Spring and Autumn I Am King

Chapter 461: The world is all for profit

ps: There is an exam today, there are two chapters at the top of the big chapter, and two more tomorrow.

In mid-February, when the rain began to fall, the busy farming in the Xilu area came to an end. The farmers were a little free for a while, so they took this opportunity to renovate the door. network

This month, there will be sacrifices to the gods of households. The spleen is the most valuable sacrifice, but for those wealthy scholars and Chinese people, the spleen of the cow can no longer be used. Xiao Si Kou has issued an order prohibiting the slaughter of cattle, and those who violated the law will be severely punished. .

For these guards, there are complaints, but they don't dare to express it publicly.

The official's words were cold and harsh: "Since you have to eat cattle, then you can work instead of the cattle!"

Those who are obedient are promoted and encouraged, and those who are disobedient are brutally suppressed. This is Zhao Wuxi's strategy for the newly occupied Punan.

The guards and nobles who were dissatisfied with the system in the pavilion were still muttering at home, but the commoners secretly applauded. In addition, all those who have experienced the pain of the war in the past year are praying that Si Kou must not raise troops and impose large-scale labor, so as not to hinder the agricultural work after the spring rain. Also, can the price of salt in the market be lower? Can you buy more rations per kiosk?

As everyone knows, their lord Zhao Wuxi is worrying about this matter. He talked with Zigong Bingzhuye in Chengpu, from the lack of salt in Xilu to several places that might provide them with salt.

Zigong raised his index finger and said, "It goes without saying that the Yanchi in Anyi has been in use since Tang, Yao, Yu and Shun, and even when the Yellow Emperor Chiyou, and its use was earlier than that of boiling salt in seawater. Wo is natural, and there are 10,000 bells of output every year, enough for Jin and Cheng Zhou to eat. The Zhao family has a good relationship with the Wei family. It is better to ask the Chinese army to send envoys for help.”

Wu Xie nodded and said: "The caravan carrying salt starts from Anyi and goes south to Mengjin to board the boat, then they can follow the big river eastward, enter Pushui and Jishui in the territory of Zheng State, and transport them directly to Yuncheng. It is the most convenient and quick way to buy salt. It is only through the area of ​​Zheng people. I don’t know if Zheng people will block it, and Yanchi salt is mainly used. For the people of Xintian, the six ministers of Jin and the Zhou family, I really don’t know if the Wei family, who has no benefit and can’t afford it early, is willing to provide enough for 100,000 people…”

Zigong said: "Business is the lifeblood of the Zheng Kingdom. The public office and Qimu are relatively loose in their management of merchants, even during battles. They will not easily detain the caravan of the enemy country. Not to mention, when the ministers were in Taoqiu, they also cooperated with specialists. Zheng Shangxian, who is engaged in transport, has friendship. They also participated in the rescue of Deng Xizi last time. They are very grateful to Zhao's family for taking Deng Zi in. There is no need to worry about the matter of Yanchi's passing over Zheng Guo, but whether they can persuade Wei Shi Transporting a lot of salt, that's a problem."

Seeing that Zhao Wuxi was concentrating on thinking of ideas, Zigong said again: "Sikou, don't worry, and let the ministers talk about the pros and cons of the remaining two before it's too late."

Zhao Wuxi praised him for being good, but Zigong continued to say: "The second is Wu State, Xu and Zhongwu have the abundance of sea salt. Thousands of bells are produced every year. Wu State is an ally of Jin State, and Si Kou and Qu's family are related by marriage. , and sent Xing Ao to the south, so this is probably the easiest place to obtain, but the quality and quantity of salt cannot be overestimated."

Wu Xie breathed a sigh of relief: "It is better to have something than nothing, so I will send a delivery car to Wu State. Now that the thief Zhi has surrendered, the road to the east of Daye Ze is unobstructed, and the caravan can start from Huai Shang, pass through Sishui, and pass through Kan. Yi arrives in Xilu. It must be another two months. Huai salt can be shipped together with copper, tin, feathers, and leather."

