Chapter 680: Sustainable Development

"Vice Minister Liu, how will you teach us?"

"Hahahaha!"

"Vice Minister Liu, say something!"

These wealthy men had originally given the Prince of Jin some face at the start, holding back their laughter. But seeing Liu Zheng's "unsophisticated" appearance, someone finally couldn't help it and burst out laughing.

The entire hall finally erupted in uncontrollable laughter.

Jinzhou needs you to lead them in making money?

Needs you to lead them in development?

You must have lost your mind!

Look at how rich Jinzhou is now! There are so many wealthy tycoons here that even Liangzhou can't compare!

You are going to lead us in development?

A laughingstock!

Such shameless boasting!

The Prince of Jin also gave a cold snort and took a calm sip of wine.

Oh my.

Liu Zheng realized it immediately.

It turns out that when the Prince of Yong was negotiating with the Prince of Jin, the other party never intended to talk properly with him at all... And indeed, with Jinzhou being so wealthy and prosperous, what was there to talk about? So, the Prince of Jin letting him come over was clearly just to slap his face!

Your Liangzhou is developed well?

How does it compare to my Jinzhou?

And you want to go develop Liaodong?

Is your brain filled with water?

The laughter throughout the hall was likely filled with such implications.

The Prince of Wei finally couldn't hold back; he slammed the table and rebuked angrily, "Prince of Jin, what is the meaning of this?"

The Prince of Jin finally said coldly, "What is the meaning? It's very simple. This Mandarin wants to see what kind of person would boast so shamelessly, saying they want to lead my Jinzhou to prosperity! Is this it?"

Just this?

The entire hall burst into laughter again.

The Prince of Wei, the Prince of Yong, and a few others looked embarrassed.

Everyone looked at Liu Zheng with ill intent.

But what Method was there...

This was on someone else's turf!

Moreover, this Jinzhou of theirs was truly prosperous! They were just rich, just filthy rich!

Who would have thought that Liu Zheng would suddenly burst into loud laughter, laughing until he was doubled over.

The whole hall was stunned, looking at each other in dismay.

At a time like this, he could still laugh?

Grandstanding!

The Prince of Jin frowned even more and said indifferently, "Vice Minister Liu, why do you laugh?"

Liu Zheng shook his head with a smile: "Does the Prince of Jin truly believe that in a social system, economic development can explain everything?"

"Otherwise?"

Before the Prince of Jin could speak, an old man who looked like a pedantic scholar not far away snorted coldly: "When the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when clothing and food are sufficient, people know honor and shame. Since ancient times, clothing, food, housing, and transportation have been the great plans of the state. Is Vice Minister Liu's Liangzhou not the same?"

"Exactly!"

"Is there any doubt about this?"

"Yellow-mouthed child!"

A group of people spoke up one after another.

The Prince of Jin also gave a cold snort, not knowing what medicine Liu Zheng was selling in his gourd.

Liu Zheng, however, slowly stood up, looked around the room, and smiled faintly: "Economic construction is certainly the foundation of social development and the source of people's livelihood. In this aspect, Jinzhou is undoubtedly the leader of Longyan. However, Liu Zheng believes that society is a diverse and comprehensive unit. The imperial court has the Six Ministries to coordinate society, so why should Jinzhou be any different?"

The crowd's expressions changed upon hearing this.

Someone retorted: "Social development follows nature; what is wrong with that?"

"Exactly, Jinzhou has had no disasters for a hundred years, and the people have not fled; could it be that this is not a perfect society?"

In recent years, Jinzhou had indeed focused too much on commercial development. On the surface, Jinzhou's economic development had driven development in other areas, and there was no problem with that. The people lived and worked in peace and contentment, and social welfare was perfect. Overall, everything was developing in a positive direction.

Liu Zheng laughed: "A perfect society? That is far from it!"

The crowd rebuked him angrily upon hearing this.

