empire. If these two countries attack each other, they must be under the control of the Great China Empire. In terms of overall national strength, the Great China Empire crushed Qin and Shu.
Even in modern times, the power of the Great China Empire has begun to decline, but it is still the largest country in the region. Whether it is Shu or Qin, no matter which of these two countries, it is impossible for any of these two countries to go to war against the pressure of the Great China Empire. .
Because the Great China Empire can influence the outcome as long as it sides with the country being attacked, Qin did not have the conditions to declare war on Shu before.
On the other side, there was no sudden emergence of the Tang Empire, and there were not so many big interest disputes between Qin and Shu.
Previously, there was no benefit from Qin's attack on Shu. Apart from getting land, the benefits were pitiful.
The Qin State's attack on the northern part of the Shu Kingdom virtually increased the border area with the Orc Empire and the Great China Empire. This was not a good thing at all. It was just a waste of national power and increased the length of its own defense line.
Then what? After paying so much, what Qin could gain in addition was the convenience of exporting to Chu.
Are you kidding me? The **** economy before Chu State, let alone buying things from Qin State, will collapse once in a few years if you play by yourself...
As for exporting it to Zheng or Qi, don’t make trouble. Wouldn’t it be better to go directly to the Dahua Empire? Why go to Chu State and go over the mountains and ridges for a circuit?
At that time, everyone was a vassal state of the Great China Empire. It was more convenient for caravans to go through the Great China Empire. Apart from being exploited, there were no problems.
After all, the roads were not smooth, the total trade volume was limited, and the goods were of a single type. The kings and senior officials of each country did not take it to heart at all.
It's different now. Most of Qin's exports are exported to the Tang Dynasty. The civil strife in the Great China Empire directly affected Qin's exports. This was a situation that had not been encountered in the past.
In fact, when the Tang Empire rose, the Qin State had already begun to study the so-called "southern detour" strategy to conquer Shu.
It's just that the economic conditions were not good before, the weapons and equipment were backward, and the Great China Empire had not completely declined, so it was not easy to implement it immediately.
Another reason is that the rise of the Tang Empire was so fast that the pattern was already taking shape before Qin was ready to go to war with Shu.
With the development of the Qin State in recent years, the conditions have naturally become more and more mature: now the Qin State's national strength is not bad, and its military force is also very strong. Everyone in the Qin State believes that as long as the Tang Empire nods and agrees, and the Qin State launches a war against the Shu State, the victory will definitely be guaranteed by catching snails with three fingers!
"Your Majesty, now the question is on our side. If we allow Qin to expand, how can our interests be guaranteed for Shu?" Nangong Hong relayed the Qin envoy's request and looked at Tang Mo who said nothing. Then he looked at Prime Minister Roger beside him.
Frankly speaking, Tang Mo's political vision is actually not as good as Nangong Hong's. His limited experience in international relations is either what he summed up when he was selling arms in his previous life, or what he has learned and sold in this life.
Roger was even more helpless. He was just a partner in a blacksmith shop. His success today was all because of Tang Mo's ability to stand in line. His loyalty was absolutely useless, and his ability could only be said to be average. .
So what’s interesting is that the emperor and the prime minister of the most powerful empire in the world are not from a professional background. To put it bluntly, they are just two amateurs.
"If we acquiesce to Qin's expansion, it will be equivalent to giving up the trade of the Western Continent, and everything will be reshuffled..." Tang Mo was silent for a long time, but still expressed his views on the part he was most familiar with.
Nangonghong also knew that he should add something. After all, in Bunas, Tang Mo even formulated the westward development strategy with the help of Nangonghong.
He has not even considered Roger as Prime Minister. Now some officials even privately call Roger the Prime Minister "Minister of Agriculture."
This imperial prime minister is not strong at all, he is not very professional, and he has not made any achievements in national policy. He can only focus on agricultural production and supervise substantive work such as water power, bridges, and railways.
Basically, the ministers of various departments below him can do the things he handles, so the prime minister's only use is just a totem, the kind of mascot that attracts loyalty.
Actually, there is no way around this. It is unrealistic to expect a partner of an old blacksmith shop to be very wise and powerful. The reason why Tang Mo reused Roger was not because of his ability, but because of his loyalty.
Nangonghong, the temporary foreign minister, is actually more suitable for the position of imperial prime minister than Roger. Unfortunately, after seeing the Ministry of Internal Affairs remove all officials who talked about the prime minister in private, Nangong Hong knew that unless Roger died, he would never be able to reach the threshold of the prime minister in his life.
