Chapter 46: Cultivating Agriculture to Accumulate Military Supplies

Lu Su’s counter-question caused Liu Bei to feel a slight tremor within.

After pondering for a long while, Liu Bei slowly began to speak:

"Today, the realm is broken apart, the sovereign has been forced to migrate, and the common people have abandoned their livelihoods."

"In all matters, the people must be taken as the foundation. Now that the populace lacks any sense of secure settlement, it is truly difficult to sustain this for long."

"If we can unify Xuzhou, we must establish the foundations of infrastructure to pacify the common people."

"Xuzhou possesses a thousand miles of fertile plains, rich soil, and a vast population."

"Although it has suffered two rounds of slaughter and the misery of famine and exile, its foundation still remains."

"I believe we should gather the displaced, reclaim wasteland, and store grain and military provisions to supply our armored soldiers. Only then can we plan our ambitions toward the south."

Excellent!

Lu Su stood up excitedly, extremely satisfied with this response.

"Lord, this is precisely what Su wished to advise you to do."

"Cao Cao pillaged Xuzhou and committed crimes against the people, leaving barely one percent of the living souls behind. Fortunately, because you did not fear might and cruelty, you managed to push Cao Cao back."

"You possess great benevolence toward Xuzhou, and the people of Xuzhou likewise cherish your grace. Now, if you establish agricultural colonies and gather disaster-stricken refugees, how could the people fail to be moved by your virtue?"

Riding the momentum, Li Yi chimed in:

"Now that Chen Yuanlong has assumed the post of Administrator of Guangling, the position of Agricultural Commandant happens to be vacant."

"Why doesn't the lord recommend Zijing as the new Agricultural Commandant, and place him in charge of the agricultural colonization affairs?"

Liu Bei looked into Li Yi’s burning gaze, understood his intention, and hurriedly asked:

"I wonder if Zijing would be willing to take on this responsibility?"

The position of Agricultural Commandant was that of a high-ranking official equivalent to a minister of national defense and supplies. For Lu Su to take on such a national-level grand task right upon his arrival—what a profound display of high regard was this!

A gentleman dies for one who truly knows him. Lu Su hurriedly bowed and saluted:

"Since the lord and the military strategist hold me in such high esteem, how could Su not offer the service of a dog or a horse!"

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

Establishing agricultural colonies was no simple task.

With fewer than ten percent of Xuzhou’s scholars and commoners remaining, merely gathering the displaced refugees would require immense effort.

The displaced generally possessed a low level of education and resources. Once gathered, maintaining social order was another matter that Lu Su would have to worry about.

At the same time, many plots of land in Xuzhou already had owners, and Lu Su would also need to do the groundwork to resolve that.

Of course, Liu Bei and Li Yi would certainly provide support during this period.

Right now, the most urgent problems to solve were acquiring the seeds, farming tools, and oxen needed for the colonies.

Furthermore, settling the refugees would also require a massive sum of money.

Before long, Liu Bei would have to set out on an expedition to Langya.

When the cannons roar, ten thousand pieces of gold are spent.

Previously, the funds and grain provided by Mi Zhu were already stretched to the limit. Moreover, Mi Zhu was currently in charge of distributing refined salt, so it was truly inconvenient to continue asking him for money.

Thus, Li Yi cast his gaze upon Lu Su—the wealthiest tycoon in Xuzhou second only to Mi Zhu.

Of course, when it came to asking for money,

how could one make the boss open his mouth directly? Li Yi still possessed that much emotional intelligence.

He therefore said to Liu Bei with a troubled expression:

"Lord, there is something you may not know."

"Presently, the state's expenditures exceed its income, and the funds and provisions provided by the Attendant Mi are no longer sufficient."

"If we are to establish colonies and gather the displaced, the money and grain required still fall significantly short."

These words were, of course, meant for Lu Su to hear. Grateful for Li Yi’s recommendation, Lu Su immediately patted his chest and declared:

"This is an easy matter. Su possesses considerable family assets in Dongcheng."

"Now that the official treasuries are strained for money and grain, Su is willing to contribute three thousand bushels of grain, fifty oxen, and ten fine horses."

"To assist the lord in governing Xuzhou, this meager worldly wealth is merely to express my humble sincerity. I hope the lord will graciously accept it."

Although he knew that with Lu Su's heroic and generous personality, he would definitely give money,

Li Yi still could not help but sigh that old Liu's charisma was indeed exceptionally high; no matter where he went, he always encountered angel investors.

