Chapter 177: Is it easy for us? 1

Zhao Wu asked this question because he had not agreed to provide relief to the people in other territories before. The power and obligations were equal. Zhao Wu did not enjoy the support of the people in other territories. He naturally refused to assume obligations to those people.

Zhao Wu did not know that Tian family had a purpose to provide relief to the people in other territories. In the society after the Spring and Autumn Period, it was precisely because Tian family continued to care for the people and helped the people through the disaster year that they finally successfully usurped the throne of Qi. After that, the Chinese civilization developed a tradition - it was a crime to provide relief to its neighbors and neighbors nearby. If they dared to provide relief or charity during the disaster year, it was the crime of "indiscipline" and the crime of "great tyranny". The government had the right to confiscate and exterminate the clan.

Without power, there is no obligation. The only thing that enjoys the support of the people is the king, and the power of relief can only come from the monarch. If a wealthy gentry dares to provide relief to others, it means that he thinks he is equivalent to the monarch, or he usually enjoys the rights and interests of the monarch, so he is "spoken and buys people's hearts."

Normally, wealthy people have the obligation to be "forced to voluntarily", and the relief supplies they paid are usually charged by the court for a certain handling fee and are issued to corrupt officials in various places as "the court's care for the people". Then, after the corrupt officials fill their pockets, the remaining things in their teeth are rewarded to the hungry victims. Finally, the court used this to declare its care for the victims - for example, during the entire relief process, those who are "voluntarily" cannot express their rights and interests, otherwise they will die.

Perhaps, at this time, Tian family really hoped to save their compatriots. Tian Guang bowed helplessly and replied without any hypocrisy: "My Tian family is among the best in Qi. In this time of crisis, if we don't pay for relief or rescue the villagers, who else can we count on?"

Tian's question was clever - at this moment, the king of Qi was busy picking up girls, preparing to turn his prime minister's wife into the "country's number one mistress", hoping that he would pity those war refugees... If those war refugees were not Kong Wu's powerful "yourselfer", Duke Zhuang of Qi would not even look at them.

Zhao Wu swept to the retainers beside him. At this time, the strategist outside the Zhao system, Yangshe's uncle, interrupted calmly: "What are you planning to collect so many warriors? Lu and Ju have no reports on the situation so far. Should we send envoys to these two countries?"

After a moment of stopping, my uncle asked and answered: "Lu State probably would not be attacked. The reason for the outbreak of the battle between Qi and Jin was Lu State. After the war, Lu State tried hard to build Wucheng (military fortress). Now our Jin State is strong and powerful, I am afraid that Qi State will not dare to attack Lu State easily."

Shi Xiu's son Bozhouping added: "What's more, we already have a military base on the south bank of the Yellow River, and Wei State is dependent on us. If Qi attacks Lu, it will inevitably alarm our Zhao family's territory on the south bank of the Yellow River. Then Qi will face the Three Kingdoms coalition - Qi State may not dare to challenge Lu easily at this time."

Uncle Xiang nodded gently and analyzed himself: "That's Ju. The king of Ju has just restored his country, his foundation is not stable, and his strategy is not enough. I guess the army of Qi is attacking Ju. It's just that the road is difficult, and we have not received any news about Ju. "

Shu Xiang discussed the military dynamics of Qi in person with Bozhouping. Tian was not embarrassed at all. He sat there quietly, waiting for the Zhao family's retainers to finish the discussion.

Zhao Wu thought about it and sighed regretfully: "The State of Ju is far away from us. We originally wanted to have a strategic buffer time for support, but now we cannot rescue it no matter what."

Duke Zhuang of Qi hit Zhao Wu's waist. Although Zhao Wu knew that Ju would encounter this day sooner or later, Ju was originally a vassal state of Qi. Zhao Wu launched a war for the distant Ju Kingdom to return to the Qi camp. The reason was insufficient, and it might not be possible for Fan Yi to pass it.

So he could only watch Qi conduct military actions in his east.

Although he knew that Ju was a victim, Zhao Wu was unwilling to accept it.

"What kind of way to do something in the border area..." Zhao Wu murmured to himself.

Shu Xiang immediately refuted: "It is impossible. Qi has participated in the alliance twice. Although his attitude is unfair, they signed the alliance and paid taxes on time and in accordance with the prescribed amount. If we use the army because he punished his vassal state, it would be unreasonable. Those vassal states that surrendered to us were afraid that we would imitate the precedent of Qi and interfere in their management of the vassal states, and might be even more disinterested... At this sensitive moment, we cannot do this."

