Silver Fox of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 92 The Shrewd Liu Biao
Shen Chen's reply to Liu Bei didn't actually tell him anything, nor did he teach him what to do, but just exchanged pleasantries, told him that everything was fine, and asked him not to worry about it.

Besides this reply letter, he also prepared some gold, some silk and more than ten pieces of fish scale armor for Tai Shici to send.

Yes.

Since the invention of the method of pouring steel, Huangmenting's steel production has jumped to the top in Jingzhou. In addition to making daily utensils and weapons and equipment, it can also make armor.

During the Han Dynasty, iron and steel were state-owned. Due to the small scale of state-owned enterprises, backward steel-making technology, and the inability to mass-produce, the annual output of steel was very low.

Before the steel filling method came out in the Tang Dynasty, the total output of steel in the Han and Han Dynasties was only tens of thousands of tons, which was not as high as the annual output in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The pouring method is to mass-produce steel.

To use a metaphor, the method of frying steel is equivalent to a handmade product, and it may take several days or even half a month to make a finished product.

The steel pouring method is the mechanized production of the factory. It only needs to heat the pig iron to mature iron, and then pour the wrought iron molten iron into the pig iron molten iron, and it will naturally fuse into molten steel. There is no need to beat and forge as before.

So after the emergence of this epoch-making technology, it brought brand new changes to Dahan.

In fact, Huangmenting can't consume that much steel, but it is difficult for them to sell it.Because steel itself is an extremely important strategic material, it is almost impossible to hide the large-scale influx into the market.

When the soldiers under his command used it, it could be explained that they bought it from outside, but suddenly so much steel appeared on the market, even a fool could see that something was wrong.

Once the princes from all walks of life are told that the annual steel output of Huangmenting, which is only a township, can reach thousands of tons, they will probably go crazy.

Even Liu Biao has to covet it.

Therefore, they can only process these steels in private.

The processing site is the back mountain.

When Cao Ren attacked Houshan, the blast furnaces, furnaces, and cave dwellings inside were all destroyed and sealed up, and all the tools were moved away.

Now Cao Jun has withdrawn and started work again, and weapons and equipment are mass-produced.

Among them, fish scale armor, which appeared in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States and flourished in the Song and Ming dynasties, required a lot of steel, so it naturally became the first choice.

The main reason is that it is very flexible and light, not as thick and heavy as plate armor, and under the same weight, its defense and defense functions are much stronger than the current plate armor.

The fish scale armor produced by Huangmenting is not a full-body armor, but only covers the chest and back. There are 480 pieces in total in sixteen rows, and the weight is less than ten kilograms.

If it is a full-body armor, the weight will be doubled, but it is also more than ten kilograms lighter than the Zhajia popular in the Han Dynasty.

That is to say, the scale armor of 30 kilograms can have the same defensive power as the plate armor of more than [-] kilograms. For the generals who charge into battle, the added advantage is not only one or two points.

Shen Chen also considered that Liu Bei would still have many vicious battles to fight in the future. Although he was defeated repeatedly, what if he got injured?

So giving him some armor is a little bit more fault-tolerant.

When Tai Shici received these gifts, he was also very surprised by Shen Chen's handwriting. These properties are all of great value, and the most important thing is that the armor is really precious.

Liu Bei didn't have a few sets of battle armor until now, and others sold more than a dozen sets, which made Tai Shici look at Shen Chen's financial resources with admiration.

On March [-]th, Tai Shici bid farewell to Shen Chen and set off.

When he came, he came empty-handed, and only a few people rode a few horses. When he left, he drove directly with two horses, brought a large box of gifts, and returned in a mighty manner.

Shen Chen sent him all the way to the north of Bishui, which is the area around Tanghe County in later generations, before heading south to Xiangyang.

It was only two days' walk from Xiangyang to Huyang. The carriage started in the morning and arrived in the evening, so he arrived outside Xiangyang in the early morning of March [-]th.

