Three Kingdoms: My Wife Is Diao Chan

Chapter 204 Paper and Pencil

Chapter 205 Paper and Pencil

The truth is that the soaring price of salt in Guanzhong is Wei Ke's nonsense, but it is not completely nonsense, mostly exaggerated.

The price of salt in Guanzhong has indeed risen, but it is not as exaggerated as Wei Ke said. It has not been several times, but it is still doubled.

This is not the key point, the key point is that the reason for the price increase is that he, Wei Ke, made it himself!
"Young master, that's it. The price of goods in Guanzhong has been unstable, so the school affairs office is still observing the increase in the salt price this time, and has not reported it." Cao Yan explained.

"Why do you say that Wei Ke himself caused the trouble?" Cao Chong asked.

"Returning to the young master, after Master Wei Ji became the captain of Sili, he set up salt officials in the Guanzhong area to supervise the sale of salt, and then the price of salt began to rise."

The person who answered was the school official standing next to Cao Yan, who was in charge of intelligence collection in the Guanlong area.

Cao Chong was amused when he heard it, no wonder old man Wei is courteous to others, but he wants something from himself!
"Tell us all about Wei Ke." Cao Chong was very interested in this Captain Sili.

After listening to the report from the school affairs office, Cao Chong had a general understanding.

It turned out that Wei Ke and Zhong Yao were in charge of the affairs of the Guanlong area, but they disagreed. Wei Ke advocated economic control and political wooing, while Zhong Yao advocated military crusade.

In the past, Zhong Yao was the captain of Sili, and he did obey the suppression of various warlords in Guanlong.

This time, Zhong Yao was promoted and transferred from Guanlong. After Wei Ji became the lieutenant of Sili, he began to implement his own ideas. While trying to divide and win over the Guanlong warlords, he tried to secretly control the economy.

Then he made an idea on the salt, and the game crashed!
"It seems that Wei Ji offended the Hedong gentry?" Cao Chong asked with a smile.

"Several branches of the Guanlong warlord belonged to the Hedong faction." Cao Yan said.

"Young master, it's not just Guanlong. The price of salt in the entire northern region is much higher than that in the south, why?" Cao Yan asked in a low voice.

"It's not that easy! Salt and iron have always been important weapons in the country. After the troubled times, they were reduced to the taboo of local gentry and warlords. We sell salt in Jingzhou and Jiangdong, with the support of the imperial court and the army. We are not afraid of retaliation. I'm afraid we can't do it in the north. "

Cao Chong sighed and said slowly.

"However, just because it doesn't work now doesn't mean it won't work in the future."

As Cao Chong said, he took out the map and drew a circle on both sides of Wushui with his finger.

"In this area, send the school office to collect information from various local forces, which will be of great use in the future."

"Between Yingchuan and Runan counties, why does my young master pay attention to this place?" Cao Yan frowned and asked.

"Didn't I say it, it will be of great use in the future, just send someone casually to collect information slowly, don't worry."

Cao Chong didn't tell him that here is the best quality and largest salt mine in the Central Plains, as well as rich iron ore resources, and the North is the Central Plains coal bunker!

"Then, Wei Ke's side?"

Seeing that Cao Chong didn't say anything, Cao Yan didn't care, and began to ask how to deal with Wei Ke.

"Sell it to him, sell the salt directly to Wei Ke, and let him transport it from Xudu to Guanzhong. We don't participate, but we have to settle the bill in Luoyang."

"You can also give him some convenience, you can exchange food, cloth, livestock, copper and iron and other materials." Cao Chong said cheerfully.

Cao Yan said in his heart: "This is obviously for your convenience. Who doesn't know that the construction of Luoyang requires a lot of various materials."

If you really want to sleep, someone will send you a pillow!Cao Chong was worried about not having enough money and food.

Cao Chong sold the salt to Wei Kai according to the price of salt in Xudu, so that Wei Kai could also make a small profit. The price of salt in Guanzhong is high!
For Cao Chong, it was much more cost-effective than selling to Jingzhou and Jiangdong. Let Wei Qi go to Xudu to pick up the goods by himself, regardless of the transportation and sales process, and the retail price and wholesale quantity.

Sima Tong, who had just arrived in Ping County on his first day of office, heaved a long sigh after learning of the mutually beneficial deal between Wei Ji and Chong.

"The benefits of salt and iron are actually controlled by such a despicable person, what a pity for the country!"

Cao Chong doesn't care about other people's jealousy, he is busy giving benefits to the county government!
Kong Rong couldn't put it down because of the soft, tough and white paper.

"The old man knows that the young master will spend a lot of money to build Luoyang. The preparation of Luoyang Academy does not require too much money and food, but this paper must be given priority to the academy."

Kong Rong has been in Luoyang for a while. He is usually very low-key and holds the title of Minister of Rites, but he doesn't participate in Luoyang's big and small affairs.

"Is one hundred catties enough? The academy hasn't opened yet, so let's start with one hundred catties a month, and wait until the academy officially opens to see the specific needs." Cao Chong asked Kong Rong with a smile.

Kong Rong immediately fell silent!

One hundred catties of white paper can shock the Minister of Rites and the president of the university to such a degree, Cao Chong feels so accomplished!

Although after Cai Lun's improvement, the Eastern Han Dynasty was able to produce writing paper, but the output, quality and cost were still unbearable.

Local yamen offices mainly use wooden slips and bamboo slips, and only top institutions such as the imperial palace and the prime minister's mansion use paper.

Seeing Kong Rong's stunned look, Cao Chong continued to provoke him.

"Also, my young master promises that the daily paper consumption of the academy's masters and students will be free in the future!"

"It's the same for the county government. In the future, the office paper of the county government will be provided by the young master! And officials and scribes at all levels can also receive a certain amount of paper for their own use for free!"

Cao Chong felt that it was so beautiful to exchange a few pieces of white paper for countless grateful and admiring eyes.

Cao Chong already had paper mills and papermaking secrets, but he was too busy to pay attention to them, but they are now in normal operation.

Cao Chong suddenly discovered that paper is no worse than salt and iron, and it can make a lot of money, especially the money of those noble families!It is still the only business, so it should have been taken seriously earlier.

Cao Chong also wrote letters to Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty and Lao Cao, telling them: In the future, the imperial palace and the prime minister's mansion will be covered with paper!
However, you have to give some convenience benefits, such as tax relief or something!
The most important thing for Cao Chong's paper is to sell it for money, and it would be a huge sum of money to reduce the tax by one cent.

Kong Rong ordered the servants to carry the papers on their backs and leave. As for the money and food needed for the academy, how vulgar is it for cultural people to mention money!Besides, this paper is better than money!
"Oh, Kong Shangshu, don't rush to leave! There are still good things!"

As he said that, Cao Chong asked someone to bring out a wooden box, which contained bundles of pencils.

"what is this?"

Not to mention old man Kong, no one present has seen it.

Cao Chong took a sharpened pencil, took out a piece of paper, and began to write and draw.

Seeing that everyone continued to be dumbfounded, Cao Chong felt beautiful!Continue to pretend!
"Use these first." Cao Chong stuffed two bundles of pencils for Kong Rong.

"These are left in the county government office, and everyone can take them for their own use!" Cao Chong ordered someone to carry the box into the county government office.

These two things can increase the office efficiency of the Luoyang County Government several times, and more importantly, they can be sold for a lot of money!

(End of this chapter)