After the results of the scientific examination were announced, the students in Chang'an were excited.
They were all looking forward to the opening of Guanzhong Hall. Finally, in mid-March, they got the news of the opening of Guanzhong Hall.
The Guanzhong Plain is quite large and cannot be compared with Nanyang County, so the number of schools is naturally larger.
In the early stages of building schools, Zhang Xiu clearly stipulated the plan to build schools. In each county, at least five schools should be built according to geographical distribution. Of course, Xinping County was not very large, so it was enough to build three schools.
The professors of each school are well-educated people selected from each county.
To this end, Zhang Xiu specially established a school department, with Pang Degong as the director of the school department and Huang Chengyan as the deputy director. The two began to arrange the development plan of the school.
The most important thing is that after more than half a year of development, woodblock printing has been on the right track.
Papermaking technology has also been further studied by craftsmen, and large-scale mass production has finally begun. It is not only guaranteed to be used by students in Nanyang Academy and Guanzhong Academy, but also prepared for external sales.
When Zhang Xiu revealed the news about selling paper, the Cai family keenly sensed business opportunities.
Cai Xi immediately asked Cai Mao to find Zhang Xiu.
Facing this nephew and son-in-law, Cai Hao was still timid. Zhang Xiu's murderous face was still vivid in his mind when Wancheng and his party were there.
Arriving at the general's mansion, Cai Hao smiled broadly after seeing Zhang Xiu.
really.
A dragon begets a dragon, a phoenix begets a phoenix, and a mouse's son can make holes.
Cai Hao had a flattering and silly smile on his face, and Zhang Xiu knew what he was holding back without him opening his mouth.
But the initiative was in his hands, so he didn't rush to speak. He pretended to be confused and asked: "My uncle is not in Xiangyang to assist Liu Biao. How come he has time to come to Chang'an? Do you miss Yueying?"
Cai Mao said glibly: "I haven't seen Yueying for a long time. I want to come over and take a look. Counting the months, she is almost nine months pregnant. As an uncle, I naturally have to care about her."
Zhang Xiu nodded irrefutably.
"Secondly, I heard that the Marquis is going to set up a school in Guanzhong again, so I came here to support it. Well... I heard that the students in the Marquis' school are responsible for food, food and housing. This expense is not a small amount, the largest one The biggest shortfall is food and grass, and my second purpose of coming here is to deliver food and grass to Lord Marquis."
really.
People who know how to do business are smart people.
The meaning of Cai Mao's words could not be clearer. He wanted to exchange grain and grass for the right to sell paper.
He took aim at Zhang Xiu's shortcomings.
After Guanzhong Hall starts school, food and grass will inevitably be the biggest vacancy. Not only Guanzhong Hall, but also the upcoming war will need food and grass. The food and grass looted from Dingxi City alone will definitely not be enough. For such a huge shortfall, there must be remedial measures.
Zhang Xiu's remedy was to sell paper.
The Cai family sent him a soft pillow very thoughtfully.
Of course, the Cai family is not the only smart person.
Powerful noble families such as the Kuai family and the Deng family of Nanyang also saw the huge benefits of paper and came to apply for sales rights from Zhang Xiu.
But the one he was most optimistic about was undoubtedly Cai Mao.
After all, there is Huang Yueying's relationship as a bridge, which makes it easier to do things.
Now Cai has Zhang Xiu's support.
Liu Biao also turned a blind eye to Cai. As long as Jingzhou's interests were not involved, he didn't want to interfere at all. Cai also took advantage of Liu Biao's psychology and cooperated with Zhang Xiu openly.
Zhang Xiu reacted with sudden realization: "Oh~ it turns out that my uncle is here for the sales rights of Yueying Paper!"
"Yue Ying Zhi?"
Cai Hao was stunned for a moment.
Zhang Xiu explained: "This paper is the result of Yueying's hard work and study for several months. Of course, it must be named after her. From now on, this paper will be officially named Yueying Paper."
"Yueyingzhi! What a good name." Cai Mao complimented.
