I seek economic hegemony in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 208 The power of the general!

At the end of the 14th year of Jianxing, Li Heng was recalled to Beijing.

When he arrived in Jiangzhou on December 15, there were more merchant ships at Chaotianmen Ferry in Jiangzhou than before.

Before returning to Chengdu, Li Heng met Li Fu and Dong Hong in Jiangzhou, as well as Yang Zong, whom he had not seen for a long time.

"The battle of Baidi Mountain has spread between Jiangling and Jiangzhou, and all the businessmen know it." Dong Hong sighed, "As Wu businessmen, they are not only not angry at all, but also very happy."

"It's normal for businessmen to value profits over righteousness."

"In this case, do we still need to support businessmen in large quantities?" Dong Hong hesitated and asked suddenly.

It was obvious that he was worried.

"To be honest with you, I also have such doubts in my heart." Li Fu also showed a trace of worry on his face, "Since Langjun established Taifu Temple in the capital, he has successively exported paper, new salt, and blue and white porcelain to Wu and Wei, and the imperial court It is true that there is a huge income, but Yizhou's private businessmen are also rising rapidly. At first, there were only dozens or hundreds, so they didn't take it seriously. But as the number of businessmen increases, will our businessmen value profits and ignore justice? "

"Our businessmen are also human beings. As long as a large amount of interest exchange is involved, they will value profits and ignore justice." Li Heng said calmly, "If you hear someone scolding those businessmen for focusing on profits but ignoring justice, this person may be the same as Ziling. A loyal person who puts the interests of the country first, but most of them are just narrow-minded people. The reason why they scold him is not because they are righteous, but because they are not the ones who benefit."

Li Fu and Dong Hong looked at each other and were shocked by Li Heng's statement.

"Ziling, let me ask you, what is righteousness?"

"The Prime Minister once said that if you don't measure your virtues alone, you should believe in righteousness in the world, so I think righteousness is the right way."

"Then what is the right path?"

"It is the right way to benefit the world."

"In this case, we promote trade and increase the national treasury so that the people have enough food and the front line has military resources. Is this the right way?"

"This... this is the right way. I'm just worried that some businessmen will..."

"We cannot stop moving forward just because some businessmen will sell out the country for their own small profits. Since that is the right path, we should continue along this path. This path must be very difficult, but which path in life Isn’t it difficult?”

After hesitating for a moment, Dong Hong said: "Lang Jun, although I don't know what the future will be like, although I have all kinds of doubts in my heart, I still choose to firmly believe in you. I will take everything you entrust me seriously." Go finish him.”

"It's a blessing in life that I can meet Ziling!"

"Of course there is me." Li Fu stood up and bowed to Li Heng, "Li Shangshu followed the prime minister to conquer Guanzhong, regain Longyou, enrich the national treasury, force out the Wu thieves, and preserve the Han Dynasty's foundation. I just took a fancy to it at first. Lang Jun's papermaking business, but now he is impressed by Lang Jun's talent and righteousness. If Lang Jun has anything to do from now on, please just give him your orders!"

Li Heng stood up, returned a salute to Li Fu, and said: "If it weren't for Mr. Li to preside over the overall situation in Jiangzhou, I don't know where the soldiers and horses of Jiangzhou are now. Now I still need Mr. Li to do something for me. Please ask Li Gong." Official business must promise me."

"I don't know what happened, but Li Shangshu just gave me the order."

"I plan to set up a Jiangzhou University Hall in Jiangzhou. The first batch of naval officers must enter the Jiangzhou University Hall for retreat. With Yang Wenhui as the bishop, every officer must take the exam. Only after passing the exam can he graduate. The exam will be taken three times Unqualified officers will be deprived of their position and benefits."

"These officers not only need to learn how to fight, but also learn the knowledge of craftsmen. The knowledge of these craftsmen has been compiled into various books by the Capital University. I will send people to deliver them."

When he said this, Li Heng's eyes fell on Yang Zong: "The reason why I do this is because when we face emergencies on the battlefield in the future, the officers from top to bottom must know how to mobilize the engineer battalion as soon as possible. Make timely repairs and defenses.”

Yang Zong nodded and said: "I understand, just like Lang Jun used trenches and mounds to enclose the land in Guanzhong and quickly built a city with brick walls to win the war."

"Yes, that's true."

"Marching and fighting is not just about leading a group of people forward. For example, in the future, if we want to conquer Jiangling City, point our swords at the north of the Yangtze River, and approach Xiangyang, we will need a large number of engineering battalions."

"Don't worry, Sir, I will immediately start setting up Jiangzhou University." Li Fu said excitedly, "As long as I am here, I will be strict!"

"Then I'll help you all." Li Heng clasped his fists, "Your Majesty called me back to the capital. I can't stay long, so I'll say goodbye."

"Langjun!" Yang Zongdao.

"What's the matter?"

"To be honest, sir, I have been training navy for more than half a year, but I have never actually fought in a battle. After hearing about the previous battle at Baidi Mountain, I became increasingly unsure."

Li Heng patted Yang Zong on the shoulder and said, "Why rush? I have made arrangements. You can do your best."

"Here."

On December 20, Li Heng rushed back to Chengdu.

This time I returned to Chengdu, it was completely different from before.

