The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 349 Increase Taxes! Increase Taxes! Sanctions! Sanctions!
Inside the earthen house, the candlelight flickered.

Although Da You was surrounded by Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Xu Shen, he still stubbornly shouted.

"Damn it, I'll beat you all up today!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he spotted Zhao Yun, who was closest to him, and reached out with his left hand to grab his sleeve.

However, Zhao Yun seized the opportunity to grab his left hand and kicked him in the lower abdomen, knocking him to the ground.

Da You felt a sharp pain in her stomach and before she could react, Xu Chu had already caught up with her.

Like catching a wild rabbit, he lifted him up and was about to punch him.

Zhang Fei hurriedly said:

"Zhongkang, wait! Let me do it!"

After saying that, he took a step forward and swung his fist, which was the size of a vinegar jar.

With a thud, a punch landed squarely on his nose, causing blood to gush out.

The nose is crooked on one side.

It's like opening a sauce and oil shop, where salty, sour, and spicy sauces all roll out at once.

Another punch landed, splitting the slit of his eye and causing his pupil to spit out.

It was as if a colorful silk shop had opened, with red, black, and purple silks all displayed.

After two punches, Da You was already half-dead, how could he withstand a third punch?

He knelt down with a thud and begged for mercy repeatedly:

"Four grandfathers, spare my life! Please spare my life!"

The face that was just moments ago contorted in a ferocious manner now showed only a disheveled and wretched state.

Liu Bei stepped forward with his hands behind his back and sternly rebuked him:

"Wu Dayou, as a son, you are unfilial to your parents. How are you any different from a beast?"

"Your teachings are indeed correct!"

Wu Dayou kowtowed repeatedly, his head hitting the ground.

"From now on, I will definitely pay my respects to my mother morning and evening and be filial to her!"

Zhao Yun turned around and asked the old woman:
"Is this scoundrel truly the old lady's own son?"

Ugh……

The old woman sighed and said with tears in her eyes:

"I am not afraid of being laughed at by you esteemed guests, but this is indeed my unworthy son."

"After he became addicted to gambling, he first sold his land and houses, then pawned ancestral artifacts..."

She pointed to the empty roof beams, "Even the plaque that my late husband left behind, which read 'Family of Accumulated Virtues,' has been chopped up and burned as firewood."

Wu Dayou sneered:
"Mother, it's just that it's cold in winter... I'm afraid you'll get cold."

"Rebel!"

The old woman suddenly pulled a rattan cane from under her pillow. "Last time you said you were selling the plaque to pay for Grandpa's medical treatment, and what happened?"

"result……"

Wu Dayou shrank his neck, "But my grandson had really bad luck."

Upon seeing this, everyone shook their heads.

Every family has its own troubles, and today's events seem to have been a mishap for Liu Bei.

Therefore, I offered my help.

But how many families like this are there in the world?

Liu Bei, with his chivalrous spirit, could save one family, but he could not save thousands.

"This trip was worth it."

Liu Bei whispered to Li Yi beside him.

"It made me realize how many broken families still exist in the countryside, and we should strive even harder to improve our lives."

"To save millions of families."

Li Yi replied in a low voice:
"When one is in a high position in the government, one should be concerned about the people."

"When one is far from the court, one should worry about one's ruler."

"Your Majesty is the ruler of all people in the palace and can save the common people from suffering."

"Once outside the palace, His Majesty remains the same warm-hearted and chivalrous Liu Gong."

"No matter how many such incidents occur, His Majesty will always intervene."

"We may not be able to save them all, but we can save as many families as we can."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei laughed heartily, patted Li Yi on the shoulder, and praised him:
"Ziyu's words are exactly what I think!"

After speaking, Liu Bei turned to the old woman again and asked softly:
"We just happened to be passing by and have troubled you for so long, so it's time for us to take our leave."

"I wonder what else the old lady needs our help with?"

The old woman sighed deeply:
"To be able to meet several benefactors today is due to the good deeds of our ancestors."

"I have received so much kindness from you, I should not ask for more."

"only……"

As she spoke, the old woman pulled the little girl beside her closer.