When he first raised arms in his early years, the wealthy merchants Zhang Shipu and Su Shuang of Zhongshan presented him with gold and horses.

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

After losing Xuzhou, Mi Zhu exhausted his family's fortune, sending his sister to rescue him.

Now, while undertaking agricultural colonization, Lu Su arrived to deliver money, grain, and oxen.

In all those historical Three Kingdoms strategy games, a charisma stat even higher than Diaochan's is simply indisputable.

"Zijing is truly a heroic guest!"

Liu Bei could not help exclaiming with a sigh. His personality was not nearly as hesitant and long-winded as portrayed in the romance novels.

As fellow heroes of jianghu, Liu Bei felt a heartfelt gratitude toward Lu Su.

Lu Su, however, was broad-minded and spoke with righteous sternness:

"Compared to what the lord has done for the soldiers and civilians of Xuzhou, what are these meager possessions of mine?"

"Cao Cao slaughtered Xuzhou to the point where the Sui River ceased to flow. As a son of Xuzhou, how could Su not be deeply moved?"

"Let these possessions be regarded merely as Su expressing his inch of sincerity, to exhaust some meager strength for the lord's grand undertaking."

Li Yi also chimed in from the side:

"Now that we are of one heart and mind to govern Xuzhou, we must not be bound by minor details and haggle over trifles."

Liu Bei nodded, and then said:

"Zijing, the previous Agricultural Commandant was Chen Deng, who has now been promoted to Administrator of Guangling."

"What he did previously in Xuzhou was quite acceptable. I believe Zijing can simply follow the established rules and precedents."

Lu Su immediately made a profound bow of obeisance:

"The grace of the lord's fateful encounter is something Su will engrave upon his heart."

"Even if I must shatter my liver and smash my brains to dust, I will make the agricultural colonization a success and increase grain production and revenue for Xuzhou."

Overjoyed, Liu Bei stepped forward, took Lu Su by the arm himself, and ordered banquets to be set up to welcome him and wash away the dust of his journey.

After the evening banquet, Liu Bei was slightly intoxicated. Holding Li Yi's hand, he endlessly praised Lu Su's talent and character,

and expressed his gratitude to Li Yi for recommending such an exceptional talent to him.

Li Yi merely smiled without speaking. In his view, Lu Su’s true talents had not yet been fully unleashed.

If one were to say that the pillars of state for Shu and Wei were Zhuge Liang and Xun Yu respectively,

then the pillar of state for Eastern Wu was none other than Lu Su.

This man was not only skilled in domestic administration and diplomacy, but his strategic vision was equally outstanding.

During the Battle of Red Cliffs, Lu Su played a critically vital role.

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

Lu Su thus sought out Sun Quan in private, pointing out with razor-sharp clarity whether Sun Quan ought to surrender or not:

——"Upon observing the discussions of the multitude, they exclusively wish to mislead the general and are unworthy of plotting grand matters with. Now, Su may surrender to Cao Cao, but the general cannot. If Su surrenders to Cao Cao, Cao Cao will return Su to his native district, and in ranking his name and position, he will still not lose the status of a lower-tier bureaucrat. But if the general surrenders to Cao Cao, where will you find your home to return to?"

Simply translated: once these civil officials of Jiangdong surrender, their official ranks will remain unchanged, and they will continue to enjoy their privileges just as before.

However, you, Lord Sun, are the master of Jiangdong. If you surrender, you will be reduced from a master to a subject.

To live as someone else's servant versus being a king at your own leisure—choose one for yourself.

From this incident, it could be seen that Lu Su possessed profound strategic vision, while also being truly loyal, noble, and considerate of his lord.

Therefore, Sun Quan later praised Lu Su, saying that "his decisive strategies and insights far surpass those of Zhang Yi and Su Qin," believing that Lu Su exceeded the famous strategists of the Warring States period.

To be able to bring such a talented individual—capable in both civil and military affairs, possessed of strategic vision, and of the highest moral character—under one's banner means you, old Liu, have truly struck gold.

"The hour is now late. Shall I send someone to escort the strategist back to his manor to rest?"

Old Liu was extremely considerate of his subordinates and proactively offered to send Li Yi home.

Li Yi, however, waved his hand in refusal. "There is no need to return just yet. Yi still has a matter that remains unresolved."

"Oh? The hour is late, yet I wonder what matter the strategist has that cannot wait until tomorrow?"

Li Yi chuckled quietly:

"Does the lord forget that among the various factions in Xuzhou, there is still one faction that has not truly submitted?"