Before entering Beijing, Liu Chan took his people out of the city to greet him.

Not only did Liu Chan praise Li Heng, but even officials who had not been optimistic about Li Heng in the past also began to praise Li Heng.

Finally, Liu Chan politely invited Li Heng to ride with him to Beijing and arrived at the palace to discuss politics.

"This is the memorial written by the Prime Minister to me." Liu Chan handed it to Li Heng.

"This is a discussion between the Prime Minister and His Majesty. It is not convenient for me to watch."

"It's about you, look."

Li Heng opened the memorial and looked at it carefully. He was stunned when he saw half of it, but he still insisted on reading it.

After reading it, he said to Liu Chan: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to hold the position of general!"

"What do you mean by Ji'an?"

"I don't know much about military affairs."

"But in the battle of Chencang, you had great merits, in the battle of Longyou Tianshui, you also had great merits, and in the battle of Baidi Mountain, you also had great merits." Liu Chan looked at Li Heng with an innocent look, "This is known to all. Are you telling me that you don’t know anything about military affairs?” “I...”

"Do you think the Prime Minister has made a mistake?"

"No, no, the Prime Minister is extremely wise, but..."

"That's it, you've agreed!" Liu Chan laughed, "That's it."

"minister……"

"Don't worry, I understand. I will worship you just like Emperor Taizu Gao worshiped Han Xin."

"No, no, I didn't mean that!"

"Whether that's what you mean or not, I have to do that. Ever since you offered your advice, the Prime Minister has been very optimistic about you! I am too. You must not let down the high expectations of me and the Prime Minister!"

"What I mean is that my merits are not enough to be promoted to general, and there will be people in the court who are dissatisfied."

"When the First Master left, he left the Prime Minister alone, and many people in the court were dissatisfied." Liu Chan said with emotion, "But the Prime Minister resolutely took over the important task. Does it mean that everyone must be convinced before he can take up the responsibility?"

Only then did Li Heng stand up and salute: "I am so virtuous and capable. I have been entrusted with such a heavy responsibility by Your Majesty and the Prime Minister. I will go through fire and water!"

Most of what he said was true.

Since Zhuge Liang began to rise to prominence in Jihan, Zhuge Liang has never been stingy with himself. He has given him all the rewards he deserves, affirmed everything he deserves, and will never waver in the slightest.

The same goes for Liu Chan.

What is the most valuable?

trust!

Trust is more precious than gold!

The official position of general is very high, so high that Li Heng was shocked when he saw Zhuge Liang's memorial.

He never expected that the prime minister would make him a general this time.

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the generals were subordinate to the Three Dukes.

But during the Three Kingdoms period, the generals were still above the three princes.

But this illustrates another problem: the real power of official positions is changing.

For example, the general Li Heng currently serves is not as powerful as General Cao Shuang in history.

why?

Because Zhuge Liang is still here!

No matter how great the general is, he cannot be greater than Zhuge Liang if Zhuge Liang is around.

Therefore, this is a general whose power is greatly limited.

But Liu Chan also promised that the general could open a mansion just like the prime minister, which showed that all the powers that should be given were indeed given.

You know, this part of the power originally belonged to Zhuge Liang, but Zhuge Liang took the initiative to give it up.

Li Heng knew very well Zhuge Liang's real purpose in granting him this official position: to capture Jingzhou!

Li Heng has encountered a lot of resistance in Chengdu for more than a year. Although Zhuge Liang is in Guanzhong, he is very aware of it.

Now that Cao Wei and Wu have formed an alliance, although the first Wei-Wu alliance attack was defeated, it does not mean that there will not be subsequent attacks.

As the Han army further established a foothold in Longyou and Guanzhong, the situation in the Three Kingdoms has reached a new stage, and the conflicts between the three parties have become more intense.

Zhuge Liang wants to sit in Guanzhong and control the overall situation. Now Ji Han needs a new powerful figure to quickly open up a second battlefield.

This person is Li Heng!

Li Heng's eyes became a little deep. He glanced at Liu Chan and suddenly said: "Your Majesty, how did Qiao Zhou handle it?"

"You are Dali, and now you are the general. I allow you to open the general's mansion. All the people involved in the Qiao Zhou case can be handled by you. I will not interfere in this matter."

It can be said that at this point, the monarch and his ministers finally reached a tacit understanding for the first time.

Li Heng is the new general. He needs to establish his authority, and he also needs to test how much power Liu Chan can give him as a general.

Now it seems that it is completely given!

Liu Chan also knew this, so he answered simply.

"I accept the decree."

After coming out of the palace, Li Heng returned home.

He ate the mutton stewed by his father, then sighed and said, "Father, what do you think of what you have done in the capital over the past year?"

"Why do you ask so suddenly?"

"Just wanted to ask."

"Of course it is very good. At least when I went to the harem to consult the concubines, the chamberlains and maids had heard about you. The people also thought that the Taifu Temple you made was very good. The food in the capital this year was obviously better than last year. It’s enough, the price of food has fallen, it’s really fallen!”

"If we want to kill a lot of people there, is that okay?"

"Who are you going to kill?" Li Ruji was shocked.

"You don't know a lot of people."

"Why kill them?"

"In order to..." Li Heng hesitated before saying, "In order to end the war as soon as possible."

(End of this chapter)