Xia Houxuan was shocked and lost his composure. "You... still know how to make paper?"
"Since you are from Chengdu, you have never asked Yuanrong, what is the first mentionable contribution I made to the Wei family?"
Xia Houxuan was a little panicked. "Isn't it just to make... Tie Yi?"
"It seems you really don't know very well." Wei Ba looked around, put his hands to his mouth, and shouted at a cowherd boy in the distance. "Hey - little baby, come here for a moment."
The cowherd boy was riding on the back of the cow, playing the piccolo leisurely. When he heard Wei Ba's shout, he jumped down and ran over, his schoolbag slung across his body slapping his buttocks.
ring.
"Master Fu, what's the matter?"
"Have you brought any books?"
"I've got it." The cowherd boy said with excitement on his face: "Do you want to test my knowledge? I'm very good at reading. I've already read "Ji's Sixteenth Anniversary"."
"I'm not going to test your knowledge today. I'll borrow your books to open the eyes of this famous scholar from Luoyang."
"Are you from Luoyang?" The cowherd boy's eyes widened, and a fierce look suddenly appeared on his face: "A Wei dog? Then I won't show it to him."
"Don't talk nonsense, he is my wife's brother, the famous scholar Xia Houxuan, have you heard of him?"
"Oh, it turns out he is the wife and brother of the prince, you can barely see it." The cowherd boy softened his expression, took out a book from his schoolbag, handed it to Xia Houxuan with both hands, and said warily: "Be careful, do it
It's dirty, I want you to pay for it."
Xia Houxuan was fine. This barbarian is a barbarian. Even the relatives of Lord Fu are so rude, just because I am from Wei? He looked at the book in his hand and couldn't help but be surprised. He knew that the Wei family had a printing shop and could print.
Account pages, but I have never heard of a printed book. The Analects of Confucius in my hand is very light. Judging from the content, it should be the last volume of The Analects. The book is very light and the handwriting is printed clearly. It is no worse than a silk book.
.
"Is this the book you printed?"
"Yes, the art of printing and the art of papermaking are related to each other. If I can create printing technology, can I also create papermaking technology?" Wei Ba said with disdain: "If you want to provoke, you have to get some
Come on, if you come here with the real thing, just use a piece of Caihou paper to fool me, you are looking down on me too much."
Xia Houxuan smacked his lips and said nothing. Since a cowherd boy could produce a copy of "The Analects" that could not be bought in Luoyang, and printing was invented by Wei Ba, then papermaking should not be unusual.
It is indeed not enough to use this to make a deal with Wei Ba.
Wei Ba took Xia Houxuan around Chenyang, and especially took him to see the school. Looking at the spacious school, he looked at the big and small barbarians wearing Han costumes and following Lao Laimin in a serious performance.
Xuan was very surprised.
"Are these...barbarians?"
"Keep your voice down." Wei Ba reminded, "If they hear you, you will look good."
Xia Houxuan quickly closed his mouth because he saw those barbarians bending down to salute, revealing the machetes in their waists.
After taking Xia Houxuan for a look, Wei Ba returned to the Prefect's Mansion. Considering the actual situation in Wuling, he moved the Prefect's Mansion from Linyuan to Chenyang and worked here. Because of limited financial resources, he did not have the money to carry out major repairs.
It just used the original county temple and changed the brand. It looked a bit shabby. Xia Houxuan took one look and smiled: "You are still poor."
"It's just a temporary difficulty." Wei Ba said disapprovingly: "When Emperor Han first conquered the world, he couldn't even match four horses of the same color. My difficulties are nothing. Just watch and wait for me.
By taking down Yanguan and opening up the trade route to Jiaozhou, wealth will come rolling in."
"You want to open the Jiaozhou Commercial Road?"
"Of course."
"Then after you open up business channels, can you give me a chance? Jiaozhou's treasures are in high demand in Luoyang."
"Really?" Wei Ba got interested and asked a few questions quietly. The Wei State was now going all out to retake Guanzhong, how could it still have spare money to buy these useless things? When he inquired, he found out.
It is really hard to say what is going on in this world. The Wei State is nervous, but that does not mean that the dignitaries of the Wei State are willing to live a hard life together. They will still enjoy what they should enjoy. What should be luxurious is still luxurious, but it is limited to the situation and not so ostentatious. This is
Among them, some people have made a fortune by using the country's military force in the northwest. Iron is the most in-demand commodity, and items such as gems and pearls are prohibited by the imperial court. Not only are they not banned, but they have become the patent of certain privileged people. They use the rights in their hands to
Monopoly operation and huge profits.
It is understandable that Xia Houxuan wanted to take advantage of him.
"Yes, but I can't give it to you for free." Wei Ba said in embarrassment: "You also know that there are many people under me who want to share the wealth. If I just give you benefits like this, how can I block other people's mouths?"
"I gave you my sister, but you still can't stop others' mouths?" Xia Houxuan scolded half-truthfully.
"Those are two different things. Can I trade Yuanrong with you?" Wei Ba said sternly.
Xia Houxuan looked at him sideways for a long time and sneered: "I know, you've been talking for a long time, but you still want the Caihou paper in my hand, right? You obviously want it, but you refuse to sell me the arrow shaft, so you went around
They made a big circle and used the Jiaozhou Commercial Road to deceive me."
