Three Kingdoms

Compared with Liu Xie, who was a little confused and changed the script a little, and only knew how to pronounce 1, 2, 3, 4, the veteran actor Xun probably understood what it was like after thinking for a while. It's over. (Due to caching reasons, please visit the COM website directly with your browser to watch the fastest chapter updates)

Although this was slightly different from what he originally planned, it was generally considered to have accomplished the goal.

After Xun's court meeting, it was customary to go to the prime minister's house and give a brief explanation to Cao Pi.

The reason why it is slightly is because Xun may know that it is beneficial to have a closer relationship with Cao Pi, but he cannot get too close...

It's not that Xun You discovered anything wrong with Cao Pi's character at that moment, but that Xun You, as Cao Cao's adviser, was not Cao Pi's minister. If you show kindness, then there will be no problem, but if you are too close, Lao Cao will definitely not be happy.

"Your Majesty," Cao Pi's attitude seemed particularly sincere today, "Please enlighten me, Your Majesty, why... in the court, there were so many slanders in the past, but now it has become what it is now?" 』

Cao Pi couldn't understand. Before this, they were still shouting and killing. It seemed that the emperor, officials, and even the common people were all giggling about Cao Cao, saying that Cao Cao was old and confused, and that he was not doing things properly. That person was not thorough, or was secretly talking about how the Xiahou family of the Cao family seized power and bullied the weak. Anyway, basically from top to bottom, there were not many people who said good things about Cao Cao. Why did he not say anything good about Cao Cao after Cao Cao expressed his resignation? , the limelight immediately turned, indicating that Prime Minister Cao worked hard, it was not easy for Prime Minister Cao, and Prime Minister Cao made great contributions?

Is it just because Ren Jun was "assassinated" that everyone is afraid?

So easy to use?

It's that simple?

So, in the future, whenever officials cause trouble, they can be "assassinated" once?

Cao Pi felt it was necessary to ask and find out.

Xunyou pondered for a moment, "Officials, officials, serve the king." Juzhong also. 』

"Hiss..." Cao Pi felt a toothache. He had been talking for a while before, but now he is doing this again? !

"Your Majesty, please give me a courtesy, kid!" ” Cao Pi left his seat and bowed to Xun or without saying a word.

Xun You was startled, this guy didn't act according to common sense! So he stood up quickly, avoided being greeted, and knelt down to return the courtesy.

Cao Pi had a look on his face, "Your Majesty!" I am dull by nature and have read very little... Please tell me in more detail! The boy is polite here! 』

"Huh..." Xun You had no choice but to return the favor again and said that it was his fault. He would definitely explain in detail in the future and not embarrass the prince again.

Xun or Zhen didn't mean it.

In his opinion, it is very straightforward to say this.

The sentences used to talk about Lu's Spring and Autumn Period may have been a little "unconventional", but just now Xun or he was talking about Shu Wen Jie Zi's sentences! Isn't this a simple and simple text that all nobles must read thoroughly since childhood and be able to recite it fluently?

Cao Pi was impatient. He subconsciously thought it sounded troublesome, so he thought Xun He was going in circles again, so he acted faster than his mind, without even thinking about it. Otherwise, if Cao Pi really had to calm down and think carefully, it wouldn't be impossible for him to remember where Xun Huo's words came from...

After all, in Dahan, this is a reading material for primary school students.

Of course, it is also possible that Cao Pi felt that it would be easier to say goodbye than to think about it.

"Your Majesty, have you ever remembered what I said before about the situation in Shandong that "it is better to buy than to build"? 』

Cao Pi nodded, "Is this also related?" 』

Xun or nodded, "It's just like the Hussar's crossbow that assassinated Zhonglang... We originally got it from the merchants at a high price, but we were so proud of ourselves, thinking that it was because of the lax control under the Hussar's rule... Now that I think about it, we were completely fooled... 』

At first, some elite equipment and other equipment could be smuggled from the Hussar workshop. Many Shandong people secretly laughed at Hussar for being a fool, and his workshop was just a sieve. However, after getting used to the Hussar equipment...

