Chapter 958: Virtual Reality
Lu Mao has always been a gentleman in Wu. As a son of a noble family, he socialized with poor and ambitious people, and even often shared his treasures with them.
Even people in the county who did not know Lu Mao were willing to entrust their wives and daughters to him.
If you say that such a person is a hypocrite, Governor Feng will not believe it.
But you want to say that Lu Hao, who lived for decades, was entrusted with an important task and was sent as an envoy to the Han Dynasty.
Now it is just for consultation on how to govern the country, and Feng Governor also does not believe it.
After all, it’s only been a few years since Zhang Wen’s incident?
The most important thing is that Governor Feng had a big quarrel with Zhang Xiaosi just two days ago.
During the deep introspection of Governor Feng, he realized that, apart from the group of elders left over from the Sun Ce period, the Lu family was the most trusted among the Jiangdong families that Sun Quan had won over after he came to power.
After all, among the four surnames in Wu County, the Lu family's family style occupies the character "loyalty".
As Lu Xun’s younger brother, Lu Mao was naturally a loyal minister of Wu.
So what Lu Hao said just now, asking for advice may be true, but nine times out of ten it is not just a request for advice.
Feng Jishi's heart was racing, but he didn't dare to neglect his work: "Lu Gong, you really want to break me, sit down, please sit down first!"
He helped Lu Mao sit down, then poured him a cup of hot tea himself, and then returned to his seat and sat down.
"Master Lu, it is said that if you are not in the position, you will not seek political power." He took a sip of tea and continued, "I am appointed as the governor of Liangzhou and focus on defeating the thieves."
"To be honest with Mr. Lu, although I am the governor, I have never attended a court meeting. Even the title of Marquis Quanting of this street was actually received in Longyou."
“So Mr. Lu wants to talk to me about the way to run the army. I can say a few words, but the way to run the country...”
At this point, he smiled a little sheepishly.
Lu Hao was about to stand up.
“Hey, hey, Mr. Lu, don’t be in a hurry, please listen to what I have to say first.”
Feng Jishi quickly pressed his hand and said, "Although I don't know how to govern the country, I am appointed as the governor of a certain country, so I still know a bit about the herdsmen's skills."
"Jian Zhiyong has been reading history these days, and he has gained something occasionally. It just so happened that Mr. Lu came to ask, so he could talk to Mr. Lu about his experience. However, this is the opinion of the Yong family. I hope Lu Gong will understand the omissions."
When Lu Hao heard this, he quickly raised his hands and said:
“Why do you need to be humble? But please tell me.”
Governor Feng took another sip of tea and then said:
“The so-called governing a country is nothing more than organizing the army, herdsmen, and governing officials. The most important thing is money and food.”
Lu Hao raised his brows and seemed to want to speak, but he didn't know what he thought of, his eyes flickered, and he finally said nothing.
While Feng Jishi was speaking, his eyelids were drooped, trying not to let Lu Hao peek into his heart.
But this subtle change in Lu Hao's expression did not escape his secret observation.
“Looking at the history books, after a long period of establishment of various countries, there must be a long history of bad governance, but anyone who is determined will try to change it to prolong the country.”
At this point, he pointed at himself, then at Lu Hao, and said:
“Regardless of whether it is Han or Wu, although both states were founded not long ago, they actually inherited most of the systems of the later Han Dynasty and their disadvantages.”
"Yong Guan, the Wei thieves have started to implement the Nine-Rank Zhongzheng method in the past few years. Isn't this a change?" He paused and said, "So in Yong's view, Han and Wu should also try to become a strong country in order to defeat the thieves."
Although he disagreed with some of Feng Yong's views, Lu Hao felt as if he was enlightened when he suddenly heard the word "map change". The dark clouds were lifted before his eyes and he saw a bright and clear sky.
I saw him blurting out:
“So the monarch presiding over the examination system in Liangzhou is also trying to change?!”
Feng Jishi smiled slightly: "The reason why Duke Lu came here to ask about the way of governing the country is actually because of the examination, right?"
Lu Hao was secretly surprised: "How could the prince know?"
These days you go to the school gate and squat every day, and the concierge, Uncle Qin, already knows you.
Do I still know?
