Chapter 111: Governing Shu

Pang Tong's joke was not funny, but it diluted the atmosphere in the hall.

Kong Ming took the handkerchief handed over by Huang Yueying and wiped the corner of his eyes, and said with a smile:

"That is Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of Ji Han..."

"I am Zhuge Liang, the general and military advisor of the lord!" Everyone answered almost in unison.

Then everyone laughed out loud.

Kong Ming shook his head and chuckled, without commenting, but just felt warm in his heart when he looked at the words on the screen.

Writing can convey ideas, and words can express emotions. Kong Ming can see and feel the concern of these words in later generations for him.

Jian Yong stretched his legs and said with a smile: "Kong Ming really needs to take care of his body."

"My lord has been defeated many times and fought many times, and he is still over sixty years old. As a result, you are in power, but you are exhausted at only fifty-four."

The health problem has been mentioned more than once, and Kong Ming can only explain with embarrassment:

"Recently, Shi Yuan has helped me, and I haven't stayed up late for several months."

Everyone was relieved. In the words of Guangmu, this is the embodiment of wisdom!

Wiser than Liu Hou? Wiser than Liu Hou!

[In 223, the year after the Battle of Yiling, Liu Bei died of illness in Baidi, and the Han Dynasty was about to collapse.

After the death of his second and third brothers, Liu Bei dragged his old body to let go and gamble on fate, but he gambled a complete defeat.

After this failure, even if Liu Bei intended to rise again, his body did not allow it, and he died with regret in the third year of Zhangwu.

After Liu Bei passed away, Liu Chan succeeded to the throne and conferred Zhuge Liang the title of Marquis of Wuxiang, granting him the power to establish a government and govern the country. The following year, Zhuge Liang became the governor of Yizhou, and "all matters, big or small, were decided by Liang".

Baidi's entrustment of his son and Liu Chan's decentralization made the regrets and dreams, pressures and responsibilities, the ruined country, and the withered people's livelihood of the Ji Han Dynasty become a mountain, weighing heavily on Zhuge Liang's shoulders.

Since then, the prime minister has shouldered the Ji Han Dynasty and started his career in governing Shu. 】

Looking at Liu Bei's guilty expression, Jiang Wan was very considerate and recited softly:

"The world is divided into three parts, Yizhou is exhausted, this is indeed a critical moment for survival."

Pang Tong was more realistic, shaking his head and analyzing:

"The military force has been reduced by more than half, the finances are in trouble, and the rebellion in the south mentioned by Guangmu before should have taken advantage of this time."

"Guangmu was right before, the collapse of Shuzhong is imminent, and it is not alarmist."

How to break the situation in this situation without soldiers, food and money?

[The first dilemma faced by the prime minister who just took over the mess is the lack of money and food.

The defeat in Yiling made Ji Han lose almost everything, and the economy and people's livelihood were shaky.

But the prime minister seemed to have a plan in mind long ago, not long after Liu Bei entrusted his son to him.

A plan for an invisible war took shape in Kong Ming's mind.

This war first needed enough weapons, so in the turbulent year 223, the prime minister issued the "Jinjin Jiao":

"Now the people are poor and the country is empty, the only way to defeat the enemy is to rely on brocade."

No one understood this at the time. At this time, Ji Han was trapped both internally and externally. What's the use of Shu brocade, which can neither be eaten nor drunk? 】

Not to mention the civil and military officials of Ji Han at that time, the people who were watching the light curtain didn't understand.

Liu Bei's eyes were blank, he really didn't understand.

Pang Tong thought hard: Since it was a plan made by Kong Ming, there was no reason why he couldn't guess it!

Jian Yong smiled, looking like he was eating melons and watching a show.

Mi Zhu thought of the currency war mentioned by the light curtain last time, and had some vague guesses in his mind.

Zhang Fei chose the most straightforward way, looking at Kong Ming with a pair of big eyes:

"Military Advisor, without money and food, what can we use to weave Shu brocade?"

Kong Ming laughed: "Yide, just watch patiently."

[Almost at the same time as the release of "Yanjin Jiao", the prime minister used his power to add the post of Jinguan in Shuzhong.

The literal meaning of Jinguan is clear, just like the salt and iron officials of the salt and iron official.

The addition of Jinguan means that Shu brocade of Ji Han is officially operated by the government and can only be purchased in the official market.

What was the currency in circulation in Ji Han's official market at that time? We said in the last issue that it was the Zhibai coins established by Liu Ba.

This did not change much for the people of Ji Han, but for the prime minister, he finally completed the layout.

The weapons for this war are finally ready, and the next step is to blow the horn of war.

In 224, Deng Zhi went to Dongwu for peace talks at the order of the prime minister. 】

"I understand!" Zhang Fei clapped his hands: "Use Shu brocade to exchange for food."

Pang Tong looked at Zhang Fei and shook his head: If it was really that simple, why would Guangmu spend so much time talking?

But instead of sticking to this strategy that is not understood for the time being, it is better to analyze Deng Zhi's mission:

"Prince Sun and Cao Pi were just pretending to be friendly before."

