Entering the county seat of Haixi, Cao Shuo found that the population here was much smaller than that of Shouchun.

Although the population is not very large, there are still some merchants selling goods on the streets.

Most of the shops on both sides of the street are open, and although there are few customers, they don't feel depressed to the point of being unpleasant.

"There are only so few people in the city, how can merchants survive?" Cao Shuo asked the Haixi County Commander, "Have you ever thought of a way to solve this situation?" ”

"Earlier, Hercy was too poor." The county order said: "Although the Shixian order has made some improvements, but the surrounding areas are more affluent than Haixi, and they cannot attract people at all, and the only way to make Haixi prosperous as soon as possible is to promote the sale of seafood." ”

"I also talked to Shi Guangyuan about this matter." Cao Shuo said: "It's not impossible to sell seafood, but it's a little troublesome to transport......

"Delivering fresh seafood is a hassle." The prefectural order said, "But there is still some seafood that can be dried and transported to various places. ”

"Tell me, what are they?" Cao Shuo said.

"Dried shrimp and dried fish." "In addition to these, there are also kelp and the like, and even shellfish can be made into dry goods," the prefectural ordinance said. It is far better to ship seafood as dry goods without worrying about damage on the road than to ship fresh seafood. ”

Cao Shuo was stunned for a moment.

This method was indeed better than what he and Shi Guangyuan had discussed earlier.

The most important thing is that in this way, although the seafood eaten by the inland people is not fresh, the Haixi people can send the seafood caught from the sea to the inland to exchange for money.

"Have you heard about the matter I discussed with Shi Guangyuan?" Cao Shuo asked.

"I've heard of it." The county order said: "It's just that Shi Gong hasn't started to operate yet, and he doesn't have any input, I think it's better to slow down for a while, I don't know what Gongzi thinks." ”

"Do as you say." Cao Shuo asked, "Where are you going to find the person who transports seafood?" ”

"Use officials and businessmen first." The county decree said: "The government will select the person, and after doing it twice, it will be immediately transferred to the merchant who comes and goes." ”

"I can already get a lot of profit after doing it twice, why should I transfer it to the correspondents?" Cao Shuo asked, "Do you still think that the money you make is too little?" ”

"Officials and businessmen can only be an introduction." "When they don't make money, they will try to behave, and once they make money, some people will have bad thoughts," the county magistrate said. Once such a thought appears, I am afraid that the killing will not be finished. So let them stop thinking before they really taste the sweetness. ”

Cao Shuo's statement of the county order surprised Cao Shuo.

If someone said this to him two thousand years later, thinking of the situation of some enterprises, Cao Shuo would definitely agree without hesitation.

Some people, the power is too great, and the benefits are too much, but he will not do things for the government with his heart, but try to fill his own pockets.

However, at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was no large-scale official business, and the status of merchants was very lowly.

"That's all you thought?" Cao Shuo asked.

"Exactly." The county order said: "Human nature is greedy, especially those who are exposed to a lot of interests, and they often can't control it at all. If they are allowed to monopolize the exchange of goods and goods, it is likely that they will eventually be fattened and the government will be thinned. Even if the government confiscated their property, the income would be far less than the loss they lost when they were in charge. Because of this, I feel that many things are better left to ordinary businessmen. Ordinary businessmen were originally pursuing profits, and they bought seafood from the people and sent it to the mainland, so that they could earn benefits, and the people could also earn benefits. As time goes by, of course, more people will be willing to come to Haixi. ”

"Why don't you give these benefits to ordinary businessmen from the beginning?" Cao Shuo asked with his chin pinched.

"Businessmen are mercenary, and few have a long-term vision." The county magistrate said: "Most of them will rush to the top when they see the benefits, and what I have to do is to let them see the benefits first." ”

Cao Shuo nodded, patted the county commander's arm, and said with a slight smile: "You are a capable person." ”

"Thank you for the compliment!" The county magistrate hurriedly thanked.

Outside the gate of the Haixi Mansion, Cao Shuo frowned slightly.

Compared to many government offices, it is much more depressed.

The courtyard walls are dilapidated, and even the vermilion gate is already mottled with paint.

"The first county magistrate of Haixi was greedy for so much money, where did it go?" Cao Shuo asked the county order: "The government is in ruins like this, why don't you know how to repair it?" ”

"Back to Gongzi, I haven't been taking over for long." The county magistrate said: "Shi Gong also devoted himself to the prosperity of Haixi, and did not put his mind on the government. ”

"No matter what you say, the government is face after all." Cao Shuo said: "Of course, it is not possible to be magnificent, at least the gate should be painted, as well as the courtyard wall, and the weeds in the courtyard. Don't let people come here and feel that Haixi is dilapidated. ”

"Childe is right, but I don't think the face of the government really matters." The county order said: "I don't know if the prince has noticed, the poorer the place, the more luxurious the government builds." ”

Cao Shuo was stunned for a moment and looked at the Haixi County Order.

It was the first time he had met a county magistrate who dared to contradict him.

"Go on." Not only was he not annoyed, Cao Shuo also motioned to the Haixi County Commander to continue.

"Officials who only talk about face are not thinking about the people at all." The county magistrate said: "They think all day long about how to make the government more magnificent, and the proceeds are used in this kind of place, where will there be money to invest in what matters?" ”

"So, am I wrong?" Cao Shuo smiled slightly, and said to the county order: "I just asked you to repair it, and I didn't let you rebuild it." ”

"I understand what Childe means, and I will do it according to Childe." The county magistrate said: "I just want to tell Childe that in three years, this may be the most dilapidated building in Haixi." ”

After staring at the Haixi County Order for a long time, the corners of Cao Shuo's mouth hooked up a shallow smile: "That's right, I want to see what you can make Haixi look like in three years." ”

"I don't dare to say that it is better than the surrounding areas, at least it will not be worse." The prefectural order replied with great confidence.

On that day in Haixi, only seafood was entertained by Cao Shuo and others.

The county order is actually the same as Shi Guangyuan's original reason, seafood is the cheapest, and if it is served with beef and mutton, the cost is much more than seafood.

After looking around Haixi and returning to the residence in the official mansion, Cao Shuo asked Deng Zhan and Zhu Ao, who were following behind, "What do the two generals think of the Haixi County Order?" ”

"It's prickly and unpleasant." Deng Zhan said: "Even the son dares to contradict, and he is a little bolder." ”

(End of chapter)