Jian Yong said in surprise: "Where are Zhang Lu, Ma Teng, Han Sui, Liu Yan, and Liu Biao, Jingzhou?"

Xu Shu shook his head and smiled, "Zhang Lu deceived the people with ghosts and gods. Although he has received support from the people, Hanzhong is only a mere place. How can he accomplish great things? As for Liangzhou, there have been many years of wars and the people are displaced and miserable. If it is as expected, the next step of the Yang family army will send troops to Liangzhou and occupy Xiliang; as for Liu Yan and Liu Biao, being a civil servant may be a civil servant, but in this chaotic era, it is just a wedding dress for others! The lord should seize the opportunity and take Jingzhou!"

Liu Bei said in a difficult situation: "Today, Cao's army and Jiangdong army are frequently mobilized, as if they are jointly attacking Jingzhou! If this general intends to seize Jingzhou at this moment, wouldn't Cao Cao have an opportunity to take advantage of it?"

Xu Shu smiled and said, "No, no, if Cao's army attacks, it's the time when you steal Jingzhou. Our army only needs to defeat Cao's army, and then we can accumulate prestige in Jingzhou. At that time, the Jingzhou family will naturally turn against the lord after seeing that Liu Biao cannot succeed!"

Mi Zhu said worriedly: "Cao's army is powerful. If it comes, how should our army resist?"

Xu Shu replied confidently: "Cao Cao is suspicious by nature. Even if he is in alliance with Sun Ce, he will not attack Jingzhou with all his might. According to his subordinates, he will dispatch at most about 50,000 people. However, with the combat power of Cao's army, even if it is only 50,000 people, it is not something our army can resist head-on. If you want to win, you need to use clever tricks instead of fighting hard."

Liu Bei asked, "How to resist?"

Xu Shu smiled bitterly and said, "Lord, Cao's army has not come yet, and I don't know where to attack. How can I know how to defeat the enemy?"

Afterwards, Xu Shu made another long speech, and he heard Liu Bei and others intoxicated. When it was late at night, Liu Bei still pulled Xu Shu to have a long talk. It was not until dawn that he walked out of the door with unfulfilled feelings. Until now, after Xu Shu's guidance, Liu Bei suddenly became clear and had his own ideas about how to seize Jingzhou.

In October of the fourth year of Jian'an, the autumn harvest had just passed, and the Central Plains was filled with clouds and the war was about to break out.

And Bingzhou, Jinyang, and Yang Fan were also frustrated by some things.

In the General's Mansion of the Cavalry, Yang Fan shook his head and listened to Su Shuang on the side expressing his heart.

Impatient, Yang Fan asked directly: "Su Shuang, don't run to my mansion all day long! Are you okay to do it?"

Su Shuang's old face turned into a bitter melon, and he replied, "Lord, you are so competent as a manager. You are not in charge of the family. You don't know how expensive it is! You have to solve this problem for me, otherwise the construction of You and Jizhou will not be possible."

Yang Fan asked angrily, "Tell me, how much is the difference? I'll borrow it for you, won't it be fine?"

"Borrow?" Su Shuang exclaimed: "Who are you going to lend it to? Your husband's coffin book has been squandered. Who dares to lend you money now?"

"Hmph!" Yang Fan snorted coldly and replied indifferently: "There are still several wealthy businessmen in Bingzhou, and I don't believe I can't borrow money!"

"Oh!" Su Shuang sighed and said, "Lord, you really don't know the situation in Bingzhou now. We borrowed money from the wealthy businessmen when we built roads, built academies, and provided disaster relief. Now, the debts that owed have to be settled until five years before they can be paid back. Who do you think is willing to lend us money?"

"It's not that I won't pay it back, it's just that I'm owing some time!" Yang Fan rolled his eyes and turned his head to Xun Yu on the side and asked, "Wenruo, do we have less than enough taxes every year?"

After hearing this, Xun Yu rolled his eyes suddenly and replied angrily: "What's the point of making money? Lord, you are really optimistic. You are obviously in high debt. Those rich businessmen are already afraid of the court. Now, I am like a plague god. Wherever I go, those rich businessmen hide far away."

"It's strange. Where did all the money go?" Yang Fan asked in confusion: "Although our tax revenue is 100% or more, we should have a lot of money! How could we lose money?"