"And Guangmu also said before that the re-alliance between Lord Sun and Ji Han led Cao Pi to ask Jia Xu for advice, and then he went out in anger."

Pang Tong shook his head. Whoever gets involved with Cao Pi, who doesn't listen to the left and the right, will be unlucky.

With Jia Xu's talent, it is really a pity that his dying plan can be shelved.

【In fact, although Liu Bei intended to counterattack after the defeat in Yiling, the deterioration of his condition soon prompted Liu Bei to change his mind.

At that time, Sun Quan sent an envoy to negotiate peace, and Liu Bei did not refuse. He also sent Song Wei and Fei Yi to Jiangdong as an envoy in response.

The peace talks ended in vain due to Liu Bei's death, but at least it showed that both sides were inclined to re-ally.

In 224, the prime minister felt that the time was ripe and sent Deng Zhi, who had recommended himself, to the Eastern Wu.

This alliance, which was intended by both sides, was approved after Sun Quan hesitated for a while, and thus Ji Han and Eastern Wu became allies again.

It also means that Dongwu opened its doors to the prime minister.

After the re-alliance, Dongwu merchants came to Shuzhong with the intention of purchasing Shujin, but soon found out that:

Shujin was taken over by the government, so it could only be purchased with Zhibai coins in the official market.

Where did Zhibai coins come from? At this time, Ji Han made a request:

You bring food to exchange for Zhibai coins, and then use Zhibai coins to buy Shujin, isn't it beautiful?

Dongwu merchants didn't understand why they couldn't directly exchange food for Shujin, but they still did it.

Because Dongwu's demand for Shujin was too great! And it could even be sold to Cao Wei through smuggling in exchange for higher profits.

Because "Book of the Later Han Dynasty·Yufuzhi" clearly recorded that from the two thousand stone ladies to the queen, all used silk clothes as court clothes.

And Shujin is the best silk clothes, no one can refuse.

Since then, the money and food needed by Ji Han began to be sent to Shuzhong by merchants, exchanged for Zhibai coins in Ji Han's official market, and then used to buy Shujin.

And in this in and out, Ji Han's official market quietly won this invisible war and harvested a fortune.

Ji Han's treasury began to be full, and Ji Han, who was already on the edge of the cliff, was successfully pulled back by the prime minister. 】

The light curtain said it too straightforwardly, so Pang Tong simulated it in his mind and roughly understood it.

The most critical thing is... "the pricing power of Shu brocade."

Pang Tong grasped the key.

The official market is operated by the government, so the value of Shu brocade is completely determined by Ji Han himself, as long as it is not too outrageous.

And counting the in and out of grain and goods in exchange for Zhibai coins, there is room for operation.

And the merchants can only accept it, because as long as they bring Shu brocade back to Dongwu, or smuggle it to Cao Wei, they can reap more considerable profits.

As for the consequences of the circulating currency slowly becoming Zhibai coins, this is not something Pang Tong can figure out.

But think about it... it shouldn't be a bad thing for Ji Han, right?

"Military Advisor, Divine Strategy!" Mi Zhu was completely impressed.

As long as the Zhibai coins can be circulated in the market, Ji Han is actually exchanging one coin for a hundred coins!

Seize the copper and iron of Dongwu and fill the treasury of Ji Han!

Liu Bei still didn't quite understand, so Pang Tong took the simplest and crudest approach to this:

"My lord, you should be like the official salt and iron business, and the official market says that this Shu brocade is worth the price."

"Unless the nobles of Dongwu and Cao Wei can stop using Shu brocade, they can only pay obediently."

Liu Bei understood this, and instantly thought of Dongwu's way out.

Just don't use Shu brocade.

But is it possible? Absolutely impossible.

[The prime minister certainly didn't put all his hopes on the merchants of Dongwu.

At the same time as the establishment of the brocade official system, the weir official system was also established at almost the same time.

In ancient times, water conservancy has always been the key to the rise and fall of a place.

Li Bing and his son built the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, which made Chengdu a land of abundance. However, the construction of the Dujiangyan Irrigation System did not mean that it would be done once and for all.

The river would silt up and the dam would age, so the prime minister specially appointed 1,200 weir officials.

These weir officials were not only soldiers who protected the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, but also river workers who dredged the river and maintained the river embankment.

This measure made the grain harvest of Ji Han bumper year after year and the grain warehouse full.

The weir official system was followed and imitated by later dynasties, and it was a system that truly blessed the country for thousands of years. 】

"Blessing the country for thousands of years!" Jiang Wan somewhat understood why the Wuhou Temple was still popular until later generations.

Li Bing and his son and Prime Minister Zhuge, one created and the other maintained, jointly created the land of abundance in Yizhou for two thousand years.

No wonder later generations revered them!

Pang Tong did not want to speak. He had not been exposed to water conservancy when he was in Jingzhou, but he never thought that the river he dredged could benefit the country for thousands of years.

【The prime minister also improved the salt administration in Shuzhong and set up the Salt Lieutenant.

