Winter is approaching, and the people of Zhao are currently without food. How will they survive this winter?
After returning to the military camp, Li Mu summoned Yun Qingshu, wanting to discuss the matter with him.
"What? How could this be?" Yun Qingshu frowned as well.
He never expected things to develop this way, and no matter how hard he racked his brains, he never imagined that Lu Li would use this kind of business warfare to defeat the Zhao Kingdom.
"Sir, now the people within the country are starving and dying everywhere, and a powerful enemy is attacking the Zhao state from the outside. Is the Zhao state really doomed?"
Li Mu's eyes were now cloudy, as if he could no longer see any hope.
He joined the army as a young man, full of vigor and ambition, and had almost never lost a battle in his life, but now he is about to lose a war that will destroy a country.
"General Li, do not panic. I will think of a solution."
Although Yun Qingshu felt powerless to reverse the situation, it seemed that the destruction of the Zhao Kingdom was only a matter of time.
But no matter what, he was determined to try again!
"General, if the people don't have enough to eat and can't survive the winter, they will surely rebel! Then, beset by internal and external troubles, the Zhao state will soon be defeated."
"Therefore, I would like to take out military rations and distribute them to the people so that they can get through this winter."
Upon hearing this, Li Mu fell into deep thought. Hadn't he also considered doing the same thing?
But the military rations cannot be touched. If the military rations are touched, the morale of the troops will definitely be unstable. If the soldiers don't have enough to eat, how can they fight?
"gentlemen......"
Li Mu was caught in a painful dilemma: either watch helplessly as the people rebelled because they couldn't get enough to eat, or let his soldiers mutini because they couldn't get enough to eat.
"General, let's use the military rations to save the people first! I am willing to go to the states of Chu and Qi to borrow grain!"
Lending grain comes at a price; otherwise, why would anyone lend you grain?
"Sir, this matter still requires the king's approval."
Upon hearing this, Yun Qingshu's face darkened.
When he went to the State of Yan to negotiate, the King of Zhao sent troops to kill him. He then volunteered to help the State of Zhao defend its city. Zhao Yan was so ashamed that he even bowed to Yun Qingshu in public.
Not long ago, he wrote to Zhao Yan, asking him to take out the stored grain and distribute it to the people, but Zhao Yan did not take it to heart.
"This is a bit strange. When Guo Kai went to collect taxes, he found that the people's homes had no grain at all. Where did the grain go?"
Li Mu's words made Yun Qingshu look up abruptly and ask, "What did you say? The people have no food in their homes?"
Li Mu nodded. He could tell that the people of Handan City were definitely not hiding their grain, because they looked like they hadn't had a full meal in a month.
But if that's the case, who bought the grain from those aristocratic families?
Yun Qingshu paced back and forth in the military tent, seemingly deep in thought.
"General, I have a bad feeling that this unrest among the people of Zhao is most likely instigated by someone in secret!"
Although Li Mu didn't understand politics, it didn't mean he wasn't intelligent. He understood what Yun Qingshu said instantly.
"Are you saying, sir, that someone is deliberately hoarding grain, leaving the people of Zhao without any food to buy, thus causing unrest?"
Yun Qingshu nodded, "That's probably true!"
"My God, who could be so vicious? How could someone come up with such a heinous thing?"
Because in this era, even the people and generals of this era felt that war had nothing to do with ordinary people.
After the city fell, there was almost never a massacre of the city or any attack on the civilians.
The people have gotten used to it, especially those in the border areas. Today they may be from Zhao, and tomorrow they may be from Yan. They don't have much of a sense of belonging to any one country.
However, there are still ordinary people in Handan.
"Who else could it be but Lu Li!"
Only Lu Li could come up with such a vicious trick; Yun Qingshu had experienced it many times before.
"General, you only need to send someone to check the grain that has been entering and leaving Handan recently, and you will definitely be able to find out."
The grain transported in and out of Handan City was all meticulously recorded, so as long as you looked at the records, everything would be clear at a glance!
"Bring the soldiers guarding the city here!" Li Mu shouted.
Then, the soldiers guarding the city rushed over and knelt down with a thud.
"General, what urgent matter do you wish to summon me for?"
"Go and bring me the account books for the grain and fodder that have been coming into and out of Handan City for the past six months!"
Nearly half a year! That would require at least eight or nine horse-drawn carriages to transport it.
To everyone's surprise, Yun Qingshu said, "General, there's no need. One month's supply is sufficient."
He couldn't finish investigating in half a year, but he could see some clues in a month.
"Yes, sir!"
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a carriage slowly drove up, carrying only bamboo slips.
Yun Qingshu ordered the Mo family to investigate, and after compiling the information, he finally discovered the clue.
"General, please look!"
Yun Qingshu discovered that someone would buy a batch of grain every five days, and each time it was only a small amount, only one hundred dan of grain.
Moreover, there are many people like him!
"There really is a problem!" Li Mu also noticed that these people were buying small amounts of grain each time, but doing so frequently.
"Men, investigate! Find all these people!"
"General, wait a moment! If you do this, you'll easily alert the enemy. Let me do it!"
The Mohists had their own intelligence network, allowing them to conduct investigations and inquiries covertly.
Li Mu thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, sir!"
Five days later, the Mohists discovered that these people were not originally from the State of Zhao. Some worked for aristocratic families, while others ran small businesses. In short, they had all sorts of identities.
However, after purchasing the grain, they transported it all out of Handan City, heading straight for the former state of Han, now the state of Qin!
"As expected! It was Qin who did this!" Li Mu roared angrily.
He never expected that the Qin state would resort to such despicable means.
But Yun Qingshu did not speak; he even began to feel fear towards Lu Li.
War has no mercy.
Yun Qingshu always understood this principle, which is why his Mohist school promoted universal love and non-aggression, advocating against war.
"General, Lu Li is an unconventional man, lacking in benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness. This is a scheme of yin and yang!"
The situation has now evolved from a conspiracy to an open strategy.
Because the state of Zhao was faced with only two choices: either the soldiers would launch a mutiny or the people would riot. No matter which choice they made, it would undoubtedly be a fatal blow to the state of Zhao.
Therefore, it would be extremely difficult for Yun Qingshu to break the deadlock.
"General, come with me to see the King and explain the whole story. Let's try our best to get the King to save the people first!"
He had long seen through the King of Zhao's character, so he was not confident that anyone could persuade the King of Zhao.
"Very well, I will go with you now!"
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