I seek economic hegemony in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 233 The gap was finally opened

"Who will tell me how much Shu money Jingzhao has now?" Cao Rui asked with a gloomy face.

The ministers were silent and no one spoke.

The atmosphere in the hall was solemn, and some people even looked away.

"Don't you all know about the Jing Zhao Shu money?"

Still no one answered.

Cao Rui knew that they wanted to remain silent on this matter, and they didn't want to be the first to do so.

From this point of view, the interests involved in this matter are much greater than imagined.

"Your Majesty, I have heard a little bit about Shu money in recent days, but I don't know much about it. I only heard that someone in Jingzhao used it to buy salt."

Huangmen Shilang Hua Biao came out at the right time and said.

"It's true that they are buying salt, but I heard that they are using Shu money to buy salt, and the transaction is huge."

Ministers, you look at me and I look at you.

"Then it must be banned." Hua Biao said, "The influx of money from Shu is extremely harmful. Our government no longer uses coins."

"How to ban it?" Cao Rui asked again, "There are already many people using it."

"As long as His Majesty issues a decree, it can be banned."

"Really?" Cao Rui laughed, "As long as I issue a decree, this Shu money will disappear?"

The ministers still didn't answer.

Obviously, Cao Rui knew that some officials present were already buying salt and had Shu money in their hands.

Some officials present also knew that Cao Rui knew that they were buying salt.

Cao Rui also knew that they knew that he knew that they were buying salt.

However, everyone pretended not to know.

They all pretended to have just heard about it.

In fact, Shu money has been used in the Jingzhao area last year, but Cao Wei is a little special. In order to curb the direct money in Yizhou, Cao Wei abolished the currency, and business was flat.

At the end of last year, Xiahou Ba suffered a disastrous defeat in Chencang, which further aggravated the turmoil on the Western Front.

This further suppresses private free trade.

Bureaucratic trade is concealed, so the inflow of Shu money has, to a certain extent, shielded Cao Rui from information.

When Cao Rui learned of the seriousness of the matter, Shu's money was already surging.

And it involves the interests of all parties, making it even more complicated.

Just like when Cao Pi publicly scolded his ministers for being obsessed with Shu brocade, it was of no use.

Seeing the reaction of the ministers, Cao Rui immediately slapped the table angrily: "Who will tell me!"

Hua Biao originally wanted to find an excuse to show off in front of the emperor, but seeing this posture, the matter was too deep, so he immediately fell silent.

The hall was silent for a while, but the anger in Cao Rui's heart burned even more intensely.

At this critical moment, no one in the court could stand up.

If Chen Qun was still here, he must have spoken.

If Sima Yi were here at this time, it would definitely not be like this.

After a while, Chen Tai, the minister of Sanqi, came out and said: "Your Majesty, I have heard a little bit about this matter. I heard that there are businessmen in Jingzhao buying a new kind of salt with Shu money. I feel that this matter is key. It’s not Shu money, it’s this new salt.”

"Well, keep talking."

"It is well known that Shu money is a bad government, and our government has already banned it, but what kind of salt makes some businessmen want to buy it at the risk of violating the imperial ban?"

Chen Tai's question undoubtedly goes to the core point.

"I have also heard about this matter." The person who spoke was Lu Yu, the Minister of Civil Affairs. "I heard that after eating this kind of salt, I was not willing to eat the previous salt. Of course, I only heard about it and cannot be sure."

"Then how to deal with this matter now? What I want is a strategy to block Shu's money."

Chen Tai said: "Your Majesty, there are two strategies. One is to use tough measures to prohibit, and anyone who dares to use Shu money will be executed; the other is to lower the official salt price. If the salt price drops, people will naturally be willing to buy cheaper ones. Take it with salt, but for rich people, it doesn’t have much effect.”

"I feel that if we use strong methods, we may not be able to suppress it. Just like controlling water, if we blindly block it, we won't be able to block it," Lu Yu said.

"Then what's Lu Qing's clever plan?"

"Your Majesty, why don't you try the new salt too?"

"Should I taste the salt of the Shu thieves?"

"Know thyself, ever-victorious."

Cao Rui said disdainfully: "We, the Wei Dynasty, are rich all over the world and have no shortage of salt at all. I still need to taste the salt of the Shu thieves?"

The ministers fell silent again.

Seeing this, Cao Rui said angrily: "Think about it carefully, that's the end of the day."

After saying that, he rolled up his sleeves and left.

After leaving, he called Liu Fang.

"Can you get some new salt?"

Liu Fang quickly said: "I have never been exposed to new salt."

Cao Rui's eyes changed instantly, and Liu Fang immediately said: "I'll go and think of a solution."

"Go!"

Liu Fang knew in his heart that the emperor would definitely bring the new salt as he stared at the paper before. It seemed that his days of monopoly were coming to an end.

But Liu Fang knew better that he could not keep monopolizing everything. If this matter got a little bigger, it would come to the emperor.

The time is now.

Cao Rui walked back and forth in the palace: "I don't believe that a mere piece of new salt can make so many people willing to risk beheading to eat it!" Two days later, Cao Rui took his first bite of meat cooked with new salt. , couldn't help laughing out loud: "It smells so good!"

After finishing the pot of meat, Cao Rui wiped his mouth with satisfaction.

