Goose Three Kingdoms

Chapter 644: A Big Deal

Above the Wei River, the whistle of the Yuanshi battleship sounded from time to time.

Cao Zhi is wearing a white robe with a red lacquered wine gourd hanging from his waist... This is just a lacquer wine vessel carved into the shape of a gourd.

Cao Zhi was very picky and didn't like the strange smell after the gourd was filled with wine.

He stood at the bow and enjoyed the breeze. From time to time, the whistle would sound and a cloud of steam would burst out from the bow, enveloping him.

Before noon, Cao Zhi saw the warships leaving the mouth of the Wei River and heading straight east.

He picked up the wine gourd and shook it, feeling a little disappointed, so he turned around and went to drink more.

When he came into the restaurant, he saw Kong Rong snoring against the wall, and the air was filled with the smell of alcohol.

If he had the chance, Kong Rong would definitely find a way to take a boat for a long journey.

Cao Zhi walked around and came to the wine box. He handed over the wine gourd and a brand new five-zhu coin worth twenty yuan: "Give me three liters of red plum wine."

The Qinghua guard who was guarding the wine chest was about the same age as Cao Zhi. He took out the funnel and advised: "It is almost night, so don't drink too much. If you fall off the boat, it will make the king unhappy."

"It's okay. I'm very generous."

Cao Zhi said with a smile, took the five coins handed to him, felt it in his hand, and then stuffed it into the cash box beside him.

Seeing him like this, Kou Feng, who was serving wine, filled the wine gourd and handed it to him with both hands: "Young Master, drink slowly."

Cao Zhi nodded, found an empty seat at the table and sat down. He took out a new fifty-dollar coin and said to another Qinghua guard who came over, "Give me a plate of meat jerky."

The Qinghua guards who took turns serving on the ship were assessed and recommended by each battalion. After receiving the money, the guard quickly brought a plate of cold-mixed ox head meat and a bowl of bone soup. There was also a ten-cent and a five-cent coin in the plate as change for Cao Zhi.

Cao Zhi took the money and pushed it over again. The Qinghua guard's smile became even brighter.

Cao Zhi kept a low profile in Chang'an and had almost no acquaintances on the boat.

He also knew that he was able to board the ship thanks to the 5,000 corvee laborers provided by Xiahou Dun.

Seeing Xiahou Dun's cooperation, Black Bear was willing to give Cao Cao and Xiahou Dun some face and allowed Cao Zhi to return home to visit his relatives.

Cao Zhi, who was casual by nature, liked the relaxed way of paying money and enjoying service in restaurants.

Apart from Black Bear who didn't have to pay for his meals, even Tai Shi Wengong had to pay when he came over to have a drink and eat a plate of meat during his shift.

The fuel and food consumed on board will be replenished at several fixed docks and ferry ports.

While Cao Zhi was thinking about the changes in Qingzhou, Yang Xiu came down from the tower, put a stack of books in his hand on the side of Cao Zhi's desk, sat down, and waved to the guard in green clothes and white scarf: "Flower tea!"

Seeing Yang Xiu fanning himself with a blue silk folding fan, Cao Zhi asked with a smile, "Sir, do you have any good news?"

"No, the Lord just told a joke."

Yang Xiu explained, then asked with a serious expression: "When will you return home this time?"

"Late August."

Cao Zhi frowned, "My family has arranged a marriage for me, with Cui Jigui's niece. I don't understand how my father got in touch with Cui."

During the You-Ji War, Cui Yan resigned and Qian Zhao even abandoned his army and left, causing some trouble for Yuan Shang.

The two men and the subordinates they brought with them were sent to Chang'an to study for a period of time. After the performance evaluation, Cui Yan was going to be employed. However, Cui Yan was obsessed with dragon bone script and his appointment was delayed.

Qian Zhao was sent to the four counties in Hexi and served as a vassal commander under Zhang Xiu.

"The Cui family... If I remember correctly, after Cui Jigui resigned, the Qingzhou army invaded Qinghe, and the Cui family moved to Pingyuan."

Yang Xiu recalled for a moment, took out a five-cent coin and handed it to the guard who brought the tea.

He brought the tea and sniffed it, then continued, "Cui is also a good match. Your father has put a lot of thought into it."

With Cui Yan around, he will be able to take care of Cao Zhi in the future.

Cao Zhi had no intention of becoming an official, and he did not care much about these things, so he said: "I have submitted a petition to the Grand Marshal. If my father and mother have no objection, I will go to the General's Office to learn iron forging after I return."

The Sijin Duwei Mansion had comprehensive functions and was no different from the traditional Jiangzuo Mansion.

Forging iron was only forging iron in name only; what he wanted to learn was steam engine manufacturing.

"The General's Mansion is also a good place to go, away from worldly affairs and not disturbed by mundane affairs."