Governor Feng murmured in his heart, his expression remained unchanged, and he said slowly:
“Whether it’s an army, a herdsman, or even a government official, all need people to do it. And if these things are done by good people, they will often lead to good governance; if they are done by mediocre people, they will often become bad governance.”
Lu Hao slapped his thigh and cheered:
“Wonderful, what you say is a great kindness!”
Feng Jishi modestly said:
“Mr. Lu is too praised.”
Lu Hao waved his hand: "Your Majesty, please continue speaking."
Governor Feng cleared his throat, and his index and middle fingers formed a sword, pointing toward the void:
"Therefore, if you want to govern a country, you need good talents, and the method of finding good talents," Feng Jishi paused and said, "The times are different, and the methods are different."
“For example, the shortcomings of Chaju, I think it will be obvious to Mr. Lu, so there is no need to say more.”
As he spoke, he glanced at Lu Hao meaningfully:
“As for the best way for Wu to find talents, I have never been to Wu, so I dare not say more...”
Lu Hao nodded, sighed, stood up and bowed to Governor Feng:
"I will benefit a lot from what you have to say. Please accept my thanks!"
“Mr. Lu really wants to defeat me!”
Feng Jishi quickly stepped forward and helped Lu Hao up.
The two of them had been talking to each other for a long time, and they both felt something from their hearts. At this moment, they held hands and couldn't help but look at each other and smile.
Feng Jishi secretly thought: Now both the Han and Wei dynasties are seeking changes in order to attract talents, but Wu is the only one who has not moved. When Lu Mao returns this time, he will most likely persuade Sun Quan.
Given Sun Shiwan's character of being tolerant on the outside but violent on the inside, especially when both the Han Dynasty and the Wei State were undergoing changes, Sun Shiwan would at least show off on the surface.
It is said that the economic base determines the superstructure. If Wu wants to learn from the Han Dynasty, he will not be able to do so. It is highly likely that he will learn from the Wei Dynasty...
What Lu Hao thought was: Feng Mingwen was indeed worthy of being called "Xiao Wenhe" and had extraordinary intelligence.
Fortunately, this person is too profit-oriented and thinks that running a country must put profit first, but he is biased.
I think Jiang Wan has the talent to govern the country but does not know how to fight, and Feng Mingwen knows the military but does not know how to govern the country. If the two can meet the master of the Ming Dynasty, the Han Dynasty will prosper.
However, the emperor of the Han Dynasty today has only mediocre talents and has no independent opinions. He is afraid that he will not be able to use his capable ministers and generals!
At the same time, Zhuge Kongming is physically weak, and he may die soon. After his death, whether the Han Dynasty will still be as prosperous as it is now is still open to question.
But that’s fine, in this case, I, Wu Wu, will be worry-free!
…
The two of them have their own thoughts, but there is a look of sympathy on their faces.
After a pleasant conversation, Lu Mao left with satisfaction after being repeatedly persuaded by Governor Feng to stay.
A few days later, the Wu envoy packed up his luggage and set off to return south.
By the time they reached Longyou Jicheng, the first heavy snowfall in Liangzhou began to fall.
Time has come to the winter of the thirteenth year of Jianxing.
Many people in the Wu delegation simply could not adapt to the weather in the northwest. Under the erosion of the cold air, nearly ten people were infected with wind chill on the spot.
However, fortunately, the medicine of the Han Dynasty is relatively advanced, and coupled with the fact that it has accumulated a lot of experience in the northwest over the years, it is naturally easy to treat this kind of wind and cold.
Even so, Lu Hao and others hurried on, not daring to delay any longer.
It wasn’t until I returned to Hanzhong and felt the warmth that was different from that in Northwest China that I breathed a sigh of relief.
The emperor of the Han Dynasty learned that the Wu envoy had returned from Liangzhou and personally summoned Lu Hao.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Qin Bo quietly went to visit Li Yi, who was joining the army in the Prime Minister's Mansion, with the letter of recommendation from Feng Governor.
Li Yi got the news and came out to greet him personally:
"Thank you very much for the letter sent by the school official Qin from my brother. I would like to express my gratitude to you. Please tell me if you have any, please!"
As soon as Qin Bo saw Li Yi's enthusiasm, he felt happy. He secretly heard that most of the young talents in Han followed Feng Junhou's lead. Now it seems that he is not bad.
