Section 9 Business

Cao Chong chuckled. He knew that Cai Mao would definitely be willing as soon as he said this. Sure enough, he waved his hand gently, sootheed Cai Mao's excitement, and moved the place to the side, allowing Cai Ji, who was coming in gently, to sit down next to him. Cai Ji smiled and sat behind Cao Chong, and smiled at Liu Cong, "Da Yu'er is already better, so you don't have to worry."

Liu Cong finally breathed a sigh of relief. When he saw Cai Xuan reacting, he wanted to run out to see him, but he was embarrassed to go because of his face. He was worried about him. Now, when he heard Cai Ji say this, he finally let go. He smiled at Cai Ji gratefully. Cai Ji smiled and nodded without saying a word.

"Spring plowing is about to begin. Some of the refugees around Xiangyang will need to move back to Yingchuan and Guanzhong. These places used to be densely populated areas and there are many fertile lands. In recent years, there are too many empty lands and no one to cultivate them, and they are all idle. Although Jingzhou has a slightly larger population, many of these people will be vacant as soon as they move back. On one hand, there is no food to eat, and on the other hand, there is empty fertile land. It's a pity. Mr. Liu Zichu and I calculated that with the current manpower, at least half of the fields will be uncultivated. Even if we can't take care of them, the harvest will not be good."

Cai Mao nodded when he heard this and said that his manor had reached its peak in the past few years due to the influx of refugees. Because of the sufficient manpower, he not only had cheaper wages, but most of those people could cultivate carefully in order to save this livelihood job, and the yield per mu in the manor also increased a lot. In the second half of last year, the refugees began to move back to the second half of last year, and his manor suddenly fell into a crisis. He was short of manpower and could not even be busy with the original fertile land, let alone the fields that were occupied.

"What are you good ways?" Cai Mao asked with interest.

Cao Chong turned his head to look at Liu Cong: "I have noticed the agriculture here. Now it is usually a three-person and two-cow farming method, which is too low. Zhongyu is clever. I have an idea for you to refer to. You can complete the farming by using only one person and one ox. You can cultivate a hundred acres a day without any fatigue. The efficiency is extremely high, and the farming land is also better. I will draw the picture and let Zhongyu make a model. This can greatly improve efficiency. Not only can my father-in-law's manor be used. But this new type of farming tools can be made in large quantities and promoted to nearby counties. Wood is not a difficult task. Most of the manor in my father-in-law's manor can be dealt with. As for iron, I have applied for a comparable amount with the Prime Minister, and the amount within a year is enough."

Cai Mao was overjoyed when he heard this. He didn't expect that Cao Chong had such a good way, not only could he use fewer people to complete the existing labor, but also could sell this new agricultural tool in large quantities. With just these two items, he could recover most of the money he spent on those thousand people this year, so there was no unhappy way. Even Liu Cong felt it was a bit incredible. He looked at Cao Chong and felt that this brother-in-law was really amazing, and any idea was horrifying.

Cao Chong smiled. He didn't say much, but picked up a stroke and drew a sketch. He gave it to Liu Cong, and explained the key points in detail. Liu Cong studied this deeply. He understood the key points at first sight. He nodded convincingly, looked at the sketch and smiled: "Cang Shu, are you so familiar with agriculture?"

Cao Chong shook his head and said, "Zhongyu has been awarded too much. This is not my own idea. This is what I and Mr. Xie Yi (Xie Qi) have studied. He is idle in Xiangyang and has been wandering around the farmland outside the city these days. He has been studying agronomical science for many years and has a lot of insights. If you communicate with him, you will definitely gain something."

"It must be." Liu Cong nodded. He knew that Xie Qi was a master of agriculture and a talent that Cao Chong had accepted at the beginning. He just never expected that the things he made would be of great use. So he had never had contact with Xie Qi. Now he had a direction to fight. Naturally, he could not let this person go.

Just as they were talking, Cai Mao had already estimated the approximate expenses and harvests. He thought that before other families got the news, he would first occupy a large area of ​​fertile land outside the city. Anyway, with new farm tools, he would no longer be afraid of not having time to farm, so he naturally occupied the more, the better.

