Back to the Warring States Period as Zhao Kuo

During the 7 days in Beiping City, Zhao Kuo had a very deep feeling that although the people here said they were far away from the Central Plains, they all tried their best to get closer to the Central Plains, and they were proud of speaking the Central Plains dialect. And everyone is proud to claim that they are the people of the Han Kingdom.

What an old man who sells furs said is very representative.

"When the Yan State ruled here, our life was very miserable. We were often invaded by the Donghu, and sometimes the North Koreans came to beat us.

But now that we have become citizens of the Great Han Kingdom, everything is different.

The Koreans and Donghu people have been wiped out. Now they can only do business obediently if they want to come here, and they have to be lowered by us. How cool is this kind of life? will go. "

After Zhao Kuo heard this sentence, he couldn't help laughing.

This is indeed the truth. When a country is strong, its people will naturally be able to hold their heads high and hold their heads high. Those enemy countries that once invaded are now no problem for the Han Dynasty. It can be said that they are like fighting five scum exists.

Looking at the whole of East Asia, all of them have now become the territory of the Great Han Kingdom. Even the very bitter and cold Siberia in the north is actually inhabited by the same kind of yellow race as the Great Han Kingdom. When the day comes, the power of the Great Han Kingdom will naturally slow down. Zhao Kuo is very confident about slowly expanding northward to that side.

As for the Maozi Kingdom that occupied Siberia in history, it is just a group of savages in eastern Europe.

Zhao Kuo didn't worry about them at all, and even Zhao Kuo would soon send troops to conquer them.

Everything looked so good, and the life in Beiping City was also very commendable, but of course Zhao Kuo would not, so he stopped here, and he quickly announced a new order.

"Starting tomorrow, we will continue to the northeast and take a look at Liaodong."

As the saying goes, hearing is believing, seeing is believing, Zhao Kuo still plans to go to Liaodong in person to see with his own eyes what kind of scene it is like there.

Chapter 1259 Changes in Liaodong

When Zhao Kuo set off from Beijing to Liaodong, this time happened to be the most comfortable season of the year in Liaodong, which was summer.

It is said that it is summer, but in fact, the climate in Liaozhong at this time is relatively suitable, so the question is, why are there still few people living in this suitable climate?The answer is also very simple, because the summer in Liaodong in this era usually only lasts about one month, at most two months, the long winter and cold spring occupy more than half a year, making it difficult for humans who lack warm clothes It thrives here on a large scale.

But these problems are actually not unsolvable. For example, the mechanism developed here in the past, North Korea’s solution is to use the power of the state to hunt and kill animals in large quantities to make sweaters, and also mobilize the power of the people to stockpile some. Small animals that can be easily used to make sweaters, so it can be maintained barely.

However, that kind of method is relatively backward after all. For the powerful Han Dynasty, there will naturally be a better way.It's just that it's summer now, so don't mention those for now.

After leaving Beiping City, you can't take the train to Liaodong. This is mainly because the railway from Beiping to Xiangping City, the capital of Liaodong County, is still under construction.

The construction of this railway is also relatively difficult, because it is the northernmost railway in the entire Han Dynasty, and it is also the coldest railway at present, so of course he encountered more problems than in the Central Plains .

At present, the railway has just started not long ago, so Zhao Kuo simply took a look at the flowers, and then continued to take his mighty army to Liaodong in a carriage.

On the way to Liaodong, Zhao Kuo could see many merchants from time to time. They drove their carriages excitedly from the direction of Liaodong to Beiping City. Without thinking about it, they were all loaded with goods and planned to go to Peiping. Sell ​​it over there in the city and make a profit.

Judging from the anticipation for the future on their faces, their profits must be quite a lot.

The officials around Zhao Kuo didn't say that they had no opinion at all, and Lu Buwei couldn't help but said: "Your Majesty, will these merchants hoard so much, will it have some impact on our Korean business? The old minister thinks that maybe we should find a way to make them restrain themselves a little bit."

Although Lu Buwei is an official from a businessman background, what is his biggest dream?He became the prime minister of the Han Dynasty, so when he thought about problems, he didn't think from the standpoint of a businessman, but from the standpoint of a ruling class.

