"That is, nail him to the sole of the horse." As he spoke, Kou Feng patted the horse's leg and explained.

"This, Your Majesty. Doesn't this hurt the horse? The craftsman next to him asked hesitantly. Looking at these objects made by Kou Feng, I am afraid that they are to equip war horses and improve the ability of cavalry. But if you nail this horsehoe to the horse's hoof, won't it hurt the horse?

"It's up to the old gentlemen. Anyway, there is a way to nail this horseshoe to the top of the foot, but it doesn't hurt the horse. As he spoke, Kou Feng paused and said, "Since the old gentlemen know the cavalry, they should know that when this war horse gallops, the most easily injured is the soles of the feet. After the First World War, most of the injured horses were due to hooves. The horse's hooves are injured and cannot be treated, which is really a big loss. If you nail this horseshoe on the sole of your foot, you can save a lot of losses. Therefore, don't be unbelieving, try to believe. Let's see how you can nail this horseshoe to the top of your foot. As he spoke, Kou Feng looked at the craftsmen very gently, without a domineering posture at all.

The so-called twisted melon is not sweet, and nailing this horseshoe on the sole of the horse's foot is simply a miracle through the ages. Domineering orders to these craftsmen may lead to some resistance.

It doesn't make sense.

And Kou Feng talked to these craftsmen like this, but the craftsmen believed it a little.

After the carving, the craftsmen respectfully complied.

"Well, as long as it can be developed, there will be a reward." Kou Feng shouted hello and laughed.

This thing has no technical content except for the horseshoe, according to Kou Feng's estimate, the longest is a month, the shortest days, it should be able to come out.

When the time comes, "massively equip the cavalry." It's a very enjoyable thing.

Kou Feng's mood couldn't help but be good. After saying a few words to Zhang Dao, Kou Feng rode back to the mansion with a smile.

Kou Feng, the Duke of Chu, is occasionally busy. There are also emergencies.

As soon as he returned to the mansion, Kou Feng planned to go to Xiao Qiao's side to stay for a while. Recently, he was newly married to Da Qiao, and Kou Feng was more lingering.

But at this time, an attendant came to report, "Dasi Nong, Mi Zhu asks to see you."

Dasi Nong's management is very miscellaneous, involving agriculture and mulberry, as well as some government-run institutions, such as boiling salt, iron smelting, etc., he is so anxious to see, I am afraid that something big has happened.

Kou Feng pondered for a moment, and immediately rushed back to the study on the way to Da Qiao's side.

In the book, Mi Zhu has already been waiting there. With the higher Kou Feng's status, Mi Zhu is now more and more radiant.

When Kou Feng was called the public, Mi Zhu was even more because of his merits, and he sealed the inner marquis. Today, the family of merchants has been transformed into a prominent and powerful person.

Naturally, Xi Jia is relaxed.

However, "at this moment, Mi Zhu's face was a little solemn.

"Your Majesty." Hearing the sound of footsteps behind him, Mi Zhu turned around and greeted Kou Feng.

"Excuse me, sit." , Kou Feng Jian said in horror.

Zhu promised and sat down beside him.

"Is there something going on in such a hurry?" , Kou Feng sat down" asked.

"During this time, a lot of illegal salt went down the Yangtze River to Hanzhong, and the minister found a lot of it. Also got some news. Hanzhong and Yongliang are very short of salt. Mi Zhu reported back, said, took out a fold of the cuff Ran, and handed it out.

His own attendant took it and handed it to Kou Feng.

Kou Feng took it and took a look, and his face became slightly solemn.

Salt is a heavy profit, and it has always been under the control of the state. The salt tax was one of the major taxes of the imperial court. And iron, as a military reserve, is even more of a top priority. Kou Feng established the state of Chu and "put the management of salt and iron" under the Great Si Nong.

These two are a kind of forbidden existence, but there is no shortage of profiteers who take risks in this era. In the past, "iron was even sold to the steppe people.

In history, successive dynasties have repeatedly banned it.

Selling iron is collaborating with the enemy and betraying the country, and there are people who collaborate with the enemy and betray the country. Not to mention this little smuggling of salt.

However, Kou Feng's attention quickly focused on the news that Mi Zhu said. Because of Ma Teng and Han Sui, they each called Hou Jianguo, although Cao Cao asked the Son of Heaven to issue an edict and recognized the status of the two, but secretly retaliated. cut off the road on land, for the salt to be transported westward. Countless levels are set.

Although there is still private salt flowing into Yongliang, the current salt shortage in Yongliang is very serious.

And Hanzhong is also because of his friendship with Liu Zhang in Yizhou. Liu Zhang, who owned Yizhou well salt, also cut off the supply of salt to Hanzhong.

Salt in Hanzhong is also very scarce.

This helped smugglers to steal salt from Chu and enter Yongliang and Hanzhong.

Kou Feng also saw a trade route in it. Now the Chu State can sell the monopolized Chu book to the northern scholars, which can be said to be a daily profit.

But the overhead is also significant. Such as Chu Dao, it is very expensive.

Therefore, there is a lot of silver in but not much in reserve. Kou Feng didn't mind having more money in his warehouse.

This salt is a good trade route.