The battle in Nanyang did not cause any troubles in Jingzhou, and Liu Biao did not participate in this battle in history. Therefore, even though Cao Cao and Zhang Xiu fought more lively, it seemed that they had nothing to do with him, and they still stood still.

But he didn't do nothing. Apart from making Zhang Yunwenpin and others pay attention to defense, he also sent people to Nanyang to check the latest battle reports every day.

When he learned that Cao Cao had retreated, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time sent Deng Hong to Rangcheng to conclude an alliance with Zhang Xiu.

But now Deng Hong has completed the task brilliantly, returned to Xiangyang with Shen Chen, and returned to Liu Biao.

The sun is just right today, and it is the late spring season. There are countless boats on the Han River, and the wharf in the north of Xiangyang City is densely packed with boats.

On the vast plain to the east of the city in the distance, green and yellow wheat is floating in the field, and it will mature in two months.

In the spring breeze, Deng Hong's and Shen Chen's boats docked at Jiang'an Wharf. There were no telephones in this era, and no one knew when they came, so no one answered at the wharf.

But there was no need for someone to pick them up. The boat they took was a big boat, and they could get on a carriage. More than 20 carriages disembarked one by one. There were 40 servants and 50 guards. They carried big and small bags of New Year's goods. The team was even bigger than last year.

The convoy drove all the way into the city, and the soldiers at the gate saw the sign of the State Shepherd's House, but no one dared to stop them, and went straight into the city.

When passing by Central Avenue, Deng Hong bid farewell to his wife, and asked his wife to take their son and family members back to the mansion first, while himself and Shen Chen would go to the State Shepherd's Mansion to report the news to Liu Biao as soon as possible.

The grandparents and grandsons parted from Mrs. Cai on the street, and the servants drove the carriage to the state shepherd's mansion.

Soon they came to Liu Biao's mansion.

Knowing Deng Hong's return, Liu Biao immediately summoned them, and the two were led to a side hall in the backyard, where Liu Biao was the only one sitting on the chair and looking at the bamboo slips.

"Minggong."

"Your Majesty."

Deng Hong and Shen Chen have different names.

Because Deng Hong was a subordinate of Liu Shangpi, he called his superior Ming Gong.

Shen Chen has no direct relationship with Liu Biao, so he uses the honorific title.

"You Shuo and Shen Xiaolang are back?"

Liu Biao looked at the two with a smile and said, "The ones who came back this year are much later than in previous years."

Deng Hong said helplessly: "Cao Jun attacked Huangmen Pavilion, and Hong had no choice but to."

"It's okay, I don't mean to blame you."

Liu Biao put down the bamboo slips in his hand and asked, "How about Zhang Xiu's answer?"

Deng Hong replied: "Everything has been negotiated."

"Ah That's good."

Liu Biao nodded and said, "This year Cao's army will attack, and Nanyang may suffer a lot."

Deng Hong said: "It is true that the damage is not small. Around Wancheng and west of Dabie Mountain, people in all counties have been displaced. I am planning to tell Duke Ming about this matter."

"How is local governance?"

Liu Biao was quite concerned, not because he really cared about the common people, but because he cared about his own property.

In the past few years, according to Shen Chen's strategy, he used all the refugees who ran from Guanzhong and the captured Runan Nanyang yellow scarves to farm.

The area of ​​Tuntian was on the east and west sides of Nanyang. For example, the refugees from Guanzhong were mostly arranged in the west of Nanyang, near Wuguan in Danshui, Shunyang, Nanxiang, Liguo, Champion, Wudang and other counties.

Runan Nanyang yellow scarves are mostly arranged in the east of Nanyang and the west of Dabie Mountain, namely Duyang, Wuyin, Biyang, Pingshi, Xinye, Huyang and other places.

Most of the harvest in these places had to be handed over to Liu Biao. Now that the Cao army is attacking, he naturally wants to know if the property has been damaged.

Deng Hong's face was a bit confused: "I'm afraid it's not satisfactory."

"Why?"

Liu Biao frowned. Since he started farming the year before last, he has been able to harvest millions of Dendrobium grain and grass every year.

