Chapter 4339: The emergence of cracks

From the very beginning, Chen Xi never thought about the cost of this thing, such as sand withering.

Just like when Chen Xi was on his east tour back then, when he cut up the major industries, those wealthy merchants spent a lot of money to buy them, but when Zhou Yu bought them, or directly, when Zhou Yu needed them, it was not a purchase. Not entering the market directly is to blend in private.

In the same way, from the perspective of Chen Xi, it doesn't make any sense to talk about how expensive the things produced in this kind of land are compared to gold.

Because this thing is a pure cost to Chen Xi, and any added value to Chen Xi, as long as he does not enter the market, but is controlled by the state, it does not exist, so it is comparable to gold. For Chen Xi, the price is actually more of labor cost and transportation management cost.

The Han Dynasty is not the small country that was about to fall apart in Anxi at the beginning. If the place of production does not exist under the names of the seven nobles, it will not be able to do what it wants. Whatever happens, I have to execute it!

To put it more bluntly, if it weren't for the limited human resources of the Han Dynasty, Chen Xi would be able to build a huge industrial chain involving cash crop plantations, security and protection transportation and warehousing companies, and high-end pharmaceutical research companies just by relying on this secret medicine.

Not to mention the amazing output of this industry, the jobs that can be provided by this set alone are enough to solve a lot of problems.

loss? invest money?

What are you thinking about? After thinking about this thing, Chen Xi knows that not only will he not lose money, but it will also bring about significant growth in the country's military power and domestic economic operation.

Therefore, from the very beginning, Chen Xi never thought about the market price of this stuff—anyway, it is basically a monopoly industry, and it is not shipped to the market for sale. The layout of the industrial park needs to be considered, and Chen Xi doesn't need to think about the next steps at all, and it will be a matter of course.

"Get the full set?" Zhuge Liang could somewhat understand Chen Xi's train of thought, so he asked tentatively.

"Let the Academy of Medical Sciences verify it." Chen Xi nodded and said, there is a high probability that this thing is true, but it is still necessary to let Hua Tuo and others grasp it, even if they can't innovate, they can still optimize these prescriptions to a certain extent .

"Galen is still at the medical academy. If you send him there, it will be difficult to avoid him." Li You frowned and said, after Galen and Hua Tuo were sent here by the Romans, they have not returned so far. , Said to be treating Cao Cao.

"As long as this kind of thing is used, it is impossible to hide it." Fazheng said calmly, "And Rome and we are open and honest. The two sides are so far away, and the possibility of a life-and-death battle is very small. Just look at this thing."

"You have all neglected something." Li You threw the official document aside, and his mild face quickly turned cold.

"What's wrong?" Fazheng looked at Li You puzzled and asked.

"Rome gets along so well with them, and the upper echelons look a lot like us, which made you forget something?" Li You said with a gloomy expression, "It's an empire with its own interests."

"The vast majority of the main medicine, saffron, or even 90% is produced in Anxi." Guo Jia sighed and said, "The interests are so great that it is meaningless to talk about friendship between empires. I am afraid that Rome also needs it." this thing."

"Yes, the core problem is here. If Rome spends money to buy it, the cost will be too high." Zhuge Liang also said with a little sigh, "Even at the market price, Rome needs dozens of tons a year. It also represents the outflow of dozens of tons of gold, which is an unbearable loss for Rome."

Hearing this, Chen Xi tapped his forehead slightly. He also understood Li You's meaning. He has to say that Li You can indeed see some things that ordinary people can't see from the perspective of the worst human nature. Something, and more importantly, it's possible.

"There is one more thing that I haven't told you all the time, but Hanoi Zhang, Gaoyang Wang and Wenxi Pei all know about it." Chen Xi thought for a while, now that he has reached this point, there is no need to hide it. , some things still need to be said.

"What's the matter?" Liu Bei who came in from the outside asked instead of the others.

"The Persian Gulf can actually grow sugar cane." Chen Xi said slowly.

