Manager Sun's words accurately hit the pain of everyone present. Everyone is from the same industry. As the saying goes, experts can't hide the skills of food.

Chang'an City is the capital of several dynasties, with a cumulative population of more than one million. The area where Chang'an is located is not very rich in food. Therefore, the ruling people of all dynasties face the same headache, where does the food ration come from? Emperor Yang of Sui wanted to move the capital to Luoyang in the Luoyang Basin, and he also had this consideration.

Food is a necessity for Chang'an. Logically speaking, this should be a seller's market, and the seller should have the advantage. But don't forget that Chang'an is still the capital. The emperor lives there, and the dignitaries and nobles are there. If the trouble is too much, it will be like last winter when the court orders it, and merchants who raise grain prices will be in trouble.

No matter which dynasty or dynasty, power must be above wealth and rules at any time. Therefore, although it is a seller's market, the seller does not have any advantage. On the contrary, because Chang'an has a large demand, you do not do my business, and others are willing to do it. Therefore, after the Ministry of Internal Affairs introduced the concept of "order", Luoyang's grain merchants signed an order contract with Chang'an's partners early in order to take the lead and seize market weight.

In this case, the seller's market becomes the buyer's market, and there are naturally concessions in terms of pricing.

Luoyang is backed by the Luoshui and the canal, and logistics transfer is convenient. But no matter what, it is not cheap to collect grain nearby near Luoyang. Before the new policy was implemented, most of the fertile land in Luoyang was in the hands of a few people. Although there was no land deed, it was also passed down from the previous dynasty. Some long-term workers were hired to plant the land. Before the grain was planted, it was already booked. However, since the new policy was implemented, the land was distributed by the people, and the food was not the main landlords. Therefore, this dilemma occurred this year. In order to make money like in previous years, they had to collect the grain from the people.

If they cannot collect the order and the order is still there, they have to go to another place to collect grain. The grain within a radius of 800 miles was all wrapped up by Jiesitang. In other words, if they cannot collect grain near Luoyang City, they will face the dilemma that Li Mu encountered a few days ago and ran to collect grain in 800 miles, Taiyuan, Yangzhou and other places.

This is the reason why Li Mu is easy to mess with? Who dares to stand up and take the lead?

Now that Manager Sun has stood up, everyone is secretly happy. Now that there is a blame. If you mess with that man, you will push you out to the tank first! On the surface, they all pretend to be enlightened and thank Manager Sun for coming.

Immediately, everyone agreed to go back and prepare. Early in the morning, after noon, and tomorrow morning, everyone would go to the countryside to collect grain. In order not to harm the harmony, they even formed a group of three or five families and divided the areas. They would not rob each other, but only rob the master of the marquis’ mansion!

...

While the grain merchants were discussing, Li Muzheng accompanied Changsun Wuji to "inspect" the Chidao construction site that had just resumed work. The hidden dangers of the locust plague were lifted, and Li Mu arranged to restore the Chidao project as soon as possible. In his eyes, this was more important than anything and could not be delayed.

"If you want to be rich, build the road first." Changsun Wuji saw the banner erected next to the construction site, read it again, and smiled and said, "It must be your idea again for such a unique idea?"

Li Mu nodded and said, "Although it is a bit straightforward, it is the most effective considering the literacy level of everyone working." Li Mu said seriously, "I have to encourage you to let everyone know the purpose of working."

Changsun Wuji was a little puzzled and said, "I heard that these people who work are not corvee labor. You hired them for money. They work and get money and talk about these things with them. Isn't it a bit too much?"

Li Mu shook his head and said, "My uncle's words are not just a bad thing. Not only is it not too much, but it is very necessary."

"I hope to hear the details."

Li Mu explained: "It's like scholars who read the Four Books and Five Classics. Most scholars cannot pass the imperial examination or become officials, but why do they still study? They understand etiquette and righteousness. Loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness are in their hearts. No matter how bad such people are, they will not be bad. Because they understand what should be done, what should not be done, what is right, and dislocation. The same is true for these banners. Although they only have a few short words, they can tell people what the meaning of doing this is simply and clearly."

