Baidi Chunshen

For questions.

Liu Ba shook his head: "A good general can make our army invincible, but he cannot defeat the enemy without revealing his weakness. Ba can only keep His Majesty undefeated, not sure that His Majesty will win."

"..." Liu Bei was silent.He has also been in charge of the army for many years, how could he not know what Liu Ba said was reasonable.From this point of view, Lu Xun is really a strong rising star.

"Besides, the situation of the war has now turned against our army. In the beginning, our army relied on the terrain to go down the river, and we were able to have the Wu Gorge and win a big victory in Zigui. Now the danger of climbing the Jingmen, encircling the Yi Road, we can go, Difficult to turn back is the unfavorable terrain mentioned by Sun Tzu, so we had to connect camps to protect our retreat. The Wu army is fighting on the inside, and the supplies of soldiers and supplies are constant, and we can find our army's defensive weaknesses at any time and defeat them. Besides, it is midsummer now, and we The army is impatient with the scorching heat and suffers from many diseases. The change in strength of the army will give the enemy an opportunity to take advantage of and worry about defeat. I can no longer stand in an invincible position, how can I win again?"

"..."

But listening to Liu Ba continued: "And tens of thousands of soldiers are fighting outside, spending thousands of gold every day. War military supplies account for [-]% of the people's living expenses. Damaged horses, armor, bows and arrows, knives, guns, swords and halberds, shields, and carts are also It takes up six-tenths of the country's finances. Therefore, Sun Tzu said that victory is more important than long-term. It is better to be clumsy than fast. Because war consumes financial resources, once a war starts, it is necessary to win quickly, otherwise people's livelihood will be damaged. We must beware of neighboring countries taking advantage of the situation. Once we are in such a tragic situation of internal and external difficulties, even Sun Wu's schemes will not be able to turn the tide. It has been nearly a year since His Majesty left the army. The veterans of the army are tired, and internal friction must be heavy. Now it is over To encircle Sun Huan, it is better to use this to force Sun Quan to return the three counties in Jingnan, and then withdraw the siege, so that nothing will be lost."

Liu Bei asked: "Zi Chu Xiang has a strange plan. The Xiang was initially determined in Chengdu. I distributed the treasury gold, silver and Shu brocade to the generals, so that the treasury was empty and the military was not enough. Zi Chu previously advised me to make a hundred and five baht, and use it to equal Price. Why is there no other way this time?"

Liu Ba sighed: "I came up with this idea at the time, and it was agreed by the prime minister. Making a lot of money will lead to more wealth and less goods. If it weren't for the prime minister's exhaustive governance arrangements to increase production and make supplies more abundant, the country would be in chaos. "

Liu Bei was silent.In the past, Cao Wei was easier to buy five baht, and the currency system collapsed.Because money is no longer valuable, people no longer trust coins, resulting in a situation where they can only barter with silk.Soochow Daquan Wuqian also caused prices to soar.Liu Ba persuaded Liu Bei to make a lot of money of [-] baht. Why did it not cause the tragedy of Wu Wei, but made the [-] baht circulate all over the world, and even Wu Wei had to use [-] baht?

That's because his prime minister was able to manage the government well, and a series of measures were built, which enabled the Yin and Fu in the middle of Shu to smoothly reduce the impact of big money.

He governs the government, bridges, and roads, and opens up all the routes to and from each other, so that all places can communicate with each other.

He sent [-] soldiers to repair and protect Du'anyan, built Jiuli embankment, and Hughes persuaded farmers to enrich the people.

He personally visited the fire well and improved the method of boiling salt in the fire well.As a result, the salt and iron industry flourished.

He set up brocade officials to vigorously promote the production of Shu brocade.At that time, Cao Wei, who used silk as his market, would buy a large amount of Shu brocade in Chengdu.And had to settle with straight hundred and five baht.In this way, although a lot of money was made in the middle of Shu, the direct hundred and five baht and Shu brocade could flow to the Wu and Wei countries, while the materials and goods of the two countries entered the Han country.In this way, Yin Guofu, the Han nationality, became rich.The people live and work in peace and contentment.

So much so that they were able to support their emperors in launching such a big war as the Eastern Expedition.

But listen to Liu Ba's serious expression: "Your Majesty, when the treasury is empty, making hundreds of dollars can solve a temporary problem, but it will eventually make the people poor and the country empty. If it is not backed by the law of enriching the country and benefiting the people, then this The law is impossible. Ba makes the people poor, but the prime minister works hard day and night to make the people rich: govern the government, bridges, roads, build capitals and weirs, build nine dykes, suspend the peasants to persuade farmers, improve the method of cooking salt in the fire well, and make great prosperity Salt and iron. Setting up brocade officials and promoting the sale of Shu brocade are all ways to enrich the country."

"Now Your Majesty is launching a war, and the army is out, spending thousands of dollars every day. It makes the people poor. Your Majesty's personal conquest, of course, is exhausting, but the prime minister is here, and he must do his best to make the country rich to make up for the losses caused by this war. Otherwise, the enemy's country is not conquered, our country Crash first."

"I understand Zichu's meaning." Liu Bei stood up and looked to the west, as if he could see his prime minister under the lamp from thousands of miles away.He understands that he has all these things now, thanks to his prime minister who is talented in the world and has devoted himself to the Han country.Such a good face, even though Guan Zhong, how could Xiao He surpass him.

"Zichu asked me to stop the army, and I also hope that the prime minister and the people can rest. But at this moment, the strike can really bring permanent peace?" He turned around suddenly and looked directly at Liu Ba: "Sun Quan is capricious, and Han and Wu can have real peace." Is there a covenant? At that time, I will be attacked on both sides, and will continue to be invaded by the north and the east. Will the country still have a peaceful day?"

