Everyone has their own opinions, which is not surprising, but if these people don't care about the opinions of others and only want their own, the results will lead to a very strange direction.

Is it difficult for Emperor Liu Xie?

Disaster.

Cao Cao also knew it, but the problem was that it was also difficult for Cao Cao.

Then the Shandong gentry also felt that it was very difficult for them...

So the most interesting situation has emerged now. In Shandong, every level is considering its own difficulties, while turning a blind eye to other difficulties.

Even now, the entire Shandong political group still has different views on the important matter of establishing the Guanzhong Defense Line.

Cao Cao naturally needs manpower and material resources to establish an overall preparatory defense system, but others do not have such a sense of urgency. Many people think that there is still not much threat in Guanzhong, saying that Fei Qian can only be arrogant in Guanzhong, as long as

Once out of the gate, Fei Qian will definitely be completely defeated.

What are the reasons? For example, people’s backlash, etc., old events from the former Qin Dynasty, etc.

Some people even say that the former Qin was able to conquer the world because the six kingdoms fought against each other, so all it takes is "the six kingdoms don't fight themselves, and the Western Qin has no way to take advantage of it"...

With such an obvious meaning, these dozen words were almost thrown into Cao Cao's face.

It's not that Cao Cao doesn't understand what these people mean, it's just that Cao Cao doesn't think there will be any good results in placing his hopes on these people.

Cao Cao already had a deep understanding of this when he was in Suanzao.

It is true that if the Shandong nobles and the powerful rightists from various counties can unite as one, they will be able to compete with Guanzhong. But the question is, when have these people in Shandong ever united?

Even when Emperor Guangwu gained the popularity of the world, didn't he have to abandon Yin Lihua to gain the support of the big families in Jizhou? Have these people forgotten? Jizhou and Yuzhou have been at odds since Emperor Guangwu, and this is still the case today.

, is it possible that Cao Cao is looking forward to the day when these two guys will be as harmonious as one family?

Isn't this more difficult than expecting the public to speak human words? Indeed, this possibility is not completely impossible, but it is almost non-existent.

Although Cao Cao didn't understand what public knowledge meant, he felt that he would be stupid if he listened to those words of "unity as one."

Cao Cao didn't trust these guys.

Not trusting at all.

Yes, that’s right, Cao Cao now has a BUFF of "There are always unruly people"...

Cao Cao doesn't even believe in Xun Yu now.

Or to be more precise, Cao Cao still believed in Xun Yu in matters of affairs, but in terms of strategic direction, he had an attitude of scrutiny and doubt. The main reason for this was that Xun Yu placed his hope on mutual coordination and compromise.

, and Cao Cao felt that coordination and compromise were only temporary strategies, and would only ultimately bring about the other party's growing appetite.

The meanings of the two are quite different.

Cao Cao believed that he knew that the strength of Fei Qian's army was far from what it showed. All the information and intelligence he obtained showed that Fei Qian still had many inexplicable trump cards in his hands, and what exactly were these trump cards?

What, and what effect it would have, made Cao Cao very anxious.

In the decisive battle, everything is good if it succeeds, but once it fails, it means that all the Central Plains is lost. At that time, Cao Cao will either have to surrender his entire family, or he will end up like the two Yuan brothers.

When you reach such a level, looking back, you will see that there is no way out and you can only continue to move forward. There is no second way to choose from.

This world, whether life or death, is extremely difficult. The only thing that is simple is time. You don’t have to do anything, you can see time running by itself...

This time asking Emperor Liu Xie to issue an edict was actually Cao Cao's preparation for the move.

If you want to win an external war, you need to make some preparations, and if you want to win an internal war, you also need to prepare in advance.

Money, food, supplies, weapons...

As early as the past two years, the trade between Guanzhong and Shandong was vaguely weird. However, at that time, Cao Cao's main energy was focused on consolidating the territory. For these trade items, he often only focused on some war preparation materials.

, Cao Cao didn't pay much attention to it at other times, but when he paid attention now, he suddenly realized that something was wrong.

Many of the items shipped from Shandong to Guanzhong are ordinary goods, ores, burlap, even coarse salt, vinegar cloth, etc. At first glance, they seem to be items of low single value, but those shipped from Guanzhong are all

These are expensive goods, especially the spice products produced in the past six months...

At first, Cao Cao thought that this was nothing. After all, it was a business. Cao Cao himself also needed to import some horses and armor from Guanzhong, but then he realized something was wrong.

Without further ado, let’s just look at one thing.

ironware.

Because the ore was transferred to Guanzhong, iron smelting in the Nanyang area almost came to a standstill. Instead, iron ingots and finished products were bought from Guanzhong...

In the past, the iron ore and metallurgy in the Nanyang area were stagnant, and could still be returned because the war was uncertain and the local area had no intention to engage in production. But now most of Jingzhou has been in the hands of Cao Cao, and the Nanyang area can be said to have become a hinterland. Of course, it is relatively safe in terms of security.

It was guaranteed, but normal smelting still did not return to normal. Even some metallurgical craftsmen had nothing to do. In the end, they probably changed careers or went to Guanzhong!

