contend

Chapter 480 Anxiety
"In April, a total of 17 shi of grain flowed from Hanzhong into Longxi, [-] shi of grain flowed into Anding from Hedong County, and [-] shi of grain flowed into Yanmen County from Hebei." Pang Qing reported with a notebook.

"It's over?" Yang Zheng saw that the price of grain in Guzang was rising steadily, and there were grain carts everywhere, so he thought there was at least one or two million shi.

31 shi of grain seems good, but it is just a drop in the bucket for Liangzhou today.

The key is to use up all the money in the treasury.

Raising food prices did not meet expectations, and the economic war is indeed not something everyone can afford.

In fact, thinking about it, the Kingdom of Shu itself is poor enough to drink the northwest wind. It grows a lot of mulberries in the territory to increase the output of Shu brocade, and sometimes buys grain from Soochow. Even if it wants to sell it, there is not much in the granary.

Another reason is that it is limited by the long distance and difficult mountain roads.

The grain in Hanzhong can be sold to Longxi, but how can the grain in Shuzhong be transported on a large scale?
How much do you spend on the road?
The ancients also knew that grain cannot be transported for thousands of miles.

"That's all right now, and it's expected to increase slightly next month," Pang Qing said.

Yang Zheng thought carefully for a while.

The idea of ​​economic warfare is correct.

The collapse of a country is first and foremost an economic collapse.

Lying on the Hexi Corridor by myself is equivalent to lying on a golden mountain. The money is spent and earned again. The money in the treasury is exchanged for food. In fact, it is not considered a loss. Food is a strategic material and cannot be measured in money.

How to let food prices hit the enemy?
Yang Zheng recalled all kinds of technology and hard work of the capitalists and predators in the future, and suddenly a flash of inspiration flashed in his mind, and he was anxious about selling!

It caused food anxiety in the middle of Shu and the Central Plains, and stimulated the internal conflicts between the two countries.

Who is the hardest hit by rising food prices?
It must not be the powerful nobles, but ordinary people.

Given the current state of Shu, the people have long been overwhelmed. After Fei Yi’s death, Jiang Wei’s tens of thousands of people marched northward, but the gains were minimal. The Taoxi War did not break out in history, and the Duangu War severely damaged Shu. .

A country with a registered population of more than 90 needs to support [-] troops and [-] officials...

You can imagine what kind of life the people of Shu lived.

The same goes for Wei Guo.

In successive years of wars, the Three Rebels in Huainan were the most powerful. It can be called the war with the largest number of troops invested since the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms. million reinforcements.

Wei Guo's national power is indeed the strongest, but how many times can he play like this?
This also caused Sima Zhao to squeeze out only [-] troops to support Chang'an.

This year, Sima Zhao also issued an edict in the name of Emperor Cao Mao, adding [-]% to the tax...

If the people's anxiety rises, internal conflicts will become more and more intense.

The composition of the two countries is not only the gentry and powerful, but also a large number of poor families, common people, and farmers who are struggling on the critical line of hunger and cold.

These talents are the real strength supporting Wei and Shu.

The tyrants of the gentry would certainly not cut off their own flesh and blood to feed the court.

And the gentry tyrants are also divided into strong and weak, and the tyrants with weak strength are actually the targets of exploitation.

"Send people to the middle of Shu and the Central Plains to spread rumors, drive up food prices, stir up troubles, and use all means to drive up their food prices!" In fact, without Yang Zheng's order, food prices in Wei and Shu countries would inevitably rise .

Zhonghui's 14 troops were suppressed in Guanzhong, and Shu was also actively preparing for war. Food supplies were sent to the front line in Hanzhong, and domestic prices were not limited to food.

In order to support the 14 troops of the Wei State, the food from the Central Plains must be transported to Guanzhong.

Coupled with the empty status quo of Wei State, the price of food is bound to rise.

Although the three forces are hostile to each other, their economic ties have never been broken.

The rise in grain prices in Liangzhou will definitely be transmitted to the Central Plains and Sichuan.

This is the dimensionality reduction blow.

