In March, the twenty-first year of Jian'an.
In Chengdu City, General Zuo's Mansion.
Liu Bei received the letter from Zhang Xi, and then summoned Fazheng, Pang Tong, and Zhuge Liang to discuss Zhang Xi's proposal.
"Yuan Chang wants to follow the example of the state and promote Jingzhou paper agency. Is this possible?"
Liu Bei asked after showing Zhang Xi's letter to the three of them.
Fazheng smiled slightly and said I would just take a look and not say anything.
The paper agents in Yizhou and Fazheng didn't fight for the interests of their own families, let alone those far away in Jingzhou.
Furthermore, Fazheng still doesn't know that the Pang family mentioned in Zhang Xi's letter is Pang Tong's family, and the Huang family is Zhuge Liang's Yue family.
He won't get involved in this matter.
As for Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang, they were somewhat embarrassed.
"My lord, I think it's inappropriate for Liang and Shiyuan to say more about this matter." Zhuge Liang said awkwardly, "My lord, please make a decision on this matter."
"Hey, Kong Ming is worrying too much!" Liu Bei smiled and said to Zhuge Liang, "Is there anything we shouldn't talk about between us?! There is no need to be shy about talking about it."
Liu Bei was still very generous and had no intention of letting Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong avoid hiding.
After Pang Tongyi heard this, he thought for a moment and then said, "Lord, this is okay."
Liu Bei turned around and looked at Pang Tong.
Pang Tong organized his language a little and said, "Jingzhou is different from Yizhou. The Huang family, my Pang family is powerful. Even if the power of agency is given to others, it will eventually fall into the hands of the two families. Rather than letting them blame the My lord, it would be better to hand it over directly to the two families, so that Yuan Chang can establish a favor in Jingzhou."
Pang Tong was really kind to Zhang Xi. Knowing that Zhang Xi's connections and reputation in Yizhou were already bad, he wanted to make Zhang Xi's life better in Jingzhou.
Furthermore, there are many aristocratic families in Jingzhou and Yizhou. Except for the Li family, there are no super aristocratic families. In Jingzhou, the four families of Cai, Kuai, Pang, and Huang have the final say.
Now Cai Kuai's family is in Xiangyang, Cao Cao's territory, and they can't talk to Nanjun.
So the Pang and Huang families are naturally the top Jingzhou aristocratic families in Liu Bei's Jingzhou territory. Other small aristocratic families have to rely on the two families for survival. The practice of supporting the small aristocratic family to preside over the distribution of paper and printing can be done in Yizhou, but It just doesn't work in Jingzhou.
Instead of doing this, it is better to leave a favor to Zhang Xi and win over the Huang and Pang families. After all, these days, the ruling class cannot do without the help of the aristocratic family.
Zhuge Liang didn't speak, but his silence actually showed this attitude.
Liu Bei was not a person without opinions. After thinking about the situation in Jingzhou for a while, and then thinking about Pang Tong's words, he had to admit that this was actually a very good method.
Now Liu Bei only controls the three counties in Jingzhou. In these places, the Huang family is the local snake, and the Pang family has a transcendent status and extremely wide connections. One of the two families controls the local public opinion, and the other controls the talent pool. It is indeed impossible to offend.
Rather than giving this agency power to others and causing everyone to have opinions in the end, it is better to give the favor from the beginning and leave it to these four aristocratic families.
As for the Li family and the Liao family, just treat it as incidental. After all, Liu Bei has no way to contact the Kuai family in Xiangyang now, otherwise Liu Bei will definitely kill the Kuai family as well. Hey, wait a minute? !
why not? !
Liu Bei expressed this idea at that time and discussed it with three counselors.
You can also hand over the paper agency rights in Xiangyang to the Kuai family or the Cai family.
By doing this, you can find a suitable excuse to contact the Kuai and Cai families, drive a wedge between Cai and the Kuai family in Cao Cao's camp, and lead to internal discord in Xiangyang.
Of course, Liu Bei also knew that this strategy was a bit crude, but if it was done well, it would not be without room for maneuver.
Zhuge Liang and the other three quickly praised "the Lord is wise".
To be honest, it is not easy for Liu Bei to think of this method. After all, this is not his area of expertise.
Moreover, Zhuge Liang and the other three are so bad. They are all the kind of people who take one step at a time and see ten steps ahead.
In fact, the three people had privately discussed how to use this paper and printing technology as early as when paper was first born.
After a period of conspiracy between the three people, the matter of how to promote paper among local forces, install agents and bribe high-level spies has been put on the agenda, and all they have to do is report it to Liu Bei.
But at this time, Liu Bei took the initiative to say that he could do this. The three subordinates could still say that we had thought of it a long time ago. Are you too late? !
It must be that the lord is wise, and then according to the lord's instructions, we start to make plans.
This is not flattery. In the workplace, we give each other face. Liu Bei looked back and said, "You have made a plan as soon as I said it. Can he not know what is going on?" !
So, for some things, everyone can just give each other some face and be aware of it. There is no need to make your boss uncomfortable just to show off your abilities. Liao Li is one of these short-sighted people.
Well, I despise Liao Li every day.
