4357 (AD 1660), October 12th, Xiyang, Yue Kingdom.
King Bai Yuangui of Yue took some officials to the outskirts of Xiyang and watched farmers driving tractors and harvesting wheat on the land.
He lamented: “There are too many mountainous areas in our country, which are not suitable for large-scale mechanized planting.
In many mountainous areas, corn, sweet potatoes and other drought-tolerant crops suitable for mountainous areas are grown.
But through the unremitting efforts of our officials, scholars, and farmers.
my country's grain production has been able to meet domestic consumption.
Unless there is a major disaster, there is no need to purchase food from outside.
Mountainous areas like ours require far more efforts than other countries.
The Kingdom of Wu and the Kingdom of Gui, they sit in the plain area, and their food production makes this king drool with envy.
However, due to neglect of river management, floods broke out and millions of acres of fertile farmland were affected. This is really a waste of natural resources."
When King Bai Yuangui of Yue said these words, he also had a hint of gloating about his misfortune.
Seeing the misfortune of a country that competed with Yue, he did not express joy directly, but had already managed his expression well.
Bai Yuangui, the king of Yue, was very envious of the fertile lands owned by Wu and Gui.
Vietnam is now able to initially achieve a balance between grain production and consumption, but it has paid a lot of price.
A large amount of land in Vietnam is used to grow food crops, and there is no place to grow cash crops.
Oils, raw silk, cotton, fruits and vegetables, and many other things need to be imported from abroad.
The King of Yue, Bai Yuangui, also made many choices before forcing this matter forward.
The smoke of gunfire in Europe is getting thicker and thicker, and Vietnam must consider the worst-case scenario during wartime.
As long as the people have enough to eat, they can continue to persevere in many situations.
A tractor pulls a cart of freshly harvested wheat.
The moisture content of the wheat was still a bit high, but the accompanying officials immediately took out some wheat from the car and started grinding it with stone mills next to the field.
The stone mill does not hull the wheat, but grinds the rice husks together into powder.
Bai Yuangui, the king of Yue, walked to the side of the wheat cart. He leaned down and grabbed a handful of wheat with burrs.
He looked at the golden wheat and ordered: "This year we will continue to reduce and reduce agricultural taxes nationwide to increase people's enthusiasm for growing grain."
All the officials shouted in unison: "The king is wise.
Once the policy of full agricultural tax exemption is introduced, it will definitely increase the attractiveness of our country to immigrants."
King Bai Yuangui of Yue smiled. With the rise of industry and commerce, agricultural tax revenue accounted for only 10% of the court's total revenue.
Yue could still raise funds from the empire's stock market, but he no longer valued agricultural taxes.
If the Yue State reduces its oppression of farmers, it will inevitably gain the support of this group.
More than 95% of the members of the Yue Army were from urban peasant families.
Bai Yuangui, the king of Yue, saw several royal chefs rolling out freshly ground wheat flour into noodles.
After rolling out the noodles, the chef immediately puts them into the pot.
The hot noodles were cooked quickly, and the slightly khaki noodles were served to every official present.
The King of Yue, Bai Yuangui, picked up the noodles and ate them happily under the reporters' cameras.
When the officials saw the King of Yue eating, and there were reporters taking photos and videos nearby, they started eating immediately.
King Bai Yuangui of Yue put down his bowl and chopsticks, showed a bright smile and said: "Whole wheat flour is rich in nutrients and tastes good.
There are always people in China clamoring to eat white flour steamed buns. This is extravagant and wasteful behavior and must be corrected.
From today on, I will only eat whole-wheat steamed buns and whole-wheat noodles."
The King of Yue, Bai Yuangui, vowed to correct the unhealthy trends in the country.
He also liked eating white flour steamed buns before, but after visiting the flour factory, his face immediately became gloomy.
When flour mills process white flour, only the core of the wheat is left and most of the wheat is discarded.
The flour processed from shelled wheat is not white and looks a little gray.
Flour processed from unhulled wheat looks earthy yellow.
King Bai Yuangui of Yue grew up eating wheat bran when he was a child, and he still lived well.
Everyone in the country eats whole wheat flour, which is equivalent to doubling the amount of food if the land remains unchanged.
This is very important for Vietnam, which still needs to import food.
Bai Yuangui, the king of Yue, knew that as long as the people's tastes were slightly changed, Yue would no longer need to rely on external food.
He is very active and took the lead in eating whole wheat.
After the Yue King Bai Yuangui finished his performance, he was ready to lead the officials back.
He heard the sound of an engine coming from the road ahead, and then a black car stopped on the side of the road.
Prime Minister Hong Xian stepped out of the car, the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
Bai Yuangui, the king of Yue, asked: "How was the discussion between Hong Aiqing and Prime Minister Tang Lai of Wu State?"
Prime Minister Hong Xian said confidently: "Your Majesty, everyone can judge the current situation of Wu and Gui.
