The Three Kingdoms: A vicious plan was offered, and Liu Bei was stunned!

Chapter 338: Jiangling's commodity prices shock the world, Xiahou Dun meets Cao Jie

When Xiahou Dun came to Jiangling this time, he found that Jiangling had changed a lot. Jiangling, which was already prosperous, became more prosperous. There were many more nobles from Jiangdong in the market. These nobles bought land and built houses in Jiangling, and they were very generous!
In addition to porcelain and white paper, he found that there were many more ironware in Jiangling's shops.

Salt and iron have always been monopolized in China. Salt is necessary for people's lives. If they don't eat it for a day, they will feel weak all over. Iron is also needed for making weapons. For Cao Cao and other princes, the importance of iron is beyond doubt.

More weapons and armor mean stronger military power. Ordinary people in Jiangling can easily buy iron, which is unbelievable for Xiahou Dun.

This means that Jiangling has a lot of iron and is not short of iron.

Now that ordinary people can use iron, the army must be using better steel.

This shows that Luo Yuan possesses an extremely efficient method of steelmaking. Luo Yuan admitted it himself, but was unwilling to share it. This is really maddening.

There is no friendship at all!

Share it with me, and you can give me money.

After returning to the inn, Xiahou Dun first wrote a letter to Cao Cao explaining how Hua Xin was killed. What Luo Yuan said was absolutely right, he did not like Hua Xin.

This person is too good at scheming and has no moral integrity at all. He will do anything to achieve his goals. He always speaks ill of others around Cao Cao and gives some unscrupulous ideas.

This guy dared to do anything to please Cao Cao. After he succeeded, he became very rampant and did not know how to restrain himself. He was completely different from the literati at that time. It was difficult for him to do it himself, so he asked Luo Yuan to kill Hua Xin.

After writing the letter and having someone send it to Cao Cao, Xiahou Dun decided to stay.

"General, are you not going back to Xiangyang?"

Xiahou Dun said, "Jiangling has treasures. Wouldn't it be a pity to return empty-handed after entering the treasure mountain?"

Xiahou Dun planned to wait and calculate the time. Cao Jie would soon return from the north. Luo Yuan was unwilling to give the treasure, so should he try to get something from Cao Jie?
After all, Cao Jie is Cao Cao's daughter, so she should do something for Cao Cao.

For example, get Luo Yuan's secret method of steelmaking.

When the personal guard Lin Wei heard Xiahou Dun's plan, he quickly said, "General, aren't you putting the young lady in an unjust position by doing this?"

Wouldn't it affect the relationship between husband and wife if Cao Jie stole things from Luo Yuan?
No consideration for Cao Ji at all.

Xiahou Dun said: "Gong Qi Dada will be angry at most, but he won't do anything to the young lady!"

"General, Luo Yuan is unwilling to give you what you want, which shows that this is Jiangling's secret. If the young lady steals the secret, even if Luo Yuan doesn't care, Jiangling's important officials such as Xu Shu and Pang Tong will not tolerate it. The officials will be restless. What if the prince ignores and alienates the young lady?" Lin Wei said, "I think you should think twice. The prince is a great man of his generation, and he may not be unaware of the general's intentions!"

Xiahou Dun was stunned. "You mean, he will be on guard against me?"

Needless to say, who would voluntarily tell others their family secrets?
How could Luo Yuan not know Xiahou Dun's purpose of staying in Jiangling?

Lin Wei smiled bitterly and said, "General, you always told us that Jiangling Luo Yuan should not be underestimated. Why do you underestimate the prince? If there is something worth seeking in Jiangling, the general should discuss it openly and ask for it. You should not act like a mean person. Otherwise, not only will the relationship between the general and the prince be ruined, but it will also affect the relationship between the prince and the prime minister. I am afraid that the consequences will be unpredictable."

"Hey, you're right!" Xiahou Dun broke out in a cold sweat when he thought about it. Is Luo Yuan someone who can be easily fooled?
That guy is a very evil person, but if you want something, just negotiate with him. Even though it's difficult, there might be a way to get it, but you have to do it sneakily.

I have to be tricked by him.

What if the secret method Cao Jie got was a fake? It would be a sure thing to trick Cao Cao. "I almost thought it was wrong. Yes, yes, if you are right, my brother is different from others. He is thoughtful and must know what I want to do." Xiahou Dun laughed, but he still didn't plan to leave: "Wait until the eldest lady comes back, and we will openly ask the eldest lady to help us get it. He won't be able to say anything!"

Lin Wei thought this was okay.

As long as he didn't offend Luo Yuan, he would be fine. He just thought, "Hua Xin was killed by the Lord, wouldn't the Prime Minister be angry?"

Xiahou Dun laughed and said, "If someone else had killed Hua Xin, the Prime Minister would have been angry. That man was the Prime Minister's confidant, and the Prime Minister used Hua Xin very easily. But Luo Yuan killed him, so why would I let Hua Xin come to Jiangling to seek death?"

It was all planned out. Cao Cao would be able to react immediately after reading his letter.

Yes, I did trick Hua Xin, but the murderer was Luo Yuan. If you are angry, just be angry at Luo Yuan. I am at most an accomplice.

Xiahou Dun decided to wait for Cao Jie to come back, and then ordered people to buy gifts!
Would you like to meet Cao Jie in exchange for a gift?

Although Cao Jie was his relative, he still needed help.

Lin Wei went out for a day and when he came back from shopping, his face kept twitching.

The items in Jiangling are so scary. The things used by local people are quite cheap, but the gifts given to Cao Ji naturally cannot be ordinary.

Items used as gifts are ridiculously expensive locally.

'

After the arrival of the Jiangdong gentry, the high-end commodity market in Jiangling developed. How could the gentry visit each other empty-handed?
That's definitely not possible!

Gifts should also be able to express one's identity, status and family background, so the prices of local gifts are naturally high.

"General, you only bought some silk and other things. Those expensive things... are too outrageous. A piece of porcelain costs three hundred gold coins, and jade is even more outrageous. We don't bring much gold, so I'm afraid..."

Xiahou Dun did bring some money with him, but it was not easy to get some decent gifts in Jiangling with this money.

Xiahou Dun stared. A piece of porcelain worth three hundred gold?

Isn’t this just stealing money like Meng De?
Fortunately, he was rich and had cooperated with Cao Jie a long time ago. He had set up a kiln in the local area to burn high-end porcelain. The local porcelain was expensive, so he could make a lot of money.
Although I want to complain, I can't say anything when I think about how I can benefit from it.

In order to get Luo Yuan's secret method, Xiahou Dun continued to spend money, and finally spent more than a thousand gold, and finally enough money for the gift.

When Xiahou Dun saw those gifts, he also cursed!
The businessmen in Jiangling are so unscrupulous.

It's really heartless!
A few days later, Cao Jie finally returned from the north. As soon as he came back, Xiahou Dun asked Lin Wei to meet Cao Jie and invite Cao Jie to the inn to talk.

"Uncle Xiahou, I just came back from the north, I'm exhausted, and I haven't seen my husband yet. What's the matter that you called me here?" Cao Ji complained.

The journey was so hard that I didn't take a shower for many days. Now I especially miss Jiangling's developed sanitation system.

I really am not in the mood to talk nonsense with Xiahou Dun.

If you don’t give me an explanation, I’ll be very angry!
(End of this chapter)