I seek economic hegemony in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 228 The meeting between the Prime Minister and the General

On the first day of April, Zhang Xiu passed by Jiangling, stopped briefly at Zhuge Jin's place, and talked about some of the current changes in Jiangzhou.

It also explains Li Heng's attitude.

Zhuge Jin didn't say much. Easing the relationship with Yizhou was what he wanted to see most.

On the second day of April, Zhang Xiu arrived in Wuchang again and met with Lu Xun.

He also introduced what he saw and heard in Yizhou this time.

Lu Xun was very shocked after hearing this.

"How many people did Li Jian kill?"

"The lower official has no way of knowing."

"How many manpower did he transfer to Jiangzhou?"

"The lower officials have no way of knowing." Zhang Xiu said, "Although Yizhou has just experienced this sudden change, it is better not to think about marching westward to Yizhou."

Lu Xun walked back and forth, the wrinkles on his face seemed to become serious, and his eyes became deep.

"In such a vigorous effort to eliminate dissidents, the manpower of those big families is now in Li Jian's hands, and he has mobilized a large number of manpower to go to Jiangzhou. Is he planning something?"

"What does the Governor mean?"

"Going down the river from Jiangzhou to Jiangling, I'm afraid Li Jian has some plans for us."

Zhang Xiu smiled and said: "The general's words are serious. The Shu army suffered a lot in Guanzhong last year. Luoyang also confirmed that there was a large-scale battle between Shu and Wei last year. Although Li Jian is the general, the highest strategy is still in the hands of Zhuge Kongming. , how could Kong Ming start a war between the two sides during the confrontation in Guanzhong?"

"Besides, the Shu army does not have that many warships. Even if it reluctantly goes south, it will not be able to capture Jiangling in a short time. If Wuchang soldiers and horses move westward to support, the Shu army will be surrounded on both sides."

Seeing that Lu Xun was still deep in thought, Zhang Xiu continued: "If we retreat 10,000 steps and the Shu army captures Nanjun, the Wei army in Xiangyang will definitely take advantage of the fact that the Shu army and we have exhausted each other and go south to seize Jiangling. The Shu army will eventually fetch water from bamboo baskets. Kong Ming would never make such a confused decision, and neither would Li Jian."

Lu Xun didn't relax slightly. Zhang Xiu was right. It seemed that he was overly concerned.

Lu Xun said: "You should return to Beijing quickly."

"Before I go back, I have one more thing that your Majesty asked me to ask the Governor."

"What's the matter?"

"Now the trade with Yizhou will be fully opened without any obstruction. Next, Shu money will enter in large quantities. In order to prevent Yizhou from using coins to deal with us, His Majesty plans to mint a large amount of Shu money and take the Shu money to Jiangzhou. Oh , now the name has been changed to Chongqing, to buy new salt and blue and white porcelain, and the governor is also required to increase the minting of coins in Wuchang County."

"I know, I will mobilize more people to mint money."

Wuchang County has copper mines and is located in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, at the junction of Yangzhou and Jingzhou.

In fact, not only Wuchang County has copper mines, but many counties in Sun Wu have copper mines.

Most of China's copper mines are still located south of the Yangtze River.

For example, in Danyang County, which was later known as Jiangxi, there was the Dexing Copper Mine, a copper mine in the Eastern world.

The mining of Dexing Copper Mine started very early.

As for the copper mining in Wuchang County, it can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period.

Chu State expanded eastward and destroyed Sui State and E State, in fact, it was to compete for copper mines.

Among them, E State was located in Wuchang County in this era, which was also known as Daye and Ezhou in later generations.

Generally speaking, Sun Wu does not lack natural resources.

On the ninth day of April, Zhang Xiu returned to Wuchang and met Sun Quan.

After hearing Zhang Xiu's report, Sun Quan asked: "This Li Jian is acting so recklessly in Yizhou, and Yizhou is in chaos, don't we have another chance to advance westward?"

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid it won't work now." Zhang Xiu quickly dissuaded Sun Quan, "Our army's westward advance last year was not smooth, and its morale was somewhat damaged. Not only will it be difficult to achieve results if we advance westward again, but if at a critical moment, the Wei army in Xiangyang suddenly goes south, the situation will be dire. I’m afraid it’s going to be tough.”

Sun Quan sighed and said: "If we didn't advance westward last year, if we wait until this time this year and take advantage of the internal chaos in Yizhou to take action, we will definitely succeed!"

