Rebirth of Wu Ba Spring and Autumn

As the saying goes, medicine is three-point poison.

To be honest, Qingji still has some doubts about the anti-aging pills refined by Bian Que, Nanrong and others.

Immortality cannot be achieved, nor can longevity be achieved, but the anti-aging effect is also not small.

After all, Qingji hopes that he can maintain the most vigorous energy all the time, and when he is over seventy years old, he can still be like a middle-aged man, in his prime...

"Have you ever asked someone to test this elixir?"

Qingji squinted his eyes and asked.

"Report to the king, I have found it."

Bian Que clapped his hands, and there were three childish, dark-skinned teenagers, with terrified eyes, trembling like chaff, were brought into the Zide Hall by the guards, and knelt under the majesty's platform.

Bian Que pointed at the three teenagers, and said slowly: "Your Majesty, how old are these three people according to your visual inspection?"

"Eleven or twelve?"

Qingji made a guess.

Bian Que bowed to Qingji and said, "Your Majesty, they are about fifteen or sixteen years old."

"Four years ago, after they took this medicine, their bodies no longer developed, and they have maintained this shape, and they are healthy without any disease."

This is enough to prove that the three teenagers who were tested for drugs will remain at the age of eleven or twelve for the rest of their lives.

It is worth mentioning that they are all Kunlun slaves, so they were used to test medicine, and it would not hurt to die.

"good."

Qing Ji nodded slightly, tentatively believing in the efficacy of this anti-aging pill.

The elixir of life cannot be refined, but the anti-aging pill is not necessarily possible.

"Chen Huan, how many anti-aging pills are there?"

"Five."

"Can it be mass-produced?"

"No."

Bian Que sighed regretfully and said: "My lord, the anti-aging pills are made of rare medicinal materials, which can be described as treasures of heaven and earth, very rare. Take one pill, your majesty, and it will be effective, so why do you need too many?"

"Refine as much as possible."

Qingji just confessed.

Anti-aging pills, Qingji can be taken, but concubines such as Ji Kou, Xishi, Zheng Dan, and the children of Qingji's heroes may not necessarily be taken.

If it is really rare, Qingji can only choose to let his close ones take it.

Stay youthful forever, delay aging, this is a great elixir!
……

The time has entered the 23th year of Wu Wang Qingji, that is, 491 BC, the second month of the lunar calendar.

When Wu Guo recuperated and restored people's livelihood, a new pattern had already emerged.

The combined forces of Han, Zhao, Wei, and Dai wiped out wisdom, which means that the territory of the original overlord Jin was basically divided by South Korea, Zhao, and Wei.

Today, there are still eleven vassal states, namely: Wu, Qi, Han, Zhao, Wei, Song, Lu, Wei, Zheng, Yan, and Zhongshan.

The Dai Kingdom, like the Eight Kingdoms of Xirong, belongs to the Rongdi Fang Kingdom, and is not a prince canonized by the Son of Zhou, so it is not included.

A new pattern has been formed.

At this time, Qingji was sitting in the Zide Hall with Sun Wu, Wu Zixu, Ji Ran, Fan Li and other ministers discussing state affairs.

After the Qin Dynasty was destroyed, Qingji believed that the most important task was to restore people's livelihood and show favor to Li Shu, so he ordered Ji Ran, Wen Zhong and other officials to conduct a national census.

What Qingji was reading in his hand was the memorial presented by Ji Ran.

"Your Majesty, after several months of national census, excluding the Protectorate of the Western Regions, there are 24 counties and 360 eight counties in our country of Wu. According to the statistics, there are 290 million households and a population of 460 million."

"There are 670 military chariots, more than 15 horses, 35 forbidden troops, 50 frontier and county troops, and a total of [-] standing troops."

"In addition, there are about 96 Kunlun slaves who are not recorded in the household registration, as well as the previous Persian prisoners of war."

Hearing that, Qingji was quite satisfied.

With a population of more than 400 million, wouldn't it be possible for Wu to sweep the world?
"Your Majesty, I have something to say, I don't know if I should say it or not."

Dazai Jiran said hesitantly.

"But it doesn't matter."

"My country of Wu is now in a state of ruins, and it is dedicated to restoring people's livelihood. When it is being ruled, the standing army of 50 is too large. I think that some soldiers can be reduced and they can be disarmed and returned to the fields so that the country can save resources. open flow."

Hearing this, Qingji did not directly make a decision, but looked at Sun Wu and Wu Zixu, and asked, "Sun Wu, Wu Yuan, what do you think?"

These two people, one is a national lieutenant and the other is a great Sima. They are good at leading troops in battle and are very famous in the army.

If Qingji wanted to disarm, he would naturally ask for their opinions.

After Sun Wu pondered for a while, he replied: "Your Majesty, I think what the Dazai said is not unreasonable."

"The nine counties in the south where there were rebellions all over the place have become naturalized over the years, and they are no longer prone to riots."

"With the current strength of Great Wu, the northern countries can only linger on. Although they are still carrying out reforms, they will never be able to catch up with our country Wu."

"As a result, the threat from the north has been greatly reduced. In this case, why don't your majesty disarm the army, so as to reduce some military expenditures for the treasury, and at the same time allow them to return to their hometown and rely on themselves?"

"Your Majesty, my minister seconded the proposal."

Wu Zixu said he had no objection.

The benefits of disarmament are self-evident.

Wu Guo can naturally afford a standing army of 50.

But, it's really not necessary!
The monarchs and ministers of the Wu state can foresee that in the next few years, the Wu state will not fight frequently, and will only focus on the people's livelihood.

The northern states did not dare to go south and invade Wu's borders.

After so many years of hard work and expansion of territory, Wu's absolute hegemony cannot be shaken.

Moreover, if it weren't for the coalition of hundreds of thousands of princes, there would be no need for Wu to maintain so many soldiers and horses as a standing army.

Wouldn't it be more beneficial to the state of Wu if some soldiers were allowed to retire and become farmers, work hard and have more children?

It's just that disarmament is not an easy task.

How to cut and how many troops to cut, Qingji needs to be considered.

After some deliberation, Qingji finally made a decision.

"My state of Wu now has a vast territory and a large population, so the standing army cannot be too small."

"Disarmament... 15 is enough, 35 horses will be retained, stationed in various places, and [-] forbidden troops will be stationed in the capital. All retired soldiers must be given serious compensation and properly resettled."

Qing Ji put his eyes on Wen Zhong, Prime Minister Zuo, and said slowly: "Wen Zhong, I will give you full responsibility for this matter."

"promise!"

Wu's 35 standing army is indispensable.

After all, not to mention other places, Ba County, Shu County and Chang'an County (formerly the land of Qin) are all places newly incorporated into the territory of Wu State, and they need to be stationed with certain soldiers and horses in case of emergencies.

"Your Majesty."

Wu Zixu frowned and said: "Now our country of Wu has a strong army and horses. There are more than 600 chariots alone, and [-] iron cavalry."

"However, I think that on today's battlefield, chariots are no longer as lethal as fully armored cavalry."

"That's why, I think Your Majesty should consider gradually phasing out chariots, and try to build more and stronger elite cavalry!"