The conflict between the two countries is almost unstoppable. If both countries were not prepared for war, the war would have broken out long ago.
Tang Lai, Prime Minister of Wu State, also needs to set aside time to go to other countries to discuss the issue of establishing alliances.
He was very anxious, but I was not anxious at all.
Tang Lai couldn't bear it any longer if I delayed it even a little bit.
Now that the covenant between the two countries has been signed, the terms of the customs union and regular exchanges between the two countries have already been formulated.
The relevant provisions of the military alliance will only be triggered after Wu officially declares war on a certain country and our country also declares war."
The Grand Governor Cui Wenwu said excitedly: "There must be this restriction, otherwise Wu will go crazy and declare war on the empire. Should we follow suit?"
The King of Yue, Bai Yuangui, nodded in agreement and said: "It is beneficial to our country to conclude a treaty, but the relevant terms must be restricted and the other party cannot be allowed to do whatever they want.
Now that we have concluded an alliance with Wu, our country can fully deal with other enemies.
Our ancestors told us thousands of years ago that we should make friends from far away and attack those close to us.
The experiences of Chu and Song are still entangled in the colonies.
If Chu is really in decline, our country should let him wake up.
A melee has really broken out in Europe, and no country can remain immune."
Prime Minister Hong Xian arrived late and ate his last bowl of whole wheat noodles.
King Bai Yuangui of Yue led hundreds of officials back to Xiyang City.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! On the way, he received an urgent telegram from the General Affairs Department.
King Qian Mingyi of Shu called on European countries to mediate the conflict between Wu and Gui.
When King Bai Yuangui of Yue received this telegram, he was puzzled by its meaning and immediately summoned Prime Minister Hong Xian and Governor Cui Wenwu to discuss the matter.
"Two dear friends, I don't understand why the King of Shu does useless things.
There is a serious conflict of interest, and mediation is of no use at all.
We also mediated the colonial conflict between Chu and Song, but it was completely useless.
Even if King Qian Mingyi of Shu is a nerd, he will not continue to do this after learning from past mistakes.
What's more, Qian Mingyi, the king of Shu, was by no means a nerd. He was able to mobilize the imperial cabinet and manage a huge country without making any major mistakes.
King Qian Mingyi of Shu was definitely a very shrewd person.
The Shu Kingdom is not strong in military force, but it is safe in a corner and still has the ability to protect itself.
No matter how bad the Shu Kingdom is, there will never be a situation where the cavalry fights against the chariots."
Prime Minister Hong Xian analyzed: "The King of Shu, Qian Mingyi, has changed his low profile in the past and is ready to mediate.
The King of Shu also knew that mediation could not succeed.
I believe that this situation occurred because King Qian Mingyi of Shu wanted to enhance his status and reputation.
The Kingdom of Shu used to keep a low profile. This phenomenon has caused dissatisfaction among many officials in the Kingdom, especially young officials who want to make contributions.
Young people are full of energy and have ideals in their hearts, and they absolutely do not want to serve a lifeless country."
When King Bai Yuangui of Yue heard Prime Minister Hong Xian's analysis, he slowly shook his head.
King Qian Mingyi of Shu gave him the impression that he was an extremely shrewd person.
As long as his core interests are not touched, King Qian Mingyi of Shu will keep a very low profile.
It is true that King Qian Mingyi of Shu did not have much ambition, but he must not be regarded as a fool.
Governor Cui Wenwu's frown quickly relaxed.
He said excitedly: "I think the reason why Shu King Qian Mingyi did this.
The King of Shu did not really want to mediate the conflict. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the conflict between Wu and Gui could not be mediated at all.
Even if the King of Shu cannot see it, there will definitely be someone in Shu who can.
This matter is not too difficult to analyze. Anyone with a little knowledge of the situation in Europe will have a clear judgment.
I believe that the reason why the King of Shu was so active was that he definitely did not want to mediate the conflict, but to fan the flames.
In the name of mediating the conflict, Wu and Gui were left with absolutely no room for turning.
We should not forget the location of the Kingdom of Shu, which borders the Kingdom of Gui.
Once there is a conflict between Wu and Gui, Gui's strength will inevitably weaken.
The border of Shu will definitely reduce the pressure, which is an extremely important thing for Shu, which does not have strong military strength."
Prime Minister Hong Xian showed an expression of sudden realization.
"Your Majesty, our country has chosen to sign an alliance with the Kingdom of Wu. In the previous discussions, one of the purposes was to reassure the Kingdom of Wu.
Only when Wu Guo feels at ease will they really fight Gui Guo.
No matter who wins or loses, the strength of Wu and Gui compared to other countries is declining.
You can eliminate a competitor without paying too much."
King Bai Yuangui of Yue heard the analysis of the two ministers.
