At the end of Qin, I became a son of the plane

Chapter 404: Showing off wealth and Xiao He's inspection
The next day, an additional edition of the Han Monthly was quickly printed, which recorded that Zhou Zhang was a retainer of Chunshen Jun and a military officer of the Chu general Xiang Yan. He had always been on the front line of the anti-Qin war. Even when he was captured by the tyrannical Qin and imprisoned, he did not change his original intention to resist Qin. Later, he met the emperor.

The story of Zhou Zhang meeting the emperor and using a sand table to simulate a war was widely recorded. At that time, the tyrannical Qin Dynasty was at its peak, but the emperor said that the tyrannical Qin Dynasty would eventually decline, and found its weaknesses, which convinced Zhou Zhang that "this is a true dragon," and from then on he began to help the emperor overthrow the tyrannical Qin Dynasty.

In short, the advanced propaganda template of the rear chamber was directly applied, and Zhou Zhang's political experience for more than ten years from the uprising to becoming the prime minister of the Han Dynasty was reported with a little beautification, as if the entire Han Dynasty was promoting Zhou Zhang's spirit.

Lu Shu also suggested to Xu Fan that he should add some touching stories, such as visiting his home three times without entering, and handling government affairs while being ill.

But Xu Fan rejected it because it was too late. Too much publicity would only make it difficult to get out of the situation. The nickname of "Zhan Wushao" was not given for nothing. It turned out that publicity still needed to rely on the local conditions.

On the first day Xiao He became prime minister, he found Xu Fan.

"Your Majesty, you said that without the right to investigate, there is no right to speak. The development of the Han Dynasty has been changing with each passing day in recent years. I am not very familiar with either the local areas or the court. It is like a blind man touching an elephant to formulate a policy plan now. So Prime Minister Ye and I plan to go to the local areas for inspection. I will start from Guanzhong and pass through Sanchuan County, Dong County, Donghai County, and inspect all the counties in the south."

Prime Minister Ye will go from Shangjun and Jiuyuanjun to inspect Hebei along the border of the Han Dynasty. I plan to ask Your Majesty to stay in Chang'an and let me spend three months to understand the local situation. Only by understanding the local situation can I have a clear idea of ​​how to govern. "

Xu Fan smiled and said, "It seems that you already have an idea on how to govern the Han Dynasty. Just go ahead and do it. I fully support you."

The princes from the Western Regions were the last group to arrive at this year's princes' conference, and Xu Fan understood this.

The lateral distance of Hexi alone is 3000 li. If the Western Regions are added, it is possible that a round trip would take a year. Under normal circumstances, it took two or three years to travel the ancient Silk Road from its starting point to its destination, Chang'an.

But Ji Bu and his men formed the largest group, bringing with them thousands of horse-drawn carriages.

These carriages were filled with jade, agate, gold and silver from the Western Regions.

At this year's conference of princes, Ji Bu showed his generosity and covered the venue of the conference with gold, silver, jade and agate, shocking the entire audience into silence.

Ji Bu said proudly: "This is what we, the princes of the Western Regions, pay tribute to the emperor."

Chen Xiao was stunned and said to Ying Bu: "You may lose your status as the richest man among the feudal lords."

Ying Bu said: "Brother Ji Bu is really something. How could he learn the tricks of those poor people to get rich suddenly? But the Western Regions are indeed rich. Brother Ji Bu has only been in the Western Regions for a short time and he has already found so many treasures."

At the meeting of princes that day, Ji Bu's tribute overwhelmed the whole audience and caused a huge sensation.

Before the meeting of princes ended, the people of Chang'an City knew that Ji Bu had brought thousands of carts of treasures from the Western Regions back to Chang'an City.

Of course, there were also people who thought that it was impossible for Ji Bu to have so many treasures. After all, when Ji Bu and his men left Hexi, the imperial court settled their accounts and gave them materials worth several billion yuan. It had only been more than a year, and even if they robbed them, they would not be able to get so many treasures.

But this incident became the biggest hot topic in Chang'an City. Teahouses, restaurants, and operas were all speculating on what Ji Bu had brought back.

Chang'an City, Yan Palace.

Xu Fan entertained Ji Bu and other trusted princes.

Lu Chen asked impatiently, "Brother Ji Bu, is the Western Region really so rich? You actually brought back thousands of carts of treasures like this?"

Ji Bu shook his head and said, "Jade and agate are treasures in my Han Dynasty, but they are just ordinary stones in the Western Regions. I have never regarded these things as treasures."

Ying Bu curled his lips and said, "Shi Tou, how did you manage to bring thousands of carts to Chang'an City?"

"But the Western Region is indeed very vast. We have penetrated thousands of miles into the Western Region and destroyed more than a dozen countries, but we have occupied less than one-third of the territory of the Western Region."

