At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty

Cao Xiu looked at Ma Yuan in surprise.

"A little humble opinion, the general laughed."

Ma Yuan smiled humbly.

The joint caravan rested in Liuzhong City for a while, and made a small business with the residents of the city and the garrison, selling some dishes, chopsticks and cloth, which was considered a small opening.

Then, Ma Yuan decided to take the northern road first, pass through the countries in the north of the mountain, then turn south, return along the countries in the south of the mountain, make a circle in the Western Regions, and then return to Yumen Pass.

So the first destination of the joint caravan was Cheshi.

Cheshi is one of the big countries in the Western Regions, with a population of tens of thousands. Compared with those small countries with thousands or hundreds of people, it obviously has more purchasing power.

Cao Xiu sent someone to inform Che Shi in advance, letting Che Shi know that Wei's joint caravan was about to arrive.

After hearing the news, the kings of the Cheshi front and Cheshi rear immediately became agitated and began to make preparations, mobilizing almost all manpower and material resources to meet Wei's joint caravan.

In order to compete for the first soup, the two sides argued endlessly, thinking that they should first engage in mutual trading in their own territories.

Because the debate was too fierce, the two sides even wanted to fight, but under the mediation of Cao Xiu's envoy, they chose a joint reception and held a big market at the junction of the two forces.

This is the official caravan of the Wei State. It is said that there are a large number of people, a lot of goods, and the amount of money they carry is extremely large. It is conceivable that the purchasing power and the purchasing power are particularly strong.

There is no doubt that this is a major plus.

Historically, the two Che Shi Departments, which have been entangled in the battles of the Han and Han Dynasties, were trembling, mobilized and arranged in all directions, and made the best security measures without daring to miss anything.

Then the joint caravan arrived under the leadership of Ma Yuan.

A large number of merchant teams, as well as a huge mule and horse convoy, the boxes and carts of goods and money, the driver was dazzled, unable to distinguish the north from the south, and even had an inexplicable desire.

In the end, it was Ma Yuan who lined up with [-] knights, which stabilized the group of people and distinguished the north, south, east, and west.

The two kings before and after Che Shi met Ma Yuan together. Ma Yuan held the official talisman granted by the emperor, which basically represented the status of an envoy of the Wei Empire. He was an official envoy, and the caravan also had a semi-official nature.

The two kings of Che Shi did not dare to slack off, and entertained Ma Yuan and other core figures with delicious food and drinks, and the tribe they brought soon started trading with the Wei State merchant team.

In addition to the joint team of Cao's Caravan and Mi's Caravan, there were also many private business teams from other families. Everyone set up a stall and started a ten-day mutual market.

Porcelain, pottery, lacquerware, and bronze wares of the Wei Empire were very popular and bought a lot.

The car master's raising livestock is also very popular, and many of them have been bought by Wei Guo business travelers.

Camels became a very popular commodity for the joint caravan. More than 300 camels were bought and equipped for the caravan.

Ma Yuan originally thought that hard-core products such as handicrafts and silk were the most popular, but to Ma Yuan's surprise, cooking utensils such as iron pans were greatly interested and favored by the car masters.

They bought a lot of iron pots, not even less than silk lacquerware.

The reason is that when the joint caravan was cooking and cooking in an iron pot, the Cheshi people saw it. The Cheshi people asked what it was, and the merchants replied that it was an iron pot, which is also a kind of commodity. Soup or something can be used, it is very convenient, and it is not easy to damage.

Che Shiren was very interested in this, watching the people in the caravan use iron pans to stir-fry, stew, and cook soup. After the chefs operated like a tiger, the hot meals were completed.

A new cooking method different from the existing cooking method appeared in front of their eyes.

This matter surprised Che Shi and the two kings.

The food culture of the Central Plains was introduced to the Western Regions from the Western Han Dynasty, and was widely sought after by the nobles of the Western Regions. By the Eastern Han Dynasty, the people of the Western Regions were basically familiar with the food culture of the Han people.

People in the Western Regions know that the Han people use pottery, bronze ware or lacquer ware as utensils for eating, and the main cooking methods are various methods of steaming, stewing and roasting, but they don't know that there is also a way of frying in iron pans.

Ma Yuan explained that this is a cooking method invented by His Majesty Wei Tianzi during the march. He thinks that it can prepare the food for the soldiers faster and more conveniently, save time, and it is not easy to damage and easy to carry.

The iron pan cooking mode has been popularized in the army for almost ten years.

Before and after the founding of the Wei Empire, iron pots began to enter the homes of ordinary people. Now basically no one in the Central Plains and Hebei area does not know such things as cooking in iron pots. They also generally accept and use iron pots.

Stir-fry, a new type of dish, has gradually entered people's lives. Stir-fry has also taken a place in newly opened taverns in major cities.

Che Shiren began to try to use an iron pot to make stews, and then tasted the taste. After some hands-on operation, he found that this cooker is really interesting.