With Feng Junhou’s recommendation, it seems that the food issue in Jingzhou can be worry-free!
He was thinking as he followed Li Yi to the front hall.
"Please sit down, Mr. Qin. When Mr. Qin came to Hanzhong a few months ago, I didn't know that Mr. Qin had a good relationship with my brother, so I missed him. It's really disrespectful."
“Li Jun’s words are serious. As the saying goes, guests should do as they please. It would be really rude not to come and visit someone when he arrived in Hanzhong.”
The two were polite, and after greetings, Qin Bo proposed the purpose of his trip to Li Yi.
Unexpectedly, Li Yi frowned after hearing this.
Qin Bo originally thought that with Feng Mingwen's endorsement, there would be no big problems in this business, but he did not expect that Li Yi would look troubled.
This made his heart thump.
Li Yi only heard a "tsk" sound, and then sighed, and then said:
“Alas, Mr. Qin is too late!”
Qin Bo quickly asked:
“What does Mr. Li mean by this?”
Li Yi looked at Qin Bo and asked:
“Qin Jun, do you know what the current price of grain is at the Nanxiang Exchange?”
“I just arrived in Hanzhong, how do I know it?”
Qin Bo was shocked: "Three hundred dollars?!"
Li Yi nodded.
“Why is it so expensive?”
Three hundred coins are naturally not the Daquan fifty coins of the Wu State, nor the straight hundred coins of the Han State, but a real five baht coins.
In fact, caravans traveling between Han and Wu would in many cases prefer to receive hundreds of coins from Han rather than Daquan 50 from Wu.
The reason is also very simple. In recent years, the Han Dynasty has stopped minting hundreds of coins, and the value is real.
However, the large springs of Wu State are becoming more and more numerous and thinner. There is even a large amount of iron in them, and the quality is extremely poor.
At the Nanxiang Exchange, five baht is the only standard for measuring the prices of various bulk materials.
All experienced traders who resell various materials know that there was a rumor circulating in the market a few years ago:
That is, when there is no war, the price of food cannot exceed 200 yuan.
Because after two hundred yuan, some people may starve.
After three hundred coins, real famine will begin.
Of course, there have been changes in the past two years.
Grain prices seem to be higher than in previous years, often floating around 1,780 yuan, and sometimes reaching 199 yuan.
This does not mean that the Han people are hungry. On the contrary, many people have much more food in their homes in recent years than they did more than ten years ago.
Why does the price of food increase?
First, because the imperial court guaranteed the price of grain and protected the people's enthusiasm for growing grain.
The second reason is that more and more copper mines are being developed in Nanzhong.
But no matter what, the price of food reaches 300 yuan, which is indeed too high and is not a good thing.
If the local grain price in central Shu is already as high as 300 yuan, then plus the cost of transporting it to Jingzhou, the cost will probably be more than 400 yuan.
Thinking of this, Qin Bo's face turned ugly.
Specializing in woolen materials, it is planned to be available only in the year after next;
To monopolize brown sugar, we must find new sources of sugar cane, and the supply of grain is the prerequisite.
In this case, wouldn’t the three great achievements in hand have to fly away?
I came out this time precisely because everyone in the imperial court regards the school office as a thorn in their side. If I can't produce results in time and consolidate my position in His Majesty's heart, who knows what will happen next?
“Li Jun, I heard that the price of food in Shu has never been high, so why did it suddenly rise so much?”
Qin Bo asked anxiously.
If Feng Mingwen hadn't been in Liangzhou, Qin Bo would have suspected that Xiao Wenhe was playing tricks on him, or wanted to take the opportunity to raise the price.
"To be honest with Mr. Qin, these days, people from the north and west want to buy a large amount of grain to store for the winter, so the price of grain has increased a lot."
"North? That's not Wei..." Halfway through, he felt that something was wrong. How could the Han people sell grain to Wei thieves?
And to the west?
Li Yi coughed and said, "It's the Qiang and Hu. Mr. Qin, you don't know something. I, the Han Dynasty, regard Han and Yi as the same. In recent years, many Hu and Yi have benefited a lot from following us, and they are very prosperous."
