Adou who can afford it

Since Dong Zhuo's rebellion, the land of Sanfu has been ten rooms and nine empty.

It was once the center of the Han Empire, and even the center of gravity of the world at that time, and its prosperity naturally does not need to be described in too many words.

The people of Sanfu, those who were killed, those who escaped, those who fled. Sanfu people, scholars, officials, after they fled their hometowns, they were seen in almost every big state.

In Xuzhou, hundreds of thousands of Sanfu people fled and were slaughtered by Cao Cao, causing Surabaya to be lost.

In Yizhou, the Sanfu refugees were recruited and became Dongzhou soldiers.

In Jingzhou, Jing Zhaoyin, Zuo Fengyi, and Right Fufeng fled from the powerful family, and there were countless scholars, and Jingzhou seemed to be prosperous overnight.

The people are gone, the family is gone, and in this way, the population around Chang'an is swept away, and the remaining population is less than one-tenth of the previous one.

Even so, the importance of Chang'an City is still self-evident, the warlords of Liangzhou dreamed of capturing this fortified city, in order to try to win the world, now this city is occupied by Cao Cao, the general Xiahou Yuan is here, with this city as the advance, Liangzhou can be attacked, Bashu can be attacked, even if it is a person who does not understand military affairs, can see the strategic importance of Chang'an.

In the city of Chang'an today, the dense army of nearly several miles walked out of the tall and majestic but extremely dilapidated city gate hole, a total of 10,000 people, under the leadership of Xiahou Yuan, towards the outside of the city.

In the Sanfu area, where there is no population, weeds and trees grow wildly, and the official road that was originally built straight and wide, flat and can run a carriage has long been covered with weeds, and the trees on both sides of the road have grown into towering giant trees after more than ten years of growth.

The originally fertile fields were no longer planted, and the grass and trees were allowed to occupy these fertile lands, and the territory of the mountain forest beasts became larger, and the tigers and jackals were infested, and they were not afraid of people at all.

Xiahou Yuan was the general of the army in Chang'an, the governor of Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao, and Zhong Xuan was the captain of the school, and he was also stationed in Chang'an.

Today, Xiahou Yuan raised 10,000 elite troops, in the name of Cao Cao, to attack Zhang Lu in Hanzhong.

Sili Lieutenant Zhong Xuan went out of the city to see him off, and the army moved forward, and Xiahou Yuan and Zhong Xuan walked side by side.

Both of them were appointed to garrison Chang'an at the same time, and the two have become close friends because of their correspondence in recent years.

"Miaocai, it's not too difficult for you to go to Zhang Lu here, and Zhang Lu will bully cowards like Liu Zhang. Zhang Lu was easy to attack, but Han Sui and Ma Chao had to defend. Xiahou Yuan abandoned his horse and walked with Zhong Xuan, and when he reached the edge of Weishui, Zhong Xuan said to Xiahou Yuan in a serious voice.

Xiahou Yuan has been fighting in the south and north for many years, and he has a clear view of the current situation.

Liangzhou has always been a place of a hundred battles, there are many warlords, the relationship between them is complicated, in the early years Ma Teng and Han Sui were brothers with different surnames, swept Liangzhou, all warlords surrendered, Cao Cao coerced the Son of Heaven to order the princes, named Ma Teng as the general of the expedition to the south, Ma Teng then surrendered to the court, and then Zhang both persuaded and suggested that Ma Teng lead the court guards, and Ma Teng entered the court. It's still in Xudu.

Ma Teng's entry into the court is equivalent to a proton, so Liangzhou has not been in turmoil under the suppression of Ma Teng's son Ma Chao and Ma Teng's brother Han Sui over the years.

Today's Liangzhou seems to be at peace with Cao Cao, but in fact, the relationship is still very sensitive, if Cao Cao has any changes, Liangzhou will inevitably break out.

"I have already sent a letter to Ma Chao and Han Sui, informing them that they need to borrow a road to recruit Zhang Lu. Ma Teng is in Xudu, presumably they will not make any changes. Xiahou Yuan said calmly.

Seeing Xiahou Yuan's relaxed words, Zhong Xuan couldn't help but worry: "If they don't believe it, once they raise an army, the consequences will be unimaginable. The remaining 5,000 soldiers and horses in Chang'an are difficult to rescue.

"It doesn't matter, if I march slowly, then the Liangzhou barbarians will think wildly. Attacking Zhang Lu as a soldier is very fast.

Seeing that Xiahou Yuan was resolute, Zhong Miao no longer persuaded him.

"Miaocai, I'll send you here. The

two hugged their fists to say goodbye, and Xiahou Yuan turned over and said to Zhong Xuan: "Yuan Chang, prepare wine and food in Chang'an, and wait for my triumphant return."

Zhong Miao smiled and said: "When this is the case, the general's horse will be successful!"

Xiahou Yuan rode his horse away, the guards brought the horses, Zhong Miao went to Chang'an, thinking that the triumphant wine and food must be ready, and the city defense of Chang'an must also be ready.

The green hills on both sides of the Weishui River are continuous, and the population here was dense a few decades ago, how can you see such a scenery, which mountain is not combed cleanly, and the trees and firewood are cut down and picked up to make firewood.

Zhong Xuan rode into Chang'an City, and downstairs at the city gate, he saw a team of more than 100 businessmen, all dressed in the land of Jingchu.

"You are from Jingzhou?" Although the businessmen who come and go to Chang'an are not like in the past, there are still a lot of businessmen who come and go to Liangzhou, Yizhou, and northern places, and it is rare to come from Jingzhou.

