Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 2148 Four Worry
Cao Cao's level is placed there, even though Xu County is in financial distress, the banquet welcoming Guo Jia cannot be omitted, after all, it represents the beginning of "Six Victories".

It is probably not yet You time, but due to the short autumn and winter days, it has become a little dark. In the compound of the General's Mansion, lights have begun to be decorated, and the lights are shining in all directions, stubbornly fighting against the gradually suppressed darkness.

The soldiers were guarding the outside, and the servants were running inside. Everyone performed their duties, and they did not dare to slack off at all.

The General's Mansion was originally the Sikong Mansion. It was built almost at the same time when the Emperor Liu Xie's Palace was built. Although it is smaller than the Imperial Palace in terms of regulation, it is more majestic and huge than ordinary government offices. .

The wide space of the main courtyard, coupled with the majestic buildings, will naturally make people feel their own insignificance, and they will involuntarily feel the coercion formed by the power in the space, which will affect the heart and form a sense of fear.

Around the Yazhengyuan of the General’s Mansion, the corridors are brightly lit and there are many people, but the scene is not chaotic, some are hurrying, or standing on one side, there are few people talking loudly, and there are no people running around indiscriminately .

Guo Jia is naturally one of the protagonists. There are already many people around, with different official positions, but they all have almost the same smile on their faces.

"If there is no wine for sacrifice, we will be like Nozawa quail, at a loss..."

"That's it!The sacrificial wine is like a bright lamp, shining brightly in all directions! 』

"We look forward to the return of the sacrificial wine, just like looking forward to the nectar after a long drought. Fortunately, the heavens have mercy, and the sacrificial wine returns safely. 』

"Exactly!The sacrificial wine is safe, and our hearts are safe...』

Regardless of whether they knew each other before, or whether they had any friendship before, anyway, a large number of people gathered here, chirping and whistling. He just smiled slightly, nodded in greeting, and then couldn't help signaling to Xun Yu and the others who were standing far away with his eyes.

Man Chong looked up at the sky, as if he didn't see it at all.

Liu Ye nodded and smiled, as if he felt that Guo Jia's popularity was a good thing, and he didn't want to step forward to stop him, nor did he intend to rescue Guo Jia.

After all, Xun Yu still couldn't bear it, so he went forward, separated the crowd, and then pulled Guo Jia out, "It's really cold here, Fengxiao came from a long way, you should pay attention to your body!"It’s still early in the day, and the banquet still needs to be prepared, and I’ll come with someone to honor my filial piety, and temporarily enter the warm pavilion to wait...』

While talking, Xun Yu took Guo Jia out. Even if the surrounding officials wanted to have a close relationship with Guo Jia, a popular fried chicken, they didn't dare to say anything because of Xun Yu's status. Can watch Guo Jia leave helplessly.

After entering the Nuan Pavilion, Xun Yu didn't say anything to Guo Jia, but just sat silently.Outside the Nuan Pavilion, small voices floated in, and then stuck to the two of them.

The Nuan Pavilion was originally used as a place to rest temporarily while waiting for the official meeting, and it can accommodate six people to rest here, so when there are only Xun Yu and Guo Jia, it is inevitably a bit empty.The warm pavilion can keep out the cold wind and rain, but it can't block the gossip.

Guo Jia opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but when he saw Xun Yu raised his palm, he just waved it...

Guo Jia took a breath, then exhaled slowly, and fell silent.

Noisy outside, quiet inside.

Two or three palace lanterns swayed into circles of light, intertwined with each other.The black shadows curled up under the various utensils, shaking with the size of the aperture, like beasts lurking one after another, waiting for the moment when the light relaxes.

When Guo Jia was in Chang'an, except for some time running east and west under the "accompaniment" of the guards, most of the time he ate and slept, slept and ate. There was not much labor and effort, and the doctors of the Hundred Medical Center made a diagnosis and treatment, so that now it looks really white and fat, with a lot of richness.

On the contrary, during this period of time, Xun Yu needs to calculate this and allocate that every day, and also needs to keep an eye on the surroundings of Xu County, inside and outside the palace, how can there be a comfortable life?Therefore, Xun Yu's face was unavoidably old and tired, and his complexion looked much worse than Guo Jia's.