"I don't have much time left, and the only thing I can't let go of is this child."

"I only beg you gentlemen to take care of this poor girl."

After saying this, he gestured for the girl to bow.

The girl then knelt before Liu Bei, bowed her head, and said:
"Please, sir, benefactor, accept Ah Yu!"

Liu Bei stroked his beard and pondered. He thought to himself that this child was indeed unfortunate, but not inherently bad.

With proper guidance, they may become useful.

So he said gently:
“If the old lady does not mind, she may take Ayu to the official school for resettlement.”

“If the girl is educated and reasonable, you can also live out your old age there.”

The restrictions on women in the Han Dynasty were not as severe as in later dynasties, and women were also allowed to attend private schools.

For example, Empress Wang Zhengjun, the wife of Emperor Yuan of Han, received a good education before entering the palace.

However, the highest level of education that women in the Han Dynasty could receive was probably court education and private tutoring.

As the name suggests, court education refers to education sponsored by the government.

Private tutors are usually from aristocratic backgrounds, and their families proactively hire tutors for them.

The most representative figure is Zhen Mi, who loved reading from a young age and was jokingly called "female PhD" by her sisters.

However, Liu Bei's suggestion to send A Yu to the official school was essentially a guaranteed admission.

This prestigious university, located right under the emperor's nose, has a president who is none other than the world-renowned Mr. Shui Jing.

"Great, great."

The old woman was overjoyed and immediately made Ayu kneel down to thank her benefactor.

Ayu, her eyes brimming with tears, kowtowed repeatedly:
"Ayu will never steal again! She will definitely study hard!"

Subsequently, Liu Bei dispatched Zhao Yun to escort A Yu and the old woman to the official school.

He also specifically spoke with Mr. Shui Jing, Sima Hui, asking him to take good care of A Yu.

He then returned to the palace.

Luoyang Palace, Ganlu Hall.

As dusk settled, the palace lanterns were lit.

Liu Bei invited Li Yi to have dinner with him.

A golden goblet of sake and a few dishes of seasonal appetizers made for a more relaxed atmosphere than a grand banquet.

“Ziyu,” Liu Bei sighed as he raised his cup, “On this trip today, I have come to know the suffering of the people, which cannot be fully described in any memorial.”

He looked out the window at the darkening sky.

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, how could I have imagined that a descendant of such a prestigious family would have fallen into such a state of destitution?"

Li Yi poured wine from the jug:

"Your Majesty has been residing in the inner palace for a long time, and the ministers often embellish their reports, which inevitably leads to a sense of distance between you and them."

Court officials mostly report good news and not bad news, so staying in the deep palace for a long time can indeed make them detached from the common people.

"Therefore I increasingly feel..." Liu Bei stroked the rim of his wine cup, "that your suggestion to send A Dou to the paper mill for training was indeed a wise one."

Li Yi's eyes flickered slightly, and he pondered for a moment before saying:

"If you stay at the Prince Paper Mill for a long time, you will naturally learn about the five grains and understand the hardships of people's lives."

"Yes."

Liu Bei suddenly laughed, “That kid wrote to me last month and actually knew how much paper could be produced from a bundle of bamboo. He’s much better than those noble sons who only know how to compose poems about the wind and moon.”

"Ziyu, come, have another drink."

Liu Bei personally took the wine pot and filled the wine cup for Li Yi, who was kneeling opposite him.

"I have been feeling uneasy ever since I thought of Cui He, whom I tested during the day."

"The system of selecting officials through recommendation has been in place for four hundred years in our Han Dynasty. As the founding emperor, I am not in a position to change the laws established by our ancestors."

"But if things don't change, I'm afraid there will be more people like Cui He in the future, holding positions in the localities without doing any work."

"In that case, my Han dynasty will be destroyed sooner or later."

"This matter truly gives me a headache."

Li Yi accepted the wine with both hands, and upon hearing this, smiled and said:

"Your Majesty is in the prime of life; there is no need to rush this matter."

"I am very pleased to hear about the construction of private schools in various prefectures and counties reported by the Grand Master of Ceremonies today."

“Not bad,” a hint of joy flashed in Liu Bei’s eyes.

