The nobles of the Chu State couldn't put it down when they touched the soft and sturdy cotton cloth, especially those who practiced martial arts, and preferred this kind of cloth that was easy to absorb sweat.

Wearing silk in summer and cotton in winter has become the consensus of the nobles of Chu State, and even the five countries of the Central Plains have blown the cotton wind.

Wei and Korea faced the Qin military disaster, and the upper nobles did not forget to compete for cotton cloth at high prices to show off their new clothes.

The death of the front-line soldiers and the drunken dreams and deaths of the nobles in the rear have always existed at the same time, and it is not worth spending more pen and ink.

The city of Guangling (Yangzhou), which is across the river from Wu County, was built during the reign of King Huai of Chu, relying on the Yangtze River and Hangou (the ancient canal connecting the Yangtze River and Huaishui) to facilitate navigation and irrigation, and gradually grew.

The land of Wuyue was seized by the Qin State, and the Chu State garrisoned Guangling, relying on the Yangtze River to defend against the Qin army, but the trade between Guangling and Wu County did not have any restrictions, but it was more prosperous because of the development of Wu County by the Qin State.

Businessmen are always chasing the "outlet" of the market. Qin Mian is now the "outlet" of the Chu market.

There was an endless stream of merchant ships going back and forth from the north and south on the Yangtze River, and the Qin and Chu armies turned a blind eye and secretly accepted benefits.

Li Mu counted the "rewards" received by the Qin army today, and said: "The money for repairing warships is enough. ”

Wang Jian saw Li Mu's deputy businessman's style, which was really a little difficult to accept.

As a very traditional Qin general, Wang Jian has become accustomed to the style of using as many soldiers as the king of Qin gave, and using as much grain as he gave, and at most the style of wanton looting after the city was broken.

Li Mu is not like a general in this regard, but like a shrewd businessman, from replenishing the army to raising money and food by himself, if it were not for Zhu Xiang and Gongzizheng in Wu County, Wang Jian would be worried that someone would say that Li Mu would rebel.

Wang Jian reminded Li Mu. Li Mu was stunned for a while, and then smiled bitterly and said, "I'm scared."

Li Mu immediately sent a letter to the King of Qin to reflect on it, and asked the King of Qin to send someone to supervise.

At that time, King Qin Zhaoxiang was on the sickbed, and after hearing this, he wrote a letter to scold Li Mu.

King Zhao can tolerate you, can't the widow tolerate you? Even the widow's successor can tolerate you! And act autonomously!

Li Mu did not breathe a sigh of relief after seeing King Qin Zhaoxiang's letter, although he was still very autonomous in acting, but every time he acted, he would write down in detail what he wanted to do and hand it to King Qin.

According to Zhu Xiang, this is "the need for regular reporting". The "regular report" was even more reassuring to the king if it was interspersed with some personal letters.

Therefore, Zhu Xiang and he both received the power of "acting independently" allowed by the King of Qin, and from the secret letters quietly transmitted by Zichu and others, the two Qin kings trusted Zhu Xiang and Li Mu more than those county guards who did not have the right to act independently.

Zhu Xiang's hand was learned from the letters of Yongzheng and his favored minister Manbao.

Every time the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, Man Bao, handed Yongzheng an excerpt to talk about military and political affairs, he would mix it with nonsense excerpts, that is, the popular joke on the Internet in later generations: "Lychees are delicious, mangoes are delicious, and the emperor eats them or not".

Manchu Bao, as a rare able minister of the Qing Dynasty who attached importance to the coastal defense line, added more than 1,000 artillery positions on the southern coast, and relied on these old batteries to fight during the Opium War.

The more power you have, the more you can't just write cold reports. The king has given you a lot of power, that is, to have a close relationship with you, and at this time, you can talk nonsense with the king in order to enhance your relationship.

Li Mu learned a hand from Zhu Xiang and now handed it over to Wang Qian.

He ordered the Qin army to accept bribes from merchants with confidence and boldness, and then hand them over truthfully, and he would use the money to improve the lives of his soldiers.

The soldiers trusted Li Mu, a general who never withheld food and salary, and obediently did so.

Li Mu made a list of bribes in triplicate, one for archiving, one for Ying Xiaozheng, and one for Qin Wangzhu along with some "specialties".

This is not only his "family affair" with King Qin, but also the delivery of "evidence of stigma" to King Qin.

Zhu Xiang reminded him that generals must learn to be harmless in their self-defilement, and accepting bribes from businessmen is just "harmless" self-defilement, and even if it is known, at most it will be a move to an official and be dismissed.

Wang Jian learned self-defilement from Li Mu, but he has not yet learned how to do business.

He cupped his forehead and sighed.

Doing business or something, he's really not good at it. Can he just lead the troops to fight and go home to enjoy the glory and wealth after the battle?

Is Li Mu going to Wu Anjun? How does he think that Li Mu is going to Xiangguo!

