Chapter 196 Xiao He’s answer
"Please feel free to ask questions, Lieutenant-General." Xiao He said respectfully.
Feng Quji was startled and immediately reminded: "Xiao He, do you know that Lord Taiwei is one of the four great military saints? Are you sure you want to answer his question?"
Xiao He replied: "Sure. No matter who asks the question, I will answer it. Even if the answer is not good or the answer is wrong, I am willing to accept it. I will not pretend to know because I know it or not."
"Okay, if you are brave, aren't you afraid of losing this opportunity?" Feng Quji asked.
"Afraid." Xiao He said without hesitation, "This is an opportunity given to me by the prince. I am afraid of losing this opportunity and being ashamed of His Highness, but I cannot show timidity just because I am afraid of losing this opportunity."
"Well said, you are very honest." Wei Liaozi smiled, "Although you are afraid, you are not timid.
My question is very simple. The army is running out of food during the march, but the court has no food. If you were the prime minister, what would you do? "
Boom.
This question was like a thunder that exploded in the hearts of civil and military officials.
Ying Zheng frowned slightly and said: "Wei Liaozi, your question is a bit tricky, but it is indeed something that will happen.
Li Si, Feng Quji, as prime ministers, do you have a solution? "
Feng Quji said: "Your Majesty, if this thing really happens, then we can only collect food from the people."
When Ying Zheng heard this, he frowned slightly and looked at Li Si.
Li Si felt Ying Zheng's gaze and said slowly: "You can borrow food from the nobles. They have a lot of food."
The faces of the honorable nobles changed. How can this be done? Borrowing food from us. If the court is unwilling to return it, what should we do?
Feng Quji's face darkened. It's not that he hadn't thought of this method, but he was the head of the nobles. He couldn't say that. This could only throw the problem to the people.
Ying Zheng nodded slightly and said, "This is a good idea."
Finally, he looked at Xiao He.
Xiao He said slowly: "Your Majesty, Sir Wei, I have two methods, one is to borrow food, and the other is to let the army directly seize the enemy's food."
"To borrow food, are you also borrowing food from nobles?" Ying Zheng asked.
Xiao He shook his head and said: "It's not just about honors and nobles, it's about borrowing from everyone in the world. Whoever has food in their hands can borrow from them.
It is best to borrow from businessmen, not only to borrow grain but also to borrow money, which can be deducted from next year's tax and provide some good policies to the businessmen.
For example, if you borrow 10,000 shi of grain from a businessman this year, you can deduct 11,000 shi of grain from next year's tax.
This policy can be given not only to businessmen, but also to common people. As long as they are willing to borrow, the court can reduce taxes.
Especially ordinary people, if they encounter a famine, they can directly reduce or reduce taxes.
In this way, I believe that all people in the world who have food will be willing to borrow food from the court, and the food crisis for the army will be relieved, and the people will not be burdened by this.
The most important thing is that the people will still be grateful to the court and gain two birds with one stone.
As for the other side, the army defeated the enemy and there must be many prisoners and trophies.
When the army has no food, the court can allow the army to sell prisoners and trophies on the spot and exchange them for food to meet their urgent needs.
I believe there are merchants willing to buy prisoners and trophies. "
"What a great idea, what a great idea." Wei Liaozi said with a smile, "Your Majesty, Xiao He is indeed a talented person. Whether he borrows food or lets the army buy food on the spot, it will not affect the people. Life.
If Lord Wu An had met Xiao He, Zhao's 400,000 troops might not have been trapped and killed. "
Everyone present was stunned. They knew that Lord Wu An was Bai Qi, the God of Death, one of the four generals of the Warring States Period.
But why mention Bai Qi at this time? What's the use?
"At the time of Lord Wu An, the people of Qin had no food. What else could he do if he didn't kill 400,000 Zhao troops?" Feng Quji said.
"People can be exchanged for food." Xiao He said, "Zhao's 400,000-strong army can be sold back to Zhao. All we need is food."
"How much risk does this have to take?" Feng Quji said, "If it hadn't been for a divorce plan to remove Zhao Guo's veteran general Lian Po from the post of Marshal, and let Zhao Kuo, who could only talk on paper, be the coach, I'm afraid Da Qin might not have won that war. .”
Ying Zheng nodded and said: "That's right, the 400,000 Zhao troops cannot be released."
Wei Liaozi smiled and said: "Your Majesty, don't be anxious, you might as well listen to what Xiao He said."
Ying Zheng nodded and said: "Xiao He, you continue."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xiao He said, "At that time, the imperial court had no food, and the army could not support the 400,000 Zhao troops.
Then you can send someone to King Zhao and ask him to bring food to save the 400,000 Zhao troops. "
"How could they give it?" Feng Quji said.
Li Si also shook his head: "I will never give it to you."
"King Zhao will not give it, but the soldiers' families will give it. They will give it for their men, and their sons will give it.
Even when their wives and parents knew about this, they would turn against Zhao Guo, allowing our army to capture more cities without having to abolish any soldiers.
I would like to ask the two prime ministers, you were the prime ministers of Zhao State at that time, would you give grain to Lord Wu An? "Xiao He said.
"Hahaha..." Wei Liaozi laughed, "This question is more tricky than mine. If you give it, you will help Da Qin and let Da Qin have food.
If we don't give it, we will not only lose the 400,000 troops, but also the hearts and minds of the families of the 400,000 troops, and the people's hearts will be completely lost.
Well, Xiao He, you are really capable. "
Xiao He bowed and said: "This is just something that a minister should consider."
Ying Zheng also nodded slightly and said: "This issue is indeed tricky. If Da Qin encounters such a thing, it will be difficult for me to make a decision.
I am reluctant to give up our 400,000-strong army, and I am reluctant to give them food. "
Xiao He said: "Your Majesty, you propose the unification of China. If something like this happens in the future, it will definitely be someone from a foreign race peeking into my land in the Central Plains.
In this way, even if millions of troops are captured, the court cannot compromise, and if it wants to tell the world that it is not our kind, it must have different intentions.
The imperial court should call on the people of the world to rise up to resist, and His Majesty should go on a personal expedition to resist the foreigners. "
"Are you just going to let the alien race kill an army of 400,000 people?" Feng Quji said.
Xiao He said: "When they kill one person, our anger and morale will increase by one point.
Only the imperial court can hope to win this war. How can our majestic Chinese land let foreigners sleep soundly? "
"Well said." Ying Zheng said excitedly, "If foreigners dare to invade the land of China, our Chinese people will attack them in groups. How can we allow others to snore next to us?"
"Your Majesty is holy."
"Your Majesty is holy."
"Your Majesty is holy."
All the ministers knelt down and flattered Ying Zheng.
Some people died, but not completely...