Zhao Kuo also laughed after hearing Lu Buwei's words, and said to Lu Buwei: "Actually, what you said makes sense. If it is a different era, we really have to find a way to restrain the development of this business. Because it affects our agriculture, which is the bedrock of our country."

The answer to why agriculture is the cornerstone of the country is actually very simple, because food is unacceptable in this era or in any era, and food is also a strategic material for the army. It is unimaginable without food.

Under such circumstances, a choice must be made, that is, to suppress the plundering of the population by commerce and to fix the population in agriculture. This is why in so many dynasties in Chinese history in the past, the emperors without exception The reason for choosing to focus on agriculture and suppress business.

Of course, what Zhao Kuo said made Lu Buwei nod again and again, which is also the original intention of Lu Buwei to put forward the opinion just now.

However, Zhao Kuo continued: "Why did I let the development of this commercial activity be so laissez-faire? Is it because I really don't know that commercial activities will plunder the population of agricultural activities? Of course not.

However, what we want to say is that this problem is actually not unsolvable.In other words, business can indeed gather a large number of people, leaving only a small part of the population to stay in agriculture. However, this kind of staying behind will definitely lead to the decline of agriculture, and will it definitely lead to a shortage of food in the Han Dynasty?no.

Why not?Because chemical fertilizers have begun to appear in Dahan, which can effectively increase agricultural production, and we also have steam engines as power. According to what I know, the Ministry of Science and Technology has used the power of steam engines to produce some It is believed that the equipment that can help plow the fields will be promoted nationwide soon.

Not only that, our current national finance is very sufficient, we can provide enough subsidies for the agricultural population, so that these agricultural population can feel that even if they don't go to the city to work, they can still get a similar income. If so, under the influence of local feelings, there will be enough agricultural population to stay and continue to produce food on their own land.

In addition to this, there is another way, that is, the land we now control is actually very, very large. It can be said that these lands alone lack enough people to work. Under such circumstances, if a farmer faces The most important thing is to go to the city to work and cultivate more farmland. At this time, he may not choose to go to the city to work.

Why not go to the city to work?Because if he goes to work in the city, he only gets a salary with no interest guaranteed, but if he chooses to work on more farmland, these fields will be with him for the rest of his life, at least he doesn’t need to worry about one day until he dies He can't afford to eat.

To put it simply, if you go to work in the city, you may get more money, but the consumption of the establishment is also higher, and the money you save may be less. If you stay and work in the farmland, although the money you get may be relatively low. , but guaranteed.

So you understand, most people don’t mean that he must earn the most money. Many people actually want to simply find a stable job, support a family, and have children. This is enough, and agriculture Due to the special situation of the rapid expansion of our current Han Dynasty, there is a large amount of surplus land supply, which provides a new way out for these agricultural populations.

Under such circumstances, commerce will indeed continuously devour the agricultural population, but after reaching a certain point, the agricultural population will definitely stabilize, because you have to know that once those people who enter the city find the work pressure in the city After they are that big, they may flow back to the countryside.

In addition, if food becomes critical, growing food will become a profitable thing. Driven by commercial thinking, a large number of people will also return to the countryside to farm.

After all, you have been the Minister of Agriculture, so I will tell you a little bit more here today.As a government official, you may have more different departments in the future. I hope you can look at all these things from different perspectives and a comprehensive perspective, a high-level perspective. Only in this way can you become a more Only excellent officials can occupy a higher position, do you understand what I mean? "

After listening to Zhao Kuo's words, Lu Buwei was shocked besides being shocked.

Frankly speaking, Lu Buwei thinks that he is also a very good official, and sometimes he even feels in his heart that if it weren't for his bad luck, maybe he would be able to become a prince, not necessarily.

However, after hearing Zhao Kuo’s words today, you will not suddenly realize that his views on the relationship between commerce and agriculture are so naive and ridiculous. , is completely insignificant, it seems like a huge gap between a child and an adult.

Lu Buwei finally understood why Zhao Kuo was able to build such a huge country from scratch, and to make this country continue to thrive. This is indeed an unparalleled ability, and it is impossible for anyone else on this planet to compare of.

Lu Buwei said submissively: "After hearing His Majesty's teachings, I finally understand how to deal with these matters. This will definitely benefit me for the rest of my life."

Although Lu Buwei's words are flattering, they are also praises from the heart, without any adulteration.

