"The business of the State of Zhao is very prosperous, with an endless stream of merchants and vehicles lining up in a long queue, which has brought a large amount of business tax to the State of Zhao. I learned from the businessmen that the State of Zhao has been acquiring goods since a few months ago. Food and money may come from commercial taxes. In addition, Zhao Guo is still organizing road construction in Guizhou and settling wages for Guizhou every day. Because they have money, the Guizhou leaders are very excited to work. King Zhao's work in Guizhou The prestige is also very high," Lu Buwei said.
The minds of the common people are very simple. They don't understand the twists and turns, and there is no intrigue among officials. They will support whoever can make them eat well. No matter how much else they say, it is empty.
In the past, if you brought your own dry food to work for the government for free, you would be beaten and scolded if you didn't do well.
Although everyone is a little tired now, it is enough to have money, enough food to eat, and thicker clothes to buy in winter.
Zhao Kuo is the most prestigious monarch Lu Buwei has ever seen in the capital of Guizhou. Compared with Qin Wangji, his only weakness is that he has been on the throne for a short time. Various policies have just been implemented and have not really taken root in the hearts of the people.
Qin Wangji held the hilt of the sword at his waist with his right hand, his eyes narrowed slightly, and his brows were furrowed. If there were shadows of Zhao Guo learning from Qin Guo in the past, but in terms of business, Zhao Guo and Qin Guo have embarked on a completely different path. Opposite path.
And judging from the current situation, business has brought great help to the development of Zhao State, allowing Zhao State to quickly escape from hunger and poverty after the war, and it is still gradually improving.
On the other hand, Qin has not recovered its strength until now.
For a moment, Qin Wangji hesitated, not knowing which way was better.
At this time, Wang Ji took a step forward, leaned over and said:
"Your Majesty, if there is no way to achieve mediocrity, then the officials and their parents will not build, the children will not be lazy to eat, the people will not be lazy, and the people will have nothing to eat, this is the inevitable farming."
This is what Shang Yang once said, which means that scholar-bureaucrat families are not allowed to hire workers to build houses. Even if the state conscripts people into corvee service, it cannot pay them wages. In this way, the people have no source of income and can only go to farm.
Although Shang Yang was killed by King Hui of Qin, the Qin laws he formulated were passed down and became the foundation of Qin's strength.
In Qin, some people dared to scold Shang Yang, but no one dared to scold Qin Fa.
Qin law stipulates that Qin must emphasize agriculture and suppress commerce!
"Businessmen are not engaged in production and rely on speculation, so they can wear silks and satins, buy slaves, support each other, and marry wives and concubines. But in Guizhou, they work hard every day to farm and raise silkworms, but they can only wear rough clothes and barely survive. .If this continues, who will farm anymore?”
“If everyone can support themselves through work instead of relying on farming to produce food, then who will work hard to farm?”
"If the land in the fields is uncultivated, the country will have no food. If the country has no food, it will be destroyed. By doing this, King Zhao is bringing his own destruction. I congratulate you, the king!" Wang Ji's eyes sparkled, and his expression Excited, he said loudly.
"Zhao Guo has been buying food, how could there be a shortage of food?" Prince Zhu said with a frown.
"Excuse me, Your Highness, if Zhao's granary is overflowing and there is no shortage of food, will you still buy food and grass?" Wang Ji leaned over and asked.
Taizizhu didn't say anything. He felt that the matter was not as simple as Wang Ji said, but he didn't know what was going on.
"It is precisely because the leaders of Zhao State can support themselves through doing business and working that the land of Zhao State is uncultivated and food is in short supply, so Zhao State continues to purchase grain and grass from other countries. As long as Qin State unites with other countries and does not sell grain to Zhao State, Zhao State will definitely be in dire straits and its people will be hungry. When the time comes, our Qin State can annex Zhao State as long as it sends a single army." Wang Ji said loudly.
"What do Lu Qing think?" King Qin did not express his attitude, but looked at Lu Buwei. When there was a conflict of ideas between ministers, he would let both parties finish speaking before making a judgement.
Moreover, Lu Buwei is a businessman himself, and his understanding of businessmen is unmatched by others.
In the past, Qin Wangji would definitely not have the idea of employing merchants. After all, it has always been Qin's policy to emphasize agriculture and suppress business, but the changes in Zhao really made him a little jealous.
If it can make Qin stronger and richer, it would not be a bad idea to make some changes.
Qin has never been a country lacking change.
As for the emphasis on agriculture and suppression of commerce stipulated in the Qin Law, Qin Wangji said that the Qin Law can restrain everyone in the Qin State, but it cannot restrain him.
The king is above the law of Qin!
Lu Buwei lowered his head, his palms tightly pressed together and covered with sweat.
The emphasis on agriculture and suppressing business has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people of the Qin State. Any words he said to help merchants may be attacked by officials and nobles. Wang Ji's performance is an example.
But now the King of Qin is obviously interested in business. If he can persuade the King of Qin to reform and attach importance to business, he is likely to go one step further. Like Shang Yang, he will become a powerful minister, be granted the title of marquis and become the prime minister, and push Qin to a higher level. level.
Of course, 80% of them will die miserably like Shang Yang in the end.
Or take a step back and continue on the current trajectory.
He has now come into the sight of King Qin, has a close relationship with the prince, and is gradually being used more seriously. He has established a firm foothold in the Qin State. When someone else succeeds to the throne, glory and wealth will be a certainty. He can also be granted the title of marquis and prime minister, but it will take time. It will be later.
Lu Buwei is a businessman who is best at weighing the pros and cons. He does not have the consciousness to die as a martyr. It is impossible for him to do such a stupid thing with a large investment, small return, and risk to his life.
"Back to your Majesty. I believe that the State of Zhao has many barren lands and can only feed the Guizhou Province through merchants. However, our Qin State has two granaries in Guanzhong and Bashu, and the Guizhou Province is rich. What it needs is not to buy grain, but to control it. Grain is flowing out. Merchants are seeking profit. If merchants are completely opened up, the grain of our Qin State will inevitably flow to Guandong, so private merchants must be restricted."
Lu Buwei seemed to have completely put aside his identity as a businessman and stood from the perspective of Qin and thought about Qin.
"Since Lu Qing thinks so too, let's put this matter aside for the time being." Qin Wangji waved his hand. After focusing on agriculture and suppressing commerce, Qin's national power was indeed improving. It would be too risky to change it easily. "Then you think that uniting with other countries , is it feasible to ban grain from flowing into Zhao State?"
Zhao State's military strength is so strong that Qin State has no way to defeat it, but it has always been weak in other aspects, especially agriculture. If we can start with food, it would be a good way to bring Zhao State down.
This is because the King of Qin didn't know that the Zhao State had cultivated more productive seeds, otherwise he would definitely try every means to destroy the Zhao State.
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, the three countries of Han, Wei and Chu still have great trust in the State of Zhao and will not choose to ally with our State of Qin in the short term. The State of Yan is located in the northeast, thousands of miles away from our State of Qin, and the road to the south is blocked by Zhao State. If the state is completely blocked, it will be difficult to respond to our Qin state. It is difficult for Qi state alone to restrict Zhao state," Lu Buwei said.