Zhang Xiu stretched out a finger and said seriously: "I can give you the sales rights of Yueying Paper, but I have a condition."
Cai Mao waited solemnly and listened attentively.
"The paper sold does not require any property, and is all exchanged for grain. No money is required, only grain."
Cai Hao was stunned: "Master Hou, what do you mean by this? Our Cai family has no shortage of food and grass, so why should we accumulate food and grass on such a large scale? Besides, money and goods are easier to carry than food and grass, so why do we have to use food and grass as exchange items?" "
Zhang Xiu smiled and said: "In a peaceful and prosperous age, wealth would naturally be the main thing. However, in today's troubled times, the heroes are fighting, which has caused the people to live in dire straits. The fields are deserted and no one is cultivating them. The output of grain and grass has dropped significantly. I predict that after next year, the price of grain and grass will definitely rise." The growth has doubled, and there is a price but no market.”
"When people worry about food and grass, will paper still be important?"
Cai Mao thought about it carefully and nodded with great approval: "What the Marquis means is to take advantage of the convenience of Yueying Paper in advance this year to stock up on enough food and grass before the food and grass crisis comes. When the famine comes, we can sit on the ground Starting price, selling grain and grass at a high price?"
Zhang Xiu nodded.
"hiss!"
Cai Mao took a breath.
He looked at Zhang Xiu with an inexplicable look.
At a young age, Zhang Xiu is scheming, taking one step at a time and looking at ten steps. This year has just started, and he is already preparing plans for the coming year. What's even more frightening is that he can actually predict what will happen next year.
At the same time, we also doubt whether there will be a food shortage next year.
In fact, being able to predict that there will be a famine next year was inferred by Zhang Xiu based on the changes in historical trajectory and the records of later generations. Later generations recorded: In 199, the fourth year of Jian'an in Jimao, there was a severe drought in summer and April. In the ninth month of autumn, the Han River overflows, and the people in the Jianghuai River eat each other.
During the war in the Central Plains, food production was bound to be low. This resulted in the relatively stable south becoming the main food supply area. If a food shortage occurred in the south, the food shortage would spread to the Central Plains.
In order to ensure that the grain and grass are in place, Zhang Xiu said: "This must be achieved, otherwise, I can only find someone willing to cooperate to sell it."
Cai Hao thought about it and asked: "Master Hou said there will be a food disaster next year. How sure are you?"
"Eighty percent."
"Eighty percent?"
Cai Mao stared and opened his mouth.
The 80% certainty is beyond Cai Hao's expectation, which almost guarantees that there will be a food disaster next year.
"Could it be that the Marquis is joking?"
"As the saying goes: Before the soldiers and horses are moved, food and grass go first. Would I joke about food and grass?" Zhang Xiu said seriously.
Cai Mao stared at Zhang Xiu.
After thinking again and again, he gritted his teeth and said: "Since Mr. Hou can be so sure, then my Cai family will make a big gamble with Mr. Hou. I promise Mr. Hou that I will only use food and grass in exchange for Yueying paper."
Zhang Xiu said without any doubt: "The food and grass exchanged are three to one for you and seven for me."
Damn it!
Cai Mao almost went berserk.
Even a crow is not as dark-hearted as Zhang Xiu!
By exchanging food and grass, he can get 10% of the profit from the freight alone. Zhang Xiu will take another 70%. Fortunately, he can only earn 20% from one trip?
Seeing Cai Mao's eyes widening and about to run away, Zhang Xiu raised his face and looked at him: "Thirty percent is already a lot. If my uncle is not willing, I can only invite someone else."
Don’t underestimate 30%. Quantitative changes can lead to qualitative changes.
Cai Hao gritted his teeth again: "Okay! Three percent, three percent!"
Zhang Xiu laughed with satisfaction and entertained Cai Hao warmly. His smile and eyes were like seeing a beautiful beauty from a beautiful country.
Seeing this made Cai Mao feel furious.
At this time, Hu Chuquan led an army of 100,000 people and came to Guanzhong in a mighty manner.