“So I have a lot of good things on hand. Hu Yi, who is not good at farming, is about to survive the winter, so he has to quickly replace the cattle and sheep he has raised for a year with grain..."
When Qin Bo heard this, his eyes widened immediately.
There is such a thing?
How did Hanzhong get up?
Where did the name Nanzhong Ghost King come from?
Do you think I really don’t know?
I just came back from Liangzhou. Do you know how to cut it?
Do you really think I don’t know what a two-legged animal is?
Now you tell me that the Han and barbarians are the same and the barbarians are prosperous, but they can still speculate on grain prices?
Hence your prosperity, my mother-in-law!
It’s just that Qin Bo saw that there was no trace of deception on Li Yi’s face, and that such matters could be found out by just asking around, and there was no way to hide them.
This made him a little more suspicious: Could it really be such a coincidence?
Li Yi felt very sure in his heart.
That’s right, the rise in food prices this time does have the shadow of the Xinghan Hui behind it.
But White Gloves is indeed a barbarian.
With King Feng Gui's appeal in Longyou, the military capital of Yinping, he wanted to bring several Huyi tribes over to wipe his butt, but many people rushed to come and lick him.
What's up?
Hu Yi is not a Han citizen?
Can’t buy food?
As long as the government does not take action, Xinghanhui will be the largest banker in the grain trade.
Those who sell grain wish for the price to rise every day!
When Qin Bo came to Hanzhong, the most he could do was visit Nanxiang to see the rumored place where ghosts were dancing.
He doesn't even know the trading rules of the exchange, so how can he know how many twists and turns there are in this place where ghosts are dancing?
Seeing Qin Bo's appearance, Li Yi also looked a little ashamed, as if he was ashamed of not being able to fulfill his brother's request.
I saw him comforting me:
“In my brother’s letter, I said that Lord Qin is interested in finding financial resources to replenish his treasury, and is dedicated to sharing the worries of the Lord. I also admire him very much.”
After a pause, he continued, "There will be no way to solve this food issue for a while, but the Yihui will keep an eye on it for Mr. Qin. If the price drops, the Yihui will immediately send someone to notify Mr. Qin."
Qin Bo had some waning intentions:
I don’t know what the school affairs office will be like by then...
Unless we can find another credit to help the school government survive this crisis.
“As for money and food, there is nothing we can do about food now, but there is still a way to deal with money…”
“Oh!” Qin Bo perked up, “Please Li Jun teach me!”
“Qin Jun, please follow me.”
Li Yi took Qin Bo to the door of a room and told the servants guarding there:
“Light all the lamps in the house.”
Then he led Qin Bo into the house, and Li Yi ordered his servants to close all the doors and windows.
“Please take a look, Mr. Qin.”
"This this…"
But I saw the candles in the house were bright, with rows of flames dancing on the nine lamps. The red and yellow flames shone brightly, making the house brighter than the outside.
Even though Qin Bo has been in and out of the palace all year round, he has never seen so many candles lit at the same time.
In other words, even the emperor would not burn so many candles at one time.
Because candles, as tributes, are very precious.
Qin Bo swallowed hard, his eyes were already blurry.
“Please take a look, Mr. Qin.”
Li Yi opened a box, which was neatly arranged, all filled with candles.
He took out one and handed it to Qin Bo, "Qin Jun, touch it. Is it round?"
"round."
“Slippery or not?”
"slip."
“Is it white or not?”
"white."
“Isn’t it beautiful?”
"beautiful!"
“Where did Li Jun come from? It’s round, smooth, beautiful and white…”
Qin Bo couldn't put it down. He had never seen candles like this before.
The tribute candles from the state of Wu are all yellow, and there are light yellow, dark yellow and mixed yellow, and the yellow is less than one piece.
It's not like the top quality in your hand, smooth as fat and as white as jade.
Li Yi chuckled:
"Don't worry about this, Mr. Qin. I just ask, if this thing is sold exclusively to the school office, will it temporarily relieve Mr. Qin's worries?"
Qin Bo suddenly raised his head and held the round, smooth, beautiful and white thing in his hand tightly:
“How many of these things does Mr. Li have?”
"Not many. Next year we can divide it between Qin Jun and Qin Jun, about 30,000 to 40,000."
There aren’t many of these? !
(End of this chapter)