"Your Majesty, there is no need to be upset. Li Jian's excessive killing in Yizhou this time must have triggered an irreconcilable conflict between the two factions. We will not let it go. We will wait for the next civil strife. It will not be too late for us to take action."

"That's all. By the way, you go see Deng Zhi and say that the relationship between the two countries has eased. I also apologized and agreed to everything that should be promised. I hope that we can still be friends in the future."

"Here."

On April 20, Li Heng got off the boat at the ferry in Gudao County. This is the northernmost source of the Jialing River, located in the Taibai Mountain area of ​​the Qinling Mountains. A little further ahead, it leaves the Qinling Mountains and reaches Guanzhong.

It is said that in the early Western Han Dynasty, the Jialing River and the Western Han River were connected, but later an earthquake occurred and the Western Han River and the Jialing River were cut off.

This cut off Jihan's hope of transporting grain and grass by water.

The Jialing River merges into the Yangtze River in Jiangzhou, one of Jihan's core metropolitan areas.

The northernmost Gudao County of the Jialing River was previously controlled by the Wei State, but since the Fifth Northern Expedition achieved great results, this area has gradually been controlled by Ji Han.

That's why Li Heng dared to take the waterway.

This is convenient and makes your whereabouts more concealed.

Analyzing from the geographical and economic situation, this is also the reason why Li Heng built Chongqing into a hub connecting Guanzhong, Shu and Jingzhou.

After disembarking in Gudao County, Li Heng led his guards and went straight to Guanzhong.

He had not seen the Prime Minister for almost two years. This time he went north to see the Prime Minister again, and he was full of emotions.

One evening on April 23, Zhuge Liang was having dinner as usual while reporting on spring planting in various counties in Guanzhong.

The sun was setting on the front steps and a gentle breeze was blowing through the grass.

"Prime Minister! Prime Minister!" Fei Yi walked in quickly, "Ji'an is here!"

Zhuge Liang trembled, put down his pen, and stood up immediately, with an excited smile on his face: "Quick, get ready, I want to greet him in person."

Zhuge Liang changed his clothes, took Fei Yi, Yang Yi and others with him, and was about to go down to Wuzhangyuan, when he saw a group of people in front of him on the slope approaching.

Zhuge Liang immediately recognized that the person coming was Li Heng, and he was even more excited.

"Prime Minister! Prime Minister..."

Far away, Li Heng also saw Zhuge Liang and his party on the slope.

He dismounted at the bottom of the slope and galloped up, but no one stopped him.

There was a trace of disgust on Yang Yi's face, while Fei Yi looked at this scene with a smile.

"Prime Minister!" Li Heng rushed to Zhuge Liang, his forehead already covered with fine sweat, "See Prime Minister!"

Zhuge Liang held Li Heng's hand firmly: "I haven't seen you in almost two years!"

"Yes, the last time I left Guanzhong was June of the year before last. It's been almost two years since I last saw you!"

Li Heng looked at Zhuge Liang carefully. Zhuge Liang looked much better than when he presented the medicine, but he was still tired.

Guanzhong and Longyou are the most important strategic positions on the front line. Wei State continues to invest a lot of manpower and financial resources here, and even has a two-line layout.

Most people usually make a few mistakes and have to work on themselves for several days before they calm down.

Not to mention the endless military and political matters that are dealt with every day.

In Zhuge Liang's position, the pressure is so great that ordinary people can't imagine it.

"Prime Minister, please pay attention to your health!" Li Heng said with an moved expression.

"You actually look a little tired." Zhuge Liang smiled bitterly, his eyes full of love for this junior, "It seems that you have suffered a lot in the capital in the past two years."

"Compared to the affairs with the prime minister, what do you do with the lower officials?"

"Thanks to you! Thanks to you!" Zhuge Liang said happily.

"Prime Minister, Ji'an has been traveling all the way. I'm afraid I haven't had dinner yet, so I'd better go back first and I'll go get ready." Fei Yi said with a smile.

"Yeah, I haven't seen Ji'an for a long time. I want to have a few drinks with him tonight!" Jiang Wei laughed.

It had been reported that Li Heng would arrive today, so Zhuge Liang summoned Jiang Wei, Zhang Yi, Ma Dai, Meng Yan and others back.

"Yes, yes, let's go, Ji'an. Let's go eat first. After dinner, we can chat slowly." Zhuge Liang took Li Heng's hand and became even more excited.

Everyone laughed and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Li Heng hugged everyone and said to Zhuge Liang: "Prime Minister please."

(End of this chapter)