Three Kingdoms

  Chapter 2483 Drinking poisoned wine

  Everyone has their own opinions, which is not surprising, but if these people don’t care about others’ opinions and only want their own, the result will lead to a very strange direction.

  Is it difficult for Emperor Liu Xie?

Disaster.

  Cao Cao also knows, but the problem is that Cao Cao is also difficult.

  The Shandong gentry also felt that it was very difficult for them...

  So the most interesting situation at the moment has emerged. In Shandong, every level is considering its own difficulties, while turning a blind eye to other difficulties.

  Even now, among the political groups in Shandong, there are still different views on this important matter of establishing the Guanzhong defense line.

Cao Cao naturally needs manpower and material resources to establish an overall defensive system, but others do not have such a sense of urgency, and many people think that there is still not much threat in Guanzhong, saying that Fei Qian can only be arrogant in Guanzhong, as long as After leaving the customs, Fei Qian will definitely suffer a crushing defeat.

  Reason, for example, people's backs, Yunyun, old things in the former Qin Dynasty, etc.

  Some people even said that in the past, the former Qin was able to win the world because the six countries killed each other, so it only needs "the six countries will not be chaotic, and the Western Qin will have nothing to take advantage of"...

   Such an obvious meaning is almost like putting these dozen words on Cao Cao's face.

   It's not that Cao Cao doesn't understand what these people mean, it's just that Cao Cao doesn't think there will be any good results if he pins his hopes on these people.

   This point, Cao Cao already had a deep understanding when he was in Suanzao.

  Shandong gentry, the rich and right of the counties, if they can unite as one, they will be enough to counter Guanzhong, but the question is, when did the Shandong gang ever unite?

  Even Emperor Guangwu won the fame of the world back then, didn’t he have to abandon Yin Lihua in order to gain the support of the big households in Jizhou? Have these people forgotten? Jizhou Yuzhou has been at odds since Emperor Guangwu, and it is still the same until now. Is it possible that Cao Cao is looking forward to the day when these two guys will suddenly become harmonious as a family?

   Isn't this more difficult than expecting the public to speak? It is true that this possibility is not impossible, but it is almost non-existent.

  Although Cao Cao didn’t know what public knowledge is, he thought he would be stupid if he listened to the so-called “unity as one”.

  Cao Cao doesn't trust these guys.

   Not trusting at all.

  Yes, that's right, Cao Cao is now wearing a BUFF of "There are always troublesome people"...

  Cao Cao doesn't even trust Xun Yu very much now.

   Or to be more precise, Cao Cao still trusts Xun Yu in matters, but he has an attitude of scrutiny and doubts in terms of strategic direction. The main reason for this is that Xun Yu pinned his hopes on being able to coordinate and compromise with each other, while Cao Cao felt that coordination and compromise were only a temporary strategy, and would only eventually bring about a growing appetite for the other party.

  The meanings of the two are quite different.

Cao Cao believes that he knows the strength of Fei Qian's army, which is far from what he has shown. All the information and intelligence he has obtained show that Fei Qian still holds many inexplicable cards in his hand, and what are these cards? What, what kind of effect will it have, this makes Cao Cao very anxious.

   In the decisive battle, everything is good if it succeeds, but if it fails, it means that the Central Plains will be lost. By that time, Cao Cao will either have to surrender his family, or he will step into the fate of the two Yuan brothers.

  When you reach such a level, looking back, there is no retreat, you can only continue to move forward, and there is no second way to choose.

  In this world, life and death are extremely difficult. The only simple thing is time, you don't need to do anything, you can see time running by itself...

   This time, requesting the emperor Liu Xie to issue an edict is actually Cao Cao's preparations for the preparatory work.

  If you want to win an external war, you need to make some preparations, and if you want to win an internal war, you also need to make preparations in advance.

  Money, food, supplies, weapons...

As early as two years ago, the trade between Guanzhong and Shandong became vaguely weird, but at that time Cao Cao focused his energy on consolidating the territory. For these trade things, most of the time he only focused on some war preparations. , Cao Cao didn't pay much attention to it at other times, but when he paid attention now, he suddenly realized that something was wrong.