Zhao Kuo laughed. In fact, he has long been used to the behavior of his courtiers, so there is no big fluctuation.

In today's Great Han Kingdom, many talents have emerged, and even those who are unknown in the history books have now become known to the whole world.

For example, Fu Zhen, the Minister of Science and Technology who is now in the Han Kingdom.In the history books, he is just an unknown person who is occasionally mentioned, but now the whole Han Kingdom is focusing on Fuzhen, because I don’t know when the Ministry of Science and Technology led by Fuzhen will come up with something like a steam engine or a train. The same new thing profoundly and completely changes the whole world.

Against this background, Lu Buwei, who was famous in the history books, does now have a place in the political arena of the Han Dynasty, but that's all.

It's not that Lu Buwei has no hope of competing for the position of prime minister in the future, but the competition for this prime minister is very fierce. If he doesn't work hard, he may not be able to get his turn.

After another 7 days, Zhao Kuo and his party finally arrived in Xiangping City in Liaodong.

Xiangping City is now the largest city from the Korean Peninsula in Central Liao. It is very prosperous and even has a feeling of the Central Plains.

It's just that, the problem in Liaodong now is that except for Xiangping City, the other cities are still too small, which is obviously not enough.

Zhao Kuo was still the same old routine. After swaggering into the city on the first day, he took his wife and children for a private visit on the second day.

Of course, Zhao Kuo also knows that since he has come here in person, the local officials must have made some preparations in advance, and there must be some changes in peacetime in terms of public security and the environment.

But, no matter what, as long as you can really go to the grassroots level, it is actually impossible to hide many details, because there are more than 10 people living in Xiangping City, no matter which official it is, it is impossible Control all these 10 people.

Sure enough, after Zhao Kuo left like this, he did discover and observe some details.

There is a specially set up market outside Xiangping City. This market is not large in scale, but there are many people and it is very lively. After Zhao Kuo came here, he discovered the mystery.

It turns out that this market is not meant to be traded for people in the city, but for those Hu people from the mountains and forests.

It is said that the Lakers are actually some tribal aborigines living in the mountains and forests. Some people may be curious, why this place has been conquered by the Han Dynasty, and there are still tribal aborigines?

The answer is actually very simple. As long as you look on the map, you will find that there is a long mountain range in Liaodong or the entire northeast called Changbai Mountains. It extends from the three northeastern provinces in Chinese history all the way south to the east of the Korean peninsula.

The Changbai Mountains are where these tribes live.

In such a dense forest, it is very difficult for the officials and the army of the Han Dynasty to enter it, so speaking of them, it is often just to turn a blind eye to them, as long as these natives do not do something illegal , basically everyone is too lazy to care about them.

That is to say, under such special conditions, the two parties actually had some contacts. After all, many businessmen want all kinds of good things in the mountains and forests, such as tiger skins and the like. It is definitely impossible to go into the mountains by yourself, but it is not impossible for the tribal natives living in the mountains and forests.

Over time, the aborigines of the tribe also got used to coming to Xiangping City to conduct transactions, so the local magistrate simply set up a trading market for them outside the city in order to prevent blocking the door and messing around.

Zhao Kuo walked around the trading market, and soon discovered some tricks in this market, or not tricks, but some oppression of these natives.

Zhao Kuo found that in this market, the prices sold by the aborigines were actually less than 1/10 or even lower than that in the urban market.

For example, right in front of today's eyes, a businessman yawned, waved impatiently at the native in front of him and said, "I've already told you that 200 yuan is the price of the tiger skin in your hand. I think it’s because your tiger looks good. Whether you like to sell it or not, anyway, it’s the same price wherever you go, well, you can choose for yourself.”

Looking at the angry and aggrieved native, Zhao Kuo felt that maybe he needed to do something.

Chapter 1260 The natives in the mountains are a big problem

Zhao Kuo went up directly, and said calmly to the businessman, "Why do you want 2000 or even 3 or 4000 yuan in the city, and you are only willing to give him 200 yuan here?"

What? "

After the businessman heard these words, his expression changed first, and he seemed a little unhappy. Someone suddenly ran out at such a time to expose his tricks.

However, when he saw the silk robe on Zhao Kuo's body and the glamorous clothes around Zhao Kuo, he immediately realized that Zhao Kuo belonged to a woman who could not be provoked.

object.

