Chu and Han contend for the throne

Chapter 525 Divide
When Pang Yu, Bi Shu, and Bai Lixian walked into the upper study room, Xiang Zhuang had just received a letter from Feige from Linzi.

After the capital was moved, the original power structure of the Chu State was broken, and a large group of nobles headed by Huan Chu and Ji Bu lost their foundation and connections in Jiangdong, and were completely marginalized. Weakened, Taiwei Xiang Tuo has basically become a decoration, and Yin Xiang's authority has been strengthened, but only in political and civil affairs.

Xiang Zhuang is not superstitious about clan children, as long as he imitates Lao Zhu and weaves a perfect bureaucratic check and balance mechanism, officials' rebellion is simply wishful thinking, so there is no need to support a huge clan group to consolidate Xiang's rule.

Civil and military forces headed by Bi Shu and Bai Lixian began to enter the center, and Xiang Zhuang's discussions now basically only involve two people.

As for General Pang Yu, it just happened to be the meeting, because he will go to Qi State with Tian Heng soon.

"Zi Ang, Xue Jian, Zi Liang, you are here, you don't need to be too polite, just take a seat." Xiang Zhuang repeatedly stopped his hands, and after Pang Yu and the three of them took their seats, he continued, "I just received a letter from Fei Ge from Linzi. General Zhou Yafu tried to sneak attack Linzi, but was spotted by the crown prince, and he managed to capture more than 2000 coalition troops alive, Zhao general Bai Yan and Han general Han Ju were also captured."

"Oh?" Bailixian said happily, "My lord, this is really a surprise."

"Exactly." Bi Shu also echoed, "In this way, our Chu State will be in an extremely favorable position in the next negotiations, ha ha."

Bai Lixian said again: "Especially the performance of the prince is really amazing."

Xiang Zhuang smiled slightly, and said: "Xuejian, Ziliang, I still have to thank you, if it weren't for your devoted professor, how would the prince be where he is today?"

Bai Lixian and Bi Shu hurriedly said: "This is what ministers should do."

"Okay, let's not talk about this for now." Xiang Zhuang waved his hand and said, "Let's talk about another important event first, and the summer grain will be harvested in more than a month. According to the reports from various counties and counties, This year, Bashu, Jiangdong, Jingxiang and even Wei, which has just been re-cultivated, will have a bumper harvest, which is really a blessing in heaven."

After several years of expansion and mergers, the Chu State now has Bashu, Jingxiang, Jiangdong, Huaisi, Weidi eighteen counties plus Sanchuan County. The total population has exceeded 1000 million, and the total arable land area of ​​each county has exceeded 40 hectares ([-] mu per hectare).

If calculated on the basis of two stones per mu, 40 hectares would be 8000 million stones. Even if calculated on the basis of one stone per mu, that would be as large as 4000 million stones. Wanshi, and the Wei land that does not collect taxes, the tax source is about 1000 million shi. According to the tax rate of ten taxes and one, that is 6000 million shi.

In order to reduce the burden on the people, the payment of land tax in Chu State is quite free. Farmers can pay grain directly, or pay money after selling grain, and the transportation of grain and money are all handled by the government. Farmers only need to send land tax taxes to The local kiosk chief can do it, so the land tax that is finally turned over to the treasury must be lost.

Calculated in this way, the final grain entering the Ao warehouse will not exceed 200 million shi.

This is 200 million shi. If the surplus food that the red-top merchants can buy from the people is counted, the military rations that the Chu State can actually use are at least 500 million shi. This is enough to support the Chu State to launch a large-scale foreign war. Zhuang Yuan thought it would take three to five years to recuperate after moving the capital, but now thanks to the good weather, it can be greatly advanced.

Pang Yu, Bi Shu, and Bai Lixian quickly calculated this number silently in their hearts, and they also looked excited.

Pang Yu said: "Your Majesty, so the use of troops against Han, Han, and Zhao can be brought forward to this year?"

Xiang Zhuang nodded and said: "After Xia Harvest, I plan to use troops abroad, but to use troops against Han, Han, and Zhao at the same time is probably beyond my capabilities and the risk is too great."

"I completely agree with the king's point of view." Bai Lixian shook his feather fan lightly, deeply convinced, "Warning Han, Han, and Zhao at the same time is really too stressful. I suggest that you should order elite troops to block Jinniu Pass and Hangu Pass. As well as Wuguan, take a defensive position against Han, then send lobbyists to South Korea, lobby South Korea to remain neutral, and then concentrate on destroying Zhao!"

Pang Yu frowned and said, "The question is, South Korea is also a member of the Lianheng Alliance. Will it choose to be neutral?"

"That depends on when." Bi Shu tapped lightly on the table in front of him, and said in a deep thought, "If it was last year, South Korea would never sit back and watch Zhao Guo be destroyed, but this year, the situation will be very different."

"Indeed, your majesty canonize Tian Heng as King of Qi again, which will definitely shake the world and greatly shake the foundation of the Lianheng Alliance." Bai Lixian pointed to the northwest with the feather fan in his hand, and continued, "King Han Self-willed and indecisive, if the king promises to make great profits, he will definitely be swayed and hesitant to move forward."

Xiang Zhuang said again: "The disintegration of the Lianheng alliance is not a problem, the problem is what kind of excuses to find?"