We must know that in history, Cao Cao only captured more than 100 people of the Yellow Turban in Runan, and obtained more than [-] million grains of grain when he farmed.

And he got the Nanyang Yellow Turban in Runan and the refugees from Guanzhong, a total of more than 30, and he got more from the farm than Cao Cao.

With such a large amount of wealth at stake, of course he cares.

Deng Hong said: "When Cao Cao came, the people all over the country fled in panic, and all the officials in the counties and counties abandoned their officials and left. The fields have been left unattended for nearly a month, and I am afraid that the production will be greatly reduced."

"This Cao Cao"

Liu Biao rubbed his temples feeling very upset, thinking that if you come to recruit Zhangxiu, you will recruit Zhangxiu, what are you doing to scare his villagers?
As a result, his harvest this year may be much reduced.

Deng Hong smiled wryly and said: "There is no way to do this, but now that Cao Cao has left, most of the people and officials who fled have gone back. I believe that after re-cultivation, there should still be some harvests."

"It's been nearly a month since I haven't taken care of the farmland. How many percent will there be when the wheat is ripe?"

Liu Biao waved his hands in a distressed mood, and said, "This year's harvest will be avoided. Let the villagers stay by themselves. I hope that there is no need for the treasury to transport grain and grass to Nanyang."

Deng Hong and Shen Chen looked at each other, and at the same time cupped their hands and said, "Duke Ming (envoy) is benevolent and righteous."

"Ah."

Liu Biao responded, but suddenly remembered something again, and asked, "I heard that the magistrates of all counties heard of Cao Cao's attack, and they all descended upon hearing the news?"

"Forehead"

Deng Hong hesitated and said, "It's just my colleagues who are helpless."

Liu Biao sneered, "It's just a bunch of capricious people."

In history, when Cao Cao came, a large number of officials in Nanyang surrendered to Cao Cao.As soon as Cao Cao left, they immediately turned to Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao.

It's just that these nonsense belonged to the nonsense, but Liu Biao lost this year's tax revenue.

In the past, Liu Biao believed that the Nanyang Basin was safe to defend, and he didn't want to fight recklessly if he couldn't beat Cao Cao, so he gathered his troops around Xiangyang.

But now Liu Biao in Nanyang has a large amount of farmland, which can provide him with millions of dendrobium grain and grass every year.

At that time, one dendrobium was equal to one stone, and one stone millet was 220 five baht in peacetime, and now it has risen to 1000 yuan in wars.

There are even 5000 yuan and 50 yuan in some places. During the severe drought in Guanzhong a few years ago, [-] yuan was a stone of grain, and the price went up to the sky.

Even if it is calculated based on 220 yuan in peacetime, Liu Biao can get about 300 million shi of grain from Nanyang every year, which is nearly [-] million yuan when converted into five baht.

Many people think that Jingzhou is rich, but in fact it is not so rich. The Jingnan area, that is, the later Hunan is still a barren land, and only Changsha County is a little better.

And most of Jiangxia in Jingbei is Yunmengze, and there are not even a few county towns. Therefore, the richest places in Jingzhou currently controlled by Liu Biao are actually only two places, Nanyang County and Nanjun County.

If Nanyang is lost, his strength will drop a lot, especially now that Liu Biao has far more demand for the Nanyang Basin than in history.

Now the news from the front line tells him that except for the city in the west of Nanyang far away from the battlefield in Nanyang, including the counties controlled by Zhang Xiu, most of the other counties surrendered to Cao Cao when Cao Jun came.

You must know that most of these counties are west of Dabie Mountain, that is, east of Nanyang City in later generations, the counties of Biyang, Sheqi, Tanghe and other places belong to Liu Biao, and the local officials are also dispatched by Liu Biao.

As a result, when Cao Cao came, they all surrendered, and there are still a lot of farmland in these places, which are his private property. How can Liu Biao hold his face?
After thinking for a moment, Liu Biao looked at Shen Chen and said, "Shen Xiaolang, how do you think these capricious people should be dealt with? What should Nanyang do so that it can be completely controlled by me?"

