"Jizhou Mu, please see, this is the treasure offered by Youzhou Mu!"

Li Yong took out a white cotton flower from the burden in his hand, and there was nothing wrong with it, it was a cotton. White as the sun, just like the clouds, just a glance makes people feel bright.

"This thing is just a white stack handed down from the Western Regions, how can it be called a treasure? Could it be that you don't know how to deceive my lord, and you are trying to deceive my lord, and you are so bold!" Feng Ji glanced at it, and immediately shouted angrily, and was about to call the guards outside to drag Li Yong down and cut him down.

Cotton was brought to the Central Plains as early as when Zhang Qian went to the Western Regions, but people at that time did not know the use of cotton, and most of them were planted in gardens for ornamental use. And Feng Ji has also seen cotton, and at this time, when he saw that the treasure Li Yong said was the so-called white stack, he was immediately overjoyed. With this stubble of teasing, Yuan Shao will definitely be furious when he thinks about it, and Yuan Chang will be good-looking at that time.

And Yuan Shao really hasn't seen cotton, and he really likes it at first glance, after all, the color of cotton is so white, and it is naturally refreshing to look at it. However, Yuan Shao didn't rejoice for long, but he was awakened by Feng Ji's angry shout, only to know that this thing was handed down from the Western Regions and appeared in the Central Plains, and it was not a treasure. was fooled like a fool, how could Yuan Shao not be angry.

"Where are the guards, drag down this fanatic who fooled Benzhou Mu and cut it down!"

"Wait!"

Li Yong waved his hand to stop the guards who wanted to drag him, the guards glanced at Yuan Shao, and when they saw Yuan Shao nodding, they stopped moving, obviously, Yuan Shao wanted to hear what Li Yong had to explain.

"Qiyu Jizhou Mu, Youzhou Mu said that this thing is called cotton, but it is undoubtedly from the Western Regions. Li Yong nodded. Proudly said that cotton, as Feng Ji said, came from the Western Regions. Of course, Li Yong wanted to say more than that, but he continued: "However, the world is ignorant, and only plants cotton in the garden as an ornamental plant. But they don't know the real purpose of this cotton, and they don't know what it's used for, which is really ignorant and pathetic. ”

Li Yong sneered with disdain, and it was obvious that Feng Ji, who had just loudly reprimanded Li Yong, was naturally among the ranks of the ignorant world. Li Yong's words made Feng Ji grit his teeth in anger, and he couldn't wait to rush up and fight Li Yong hand-to-hand, but. It was also thanks to him that he was able to resist this thought.

"Oh, what is the use of this thing, tell me what you want, and if it is justified, the governor of this state will forgive you for the crime of deception, otherwise you will be severely punished. Yuan Shao was interested in Li Yong's words.

"Thank you Jizhou Mu for your magnanimity!"

Li Yong saluted and praised Yuan Shao before continuing: "The real use of cotton. It is made into a quilt for clothing, which can be used to keep out the cold. Quilts made of cotton. It is a superior thing to keep out the cold, and it is a little more than the clothes and quilts made of Shu brocade and silk. ”

"This white... How can cotton still have such a function?" Yuan Shao showed a look of surprise on his face, and all the civil and military officials under his command also showed the same expression.

It is no wonder that Yuan Shao and the people under his command have such expressions, it is really too late that the use of cotton appeared.

As mentioned earlier, cotton has spread to the Central Plains after Zhang Qian opened the Silk Road, but unfortunately it was regarded as an ornamental object. And not getting it used correctly. In history, cotton was really recorded in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and most of the places where it was planted at that time were in the border areas. The cotton is as white as the sun, giving people a sense of holiness, but. After looking at it for a long time, it is actually like that, and cotton is much less ornamental than other flowers, perhaps this is the reason why cotton is not widely popular. In addition, the connection between the Central Plains and the Western Regions is often interrupted, and although the Western Regions have made cotton into a cold-proof thing, but because there is no correct method, the effect of cold-proofing is not very good, and it is not as good as ordinary cotton cloth, so it was not until the Song Dynasty (a very magical dynasty) that cotton was introduced in large quantities. In the period of Zhu Yuanzhang in the Ming Dynasty, under Zhu Yuanzhang's compulsory measures, cotton was really used.

As for saying that Zhu Yuanzhang will try his best to promote cotton, it is also related to Zhu Yuanzhang's experience.

As we all know, before Zhu Yuanzhang became the emperor, he also worked as a beggar, monk, believer, etc., which can be described as rich experience. Perhaps, it was precisely because of his experience of poverty that he was able to come into contact with cotton, and recognized the benefits of cotton, so he forced the promotion of cotton. Then, cotton was promoted, and the corresponding tools appeared, and the birth of the cotton slingball bow was the real rational use of cotton.