Cao Cao was greatly puzzled. After sending someone to find out more, he realized that Nanyang Metallurgy was losing money by making iron, so those guys would rather sell the ore and then buy back the finished product. Even if they had to pay the round-trip freight, it would be better than opening the furnace themselves.

Ironmaking and casting are a bargain...

After listening to the report, Cao Cao suddenly felt cold sweat on his back!

If Guanzhong and Shandong are in peace, that's fine. But if a war breaks out and trade routes are cut off, what will Shandong do? Is it possible that Chengdu will use wooden sticks to dig soil? Or should we hope that after the war begins, the other side can still send some more

Iron farm tools coming?

Nanyang was already the largest metallurgical iron-making production area in the Han Dynasty. It cannot be said that the rest of the counties did not have iron-making, but the scale was relatively small, and the sponge iron produced by ordinary metallurgy was used for forging

The cost of manufacturing ironware is still too high, and the production cycle is very long. After all, it is made bit by bit manually.

Therefore, it is almost the consensus of everyone except Cao Cao to use ore to go to Guanzhong in exchange for finished products.

When Cao Cao discussed these matters with Xun Yu and others, Cao Cao got a surprising result...

Xun Yu actually said that exchanging ore for finished products and iron ingots was the result of a weighing process.

One is that the people of Shandong can have a large number of cheaper agricultural tools, and then the recovery and development of Yuzhou, Jizhou and other important places in the Han Dynasty will naturally be faster.

Secondly, if you make iron by yourself, each item will cost more. Now the annual income is very tight, and almost every penny needs to be allocated reasonably, so we adopt a lower-cost procurement method.

It is almost equivalent to saving expenses. These savings are equivalent to free income, which can be used for other expenses.

The third thing is that metallurgy requires "professionals" to do it. Most people can't do it well even if they want to. And when it comes to the professionalism of craftsmen now, probably no one can compete with Huang's Workshop in Guanzhong for a high-level job.

Down.

At the same time, it is also a very critical point. If we ask for the development of this metallurgical industry from a political level, it will easily lead to the consequences of "the lower class will complain and complain to the higher class". Once there really is "there are soldiers on the border, they will hold grudges and not fight"...

…

Putting it this way, it seems that it does meet the needs and is a comprehensive consideration.

It seems that such a transaction can not only bring faster recovery and development to Shandong, but also benefit the people, and at the same time increase the income of the court. It is like a hundred benefits and no harm.

But Cao Cao is Cao Cao after all.

Perhaps it was because Cao Cao was suspicious by nature, or because he knew Fei Qian better than others, so Cao Cao finally asked, "Since these things are all for Shandong's benefit, why did Hussar

Are you willing to do it? Is it purely for the benefit of the world?"

Xun Yu said at that time, "Maybe we should work with the agricultural and engineering bachelors in order to win people's hearts."

Cao Cao sneered.

The sneer is for Fei Qian and Xun Yu.

Cao Cao didn't believe that Xun Yu couldn't tell. He just thought that Xun Yu was pretending to be confused.

Cao Cao narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Buying people's hearts? But I don't know whose heart you are buying?"

Xun Yu's answer was also very clever, "He is someone who resents the prime minister..."

After hearing this, Cao Cao couldn't help but want to applaud Xun Yu.

"But doing this is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst!" Cao Cao said in a deep voice, "If Wen Ruo is so smart, how could he not know?"

It seemed that when the Shandong people were extremely thirsty, Fei Qian gave them a glass of sweet wine.

In fact, this sweet wine is poisonous, and once it is drunk, it is extremely poisonous and has no cure.

It's just that at this time in the world, there are not many poisoners and the few "doctors" who can see through the poison, especially these upper-class people who can be said to have grown up in wealth and are arrogant in complacency.

Among the powerful Shandong nobles, how many people can understand the dangers involved?

Xun Yu then said to Cao Cao: "If you don't drink it, you will be killed immediately. The treasury is empty, so we can only take this as a temporary measure."

Cao Cao stroked the table as if stroking the edge of a sharp knife, still squinting at Xun Yu, "Then why is the treasury empty? It is already September, and the hussars must not be sent out this year. Hebei and Yu area

It’s fairly stable, and it’s a good opportunity to act with integrity.』

"My lord..." Xun Yu handed over his hand and said, "It's too early at this time... I have ordered more iron weapons to be purchased to fill the warehouse, and we can return in autumn... During this period, the south of Xu County was also built.

The place where iron is smelted will be able to produce its own iron by next year... My lord, if you can endure the pain for a while, you will be able to live for a lifetime..."

There was still a chill in Cao Cao's slender eyes, "A gentleman is in battle, but he never knows what will happen!"

"Lord, if this happens... wouldn't it actually contribute to the theory of the correct solution to Qinglong Temple?" Xun Yu advised again.

"Could it be that if I don't kill people, I will have a correct solution to something?" Cao Cao burst into laughter, then threw up his sleeves and walked away.

…………

In September, the weather in the north gradually becomes cooler, but in Wu County near Dajiang, it is still muggy.
To be continued...