Chapter 500 Are all the envoys of the King of Qi so brave?

Chapter 500 Are all the envoys of the King of Qi so brave?

Now, Dongting County and part of Cangwu County have fallen into Gaoyao's control. However, to some extent, this has also ensured the lives of local people. Anyone who has heard about the living conditions of the people under Gaoyao's rule, as long as they are still able to walk and have a chance to escape, almost all left Tiandu's camp without hesitation and turned to Gaoyao.

As more and more people left, the population under Tiandu's command decreased sharply, and a series of serious problems followed. Especially in terms of production and life, due to the lack of manpower, various agricultural activities were ignored, and the normal operation of society was almost stagnant.

After the Qin Dynasty unified the country, the number of male adults in the country had already dropped sharply. According to rough estimates, it was close to 30%. To make matters worse, Qin Shihuang also recruited farmers and workers on a large scale to build the Great Wall and other huge projects, which undoubtedly consumed a large number of male resources in disguise.

Nowadays, the various princes are fighting and fighting is going on. Regardless of whether it is a large or relatively small rebel army, basically any male over the age of thirteen will be forcibly conscripted and sent to the battlefield where their lives are uncertain. The whole country is in chaos, people's livelihood is in decline, and people are living in misery.

The current situation in various places is almost exactly the opposite of the situation in the South. The men in the South are basically all eager to join the army. The treatment and various benefits of the army are simply too good to be true. Basically, there are many people who want to be soldiers but cannot. In the areas outside the control of Gaoyao, it is basically a time for conscription.

The difference in comparison is very obvious. Many people from Cangwu County, Dongting County, and even Lujiang County have fled to the southern border. After just half a year after the defeat of the imperial army, the people in the southern border, together with the counties that were taken over, now have a population of nearly 8 million under Gao Yao. Even this number is still growing slowly. In addition, Gao Yao encourages childbirth. In two years at most, even if it does not invade the surrounding territories, it will not be a problem for the population to approach 10 million.

This is also the reason why Gao Yao decided to develop steadily and consider sending troops after the construction of each county is stable. After all, the population under management has almost tripled, from more than two million to more than eight million. Part of the reason is that places like Kuaiji, Dongting, Cangwu, and especially the two counties of Bashu, which have been the land of abundance since ancient times, have a sufficient population.

The total population of the entire Qin Dynasty is less than 30 million. Gaoyao now accounts for nearly one-third of the population. Naturally, it needs to be digested well. Once it is too anxious, the final result will inevitably be unsustainable. On the one hand, Gaoyao stabilizes the internal development and on the other hand, it does not refuse to fight external wars.

To the west, he conquered the Maurya Kingdom; to the east, he began to sail to the sea and build suitable shipping routes. Gao Yao had never given up on investing in the navy. Although the navy looked inconspicuous, the actual cost was no less than what Gao Yao was investing in the regular army now. The number of navy personnel had already expanded to more than 80,000, not including some auxiliary personnel and some business personnel. If all of them were counted, the total number would be close to 200,000.

In the county government office of Shucheng County, Wu She was reviewing documents in the county government office. This was the closest city to the Qi Wang Tian Du's command. There were tens of thousands of Southern Border Troops of the Second Legion stationed here. The purpose was naturally to intimidate Qi Wang Tian Du.

Wu She is here temporarily. Of course, this position is rotated. After Wu She has been stationed for a period of time, others will naturally come to replace him. Wu She has nothing to do on weekdays except dealing with some official documents and reading various books.

In this regard, Gaoyao is not in a closed state among the various schools of thought, nor will it deliberately suppress anyone. Instead, those who are willing to cooperate will voluntarily hand over their works, and then the essence of each school will be integrated together to publish new books. These books are free and open, and there is no so-called problem of each school storing books. This undoubtedly gives many people the opportunity to learn.

Previously, books were basically taken care of by each family. Borrowing books from each other was not much easier than borrowing a wife. In short, it was a self-contained business. Gao Yao took this opportunity to break this extreme monopoly and improve the treatment of all walks of life except for books, especially the treatment of carpenters, blacksmiths, and even cooks.

The system of scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans was implemented since the Warring States Period, and even in the Qin Dynasty, it was once a state of emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce. Gao Yao also knew that one should adapt to the trend of the era. However, what Gao Yao wanted was not just some obedient citizens, but to make these people have brains and grow brains, which was more important.

Therefore, Gao Yao also lifted many policy repressions on merchants, did not improve the status of merchants, and did not deliberately suppress them, but provided various treatments for workers. The subconscious of "scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans" had already taken root in the hearts of most people in this era. It was naturally very difficult to change it, and it could only be done little by little. If the step was too big, most people would not be able to accept it.

"Reporting to the advisor, King Tiandu of Qi has sent an envoy!"

Just when Wu She was reading a book, a guard came to report. Tian Du was stunned when he heard this, and even a little strange. What was Tian Du's purpose in sending an envoy at this time?

"Got it, lead him to the main hall to meet the guest!"

"Here"

Although he was confused, he did not neglect the other party in his actions. After all, the other party came to visit in the name of an envoy, and it would be inappropriate not to meet him. After all, this represented a matter of Gao Yao's face.

Soon, Wu She met the envoy in the main hall of the county government. The man looked gentle and refined, and his overall temperament seemed very confident.

"I, Ma Yu, a scholar-official under the command of the King of Qi, pay my respects to Lord Wu She." Ma Yu said this while bowing slightly to Wu She.

"What is the matter that the King of Qi sent you for?" Wu She did not hesitate to ask the other party's purpose.

"Sir Wu She, the King of Qi has ordered me to come to see the Prime Minister. Please tell the Prime Minister that the King of Qi has something important to discuss with you."

Facing Wu She, Ma Yu still maintained his composure. Although there was nothing excessive in his words, his meaning was very clear, that is, he wanted to see Gao Yao, and Wu She's identity and rank were not enough to know what the King of Qi was going to discuss.

"Hahahahaha..." There is no doubt that Ma Yu's words made Wu She laugh thoroughly. He had never expected that Ma Yu could say such a thing. He even doubted whether Tian Du did it on purpose. Sending such a person to the door was no different from seeking death.