He believed that King Qian Mingyi of Shu probably wanted to fan the flames and intensify the conflict between the two countries.
Bai Yuangui, the king of Yue, ordered: "Whatever King Qian Mingyi of Shu wants to do? We, the country of Yue, can get involved.
Hong Aiqing, I will send you to the two countries this time.
What should be done specifically? We will act accordingly when the time comes.”
Prime Minister Hong Xian received the order from Yue King Bai Yuangui, and he set off immediately.
He was afraid that if he delayed for some time, the war between Wu and your country would have broken out.
…
Wu Guo built Yecheng.
The smell of gunpowder in the city is getting stronger and stronger. There used to be no curfew at night, but recently there has been a curfew at night.
Prime Minister Tang Lai was in the palace of King Wu, reporting on the results of his work.
"Your Majesty, the five countries of Rui, Song, Yue, Qi, and Fujian have concluded an alliance with our country.
Among them, Yue and Qi were more demanding on the terms of the alliance.
I have convinced these countries with my good tongue.
The covenants concluded between our country and these countries.
It is only effective between our country and the contracting states.
The Yue Kingdom and the Fujian Kingdom had a feud over territorial disputes.
Although they have all concluded an alliance with our country, the two countries will not fulfill any of the terms of the alliance.
Even if someone takes advantage of the loophole, they must use our country as a transit point."
Wu Wangqi said resolutely and excitedly: "Tang Aiqing, you have worked hard on this matter and you have done a good job."
When he saw the countries that had signed the treaty, he couldn't help but smile on his face.
King Wu Qi resolutely determined which country was a friend and which country was a potential enemy?
Only then can he calmly mobilize the army to deal with this war.
Prime Minister Tang Lai asked with some trepidation: "When I left the country of Yue, I heard that King Qian Mingyi of Shu wanted to call on all European countries to mediate the conflict.
What should we do in this situation?"
Wu Wangqi said resolutely and nonchalantly: "When Li Jiu, Prime Minister of Shu, and representatives from various countries came to Jianye, they began to clamor to investigate the situation related to the Danube River bursting its banks.
Our country seized on Xi Zuo sent by Gui Guo, and Gui Guo ordered Xi Zuo to blow up our country's river embankment. This matter is already an ironclad case with abundant evidence and cannot be denied by anyone.
No matter how these people investigate, they can never say that our country has made mistakes."
Prime Minister Tang Lai suggested: "Your Majesty, you should try to keep an eye on these people to prevent them from talking nonsense and affecting our country's credibility."
Wu Wangqi smiled resolutely and said: "Li Jiu has been waiting for investigation for several days, but he has already left.
These people went to Dongling City, the junction of Rui State, Wu State and Gui State, to prepare to mediate the conflict between the two countries.
I would like to see how these people mediate conflicts.
Our country has suffered such huge losses, and if we want to calm down the people’s grievances, Gui must compensate.
Once Gui Guo compensates, their country will explode.
There is no solution to this matter now. When the domestic autumn harvest is over, it will be time for war.
If these people could not delay the outbreak of war, let us make more preparations.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! I am not even prepared to pay attention to these people."
Prime Minister Tang Lai listened to the specific situation, and he always felt that something was wrong.
…
In Dongling City of Rui State, Li Jiu, Prime Minister of Shu State, serves as the leader of the international mediation team.
He presented tangible evidence and announced: “After detailed investigation by our third country, we have determined the cause of the Danube River bursting its banks and causing floods in Wu and Guizhou.
The flow of water in the Danube River Basin in Switzerland is normal, which is consistent with sudden rainfall surges.
Through photos taken in the past, Gui Guo discovered that the Danube River water suddenly surged, combined with the low water levels of major reservoirs in the Danube River Basin of Wu State.
Now it has been confirmed that Wu State did allow excessive drainage of the reservoir, causing the water level of the Danube River to rise.
The State of Wu produced enough evidence to fully prove that the embankments of the Danube River in the State of Wu were blown up by people from the State of Gui.
The conflict of interests between the two countries has led to extremely serious humanitarian disasters.
I suggest this in order to prevent more serious humanitarian disasters from happening.
The two countries should strengthen communication and resolve their usual grievances."
After Li Jiu said this, the representatives from various countries present were stunned.
They did not expect that Li Jiu would really publish the investigation without reservation.
You must know that there are not only reporters from various countries present, but also reporters from the empire.
This news will soon spread, which will be a major blow to both Gui and Wu, and the credibility of the two countries will directly collapse.
Li Jiu looked at the panic scene with a look of satisfaction in his eyes.
He did this because he neither wanted to mediate the conflict nor fanned the flames.
Li Jiu, or the King of Shu, only used this method to tell the empire that there was a reason for the war between Wu and Gui.
If the empire wants to stop it, it must resolve the hatred between the two countries.
This war can really be fought only if the empire does not intervene in its early stages.