Chapter 1038 Great Change

  Whether it is Guan Zhongzhi's technique or economic colonization, basically the routines are similar.

  In the early stage, a lot of cost must be invested to cultivate and support agents or interest groups, unknowingly disintegrate the enemy, and let the enemy follow its own design.

   Only wait for the time to harvest.

   To implement this routine, there must be a prerequisite.

  That is, its own strength must be strong enough—whether it is economic strength or military strength.

   To put it more bluntly, you have to be strong yourself even if you forge iron.

  If you get halfway through, and you can’t do it because of your own weakness, the investment in other countries in the early stage will really be like cutting meat and feeding dogs.

   Maybe it will be backlashed in the end.

  Of course, if the enemy can be successfully harvested, the harvest will be huge.

  Even if the country cannot be destroyed, at least it can enslave other countries for its own use, or make the enemy country chaos without fighting.

   Fortunately, the current Han Dynasty is a powerful country for Wu.

   Population, economy, military, all are above Wu.

   More importantly, after regaining Guanzhong and Bingzhou Hedong, given time, the war potential of the Han Dynasty will be the highest among the Three Kingdoms sooner or later.

  War potential is not just about who has more resources.

   It also depends on who can better mobilize for war and who can use domestic resources more efficiently.

  From this point of view, the big man has already opened a considerable distance from Wu Guo and Wei Guo.

  At least ten years ago, Governor Feng had already begun to try to restore the village pavilion system of the former Han Dynasty, or the former Qin Dynasty.

  More than ten years of military career, more than ten years of uninterrupted promotion of schools in the local area, and trained a large number of grassroots cadres.

  Retired military veterans, students who cannot be admitted to the Royal Academy in local schools, they are the nerve endings for the government to control the local area.

  From Nanzhong to Longyou, and then to Liangzhou, they are all active.

  If we say that the two countries of Wei and Wu, which are completely controlled by the aristocratic family, are like patients with malignant tumors.

  The big man is a young man who has been successfully operated on and is recovering.

  Fifteen years ago, in order to raise more food, the prime minister of the Han Dynasty did not hesitate to recruit civilians to clean up Dujiangyan when the country was weakest.

   There was even a special weir officer set up to lead a thousand or two hundred soldiers to patrol the water conservancy.

   This unprecedented move is also a kind of helplessness.

  After all, the economic lifeline of the Shu Han at that time was in the hands of the aristocratic family.

  Without money and food, how can we talk about fighting south and north?

  Who would have expected that fifteen years later, the aristocratic family in Shu would look at the increased grain production every year, and then look at the tightly suppressed grain price, and they would cry without tears.

  After so many years of training, the aristocratic family in Sichuan has already become obedient.

  Agriculture and mulberry are the foundation of the country. For such a large area of ​​arable land in the Sichuan Plain, where to grow food and where to grow mulberry trees has long been stipulated.

  Who dares to plant sugar cane and tea trees indiscriminately, the government will come to the door the next day.

  As for things like cheap food hurting farmers, of course it doesn't exist.

  Because the government has a guaranteed floor price for grain, Xinghanhui can even buy it two or three, or even four or five, higher than the guaranteed floor price.

  Anyway, it will definitely not let everyone farm at a loss.

   Just say whether you can sell it or not!

   "If the price of your grain is right, we will definitely sell it!"

  The wharf warehouse outside Jincheng, and the largest stronghold of the Xinghan Society in Shu.

   Today, this stronghold has welcomed many guests: Li family, Zhang family, Zhao family, Huang family...

  In the Shu region, every family that ranks high will send someone who can make up their minds.

   Hearing Deng Liang sitting on the main seat, watching the noise below, he smiled very gentlely:

   "For so many years, who doesn't know that we, Xinghan, know how to do things? It's all very authentic! In which year, the price of our grain collection is not higher than others?"

  That's because apart from selling to the government, it can only be sold to you, okay? !

   Over the years, relying on the pastures and pastures of the Xinghanhui, the government has leased a large number of cattle to Nizuzi every year.

   Eight-ox plows with mud legs are not needed, but Quyuan plows are most suitable for small households.