In short, in accordance with Liu Bei's "spirit of instructions", Zhuge Liang wrote a letter to Zhang Xi about how to establish contact with the aristocratic families in Xiangyang City through the Pang family, and it would be best to ask the Kuai family to act as an agent for the promotion of Xiangyang paper.
Well, Zhuge Liang believes that the Kuai family will not refuse.
First, this is a good thing to consolidate the Kuai family's position in Jingzhou. Even if the Kuai family is in Cao Cao's territory, the first thing they think of is their own family interests.
Second, even if the Kuai family refuses, Nanjun will find a way to let paper flow into Xiangyang. If Nanjun is allowed to control this matter, the aristocratic families in Xiangyang City will be very passive.
Third, paper is not a military material, and it is impossible for Cao Cao not to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of this thing. Instead of leaving it to people in Liu Bei's group to smuggle it wantonly, it is better to find someone to manage it.
Therefore, Zhuge Liang believed that the Kuai family could convince Cao Cao to let them be the agent for the issuance of this paper.
As for why it's not the Cai family. Since Cai Mao was defeated by Cao Cao, does the current person in charge of the Cai family still have a place in Cao Cao's heart? !
Once Xiangyang accepts this paper, the rest will be easy to handle.
At a small level, Zhuge Liang can take the opportunity to plant spies. At a large level, when Liu Bei's group attacks in the future, will your Kuai family still be tied to Cao Cao's ship to the death? !
Cao Cao has no paper to provide you, nor can he establish your position in the Xiangyang family.
For aristocratic families these days, the first priority in their hearts is never the country or their master, but only their own family interests.
This is the strategy discussed by Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, and Fazheng. They plan to do this not only in Jingzhou, but also in Hanzhong, Guanzhong, and even the hinterland of the Central Plains. The three of them are planning the layout.
As for Jiangdong, when the envoy from Soochow comes again one day, ask him to bring a stack of paper back, and he will not worry about no one coming to ask for it.
After all, the two families are now allies.
In Chengdu now, the division of labor among Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, and Fazheng is quite clear.
Zhuge Liang was responsible for government affairs, including agriculture, law, and government operations.
Pang Tong was responsible for the training of army sergeants, the preparation and allocation of food and pay, and the supervision of the manufacture of ordnance.
Fa Zhengze is responsible for following Liu Bei, helping Liu Bei formulate strategic plans, collecting intelligence on the enemy, especially the Hanzhong area, and analyzing it to provide Liu Bei with reference.
I really can’t say who is more important, or who Liu Bei trusts more.
When encountering government issues, Liu Bei would ask Zhuge Liang; when encountering military issues, Liu Bei would ask Pang Tong; when encountering enemy movements, Liu Bei would ask Fa Zheng.
But now the four of them have a common question, that is - when to attack Hanzhong.
In fact, at the beginning of this year, Fazheng persuaded Liu Bei to directly attack Hanzhong while Cao Cao was using troops in Huainan and Guanzhong's defense force was empty.
But both Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong raised objections.
Zhuge Liang's objection is that Yizhou has not yet been completely stabilized. Xia Houyuan entered Brazil County some time ago and plundered a lot of people. At the same time, some aristocratic families felt that Liu Bei might be dead and some were ready to make a move. There were inexplicably more people around Chengdu. There are many bandits and bandits.
In addition, paper was just promoted in the second half of last year. Some aristocratic families benefited, and some aristocratic families were hit. The loss of profits was quite serious. At this time, if Liu Bei sent troops to Hanzhong, I am afraid that someone near Chengdu would immediately collude with bandits to rebel.
It's better to stabilize things first, and in a year or two, we can get rid of some aristocratic families with evil intentions, and wipe out the bandits around Chengdu, and then consider attacking Hanzhong.
As for Pang Tong, he also expressed his opposition from a military perspective.
First, the Cao army's defense in Guanzhong is indeed empty, but Xia Houyuan is still in Hanzhong. This person's stay in Hanzhong shows that he is still wary of Liu Bei and has not relaxed his guard. If he sends troops at this time, it may be a hard battle. .
Second, Pang Tong was not optimistic about the Huainan battle between Sun Quan and Cao Cao.
Pang Tong summarized the previous battles in Huainan and found that it was difficult for Sun Quan and Cao Cao to fight for three months in the Huainan area. They often ended the battle quickly after a stalemate for a while.
Therefore, it is impossible to expect Sun Quan to hold back Cao Cao's troops. This confrontation between the two armies in Huainan is expected to end soon. At that time, if Liu Bei sends troops to Hanzhong, Cao Cao may directly lead a large army to help.
Facts have also proven that in February, Sun Quan sent an envoy to "please surrender" to Cao Cao, and then Cao Cao withdrew his troops after accepting Sun Quan's low profile.
The news reached Chengdu in March, and Liu Bei was immediately glad that he had not made any military preparations.
In this way, Liu Bei temporarily stopped thinking about marching into Hanzhong.
However, everyone knows that Liu Bei must capture Hanzhong. If he does not capture Hanzhong, Liu Bei will no longer be able to stabilize Yizhou.
Therefore, Liu Bei is still waiting for an opportunity, an opportunity to send troops to Hanzhong.
(End of chapter)