"My father-in-law, in addition to this thing, I have something to hand over to my father-in-law to take care of." Cao Chong took advantage of the situation and said. When Cai Mao heard this, he smiled and responded repeatedly. Of course, the more things to do in getting rich, the better.

"The calligraphy printing technique I studied in Yecheng is already mature, and craftsmen can come to Xiangyang in the near future. I have also found the descendant of Cai Hou that Wang Zhongxuan mentioned last time. He is willing to contribute new papermaking to me and build a new paper mill in Xiangyang." After meeting Wang Can in Jingzhou, Wang Can was grateful for Cao Chong's courtesy. When he heard Cao Chong say that because the price of paper is too high and the books cannot be promoted, he mentioned a person, his home is in Xuancheng, and his great-grandfather followed Cai Lun in the past.

I have done something and am grateful to Cai Lun. I have always wanted to make a good paper to paint a portrait of Cai Lun. Later, I studied it at home for many years and finally transformed Cai Lun's papermaking technology. I used tree bark and rice straw everywhere to make paper, which greatly reduced the cost and the quality of the paper was also good, so I named it rice paper. But they did not think about making a lot of paper, but they just made some paper for their own use. Because Wang Can wrote a tombstone for his great-grandfather and once gave some paper to Wang Can.

When Cao Chong heard this, he immediately asked Wang Can to take his people to Xuancheng and invited the man named Kong Xuan from Xuancheng. After a long talk in Xiangyang, he conveyed his impression of sporadic knowledge about papermaking. The two discussed it. Kong Xuan opened up his ideas. With Cao Chong's support, he built a small experimental workshop and worked day and night with a few disciples. Soon he created a more beautiful rice paper. With the possibility of mass production of rice paper, Cao Chong decided to officially push the printing technology to the stage of history.

It is impossible not to say that Cai Mao’s ability to do business is actually far more than his ability to fight. When he heard the two things Cao Chong said, he immediately calculated the funds needed and the possible profits. Compared with papermaking and book printing, the transformation of agricultural tools seemed insignificant. Especially when these two items were combined with literati, it was more important to him. The Cai family had not been able to produce a talented man for so many years. Now, relying on these two technologies, he can deal with literati, which is undoubtedly of great benefit to improving the image of the Cai family.

"Cang Shu, you gave me such great benefits to the Cai family. How should I repay you?" Cai Mao was indeed a businessman and was a little suspicious of Cao Chong's kindness. This was not a good thing to be delivered to me for nothing. A daughter could not earn such a large amount of interest.

"What's the matter with my father-in-law?" Cao Chong also knew that Cai Mao was so treacherous, but he didn't expect that he could still maintain this state of mind in his joy. He couldn't help but admire him secretly. He shook his head and said, "I have no requirements. Since I have become a close friend of Xiao Yu'er, I'm a family. Of course, I have to think about the Cai family first. In Jingzhou, I can only rely on the Cai family. Father-in-law, don't you?"

Cai Mao pondered for a while and said, "All family is a family, but I can't take advantage of this. You want me to take out how much money for the time being. I'm afraid I can't do it for the time being. All these things need to be invested. There may be difficulties in funding. Then I have to borrow some from other families. I plan to calculate the sovereignty of these workshops, and you can just share the money at that time. How about it?"

30%? Although it is not bad, I want more. Cao Chong smiled and waved his hand, turned to Cai Ji and said, "Xiao Yu'er. Look at my father-in-law. If he doesn't give me some money, he will be uneasy. Tell me, what should I do?" Cai Ji smiled and said, "Since my father wants to give it to you, just accept it. Don't make it difficult for your father to make things difficult. If you feel sorry for it, I'd better find more good wine to respect him."

"The best wine in Jingzhou is in my father-in-law's cellar. Where can I find Cangshu?" Liu Cong said with a chuckle. As soon as he said this, the other people laughed. This is the truth. The best wine in Jingzhou is the most famous of the Cai family, and the best wine in the Cai family is hidden in Cai Mao's cellar. Most people can't see it. Only such a family banquet will be taken out. For example, when Cao Chong and Cai Ji got married last time, Cai Mao made up his mind and generously, and made those who have heard of their reputation for a long time drink it. It made Cai Mao feel very painful.

