"Report it to my king." Mr. Pingyuan simply refused to give up. Anyway, he wanted to explain it to the king again.
Immediately, Lord Pingyuan began to chant: "Because of the purpose of destroying the Hu in the north, two-thirds of the grain reserves in Zhongshan County and one-third of the grain reserves in Handan County have been taken away a few days ago, totaling about one million dan, and they have been transferred to Dai County. For the use of the army. Then the Qin army moved eastward. In order to ensure that the Shangdang garrison had sufficient food and grass, they transferred about 300,000 loads of grain left in Zhongshan County to Shangdang County, and moved another third of Handan County, totaling 400,000 loads of grain, to Zhongshan County. At the same time, most of the grain stored in Hejian County, about 200,000 loads, was transferred to Handan."
"Wait a minute." Zhao Kuo was almost driven crazy by Mr. Pingyuan's thoughts and quickly interrupted: "Mr. Pingyuan, just tell me how much food is available in each county now."
"Okay." Mr. Pingyuan nodded, and then continued: "First, Shangdang County. Currently, there are about 700,000 dans of military rations. They are all military rations prepared for the battle of Luocheng. This year's autumn harvest should also be for Luocheng. Prepare for the battle of the city. This amount of food and grass must not be touched. As for the Changping warehouse, there are currently less than 100,000 dans of food. If more than 300,000 people come, it may not be enough for fifteen days." Everyone heard that. I mean, it's not surprising.
Don't think that these 700,000 loads of grain and grass are a lot. You must know that there are 80,000 troops on the front line of Luocheng alone, and 70,000 troops in Shangdang County have also been assembled for reinforcements at any time.
In other words, a full 150,000 troops were hoarded in Shangdang County. These 700,000 dans of military rations were only enough to last the 150,000 troops for four months, and this was without taking into account the losses incurred during transportation.
Four months, exactly one month after the autumn harvest. One month is enough time for the autumn grain to be returned to the warehouse.
Obviously, this was carefully calculated by Pingyuan Jun, Lu Buwei and other household officials. If there is less, the war will be unfavorable; if there is too much, the loss will be too much. You must know that even if the grain and grass are transferred from the nearest Zhongshan County, the loss will be as high as 10 to 20%.
If even 10,000 tons of grain could be transported less, the reduced losses would be enough to feed the people of a town for several months.
The remaining Changpingcang, which has less than 100,000 grains, can only last for 15 days for the more than 300,000 people who may come. This is still the time under the lowest standards.
Zhao Kuo then silently wrote down the number fifteen days in his heart.
"As for Zhongshan County, there are 400,000 dans of grain stored in it, and Changpingcang has not yet been built. The Handan army has about 600,000 dans of grain stored, and there is another Changpingcang of about 100,000 dans. However, the Changpingcang in Handan has a symbolic meaning, and it is not necessary to go to Changpingcang. As a last resort, Wei Chen does not recommend opening it." Mr. Pingyuan continued.
Handan was the capital of the Zhao State, and the system of Changpingcang also originated from this time. Currently, it is only implemented in Shangdang County on the front line. Shangdang County is close to the battlefield and can directly face the difficulties of the refugees. When the warehouses are opened to release grain, the people are also responsible. Understandable.
But Handan is different. As the most important political and economic center of Zhao State, if Handan used Changpingcang, no matter what the reason, it would be considered a signal of crisis in Zhao State.
I am afraid that businessmen and even ordinary people everywhere will feel like fleeing. As a senior A-share investor, Zhao Kuo understands very well the issue of chasing highs and selling lows - this is human nature and cannot be reversed at all.
Therefore, Zhao Kuo also held a positive attitude towards Lord Pingyuan's words. However, listening to Mr. Pingyuan's words, a rough calculation shows that there are millions of grains in Zhongshan and Handan counties alone. If based on the lowest standard, it can last for 150 days. It seems that it is not far from the target value. It's too far away.
After all, the Daijun I just mentioned still has millions of grain! Unfortunately, Zhao Kuo's dream was quickly shattered by Pingyuan Jun's next words.
"As for Hejian County, almost all the grain and grass have been transported to Handan. Therefore, there is no more food and grass accumulation in Hejian County." Pingyuan Jun then continued: "And in Dai County, according to the time when my army was stationed , I am afraid that the stock will not exceed 750,000 dans. And these military rations are only enough to supply the 150,000-strong army for four months. Even if the military rations are reduced, the remaining rations will be less than 100,000 dans at most."
"Therefore, even if we do not take into account any transshipment losses, our Zhao country's stock is only about 1.2 million dans. If we include the transshipment losses, I am afraid it will be very difficult to reach Shangdang with one million dans. ." Mr. Pingyuan did a simple arithmetic in his mind, and finally concluded: "And these million dans of grain and grass can allow 300,000 refugees to persist for 150 days at most. It is a full day before next year's autumn. twice as much.”
"Mr. Pingyuan, isn't this right?" Tian Dan frowned slightly when he heard this.
"I know that the autumn harvest only takes place after March. In other words, if you insist on it for at most a hundred days, you will have autumn grain in the warehouse. This has alleviated the problem." Before Tian Dan could express his doubts, Mr. Pingyuan directly interrupted.
