Deposed? I couldn't be happier! I wouldn't even be a dog to the crown prince.

The atmosphere inside the Taiji Hall was freezing cold.

Those envoys from the hundred countries who had been so proud just moments before now shrank back, looking like quails that had been hit by frost.

They looked at the jewelry on the ground.

These were once the assets they used to flaunt their national power.

But in the mouth of that Tang Dynasty prince, these things were just "rubbish to give away to beggars".

Li Shimin sat to the side, his lips twitching uncontrollably.

Although he knew his son had high standards, his words were just too sharp.

That's a ruby ​​weighing ten taels! It would rank among the top three in the imperial treasury.

As a result, when it reached Chengqian's mouth, it became a rotten stone covered with cracks.

"What, you're not convinced?"

Li Chengqian lazily scanned the entire room, his eyes revealing a condescending scrutiny.

"Do you think these gold and silver jewels are very valuable?"

He jumped down from the palanquin, his white silk robe still somewhat disheveled from just waking up.

But with each step he took, the floor seemed to vibrate slightly.

"Father, where's Old Dai? Let him come out and teach these country bumpkins a lesson."

Li Chengqian snapped his fingers.

Minister of Revenue Dai Zhou immediately jumped out from the ranks of civil officials.

The old man looked quite smart today, and his small eyes were gleaming with the sharpness of an abacus bead.

"Your Highness, this old minister is here!"

Li Chengqian pointed to the tribute items.

"Tell them how much silver the Tang Dynasty currently has."

Dai Zhou chuckled, turned around to look at the envoys, and spoke with the arrogance of a nouveau riche.

"Gentlemen, stop showing off your meager wealth."

"His Highness the Crown Prince just opened a mine in Japan last month."

"The silver bricks transported back to Chang'an every day, if piled up, could raise the foundation of the Taiji Hall by three feet."

"As for the gold... if you really want to see it, go to the entrance of the Ministry of Revenue's warehouse later and wait there. If you're lucky, you might see the carriages carrying gold crush the bluestone slabs."

Dai Zhou's words were extremely blunt.

The envoys were stunned, their faces turning pale and then red.

They knew the Tang Dynasty was powerful, but they never imagined it had become so incredibly wealthy that it defied all reason.

Marcellus asked in a trembling voice, "Then... what exactly does Your Highness want? What we brought is already the most precious treasure of the country."

Li Chengqian stopped in front of a pure gold Buddha statue, flicked it casually, and it made a crisp metallic sound.

"I have no interest in these cold, hard stones."

"What the Great Tang wants are your country's mineral rights, logging rights, and century-long leases of seaports."

"Simply put, I want your lives, understand?"

These words were too blatant, even carrying an ambition to devour everything.

Marcellus and Prince Peroz exchanged a glance, both seeing the despair in each other's eyes.

This is cutting off their flesh!

Li Chengqian saw through their hesitation, sneered, and walked back to his seat.

"Of course, I won't take your things for nothing."

"Old Dai, take those things. Even a fly's leg is meat. Although they're junk, it's still a token of their appreciation."

Upon receiving the order, Dai Zhou immediately summoned a group of officials from the Ministry of Revenue, who rushed forward like wolves and tigers to carry away the jewels.

The action was so fast that the envoys didn't even have time to react.

"However, I am a person who values ​​rules."

Li Chengqian casually tossed out a stack of colorful pieces of paper, scattering them in front of the envoys.

"These are special vouchers printed by the 'Royal Bank of Tang Dynasty'."

"These vouchers can be exchanged for potatoes, cotton clothing, and salt of equal value in the border markets of the Tang Dynasty."

"Take the money and get back here. Sign the mineral transfer contract and send it over."

The envoys stared blankly as they picked up the scraps of paper from the ground.

This... this is exchanging rare treasures for a few sheets of waste paper that are too hard to even wipe your butt with?

But looking at the Tang soldiers on both sides of the hall, their hands already on the hilts of their swords, filled with murderous intent.

No one dared to say "no".

Just then, the Persian prince Peroz suddenly crawled forward a few steps and cried his heart out.

"Your Highness! Please save Persia!"

"The Arab cavalry has burned down our temples and slaughtered our priests!"

"We don't need vouchers, we beg the Tang Dynasty to send troops! Or sell us those fire-breathing cannons!"

"Persia is willing to lease all its territory to the Tang Dynasty! As long as it can restore its kingdom!"

Marcellus also knelt down, his armor trembling.

He was also afraid, afraid of the Arab empire that was expanding wildly in the West.

Li Shimin sat up straight and looked at Li Chengqian.

"Chengqian, the Abbasid Caliphate has indeed been causing quite a stir lately, and has even reached the borders of our Western Regions."

"If we could take this opportunity to annex their territory, it wouldn't be a bad thing."

Li Chengqian, however, showed no excitement.

He stroked his chin, his eyes as deep and unfathomable as a dry well.

"send troops?"

"Father, the road is too long. How many pairs of shoes will the soldiers wear out running that way?"

"As for selling cannons..."

He looked at Peroz, a cruel, mocking smile playing on his lips.

"Have you ever seen an adult give their toy gun to a three-year-old to play with?"

"If we sell it to you, can you hold onto it? In the end, it'll just be a freebie for the Arabs."

Peroz's eyes dimmed instantly, and he collapsed to the ground.

Is Persia truly beyond saving?

The air inside the Taiji Hall was thick with a prolonged sense of oppression.

Li Chengqian suddenly stood up, his languid demeanor vanishing, replaced by an aura of dominance over the times.

"The troops are going too far, so we won't sell the cannons."

"but……"

He turned his head and gave the group of envoys, who looked as if they had fallen into an ice cave, a mysterious smile.

"I can take you to broaden your horizons."

"Let's take a look at the real 'specialties' of the Tang Dynasty."

Li Chengqian walked to Li Shimin's side and tugged at his father's sleeve.

"Father, let's go to the experimental field outside the East Gate."

"That 'iron lump' that Mo Ju worked on all night last night should be able to run by now."

Li Shimin's eyes suddenly lit up, his imperial majesty vanished instantly, and he jumped up.

"It ran away? It really moved? Then let's go! Take me to see it!"

The father and son left all the envoys in the hall standing there and hurriedly walked out.

Marcellus and the others looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Specialty products? Does the Tang Dynasty have any special products more terrifying than the 'Black Smoke Dragon'?"

They dared not slack off, ignoring their numb knees, and scrambled to follow behind the Tang emperor and his ministers.

At that moment, these important figures from the West had only one humble thought in their minds:

We must see clearly what that miracle, which even made the Tang emperor uneasy, actually looks like.

outside the hall.

A row of magnificent palanquins is ready.

Before getting into the carriage, Li Chengqian turned his head to look at the envoys from a hundred countries behind him and said in a playful tone:

"Don't blink later, or you'll get sick from fright. The Crown Prince won't cover medical expenses."