Li Mu raised his hand and said, "For example, if you want to be rich, build roads first. Who doesn't want to be rich? Everyone in the ordinary people think. But no one knows how to be rich. If you know, there will be no poor people in the world. Most of the time, it is not that people don't want to do it, but that they don't know how to do it. What the people lack the most is a person who tells them how to do it."

Changsun Wuji thought about Li Mu's words and frowned slightly, "But what does this 'building roads first' mean? Could it be that if you build the roads, you will definitely be rich?"

"uncertain."

Changsun Wuji smiled speechlessly and thought to himself, what is this answer?

"It's not necessarily rich, but if you don't build a road, you will definitely not be rich." Li Mu said in a decisive tone, "Any thing or material can only be valuable and meaningful when it comes to the hands of the people in need. How can the road be transported? Living in a scattered mountain, even if there is a mountain of gold and silver at your doorstep, what's the use? Money can be spent to be called money. Similarly, things can be transported to have their value."

Li Mu pointed to the road in front of him and said, "When this road is opened, the speed of communication between Chang'an and Luoyang will be greatly improved. You no longer have to pass through the dangerous Sanmenxia, ​​and it will be nothing if you take the land by land." Li Mu showed a yearning expression, as if it was just in front of him that day: "Mr. Guolao can imagine that there are many merchants gathering on this road and all kinds of goods are piled up in the warehouse. What kind of scene is that it will be like. Liba who works, accounts, merchants of all sizes, sellers, and sellers, how many people can make a living on this road-"

Li Mu looked at Changsun Wuji: "Your Majesty and the Dukes travel to Chang'an and Luoyang, and you can reach it in one day and one night. It is so fast and convenient that Chang'an and Luoyang are two cities, but they can be regarded as one city."

When Changsun Wuji heard this, he finally understood why Li Mu was so concerned about Chidao. He also understood why Li Shimin supported Li Mu so strongly in cultivating Chidao. Li Shimin always wanted Luoyang to be the capital of the Tang Dynasty and consolidate the court's dominance over the local area. If this Chidao was completed, Chang'an and Luoyang would be connected to one line, not only in business, but also a great progress from the perspective of rule. More importantly, if it succeeds, Luoyang to Taiyuan, Chang'an to Shuzhou can be followed in this way. When the distance problem is overcome, the court's control over the local area will naturally be strengthened.

Thinking of this, Changsun Wuji couldn't help but look at Li Mu. This kid was only eighteen years old, so how did he think of this? Could it be that he is really the reincarnation of a god?

In the past two days, he has investigated the matter clearly. Judging from the current situation, the reincarnation of gods is completely nonsense, and it is all confusing Li Mu slapped his head. But seeing the magical things on Li Mu, it is hard to explain. If it is a reincarnation of an immortal, it is easy to understand it. If it is not, then we can only admit that he is indeed a talented genius and was born to know it. In Confucian thought, those who are born to know can only be a saint. What kind of virtue can Li Mu be called a saint?

Changsun Wuji came to Luoyang to verify the locust plague and whether Li Mu was reincarnated. Now that the matter has come, he has to go back to Chang'an. After all, he is not an idle person. He is the Ministry of Personnel and has to help Li Shimin read the memorials. There are many things waiting for him every day. Today, I came to see the construction site on Chidao, and it was also a way to go. After chatting, Changsun Wuji got on the carriage. Li Mu sent it for another time before he returned.

Li Mu suddenly felt that something was missing, but he couldn't remember it for a moment, so he stopped thinking about it. He passed by Nanshi and bought a few new pieces of silk and prepared to find a tailor to make some new clothes for the unborn child, and went home leisurely.

...

Forty miles south of Luoyang City, Sanwang Village.

Sanwang Village is not because there were three princes here, but because there were only three families here, all of whom were surnamed Wang. Now there are more than three families. In the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, refugees were mixed everywhere, and many of them settled here were fifty or sixty families. There were many fertile land around them. In the past, they were all the land of the masters in the city, and the villagers were tenants. It was not easy to have some food all year round. Now a new policy has been implemented, and everyone has been assigned to the fields. Although they suffered a locust plague and lost a lot this year, it is still much better than in previous years. In order to ensure that there is no problem with the food, the villagers waited by the ground morning and evening, waiting for the grouting of the grain to be completed. Although it is their own food, they always have to receive it in their own yard to be at ease.

