Chapter Forty-Two: The Western Turks and Tuyuhun

Fortune Sky Restaurant, in the elegant Emerald Pavilion on the top floor.

Seated before Li Kong were two middle-aged men, both visibly uncomfortable. One was Ashina Zheqi, the chief steward in charge of procuring supplies for the royal court of Western Turkic Khaganate; the other was Xu Tianshou, the chief of internal affairs from Tuyuhun.

Li Kong was quite surprised by their arrival at first, but upon reflection, he realized there was nothing unusual about it. Tuyuhun lay southeast of Guanzhong, a mere three hundred li away, while Western Turkic lands were even closer—just across the river bend. These two states—well, they were still two independent countries for now—receiving news from Guanzhong was hardly unexpected.

Besides, Li Kong had no doubt that Tibet, Gaochang, and other neighboring nations with predatory ambitions harbored their own spies throughout the Guanzhong region. Perhaps, after the turn of the year, the goods produced in his workshop would become coveted commodities throughout Central and Western Asia.

“Mr. Li, I believe you already know the reason for our visit,” Ashina Zheqi said after a moment, no longer able to endure his discomfort. He abruptly dropped down cross-legged, looking at Li Kong with some embarrassment. His posture, by Tang standards, was utterly without decorum—nothing short of an affront.

On the other side, seeing Ashina Zheqi sit that way, Xu Tianshou followed suit, sprawling across the table with his head propped on one hand—an unforgivable breach of etiquette.

“That’s right, Mr. Li. We’ve traveled countless miles to Tang. You can’t possibly let us return empty-handed, can you?” he added.

Such rudeness! It made one want to throw a punch.

The two guards standing behind Li Kong turned livid with anger, instantly ready to step forward and strike down these insolent fools. Although Li Kong held no official title, he was nonetheless the Emperor’s chosen son-in-law; such behavior before him was tantamount to insulting His Majesty himself.

Yet Li Kong stopped them with a wave and smiled. “You’re right, gentlemen. However, the quantity of Hero’s Intoxication you require is considerable. We’ll need half a month to prepare. As for the glass goblets, we still have some in stock—you may purchase those immediately. But let me ask: are you aware of the pricing?”

“We are,” Xu Tianshou replied, raising his brows. “The glass goblet is fifty coins apiece, Hero’s Intoxication is one string of cash per jin. We made a point of investigating before coming.” His expression plainly said: We know every price down to the last detail, so don’t try to fool us. He looked so smug it made one want to hit him.

Li Kong sneered. “The prices you know are for internal Tang business. You represent foreign states. Though you are friends of Tang, the proper customs duties still apply—and our customs are very steep. I’m afraid the prices you have aren’t the export rates. If you’re not satisfied, then there’s no deal to be made.”

Customs? What on earth was that?

Ashina Zheqi and Xu Tianshou exchanged confused glances. The term was utterly new to them.

In these times, trade between nations was conducted only at designated outposts along the borders—so-called “barbarian alleys.” Though some taxes were levied, they were negligible. In fact, most Tang people themselves had never even heard of customs duties.

Such things would not appear until the Qing Dynasty, after Britain forced open the gates of China, and only then did the term “customs duty” come into use. For centuries before, countless goods had been bought up by foreigners and resold at inconceivable profits.

But Li Kong himself was something of an anomaly. He had decided to introduce customs duties twelve centuries early. From now on, nothing from Tang would be sold cheaply abroad.

Seeing their confusion, Li Kong paid it no mind. He explained with a smile, “This so-called customs duty? It’s a tax levied by the state on goods traded between nations. Here in Tang, it’s set at a fifty percent rate. So if you wish to buy Hero’s Intoxication and glass goblets, you’ll need to pay half again as much.”

“Why not just rob us?” Xu Tianshou leapt up at once. Fifty percent markup? That was highway robbery—no, even robbery wasn’t so ruthless.

Ashina Zheqi frowned. “Mr. Li, isn’t this an exaggeration? As far as I know, Tang has never had customs duties.”

“That was before. Now it does. I’ve just submitted a memorial to His Majesty, and he has approved it. Once the imperial seal is affixed, it will become law. As our transaction will take place no sooner than seven days from now, the duty will already be in effect by then. I’m merely giving you advance warning,” Li Kong replied with perfect composure.

The two guards behind him were dumbfounded. As members of the elite Black Armored Guards, they knew full well Li Kong was talking nonsense—the law had not even been drafted.

But they weren’t fools. This policy would benefit Tang and harm rival states. They were more than happy to see Li Kong hoodwink these men.

Xu Tianshou was about to rise and leave, when suddenly Ashina Zheqi interjected, “In that case, Mr. Li, could you give priority to supplying Western Turkic? We wish to purchase thirty thousand jin of Hero’s Intoxication and fifty thousand sets of glass goblets.”

Li Kong smirked and nodded. “Of course.”

“No, Mr. Li, you should supply Tuyuhun first. Our order is larger: fifty thousand jin of Hero’s Intoxication, and one hundred thousand sets of glass goblets,” Xu Tianshou hastily cut in, shooting Ashina Zheqi a venomous glare.

This time, he was under strict orders—the goal for Tuyuhun was simple: to seize this chance to establish ties with Tang. Currently, Tuyuhun was caught between Tang, Gaochang, and Tibet. Tang was biding its time and gathering strength, but Gaochang, controlling the Silk Road, had repeatedly provoked Tuyuhun.

And Tibet was worse—constantly encroaching on Tuyuhun’s borders. Word had it that Tibet had a new ruler, Songtsen Gampo, ambitious and intent on swallowing both Gaochang and Tuyuhun, as well as occupying all territory south of Songzhou, aiming to divide the world with Tang or perhaps even conquer Tang entirely.

Failure was not an option; if not from Tang, where else could they buy? Why else make the long journey to Chang’an to find Li Kong?

As for Ashina Zheqi, his motives were simpler. The northern winter had been unusually harsh, and Hero’s Intoxication, being a strong spirit, could warm the body throughout—making it the ideal drink for winter. As for the glass goblets, they were just an afterthought, a way to signal to Tang: Western Turkic had no wish to be enemies.

Li Kong watched their performance, his expression inscrutable. Only after they finished did he finally speak: “I accept your orders. In half a month, you may send men to the border to collect your goods. However, for the sake of future cooperation, I must ask for a deposit—fifty percent up front.”