Mythical Version of the Three Kingdoms

Chen Xi never considered the question of how expensive this thing was from the beginning.

Just like when Chen Xi was touring the east, cutting off major industries, those wealthy businessmen spent a lot of money when buying, but when Zhou Yu bought, or to be more direct, when Zhou Yu needed it, it was not a purchase. If you don't enter the market directly, you are doing it privately.

In the same way, from Chen Xi's perspective, it doesn't make any sense to talk about how expensive the things produced in the land are compared to gold.

Because for Chen Xi, this thing is a pure cost. For Chen Xi, any added value does not exist as long as he does not enter the market but is controlled by the state, so it is comparable to gold of equal weight. For Chen Xi, the price is actually more of labor cost and transportation management cost.

The Han Dynasty was not the small country that was about to fall apart in Anxi. If the production area was not under the names of the seven nobles, it would not be able to control the situation. For the Han Dynasty, as long as the edict was issued, as long as it was not to fight the Huns, other No matter what, you have to execute it for me!

Even more directly, if the Han Dynasty had not had limited human resources, Chen Xi would have been able to build a huge industrial chain involving cash crop plantations, security protection, transportation and warehousing companies, and high-end pharmaceutical research companies with this secret recipe.

Not to mention the amazing output of this industry, the jobs it can provide alone are enough to solve a lot of problems.

Losing money? Invest money?

What are you thinking about? After Chen Xi turned around in his head, he knew that not only would he not lose money, but it would also bring significant growth to the country's military strength and domestic economic operations.

Therefore, from the beginning, Chen Xi never thought about the market price of this thing - it is basically a monopoly industry anyway, and it does not transport it to the market for sale. It produces and sells it on its own, and the cost is ridiculous. If there weren't not enough people at the moment, , the layout of the industrial park needs to be considered, Chen Xi does not need to think about the next steps at all, it can be done directly.

"Full set?" Zhuge Liang somewhat understood Chen Xi's thinking, so he asked tentatively.

"Let the Medical Academy verify it." Chen Xi nodded and said. This thing is most likely true, but it still needs to be controlled by Hua Tuo and the others. Even if they cannot introduce new ones, they can still optimize these prescriptions. .

"Galen is still at the medical hospital. If we send him there, it will be difficult to avoid Galen." Li You frowned and said. After Galen was sent here by the Romans with Hua Tuo, he has not gone back so far. , saying that he was treating Cao Cao.

"Once this kind of thing is used, it is impossible to hide it." Fazheng said very calmly, "Besides, Rome and us are open and honest. The two sides are so far apart, and the possibility of a real life-and-death battle is very small. Just watch this thing."

"You have all overlooked something." Li You threw aside the official document in his hand, and his gentle face quickly turned cold.

"What's wrong?" Fazheng looked at Li You puzzled and asked.

"Rome is getting along very well with them, and the upper echelons look a lot like us. Have you forgotten something?" Li You said with a cold expression, "It is an empire and has its own interests."

"It should even be said that the vast majority of saffron, the main medicine, is." Guo Jia sighed and said, "When the benefits are great to a certain extent, it is meaningless to talk about friendship between empires. I am afraid Rome also needs this thing."

"Yes, the core problem is here. If Rome spends money to buy it, the cost will be too high." Zhuge Liang also said with a slight sigh, "Even at the market price, Rome needs dozens of tons a year. This represents the outflow of dozens of tons of gold, which is an unbearable loss for Rome."

When Chen Xi heard this, he tapped his forehead slightly. He also understood what Li You meant. It had to be said that Li You, who looked at the worst aspects of human nature, could indeed see things that ordinary people could not. Something, and more importantly, it is very possible.

"There's one more thing that I haven't told you yet, but Hanoi's Zhang family, Gaoyang Wang family and Wenxi Pei family all know it." Chen Xi thought for a while, since he has come to this point, there is no need to hide it. , some things still need to be said.

"What's going on?" Liu Bei, who came in from outside, asked on behalf of the others.

