The imperial court finally crowned Cao Cao the king, as soon as the news came out, the entire Luoyang City fell into a bad mood, not that the news was bad, for Cao Ang, his Laozi was crowned king, which means that his identity has also been improved.

The only bad thing is that at the same time that Cao Cao was crowned king, many of the forces that decided to surrender before chose to deviate, especially the boundary between Jingzhou and Yangzhou, and Cao Cao's name as a Han thief was also completely defined, after all, Liu Bang, the ancestor of the Han Dynasty, had issued a strict order that he was not allowed to establish a foreign surname king.

During this period, there were many fewer caravans to and from Luoyang, not because these merchants didn't want to, but because they couldn't, and the anti-Cao forces that continued to pour out from all over the country became unprecedentedly strong, causing many local forces to deliberately destroy the trade routes to Luoyang.

Not only did the number of merchants decrease, but the warlords in the Xiliang realm finally had a change, and at the same time, Gongsun Kang of Liaodong also began to contact the Xianbei clan.

As for Liu Ba and others who have come to deliver the surrender letter, it is more embarrassing at this time, although he made an appointment with Cao Ang to meet in three days, but after Cao Cao was told the world about the king, he also had to slow down his trip, and the matter was retreated for a month, and he lived in the most prosperous Qinglou in Luoyang, and he looked like he was drunk and dreamed of death every day.

Yuan Yun knew very well that Liu Ba's attitude was just delaying time, hoping to wait for Liu Zhang's new order from Yizhou, after all, the situation in the world has been deflected again, and so many forces are ready to move, which is definitely not a favorable thing for the Cao Group.

Although Yuan Yun knew that Cao Cao had the ambition to be the king, he didn't expect him to proceed so quickly, according to history, at least a few years later, but he was not as anxious as Cao Cao, the court was relieved, and he immediately implemented the matter.

Looking at the large number of merchants from the Western Regions in Luoyang City, Yuan Yun could only smile bitterly, now that there are fewer merchants in the south and the Central Plains, there are naturally more merchants in the Western Regions, and because the goods have been squeezed to a certain extent, the price has also begun to drop slightly, and these profiteers in the Western Regions seem to have smelled the smell, so most of them are wandering in Luoyang City, not like in the past, scrambling to buy goods, and then return early.

At noon, Cao Ang gathered everyone in Luoyang again, and he didn't have to guess to know what the theme of the meeting was, and now Luoyang's goods were constantly being stranded, so for a long time, there would be many drawbacks immediately, such as the storage of goods, and the reduction of production in the workshop, etc.

And even more troublesome is the warlords of the Xiliang realm, these people are brave people, once the flag is raised to rebel, it will inevitably blow a whirlwind, now in Xiliang town guard the gunpowder army of less than 10,000 people, although there are 30,000 soldiers of Chang'an Zhang Liao sitting in the rear, but not to ensure that Ma Chao and Han Sui and others will take risks, at that time Chang'an even if the support is beyond the whip.

Cao Ang waited for everyone to sit down in the study, and then waved slightly to let a few servants retreat, and when only Yuan Yun, Jia Xu, Xu You, Zhong Xuan, Wei Qi, Xu Yi, Xiahou Nan and others were left in the room, he knocked on the table and prepared to speak.

Cao Ang's eyes were a little worried, but it was fleeting, and then he immediately said: "Now Luoyang is squeezing more and more goods, we have not established a warehouse before, so in a few days I am afraid that all of them will be piled up on the street, if the workshop is reduced production, then the income of many workshop workers will decline, which will inevitably make people impetuous, after all, we have never lowered the wages of workers."

The most infuriating thing is those Hu merchants in the Western Regions, they saw that there were fewer merchants in other places, and they immediately adopted a wait-and-see attitude, that is, they planned to wait for our goods to pile up, so that they could sell them at a low price, and they could make a big bargain. ”

After listening to Cao Ang's words, Yuan Yun immediately smiled and continued: "The prince will give orders starting tomorrow, and three days later, he will begin to expel the Hu merchants from the Western Regions, only saying that there are a group of assassins who have escaped from the Western Regions, and they need to be carried out, so the Hu people must leave the Luoyang territory." ”

After Yuan Yun finished speaking, Cao Ang was stunned, not only Cao Ang, everyone was stunned, only Jia Xu nodded and said in support: "Yuan Hou's method is very good, and the old man also thinks that the prince should deal with it like this, these Hu businessmen are insatiable, and they want to teach some lessons." ”

