That's right.
The wicked man was no longer willing to waste any more time.
Next, he plans to quickly promote the integration of land tax and poll tax, and after it is implemented and developed for a few years, the Zheng State's canal construction will be almost finished.
With these two factors combined, the nation's strength will inevitably increase significantly. Once the grain reserves are plentiful, he can prepare to take action against the six other states.
"General, why the rush?"
Feng Jie suppressed his joy and excitement and said in a deep voice, "General, this matter is of great importance. Why not wait until everything is in order before we begin?"
If this matter is handled well, Feng Jie will surely be remembered in history. Similarly, if it is not handled well, and any mistakes or errors occur, his entire family will definitely be implicated.
He didn't want to rush things and cause any mishaps along the way, thus ruining everything.
The wicked man sighed, his expression turning grave, and said in a low voice, "Meng Can previously said that this year would definitely be a good year, but I don't think so."
hiss....
Feng Jie gasped, disbelief flashing in his eyes. He instinctively wanted to refute his wicked husband, for everyone knew that heavy winter snow meant a bountiful harvest the following year, not to mention the first spring rain that lasted for several days.
All the celestial signs indicate that this year will be a bumper harvest year. This is an experience passed down from generation to generation and accumulated through the verification of countless predecessors.
but!
The wicked man rose to prominence unexpectedly, dominating the court with his youthful vigor and gaining the deep trust of King Ying Zheng. To be honest, he truly deserved recognition for his civil and military achievements.
A wise ruler can govern the world, and a strong military can secure the country!
He is a man of great talent!
His political pronouncements and military actions against foreign powers have never been wrong so far, and Feng Jie dares not gamble on his empty promises.
"Commander of the Guard...Commander of the Guard!"
Feng Jie's face was filled with solemnity, and his voice trembled as he asked, "What...what is your basis for this?"
The wicked man looked up at the azure sky and said, word by word, "With abundant snow and rain, floods are inevitable."
Farmers' livelihood depends entirely on the whims of nature, which is why farmers suffer in prosperous times, but even more so in chaotic times.
Nature has its own laws; neither years of disaster nor years of abundance come and go as it pleases, but rather give prior warnings.
This year's abundant rainfall means that flooding will be the first major challenge, and next year there is a very high probability of a severe drought.
He rushed over because he had just remembered the great disasters that occurred in the third and fourth years of the First Emperor's reign.
In the third year of the First Emperor's reign, on the day of Ding Si, there was a great famine.
In the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Wuwu (243), on the day of Gengyin in the tenth month, locusts came from the east and covered the sky. A plague broke out throughout the land.
He could hardly help but suspect that the current seemingly positive weather was merely the calm before the storm.
Natural disasters often occur during the summer months, leaving at most three or four months of drought. The "equalization of land tax and poll tax" policy couldn't prevent natural disasters, but it could change the existing agricultural tax system in Qin.
When natural disasters strike, it can make life a little easier for the people.
"General...this...this is no laughing matter!" Feng Jie had completely lost the joy of implementing the land tax reform, leaving only endless fear and worry.
And, a tiny bit of luck!
No matter how powerful a villain is, he's still just a teenager.
I guess...maybe...I'm not an omniscient person, and what I say is always accurate, right?
Wouldn't that make him a god?
The wicked man's gaze fell on Feng Jie, and he shook his head heavily. "You disliked me before, and I disliked you too."
"But now we are of one mind, for the future of Great Qin."
"To be honest, I also hope for favorable weather, but that's just wishful thinking. We can't afford to gamble on even the slightest risk or chance!"
Feng Jie was struck dumb; his wicked husband's heartfelt words plunged him into utter despair.
He knew that although the wicked man was young and sometimes unreliable, he had never made a mistake when it came to matters of national importance.
Seeing Feng Jie's pale face and profuse sweating, the wicked husband quickly comforted him, "It was a mistake, things aren't as bad as you think!"
Feng Jie's pale face improved slightly, and he said in a trembling, tearful voice, "General, don't hide it from me, tell me, did you make any preparations in advance?"
call....
The wicked man let out a long breath and said slowly, "Didn't we want to attack Yelang and distribute its land to the officials in the court? That's the key point."
"The climate in Yelang is stable and the grain yield is quite abundant, which can alleviate the devastation caused by natural disasters."
"At that time, I will propose to Your Majesty that you implement a policy of using war to sustain war, thus relieving the people of the heavy burden of the army."
In fact, the idea of using war to sustain war was proposed by the First Emperor!
The Qin army was enormous, and its daily consumption was astronomical. Even if there were no domestic disasters, the First Emperor was not prepared to spend his own money to support it.
Sending troops abroad to make a living exhausted the veteran general Meng Ao, who almost became Qin's Minister of Agriculture, responsible for ensuring the Qin army's food and clothing.
They used war to sustain war, solving the problem of the soldiers' livelihood through war, and using the looted money and grain to support the country, alleviating the famine caused by natural disasters and saving countless people.
With him around, the strategy of using war to sustain war is even more sophisticated than Meng Ao's. By extending the battle lines, the supplies for assisting Yelang can barely withstand the disaster.
Upon hearing this, Feng Jie took a few steps back, bowed deeply, and shouted, "This humble official, Feng Jie, thanks Your Excellency. If anyone dares to criticize Your Excellency, this humble official will be at the forefront."
He possessed neither the strength to lift a tripod nor the ability to resolve disasters or save the world. His only asset was his silver tongue; he could debate with officials and shield his wicked husband from gossip and slander.
The wicked husband quickly stepped forward to help Feng Jie up, his smile quite carefree, "Mr. Feng, there's no need for this. A mere reputation is nothing to me."
"As long as China is at peace and the people can live a peaceful life, what does it matter if the wicked man is cursed to the point of being utterly humiliated?"
Feng Jie's eyes were slightly red as he stared at the young man in front of him, thinking about his previous disregard and hatred for him, and wished he could slap himself twice.
He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "There is no time to lose. I will go and hand over the reins to Meng Can now, and the land tax reform will be announced first thing tomorrow morning."
"I urge the general to enter the palace immediately, inform the king of this matter, and request an edict to sustain the war effort through war, so as to prepare for the coming natural disaster."
It is clear from his words that he has completely trusted the wicked man's conclusion and firmly believes that natural disasters will inevitably come.
The wicked man nodded, looked up in the direction of Xianyang Palace, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
“Brother Zheng, with me here this time, you will never have to sell your title for grain or beg those landlords.”
With this thought in mind, he boarded the carriage and headed towards Xianyang Palace under Feng Jie's watchful eye.
"Lord Commandant, your actions are truly righteous!"
"Qin is fortunate to have you!"
Feng Jie muttered a few words, then shouted, "Quickly prepare the horses, I'm going to see Meng Can, the magistrate of Taicang!"
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