You must know that war, well, even if it is not a war, there is a probability of damage to these weapons when used daily. However, Shandong thinks that everything is good from Chang'an, so it is better to purchase it than to make it yourself. When something goes wrong, they will look at each other. Stared, and then the Shandong nobles who had been mocking Chang'an and ridiculing the Hussars all just shrank their heads and closed their mouths, pretending that they had never said it before.

These gentry children liked to laugh at Chang'an Fei Qian, and naturally they also enjoyed ridiculing Cao Cao in Xu County.

However, making these Shandong nobles take responsibility for their words is as difficult as climbing to the sky.

Just like those people who ridiculed the Husbands for their poor policy and outdated system, they were either imitating the Spring and Autumn Period or imitating the ancient times. They were nothing more than this and that. All kinds of gentry children who looked down on them now know that these systems and laws are powerful. Then he immediately changed his tone, saying that Fei Qian was doing whatever was wrong and corrupting the legal system of his ancestors.

This is what Xun Yu meant. Such officials may seem to have many people, but they are actually useless...

The original meaning of the word "guan" in ancient oracle bone inscriptions was originally just a house that represented authority.

Nothing more than a living thing.

The quality of an official, whether he is good or bad, is not measured by physical appearance, not by the crown on his head or the robe on his body, but by the person and his words and deeds.

Now these noblemen have suddenly changed their tone, from opposing Cao Cao to supporting Cao Cao. Is it any wonder?

Seeing that Ren Jun was really assassinated, someone might die, so just kill fellow Taoist. Pindao supports Prime Minister Cao!

He is a saint in front of others, but a ghost behind others.

Cao Pi somewhat understood, but also nodded confusedly.

Understanding people's hearts is a big project. Judging from Cao Pi's current skills, it is naturally somewhat inadequate.

When Xun Yu saw this, he did not force it, but changed the topic and began to explain to Cao Pi why he designed it like this and why he wanted to get the current situation...

Shandong is a land with a large population.

Numerous means a mob.

Especially in Shandong, there are too many people who think they are smart, know everything, and especially like to chatter. This trend reached its peak during the Yuedan Criticism period. Although it has been suppressed to some extent now, there are still many remnants and endless poison.

Under such circumstances, if you want to unify your thoughts and make these Shandong people at least superficially consistent with Cao Cao, you can't just hold two court meetings and issue an announcement. And there are some people, the more official the requirements are, the more these people want to show their wisdom, deliberately do the opposite, say sarcastic things, do contradictory things, or at least stand aside and sneer...

Now, Cao Cao is looking for a war. If he really wants to start a fight, he must concentrate on it and have no distractions. Therefore, he must first let these people automatically adjust to a unified direction.

Reluctant, even superficial unity is better than not even being able to maintain the surface...

There is another very important factor.

No money.

Thanks to some of the measures initiated by Fei Qian in the Han Dynasty, not only did Pang Tong, Xu Shu, Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi and others in Chang'an have a deeper understanding of economic development, social progress, and technological improvement, etc. , also affected Shandong, forcing Xun He and others to learn and change.

It's just that there are still many things that Xun Huo is confused about and it's not very clear, but he can still do it with a little explanation to Cao Pi...

Of course, if you have a middle school education in later generations and have studied politics and economics, you will be able to understand generally. For example, what Xun He and Cao Pi are explaining now is actually talking about the issue of coinage rights.

This was a blunt knife, and the cut caused Shandong to feel extremely painful, but there was nothing he could do about it.

Ever since the five-baht coin was corrupted by Dong Zhuo and was scorned nationwide... Well, in fact, it is not only Dong Zhuo's credit, but also those who want to take advantage of the rampant bad money to dig out the underground of their homes or smash it. The Shandong gentry who smashed the bronze tripod statues enshrined in the ancestral temple and minted private money also took advantage of the original currency system of the Han Dynasty and took advantage of it, which eventually led to the complete collapse of the Han Dynasty coins.

It is obvious that as long as human society develops forward, it is impossible to get rid of commodity transactions.

Especially in China, a country with multiple terrains, multiple ethnic groups, water and soil distribution, high and low altitudes, and large differences in products, the circulation and trading of commodities are the instinctive needs of the overall development of society, and are not just a few laws or laws. By suppressing businessmen to the lowest level, they can be completely contained.

