When everyone was in high spirits admiring the moon, Wei Qi suddenly mentioned Anyi, just like a dark cloud climbing up to the moon. Prince Qin and the Prime Minister both put away their smiles and looked at Lord Xinling and Wei Qi, waiting for them to continue. Lord Ling, who didn't want to believe him, smiled brightly and said to Wei Qi: "How can I say anything about Anyi when I'm admiring the moon? It's just an insult!"
Wei Qi hurriedly bowed and said: "This is my crime. But Daliang Shaoyan accidentally thought about it and made a mistake!"
Lord Xinling asked: "Why does Daliang lack salt?"
Wei Qi said: "Most of the salt in Daliang comes from Anyi. Now Anyi is Qinhedong County. The salt industry is brought into the government, but two stones of grain are exchanged for one stone of salt, so there is less."
Lord Xinling asked: "Is the price of salt soaring?"
The guest said: "No. As an example, one caldron of salt is equivalent to one hundred coins, and one stone of grain is equivalent to thirty cents. Therefore, it is strange that one cauldron of salt is equivalent to three stones of grain. Today, one stone of salt is more than one cauldron, and only one stone of grain is worth. Two stones are beneficial to the world."
Wei Qi said: "In the past, people used exotic stones, produced in mountains and rivers, leather and hair scales, bamboo, wood and reeds... all of which can be converted into salt. Today, only millet is used. Millet is what the world depends on and people's livelihood depends on it." Millet can be exchanged for salt, because it is expensive and easy to be cheap, and what is produced can be exchanged for treasure."
The guest said: "Millet is solid and the people's livelihood depends on it, and salt is also what the people's livelihood depends on. It is appropriate to make it easy to produce."
Zhang Jue said: "In the past, craftsmen could use their skills to change salt, and everything else could be put to use. But this is not the case today. Fur leather is abandoned in the courtyard, reeds and straw rot in the wild, and everything cannot be used to its fullest potential. . I hope that the big country will relax its prohibition and be able to use other things to change salt, so that all people can live and all things can be used to their fullest potential."
The guest said: "Sir, what you said is wrong. I am a merchant, and I use everything I have to exchange for what I need. Now Hedong needs food, even if it is Qin, it should be exchanged for food and salt. Although Hedong has nothing to ask for, there are strange things." , would you rather not come from other places? Besides, each town has already obtained salt, what do they want to exchange for it, and how can they get it from the east of the river? What you said does not make sense."
Mr. Zhongyue said: "Food is the first thing for the people. The real estate of one place is suitable for supporting the people of that place. If the food goes to Anyi, then Anyi will be full only, and the rest will be hungry. This is not the way to calm the people."
The prince said: "At the beginning of the east of the river, there was little food to be stored. So I wanted to use salt to store food. Once the food is accumulated, it is unknown whether it will be exchanged for other things."
Mr. Zhongyue said: "Everything has its natural principles. Heaven produces food to feed the people, and mountains and rivers produce things to enrich the people. Salt comes from mountains and rivers, not from heaven and earth. It should be produced by mountains and rivers, not by heaven and earth."
The guest said: "Pearls and jade are also produced by mountains and rivers. Would you rather change food? 'If you don't farm, you won't harvest three hundred grains of grain? If you don't hunt, how will you see that there are county corns in Erting?' The poem is scorching. , it is not what Mr.
Doctor Bi of Jin said: "The salt of the world depends on Jiechi. It is unjust for Qin to dominate Jiechi and hold the world hostage!"
The guest said: "The salt in the world is not only found in Jiechi. The land of Qi and Yue has salt. Anyi is short of food, so it is righteous to exchange it with salt. Wei wants to exchange it with other things, so he goes to other countries!"
Wei Qi said: "The salt of Qi and Yue is also sea salt. There are few of them, but the price is high. Salt is cheap and abundant. Therefore, merchants in Daliang are accustomed to salt salt, but rarely surpass that of Qi and Yue. It is difficult to be caught off guard when things change now." , so Daliang will have less salt. Therefore, it depends on the prince."
