The war in the north has been going smoothly. The First Emperor accepted Zhao Hao's suggestion to develop with peace of mind for a year or two before pacifying South Vietnam.
But he didn't expect the news of defeat to come from South Vietnam, which greatly disappointed him.
When Wang Jian destroyed Dongyue and Minyue, Qin took these two places into his own hands and established Kuaiji County and Minzhong County.
Later, the strategy was adjusted, and troops were stationed at the border first, Ling Canal was built, and then South Vietnam was pacified.
However, the various ethnic groups in South Vietnam seemed to be aware of Qin's intentions. They constantly attacked and harassed the civilians who were building the Ling Canal, and even clashed with the Qin army stationed there. They defeated the Qin army and killed many civilians.
When the news reached Xianyang, the First Emperor was very angry.
He originally thought that the various ethnic groups in South Vietnam should be grateful that he did not order an attack on South Vietnam, but he did not expect that the various ethnic groups in South Vietnam were shameless and actually took the lead in taking action. How could he not be angry?
At this time, in the Qilin Hall, several important officials of the empire were sitting on both sides with solemn expressions, saying nothing.
Ying Zheng glanced at them and said straight to the point: "The specific situation will be stated by Lang Zhongling first, and then you will decide how to deal with it."
As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Yi stood up from behind the desk, walked to a giant map under the king's stage, pointed at it and started talking.
"Regarding the news coming from South Vietnam, Your Majesty ordered me to summarize the four recent major changes in the empire. One of them, General Weng Zhongfei of Longxi County came to report: The Xiongnu Chanyu changed from old to new, and some Xiongnu tribes united with the Xihai Qiang tribe to capture the north of Didao. partial area;
Weng Zhongfei invited 30,000 troops to defeat the Xiongnu and the Qiang in one fell swoop, and pacified Longxi. "
"Secondly, Qin's main army is divided into two parts. The three hundred thousand cavalry stationed in Chu, under the command of Meng Wu, have begun to station in Kuaiji and central Fujian counties to prevent the Yue people from taking advantage of the victory to cause chaos."
"Thirdly, the Xiangli Canal has been fully excavated along the Nanhai Road. It will take about a year or so to cross the Five Ridges and move south. The Huainan support camp has also begun planning. Several counties in and outside Hanoi will recruit hundreds of thousands of people to move south."
"Fourth, the Xiongnu in northern Xinjiang have fully reduced their defense lines and are standing still. The Donghu and Dayue clan have also given up attacking our Daqin border. Now that northern Xinjiang is becoming peaceful, Meng Tian is stepping up the construction of the Great Wall to stabilize the situation."
After listening to Meng Yi's story, Ying Zheng nodded slightly, immediately stood up from his seat, looked around at everyone, and said: "Everyone, although the Six Kingdoms are destroyed, the world is still unstable!"
As he spoke, he walked slowly to the map and added: "There are external troubles, internal changes, and I have also changed. The Xiongnu covets our Central Plains, the remnants of the six countries are restless, the barbarians are preparing for war, and there is unrest in all directions. The changes on our side are one of them. The force planning exceeded expectations, and secondly, the southward advance was untimely, fearing a comeback from the north;
At this time, whether to launch a war against South Vietnam in advance is the axis of this meeting. "
"With the strength of our Great Qin army, it is not impossible to conquer South Vietnam in advance, but planning has already begun when the national policy was finalized. If we change it rashly now, I am afraid it will be wasted!"
Wang Jian was the first to stand up and cupped his hands and said: "Besides, it is understandable that the various ethnic groups in South Vietnam are preventing us from building the canal. As long as the veterans go south for about a year and resist their harassment, the overall situation in the south will be safe!"
"What do you think?" Ying Zheng asked with a smile.
"I agree!"
Several important officials of the empire spoke in unison.
Ying Zheng turned to look at Li Si: "What do Li Tingwei think?"
"I agree with what the old general said."