Under Li Mu's arrangement, Li Chunfeng was also a member of the responsible person for collecting grain. Luoyang's territory is not big or small. If a group of people are nailed together, the efficiency will be too low. Therefore, Ma Zhou, the head of collecting grain, arranged for everyone to cooperate in the district. Each manager led a few minor officials to take charge of several villages. Whoever completed it first and then helped nearby. If there was something wrong, they would communicate with each other at any time.

The "area" Li Chunfeng is responsible for is a forty miles south of Luoyang City. Sanwang Village is the farthest village. So he thought, starting from Sanwang Village and then gradually going north. When transporting this way, the distance is getting shorter and shorter.

He brought two clerks in total and hired three tutors. He brought big and small scales with enough money. He went out in the morning and just arrived just west. This was also the standard configuration for a "group", but Li Chunfeng had one more person, Yuan Tiangang.

When Li Mu sent Changsun Wuji away, he felt that something was missing, and he was the one missing. Since Yuan Tiangang separated from Li Mu that day and went to Li Chunfeng's residence, he has never appeared in front of him again. When Li Chunfeng went out of the city to do business, he also came over.

The accommodation place is easy to deal with. When I learned that it was the "official master" in the city who was responsible for storing "public grain", the official master was not afraid to be negligent. He hurriedly opened his home for Li Chunfeng and others to live in. It is unknown where his family will deal with it.

Li Chunfeng was not used to this kind of treatment, but when he helped to rescue disasters before, no matter which village he went to, he would not refuse. Now he is used to it.

Yuan Tiangang is even more unaccustomed to it. When he was a charlatan in his early years, he was treated like this everywhere, and he had long been used to it.

After dinner, the mother-in-law from the Li family brought hot water. Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng soaked their feet into the water basin. The hot air penetrated the soles of their feet. The fatigue of the day seemed to be cleared in an instant. Li Chunfeng pulled the bedding and leaned behind him, took out a booklet from the package, and looked at it with concentration in the dim light of the oil lamp.

Yuan Tiangang was curious about what he was looking at, so he came over and took a look. He didn't recognize any of the "ghost painting talismans" on it. He thought it was a broken book of an ancient scroll, and couldn't help but ask: "Junior brother, what are you studying? Let me tell you about it?"

"The master will not be interested, this is arithmetic."

Li Chunfeng called Master Yuan Tiangang, not because he called him wrong. Their relationship is a bit complicated. Li Chunfeng was originally a "scholar" and studied astronomy, calendar, arithmetic and other things. Although the Bagua Zhouyi deduction involves these, they are not his "professional". Most of these things are from Yuan Tiangang. Therefore, Li Chunfeng called Yuan Tiangang "Master".

But Yuan Tiangang didn't want to be this master. He thought he was teaching apprentices on behalf of others. The things he taught Li Chunfeng were not the same as what he learned. Even if he had a master or apprentice, he couldn't call him that, so he considered himself a senior brother. Both of them were a little stubborn, and no one wanted to change his words, so they often called each other.

No one can persuade anyone, so they can only ignore it.

"Arithmetic things?" Yuan Tiangang looked carefully and had a vague impression. It was indeed arithmetic things. The 123 symbols on it were all published in the Tang Dynasty Daily, called four arithmetic things.

Yuan Tiangang looked at Li Chunfeng's expression, and saw that he was so obsessed with this arithmetic, he couldn't help but ask: "Junior brother, what are these symbols? Can you make you so obsessed with it? It's more profound than the Bagua of Zhou Yi?"

"Different, different." Li Chunfeng saw Yuan Tiangang asking, thinking he was interested, and he explained to him: "Master, the one I am studying now is called the binary equation. Look at this..."

Li Chunfeng said enthusiastically, but how Yuan Tiangang could understand. Although he knew some arithmetic, he was at most at the level of the pharmacy account. For him, the binary equation was really beyond the outline.
Chapter completed!