Li You and the others didn't react immediately when they heard the words, and then suddenly became agitated, they had already realized a certain possibility.

"Rome needs sugar very much, of course we also need it." Chen Xi said somewhat helplessly, "But sugar cane cannot be grown in most places in Rome, and the places where sugar cane can be grown are their most important grain production areas. It’s not necessary to touch the most important grain production area of ​​our family, so we will carry out the Atlantic expansion plan that you all think is crazy.”

There is one thing to say, the current situation in Rome, there is actually nothing to develop in the north, the north has already reached Great Britain, and the east reaches the Zagros Mountains, and it shares control of Media with the Han Dynasty, and Eastern Europe in the northeast. Everything that should be occupied along the Don River has been occupied. To the south, North Africa has basically been occupied. Facing the Sahara Desert, it is really impossible to develop.

Originally, there was still room for the Axum Dynasty and the Kush Dynasty to reach out, but in the face of the crazy beast tide in Africa, Rome decisively gave up the idea of ​​​​taking these two places.

After all, if these two places are knocked down, then the garrison will have to pay for the Romans themselves, and if they are destroyed, they will have to pay for the rebuilding. Now that these two kingdoms are still there, so every time It was they who paid for the Roman elite to garrison them.

During this period, the Roman Empire did not need to be responsible for the food and clothing of the Roman Legion, and the Romans did not need to be responsible for the destruction of the local area.

Coupled with the current situation of world melee, when Rome rested, it also smashed the nomads in the semi-desert and desert of the Arabian Peninsula.

In fact, as early as Trajan's time, Rome came, destroyed the local Nabati Kingdom, and established the Petra Arabian Province. Of course, the Petra Arabian Province did not go deep into the Arabian Peninsula at that time.

When Severus destroys Anxi, don't look at the orders that have been issued all the time to resolutely destroy the Anxi Empire, but if you really want to say it, Severus is actually very cautious to hold the main force on the two rivers and can't win quickly. This side of the Arabian Peninsula is used as a springboard to take a rest in the Persian Gulf, take a big bite and return to the mainland to rest.

It's just that this plan didn't work. After Rome won the victory, an army was stationed in the oasis of the Arabian Peninsula in later generations, and then this place belonged to Rome.

Does it sound outrageous, but in ancient times, as long as the banner of the empire did not fall, a garrison was enough to suppress a very large area.

It can be said that after Rome has settled down like this, there is no room for reliable development. It is really no choice to carry out the so-called Atlantic expansion plan westward.

After all, relying on the exploration of the internal gas separation body and the strong man who broke the boundary, there is still a continent going west along the Atlantic Ocean, and this continent can grow sugar cane, and Rome is really going to grow sugar cane.

Although it sounds outrageous, in fact, before the eighteenth century, growing sugar cane in America was really profitable for large farmers.

However, this is all based on the current conclusion of Rome, that is, the area they occupy cannot grow sugar cane, and the places that can be planted are either planted to become straw, or are very important grain-producing areas, and they cannot be fooled around. So planting sugarcane in South America is currently the only option.

Of course, Rome is not without things that can be used as sugar. For example, dates, the sugar content is extremely outrageous. The problem is that the output of dates is not enough, and sugarcane is still reliable.

But in fact, sugar cane can be grown in the Persian Gulf, at least the area occupied by the Hanoi Zhang family, Gaoyang Wang family, and Wenxi Pei family can really grow sugar cane.

In other words, if Rome knew about it, would it stay far away? No, after all, Anxi was brought down by Rome. It is divided from the Han Dynasty, but Rome has an absolute psychological advantage. After knowing that there is a place that is really useful to them, it is not a big problem for Rome to ask for it. , the question is will the Han Dynasty give it?

Of course not, it’s mine once it’s in my hands, what the hell!

In order to avoid this kind of thing from happening, Chen Xi informed the three companies of the real situation after they had chosen a place, and told them not to look for trouble to plant sugar cane there, set up a sugar factory, and develop their military force well. Maybe someday Rome will find out Yes, the three of you are the first to bear the brunt.