Li Si stood up and bowed his hands, then changed the subject; "However, I feel that the various tribes in South Vietnam do not take our country seriously, so we must attack them hard to destroy their prestige, otherwise there will be endless trouble!"
"This correction, the veteran also agrees with it!"
Wang Jian nodded in agreement.
Old Zheng Guo stood up at this time, cupped his hands and said: "I have something to say, Your Majesty, please listen to it!"
"Old Ling has something to say, just say it."
Ying Zheng suddenly became solemn and returned to his seat to sit upright.
But I heard the old voice of Zheng Guo ringing in the hall: "Two days ago, Datian Lingfu had fired cement. The old minister sent all the craftsmen who fired the cement to Shi Lu, and also ordered him to work in Kuaiji and Fujian. Several large cement workshops were built in the two counties;
During this period, the old minister had an idea, which was to build a new cement road to reduce the burden of transportation and speed up the excavation of large canals;
In the past, a horse-drawn carriage or ox-cart carried a load of more than two hundred stones. When encountering a muddy road, the wheels would easily get stuck. With this cement road, the vehicle can travel day and night, and the efficiency is at least ten times higher than before. According to the veteran It is estimated that the excavation progress will take about one year and can be completed in about half a year! "
"I agree with the old order's strategy!"
As soon as Zheng Guo finished speaking, Feng Jie stood up loudly.
Ying Zheng and Wang Jian looked at each other and their eyes lit up.
They are all people with a long-term vision. Although they have never seen a cement road, they were enlightened after listening to Zheng Guo's words.
Zheng Guo only saw the transportation advantages of cement roads, but they saw something deeper.
That's how fast the troops are.
Speed is the most important factor in using troops.
Anyone who knows how to use troops will not pursue speed.
'Morning and evening, the ghost appears and disappears', this is what all generals have dreamed of throughout the ages.
A bold idea flashed into their minds at the same time.
Ying Zheng and Wang Jian looked at each other thoughtfully.
"It's really unexpected that a large canal can be dug in about half a year. This cement road must be repaired!"
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
Everyone in the hall said in unison.
"Okay! Since you have no objection to what Lao Ling said, then follow Lao Ling's advice and build a cement road leading to the canal!"
After saying that, he stood up again, walked to the paper map, and said in a cold voice: "The Vietnamese do not know what is good for them, and I will never tolerate it. When the old general goes south this time, he must attack all the ministries in South Vietnam. When the big canal is dug, I will completely solve it." Foreign invasion, pacify the Xia!"
"Old minister, I obey."
Wang Jian agreed and was about to get up and leave.
The old prime minister suddenly stood up, cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, although the South Vietnam issue needs to be solved urgently, sending troops to conquer and building new cement roads will require money and food. Our Great Qin treasury is no longer able to support it. Please be clear to Your Majesty!"
"this"
The expressions of the ministers were frozen on their faces, and they subconsciously looked at Ying Zheng.
This is so embarrassing!
We all took off our pants and you actually said you have no money? !
As if aware of the worry in the eyes of the ministers, Ying Zheng coughed lightly, and then looked at Wang Wan with a solemn face: "Originally, I planned to discuss it later, but now that the old prime minister has brought it up, I will discuss the matter of preparing money and food. give it to you."
"ah?"
Wang Wan was stunned when he heard this.
I wipe it!
Your Majesty, you are an idiot!
How could this be? ?
Not to mention the money and food spent on building new cement roads, even the money and food spent on hundreds of thousands of troops is not a small sum.
To prepare money and food in a short period of time is simply more difficult than reaching the sky.
Wang Wan didn't think he had the ability to prepare so much money and food, so he quickly handed over to Ying Zheng: "Your Majesty, veteran"
He wanted to say that he couldn't do it, but Ying Zheng didn't let him speak and interrupted him with a wave of his hand: "A batch of new ingredients has been shipped to Xianyang recently. I allow you to take some back!"
"Um?"
