The situation in Chu Kingdom is indeed very special. The special point is the large number of nobles, whose population exceeds Shang Wen's original estimate.

"It is enough for these nobles to do business with us. In this way, we can develop very good cooperation." Shang Wen said.

"The country of Chu is not useless. On the contrary, this country has great commercial potential, not only because of its population, but also because it has abundant resources in numerous regions," Shang Wen said.

"If it is guided, it should be possible." Shang Wen then said to Mo Li.

"It's just how to guide these nobles." Mo Li asked at this time.

"En." Shang Wen enlightened, and then began to ponder. Mo Li did not speak, but looked at Shang Wen. He knew that this was Shang Wen's habit. Such a habit allowed Shang Wen to calm down and think carefully about various situations.

"It's still the old method. We can try the old method. The Chu nobles have a lot of assets. Most of these assets are real estate. It is better to have gold. They also have more industries, and there are many potential mining industries. "Shang Wen said.

"If it can be developed well, it is also very huge, but they don't know how to do it." Shangwen said.

"This requires cooperation with the State of Qin. How to cooperate and how to solve these problems is the key. We use the methods we have used before to solve them, first of all, bank cooperation. Qin State’s financial system enters the State of Chu. The other is , To carry out a large number of commercial cooperation. Through these commercial cooperation, to develop and integrate into the market of Chu State." Shang Wen said.

"Is it the same as Zhao Guo?" Mo Li asked.

"Yes. This may be a model to solve Chu's own problems, coupled with a series of commercial cooperation. This can also achieve Qin's goals." Shang Wen said.

"However, on other details, different strategies can also be adopted." Shang Wen continued.

"For example, we can cooperate with specific nobles, not their kings." Shang Wen said.

"Because some nobles are extremely dissatisfied with the Qin State, in this way, we can divide the overall influence of Chu through the cooperation between the nobles." Shang Wen thought about it. Shangwen had always believed that Xiang family was negotiating on behalf of Chu, but after Mo Li's explanation, Shangwen understood. Qin State is cooperating with a group of nobles in Chu State. And there are many nobles like Chu. If these nobles are regarded as a natural commercial group, then Qin can cooperate with these commercial groups. In this way, Qin can open up the market of Chu in a short time. At the gate, he dumped a large amount of his own products. Shangwen felt extremely excited when he absorbed it. Before, Shangwen wanted to open up the market in Chu State, because the demand of Chu State was extremely strong, but it was difficult to do so after a while because of his loyalty to Chu. The country’s strategy was extremely inappropriate. Qin didn’t understand Chu, and Chu didn’t understand Qin. The two sides didn’t understand, so naturally they couldn’t cooperate. This caused this to happen. Qin State's delay in opening up the Chu State's overall market resulted in Chu State's self-closing development.

But now the problem is solved. He felt that it was because he had to find some people to discuss this matter to resolve it.

"I want to go out and go to Wenyang Bank's headquarters. Wenyang Bank can open the door of Chu State Market. In other words, Chu State's market door has been opened.

"Oh." Mo Li nodded. Shangwen took his coat and ran out hurriedly.

"Why do you want to tell me when you go out?" Mo Li said to herself.

In the Western Regions, a bad news was fed back to Wang Ben.

"Sir, is this report report?" A major staff officer handed a reconnaissance report to Wang Ben. Wang Ben is eating instant noodles in the staff. This is the latest food developed by the State of Qin. Because it can warm the body in winter, it was purchased as food for the army and came to the Western Regions of the State of Qin.

"What report?" Wang Ben took a bite of instant noodles, took the report and looked at it.

"A report from our special team. It is said that the Yue people are going to attack southward. They urgently need a large amount of weapons and ammunition, and the demand for our Qin State's weapons and ammunition is extremely large." The major said.

"Oh." Wang Ben nodded.

"Recently, we found cannons among the smuggled weapons we investigated and dealt with at the border. Some people have sold the cannons to the Western Regions, especially the merchants from the small Western Regions. These small Western Regions merchants also followed our merchants to smuggle weapons. Cannon." The major's staff said to Wang Ben.

"Boom." Wang Ben put his instant noodles on the table.

"It's pretty good. The Western Regions took the cannon, how will they fight in the future?" Wang Ben called out loudly.

"However, we do not have the right to deal with those businessmen. We must know that we are in Xiaowangzhou. Xiaowangzhou has a small population. Therefore, there is no death penalty in Xiaowangzhou's laws. Not only these, we caught Among those caught." The major looked at Wang Ben hesitantly.