   After so many years of war, the population may be exaggerated, but it is definitely true to say that the population has dropped by 60 to 70%.

  In addition, the prime minister has been vigorously building water conservancy projects, and over the years, the foreign wars have been victorious.

  Let the government have a large amount of barren land in their hands, which can be allocated to the mud legs on a large scale, and the tax is not high.

  The most important thing is that only families with household registration can send their children to school.

  This can be regarded as the most benevolent government of the Han emperor—as for whether someone is secretly gnashing their teeth, who cares?

  Wealthy farmers can now even raise chickens and ducks.

  With so much hope, who wants to be a hermit?

  What's the point of having so much food for a big family?

  Recalling that many wealthy families went to Nanxiang to do grain business in recent years, but in the end their families were ruined.

  Government and business collusion, bullying officials, do you still have the face to say that you are doing things honestly?

   "It's because I know that Xinghan will do things well, so when I heard that this place is going to collect a large amount of grain, didn't I just rush over here!"

  Someone laughs with me:

   "I don't know how much food you want to collect?"

   Deng Liang glanced at the other party meaningfully, and said slowly:

   "Don't worry, this meeting is not going to Nanxiang to list, but to inform everyone directly, the meaning is very clear:

   This time, we will only collect grain from the families present, and will not collect grain from grain merchants in other places. "

   "Really?"

  Most of the people present couldn't help but beam with joy when they heard this.

   In other words, this time, you don’t have to go to Nanxiang Exchange to compete with grain merchants from all over the world?

  Then they saw Deng Liang extend a slap and continued:

   "The price of old grain bought this time can be 30% higher than the grain price at the Nanxiang Exchange. If you are willing to write the contract now, you can get 50% higher next year."

   "Hiss!"

  Everyone gasped, making the temperature in the room a bit colder.

   "Seriously!"

  This time, it wasn't just a few questions, but most of the people spoke in unison.

  Seeing this, Deng Liang smiled again, and then stretched out three fingers:

   "Three contracts, one for each party, and one for the government."

   In other words, is this thing true?

  If you want to break the contract, you will destroy the reputation of Xinghanhui and the government accumulated over the years.

   Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, none of them recovered from the shock.

   Someone swallowed and asked carefully:

   "Dare to ask Deng Langjun, Feng... er, does Feng Huishou know about this matter?"

  Since the day Guiwang Feng came out of the mountain, I don't know how many people have written down this person's black account in their small books.

  However, over the years, everyone's spirit has become shorter and shorter, and many people even suffer from "ghost king phobia".

   Suffering for so many years, suddenly got such a big benefit, but people couldn't believe it at the first time.

  Of course, some people have other thoughts:

  Feng Guiwang has kept news for most of this year. Even if it is possible to enter Chang'an now, but based on the distance between Guanzhong and Jincheng, it is impossible for the news between the two places to spread so quickly.

  Since this is the case, unless this matter is discussed in advance, it means that someone made a decision alone without the knowledge of Feng Guiwang.

  So... Is it possible that Xinghan will have a second leader?

  But seeing Deng Liang said leisurely: "Everyone, don't worry, how could my brother not know about such a big matter?"

   Hey, I hope he doesn't know.

Huh?

   Not right.

  If this matter is really a decision made by King Feng Gui in advance.

   Doesn't that mean that Feng Guiwang had already decided on this matter at least a year ago, that is, before he set off for the expedition?

   Thinking of someone’s foresight, more people hesitated:

   Everyone has managed to save a little money in the past few years, so they won't be spotted again, right?

  Deng Liang was surprised when he saw that the crowd suddenly became speechless:

   Such a good thing, why do you behave like this instead?

   "Deng Langjun, over the years, we have not dealt with each other once or twice. Everyone here, one counts as another, and they are all considered to be friends."

   "Can you tell everyone what is going on with this transaction?"

  Isn’t it? Over the years, most of the food that everyone gathered every year was sold to the Xinghan Association.

   Old acquaintance!

  Hearing this, Deng Liang finally vaguely guessed what these people were thinking.