Many of the items shipped from Shandong to Guanzhong are ordinary goods, such as ore, rough hemp, even coarse salt, vinegar cloth, etc., at first glance, they seem to be things with a single value that is not high, but those shipped from Guanzhong are all ordinary goods. It's expensive goods, especially spice products from the past six months...

  Originally, Cao Cao thought that this was nothing. After all, it was a business. Cao Cao himself needed to import some horse armor from Guanzhong, but later he realized that something was wrong.

   Don't talk too much, just look at one thing.

  Ironware.

  Because the ore was transported to Guanzhong, the iron smelting in Nanyang almost stagnated. Instead, they bought iron ingots and finished products from Guanzhong...

Before the iron ore and metallurgy in Nanyang stagnated, it could be returned because the war was uncertain, and the local area did not have the intention to engage in production, but now most of Jingzhou has been in the hands of Cao Cao, and Nanyang can be said to have become a hinterland. Of course, it is relatively safe in terms of security. Guaranteed, but still the normal smelting has not resumed, and even some metallurgical craftsmen have nothing to do, so they can change their careers or go to Guanzhong in the end!

Cao Cao was very puzzled. After sending people to find out, it turned out that Nanyang metallurgical ironmaking is tantamount to losing money, so those guys would rather sell the ore and then buy back the finished product. It's a good deal for iron smelting and casting...

  After listening to the report, Cao Cao felt cold sweat all over his back!

  If Guanzhong and Shandong are in peace, that’s fine. If war breaks out and the trade routes are cut off, what will Shandong do? Could it be possible to use wooden sticks to plan the soil instead? Or is it hoping that after the war, the other party can send some iron farm tools?

Nanyang was already the largest metallurgical and iron-smelting production area in the original Dahan. It cannot be said that there is no iron-smelting in other counties and counties, but the scale is relatively small, and the sponge iron produced by ordinary metallurgy is used for forging The cost of manufacturing ironware is still too high, and the production cycle is very long, after all, it is manually punched out bit by bit.

   Therefore, it is almost the consensus of everyone, except Cao Cao, to use ore to go to Guanzhong to exchange for finished products.

  When Cao Cao discussed these matters with Xun Yu and others, Cao Cao got a surprising result...

   Xun Yu even said that the exchange of ore for finished products and iron ingots was the result of a trade-off.

  One is that the people of Shandong can have a lot of cheaper agricultural tools, and then the recovery and development of the elite places of the Han Dynasty such as Yuzhou and Jizhou will naturally be faster.

Second, if we talk about self-smelting iron, each item is tantamount to investing more costs. Now the annual income is very tight, and almost every penny needs to be allocated reasonably, so we adopt a lower-cost procurement method. It is almost equivalent to saving expenses. These saved expenses are equal to free income, which can be used for other expenses.

The third is metallurgy, which needs "professionals" to do it. Ordinary people can't do it well if they want to do it. Now, when it comes to the professionalism of craftsmen, probably no one can compete with Huang's workshop in Guanzhong for a high-level job. Down.

  At the same time, it is also a very crucial point. If the metallurgical industry is demanded on a political level, then it is easy to have the consequences of "resentment from the bottom".

  Speaking of it this way, it seems that it does meet the needs, and there are comprehensive considerations.

  It seems that this kind of trading behavior can not only bring about faster recovery and development in Shandong, but also benefit the people, and at the same time increase the income of the court.

  But Cao Cao is Cao Cao after all.

Perhaps it was because Cao Cao was suspicious by nature, or because he knew Fei Qian better than others, so in the end Cao Cao asked, "Since these things are all for the benefit of Shandong, why do Huqi Would you like to do it too? Purely for the benefit of the world? 』

  Xun Yu said at the time, "Or the same as a bachelor of agriculture and engineering?" In order to buy people's hearts. 』

  Cao Cao sneered.

   The sneer was for Fei Qian, and it was also for Xun Yu.

  Cao Cao didn't believe that Xun Yu couldn't see it, but felt that Xun Yu was pretending to be confused.

  Cao Cao narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Buying people's hearts? But I don't know who's heart is to buy it? 』

   Xun Yu replied very cleverly, "He is the one who hates the prime minister..."

  Hearing this, Cao Cao couldn't help but want to applaud Xun Yu.

  『However, this move is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst! Cao Cao said in a deep voice, "Wen Ruominhui, why don't you know?" 』

   It seems that when the Shandong people were extremely thirsty, Fei Qian gave him a glass of sweet wine.