Cao Chong thought for a while and said, "It's better to do this. I don't want any sovereignty. Although Xiangyang Yixue is in my name, it is the money spent by my father-in-law. It will always be too expensive if I continue to spend it like this. I have discussed with Mr. Liu Zichu and divided it into third-class. The first-class school children's food and clothing will be produced by my share and placed in the name of my father-in-law. This second-class. I want to invite some talents like Xie Yigong and Zhongyu to teach. In addition to those who read the scriptures, students will study while studying.

While working and making money, students from the school will be given priority to the workshops and manors of my father-in-law. As for the experimental fields needed by Mr. Xie Yi and the demonstration workshops needed by Zhongyu, I want to temporarily relate to the Yixue School. When the time is ripe, I will ask my father-in-law to establish them on my behalf. After three years, I will return them with the principal and interest. The new seeds cultivated by Mr. Xie Yi and the new things developed by Mr. Xie Yi will be selected first by Mr. Zheng Yi. As long as it is not related to military affairs, the father-in-law will be given priority to select them. How about it?"

Cai Mao calculated and felt that he had made a lot of profits, so he nodded with satisfaction, saying that he agreed. Liu Cong was shocked when he heard that he was going to be a professor in Xiangyang Yixue, and quickly shook his hand. Cao Chong explained: "You go to Yixue, not to teach some classics. It is Song Zhongzi who teaches you. You teach some skills to those students who want to find ways to make a living as soon as possible. On the one hand, you teach them, and on the other hand, you also let them learn to apply in the workshop you host, work instead of paying for their own efforts. After completing the study, they are considered formal technicians in the workshop and can support their families. I believe that many poor children are willing to learn."

Cai Ji thought for a while and said, "Husband, many students are admitted, but they want to study the scriptures and become officials. Now he asks them to change to agriculture or carpenters. Will they be willing?"

Cao Chong nodded and said, "On the one hand, this depends on the guidance of the government, and on the other hand, many people just want to find some food and work in the workshop to find jobs faster. If the government does not underestimate these people, I think they will not reject them. What's wrong with the carpenter? Zhongyu is also a carpenter, but he is still a marquis. Being able to do this is also a success or fame."

Liu Cong didn't have much thoughts. He didn't care too much about how he came to the land. He was satisfied with being a carpenter with justification. Cai Ji smiled and didn't say anything more. She also believed that since Cao Chong had this idea and had discussed it with Liu Ba, he must have their follow-up measures. He could just remind him in time, but he should not interfere with his thoughts.

"Zhongyu, I have also thought about the direction of your efforts and Han Gongzhi. The funds are short of money and cannot be fully deployed, and there is not enough manpower. Please discuss it and focus the first level of energy on the transformation of new agricultural tools, and Xie Qi cooperates with you. The second level of energy on the improvement of the ordnance. At present, there are basically enough advantages on the warships, and our army also has a considerable advantage in the land warfare. You don't have to spend too much energy, just don't let go." Cao Chong thought carefully, and only by paying attention to industry is the only way to put it down.

The industry has started to take effect quickly, and agricultural output has increased, and everyone can see the achievements. The military is directly related to whether Jingzhou can be stabilized. Of course, it cannot be relaxed. Under the current situation, the Cao army's advantages in military equipment are still very obvious. As long as it is technical reserves, there is no need to invest a lot of money. After a year or two, the funds will be accumulated and the talents will be enough. It is more stable to start developing. Moreover, once a weapon with too strong lethality is built, it will probably cause doubts and uneasiness. It is inappropriate.

Several people had a great time talking. That night, Cao Chong did not return to Xiangyang, so he settled in the manor. The next morning, he took Cai Ji out and passed through Xiangyang to take Deng Zhan and others. He stopped in Fancheng for a long time, met Xu Huang, and then headed north and entered Nanyang County. The long convoy arrived outside Xinye City in two days.

