I seek economic hegemony in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 132 Dahan Jiangzhou Navy
Zhuge Rong took a deep breath, stood up and said, "I will take this blue and white porcelain back home first. If you need it later, I will send someone to visit Mr. Li."

"That's fine too."

"By the way, does the paper also have to be worth hundreds of dollars?" Zhuge Rong asked cautiously.

He was already wary.

What worries him most is that the Shu Kingdom stipulates that you must spend hundreds of dollars to buy paper.

Zhibaiqian is notoriously bad money. In just a dozen years, the Wei State was directly returned to the state of barter, and the Wu State was also forced to mint large amounts of money.

Li Heng also saw Zhuge Rong's worry. He patted his chest and said, "There is no need for paper. The paper can be exchanged for grain."

Zhuge Rong felt relieved and said, "Mr. Li is busy with his affairs, so I won't bother you."

"Okay, send it to Uncle Zhuge."

After Zhuge Rong left, Zhao Xiangcai asked: "Li Gong, why is it not mandatory to use copper coins for paper?"

"It's not the time yet." Li Heng sat down again and said meaningfully.

"The lower official is stupid."

"Sun Wu is very resistant to our currency. He is still hesitating about the sale of blue and white porcelain. If it is now stipulated that paper must be used in currency, Sun Wu may stop buying paper. But if Sun Wu buys millions more, everyone will start using paper. , if we stipulate that paper must be purchased with hundreds of dollars, Sun Quan will have no choice."

Zhao Xiang was stunned for a moment, but he didn't expect Li Heng to think so.

This logic is actually very simple. If many counties in Sun Wu begin to use paper for office work, once the paper is broken, it will have a huge impact on official business.

When Zhao Xiang was impressed, he asked again: "Can't Sun Quan and Lu Xun see our strategy?"

"They can see it," Li Heng said, "so they have to find a way."

"What do you think?"

"Stealing the art of papermaking."

"Then he..."

Li Heng said calmly: "Zhuge Rong came here nominally to buy more paper, but actually for papermaking technology."

"Then we have to send people to keep an eye on them."

"Ma Yong is already watching. He can't take away the papermaking technology for the time being. By the time he takes it away, it won't be of such high value."

After finishing speaking, Li Heng walked back.

"I want to go to the palace. You can arrange the follow-up regarding Zhuge Rong's paper."

"Here."

After changing clothes, Li Heng hurried into the palace to see Liu Chan.

"What does Li Qing want from me?"

"Your Majesty, Li Fu, the governor of Jiangzhou, is willing to fund the establishment of Jiangzhou Paper Mill. Please take your Majesty's eye."

Liu Chan took it and took a quick glance at it, then said, "Just make arrangements."

"One more thing."

"Let's just say it's okay."

"I think the imperial court should secretly add [-] naval troops in Jiangzhou to prepare for emergencies."

Liu Chan immediately sat up straight and asked seriously: "Is it enough?"

"Now the Weaving Department has [-] textile machines, which can weave [-] pieces of cloth every day. Each piece of cloth can be exchanged for one stone of grain. Wu and Wei thought that we mainly used paper to exchange grain with them, but in fact, we have already begun Use cloth to secretly exchange for more food among the people."

"Therefore, if I think the expenses are sufficient, you can start recruiting Xiangyong now."

Liu Chan asked again: "What if one day Wu Wei also bans our cloth?"

"Paper is currently purchased by high-ranking officials and nobles. Wu and Wei could spend some time and use extraordinary means to ban it, but they cannot cut off the independent trade among the people."

Liu Chan nodded.

Although Liu Chan is lazy and perverted, he is really not stupid. He said: "But cloth is not easy to store. It is okay to sell it. But if it is used as transaction currency, it is not suitable for long distance use."

"Your Majesty is wise, I am only using cloth temporarily."

"Okay, you can arrange this matter." Liu Chan ate a grape with a smile on his face, "But for these 3 people, you have to find a way by yourself, and..."

Liu Chan paused for a moment and drank heavily. After drinking the wine, he seemed a little dizzy.

"Besides, you have to find someone who can train troops, and all appointments have to be reported to the prime minister. Li Fu is not bad."

"Here."

"I will give you a handwriting so that Li Fu will not embarrass you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." "Who made the Prime Minister think so favorably of you?" Liu Chan muttered as he was helped up.

"The minister got up immediately and went to Jiangzhou so that he could make preparations there in advance."

"Go."

On the tenth day of November, Li Heng arrived in Jiangzhou.

He met Li Fu.

Li Heng cupped his fists and said, "I've heard about Mr. Li's name for a long time, and I'm lucky to see him today."

"I don't deserve it. Li Shangshu has a seat here."

Li Heng took his seat and glanced at Li Fu without leaving any trace.

Li Fu is a loyal person and someone whom both Liu Chan and Zhuge Liang trust very much.

Historically, when Zhuge Liang was seriously ill in Wuzhangyuan, Liu Chan sent Li Fu to visit Zhuge Liang.

Before Zhuge Liang died, he also said words of succession to Li Fu.

This shows that Li Fu is a very good person.

This time, dragging him into Jiangzhou's papermaking factory had only advantages and no disadvantages.

Li Fu knew that he had now entered a huge whirlpool of interests, and he was mentally prepared, but he was still a little surprised that Li Heng returned in person.

"Is Li Shangshu here to talk about the papermaking factory?"

"I'm not here to talk about the papermaking factory, but I have other important matters to discuss with you."

"I don't know what's going on, please let Li Shangshu explain it."

"What do you think, Mr. Li, of the Jiangzhou Paper Manufacturing Institute?"

Li Fu was stunned for a moment and was a little confused by Li Heng's question.

"If it is determined according to Li Shangshu's contract, it is indeed excellent. All parties will benefit and make money from Sun Wu."

"It's indeed very good, but a few days ago, Zhuge Rong arrived in the capital. Does Mr. Li know what Zhuge Rong was doing in the capital?"

"What to do?"

"To steal the art of papermaking."

Li Fu looked shocked and stood up suddenly: "Seriously?"

"I'm just guessing!"

"This guess is pretty close!" Li Fu's expression darkened, "The benefits are so exciting!"

"So we have to take some actions next." Li Heng said.

"What action?"

"We want to train a navy in Jiangzhou. If Sun Wu is unwilling to do business with us, or steals our papermaking technology, we will have the confidence to send troops."

"Send troops to attack Wu?"

"Yes."

Li Fu was shocked and said: "I'm afraid this is inappropriate. Although we have enmity with Sun Wu, we still need to unite to defeat Wei."

"We don't really want to conquer Wu, it's just a deterrent." Li Heng explained, "We can do without soldiers, but we must not do without them."

"You can do without soldiers, but you can't do without them?" Li Fu murmured and looked at Li Heng with surprised eyes.

"Yes, the imperial court will continue to manufacture a large amount of cloth and increase the casting of copper coins. These will be exported to Sun Wu. The army is the backing of business."

"But Navy Commander Sun Wu is extremely powerful, so we may not be our opponents."

"But if we are not prepared, we will never be an opponent."

These words are naturally confidential.

It was because Li Fu was pulled into the boat of profit that Li Heng told him.

The saying that your butt determines your head never goes out of style.

If Li Fu had not been brought up, he might have neither approved nor objected.

But now he hesitated.

"How many soldiers and horses do you need?"

(End of this chapter)