  In fact, this liqueur is poisonous, and once it is drunk, there is no cure for it.

It’s just that in the world at this time, there are not many poisoners and the few “doctors” who can see through the poison, especially these upper-class people who can be called growing up in wealth and arrogant in self-satisfaction. Shandong gentry Haoyou, how many people can understand the danger?

  Xun Yu said to Cao Cao again: "If you don't drink it, you will die immediately." The national treasury is empty, so it can only be delayed. 』

  Cao Cao caressed the table case as if he was stroking a sharp knife edge, and still squinted at Xun Yu, "Then why is the treasury empty?" Now it is September, and the hussars will definitely not be able to go out this year. The area around Hebei and Henan is considered stable, and there is a good opportunity for honesty and strategy. 』

"My lord..." Xun Yu cupped his hands and said, "It's too early now...I have ordered people to increase the purchase of iron weapons and weapons to fill the warehouse. In the autumn, they can turn around... During the period, an iron smelting factory was also built in the south of Xu County So, strive for next year, and then you can give birth to yourself...My lord, if you endure the pain for a while, you will have a lifetime...』

  Cao Cao's slender eyes were still filled with coldness, "A gentleman is in service, you don't know how long it will take!" 』

  『Master, if it is at this time...wouldn’t it have contributed to the theory of the correct solution of Qinglong Temple? ’ Xun Yu persuaded again.

  『Could it be that if I don’t kill people, there will be a serious solution to someone? 』Cao Cao laughed out loud, then flung his sleeves and left.

  ……

  In September, the weather in the north is gradually getting cooler, but in Wu County near Dajiang, it is still sweltering.

   This city that future generations may call heaven on earth has not been built for too long, just like its master, it is still relatively young.

  Wu County is the pinnacle of Sun's development of Jiangdong, and perhaps also the grave of development.

  Ten miles south of the city, there are mountains but no names.

  Sun Quan was on the mountain, looking at the land of Wujun.

  In order to prevent the flooding of the Yangtze River, Wu County is more than ten miles away from the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, but the nearby lakes are rich in water systems, and Jiangdong is good at boats, so the transportation is convenient. Because the Yangtze River brings abundant irrigation, coupled with its own natural dangers, it seems that Jiangdong has both benefits...

  Cargo from all directions gathers here, and big and small boats come in and out every day.

   It is precisely because of these convenient transportation conditions that the Jiangdong gentry Haoyou controls the vast Jiangdong territory that was originally impossible to control.

  Jiangdong is far from being as perfect as it was developed by later generations. There are still many places with mountains, hills and other places, which are not conducive to farming. Of course, there are not many Han people. And the Yue people living in these areas, since the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, have been fighting against Wu Guo, Chu Guo and so on...

  The most famous one is Yue Wang Goujian.

   This Yue King Goujian, who was sung by Yue people, and even believed by many people in later generations, is actually advocating victory in essence, purely for victory by any means. After Goujian was defeated by the king of Wu, he immediately wanted to offer his wife. concubine"..."

After being rejected by King Wu, Gou Jian immediately wanted to kill his wife and burn all his belongings to be buried with him, but Wen Zhong offered a plan to save his life, but after Gou Jian succeeded, he gave Wen Zhong a sword saying : "My son taught the widow nine techniques to defeat Wu, and the widow used three of them to defeat Wu, and the sixth was in the son, and the son tried it for me from the previous king." 』

   Such a king naturally cannot last long.

  After King Goujian of Yue, there was no ability to recover. Later, the state of Yue was destroyed by the state of Chu, but the state was destroyed, and the hatred did not disappear.

  It's like Sun Quan, the lord of Jiangdong, although he bowed his head at the moment, but the hatred still persists.

  Father died suddenly, Sun Ce was forced by the situation, had to put aside his blood feud temporarily, bowed his head and knelt and licked.

  Brother was assassinated, Sun Quan was also forced by the situation, had to temporarily hide his hatred, and also lowered his head to lick.

  But the more you lick this egg, uh, gall, the more you hate it.

  The conflict between Sun Quan and the Jiangdong gentry Haoyou is like the conflict between princes and nobles in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. The nobles do not support any reform that may affect their own interests, and the princes can only rely on previous inertia and compromise to bargain with the nobles. Even if Sun Quan supports some newcomers, these people still cannot have enough strength to compete with these The gentry contended right and left.

