I seek economic hegemony in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 376 Sima Yi follows up

By the end of July, when Guanqiu Jian returned from conquering Gaoguli, there was nothing he could do.

After weakening Guanqiu Jian, Sima Yi began to focus on Wang Ling.

This time was no longer a time of war, so Sima Yi didn't have much scruples.

As the governor of Yangzhou, Wang Ling could only mobilize his own troops without the tiger talisman authorized by the imperial court.

It is impossible for Wang Ling's troops and horses to compete with Sima Yi.

But Wang Ling did not show any intention to rebel, and Sima Yi could not find a reason to force him.

It is even more impossible to send Wang Ling to conquer Wu like he weakened Guanqiu Jian. After all, Sima Yi and Sun Quan are allies now.

Those who are martial can't write letters.

In August, the Luoyang court began to transfer and re-appoint the governors of various counties in Yangzhou.

"It's confirmed," said Sima Division. "Last year on the banks of the Yellow River, the cavalry from both sides had a head-on confrontation. The Shu cavalry uniformly adopted double stirrups."

"Ordnance supervisors have been set up in Luoyang and Xuchang respectively to supervise the manufacture of weapons. The Xuchang weapons supervisor can produce 10,000 armors this year."

Master Sima took Wang Hun, the Imperial Prince's sacrificial wine, to the Taifu Mansion.

Sima Yi frowned slightly, his eyes full of disbelief: "It was unheard of before that the Shu army had such equipment."

On the first day of August, Luoyang was still extremely hot.

Sima Yi was waiting for an opportunity, waiting for someone to report Wang Ling, or for someone he arranged to collect evidence.

Because he doesn't have any evidence that Wang Ling rebelled against him.

As for the subordinate officials of the governor, prefect and county magistrate, they all appointed them themselves.

If things go wrong and a piece of fat reaches his mouth, Sun Quan will not eat it for nothing.

Wang Hun said: "Master, we have tried it. After the cavalry adopts double stirrups, they are more stable on the horseback. Whether they are shooting arrows or charging with a long halberd, their combat effectiveness is stronger."

After all, centralization in this era has not yet been perfected.

"Our cavalry are all equipped with double stirrups." Wang Hun said, "Our cavalry is more than the Shu army. Equipped with double stirrups, we will have an advantage on the battlefield in the future."

As we all know, the Han court directly appointed governors, prefects and county magistrates.

While Sima Yi was appointing these local officials, he began to write nice words to Wang Ling again.

"Is it heavy armor?"

Master Sima seemed numb to the endless new tricks.

Moreover, the Zhechong Mansion in Yangzhou was established by Sima Yi before.

When Luoyang re-appointed a group of Yangzhou local officials, the subordinate officials of the local officials also meant to be re-appointed.

"Two stirrups?" Sima Yi asked in surprise.

"Li Jian is wearing a large number of armors for soldiers in Jingzhou. Sooner or later, the number of armors worn will exceed ours." Sima Yi said, "How is the progress of armor manufacturing?"

"I'm afraid it's that Li Jian who came up with it again." Master Sima sighed.

"Weighing fifty kilograms, it is as good as the elite of the Chinese army." Master Sima said.

This is really a very painful thing. Ten thousand armors is equivalent to piling up money and burning it.

But it’s not enough without burning.

According to detailed information, Sun Quan is also making armor.

Zhuge Liang in Guanzhong was also making armor.

In this competition to comprehensively improve armaments, once one party starts, it is impossible for the other two parties not to participate.

When all three parties are involved, it cannot be stopped.

Because all three parties now have weaknesses, they are all afraid, and they don’t know how many enemies their opponents will create.

And everyone knows that in a few years, there will be a larger-scale war. They are all preparing for a larger-scale war in a few years, and they all want to build more than their opponents.

This is an arms race.

Master Sima said: "There is one more thing that needs to be reported to Taifu, about Jingzhou."

"What's the matter?"

"Jingzhou has issued a kind of paper money in recent months."

"Paper money?"

"Yes." Master Sima said, "Money made of paper."

"What's the use of paper money?" Sima Yi asked in surprise, "Does anyone still know how to use paper money?"

"Both Nanjun and Xiangyang are using paper money." Master Sima continued, "I heard that this kind of paper money can be exchanged for copper coins at money shops."

Sima Yi's expression changed instantly, and his brain started working rapidly.

After a while, he asked: "Is this paper money different..."

"Different denominations." Master Sima added.

"Denomination?" Sima Yi was even more surprised, "This word is used well, yes, it means different denominations."

"Yes, Taifu also knows about this?"

"This is the first I've heard from you."

Wang Hun said: "Li Jian can think of things like paper money. It seems that he is crazy about poverty. When the time comes, he will throw away money at will and people's livelihood will collapse. Does he think that as long as he can make money, the money will be his?"

"No!" Sima Yi instantly looked like he was facing a formidable enemy, "It's not what you think!"

"Does the Grand Tutor think this strategy is feasible?" Wang Hun asked confused.

"Being able to exchange paper money for copper coins at a money store means that the paper money itself is as valuable as copper coins. The advantage of paper money over copper coins is that it has a specific denomination, is more convenient to carry, and has lower casting costs."

Although he had never learned any systematic financial knowledge, Sima Yi understood it immediately.

After all, things like coining money have been happening in endlessly since the founding of the Han Dynasty.

During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, five currencies were even invented.

Later, Wang Mang was opposed by the whole world because Wang Mang's monetary policy offended both the bottom and the top.

Moreover, in the earlier Wu-Yue struggle for hegemony, after Yue King Gou Jian was sent back by Fu Chai, he began to actively contact the Chu State, minted Chu State's ant-nosed money, obtained Chu State's financial support, and finally defeated the Wu State.

When future generations read the story of Gou Jian and Fu Cha, they always think that Gou Jian won by lying on his back and tasting his courage.

There are many examples of people being killed after lying down on fuel and tasting courage.

The competition on the battlefield must involve a competition of comprehensive national strength.

Although there was no written and systematic finance in ancient China, there were a lot of smart people, and there were many people who understood the wealth code of currency and economy.

Far away is Guan Zhong, a little further away is Gou Jian, a little closer is Liu Bang, a little closer is Liu Che, and a little closer is Liu Ba and Zhuge Liang.

For someone like Sima Yi who has extensive experience in ancient and modern times, his financial knowledge is no worse than that of a person in the 21st century, but he does not have a systematic structure.

For example, he does not know that currency flows into enterprises through the government, increasing jobs and boosting domestic demand, which can quickly give the economy a shot in the arm.

But he knew that after reducing the cost of currency casting, the government could use currency to buy and buy, passing inflation to the private sector.

So when Master Sima mentioned that he could exchange copper coins before, Sima Yi understood it instantly.

Wang Hun continued: "Since copper coins could be exchanged before, how many copper coins must be prepared for how much paper money Li Jian issues."

"It stands to reason that this is the case, but in fact you don't need to prepare so much, at most half, or even less than half." This time it was Master Sima who spoke, "This strategy is really extraordinary. The only thing to do is to prevent the private sector from using fake money, but Don’t be afraid if there is fake money. As long as it is controlled within a certain range and people cannot tell it is fake money, there will be no problem.”

"We will do it too." Sima Yi thought for a moment and said firmly.

(End of this chapter)