This one-handed ability to revitalize Wu Jun and Qin Guozhoushi, Li Mu, you will be more than enough to be the prime minister.

Li Mu only told Wang Jian with a blank face that this was all forced out.

King Wuling of Zhao established the three counties of Yanmen, Yunzhong, and Dai to resist the Xiongnu, and the Li family has been a general in the three counties for generations since then. But the main energy of Zhao State is in the Central Plains, and the soldiers and rations are close to the Central Plains. When he was a general in Yanmen, it happened to be when the Hu people were strong.

In addition to the Xiongnu, the steppe nomadic tribes known as Donghu because they were in the east of the Xiongnu were also very strong. The Xiongnu and Donghu fought each other when the water and grass were abundant, and in winter, when the water and grass were yellow, they went south together to invade the Central Plains.

In the face of such a strong enemy, Li Mu did not have enough soldiers, not enough food, and no management skills, how could he defend Yanmen, Yunzhong, and Daisanjun.

Wang Jian followed Li Mu bitterly to learn what he was not good at, and joked: "When you manage the three counties of Yanmen, Yunzhong and Dai properly, won't the three northern counties become your Li Mu's fief?" Are you sure King Zhao won't kill you then? ”

Li Mu continued to say expressionlessly: "At that time, I am afraid that you happened to come to attack Zhao on the order of Zheng'er. Didn't Zheng'er say it? If you want to kill me with a divisive scheme, it's probably an excuse to use it. ”

Wang Jian laughed, and the depression of being compared to Li Mu was finally dissipated.

Seeing Wang Jian laughing, Li Mu kicked Wang Qian, and then couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Although he was no longer in Zhao, he saw that if he was at the end of Zhao's road, he had a very complicated mood.

Under Li Mu's indulgence, the merchants of the Chu State with various missions soon discovered Qin Mian's secrets.

Qin Mian was actually grown from the ground? The Qin State can plant, and of course our Chu State can also do it!

Soon, they secretly bought cotton seeds and colluded with bandits to kidnap old farmers who could grow cotton and leave.

If it is directly kidnapped, Li Mu will stop him on the shore and kill what should be killed. This also just gives the people of Chu the illusion that the people of Qin attach great importance to cotton planting technology.

After that, the merchants changed their ways, sending people to steal teachers, or going to Qin merchants who came to Chu to do business (such as Lü Buwei, who pretended to be his own disciples) to buy old farmers who could grow cotton, which brought cotton technology to Chu State.

In this day and age, planting techniques are not easy to keep secrets, and it is easy to pass them on. The people of Chu did not realize that the Qin people were deliberately indulgent.

Li Mu deliberately set up an execution ground by the river and openly executed unlaw-abiding merchants, which was passed on by the merchants to the ears of the nobles of the Chu State, and became the Qin State's murder in order to keep the cotton planting method secret.

Since the Qin people attached so much importance to the technology of cotton cultivation, of course, the nobles of the Chu State immediately divided the fields to plant cotton.

The acting Wu County Shou Ying Xiaozheng immediately sent Li Si to visit the Chu State and solemnly protest to the King of Chu against the theft of cotton seeds by the Chu State.

The courtiers of the king of Chu sternly refuted Li Si's absurdity, saying that cotton has been cultivated in Chu since ancient times, but this was not popular before.

Isn't cotton now planted in the land of Wuyue? The land of Wuyue was originally the territory of the Chu State, so the Chu people brought cotton to the Jianghuai Plain.

They also brought out Zhu Xiang's reputation.

When it comes to cotton, which is beneficial to the people, Zhu Xianggong is definitely willing to share it with the world. Could it be that Zhu Xianggong is willing to let the people of the world freeze to death?

Hearing the other party's insult to Zhu Xiang, Li Si felt real anger in his heart.

He knew that he was small and had a dark mind, and even Han Fei, who regarded him as his best friend, was deeply jealous. Even if he thinks that if it is for his own interests, he is afraid that even Zhu Xiang can be framed. But now that he heard someone insulting Zhu Xiang, Li Si's anger was difficult to suppress.

"Of course Zhu Xianggong has mercy on the common people, but are the common people who use cotton cloth now?"

Li Si snorted coldly and quoted the purchase price of cotton from the merchants of Qindi and the price at which cotton cloth was sold in various countries.

"You are a group of people who are full of wine and food, and you actually say that Zhu Xianggong doesn't share it with you, what does Zhu Xianggong share with you? Share: How not to starve to death or freeze to death? ”

"If you can let the common people also wear cotton cloth, not to mention Zhu Xianggong, I, Li Si, dare to guarantee here, not only will the Qin State no longer investigate your stealing of cotton, but also send people to teach you to plant cotton."

"I dare to write a note, do you dare?!" Li Si sneered, "Do you dare?!" ”

He looked around at the people in the hall of the Chu Dynasty, and no one dared to look at him.