This is why, after the end of the alliance, these three families have been developing dully. Even Gaoyang Wang, who suffered a big loss, has no time to trouble the Wei family. It is really stressful, but no matter how great the pressure is There is no way to change the place, let's face it.

"That is to say, if this thing falls into our hands, sooner or later it will fight with Rome?" Liu Bei said after pondering for a moment. Liu Bei still understands this simple logic.

"That's almost what it means. Anxi's secret medicine can break the limit of the body and further increase the strength of the army." Li You said very calmly, "Rome must also want it, and now that the place of production is in our hands, Rome will what to do?"

"Grab or trade." Li You gave the answer directly without waiting for others to answer.

"Actually, there is no choice." Chen Xi shook his head and said, "At that point, there is actually nothing to talk about. If we want to become stronger, and the other party also wants to become stronger, then we can only rely on our own ability, and both sides have nothing to say. There are claims."

"The sugarcane plantation is just an excuse." Fazheng said with a snort, "It's really reached that level, even if there is no straw, we have to do it. In fact, we have solved Guishuang, and it is inevitable Fighting with Rome is just for us to understand the reason in advance and see the result earlier."

"It's a pity that the honeymoon period ended like this." Chen Xi said with a sigh.

The economic exchanges and cooperation with Rome have been going well. As a result, Chen Xi raised his hand to look at the prescription of this secret medicine, and couldn't help but sighed. After all, their Han Dynasty was not enough.

"Try to talk to Rome." Liu Bei said suddenly. He has also read this set of secret methods and secret medicines, and he already understands the meaning of this stuff.

"It's difficult. The biggest problem now is that no matter how we develop this thing, the output is actually impossible for us to use." Chen Xi said helplessly, "And based on this, it is even more impossible for us and Rome to use it."

"From my standpoint, I have reason to suspect that this thing is the final revenge of the Anxi Empire after knowing that everything is irreparable." Guo Jia replied indifferently.

"There is no lack of this possibility. The so-called weaving of fate, it is impossible not to see the result of failure, but you can't change it after seeing it." Fazheng said quite freely, "Even if you lose, you have to make the enemy feel bad. typical."

"I'm inclined to Taiwei's proposal." Zhuge Liang said suddenly.

It is obvious that Zhuge Liang disagreed with Li You this time, but Li You was not moved at all when he heard the words. What he wanted was not a tool man who didn't have his own thoughts and could only copy what others said. Zhuge Liang didn't have many disagreements with him, but Not a lot, but this does not prevent Li You from admiring Zhuge Liang.

"There is no need to establish the contradiction now. It is true that we are strong, but facing Guishuang and Rome at the same time..." Liu Bei sighed, even Liu Bei lacked confidence, and Rome's military strength is really scary.

Of course, Liu Bei lacked confidence a little, not to say that he was worried that he would not win, but that he felt that it was not worth it.

"Then it can only be a rationing system. For every two we get, Rome needs to get one?" Chen Xi suggested, "The problem is that the premise of this condition is that Rome has to produce something."

"This ratio is quite appropriate." Although Li You was dissatisfied, Roma's fist was there, you can't really refuse to give it, Roma really has the power of tyranny, and it will kill you.

"Let's start the highest-level talks with Rome." Liu Bei said slowly, "It can not only deepen our understanding between the two sides, but also eliminate some hidden dangers, and make things clear."

"You didn't expect this meeting to end, so let's end this matter." Chen Xi asked back.

"I'm thinking that even if the talks are over, we still have to fight. At most, within a certain period of time, we will maintain the current situation. When Guishuang falls, all friendly agreements on paper will be paper. .” Liu Bei replied calmly.

"It's enough to have this sentence." After listening to Liu Bei's answer, Chen Xi confirmed that Liu Bei was not sacrificing for peace, "It's just that under this kind of rationing system, the share allocated to Rome will inevitably fall on us in the end."