The leader of the caravan probably also had some eyesight, and when he saw Zhong Xuan, he hurriedly saluted: "But Zhong Sili?"

"It's me." Zhong Xuan looked at these people suspiciously.

The leader bowed down and said: "Si Li, the little one is a businessman from Jingzhou, named Zhao Jing." "

What are you selling?" Looking at the more than ten carriages, which were tightly covered, Zhong Xuan asked.

Zhao Jing lifted the green curtain covering the carriage and said to Zhong Xuan: "Zhong Sili, these are all papers. We are selling paper from Jingzhou, and we plan to open a store here in Chang'an, using Chang'an as a transit station to sell paper to Luoyang, Liangzhou and other places.

Zhao Jing tore open a pile of paper wrapped in a waterproof curtain, opened it and said to Zhong Xuan: "These are all high-grade papers, far superior to Zuo Bo paper." "

Zhong Xiang is a master of calligraphy, very familiar with Zuo Bo paper, now see the white paper on the carriage, the heart is interested, if you talk about practicing words, it is naturally the most suitable paper, but this paper is also divided into good and bad, the most precious Zuo Bo paper, the value is extraordinary, ordinary people simply can't afford to use it, but even so, Zhong Xiang can see at a glance that the paper on the carriage of Jingzhou merchants is many times better than the most exquisite Zuo Bo paper.

Zhao Jing held a pile of cut boxy paper and handed it to Zhong Xuan on the horse, Zhong Xuan took the paper, and started to be soft and smooth, and the texture was not like the rough Zuo Bo paper.

"It's still good paper, is this kind of paper from Jingzhou?" Zhong Xuan asked approvingly.

Zhao Jing replied: "It was from Jingzhou, or it was created by the famous Wolong."

Zhong Xuan's face changed, and the soldiers behind him heard Wolong, and they also drew their swords one after another.

Zhao Jing suddenly shuddered, and hurriedly asked for the guilt: "It's a small offense, and I ask Si Li to forgive me."

Zhong Xuan looked at the paper in his hand: "This is Zhuge Kongming's work?What is the relationship between you and Zhuge Kongming?" Zhao

Jingbai fell to the ground, trembling and said: "It doesn't matter, that Wolong granted the method of papermaking to four Jingzhou merchants, and ordered them to make paper for the benefit of the world's readers, my shopkeeper is one of them, and the four will each sell paper to one side, and the distribution of my shopkeeper is Liangzhou, Sanfu, Luoyang, and several other families are allocated." "

How much money do you have to give to that Liu Bei?"

Zhong Xuan said: "A good face and a kind-hearted black Liu Xuande, you can make money lying down."

"Si Li, since we and other businessmen have come to Chang'an to sell paper, we will definitely not do anything about collusion between officials and businessmen. I also ask Si Li to be kind and allow us to sell paper in Chang'an, if there are other violations of the law, although there is no regret.

Of course, Zhong Xuan would not believe the words of these merchants, and immediately said: "Come here, detain them all and send them to Jing Zhaoyin

" "Zhong Sili! Please be merciful!" Zhao Jing knelt on the ground and shouted.

Zhong Xuan said to Zhao Jing: "I will let people investigate your innocence, if you are a real businessman, there is no other heart, I will naturally let you go, and let you lease shops and land in this Chang'an City, and allow you to open shops, but if you have a problem, I will not spare you."

Zhao Jing kowtowed and said, "Thank you Si Li." Si Li, who came from Jingzhou earlier, the shopkeeper instructed me that Zhong Sili is a calligrapher, let me give a car of paper and Si Li to learn words, this car of paper, and ask Si Li to accept it. "

You want to bribe me?"

"Don't dare!" It's just that the shopkeeper really commanded me.

"When the investigation is clear, I will go to your shop to buy paper, and there is no need to bribe me with it." Zhong Xuan said with a cold face.

Zhao Jing saw that Zhong Miao showed signs of anger, and he knelt on the ground and didn't dare to say more.

Zhong Xuan turned and rode away, and the caravan was escorted by the soldiers to the prison.

Back at Sili Mansion, Zhong Xuan immediately ordered someone to investigate the matter, involving Liu Bei, not to be taken lightly.

It's just the time for a stick of incense, Jingzhao Yin Zhang Ji hurried over, still holding a pile of paper in his hand, seeing Zhong Xiang practicing calligraphy, Zhang Ji said excitedly: "Yuan Chang, why did the merchants who sell this kind of paper arrest them?"

"Sure enough, it's a good paper! It is worthy of being made by Zhuge Kongming! It is much better than Zuo Bo paper!" Zhong Xuan stroked his beard and praised.

Zhang Ji said to Zhong Xuan: "When I was interrogating Zhao Jing just now, I casually asked about the price of these papers, and he said that a piece of paper is only fifty yuan, and you must know that even the roughest kind of Zuo Bo paper costs fifty yuan, and the exquisite one reaches three hundred yuan a piece."　And the cost of this kind of Kongming paper is definitely lower. This is indeed a good thing for the benefit of the world's scholars.

Zhong Xuan said: "I think there is something strange in this matter.

Zhang Ji shook his head and said: "When the investigation is clear, I will naturally know." However, in my opinion, there is not much strangeness, if these businessmen really have any other thoughts, they will definitely not be so open-minded, and they also preach that this paper is made by Zhuge Liang.

Zhong Xuan smiled and said: "This Kong Ming paper is the name you took?" "

That Zuo Bo paper, named after Zuo Bo, of course this Kong Ming paper is named after Kong Ming." Zhang Ji said.