More importantly, brown sugar is in the hands of the Shu people.

 After Zhang Bai’s reminder, Kuai’s visitor finally came to his senses.

 Zhang Bai said with some worry:

“In the past, the two countries Shu and Wei used troops every year, so they could not concentrate on colonizing southern China.”

"Only last year, for a whole year, there was no movement between the two countries. If Shu really wants to be stable for two years, then Nanzhong..."

 Since the Battle of Longyou between Shu and Wei, the Shu people successively attacked Longxi, Jincheng, Anding, Liangzhou...

 There have been constant battles, big and small.

I heard that the Wei thieves deployed hundreds of thousands of elite troops in Guanzhong.

If the Shu Kingdom really wants to fight again, it will be regarded as a war that will overwhelm the country. Without several years of preparation, I am afraid that it will not be possible to fight.

If the Shu Kingdom has no plans to use troops in the next few years, then it will definitely speed up the development of Nanzhong.

After the Battle of Yiling, didn’t Zhuge Liang just stay in seclusion and colonize for a few years?

 So Zhang Bai’s worries are not unreasonable.

After thinking about this, Mr. Kuai's face became a little ugly.

 Market share, people in this era definitely don’t understand it.

  However, I still have a certain vague understanding of this concept.

He looked at Zhang Bai and lowered his voice:

 “That Zhang Langjun means...”

 Zhang Bai doesn’t show off either:

“Kuai Jun, now the price of jaggery has increased, and the sugar cane in Nanzhong of the Shu people is not as good as that of our Dawu people. If we don’t plant more sugar cane now, when will we wait?”

“According to the news I got, the Shu people want to completely pacify Liangzhou and Nanzhong in the past few years, and I’m afraid they will plant sugar cane in Nanzhong vigorously.”

"Actually, coarse sugar is still a small matter. I'm afraid that the share of brown sugar will be suppressed by the Shu people. That will be a big deal."

Hearing these words, Kuai’s visitor was immediately shocked:

“Is this true?”

 Zhang Baimu looked at the other party thoughtfully and said nothing.

The visitor from the Kuai family immediately remembered that Zhang Wen, the brother of Zhang Langjun, had contact with Feng Yong of the Shu Kingdom. I heard that the relationship was not bad!

By saying these words at this time, maybe he got some rumors?

Thinking of this, Kuai’s visitors kept saying:

“That’s right! The proportion of brown sugar is the most important thing!”

 According to the agreed rules, as much crude sugar as Wu State gave to the Shu people, the Shu people had to return as much brown sugar as a certain proportion.

 But if the Shu people have enough jaggery in the future, why will they return such a high proportion of brown sugar like now?

“So… now is probably the best time for us to plant sugar cane. While the price and rebate share remain high, we should plant more varieties. We may not have such a good opportunity in the future.”

 Zhang Bai did not hide his purpose and said frankly, "This is also one of the most important reasons why I came to Jingzhou. I hope I can work out a way with everyone to maintain this way of making money."

 “Zhang Langjun is really thoughtful!”

 The visitor sighed, then cupped his hands and said, "I will go back to the tribe and explain the situation clearly. Zhang Langjun will wait for my news."

As one of the largest aristocratic families in Jingzhou, and being related by marriage to Zhuge Jin who guarded Jingzhou, the Kuai family was also responsible for supplying grain and grass to the Wu army.

“Everyone knows that brown sugar makes money, but there is a certain amount of food and grass supplied to the army every year. The army in Jingzhou has been in short supply of food over the years.”

“If we plant too much sugar cane this year and cannot produce food later, and the general blames us, who can bear the blame?”

 Money and food are good things that everyone wants.

 But no matter how powerful the family is, it must follow the rules.

 If you want to enjoy privileges, you have to make certain sacrifices.

No matter which side, Wei, Shu or Wu, takes control of Jingzhou, if the aristocratic families want to gain a foothold under the new forces, they must show sincerity.

 The degree of sincerity represents the degree of optimism towards the power.

