Old Li, You're Talking Big
Wang Chen raised his glass and toasted Li Shimin.
"You're right. I was the one who analyzed the drought in the east of the river.”
"It is also the change in the price of rice in the market and the source of food.”
"Chang 'an is the imperial capital, the most populated and important city in the world.”
" The farmland around Chang 'an is not enough to cope with the daily consumption of such a large population.”
"Therefore, the grain is transported by the nearby prefectures.”
"The rice sold in the eastern and western markets has different prices because of the different origins and the different degrees of fullness.”
This time, before Wang Chen could finish, Li Shimin had already started to fill in the rest of the content.
"So you saw that the amount of Hedong rice on the market had decreased sharply, and you deduced that there might be a disaster in Hedong?”
Wang Chen nodded and agreed with Li Er.
"Indeed, the general principle is similar to mutton.”
Li Shimin was completely speechless.
His right hand trembled slightly as he picked up the wine glass from the table and drained it in one gulp.
He had never thought that his frequent trips out of the palace in the past month would actually discover a great talent of the country.
From the small to the big, these two trivial matters had been deduced to be able to affect the court's strategic direction.
Awesome, very awesome!
After putting down the wine glass, Li Shimin looked at Wang Chen again.
After a long time, he finally spoke,"Earlier, you said that you had the ambition to soar into the sky. I thought you were just bragging."”
"Now that I heard what you said just now, you really do have some ability.”
"With your talent, you should be working for the country. Opening a tavern is indeed a waste of your talent.”
"I have some connections here and know a few people in the government. If you're willing, I can recommend you to them.”
Wang Chen accepted Li Shi Min's praise, but he didn't care about Li Er's recommendation.
"I say, Old Li, you only know a few official figures, and you dare to say such big words.”
"If you want to recommend me to be an official in the court, you don't have the ability to do so without the qualifications of a fifth rank or above.”
"I guess you only know a few small officials who are in charge of managing merchants. It's better for you to do your business obediently.”
When Li Shi Min heard Wang Chen's disdain for his recommendation, he couldn't help but feel speechless and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
He was the son of heaven, yet the most powerful person in the Great Tang was bragging in front of him.
However, Li Shiming was even more interested in this. It was rare to have such an opportunity to put aside his status and interact with talents.
Then he might as well continue to appear in this tavern as Old Li. He wanted to see when Shopkeeper Wang would discover him.
The two continued toasting. After three rounds of wine, Li Shimin remembered another reason for coming here today.
"Shopkeeper, with the heavy snow in the north and the drought in the east, the Sage Son of Heaven's plan to compete with the Turks will have to come to an end.”
"But the enmity between the Great Tang and those northern barbarians is as deep as the sea. According to you, it is rare for the Tuli Khan to secretly send someone to Chang 'an to ask for help.”
"Isn't there any other way to bypass the snow and deal a head-on blow to the Turks?”
This time, Wang Chen no longer had any crazy thoughts of ridiculing. After all, everyone in the Great Tang knew of the enmity between the Great Tang and the Turks.
It was understandable that he was eager to seek revenge on the Turks.
He shook his head.
"There is no other way. I don't think the current Emperor will send troops this year.”
Li Er was a little disappointed.
"Is there really no technique?”
Wang Chen simply grabbed a handful of chopsticks from the chopsticks bucket and waved them left and right on the table for a while, sketching out a situation map.
"This is our Great Tang. To the north is the Eastern Turkic Tribe, and further north is Xue Yantuo.”
"To the west and northwest of the Great Tang are Tubo and Tuyuhun respectively.”
"As for the Western Turkic tribes further away, this is the current situation of the Great Tang and its neighboring countries.”
Li Shi Min looked at the simple map that was laid out with chopsticks and couldn't help but nod.
It was exactly the same.
To be able to clearly and accurately indicate the location and size of the surrounding countries, perhaps only those high-ranking generals and some important officials in the court could do it.
However, this shopkeeper was able to draw it without any mistakes. This was simply shocking.
Great talent! Great talent! What a genius!
Li Er was so shocked that he didn't know what to say. However, he still pricked up his ears and listened carefully to Wang Chen's explanation.
"In normal years, when the Great Tang has no major disasters and the north can march normally, our army will definitely have an overwhelming advantage over the Turks.”
"There is no doubt about the country's strength and the military's combat effectiveness.”
Li Er's eyes lit up when he heard this. He loved hearing such truths.
"Thus, in normal years, the Turks would only be able to hold out for a few months if we use the opportunity brought by the independent little Khans and send a few skilled generals.”
"In this way, the neighboring countries like Tubo and Tuyuhun won't even have time to react before we've already completed the war of annihilation.”
Li Shi Min nodded.
"That's true, but what you said just now was a normal year. What if it was this year?”
Wang Chen moved the chopsticks on the table slightly.
"This year?"
"If we insist on fighting, then the situation will be completely opposite."
……
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