Wealth is often described as flowing water, which means that it will find low-lying areas on its own, and then fill them up, just like the responsibilities and obligations that should have been borne by the court. As a result, the court failed to do so, and naturally there was gray among the people, and even Black power carries the same fill.

Without Fei Qian, Cao Cao, who occupied Yanzhou, Jizhou, Yuzhou, and the land of Qingxu, would have owned a large amount of land, and these lands would once again bring the Three Kingdoms back to the track of farming to determine victory or defeat. This left the emperors of all subsequent dynasties with the wrong understanding that everything was determined by farming and fighting.

But it is obvious that the word "farming and war" is not the whole society.

As Fei lurked in Chang'an and did not rush to attack Shandong, but pulled the big man to run on another road, the importance of money, or currency, slowly began to appear.

Shandong began to fall into Fei Qian's trade network, and once it fell into it, the obstacle to getting up was not just as simple as "making is worse than buying".

In the Shandong area, they were not so cooperative at first, nor were they willing to join Fei Qian's trade network. However, as the most powerful consumer group in the Han Dynasty, the huge population base was like a snowball rolling down from the top of the mountain. Once it's moving, it's very difficult to brake.

Especially with the opening of the Western Region, a large trade route ran from west to east.

The snowball gets bigger and faster.

"If we can defeat the goods from the Western Regions..." Xun You said in a deep voice, "We can prepare for this battle for some time, but now we have to... fight." Things from the Western Regions are of great value. Although they are very exquisite, prosperous and beautiful, but... a farmer working on a hundred acres in a year only gets a hundred stones, and several years of hard work is not as good as a golden pot in the Western Regions..."

Prices in the Western Region have doubled, but some people still flock to it. Some people even sell the goods from the Western Region that they bought before and sell them second-hand. They make a lot of money over time and happily share their business acumen.

What a good mind!

Xun Or sometimes wants to open these guys' heads to see what's inside...

Cao Pi asked: "Then why can't we cut off the goods from the Western Regions?" 』

Xun You didn't say anything, but turned his eyes slightly.

Cao Pi followed Xun Yu's gaze and saw a complete set of gold and silver utensils placed on the side of the hall. The patterns are gorgeous and complex, and they are inlaid with shining gems, making them a specialty of the Western Regions.

"This..." Cao Pi remembered that this set of drinking utensils was his father's favorite, and he had hosted a banquet for guests before.

Cao Pi was also accompanying him and had a few drinks.

The taste of peach wine with ice fish is simply...

Well, Cao Pi admitted that he asked a stupid question.

"The more goods are traded, the more coins are needed. The more goods are exchanged with the Western Regions, the more Hussar money is needed..." Xun You sighed slightly, "Everyone in the world knows that Hussar money is good, and everyone wants to use it." Therefore, five baht coins have disappeared from the market now..."

"Then there's no way to ban Qushi money?" ” asked Cao Pi.

Xun You smiled bitterly and said, "Forbid its use. It's simple to say it is just an edict." It's just that... the prince thinks that if this edict of prohibition is issued, it will be beneficial to the lord? Is it a loss? 』

That's right, coins, aren't they legal tender?

Then change a law and stipulate that instead of using Qiaoqi money, five baht coins must be used, or money minted by the Cao family themselves. Wouldn't that be the end of the matter? That's what Cao Pi thought, but soon he understood what Xun Yu meant. His face began to look ugly, and his face turned red with anger, but he didn't know what to say or how to vent it. He just sat there. while breathing heavily.

It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality.

Even if Cao Cao, or with the Cao family and the Xiahou family, is willing to bear the consequences of temporarily discontinuing the use of hussar money and return to the state of bartering, will the other Shandong nobles be willing? Will these people follow in Cao Cao's footsteps, or will they think this is a great opportunity to make money and not miss it?

Ant nests and mouse barns are blooming everywhere, and the financial dam that Cao Cao has worked so hard to build will collapse in a short time.

The good thing is that all the local gentry and big families will be taken away. The bad consequences will be borne by the people of Shandong, and the blame will be taken by Old Man Cao alone.