He glanced at Liu Fang, who was standing aside in an honest manner, cleared his throat and said, "It seems that this matter is more complicated than I imagined."

Liu Fang asked: "Your Majesty, there are also people in Luoyang who are selling these new salts privately. Do you want to arrest them and execute them?"

"There are some things, but there is actually nothing we can do about it." Cao Rui covered his face with his long sleeves and picked his teeth.

"That……"

"This kind of salt must be bought with Shu money?"

"You must use Shu money to buy it. This comes from the Xiegukou area and was transported here by the Shu people. You can't get the goods without Shu money."

Cao Rui suddenly became embarrassed.

"Your Majesty, I think this matter is not impossible to solve."

"How to solve?"

"We also mint Shu coins. We use the Shu coins we minted to buy this kind of salt, and then sell it to the local government at a high price. The court can make a lot of money!"

"Then Shu money is circulating in my country, Wei Dynasty?"

"To be honest with you, your majesty, the people of Shu may have also sold this kind of salt to Sun Quan. If we don't mint Shu coins and Sun Quan mints Shu coins, I'm worried that Sun Quan will use the minted Shu coins to buy this salt on a large scale and then sell it to us at a high price. Wouldn’t this allow Sun Quan to earn more?”

Liu Fang's words immediately woke up Cao Rui.

This is the subtlety of the three-party game.

"Sun Quan is now selling paper in Yangzhou and has made a lot of money. I am really worried that after Sun Quan makes money, he will join forces and go north again."

"Didn't you say last time that there are many papermakers among the people in Wei Dynasty?"

"Indeed, I have gone to collect them according to His Majesty's decree." Liu Fang said, "But I'm afraid only the Shu people have the new salt."

"Sun Quan just fought with Shu bandits at Baidi Mountain last year. Can he still buy this kind of salt?"

"Your Majesty, you should know very well who Sun Quan is."

Cao Rui was speechless.

"By allowing Shu money to circulate in my country, the Wei Dynasty, doesn't it mean that we recognize the orthodoxy of the Shu thieves?"

Liu Fang said: "No, I think we can set up a government office and let the court take charge of the purchase of new salt. All the money in Shu is in the hands of the court. If the court buys the salt and sells it to the people, not only will it not lose money, but it will also be profitable." earn."

Cao Rui nodded and said: "It makes some sense, but I'm afraid it can't completely stop Shu money, right?"

The Three Kingdoms period is different from the 21st century. The governing ability during the Three Kingdoms period was very weak.

As Li Heng said, Shu money is a flood and an ocean. Cao Rui wants to build a dam to block the ocean. Is it possible?

"The main reason for doing this is that the court has a reason. When the court wants to strictly control it, it can do so at any time."

"I'll do it according to your plan. You can take care of this matter."

"Here!"

In the fifteenth year of Jianxing, on the fifth day of May, Duling County, Jingzhao.

Du Yu and his father Du Shu were enjoying tea leisurely in the backyard.

"How about it, Father?"

Du Shu smiled and said: "Tea is so delicious. This is something I never expected. If this thing comes to the capital, I'm afraid it will cause a sensation. We should donate these to His Majesty."

"Father, you have been forced to resign. Are you still thinking about the court?"

"The imperial court is kind to our Du family."

"My grandfather was a Han official, not a Wei official, and the Cao family promoted you, but you performed your duties loyally and fulfilled the responsibilities of a minister. Because you spoke upright, you were framed and forced to resign. This is Is this considered a favor?”

"Your Majesty believes in me. It's because I am lacking in talent and learning." Du Shu sighed, "I have failed your Majesty."

Du Yu said: "Cao Yuanzhong may be a good emperor, but in the Wei Dynasty, there are many in-laws from aristocratic families. Our Du family is just a poor family in Jingzhao, and you are a man of upright character. I am afraid there is no place for you in this court." "

Jingzhao Du family had to wait until the Northern and Southern Dynasties to become one of the commanders of Guanzhong County.

During the Three Kingdoms period, the Jingzhao Du family was really not on the stage.

Du Shu said: "You can't say this nonsense."

At this moment, Du Ling hurried over: "Lang Jun, your letter!"

Du Yu put down the tea cup and opened it to take a look.

I didn't know this, and I was shocked when I saw it.

"What's wrong?" Du Shu asked confused.

"The matter is getting serious." Du Yu's face darkened, "The new salt transaction is finally on us."

"New salt business?" Du Shu was startled, "Is it the Shu salt you told me about before?"

"Yes, Luoyang knows about it and has sent people to Chang'an to prepare to arrest us."

"How do you know?"

"A letter from a friend. He has someone in the Chang'an County government office." Du Yu stood up and walked into the house.

"Where are you going?"

"Pack your bags." Du Yu instantly changed from his sickly appearance to full of energy, "Du Ling, pack your bags immediately! Just bring some necessary food, we have to leave as soon as possible!"

"You want to escape?" Du Shu said angrily, "I advise you to go to Luoyang to plead guilty, Your Majesty is wise..."

"Father, this is an order given by His Majesty himself."

"I told you a long time ago not to get involved with the new salt."

"There are people everywhere who are involved in the new salt, and it was Liu Xu who came to threaten us to do this. Now that the emperor wants to arrest us, it must be his father Liu Fang who wants to hide everything!" Du Yu said concisely , "Stop judging right from wrong."

(End of this chapter)