Thoughts tossed between light and darkness, the light from the palace lantern fell on Guo Jia's face, but Xun Yu's eyebrows couldn't be seen clearly.The two sat on both sides of the table, but the shadows behind them were inseparable under the swaying of the palace lantern...

Unknowingly, the preparations for the banquet outside were in disarray. People from inside and outside, actors, musicians, etc. had all gathered in the corner of the lower courtyard of the cloister hall. There were about 80 people, jingling and breaking up Adjusting the pitch of the instrument.

Many things are a kind of tacit understanding without saying anything. Everyone understands that Cao Cao's grand acceptance for Guo Jia is of course not just to welcome Guo Jia's return, but also has a deeper meaning...

At three o'clock in the unitary hour, the banquet officially began. Cao Cao came out from the backyard, first accepted everyone's worship, and then invited everyone to sit down. As an important guest, Guo Jia sat in the chief position under Cao Cao.

The rest of the officials, big and small, sat down one after another according to their respective official positions.

Soon after, the sound of the ceremony bell rang first, announcing the beginning of the banquet.

The attendants and maidservants filed in, and immediately placed several dishes and drinks that had been prepared in advance on everyone's tables...

Of course, these things are just appetizers, and they are all cold. Maybe the cold dishes will be served first in the banquets of later generations, and that is where it comes from.All the people present just had a taste, only those little officials sitting in a remote corner, because no one would pay attention to them anyway, just picked up the plate and poured it into the pockets they had prepared.

Cao Cao was sitting in the middle, holding a cup of wine, smiling and inviting everyone to have a drink together, and chatting with Guo Jia, Xiahou Dun and others from time to time, looking relaxed and happy.

The surrounding musicians also began to play, all of which were specially selected happy songs. The ding ding dong dong added a lot of joy and peaceful atmosphere. Unknowingly, more than a dozen actors in colorful clothes, like The colorful fish usually swim through the gaps between the banquets, and then dance their water sleeves or sway their bodies in the open space of the courtyard. .

Cao Cao shook his head, as if he was fully immersed in singing and dancing.

During the four years in Taixing, too many things happened, which made Cao Cao physically and mentally exhausted, so it seemed that this short-term relaxation is so rare and precious.

But joy is always short-lived. After three rounds of wine and five flavors of food, Cao Cao stood up, staggered and said that he wanted to change clothes, and turned his head slightly to look at Guo Jia before leaving...

Guo Jia understood, stood up after a while, and after turning around the corridor, he saw Dian Wei standing aside and beckoning, then followed Dian Wei around the courtyard wall, to the side hall of the backyard.

"Feng Xiao, sit down..." Cao Cao greeted, and then ordered, "Bring some tea..."

Guo Jia cupped his hands and said, "Duke Ming, let's get some wine..."

Cao Cao glanced at Guo Jia, smiled slightly, and nodded, "Forget it, I will follow Fengxiao." 』

Not long after, some servants brought drinks and some food.

Cao Cao waved his servants to retreat, then held up his wine glass, "Feng Xiao has had a rough journey, you have worked hard!"Come, let's pay with this wine! 』

Guo Jia was not polite either, he gulped and put down the glass.

Cao Cao pondered for a moment, "Before Feng Xiao said that someone had six victories, but I don't know...Feng Xiao watched it in Xijing, where the hussars are, what are the advantages?" 』

Guo Jia got himself another cup, drank it, and then said slowly: "Ming Gong... the words of six victories are true, they are all our strengths...but we also have four worries... 』

"Four worries..." Cao Cao nodded, and there was no obvious change in expression because of Guo Jia's remarks, "Feng Xiao can be blunt! 』

Guo Jia stretched out his thumb and said: "Let's talk about merchants first...Under the hustle and bustle, the strength of commerce and trade, the Duke of Ming knows...In Chang'an, the world's wealth and goods are gathered. , the wood from the Southern Mountains, the skin from the Northern Desert, and the gold from the Western Regions, there are tens of millions of money and goods in the market every day... This is what our "businessmen" worry about...』

"The Zhen family in Hebei, the Chen family in Xuzhou, the Cai family in Jingzhou, and other merchants from all over the world gathered in Chang'an. The Dahan Chamber of Commerce established under Huqi's command covers all sizes and formulates business regulations. It is like a court outside the court. According to the law, merchants big and small are subject to its control, and this matter has not seen any disadvantages..." Guo Jia said slowly, "If you wait for it to become powerful, you can order merchants all over the world...to ban the sale of certain items...or Not for resale here...”

