Chapter 16 The most important thing is soldiers and horses
Liu Xiang is a little unconfident and is afraid of encountering misunderstandings in life.
In order to avoid embarrassment, he tried to say: "I am only in charge of the camp temporarily. When the plague is over, I don't know what else I can do. Although the prefect conscripted me to serve as Cao Cao, I have never seen the prefect. My future is slim and I really don't know where to go."
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Cui Yi replied: "In today's world, if you are not from a noble family, you will not be able to use your talents. The court is unfair, does not reward meritorious service, and does not use talents. Don't blame someone for being cold-hearted."
Just now, I heard that Liu Jun wanted to recruit soldiers and horses to attack the Yellow Turbans in order to gain a future.
Cui is not talented, but he still has some courage. He is willing to lead his brothers and follow Liu Jun, hoping that Liu Jun will not give up."
Liu Xiang was overjoyed that he was really going to defect to him. Cui Yi's military force was not low, and his ability to control the army was not weak. For Liu Xiang, who was single and weak, this was a timely help.
Moreover, since Cui Yi is in harmony, a lot of things can be done in Yuyang camp.
Liu Xiang was so excited that he said happily: "Brother Cui is really willing to follow me?"
When Cui Yi saw Liu Xiang's expression of joy, he was also very happy in his heart. He bowed his hands and saluted, and said slowly: "Someone, Cui Yi from the north, is willing to follow the lord. If he has second thoughts, he will die badly."
Liu Xiang bowed his hands and returned the gift, and solemnly said: "I, the fox slave Liu Xiang, am willing to live and die with Brother Cui."
The two of them bowed and acknowledged themselves as master and servant, and immediately felt much closer in their hearts.
Liu Xiang thought he could tell Cui Yi some of his thoughts.
After thinking about it, he said: "The Yellow Turban Rebellion is said to be instigated by Taiping Taoists, but in my opinion, it is actually because the people can no longer survive.
Excessive taxes and land annexation will not solve this problem. Even if the Yellow Turbans are eradicated, there will still be Red Turbans and Black Turbans that will continue to be eradicated.
When I look at the history books, no matter whether the dynasty is unified or the princes establish a country, these stubborn diseases are endless.
When a dynasty is established, there must be aristocratic families, and aristocratic families will inevitably rise.
The imperial court wanted to collect taxes, and as aristocratic families grew, they had to annex land and seize survival resources. However, they were unwilling to pay taxes, so all kinds of exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes fell on the people.
Resources are limited, and productivity improvements cannot keep up with population growth.
The more resources the aristocratic family seizes, the less the people will have, and the taxes they will bear will become heavier and heavier. Until they can no longer bear it, they will have no choice but to rise up.
The imperial court suppressed bandits and increased exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes, forcing more people to revolt. This was a vicious cycle.
Then the world was in chaos, and wars continued endlessly, until almost everyone died and the resources per capita were enough to survive. Naturally, people's minds were at peace, the four directions were pacified, and they could continue to live the previous life.
Or overthrow the old dynasty, establish a new dynasty, establish a new set of rules, and a new group of aristocratic families will rise, and another cycle will begin.
Expanding overseas territory can alleviate the problem, but it cannot solve the fundamental problem.
The purpose of expanding the territory is to control the land and production resources. The size of the controllable land is linked to the communication speed.
If the communication speed cannot keep up, the territory will not be controlled, and it will split and form different countries.
There are many countries, and wars, big and small, are constant and never-ending.
The so-called long-term unity must separate, and long-term separation must unite. This is the truth.
In a strange circle over and over again, the cycle continues.
I want to find a solution to the problem, Brother Cui, can you help me?"
Cui Yi couldn't understand many of the words Liu Xiang said, but he understood the general meaning. No one had ever said such words to him before, and he never thought about it.
He only saw that the people's lives were becoming more and more difficult, and there were more and more natural and man-made disasters, but he didn't know why.
He swallowed and seemed to understand a lot, but also seemed to be even more confused.
He took off his helmet, scratched his head, and said to Liu Xiang: "My lord, I seem to understand, my lord is going to rebel?"
Liu Xiang was stunned. He said a lot. How could Cui Yi understand this?
He was a little upset.
"Well, I'm just analyzing with Brother Cui the reasons for the current situation."
Cui Yi looked like he didn't care and continued: "I think what the lord said makes sense, but Cui doesn't understand. The lord has gathered a group of troops and occupied a piece of territory, so naturally he can do whatever he wants.
The worst case scenario is that we go to the barbaric land outside the Pass to establish a country, and the lord becomes the emperor. He can govern the country how he wants, and he can find whatever answers he wants.
If anyone is dissatisfied, just conquer them. Cui has been in the army for many years and this is what he did."
Liu Xiang felt that although Cui Yi's method was simple and crude, it seemed quite reasonable.
All plans are based on having strength. In these troubled times of the late Han Dynasty, the army is strength.
But, that's not what he wanted to express.
Alas! Liu Xiang sighed, feeling a little tired.
Forget it, communication between people is not about you saying what you say and others listening to him.
Regardless of Liu Xiang's idea or Cui Yi's idea, pulling up an army is the basis of everything. Is this considered a consensus?
Liu Xiang retracted his thoughts and said: "Brother Cui is right. No matter what we do in the future, raising an army is indeed the most important thing. What can Brother Cui do?"
Cui Yi thought for a while and counted on his fingers.
"He has fifty-five brothers who are all able to follow the lord. He also has several good friends in the camp. They are all like him and have become disillusioned with the court. I brought them here and there are probably a hundred or so of them.
There are 3,500 people in the camp. The lord has saved their lives, so he should be able to win over some more.
These are all veterans with many years of experience. If we recruit some young people from outside, we can recruit thousands of people.
The only thing is, how can my lord feed them? The food and grass in the camp will not be enough for a few days."
How could Liu Xiang have the money to feed so many people? He was just waiting for Deng Mao to attack the city so that he could make a profit and have the capital to raise troops.
"Brother Cui knows that a Yellow Turban Commander named Deng Mao is growing in strength in the countryside of Yuyang. I think he must want to attack Yuyang. That will be our opportunity.
Brother Cui can contact people secretly and wait for the opportunity."
The two chatted for a few more words and then went back to camp.
Cui Yi began to ask around for information and contact people.
After Liu Xiang returned, he carefully recalled his conversation with Yan Rou and Cui Yi, but there was no real evidence left.
Start preparing the black powder.
Now this is his few means of self-defense. If Cui Yi tricks him, he will not be helpless to fight back.
As for why not refuse?
If Cui Yiruo is sincere, he can not only win over many soldiers, but he can also control the Yuyang camp better and can do many things.
Without Cui Yi's cooperation, Liu Xiang could only use the plague to scare people inside and outside the camp. This is not a long-term solution. There will always be times when he cannot be frightened. What should he do then?
There was no way, Liu Xiang could mobilize too few people, and apart from a little fame, he had no actual power.
This made him very insecure.
Cui Yi was a great help to Liu Xiang.
If it was a case of deception, Liu Xiang had no detailed evidence and fell into Cui Yi's hands, so he could not be convicted of much crime.