In the textile workshop, the humming sound of spinning seemed so pleasant to Li Kuan's ears.

It is said that when a cannon goes off, there is a thousand taels of gold.

Once the textile machine is turned on, it is not much different from turning on the money printing machine.

Looking at the bundles of wool threads in the corner and the busy female workers, this means that Liangzhou City will play a decisive role in the Tang Dynasty.

"King Bin, Dengshan, to completely control the grassland, wool alone is not enough. But you also said that food, clothing, housing and transportation are the most basic needs of people. By using wool, we not only provide a new

This method solves the problem of keeping warm and provides herdsmen with an opportunity to turn waste into treasure. This is definitely a long-term and effective method. Then think about it again, the most common people on the grassland are cattle, sheep and horses, right? In addition to wool, there are also

What can be exploited?”

Li Kuan asked Ma Zhou and Chu Suiliang to think about the problem by themselves.

Chu Suiliang: "Selling cattle and horses to the Central Plains?"

Li Kuan: "Of course this is a method, but has someone done this since ancient times? Has it successfully controlled the grassland?"

Ma Zhou: "I heard that many cattle and sheep often freeze to death on the grassland in winter. Can we buy the meat from these cattle and mutton?"

"Beef and mutton are difficult to preserve and transport, otherwise no one would have thought of utilizing them for so many years."

Before Li Kuan could speak, Chu Suiliang rejected Ma Zhou's suggestion.

"That's right, if this road is really feasible, it wouldn't be our turn to discuss it here today." Ma Zhou frowned and thought, "The prince's wool turned waste into treasure, which is equivalent to increasing the income of the herdsmen out of thin air.

, that’s why there are so many herdsmen supporting it. What other grasslands are wasted but can be used?”

"My lord, goat's milk, cow's milk, and mare's milk. I think these things are very similar to wool. Although herdsmen will drink it themselves, so many cows and sheep produce milk that cannot be drunk at all, and most of it is wasted. We

Is there anything we can do here?”

Ma Zhou's words gave Chu Suiliang inspiration. He vaguely felt that he had grasped something, but he didn't know how to use it, so he had to speak it out and confirm with Li Kuan to see if his idea was correct.

"Smart!" Li Kuan smiled, "Whether it is wool, cow's milk or goat's milk, these are things that grassland herders have now, but they do not bring them any value. If you only rely on these two things,

You can exchange for more goods and live a better life. What do you think these herdsmen will do?"

Ma Zhou: "Raise more cattle, sheep and horses?"

Chu Suiliang: "Living around Liangzhou City?"

"Yes, you are all right. If you can live a life raising cattle and sheep, there is no need to live on the edge of a knife. And whether it is wool or cow and goat milk, if you want to sell it to Datang, you can't

You live too far away from Datang Market, otherwise no one would buy it."

"Your Majesty, since ancient times, it has always been very difficult for the Central Plains dynasties to fight against the grassland peoples. One of the important reasons is that they have no fixed settlements. Even if they want to conquer them, they often need to send several times the military force, which wastes people and money. If the grassland herdsmen head

Even if something happens to the states and counties surrounding the border areas of the Tang Dynasty, it will be much easier to deal with them."

I don’t know if Ma Zhou is a scheming person. When he heard Li Kuan say that the herdsmen would live around the Datang Market, he immediately thought of how to deal with them.

"Yes, the grassland is too big. It is impossible for the Tang Dynasty to completely occupy it. It can only build various fortresses and control them indirectly. As long as the herdsmen graze around these fortresses, they can quickly sell wool, cows and goats milk to us.

, and then in exchange for all kinds of porcelain and cloth, even wool thread and milk powder, the interests of the grassland herders are tied to us."

"Hiss!" Ma Zhou suddenly thought of something and couldn't help but shuddered in his heart, "We bought the herdsmen's wool and milk at a low price, and then the herdsmen bought our porcelain, wool thread, and milk powder with copper coins. Their lives changed.

Well, our northwest trade has also made money, and as time goes by, after they can no longer do without us, even if the nobles on the grassland call on them to rise up against the Tang Dynasty, no one will respond, right?"

"It is easy to move from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to move from luxury to frugality! The grassland herdsmen are now short of clothes and food, so we can help them fill their bellies, put on clothes, use iron pots and porcelain, and even encourage rich herdsmen to wear silk

, taste fine wine, and recover all the money you paid from the grassland..."

Ma Zhou and Chu Suiliang will be his capable men in the future, and Li Kuan doesn't mind wasting some time chatting with them about his ideas.

If you talk to smart people, as long as they understand clearly, they will often be able to draw inferences and come up with more tricks to deal with the uncivilized people on the grassland.

…

The winter of the fifth year of Zhenguan was a bit cold, and it began to snow in Chang'an City in the afternoon.

First, there were small snowflakes, floating on the hair, shoulders and everywhere of pedestrians, as if urging people to go home quickly; soon, the snowflakes were like catkins, getting bigger and bigger, and finally they were everywhere like goose feathers.

drift.

Li Shimin walked from the imperial study to the door and looked at the heavy snow outside, with a trace of sadness on his face.

For literati and poets, this scene is the most suitable to express their inner feelings, drink a little wine, and leave their calligraphy treasures.

But for ordinary people, this kind of winter is indeed the most difficult to endure.

"Fortunately, Kuan'er has developed briquettes, and the people of Chang'an City finally have cheap and easy-to-use fuel. However, in this weather, the people do not have enough thick and warm clothes to go out at will, which is also a trouble.

.”

Li Shimin felt relieved at one moment and anxious at the other.

It’s so cold at high places!

Sitting in this position, there are too many things to worry about.

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the King of Chu sent some winter clothes over. Do you want to take a look?" Just when Li Shimin was in a daze, Li Zhong appeared quietly at the side.

"Kuan'er brought you winter clothes?" Li Shimin felt warm in his heart. I just thought of Kuan'er and he sent me something. I didn't pretend to love him, and he was still a little filial.

"Yes, Your Majesty, right over there?" Li Zhong pointed to the two palace maids not far away and said.

"Since Kuan'er is interested, then bring it to me and give it a try."

Li Shimin naturally had no worries about food and clothing, but some things had completely different meanings due to their different origins.

"Huh?" Li Shimin was stunned as soon as he took the so-called clothes from the palace maid.

Is this clothes?

Why is it so strange?

What is it made of?

How to wear it?

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the King of Chu also has a letter. I guess the letter may contain some instructions about these clothes."
Chapter completed!