But Zigong pondered for a while, and asked Zhao Wuxi not to worry.

"It is not difficult to ask for salt from Wu State, but from what I have seen in Taoqiu, the people of Wu State have suddenly become rich. Their temperament is greedy and vulgar, they are greedy and forget righteousness, and if they get an inch, they will make progress. If they know that Xilu urgently needs Huai salt, they will definitely improve it. The price makes things difficult for me to wait, and I want to come. This time I can't just buy salt from one place."

Wu Xie felt that this statement made sense, he nodded and said: "Yes, I once offered my father the strategy of three caves for cunning rabbits, and it is similar to buying salt from abroad. In order to avoid the reoccurrence of Qi Guo's monopoly, it is true that they are divided into more than one. It’s better to buy from anywhere, so as not to take the opportunity to hoard and raise prices and coerce me.”

"That's why the minister thinks that it's better to add the Ju country in the sea, and take a three-pronged approach, using the salt of the three sides to relieve the danger of Xilu!"

"It's settled." Wu Xie got up and talked with Zigong for a long time, his legs were numb from sitting.

However, Zigong said: "There is always a buyer and a seller in the trade of goods. If the seller has something urgently needed by the other party, he will usually deliberately raise the price to make things difficult. Now Xilu has requests from others, and when the caravan arrives, they can buy it. How much salt depends on the face of the other party. The minister has another plan, so that Si Kou does not need to send a cart and a horse, and does not need to be sent to labor. Come to Xilu to send salt!"

This made Wu Xie pleasantly surprised. Zhang Mengtan in politics and Duanmu in business really saved him a lot of brain cells.

"What way?"

"Guanzi said that the states in this world have so-called natural wealth and geographical advantages. Zhao's horses in the Great Plains, Chu's Rushui and Hanshui's gold, Qi's coastal salt, Wei's Anyi Salt Pond, Wu Guozhang The copper and tin of the mountains, as well as the five grains, leather, tartar, feathers, and red lacquer of various places... These are all natural wealth and geographical advantages, which are necessary for the achievement of hegemony. As long as you control the unique products, you can coerce the enemy country. Just like what Qi people did today!"

Zhao Wuxi could understand what Zigong meant. In the words of later generations, these so-called natural wealth and geographical advantages are actually strategic resources. The energy stick of later generations has caused many oil-poor countries to suffer, but they can only accept it.

No, it's not just strategic resources, as long as it's something I own and people in the world need, it can be used as a weapon. China in the Han Dynasty strictly guarded the secrets of silk, and the Ottomans in modern times blocked the Silk Road, all of which are similar examples.

Sure enough, I heard Zigong say: "Actually, not only is Qi, but Xilu also has natural wealth and land, and it was created by Si Kou himself!"

Wu-shirt has already guessed that paper is in the ascendant, but another specialty has already been selected.

"You mean... china?"

Zigong's eyes were very bright: "Yes, it's porcelain!"

...

"After three years of sales, Zhao's porcelain has spread all over the world. Whether it is the Wei family, the state of Ju, the aristocracy of the state of Wu, and even the palaces of Yan, Chu, and Qi, they are all buying and using porcelain."

Just as Zhao Wuxi expected three years ago, although porcelain did not replace lacquer and bronze at once, it also created a new market between them. By the way, he suppressed Fan's pottery.

No matter how exquisite pottery is, can it be compared to porcelain? Fan's pottery will continue to follow the path of mass production and cheap sales, while porcelain has already entered the ranks of luxury goods.

In Qi, Chu, Zheng, Wei and other places where luxury is popular, porcelain is especially popular. In the past, the nobles used pottery, but now they have switched to porcelain by comparing and imitating each other.

This kind of exquisite and beautiful utensils with different shapes have won the favor of many nobles, although the favorite types vary by region and gender.

