The Six Arts of the Gentleman in the Bright Moon of Qin Dynasty

Chapter 681 "Middleman" [Subscribe*Monthly Ticket Request]

"What does Lord Gaotang have to say?" King Jian of Qi was very satisfied with the loyalty of the three doctors.

Once they open their mouths, they will have no way out and can only follow their own path to the end.

Gao Tangjun's face was gloomy. He did not expect that the doctor from Sancheng would dare to impeach him in the court.

The other sons of the royal family wanted to speak, but they all remained silent.

This is treason and collaborating with the enemy, which is a capital crime in any era and any country. Especially when there is both witnesses and evidence, they dare not come forward to vouch for it.

At most, after Gao Tangjun's death, I can help take care of the orphans and widows, and take away Gao Tangjun's inheritance.

Alas, they are all in the hands of brothers, so they can only accept it reluctantly.

Gao Tangjun glanced at his brothers and relatives, and knew without thinking that these people were already thinking about how to divide his inheritance.

But when Gao Tangjun looked at Qi Wangjian again, he already knew his fate. Qi Wangjian's determination to kill him would never change.

Even if he was willing to stand against the public office and support Prince Jian of Qi, Prince Jian of Qi would definitely kill him!

If there is a chance to kill a member of the royal family, King Jian of Qi will never miss it.

"Lord Gaotang has committed treason and collaborated with the enemy. His crime is unforgivable. His three clans will be exterminated and all property will be confiscated!" King Jian of Qi did not even need to speak, as Prime Minister Hou Sheng of Qi spoke first.

Things like house raiding are very lucrative, so how could Hou Sheng be absent?
How did he become the Prime Minister?

Besides the fact that he has a sister named the Queen, isn't it because there is no one else available in the royal family?
Then the royal family also thought that instead of killing Hou Sheng, a corrupt but incompetent man, it would be better to keep him, so that the royal family would not produce another talented person to suppress them.

Hou Sheng had a very clear understanding of his own position. As long as he was incompetent enough, he would be able to live well in Qi State and no one could shake his position.

No one in the public office spoke. After the dust settled, the soldiers in the palace stepped forward, escorted Gao Tangjun out, and beheaded him in public.

"Those who collaborate with the enemy and betray the country should take this as a warning!" King Jian of Qi did not want to make the matter any bigger.

The offices also did not think of speaking up for Gao Tangjun, and both sides maintained the same tacit understanding of the game.

"In order to make Yan withdraw its troops and destroy the Three Kingdoms Alliance, I have already paid 800,000 dan of grain and fodder to Bingzhou. Now that Yan is withdrawing its troops, this money..." King Jian of Qi said calmly, but his eyes were looking at the three doctors Zhongyi, Fuyang and Raoan, asking them to set an example first.

"On behalf of the people of Zhongyi, I will donate 100,000 grain and supplies to help the country overcome the crisis!" The doctor from Zhongyi spoke first.

One hundred thousand grains of food and fodder were nothing to a major border trade city like theirs.

If you contribute a little, and the nobles and common people in the city contribute a little, you can easily make up the amount.

"On behalf of the people of Raoan, I am also willing to donate 100,000 grain and supplies!" Someone made a suggestion, and Doctor Raoan did not hesitate.

Now that both of them had spoken, it was even more impossible for Doctor Fuyang not to come out.

So the three cities gathered together 300,000 tons of food and fodder.

With the three doctors' demonstration, the other border cities naturally had to send out troops, but after all, they were not occupied, nor did they abandon the city and flee, so the number of people who sent out was not as large as that of the three doctors.

"I'm not just talking about solving the problem of Yan State. I also have the ability to request Bingzhou to send troops to Wei and Chu!" King Jian of Qi looked at the doctors in the central and southern cities who had not spoken, and spoke lightly.

"If Qi still exists, your status will still be there. If Qi is gone, you may not still have the status you have today. Please think carefully about what to choose!" King Jian of Qi was not in a hurry. He looked calmly at the doctors and royal children in the central and southern cities.

"Your Majesty, are you so sure that Bingzhou will send troops to help? How can you be sure that Bingzhou can relieve Qi's threat?" Doctor Jimo frowned and asked in Jimo City in the south. Doctor Jimo was not doubting King Jian of Qi, nor was he unwilling to pay the money, nor was he involved with the public office and others.

But he is a patriot who is truly concerned about the State of Qi.

That is why Doctor Jimo had such concerns.

The doctors and dignitaries in the central and southern cities also knew Doctor Jimo's position, so Doctor Jimo's questions made them more convinced.

King Jian of Qi might and would definitely cheat the royal family, but he would not cheat the loyal ministers left behind by the king, such as Doctor Jimo.

"Mr. Gongsun, the foreign minister of Bingzhou, is in the embassy. If you don't believe it, you can go and ask him after the court meeting." King Jian of Qi replied without changing his expression.

"Since Mr. Gongsun is in Linzi, then this matter is credible. But how many troops is Bingzhou willing to send to aid our Qi State?" Doctor Jimo asked again.

"That depends on how much you are willing to pay."

"Ah?" Doctor Jimo was puzzled.

"The alliance between Bingzhou and Qi is not a political alliance, and Qi cannot bring any benefits to Bingzhou. Therefore, the alliance between Qi and Bingzhou is based on how much money and goods Qi is willing to pay to ask Bingzhou to send troops."

"In other words, Bingzhou is willing to rent its soldiers as goods and servants to Qi State, and Qi State needs to pay Bingzhou the corresponding compensation!"

"So that's it!" All the court officials of Qi understood.

Their minds were also wavering. If they were allowed to train their own troops, could they defeat the State of Wei? Would the people under their rule really be willing to join the army?

Since the problem can be solved with money, why should we risk our lives to solve it?
"Is this the military system implemented by the Qin State in Zhao?" Doctor Jimo was still concerned about the situation in the world.

The Fubing system is an advanced version of the conscription system, turning conscripts into professional soldiers.

Those who do not want to participate in military service can pay money and food and be hired by the court to join the army and become professional soldiers.

The situation in Qi is similar now. The people of Qi pay Bingzhou to come to Qi to serve as soldiers to guard the border and defend Qi.

Although it seems a little weird, it seems understandable when you think about Bingzhou's poverty.

Bingzhou was already so poor that it had to sell everything, so it seemed understandable that it would sell some soldiers as well.

In other words, this may be one of Bingzhou's sources of income, labor export!
Moreover, the combat effectiveness of Bingzhou soldiers is guaranteed, as they have earned a reputation for themselves.

If they could really use money to invite the Bingzhou army to come, why should they beg for mercy from Wei and Chu and put their fate in the hands of Wei and Chu?
"How much money do we need to pay to Bingzhou in a year if we mobilize Bingzhou's 100,000 troops?" Lord Changguo spoke directly.

As the head of the office, he actually has other ideas.

For example, if the money and materials needed were not too much, he could ask Bingzhou to kill King Jian of Qi and become the King of Qi himself!

King Jian of Qi glanced at Lord Changguo, smiled coldly, and guessed what the other party was thinking!
"Bingzhou will only complete the alliance through me. You are not qualified to form an alliance directly with Emperor Xuanwu."

"As for the cost of mobilizing Bingzhou's army, that is a secret between Qi and Bingzhou. You don't need to know. You just need to pay taxes to Linzi!"

"Fifty thousand per year for a county town, fifty thousand for a large county, thirty thousand for a medium-sized county, and ten thousand for a small county!"

The King of Qi continued.

(End of this chapter)