Rebirth of Wu Ba Spring and Autumn

Chapter 459 The Upright Teacher
"Da Sima, how much rations do you have in the army? How long can it last?"

After the fate guards took Bo Tong down to beat up the thirty army sticks, Qingji turned his attention to Sun Wu again.

Sun Wu heard the words, calculated silently, and replied: "Your Majesty, there is still less than [-] shi of grain, which can supply our army for about ten days at most."

Soldiers who are on an expedition have about three stones and three buckets of rations for one month.

The soldiers of the coalition army came from all corners of the country, but they still mainly used millet and rice, plus some soup made from wild vegetables. The conditions were very difficult.

Except for high-ranking generals, there is very little meat, unless horses are killed, which also leads to soldiers needing a lot of food to maintain a day's consumption.

This cannot be compared with modern times. After all, modern food is rich in oil, and the calories needed by the human body can be easily met, so eat less.

One stone in the state of Wu is roughly equal to thirty catties in modern times, so it is calculated that the daily ration of soldiers in the Wu army is basically about three catties.

But now, there are still more than [-] coalition soldiers on the front line, and they consume [-] catties of food in just one day.

That is to say, the coalition forces have to consume four thousand stone rations every day!

This can be described as an astronomical figure!
Still a conservative estimate!

Because not only soldiers, war horses also need to eat soybeans, hay, and even grain to supplement energy.

"Ten days? Can our army capture Suicheng within ten days?"

Qingji frowned.

No one dared to answer Qingji's words, not even Sun Wu and Wu Zixu dared to boast.

Because in the Qingfashui area, not only grain and grass were burned by the Chu army, but also various equipment.

Under the circumstances that food, supplies and supplies cannot be replenished, it is impossible for the coalition forces to take down Suicheng within ten days!

At this time, Wu Zixu pondered for a while, and said, "My lord, it will take at least a month for the second batch of food and supplies to arrive at the front line."

"Far water can't quench the near-thirst. In such an urgent situation, I thought our allied forces could get food from the nearby cities of Chu State!"

"No!"

As soon as Wu Zixu's words fell, Cai Houshen immediately stood up to dissuade him, saying, "Your Majesty, what the Yushi doctor said is wrong!"

"The state of Chu has been fighting for years, and the Chu people from all over the country have already been emptied of their homes, and their vitality has been seriously injured. Even the most basic rations may not be able to support themselves."

"If our allied forces collect food again, I'm afraid..."

Cai Houshen did not continue.

However, everyone present knew what he wanted to express.

Although Cai Houshen had grudges with Chu State, what he hated was the monarchs and ministers of Chu State, the dead Ling Yin Nangwa, not Li Shu of Chu State, not Chu people!

As the saying goes, God has the virtue of being good at life.

The state of Chu has been militaristic for many years. Since the war against Zheng last year, the war has never stopped.

In Chu State, not only the young and middle-aged labor force was taken away, but even the food of every household was taken away. The only remaining rations were barely enough for them to survive.

At this time, if the coalition forces collect food from all over the country of Chu, it will undoubtedly drive the Chu people to a dead end.

This will kill many Chu people!

"Marquis Cai, are you going to sit back and watch our coalition soldiers starve and be defeated by the Chu army in the end?"

Wu Zixu sneered and said, "People from Chu still have their hearts attached to the state of Chu, so they don't deserve sympathy."

Wu Zixu is really ruthless!
Don't care about the life and death of Chu people everywhere!
Cai Houshen gritted his teeth, glared at Wu Zixu and said, "Our coalition army is an upright and upright teacher of the king, a teacher of justice, how can we do such a thing that is outrageous?"

"absurd!"

Wu Zixu said disdainfully: "How can our army have the benevolence of women?"

"Either you die, or I die. If you talk about benevolence, righteousness and morality, you will not achieve great things!"

"..."

Cai Houshen wanted to get back at Wu Zixu, but he didn't know where to start.

After all, the situation of the coalition forces is now very critical.

Either send troops to plunder and collect food from nearby places in Chu State, or choose to retreat and lift the siege of Suicheng.

It is close to the Tang State anywhere, but with the power of the Tang State, it is afraid that it cannot support so many people.

So the best way is to ask for food from the nearest place as Wu Zixu said.

Because once the coalition forces retreat, the Chu army in the city will inevitably take advantage of the situation to fight out.

At that time, those who wait for the coalition forces may only have a dead end.

"Let the widow think about it, think about it."

This time, Qing Ji did not make a quick decision, but waved his hand to make the generals retreat, while he closed his eyes and began to meditate.

Whether to go or stay is all in Qingji's thought.

Two options make it difficult to judge favorably.

In order to capture Suicheng and completely wipe out the main force of the Chu army, the coalition forces must plunder the cities and towns of Chu State, loot all the remaining rations of the Chu people, and watch them starve to death.

The consequence of doing so is nothing more than that the people of Chu hate Wu State even more, and they will never stop dying, sowing the seeds of disaster for Wu State to rule this piece of Chu in the future.

Endless troubles!

But if he chooses to retreat, Shen Zhuliang will obviously seize the favorable opportunity, and then destroy the coalition forces in one battle.

The difference between the two options is that one is a long-term solution and the other is an immediate benefit.

One is to kill the chicken to get the eggs, and the other is to catch the fish!

……

midnight.

Qingji's sleeping tent was still brightly lit.

I saw Wu Wang Qingji lying on his camp bed, tossing and turning, it was really difficult to sleep.

The Spring and Autumn Period was different from the troubled times that followed.

If Qingji was placed in the last years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, he would definitely choose to plunder the rations of Li Shu everywhere to feed his army and win the war without hesitation.

However, now is the Spring and Autumn era that pays attention to righteousness and fame.

World of war!

People's moral quality still has a certain bottom line, at least not until it is a last resort, they will not choose to ruin themselves.

Qingji also wanted to maintain his personality, and did not offend Li Shuqiu of Chu State.

However, the price is too high, and all the previous efforts of Wu Jun may be in vain.

Of course, Wu Guo can afford such a price.

It's just that Qing Ji, the commander in chief of the coalition forces, will inevitably lose his majesty, causing irreversible effects.

Now Qingji is thinking left and right, weighing the pros and cons, and has not figured out a choice that is more beneficial to himself and Wu Guodu.

"Your Majesty, Great Sima, please see me!"

At this time, a guard's voice sounded outside the sleeping tent.

"Let him in."

"promise!"

Not long after, Sun Wu, who was still wearing armor, walked into the sleeping tent step by step, and bowed to Qingji.

"Your Majesty!"

"Master, there is no need to be too polite. Sit down!"

"Thank you king."

Sun Wu immediately came to one side of the futon and sat across from Qingji.

"Your Majesty, you are still worried about the fact that our army's supply road has been intercepted, and the supplies are running out?"

"Exactly."

Qing Ji shook his head and said, "Master, I'm telling you the truth. Don't look at how calm and composed I am in front of the generals today. In fact, I can't make up my mind."

(End of this chapter)