South Korea and Zhao Guoming know that the Chu State is the only one, and its national strength and military strength are far superior to other countries, but they are still determined to join the Lianheng alliance led by the Han State. Isn't it because they are afraid that they will be destroyed by the Chu State one day?

But now Xiang Zhuang entrusts King Wei, King Bei Diao and King Qi successively, and none of them are Xiang Zhuang's cronies, but the descendants of the royal families of various countries. This is enough to show Xiang Zhuang's goodwill, even if Bai Mo and Bai Xuan don't I believe that Xiang Zhuang will only be another Uncle King Xiang Yu, but Han Wang Han Xin will definitely hesitate.

Therefore, the disintegration of the Lianheng Alliance is by no means a problem.

But what kind of excuse to find is really worth deliberating. Xiang Zhuang successively divided Wei Wang, Bei Diao Wang and Qi Wang, and finally created a harmless "hypocritical" Bo Wang image. If you can't find a good excuse and show your fangs too much, this hypocritical image will collapse.

Pang Yu, Bi Shu, and Bai Lixian all fell into silence, and it was really hard to find such an excuse.

Sending troops to cause trouble on the border, then framing the Zhao army for provocation, and then taking the opportunity to invade Zhao?This is definitely unbelievable. Under the current situation, no fool would believe that Zhao Jun dared to provoke Chu Jun.

So, provoke Zhao Guo to fight Yan Guo?Although Zhao Wang and Zhang Ao have little knowledge, General Zhao Bai Xuan is also a formidable character, so how could he be easily fooled?

Instigate Zhang Ao to proclaim himself emperor?That's even more impossible.

Seeing that Pang Yu, Bi Shu, and Bai Lixian, the three major ministers, were all silent, Xiang Zhuang could only smile wryly. He knew that it was really hard to find an excuse, so he said immediately: "Well, fortunately, it's just a matter of time. In April, there is still a month before the summer harvest, so you can think about excuses slowly, but the armament needs to be stepped up."

Bai Lixian and Bi Shu hurriedly sat up on their knees and responded respectfully.

Xiang Zhuang will never take care of these things when the army goes out, all kinds of complicated things, the allocation of food and grass, the dispatch of luggage, the call-up of government soldiers, the collection of rewards, and a lot of bad things, Xiang Zhuang will never take care of these things. , Xiang He was operating, but now it fell to Bi Shu and Bai Lixian, especially Bai Lixian, I am afraid that he will be too busy to touch the ground.

After talking about preparing for the war, the topic turned to the state of Qi, and then Xiang Zhuang said: "I propose to re-establish Tian Heng as the king of Qi. Although it occupies a moral high point, the Han, Han, and Zhao countries may not agree to it. My widow It is estimated that the final result of the negotiations will still be limited to the actual occupation of the area, what do you think?"

Now the situation in Qi State is very delicate. With Han He's abdication and surrender, Han Qi has officially declared his demise, but the armies of various countries who entered Qi State did not intend to act according to the previous agreement. First, the Chu army dispatched surprise troops to occupy Linzi first. Then Shen Tujia, who had surrendered to Han, stopped Gao Lang's army in the south of Lixia.

The biography of Feige just received by Xiang Zhuang even said that Zhou Yafu led the Han and Zhao armies to surround Linzi, but the [-] Han army rushed east day and night and ambushed the Yan army near Weishui. Defeated, he has already retreated towards Langye County. It seems that Yan Crown Prince Zang Yan has recognized the cruel reality and only wants to keep Langye County.

The current actual situation is like this, the Han, Han, and Zhao armies actually control most of Jibei County, Linzi County, and Jiaodong County, the Yan Army can only barely control Langya, and the Chu Army controls Xue County, plus Linzi City However, this situation may repeat at any time. Shentujia's [-] Qi army is a variable, and Linzi City is also an unstable factor.

Bailixian said: "If the final result of the negotiations is to use the actual occupation of the area as the boundary, then Linzi City will become an isolated city within the territory of the Han Dynasty, and it may have to be abandoned."

Pang Yu quickly entered the role of the general of the Qi State, and immediately said: "Linzi is the capital of the Qi State, and the powerful and nobles of Qi have been operating there for hundreds of years. Will they be willing to give up?"

"It's certain that we won't be reconciled, but it's a good thing for us." Bailixian said with a smile, "We can just exaggerate the greed of Han, Han, and Zhao, and completely dispel the hatred of the powerful and nobles of Qi. lead to them, so that the control of the alignment will become easier."

"However, we can't give up Linzi for nothing." Xiang Zhuang twitched his curled beard on his lips, and said in a deep thought, "Especially the more than 2000 Korean and Zhao troops captured by the crown prince, this is not a light bargaining chip, widow Linzi can let it go, but Dingkou, a commoner in and around Linzi City, must move to Lu County."

Linzi County and Lu County in Xue County are the two most densely populated counties in Qi, especially Linzi County, which has a population of more than 30, which is almost larger than the combined population of Jiaodong and Langye Counties.

In this era, what resources are most scarce and what resources are most important?There is no doubt that it is the population!

With a population, there will be a source of soldiers, taxation, money and food, and it will be possible to continue fighting abroad. Therefore, Xiang Zhuang doesn't care about the success of a pool, even if Linzi is the capital of the Qi State for hundreds of years, he doesn't care at all. But he was extremely concerned about the hundreds of thousands of people living in Linzi County.

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(End of this chapter)