Shen Chen knew that Liu Biao was going to ask him for advice, so he couldn't hide his clumsiness at this time, because Liu Biao was not a fool, if you still fooled him knowing your details, he would definitely be unhappy, once he was unhappy, the family in Jingzhou would be in trouble. mixed up.

So after pondering for a while, Shen Chen said: "My lord, since ancient times, people have sought good luck and avoided bad luck, and there are no soldiers and horses guarding Nanyang. It is understandable for the officials to abandon their posts when they see Cao's army approaching menacingly. But if you surrender Cao Cao , that’s a big problem.”

"what is the problem?"

Liu Biao asked.

Shen Chendao: "People like to be attached to the strong. They did not abandon their positions, but chose to surrender to Cao Cao. This shows that in their eyes, Shijun is weaker than Cao Cao. They think that Cao Cao can occupy Nanyang, so they surrendered to Cao Cao. Isn't this a Is it a serious problem?"

"Of course it is."

Liu Biao's face really became uncomfortable when he heard this. Those officials he appointed felt that they were weaker than Cao Cao?
Who can be happy?

Shen Chen said again: "It's all because the envoy is too kind. Nanyang is guarding the gateway to the Central Plains. There are countless fertile fields and many mouths. How can it be wrong? We should drive out these incompetent mediocre officials and replace them with those Promising and capable officials, and then send troops north to station in Ye County, so that Nanyang can be defended."

"Is that so?"

Liu Biao thought about it.

He is considering whether this plan is feasible.

It doesn't matter if you change people, the key is to garrison Ye County.

Ye County is the rear of Xuchang and the gateway to Nanyang.

Sending troops from Ye County can directly threaten Yingchuan, and it is impossible for Cao Cao to let him garrison troops there.

Zhang Xiu stationed troops in Wancheng, Cao Cao was not at ease, let alone Ye County?
So it is very likely that as long as he dares to send someone, Cao Cao will definitely come to conquer again.

Shen Xiaolang's purpose is not pure.

Liu Biao squinted his eyes and looked at Shen Chen. He wanted to drag himself into the quagmire of the war with Cao Cao.

However, Liu Biao was not angry either. First of all, he and Cao Cao had a hostile relationship. The two sides were going to fight, but he didn't want to directly confront Cao Cao on a large scale.

Second, the Dengshen Ershi in Huangmenting had a blood feud with Cao Cao. Although Cao Cao lost a lot of people this time, the Dengshen Ershi would definitely be eager to eliminate Cao Cao.

Therefore, it is understandable to want to use his strength to continue to send troops to Cao Cao.

It's just that this conflicts with Liu Biao's current strategy. Whether it is Kuailiang Kuaiyue or himself, he believes that it is not appropriate to conflict with the north before Cao Cao and Yuan Shao's decisive battle.

So after thinking for a while, he looked at Shen Chen with a smile and said, "Shen Xiaolang is very famous in Nanyang this time. I heard in Xiangyang that you wiped out Cao Cao's heroes Cao Ren and Le Jin. Young hero, would you like to become an official?"

Shen Chen's heart trembled, and he said hastily: "The boy's morality is shallow, and he is not yet able to serve the envoy. Please allow the boy to study for a few more years. In the future, after the crown, the envoy will obey his order no matter what."

"Ah."

Liu Biao nodded and said, "Scholars should be taken care of. You are still young. Being too outstanding is not a good thing. The Ye County garrison will be dismissed. I will transfer Gan Ning to Wuyin. Then Deng Mao performed well this time. Instead of surrendering, I will assist you in repelling Cao Jun and let him be the governor of Nanyang, Wang Yi will be the prefect of Nanyang, and I will make arrangements for the rest of the counties."

"Duke Ming (envoy) is wise."

Deng Hong and Shen Chen looked at each other again, and at the same time bowed their hands in salute.

Liu Biao is still very shrewd, it may not be easy to fool him into putting him on the chariot list.

(End of this chapter)