"The business of the State of Zhao is very prosperous. There is an endless stream of businessmen and vehicles, which have brought a large amount of business tax to the State of Zhao. I learned from the merchants that the State of Zhao has been acquiring goods since a few months ago.
Food and money may have been obtained from commercial taxes. In addition, the State of Zhao was still organizing road construction in Guizhou and settling wages for Guizhou every day. Because they had money, the Guizhou leaders were very excited to work. King Zhao was in Qianshou
Therefore, the prestige is 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, and any other words are 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 enough money to eat, to buy thicker clothes in winter.
Zhao Kuo was the most prestigious monarch Lu Buwei had ever seen in the capital of Guizhou. Compared with King Ji of Qin, his only weakness was that he had only been on the throne for a short time. Various policies had just been implemented and had 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 were slightly narrowed, 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.
The 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 the families of scholar-bureaucrats 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 Province, 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 could support themselves through work instead of relying on farming to produce food, then who would work hard to farm?"
"If there is no one to cultivate the land in the fields, the country will have no food. If the country has no food, it will be destroyed. This move by King Zhao is bringing about his own destruction. I congratulate you, the king!" Wang Ji's eyes sparkled, and his expression was bright.
Excited, he said loudly.
"Zhao has been buying food, how could it be short 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 inevitably be poor 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 relying 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 wouldn't 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 could restrain everyone in the Qin State, but it could not restrain him.
The king is above the law of Qin!
Lu Buwei lowered his head, his palms clasped together and covered with sweat.
The emphasis on agriculture and suppressing business has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people of Qin. 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 pay attention to business, he is likely to go one step further and become a powerful minister like Shang Yang.
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 has no intention of committing martyrdom. It is impossible for him to do such a foolish thing with a large investment, small return, and risk to his life.
"Back to your Majesty, I believe that the Zhao State has many barren lands and can only feed the Guizhou Province by buying grain from 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 flows out. Merchants pursue profits. If merchants are completely opened up, the grain of Qin 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 all the ministers thought that uniting with other countries would
, is it feasible to prohibit grain from flowing into Zhao State?"
Zhao State's military strength was so strong that Qin State had no way to defeat it, but it had always been weak in other aspects, especially agriculture. If we could start with food, it would be a good way to bring Zhao State down.
This is because the King of Qin did not 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.