Yang Xiu sighed, took a sip of tea, stretched out his hand to pinch a piece of meat and put it in his mouth to chew, and said: "I have nothing to say. If possible, bring back more gold." Cao Zhi was alert, but seeing Yang Xiu's eyes on him, he nodded without asking the reason: "If you can spend a lot of money to buy thousands of acres of forest, build a manor in Wangchuan, and farm and study in spring and summer, and hunt in autumn and winter, it would be very happy."

He had no shortage of money or manpower to purchase and manage the estate, but he lacked the permission of the shogunate.

And these things are destined to be the standard equipment when Yang Xiu retires.

Yang Xiu looked at Cao Zhi with a smile and said, "You should bring more gold. I won't talk about the rest."

Then Yang Xiu closed his blue silk folding fan and tapped the table in front of him: "Do you know how much it would cost to build a warship like this?"

"Da Sima is willing to sell it?"

"I was just asking casually. The Lord said that if I could come up with 50,000 gold, he would build a ship for me at the Pingyang Shipyard."

Yang Xiu sighed helplessly, he really regretted asking this question.

It’s okay if you don’t ask, but I just feel itchy.

It was only after asking this question that I realized deeply how poor I was.

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Now only the Grand Marshal and his guards can make it. The steam engine will wear out, and the cost of repairing it in the future will be sky-high.

Cao Zhi glanced around and whispered, "Sir, one hundred thousand gold coins might buy a smaller warship?"

He also heard about what happened in Guandong. The powerful people in Yan and Yu states specifically excavated the tombs of kings and princes. Digging bamboo slips and ancient books was one thing, but the gold, jade and antiques they also obtained were also a considerable fortune.

Previously, the Yuan army and the Cao army dug graves where nobles and wealthy families lived together. This type of tomb group was obvious and easy to dig.

However, the moral risk of excavating the tombs of kings and princes is quite high. If the army cannot be mobilized for large-scale excavation, the excavation efficiency will be very low.

Therefore, although it was very enjoyable to dig up the tombs of kings and princes in the two states of Yan and Yu during this period, it was also easy to attract the armies of Zhao and Qi.

That is to say, Gan Ning gathered 60,000 people to dig Dizhu. With the mobilization efficiency of Guanzhong, he directly distributed armor and weapons to these 60,000 people. These 60,000 people would definitely dare to follow Gan Ning to attack Guandong.

Even Cao Zhi knew that the Grand Marshal often regretted not being able to fill up the Skull's Nest.

If the Zhao or Qi army wanted to fight against the tomb robbers in Yan and Yu states, it would be best to reach an agreement with Guanzhong in advance.

Cao Zhi dared to ask, and Yang Xiu dared to analyze this issue from the perspective of the shogunate.

After careful consideration, Yang Xiu said, "This is not a matter of 100,000 gold. At present, the pillars are not connected, so it is not appropriate to build larger warships."

“It can be smaller.”

Cao Zhi whispered: "This time when I return home, I want to take my mother to Guanzhong. If this can be accomplished, my husband and I can also earn some money for tea."

If he returned home normally, Cao Cao would give him a maximum of 500 gold. If he brought his mother Ding to live in Guanzhong, the amount could be increased to 1,000 or 2,000 gold.

Although Cao Cao would ask Xiahou Dun to send hundreds of gold every year, this money was not used by Cao Zhi alone. Every year, it was almost all used up just to give gifts to Dongxiang and Xixiang and maintain his network.

In the final analysis, this money was given to Cao Zhi to build his network and to gather information.

How much money could Cao Zhi himself have left?

It was a big deal worth one hundred thousand gold. The Yuanshi battleship traveled back and forth between Shaanxi and Tianjin several times. Xiahou Dun’s spies had already seen it clearly.

No matter how small the ship was, as long as it was steam-powered, Cao Zhi would sell it for a good price.

Cao Zhi was tempted, and Yang Xiu also wanted to give Cao Cao a hard blow.

After taking a sip of tea, he said, "This matter is not for you and me to decide. I will go to see the Lord right now. If the Lord allows... in Wangchuan Manor, you and I may be able to live side by side and be good neighbors for generations."

Cao Zhi nodded seriously. Every bit of money he made was a bit less. He had to consider the long-term future for himself, his mother, and his other brothers.

Yang Xiu was not so obsessed with the scenery of Wangchuan. The key was to see who lived there.

If you set up a manor there, it would be difficult for your descendants to decline.

As for Ganquan... after the northern Hu tribes are pacified, the Grand Marshal will most likely go to the eastern foot of Yinshan Mountain to escape the summer heat.

Relatively speaking, Wangchuan has a higher comprehensive value.

Thinking of this golden reward, Yang Xiu put down half a cup of warm tea, took the booklet and quickly went to the second floor to hand it to a secretary, then went straight to the tower.

(End of this chapter)