Three Kingdoms: Liu Bei seeks the master and seeks to conquer the world

Chapter 175 The theory of salt and iron, bring A Liang into the barracks

In fact, the best way to win over the Mi family is through marriage.

But now that Mi Zhu's younger sister is not yet ready to marry, Zheng Ping can't suggest Liu Bei to marry her.

"With Mi Zizhong's virtue and ability, he can indeed be regarded as a great talent, just according to Xianmou's words." Liu Bei nodded and agreed with Zheng Ping's proposal.

The Maocai Division originally selects talents with extraordinary abilities, and it is difficult to be selected without considerable talents and experience.

After all, there will be no more than twenty Maocai places for a big man a year.

The Mi family has cultivated it for generations.

Although Mi Zhu took advantage of the Yellow Turban Rebellion and became a wealthy businessman in the East China Sea in one fell swoop, but after all, his background was too poor, and his ancestors never became officials.

It is precisely because of this that Mi Zhu became the Xuzhou Biejia on the condition of providing Tao Qian with money and food.

But after all, Xuzhou Biejia was only confiscated by Tao Qian. In the future, Tao Qian will not be the governor of Xuzhou, and Mi Zhu's Xuzhou Biejia may not be able to continue.

However, Maocai was selected by the imperial court!
Even if you fail to become an official for some reason in the future, you can still bring "Mi Zhu, a native of the East China Sea, a great talent at [-]" and so on.

This is an officially recognized status symbol.

Liu Bei gave last year's Maocai quota to Zhen Yao of the Zhen family in Zhongshan, in exchange for a large amount of money and food support from the Zhen family.

Now Mi Zhu gives Liu Bei far more money and food support than Zhen Yao, so it is not an exaggeration to give Mi Zhu a talent quota.

"Qingzhou has plenty of rain this year, and the harvested food is enough to cope with the famine in Qingzhou, but food alone is not enough. Qingzhou still needs a lot of money for expenses."

"Zihui once privately proposed that he hoped to restore the official salt and iron camp of Sang Hongyang in the early Han Dynasty after the autumn harvest: the salt was allowed to be made by the people, but after the salt was boiled, all the salt would be bought and sold by the government."

"Iron is directly responsible for the mining, smelting and casting of iron ore by the government. The criminals designated by the government serve in the service, and some scholars and people can be recruited to engage in production and transportation. However, the iron smelted is owned by the government and sold by the government. Anyone Do not make iron privately."

"Xian Mou thinks, can this strategy be implemented?"

Liu Bei asked while laying down.

Because it was proposed by Liu Hui in Zhizhong in private, Liu Bei did not gather people to discuss it.

Since Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu used "jujitsu to rule the world", the salt and iron monopoly was abolished, and the government was only responsible for collecting salt and iron taxes.

Since then, the government decree of Yantie has been changed repeatedly, and the state of coexistence of government and private enterprises has been generally maintained.

Liu Hui's proposal to restore the official salt and iron camp is based on the current situation that most of the salt and iron resources in Qingzhou are in the hands of the local powerful gentry, while the government-run salt and iron farms are scarce.

However, salt and iron have always been controversial. If the government's decree cannot distribute the benefits reasonably, it will cause "public grievances."

Zheng Ping chuckled: "Liu Zhizhong thought for Qingzhou, and wanted to increase Qingzhou's money, grain and taxation with the salt and iron government, to attack the power of powerful and wealthy merchants, and to restrain the salt and iron merchants from annexing a large number of lands. This is a good intention."

"The old theory of salt and iron has thoroughly analyzed the pros and cons of the official operation of salt and iron, and the trade-off between the pros and cons is only a trade-off."

"But the interests of salt and iron are too great, whether it is government-run or private, it will breed monopoly."

"Based on the current situation in Qingzhou, it is not suitable for the distribution of benefits in this area."

