It’s no wonder that Zhang Liang wants to surrender. If you look at Xinzheng and Luoyang, you will know who you should seek refuge with.”
A few days later, when Li Shiqi bypassed Songshan Mountain and returned to Luoyang, he saw that this industrial and commercial city was rejuvenating, and he couldn't help but sigh...
As far as Li Shiqi knew, the goods trade in Luoyang had been in depression for the past few decades. Qin's laws devalued merchants and the government's policy of monopolizing everything was undoubtedly a huge blow to Luoyang's wealthy merchants and small traders and women. This
Arable land is scarce, and the city's industrial and commercial population accounts for half of the city. It has been stagnant for twenty years since Lu Buwei's fall.
Although the wealthy businessmen have not been directly banned, they still have to rely on government-run workshops to survive and can no longer make money unscrupulously.
After the Six Kingdoms invaded, although the wealthy businessmen regained their social status, due to the chaos of the Chu army, Luoyang could not be said to be stable. This is also the reason why the wealthy businessmen joined forces to assassinate Shen Yang - they could not bring about a stable business environment.
The ruler is not popular with the financial group.
It took only one quarter until Heifu's army took control of the city and implemented new commercial policies, which brought huge changes to Luoyang.
In order to ensure the army's eastern expedition, the Xianyang court directly issued order notices to the wealthy Luoyang businessmen who held workshops, hoping to utilize the potential of Luoyang's handicraft industry to ensure military supplies during the war.
This is in line with Guan Zhong's economic philosophy: without consumption, there is no production.
Guan Zhong once believed that: the huge coffins and coffins were used for carpentry; the many quilts were used for female workers. Extravagant things were a way to stimulate production. He stipulated that all the sons of the princes who came to Qi to serve as ministers must wear two pieces of tiger clothing.
For furs made of skin, upper-class doctors in China wear furs with leopard skin sleeves, and middle-class doctors wear furs with leopard skin skirts.
In this way, the officials will sell their surplus grain and buy the skins of tigers and leopards, and the people will work hard to kill the beasts, thus allowing the officials to disperse their wealth and allowing the people to benefit from the circulation.
At present, the new economic policy finalized by Heifu, Zhang Cang, and Xiao He is also in line with Guan Zhong's strategy: the imperial court provided Shu brocade and other luxury goods to big merchants, thereby boosting the silk weaving industry in Shu County and other places. However, the government was weak, and
The wealthy businessmen were efficient in purchasing necessities in Luoyang, thus boosting Luoyang's industry and commerce and allowing a hundred thousand industrial and commercial people to have food to eat.
Over and over again, the government even collected an extra tax, which was much better than simply cutting leeks and ransacking homes to steal money.
At the moment, the three big businessmen in Luoyang are all working hard: the Bai family is assisting the government in controlling millet diseases, and they are rebuilding a large granary in Gong County, east of Luoyang, to feed hundreds of thousands of people.
Su used the loose money he borrowed on weekdays to collect silk cloth and leather from various places, and weaved summer clothes, shoes, and even armor in the newly established Luoyang weaving studio.
The merchant Shishi's family started from the cart-carrying business run by their ancestors and quickly built hundreds of carts, all of which were requisitioned by the court. They carried food and clothing to and from Luoyang and the front line.
Even the people of Luoyang who have nothing to do with these three major items can also engage in various service industries, not only the nulv that flourishes everywhere, selling fat, selling pulp, peeling, and preserving stomachs.
, the business suddenly improved several times, and even the veterinarians in the city were paid heavily to serve in the army.
Ruolu and Kao Gongliangcheng, who were controlled by Gongshu and Mohism respectively, also sent people to set up branches in the suburbs of Luoyang. They were ordered to produce arrows that consume a lot of money and all kinds of military parts here to prepare them at any time.
Replacement, a large number of local labor force, there is work - the precision link is naturally not qualified to participate, just sawing wood with wool.
The war was a devastating disaster for the people of Yingchuan, but Luoyang, behind the Qin army, was like Japan during the Korean War, receiving an economic boost.
This is the Luoyang that Li Shiqi saw. Before Heifu's hundred thousand troops arrived, the city had already made preparations under the management of Sima Xin, the governor of Sanchuan, and Chen Hui, the chief staff officer of the Feather Wing Battalion.
Chen Hui is theoretically Li Shiqi's immediate superior, and everything Li Shiqi does in Yingchuan must be reported to him.
But Li Shi was a madman at first, and now that he had achieved great achievements, he was not so polite to Chen Hui. When he saw Chen Hui, he bowed and said:
"I have fulfilled my mission and returned from Yingchuan. May I ask where the regent is?"
This means that he does not intend to report properly to Chen Hui, but wants to report directly to Heifu.
Chen Hui was originally a staff member of Qin Nanyang's garrison with Lu Ye, and he got to where he is today by lobbying Lu Ye to surrender. When he saw Li Shiqi's rampage, he was secretly annoyed, but his face was still like a spring breeze:
"Mr. Li, as far as I know, the regent has just left Hangu and arrived in Shaanxi County."