And Yuan Chang, although he has never played cotton, he also knows that he has to use a cotton bow to concoct cotton, so that the clothes and quilts made of cotton can become cold things. Coupled with the great inventor Arimajun, Yuan Chang only needs to mention it a little, and it is not difficult to make a cotton bow and even a cotton machine.

"Yes!"

Li Yong held his head high, a confident look, and said loudly: "After the discovery of Youzhou Mu, the clothing quilt made of cotton has an excellent effect of keeping out the cold, as long as it goes through some processing, it can be made into a superior cold thing, and the price is much lower than that of silk and linen made of cold things, if this can be done, Jizhou Mu is famous for thousands of years, and it will be famous for centuries, so what's the difficulty!"

Blame!

Listening to Li Yong's words, Yuan Shao's eyes suddenly lit up, I am afraid that even a hundred watt light bulbs cannot compare to the brightness of Yuan Shao's eyes at this moment. Yuan Shao's enthusiasm for fame can be described as unprecedented, just by looking at the talents recruited by Yuan Shao, you can know how much Yuan Shao values fame. occupies such a huge advantage in the early stage, although the talents under his command are all first-class level, but there is no real top talent, if there is one, Yuan Shao will not lose so ugly. The reason is because Yuan Shao attaches too much importance to reputation and neglects ability. At this moment, I heard Li Yong say that he can be famous for eternity and be famous for centuries, how can Yuan Shao not care, I am afraid that Yuan Shao will not hesitate at this moment.

Of course, Li Yong will not joke about Xiang Shang's head, and he would never dare to put forward such a request to let Yuan Shao eat Xiang.

Some people may have questions, Yuan Chang knew the role of cotton, and also knew the huge benefits that cotton could bring, why did he give it to Yuan Shao? Could it be because he was worried that Yuan Shao would reproach him for taking advantage of loopholes to take down Qingzhou and Merge Prefecture, with Yuan Chang's current power, there was no need to be afraid of Yuan Shao at all, or was it because Yuan Chang was kind-hearted, so he would do such an unwise thing.

Of course. Yuan Chang was not afraid of Yuan Shao, nor did he lose his mind, and the reason why he handed over the cotton to Yuan Shao to deal with was mainly because the land of Youzhou was not suitable for growing cotton.

Cotton is more pretentious, unlike Champa rice, which can be grown anywhere. Cotton for light, moisture. The soil and other requirements are relatively harsh, and the black soil in Youzhou is naturally suitable for the soil condition. However, the light and water are slightly insufficient, and Jizhou has suitable soil, abundant sunlight, and is the area through which the Yellow River flows, where is there a better place to grow cotton than Jizhou?

In the Central Plains, there are only five places suitable for large-scale cotton cultivation. They are the Jianghuai Plain and the Jianghan Plain. Cotton area in southern Xinjiang, central and southern Hebei, northwest Shandong, northern Henan plain, and coastal plain in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Among them, the areas of central and southern Hebei and northwest Shandong are within the scope of Jizhou, so Jizhou is naturally more suitable for cotton planting than Youzhou. Southern Xinjiang is now in the Western Regions, Jianghuai Plain, Jianghan Plain in Jingzhou, Yangzhou and other places. Yuan Chang didn't have any friendship with the bigwigs of these state forces, so how could he give them such a big piece of fat for nothing. As for Yangzhou Mu Yuan Shu. At the beginning, he wanted to kill Yuan Chang, but Yuan Chang didn't send troops to kill Yuan Shu, which was considered Yuan Chang's generosity. In addition, Yuan Shao has this condition, and Yuan Chang and Yuan Shao are now in a situation of mutual assistance and mutual benefit, of course Yuan Chang will not treat Yuan Shao badly.

Yuan Shao had a smile on his face and said excitedly: "Since that's the case." Li Yong quickly said the method that Youzhou Mu said, and Benzhou Mu ordered someone to make it, as for the credit of Youzhou Mu, Benzhou Mu naturally will not forget it. ”

The fish has taken the bait!

The corners of Li Yong's mouth showed a smile of successful conspiracy, and he said unhurriedly: "Qi Ji Zhou Mu." To make cotton into a clothing quilt, you also need some tools to process it. However, this time the small came to Jizhou, and the tools have not yet been made, so they did not bring it, and please don't be anxious about Jizhou. After some time the tools are made, Youzhou Mu will send someone to send the tools to help Jizhou Mu. ”

"That's what happened!"