All sorts of insults followed.

Sour grapes!

The Prince of Jin also looked livid.

He waited for Liu Zheng to continue.

Liu Zheng continued to smile: "In Liu Zheng's eyes, Jinzhou is truly in danger of draining the pond to catch all the fish!"

"What?"

The crowd's expressions changed drastically.

Commercial development, draining the pond to catch all the fish?

This kind of statement was truly too absurd.

Liu Zheng chuckled.

He asked the Prince of Jin: "Prince of Jin, may I ask you a question? Is the annual trade deficit for grain imports and exports in Jinzhou very large?"

The Prince of Jin's expression changed slightly: "As long as there is gold and silver, why worry about not having enough grain?"

Liu Zheng shook his head slightly: "What about in wartime?"

"The grain reserves are sufficient!"

Liu Zheng laughed loudly: "What if the war lasts for a hundred years!"

Silence.

The entire hall was deathly silent.

Yes.

The current Jinzhou looks very prosperous and very wealthy. But it has a major problem. There is a lack of agricultural development—those farmers have all gone into commerce and the service industry, and there is no one to farm the fields at home. Plus, the quality of the land in Jinzhou is not very good to begin with, and the input-to-output ratio has caused more and more people to abandon farming for commerce... The lack of industrial development follows the same logic. The prosperity of Jinzhou has attracted many outsiders to engage in business; serving these people is enough to make money, so why bother with various workshops?

Therefore, the problem currently existing in Jinzhou is that although the flourishing of commerce and the service industry makes people envious, this situation would certainly be a Heaven on earth if it were in a peaceful era.

But as Liu Zheng said, what if war breaks out?

At that time, all gold and silver would be fake; only grain would be real!

In a situation where the entire financial system collapses, only grain is hard currency!

Additionally, there is the aspect of industry.

If war truly breaks out, what is the use of just having money? The troops' Weaponry and Equipment cannot be produced domestically, logistics support cannot keep up, and the quality of the citizenry has not significantly improved.

Once war occurs, this Jinzhou will become a piece of fat meat in everyone's eyes!

There would not even be any self-defense capability!

False prosperity!

In Liu Zheng's view, it is entirely false prosperity!

The Prince of Jin's expression was gloomy: "Minister Liu, continue!"

Liu Zheng chuckled: "Setting aside other things, just from the perspective of Liu Zheng entering Jinzhou, what I saw was indeed people living in peace and work, and the world at peace. The fragrance of wine overflowed, and wine and meat were like a forest! However!"

This word "however" made many people's hearts skip a beat.

"What Liu Zheng saw more of were fat pigs with fleshy faces, greasy men and women, bellies full of filth, no vision in their hearts, and blindly following cumbersome etiquette!"

Liu Zheng shouted coldly.

"You, you, you..."

"You are talking nonsense!"

"Shut up!"

"How dare you insult our Jinzhou! Audacious!"

A group of people were furious upon hearing this and could no longer hold back from cursing loudly.

Fat pigs!

They are so wealthy! Everywhere they go, they are immensely respected, yet in the eyes of this Minister Liu, they are fat pigs!

Who could stand this?

The Prince of Jin, however, had calmed down.

As the master of a province, how could he not know these principles?

However, he had never taken them too much to heart.

No grain?

Buy it!

No Weaponry and Equipment?

Buy it!

Weaponry and Equipment from Liangzhou, grain from Jiangnan and Bashu.

It is enough to support the consumption of three hundred thousand troops for several years.

But...

What about after a few years?

When these three hundred thousand soldiers have also been consumed?

Who will go to fight?

What will they eat?

What will they use?

"Minister Liu thinks..."

The Prince of Jin asked quietly.

Liu Zheng drank a cup of wine and laughed loudly: "Society must have sustainable development; that is the King's Way!"

The scene was shocked once again.

What kind of bold and aggressive words are these again?

It sounds...

Very intimidating!