"Say it." Wang Ben asked anxiously.

"There is also a member of the State Council of Little Wang," the major said.

"Damn it. These **** goods." Wang Ben said angrily.

"According to our interrogation, I don’t know when the munitions business suddenly became the artillery. I heard that Xiaowangzhou was also holding a parliamentary meeting recently, and they discussed that it would be legal to sell artillery as a weapon to ethnic minorities. . In this case, we will be even more intrusive.” said the major.

"We can't interfere, how do we fight in the future?" Wang Ben asked.

"We don't know about this. I think we should report this matter to the Prime Minister's Mansion, the Ministry of National Defense, and the General Staff, but I don't know if the king knows it or not." The major said worriedly.

"What's the use of reporting to them?" Wang Ben said worriedly. Wang Ben was actually opposed to Qin's businessmen doing arms trade, but Qin's arms trade was more active than silk business. Because ammunition is a mandatory consumption, first of all ammunition consumption is a very terrible income. Regardless of the value of bullets, one gold can buy 50 to 100 rounds of ammunition. However, the number of bullets consumed is very large, and to produce bullets, it is enough to have a simple hand workshop and hire a few women for production. Some arsenals of Qin State have already handed over the production technology of this backward bullet to the arsenals of South Korea for production. Qin State provided a large amount of bullets and gunpowder, while the Korean arsenal hired a large number of female workers to assemble this bullet, and then transported it to the Western Regions by rail. Including transportation costs, the cost of a bullet is only twenty cents, but Qin Guo can make more than twenty times the profit. Many people in Xiaowangzhou are doing this kind of business, and even the councillors, the mayor, and the sheriff are doing such things. It can be said that Xiaowangzhou where Wang Ben is located is actually the largest arms trading state in the border state of Qin. The munitions consumed here accounted for 60% of Qin's total production. This is a very large number, because the purchasing power of the Chu Kingdom has declined, mainly due to the lack of gold, while the Western Regions have gold, and there is still a lot of inventory. Coupled with the strong demand for arms, this has allowed Qin's arms trade to develop rapidly here. The speed of development has exceeded expectations. The development of the entire trade in Little Wangzhou is almost entirely the arms trade. If the arms trade is cut off, then Little Wangzhou will regress to its previous level. The arms trade is everything in Little Wangzhou.

"Report it. What can we do." Think about it. Xiaowangzhou is also named after his own surname. When it was shot down, there was already a Wangzhou. Xiaowangzhou is the current state. The population of this state is not There are many, because there are many deserts here, and there are few places to survive, but this place has jade, Hetian beautiful jade, and gold. To do this kind of business is too expensive. It's not as fast as doing the arms business.

In fact, Wang Ben has always believed that it is possible for the Qin army to continue its westward advance, but it stopped because of logistical supplies. It won’t take long for Qin to move westward on a large scale and use backward weapons in the Western Regions. People, and other people in peace, are very difficult to pose a huge threat to the Qin army, but if they change their weapons and then fight, it may be a little troublesome. Although the Qin army’s weapons are much more advanced than theirs, they will always cause some problems. Casualties. In addition, using a lot of gunpowder weapons, these weapons are always a little unsafe. In this consideration. Wang Ben opposed the arms trade because it had a great impact on military expansion.

The Ministry of Defense of Qin State received such a report. Wei Liao usually doesn't read it, because such a report has already been reported. From the beginning of smuggling guns, Wei Liao thought that there was no need to make a fuss. Qin also smuggled a large number of artillery from the Chu country. Couldn’t it be possible to smuggle a large number of artillery to those people in the Western Regions. Moreover, people from the Western Regions need to be taught to operate artillery, and at the same time they need a large amount of artillery. These are all important ways to expand Qin's arms trade. Wei Liao knows that what Qin lacks is a large amount of fiscal revenue. The development of these trades can just increase Qin's late night taxation. This is a good thing, so Wei Liao would ignore such things after he knew it.

But Meng Tian studied his report carefully.

"Minister." Meng Tian said with a report in doubt.

"Do we really care about smuggled arms, especially weapons like artillery?"

Meng Tian asked.

"No matter. Our artillery was sold to the Chu people, why can't we sell it to the Western Regions? Moreover, if the Western Regions need artillery, we can make a lot of money." Wei Liao said.

"Do you know that I, the Minister of National Defense, is still in charge of anything?" Wei Liao said at this time.