"You can temporarily issue a decree: salt is taxed on the spot, and the people are allowed to buy and sell freely. No one can monopolize it."

"However, for the punishment of monopoly, we will not formulate detailed rules for the time being. When encountering a typical case, we will formulate detailed rules for monopoly punishment."

What Liu Hui thought about was how to use the Yantie official camp to open up sources of income, but what Zheng Ping thought about was how to maintain the stability of Qingzhou.

For the benefit of some salt and iron, Qingzhou scholars and people have been competing for their interests, which is very detrimental to Qingzhou, which has just stabilized.

Seeing that Liu Bei was in trouble, Zheng Ping shook his fan and said with a smile: "Liu Zhizhong wants to open source, but actually it doesn't need to be so troublesome."

"Could it be that you have forgotten, why did we give the "Book of Sisheng", "The Moon Order of the Four People" and Qu Yuanli to the powerful nobles in Qingzhou?"

Without hesitation, Liu Bei said, "Naturally, we want the powerful gentry to donate money and food to help the hungry."

After a pause, Liu Bei came to his senses: "Could it be that Xianmou wants to teach them to make salt and iron in a more efficient way?"

Zheng Ping said with a smile: "Actually, it's not a very efficient method. These salt and iron crafts originally existed in Qingzhou. It's just because of the war and famine that many places have been lost."

"Nowadays, there are not many rich salt and iron merchants who have mastered these techniques in Qingzhou."

"You can send someone to build a salt workshop in Dongnae County to make professional salt-making utensils and produce high-quality sea salt."

"Then give these sea salt to the rich and powerful gentry along the coast of Qingzhou, and allow them to visit the salt workshop."

"And let out the news that the State Shepherd's Office intends to build a large number of salt factories along the coast of Qingzhou for sea salt production, but it is worried that it will compete with the people for profit, so it has been hesitant."

"There are too many people to inquire about the news, and then let people spread the word that the state pastoral government intends to build a salt factory, and then sell the salt factory to the common people who want to engage in sea salt production and sales."

"The construction of the saltworks can provide paid jobs for the villagers who have nothing to do after the autumn harvest, and the sale of the saltworks can also bring a lot of money and food to the state pastoral government."

"Like "Book of Si Sheng" and "Monthly Order of the Four People", this complete sea salt production process must be bought by someone willing to spend money."

Liu Bei was dumbfounded when he heard this: "But would those people really buy it?"

Zheng Ping shook his fan and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter if you don't buy it. The prefectural pastoral government has invested so much money and food in the construction of salt workshops, so it must be used to make sea salt, right?"

"Anyway, the cost of our salt is lower, and the price is also lower, so we don't have to worry about no market."

"It's not for the king to compete with the people for profit, but for the people to give up profits, so that the king has no choice but to do it!"

Compared with using coercive means, Zheng Ping prefers to use profit-driven methods.

Compete with the people?

Who made the level of craftsmanship of you salt and iron tycoons too low?

Want high craftsmanship?
Then come and buy the salt workshop built by the State Shepherd's Mansion.

Not buying?

Then I'm sorry, let the market decide everything.

Although Zheng Ping did not understand the salt and iron crafts of later generations, this did not affect Zheng Ping's collection of crafts that existed in this era.

As for whether there will be a case of hiding secrets?
Of course!
When Zheng Ping approached Zuo Bo to buy Zuo Bo's paper crafts, Zuo Bo also had the idea of ​​hiding things.

But who is Zheng Ping?

The second son of the great Confucian Zheng Xuan, used Zheng Xuan's name in exchange for benefits. He has done it countless times since he was a child.

The sentence "If you are interested, I will pay homage to my father" is enough to make these Qingzhou scholars and people who have mastered the craft respectfully invite Zheng Ping to the top position.

Qingzhou has inherited a large number of crafts. Zheng Ping can get the papermaking craft of Zuobo Paper, and naturally he can also get the craft of making salt and iron.