  But seeing him couldn't help smiling, he said frankly:

   "There is nothing hard to say about this matter. To put it bluntly, there is a shortage of food in Jingzhou, the state of Wu, and people have been sent to the court many times for help."

   "Everyone should know about what happened later, because it was necessary to prepare for the battle in Guanzhong, so this matter was postponed."

   "However, the preparatory work has not been left behind. For example, the e-market set up in Yong'an is to make it easier to trade with Wu."

   Having said that, Deng Liang raised his cup and took a sip of tea before continuing:

   "The current person in charge of Yong'an Yishi is Fei Gongju (Fei Shi). This person is originally from Shu, and he is straightforward and outspoken. If you have any doubts, you might as well go ask."

  Public election fee?

  Um, this...

  First he wrote a letter against Liu Bei's premature proclaiming emperor, and then he opposed Zhuge Liang's acceptance of Meng Da's surrender. Fei Gongju's character is worthy of recognition.

   At least much better than a guy with the surname Feng.

  The grain price in Jingzhou is high—the grain price in the entire Wu Kingdom is much higher than that in the Shu land—this matter has long been heard by everyone.

  But transporting grain out of the country and selling it to other countries without permission is a decapitation business.

  Especially with the terrain of Shu, even if you have the guts to go all out, there is no way to transport a large amount of grain to Jingzhou without being discovered.

   After years of hard searching and nowhere to go, now I finally let go of a hole. If I say I am not moved, it must be a lie.

   "Deng Langjun, dare to ask, how much food will be collected this time?"

  No one present was a fool. Judging from Deng Liang's current words, at least 70% to 80% of this matter is true.

  The atmosphere immediately became a little warmer:

   "Yes, Deng Langjun, how much grain will you sell to the east this time?"

   "Naturally, the more the better, after all, the Xinghan Society collects grain in Shu every year."

   "Of course, high-priced grain will only be sold to Jingzhou, so there must be a quota. This depends on the shortage of grain in Jingzhou."

  After learning that grain could be sold to Jingzhou, people with ulterior motives felt a chill when they heard the word quota.

   Doesn't that mean that selling grain to Jingzhou is still subject to control?

   Doesn't that mean that only part of the high-priced grain can be sold?

   Doesn’t that mean we can’t transport grain to Jingzhou by ourselves?

   into his mother's!

   Shameless thing!

   It's full of government-business collusion all day long!

   "Deng Langjun, you know that there is never any shortage of food in everyone's hands. So what is the statute of this high-priced food quota? Can you explain in detail?"

  Hearing the words, the head of the Jincheng hall of the Xinghanhui, Deng, smiled slightly:

   "Well, there are rules and regulations. To tell you the truth, I got news that the imperial court may open schools in various counties in Shu."

   "It's just that everyone knows that the first battle in Guanzhong has not yet been decided, and the imperial treasury may not be very rich..."

  Before I finished my words, my eyes hinted: You understand!

  Who doesn’t know that Xinghan Club is actually the biggest white glove in the world?

   It is not surprising that Hall Master Deng can know some inside information in advance.

  What does it mean that the treasury is not well-off?

  Your Ah Weng came here to make money, but you actually want me to pay for it?

   But school... school? !

   "Deng Langjun, do you mean that the imperial court finally plans to open a school in Jincheng?"

  A few years ago, after the first exam in Liangzhou ended, some people were already advocating that they wanted to establish a school in Shu County.

  After the proposal was sent to Hanzhong, the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty passed it to King Feng Gui, asking for his opinion.

  The final answer given by Feng Guiwang is: Nanxiang's teachers and teaching materials are too tight, and they are temporarily unable to support the school construction in Shu County.

   "Not only Jincheng, but also several counties around Shu County will build schools, and the money and food needed must be indispensable."

   "The Xinghan Society is naturally involved in the matter of the school, so the regulations for the collection of grain still have to fall on the school."

   "This is a great good deed, but a rare benevolent government!"

   Someone suddenly became excited.

  Is that right?

  Good people should be rewarded. For the school, whoever pays more money and food will naturally have more quotas for high-priced food.

  However, this is a long-awaited thing for the family in Shu.