As the saying goes, it's better to be blocked than to be sparse. You blocked it for a while, but you couldn't block it for a lifetime. And, why block. In Hanzhong, Yongliang lacks salt.

Cao Cao's side is an embargo.

They can be shipped over and sold in the Chu Kingdom. Things are vaguely expensive, and since there is a shortage of salt over there, it should be very expensive.

"Your Majesty, now the war between the two rivers. Dongchuan Zhang Lu only has one county, but he suppresses Xichuan Liu Zhang and can't raise his head. This Liu Zhang is also too incompetent. However, should our Chu State also send troops? If Zhang Lu is allowed to seize Yizhou, I am afraid it will be difficult to deal with. Just as Kou Feng was groaning, Mi Zhu said beside him.

"Hehe, this gentleman doesn't have to worry about it. Although Liu Zhang is weak, he has a large number of troops. Not great, but the defense is more than enough. Little Zhang Lu, if he wants to swallow an elephant, I'm afraid he won't be able to swallow it in a few years. Kou Feng smiled when he heard this.

Zhu blushed slightly, he was not good at military affairs, but after receiving the news, he couldn't help but say this.

Of course, Kou Feng didn't blame Mi Zhu, but he explained it slightly.

Immediately, Kou Feng brought the topic back to table salt.

"As the saying goes, it's better to be blocked.

Since we can't stop the smuggling salt merchants, we will give them all our strength and let them sell the salt to Hanzhong and Yongliang. Kou Feng squinted his eyes and said.

"Doesn't this boost the arrogance of the private salt trafficking?" When Mi Zhu heard this, he suddenly became anxious, and he couldn't care about the etiquette of the monarch and ministers, so he retorted.

"Hehe, sir, wait." Kou Feng smiled and said: "In this Hanzhong, there is a shortage of salt between Yongliang, and this smuggler is desperate to take risks for the sake of profit." If there are benefits, why don't we want to make a profit from them. And what about blocking this interest? ”

"What do you mean?" Mi Zhu is a businessman, very smart, and when he heard this, his eyes lit up, and he vaguely thought of some things.

"We will issue an order to announce it to the state of Chu. Hanzhong, Yongliang's situation, make it clear. Then send the salt lead, and those who hold the salt lead can go from Jingzhou to Hanzhong, and then go to Yongliang. Alone do not catch them. However, there is a tax. Pay 10% tax. Kou Feng squinted his eyes, like a profiteer.

Even more treacherous than profiteers.

Ten percent. Even Mi Zhu, who had some premonitions, couldn't help but be shocked. If it weren't for Kou Feng being the lord of this Chu State, Mi Zhu would have been called a profiteer a long time ago.

Ten percent of the tax is how much money they have to pay when they buy goods, and how much money they have to give to Kou Feng.

"Isn't this too ruthless?" Mi Zhu couldn't help but say. It's like cutting the flesh of a merchant.

"Nope. Lone also thinks it's too forgiving. In Hanzhong, Yongliang lacks salt. As long as the merchants transported salt to these places, the profits could be multiplied several times. Lone just collected 10% of the salt tax. The salt merchants will be able to make a lot of money as soon as they come down. It's cheaper for them. Of course, Kou Feng had a shot in his heart that he would not force the salt merchants to a dead end.

This tax is 10%, but it is a matter of two benefits.

Kou Feng has a large amount of tax revenue, and the salt merchants can also rest easy after they have salt introduction. I walked the waterway and entered Hanzhong.

avoided the tragic scene of smuggling being raided by the government, and the family was ruined.

Zhu thinks about it, Kou Feng's strategy is very suitable for the current situation. You can pay more money.

Therefore, Mi Zhu said no more.

"But. It is necessary to show that our salt quotation is very valuable, so that salt merchants can compete to buy salt quotation. to pass our checks. Therefore, those who smuggle must be severely punished. Starting from the death penalty, the serious ones broke their homes, their property was confiscated, and their families became slaves. Let everyone in the whole Chu country know that buying lonely salt is better than smuggling. In the end, Kou Feng said coldly.

To compete for the world, the first thing is to accumulate power.

Just like Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu competed, it was the savings of the previous decades that gave rise to that capital. Later, although Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty defeated the Huns, he wiped out his decades of savings.

For the sake of a little benefit, Kou Feng has to fight for every inch of land. Not to mention the benefits of the large chunk of table salt. Whoever dares to smuggle, does not pay taxes.

Kou Feng can kill his whole family, and he will never be merciful.

Besides, Kou Feng didn't force the merchants to a dead end, but just paid ten percent of the tax. After paying taxes, the money earned will still make the merchants rich for a while.

And those who take risks and continue to smuggle. They are all ruthless people who don't want to die, or profiteers. It's a pity that Kou Feng killed them.

I don't feel guilty either.

The cold and cold eyes made Mi Zhu shake. There was a moment of silence for the smugglers. Although Kou Feng usually seems very kind, the cold Kou Feng "is very cold, and he will never be soft or anything."

However, this is also very rare.

Especially in troubled times. Resolute and resolute. When you are lenient, you are very lenient, and when you should be ruthless, you will never be soft.

This is the primary condition for survival in troubled times.

Zhu bowed to the promise.! ~！