Li Xiong, the Grand Tutor of Chengjia, defected to Ma Yuan and said he wanted to give advice for him. Ma Yuan knew that he was a talented person and was very clear about Bashu affairs, so he asked him to sit down and ask for advice humbly.

Li Xiong said: "As an aide, of course, we have to help Dongweng solve the difficulties. I wonder what the general is most worried about at this time?"

Ma Yuan said: "Yizhou ships are not enough for the army. Although they are built day and night, they are afraid that they will be too long and will miss the opportunity to leave Shu."

Li Xiong said: "Yizhou's water system is developed and the water network is dense. The shipbuilding industry has always been prosperous. It is only because of years of war and chaos, and the world is unstable and cannot go out for business. Most ships can only operate in Bashu, which will gradually reduce the ships. If the general can pacify Jingyang, the products of Yizhou can go east and merchants can obtain huge profits from it. Wherever profits go, there will be more ships."

Ma Yuan said: "What the sir said is very true, but it is a matter of pacifying Jingyang in the future, but the shortage of ship transportation is at this time."

"The general can use this future to do something." Li Xiong smiled slightly, "The general led more than 100,000 troops into Shu, and there were hundreds of thousands of soldiers in Shu. If the army went east along the way, Jingyang would definitely be the one that Dingjingyang was the one that wanted to breed goods and seek profits, such as grain, salt and other bulk goods. Which one does not require the government's permission? Why don't the general use future promises to exchange for the current ships?"

"How to change it?"

Li Xiong shook his fan, "There are many methods. For example, the general's food transportation is divided into some merchants in Yizhou. The government will pay the goods at the price. The delivery place can be set at a certain place in Jingzhou and the merchants will transport it out of Shu by themselves. Merchants who transport grain for large troops can allow them to travel between Jingyi in the future. Yizhou has a lot of food, but the road is difficult, and the products cannot be transported out without ships. The merchants have promised to build large ships for the purpose of cargo and breeding."

Ma Yuan nodded. He probably understood the meaning. He mobilized the people to let the merchants share the pressure of transporting grain for the military, and tempted them with permission to buy and sell grain and other materials in the future, and joined the team that transported grain for the army.

Of course, this is just one of these methods, and there are many similar methods to use. Because the government has too many resources, throwing one out for businessmen is enough for them to eat for half their lives.

If this is true, the progress of the government and the people will be greatly accelerated by building ships together. But Ma Yuan still has concerns, because this method is based on the victory of the Han army. Ma Yuan naturally has confidence in winning, but do the people have it? Do merchants have it? Are they willing to take this risk?

Li Xiong said: "A hundred thousand troops move, the daily cost of grain is tens of thousands. Even if there is no future profit for the future reproduction, the transaction of military rations will be enough to make huge profits. Moreover, this move can also make friends with government officials and facilitate future merchants. I think there must be merchants who are greedy for this profit, build ships, and participate in this matter. Generals should not underestimate the courage of Yizhou merchants. In fact, many wealthy families are doing this. They can even organize their own family soldiers and protect merchant ships. Their strength should not be underestimated."

Ma Yuan knew that there were many wealthy families in Yizhou, whose strength was comparable to that of the government. It was no problem to pull a team of hundreds or thousands of people. Some wealthy families didn't even dare to mess with the counties, and they were local emperors.

Ma Yuan thought to himself, it seems that he had to pull these people together. If he did not cooperate, he would have to seize their mistakes and take them seriously. If the county cannot be disturbed, General Fubo is not afraid. If the army moves, your whole family will not be kept. Who dares to go against the King of Shu who holds military and political power?

With temptation and coercion, these wealthy merchants are threatened by the Eastern Expedition, and the shipbuilding efficiency will definitely increase exponentially.

Ma Yuan laughed and said, "Mr.'s plan is really brilliant, and Ma admires it very much. If Mr. is willing to surrender, Ma will be welcomed by the crowd and will never treat Mr. unfairly."

"It is my wish to share the worries of the general."

Since then, Li Xiong has become Ma Yuan's aide. When Ma Yuan has problems, he often asks him. Li Xiong knows Yizhou well and can often grasp the key to the problem and put forward feasible suggestions, which makes Ma Yuan increasingly rely on him.

The two became increasingly close. When talking about the eastern expedition, Li Xiong said: "From the east of Jiangzhou, they all traveled through deep mountains and valleys, with many rapids and dangerous shoals until Yiling. After Yiling, there was a flat horse, and then Jiangling was forward. Now, Tian Rong, the king of Yiling, has been suppressed by Qin Feng, the king of Chu Li, in the north, until he surrendered to Gongsun Shu. Gongsun Shu sent Cheng Feng, the prefect of Nanjun, to the east, to occupy Jiangling, and the two of them were one east and one west, and they could defeat Qin Feng. The two of them were dependent on each other, and their lips were lost and their teeth were cold."

Ma Yuan said: "I sent an envoy to Yiling and Jiangling to ask him to join the Han Dynasty for several months, and there has been no reply yet."

Li Xiong smiled and said, "Cheng Fan was promoted next time. He was my old subordinate. Maybe he couldn't do anything else, but he could still listen to my words."

Ma Yuan was overjoyed and stood up and bowed, "If sir can go east and persuade the two to surrender, Ma will definitely ask for me in front of His Majesty."

Li Xiong waved his hand and said, "Tian Rong was named King Yiling, Cheng Fan was known as King Jiangling. The two of them joined forces with each other, each with tens of thousands of troops. Qin Feng, the King of Li of Chu, had always wanted to annex the two men, and the Emperor of Tongma also sent envoys to recruit them. The two of them were still unsure and must be still watching to see who would bid higher."

He looked at Ma Yuan with a smile on his face, "I wonder how much the general's bid?"

Ma Yuandao: "Ma can appoint a county official, and the position he or she can choose."

Li Xiong shook his head and said, "The two of them have already been called kings. I am afraid that the officials of the county and county are not taking them seriously. Even the Emperor of Tongma may have more than just bidding."

"The title of king and prince can only come from Your Majesty, and it is not possible for Ma to decide. What's more, Your Majesty will not be named King unless it is Liu's surname. Ma can only ask His Majesty for the two of them to see if he can be granted a marquis, perhaps... can be a marquis of Guannei."

"Yes, the general has made contributions to Longxi and Pingqiang and Dings Shu, but his title is only ten thousand-huhou Marquis, let alone Tian Rong and Cheng Fan?" Li Xiong shook the fan in his hand and said slowly.

Ma Yuan glanced at him, and Li Xiong was also looking up at him. The two of them met, Ma Yao's eyes were bright, and Li Xiong did not hide at all.

Ma Yuan said slowly: "Ma was entrusted by His Majesty with an important task, and deeply inherited the holy grace. He was very happy in his heart and had no other wishes. As for the title of thousands of households and the reward of the marquis, it was His Majesty's kindness. Ma was already ashamed of it, so how could he say "nothing"?"

"The general does not have to be too humble. How can the general's achievements be worthy of the marquis of ten thousand households?" Li Xiong suddenly changed the topic, "From the following, the general's appearance is actually a noble person."
Chapter completed!