I, the prince, only want to be deposed.

Chapter 293: The Right Medicine for Deceiving the King

In later generations, it seemed to be called "Iwami Ginzan".

The specific location seems to be in the southwest of Honshu Island, Japan, close to the Korean Peninsula.

Originally, Liu Ju had some concerns about the shipbuilding technology of the Han Dynasty. However, a few days ago, the Han Dynasty's tower ships had crossed the East China Sea from Qi and arrived at Chen State at the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula, and successfully provided the first military assistance to Chen State. This was enough to dispel his concerns.

If the Han Dynasty's ships can cross the sea from Qi to the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula, then they can definitely reach Japan. The distances between them are actually not much different.

However, if you want to be on the safe side, it would be easier and safer to cross the Korea Strait from Chen State at the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula and go directly to Japan, and travel by land the rest of the time.

After all, in Liu Ju's impression, the Korea Strait seemed to be narrower than the Frog Island Strait.

There is also a large island called Tsushima Island in the strait that can be used as a transit station, which will make it even easier to cross the strait. This is also the reason why Japan was able to cross the sea and invade the Korean Peninsula very early on using only small boats.

The main reason why the Celestial Empire failed in its several expeditions to Japan was that it did not have enough control over the Korean Peninsula. It had to take the risk of setting out from Qi, and eventually encountered an accident at sea...

Thinking about this, Liu Ju subconsciously asked:
"Sang Nong Ling, if I can solve the silver problem and allow the Han Dynasty to obtain large amounts of silver for minting coins without having to rely on trade, just like mining iron ore, what price do you think the Han Dynasty should pay to ensure a steady profit?"

"Your Highness means..."

Sang Hongyang was stunned when he heard this, and a hint of horror appeared in his eyes when he looked at Liu Ju.

He came to Bowang Garden in the hope of hearing some insightful opinions from Liu Ju, so as to fill in the gaps in his plan to increase revenue and reduce expenditure for Emperor Liu Che.

But from Liu Ju's tone at this moment, he was actually planning to move out a mountain of silver?
Is this open source?

This is to pay money directly to the Han Dynasty, the currency currently used in the Western Regions. The Han Dynasty does not need to barter, or even export at all, and can continue to ship goods back from the Western Regions!
But is this realistic?

Sang Hongyang felt that Liu Ju was joking with him, because moving mountains of gold and silver was something that even the gods in ancient mythology had to be cautious about, as there were only a few gods who could do such a thing.

"You should calculate it first."

Liu Ju was very confident in Sang Hongyang's mental arithmetic ability. Moreover, he had a deeper understanding of court affairs and finances than himself, making him the most suitable person to do this kind of thing.

"This... I wonder how much is the 'constant supply' that Your Highness mentioned?"

Sang Hongyang hesitated for a moment. Although he had some doubts about Liu Ju's words, he still asked with a serious attitude.

"Just think of it as one-third of the world."

Liu Ju said vaguely.

In fact, the peak production of Iwami Ginzan lasted for less than two centuries, after which the output gradually declined. The fact that the output accounts for one-third of the world's total does not mean that the reserves are equal to one-third of the world's total.

However, if it were placed in this period when the smelting industry was relatively backward, the silver that could be produced would very likely exceed one-third of the world's existing silver reserves.

The Han people who owned the "Tianlu Box" were already far ahead in smelting technology and efficiency.

Advanced iron tools are the best proof of smelting technology. There is no need to worry about smelting after mining. What is lacking is the mines.

"..."

Even though the phrase "one third" sounded a bit strange to Sang Hongyang, he instantly understood what Liu Ju meant. He then took a deep breath and said with wide eyes:

"If it is really as Your Highness said, I can say without exaggeration that even if the Han Dynasty pays the price of a hundred battles in Mobei, it will still be a sure win!"

"This is no longer just a foreign trade issue, it is also of great benefit to the domestic market."

"Your Highness should know that after His Majesty ascended the throne, he has ordered me to reform the currency system many times. Some of these were to fill the treasury, and some were to prevent private minting and keep the right to mint coins firmly in the hands of the court."

"It was not until a few years ago that I suggested to Your Majesty that the three officials of Shanglin mint new five-zhu coins, and the situation of private minting among the people improved slightly."

"But even so, there are still people who take risks. Every year, no less than 100,000 people are executed for privately minting coins."

"If Your Majesty needs such a large amount of silver, and the silver production of our Han Dynasty is extremely low, then we can directly eliminate the possibility of private coinage by the people by using the coin materials!"

"And in foreign trade."

"Your Majesty, if you control silver, you control the lifeline of merchants all over the world and the foundation of foreign trade. In this way, the ideas mentioned by the officials will be easier to realize..."

"But Your Highness, what you said is true. Is there really such an 'endless' supply of silver in the world for the Han people to take whatever they want?"

Speaking of it.

Sang Hongyang looked at Liu Ju eagerly.

That expression was like a lottery player who was checking at a lottery station whether his ticket had won hundreds of millions of dollars. He was nervous, expectant, and a little dazed and hesitant in disbelief.

"should have."

After hearing this, Liu Ju already had the answer in his mind. It seemed that this was something worth doing.

If this is to be done, first of all, it is necessary to ensure the security and stability of the Korean Peninsula to ensure that the transportation routes are not blocked... In other words, Wei Man Joseon must be eliminated, and the Korean Peninsula must be completely under the control of the Han Dynasty!

