The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 46: Cultivating Farmland to Store Military Supplies (Please Read!)
Lu Su's question in return made Liu Bei startled.

After pondering for a while, Liu Bei slowly said:

"Today the world is falling apart, the rulers are migrating, and the people are giving up their jobs."

"Everything should be based on the people. Now the people have no desire for stability, so it is difficult to last long."

"If we can unify Xuzhou, we should lay the foundation for infrastructure to ensure the safety of the people."

"Xuzhou has a vast expanse of fertile land and a large population."

“Although we have been massacred twice, suffered famine and exile, our foundation is still there.”

"I think we should gather the refugees, reclaim the wasteland, store up food and military supplies to feed the soldiers, and then we can march south."

good!
Lu Su stood up excitedly. He was very satisfied with the answer.

"My lord, this is exactly what Su wants to advise you to do."

"Cao Cao invaded Xuzhou and committed crimes against the people. Not even one person survived. Fortunately, you were not afraid of the strong and violent, and you drove Cao Cao away."

"You have done great favors for Xuzhou, and the people of Xuzhou are grateful for your kindness. Now that you are able to open up military farms and gather disaster victims, won't the people also be grateful for your kindness?"

Li Yi took advantage of the situation and said:
"Now that Chen Yuanlong has taken over as the governor of Guangling, the position of the Captain of Agriculture is vacant."

"My Lord, why don't you recommend Zijing as the new captain of agriculture and let him be in charge of the military farming?"

Liu Bei looked at Li Yi's fiery eyes, understood what he meant, and said quickly:

"I wonder if Zijing is willing to take on this task?"

The Captain Diannong was already a high-ranking official at the level of defense minister. As soon as Lu Su arrived, he took on a big national-level job. How much respect did he show for him?
A gentleman will die for his friend. Lu Su bowed quickly and said:
"Thank you, my lord, for your high regard for me. I shall serve you wholeheartedly!"

While feeling grateful for Liu Bei's kindness, Lu Su also knew how heavy the burden on his shoulders was.

It is not so easy to cultivate land.

Only one in ten of the people in Xuzhou survived, and it took a lot of effort to gather the refugees.

The refugees generally have a low quality, and after they gather together, Lu Su also has to worry about how to maintain social order.

At the same time, many fields in Xuzhou had owners, so Lu Su also had to do some work.

Of course, Liu Bei and Li Yi will definitely provide support during this period.

Now, the most urgent problem to be solved is the seeds, farm tools, and oxen needed for the military farms.

A large amount of money will also be needed to resettle the disaster victims.

It won't be long before Liu Bei sets out on an expedition to Langya.

When the cannon is fired, there is a thousand taels of gold.

The money and grain that Mi Zhu had given before seemed to be insufficient, and he is currently in charge of the distribution of refined salt, so it is not convenient to continue asking him for money.

So Li Yi set his sights on Lu Su, the local tyrant in Xuzhou second only to Mi Zhu.

Of course, asking for money.

How can I get the boss to speak? Li Yi has some emotional intelligence.

He said to Liu Bei with an embarrassed look:
"My lord, you don't know."

"The state is now running out of money, and the money and food provided by Mi Biejia is no longer enough."

"If we want to cultivate land and gather refugees, we still need a lot of money and food."

Of course, these words were meant for Lu Su to hear. Lu Su was grateful for Li Yi's recommendation, and immediately patted his chest and said:
"This is an easy matter. Su has quite a lot of wealth in East City."

"The government treasury is short of money and grain. I am willing to send 3,000 hu of grain, 50 oxen, and 10 good horses."

"To help you govern Xuzhou, this is just a small token of my gratitude. I hope you will accept it."

Even though he knew that Lu Su would definitely give money because of his generous character.

But Li Yi couldn't help but sigh that Lao Liu was indeed very charming and could meet angel investors wherever he went.

When he started his rebellion in his early years, wealthy merchants from Zhongshan, Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang, gave him money and horses.