The fire well salt boiling method that Sichuan still uses today comes from the improvement made by the prime minister at that time.

The change from boiling salt with fire to boiling salt with fire well, improving the efficiency of fire well, and adding salt wells are all improvement measures left by the prime minister at that time.

These improvements have more than doubled the salt production in Shuzhong, becoming an important source of economic income for Ji Han.

Iron politics naturally could not escape the prime minister's poisonous hand, and the establishment of Sijin Zhonglangjiang.

The Three Kingdoms period happened to be a time when iron smelting technology was developing rapidly. With the support of the prime minister, Ji Han's iron smelting technology developed rapidly.

The improvement of iron smelting technology not only made weapons sharper, but also made Ji Han's agricultural tools more useful, driving agricultural development.

The establishment of positions such as the weir officer, the brocade officer, the salt officer, and the Sijin Zhonglangjiang laid a very good foundation for the prime minister to govern Shu. 】

The side hall has fallen into complete silence.

Although the military generals did not understand, they could hear that it was very powerful.

Jiang Wan and others were completely silent.

It was already very powerful for other civil officials to have a policy that lasted for a hundred years.

As a result, today, the prime minister can easily bring thousands of years of blessings to any person he picks up.

Is water conservancy so simple? Making salt so simple? Making money so simple?

But thinking about the praise that Guangmu had given to Kong Ming before, everyone felt balanced again, and even felt that it was natural.

After all, it is the embodiment of wisdom, which is very reasonable.

Since the embodiment of wisdom is called Sleeping Dragon, then Phoenix Child is not...

Feeling the gaze focused on him, Pang Tong pretended to be unaware, and had only one thought in his mind:

Don't bully me like this!

[After having money and food, the Prime Minister also began to think quietly: There is no way, Nanzhong is really too busy.

Perhaps it was because Ji Han's prestige was damaged due to the defeat at Yiling. In short, when Liu Bei was in Baidi City thinking about whether to counterattack or negotiate for peace, Nanzhong started to make a fuss.

After Liu Bei died of illness, the prime minister looked at Ji Han's mess and concluded that everything must be prioritized.

After all, if you ran to Pingnanzhong when you were almost out of food, it was simply because you didn't want to die quickly enough.

Liu Bei died of illness in 223. After that, the prime minister was busy with appointing officials, salt and iron affairs, water conservancy projects, and sending Deng Zhi to negotiate peace with Sun Wu. He really couldn't spare any time.

It wasn't until Ji Han and Jiangdong re-allied in 224, and the following year Cao Pi was so angry that he attacked Wu for the second time, that the prime minister was finally able to free up his hands to deal with Nanzhong.

The time of Pingnanzhong is 225 years. The departure list states that he set out in May, and the historical records record that he left for Chengdu in December.

The Prime Minister is in a hurry. After all, the Northern Expedition will begin next year. If it ends early this year, he can rest early.

Therefore, it is decided to divide the troops into three groups and strive to fight in one battle.

The prime minister's main force went out to Yizhou County Gaoding and successfully annihilated him. Ma Zhong led the army and successfully defeated Zhu Bao, the governor of Zangke County. Li Hui defeated Yizhou County Yongkai without any danger. 】

When talking about the war, Generals Guan, Zhang and Zhao finally cheered up, but soon became disappointed again:

"So weak?" Zhang Fei exclaimed.

The map projected by the light screen clearly marked that even the so-called Yi King Gaoding only had 2,000 men under his command.

What are two thousand people enough for? Zhang Fei thought for a while, Hefei City could defeat... Oh no, Zhang Wenyuan is an elite soldier.

If the bandits were gathered together, two thousand people would be able to be wiped out in one fell swoop.

Ma Liang had just gone to Wuling County to make friends with the Wuxi barbarians. Hearing this, he shook his head and said:

"The terrain in the south is complex. If we can't get them back, repeated rebellions will be very annoying."

Zhao Yun nodded and said:

"Conquering the Yiyue people is always a bad idea, and making them admire the Han culture is the way to achieve long-term peace and stability."

This is actually the experience of the entire Han Dynasty. After all, the army is coming and cannot enter the mountains. It is not worthwhile to consume food and grass every day.

Everyone couldn't think of any good solution for a while, so they finally looked at Kong Ming: If it was a military advisor, there must be a good solution, right?

Kong Ming frowned and looked at the light curtain. Thinking about his lifespan in the history of the light curtain, he always had some bad premonitions.

[The Prime Minister needs to look at two aspects comprehensively relative to Nan Zhong.

On the one hand, in a short period of time, Nanzhong rebelled many times, even leading to the death of generals such as Xiang Chong.

On the other hand, for a long time, until 1,600 years later, there were still people who regarded the prime minister as their ancestors, abided by their agreements, and guarded the country for China.

This is an extremely divisive and even somewhat cognitively conflicting situation, and it may involve competing for the interests of the Ancient Body Poison Path. 】

I've revised this chapter again and again, but I'm still not satisfied with it, I'm sorry. Still available today.