The State of Chu also held Wei State accountable for plundering foreigners, but the State of Wei firmly denied the matter and attributed it to civilian behavior without any knowledge.
For the time being, the State of Chu is not ready to overreact. It has just begun to publicize the behavior of the northern aristocratic families and the bottomless exploitation of craftsmen in the State of Chu, to stimulate the sympathy of the Chu people, and to stimulate doubts and hostility towards the workshops of the State of Wei.
He also reminded the old and new aristocrats of Chu State, explicitly or covertly, that no matter where the workers came from or where the workshops were opened, if something was done that was against the spirit of Chu culture, even if it happened outside of Chu State, it would
Baitu will also dig up the roots of Chu State directly, and there will be no need to think about coming back!
At least Bai Tu must see that the workshop owners in Chu State have no intention of imitating them...
At the same time, it also focused on publicizing to the public the harsh treatment and exploitation of craftsmen by workshop owners outside the Chu State, as shown in the new drama with the theme of the Chu State. No matter how good the woolen products of the Wei State are, they will only be watered by the blood and tears of the workers.
.
It is both a commendation and a warning to the workshop owners of Chu State.
Of course, from a cultural perspective, even if Wei's powerful families were temporarily "blinded" by the rapidly expanding interests, they would not easily attack the Han people.
After all, if the "people's hearts and minds" are completely lost, it means that King Wei can directly harvest them.
Although Cao Cao made a bad start, his control over the country has not essentially declined.
Moreover, their yield per mu is basically only half that of the Chu State, and the popularity of animal-driven farming is less than one-fifth that of the Chu State. Therefore, no matter how much the proportion of the agricultural population is reduced, the results will be limited!
That's why they set their sights on the foreign races in the north. The foreign races that they had previously looked down upon, grassland, wool... suddenly became popular, and because of the strong industrial production of Chu State, although "plate armor" was expensive
, but also "fly into the homes of the rich and powerful".
Just like the big businessmen in the Pre-Qin Dynasty, they often had dozens or hundreds of chariots - now for the local tycoons of the Wei State, a pair of plate armor is equivalent to the chariots in the Pre-Qin Dynasty.
Using this to fight foreigners is just like bullying an alt, without any difficulty...
As for those large tribes that are difficult to deal with, they are also the targets of their transactions. In the face of profit, they don't care whether these woolen products are watered by the blood and tears of their own tribe.
If you can rob, rob, those who rob can produce products, and you can make deals with those who cannot rob... You can easily harvest a large amount of resources and hard-working people, which is simply addictive.
Bai Tu can't control the Wei State for the time being, and it's hard to cut off the transaction with the Wei State because of this matter - after all, the Wei State has already bought a lot of plate armor and has acquired the ships. Even if the transaction is cut off, there will be no
What an essential loss.
On the contrary, the State of Chu is the party with an absolute surplus in daily transactions, and a large amount of resources flow from the State of Wei to the State of Chu...
Even because the Wei State now has experience in sucking the blood of those alien races, it quickly began to question-Am I being taken advantage of by the Chu State? He sold me the finished product in exchange for more raw materials and funds, and actually asked me to pay
Tax?
It is estimated that import taxes and even import restrictions will be imposed on Chu State soon. Now Chu State can deceive it as long as it can.
Bai Tu has discussed this matter with the cabinet several times and also mentioned it at the court meeting.
The message Ling Cao sent this time was actually the result of the matter having developed to a certain scale, and Bai Tu also held another enlarged meeting of the palace. In addition to the grand bachelor of the palace, several ministers also participated.
"No matter how much Wang Shangshu has been worrying about recently, he must thoroughly implement the 'Workshop Law', and the Ministry of Rites should also pay more attention to resist the unhealthy tendencies of the Wei State." Bai Tu just made it clear to Wang Lang that if there is no model, he will find a model to deal with it.
Got him.
"Your Majesty, many textile workshops have suffered losses recently and have begun to lay off their workers, which has caused some shock to the people. Please increase the court's procurement efforts." Lu Su asked for instructions.
"Well, the condolences to be distributed this year will focus on the brocades and cloths from our Chu country, but the quality must also be strictly checked. In addition... we will temporarily provide some tax subsidies to the textile workshops." Bai Tu agreed.
Fortunately, Wei's cheap woolen fabrics are more suitable for keeping out the cold in the north. Considering the quality and transportation costs, at least they are not competitive in Chu.
It’s just that the original markets in Yongliang, Guandong and the north have been squeezed...
"In addition, for unemployed female workers, the Ministry of Civil Affairs should also actively coordinate and proactively assist in connecting with other workshops that want to recruit workers. The Ministry of Etiquette...it should also increase efforts to open craftsmanship schools. Government workshops should upgrade industries and provide training, and more cooperation with them should be done.
Those private workshop exchanges and popularization of the benefits of craftsmanship training, if necessary... will provide certain discounts and be subsidized by the Ministry of Household Affairs." Bai Tu thought for a while and then added.
In short, it is to help the shrinking female workers in the textile industry re-employ, and at the same time... "move" some craftsmen into craftsmen schools.
It not only lays a foundation for the future, but also alleviates the problem of unemployment for now - after all, part of the labor force has gone to craft school, so another part of the labor force must be recruited!
Of course, most of the tuition fees for craftsmanship are paid in advance by the workshop, which is a commissioned training system...
Families that are really not short of money tend to choose the path of letting the new generation study hard instead of craftsmen's studies. Families who want to choose craftsmen's studies often hesitate when giving money.
