Shatilie talks eloquently and portrays himself as a prairie hero with both wisdom and courage. Touman Shanyu was also extremely satisfied, thinking that with this son here, it would be a matter of time before the Huns took over the Central Plains.
At the same time, Li Shui asked Wujiao to call a merchant.
This man's name was Wu Tong, and he traveled between the Central Plains and the Xiongnu all year round, selling goods.
What he sells are either Xiongnu treasures or Central Plains treasures. Therefore, he has connections with nobles in both places.
Li Shui said to Wu Tong: "After you arrive at the court of Shan Yu, go to see King Shatilie of Zuo Xian. Tell him that you owe me thousands of good horses and countless cattle and sheep, and it is time to pay him back."
Wu Tong was startled and said: "Sir, those Huns are extremely cruel. If I say that, wouldn't I... die in the north?"
Li Shui said: "Don't worry, just say that you are Huaiguzi's envoy, and Sha Tilie will not dare to do anything to you."
Wu Tong was extremely doubtful about this and thought: "A few days ago, Sha Tilie came to Xianyang, and Huai Guzi repeatedly embarrassed him. This matter has spread throughout Guanzhong. I think Sha Tilie must have been very fond of Huai Guzi at this time. He is so filled with hatred that if he sees his envoy, he will probably be torn into pieces."
Wu Tong suddenly fell to his knees and cried bitterly: "I don't know where the villain offended the adults. If the adults want to kill the villain, just kill them here. There is no need to go all the way to the Huns to kill them." ”
Li Shui had a headache and said, "If you can accomplish this, I will consider doing business with you."
When Wu Tong heard this, he suddenly stopped crying and asked in disbelief: "Selling...things from the immortal world?"
Li Shui hummed.
Wu Tong was immediately overjoyed, clapped his chest and said, "Don't worry, sir, these are thousands of good horses and countless cattle and sheep. I will definitely help you get them back."
Li Shui was a little speechless: "Businessmen value profits, I have learned a lot today."
After sending Wu Tong away, Li Shui was going to have dinner, take a bath, and get some sleep so that he could go to court full of energy tomorrow and accept the reward.
Unexpectedly, while eating, Aang Fu suddenly ran in. He whispered: "Sir, the farmers are asking for an audience."
Li Shui asked in confusion: "Farmers? Aren't those people afraid of me and hating me? They feel that I have dragged them into a losing bet. Usually when they see me, I am obedient and I curse behind my back. Now Why did you come to see me?"
Cano shook his head: "I don't even know."
Li Wen waved his hand: "Call in."
Fifty farmers filed in, all knelt down and said, "Sir, we are here to announce the good news."
Li Wen asked in confusion: "What kind of good news? Have you harvested corn?"
The farmers were stunned, and it took them a while before they could say with a smile: "There's no harvest yet. It's just... there was a heavy storm yesterday, which was a disaster for the corn. But today I went to the fields to see it. , only 20% of the seedlings were lost.”
Li Wen was shocked: "Loss of 20%? That's a heavy loss."
The farmers were confused again: "Is this irony?"
You know, if you plant corn, you will not be able to harvest as much as you sow. Floods, droughts, insect infestations... each disaster is enough to reduce the corn yield by half, or even more.
If there are three or four natural disasters in a given year, there will be a famine.
Yesterday there was heavy rain and then strong wind. Such weather is extremely detrimental to the seedlings. Farmers thought that it would be good if only 30% of the crops in the fields were left.
Who would have thought that when I looked in Tianzhong today, I saw that it was only 20% down. And the 20% just fell over, and were not uprooted and died quickly like in previous years. If cared for carefully, it can bear fruit again.
These farmers were surprised and happy, so they hurriedly came to report the good news to Li Shui. Who knew that Li Shui actually felt that the loss was only 20%, which was still a bit too much.
This is actually not Lishui’s fault. The crops of later generations were scientifically bred. Most are resistant to lodging, pests and diseases, floods and droughts. It is simply a fantasy to lose 20% of the property in a heavy storm.
However, Li Shui quickly came to his senses, coughed dryly, and encouraged the farmers: "Keep farming, be more attentive. You will have a share of the rewards you will get later."
The farmers all thanked him and left one after another. These people have been farming all their lives, and they have vaguely felt that it was Li Shui's special farming method that saved these seedlings.
Planting the seedlings in the ditch will naturally prevent wind. As the seedlings grow, the soil is constantly cultivated, so the roots are so deep that they will not be washed away even if it rains heavily.
These farmers had some hope at first, but then they thought about it, this method of farmland replacement can only cultivate half of the land. Even if the grass seedlings can be windproof and waterproof, what's the use?
For a while, everyone became dejected again.
Li Shui didn't know the farmers' struggles. After dinner, he fell asleep carelessly.
…………
The next day, in front of the Yizheng Hall.
The courtiers came early and waited under the eaves.
Wang Wan suddenly said with a smile: "As for the countermeasures to stabilize the world, you all presented them to the emperor yesterday. I was busy in the palace until midnight. Together with Your Majesty, I divided your countermeasures into four grades: A, B, C and D. Each grade. Ranked again."