  Because only when the school is opened, can it be considered that there is a real channel to enter the Royal Academy, instead of having to turn around to find a way like it is now.

   There are even many times when you can't even find the way.

  Someone couldn't help shouting:

   "Deng Lang-jun don't have to worry about the school's money and food. As people in Shu, if we sit idly by and ignore it, we will be stabbed in the back by the villagers!"

  Many people can see that this so-called high price of food is simply an excuse.

   In fact, someone wanted to use Deng Liang’s mouth to test everyone’s views on the school—of course, the high-priced food still has to be sold, and it’s a little bit of money.

   It's just, why Zhuge Villager and Feng Guiwang suddenly have kindness?

   Giving money to everyone is also a way to dredge the official career of the children in Shuzhong?

  With this question in mind, Qiao Zhou quietly went to visit Du Qiong, a famous scholar in Shu County.

  At this time, Qin Mi had passed away, and Zuo Zhonglang made Du Qiong one of the most respected local officials in Shu.

  Du Qiong was usually taciturn and rarely saw outsiders, but this time he had a rare interview with Qiao Zhou.

   "The Battle of Guanzhong will not only bring about a great change in the world, but also a great change in the great man."

  He looked at the peach forest outside. At this time, the peach leaves had all fallen, leaving only bare branches.

  The big man of today is not what he was more than ten years ago, relying only on the hard work of the Shu land.

   Instead, it is already sitting on a place of victory in the world, and there is a potential for recovery.

  The changes in the past ten years can be described as earth-shaking.

   "The emperor is the emperor, the prime minister is the minister, and there are many people of insight in the court. How can they not see the changes in the situation of the Han Dynasty? Knowing the changes and adapting to them, can you be called a man of excellence?"

   Qiao Zhou couldn't understand, so he had to ask humbly:

   "Please explain it in detail, sir."

   Du Qiong asked:

   "Back then, the aristocratic family in central Shu was hated by the prime minister and Feng Junhou. Do you know why?"

  Qiao Zhou opened his mouth, but he didn't dare to say more.

   Du Qiong seemed to have expected Qiao Zhou's attitude long ago, and continued on his own:

   "What the tyrants in the middle of Shu have done is mostly to prevent the great Han from returning to the old capital. Today's situation can be said to be self-inflicted, but are all the tyrants in Liangzhou innocent?"

   "In the first battle in Guanzhong, the big Han not only restored Guanzhong, but also took control of Bingzhou and other places. Do all the families in the north hope that the big Han will recover?"

  Pseudo Wei usurped Han, who would believe that there was no support from the northern aristocratic family?

   Qiao Zhou seemed to have caught something, his eyes widened, and he asked in disbelief:

   "Sir, do you mean that the imperial court intends to perform a balancing act?"

   Du Qiong looked at Taolin again, and said slowly:

   "Back then, the imperial court used the hands of Liangzhou wealthy families to suppress the aristocratic families in central Shu. Now even if they change the target of suppression, it is just repeating the old plan. Why is it so strange?"

  Hedong is a place full of aristocratic families, Qiao Zhou naturally understands.

   It's just that the imperial court has always placed more emphasis on Liangzhou than on Shuzhong. Even if it wants to suppress the aristocratic families in the Central Plains, why not just continue to rely on the rich families of Liangzhou?

   Qiao Zhou couldn't help but tremble when he thought of this. He lowered his voice and asked quietly:

   "Sir, if it's really a balancing act by the imperial court, doesn't that mean that Liangzhou is also possible..."

   "That's not what you and I have to worry about." Du Qiong glanced at Qiao Zhou lightly, "Look, it's winter, and the peach tree seems to be dead."

   "But after one month, it will grow flower bones and bloom in full bloom, which is too beautiful to behold."

  Du Qiong said in a deep tone:

   "The children of Sichuan have lost the best opportunity. These years, they are like the peach trees outside the window, suffering from the cold wind."

   "This time, it can be said that we have experienced the cold winter and ushered in the warm spring. If there are no more buds and flowers, then people will really be regarded as dead branches and cut down as firewood."

  (end of this chapter)