"However, General Tian should know: the battle of Luocheng is still going on, and the army of Daijun will go south. I must ensure the food supply in these two directions. Therefore, the army of Daijun, Zhongshan County, Shangdang County and even Handan County Most of the grain from the autumn harvest needs to be prepared for the Battle of Luocheng, at least to ensure that the military grain can last until next year's autumn harvest." Mr. Pingyuan immediately explained.
Hearing this, General Tian Dan did not continue to ask questions. "How much food will be available for the autumn harvest?" Zhao Kuo's words suddenly rang out.
"The maximum amount of grain that can be harvested is less than 200,000 to 300,000 dans." Mr. Pingyuan made a rough estimate and immediately replied: "The refugees can hold on for another month and a half at most. The gap is at least one million dans. "Listening to the huge gap mentioned by Mr. Pingyuan, everyone in the room became somewhat silent. Everyone knew that this was already the limit of Zhao State.
"Why don't you suffer for the people?" Yu Qing tried to give a solution that was not a solution.
"In order to accept the refugees of Zhou Wangji for the sake of people's support, for these Zhao people who are not Zhao, we have lost the trust of the people of Zhao. Is it worth it?" Lord Pingyuan immediately retorted.
Hearing this, Yu Qing was also speechless. Indeed, if you raise taxes for the sake of refugees, you are exchanging the people's hearts of your own country for the people of Bill's country. In the end, it is very likely that you will get nothing from a bamboo basket.
"How about borrowing some from aristocratic families and nobles?" Tian Dan also had an idea.
"Perhaps it is possible to raise two to three hundred thousand Dan, but more is impossible. It may also cause local turmoil, and the gain is not worth the loss." Mr. Pingyuan also continued to retort.
This doesn't work, that doesn't work, it seems that everyone has reached a dead end, and it seems that they can only watch the coalition forces burning food and harming the people.
However, Zhao Kuo, who was born in the 21st century, was not helpless when faced with such a situation. After Weiwei figured out the actual situation, Zhao Kuo immediately had an idea.
"Actually, Zhao Kuo is not without food." Zhao Kuo then said with a smile. Suddenly, several people's eyes turned to Zhao Kuo, as if they were confirming what Zhao Kuo had just said, and they seemed to be waiting for Zhao Kuo's next words.
Without hesitation, Zhao Kuo immediately continued: "First, if the Northland is now annihilating the grassland barbarians, there should be a good batch of trophies. Cattle, sheep, and horses are all in short supply needed by all countries. Come up with some first-class supplies." Supplies are traded in various countries, which are all profitable, especially Qi State, which has the power of salt and iron, so it can be exchanged for more food."
"But you can, but the amount is too large. Otherwise, the cattle, sheep and livestock in our country will not be sold at a high price in the future." Lord Pingyuan immediately took over Zhao Kuo's words and continued: "But, even so, it is just a waste of money." It’s only 200,000 dan, and the gap is still obvious.”
"This is also the second thing I want to say." Zhao Kuo also continued: "After five years of savings, there are almost bumper harvests every year. Our Zhao country is not without food now, but there is a lack of food in our warehouses."
"Where is Zhao's food?" Zhao Kuo asked immediately.
"Aristocratic family?" Mr. Pingyuan said reluctantly.
"Yes and no." Zhao Kuo continued: "The nobles almost have a natural advantage, but again, you know nothing about the power of the people."
"The common people who have been poor for a long time will have a lot of grain in every household. That is enough grain for a family to eat for two or three years. There are more than one million people in Zhao State, and a mere million tons of grain is not that much." Zhao Kuo He continued: "Then in the name of the imperial court, we will initiate a loan from the people. Borrow one load this year and pay back one load and one dou of grain next year. With the current status of the imperial court in the hearts of the people, this credibility should still be there. It is really not possible. , or you can use the tax for the previous year as a mortgage. If you don't pay it back, you don't have to pay the tax." Hearing this, Lord Pingyuan also nodded seriously: If the court buys food, the people may not sell it, but if it is borrowed In the name of paying interest, the people will most likely agree.
Don't underestimate the difference between buying and borrowing. The people know the relationship clearly. The difference between buying and borrowing is nothing but a monetary issue.
No one knows whether a penny today will be worth a penny tomorrow, but a bucket of grain will still be worth a bucket of grain next year.
In addition, using taxes as collateral, the people did not have to worry about the court not paying back the food. Thinking of this, Lord Pingyuan finally handed over his hand and said: "It is indeed a way to borrow food from the people. But..."
"Mr. Pingyuan, are you worried about paying back the food in the coming year?" Zhao Kuo asked with a smile. Of course he knew what Mr. Pingyuan was worried about. Although such a large-scale borrowing of grain could relieve a temporary emergency, in the end, it was only Yin who had to eat the grain. Plus the huge interest, if the hundreds of thousands of people who returned could produce something, they would be able to pay back the money. Well, if not, the court will inevitably fall into a greater crisis.
And this crisis is not just about food.
"Of course." Lord Pingyuan replied: "Hundreds of thousands of loads of grain cannot be delayed forever. Even if there are taxes as collateral, it is not a problem to eat grain after all. If the war continues to be delayed, I am afraid that the situation of our army will be worse than It will be even more dangerous during the Battle of Changping. By then, it will not only be a matter of food." After hearing this, Zhao Kuo was not panicked at all, and then said: "There are hundreds of thousands of people who are afraid of nothing. output?"
"My king's will..."