Nowadays, the kilns in Jin state are mainly made of white porcelain. The Zhen kilns in Xilu are mainly made of celadon and black porcelain.

Black porcelain with thick color and simple shape is the most popular among the old Qin people, although the purchase of porcelain in the Qin country ranks at the bottom of the princes... The temperament is like water, and the romantic and unrestrained Chu people like the celadon of the same color as Yunmengze, and also ask for the same color as Yunmengze. The more similar the bronze wares of Chu State, the better, and the more exaggerated the shape and decoration, the better. Supervised by Ji Ying, Bingjing Yujie's elegant white porcelain is especially popular with female aristocrats. Although they have no political right to speak, they have some economic ability.

So, over the past year. The porcelain hoarded by Taoqiu has always been in short supply, and even people often go directly to Xintianxia Palace, and even the origin of Zhencheng to buy, but most of them are blocked from the door. Want to get a glimpse of the production of porcelain? There are no doors!

"Guanguan Jujiu, in the river continent. A slender lady, a gentleman is a good man.

The variegated water chestnuts flow from left to right. A fair lady, I long for it.

poo. leisurely leisurely. tossing and turning. "

It is said that someone once used this song "Guan Ju" to express their thirst for wonderful porcelain. The core technology of making porcelain has always been in the hands of Zhao, and there are only two in the world. The princes are like a modern European court. Has an almost obsessive love for porcelain.

It is naturally in line with the new aesthetics of the Chinese people. After a little change, such as adding a thick black and red glaze, it can also cater to the old aesthetics.

On this basis, Zigong put forward his own ideas:

"The Qi people cut off sea salt from entering Taoqiu, Qufu, and Xilu, so Xilu really can't get a grain of salt? Naturally, it is impossible. The purpose of this move by the Qi people is to increase the price of Xilu's purchase of salt. In the past To transport salt, there are merchants coming directly from Taoqiu or Qi State, and Si Kou does not have to pay too much transportation costs. But now if a caravan is sent to buy it, he has to undertake such matters as escorting thousands of miles away, which is laborious and costly. If you know the Xilu background of the caravan, Zheng Guo, who is friendly with Qi, may not let it go, and the monarch of Ju, who is supported by Qi people, may not be willing to sell."

Speaking of this, Wu Xian's thoughts were also opened, and he couldn't help thinking of an economic policy of the Ming Dynasty that he had heard of in his previous life.

Because the food and grass needed for the Jiubian military grounds need to be transported from the production area to thousands of miles away, the cost is staggering, the national finances are overwhelmed, and there are many laborers required, which is really a labor-intensive matter. Under this circumstance, there is a way to encourage merchants to exchange grain for salt. The specific method is that merchants from all over the world can transport grain and grass to the location of the garrison. business prosperity.

If you are more flexible, you can replace salt with porcelain, and replace grain with salt, the reason is the same!

He said: "So, why not use porcelain as bait to lure merchants who want to buy porcelain to transport salt to Xilu for trade? For example, if you transport a pot of salt, you can get a 'porcelain yin' stamped with the seal of Si Kou, a You can buy five small ones and one big one."

Zigong was stunned for a moment. This was his long-planned and proud work, but he didn't expect Zhao Wuxi to say it first, and this "porcelain introduction" method is more intuitive and feasible!

"Of course! While sending envoys to the Wei family, Wu state, and Ju state to make contact, they spread the news: Whether it is Jin Dynasty porcelain or Xilu Zhen porcelain, they will no longer accept gold, silk and other items from now on. Buy, salt, only edible salt can be exchanged for porcelain. Interested parties please organize a caravan to Taoqiu and Xilu to farm goods, regardless of boats and vehicles, no tariffs will be charged!"

"Great trick!"

Zhao Wuxi could imagine that in those states with salt resources, the nobles would drive the merchants to drive trains full of green salt to Taoqiu and Xilu in an endless stream!

Like the gathering of clouds, like the flow of water.