The guest said: "The salt of Qi and Yue is expensive, but the big countries don't force each other. The salt of Qin is independent and honest, but the big countries force each other to do this! What can I do!"
Wei Qidao: "The price of salt in Qi and Yue is high, not only today. The price of salt in Qi and Yue is low, but now..."
Before Wei Qi could finish speaking, the prince said: "Today, the salt in the east of the river is still more cheap, because it wants to benefit the people of the world. As for what is being exchanged, I don't dare to know."
Wei Qi said: "Prince, I think about it. In the past, although the people of Daliang were poor, they still had salt and plum. Now that Anyi has entered Qin, and the prince has entered Liang, his food will be without salt. I hope the prince will have mercy on him."
The guest said: "Qin and Wei are allies. It is righteousness to help each other in times of adversity. When Wei is in trouble, Qin can save it; when Anyi is in trouble, it also depends on Wei."
Wei Qi was overjoyed and said: "That's what Gong said. Wei has nothing to ask for, but he can get salt ears according to the old rules. There are teachers in Anyi who are willing to listen to him!"
The guest said: "I invite the prince to return to the country, consult with the county and discuss it with the court. If he can get what he needs, he will invite the prince again to the big country."
Before anyone else could say anything, Jin Bi was the first to say, "No way! Qin has betrayed its faith and righteousness in the world, and now it is being held hostage by salt. In the country of the prince, what will the general do?"
When the guest heard this, he said: "Does the doctor mean that if our city does not obey the great country, it will be detrimental to the prince?"
Wei Qi hurriedly came out to smooth things over and said: "No, no. The people of Wei look to the prince just as they look for water when they are thirsty, and they look for food when they are hungry. Once the prince returns, he would rather lose the hope of the public! The words of the officials did not achieve their meaning. also."
The prince looked at the crowd. Only Wei Qi managed to smile. The others looked stern, feeling that the problem was serious and that if they were not careful, a big dispute might arise. He softened his tone and said: "I am a hostage to Wei, and I dare not agree with the court. I hope that Wei will have an envoy to ask my king, but whatever the king wishes, I can't do anything."
Wei Qidao said: "Although our city is in alliance with Qin, we have not dared to report to the king about the matter of salt plum blossoms. I hope the prince will send an envoy directly to the east of the river and give instructions to the county governor. Then things will definitely be harmonious!"
The prince said: "I am in a foreign country, so how can I get instructions from the governor?"
Wei Qi said: "The prince is also the crown prince. Who can disobey the orders given to the country? It is a rightful order."
The guest said: "In that case, I will invite the prince to the east of the river the next day and tell him to guard it."
Wei Qi said: "No way. The prince's body is worth a thousand pieces of gold. He is responsible for the great responsibility of the country. If he leaves the beam lightly, what will be the sin for our country!"
Now the prince has finally figured it out. Wei Guo is very sensitive to his departure, which is very difficult. But what is the purpose of this? Does Qin really want to attack Wei? He didn't get the slightest hint of this, not only from King Qin, but also from his own confidants. He didn't believe that he would be abandoned, let alone that he would end up alone. The only explanation was that Wei Guo was suspicious and got some unreliable information from somewhere and took it as truth. Therefore, the best strategy at present is not to provoke the Wei State, lest they go crazy, and when the situation becomes clear, everything will disappear naturally. He then said to Wei Qi: "If Prime Minister Wei has any ideas, please dare to ask me!"
Wei Qi said: "I dare to ask the prince to send envoys to the east of the river to give orders to the prince, and the county guards will comply with them."
The prince said: "Hedong guard, the same position as the princes. Qin law, if the king and his ministers do not have the king's order, they will die if they meet the princes privately! I dare not listen to the instructions."
Lord Xinling said: "The prince, the crown prince of the country, teaches the guardians and orders, how can he enforce them according to the laws of private meetings?"
The prince said: "If the Qin law is like this, no minister would dare to hear it. Even if the emperor has the important task of assisting the country, he cannot meet with the minister without the king's order. It is just like that."