“Since the edict of ‘every county must have a school’ was issued in the first year of Zhangwu, all prefectures and counties have reported that there are private schools in every prefecture and county.”

"To be honest, before I issued this edict, I never imagined that the edict requiring every county to have a school could be completed in less than two years."

"It seems that Ziyu coordinates well with your cabinet and the ministers in the court, and gets things done so quickly and efficiently."

"I am very pleased, I am very pleased!"

Li Yi put down his wine cup and said seriously:

"Your Majesty is holy."

"I recently reviewed reports from various regions and found that the number of students from poor families enrolling in schools has increased by more than 30% compared to previous years."

"Although it did not meet expectations, it has shown initial results."

"Given time, we will surely be able to cultivate more talented individuals for the country."

Liu Bei nodded slightly, but his gaze gradually deepened.

"The private school is progressing smoothly, however..."

"Hehe, when Ziyu went on his incognito visit today, I heard a nursery rhyme on the street."

"They're singing—"

“Those recommended for the title of ‘Outstanding Talent’ are illiterate.”

"He was recommended for the position of Filial and Incorrupt Official, and his father lived separately from him."

"The poor and plain are as muddy as dirt, while the high-ranking generals are as timid as chickens."

"In the case of Cui He, I often reflected on the flaws in the selection of officials in the country."

"Ziyu, have you ever considered the drawbacks of the recommendation system?"

The warm pavilion fell silent for a moment, with only the sound of water dripping from the water clock.

Li Yi knew that this was the real topic of the private banquet tonight.

He pondered for a moment, then said:

Your Majesty's concerns are absolutely correct.

"The recommendation system has been in place for over four hundred years, and its problems have become deeply entrenched."

"Local tycoons control elections, making it difficult for talented people from poor families to rise to prominence."

"Exactly that."

Liu Bei sighed softly, "Back then, when I became a student of Mr. Lu Zhi, all I sought was to enter officialdom."

"Without this master-disciple relationship, even though I had rendered great service to the country at that time, I would have had difficulty obtaining an official position."

"That is why I have deeply examined the drawbacks of the recommendation system."

As she spoke, she looked at Li Yi again.

"Since Ziyu has said this, he must already have a plan?"

Li Yi calmly replied:
"Your Majesty should not easily change the laws established by our ancestors, but you can reform the old laws."

"Didn't the Yangjia New System reform the method of recommending candidates based on filial piety and integrity?"

"The new system of Yangjia (a system of government administration) will assess the candidates for filial piety and integrity and those who are outstanding talents each year."

"However, the past events involving Cui He have proven that such people may still be able to deceive the emperor."

"In my humble opinion, the annual performance evaluation should be standardized."

good!
Liu Bei did not object to this proposal.

Moreover, there is not much resistance to changing it, since it is an old system from the Han Dynasty.

Liu Bei simply improved upon this foundation, making the annual central government assessments more rigorous and standardized.

"At this point, the matter will be handed over to the Cabinet. Once the specific procedures are drafted, they will be submitted to me for a final decision."

"Here."

After finalizing the plan, Liu Bei said again:
"What Ziyu just said about standardizing the assessment of filial piety and incorruptibility is something I wholeheartedly agree with."

"However... if it stops here, it may still be difficult to shake the foundation of the aristocratic families."

Li Yi smiled slightly and cupped his hands in greeting, saying:
Your Majesty's concerns are absolutely correct.

"I have a plan that can be implemented gradually."

"Oh?"

Liu Bei raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.

"I believe that we should first increase the number of candidates for the positions of Filial Piety and Incorruptibility and Outstanding Talent each year."

Li Yi spoke calmly, yet every word was like a knife.

"Nowadays, each prefecture and county recommends candidates for filial piety and integrity every year, but the number of places is scarce, and even powerful families are fighting tooth and nail for them."

“It is even more difficult for those from poor families to rise above their circumstances.”

"If the number of places is doubled or even tripled, then although there are many scions of aristocratic families, they may not be able to fill all of them."

Liu Bei pondered for a moment and said:
"If the number of positions is greatly increased, wouldn't that allow more scions of prominent families to enter officialdom?"

