Before Cao Shuo returned to Shouchun, Sima Yi had already conveyed military orders to various places on his behalf, asking the defenders to strictly guard against Liu Bei's invasion from Xuzhou.

Pang Tong led the main force from Lujiang and will also arrive in Huainan.

Lingyun Pavilion has also been built in Shouchun.

Before Pang Tong returned, Sima Yi had already led 10,000 soldiers to Zhongli and looked at Liu Bei in Xuzhou.

Shouchun Lingyun Pavilion.

Cao Shuo stood on the terrace on the top floor, looking into the distance, while the steward of Lingyun Pavilion bowed his head and stood behind him.

"The Lingyun Pavilion here is more imposing than Xu Du." Cao Shuo said: "I thought it would take a long time to build it, but I didn't expect it to be completed so quickly." ”

"Although the construction is fast, Shouchun is too sluggish in business." The steward of Lingyun Pavilion said: "If it goes on like this, it is not a way after all. ”

"I want Lingyun Pavilion to be here, just to attract foreign businessmen and develop Shouchun as soon as possible." Cao Shuo said: "I want you to find ways to make this place a rich place, instead of being devastated like now." ”

"It takes time to do business." The steward of Lingyun Pavilion said, "There is nothing near Shouchun that can be sold elsewhere. Although medicinal herbs such as Ganoderma lucidum are abundant in the mountains here, there are many other places, and it is not possible to sell them at a good price when they are shipped elsewhere. ”

"Are there anything else besides medicinal herbs?" Cao Shuo asked again.

The steward of Lingyun Pavilion shook his head: "Aquatic products and some nearby specialties are not suitable for long-distance transportation, and it is impossible for businessmen to come here for those." ”

Cao Shuo frowned, and his face was a little unpleasant.

It is difficult for a good woman to cook without rice.

There was nothing to use nearby, and even if he urged the Lingyun Pavilion to take charge, it would be impossible to drive Shouchun business in a very short period of time.

"Childe, I have a way." The steward of Lingyun Pavilion said: "It's just that the investment is too big, I'm afraid the son will ......."

"How much does it take, and what do you have to invest in?" Cao Shuo asked.

"The Huai River passes between Shouchun and Xia Cai, and there are tributaries such as the Huaishui River crisscrossing it." The steward of Lingyun Pavilion said: "No matter where the merchants are, as long as they come and sell goods, they must go hand in hand by land and water. If we can build a commercial ferry port in Shou Chun......"

Speaking of this, the manager of Lingyun Pavilion didn't dare to continue.

As long as it is adjacent to the river, there are ferries everywhere.

Ferries were often used to ferry people, and in wartime as a port to cross the river, providing them to merchants was only one of the small functions.

No one has ever done this before.

"Yes." Cao Shuo said: "Huainan has developed water and land shipping, and it is a pity if it is not used, as long as it can attract more merchants to use the ferry here, even if there are no resources available, it can make the place prosperous." ”

"That's exactly what I meant." The steward of Lingyun Pavilion said: "It will take less than two years to open a ferry port for merchants, develop Shouchun, Xia Cai and other places into a concentration of goods, and open up a market in the city." ”

"What else is there to do?" Cao Shuo asked.

"Guards." The steward of Lingyun Pavilion said, "The guards who specialize in protecting the merchants who come and go. To put it mildly, there are thieves in the poor mountains and bad waters, Huainan is too poor, although the people here are simple, but some of them must not hesitate to take risks in order to get the goods. ”

"If there is such a person, there is no mercy." Cao Shuo said: "I gave them food, clothes, and built a new village for them, not to make them thieves!" I will issue an order that anyone who dares to harass a merchant will be killed, no matter who it is, no matter what the reason or justification! ”

"If Gongzi really gave this order, merchants from all over the country will definitely choose Huainan as a transit or simply sell goods here." The steward of Lingyun Pavilion said: "In addition to the ferry and guards, as long as you open up a market in the city, you can do it. ”

"Of course, we have to open up the market." Cao Shuo said: "The market is a market market, and both Shouchun and Xia Cai should open up a large market for merchants to sell goods back and forth. ”

"With the support of Gongzi, I believe that in less than two years, Huainan will definitely become a pearl on the shore of Huaishui." The steward of Lingyun Pavilion said: "If Gongzi has already made a decision, I will arrange someone to do it." ”

"Go ahead!" "The order to support business will be issued shortly thereafter," Cao said. ”

The steward of Lingyun Pavilion retired and left.

"Childe, do you really want to build a commercial ferry port in Huainan?" After the steward of Lingyun Pavilion left, Cai Ji reminded in a low voice: "Shangjia is just some pariahs, although they are rich, they are never valued by the imperial court......"

"It is precisely because they are not taken seriously that many places cannot develop." Cao Shuo said: "Huainan Lujiang and other places are not populated now, and the land is still enough. Once the population grows, it is simply not enough to feed many people on the land here. What do I have to feed such a large population? By money! Use the money to buy more food from other places, otherwise we and the people will have to wait to starve. ”

"Since Childe is worried that there won't be enough food to eat, why don't you open up more land for the people to cultivate?" Cai Ji said blankly: "There are a lot of mountains in Huainan, if they are all opened......"

"It's all open, and there's nothing here." Cao Shuo said: "There is not much land, and if the vegetation is destroyed, for Huainan, I am a sinner for the ages." With the conditions here, I am afraid that only pigs will focus on the development of agriculture here, which does not have any advantages at all. ”

Turning his head to look at Cai Ji, Cao Shuo said: "The grain produced by the land here is just used to compensate for the lack of storage. Although the two sides of the Jianghuai River are the land of fish and rice, you are indeed teasing me when developing agriculture here. ”

"Childe is serious, how dare I tease Childe." Cai Ji hugged his fists and bowed down and replied tremblingly.

"A rich country and a strong world cannot rely on agriculture alone." Cao Shuo said: "To have cutting-edge weapons, we must develop workshops. If we want more money, we must support the merchants. I don't care what the status of the merchants is in other places, when I go to Huainan and Lujiang, they are my honored guests. As long as I operate with integrity, I will spare no effort to protect them. Of course, I will not show mercy to those black-hearted merchants. Business contacts determine whether a place can become rich as soon as possible. However, if you let the merchants come and sell counterfeits here, sooner or later they will mess up the market. ”

"Childe is thoughtful, but there are too many people, and there will always be some unsatisfactory places." Cai Ji replied.

"There are too many unsatisfactory places, it depends on how we manage them." Cao Shuo smiled slightly: "What makes me comfortable, I will also make them live comfortably." Whoever blocks me and the people, I will make it impossible for them to live in peace for a day. ”

(End of chapter)