Wang Wan was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized what he was doing, and couldn't help but feel overjoyed.
have to! I have to trouble Young Master Hao again.
He knew that His Majesty wanted Young Master Hao to handle political affairs with him, so that he could grow up during his eastern tour.
So, he responded respectfully: "Old minister, I obey the order."
"Okay, let's all get down."
Ying Zheng waved his hand, signaling the ministers to retreat.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Zhao Hao is discussing the production team with Linghu Fan, the governor of Su Neishi, and Zhang Cang, the Shaofu.
Zhang Cang was not there originally, but when he heard that Zhao Hao was looking for Linghu Fan, he decisively dropped what he was doing and hurried over.
He had no choice but to put all his hopes on Zhao Hao. Naturally, he didn't want his old rival to get too close to Zhao Hao and neglect him.
When Zhao Hao saw Zhang Cang, he couldn't laugh or cry either.
Fortunately, Linghu Fan didn't pay attention and arranged a seat for Zhang Cang.
In this way, the three of them had a detailed exchange on setting up a production team and improving production efficiency.
"The production team model that the young master mentioned is quite novel. However, I am worried about one thing, and that is the issue of cattle."
Linghu Fan stroked his beard and said:
"Compared with the past when every household farmed land, the efficiency of centralized farming is naturally higher. However, high-efficiency farming requires enough cattle. In the past, each household took turns borrowing cattle. Now we adopt the production team model. Is it still like this?"
"Ah!"
Zhang Cang chuckled when he heard this and sneered back at Linghu Fan:
"Didn't the young master just say that the government would lend cattle and farm tools to the production team, and let the production team captain take charge? If this is not the case, how can we let people work as cattle?"
"snort!"
Linghu Fan snorted coldly and said: "What do you know? If we don't cultivate and plant the land together, how can we talk about efficiency in this centralized farming?"
"I do not understand you"
"Okay, isn't there just not enough cattle for farming? What a big deal!"
Seeing that the two were about to argue again, Zhao Hao interrupted them impatiently with his hand and asked: "Do you know how much effort it takes to cultivate an acre of land?"
“How much effort does it take to cultivate an acre of land?”
Linghu Fan was stunned for a moment, then replied with a smile: "When I was young, it took two hours to cultivate an acre of land!"
"I do not believe!"
Zhang Cang shook his head without thinking.
Zhao Hao smiled and said: "If there are cattle, one acre of land can be cultivated in two hours. It is not surprising. But if there are no cattle, can one acres of land be cultivated in two hours?"
"cannot!"
This time it was Linghu Fan's turn to shake his head.
He has cultivated land himself and knows how difficult it is to cultivate land.
But Zhao Hao said confidently: "I have something that can cultivate an acre of land in two hours without using cattle."
"What!?"
Linghu Fan stood up in surprise.
Zhang Cang also looked at Zhao Hao in surprise.
"Why, the two ministers don't believe Hao?"
Zhao Hao raised his eyebrows with a funny expression.
Linghu Fan took a deep look at him and said with a serious expression: "Young master, please don't take pleasure in me. Although manpower can be used to cultivate the land, how can manpower compare with the power of oxen?"
"Yes, sir, how can the speed of manpower plowing the land be compared to the power of oxen?"
Zhang Cang also echoed with disbelief.
"Since the two ministers don't believe Hao, then Hao will prove it to you. Just wait for Hao for one day and we will see you in the field!"
Zhao Hao smiled casually, then stood up and walked out the door.
Linghu Fan and Zhang Cang looked at each other and couldn't help but look at each other.
After a long while, Linghu Fan looked at Zhang Cang in surprise: "Do you want to report to Your Majesty?"
"If there really is such a divine thing in the world, and it can benefit the country and the people, I will naturally report it to Your Majesty!"
Zhang Cang said in surprise and joy.
"Okay! Then let's go together!"
With that said, the two of them got up one after another and rushed towards the palace gate.
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(End of chapter)