When he entered Xuzhou, Tao Qian presented him with four thousand Danyang soldiers.

After losing Xuzhou, Mi Zhu gave all his family property to help his sister. Now, to start farming, Lu Su sent money, food, and even oxen.

Among all the games of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, there is no one more charming than Diao Chan.

"Zi Jing, what a generous guest you are!"

Liu Bei couldn't help but sigh, his character was not as fussy as portrayed in the novel.

As a fellow hero, Liu Bei was grateful to Lu Su from the bottom of his heart.

Lu Su, however, was very open-minded and said righteously:

"Compared to what you have done for the soldiers and civilians of Xuzhou, what does Su's wealth mean to you?"

"Cao Cao killed so many people that the Si River in Xuzhou stopped flowing. Su was also from Xuzhou, so how could he not be moved?"

"This little bit of money is just a token of my gratitude, and I hope to do my best to help you achieve your great cause."

Li Yi also chimed in:
"Now we are all working together to govern Xuzhou, and we should not be obsessed with trivial matters."

Liu Bei nodded and said:
"Zi Jing, the last commander of the Department of Agriculture was Chen Deng, and now he has been transferred to be the governor of Guangling."

"He had done quite well in Xuzhou before, and I thought Zi Jing could follow Xiao's rules and Cao's example."

Lu Su immediately paid homage:

"My lord, you have shown me kindness, and I will always remember it in my heart."

"Even if I have to sacrifice my life, I will succeed in farming and increase the grain production in Xuzhou."

Liu Bei was overjoyed. He stepped forward and personally took Lu Su's arm. He also ordered people to set up a banquet to welcome him.

After the dinner, Liu Bei was slightly tipsy. He held Li Yi's hand and kept praising Lu Su's talent and character.

He was grateful to Li Yi for recommending a good talent to him.

Li Yi just smiled and said nothing. In his opinion, Lu Su's true talent had not yet been fully developed.

If we say that the talented assistants of Shu and Wei were Zhuge Liang and Xun Yu respectively.

Then the most talented person to assist the king of the Eastern Wu was Lu Su.

This man is not only good at domestic and foreign affairs, but also has excellent strategic vision.

During the Battle of Chibi, Lu Su played a crucial role.

At that time, all the ministers of the Eastern Wu advocated surrender, and Sun Quan was also hesitant.

Lu Su then found Sun Quan in private and pointed out to him whether Sun Quan should surrender or not.

——"I have observed the opinions of the people and they only want to mislead the general. They are not worthy of being involved in major events. Now Su can go to meet Cao, but the general cannot. If Su goes to meet Cao, Cao should take Su back to his hometown and give him a good reputation, and he should not lose his position as a subordinate of Cao. If the general goes to meet Cao, where will he go?"

Simply translated, after the surrender of these civil officials in Jiangdong, their official positions will not change and they can continue to enjoy their duties.

But Brother Quan, you are the lord of Jiangdong. If you surrender, you will become a subject from a master.

Be a slave to others or be a king with freedom, you can choose one.

From this incident, we can see that Lu Su had a strategic vision, and at the same time he was truly loyal and noble, and he considered his lord well.

Therefore, Sun Quan later praised Lu Su as "far superior to Zhang and Su in decision-making and strategy", and believed that Lu Su surpassed the Warring States period diplomats Zhang Yi and Su Qin.

Only people like this who are both civil and military, have strategic vision and high moral character can be recruited under your command. Old Liu, you have really found a treasure.

"It's getting late today, how about sending someone to take you back home to rest?"

Old Liu was very considerate of his subordinate and offered to send Li Yi home.

Li Yi waved his hand and refused, "You don't have to go back now. Yi still has something to resolve."

"Oh? It's getting late. Is there anything else you can't solve tomorrow?"

Li Yi chuckled:
"My lord, have you forgotten that among the various factions in Xuzhou, there is still one faction that has not truly submitted."

……

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　Please read on, brothers!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)