Economic warfare, a seemingly lofty name, was actually used by Guan Zhong as early as the Spring and Autumn Period to defeat the surrounding countries and make Qi the hegemon of the world.
Guan Zhong once took the lead in promoting "Lu Can", which is a kind of white silk cloth, and asked Qi Huangong and other ministers to take the lead in wearing clothes made of Lu Can. Lu silk was in short supply and prices rose. Seeing that weaving silk silk was profitable, the people of Lu State abandoned their farmland and started weaving silk silk crazily.
Then, Guan Zhong heavily rewarded the merchants who sold silk silk. From top to bottom in the state of Lu, there was a frenzy of "every household's textile machine was buzzing and every household was busy weaving silk silk", and all the fields were abandoned.
Seeing that the time was right, Guan Zhong suddenly ordered to stop importing Lu silk. Lu's economy collapsed in an instant, and people were in mourning all over the country. They were forced to buy grain from Qi. Guan Zhong took the opportunity to raise the price of grain. Not only did he earn back all the money he had given to Lu, but Lu was also forced to surrender to Qi.
After that, Guan Zhong used this trick against the Chu State again, hyping up the Chu State's deer, dumping grain, and inducing everyone to hunt deer, which brought down the Chu State's economy. Then he led the Eight-Nation Allied Forces to attack the Chu State and achieved the "Zhao Ling Zhi" Alliance', establishing Qi's position as the hegemon.
This method started hundreds of years ago in the Spring and Autumn Period and continued to the later generations for more than two thousand years. It has been enduring and popular among people.
This shows how good the effect is.
Huang Shigong saw this, so he proposed to Zhao Kuo. The Zhao State has now almost completely blocked the Yan State, which is more advantageous than the original Qi State, and the Yan State is also weaker than the Zhao State, and is completely a piece of fish on the chopping board.
"Sir, you are a great talent!" Zhao Kuo said with admiration.
If this method was proposed by a later generation, Zhao Kuo would not be surprised at all, but if a person from the Warring States Period proposed it, Zhao Kuo would have to admire it.
"I'm scared. In fact, Guan Zhong had already used these tricks back then. I'm just picking up people's wits." Huang Shigong said with his hands in hand.
"The strategy is not important, what is important is the person who completes the strategy. Guan Zhong used it hundreds of years ago. How many people in the world have learned it after hundreds of years? I often regret that I can't get Guan Zhong. Today I am happy to have Mr. , if you get Guan Zhong." Zhao Kuo said sincerely.
Huang Shigong looked excited and felt a little hot in his heart. He continued: "In addition, I suggest spending a lot of money to bribe Yan State's important officials. Not only can we obtain Yan State's intelligence in time, but we can also influence Yan State's decisions at critical moments. Wait until Yan is annexed. country, the money will naturally return to our country, Zhao."
"What you said is true, but it is not only true for Yan State, but also for the other five countries." Zhao Kuo nodded.
This method was used by the Qin State in the previous life. The Qin State spent a lot of money to bribe officials from the six countries. This is how Li Mu was tricked to death. It fully explains what it means not to be afraid of opponents who are like gods, but to be afraid of teammates who are like pigs.
The Qi State was also bribed by the prime minister, Hou Sheng, and watched the five kingdoms perish until it was his turn in the end.
After Qin unified the six countries, all the money spent returned to Qin, with interest added.
"It's just that... this way... I'm afraid it will cost a lot of money..." Huang Shigong said hesitantly.
He had just joined Zhao State and saw that Zhao State was paving roads, building colleges, and providing pensions. He didn’t know how much money was thrown out every day. He was really unsure about Zhao State’s finances, so he didn’t dare just now. carry.
"As long as I am here, money is not a problem." Zhao Kuo said calmly.
Now, except for Qin, all other countries in the world have begun to circulate banknotes. Even the officials of Wei and South Korea have begun to use currency. They have no idea what impact this thing will have on them.
In their view, in the past, copper, gold, cloth, and grain could be used as currency, but now there is no problem in using paper as currency. After all, current paper is very expensive and has value in itself, just like other things.
And it can be exchanged for copper coins and purchased goods at any time, which is convenient in itself, so who would refuse it.
And as the State of Zhao becomes more powerful, the credit of paper money will become stronger. Even in the remote Yue State and the Jiangnan region of Chu State, traces of paper money have appeared.
Wherever paper money circulates, Zhao Kuo can harvest it.
It can be said that if Zhao Kuo chooses not to be a good person, the economies of all these countries will collapse and return to the primitive barter period. However, this will not be of any benefit to Zhao Kuo, and Zhao Kuo cannot do it.
The only country where oil and salt are not allowed to enter is the Qin State. Under the emphasis on agriculture and suppression of business, the Qin State does not have many local merchants at all, and the few that are there are still small scum.
Later, there were two famous local tycoons, Ba Shi and Wushi. Ba Shi had established a relationship with the King of Qin by paying tribute to cinnabar and started to get rich. Wushi didn't know where to graze herds yet.
The official transactions of the Qin State were basically barter, and coins were rarely used for transactions, making it difficult for paper money to circulate to the Qin State.
However, the Zhao State Chamber of Commerce has recently been trying to hook up with tea merchants and silk merchants from Bashu to bring Zhao State's goods to Qin State.
"Your Majesty is wise." Huang Shigong leaned over and bowed.
"I don't bother you two masters. I will leave these two matters to you, sir. I will order the Zhao Guo Chamber of Commerce to fully cooperate with you, sir." Zhao Kuo helped Huang Shigong and said solemnly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Huang Shigong left with great confidence.
After seeing Huang Shigong off, Zhao Kuo got up and walked out of the palace.
It is impossible for a monarch to govern the country well just by staying in the palace. Only by walking outside in person and understanding his subordinates well can he know where he has failed to do well and what he should do.
This is what Zhao Kuo said to the ministers of Zhao State. After hearing this, the ministers thought it made sense, so Zhao Kuo could justifiably 'investigate the sentiments of the people'.
Of course, guards are indispensable. Although the Qin State was threatened last time, it is unlikely that the King of Qin will send out assassins again unless he decides to completely break his skin. But Zhao Kuo would never put his own safety above his opponent's decision.
Ben and Gai Nie were guarding Zhao Kuo on the left and right. As for Yanxiong, this guy was too conspicuous. With his body over one foot tall, he looked like a beacon when walking on the street. The whole Handan did not recognize him, so he followed him. The people next to Zhao Kuo immediately recognized Zhao Kuo, so Zhao Kuo sent him to the military camp to train with Lian Po.
Handan is very prosperous. Even outside the city, there are large commercial and residential areas, and there are endless vehicles passing by.
The people also had some money through work-for-relief. Although it was not much, they probably saved it through frugality, but at least they were able to buy a winter coat for themselves and their families.
If the conditions are better, you can also buy some carbon and save it for the coldest days to help the elderly at home survive the winter.
There were various hawking sounds on the streets.
The emergence of paper money further promoted the prosperity of commerce. In Handan, you can see merchants from all over the world, whether they are Wuyue people in the south, Bashu people in the southwest, or even Hu people in the north.
They spoke the Zhao language, which was not fluent, and struggled to communicate. Although they quarreled with each other, no one used force. The managers of Zhao Guofang City were watching not far away.
