Technology dominates the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 225 [The method of war is not limited to fighting]

What Lu Bu said, in Zhou Zhang's opinion.There is another deep meaning, that is, Lu Bu really values ​​merchants.

In this way, merchants in Jiaozhou have the opportunity to improve their status.

With the army as their backing, the caravan is full of confidence.But choosing those merchants to enter the Central Plains, Lu Bu has his own ideas.

He said: "When choosing merchants, you should give priority to local big merchants in Jiaozhou. They have rich money and experience and can do great things."

The implication is that merchants who want to enter the Central Plains must be local in Jiaozhou in addition to money, so that they have family members and clansmen in Jiaozhou.

Even if you run away from the monk, you can't run away from the temple!

Chen Gong, Zhang Liao and Zhou Zhang all understood what Lu Bu said and agreed.

"The government's caravan will be arranged by the official platform, and the other caravans will be selected by the Jiaozhou Chamber of Commerce. Zhou Zhang will be responsible for this. After the selection, give me the list for review."

Lu Bu continued.

"As ordered!"

Chen Gong and Zhou Zhang took orders with one voice.

Then, Chen Gong cupped his hands and asked, "My lord, I wonder if merchants are allowed to participate in the trade of salt and iron? Also, can new paper be traded in the Central Plains?"

Now Jiaozhou's salt, iron, copper, etc. have been forcibly taken over by Lu Bu, and the government directly conducts everything from collection to sale.

Especially for salt, Jiaozhou produces a lot of sea salt, which has been sold to various parts of the Central Plains for a long time. Among them, Jingzhou has the largest demand for Jiaozhou's sea salt.

Salt, iron, and copper are all important materials related to people's livelihood, and Lu Bu also knew their importance.

Therefore, Chen Gong's suggestion was adopted to monopolize important materials such as salt, iron and copper, so as to control the flow of these materials.

The [Salt Sunning Method] that Lu Bu exchanged from the system had been handed over to Chen Gong before, and secretly arranged for everyone to try it on the coast, and it has achieved good results so far.

It turns out that the way to make sea salt in Jiaozhou is to adopt the traditional method of boiling salt.If the [solar salt method] is applied and promoted, it will reduce the cost of salt production and increase the amount of salt produced.

As for the production of new paper, so far, more and more new paper has been produced, and there is a certain surplus.

Moreover, with the advancement of craftsmanship and the continuous proficiency of craftsmen, the production cost of new paper is getting lower and lower, which greatly shocked Chen Gong.

But new paper is a rare thing and quite expensive.If it is sold to the Central Plains, the profit must be very considerable.

Chen Gong didn't fall into the eyes of money, but the treasury of the General's Mansion was getting tighter and tighter.Lu Bu wanted to build academies, build roads, set up new counties, etc., plus the expenses of more than [-] troops, Chen Gong had to find ways to get money and food.

As soon as Chen Gong finished speaking, Zhang Liao couldn't bear it anymore, stood up and cupped his hands, "My lord, the number of cavalry in our army is getting smaller and smaller because of the lack of horses. We need to buy enough horses from the Central Plains, otherwise the cavalry's combat effectiveness in the future will be worrying." .”

Chen Gong is in charge of money and food every day, so the first consideration is how to get enough money and food.And Zhang Liao, as the second in command in the army, of course, the first consideration is how to enhance the army's combat power.

Seeing Chen Gong, Zhang Liao said so, Zhou Zhang on the side couldn't bear it anymore, he also got up, cupped his hands, and said respectfully: "My lord, for salt, iron, copper, liquor and new paper, there are many people in the chamber of commerce. Merchants want to be part of it”

As he spoke, Zhou Zhang suddenly knelt down.

"What are you doing?"

Lu Bu was shocked.

Chen Gong and Zhang Liao also looked at Zhou Zhang with puzzled faces.

Zhou Zhang was originally a merchant, while Chen Gong and Zhang Liao were from the Central Plains.I always looked down on Zhou Zhang in my heart, but I didn't show it.

Especially Chen Gong, originally thought that Lu Bu valued merchants, and it was merchants like Zhou Zhang who took the lead.Later, through a series of actions by Lu Bu, I realized that this was not the case.

The business tax has not yet been established and reformed, and Chen Gong has not yet seen the potential of the commercial economy, so he still doesn't quite understand Lu Bu's emphasis on merchants.

However, Chen Gong believed in Lu Bu very much in his heart, and believed that he must have deep meaning in doing so!
"My lord, I boldly request to form a caravan to go to the Central Plains to serve my lord." Zhou Zhang knelt and said.

Lu Bu sat on top, watching Chen Gong, Zhang Liao and Zhou Zhang, lost in thought, and spoke after a while:
"Now Jiaozhou needs a lot of items. There is a shortage of people, food, iron, copper, cloth, cattle and horses are all scarce items. These things cannot flow out of Jiaozhou, and can only be purchased from the Central Plains."

"As for the new paper, the current quantity is not too much, and it can't even meet the needs of Jiaozhou. Besides, for the sake of confidentiality, it is not suitable to spread it to the Central Plains for the time being."

"The things mentioned above are absolutely forbidden to flow out of Jiaozhou until there is a clear document. Others, Jiaozhou's melons and fruits, rare treasures, sea salt, fish, etc. can continue to be sold to the Central Plains."

"For the time being, the sale and purchase of sea salt is still in charge of the caravan arranged by the General's Mansion. Private mining and selling are prohibited, and offenders will be fined heavily!"

As he said that, Lu Bu set his sights on Zhou Zhang, "Baijiu can be sold to the Central Plains, but only to noble families and bureaucrats, so as to gain greater benefits. However, keep it secret, and the secret recipe for making baijiu must not be leaked. .”

"I understand." Zhou Zhang clapped his hands in response.

"Next, under specific discussions, a list of items that are prohibited from being circulated to the Central Plains will be made."

In this way, the four of them discussed for several hours before ending.

Later, Lu Bu left Zhou Zhang alone.

"Steward Luo, take out the things." Lu Bu ordered Butler Luo Kun who was beside him.

Butler Luo Kun walked out of the meeting room, and walked in with something like a bamboo pole after a while.

When Zhou Zhang saw it, he knew what it was, and thought that Lu Bu was asking him to enjoy it, but he also murmured in his heart: This thing is nothing, why did the lord take it out on purpose?

Before he could figure it out, he heard Lu Bu ask:

"Zhou Zhang, do you know what this is and what's its use?"

Zhou Zhang was taken aback by these words. This thing may not be common in the Central Plains, but it is relatively common in Jiaozhou, especially now.

But since Lu Bu asked, Zhou Zhang had no choice but to answer truthfully: "My lord, this thing is bamboo cane, which mainly grows in Jiuzhen County and Jiaozhi County. It is slightly sweet and edible. It is often used to make stone honey and Zhejiang."

"However, because it is very difficult to make stone honey or zhe pulp, stone honey or zhe pulp made from bamboo cane is more precious. Now is the season for bamboo cane harvesting. If the lord wants it, the younger ones will be bought for the lord."

Lu Bu shook his head, "You said there is no shortage of Shimi and Zhejiang. I asked you about this just to find out. It's none of your business now, let's go down."

"Retire, little one."

Zhou Zhang was a little puzzled, wondering why Lu Bu was just asking this question.

"Could it be that the lord has never seen bamboo cane in the Central Plains?" Zhou Zhang thought for a while, and then slowly withdrew from the conference hall.

. . . . . . . .

(End of this chapter)