So, he thought for a few seconds and said: "The loss is certain. The slave trade will affect our construction speed. The rise in oil prices, food and cotton will be affected." It's not that their two countries don't use oil, but that the Tang Empire purchased too much.
Ever since the establishment of the Southern Oilfield and the import of oil from the Chu State, the Tang Empire has never allowed the Longdao Oilfield to increase production.
Even after transforming the southern oil fields, the Tang Empire did not allow the southern oil fields to reach full production capacity - Tang Mo was consciously consuming foreign oil production capacity, and at the same time using this method to feed back the poor economies of Qin and the Great China Empire.
This has directly raised international oil prices, making life much easier for these oil exporting countries. Of course, it also allows these countries to be braver in spending their Tang Dynasty gold and dollar reserves.
So as long as the war in the Western Continent escalates, the price of oil in the Tang Empire will definitely rise. Food, cotton, and slaves will also be affected.
Relatively safe are the steel produced by the Tang Empire itself and the large amounts of rubber produced by Chu and the southern part of Shu.
“Is there any solution?” Tang Mo asked Nangong Hong directly.
"In fact, it doesn't have much impact on us, so what your Majesty needs to consider is whether you are willing to let Qin grow bigger." Nangonghong replied: "According to my speculation, Qin will only be able to capture the northern part of Shu at most. It just takes a few months.”
"The Great China Empire cannot take into account the expansion of the Qin State. As long as it does not attack them, Zhao Kai will probably burn incense. Maybe he will breathe a sigh of relief and bring back some troops from the west to fight in Fengjiang. " Tang Mo still had some foresight, and nodded and said: "It is true that Shu alone may not be able to withstand Qin's attack. "
"Then we can see... what benefits we, the Tang Dynasty, can get from it." Nangong Hong smiled and offered advice to Tang Mo: "Letting Qin take action is tantamount to muddying the water. Naturally, we will gain from the chaos. We What can be achieved is a changed situation. If Qin is not allowed to take action, the situation will be very calm. We can also gain trade benefits in silence, which will also be beneficial to Datang."
"Let's talk about it." Tang Mo said directly: "Let me and the prime minister learn more."
Roger was stunned when he heard Tang Mo's words, and then he was moved immediately: It was actually quite embarrassing for him to sit next to him, and his ability also made him feel a little inferior. Tang Mo was able to put him and himself together at this time, and Roger could feel Tang Mo's good intentions.
Nangong Hong was not surprised and immediately spoke: "Send Qin away and Yingduo is not allowed to expand. Our trade will be stable and all construction will go according to plan. In two years we will be able to complete the first five-year plan drawn up by His Majesty. , when the Tang Empire’s national power will be unparalleled in the world, this is the inevitable result.”
After he finished speaking, he paused. Seeing that Tang Mo had no intention of speaking, he could only continue: "Support Qin's expansion, and there will be changes. There will be changes in all countries and forces. If Your Majesty is willing to make a move...then There will be many different scenery in the future.”
“First of all, the beaten Shu Kingdom is bound to move closer to us. The Great China Empire cannot save them, only we can make the Qin Kingdom be honest.” Nangong Hong pointed to the water glass on his side of the coffee table.
Then he pointed to Tang Mo's water cup: "Qin has taken advantage of Northern Shu, so it naturally has to give us something. This is another piece of cake!"
After finishing speaking, he pointed to Roger's water glass: "The Tang Empire and Qin State have surrounded Dahua...how much fat is left is also a change."
Tang Mo was silent. Just like Nangong Hong said, there are many changes. Where the Tang Empire's national power is placed, it can indeed gain a lot of benefits.
You can sit firmly on the Diaoyutai, build the country well, and climb the technology tree. This is actually a good choice. This was indeed a difficult choice, and Tang Mo couldn't take into account all aspects at the same time.
"Your Majesty, there is no need to make a decision in a hurry. Ask the military for their opinions and let other ministers express their opinions. Maybe it can be more comprehensive." Roger himself couldn't come up with any good strategies, so he could only make comprehensive suggestions. .
Tang Mo nodded. He felt that he was not in a hurry: "Let Qin's envoy wait for a few days! This kind of thing is not in a hurry."
Nangong Hong nodded. Indeed, this kind of matter still needs to be carefully considered by all departments, and it is better to synthesize their opinions.
But personally, Nangong Hong is more inclined to make the situation chaotic. That little money and supplies are nothing in the eyes of an old counselor like him. Sometimes opportunities are the most valuable things.
It’s a pity that the Tang Empire was too strong, giving him another option: do nothing. The Tang Empire’s national power is getting stronger day by day, and stability may be an easier way to win.
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Two updates today
(End of this chapter)