Chu and Han contend for the throne

Chapter 281
Ziling, the royal palace.

Early in the morning, Xiang Zhuang got up and was wearing the crown under the service of Mrs. Cao.

As early as a few years ago, Ziling City had been built. The city was rectangular in shape, eight miles long from east to west, and five miles long from north to south. The city wall was four feet high and the bottom was more than four feet wide. The moat was formed by diverting water from the Wujiang River, and the entire city was built with large bluestones, which can be said to be as solid as gold.

After the completion of Ziling City, Xiangzhuang moved the capital here.

In Ziling City, there are two long streets running from east to west, and three streets running from north to south, which divide the whole urban area into a 12-yuan area. The two central blocks are connected as a whole, which is the palace. The residential area of ​​the gentlemen, the rest of the blocks include living areas, industrial areas, and commercial areas, which can be described as well-ordered.

After dressing Xiang Zhuang in a gown, Mrs. Cao ordered the maid to take the bronze mirror and send it to Xiang Zhuang.

Looking at the face in the mirror, Xiang Zhuang couldn't help feeling a little dazed, time flies, ten years have passed in a blink of an eye!

I am 36 years old, that is to say, it has been almost 12 years since the throne of Chu. My father Fan Zeng died eight years ago. The eldest son Xiang Zheng and the second son Xiang Zhi are 12 years old. Already 11 years old, he has given birth to three sons and six daughters in the past ten years after the top power and the project.

Now he has seven sons and six daughters in Xiangzhuang, but he has completely defeated Liu Bang in this respect.

Amidst the jingling of ring pendants, Wei Yue in fine attire had already stepped into Xiang Zhuang's bedroom.

Five years ago, Xiang Zhuang had officially canonized Wei Yue as queen. After Xiang Zheng, Xiang Zhi, and Xiang Quan, Wei Yue gave birth to Xiang Zhuang's eldest daughter Xiang Yuying and seventh son Xiang Qing. Her status in Chu State It can be said to be as stable as a rock. Even Cao Ji, who is the most favored now, cannot threaten Wei Yue's status at all.

Wei Yue is 28 years old this year, and it is the most romantic time in a woman's life.

Although she has given birth to four children, Wei Yue's figure has not changed in the slightest, the skin on her body is still so white and tender, her flowery dimples are still so delicate, the places that should be thin are still so thin, and the places that should be convex are still so convex , the place that should be warped is still the same, only the place that should be big is bigger than before!

Xiang Zhuang couldn't help but take a second look, he just likes the style of a mature woman like this.

"Your Majesty, all the sisters and children are here." Wei Yue saluted Xiang Zhuang.

"Understood, my widow will be fine now." While Xiang Zhuang was speaking, Cao Ji had already tied his hair into a bun.

Wei Yue personally put the nine-pronged crown on Xiang Zhuang again, then smiled at Xiang Zhuang, and stretched out her slender hand, Xiang Zhuang immediately took Wei Yue's little hand, and the two walked out of the palace hand in hand.

Outside the bedroom, all the concubines, seven sons, and six daughters had arrived, and the infant Xiang Qing was also carried.

Today is the first day of the new year (Xiang Zhuang has changed the calendar, making January the first month of each year), according to etiquette, Xiang Zhuang will take the queen, concubines, and children to worship the ancestral temple outside Ziling City.

"Hello, Your Majesty."

"Father is well."

Seeing Xiang Zhuang, all the concubines and children stepped forward to salute, except Xiang Qing who was still in his infancy.

"Let's all be flat." Xiang Zhuang waved his hands, his eyes fell on Xiang Zheng first, and asked, "Zheng'er, I heard that you have finished reading Taigong's Art of War and Wei Liaozi's 42 chapters, and now you are reading Sun Tzu's Art of War?"

Xiang Zheng cupped his hands, and replied respectfully: "Report to father, the child is indeed studying the art of war by grandson."

Xiang Zhuang frowned imperceptibly, and said, "Wei Liaozi's 42 articles, have you read them thoroughly?"

Xiang Zheng shook his head, and replied honestly: "Don't dare to lie to my father. In the 42 chapters of Taigong's Art of War and Wei Liaozi, there are many contents that my child doesn't quite understand. Mr. Baili and Mr. Bi have explained it many times, and my child also understands it." I still don’t quite understand it, so the two gentlemen suggest that the child switch to Sun Tzu’s Art of War, and there may be unexpected gains.”

Xiang Zhuang sighed inwardly, the eldest son's aptitude is really average.

Xiang Zhuang encouraged Xiang Zheng a few words, then turned his attention to Xiang Zhi who was standing beside Xiang Zheng.

However, before Xiang Zhuang could speak, Xiang Zhi had already said: "Uncle Wang, don't force the child to read, what the child hates the most is these tadpole-like characters, and when he sees them, the child's head will grow bigger and bigger. .”

Xiang Zhuang frowned when he heard the words, Zhengzheng was adopted by Xiang Yu since he was a child, so he was usually raised by Yu Ji, but Yu Ji was too spoiled for this precious son, so she developed a domineering character since childhood, even Even his uncle didn't really listen to what he said. Xiang Zhi didn't like to read when he was urinating, but only liked to wield swords.

Since Yu Ji was also present, Xiang Zhuang could only give Xiang Zhi a few words without pain.

Then Xiang Zhuang turned his gaze to Xiang Quan and asked, "Quan'er, what book have you been reading recently?"

