At the end of the Han Dynasty, the world was in chaos, and wars continued throughout the Central Plains. The population of various states and counties dropped sharply. Because of Jiaozhou's remote location and the influx of refugees from all over the Central Plains, the population increased significantly, from 1.37 million in the Eastern Han Dynasty to 1.37 million in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Two million now.
Before Sun Quan and Liu Bei intervened in Jiaozhou, Lai Gong and Wu Ju only controlled the two counties of Yulin and Cangwu, with a population of 500,000 or 600,000. Even if Shiwu died mysteriously and lost Nanhai County, the Shi family still controlled the southern part of Jiaozhou. The land and the total population far exceed the three counties of Yulin, Cangwu and Nanhai.
Among the prefectures and counties controlled by the Shijia, Jiaozhi County is the most densely populated and the most prosperous place in Jiaozhou. This county has a population of one million, accounting for half of the total population of Jiaozhou.
The highest mobilization power of an agricultural society can reach up to ten men and one soldier. If Shixie is aggressive, he can mobilize more than 100,000 soldiers.
No one dares to underestimate such a huge force, and the total strength of Sun Quan or Liu Bei is not 100,000, so Sun Quan can only adopt a gentle policy towards the scholar family.
The people of Jiaozhou are fierce and fierce, but they are limited to fighting locally. In addition, the brothers from the Shi family are older, so they have no ambition to compete in the world.
The brothers of the Shi family occupied a prosperous land and were thousands of miles away from the imperial court. Therefore, the whole Shi family was extremely prestigious in Jiaozhou. They went in and out with bells ringing, chimes playing, drums and flutes played, chariots and horses, and their wives and concubines all dressed in fine clothes and riding incense carriages. The descendants of the tribe cheered and cheered, and the local foreign border residents often had dozens of people waiting by the roadside to burn incense and worship.
This kind of life is the best in the world, so both Shi Xie's generation and their nephews are like frogs in warm water, unwilling to enter the pond again. Even Shi Wu died inexplicably in Nanhai County, and Shi Xie's family members did not die in the end. After pursuing too much, he finally relied on Sun Quan euphemistically.
But Shi Xie has been a little troubled recently because the envoy from Lu Fan, the governor of Xincangwu, came to Longbian County.
Whether it was sending troops to Yulin County or providing food and grass support to Lu Meng, Shi Xie didn't want to accept it.
It was my intention to give it to you, and now you are here to ask for it?
After Shi Xie settled the envoy in the post house, he summoned Hepu Prefect Shi Yi, Jiuzhen Prefect Shi, nephew Shi Zhi, Shi Hui, Shi Kuang and other clan relatives to gather at the Longbian Prefecture.
"Brother, is this Sun Quan not that powerful? It is said that the Jiangdong navy was not even a rival to Cao Cao, so why was it defeated by Lai Gong?" the scholar asked doubtfully.
Shi Yi said solemnly: "Third brother, please don't underestimate me. Jiangdong's warships are indeed majestic. When Lu Meng was stationing troops in high positions, I saw them from a distance. They should be quite capable of fighting, but I don't know why they were defeated by Lai Gong."
"How can you ask us for help if you have fighting ability? Lai Gong can't even defeat Wu Ju. I think Lu Meng is also a waste." Shi shook his head.
"Third uncle, that Lai Gong is very powerful now. Not to mention that Wu Ju was defeated in Bushan, and now Lu Meng has been defeated several times in Moon Bay..." Shi Hui explained.
The scholar was surprised and said: "Is this guy so powerful?"
Shi Yi asked Shi Xie: "Brother, since we are dependent on Sun Quan, although the two requests are difficult now, you shouldn't refuse both of them, right? Otherwise, you won't call us for discussion?"
Hepu County, where Shi Yi is located, covers the largest area among the brothers, but its total population is less than 100,000. It is the most backward area among the seven counties in Jiaozhou, and borders Nanhai County to the east and Cangwu County to the north. His current The pressure is also the greatest. After all, Shiwu's Nanhai County has learned from the past.
Shi Xie is now seventy-four. In the era of the Three Kingdoms, when the average life span was only thirty, he is already considered a long-lived person. He is still energetic and looking at the expectant eyes of everyone.
