I seek economic hegemony in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 240 Sun Quan: I’m numb!

"Before February next year, prepare five million arrows." Li Heng said, "There are also three hundred eight-oxen crossbows!"

"Here!"

Time flies so fast, and it’s already November in a blink of an eye.

The news that Li Heng increased his troops in Guanzhong aroused a lot of noise in Wei State. Under pressure, under the operation of Sima Yi, Cao Wei's first batch of Zhechong mansions in Guanzhong were being quickly established.

At the same time, Yangzhou also began to set up Zhechongfu.

This was done quickly and quietly.

But Cao Wei's three fronts are now tense, and he is short of troops like a traveler short of water.

That month, the local government began to recruit troops.

Moreover, it was convened in all counties and counties in Yangzhou. In December, the matter reached Jianye on the south bank of the Yangtze River.

On the tenth day of December, Jianye Palace.

After reading the financial situation of Taifu Temple submitted by Liu Ji, Sun Quan's face looked like he had been soaked in bitter water for three days and three nights.

"His Majesty……"

"Tell me, you have to tell me the reason! Why did this paper only sell 500,000 copies in the second half of this year?"

The anger in Sun Quan's eyes was burning, as if it was about to overwhelm Liu Ji in an instant.

Liu Ji said in fear: "Your Majesty, three months ago, a large number of paper mills began to appear in the Wei people. Our paper is transported to the north bank of the Yangtze River, and the sales volume decreases month by month. This is not because I am doing something bad!"

"How come the Wei people have paper?" Sun Quan said angrily, "When did the Wei country get the art of papermaking?"

"Your Majesty, we can get it, and Wei can get it too!" Liu Jidao.

"That's not what you told me this time last year!"

"Your Majesty, I didn't expect Wei to move so quickly!"

"What should we do now?"

I originally thought I could make money while lying down in Cao Wei, but I didn't expect that after working hard for a year, I would become lonely.

"Your Majesty, it is not completely useless for us to obtain papermaking technology. People in Wu are buying a lot of paper, and they no longer have to go to Yizhou to buy it. The imperial court has made a lot of money from papermaking this year..."

"Is this what I value?" Sun Quan replied angrily, "Now there is another government military system. Cao Wei is recruiting troops aggressively in Yangzhou. If I had known this, I sent troops to attack Yizhou last year. Why didn't I send troops? While Wei is weak, go attack Hefei!"

The ministers were silent.

It's still greed.

Sun Quan knew that Zhuge Liang's control of Guanzhong was causing great troubles, and the Wei State was suffering from headaches, and he was still sending more troops to the western front.

As for the southeast, Wei State was powerless and found it difficult to increase its troops.

After all, there is a limit to increasing troops.

Sun Quan thought that he should make money first, and then find a reason to fall out with Cao Rui and capture Hefei.

win!

Big win!

Win twice!

What a win!

The result is now really numb!

It’s not that you won, you were cheated!

If there is no money to be made, military action will be taken immediately to launch a military attack on northern Yangzhou, so as to establish a deep and broad frontier position in Jiangbei.

"Your Majesty! I just received the news this morning that the Shu envoy disembarked at the ferry north of Jianye."

"The envoy from Shu is here again?" Sun Quan was slightly surprised.

"Yes, it's still Deng Bomiao."

"Where are the others?"

"It's settled in at this point."

"Quick! Quick! Quick! Please come here quickly! Please come here immediately!" Sun Quan suddenly became excited, "No, no, no, let him rest first. I will hold a rich state banquet at noon and invite Deng Bomiao! I will retreat from the court today. There’s no need to say anything else!”

As soon as Deng Zhi settled down, he didn't expect that Sun Quan would be eager to see him at noon.

And at noon, Sun Quan held a feast, and all the important ministers of Wu State came.

"I've met Lord Wu."

"Oh, Bo Miao, you are really destined to be with me. You have only been back for a few months and you are here again."

The smile on Sun Quan's face was as sweet as honey. He took Deng Zhi's hand, led Deng Zhi over personally, and asked Deng Zhi to sit beside him. "How is the male heir?"

"Everything is well with our Lord. He asked me to say hello to Lord Wu."

"Okay, I sent someone to send a lot of silk to Chengdu. I hope the public heir likes it."

"My Lord liked it very much and asked me to bring some new blue and white porcelain to present to Lord Wu."

"Thank you very much. How about Prime Minister Zhuge?"

"Prime Minister Zhuge is sitting in Guanzhong, conducting military operations at Longyou, and everything is fine."

Sun Quan picked up the wine glass and said, "Come on, Bo Miao, we are destined, let's drink this glass of wine first!"

Deng Zhi was quite flattered for a moment.

The last time I came, Sun Quan was not like this.

Even if his attitude changed later, Sun Quan would not be like this.

After Deng Zhi finished drinking, Sun Quan personally cut a piece of venison for Deng Zhi and sprinkled new salt on Deng Zhi's venison.

"Master Wu, I am ashamed to show you such courtesy!"

"You are my most distinguished guest, Wu!" Sun Quan's eyes shone, "How are you, General?"

"Everything is fine, General."

"I heard that the general summoned hundreds of thousands of troops in Jiangzhou to march north?"

"This is indeed true. Cao Wei has also begun to increase his troops. Naturally, the Prime Minister will increase his troops. The general is executing the Prime Minister's order."

Having said this, Deng Zhi immediately took out Li Heng's letter from his arms and said, "Master Wu, this is a letter from the general to you."

Sun Quan took it as if he had found a treasure, with a sweet smile on his face.

When he saw Li Heng's letter inviting him to join the Northern Expedition next spring, he also said that there were already 500,000 strong soldiers in Guanzhong, and the thieves were here to defeat Cao.

Sun Quan smiled from ear to ear.

Damn it, I can't make any money in Cao Wei now, I'm going to decide on Hefei!

"Is the general still in Jiangzhou now?"

"Yes, they are still in Jiangzhou, but most of the soldiers, horses and food have already gone north. If nothing unexpected happens, the general will go north to Guanzhong after the year and follow the prime minister to attack Jingzhao with all his strength."

"Then you go back and tell the general that I will send troops in the spring of next year. Three armies will go north from Jingzhou to attack Xiangyang, Jianye will attack Hefei all the way, and all the way from Guangling! This battle is a decisive battle, and we will definitely wipe out the Cao thieves!"

"Master Wu is righteous!" Deng Zhi immediately stood up and bowed.

"Our two countries have been close friends for a long time." Sun Quan quickly stood up and said with an emotional expression.

There was some emotion and affection in his tone, and his eyes showed sincerity.

The dogs outside the palace were moved to tears and ate a few more mouthfuls of feces.

Next, there was eating, drinking, and some noble games.

After Sun Quan drank a little too much, he found that Gu Yong had left.

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister has left." Liu Ji came over and whispered in Sun Quan's ear.

"Let him go, the Prime Minister doesn't like this kind of occasion, let alone drinking."

Gu Yong was famously taciturn and disliked banquets. Sun Quan had entertained officials many times, but Gu Yong always withdrew halfway.

Sun Quan has long been used to it.

"But there is something I want to report to His Majesty." Liu Ji continued.

"What's the matter?"

"In the last quarter of this year, the amount of new salt purchased by Taifu Temple was reduced by more than half."

"Why is this?" Sun Quan couldn't help but frown.

"It was bought by some people."

"some people?"

"I went to investigate and found that two businessmen from Xiling bought most of it."

(End of this chapter)