So at the next moment, the businessman immediately put on a smile, and said to Zhao Kuo: "Your Excellency is really not, we did this kind of thing on purpose, you can go and ask,

This is how all purchase prices in the entire market look like. "

Zhao Kuo looked the businessman up and down. Although he said that the businessman was very impatient when dealing with the savages, Zhao Kuo could tell that the businessman didn't say anything.

lie.

In other words, there is no need for this businessman to lie. After all, Zhao Kuo only needs to find another businessman to inquire about it, and he can immediately expose his lies.

Zhao Kuo frowned and said, "Aren't you afraid of attracting the dissatisfaction of these native savages?"

The businessman spread his hands and said: "This is the government's regulation. These savages are not allowed to enter Xiangping City to trade. Even if they do enter, all businessmen will

It will be this kind of price, so it is really not my problem, please forgive me. "

When Zhao Kuo said this, he already knew in his heart that this really shouldn't have much to do with the businessman in front of him, so he turned his head and faced the savage

The native said: "Can you understand the language of our Han Dynasty? I can pay you 2000 yuan to buy this tiger skin, but there is something I want to ask you."

After the natives listened to Zhao Kuo's words, their eyes lit up and they nodded repeatedly. It was obvious that he could understand.

Zhao Kuo took the native to a relatively secluded corner of the market.

Zhao Kuo said, "Can you speak the language of the Han Kingdom?"

The native thought for a while and said, "Yes, a little."

Zhao Kuo felt relieved, so he didn't need to look for an interpreter.

So Zhao Kuo continued: "Do you know that they are buying your furs at a low price?"

After hearing Zhao Kuo's words, the natives showed an angry expression on their faces, nodded and said, "I know."

Zhao Kuo said: "Then why do you still sell them?"

From the situation just now, Zhao Kuo can easily judge that if Zhao Kuo hadn't intervened, the native would have sold the tiger skin for 200 yuan

.

The aborigine was silent for a while, with a sad expression on his face, and said, "I can't, I can't help it."

Zhao Kuo was also silent.

From these words, he could actually hear the helplessness of the native.

Indeed, since these aborigines were not recognized as Han people, they were squeezed under such circumstances, and the government would not pay attention to them.

For the government, these savages in the mountains and forests are so disobedient, it is already a gift to let them sell things, as for how much they can sell... I have said it all

It's a gift, what else do you want?

This is a kind of discrimination from the Chinese people against the wild people in the mountains and forests, and it is also a very normal human nature, as if people in advanced countries always like to discriminate against children in backward countries

same as the people.

But the question is, is this discrimination right?

of course not.

In history, this kind of discrimination has actually caused great disasters.

In the Liao Kingdom, these savages in the mountains were called Jurchens. The nobles of the Liao Kingdom at that time oppressed the Jurchens so cruelly, completely disregarding the life and death of the Jurchens.

After hundreds of years of cruel oppression, the Jurchens finally couldn't bear it anymore, and led by a guy named Wanyan Aguda, they became angry and finally wiped out the Liao Kingdom

, Established the Kingdom of Jin.

Later, the Mongol Empire rose and the Kingdom of Jin was destroyed, so many people of the Kingdom of Jin returned to the mountains and forests and lived the lives of their ancestors again.

Hundreds of years later, the Yuan Dynasty established by the Mongols had long since perished, and the Ming Dynasty ruled here. The Jurchens once again clashed with the Ming Dynasty, and one of them was called Nurhachi

The leader of the Jianzhou Jurchen rebelled again, and everyone knows what happened later-Jianzhou Jurchen entered the customs and established the last dynasty in China, the Qing Dynasty.

The aborigine standing in front of Zhao Kuo today is undoubtedly the ancestor of those Jurchens in history.

Because in history, the Central Plains Dynasty’s control over Liaodong has not been strong, so the oppression is not very violent. It was not until the establishment of the Liao Kingdom that it broke out with the Jurchens.

Intense conflict.

But it's different now, the power of the Great Han Kingdom has expanded here, and all the Jurchens in the entire Changbai Mountains have been brought under the banner of the Great Han Kingdom.

If it is not handled well, the Jurchens are likely to raise the banner of rebellion in just a few decades.