Cao Cao nodded.

"Therefore, the Duke of Ming should also establish a commercial firm here, give it a name, and manage business through business, so as to be able to compete..." Guo Jia said, "If we only use checkpoints and taxation systems... I'm afraid it will be possible at the beginning. Forever and ever... This money and silk thing is the most touching...』

Cao Cao held his beard and remained silent.

Most people think that setting up checkpoints on the road can solve the problem, but in fact, apart from some effects in the early stage, it will bring more disadvantages later.

When card tolls are set up on official roads, someone will always be able to find some detours, and since caravans can pass through these detours, at certain critical moments, it also means that the army can pass!

So Cao Cao's pass checkpoints still have meaning?

In addition, it is also possible to directly use money to buy sentry soldiers and generals, and those who have collected money once to release caravans, will they also collect money to release other queues in the future?

Therefore, Guo Jia made it clear that it would be useless to hinder merchants simply by setting up checkpoints. Even if Cao Cao ordered that no trades be made except horses and soldiers, it would not have much effect. After all, only the strong side can make rules. , and the weaker party can only passively accept it more often.

Just like the mutual market between the Han people and the Hu people, they often listen to whichever side is stronger, and now Feiqian is obviously stronger than Cao Cao in business, so naturally Cao Cao can do whatever he wants in many things. up.

Guo Jia raised his second finger, "If you want to benefit business, you must first be better than workers."Therefore, the Duke of Ming should summon skilled workers from all over the world to divide and cooperate with each other and study their skills intensively, so that they can compete with the workshops under the hussars...Nowadays, the hussars are so strong that they are the best in the world, which is why they are strong workers. Waiting for craftsman...」

Cao Cao continued to nod.Cao Cao was also ashamed to tell Guo Jia that he had already tried in this area, but the result of the experiment...

Nowadays, the craftsmen of the Han Dynasty, or the craftsmen of the Shandong generation, are no less than Fei Qian in terms of overall number, and the intelligent people among the craftsmen are not much worse than Fei Qian's Huang's craftsmen, but the only difference is, That is, Fei Qian is more concentrated and scaled.

What Guo Jia meant was to suggest that Cao Cao learn from Fei Qian and develop large-scale centralized craftsmen.Because after being concentrated, craftsmen can communicate with each other, and study a certain project with the strength of everyone, so that each person does not study each other, and then wastes some time and energy repeatedly.

"..." Guo Jia drank another glass of wine, "Ming Gong needs to select talented people to lead the craftsmen... When I was in Chang'an, I often heard that if there were difficulties among the craftsmen , then it can be written or described on the hussars, and the hussars can spin to explain...』

Cao Cao raised his eyebrows and said, "Could it be that Fei Ziyuan got the true biography of Mozi as it is rumored?" 』

"Maybe there must be..." Guo Jia shook his head, "I often wonder, is there such a well-educated person in this world?"On Lishan Mountain in Chang'an, there is also a star observatory, where hussars use it to observe the sky and correct the calendar... This astronomy and geography is actually omnipotent...』

Cao Cao sighed, and said: "Maybe it should be so... At that time, Fei Ziyuan was a teacher of Cai Zhonglang, and he was taught by Pang De's father to be under Lushan, and then later... I heard that in Luoyang, he got more than half of the book of Dongguan. ...'

Guo Jia sighed, "How rich is Fuze?" 』

The two couldn't help but sigh together.