Therefore, the plan previously agreed upon with the State of Chen to exchange "wartime command" for military aid must also be adjusted.

But this plan was originally proposed by Liu Ju.

If we go to Emperor Liu Che to adjust the plan now, it would sound a bit like changing one's mind every day, and we might not get his support... and this is just the first step.

After completing this step, it is necessary to direct Liu Che's attention to the Japanese country which is still overseas, and let him send troops to the Japanese country which currently knows nothing and even does not know whether it exists.

This is also a difficulty.

Without exposing my identity as a time traveler, I do need to resort to some extraordinary means...

"Your Highness, what do you mean by should have?"

Sang Hongyang was puzzled and felt somewhat unwilling.

Liu Ju came back to his senses and continued to smile:
"When I went to Donglai to wait for the gods on behalf of my father, I met an alchemist named Xu Bo. He claimed to be a descendant of Xu Fu and was called Xu the Immortal by the locals. He had a group of extremely fanatical believers."

"..."

Liu Ju's irrelevant answer had already made Sang Hongyang a little confused.

"This person claimed that Xu Fu had found the elixir of immortality and became an immortal. He also found a fairyland with vast plains and swamps outside the three fairy mountains of Penglai, Fangzhang and Yingzhou. This fairyland has four seasons like spring, no worries about food and drink, and is immune to evil spirits. The three thousand boys and girls who followed Xu Fu all lived a god-like life in the fairyland."

Liu Ju continued,

"Xu Fu, who had become an immortal, was grateful for his descendants, so he sent a dream to Xu Bo. In the dream, he taught him some prescriptions, spells and incantations for curing diseases, saving lives, blessing and exorcising evil spirits, and also promised to take him to this fairyland when the time was right."

"Later, Immortal Xu was killed by his crazy followers, and he never lived to see the day when Xu Fu would take him to the fairyland."

“I thought the matter was over.”

"But recently I have often dreamed of this person. I dreamed that after his death, his corpse was transformed into an immortal and was taken to that plain and vast marsh by Xu Fu."

"And in that vast plain, there is a fairy mountain, and the mountain is full of inexhaustible silver mines."

"When I invited the Taoist priest to the sea sacrifice in Donglai, I gave him a break. He remembered my kindness and told me the location of Pingyuan Guangze in order to repay me, so I could take a big ship to this fairyland by myself."

"If I find this fairyland according to the guidance in my dream, then this fairy mountain full of silver mines can be used by the Han people, right?"

"Perhaps I can even meet Xu Fu and obtain the elixir of immortality that my father is looking for, thus fulfilling his wish."

His words were already the perfect way to deceive the emperor. Once the name Xu Fu and the "elixir of life" came out, Liu Che had no choice but to become restless.

Of course, once you accept this setting.

In the end, Liu Che would only suffer another blow, and his desire to seek immortality and the advice of ghosts would be hit again.

Because only Liu Ju knew clearly that the current Japan had nothing to do with the "fairyland".

There were only a group of skinny dwarfs who were half-naked and hungry. They probably didn't know how to smelt iron, and the pottery used rope patterns. Even if Xu Fu and the three thousand boys and girls had come to Japan a hundred years ago, it would have been difficult to change the backward situation of Japan as it was still a tribal slave society.

The Han army descended from the sky, which was a complete dimensionality reduction attack on the current Japanese country...

"Your Highness believes this dream?"

After hearing Liu Ju's words, Sang Hongyang's expression changed again, and his eyes looking at Liu Ju became complicated.

Although as a native of the Han Dynasty, Sang Hongyang was not completely unbelieving in ghosts and gods.

But Liu Ju's words always gave him a strange feeling. After all, Liu Ju was now a well-known nemesis of alchemists. Suddenly saying such words always gave people an indescribable sense of incongruity.

"This dream is extremely real. Whether you believe it or not, I believe it anyway."

Liu Ju nodded and said with a smile,

"And as the saying goes, if you think about something during the day, you will dream about it at night. However, this Xu Bo has nothing to do with me. Now so much time has passed, I have long forgotten this person. His sudden appearance in my dream does not seem to be a coincidence."

"Anyway, I have made up my mind. I will report this matter to my father and ask him to allow me to do it."

"Sang Nong Ling is a close official in the inner court. My father will certainly ask for your opinion on this matter. When the time comes, please say a few good words for me in front of my father and try to make this happen."

"For the sake of the Han Dynasty and Sang Nongcheng's own ideals, I think you won't refuse, right?"

"..."

Sang Hongyang looked embarrassed.

He knew that Liu Che would definitely be interested in the "elixir of life" and would also be interested in such a "fairy mountain full of silver mines".

But as an official who was dedicated to "advising Liu Che on profits", the first thing he considered was whether it was worth wasting the national treasury for such a dream and the silver mountain that only appeared in Liu Ju's dream.

Even though he didn't know Liu Ju's specific plan yet, he knew that going out to sea to seek immortality was a very expensive thing.

Just a hundred years ago, Qin Shihuang had already set an example. Xu Fu went to sea at that time. The demise of the Qin Dynasty in the second generation was not unrelated to this.

But even he had to admit it.

Putting aside the "elixir of life", this mountain of silver alone is tempting enough. If the price to be paid is within an affordable range, it is worth a try!
What if?
Wouldn't the big man immediately get out of the awkward situation where he was restricted everywhere and go straight into take-off mode?
(End of this chapter)