"There are many deserts and Gobi in the Western Regions, but there are also many gold and silver mines, as well as special delicacies and spices."

Then Ji Bu said: "Your Majesty, the Great Yuezhi people migrated westward for thousands of miles, and it is said that they went to a place called Shentu. The Xiongnu people who were defeated by our Han Dynasty also migrated westward with them to the land of Dayuan. They sent envoys to say that they are willing to make peace with our Han Dynasty."

Xu Fan said: "Now the Yuezhi and Xiongnu are far away from the sphere of influence of our Han Dynasty. There is no conflict of interest, so there is no need to dwell on history. If they are willing to send envoys to make peace, we will agree."

India is about to have a new wave of masters. In history, the Great Yuezhi seemed to have established a relatively powerful empire, and was known as one of the Four Great empires along with the Western Han Dynasty and Rome.

As for the Huns who migrated westward, the Whip of God would have appeared hundreds of years earlier, but Xu Fan thought about it and realized that it was now 190 BC, so he was afraid that God had not appeared yet.

However, if these two places were occupied by the Dayuezhi and the Xiongnu, it would also be beneficial to the Han Dynasty. After all, they are similar civilizations and transportation is more convenient. Maybe the market can be expanded.

Ji Bu said: "Your Majesty, the Western Regions is too vast, as large as 10 Guanzhong. We, the princes, only have hundreds of thousands of troops. It is a bit beyond our ability to educate millions of people in the Western Regions. Do you need the support of the court?"

Xu Fan asked: "How to support?"

Ji Bu said: "We need craftsmen, farmers, and scholars. As long as they are Han Chinese, we need them all."

"There are too few Han people in the Western Regions now. Even when we are grazing in the Western Regions, we feel that it is too empty. There must be enough Han people in the Western Regions before it can become the territory of our great Han Dynasty."

Zhou Zhang shook his head and said, "The court can provide you with some food, weapons and even artillery, but it is very difficult to get people. The court is now developing Southeast Asia. Even for a strategic location like Luzon Island, at most only 3000 people can be allocated a year. The Western Regions are too expensive and remote, and the people of our Han Dynasty are not willing to go there."

Luzon is a treasure trove newly discovered by the Han Dynasty in Southeast Asia. The huge reserves of copper mines are like a godsend to the Han Dynasty's economy. With the Han Dynasty's continuous investment, Luzon can import 5 million kilograms of copper ingots, 50,000 kilograms of silver, and 6,000 kilograms of gold to the Han Dynasty every year.

The total value of these precious metals is 10 to million coins. Although they are not as valuable as spices and sandalwood, they are precious metals that can be used as currency. Their value in circulation is times greater than their actual value.

It was precisely because of the massive import of copper from Luzon into the Han Dynasty that the deflation situation among the people of the Han Dynasty was alleviated.

But even for such an important place, the number of people that the Han Dynasty could import was limited. Instead, the Han Dynasty needed population everywhere to fill the newly occupied territories.

Xu Fan thought for a moment and said, "There's an old saying that wealth and honor are sought in danger, but if you take it the other way around, as long as the money is enough, there will be people who dare to go there, even if it means going through mountains of swords and seas of fire."

"Over the past few hundred years, Guanzhong has never lacked people who are striving for wealth and honor. As long as the people feel that they can become rich and honorable by going to the Western Regions, even if the Western Regions are thousands of miles away, it won't matter."

Ji Bu asked: "What should I do?"

Xu Fan thought about his famous story in history.

"I have thought of a simple and effective method, which is a bit nouveau riche."

Ji Bu immediately asked: "What method?"

The next day, Ji Bu led his attendants, sitting in four carriages covered with canvas, and drove along the main road of Chang'an City, beating gongs and drums all the way to attract the attention of the people in the city.

"This is Duke Ji!" a commoner said in astonishment.

“That’s the British public.”

"Duke Lu is here too!"

"Duke Chen, what happened today? Why are all the big shots of our Han Dynasty coming to the streets?"

The appearance of four of the eight dukes of the Han Dynasty naturally attracted the attention of all the people in Chang'an City.

Soon, people from all around began to surround the slowly moving convoy.

Ji Bu stood on the carriage and said, "Ji Bu greets all the elders."

At this time, a voice from below said, "Duke Ji, it is said that you brought thousands of carts of treasures from the Western Regions to Chang'an City. Is this true?"

Ji Bu said: "They are not treasures, but just some jade, agate, gold and silver. There are too many of them, so it is just that. I have never thought that these things are treasures. I would never touch these things in the Western Regions."

