knife

Chapter 59 Two Rebels

Li Dachui used fire tongs to scoop a charred taro out of the brazier, blew away the ash, and gently tore it apart to reveal the snow-white flesh inside. He handed it to Mao Daxian across from him and said with a smile, "Eat it while it's hot; it's only fragrant when it's hot!"

Mao Daxian took the taro, bit off half of it in one bite, hissed and breathed out, his tongue swirling around the taro flesh until it was fully infused with the rich aroma, before swallowing it.

Watching Li Dachui peel the second taro, Mao Daxian picked up the teapot by the fire, poured a cup of golden tea, and placed it next to Li Dachui, saying, "This time, with three thousand men on the plains, will they return?"

"How could we not come back?" Li Dachui took a bite of taro, raised the taro in his hand to Mao Daxian and said, "The ones grown on this plateau are just more fragrant than those grown down here."

"There are about 60,000 people on the plain now, but so far less than 40,000 can actually contribute to the finances. The rest are children and those who have just arrived and need assistance. These 3,000 people have made their appearance on this trip, and I'm afraid they won't be back for a while. We need to carefully calculate the expenses." Mao Daxian said, "Tai'an City has to support the expenses of the Tianzi Camp, Renzi Camp, and Zhiqiu Academy. In order to maintain the credit for the sale of bulk goods, we also need to store a large amount of cash to deal with emergencies. We are not well-off. Next, we must go out to have a broader future. If we stay on the plain, we will only stagnate and it will be difficult to make progress."

"Yes, that's why we had this operation!" Li Dachui laughed. "If we do this well, we won't have to worry about money for a while."

Mao Daxian waved his hand: "You don't need to tell me the specific details of this matter. I'm the kind of person who likes to talk in my sleep. Knowing too many secrets is not good. I'm afraid it would be bad if I accidentally leaked them."

Li Dachui laughed and nodded.

"However, there is another matter I am concerned about," Mao Daxian said. "After this matter is completed, your strength will no longer be able to be hidden. Places like Tai'an City and Helan Plain will be exposed to the world. At this time, it will no longer be appropriate to hide your strength. When it is time to deter, you must deter. Therefore, a standing military force is necessary. What are your thoughts on these issues in the future?"

"I was just about to discuss this with Master Mao." Li Dachui finished the taro in his hand, dusted off his hands, picked up his teacup and drank it all in one gulp before saying, "I plan to develop our future armed forces in two phases. The first phase is to implement the Fubing system."

"How to say?"

"Soldiers and farmers are one, farmers in peacetime and soldiers in wartime!" Li Dachui said, "In the first stage, our main strategy is to focus on development and not expand outwards on a large scale. At this time, we will focus more on defense and counterattack. Therefore, the Fubing system is more suitable. Just like Helan Plain now, farmers farm at home in peacetime, participate in training in the off-season, and form an army to go to war in wartime."

"Therefore, the foundation of the Fubing (府兵) lies in the granting of land!" Mao Daxian said.

“We have no shortage of land now!” Li Dachui laughed. “In the triangular area we plan, there will be plenty of fertile black soil. In addition to land grants, the families of the soldiers will naturally receive tax and corvée reductions, and all spoils of war will belong to them, among other benefits, to motivate the soldiers to fight! Of course, achieving merit on the battlefield and rising through the ranks is another method.”

Mao Daxian frowned slightly: "I'm afraid the key point of what you just said is that you took the spoils of war for yourself!"

Li Dachui laughed loudly, "You can't hide it from Master Mao, that's exactly right. As long as the first batch of soldiers who went out to fight come back with a lot of money, buy land and build up their homes, it will naturally inspire the second batch of soldiers to want to go to war. After a few rounds of this, the soldiers' desire to fight will be infinitely stimulated. They will want to fight and crave battle. In this way, we can raise an army as fierce as wolves and tigers."

How will the provisions and pay for the soldiers be provided?

“Besides providing some supplies when we go to war, the soldiers need to provide their own weapons, armor, horses, and rations.” Li Dachui blinked and said, “We will issue regulations for weapons, armor, and other equipment, and our workshops will be responsible for making them. The soldiers can just pay for them.”

"Make the money they stole back?" Mao Daxian pondered. "To steal more money, you have to survive longer on the battlefield, which requires better weapons and armor, and you have to spend more money to buy these things. This creates a cycle. In the end, you not only win the battle, but you also get the soldiers' spoils in a legitimate way."

“Everyone benefits from this process!” Li Dachui said.

Mao Daxian chuckled: "And what about the second stage?"

"The second phase is still a long way off for us!" Li Dachui spread his hands and said, "The Fubing system has a major weakness. Because we don't need to supply them, they are self-sufficient in everything, so our control over them weakens, and they easily become the private armies of generals. Moreover, they are not good at enduring long-term wars. At a certain stage, we will need soldiers to fight and guard for long periods of time, and at that time, the Fubing system will not be suitable. They will miss home. Therefore, in the second phase, we must implement a conscription system, recruiting elite troops to form our standing army. However, with a conscription system, we will need to prepare sufficient pay and provisions."