"On the contrary, it fuels the arrogance of the powerful clans?"

After all, the recommendation system relied on relatives and friends for recommendations.

Otherwise, how could Yuan Shao's family have produced so many high-ranking officials for generations?

This is obviously impossible.

Li Yi shook his head and explained:

"...No."

"My idea is to increase the number of places first, and then set up an examination."

"take an exam?"

Liu Bei's gaze sharpened.

"Exactly."

A sharp glint flashed in Li Yi's eyes as he pondered:
"All those recommended as filial and incorruptible or outstanding talents must go to the capital to participate in the unified examination of the imperial court, and the best will be selected."

"For example, if a certain prefecture recommends ten people for official positions based on their filial piety and integrity, only the top three will be appointed to official posts, and the rest will be sent back."

"In this way, although there are many scions of noble families, not all of them may pass the test."

“But talented individuals from humble backgrounds, if they truly possess talent, will surely stand out from the crowd.”

Although the recommendation system was a welfare mechanism for aristocratic families.

However, this does not mean that powerful families can completely monopolize official positions.

According to later statistics,
Throughout the four hundred years of the Han Dynasty, among those who rose through the ranks via the recommendation system—

The children of bureaucrats and nobles accounted for approximately 69.6%.

The children of the wealthy accounted for 6%.

Ordinary people accounted for 15.7%.

Poor ordinary people account for 8.7%.

In other words, commoners and poor people whose fathers or ancestors did not hold any official positions accounted for about 24.4% of the total.

It accounts for a quarter of the national total.

Although this ratio may not seem high, it was a groundbreaking achievement for that era.

Before the recommendation system, ordinary people would never have had such a good opportunity to become officials.
The earliest official selection system before the Han Dynasty was the hereditary system of official positions and stipends in the Western Zhou Dynasty.

What do you mean?
It means that having a good father means everything is good.

No matter how hard you try, it's useless if you don't have a good father.

Then there was the military merit-based nobility system during the Warring States period.

There's no exam required; it's all based on military merit.

That means you have to risk your life on the battlefield, kill the enemy, and then come back to become an official.

The system of awarding titles based on military merit was groundbreaking, giving ordinary people an opportunity to become officials.

However, the hereditary system of official positions and stipends still existed at this time.

it means,
If you can't rely on your parents' connections, then you have to fight for your life.

But a country cannot be at war forever, and this system tells you that becoming an official means risking your life.

For people at the bottom of society, it remains very difficult to get ahead.

Therefore, the emergence of the recommendation system during the Western Han Dynasty was of great historical progressive significance.

Although it still relies heavily on its parent company.

But for ordinary people who want to rise up, at least they no longer have to risk their lives.

Although it has nurtured a large number of powerful and aristocratic families like Yuan Shao's, whose descendants held high office for four generations, it has also fostered a large number of powerful families over its four hundred years.

However, it cannot be denied that the recommendation system was progressive at the time.

However, the wheels of history keep rolling forward and never stop for any one person.

By the time of Liu Bei, the recommendation system was clearly no longer suitable for the needs of the times.

The Qi-Han Dynasty urgently needed a more advanced and fairer system for selecting officials to serve the empire.

And in the system of selecting officials, looking at the entirety of ancient times—

The imperial examination system was the fairest and most progressive system that could be implemented during the feudal period.

You can certainly say that the imperial examination system still had many unfair aspects and that there were still cases of cheating.

However, given the productivity of ancient society, there was no better system for selecting officials than the imperial examination.

From improving papermaking and printing techniques to establishing numerous private schools.

Li Yi was doing everything he could to prepare for the imperial examination system.

However, it must be pointed out that the imperial examination system essentially harmed the interests of hereditary nobles.

The imperial examination system implemented during the Sui and Tang dynasties was never very successful.

Li Shimin was able to proclaim, "All the heroes of the world are now within my grasp."

It's because he is the Heavenly Khan, and no one dares to oppose him.

Relying on the monarch's personal prestige, the imperial examination system was gradually implemented.

Even so, the imperial examination system was not truly perfected and accepted by society until the emergence of Huang Chao.