Ji Bu's words made all the people in Chang'an roll their eyes. It was the first time for them to encounter such a show of wealth, and they had not yet formed immunity. Ji Bu continued: "Everyone in Chang'an is my father and elder. Since you like these useless jade, agate, gold and silver so much, then I will give them back to you, as a reward for your support for Ji Bu."

After saying this, Ji Bu lifted the canvas on the carriage, and Ying Bu and others did the same.

For a moment, under the sunlight, the precious light was so dazzling that people could not open their eyes.

The four carriages were loaded with agate, jade, gold and silver respectively.

"Wow!" The people of the entire Chang'an city couldn't help but get excited. They had seen gold, silver, agate and jade before, but they had never seen them in this way.

Then Ji Bu put his hands into the gold coins and threw them to the people.

"This is a gift from me to you elders. You are welcome."

Ying Bu also imitated Ji Bu's action and scattered hundreds of silver coins at one time. Lu Chen and Chen Xiao had to be more careful, fearing that the agate and jade might hurt people.

The people of Chang'an City went completely crazy. It was the first time that someone threw gold coins, silver coins, agates and jade on the streets.

There was no need to be polite to Ji Bu and the others, as they all rushed forward to pick up gold, silver coins, agates and jade.

"You're welcome, there are still a lot here." Ji Bu shouted.

Ying Bu laughed loudly and said, "Come on, I will spread more with you, and enjoy the wealth brought by Brother Ji Bu together."

Although Ying Bu was rich, he had earned all the money through hard work. Now, for the first time, he felt how satisfying it was to spend money.

The convoy slowly walked towards the large square of Zhangtai Palace. Tens of thousands of people swarmed after Ji Bu and his companions, enjoying this feast of wealth.

Jianzhang Palace, on a high platform.

Zhou Zhang shook his head and said, "Such behavior of throwing money around will only affect the morale of our Han people and make everyone care about money."

Xu Fan said: "It is human nature to worship money. This behavior has never been cut off since ancient times. What we need to do is to guide this greed."

Ji Bu spread more than a thousand kilograms of gold, silver, and three thousand kilograms of agate and jade, which caused a huge sensation. All the people in Guanzhong knew that the Western Regions was a place of wealth, and that there were agate, jade, gold and silver everywhere.

The meeting of princes had not yet ended, but the people of Guanzhong had already begun to head towards the Western Regions.

Ji Bu was satisfied and put his thousands of carts of agate and jade on sale in the commodity exchange. The team that returned with him increased to more than 30,000 people, and more people wanted to develop in the Western Regions later.

Ji Bu became the undisputed protagonist of this meeting of princes, and the Western Regions became known to the people of the entire Han Dynasty, just like the Spice Islands in the past. People who wanted to be rich packed up their belongings and rushed to the Western Regions. Compared with the Spice Islands on the islands, the Western Regions on land were easier to get to.

After the meeting of princes, Xiao He and Ye Teng split up into two groups and began to inspect the entire Han Dynasty.

On November 15th, the tenth year of the Han Dynasty, Sanchuan County, Luoyang City.

The first stop when Xiao He arrived in Luoyang was to inspect the Luoyang Chariot and Horse Factory.

Unlike the government-run Chang'an Coach and Horse Factory, the Luoyang Coach and Horse Factory was jointly established by all the owners of the Luoyang carriage factory.

Since the establishment of Chang'an Carriage and Horse Factory, it has impacted the entire Han Dynasty's carriage and horse market with its cheap carriages and efficient production. Because of the rail connection, Chang'an's carriages had the greatest impact on Luoyang, and a large number of carriage-making workshops in Luoyang City went bankrupt.

Under tremendous pressure of survival, these people were forced to unite and build the Luoyang Chariot and Horse Farm. They hired Mohist craftsmen who understood standardization from Chang'an City at high prices, and they calmed down and worked hard to improve productivity and reduce production costs.

Luoyang City has been a handicraft center since the Warring States Period. It is home to a large number of highly skilled craftsmen, and the Luoyang Chariot and Horse Factory improved its standards very quickly.

At this time, the Mobei War broke out, and the war caused a surge in the Han army's demand for heavy-duty horse-drawn carriages. The Luoyang Horse Farm seized this wave of war dividends and occupied 40% of the Han army's heavy-duty horse-drawn carriage market in one fell swoop. Not only did they make back their investment in half a year, but they also learned standardized production methods.

There are now two carriage production centers in the Han Dynasty, one in Chang'an and the other in Luoyang.

Accompanied by Luoyang Ling Dianqing, Xiao He inspected this Central Plains carriage center.

Gongshu You, chief engineer of Luoyang Carriage Factory, proudly said to Xiao He who was inspecting, "Prime Minister Xiao, Luoyang Carriage Factory can now produce 80 carriages a day, and more than 2 carriages a year. Our carriages are used throughout the Central Plains and Jianghuai through the Yellow River and the Grand Canal."

