I seek economic hegemony in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 46: Strategies for Weary Wei
Zhuge Liang asked again: "We are fighting with Cao Wei on the Western Front, how can we still do business with Cao Wei?"

"We have been fighting with Cao Wei in Guanzhong, but our brocade is sold as far away as Cao Wei and Sun Wu."

Zhuge Liang nodded. Seeing this step, he felt that Li Heng was indeed a malleable talent.

Especially when the hydraulic textile machine appears, if it can be perfected over time, it will be of great use in weaving Sichuan brocade!

Zhuge Liang asked again: "How to set up 20 troops in Guanzhong?"

You know, Zhuge Liang only has [-] in his hands now.

Ji Han's total military strength was just over [-], which meant that only [-] to [-] troops were left in Hanzhong and Chengdu.

Add another [-] troops?
This is equivalent to adding another Ji Han.

People cannot grow from the ground, and even if they get Longyou, they will not be able to produce another hundred thousand soldiers.

When it comes to conscription, you don't conscript as many as you have on your territory.

Take the Three Kingdoms as an example. According to Ji Han's official accounts, the population is about 10,000+, and the total military strength is about 12.

Military households are not recorded in the official registered population.

It is equivalent to eight people raising one soldier.

Cao Wei's book population is 440 million, and its total military strength is 50, which is equivalent to eight or so people supporting one soldier.

Sun Wu has a registered population of 260 million and a total military strength of approximately 30, which is equivalent to eight or so people supporting one soldier.

This is the basic situation of the three countries.

Under this circumstance, judging from the current productivity and social structure, the pressure to raise troops has reached a limit.

Ji Han was able to raise eight men to one soldier because Zhuge Liang had been using trade to exchange food from the other two countries.

If we follow what Li Heng said and add another [-] soldiers, what will be the consequences?

This is equivalent to increasing the registered population by 80, and these 80 people have to be engaged in food production, cloth manufacturing, etc.

If we say that by acquiring Longyou, we can increase our troops by 90, it is equivalent to digging out [-] people from the land of Longyou and opening up millions of acres of fertile farmland.

Then mines will be opened, weapons will be allocated, military training grounds will be designated, the army will be reorganized, and generals at all levels will be added.

Each step of this takes time and is extremely difficult.

Besides, there are 90 people in the five counties of Longyou?
Even if there were, would the powerful Longyou hand over the person willingly?

Even Cao Cao's emigration from the Jianghuai River triggered a rebellion by the powerful Jianghuai people, causing 10,000+ people to go to Sun Wu's side.

This is not a mathematical problem, but a political and military problem, and also involves sociological and financial issues.

Once financial problems arise, they will inevitably involve people's livelihood issues.

Once people's livelihood problems become apparent, political problems will deepen.

Li Heng thought for a while and said: "If our army has one hundred thousand, and if we add another hundred thousand, we will need to cultivate 200 million acres of fertile land. Add in silk weaving, city construction and road construction, and we will need one million people."

"What do these millions of people say?" Zhuge Liang was slightly surprised. He didn't expect that Li Heng had actually calculated to this point.

"To add [-] people to Guanzhong, we must add another million people. About nine people will support one soldier."

"Millions of people have entered Yongzhou, I'm afraid..."

"Longyou can accommodate 50 people, Guanzhong can accommodate 10 people, and Chengdu and Hanzhong can accommodate 40 people. It is enough."

Zhuge Liang also stood up and said with a smile: "If we really set up an army of 20 in Guanzhong, what will Cao Wei do?"

"Cao Wei will definitely add at least 15 troops and horses to the Chang'an front line, also known as 50. Where the food and grass for these 15 troops and horses will come from is a headache for Cao Wei."

Moreover, Li Heng had a way to force Cao Wei to continue to increase his troops, even forcing him to increase his troops by 20.

According to Li Heng's calculation, Cao Wei needs to recruit another 160 million people to support 20 soldiers. Cao Wei has more than 400 million registered soldiers, which means that each person's burden will increase by nearly one-half.

But this is a political issue again. Once Cao Wei wants to raise taxes, it will trigger a chain reaction.

Who will bear this increased tax is a big question.