"Tricking you? Is this necessary?" Wei Ba disagreed: "The world is in chaos, how many people can sit down and study, how much market do you think there is for paper products? I don't make paper because I don't want to be a loss-making business. If I want to make
, you can make a lot of paper at any time. If you don't want to take it out, I don't want it yet. If you have something else to exchange for it, that would be the best."
Xia Houxuan is angry and funny, and he is not a fool. He is well aware of Wei Ba's little thoughts. However, he really has nothing to exchange with Wei Ba now. He knows that Wei Ba is playing rogue, so he has no choice but to pinch him.
He recognized it with his nose.
"Then can you keep your word?" Xia Houxuan said as he took out a few pages and handed them to Wei Ba.
"Don't worry." Wei Ba took the paper, glanced at it casually, and stuffed it into his arms. "Actually, if you don't give this to me, I will sell Jiaozhou's treasures to your Wei State.
These things can't be eaten or worn, but you can still exchange them for money, what a great thing."
"Hey, why didn't you tell me earlier?" Xia Houxuan rolled his eyes and sighed, "If I had known better, I wouldn't have given it to you."
"If you don't give it, do you believe that I will snatch it away?" Wei Ba smiled and put his arm around Xia Houxuan's shoulders, and said affectionately: "Taichu. I heard that you guys did some flashy case some time ago?"
"You know this too?"
"Of course I know." Wei Ba said with a smile. Some time ago, Fei Yi sent him a message, saying that a major case had occurred within the Wei State. Wei Emperor Cao Rui dismissed a group of celebrities who were good at talking and dismissed them.
Those celebrities who liked to talk about their character and flaunt their reputations were driven out of the court. The most famous among them were fifteen people. They were the so-called four Congs, eight reaches and three Yus. Xiahou Xuan was one of the four Congs, but he was from the clan, so he did not
He was punished too harshly, but he still managed to save some face.
In fact, Wei's policy of denigrating talkative celebrities is not new. This trend was already established when Cao Cao punished Kong Rong. Using flashy charges can cover up many contradictions that cannot be made public and make the court look pragmatic.
"In the beginning, we are one family, so we won't talk about two families. As for me now, I have a lot to do and have very few helpers. Prime Minister Zhuge pulled out all the people who could be used and took away all the people who could be used. The rest are all left to me.
Now, there are capable people here and there are also people who are just making a living, so I can’t help but continue. I need someone to help me with some things, are you interested?"
Xia Houxuan glared at Wei Ba: "Thank you for saying it, I am a dignified Xiahou clan, can I take orders under your command? My sister will marry you. There is no way, who made her life bad? What else do you want?
Drag me in too?"
"Look, why are you speaking so harshly?" Wei Ba shrugged: "I am also giving you a chance. You are not happy in Wei. If it weren't for your father's legacy, you would probably be with Zhuge Dan and others.
He has been demoted like a human being. In that case, why don't you come and help me deal with Sun Quan? I believe your Majesty the Emperor will also be happy to do so."
Xia Houxuan dismissed it. Wei Ba had no choice but to settle for the next best thing: "I treat you as a treasure. You treat me as a shoe, so forget it. I won't force you. But don't you want Jiaozhou's treasure?"
Are you interested in taking a trip with me?"
"Going to Jiaozhou?" Xia Houxuan said in surprise: "It will be summer soon. It is the time when the miasma is at its strongest. It is not a good time for you to go on an expedition at this time."
Wei Ba chuckled and winked: "Why don't you think about who my subordinates are?"
Xiahou Xuanru woke up from his dream. Wei Ba's men were all barbarians from the mountains. They were very familiar with miasma and other things. The most dangerous thing to outsiders was not a big problem to them. It was the right time to go on an expedition at this time.
When the enemy is not expecting it, it can have a surprising effect.
"Do you have a solution to the miasma?"
"Miasma is not a mysterious thing. Only laymen like you are afraid of it like a tiger. When Prime Minister Zhuge conquered Nanzhong, he entered Lu in May and figured out a way to deal with miasma." Wei Ba smiled, "Everything
Everyone thought it was not appropriate to send troops in summer, so I decided to send troops in May to seize Yanguan and open up the Jiaozhou trade route. I estimated that it would take half a month to go and half a month to come back, and I would spend about ten days in the middle to attack the city, a total of one.
Half a month, I guess Sun Quan still hasn’t come to his senses when I come back. How about it, are you interested in going with me and learning more?"
Xia Houxuan's interest increased greatly. Since Wei Ba came out, he has always been praised for his strange use of troops. Cao Wei had specially considered him before sending troops. I heard that he was in Wuling and might not be able to go to Guanzhong. Cao Wei's generals were somewhat relaxed.
Tone. The emperor Cao Rui sent him to Wuling to see his situation to some extent, to understand the course of the Wuling war, to increase his understanding of Wei Ba, and to prepare for future battles. Now that I can be by Wei Ba's side today, I will be nearby.
Understanding his military strategy is a golden opportunity for him.
"Okay." Xia Houxuan said enthusiastically: "As long as you are not afraid of leaking secrets, I am very willing to go with you."
"That would be great. Just pack up and we'll set off in two days."
Looking at the smile on Wei Ba's face as bright as the sunshine in May, Xia Houxuan felt a dark cloud floating in his heart. Was it a little hasty for me to agree to him so readily? (To be continued.)