"Gu doesn't mean that people must have dedication. I just want to tell Ji Chang that some things can't be done perfectly just by thinking about them casually."
"Gu does encourage business, but you have also seen that Gu has also issued laws and regulations that also restrict it. It has also issued policies to encourage and support agricultural orphans. It even encircled several places in the Jianghan Plain as official land for the government.
The country will never run out of food."
The representative of modern wealth reserves is gold, which is why Eagle Sauce links the U.S. dollar to gold.
In the feudal era, the country’s reserves were grain!
Whoever has more food will have the most confidence. Because more food means that after the war starts, the war can last as long as they want.
For example, in the Changping Battle between Qin and Zhao during the Warring States Period, the most common theory is that King Zhao was suspicious of a general like Lian Po and did not trust Lian Po's ability.
In fact, there is another objective factor, that is, the grain of Zhao State cannot sustain it. The territory of Zhao State is smaller than that of Qin State, and the grain output is even worse. How can it compete with those who occupy the two major granaries of Sichuan, Shu and Guanzhong?
Qin?
In a war, what you fight is logistics, and what you fight for is comprehensive national strength. Ma Liang's worries are not unreasonable. He is really worried that one day, most of the people in Jingchu will go into business.
"Ji Chang, Gu has indeed taken a step forward in the past few years. Gu knows the suffering and fatigue of the people, especially last year and this year. When he attacked Jiangdong and Huainan, he recruited hundreds of thousands of civilians."
"But Ji Chang, you can also see Gu's achievements. In the fight for hegemony in troubled times, if Gu is too slow, he will die without a burial place."
Liu Cong became more and more anxious as he spoke, but his expression and tone were unusually calm, "It has been twenty-six years since the Yellow Turban Uprising began in the first year of Zhongping (184), and the world has been in chaos."
Speaking of this, Liu Cong became excited and said, "Ji Chang, do you know that in the past twenty-six years, people in my Han Dynasty have died every day?"
"At the time of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, the country had a population of more than 55 million, but now? The solitary Jingchu should have a population of seven to eight million, including Jiaozhou and Baiyue. Cao Cao's north only has 10 million
So, what about Liu Bei's Xichuan? It cost more than two million."
"A total of 35 million people have died, Ji Chang. In such a huge world, even 20 million people are not enough now. If we continue to fight, how many of our Han people will survive?"
"When all the Han men are gone, will the orphans and widows left behind be able to withstand the rampant barbarians from all directions?"
The Han people of this era were still at their peak, and they had no fear of the barbarians at all. No, they should be said to face them. In this era, people only remember the achievements of Emperor Qin and Han Wu in attacking the Xiongnu in the north and the Baiyue in the south.
No one would think that the barbarians, who have been beaten since ancient times, can do anything to the Han family and the people.
What they don't know is that in a few decades, China will face an unprecedented catastrophe after its reunification.
"Ji Chang, Gu would rather the people suffer a little more now than to rule the world as soon as possible. Can you understand Gu's thoughts?"
Ma Liang didn't speak. He sat across from Liu Cong and pondered. After a long time, he raised his hands and said to Liu Cong, "My words have been too extreme today. I am unworthy of my lord."
Just when Liu Cong started laughing, thinking that Ma Liang had finally listened, he heard Ma Liang continue, "But I hope that after my lord captures Huainan, Mo Yan will not use troops on a large scale, and at least let the people cultivate themselves for a year or two."
Uh, I spent a long time talking to you in vain.
"I promise you that after the situation in Huainan stabilizes, apart from using troops to clear the mountains and Yue, Liang Gu will not use troops externally anymore."
It would take a year or two to clear up Shanyue, implement the New Deal in Jiangdong, attack the Jiangdong family, and stabilize Huainan.
Jiangdong is different from Jingchu in that the Liu family has its roots in Jingchu, and the family strength in Jingchu is not as strong as in Jiangdong. Therefore, Liu Cong was prepared to spend a lot of time and energy in carrying out the New Deal in Jiangdong.
"My lord is wise!"
"Okay." Liu Cong stood up and helped Ma Liang up and said with a smile, "Mo Yan is frustrated here. I have prepared a banquet in the Marquis Mansion. The civil and military officials are waiting for you. Let's go quickly and don't keep them waiting for a long time.
"
"I obey."
The civil and military officials of the Hou Mansion were waiting for the arrival of Liu Cong and Ma Liang, and the monarch and his ministers were suddenly in a happy mood again.
But in a restaurant in Xiangyang Night Market, there was already a tense situation.
Two groups of people in the restaurant were already confronting each other. One of them was pretending to be a guest of Xiang Chong's guide, while the other was a real guest.
The reason for the quarrel between the two parties is also very simple. All the guests in the hall were praising Liu Cong's benevolence and wisdom, and they were all touting Jing Chu's achievements. Especially in the recent newspapers, Huainan's several great victories were clearly written.
Xiang Chong and others went to a table to challenge the loudest one, and then the current scene happened.
"Hmph! Since the time when the Marquis of Chu took control, I, Jingchu, have resisted Cao's bandits in the north, driven Liu Bei in the south, attacked and destroyed Wuxi barbarians, subdued Jiaozhou, and invaded Jiangdong. Now, Cao's army in Huainan has been defeated steadily." Xiang Chong said.
Opposite, a slender man pointed at Xiang Chong and said angrily.
Xiang Chong spit on the ground and said, "What the hell, Prime Minister Cao has suffered occasional defeats, but to this day, he is already the number one prince in the world. In the entire world, the Cao family alone has seven of them.
What are you so arrogant about, you Nanbarbarians from Jingchu?"
"There are tens of millions of people in the north, and millions of people with armor. Liu Cong, that bandit, is so arrogant that he will surely be destroyed by the Prime Minister!"
The man was already charging forward, "You are so brave, how dare you insult the Marquis of Chu!"
"My lord, my lord, don't do anything, don't do anything. This small shop is running on a small budget and cannot withstand the torment of two dozen or so people on both sides." The shopkeeper of the restaurant hurriedly tried to dissuade him.
Xiang Chong sneered. Do you want to keep a low profile and don't want to attract the police? Haha, can I make you wish?
"More than just some Po Laozi Chuhou, when the time comes, all of you here will be prisoners!"
"Fuck you, hit me!" Xiang Chong's arrogant look made the other party unable to bear it any longer.
Not only their group, but also other customers in the store rushed towards Xiang Chong and his group. The shopkeeper and the store clerk could no longer stop them, and the situation was completely out of control!
"Hit me! Beat me to death!"
"Damn it, you dare to insult the Marquis of Chu, and you dare to say that you will destroy us!"
"Kill them!"
In the end, Xiang Chong and the others were unable to defeat the four with only one fist. They were beaten with bruises and bruises on their noses and faces by many guests, and their heads were bleeding. Finally, when none of them could stand up again, the group of people hurriedly dispersed.
After everyone left, the shopkeeper, who had been approachable just now, turned fierce. He looked at the unconscious Xiang Chong and his group lying on the ground, his eyes rolling around.
"Go, take them to the room!"
"promise!"
Following the shopkeeper's order, several waiters in the store quickly stepped forward and lifted Xiang Chong and the others up.