What Shu Xiang said about "sensitive moments" means that Fan Yi has increased the tax quota this year. All countries have complained and have perfunctory attitudes, while Zheng State simply put on an uncooperative attitude. With Zheng State as a successful precedent, all the vassal states of Jin State are ready to move.

At this moment, if the Zhao family suddenly demanded a war, the vassal states that were tortured by heavy taxation would immediately become disunited. They might not find a corresponding enemy country to surrender, but they would be familiar with the fight between the Dukes and the Ministers of Jin.

Zhao Wu thought for a while and said regretfully: "We Jin State are the overlords. We can only watch Qi State take action in the east and constantly strengthen ourselves... Ju State is full of fools. They are attacked, why don't we ask for help? As soon as they ask for help, we will find an excuse to send troops..."

Tian Guang interrupted at the right time: "Maybe the people of Ju asked for help, but their messengers had to cross the entire Qi border before they could reach Lu or Wei. The Ju country had a small population, so they could not send too many warriors to ask for help. One or two warriors might be eaten by tigers on the road."

Zhao Wu took a deep breath, waved his hand and said, "Forget it, let's give up on the matter of Ju State... How much food does the Tian family need?"

Tian Guang replied calmly: "Ten thousand stones."

Zhao Wu asked with a smile: "How many of the slaves sent by Tian are fishermen who live by the sea?"

Tian Guang was stunned for a moment and asked hurriedly: "Is Zhao intentional to expand his territory to the beach?"

Zhao Wu smiled and replied: "With the territory on the south bank of the Yellow River, my Zhao family, from the north bank or the south bank of the Yellow River, has been unobstructed from the seaside. The north bank belongs to the unmanned land. The Yan State has long been in contact with the Central Plains. I can reclaim that land, but I am not ready yet.

But Qi has always controlled the profits of salt and gold. I know you have many salt-boiled workers on the beach. The land on the south bank of the Yellow River leading to the seaside has been developed and improved. I am planning to use the south bank as a springboard and gradually expand to the outlet of the Yellow River.

Hehe, if I, Zhao, owned the coast, then I could build a port, catch fish and shrimp, and have the profit of salt, and from then on I will be completely self-sufficient."

Salt and metal minerals are closely related to the national economy and people's livelihood. The reason why Duke Huan of Qi defeated Duke Zhuang of Zheng and became the second hegemon of the Spring and Autumn Period was because Qi controlled the most important strategic materials in the Spring and Autumn Period. Zheng was located in the heart of the Central Plains and lacked mineral materials, so it was suppressed by Guan Zhong purely with the economic stick.

After Zhao Wu included the Taiyuan Basin, Changzhi Basin, and Zhongshan Kingdom, he had laid the national foundation for Zhao in the Warring States Period. However, although he is now rich in coal resources and iron ore resources are still acceptable, the salt that the people have to eat every day needs to rely on external supply. Salt is a specialized commodity in this era, and even if you have money, you can't buy it.

Shu Xiang added lightly: "Although our Jin State has a salt pond, we have escaped the salt control of Qi State, the output of the salt pond is limited. As our territory expands, the salt price is getting higher and higher. The Zhao family is considered rich among the nobles of Jin State, but the money earned every year has to be distributed to buy salt.

Therefore, it was the unanimous wish of the king and minister of the Jin State of Jin State. If we have the profits of sea salt, Jin State can completely get rid of the interference of Qi State and concentrate on managing its own hegemony."

Zhao Wu Xianxian added: "I happen to know a salt drying method that may produce more than the current salt boiling method in Qi State. I am willing to share this profit with Tian's family. Because my method is slightly different from Qi State, I don't expect you to sell me many craftsmen who are good at boiling salt. I only need ordinary workers who have been in contact with the salt industry."

Tian Guang pondered for a moment and replied: "How about I exchange 10,000 s of grain for ten thousand stones of food, plus 700 salt industry craftsmen?"

Bozhou Ping's face was dull and replied stiffly: "You have taken advantage of it. A skilled farmer can produce three to five stones for a year, and it is rare to produce five stones. Now, there is no food sold everywhere. You only use 10,000 slaves and 700 salt craftsmen to exchange for our 10,000 dan of grain."
Chapter completed!