Six years have passed since Yizhou was captured by the Chu State.
The Chu State, which covers half of the Central Plains, has naturally become the most potential party among the Three Kingdoms. The strong pressure even forced Dong Zhuo and Cao Cao, who had deep hatred for each other, to temporarily form an alliance.
In six years, the Chu State entered a long period of rest. Various measures sprung up like mushrooms after a rain to reward farming, draft new laws, reform the system, strengthen imperial examinations, expand county and county government offices, and strengthen military armaments. Chu State is becoming increasingly powerful, but no one knows to what extent Chu State's national power has reached.
Until three years ago, the Wei army dispatched 150,000 elite troops and the Qin army dispatched 100,000 elite troops to attack Xuzhou and Jingzhou respectively. Zhou Yu led an army of 200,000 to fight and won a great victory.
The world knows that the Chu State has been able to fight the other two powerful countries on its own. Reminiscing about the melee between princes in those days, only six people finally became kings. At that time, Chu State was only ranked third in national power. Now, Chu State has shown its dominance, which makes people sigh.
Jianye City, the capital of Chu State, is now the most prosperous city in the world.
How prosperous is it?
When Sun Ce first conquered Jianye, its population was only four to five hundred thousand. By the year he conquered Yizhou, he began to expand the city, and its population had reached seven to eight hundred thousand. Six years later, Jianye has carried out another expansion, and the population has reached 1.2 million.
People walking on the street today are really rubbing shoulders, waving their sleeves, and sweating like rain. Especially in the past few days, businessmen and scholars from other places have also come to Beijing one after another, just to enjoy the joy of Sun Ce's enthronement ceremony.
That's right, after many years, Sun Ce is finally proclaimed emperor.
"Brother Liang is right. Today's young people still know the tragedy of the Yellow Turban Rebellion. They are not like the children born in the past few years who want to buy this or that. They don't know how to be frugal, but they don't know what we suffered in the past. Bitter."
On a loaded carriage, a middle-aged man gently held the reins and chatted with his colleagues on another carriage walking side by side.
The man named Liang replied with a smile.
"It's okay, little kid. We can teach it ourselves. It's the people from Qin and Wei who escaped from the disaster and got His Majesty's grace. They work all day long and complain about this and that. If you have the ability, you can Go back to Qin and Wei!"
The middle-aged uncle slapped his thigh and immediately agreed.
"Yes, yes! Sometimes I wonder if those who complain are spies sent by the false emperor and King Wei?"
"You know, our Majesty is the number one Holy Emperor throughout the ages! Without His Majesty, we wouldn't have the good life we have today! Those people, I think, are at least white-eyed wolves."
While they were talking, the carriage of the two people stopped at a large warehouse located outside the city. The two handed the purchased goods list to the guild's staff, and workers immediately came to help unload and count the goods. It didn't take long for the goods to be counted and paid for.
Together they took the horse to the stable and asked the guild to take care of it, and the two finally parted ways.
"Brother Liang, I'm going to the city to go to the Jianye Guild to find some goods to take back to Wuhu Port. What about you?"
"Now that you're here, I can't watch the enthronement ceremony in the palace, but you can go outside the city to see the sacrifices on the riverside."
"Hey, it's up to you. The venue is full of dignitaries and heavily guarded. We ordinary people can only watch the fun from the sidelines. Then let's say goodbye."
"Okay, brother, I'll see you later."
The road from outside the city to the riverside is not far. The closer you get, the more people you meet.
The man surnamed Liang walked slowly and alone for nearly two quarters of an hour before arriving at the meeting venue by the river.
Sure enough, there were huge crowds of people, and many sergeants guarded the main road. Only the carriages and horses of dignitaries could let through. But there were still countless people setting up a market outside the venue, selling goods and joining in the fun.
"Merchant, do you need a guide? We have a professional guide who can take you to the market for only one hundred pence an hour."
The man surnamed Liang was curious. There were people coming and going around him. How could the young man who asked the question know his profession at a glance?
"Oh, that's interesting. How did you know that I'm in business?"
"Hey, this man has a delicate skin and tender flesh, and is naturally rich and noble. He is naturally different from us working people. When the local big shots come here, they have to ride a horse to show off even if they don't have a carriage. You must have just walked here. The warehouses that deliver goods to receive goods outside the city are naturally filled with merchants."
Haha, I have some sharp eyesight.
The man surnamed Liang smiled and took out a big coin from his body and put it into the young man's hand.
"Okay, just take me around."
"Hey, sir, don't worry."
The young man collected the money, but did not lead the way. Instead, he waved to the distance, and one of the young men squatting over there came over.
"Master, this is Song Shouhe. Just tell him what you want to play or see, and I guarantee your satisfaction."
"Heh, can you make a business out of your tour guide?"
"I'm laughing at you."
The man surnamed Liang laughed. He really didn't expect that this group of people would find a new way to get acquainted with them, and they might come in handy one day.
Then he didn't care and followed Song Shouhe to visit the market. Song Shouhe's speech was quite interesting, and he was quite eloquent.
"The Qinhuai River is the mother river of Jianye, and the Yangtze River is the mother river of our Chinese people. The place where the Qinhuai River merges into the Yangtze River is chosen by His Majesty this time. We will definitely not be able to enter there now, but The large peach grove nearby is a good place for viewing.”
"I wonder what kind of business the shopkeeper is in, but what kind of goods do he need to purchase? There are many villagers at this market who bring local products from the mountains to the market, and the prices are quite cheap."
The man surnamed Liang walked around and was very satisfied with the tour guide's enthusiasm. He nodded and answered.
"I'm doing some tea business, but I'm not here just to receive goods. You know what delicious food there is in this market. Take me to try it."
In the tea business, there are both crude tea worth tens of dollars and good tea worth hundreds of taels. Song Shouhe couldn't ask more questions, so he took over the conversation.
"There are a lot of delicious food here in the market, but the prices here are more expensive. A vegetable bun in the city costs three cents, but here it costs five cents. A meat bun in the city costs five cents, but here it costs eight cents. We locals don’t suffer this disadvantage.”