Lord Xinling was stunned when he heard the words, and then laughed loudly and said: "The prince's teachings are exactly what I want to say, and they clearly explain my meaning. My order only talks about romance and the moon, but not about state affairs. The Prime Minister of Wei will be punished with a bottle of dendrobium for talking nonsense."
Wei Qi quickly saluted and said, "Your Majesty, I will forgive you for speaking nonsense while drunk. Please punish yourself." As expected, a big dendrobium was brought to him, he poured it full and drank it all in one gulp. "Then he said: "I'm afraid of being disrespectful when I drink, so I dare to say goodbye! "
The prince said: "The moon has passed and the wind is clear, which is enough to be pregnant. I am able to receive fine wine at the prince's house and see the wind and moon. How lucky it is! I should remember the words of the emperor and prime minister. Now I resign, I am afraid that I will not be able to drink too much. "Xinling Mausoleum You refused to stay again, so you said goodbye to him. The attendants and swordsmen sitting under the court could also hear half a sentence of the discussions of the people in front of the steps, and the tense atmosphere among them could be clearly felt. They all had a feeling that they would break up if they disagreed. The thought of going up. Now seeing the prince and Xinling Jun say goodbye, they each breathed a sigh of relief.
It was Mr. Zhongyue who ordered the city gate to be opened and sent the prince back to Guanyi. The prince quickly discussed the situation at tonight's banquet with a few dignitaries and decided to send someone back to Xianyang to report the matter. A few days later, both special messengers and regular messengers returned one after another. They did not convey any instructions from King Qin, but only praised him for his fearless spirit in the face of danger. However, the messenger still inquired about some information from various aspects: Shang County Sheriff has been appointed as the crown prince's Taibao; Shang County suffered a serious disaster and suffered a huge loss of population. However, due to a large number of immigrants to Hedong, Shang County Sheriff did not take any punishment; Hedong last year's The above plan was rated "Jia", which is said to be mainly due to the discovery of the entrance to Zhi Road; there are roads connecting the counties in Hedong, which facilitates the transportation links between the counties and enables the strengths of the counties in Hedong to support each other; Although the exchange of salt for grain was considered a wonderful idea, it was limited to the upper class, and many middle- and lower-class officials had not even heard of it. After the New Year, prisoners from various places were sent to Hedong, and Hedong immediately pardoned most of them. The prisoners were ordered to immigrate to the east of the river. In the end, 10,000 prisoners stayed in Hedong to build the city.
As for Zhang Lu, the messengers did not get any additional information. They only knew that after arriving in Hedong, he still lives in Guanyi and has not built his own governor's mansion.
What surprised everyone the most was that the new Shang County Sheriff turned out to be Wu'an Jun Bai Qi. Everyone speculated that there might be a big move in the direction of Shangjun, but there was no target to attack in that direction. The only possible target was Taiyuan of Zhao State.
With the onset of harsh winter, activity in all aspects has been significantly reduced.
Wei Qi was troubled about the salt issue. The price of grain around Daliang has risen to more than 40 yuan per stone, which is a rare phenomenon just after the autumn harvest. The reason for this phenomenon is that a large amount of grain was transported to Anyi in exchange for salt. If this phenomenon cannot be stopped, the price of food in Daliang will continue to rise, which is very detrimental to the development of business.
Duan Ziqian finally got his wish to take charge of the arsenal. The arsenal was originally only responsible for keeping the forged weapons, but the King of Wei ordered that the arsenal be responsible for the manufacturing of iron weapons, and the first items to be manufactured under the arsenal were iron arrowheads and crossbows. The Wei State had craftsmen who made crossbows for a long time. But the head is made of copper, and using iron to make the head is a Korean craft. Duan Zigan became an arsenal by dedicating this craft.
After one or two years of laying the foundation, Duan Ziqian suggested that the King of Wei promote the manufacturing process of iron arrowheads to various counties to speed up the production of iron arrowheads. After all, arrows are consumables. When fighting, tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of arrows are shot out, and most of them never return. King Wei agreed to start the matter as soon as spring began, and asked Duan Ziqian to make a plan first.