It is not easy to be damaged, easy to carry, and can be used in the field. It is very suitable for long-distance travel, so I expressed my willingness to buy a batch.

In the end, a total of more than 400 iron pots were purchased by Che Shiren, and the number was among the best among all the sold products.

After Ma Yuan looked at the sales list, he felt a little interesting.

Because of the government-run policy of salt and iron, iron pots can only be sold in official stores, and if people want to buy them, they can only go to official designated stores to buy them. Private caravans and stores are not allowed to sell iron products.

Moreover, the iron pot casting technology is still kept strictly confidential, and only the official can produce iron pot, and the official can sell iron pot.

So if this part of the business is done, it can make a lot of money for the Wei Empire.

As far as Ma Yuan knows, things like iron pots are no longer what they were at the beginning.

A thing called a flat iron pan also became popular in Luoyang. It is said that it was the news from the palace that Guo Peng liked to fry a whole piece of meat in a flat iron pan very much.

As a result, all major households in the capital sought after flat iron pans one after another, and it became popular to fry a whole piece of meat in a flat iron pan.

In short, things like iron pots have increasingly become one of the indispensable daily necessities of the people of the Wei Empire. If this can open up the market and sell iron pots to the Western Regions, it will be a great deal.

Ma Yuan felt that he had discovered some kind of business opportunity.

Chapter 951 .960 A Father's Foresight

The ten days of pleasant trading came to an end soon. The joint caravan sold a lot of things and bought a lot of things.

Ma Yuan didn't expect it at all, he bought more than he sold. On the books, he even lost money, but it didn't matter.

This part of the cost is paid, and there is always a time when it can be recovered.

These small countries didn't expect them to be able to buy many things, but after opening up trade routes, they could bring a steady stream of income to the Central Plains.

The future long-term income is definitely not comparable to this short-term expenditure at this time.

So they bid farewell to the two kings of Che Shi who were full of enthusiasm and smiling like chrysanthemums, and the joint caravan set off again, striding forward in the direction of Yanqi Kingdom.

And what happened in Yanqi country confirmed Ma Yuan's judgment again, the iron pot is very marketable.

Ma Yuan introduced to King Yanqi how to use iron pots to cook indoors and outdoors, and also introduced the production process of military cauldron dishes and cauldron rice, which successfully attracted the interest of King Yanqi and the nobles of Yanqi. Five hundred iron pots and matching tableware and kitchen utensils were purchased.

Yanqi State officially bought a lot of iron pots, and the folks were also very interested in iron pots. More than 300 of them and a lot of tableware were sold, and all kinds of food-related products sold very well.

Then came cloth, Shu brocade, horses, camels and other commodities.

The transaction between the two parties adopts the method of gold and silver, or negotiated barter, and engages in bulk goods transactions, the kind that buys hundreds of sets, which is convenient for settlement.

Not only did the official caravans sell a lot, but the accompanying private caravans also sold a lot of things. Of course, they still bought more.

Camels, which are very suitable for walking in the environment of the Western Regions, are widely praised by caravans, so Ma Yuan wrote down the Central Plains business traveler's demand and praise for camels in his routine report.

Similarly, I also wrote about the popularity of iron pots in Western Region countries, please pay attention to Guo Peng.

According to Guo Peng's request, Ma Yuan has to write a letter to Guo Peng every ten days since he set off, telling him about various things he encountered on the road and how to deal with them. Bundle the paper and let him maintain a single line of communication with himself.

So it didn't take long, at the end of December in the third year of Yande, the capital was preparing for the New Year banquet and the New Year holiday, and someone Guo received a report letter from Ma Yuan.

At this time, it happened that Guo Jin was also beside Guo Peng to assist in handling government affairs to increase his knowledge, so Guo Peng handed this letter to Guo Jin for him to read too.

"Do the countries in the Western Regions favor iron pots?"

Guo Jin smiled: "Father's pioneering work in the army has affected the entire Wei State. Even the countries in the Western Regions have taken a fancy to the iron pot. If Guishuang Anxi and Daqin also took a fancy to the iron pot, how big would it be? a deal?"

"Hahahaha, not bad, not bad, Ah Jin, you have made progress."

Guo Peng laughed and said: "Scarcity is the most expensive thing. In Luoyang, an iron pot that only sells for a few dozen dollars can be sold for ten times the price in the Western Regions. The farther the distance, the more expensive it is. When we arrive at Anxi in Guishuang, we may be able to sell it at the price of silver, and in Daqin, we may be able to sell it at the price of gold."

Guo Jin was very impressed.

"The way of doing business is so amazing. Just an iron pot can turn iron into gold, and it's just a long journey."

"It's the long distance that makes these things expensive. They are worthless in themselves, but after crossing thousands of mountains and rivers, the hardships of business travel, isn't it worth money?"