Huang Chao's deeds served as a warning to powerful clans.

If you don't accept the imperial examination system, then the common people will hang your head on a street lamp.

In other words, the imperial examination system was truly perfected in ancient times.
It would take at least three hundred years, plus the time of Huang Chao.

This project was far too massive to be completed by Li Yi's generation.

All Li Yi could do was first establish the framework of the imperial examination system, leaving a template for future generations to improve and refine upon.

Now, we really can only rely on the wisdom of future generations.

Of course, one must walk one step at a time, and eat one bite at a time.

The late Han Dynasty was a peak period for the development of powerful clans.

Choosing the right time to enter the market is crucial.

If we follow the same path as Cao Wei, then we will be just another Wei-Jin-Southern and Northern Dynasties.

If Li Yi can complete his grand plan, he can avoid the calamities of the Wei and Jin dynasties.

Li Yi had been preparing for this for far too long...

After listening to Li Yi's analysis, Liu Bei pondered for a moment and slowly nodded:
"Your method is indeed ingenious."

"But...aren't those scions of noble families who didn't make the cut resentful?"

Li Yi smiled and said:

"Your Majesty is worrying too much."

"Adding more slots will surely please the prominent families."

"This is a matter where the benefits outweigh the drawbacks; how could local powerful families possibly oppose it?"

It still exploits human weaknesses.

Although the recommendation system primarily served aristocratic families, these families still had to divide themselves into separate households.

There are only a few spots available for the "filial piety and incorruptibility" and "outstanding talent" categories each year.

It's basically monopolized by powerful families with strong connections.

The other powerful families were naturally unwilling to accept this.

If the imperial court were willing to increase the number of positions, they would certainly be more than happy to agree.

Although there is an exam, at least they are given a chance.

This is a perfectly legitimate, openly calculated scheme.

“Establish an examination so that even those from poor families can enter.”

"Although there are many scions of noble families, the court only selects the best."

"They would only blame themselves for their lack of talent, rather than resent the court."

"Moreover, with the number of slots increased, they will feel they have more opportunities and will not object vehemently."

A hint of approval flashed in Liu Bei's eyes.

"Is this what Ziyu often refers to as 'boiling a frog in lukewarm water'?"

"Exactly."

Li Yi nodded and said seriously:
"If the recommendation system is abolished suddenly, it will surely provoke a backlash from powerful families."

"But if we increase the number of places first, and then select candidates through exams."

"Over time, aristocratic families will become accustomed to the imperial court taking the lead in talent selection."

"When the time is right, the power of recommendation will be gradually reduced, and eventually the examination will become the only way to enter officialdom."

It is undeniable that the imperial examination system took a relatively large step forward compared to the present era.

According to the normal development path, after the recommendation system, there should have been the Nine-Rank System.

The Nine-Rank System was a misstep that propelled powerful families to the top.

They judged people entirely by their social standing and family background, dividing them into nine classes.

With a good family background, even a fool can become an official.

If your family's financial situation is poor, then you are destined to suffer for the rest of your life.

The saying "The highest ranks are not for the poor, and the lowest ranks are not for the powerful" perfectly illustrates this point.

However, it should be noted that the Nine-Rank System still had progressive significance at the time.

Because at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, local powerful families had already controlled the recommendation system, which led to numerous problems.

Those who are recommended for official positions can only become officials because of the person who recommended them.

Therefore, he would not be grateful to the imperial court, but rather to the person who recommended him.

This is also the reason for the emergence of the dual monarchy in the Eastern Han Dynasty, where subordinates could address local officials as their subjects.

But for a unified dynasty, is it really a good thing to submit to anyone other than the emperor?
So, to put it bluntly, the original intention of the Nine-Rank System was to centralize the power of personnel selection in the election process and take back the personnel power of local officials.

This is beneficial for cracking down on local powerful clans and strengthening central authority.

This was a last resort in order to reclaim local power.

This is the positive significance of the Nine-Rank System, but it is limited to this.

Once Cao Wei truly centralized personnel authority, there was no turning back.

Its drawbacks began to emerge in large numbers.
For example, all the talented people in the country are concentrated in the central government where the Grand Central Committee is located.