"I don't know what to manage?" Meng Tian said honestly.

"Weapon production." Wei Liao said.

"To be precise, in these arsenals of the Qin State, I, the Minister of National Defense, must take care of the life and death of these arsenals." Wei Liao said.

"Oh." This was far beyond Meng Tian's expectation. He didn't expect that Wei Liao, the Minister of National Defense, would still have such things to do.

"Qin's military industry departments are all commercial in nature. They produce products like other companies and then supply them to sellers in need, but the things they produce are very special." Wei Liao said.

"The weapons they produce are all weapons used by the Qin army, and the target is very special, that is, the army. Once the army cuts military expenditures, their lives will be very difficult, but Qin has no intention of supporting such a huge army, because The expenditure is too great. Qin State’s finances are tight. No continuous borrowing is allowed." Wei Liao said.

"Once the army stops purchasing, or stops large-scale purchases, these military-industrial enterprises of the Qin State will go bankrupt. In this case, I, the Minister of Defense, will have a great responsibility." Wei Liao said to Meng Tian.

"That's why we are actively embarking on the arms trade?" Meng Tian immediately understood what Wei Liao meant by these words.

"Yes, that's what it means. Without these arms trade, it would be difficult for Qin to feed these military industrial enterprises," Wei Liao said.

"It takes a lot of money to maintain production and research and development, but where these funds come from and without the arms trade, it is impossible to maintain the normal operation of these military factories. Therefore, most of the weapons currently produced by Qin State They are all for export, or for trade. This is what the Prime Minister meant." Wei Liao said.

"Previously it was Chu State, but the number of weapons purchased by Chu State is also decreasing. Even the pirates can't afford weapons, and the quantity they replenish is very small. Although we lowered the price, it still doesn't work." Wei Liao said. To.

"However, in the Western Regions, this place is new, and this place was hurt by the State of Qin before. It was scared. They need a lot of weapons. Therefore, these backward weapons, such as flintlocks, and The artillery was given to them. We can sell them to feed these military enterprises." Wei Liao said.

This is the method that Shang Wen came up with, and it is also a place that King Qin is very concerned about. The current strength of the Qin army is not only the bravery of soldiers, nor the encouragement of Qin's reward system. It is the advanced weapon of Qin, and Qin needs to maintain advanced weapons and equipment. . Using the huge difference in weapons to maintain the overall advantage of the Qin State is what the King Qin requires. In order to meet such requirements, it is necessary to maintain a strong combat effectiveness, and military industrial enterprises are one of the important foundations for maintaining the combat effectiveness of the Qin State.

In order to ensure this military industry enterprise, Shang Wen thought of many ways. Relying on finances is obviously not enough to feed these military industrial enterprises. Qin's military industrial enterprises continue to expand their production scale. If demand ceases, the military industrial enterprises will quickly close down. This is a situation that Qin does not want to see.

The only way for military industrial enterprises to survive is to develop an active, large-scale arms trade. Only in this way can Qin’s military industrial enterprises keep their inventory and survive for a long time. When there is demand, there will be supply, and there will be supply. produce.

It is with such a demand that Qin's military enterprises can survive, and this is also Wei Liao's important task.

If this were not the case, Qin's military industry would not be able to support it, which is why Wei Liao just left it aside after reading such a report.

"En." Meng Tian nodded. Before he was in the army, he had not thought of this, but after coming to the Ministry of National Defense, all thinking has changed. He considered the problem not from the military perspective of Qin, but how to consider the logistics of Qin. , Financial, and political perspectives to view military issues.

"I just looked at the report. This report mentioned people from the Yue family." Meng Tian said at this time.

"Yueshi?" Wei Liao put down the pen in his hand and became serious.

"Take it over and let me have a look." As Wei Liao looked at the report in Meng Tian's hand.

"The Yueshi people need a lot of weapons, and I am afraid that the demand for artillery is also very large." Meng Tian said.

"It's just that, what do they need these weapons for, are they going to be detrimental to our Qin Army?" Meng Tian said worriedly.

"En." Wei Liao nodded. Think about it seriously.

"I remembered one thing." Wei Liao said solemnly at this time.

"What's the matter?" Meng Tian asked.

"There is a report that the Yue people are actively fighting south, and using our firearms to become their important helpers." Wei Liao said.

"I forgot where this report came from. But that's what this report says. I just vaguely have such an impression, but I still don't know the specific situation." Wei Liao said to Meng Tian .