If there are more crafts, it will naturally be able to confirm and improve each other, and gather the strengths of all the families.

Even if there is no systematic manufacturing, Zheng Ping can still come up with craftsmanship that makes Qingzhou's powerful gentry hard to find.

This is the background of the Beihai Zheng family!

Liu Bei said with emotion: "Xianmou, this time I'm going to take out the books in your home to make money for the state pastoral mansion. I'm really ashamed!"

If Liu Bei didn't mention salt and iron, Zheng Ping would not have to take out the private collection in this family.

For a wealthy family, the knowledge that can be passed down in writing is more precious than gold.

Zheng Ping didn't take it seriously: "The construction of Yantiefang in Qingzhou is already in my Qingzhou development plan, and I will take it out sooner or later. Since the envoy asked about it, I will mention it by the way."

"After the autumn harvest, we can start to advance."

"In this way, the envoy of Liu Zhizhong can reply."

After chatting about some military and political affairs, Zheng Ping got up and left, and went to the school to look for Zhuge Liang.

"Brother came to look for me, is he going out to lobby again?"

"Who is lobbying this time? Jizhou Mu or Yanzhou Inspector? Or Jingzhou Inspector?"

Zhuge Liang was in high spirits.

Going back to Youzhou to follow Zheng Ping to lobby Gongsun Zan, Liu Yu and others, Zhuge Liang benefited a lot and opened his eyes.

After returning to Linzi City, Zhuge Liang became more interested in the study of "Zuo Zhuan" and "Warring States Policy".

Especially the strategists in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods' eloquent and eloquent demeanor fascinated Zhuge Liang even more.

To become a strategist, the most important thing is to be well-informed.

Part of the experience can be obtained from books, but part of the experience can only be obtained by seeing and hearing with your own eyes.

That is to say, reading thousands of books and traveling thousands of miles is indispensable.

Zheng Ping feather fan lightly tapped Zhuge Liang, and said with a smile: "I just want to run outside, this study must be down-to-earth, don't be half-hearted."

Zhuge Liang touched his head: "Brother, why am I not down-to-earth? The lessons in the school are too simple, how about letting A Liang follow my brother?"

"Ah Liang can be my brother's secretary."

Zheng Ping chuckled: "Have you ever read "Mencius Gongsun Chou?"

Zhuge Liang didn't pretend to think: "People in Song Dynasty had Min Qi's seedlings that were not long but picked them up. The light came back, and he said: "I'm sick today! Let me help the seedlings grow!"

"The son tends to look at it, and the seedlings will wither. There are few people in the world who do not help the seedlings and the elders. Those who abandon them because they think it is useless are those who do not cultivate the seedlings; those who help the elders are also those who pluck the seedlings. It is not useless. And harm it."

"Brother, Ah Liang is just going to be a secretary to increase his knowledge, not to waste his studies."

Zheng Ping had a slight appreciation in his eyes: "I remember it quite clearly. But I have no plan to leave Qingzhou recently, so you should give up this idea."

Zhuge Liang was a little displeased immediately: "Then why did elder brother come to the school to look for A Liang?"

Seeing Zhuge Liang's aggrieved look, Zheng Ping lightly shook his feather fan and asked with a smile, "Have you read "Sima Fa" recently?"

Zhuge Liang's voice was weak: "Never."

Zheng Ping shook his head and turned around: "Hey, I wanted to take you to Qingzhou Ruishi's barracks, so I asked you to study "Sima Law". It seems that I paid by mistake."

Zhuge Liang's eyes suddenly brightened, and he quickly caught up with Zheng Ping: "Brother, it was a joke just now! A Liang is reading "Sima Fa" every day."

"Really?" Zheng Ping couldn't believe it.

"Seriously!" Zhuge Liang said affirmatively, "If you don't believe me, you should take the test."

Zheng Ping shook his feather fan lightly, and took the school test while walking: "Then tell me, what is a strict position?"