"I have something important that I need to report." Li Shiqi was eager for success and did not want to discuss the details with Chen Hui. Instead, he made a request: "I hope Chen Jun will quickly arrange the manpower and ships. I can't go back and forth when I go west this time."
In a few days, we will definitely get the order from the regent to go to Hanoi!"
Chen Hui smiled: "Why are you going to Hanoi, sir?"
Li Shiqi said: "I previously traveled from Hedong to Daliang and passed through Hanoi. I went to test Sima Mao. At that time, Sima Mao was already wavering. The situation now is very different from that of two months ago. If I talk about it again, I will surely make Sima Mao
Mao will put both hands in front of the regent's horse!"
"It's an unfortunate coincidence."
Chen Hui looked at Li Shiqi: "A few days ago, the Feiyiying camp and the appropriate spies had been sent over to Sima Mao."
"What?" Li Shiqi's face turned dark immediately and he was a little unhappy: "Who did you send?"
Chen Huidao: "This is a secret, but since it is Mr. Li, I might as well tell you that the person who went to talk to Sima Mao was Zuo Shu, Chang Suihe..."
Sui He was also an old man, a Confucian scholar, and a lobbyist. He was in conflict with Li Shiqi. He also joined Heifu a year earlier than Li Shiqi. He was a competitor in his eyes.
This made Li Shiqi very angry. In his opinion, Hanoi Sima Mao clearly laid the foundation by himself, just like sowing seeds in the spring and just waiting for the melons to ripen and fall off in the autumn. If nothing happens,
It’s just a matter of persuading him. If he is convinced, wouldn’t he be picking the melons he planted in vain?
So Li Shiqi asked politely: "Whose credit is this?"
Chen Hui grimaced: "Mr. Li, the regent has said that Wing Camp does not rely on one person, but on the wisdom and strength of everyone working together."
In Heifu's words, they are just like three cobblers, just like Zhuge Liang. The General Staff may not necessarily be the top military talents, but they can gather wisdom from many sources and achieve everything.
"What's more, the situation is unpredictable and the military situation is raging. A few days ago, General Han Xin has driven Zhao to surrender and captured Taihangxing and Baixing roads. Luoyang has also prepared ships to force the crossing and can attack Hanoi at any time!
Sima Mao secretly sent someone here to beg for surrender, do we still want Sima Mao's envoy to stay here until Mr. Li returns?"
Li Shiqi was a bit difficult to deal with, but he still believed that Hanoi had a share of his contribution.
"Whether there is any merit or not will be decided later."
Chen Hui slowed down his tone: "How about this? From now on, north of the river, I will say whatever I want, and south of the river, what will Mr. Li say?"
Li Shiqi then gave up and said goodbye to go west to report the news about Yingchuan to Heifu. However, after Li Sheng left, Chen Hui secretly slandered:
"Being so crazy and greedy for success, something will happen sooner or later!"
He added: "The regent has foresight. Hebingtai sent spies to Hanoi a few months ago. Even if it is successful, it is only the power of everyone's strategy. How can we allow you, an old drunkard, to claim the credit alone?"
…
Sima Mao, the general of Zhao who guarded Hanoi, was a descendant of Sima Kuai, a master of swordsmanship. His eldest father, Sima Shang, was also famous in Zhao for his swordsmanship, so he became an official and became Li Mu's right-hand man. After Li Mu was killed by Zhao Wangqian, he was
Sima Shang protected the young Li Zuoche and taught him and Sima Mao how to practice swordsmanship. Although the two had different surnames, they were as close as brothers.
This is also the reason why Sima Yan still insisted on staying on this canoe in Hanoi despite the turmoil of Zhao State.
"I can't betray Li Zuoche."
Whenever he couldn't persevere, Sima Yan would encourage himself like this.
But when the time entered March, Sima Yan found that he really couldn't hold on any longer...
After the Battle of Changping, the Qin army had completely occupied Shangdang, and Han Xin drove Zhao Jiang's soldiers to Taihangxing and Baixing.
Although Sima Xuan had Mengmen Gate and Tianjing Pass closed, he only had 10,000 men and needed to defend three passes, a county in Hanoi, and a long river. It was really stretched. In the end, Mengmen Gate and Tianjing Pass were destroyed by Han Xin.
At this time, Sima Yan, who was surrounded by enemies on both sides, understood that the enemy was not far from approaching the city, and he only had two choices left.
Surrender to Heifu, or die loyal to Zhao...
At present, Heifu's envoy Suihe has arrived in Hanoi, but Sima Yan is still hesitant because he found out that Li Zuoche is still resisting the Qin army in Taiyuan.
"Half a year ago, I made an oath with Zuo Che that I would guard the east of Taihang, and he would guard the west of Taihang."
"The Zhao Kingdom that my father and General Li Mu failed to save in the past will be preserved in my hands, and the Zhao people will no longer have to suffer the hardship of national subjugation. Now Zuoche is still fighting hard, I can't let him down..."
When he was hesitating, Sima Yan had someone call Xu Nie, a well-known magician from Wen County, Hanoi, and asked the young female fortune teller wearing a mask a question:
"I dare to ask the fortune teller, if I fight to the death, can I save Hanoi?"