"Is this the reason why Your Majesty wants to destroy Wu?" Liu Ba also wobbled and stood up with his stick: "The monarch and his ministers trust each other, good generals lead the army, civil and military bow to each other, how easy is it to destroy Wu?! If you can get away with it, I will definitely destroy it." One thousand enemies are killed, and eight hundred are self-defeated. How can we fight against the powerful northern bandits when the national power is seriously depleted?!"

"Xiang Cheng is able to strategize, and Zi Chu, who has repeatedly made great plans, is also saying such frustrating words now?" Liu Bei held Liu Ba's shoulders: "I and the Prime Minister trust you so much, but you have lost confidence in yourself first?"

"Even if there are geniuses in the world, without the help of the right time and location, they can't do anything. Even if they are as wise as His Majesty, and as talented as the Prime Minister, or Ba...it's all the same."

"I don't believe in the destiny." Liu Bei said decisively.

"A sage must know the destiny." Liu Ba did not back down.

Liu Bei was silent for a moment, looked up at the dark night sky, and laughed.

"Zi Chu, I have passed the age of hearing. I still don't know the destiny. I am afraid that until I die, I will not understand what the destiny is."

"…His Majesty!"

"If I knew the destiny, I was originally a citizen of the market, so I would not fight for the world with heroes who were born as dukes. If I knew the destiny, I have less than a thousand soldiers, and when I live under the curtain of Jingsheng, how can I still have the determination to fight Cao Gong?! What's more, now we are rich in Han, Chuan, Ba and Shu, with a strong army of [-]!" Liu Bei looked directly at Liu Ba: "You always use the prime minister to persuade me. If Kong Ming hadn't been as crazy as me and didn't know the destiny, how could he have decided to go out and be defeated together with me? Yang Changban, has followed me all the way to this day?! How do you know that Kong Ming does not support me in destroying Wu?! Do you know him better than me?!"

"Your... slip of the tongue. Your death penalty." Liu Ba's heart was cold, and he apologized.Dragons have reverse scales, and so does Liu Bei.Even though he is a wise master, there are times when he is stubborn and cannot be persuaded.I don't know if the Prime Minister is here, whether he can persuade His Majesty...

However, Zhuge Liang is thousands of miles away.How to persuade.

Another person who may be able to persuade His Majesty, Fa Xiaozhi, is already under Jiuquan.

He, Liu Ba, is really helpless now.Only then did I know that a person is so insignificant before destiny.Even the Son of Heaven cannot change the destiny.But as the emperor of Han Dynasty, Liu Bei has the courage to contend with the destiny.Just like his prime minister who embraced the wonders of the world.

Liu Ba is deeply aware that perhaps this is the most different between him and Liu Gejun and Chen.He believed in the destiny, but Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, a pair of stubborn monarchs and ministers, didn't believe in it, and they didn't believe it until their death.Therefore, the two of them depend on each other in life and death, and never doubt each other.

They would rather die because of rebellion against the destiny, and forget each other in the rivers and lakes because of the spring, and they will not give up on each other because of disagreements.Liu Gejun and his ministers are like dragons soaring into the sky and accepting all rivers, but he, Liu Ba, is powerless to resist this trend.As Ma Liang once lamented, if your majesty's elder brother is as bright as the sun and the moon, he is like a star.If you can be with you, that's enough.

"However... I still ask Your Majesty to remember one sentence." Liu Ba finally said with difficulty, saying each word: "The Lord must not be angry and provoke the army, and will not be angry and fight. War is based on interests, not on interests. And stop. If the subject is seriously ill and unable to patrol the camp, it will be difficult to ensure that the method of connecting the camp will not be flawed. Your Majesty... If you do not retreat, you must strengthen your defense and make no mistakes!"

"Ba... I hope His Majesty will think deeply about it."

***

However, Liu Bei loved the soldiers after all, and was worried about Liu Ba's condition, so he ordered the whole battalion to stop attacking and stick to the dangerous point.The Hanying also ushered in a quiet day for more than ten days to recuperate.

"Lu Xun is scared out of his wits! Don't dare to flirt. We just want to rest. In the future, wait for His Majesty to lead us to take down Sun Huan in one fell swoop and capture Yiling! Knock on the gate of the Eastern Wu Kingdom, and then enter Jiangling. A map of flat rivers, unimpeded."

"Hey, there is only one difficulty left to overcome, and it will be almost a year since we left to fight... Your Majesty said that if Yiling is defeated, we will be able to return to our hometown soon, and comfort our parents and fellow villagers!"

The soldiers of the Han army were discussing so much.During this period of time, although it was hot during the day, there was an unusually beautiful scene every evening—the Huoshaoyun.Although it was about to set in the west mountain, the lingering scorching sun burned the white clouds into brilliant golden yellow, like a dragon in the sky, hesitantly refusing to turn into a sunset glow.As the clouds changed, soldiers and civilians pointed to the sky. This is the dragon's head, that is the dragon's tail, and that is the golden dragon's five claws... It is because the emperor's army is stationed here that there is such an auspicious omen.

In the sixth month of summer, yellow air was seen in the middle of more than ten miles from Zigui, and the area was tens of feet wide.

Then, the golden Huoshaoyun, after burning out, turned into the setting sun like blood in an instant, which was so beautiful that it took one's breath away.The Han army said that the most beautiful Shu brocade is not as beautiful as this glow.

The setting sun, which is too poignant and blood-red, often indicates that swords will be used to kill.

When the entire Han army was recuperating, Shangshu Ling Liu Ba, who needed the most rest, was extremely cautious and alert.He insisted on patrolling the camp every day, and asked the guards to strictly follow the law of the camp to defend and patrol without any mistakes.Liu Bei saw him like this,