 What is the most practical sincerity?

 Of course it’s money and food.

"Yes, food is a problem. The general asked the generals to open more fields in order to solve the problem of food supply for the Jingzhou army."

“If you plant too much sugar cane and there is a shortage of food, you will not be able to pass the level of general, not to mention general.”

 After a moment of silence, someone mentioned:

“What about buying grain? What if we buy grain from other places to make up for the shortfall?”

Someone retorted on the spot: "Where in the world is there no shortage of food? Who will sell it?"

 There was another moment of silence.

After a long time, the person who made this suggestion muttered in a low voice:

"I can't say for sure. I heard that the price of food in Shu has been low in recent years, but I don't know if they are willing to sell..."

 “I remember it was only two hundred yuan last year?”

"It has fallen back a long time ago. The man who transported jaggery came back from Shu and said that the price of grain there has returned to one hundred and twenty yuan."

 February and March are the time when the young crops are growing in ordinary people’s homes and the old grain is used up.

  If it was only 120 yuan a month, then now it is only 150 yuan at most, which is basically the highest price in a year.

Between Shu and Wu, there were constant exchanges between government envoys and private business travelers. The Nanxiang Exchange was the reference standard for bulk material prices in Shu.

If you want to know the prices of goods in Shu, just go to the exchange and you will know. It is very convenient and you don’t have to bother asking at all.

This business intelligence was known to only a few well-informed people in the past, and a lot of money could be made by making an information gap.

 But now this method is no longer feasible in Shu.

 This is also one of the main reasons why large caravans will send important stewards to be stationed in Nanxiang.

 Because the exchange not only provides a trading platform, but also helps the caravan collect the prices of materials from various places.

“In other words, after the harvest of grain in Shu this year, the price of grain will drop to 100 yuan?”

“If it is true as what the Zhang family said, the Shu people do not plan to use troops in the next few years, I am afraid it will be even lower than this price..."

 Compared to the fact that the people in Jingzhou are hungry and well fed, the price of food in Shu is really low enough.

 It’s just that in this era, food, like iron, is the most important strategic material. The price of food for the people of Shu is low, but what does it matter to the people of Wu?

Under the rule of Zhuge Liang, the Shu Kingdom has strict laws and regulations. Without the permission of the government, who would dare to sell grain privately to the enemy?

 Even if it costs money or life, there is no way to sell it.

 After all, given the geographical environment of Shu, if you want to transport large quantities of grain, can you hide it from the government?

“Wu and Shu are allies, and we have agreed to help each other and defeat thieves together. Besides, the general and Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of Shu, are brothers..."

"That's right. If the general comes forward, there is no chance."

"I remember that Pan Chengming is Jiang Gongyan's cousin. Jiang Wan is now the chief historian of the Prime Minister's Office of Shu. He is in charge of everything in Jincheng. Why not ask him for help?"

 The so-called Pan Chengming is Pan Jun.

　　The year before last, he was awarded Fu Jie by Sun Quan, and together with Lu Dai, he put down the rebellion of Wuxi barbarians.

 Now he has been promoted to Taichang and is appeasing the barbarians in Changsha.

 “This is a great thing to say!”

If we can really persuade the general and Pan Taichang to come forward to persuade the Prime Minister of Shu and Prime Minister Chang Shi, the possibility of reaching an agreement on this matter is not low.

 Zhang Bai, who came to participate in the discussion, quickly expressed his position:

“I will also talk to my brother when I go back and ask him to write to Feng Mingwen to urge him to facilitate this matter.”

When everyone heard this, they were immediately overjoyed:

 “If this is really the case, then there is a good chance that this matter can be accomplished at least 70% of the time!”

 Zhuge Liang, Jiang Wan, plus Feng Mingwen, which one is not the person with real power in Shu?

Not to mention the issue of jaggery, which has a lot to do with Feng Mingwen. Others may be unwilling to do so, but why should Feng Mingwen be unwilling?
Chapter completed!