"A is the top, D is the bottom. I'm afraid your Majesty will announce the results during the court meeting later. Because of this policy discussion, you may get a small promotion. Naturally, you may also be demoted."
Everyone asked: "Excuse me, at what time can I be promoted? At what time can I be demoted?"
Wang Wan said: "Of course it's a promotion for Class A. The higher the ranking, the more people are promoted. Class D is demoted. The lower the ranking, the more people are demoted. As for Class B and C, it's okay if they are quite satisfactory."
Someone bowed and said, "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, can you tell me who we are waiting for is Class A and who is Class D?"
Wang Wan twisted his beard and smiled: "This should be announced by His Majesty himself."
Wang Li suddenly said with a smile: "There is still some time before the court meeting. It's boring to wait, so why not win some luck. Everyone, why not bet on who is the last one between Huaiguzi and Li Xin? I'll go first. Ten thousand dollars, I bet Huai Guzi to be the last one."
Some courtiers who were good friends with Wang Li joined in one after another, laughing and joking. Some were betting on Li Xin, and some were betting on locust millet.
Anyway, they are betting on the last one, no matter who they choose, they are mocking these two people.
While it was getting lively, there was a young eunuch next to him, who whispered: "General Wang, can your slaves participate?"
Wang Li looked up and said with a smile, "It's Ji Ming. Of course I can participate."
After being beaten several hundred times, Ji Ming's body just recovered a little and he could barely walk.
He also saw that he and Huaiguzi had become enemies. If he doesn't find a backer, he might not be able to fix himself. And the backer he chose was Wang Li.
By participating in Wang Li's gambling game today, you are showing your kindness to him. As long as Wang Li accepts it, he can join his family. Since he was someone close to the emperor, he thought Wang Li would be willing to make friends with him.
Sure enough, Wang Li agreed to Ji Ming's participation in the gamble.
Ji Ming said with a flattering look on his face: "I bet you ten thousand dollars that Huaiguzi will be the last."
Wang Li laughed loudly: "Ji Ming is spending all his wealth to be optimistic about Huaiguzi."
Everyone laughed.
At this time, Li Shui and Li Xin came over.
Seeing this scene, Li Xin became furious and wanted to hit someone with his fist. Li Shui patted him on the shoulder and said, "Be patient and don't be impatient. A gentleman speaks but does not act."
While saying this, Li Shui raised his hand and slapped Ji Ming on the face.
Ji Ming was beaten until he screamed and fell to the ground. Everyone was in a daze when Li Shui slapped Wang Li on the face again.
Before Wang Li could speak, Li Shui shouted loudly: "Qin's laws are strict and gambling is prohibited. If you gather to gamble in front of the palace gate, your crime will be increased."
Wang Li suddenly turned pale.
What happened just now was called gambling, but it was actually teasing Huaiguzi and Li Xin. But if it is explained by someone who is interested, it is indeed a gathering of gamblers. After all, everyone has put up their money to bet. There's really no way to argue with that.
This thing is different from gambling on life. Betting on life is a battle of spirits between generals, and it can also stimulate blood and fighting spirit.
As for gambling, any ordinary citizen can participate, and success or failure depends entirely on God's will. If it is not prohibited, it will not only waste time and delay the farming season, but also breed greed. Some people may even take risks and cause trouble if they lose a bet.
Therefore, the laws of Qin punished gambling extremely severely.
Wang Li touched his face and felt that the slap he received today was in vain and he might not be able to get it back.
Who knew that Li Shui had no intention of letting him go just like that.
Li Shui walked up to Li Si with a smile and said: "Your Excellency is the Tingwei, in charge of the prison. May I ask, how should these people be punished if they know the law and break the law?"
Li Si was a little helpless and thought to himself: "Are you born in the year of a fly? You bite every chance you find. Is gambling by nobles considered gambling? Isn't it normal to win some lottery prizes in the mansion during the holidays and have some fun?"
However, there was no way to explain this unspoken rule to Li Shui. Rules that can be spoken out on the spot are not hidden rules.
Li Si had no choice but to wave his hand and said: "Everyone gathered to gamble, and the evidence of the crime is conclusive. However, the purpose is to have fun, not just gambling. Please forgive me according to the circumstances, and each person will be punished with thirty canes."
Wang Li and others rushed to get the stick.
They know Huaiguzi very well, and this guy likes to make excuses. You must finish beating the stick as soon as possible and characterize your behavior.
Otherwise, if Huaiguzi said that, he would become a rebel again inexplicably.
Ji Ming lay on the ground, feeling the severe pain in his butt. He couldn't help but sigh: "Am I under witchcraft? Why am I so unlucky?"
The sergeant in charge of the execution had entertained Ji Ming countless times. As I continued to fight, I already had feelings.
The sergeant said: "My butt is already a bit rotten, please be gentler."
Ji Ming hurriedly said: "No need. The beating is gentle, because I'm afraid that the pagoda and millet will not give up."
