Chapter 25: Zhang Xu's Dilemma

  "Master Xianshi, the current transaction with Gongsun Zan has reached a very large scale. The amount of grain and ironware traded is quite substantial, while salt is relatively less. However, since Gongsun Zan's territory also borders the sea, they have access to sea salt as well. If this continues, our merchant group in Jizhou will likely face suppression!"

  With a worried look on his face, he said.

  Yuan Shao, although indecisive and fond of plotting without taking action, was after all a person who had received elite education and achieved some success in his career. He wouldn't be so easily swayed. Currently, Zhang Xiu's forces' trade with the outside world is all done in the form of merchant caravans, with Ji Province being their largest trading partner. Large quantities of refined salt are exported to Ji Province. If they were to suffer from Yuan Shao's suppression, the consequences would be unthinkable!

  As one of the top warlords in the world, Yuan Shao's power is quite formidable. If Zhang Xu were to provoke Yuan Shao, it would indeed have a huge impact on his foreign trade, and the influence of the Four Sages and Three Dukes is not so simple!

  "Is it possible to reorganize a merchant group then?"

  Zhang Xu thought for a moment and said.

  "Nowadays, there are barely enough people for foreign trade, if you want to reorganize a merchant group, there aren't that many hands available!"

  He replied with a serious expression, looking at Zhang Xu with some trepidation. After all, this matter was his responsibility, but he had not cultivated enough capable people. He feared that it would lower his prestige in Zhang Xu's heart. For such a devout disciple like him, the master's attention was the most important thing, and it was also the most important place for him to realize his self-worth.

  Human needs, the most basic is survival needs, and realizing self-worth, this is the highest need of human beings, and also the root of the devoutness of believers. In the heart of Buwu, Zhangxu's view as a fairy master is an extremely important link.

  "How much money and food do we have now?"

  Zhang Xu let out a faint sigh and asked.

  "I report to the immortal master, we now have over 1.53 billion pounds of grain, 300,000 taels of gold and 2 million taels of silver, as well as more than 3 billion copper coins!"

  He was well aware of the specific amount of money and grain in his territory and could recite it from memory.

  "Let's continue to increase our trade with Gongsun Zan, now that we have a county under our control, the external consumption of wealth is not much, Yuan Shao's oppression is indeed frightening, but we will eventually face this formidable opponent, for now, Gongsun Zan must hold on, let's continue to expand our trade!"

  Fish and bear's paw can't be had at the same time, now is the time to make a choice. Although offending Yuan Shao will have a huge impact, Zhang Xu still made his decision after some thought.

  After all, it's already at the stage of rising now, unlike in Qinglin Town, he also has a certain foundation now. Although Chang County is not big and has only 50,000 people, all aspects are already well-established, and with the intensification of the people's faith, Zhang Xu's strength has also reached the advanced stage of refining and purifying energy. Offending Yuan Shao is indeed frightening, but it's destined that he will be an enemy of Yuan Shao, while there is no direct conflict of interest with Gongsun Zan now, and Gongsun Zan is destined to perish. Increasing transactions now is just prolonging his time!

  "Yes, Master Xian!"

  Although some were unclear, Bu Wu still respectfully said.

  "Gradually withdraw important personnel from Jizhou under Yuan Shao's territory, and increase the volume of iron transactions in Xuzhou!"

  Zhang Xu suddenly said again.

  If nothing unexpected happens, Cao Cao should be about to conquer Xuzhou now. After all, the scouts have reported that Liu Bei has already entered Xuzhou, and the Battle of Xuzhou is about to begin. Now it's still necessary to restrict Cao Cao's power. If Cao Cao gets Xuzhou, he will also threaten Qingzhou, which is just around the corner!

  In Zhang Xu's plan, Qingzhou was his foothold. Although he only occupied Chang County for now, once the people's hearts were stabilized and their faith was sincere, after a big harvest, next year he would swallow Donglai County, and then start formally occupying the entire Xuzhou. Limiting the power of some major warlords was a necessary thing!

  Xuzhou Tao Qian has always been weak, compared to the wolf-like Cao Cao, helping Tao Qian is equivalent to helping himself, Zhang Xu's heart has long been prepared!

  "Yes!"

  As for Zhang Xu's analysis of the overall situation as a fairy master, Bu Wu knew that it was accurate, so he didn't have any doubts.

  In the following days, the spring plowing work in various places was carried out very well, with the leadership of old believers, and the people's faith in Zhang Xu became more and more devout. Although Chang County controlled the entry of refugees and external communication, the influx of refugees continued to increase, sometimes reaching a scale of thousands of people in one day!

  And these refugees, after entering Chang County, only at the very beginning, were given gruel to sustain their lives. Later on, the children who had been nurtured were assigned to various places, where they led other refugees in opening up more wasteland, planting additional grain crops, repairing water conservancy facilities and roads.

  And among them, the craftsmen will also be organized to build waterwheels and other facilities. The whole Chang County is full of vitality everywhere. With the help of experienced children, these refugees are arranged in an orderly manner, and a thriving scene can be seen everywhere!

  Due to the large-scale cement plant, the output of cement is increasing day by day, which also makes the road construction in Dechang County faster and faster. The resettlement work for migrants is becoming more and more skilled, and the population of Chang County can be said to be constantly increasing!

  Zhang Xu, having just made a breakthrough, also had no possibility of progress in the short term. Therefore, his immortal master personally inspected various places on the entire territory of Chang County to spread his faith. The technique of combining talismans with herbal medicine greatly reduced the mortality rate of refugees. On the one hand, it strengthened the faith of believers and attracted a large number of refugees' beliefs, which was of great help to the stability and development of Chang County!

  Under such circumstances, the spring plowing work for a month is also coming to an end. In just one month, the population of Chang County has unexpectedly increased to 600,000, and the cultivated wasteland has reached 6 million mu!

  Six hundred thousand mu of land, although it is the first year of cultivation, but because of deep plowing, combined with the use of base fertilizer and the continuous improvement of water conservancy facilities, I believe that this year's harvest will not be small. This is stability. By then, Zhang Xu believed that when the time comes to recruit soldiers again, as long as they can hold on for this year, next year, they can truly attack Donglai County, and the battle situation will be in one county!

  This is the best time for development, with various warlords fighting each other, and wars between them everywhere. Yuan Shao's power has not yet reached its peak, and Cao Cao is only just rising to prominence. Zhang Xu's heart is filled with a sense of urgency and inexplicable excitement, because as he grows stronger, he too will have his day to participate in the great war among the lords...