Zhuge Liang did not pretend to think: "The way of all wars is to be strict in position, to be in power, to be tall in strength, to be idle, and to have one heart."

Eloquently, Zhuge Liang recited the Yan Wei chapter in "Sima Fa" fluently.

Zheng Ping slightly appreciated: "It's not enough to just recite, you have to be able to understand the meaning."

Zhuge Liang's tone was dissatisfied: "Brother, you can test the school word by word to see if A Liang understands it wrong."

Zheng Ping laughed and tested Zhuge Liang's understanding of "Sima Law" all the way to Qingzhou Ruishi's barracks.

As soon as he arrived at the gate of the barracks, a fierce aura came towards him.

Zhuge Liang subconsciously felt a chill, and his originally passionate voice also stagnated.

"What a fierce look!"

Zhuge Liang looked at the two fierce soldiers at the gate of the camp with some fear.

The eyes of these two fierce soldiers were full of ferocity.

"Ah Liang, this is a military camp. If you can't even bear this bit of ferocity, how can you make a big deal in the future?" Zheng Ping moved to block the eyes of the two fierce soldiers and reprimanded them softly.

The ferocity in the eyes of the fierce soldier did not disappear because of Zheng Ping's arrival, but he clenched the weapon in his hand: "The military camp is important, idlers, etc., are not allowed to enter!"

Zheng Ping looked approvingly, and showed the token to the soldier for a closer look.

The fierce soldier carefully checked the token in Zheng Ping's hand, then returned the token to Zheng Ping, and respectfully moved out of the way.

"Let's go, Ah Liang, today I'll show you the might of Qingzhou elite soldiers!" Zheng Ping lightly shook his feather fan and strode forward.

Zhuge Liang looked at the soldier again, but the soldier's gaze was still extremely fierce.

"What am I afraid of!"

"It's not an enemy!"

"Even if it's an enemy, I'm not afraid!"

Zhuge Liang cheered himself up and stepped into the military camp for the first time.

But Zhuge Liang, who has always been eloquent and quick-witted, became cautious after setting foot in the barracks.

"A Liang, this is not like you." Zheng Ping joked, "Could it be that you are afraid? It seems that you can only be a civil servant in the future."

Zhuge Liang immediately refused to accept it and said, "Brother, don't underestimate me! This is my first time entering the barracks, so I'm bound to be a little cautious, and I got used to it soon."

"This is the first time, isn't it brother before?"

Zheng Ping spoke slowly: "I killed the eunuch at the age of 14, how can I be cautious because I entered the barracks?"

Zhuge Liang's eyes widened immediately.

It was only then that I remembered that the Zheng Ping in front of me was the ruthless man who dared to draw his sword and kill the eunuch Su Li when he was visiting relatives in prison at the age of 14.

between the lines.

Army Sima Yu Jin put on his armor and helmet, walked towards Zheng Ping, clasped his fists and bowed his hands in salute: "The last general will be Jin, don't drive if you see him!"

Zheng Ping returned a salute, pointed to Zhuge Liang, and said, "In addition to the routine inspection of Qingzhou Ruishi today, I brought a little guy here to practice courage."

Yu Jin looked at Zhuge Liang.

Yu Jin didn't dare to underestimate this young man who was highly regarded by Qingzhou Mu Liu Bei and Qingzhou Biejia Zheng Ping.

You must know that apart from Liu Bei and Zheng Ping, not even Zhizhong Liu Hui is eligible to enter the military camp of Qingzhou Ruishi!
But today, Zheng Ping brought Zhuge Liang.

"The training of Qingzhou Ruishi is a bit fierce, do you want to—" Yu Jin was a little worried.

Zheng Ping shook his fan and smiled lightly: "No, follow your plan. If Ah Liang can't even stand this bit of savagery, I'll consider letting him go to civil service in the future."

(End of this chapter)