Xiang Quan has thick eyebrows and big eyes, and looks most like Xiang Zhuang. He replied: "Father, my son is studying Shang Jun's book recently."

"Oh, you're reading Shang Jun's book? Can you recite a passage for my father?" Xiang Zhuang was a little surprised when he heard this. Shang Jun's book is a legal work compiled by Wei Yang and his later scholars. A child in his early teens should like subjects such as military books and history. How could he read legal works?

"Here!" Xiang Quan responded respectfully, and immediately recited Shang Jun's book in a childish voice.

Clearing his throat, Xiang Quan recited the three chapters of "Reclamation Order", "Decree" and "Domestic" in one breath.

Xiang Zhuang also read Shang Jun's book repeatedly. Although he could not say that he had recited it fluently, he still remembered the general content. After comparing it, he was surprised to find that Xiang Quan's memorization was not bad.

"Good boy, not bad." Xiang Zhuang touched Xiang Quan's little head, and then walked in front of Xiang Shu.

Among all the enlightened children, Xiang Shu is definitely the smartest one. Even the crown prince Fu Bishu and Bai Lixian made no secret of their admiration for Xiang Shu. The Analects of Confucius, Mozi, Taigong's Art of War, Wei Liaozi's 42 articles, Sun Tzu's Art of War and other subjects.

The two princes, Bai Lixian and Bi Shu, even joked when chatting with Xiang Zhuang that in three years at most, they would have nothing to teach Xiang Zhuang.

As for Xiang Shu, Xiang Zhuang no longer had the intention to compare, but only encouraged him: "Shu'er, the two crown princes both said that you are extremely intelligent, and you can become a eulogy at a glance, but you must not be proud, and you must remain humble." Heart, humbly ask the two princes Fu and Jiangdong celebrities for advice, and don't be arrogant."

Xiang Shu replied: "My child, remember the teachings of the king."

Not far away, looking at Xiang Zhuang, Xiang Shu, father and son, Ying Zhen's heart is extremely complicated. If there is no later Xiang Wang, Ying Zhen will be very happy, but after giving birth to Xiang Wang, Ying Zhen's love for Xiang Shu The relationship became more subtle. No matter what, Xiang Shu was not her own. Compared with her step-son and parent-child, there was still a layer of separation between them.

After encouraging the technique, Xiang Zhuang walked directly in front of the remaining sons.

Because among the few remaining children, Xiang Wang, the oldest, has just entered school, and Xiang Qing, the youngest, is still in his infancy, so there is nothing to compare.

A moment later, a family of more than a dozen people boarded the carriage and headed straight for the outside of the palace.

Coming out of Miyagi, the streets along the way were full of traffic and bustling, and the accompanying guards finally cleared the streets with great effort. Xiang Zhuang looked outside through the curtain of the carriage and saw shops and restaurants on both sides of the street. There are row upon row of buildings, teahouses, inns and other buildings, a scene of prosperity.

Compared with ten years ago when the reform began, the business atmosphere in Jiangdong is very different now.

Ten years ago, Jiangdong's commercial scale was still very small. Except for public transport paper, book lending, and liquor, there were very few types of goods widely circulated in the market, and the contribution of tax revenue was also very small. However, Jiangdong's commercial trade has become extremely Prosperous, in Ziling's market, there is almost nothing that cannot be bought.

With the prosperity of business, business tax has also increased substantially.

Ten years ago, Jiangdong's commercial tax was converted into rice grain, which was less than 50 shi. However, now, Jiangdong's commercial tax has already exceeded [-] shi. Although it is less than half of the land tax, the land tax has grown slowly. Taxes are growing rapidly, and within five years at most, commercial taxes will surpass land taxes and become the main source of treasury revenue.

Of course, the commercial taxation of Chu State is not rice grain, but five baht coins and gold coins!

With the help of the monopoly dumping of public transportation paper, books and liquor, Chu State almost plundered all the gold from the countries in the Central Plains. As early as five years ago, Chu State had accumulated more than 60 jin (Qin Jin) of gold. According to historical records, the total amount of gold in Huaxia at the end of Qin Dynasty was almost 18 kilograms, or 72 catties.

Now, the gold has basically flowed into Chu State.

With enough gold, Xiang Zhuang immediately implemented the currency reform, and cast a large number of gold coins as legal tender. A gold coin weighs about one tael, about 36% of the color, and can be exchanged for two thousand five baht coins. At the end of the Qin Dynasty, one tael of gold was worth [-] shi, and one shi of millet was worth [-] renminbi. According to comparable prices, one tael of gold could only be exchanged for [-] renminbi!
It can be seen that the value of gold coins stipulated by Chu State far exceeds the actual value. However, after Chu State has hoarded most of the gold, there is nothing wrong with such a comparison of price and quantity. Who let Chu State control the right to speak? Woolen cloth?The state of Chu intends to plunder the wealth of the countries in the Central Plains through such price comparisons and quantitative determinations.

In fact, another reason why Xiangzhuang determined such a gold ratio is insufficient gold reserves.

Compared with the current business scale of Chu State, more than 60 catties of gold reserves are enough, but what about five years from now?What about ten or twenty years from now?Also, if Chu State unified China, the population size would increase sharply, and the business scale would increase exponentially. At that time, hundreds of thousands of catties of gold would not be enough.

Therefore, Xiang Zhuang had to plan ahead and set the price of gold as high as possible.

In the future, when there are more gold mines in China, the mining technology of gold mines improves, and the output of gold increases, it will not be too late to lower the price of gold.

(End of this chapter)