This leads to a lack of talent in local areas and a decrease in administrative efficiency.

If no one governs a region, the region collapses, and the central government can hardly survive alone.

For example, the promotion and demotion of officials were all in the hands of the Zhongzheng (a high-ranking official in charge of official appointments).

Then officials will lose interest in their official duties and focus solely on vying for social reputation.

They no longer care about their job, and their superiors are helpless about it.

Therefore, in order to reclaim local power as soon as possible, the Nine-Rank System could be adopted.

However, given the accumulated problems from the last four hundred years of the Han Dynasty, once implemented, the consequences would have to be borne.

Therefore, Li Yi decided to take this step.

This directly challenged the even more difficult imperial examination system.

"good!"

Liu Bei clapped his hands and laughed, "In this way, we can neither anger the powerful families nor gradually weaken their monopoly. It is truly a brilliant strategy."

Li Yi raised his cup in a toast and said:

"Your Majesty is wise. If this matter succeeds, within ten years, all the talented people in the world will be employed by the court."

He paused slightly, then added, "They have all fallen into His Majesty's clutches."

Liu Bei happily drank the wine in his cup, looked at the gradually brightening sky outside the hall, and said with a sigh:
"Good! Well done, this is a perfect example of slowly boiling a frog... Ziyu, you are in charge of this matter!"

Li Yi bowed deeply:
"Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail in your trust!"

After discussing Liu Bei's concerns, Li Yi began to share his own.

He took out the brocade that Liu Bei had bought for him that day and said:

"Now that Shu brocade is being sold in the capital region, we must pay attention to this."

Liu Bei's smile faded, and his gaze grew serious.

"I have long known of Sima Yi's abilities."

“He was skilled in governance when he was in Hanoi.”

"Now that Cao Cao has sent him to be in charge of Shu brocade, it is clear that he has great ambitions."

"Exactly."

Li Yi nodded and said meaningfully:

"Shu brocade is a specialty of Yizhou, and its quality is far superior to that of other states."

"Now that it is under the control of Sima Yi through the 'state-run' system, not only has the output increased significantly, but it is also being dumped in various places at low prices."

"Today, in the streets of Luoyang, Shu brocade accounts for 70%, while Youzhou woolen goods account for only 20%."

“If this continues, the trade routes in Youzhou will surely suffer severe damage.”

Li Yi was not worried about how well Shu brocade would sell or how much stronger Wei would become.

That's not the case.

In the end, the State of Wei was only one province.

Even if it were Zhuge Liang from history, no matter how hard he tried, he still couldn't possibly develop a force that could defeat the Han Dynasty that unified the Central Plains.

What Li Yi was really worried about was that this thing would steal the market share of Youzhou woolen goods.

It is important to understand that Li Yi was able to enable Youzhou to achieve self-sufficiency.

It largely depends on the local fur trade.

However, fur is not as prestigious as brocade.

Therefore, Li Yi had no choice but to resort to marketing.

Leveraging one's celebrity status to drive brand impact.

He not only led the way by wearing it himself, but also made all the officials in Youzhou wear it.

These measures made Youcui somewhat resemble a "high-end product".

But these high-end products are ultimately the result of marketing.

In terms of cost and craftsmanship, it is far inferior to Shu brocade.

Therefore, if Shu brocade were to be dumped into the market, it would be easy for high-ranking officials and nobles in the north to switch to wearing Shu brocade and abandon Youcui.

This is a significant blow to Youzhou.

Li Yi would never stand idly by and watch the trade system he had built be destroyed by a piece of Shu brocade.

Therefore, upon seeing Shu brocade in the market, people immediately pay close attention to it.

Liu Bei pondered for a moment, then suddenly laughed and said:
"Ziyu, I remember when you were in Youzhou, you took the lead in wearing fur clothing and even ordered officials to wear fur clothing as formal attire."

"That's how Youzhou furs became sold all over the world."

"What, are you afraid you can't outsell Sima Yi now?"

Li Yi smiled self-deprecatingly:
"Your Majesty is joking. Although the fur is warm, it is still just a fur garment."