"Twenty thousand!" Xiao He was a little surprised. This production capacity was even higher than that of the Chang'an Coach Factory. One carriage cost five thousand coins, which meant that it was a giant workshop with an output value of over 100 million yuan.

Gongsun You brought Xiao He to a new carriage production line. Xiao He was surprised to find that the wheels of the carriage had changed and were supported by long and thin iron wires. The body of the carriage also had a large number of steel parts.

Gongsun You said proudly: "Our Luoyang Chariot and Horse Factory has been innovating and using a lot of steel to replace wooden structures. The shafts, wheels, and chassis are all made of steel. Half of the carriage parts have been replaced with steel parts. This move has increased the durability of our Luoyang Chariot and Horse Factory's carriages by 10 times and tripled the cargo capacity, but the price has increased by less than 4 times."

The Luoyang Chariot and Horse Farm had to replace wooden parts with steel parts on a large scale out of necessity. Luoyang was one of the earliest developed areas in the entire Central Plains and had been a densely populated area for hundreds of years. The wood around the city of Luoyang had long been cut down.

Of course, the situation in Guanzhong is not much better, but Guanzhong has only been prosperous for a few hundred years. In terms of timber resources, Chang'an City is slightly better than Luoyang.

This kind of standardized assembly line production, even if it only increases costs a little, will make it difficult for them to compete with the Changan Chariot and Horse Factory.

At the same time, the workshop owners in Chen County also took a fancy to the lucrative profits in the carriage industry. Chen County was already wealthy, with Mohists and highly skilled craftsmen, so it was not technically difficult to set up a carriage assembly line. At the same time, Chen County also needed carriages to transport its products to other parts of the Han Dynasty, so the market was extremely vast.

But the carriage workshop owners in Luoyang City were terrified when they heard the news. If the carriage factory in Chen County was built, they would be faced with being attacked from both sides.

But soon the carriage workshop owners in Luoyang thought of a way to solve this problem. They went to Chenjun to discuss cooperation and first told their colleagues in Chenjun that the carriage industry was now saturated and they could not make much money by squeezing in. If they did so reluctantly, both sides would suffer.

But Chen County had the advantage of steel, so they replaced more than half of the parts of the carriage with steel. The two sides joined forces to develop a new generation of steel carriages, share profits, and unite to occupy the markets in Central Plains, Jianghuai, and Jiangnan.

Chen Jun found that they could earn more than 40% profit from a carriage through steel parts, so they agreed to this win-win cooperation approach.

Xiao He asked, "This new carriage is so expensive, can it be sold?"

The carriages that were beaten down to less than ten thousand coins on the assembly line a few years ago have now risen to more than twenty thousand coins. Xiao He is a little worried whether they can sell them.

Gongsun You smiled and said, "Don't worry, Prime Minister. Luoyang has a well-developed textile industry and the demand for heavy-duty carriages is in short supply. These new heavy-duty carriages have already been ordered by the caravans before they even appear on the market."

Later, Xiao He came to the Yellow River and inspected the textile industry in Luoyang City. He saw huge water wheels turning slowly. These water wheels drove spinning wheels to quickly turn silk and linen into yarn.

Since the emergence of water-powered spinning wheels, rivers have become the most precious resource for the textile industry. Any textile center in the world is located near a river, and Luoyang City is no exception.

Luoyang City's textile advantages were greater than other places. The abundant water brought by the Yellow River made the water wheels in Luoyang's textile industry particularly huge. The huge water wheels brought abundant power and could drive more spinning wheels.

"How many textile workshops are there here?" Xiao He asked.

Luoyang magistrate Dianqing said: "There are 212 textile workshops with more than 100 textile machines. They produce 5.5 million pieces of cloth of various colors every year. 30% of Luoyang City's tax revenue is provided by these textile workshops."

Then Xiao He visited several textile workshops, some large and some small. The large ones were similar to those in Chang'an, using the most advanced spinning wheels and textile machines, and even the latest tying machines in Chang'an City, providing an one-stop production from raw materials to upstream printing and dyeing.

The small ones are family workshops with only a few primitive textile machines. The yarns are ordered from large textile workshops, and they only carry out the textile process.

Xiao He asked the small workshop owner: "Your loom is too inefficient. Why don't you buy a new one?"

The workshop owner laughed and said, "The new looms are too expensive. One costs 3000 coins. It's not worth it. The old ones are fine. We are all family members. If we work hard, all the money we earn will belong to us. Why waste money on the machines?"

Faced with this answer, Xiao He was speechless.

(End of this chapter)