When will the honestly purchased grain be received?
Honestly playing siege with Sima Zhao, can you beat the Central Plains?
With the current situation in Liangzhou, how can we break the situation without some showy operations?

Pang Qing nodded half-understanding, "Your subordinate will do it now."

Luoyang.

Since Sima Zhao was promoted to Xiangguo, domestic government affairs no longer need to be sent to the palace, and Cao Mao's only little power was also lost.

The same is true for Queen Mother Guo, who was completely excluded by his brothers and uncle.

The pattern of mutual containment set up by Emperor Ming, including relatives, senior officials, and gentry clans, was completely broken.

Back then, Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty was supported by many Han officials, but now Cao Mao looks at the court, and only one Wang Jing, who was born in a common clan, is still standing beside him.

But a turning point seems to be coming.

In May of the fourth year of Ganlu, General Zhengnan, Sikong Wang Chang died of illness, and there was a power gap in Wei.

Originally the most qualified successor was Wang Ji, who had served as the governor of Jingzhou for many years and was familiar with the Jingxiang battle, but Wang Ji was beheaded in Chang'an, and there were not many remaining candidates.

Jingzhou is the land where the Three Kingdoms meet. There are wars all the year round, and it cannot be defended unless it is a heavy general.

Sima Zhao didn't dare to send the Sima family's scraps up for a while.

The DPRK and China proposed that Zhou Tai be the general who conquered the South.

Sima Zhao has been hesitant.

The three towns of Guanzhong, Jingxiang, and Yangzhou are unusual, with tens of thousands and 10,000+ troops stationed all year round.

Put it in the hands of outsiders, after all, don't worry.

After finally killing Wang Chang, Sima Zhao is not at ease.

At Jia Chong's suggestion, Sima Zhao divided Jingzhou into two, and Chen Qian served as the general who conquered the south, who supervised all the military forces in Jingzhou and towned Xinye.

Zhou Tai served as the general who conquered the captives, and he supervised all the military forces in the south of the Yangtze River, and he was in Xiangyang.

However, the post of Inspector of Jingzhou was vacant.

Everyone can see that after Wang Chang's death, Jingzhou military power is a piece of fat.

There was endless debate in the court.

Emperor Cao Mao also joined the competition and recommended Shangshu Wang Jing. He had served as the prefect of Jiangxia back then and was familiar with the situation in Jingzhou.

The emperor was a loner in the court, but the Queen Mother Guo was not, and she helped him secretly.

Sima Zhao considered that he had just been promoted to Xiangguo, and it was not appropriate to push too hard, so he agreed.

"May your majesty endure for a few more years. The Sima family has been defeated by Yang Xingyun several times. If they lose again in the Guanzhong battle, their prestige will plummet and people's hearts will be scattered. The gentry will be dissatisfied. Your majesty may have a chance. I will go to Jingzhou to tidy up the people. Raise soldiers outside, and there will be good news in a few years." Wang Jing knelt beside Cao Mao.

The gentry chose the Sima family, but there are still loyal people among the common people.

Cao Mao said sadly: "Sima's power is overwhelming, and there are people with heartless hearts in the court. If you go here, you can do what you can, and you can protect yourself if you can't."

Wang Jing tearfully said, "Where did your majesty say that? Sima Yi has been dormant for decades before there will be a turning point for Gaoping Mausoleum. As long as Yang Xingyun is undefeated, Sima Zhao will not take a step back. It is not a long-lived minister to look at Sima Zhao." Prime Minister, Your Majesty is young and young, why bother to fight for the length of a day?"

"That's right." Cao Mao wiped away his tears.

He used everyone who could be used in the court.

Except for Wang Jing, almost all the rest are from the noble family.

Even Xia Houhe defected to Sima Zhao, and was recently named Prime Minister Zuo Sima, becoming Sima Zhao's confidant...

Xiahouhe is the seventh son of Xiahouyuan, Xiahouba's younger brother, who is talented in debate, and he defected to Sima Zhao, which means that the Xiahou clan of Wei State compromised with Sima Zhao.

(End of this chapter)