"Kong Ming didn't know something. They only took out a small part of their belongings as a deposit."
Fa Zheng explained,
"In this way, a large number of fields can be converted to mulberry and hemp without paying a huge price!"
When everyone heard this, they all frowned and looked solemn.
No matter who is behind the scenes, a large number of people are now abandoning farming and growing hemp, which will inevitably cause food shortages in the coming year.
What awaits the Shu Han court will be endless troubles!
When everyone was at a loss what to do, Fazheng suddenly remembered something and asked,
"By the way, I wonder why your Majesty invited us here?"
Liu Bei then remembered that he had called Fa Zheng and the others because of the shortage of copper coins, but he had forgotten about abandoning farming and planting hemp.
He quickly told what happened to Fazheng and others.
After everyone heard this, their frowns became more and more frowning.
It was already troublesome enough to abandon the cultivation of hemp, but unexpectedly there was a shortage of copper coins. It was really a leak in the house and it rained all night!
Zhuge Liang pondered for a moment, and suddenly his expression turned serious.
"Your Majesty, everyone, I feel like something is wrong."
"What does the Prime Minister mean by this?"
Liu Bei and everyone looked at Zhuge Liang.
"What if the same group of people were responsible for purchasing copper coins and inducing people to abandon farming and growing hemp?"
Zhuge Liang slowly expressed his thoughts.
"This...this is unlikely, right?"
Ma Su said with some surprise.
"Why is it impossible?"
Zhuge Liang sneered and said,
"You must know that there are very few people in Yizhou who have the ability to do these two things!"
A glint flashed in Fa Zheng's eyes and he whispered,
"Kong Ming means... the local nobles in Yizhou?"
"good!"
Zhuge Liang nodded heavily.
Whether it is purchasing copper coins or inducing people to plant mulberry and hemp, strong manpower and material resources are needed to support it.
In Yizhou, the only people who have enough ability and the possibility to do it are the local nobles in Yizhou.
After all, Liu Bei's arrival has greatly harmed their interests!
"If that's the case, it would be troublesome..."
Sun Qian sighed slightly.
Although Liu Bei and others suspected that it was the Yizhou gentry, they had no evidence.
Even if there is evidence, they cannot attack the Yizhou nobles rashly!
Although Liu Bei is now the emperor and dominates Yizhou, in the final analysis, the local nobles in Yizhou are the most powerful.
Otherwise, Sun Quan would not have spent a lot of effort to win over the nobles in Jiangdong.
"Strange, what is their motive for doing this? Is it to hoard?"
Ma Su said doubtfully.
"If that's true, then that's fine. I'm afraid they have secret contacts with Cao Wei."
Zhuge Liang said with a wry smile.
"Maybe Kong Ming is worrying too much."
Fazheng consoled him.
"Xiao Zhi doesn't know. I have fought against Yang Ling several times, and this strategy is very similar to Yang Ling's style."
Zhuge Liang sighed.
Hearing this, everyone's hearts felt heavy for a moment.
If Zhuge Liang said it was true, then Yang Ling would be too terrifying.
Far away in Luoyang, the capital of Cao Wei, he could still control Yizhou!
"You don't have to worry, our top priority is to solve the current difficulties!"
Zhuge Liang comforted him.
Regardless of whether it is Yang Ling's conspiracy or not, since the other party has taken action, Liu Bei must deal with it!
"Your Majesty, I have a plan..."
The speaker was Shangshu Ling.
Liu Bei's eyes lit up and he said quickly,
"Mr. Zichu, do you have any good ideas?"
"Your Majesty can return the original five-baht coins and other copper coins to the treasury, recast them, and issue new coins."
"The copper content of these new coins can be less, but the face value can be higher. In this way, the problem of currency shortage can be solved!"
Liu Ba slowly told him his plan!
"Mr. Zichu is really talented!"
Liu Bei smiled excitedly,
"With your plan, the problem of copper coin shortage can be easily solved!"
The rest of the people couldn't help but smile.
But only Zhuge Liang still frowned, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he held back.
Fazheng on the side noticed Zhuge Liang's expression and showed a thoughtful expression.
"As for the issue of abandoning farming and planting hemp, although I don't have any good solutions, I know that if this matter is really done by the local nobles in Yizhou, then they will definitely prepare sufficient food in advance to cope with the famine in the coming year."
"Therefore, I suggest that your Majesty, it is best to try your best to appease them and make them sincerely surrender."
Liu Ba said seriously.
"What Mr. Zichu said is very reasonable. It seems that this is the only way."
Liu Bei thought for a moment and finally nodded.
He knew very well that the suppression of the local nobles in Yizhou was too severe.
In the Shu Han court, those in high positions were almost all Liu Bei's elders and Dongzhou faction.
All the local nobles in Yizhou could hold were secondary-level positions in the imperial court.
But there was nothing he could do about it. For the stability of the Shu Han regime, Liu Bei had to do this.
But now that Yizhou is in crisis, Liu Bei has to change his previous attitude and plans to win over the local nobles in Yizhou!
After everyone discussed some more, they all got up and left.
"Kong Ming stays!"
As soon as Zhuge Liang walked out of the palace, he heard someone calling him from behind.
He turned around and saw that Fazheng was following quickly.
"What's wrong with Xiao Nao?"
Fazheng glanced around and whispered,
"Mr. Zichu just offered time. I think Kong Ming seemed to disagree a little bit?"
"Not only do I disagree a little, I totally disagree!"
Zhuge Liang sighed.
"This is not a place to talk. Go to my house."
Fa Zheng took Zhuge Liang and went straight to his residence.
After the two of them took their seats in the lobby, Fazheng asked,
"Why on earth does Kong Ming disagree with Liu Zichu's proposal?"
"Because in my opinion, this is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst!"
"Oh? I'd like to hear the details!"
Fazheng was good at strategy, but in terms of domestic affairs and economy, he was far inferior to Zhuge Liang.
So after hearing Zhuge Liang's words, he was quite confused.
"Let me ask Xiaozhi, do you know the origin of the name five baht coins?"
"Of course I know this, not only because it is engraved with five baht, but also because it is as heavy as writing."
At the beginning of the founding of the Han Dynasty, due to the chaotic shopping comparison system, prices skyrocketed and people were in dire straits.
Therefore, during the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the power of minting was returned to the central government, and copper coins engraved with five baht and weighing about five baht were minted uniformly, so they were called five baht coins.
"For so many years, people have become accustomed to using five baht in transactions."
"Your Majesty plans to mint new coins, so that's not impossible."
"But the problem is, His Majesty plans to use copper mixed with other materials to cast coins worth a hundred coins."
"According to what Xiao Nao sees, will the people accept it?"
Zhuge Liang asked in a deep voice.