"The people of the Yue family won't attack us?" Meng Tian asked worriedly.

"This is still unclear." Wei Liao said, shaking his head.

"In short, this matter must be investigated clearly. We have to send our own people to investigate. In addition, if necessary, we can understand this matter through the Western Regions." Wei Liao said.

"Yes, using merchants, the role of merchants is very big for us, we can use merchants as our intelligence network." Meng Tian suggested.

"Yes, that's how this matter should be handled. Deal with it as soon as possible." Wei Liao said.

Inside Wenyang Bank.

"Let's work with the Xiang family of Chu country first?" Ying Yu asked, looking at Shang Wen. Yingyu originally thought that Shang Wen was here to discuss Zhao Guo's affairs with her, but he didn't expect to talk to him about Chu Guo's affairs.

"We haven't considered the Chu State too much." Yingyu felt that the current Wenyang Bank stalls were too large. For safety reasons, she felt that she should not think about it so much for the time being. It might be better to shrink.

"Well, you should think about it. Chu is a big market. Their capital needs are huge, and all kinds of demands are huge." Shang Wen said.

"I know this. However, our Wenyang Bank is currently expanding too much. In Zhao Guo alone, we have used unprecedented financial power. Before Zhao Guo's affairs are over, we have no intention of opening up Zhao Guo's unexpected things. "Ying Yu said.

"Also, as soon as the affairs of Zhao State are over, and the railway construction in various states of Qin State, in terms of funds, we have been able to do that." Yingyu said.

"Oh." Shang Wen nodded.

"That's it." Shang Wen said.

"Yes, that's it." Yingyu said to Shangwen.

"So, that's all right." Shang Wen said.

"You can allocate a part of your strength to solve Chu State. The market prospects of Chu State are extremely broad. This is a very good opportunity for you." Shang Wen persuaded.

"En. That's good." Ying Yu thought for a while, she felt that Shang Wen was right, Chu State is a very broad market. It would be a pity for Wenyang Bank to give up this market. She felt that she could give it a try, even if she tried it with a small amount of force, it was right.

"I will do things about Chu, but you have to tell me. What do you plan to do with things about Zhao?" Yingyu asked.

"En. Regarding Zhao's affairs, I plan to have the Zhao government issue a large number of bonds. I will draw up the many Qin State banknotes currently issued in the market." Shang Wen said.

"What do you mean?" Yingyu didn't know why he did this for a while.

"The first step is to transfer part of the funds in the market. This is very important for us. After the funds are transferred, the market does not have much funds. There is a steady supply of gold. This is almost the fifth day. We are at this time. It is announced that the Qin government has dumped its gold reserves, think about it, what kind of situation is that?" Shang Wen asked Yingyu as he looked at it.

At this time, Yingyu tilted his eyes and started thinking. On the one hand, he drew funds, and the funds on the market were scarce. On the other hand, increasing the supply is a heavy blow to gold.

"Gold will plummet. A complete plummet." Ying Yu said to Shang Wen.

"Yes. That's the effect. So you can solve the Zhao country problem. However, you have solved it. I have to solve more problems. Appease those nobles." Shang Wen said.

"It will start before." Shang Wen said.

"Chu's problem, you can also transfer it, after all, you can make a lot of money this time." Shang Wen said.

"En. Yes, that's right, we made a lot of money." Yingyu said excitedly. Thinking of the problem of Zhao Guo could be solved at once, Yingyu was very happy. Although Qin has increased the supply of gold these days. However, major banks have taken certain measures to pull gold. Gold has always remained at a relatively high position. Although it did not break through 400 gold again, it has been hovering near the 380 gold position. Gold does not rise or rise. The decline caused Zhao people to wait and see. Some bold Zhao people felt that there was a bargain to take advantage of and boldly bought. But gold is so stalemate. This makes many people hang their hearts, and if Shangwen does so, this balance will be broken, once the situation is broken. What kind of situation is Zhao Guo. Yingyu is very clear.

Zhao State of Handan.

"What investment meeting did the people of Qin ask us to prepare. What does this mean?" Li Mu looked at the strange telegram sent by Qin with confusion. In a suggested way, this telegram suggested that Li Mu convene an investment conference to allow the nobles of Zhao State to invest in industry. That is, Zhao's industry, infrastructure construction is up. Li Mu naturally agrees with this, but these noble lords, will they agree? Li Mu drew a big question mark in his heart.