Three Kingdoms, I open a tavern in Xudu

"Shopkeeper Chen, do you have any good ideas?"

As soon as these words came out, Cao Cao looked at Chen Yang expectantly, his eyes were a little hot.

"The salt produced by our salt mines, and all the salt mines we may come into contact with in the future, must all be in the hands of the imperial court, that is, the hands of the prime minister. They will be distributed and sold by the imperial court, and the sale of illegal salt will be severely cracked down."

Chen Yang continued: "If you don't cook salt, you can't make a country rich. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Guan Zhong nationalized all the production and sales of salt, making Qi the overlord. One of Shang Yang's reforms was about salt and iron. According to the regulations, Qin can sweep the six countries and dominate the world, what do you think, old Cao?"

Cao Cao remained silent for a while, and set his sights on Guo Jia and Xun Yu, wanting to see what their suggestions were.

Xun Yu first said: "According to what you said, shopkeeper Chen, such a measure was implemented during Emperor Wu's time, but the result was only to increase the burden on the people, so that the people could not afford salt and could only eat light food."

Guo Jia had a different idea. He said: "I think shopkeeper Chen is right. Salt and iron income has always been one of the important sources of treasury. Now that the world is in chaos, the control over salt and iron is not as strict as before. Therefore, salt and iron Most of the income falls into the hands of those aristocratic families, if the salt and iron can be owned by the imperial court, it can weaken the power of the aristocratic families."

Xun Yu thought for a while, but he still shook his head and said, "The control of salt and iron during Emperor Wu's time has caused dissatisfaction among many people, and I'm afraid it's inappropriate."

Chen Yang explained: "That's because Emperor Wu's move was not the most correct. As long as we can control the price of salt and make it affordable for the common people as much as possible, and the court will not lose money, wouldn't it be the best of both worlds?"

"Lao Wen, you should take a look at "On Salt and Iron" written by Huan Kuan during Emperor Zhao's time. This is exactly the correction of the salt and iron problem during Emperor Wu's time."

Chen Yang paused for a while, and then continued: "If the prime minister wants to achieve great things, he must firmly grasp both salt and iron."

Recalling the various measures taken against the salt and iron system in history, it is not difficult for Chen Yang to find that as long as the imperial court is short of money, it will basically start from this aspect.

Now Cao Cao is in a financial predicament, and selling wine can only last for a while, and the money will always be spent.If long-term considerations are needed, apart from taxation, it is the control of salt and iron, which has been the case in all dynasties.

Xun Yu fell into deep thought and stopped talking.

Guo Jia agreed with Chen Yang's idea, and at this moment he nodded slightly to express his agreement.

After a long time, Cao Cao said solemnly: "Shopkeeper Chen, you are right. I will definitely tell the prime minister the truth. Whether it is the salt mine outside Xudu, or the sea salt in Qingzhou, Jiangdong and other places, we must hold it in our hands." .”

Chen Yang continued: "Also, half of the food problem has been solved now, but the harvest problem has not been completely solved. This time, we can deceive the grain merchants all over the world. If there is another severe drought, those grain merchants will not be so easy to deceive. .”

This sentence directly hit Cao Cao's sore spot. The problem of food shortage has always existed since the beginning of the uprising. He immediately asked, "How should this be solved?"

It is not that Guo Jia and Xun Yu have not considered this aspect, but they have not been able to find a solution, so they also looked at Chen Yang.

"First of all, let's cultivate farmland and build water conservancy projects." Chen Yang said.

They all know what farming is, but what about water conservancy projects?

Guo Jia asked, "Master Chen, what is this water conservancy project?"

Chen Yang explained: "Now with Quyuanli, the manpower problem of opening up wasteland and farming has basically been solved, and the only thing that affects the grain harvest is whether there is drought!"

In ancient times, farmers basically depended on the sky to eat. The previous irrigation and water conservancy technologies were very backward. If it didn't rain suddenly, the people would go hungry.

Chen Yang added: "The water conservancy project is to solve the problem of farming from the source of the drought. This point is more troublesome to explain. After you finish fighting Yuan Shu and Lu Bu, I will explain it to you in detail when I have time."

Xun Yu asked: "Shopkeeper Chen, are you saying that you have a solution to the problem of growing food even in severe drought?"

"That's right!" Chen Yang nodded.

Xun Yu said puzzledly: "How is this possible? It doesn't rain, the land is dry and hard, and the crops don't get moisture from the rain, so they can't be cultivated at all, unless Shopkeeper Chen can make it rain heavily."

Guo Jia also had doubts in his heart, and asked expectantly: "Master Chen, how does your water conservancy project solve the drought problem?"

Chen Yang shook his head: "Now I have told you that I don't have time to do it. After the food is sufficient, it is better to clean up Yuan Shu and Lu Bu first, and then make time to do it slowly. There is no rush."

Seeing that Guo Jia and the two wanted to ask more questions, Cao Cao waved his hand and said, "I listened to shopkeeper Chen. It has brought us so many surprises. I believe the water conservancy project will be no exception."

Chen Yang nodded, and said: "One more thing, the prime minister wants to calm down the world, win meritocracy, and restrain those aristocratic families."

As soon as these words came out, Cao Cao had to sigh again in his heart, shopkeeper Chen really understood himself.

Chen Yang has already explained to him vividly with a piece of "Duan Ge Xing" about meritocracy, but suppressing those aristocratic families still has a long way to go, and it will be difficult to do it in a short time.

"The aristocratic families and noble families are all giants, and the big man is basically defeated by them." Guo Jia sighed.

Chen Yang nodded: "Old Guo is right, well, I have given you the things to improve the combat effectiveness of the cavalry, and I am waiting for you, Lao Cao, to reward me. I hope you can come back as soon as possible and safely from this expedition. "

"If there's nothing else, we'll go back first."

After leaving Cao Cao and others, Chen Yang took Wang Yue and left the barracks.

"Feng Xiao, Wen Ruo, do you think that water conservancy project is really so powerful? If it doesn't rain, you can't farm. Could it be that shopkeeper Chen can make it rain?" Cao Cao continued to think about this question.

"If that's the case, shopkeeper Chen is a god." Xun Yu shook his head, he had some doubts about this matter.

However, Guo Jia said: "The shopkeeper Chen's methods are endless, and it is hard to figure out. Maybe it is really possible?"

Cao Cao nodded solemnly and said: "That's right, I am really looking forward to whether this water conservancy project can be implemented, and the strict control of salt and iron. Shopkeeper Chen has analyzed it very thoroughly. In addition, regarding the issue of aristocratic families... I probably have some questions." I have an idea that can be suppressed, and when I go back to Xudu, I will show you a good thing that shopkeeper Chen invented, which can be used to rebel against the aristocratic family."

The good thing he said is that kind of paper.

"Mother, is that Chen Yang really that powerful?"

After listening to the internal affairs, Cao Ning half-understood, but she also felt that Chen Yang seemed to be very powerful, able to speak eloquently in front of her father, especially Guo Jia, who was the chief counselor, admired Chen Yang so much.

"Ning'er, maybe Chen Zian is a good man worth marrying, do you want to think about it again?" Mrs. Ding said looking at Chen Yang's leaving back.

"Hmph! I don't want it." Cao Ning said a little arrogantly, but she also peeked at Chen Yang's back, feeling a little unconvinced in her heart, why didn't he even look at herself?

Am I not good-looking?

Hmph, men are big pigs!

"Father, that man wants to see you!"

At this time, Cao Ang came out of the barracks and said.