When Yuan Shao heard this, he immediately showed a disappointed expression, thinking that he would be famous for eternity and immortality immediately, but who knew that he would have to wait for some time. I have to say that Yuan Shao, as an overlord, does not have the temperament of Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Quan and others, so it is no wonder that Yuan Shao can only be a temporary overlord, but he cannot be a hero in a lifetime. Just like the decisive battle between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Chan outside Jixian County that day, when Gongsun Zhan's white horse Yicong broke through Yuan Shao's defense line, Yuan Shao threw his helmet on the ground, drew his sword and shouted to the soldiers to kill the enemy, it seems that Yuan Shao also has blood when he is hot. However, Yuan Shao's shortcomings were revealed from another aspect. As the head of a force, at such a critical moment, not to mention that the gentleman does not stand under the dangerous wall, it is already extremely unwise just for Yuan Shao's blood to rise and put on a desperate posture. Yuan Shao behaved like this, wasn't he telling his subordinates that the situation was very critical now, and everyone had to work hard. If his subordinates are all a group of people who are greedy for life and afraid of death, won't they be frightened at this time, not to mention following Yuan Shao to meet the enemy, I am afraid that there is a possibility of directly killing Yuan Shao and joining the enemy. It is also a pity that there was no such person under Yuan Shao's command, and he successfully blocked Gongsun Zhan's offensive, and finally won the decisive battle; and in history, when Cao Cao and Yuan Shao confronted each other, Liu Bei entangled Liu Pi in Runan, Cao Cao waved his troops to fight back, Tian Feng suggested that Yuan Shao take the opportunity to attack Cao Cao's rear, so that Cao Cao could be defeated in a battle. Who knows, Yuan Shao refused to send troops because of his son's illness, and put on a worried expression when his son was sick, for fear that others would not know how much he cared about his son. Showing his emotions in such a clear eye, how can Yuan Shao be able to deter his subordinates, and how can he be called a hero.

"Qiqi Jizhou Mu, Youzhou Mu has a matter to ask the villain to tell you, please listen to the next word of his subordinates. Looking at Yuan Shao's disappointed expression, Li Yong had to bring up another matter, although saying this might make Yuan Shao even more disappointed.

"Oh, what's the matter, but it doesn't hurt to say it!"

Yuan Shao no longer had the excitement he had before, and he seemed a little lazy to speak at the moment. However, seeing that the other party had previously proposed to make himself famous, Yuan Shao still listened patiently.

"It's about the tools for processing cotton!"

Li Yong spoke, and seeing that Yuan Shao and the others were puzzled on their faces, Li Yong continued to explain: "As early as Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions, he had already brought cotton to the Central Plains. But why don't the people of the world know what cotton is really for? Because there are no tools for processing cotton, the world doesn't know what it's for. However, in Youzhou, because a master craftsman invented a tool for processing cotton, the real use of cotton can be realized. It's just that this tool for processing cotton is complex and not easy to manufacture, and it takes a lot of manpower, financial and material resources to build. Therefore, for the tools for processing cotton, Youzhou Mu hopes to collect some money appropriately, of course, Youzhou Mu is definitely the most preferential price, just charge some material fees. ”

Yuan Chang didn't want to do good deeds, and he didn't lose his mind, so naturally it was impossible to cheapen Yuan Shao in vain. gave the cotton project to Yuan Shao, of course, to earn profits from other places. Then, the cotton slinging bow and cotton bouncing machine are the way to make profits. Anyway, no one knows how much the cost is, and the price is not set by Yuan Chang. As for piracy, this is also an inevitable thing, Yuan Chang made a hand when he could earn it anyway, and then it had nothing to do with Yuan Chang. The promotion of cotton has nothing to do with him, anyway, this thing is not a profiteering industry, and Yuan Chang does not expect cotton to bring much benefit.

"How daring!"

Before Yuan Shao could speak, Feng Ji couldn't help but jump out and scolded angrily: "My lord uses your tools to look up to Youzhou Mu, since you still dare to collect money from my lord, I really think that without your tools, my lord will not be able to use this cotton!"

When Feng Ji said this, not to mention that Li Yong looked at him with disdain, even Yuan Shao and his subordinates looked at Feng Ji as if they were stupid. If there were other people who knew how to make tools for processing cotton, would cotton still be so obscure? Obviously, this tool is unique to Yuan Chang, and it is normal for people to collect money. If you don't collect any money, that's not normal.

Li Yong didn't argue with Feng Ji, he could see that Feng Ji was hostile to the Youzhou side and wanted to provoke a thorn. Moreover, Feng Ji is like a fool, does Li Yong still have to argue with a fool?

Sweeping his gaze to Yuan Shao, Li Yong asked, "Jizhou Mu, I don't know what you think?"

"It's also very hard for craftsmen to make tools, and it is also appropriate to collect money!" Of course, Yuan Shao would not object, he also counted on cotton swabs to earn fame. Now that Yuan Shao has decided, the matter is settled. (To be continued.) )