After a while, Guo Jia went on to say: "If you want strong labor, you need strong agriculture." 』

"Agriculture is not prosperous, and there is no focus on work..." Guo Jia raised his third finger, "Agriculture is the foundation of a country. Only when the foundation is solid and deep can it flourish.Now the field under the hussars is very effective, but our field is not satisfactory, and there is no other reason for it...』

Guo Jia glanced at Cao Cao, hesitated for a moment, but quickly continued, "The people who hustle and garrison the fields, at least five years, and as many as ten years, the fields they plow will belong to them...so the people who garrison the fields They spare no effort, lest they do less work, and there will be no land to gain. However, we will garrison the fields, and use more troops to garrison them. The amount of production has nothing to do with it, but there is no need to scold them with sticks...』

Cao Cao took a deep breath, then glanced at Guo Jia, and didn't say anything.

Cao Cao's military garrison means that most of the land harvests belong to Cao Cao, which also supports Cao Cao's large-scale explosive troops, but in the same process of garrisoning the fields, these half-soldier and half-farmer garrison soldiers cannot be regarded as A good soldier cannot be regarded as a good farmer, even though both aspects have been taken into account, it is equivalent to a poor performance in both aspects.

Let alone the soldiers, the combat effectiveness of these field soldiers is worrying, especially when compared with those of the hussars, they are simply horrible, otherwise Xun Yu would not have gone far to get rid of Zang Ba's Taishan soldiers to come to the rescue...

From a farmer's point of view, these military settlements cannot concentrate on scouting crops like farmers. In more cases, these military settlements are just like what Guo Jia said. Even if the punishment is done, the work efficiency and initiative will be greatly reduced.

Even if there are also some agricultural bachelors to guide, on the one hand, Cao Cao and others always hold a skeptical and scrutinizing attitude. Many technologies have to wait for one or two years of experimentation before slowly expanding to the whole territory. On the other hand, many agricultural bachelors Tuntian soldiers would not do the suggestions they put forward, because their superiors were not bachelors of agriculture, but Lieutenant Diannong. They are willing to do it after the order of the army, so they don't expect much output from the fields of these army stations.

Up and down, there is a difference of two or three stones in the output of one mu of land, so how much is the difference overall?Guo Jia didn't count, he didn't want to, let alone dared to count.

"Using military settlements to civilian settlements should solve this disadvantage..." Guo Jia looked at Cao Cao, "But if you want to change it, you must first solve this last worry..."

Cao Cao stared at Guo Jia with a frown, and suddenly interrupted Guo Jia, "Feng Xiao said, it will fall on this "scholar" in the end?" 』

Guo Jia poured another glass of wine, gulped it down, nodded, and said, "Of course. 』

In fact, the four worries seem to be four aspects, but in the end it still falls into one word, which is "scholar", because in Shandong, the gentry controls everything, and everything is connected with the gentry.

The shops are controlled by the gentry, the land is in the hands of the gentry, and the officials are also held by the gentry. Cao Cao himself came from a huge gentry, and thousands of people from the Xiahou and Cao clans depended on Cao Cao for their lives.Cao Cao has no way to delegate power like Fei Qian.

The reason is very simple. Here in Cao Cao, most of the sons of the gentry always swear when they take office, I believe, I can, I promise, but once something happens, I don’t know, I don’t understand, I’m sorry, it’s a big deal Make a statement, shake the hat of the weeping general, and you won't get any punishment, or deal with it with a lot of thunder and rain, and continue to make money in another place...

Under such circumstances, who would really be willing to take responsibility?It's nothing more than who is worse than the other, or who can cover up better than the other.

Cao Cao had actually thought about what Guo Jia said, but if he really wanted to change it like Fei Qian did, Cao Cao would have no idea.Because of the brand-new political ecological environment and operation mode created by Fei Qian in Guanzhong, Cao Cao didn't understand at all, let alone be familiar with it.

In the face of unfamiliar things, human beings naturally have a sense of fear, and Cao Cao is also inevitable.

When Cao Cao recovered from his long contemplation and wanted to ask Guo Jia some more questions, he realized that Guo Jia had already drank the whole pot of wine at some point and fell on the mat drunkenly. Sleeping soundly, unconscious...

(End of this chapter)