Cao Ang replied a little anxiously: "How can this make it, if we drive these Hu merchants away again, who will buy our goods, so there will be more squeezing?" ”

Zhong Xuan was just stunned for a moment, and seemed to have immediately figured out the key, so he explained: "If we start to expel the Hu people, I'm afraid it's not us who are most anxious, but these Hu merchants who can't buy the goods and have to return. ”

Yuan Yun smiled and said: "I must also notify the officials below, don't sell it to Hu Shang easily, just tell the other party that you must leave three days ago, so that we can also raise the price, so that this time we can make a small profit." ”

Wei Qi belongs to the most honest people, hearing Yuan Yun say this, he couldn't help frowning and said: "We drive people and don't sell things, how can this Hu businessman's money be earned?" ”

Yuan Yun smiled, and just wanted to explain to Wei Qi about the methods of those small officials below, but suddenly chose to shut up, because this Wei Qi now has all the penal systems in Luoyang, if he knows that those small officials operating at the bottom are basically not clean, I am afraid that this uncle will immediately start asking for arrests, and if he is really going to arrest them, then it is estimated that no one in the Luoyang market will be able to work.

Cao Ang naturally knew the gray area of those small officials below, if there were no people in the city, the market in Luoyang would not be so lively, so he also chose to turn a blind eye.

However, Yuan Yun's method is indeed very good, so Cao Ang didn't pay attention to Wei Qi's doubts, but said in an accentuated tone: "This matter will be done according to Brother Yun's idea, and we will solve the problem for the time being, but it is only a temporary choice, and we still need to think of some ways to do it later." ”

Yuan Yun nodded and said: "The people will turn into the army, there is no need to produce more goods, then some workshops need to make adjustments and start to produce military products in large quantities. ”

Zhong Xuan nodded and said: "This is very good, now the warlords in the Xiliang realm have many changes, our supply to Chang'an must be increased, the production of cement and masonry must be expanded, and the manufacture of muskets must also be increased, all of which require the cooperation of many workshops, so the next step can indeed reduce civilian products, and start to manufacture ordnance in large quantities, and now Luoyang is not short of money and materials, so it is no problem for us to make less money in the next few years." ”

Cao Ang echoed: "The two generals, Zhang Jaw and Gao Lan, are now stationed in Jincheng, and they have sent letters several times saying that they need to strengthen their armaments and troops, and this time we have completely opened up the production of ordnance. ”

After explaining this, Cao Ang turned to Wei Qi again and said: "Luoyang City needs to strengthen security, now is an extraordinary period, I don't want too many people to know about our situation in Luoyang." ”

Wei Qi hurriedly clenched his fists to receive his life, and then asked: "Recently, there have been many thieves and bandits in the Hanoi area, should we send some people to sweep around first, and settle down there first, so that we can sit back and relax." ”

Cao Ang smiled bitterly and said: "Cao Ren still seems to be unwilling, although he has been driven home to farm, his subordinates are probably still listening to his deployment, these thieves from Hanoi to Luoyang are estimated to be all Hanoi defenders." ”

After smiling bitterly, Cao Ang's face turned cold, and he said: "Order Li Li to lead three thousand iron horsemen to suppress it, this time there is no need to capture any prisoners, even if I arrest it, it is estimated that my younger brother will exonerate Cao Ren, so if you don't leave any of them, you can teach them a lesson." ”

Wei Qi clenched his fists again and said no more.

Yuan Yun interjected at this time: "Although Hanzhong has handed it over to Yang Aruo, their armament is too ordinary, do we need to equip them with some firearms?" ”

Xu Yi rushed to speak at this time: "Their armament is not ordinary, but very good, if Brother Yuan compares it with the gunpowder army, they are indeed more ordinary, but if they want to compare it with other armies, now Yang Aruo's cottage armament is probably not comparable to few people in the world." ”

Xiahou Nan also immediately suggested: "It's better to keep firearms in your own hands, and I always feel terrified when I hand them over to outsiders, so Brother Yuan should give up this idea, at most we will give them more grain and grass, and I will prepare more canned meat for them." ”

Yuan Yun could only smile bitterly in his heart after hearing what the two said, even if Yang Aruo had surrendered to Cao Ang, Xu Yi and Xiahou Nan still treated each other as bandits, and naturally there was no sense of trust for bandits.