"Sugar cane can actually be grown in the Persian Gulf." Chen Xi said slowly.

Li You and others did not react immediately when they heard this, but then they suddenly became excited and realized a certain possibility.

"Rome needs sugar very much, and of course we need it too." Chen Xi said somewhat helplessly, "But sugar cane cannot be grown in most places in Rome. The places where sugar cane can be grown are their most important grain-producing areas. Even if Rome goes crazy, We won’t touch our most important grain-producing areas, so we carry out the Atlantic expansion plan that you all think is crazy.”

One thing to say is that in the current situation of Rome, there is actually not much development to the north. It has reached Great Britain in the north, reached the Zagros Mountains in the east, and co-administered Media with the Han Dynasty. Eastern Europe in the northeast, All that should be occupied along the Don River has been occupied. To the south, North Africa has basically been occupied. Facing the Sahara Desert, it is really impossible to open up.

Originally, there was still room for expansion in the direction of the Aksumite and Kushite dynasties, but in the face of the crazy beast tide in Africa, Rome decisively gave up the idea of ​​capturing these two places.

After all, if these two places are destroyed, then Rome will have to pay for the garrison. If they are destroyed, they will have to pay for reconstruction. Now these two kingdoms are still there, so every time It was they who paid for Roman elites to garrison it.

During this period, the Roman Empire did not need to be responsible for all the food and clothing of the Roman legions, and if the local area was destroyed, the Romans did not need to be responsible.

Coupled with the current situation of melee in the world, when Rome was in peace, it conveniently wiped out the nomads in the semi-desert and desert of the Arabian Peninsula.

In fact, as early as the time of Trajan, Rome came, destroyed the local Nabati Kingdom, and established the Province of Petra Arabia. Of course, the Province of Petra Arabia did not penetrate deep into the Arabian Peninsula at that time.

When Severus destroyed the Parthian Empire, despite the fact that the order he had been giving was to resolutely destroy the Parthian Empire, Severus was actually very cautious as he held the main force on the two rivers side unable to win quickly. The Arabian Peninsula is used as a springboard, and we can take a rest in the Persian Gulf and take a big bite back to the mainland to rest.

It's just that this plan didn't work. After Rome won the battle, it stationed an army in the oasis of the Arabian Peninsula in later generations, and then this place belonged to Rome.

It sounds outrageous, but in ancient times, as long as the imperial flag did not fall, a garrison was enough to suppress a very large area.

It can be said that after Rome has settled down in this way, there is no room for reliable development. It is really no choice to carry out the so-called Atlantic development plan to the west.

After all, relying on the exploration of internal energy separation and boundary-breaking experts, walking westward along the Atlantic Ocean, there is still a continent, and this continent can grow sugar cane. Rome really went there to grow sugar cane.

Although it may sound outrageous, in fact, before the 18th century, growing sugar cane in the Americas was a huge profit for large farmers.

However, this is all based on Rome's current conclusion, that is, it is impossible to grow sugar cane in the area they occupy. The places that can be planted are either grown into straw, or are very important grain-producing areas, and cannot be messed with. So growing sugar cane in South America is currently the only option.

Of course, there were things that could be used as sugar in Rome. Date palms, for example, had extremely ridiculous sugar content. The problem was that the production of dates was not enough, so it was more reliable to grow sugar cane.

But in fact, sugar cane can be grown in the Persian Gulf. At least the places occupied by the Zhang family in Hanoi, the Wang family in Gaoyang, and the Pei family in Wenxi can really grow sugar cane.

In other words, if Rome knew about it, would it sacrifice the near and seek the far away? No, Parthia was conquered by Rome after all, and it was separated from the Han Dynasty, but Rome had an absolute psychological advantage. After knowing that there was a place that was really useful to them, asking for it was not a big problem in Rome's eyes. , the question is will the Han Dynasty give it?

Of course not, once it’s in my hands, it’s mine, what the hell are you talking about!