Xun Yu sighed, "In recent years, Bingzhou has had a bumper harvest, especially in the Hetao area. The grain is piled up like a mountain! If the people have surplus grain at home, they will exchange for some money, repair houses, buy houses, etc. But now, no one in the house has food, who is willing to collect food? In the end, the court had to come forward to purchase these foods. Moreover, lord, you once issued a ban. The grain is strategic materials, prohibiting the people from selling privately, and it is even strict that the grain in Bingzhou cannot be sold out. Now, we have too much food to eat, and all the money is on it!"

"Stupid!" Yang Fan was anxious and said, "Are you two stupid? Can food be worse than copper coins? That thing cannot be eaten. We can build roads and colleges, so we can pay for it with grain! In this way, can we continue to develop the territory?"

"Food can be paid instead of money. What about those handmade products? At that time, you strongly supported the people's independent production. Now many people's homes are piled up like mountains, such as silk and ceramic products, which are the top priority. If this matter is not resolved as soon as possible, even Bingzhou, which we worked hard to manage, will fall into a crisis. This is not an exaggeration. The two states of You and Ji have just been quelled. How many people there are willing to use these things? In the end, Bingzhou will face the situation where many small workshops are closed and the people have nothing to do!" Xun Yu analyzed with a frown. At that time, Xun Yu was worried because of the few people, but now it is crowded, and Xun Yu was even more worried.

There are too many people, and if the court cannot resettle it, it will be a disaster.

It was not until this moment that Yang Fan realized the seriousness of the matter, that is, overproduction, Bingzhou has not much land, and it has been good weather in recent years. It is impossible for the people to all farm. Some people have to produce other things. However, now overproduction will mean that labor is idle and labor is idle, which will lead to a decrease in consumption capacity. In addition, wars and currency depreciation will cause a series of contradictions.

Thinking of this, Yang Fan asked weakly: "Silk? That's a scarce product, it's impossible to be sold, right?"

Su Shuang replied with a worried look: "Making silk is not easy, and there is not much inventory. However, since the third year of Jian'an, that is, last year, Cao Cao blocked the river. As long as the things produced in Bingzhou are not allowed to cross the river except for grain and iron tools, they can't sell them to the Central Plains. This also leads to the things produced in Bingzhou that cannot be sold. If they are digested locally, there will be no need to be so much, which will cause many people to stay at home. This is very dangerous!"

This kind of thing will only happen in Bingzhou. After years of operation, Bingzhou has long been a paradise in the eyes of the Han people. Here, there is endless food to eat and will not starve people to death. This has led to many people from other states, who will lead to their families, traveling through mountains and rivers, and migrating here. However, there is only so much land, and many people are about to face an embarrassing environment where there is nothing to do.

At first, Yang Fan also thought of asking the people to build roads. The court paid for it with food. However, Xun Yu refused. He said in embarrassment: "Lord, although this road construction requires a lot of manpower, most of our road construction laborers are local people, and it is difficult for people from other places to get involved! If you force it in a hurry, it will also cause public anger!"

"What?" Yang Fan asked with confusion: "There are people rushing to do this work?"

Then, Yang Fan seemed to think of something again and asked with an ugly face: "Did the people start the price locally and ask the court to hire their locals?"

Xun Yu smiled bitterly and said, "If this is the case, it would be great, and the court would come forward to solve it. However, the matter is indeed the opposite. In recent years, many children in the people's families have gone to colleges and have become more sensible. Those people know the benefits of building roads and volunteer to do so. As long as it is not the busy farming season, the scene is crowded! Moreover, people are asking for less wages, so we really can't find a reason to refuse!"

Su Shuang's eyes were complicated and said, "Especially last year, after the imperial court included road construction in the annual assessment of officials, local officials were working hard! In some places, the entire territory of gravel roads have been realized, and everyone is doing their own things. It is difficult for outsiders to interfere!"

This is the political achievement that is in front of you. With the strong support of the court, the food funds have been allocated. Who would not want to do it with all your might?

Xun Yu hesitated for a while, gritted his teeth and said, "Perhaps, we can consider expanding externally, attacking Liangzhou, opening up the connection with the countries in the Western Regions, and reopening the Silk Road!"
Chapter completed!