Although Cao Ang didn't agree with Xu Yi and Xiahou Nan's opinions, he thought that Liu Zhang in Yizhou didn't have much to do now, so Yang Aruo's armament was indeed very sufficient, so he didn't insist anymore, but ordered Xiahou Nan to send more grain and grass to the other party.

After explaining Xiahou Nan, Cao Ang looked at Xu Yi again and said: "General Zhang Liao always said that he is the only one in Chang'an, and some political facts cannot be taken care of, so I hope I can send a shrewd person, Xu Yi, you are idle every day in Luoyang, this time I will go over to help General Zhang Liao, now Chang'an is building a big market, you also have enough experience in this area, you go to me is most assured." ”

Xu Yi immediately hugged his fists and said: "I wanted to go to Chang'an early in the morning, but I applied a few times before, but I didn't see the prince of the world's heart, why did I change my mind this time?" ”

Cao Ang shook his head a little embarrassed, and then said with a little sarcasm: "Because your mother wants you to concentrate on making people in Luoyang, and now that Lu Qiling is also pregnant, why are you still staying in Luoyang?" ”

Xu Yi was stunned, and immediately crooked his mouth and protested: "It's the prince and my mother who use me as a stallion, so they trapped me in Luoyang, which is really ......."

Xu Yi was halfway through his words, and immediately chose to shut up, because Cao Ang's eyes had sunk, and now Cao Ang is becoming more and more powerful, and after the opening of the mansion, he commanded one side alone, so that he got a great sublimation, and his gestures naturally carried a trace of the domineering spirit of a king, so the color only changed slightly, which immediately made Xu Yi dare not be presumptuous.

Seeing that Xu Yi was honest, Cao Ang could only smile bitterly, and then asked Xu You, who had never spoken, "Why didn't Mr. Ziyuan say anything?" ”

Xu You hurriedly bowed his hand and replied respectfully: "The old man is just waiting for the prince to arrange, and now the things in Luoyang are arranged in an orderly manner, so as long as the old man obeys the arrangement of the prince, it will be right." ”

Yuan Yun scolded in his heart for 'sycophant', but in an instant, it was a pleasure, Xu You is now very different, he is a smart person, and he is very sophisticated, so there is no pressure on him at all to pat on the back in front of everyone, and because of this, almost all the intelligence work on Luoyang's side is handed over to him in charge, and he can also do it without leakage.

Cao Ang was really photographed by Xu Yu's sycophant, and ordered with a smile: "Mr. Ziyuan needs to be more busy in the near future, if it is not peaceful everywhere today, our intelligence work needs to be more detailed." ”

Xu You still looked deferential, and hugged his fists again and said: "As the prince wishes, the old man will definitely do it, but it's just ......"

After a slight pause, Xu You turned his head sideways slightly, then looked at Yuan Yun and continued: "It's just that you can let Yuan Hou lend those beggar gang children to the old man for use, so it's like a tiger with wings." ”

Yuan Yun was stunned, but he was a little angry in his heart, this old man actually hit the abacus on himself, how could he take advantage of this kind of big advantage, he just wanted to sneer at each other, but suddenly saw Xu You giving him a look, and he was suddenly shocked in his heart.

After calming down a little, Yuan Yuncai arched his hand and said: "This is naturally okay, the establishment of the beggar gang was originally to serve Luoyang, and it is not a matter in my private hands, so I will be relieved to be in charge of Mr. Ziyuan." ”

Xu You immediately hugged his fists and thanked him, and then sat back in his seat, and then the old god began to be in a daze.

Yuan Yun sighed secretly, the beggar gang is too big now, if it has been in his hands, it is indeed not a good thing, if he doesn't hand it over, I'm afraid that even if it's okay, someone will come up with some things in a hurry, especially now that there are more and more staff around Cao Ang, this kind of thing that will create suspicion is still reduced if it can be reduced.

Cao Ang was relieved a little when he saw that most of the things had been arranged, but he looked at Yuan Yun again in an instant, and said, "Brother Yun, can you lend Zhao Yun to me, I plan to send another 20,000 gunpowder army soldiers to help Cao Hong open up the border of Wancheng to Jingzhou for a hundred miles, and build new fortifications there, this time I have to give Liu Bei some coercion." ”