Two days after Chen Gui, Jie Qian and others arrived, Wang Ruohai and the governor of Yingzhou Xi Yi. At this point, the nearby prefectures, except for Yu Huan, who was relatively far away, all the chief officials arrived in Xiangyang to welcome Zhang Jun.

Zhang Jun and his party had nearly 20,000 people, starting from Ezhou and heading north along the Han River. Because it was a countercurrent, there were many ships and the speed was not fast.

Everyone had breakfast this day and had nothing to do. Several magistrates were wandering around Xiangyang City. Chen Yuyi and Shao Ling led dozens of guards to follow along to prevent accidents. Since the wheat harvest was good, they sold for a good price, and the chaos in Xiangyang was in chaos.

It was only a small drop. A few months ago, the powerful families under their rule led people to cause trouble, either going up the mountain or going into the water, causing countless things. However, their scale was not large and they were soon pacified.

Looking at the bustling crowds on the streets, Xie Qiandao: "Xiangyang is located on a major road, with ships and horses in the south and north gathering here, which is a rare and prosperous place. When I saw it today, it was indeed the case. There was no other place for the surrounding state army.

There is such prosperity.”

Chen Gui said: "From the king observed that tax exemptions and taxes were reduced and exempted, and the people did not promote major battles. Only when the people lived a good life could merchants prosper. No wonder Wang observed did not collect money from farmers, and that industry and commerce in the city were prosperous, so that they had the confidence.

”

As he spoke, several people were envious. At this time, the most difficult thing for the states was to raise soldiers. Raising soldiers requires money, and too much money was plundered will inevitably affect the livelihood of the people. The surrounding state army was worried about this.

In fact, just collecting industrial and commercial taxes, how can Wang Xiaoli afford to support tens of thousands of troops? The main way to make money is to operate the official business. In addition, the army does not rely on recruiting troops, so the cost of raising troops is greatly reduced. Of course, the reduction of military expenditure is

If conditions permit, part of the situation is actually shared by the local government.

Not far away, I saw a dense crowd in front of a building in front of it, which was particularly lively. Chen Gui asked Chen Yuyi, "Where is that place?"

Chen Yuyi bowed: "It is a newly built supply and marketing cooperative mall in the city. Because of the complete goods and the cheap prices, the business is particularly prosperous."

"When I was in De'an Prefecture, I heard that there was a supply and marketing cooperative here in Xiangyang. The surplus grain in the hands of the people was collected by the supply and marketing cooperative. The price was much higher than that of grain merchants, so the people got the benefits. Unexpectedly, they even opened a shopping mall.

, go and take a look.”

When I was free, a few people walked outside the mall. I saw that it was a two-story building with the words "Supply and Marketing Cooperative Shopping Mall" written on it. It was such a big door, and countless people came in and out, like a market in the countryside

generally.

Several people entered the mall. As soon as they entered the door, there was a huge vegetable market. The counter was surrounded by various fruits and vegetables on it, and the salesperson was selling goods. At this time, August was the time for a bumper harvest.

There are all kinds of fruits, such as water chestnuts, tender lotus roots, eggplant, etc., which are full of place. The people are surrounded by selecting various vegetables.

Chen Gui said: "If you sell vegetables like this, you will have a large vegetable garden. If you go to non-supervision, will the supply and marketing cooperative still grow vegetables?"

Chen Yuyi said: "The supply and marketing cooperative does not grow vegetables. However, Xiangyang Prefecture has a special vegetable garden, which has all kinds of vegetables. In addition to being sold here, the vegetables grown are also supplied to several official restaurants in the city. This vegetable garden is to make money.

Another way to cultivate new vegetable seeds to benefit the people.”

Several people nodded together. It is not uncommon for government-owned vegetable gardens to make money. However, it is enough to conduct vegetable research and cultivate excellent varieties. This is the characteristic of Wang Xiaoliu’s official business operation. In addition to making money, it also does research.

use.

After passing by those who sell vegetables and fruits, we will reach the place where we sell dry goods and seasonings. It has come to an end, but the stall extends to the outside. Then we sell meat, followed by fish, chickens, ducks, geese, and pigeons. Everything is available.

.In this open space, there are people selling live cattle, donkeys and horses, live pigs, and even feed are selling nearby.

Xie Qian looked at it and smiled bitterly, "How could people in the city buy such things?"

Chen Yuyi said: "What I mean is that people outside the city can only come to the city if they want to buy these. Outside the city, there are only sales in the market. They will go to the market supply and marketing cooperatives, and the business there is also very good."

Xi Yi nodded: "It's good to run such a shopping mall. The goods are gathered together, and people will come to buy whatever they buy."

Chen Yuyi smiled and said: "The main function of the supply and marketing cooperative is not to run shopping malls, but to communicate with each other. As long as it is in these states, all useful goods supply and marketing cooperatives will be purchased and sold to various places. In this way, the supply and marketing cooperatives will earn.

With money, the people gained profits in selling goods, and the people who bought goods received convenience, and everyone was satisfied. It was just now that the goods were not very complete."

Everyone's eyes lit up after hearing this and understood what Chen Yuyi meant.