The county magistrate of Xinye County is also named Deng. His name is Chang and his courtesy name is Junkuo. He was born as a scholar. He was a real direct descendant of the Deng family in Xinye. When he first saw the official document, he was a little confused. He didn't understand where General Deng was from. From what he could remember, he didn't remember that there was such a martial artist in the family. Although Deng Zhan married the maid of the Cao family, he still did not take Deng Zhan seriously. In his opinion, Deng Zhan's move was even a bit embarrassing, which was equivalent to selling himself and surrendering. A maid, not the daughter of the Cao family, was so proud that he needed to issue a document specifically to talk about this matter? If it weren't for the fact that he was the martial arts master of Prince Cao Chong, who had become famous recently, he wouldn't have been too lazy to do anything.

However, although he looked down on Deng Zhan, he also knew the rules in the officialdom. On the surface, he still had to do this. When Huan'er arrived in Xinye, he sent someone to arrange his residence. Now Deng Zhan is here in person. Of course, he has to come out to greet him.

Early in the morning, Deng Chang sat in the long pavilion in the city, waiting for Deng Zhandi to arrive with a humble smile, and chatted with the county magistrate and others about the popular poems that have been circulated recently. The most famous ones are Prime Minister Cao's short song and Cao Chong's seven-character poems. Deng Chang said with a smile: "The Prime Minister's literary style is indeed extraordinary. Although the Prime Minister's poem uses the old words of Yuefu, it comes from his own ideas and does not follow the poems of ancient people and discovers new paths. It is not bound by the fact that he is sad and happy, and is caused by events. The sea, sea water, mountains, islands, plants, autumn wind, and even the sun, moon, stars and Han, all are the scenery in front of him. This poem that purely describes natural scenery is unprecedented, and can be said to be the first to open up the trend. And writing about the sea of ​​autumn can wash away the sadness of autumn, and it is written so vigorously and refreshingly, with a magnificent atmosphere. It cannot be done without a big mind."

"Haha, that's why the Prime Minister's poem is wonderful in ancient and modern times. However, only Lord Deng's eyes can tell the pearls and another word that hits another word. I have read this poem several times, but I only know its wonder, but not its wonder. Today, I heard the words of Lord, and I suddenly realized it." A literati next to me smiled.

Deng Chang shook his head and smiled, "You only know the wonderful poems of the Prime Minister, but you don't know that his short songs did not win the first place in the poem meeting last year." The literati said in surprise, "How could it be? When it comes to wine and singing, how much life is, like morning dew, the days are full of hardships, and such a good poem did not win the first place. Could it be that Wang Zhongxuan and others wrote good poems again, which overwhelmed the Prime Minister?"

"You only know one thing, not the other." Deng Chang said with a smug smile: "The Prime Minister is only a thirteenth place in his life and wrote a novel seven-character poem. His heroic spirit is no less than that of the Prime Minister, and he was rated first on the spot."

"Sir, we are ignorant and ignorant. We only know that the Prime Minister has good poems, but we don't know that Mr. Cangshu also has poems. Please read them for us." The literati next to us cheered. Deng Chang looked around proudly for a week: "You are really a little ignorant. You don't even know this poem. Well, let me read it for you and appreciate the strange texts together, so as not to regret the regret of leaving you. Well, please listen. Jingshan is windy and rainy, and millions of heroic troops cross the river..."

Deng Chang thought of Cao Chong's pirated poem, as if he was standing at the top of Jingzhou. He watched millions of troops crossing the Yangtze River and approaching Eastern Wu, a heroic feeling arises naturally, and his tone also contains infinite yearning. After reading the poem, he is immersed in the poem and cannot let go for a long time. The literati next to him also quieted for a moment, savoring the artistic conception of the poem, some sighing lightly, some shook their heads and sighing, some meditating on the ground and nodding, but no one spoke. Deng Chang looked outside the pavilion for a while, and then sighed.

"It's a pity that the millions of troops were burned by fire." The literati also sighed and said with endless regret.

"How could you know that if the Prime Minister listened to the advice of the young master, I am afraid that the Prime Minister had already captured Sun Zhong back to Xu County and offered the emperor to capture the emperor. How could he end up in such a miserable situation?" Deng Chang also said with regret.