Guo Peng smiled, and slowly said: "Business travel will never suffer, all costs must be earned back, in addition to adding money to calculate profits, this is considered a success, the iron pot is just a medium Forget it, this is just the beginning, when they get used to using iron pans, we will really make money."

"Iron pots are consumables and will be damaged. Although the damage rate is slow, they will eventually be damaged. When they get used to using iron pots for cooking and eating, if they don't have them, they will definitely find ways to buy iron pots. , Iron pots are only sold officially, what a huge income this is!"

Guo Jin's face was full of joy, and he said: "Father is far-sighted, and the future kings of Wei are blessed."

"They must be able to control the caravan, control the taxation, control the grassroots, and keep the Yantie government camp from being abolished. Otherwise, what kind of blessing is it?"

Guo Peng shook his head: "The system of mausoleums in the early Han Dynasty was to suppress the strong and powerful. It was good for the emperor and the common people, but it was not good for the people. Several generations of emperors insisted on it, but in the end, it was abolished. The policy of corruption and imprisonment for three generations, but Emperor Guangwu and Emperor Ming were abolished when they arrived at Emperor Zhang.

No matter how good a policy is, it must be promulgated and implemented by people. How many discounts will be discounted and when will it be cancelled? Is this something that our father and son can predict?You will stick to my policy, what about your policy?What about your son's policy?Death is the saddest thing. "

Guo Jin was silent for a while.

"Father, is it really impossible to control what will happen in the future?"

"A Jin, people are not sages. Don't think that you can do anything. A person's power is limited. Apart from doing things, cultivating successors is the most important thing. You are my father's greatest hope."

Guo Peng patted Guo Jin on the shoulder.

Guo Jin nodded firmly.

"Okay, let's do what we need to do right now, and let's talk about other things later."

Guo Peng smiled, and handed a warrant to Guo Jin: "Take it to the cabinet, and let the cabinet send it to the General Staff and the Ministry of War. A new round of garrison rotation is about to start, and let the troops everywhere get ready."

"Yes."

Guo Jin took Guo Peng's warrant, looked at it for a while, and frowned.

"Father, let's forget about the Jiangling camp. After all, the battle is over. Hanyang camp, Yuyang camp, Danyang camp, and Chengdu camp. There are still wars going on in these four places. Isn't it a bit strange to change troops to garrison during the war?" inappropriate?"

"What's wrong?"

Guo Peng looked at Guo Jin: "This is a rule set by my father a long time ago. No matter when, the rotation of the army is the most important thing, and it cannot be changed in war. Now our army has taken the initiative and retreated a little. It’s the same when you wait and fight again.”

Guo Peng waved his hand.

Guo Jin still didn't understand.

"What if something goes wrong?"

"Ajin, winning or losing on the battlefield is not the most important thing."

Guo Peng looked at Guo Jin: "You still don't understand why my father insists on this, right?"

"My son really doesn't understand."

Guo Jin lowered her head: "Please enlighten me, father."

"The reason is very simple. The Wei army does not recognize the general, but only recognizes the commander. And the Wei army has only one commander, that is the emperor. All soldiers must know the commander but not the general. All the generals must not know all the soldiers. Wei Jun will always be Wei. The emperor's army, if you put the army outside to fight, it's better if the time is short, but if the time is long, it's easy to send out, but difficult to take back."

"What's the point of this?"

Guo Jin was full of doubts.

Chapter 952 The second battle is over, what do they earn

Guo Jin still didn't understand Guo Peng's purpose for doing this.

So Guo Peng planned to explain this matter to him clearly.

"Wars cost a lot of money. During the war, the army has to give what it wants. Otherwise, it is a problem that the war cannot be won. But the problem comes again. If you let the army fight in a certain place for too long, it has a basis. , with a familiar environment, it is easy to have some kind of interest entanglement with the local area.”

Guo Peng stood up and paced slowly: "Some things cannot be transported from Luoyang to the local area. It is too slow. Sometimes local storage may not be enough. At that time, military expenses must be purchased from local people. Once purchased, there will be a relationship of interest.

The army goes to buy things, the folks sell things, and they come and go. Over time, a chain of interests will be formed. The local folks will gradually rely on this relationship, and the army will also have the opportunity to enrich themselves from military expenses. some people.

There will be some kind of connection between them, and they will form an interest group. The longer the time, the stronger the relationship will be, and they will be rooted in the local area. Well, in every aspect of that area, many people will rely on this military expenditure to survive. What will happen at that time? "

Guo Peng walked up to Guo Jin and looked at him.

Guo Jin showed surprise on his face.

"It turns out that this is the case... If this is the case, could this battle not be over?"

Guo Peng showed a satisfied look.

"Respect yourself! At the end of the war, the military expenditure of the imperial court was spent, but the results of the battle were not seen. More and more thieves fought, and the situation became more and more critical. If you regret it at that time, it will be too late, and the army may not be obedient. , and don’t want to come back, and will try every means to expand the war.”

"Is this...really possible?"

Guo Jin still couldn't believe it.