Chen Zhou went out early in the morning.
Time traveled to the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty. I was in a prison cell when I first appeared, and I didn't even have time to stroll around the ancient streets.
When he looked outside, he felt that everything was very novel, so he walked directly to the market, hoping to buy some cloth and daily necessities to go back, find someone to sew clothes, and live a more comfortable life.
There were only two sets of clothes at home, one was worn in the cell, and the other was a gift from Cao Cao, which was a bit shabby.
Welcoming the emperor and moving the capital to Xu County will be a matter of the second half of next year.
He won't be able to move until next year at the earliest. He will have to live in this home in Puyang for a long time. He doesn't want to live too poor.
Chen Zhou selected some cloth and was told that the cloth could be sold, but he would not charge five baht or small change. If he wanted to buy it, he would have to give gold or exchange it with grain.
In addition, Chen Zhou shopped around in several other shops, but most of them were unwilling to accept copper coins. Even if someone was willing, the price would be extremely high, and nothing less would be enough.
"It is indeed a troubled time, and the currency depreciation is so serious."
“Even back in the days of barter, money was basically useless.”
"Except for some hard currency!"
Chen Zhou said to himself.
Fortunately, Boss Cao was generous and sent some gold and jewelry, and spent a lot of money to buy some cloth and some daily necessities.
"If you want to lie down next to Boss Cao, the current conditions are not enough."
“In the early days of Boss Cao’s business, it was quite difficult.”
"How can we help him get through the start-up stage as quickly as possible?"
Chen Zhou was thinking this on his way home.
But not long after arriving home, Cao Ang, who had been repaired a lot, finally came. He smiled when he entered the door and said: "Sir, you just came back? Where can I buy these things? If you need them, send someone to tell me and I will send them to you immediately. "
"Master, why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Chen Zhou had no choice but to put his things down and said, "Seeing that you are in such a hurry, is there something wrong?"
Cao Ang said: "There is a very important thing. Now our army is short of food again. It is still a serious shortage. Even Yanzhou is starving. My father asked me to ask sir, is there any way to prepare food?"
"Lack of food again?"
Chen Zhou frowned after hearing this.
But there is nothing we can do about it. Food shortage is determined by the current environment.
If there was no shortage of food in troubled times, it wouldn't be called troubled times. After all, a large number of fields are monopolized by noble families. There is very little food circulating outside, and there is almost no food stored by the people.
Food can even become currency, returning to barter, which is a reversal.
"With this food shortage, we can't go to massacre the city again, right?"
Chen Zhou added: "There are so many counselors around my lord, but they can't do anything?"
Cao Ang shook his head and said: "We can't massacre the city again this time. Mr. Cheng has a way to raise food, but his method cannot be expanded. He refuses to reveal what it is, so he can only prepare part of the food."
"That Mr. Cheng, is he Cheng Yu and Cheng Zhongde?"
Chen Zhou asked.
Cao Ang nodded.
Cheng Yu came up with a method of raising food that he refused to disclose, so Chen Zhou had to think too much.
He clearly remembered that Cheng Yu was a ruthless man who dared to use human flesh as food. What was the method that he refused to disclose, and the results were about to come out.
It's normal not to be open to the public.
"What are the current food prices?"
Chen Zhou asked again.
Cao Ang said: "The price of food is two or three times higher than usual. Sir, do you want to buy food? This method doesn't work. First of all, we can't afford it. Secondly, most of the coins we have on hand are five baht and It’s small money. The grain merchants outside don’t accept copper coins at all, so even if you have money, you can’t buy it.”
Chen Zhou thought about it and said, "If you don't accept copper coins, you will only accept other valuable things. Then you can buy a lot of grain, right?"
Cao Ang nodded and said: "As long as there are enough things that can be equivalent to food, such as gold, cloth, etc., food can still be exchanged."
Chen Zhou thought deeply and understood that in troubled times, ordinary people did not have food in their hands, but it did not mean that the noble families did not have food in their hands. They occupied a large number of fields in the Han Dynasty. After so many years of accumulation, the food must be piled up like mountains. Too much to eat.
But having food is one thing, and whether you are willing to send food to help the people is another.
During the Great Depression, American capitalists would rather throw away milk than give it to farmers. Although the classes of capital and gentry are different, the principles are similar.
Unless you can come up with something of equal value, don't expect to get food from the noble families.
"But we don't have enough of the equivalent of food."
"Sir, do you have any ideas?"
Cao Ang asked again.
Chen Zhou said: "It's very simple. After you help me build this small object, I can help you get money to buy food, but you need to go out of the city."
After finishing speaking, he cut out a piece of the cloth he had just bought.
Let the maid sharpen the ink, pick up the pen and draw a sketch on it.
"It must be made of iron. The harder it is made, the better."
Chen Zhou also added, "After you finish building it, I still need to go out of the city. It won't take long. We will have money soon. Tell the lord what I say."
Cao Ang asked in surprise: "Sir, can you tell me where the money comes from?"
"You'll know then."
Chen Zhou pretended to be mysterious and said: "First create what I want, and keep it secret for the time being. Don't let anyone else know except the lord."
"good!"
Cao Ang went back soon to deliver the good news to Cao Cao.
To build those objects, the wait isn't long.
After two days, Cao Ang will be able to deliver the things.
What Chen Zhou asked him to build was the famous Luoyang shovel of later generations.
At this time, the only place where the Luoyang shovel could be used was to rob tombs. The military supplies and food that Cao Cao lacked were obtained through tomb robbing.
Although it has not been recorded in the official history, the basis for later generations to say that Cao Cao is the founder of tomb robbers usually comes from Chen Lin's article, which made Cao Cao feel better even if he was furious.
General Faqiu Zhonglang and Captain Mojin were the first to come from here.
Chen Zhou wanted to help Cao Cao tide over the difficulties and prepare military supplies and food. If he did not choose to massacre the city, this would be the quickest way.
"Will it be me who Hu Bayi wants to worship in the future?" Chen Zhou thought to himself.
Those Luoyang shovels were built according to his requirements and assembled.
"Sir, what can this thing be used for?"
Cao Ang was puzzled.
Can a few special-shaped shovels turn money into money?
"Use it for digging!"
Chen Zhou was in the front yard. He shoveled down and brought out a thick cylindrical piece of soil, and on the ground, there was a small hole going downwards.
"Can you dig out money by digging in the soil?"
"It's really okay!"
Chen Zhou smiled and said: "Go back and tell the lord that I want fifty people who are brave enough to come with me out of the city. I am planning to go to Mangdang Mountain, which is on the southeast side of our Puyang. It will take about ten days. , when I bring the money back, I can buy food as much as I want."