What Sun Quan could do before was to divide up the Sun family, large and small, like a feudal marquis. However, this kind of entrustment made these "royal branches" more powerful and more powerful. Bloated and hard to control.

  Some of these entrusted "princes" not only did not give Sun Quan enough support, but even colluded with some nobles and rightists, which posed a great threat to Sun Quan's own position.

  Under internal and external troubles, Sun Quan's sense of crisis brought about by the instability is naturally deeper.

But he was a little helpless. It wasn't that he didn't want to reform, nor that he didn't know how to reform, but that every time he moved a little, there were countless voices coming, and countless people jumped up and hugged his thighs and arms. …

  My current situation is even worse than when my elder brother came to the throne. Now let alone reform, it is unknown whether I can keep my throne. The dead Sun Ce didn't expect to die at all, so he didn't have much preparation at all, let alone explain too many funeral arrangements.

  Sun Quan remembered that once he and his elder brother Sun Ce were walking on the bank of a big river, and saw lush reeds all over the river. At that time, Sun Ce once said with emotion: "These spear grasses are so complicated that they support the way, how can we get rid of them?" 』

  『Cut it with a knife and burn it with fire. ’ Sun Quan said at the time.

  『Get rid of it today, and bring it back to life tomorrow,』 Sun Ce shook his head and sighed, "It can be said that it is deeply rooted..."

  Sun Quan might still be a little arrogant at that time, "If it can be removed this year, it will be removed again next year!" 』

  Sun Ce laughed loudly, "But who owns the handle of the spear-weeding knife?" What's more, this knife can also be blunt at times...』

  Thinking about it now, perhaps Sun Ce realized at that time that only relying on pure force could not solve Jiangdong's problem.

   So, a fire must be lit from it...

   Burn it!

  A bottle of wine was brought to Sun Quan by a servant.

   Take a sip, and the sugar after the starch has been decomposed by microorganisms makes this slightly shallow wine slightly sweet.

  Sun Quan put down the wine bottle, he felt that every sip he took now seemed like he was drinking poison.

  In order to prevent himself from being poisoned to death on this bottle of "poisonous wine", Sun Quan planned to replace the "craftsman" who made the wine.

  『My lord, the school affairs are here...』

"Please. ’ Sun Quan ordered lightly.

   Not long after, Ji Yan arrived at the top of the mountain, and then met with Sun Quan.

  『Zixiu,』Sun Quan looked at the city of Wu Jun, Sun Quan's robe was lifted up by the mountains and haze, and he was quite demeanor, but the words in his mouth were deep in the world, "Would you like to relieve my worries? 』

  『Minister! Willing to die for the Lord! 』Jiyan naturally grabbed the ground with her head.

  Sun Quan nodded, and then very kindly went up to help Jiyan up.

In fact, Sun Quan was not very satisfied with the previous performance of Ji Yan and others, and it can even be said that he was very disappointed. The gentry had the upper hand, so that Sun Quan was very passive in the end.

   But now, Sun Quan smiled very kindly, as if he was looking at a huge "bitter gall", and he almost went up to lick it twice, and waved his hand to signal for his confidants to deliver the wine, "Zixiu has such a heart is enough!" God bestows a child with a son, just like the rebirth of the ovary! Fortunately, fortunately! Come, let's drink this bottle together! 』

  The two laughed, with joy on their faces, and each drank.

  『Now that the autumn harvest is over...』Sun Quan put down the wine bottle, looked at Ji Yan with a smile, and said, "Since we have harvested Zhuanghe, it is time to burn the weeds... Zixiu understand? 』

  Jiyan's eyelids twitched, but she quickly replied: "I...understand..."

Sun Quan smiled, patted Jiyan's shoulder, grasped it tightly with his hands, and seemed to be buckled into Jiyan's body, "Remember, find out those weeds...find out...then burn them to death Of! 』

  Ji Yan swallowed a mouthful of saliva, "Minister! Lead! 』

  Jiyan knew that if he could not find some "weeds" to burn for Sun Quan this time, so that Sun Quan's anger could be vented, then he himself would become that bundle of "weeds"...

  (end of this chapter)