No matter where the world is, there are more or less special products. By relying solely on merchants, the people actually don’t make much profit. Not only are merchants lowering the price, but their transportation and sales losses are also high. The supply and marketing cooperative network is large enough.

The sales channels are wide enough and the cost is sufficient. You can collect specialties from various properties and transport them to the city for sale. This will communicate the buying and selling, forming a commercial network.

This is the original intention of the supply and marketing cooperative. Each supply and one sales links a commercial network. The shopping malls in the city are actually not important. In fact, Wang Xiaoli is planning to set up a separate shopping mall, which is different from the rural market model of the supply and marketing cooperative.

Compared with later generations, although the supply and marketing cooperatives also have shopping malls, their scale is not large and mostly located in counties and towns. The shopping malls in cities are department stores, and later supermarkets, which are often landmarks of a city.

Compared with shopping malls, supply and marketing cooperatives have a more important role in rural areas, while shopping malls focus on cities.

When a few magistrates saw it, they knew that this was a way to make money. But if they only care about one state, the larger the business, the better. It is best to have goods from all over the world. I can only feel a pity.

When you arrive at the second floor, it is not as noisy as the first floor. Near the stairs is a bookstore with various books. This is the profession of literati, and several people come to read it. The most common ones are naturally Confucian classics, and there are also "Tang Poetry"

, "Han Changli Collection", "Liu Hedong Collection", etc. In addition, there are also Tang Dynasty novels and various miscellaneous histories. Finally, there are even the narrative books at this time. Common speakers on the market say

There are five or six kinds of stories, of course, the most common one is to tell three-point stories.

Chen Gui picked up a book and opened it to read it. Seeing the language inside was vulgar and the story was rough, he couldn't help but frown and said to Chen Yuyi: "Qi Fei, where did these books come from? Selling them to the people is not going to teach people badly?"

Chen Yuyi said: "This is something that Observer specially recruits people to write. Observer said that our states are different from other places. Schools are widely used to teach people to read and read. Not all literate people like classics, some people just like to read stories, so

I specially found someone to compile these story books. It is said that people don’t read for a long time after they have learned the words, so it is easy to forget them. These books either teach people or let people read stories."

Putting down the book, Chen Gui shook his head and didn't say anything. He seemed very dissatisfied.

Rulers often say that an important task of officials is to educate their people. The so-called culture is also based on culture. Those who know literacy must read classics. Otherwise, what's the use of literacy? Wang Xiaoliu did not come from the imperial examination.

I don't know these are amazing.

Going inward, there are various study supplies. Behind them, there are specialties from all over the country. For example, Ruzhou porcelain, Guozhou Chengni inkstone, Xiangyang local lacquerware, Tangzhou chestnuts, Neixiang mushrooms and fungus, etc.

All kinds of things are dazzling.

Xi Yi said: "These things are famous products from all over the world and are often heard of. But it is not easy to concentrate them in one place to sell them."

Chen Yuyi said: "The supply and marketing cooperative has been newly opened, and the specialty products collected from all over the country are not complete. After a year or two, it will inevitably change. Observe and intend to let the supply and marketing cooperative collect local specialties from all over the country and sell them all over the world."

Chen Gui praised: "If it can be done, it will be unprecedented!"

Although the supply and marketing cooperatives in later generations were not always integrated across the country, they basically achieved this. Of course, with the development of society, this role was no longer borne by the supply and marketing cooperatives, which was another matter.

In an era of underdeveloped industry, the role of supply and marketing cooperatives in society must not be underestimated, and has greatly promoted economic development.

After walking a few more steps, I saw a counter selling various iron products. Several people came forward and saw the word "bearing" written in front of a counter with various bearings placed on it, so I couldn't help but take a closer look.

Of course, everyone knows bearings. Bearings are indispensable since ancient carriages. By the Song Dynasty, there were even more types. Especially in Kaifeng Prefecture, there were several types of water mills, which were huge in scale, so many bearings were used.

At this time, the bearings were made of wooden, bronze, and of course steel. However, whether they were bronze or steel, they were mostly cast and relatively rough. The bearings here were different, almost all of them were made of steel.

.All specifications and sizes are available, and they all look extremely exquisite. On the counter, they look extremely bright and there is no trace of rust.

Chen Gui pointed to the bearing and said, "Why is this kind of thing? Although this thing is useful, there is no need to put it here."

Chen Yuyi said: "Observation set up a bearing club to specialize in researching bearings. After more than half a year of hard work, they have made some and specially sold them here. People with exquisite minds can make many machines with this."

Xie Qiandao: "Looking at the appearance of this thing, it must be expensive. Who is willing to spend money on it?"

Chen Yuyi said: "I can't understand this matter either. However, the observation is useful, so the people below naturally dare not underestimate it."

In the machinery industry, the role of bearings cannot be underestimated. Generally speaking, machinery is divided into power part, transmission part, working part and control part. In these parts, almost any rotational place cannot be separated from bearings. The development of bearing industry

It can greatly promote the development of the machinery industry. Even without steam power or electric power, relying solely on hydraulic power, human power and animal power, a large number of machinery can be developed.
Chapter completed!