Of course, Li Si knew that no one in the Chu State dared to respond to this matter.

Cotton cloth is now the favorite cloth of the aristocracy, if the common people also wear cotton cloth together, then what is the face of the nobles?

Lü Buwei once told Li Si that the reason why he wanted to climb up like crazy was not only because he wanted greater wealth, but more importantly, if he was just a businessman, even if he had a lot of money, he would not dare to let go of his enjoyment.

The patterns on their clothes and the decorations they wore were strictly controlled, and they could not be equated with the nobility. Some kings or feudal lords even restricted the cloth worn by the common people.

In fact, the Qin State also has such regulations, such as what colors the common people cannot wear. But the people of the Qin State are still black, black and dirt-resistant, and they wear black up and down, so only in terms of clothing, the gap between the Shu and the nobles is not so clear.

"Zhu Xianggong never took care of the general affairs, no matter where he went, he was in the field and the common people." Li Si restrained his anger and said in a flat tone, "If you have to let Zhu Xianggong worry about this matter, then I will go back to Wu County to find Zhu Xianggong to inquire about this matter." But Zhu Xianggong is willing to share cotton with you Chu State, do you Chu State dare to ask for it? ”

After speaking, Li Si ignored the fact that the king of Chu was still there, got up and brushed his sleeves away, and strode out of the palace of the king of Chu.

As an envoy, he turned his back to the king of Chu and left, arrogant and domineering.

The face of the king of Chu changed greatly, and he almost called for someone to take down this rude man, but thinking of the strength of the Qin State, he endured it.

"Chun Shenjun, look ......" King Chu glanced at his ministers, and finally asked for help from Chun Shenjun, who had been suppressed by him several times.

The old nobles of Chu took care of their own interests, and the people who would do things for the king of Chu, the king of Chu looked around, as if only Chun Shenjun was the most powerful.

Chun Shenjun was silent for a long time before he said: "This is a despicable thing done by the merchants of Chu State in order to make profits, and the king pretends not to know, or the affairs of the people, as a king, you don't need to know." Comparing Zhu Xianggong with this businessman, if other countries knew about it, they would laugh at us. ”

The doctor who accidentally pulled Zhu Xianggong immediately fell to the ground: "What Chun Shenjun said is extremely true, it is my fault." ”

Chun Shenjun said: "Please send me to meet the envoys of the Qin State to apologize to Zhu Xianggong." ”

King Chu said: "Quasi." But this cotton ......"

Chun Shenjun said: "Since the Chu State has already planted cotton, it is impossible to stop. Qin Guo also knew about this, and sent people to protest just to look better. ”

The King of Chu sighed: "Okay, you go and meet the envoys of the Qin State." The widow is tired, so stand down. ”

Chu Guoqing's doctors left in order, and Chun Shenjun also left.

When he left, Chu Guoqing's doctors did not talk to him, which was completely different from when Chun Shenjun was Chu Xiang at the beginning.

After Chun Shenjun was snubbed by the King of Chu, even if he attacked the State of Lu and returned to the center of power of the State of Chu, the situation was no longer what it used to be.

The emerging aristocracy that has already shown a decline is naturally not taken seriously by the old nobles of the Chu State.

Chun Shenjun sat in the carriage, lowered the curtain, and then held his forehead and sighed.

Zhu Xiang's benevolent name was intertwined with the cunning image of Zhu Xiang he met in Xianyang, which made him feel very dazed.

"Zhu Xiang, Zhu Xiang, is the cotton matter really a businessman's profit, or do you want to do something?" Chun Shenjun held his forehead and said to himself, "I don't believe you when you go south and only know how to farm and don't care about general affairs." You...... What's the plan?! ”

Chun Shenjun pondered for a long time, but he couldn't think of what Zhu Xiang wanted to do.

He could only go to see Li Si, a little-known envoy of the Qin State, in person to test the thoughts of the Qin people.

But Li Si didn't leak.

Li Si vented his bitterness to Chun Shenjun, saying that he knew that it was a merchant who pursued profits, and that the king of Chu would give Qin a little face, reprimand the merchant, and then symbolically compensate him, forget it. Who knew that the Chu people were so unreasonable, and they also climbed Zhu Xianggong.

What does the businessman's business have to do with Zhu Xianggong? Wouldn't a person who says such a thing be troubled in his heart?

Fortunately, Chu has Chun Shenjun and understands things.

"I once studied under Zhu Xianggong, and Zhu Xianggong praised Chun Shenjun a lot. If it wasn't for business, I should have come to visit Chunshen-kun in person. Li Si kept complimenting Chun Shenjun, saying a lot of good things, and not missing a word of anything else.

Chun Shenjun couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart.

He had already seen that although Li Si was young and had no reputation, he was not a good-looking person.

Chun Shenjun suddenly remembered a rumor about Zhu Xiang.

He asked, "Were you recommended by Zhu Xianggong to be an official?" ”