"In terms of magnificence and exquisiteness, it is naturally inferior to Shu brocade."

"Which of those aristocratic families doesn't indulge in extravagance?"

"If they get used to the lightness and beauty of Shu brocade, who would still want to wear heavy fur coats?"

Liu Bei raised an eyebrow. "Then, in your opinion, how should we respond?"

A sharp glint flashed in Li Yi's eyes, and he said solemnly:
"I believe that trade routes are all about profit."

"If it's just a simple ban on sales, people will still smuggle it out of profit."

"Moreover, trade embargoes are a double-edged sword, and our merchants also suffer from them."

"So rather than a complete ban, it's better to lift the ban."

"However, it must be strictly brought under the control of the imperial court and subject to restrictions."

"Oh?"

Liu Bei raised an eyebrow. "I would like to hear the details."

"First, ban the import of Shu brocade into the capital."

Li Yi said in a deep voice:

"Your Majesty may issue an edict to restrict the circulation of Shu brocade in Luoyang, Chang'an and other capital areas on the grounds that 'goods from enemy countries should not be easily imported'."

"At the very least, we should make it so expensive and hard to find."

Liu Bei frowned and pondered for a moment:

"This move is unlikely to win over the public."

"Merchants are driven by profit. If we forcibly prohibit them, it will easily lead to a black market, which would be counterproductive."

Li Yi was prepared and continued:

“Please get to the point: our restriction on Shu brocade is not out of fear of the wealth and power of Cao Wei.”

"But rather, they feared it would hinder the sales of the 'youcuo' (a type of medicinal herb)."

"Now, please elevate the name of Youcui."

"Since Shu brocade wins with its 'luxury', then Youcui stands out with its 'nobility'."

"Your Majesty may issue an edict designating the finest snow sable fur from Youzhou as 'imperial tribute,' which shall not be bestowed upon anyone but meritorious officials."

"Furthermore, all high-ranking officials and generals in the court were ordered to wear fur robes when they came to court, making them 'clothing of merit' rather than something that ordinary wealthy families could overstep their bounds on."

Although the overall beauty and grandeur of the Youcui brocade are not as striking as those of the Shu brocade.

However, if resources are truly concentrated on weaving, it is still possible to weave relatively expensive and beautiful coats.

Like ferret fur, it's something you can only come across by chance.

Li Yi certainly wasn't trying to sell it, but rather to "raise" it and increase its value.

The main focus is on marketing.

"...Hmm, by raising prices based on status, the sons of officials and nobles will surely follow suit. This plan is feasible."

Liu Bei's eyes lit up, and he approved of Li Yi's strategy.

Li Yi solemnly cupped his hands in greeting:

"Your Majesty, Zhuojun is the place where our Qi and Han dynasties rose to power, and Youzhou is the northern frontier's shield."

"If the people suffer from economic decline and poverty, how will we defend against the barbarians in the future?"

"Sima Yi's dumping of Shu brocade is ostensibly a commercial war, but in reality, it harbors a hidden threat to undermine my foundation!"

"Therefore, for the sake of the overall situation, I believe that tariffs should be increased."

"tariff?"

After a moment's thought, Liu Bei understood the key to it.

"You mean, impose heavy taxes on Shu brocade to make it expensive and difficult to sell?"

"Exactly."

Li Yi nodded, "According to my observation—"

"The reason why Shu brocade was able to quickly occupy the Luoyang market was because Sima Yi deliberately suppressed the price."

"They even went so far as to dump their products at a loss, just to crush our country's domestic textile industry."

"If we impose a tax of 50% or even double on it, the price of Shu brocade will inevitably skyrocket."

"Ordinary merchants, unable to afford it, naturally turned to Youcui."

Liu Bei pondered for a moment and said:
"But in this way, Shu brocade becomes even more precious because of its scarcity."

“Those powerful and influential families would probably be even more eager to support him, wouldn’t that boost his reputation?”

Li Yi smiled slightly and analyzed:
"...Your Majesty's concerns are very valid."

"But things are valued because they are rare, and they are also hard to find because they are valuable."

"If Shu brocade is expensive due to tariffs, only a very few wealthy families can afford it."

