Three Kingdoms: From Hulaoguan to Global Hegemony

Chapter 433 A Transaction

"Bingzhou has a lot of cattle and sheep, especially in Shangdang, where the wool production is abundant. I plan to buy wool and make clothes for the imperial court. What does Meng De think?"

Cao Cao felt that this huge business was really not good, because the value of wool was far from being fully developed at this time, let alone twisted wool into yarn to make woolen textiles.

Therefore, the price of wool has not been high. It is no exaggeration to say that as long as you give some money, you can buy enough wool in Shangdang County.

"It turns out that the Prince Regent wants to buy wool."

Cao Cao's mood lost the excitement just now.

"Buying wool is such a small matter, I will leave it to my subordinates. Why do you need the regent to do it yourself? I will also arrange good people to receive it from the Shangdang."

Although I feel that this business is not very lucrative, since it was proposed by Liu Yu, Cao Cao has to show enthusiasm.

If you don't want to be enmity, try to show friendship.

Liu Yu had known for a long time that Cao Cao's reaction would be this way, and the purchase of wool was only for the purpose of attracting jade. His real goal was to go to Shangdang County.

"The amount of wool I need is huge, and it is a long-term purchase. Considering the trouble of transportation, it is better to lease a place in Shangdang County to start a factory, which will be much more convenient."

"Of course, whether it's buying wool or leasing land, I will pay a high price, and I will definitely not let Bingzhou suffer!"

It is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive to purchase wool and transport it to Luoyang, but it is also difficult to find free labor in Luoyang to engage in twisting weaving.

In addition, when woolen clothes appear, it will attract attention, and the price of wool in Shangdang County will definitely increase sharply, and it will still be subject to Bingzhou.

If Shangdang County can be merged into the territory, weaving factories can be built on the spot, and everything from wool to ready-made clothes can be produced and sold by ourselves, without looking at anyone's face.

But Shangdang County is a prosperous area in Bingzhou, second only to Taiyuan County, and Cao Cao will not give it up.

Even if it is a lease, Cao Cao will never agree easily. He is very afraid that Liu Yu will continue to lease as an opportunity to infiltrate Bingzhou.

"In Shangdang County, there are often rioters. It may not be appropriate to build a factory here... and it may not be appropriate to use woolen yarn to make clothes... Hehe, this method may not be possible!"

Cao Cao had seen people wearing sheepskin jackets directly, but it was the first time he had heard of making wool into silk threads and then weaving them into clothing, so he suspected that Liu Yu was not looking for wool, but for Shangdang County.

"For things that may not be possible, why should the regent bother to work hard? Why don't I send some wool to Luoyang for free, and when I can really develop a method of twisting wool into clothes, it's not too late to talk about leasing."

Cao Cao politely refused.

Liu Yu is not annoyed either. When it comes to business, you always need to bargain. Since this method doesn't work, you have to find another way.

"Meng De doesn't like the rent, so why don't you ask me a price, how about I buy Shangdang County?"

Liu Yu smiled and filled the wine bowl again.

And Cao Cao's face immediately became unsightly after hearing this.

"What's Liu Yu's intention behind this move? Buying Shangdang County with money? I'm afraid it's true that he wants to start a war with me!"

Cao Cao had just decided to show his love to Cao Cao, who vaguely wanted to kill him again.

The feudal lords at the end of the Han Dynasty valued geographical boundaries the most. Once they crossed the boundaries, disputes would arise. Liu Yu didn't want to start a war with Cao Cao for the time being. He wanted to train Cao Cao to be a sharp blade for the great man.

In order to prevent the other party from misunderstanding, Liu Yu felt that it was necessary to explain the situation.

"Hehe, why did Meng De suddenly become nervous? Could it be that he misunderstood me?"

"What I said is the superficial meaning. It is a business. Although it sounds weird to use money to buy a county, it is indeed just a business. There is no other meaning."

"Of course, if Meng De feels that the money is not attractive enough, I can also exchange it for other bargaining chips."

It was the first time Cao Cao heard that someone wanted to buy the land of the next county with money. This concept is really hard to accept.

"Really, it's just a business?"

Cao Cao still didn't believe it.

Liu Yu replied very sincerely: "It's just a sale, Meng De can consider agreeing, and has the right to refuse."

Speaking of this, Cao Cao finally believed that Liu Yu was not suspected of spying on Bingzhou.

But money is limited, but Shangdang County can continue to produce money and food. How can money buy a county?

"Bingzhou was brought down by me, Cao Cao, from the warlords and barbarians. Did the regent promise before that all the land in Bingzhou that I recovered would be handed over to my subordinates, but now I have to take it back in a disguised form. Isn't it a bit uncomfortable It's close to human!"

Cao Cao is now the Bingzhou Shepherd. The so-called state shepherd has the power to control all the military and internal affairs of the state. As long as the taxes are paid on time, even the imperial court cannot interfere with the state shepherd's power.

This is a national policy, and Cao Cao has every right to reject Liu Yu's proposal to acquire Shangdang County.

Being rejected again, Liu Yu still greeted him with a smile.

"Does Mengde really not want to hear that I plan to buy Shangdang County's chips?"

If ordinary people say this to Cao Cao, they will definitely be rejected in person, but Liu Yu's words seem to have magic power, which makes people feel itchy after hearing it.

"What bargaining chip did Liu Yu prepare?"

"There are too many secrets about him. If it's that kind of priceless bargaining chip, we can't talk about it."

Cao Cao thought for a long time and finally couldn't hold back, "I'm ignorant, and I've never heard of buying a county, unless the buyer can come up with a high enough bargaining chip."

Everything has a price, not because it cannot be bought, but because the price given is not enough to impress the seller.

When Liu Yu heard that Cao Cao was still moved, he happily picked up the wine bowl.

"I'm going to use the secret recipe for making refined salt in exchange for Dangjun. I wonder if Meng De is satisfied with this bargaining chip?"

"It's true!"

"a man of his words!"

Bingzhou basically monopolized the channels for the Hu people to buy salt, but the salt Cao Cao sold to the Hu people was also purchased from the Central Plains and other places. To put it bluntly, Bingzhou is a second-hand dealer, earning a difference.

If that kind of refined salt can be manufactured and sold, not only can the salt used by barbarians be fully controlled, but it is more likely to be sold back to Youzhou, Jizhou and even the Central Plains.

If you have money, you can buy more food, and if you have food, you can continue to recruit troops to attack more territories.

Cao Cao had tasted the taste of refined salt a long time ago, so he can be sure that this refined salt will definitely bring huge benefits to Bingzhou, and it is worthwhile to exchange it for a county.

Although he was pleasantly surprised, Cao Cao deliberately showed embarrassment on his face. The traitor is now more like a profiteer.

"Why is Mengde still worried?"

"If Meng De is still not satisfied, and feels that a secret recipe of refined salt is not enough to change a county, then let's talk about the future cooperation!"

When Cao Cao heard that there was still a cooperation, and Liu Yu talked about it after the secret recipe of refined salt was replaced by Dangjun, presumably this cooperation will definitely be even more exciting.

"What else does the Regent want to talk about, please speak up."

The bargaining chip of the secret recipe of refined salt has already moved Cao Cao. If he can gain benefits again in the next cooperation, then the loss of a Shangdang County is nothing.

Cao Cao became urgent, but Liu Yu took it easy.

"Meng De, don't worry, drink up this second bowl of wine, let's talk about cooperation."

(End of this chapter)