“If it were a system of rotating soldiers in battle, rotating once a year, then the Helan Plain could provide 10,000 able-bodied men. With each rotation taking two to three years, it would not harm the people’s strength or interfere with the farming season!” Mao Daxian said. “If you keep winning battles with minimal losses, it will create a virtuous cycle.”

"That's what I think too. Two years from now, the triangle area between Baoping Prefecture, Yuan'an City, and Tai'an City will be stable, and we can start building up the local militia. At that time, the veterans on Helan Plain can change roles. Those who are willing to continue fighting can form our standing army, while others can be dispersed to various villages to become the lowest-ranking officers. By proceeding step by step, we can smoothly transition to the second stage without any disconnect between the two stages." "Since Your Majesty has already made plans, I won't say any more. However, Your Majesty must remember that in the area outside the pass, although military force is paramount, if military force is to be sustained, it must have a sufficient foundation. If Your Majesty only wants to be a local strongman, then relying on Helan Plain, Tai'an City, and the triangle area you just mentioned is enough. But if you want to dominate the area outside the pass or even go further, then these are far from enough!"

"Of course, Linghu Ye currently controls one-third of the area outside the pass, and has countless pawns in secret. He is still working hard to expand his power. I am far inferior to him, so I dare not slack off in the slightest. Master Mao, you don't need to test me. Defeating Linghu Ye and dominating the area outside the pass is only my first step."

Mao Daxian stroked his beard and laughed: "I'm afraid my lord will stop while he's ahead. Life is a struggle. Even if you fail in the end and leave this world with nothing, at least you have the struggle to boast about and the experience of failure to savor. At least you can leave a negative example for future generations. To live a mediocre life and, when you look back on your life on your deathbed, have nothing to be proud of is the most shameful thing for a man. If you can't enjoy the finest food, then you should be cooked in the finest pots!"

"What is Mr. Mao's biggest dream in this life?" Li Dachui asked with a smile.

"My greatest dream in this life is, of course, to rule the world," Mao Daxian said.

"If you want to rule the world, then I'd have to be the emperor!" Li Dachui laughed.

“If it were a peaceful year, our ideal would naturally be impossible. However, the Great Qin is currently beset by internal and external troubles, and war is imminent. With your current strength, young master, you can participate in this great cause of vying for the world. Hundreds of years ago, when the Li family of the Great Qin rose up, they did not have your current strength!” Mao Daxian’s eyes shone brightly: “Now, with a single order from you, young master, you can obtain 50,000 elite troops. In terms of actual combat power, they are no less than Linghu Ye.”

"When I went to invite Master Mao to the Plain back then, did Master Mao make such a vow?"

“Back then, I just wanted to make a living. The salary you gave me was good enough for me to live a life of debauchery!” Mao Daxian said bluntly. “It wasn’t until the last two years that the idea of ​​rebellion popped into my head.”

"Mao Gong has always harbored thoughts of rebellion, so why doesn't he go and join Linghu Ye? At least, on paper, his strength is greater than mine!" Li Dachui asked.

Mao Daxian shook his head repeatedly: "Linghu Ye seems decisive, but in reality he is indecisive and hesitant in his actions. He is afraid of losing his life, reputation and wealth. He seems powerful, but in reality he is hollow and a paper tiger. If he does not rebel, he can still dominate a region outside the pass and become a local tyrant. Once he starts a rebellion, he will inevitably fail and die, and his clan will be in danger."

"I never expected Master Mao to think so highly of me!" Li Dachui raised his teacup. "For this, we should drink three large cups. Come, let me toast Master Mao with tea instead of wine."

Mao Daxian laughed heartily: "I may not be good at much else, but I'm quite good at judging people."

"Master Mao is too modest. Over the past three years, Helan Plain has flourished, transforming from its initial desolation to its current prosperity, all thanks to Master Mao!"

"You've brought us the best ingredients. If I can't even turn these food scraps into a delicious meal, how can I live up to your generous salary?"

"Was it merely for his salary?"

"Fame is desirable, power is desired, and profit is indispensable!" Mao Daxian said, "That's all a man can ask for in this world."

"Since that's the case, could you please tell me clearly about your background, Master Mao? It didn't matter that you were only in charge of Helan Plain in the past, but now I'm going to officially step into the limelight. I need to know the background of my number one subordinate. I had Zhi Qiu Yuan investigate, but he found nothing!" Li Dachui spread his hands and said, "But someone like Master Mao shouldn't be completely unknown. Who exactly are you?"

“The past is too painful to recall!” Mao Daxian waved his hands repeatedly: “My lord, there is no need to investigate. Since Mao Daxian is determined to conceal his past, he will naturally cut it off completely. If he wants to restore his original identity, there is only one thing!”

"What's the matter?"

"The day I rule the world!" Mao Daxian looked up, his eyes somewhat misty, "that will be the day I return home in glory!"

(End of this chapter)