When public dissatisfaction boils over, who will calm it down?

If Cao Cao doesn't want to retreat, he must hand over his important advisers, then...

Who could it be?

Cao Pi was silent.

Xun was also silent.

Of course, this does not mean that all the Qiusi money is a bad thing, because the increase in trade and the circulation of coins have also brought an increase in the volume of transactions in Shandong, making Shandong also economically prosperous, but this also means that the Cao Cao regime The country's finance and economy became increasingly dependent on Feiqian's coin input from Chang'an.

Especially in Shandong, there is a lack of silver and gold minerals, and gold and silver are undoubtedly much more valuable than copper coins, and Fei Qian has gold and silver mines in his hands...

Feiqian took advantage of the exchange rate difference between luxury goods and gold, silver and copper to replace a large number of Shandong's raw materials and Shandong's low value-added goods. Through a bachelor's degree in agriculture and a bachelor's degree in engineering, as well as a series of technological updates, Feiqian selectively exported half of Shandong's raw materials to Shandong. Forced Shandong to carry out technological reforms and develop its economy, it also made the Qiusi gold, silver and copper coins successfully penetrate into all aspects of the current Han Dynasty, becoming a noose wrapping around the entire Shandong economy.

Although Xun Or didn't understand what monetary rights were, he instinctively sensed something was wrong. Unfortunately, he noticed it too late...

If Qiaoqi coins cannot flow in as before, Shandong will soon fall into a situation where there is no money available, and then the entire Shandong social economy will experience deflation, and then a serious economic crisis will break out.

To take an immediate issue, in Shandong, the salaries of officials have gradually evolved from physical to monetary.

Xu County is undoubtedly the place with the largest concentration of officials in Shandong.

When Liu Xie first arrived in Xu County, the economy was very poor at that time. Officials were given grain directly for their expenses, and the official received a certain amount of grain. However, with the addition of bachelors of agriculture and bachelors of engineering sent by Fei Qian, Shandong's grain production recovered rapidly. Soon, food prices began to fall, so many officials no longer wanted physical food that was easy to fluctuate and had varying quality, but wanted to pay directly.

This is actually the same as in later corporate companies, where employees are more willing to pay directly instead of taking home a bunch of blue moon shells produced in unknown places...

Although the move from barter to monetization was a social progress and promoted Shandong's economic prosperity, people in Shandong, whether Cao Cao, Xun or Guo Jia, did not understand what inflation was. Nor did they realize that the prices of daily necessities such as grain and cloth would rise in the long run, but the salaries of Han officials were not adjusted accordingly.

In other words, as the old saying goes, prices are rising but wages are not.

So, the dilemma.

If you give them food, you won't be happy. If you give them money, you won't be happy either.

After Fei Qian recovered the Western Regions, he accelerated the volume of trade and greatly increased the circulation of currency. Economic problems soon turned into political problems.

Seeing that there are more and more good things, but the salary is always so pitiful, what should I do?

Are you going to eat chaffy vegetables honestly and watch others eat meat and drink peach wine?

How can it be?

The result can only be that officials either seek rent-seeking power and engage in corruption, or they increase exploitation and deprive themselves of power. As a result, the atmosphere and efficiency of Shandong's officialdom, which was originally not very good, are all declining visibly to the naked eye.

As a counselor, limited by the perspective of the times, and faced with an increasingly bad situation, Xun You had to do his best to find a solution, but his solution was limited to a more "physics" level.

"The Hussar's money is increasing day by day, and we are reducing it," Xun You said in a low voice, "If one day... the Hussar cuts off the exchange of coins, or changes the currency and uses it... then... therefore this war is inevitable... If we win the battle in Chang'an and decide the outcome in one battle, we can avoid such disasters. The Han Dynasty can be extended naturally, and the merits of the Lord can be immortalized in the world. 』

This is naturally the most ideal result.

Cao Pi nodded, then pondered for a long time, and asked softly, "Then if you can't get it from above... what's the gain?" 』

"Take the foundry." ”

"So..." Cao Pi hesitated, not daring to ask.

Xun You also fell silent again.

The autumn wind whistled outside the hall, bringing out the smell of rust.