He nodded slightly: "What Hui'er said is true. Lai Gong is not what he used to be. If we can't win against him, there will be endless troubles in the future..."
"Brother, Jiangdong's soldiers and horses have been defeated in a row, why should we take risks?" Shi Shi suggested.
Jiuzhen County, where Shi Yi is located, is located in central Vietnam and is currently the southernmost territory of the Han Dynasty. He does not have the same worries as Shi Yi. He is used to living in rich clothes, so he is unwilling to make enemies.
Shi Xie agreed: "It is definitely unwise to send troops..."
"Brother, let's raise some food and grass." Shi Yi said anxiously.
Shi Xie shook his head and said, "Hui'er, you'd better explain it to your second uncle and third uncle carefully."
Shi Hui first nodded to Shi Xie, and then handed over his hand and said, "Originally, my father wanted to send some food to calm things down, but Lai Gong was able to repel Lu Meng's several attacks with less than ten thousand people. Now they have been facing each other in Yushui for twenty days. Jiangdong seems to have no way to deal with Yulin County, so he dragged us into the water, and..."
"And what?" Shi Yi frowned.
"The fourth uncle was probably poisoned by Wei Jing..." After Shi Hui finished speaking, he looked at everyone in the hall with all their faces filled with astonishment.
"Brother, is this true? But we have no enmity with Sun Quan, why would he be like this..." Shi said in surprise.
Shi Xie nodded, "Who cares about grudges when fighting for the world? We can actually see the motive from the results. After Wu Di died of illness, Wei Jing took over the post of Nanhai Prefect. After Wu Ju was trapped and killed, Lu Fan became the Cangwu Prefect. Lai Gong would only use troops again. In the land of Lin Yijun, I am now worried that Jiangdong is an excuse to weaken us..."
Shi Yi swallowed his saliva. Although Shi Wu's death was a mystery, Wu Ju was drowned by Lu Meng in Gaoyao. The news came from Hepu County.
Did Jiangdong use such shameless methods to capture cities and territories? At this moment, sweat was dripping from Shiyi's forehead and back.
"Brother, where did the news about the fourth brother come from?" Shi Yi was still making excuses for himself, hoping that all this was a conspiracy, because Shi Wu had indeed always been weak and sick.
Shi Xie let out a long sigh, "Actually, this matter has something to do with brother Wu. If I hadn't donated medicine to Bu Zhao earlier, Wu brother would not have died..."
Shi Xie explained in detail the story of Shi Wu offering Qinghao Pills. After that, he felt very sad and remorseful. If it hadn't been for this move, Shi Wu might not have died.
"Brother, Sun Quan is so ambitious. I think even if there is no medicine donation, they will use methods to kill Wu brother. There are salt fields in Nanhai County and Cangwu County. Who wouldn't be tempted by this piece of fat? That green pill has always been The disease has been cured by the medicine. Didn't you find someone in Longbian to test the medicine before? Did the person who tested the medicine die?" Shi Zhui asked.
Shi Xie shook his head in pain, "It's strange to say that the farmer is still alive and well..."
The scholar was shocked when he heard this, "I think there is nothing wrong with the green pills given by the elder brother. Maybe those rats from Jiangdong have tampered with it themselves."
"Brother, could it be the Yue people who are committing deception?" Shi Yi asked.
"It should be impossible. I heard that the leader of the Yue people tested the medicine with his fourth uncle and Wei Jing, and finally died of illness on the way back to Yu Lin's hometown. The leader of the Yue people's caravan has been replaced by his subordinate Usdin , now he is in Longbian..." Shi Hui explained.
The brothers of the Shi family are not stupid people. After Shi Hui explained this, they all understood a little. If Abu really wanted to do something, he would not do anything to him. Could it be that Jiang Dong had done something himself? This is too unscrupulous to achieve the goal.
Just when everyone in the hall was feeling chilled, Shi Xie said something even more shocking, "I heard that Zhou Yu, the governor of Jiangdong, the general who defeated Cao Cao in Chibi, died of an illness inexplicably the year before last. It seemed that he was also poisoned..."