He couldn't help but sighed: "Guan Yiwu said that a country with natural wealth and geographical advantages, if it is not well managed and used improperly, the world will not value it. So that farmers can eat without farming, and women can make clothes without weaving! I believe this sentence today. Zigong has quite the essence of the method of managing the importance of the pipe. The Qi people who planned this matter are far behind you! From now on In the future, although Xilu is not the kingdom of the sea king, it can be as if it has salt without salt!"

The world is bustling for profit, and the world is bustling for profit!

From ancient times to the present, and then thousands of years later, this is the case!

Wu Xie filled a glass of wine and presented it to Zigong: "Because of Zigong, this whole world is my solution pool and Qu Zhan!"

...

"A person who is good at governing a country can use things that he does not own, and he can also enslave subjects who are not under his own jurisdiction. Si Kou is such a clear master."

Zigong took the wine cup humbly, and praised Wu Xie from the bottom of his heart, but he was still not satisfied.

"As long as Si Kou's porcelain introduction method is implemented, during the period when the Qi people banned the salt road, it should be no problem to ensure that Taoqiu, Xilu, and even Qufu have no shortage of salt."

The reason why Zigong also mentioned Qufu was because his master Kong Qiu was still the great Zongbo. When Zigong considered it, he considered the whole state of Lu together.

However, when Zhao Wuxi made decisions, he often left Qufu Lucheng aside, intentionally or unintentionally.

Since the debate at the last meeting, the rift between Confucius and Sanhuan and his interests has been deep, and Xilu is now like a half-assed little prince, almost in a state of obedience. But in order not to let Confucius stand on the opposite side of himself, and to make Zigong and other Confucian disciples not embarrassed, Wu Xian still had to pay attention to his eating patterns and methods, not too eager, not too violent.

Duanmuci and Ran Qiu were talented, Zhao Wuxi didn't want to lose their allegiance, and Confucius was still within his reach.

Zigong didn't think too much about it. He recalled the situation when he first came to Taoqiu two years ago and was made difficult by the merchants of Qi. He can promote the beauty of people, but cannot hide the evils of others. He has done a good job of the loyalty advocated by the Master, but forgiveness has little to do with him.

He Duanmuci, in essence, is still a businessman from a villain background, a businessman who directly reports his grievances!

He gritted his teeth and said: "The people of Qi use the technique of light and heavy to make things difficult for us, probably because they are the people of the country, and they are a country of mountains and seas, so there is no fear of holding them. "

Qi people are so arrogant, and if they don't slap back, Duanmuci, who is used to Gu Sheng pointing at Taoqiu shopping mall, can't bear it.

Wu Xun said with a smile: "The state of Qi hastily implemented the salt policy this time, which was originally an act of exasperation. The person who came up with this strategy thought he was smart, but he forgot one thing. There are four commercial roads. The land route is the Wudao, which is located at the junction of Weiguo and Xilu; the water route is Dahe, Pushui and Jishui~www.wuxiahere.com~ Among them, Jishui and Pushui must pass through Xilu, and Yuncheng and Onozawa are its centers.”

He suddenly remembered a saying that a red emperor of later generations liked to say. It was a vulgar statement that all men understood.

"Pu, Ji, and Wu Dao are like Qi's kidney capsule." Wu Xie said this, while Zi Gong nodded earnestly and listened, with a strange expression.

"If I want to make Qi people scream, I will squeeze these three eggs!"

"puff!"

The mouthful of wine Zi Gong had just swallowed spurted out at once, and after a while, the two elegant gentlemen in front of them burst into vulgar laughter, causing the black-clothed guards waiting outside to look at each other...

Children's shoes who don't know what the kidney capsule is, will not be popularized in July (to be continued.)

ps: Thanks to the book friend Gu Fanyu, Crow Thirteen, Xunlang, God Illusion Realm, and the reward of the end of the sun! Thank you for your monthly pass!

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