In addition, the Ministry of Industry also needs to think about how to upgrade the industry. For the first time, Chu State has an opponent in the textile industry. Although it is not very strong, with backward technology and backward ideas, it is a business without capital.
Bai Tu was not worried at all. After all...it was just because there was no upland cotton before that he was not too anxious to upgrade the textile industry. There was still plenty of room for exploration of the technological dividends in the "hard drive".
Especially now, small and medium-sized Zhenqi machines and personal Qi-driven textile machines are gradually being used by civilians. Chu State's industrial strength is steadily increasing, and there is also cotton from the Golden State waiting for Gan Ning to bring it back.
If there is upland cotton and cotton spinning begins, Chu State can even bring down Wei State's woolen textile industry. After all, cotton has better thermal insulation effect, and Jiangdong is more suitable for cotton cultivation, and cotton is more suitable for textile machines.
Even now, only the low-end market is being squeezed, while Chu State is still able to handle the mid-to-high end.
What Bai Tu is more worried about is that Wei Guo has made a bad start...
In fact, in the opinion of Lu Su and others, Bai Tu was a little overly nervous.
Even the rich and powerful people in the Wei Kingdom do not dare to attack the Han people now. They are more interested in plundering foreigners and treating the Han people... It just does not make them live a better life, and it is not so bad as to further exploit them.
After all, without Bai Tu's "foreknowledge", in the eyes of other Chu Chen, it is ridiculous that after the technology has been greatly improved, the people's life will be worse and more difficult.
However, Bai Tu seems to have been nervous about this?
In fact, Bai Tu himself was not sure whether his worries were unfounded. After all, whether it was the Chu State or the late Han Dynasty itself, the environment and culture were completely different from the other world, the place where industrialization began.
However, the direction of Wei State has sounded the alarm for Bai Tu - no matter whether it is unfounded or not, he has fundamentally restrained it, emphasizing that the ultimate goal of Chu School is "the four good people are one", emphasizing "the benevolent love others", and improving technology
It will definitely not go wrong to benefit ordinary people and prevent problems before they occur.
Otherwise, if you mess around and bring mankind into the industrialization era in advance, the result will be that all the tragedies in the early stages of industrialization will happen in a different place?
Baitu Ke's ambition is not here...
Of course, that's what he said, but when Lu Bu proposed direct military intervention, Bai Tu still chose to postpone it.
In fact, Lu Bu didn't have a good impression of foreigners. He even knew that the "people" of Wei State were very promising and plundered the Xiongnu and Qiang people in Bingzhou, Lu Bu felt a little happy.
but……
If there is a chance to start a war with Wei, Lu Bu will support it!
Of course, this does not mean going to war directly with Wei State, otherwise Liu Xie would laugh out of his dreams, but it means going to the north and fighting against the slave-catching team - didn't Wei State say it has nothing to do with him? Then just treat it as nothing...
…
However, Bai Tu still didn't agree immediately.
After all, if we want to land from Liaodong, Gongsun Kang will definitely not agree - what? Are you here to bring justice to Wuhuan and Goguryeo? Do you want to borrow a way? Do you think I believe it?
"First send a message to Ling Cao, asking him to try to open a suitable port in the southern part of the Seafood Peninsula while patrolling the sea areas on a daily basis... and within his capabilities, actively combat Wei's slave hunting and establish a positive image of the Chu army.
The Ministry of Rites also sent additional manpower to Liaodong to publicize it."
Bai Tu did not immediately agree to Lu Bu's request for war on behalf of the Privy Council, but wanted to make preparations first.
Firstly, if he interferes in the northeastern part of Youzhou on the Seafood Peninsula now, it may put pressure on Gongsun Kang. After all, if the Chu State wants to take action, it will not be like the "folk" of the Wei State, who hit the target and ran away, but ran away.
He wanted to stabilize his position and win over people's hearts, but that was Gongsun's back garden. He could tolerate the Wei State coming to "pick flowers", but he would not tolerate the Chu State coming to "rob the garden";
Secondly, after all, it has only been less than a year. The longer it goes, the worse the reputation of Wei will be, and the more serious the impact on Gongsun's prestige in these places will be. As long as it is delayed, many problems can be solved;
Thirdly... Bai Tu may not have not thought about it in his heart - it is much easier to civilize the slaves liberated from Wei than to civilize a group of stubborn foreigners!
The State of Wei first put on a black face, and even "cleared out" those who were not good for servitude. At this time, the State of Chu came with divine soldiers descending from the sky, bringing with them thousands of feet of golden light, and accepted them as Chu people, fully transforming them into Chu.
If so, wouldn’t it be easy to calm down?
Of course, Bai Tu will not admit the third point on any occasion.
Although Bai Tu has always emphasized that the people are people no matter where they are. Even if they are not Chu people and do not receive the same treatment as Chu people, they are at least within the limits of national laws and military regulations. The Chu State will not harm them. The war against the army
Generals are also taught this way, but...
After all, Bai Tu was not a saint. If he could reduce the resistance and the Chu army's casualties, Bai Tu would still be unable to sacrifice himself for others.
As the King of Chu, Bai Tu was responsible first for his own soldiers and civilians, then for other Han people, and thirdly for everyone.
Bai Tu can only guarantee that after joining the Chu Kingdom, everyone will be Chu citizens and insist on "benevolent people love others" as the core. As for "eight wastes and six regions, four good people are one"... after all, it is a distant ultimate goal and cannot be achieved now.