In order to prevent this from happening, Chen Xi informed the three families of the real situation after they selected the place, and also asked them to stop looking for trouble and plant sugar cane there, build a sugar factory, and develop their military force. Maybe Rome would find out one day. Yes, you three brothers are the first to bear the brunt.

This is also the reason why these three families have been busy developing since the end of the alliance. Even the Wang family of Gaoyang, which suffered a big loss, has no time to trouble the Wei family. It is really stressful, but no matter how much pressure it is, There's no way to change places, so just carry on.

"In other words, if this thing falls into our hands, sooner or later there will be a fight with Rome?" Liu Bei pondered for a moment and then said. Liu Bei still understood this simple logic.

"That's pretty much what it means. The secret medicine of Anxi can break the limits of the body and further increase the strength of the army." Li You said calmly, "Rome must also want it, and now that the production is in our hands, Rome will what to do?"

"Robbing or trading." Li You answered directly without waiting for others to answer.

"Actually, there is no choice." Chen Xi shook his head and said, "At that point, there is actually nothing to say. If we want to become stronger and the other party also wants to become stronger, then we can only rely on our ability, and both sides There’s a claim.”

"The sugar cane plantation is just a reason." Fazheng said scornfully, "If it really reaches that level, even if there is no such straw, we have to take action. In fact, after we solve Kushan, it will inevitably Taking action against Roma now only allows us to understand the reasons in advance and see the results earlier."

"It's a pity that the honeymoon period ends like this." Chen Xi sighed.

The economic exchanges, cooperation and exchanges with Rome have been going very well. As a result, Chen Xi raised his hand to look at the recipe for the secret medicine and couldn't help but sigh. After all, the Han Dynasty was not enough.

"Try talking to Rome." Liu Bei suddenly said. He had already read this set of secret methods and secret medicines, and already understood the meaning of this thing.

"It's difficult. The biggest problem now is that no matter how we make this thing, the output cannot be used by us." Chen Xi said helplessly, "And based on this, it is even more impossible for us and Rome to use it."

"From my standpoint, I have reason to suspect that this thing is the final revenge of the Parthian Empire after knowing that everything is irreversible." Guo Jia replied indifferently.

"There is no shortage of this possibility. The so-called weaving of fate cannot not see the result after failure. Even if you see it, you can't change it." Fazheng said quite freely, "Even if you lose, you still have to make it difficult for the enemy. typical."

"I am inclined to the Taiwei's proposal." Zhuge Liang suddenly said.

It was obvious that Zhuge Liang had different opinions from Li You this time, but Li You was not moved at all when he heard this. What he wanted was not a tool man who had no ideas of his own and could only follow what others said. Zhuge Liang rarely disagreed with him, but Quite a few, but this does not prevent Li You from admiring Zhuge Liang.

"There is no need to set up conflicts now. It is true that we are strong, but facing Kushan and Rome at the same time..." Liu Bei breathed out. Even Liu Bei lacked confidence. Rome's military strength was really terrifying.

Of course, Liu Bei's slight lack of confidence does not mean that he is worried that he will not win, but that he feels that it is not worth it.

"Then we can only use rationing. For every two we get, Rome needs to get one?" Chen Xi suggested, "The problem is that the premise of this condition is that Rome has to come up with something."

"This ratio is quite appropriate." Although Li You was dissatisfied, Roma's fist was there, so you couldn't really deny it. Roma really had arrogant strength, and it would cost him his life.

"Let's start the highest-level talks with Rome." Liu Bei said slowly. "It can not only deepen our understanding, but also eliminate some hidden dangers and make things clear."

"You don't expect this meeting to end, so let this matter end." Chen Xi asked.

"I was thinking that even if the talks are over, we should still fight. At most, we should maintain the current situation within a certain period of time. When Kushan falls, all the friendly agreements on paper will be paper. ." Liu Bei replied very calmly.

"That's enough." Chen Xi listened to Liu Bei's answer and confirmed that Liu Bei was not sacrificing for peace. "Under this rationing system, the share allocated to Rome will inevitably fall on our heads in the end."