“What’s the reason for raising food prices?”
Cao Cao asked in confusion.
The price of food was already high enough that they couldn't afford it. If it went up any higher, it would become even more unaffordable. No matter how many royal tombs were dug, it would be useless.
Chen Zhou explained: "The higher the price of grain, the grain merchants or nobles who have a large amount of grain will release a large amount of grain, and even attract grain merchants from other places to send grain to Puyang, all wanting to sell to us, but the price of grain It’s so high. Their grain has been shipped, can they sell it?”
"It definitely won't sell."
Even Dian Wei can understand this relationship.
Chen Zhou added: "The inability to sell grain has little impact on local merchants, but what about merchants from other places? They bring grain here, but they can't sell a penny, and they have to transport it back again. Wouldn't it mean that they even lose money on the tolls on the road?" Is it? They definitely don’t want to lose money. As long as one person is willing to lower the price at this time, all the grain merchants in other places will follow suit and lower their prices, and the balance of high grain prices will be broken."
Now that demand exceeds supply, grain merchants can raise prices at will.
However, a large number of foreign grain merchants came in, which meant that supply exceeded demand.
In addition, grain merchants from other places definitely don’t want to lose money. If they go back without making anything, that would be a bloody loss.
The only way is to sell at a lower price and lower the price of food to a level that they can accept without losing money or even making a profit, thereby reaching a new balance.
Cao Cao pondered Chen Zhou's words, and after he understood the meaning, his eyes widened in surprise.
"Okay, this method of crossing is good!"
He never thought that food could be played like this.
Raising the price of grain and attracting grain merchants from other places, the grain will not be able to leave once it comes. If we dig a few more royal tombs, will they still be short of grain?
Thinking of this, Cao Cao laughed at first, and then asked with some worry: "This method of crossing is very good, but will it be unethical to implement it?"
Chen Zhou said disapprovingly: "Why do you need such high morals in troubled times? If you want morality, then you can't dig up royal tombs. My lord, you must remember that you will be a traitor in the future. You can have moral standards, but you cannot be restricted. The most important thing now is to get through this.”
"Watazuki is right, I was worrying too much."
Cao Cao put aside all his thoughts for the time being, raised a glass of wine and said, "I respect you, Du Zhi!"
"drink!"
When Dian Wei saw that he could drink, he also raised his own glass.
The three of them drank a glass of wine, which warmed their stomachs and made them feel warm all over.
Although the wine from the Three Kingdoms era is not very good, it is still better than nothing. After eating two bites of barbecue, I don’t know how comfortable tonight will be.
Not long after, someone brought back various ancient books that Chen Zhou wanted.
Especially the local history of Yanzhou.
They checked to see if there were any other princes' tombs within Yanzhou.
"Can Liu Chang cross it?"
Cao Cao quickly turned to a name and said: "He is the second King of Zhongshan, the son of King Jing of Zhongshan Liu Sheng, and King Ai of Zhongshan."
Liu Sheng, Prince Jing of Zhongshan?
When Chen Zhou heard this name, he immediately thought of Liu Bei, the great-great-grandson of Emperor Jing of Han Dynasty and a descendant of Liu Sheng, Prince Jing of Zhongshan. He did not expect that the royal tomb of Liu Dal'er's ancestor would be within Yangzhou, and asked: "Are you sure it is really in Yanzhou?"
He vaguely remembered that the tomb of Prince Jing of Zhongshan was to the east of Taihang Mountain.
How come we are so far away from Yanzhou when we reach the tomb of King Ai in Zhongshan?
However, after poaching Liu Daer's ancestor, Chen Zhou also felt no psychological pressure at all.
I don’t believe that tomb robbing is detrimental to moral integrity, just dig it up and that’s it.
"Right in Chenliu!"
Cao Cao affirmed.
Chen Zhou said: "Then this is King Zhongshan. In two days I will arrange for someone to find out the specific location of the tomb of King Ai of Zhongshan, and then decide to start digging."
As for Liu Bei’s feelings?
Then it has nothing to do with them, just love them.
Cao Cao said worriedly: "But Duzhi, if you dig the royal tomb and let people outside know about it, it will have a bad impact on your reputation."
Chen Zhou laughed and said indifferently: "As long as I can help my lord calm down the world as soon as possible and make the people of the world live and work in peace and contentment, be stable and prosperous, what does this little reputation mean? Besides, I am an unknown person, so others can criticize me as I please."
"Wat it!"
Cao Cao burst into tears.
In the past, there was Cheng Yu who did not hesitate to cut human flesh in order to help him pacify the world, and later there was Chen Zhou who robbed tombs despite being infamous.
Cao Cao secretly thought that if he could conquer the world, he would not treat Chen Zhou badly and could share the world with Chen Zhou.
If Chen Zhou could understand his thoughts at this moment, he would be so frightened that he would run away.
Sharing the world is just talk.
After it was determined that the next unlucky guy would be the King of Zhongshan, Chen Zhou and the others continued to eat and drink, and the night before the New Year passed like this.
The next morning.
After Chen Zhou got up, he stretched.
He didn't want to do anything today, and he didn't bother to visit anyone. He just lay down at home. This trip lasted for two days. Then he went out to inquire about the situation outside. The first news he got was that food prices began to rise sharply. , the prices have skyrocketed, with a handful of grain rising to more than 700 dollars. You must know that under a normal economic system, a handful of grain only costs more than 200 dollars.
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, one hu of dendrobium was equal to one stone. "Shuowen Jiezi" said: "Dendrobium is equal to ten buckets."
Although it is said to be more than 200 yuan, copper coins are basically not charged.
Only gold, jewelry, and silk fabrics are accepted.
The rise in food prices is completely crazy, but it is still in the early stages, and we don’t know how high it will rise in the future.
“Boss Cao’s movements are a bit fast!”
Chen Zhou said to himself: "But even if the price of food is not raised deliberately, it will be a matter of time before it reaches this price. It will continue to rise in the future, and the food price here must be publicized to let other foreign food merchants You also need to know.”
The higher it rises now, the sadder it will be for grain merchants in the future.
After dealing with the food shortage incident, we can almost welcome the emperor's return eastward.
Chen Zhou thought to himself and took a look around the city, then left the city and went to Cao Ang's camp.
"gentlemen!"
Cao Ang knew that he was going to rob the tomb again. He had been busy in the camp recently. When he saw Chen Zhou coming, he said: "The flying tiger claws you want are relatively easy to make, but the diamond umbrella is a bit troublesome. We need to wait a few more days." .”
Chen Zhou said: "It's okay, we still have time. Where are the small objects I asked you to build?"
"It's still being polished."
Cao Ang took out a small iron pillar and something that looked like a drill bit.
Someone used a drill to drill holes into the iron pillars.
"It's built, but it's difficult to drill a hole." Cao Ang explained.
Chen Zhou wants seamless steel pipes. There is no manufacturing technology here, so he can only use the simplest method, which is drilling.
However, since the two materials are similar in material and hardness, it is difficult for the drill bit to drill through the steel pipe.
Chen Zhou looked at it for a while, but was not too anxious to get it, and said: "You guys slowly help me polish it and clean it up. When the Diamond Umbrella is finished, we will dig up the tomb of King Zhongshan."