"Sir, do you think Mr. Cang Shu will come to Xinye?" The literati suddenly said: "He personally visited Wancheng City to persuade him to surrender, saving countless creatures. Now he has a very famous place in Nanyang County. I heard that many families in Wancheng have established sanctuaries for him."

"The young master guards Xiangyang, and there is a war in Jiangling. How could he come to Xinye?" Deng Chang said, "My Deng family has a Duting Marquis, and he is also the martial arts master of Mr. Cangshu. It is already a ancestral tomb. How dare you expect Mr. Cangshu to come in person?" He said that their Deng family was ridiculous, but he thought that this idea was too ridiculous. A warrior married a maid of the young master. How could he think of the young master coming to congratulate him? It would be nice to send someone to give him a gift. In this way, the Deng family can no longer ignore him. If the young master really wants to come in person, the current head of the family probably has to come to welcome him. How can he be a small county magistrate?

The literati was about to say more, but suddenly someone shouted: "Sir, there seems to be a convoy in front of him." Everyone looked up and saw that at the end of the official road, a long convoy slowly came, and several fully armed soldiers, brightly armoured, reflected a few brilliance in the near noon sun. The convoy slowly approached. Several sturdy warriors holding the banner on their head attracted everyone's attention. One of them praised: "General Deng is indeed a famous general. The soldiers under his command are obviously powerful soldiers in a hundred battles. You see the murderous aura on them, which makes people scared."

Deng Chang didn't say anything. He was a little surprised at the length of the team, the many samurai in this team and the strength of the samurai. He subconsciously felt that this seemed not Deng Zhan's personal guard. Could it be that he suddenly became a little excited. Could it be that Mr. Cang Shu was really here?

Just as he was thinking, a cavalry rushed out of the team. A big man eight feet tall ran to the front of the Changting and suddenly strangled the war horse. The war horse neighed and was strangled to stand up. His two front hooves kicked in the air. He walked a few steps on the ground with only two rear hooves. He turned around and stopped his body, and the horse hooves pedaled on the ground with dust. The knight with bright armor shouted loudly: "Is it Mr. Deng, the magistrate of Xinye County?"

Deng Chang quickly tidied up his clothes, walked out of the long pavilion, and bowed respectfully in front of the knight, "The lower official is Deng Chang, the magistrate of Xinye County. I have been waiting for the general here for a long time. Is General Deng here?"

Li Wei laughed loudly, flew off the horse, held the whip upside down and bowed in front of Deng Chang, "The young general is Li Wei, the guard beside Mr. Cao. The young master has an order. Please ask Lord Deng to come forward and answer."

Deng Chang couldn't believe his ears for a moment, and he asked quickly: "Dare you ask the general, but Mr. Cang Shu?"

"Of course it's my son, who else can I have?" Li Wei smiled carelessly, looking at the flattered Deng Chang with some jokes: "Sir, please!"

Deng Chang was overjoyed and quickly packed up his official uniforms. Before he could greet his subordinates, he followed Li Wei and stood respectfully on the side of the road, waiting for Cao Chong's spacious carriage to slowly walk in front of him. Then he bowed and said with a slight trembling voice: "Deng Chang, the magistrate of Xinye County, Nanyang County, Deng Junkuo, and Xinye County members, welcome the young master."

The coachman whined softly, and the two strong horses stopped. Dian Man, who was beside him, lifted the curtain of the car. Cao Chong smiled from it and said softly, "I'm waiting for a long time, Lord Deng."

"I dare not, please follow me." Deng Chang suppressed the ecstasy in his heart, ran to the horse pulling the cart, and gently led the way with the reins in front of him. Only then did he remember that he was only happy and did not send anyone to invite the head of the family. When he thought of this, he quickly accused him, ran to the side of the road and called a family member to whisper a few words, then returned to Cao Chong's cart and took Cao Chong's cart outside the long pavilion.

The family ran not far away, untied a horse, turned over and left. Soon, the Prime Minister's beloved son, Cao Chong, the son of the tens of thousands of people in Wancheng, arrived in Xinye. The news that he wanted to attend the wedding of General Deng Zhan, the Marquis of Duting, the newly enthroned Deng family, spread throughout Xinye City, and the small Xinye City suddenly became boiling.
Chapter completed!