Chongzhen's three rates have multiplied many times from the capital to the ears of the peasants.

Li Heng added: "One hundred thousand troops have been added to the Great Han Pass, and part of the supplies can be filled through trade."

For example, financial plunder. At least Li Heng felt that when production capacity reached a certain level, he could carry out financial plunder on Cao Wei to a certain extent. "Then when you say Lianwu, Zaixingyi, what do you mean?"

"Establish more extensive business contacts with Sun Wu and increase military revenue. As for the benefits..." At this point, Li Heng hesitated before saying, "Re-examine the land, reform the household system, increase the registered population, and strengthen the court's control of local governments." control, and comprehensively implement paper-based official affairs.”

"What about taking Jingzhou? Since you unite with Sun Wu, do you want to take Jingzhou again?"

"When the situation on the western front is established, Sun Quan will definitely launch another Northern Expedition. At that time, we can take the opportunity to capture Jingzhou."

Zhuge Liang fell silent.

It's not that he disagreed with Li Heng's statement, but after taking Jingzhou and having a bad relationship with Sun Wu, Cao Wei would definitely interfere with it and join forces with Sun Wu to invade.

Zhuge Liang smiled and said: "I am very pleased that you have come to this point. Tomorrow I will grant you the position of joining the army in the Prime Minister's Office. You can participate in the military council of the Prime Minister's Office. You will still be the magistrate of Chencang County."

"How can a lower official be so virtuous and capable?"

"In addition, there will be financial rewards for this meritorious service."

"Thank you, Prime Minister!"

Zhuge Liang returned to Wuzhangyuan.

Chencang County became quiet again.

Li Heng knew that Zhuge Liang still recognized the grand strategy he mentioned, but it was even more difficult to implement this strategy.

Zhuge Liang probably doesn't have any executability among them.

But it doesn't matter, the situation has to be laid out step by step, and the momentum has to be built slowly.

When it reaches a certain level, it’s time for the wind to start.

In fact, Li Heng's core point of view was the reform of Yizhou, but he did not mention much.

Because Ji Han is now under great pressure from the outside world, it would be very foolish to overemphasize internal reforms.

Internal reforms can only be implemented after Wei's western front is completely constrained by Ji Han and a deeper exchange of interests is reached with Sun Wu.

Moreover, internal reforms must be bloody.

But without internal reforms, Ji Han's 90 registered soldiers would not be able to mobilize the elite troops behind him to seize Jingzhou.

The powerful have concealed too many people!
Li Heng also went back and fell asleep.

The next day, the appointment letter from the Prime Minister's Office was issued.

Joining the army is among the many subordinate officials in the prime minister's palace, and the level is very low.

However, he could participate in military discussions, which was equivalent to the status of staff officer or secretary. He was close to the prime minister and could obtain the latest trends of the Han army in a timely manner.

The fact that Zhuge Liang can give this position shows that he has completely trusted Li Heng.

When Fei Yi came to deliver the appointment letter, he smiled and said, "Congratulations to Jian."

"I would like to thank Fei Sima for this."

"It's because of your own talents that you helped us a lot this time. Sima Yi will have a headache next." Fei Yi said, "By the way, if Chencang County is short of food, I can give you another thousand shi of reinforcements."

"That would be great." Li Heng said happily, "Thank you Fei Sima."

Fei Yi hesitated for a moment and said, "The Prime Minister is a man who cherishes talents, but when he speaks, he needs to pay attention to some methods. Don't talk too much about everything, and you have to be careful with your words. Do you understand?"

"I understand, Fei Sima reminded me like this, and I don't even know how to repay him."

Fei Yi looked around and whispered: "Give me some more medicine as a reward."

Li Heng was stunned and said, "Fei Sima, don't worry."

After Fei Yi left, Li Heng immediately ordered Dong Hong to start recruiting weavers, and said to Dong Hong: "From today on, let the news go out. Anyone who comes to our Chencang County will not only receive fields and farm tools, but also cloth. Each household can receive five pieces of cloth."

"Is five too many?"

"As long as people come here, more cloth can be produced."

It's a snowballing game.

(End of this chapter)