"The vast majority of wealthy households and officials had no choice but to settle for second best and choose Youcui."

"In the long run, the 'youcui' will still be the mainstream."

"As for Shu brocade, it has become a luxury item for a few people, and it is no longer able to shake the foundation of Youzhou's economy."

"In this way, we can neither completely ban Shu brocade and avoid the problems of a black market, nor allow You brocade to maintain its market dominance."

"Imposing additional tariffs can also increase revenue for the national treasury, which can be described as killing three birds with one stone."

"This is what is meant by winning through price."

"Excellent, a brilliant strategy of winning through price!"

Liu Bei clapped his hands and laughed:

"Sima Yi wanted to disrupt my economy through commercial warfare, so I countered with tariffs."

"Ziyu's plan is exactly what I wanted!"

Li Yi solemnly said:

"Your Majesty, the struggle over economic matters is also a struggle over the fate of the nation."

"If Youzhou declines, the northern frontier will be unstable."

"If the northern frontier is in chaos, the central plains will be in turmoil."

"We must not underestimate anything."

Liu Bei was overjoyed and immediately agreed.

The following morning at court, he immediately announced the promulgation of the "Shu Brocade Restriction Order".

This policy, once implemented, immediately disrupted the existing market order within a month.

……

Luoyang West Market.

A member of the Wei clan from Hedong, dressed in a brocade robe, slammed his fist on the table and pointed angrily at the Shu brocade on the counter, saying:

"Five hundred coins per foot?"

"Last year it cost no more than a hundred coins, why has it skyrocketed to this price?"

The employer wiped his sweat and smiled apologetically:
"My lord, please calm your anger. The imperial court has just issued a new customs decree."

"When Shu brocade enters the country, six out of ten pieces are taxed."

"Small-scale business, really... really..."

"absurd!"

The Wei family member turned and left, still grumbling indignantly:
"It must be that Li Yi is jealous of the extravagant spending of our noble families, so he has set up this harsh policy!"

"Humph!"

The policy had a remarkable effect as soon as it was issued.

Sales of Shu brocade in the Central Plains began to decline significantly.

The reason why Qi Han was able to resist the dumping of Shu brocade was related to Li Yi's currency reform.

Li Yi has already reshaped the national economy, so he can use normal economic means to punish Sima Yi.

But the Cao Wei dynasty in history was different.

Because the historical Cao Wei's currency reform failed, they were back to square one overnight.

The monetary system degenerated into the most primitive form of "barter".

This led to Shu brocade becoming a hard currency, making it impossible for Cao Wei to punish Shu Han.

Therefore, you can see the bizarre scene of Cao Pi wearing Shu brocade while scolding Wei officials and telling them to stop wearing Shu brocade.

……

Yizhou, Chengdu.

On a misty, drizzly morning, the steam rising from the dye vats in the Shu brocade workshop mingled with the misty rain of the Bashan Mountains.

Sima Yi stood with his hands behind his back in front of the brocade drying platform, enjoying the immense wealth that Shu brocade brought him.

Developing Shu brocade was undoubtedly the most correct and glorious thing he ever did in his life.

Not only has the country become prosperous, but individuals have also become wealthy.

"Commander!"

Chen Zhi, the magistrate of Jinguan, rushed over, panting heavily.

"We just received intelligence that the State of Qi is imposing a heavy tax of 60% on Shu brocade, and the price of Shu brocade in the West Market of Luoyang has increased fivefold!"

"What!?"

Sima Yi's pale face twitched slightly.

"That's Li Yi for you, resorting to such vulgar methods!"

"Sir, the number of merchants from the Central Plains who buy our brocade has decreased significantly compared to last year."

"If this continues, the national treasury's revenue this year... may not be able to account to the King of Wei."

Sima Yi frowned deeply, his heart filled with anxiety.

"Sales to Central China should be suspended for now!"

Sima Yi waved his hand, "Let me consider this matter."

He understands military affairs, life, and the workplace.

But trade wars are certainly not his forte.

Faced with Li Yi's series of sanctions, Sima Yi was at a loss.

I have absolutely no idea how to deal with this.

……

(End of this chapter)