The Six Arts of the Gentleman in the Bright Moon of Qin Dynasty

Chapter 1163: Mohist School Returns to the South [Subscribe*Vote for the Month]

"Since Lord Tonggu has been able to solve the problem, it's time for Yao to leave!" Li Yao said goodbye to Li Si with a smile.

"Ah? Where is Lord Nei Shi Yao going?" Li Si was puzzled.

This is just the beginning, and it's not really stable yet.

"Change!" Li Yao spread his hands helplessly.

"The army for the southern expedition has increased again and again. The soldiers and civilians recruited have to pay for their food and horses every day. Your reforms have cost money like water. The treasury is already out of money!"

"It's gone so soon?" Li Si was stunned.

If he remembered correctly, during the Unification Ceremony, Li Yao boasted to everyone that the income they earned in those few days would be enough for the empire to spend in two or three years.

"That was said by drunk Li Yao, not this history!" Li Yao said embarrassedly.

It’s not that he was bragging, but he didn’t expect the empire to spend money so quickly.

Originally, the budget of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Grain had for a southern expedition of at most 500,000 troops. With the speed at which the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Grain made money, it would not be a problem to support it for three to five years.

What's more, the southern expedition is not without combat power.

But no one expected that the empire would once again mobilize its army to attack Yelang and Dian Kingdoms.

Attacking the Baiyue brought in some income, but attacking Yelang and the Dian Kingdom was a complete money-losing business.

What's more, the empire still needs to carry out reforms, and it is not the drastic means of finding a group of fat sheep to slaughter as in the past.

Therefore, the Qin treasury was truly empty.

“…” Li Si was embarrassed.

Although he was not in charge of the empire's finances, he was more or less aware of how quickly they spent money.

"Thank you, sir!" Li Si said humbly.

He was largely responsible for the empty treasury. If he had chosen drastic means to carry out reforms, he would not only not be short of money, but would also be able to make money.

But Li Yao supported him without complaint and did not complain to him, which is something not everyone can do.

"Where are you going to find the money, sir?" Li Si asked with concern.

"In terms of who is the richest person in the world today, it is none other than Emperor Xuanwu and Lord of Water Wei Ju!" Li Yao said with a smile.

"Take money from two Pixiu?" Li Si widened his eyes.

Let's not talk about Yan Yan for now. Wei Ju is the number one liar in the world and the spokesperson for Baijia Anti-Fraud. If you ask Wei Ju for money, you might get yourself cheated out of your pants.

"Tonggu also said that those are two Pixiu, which proves that they are really rich!" Li Yao said with a smile.

Li Yao is not afraid of not finding a reason to borrow money from you, but is afraid that you really have no money.

As long as you have money, the rest is just a matter of method.

Li Si didn't know how to respond. After all, he was an amateur when it came to making money, while Li Yao was a professional.

"Actually, Lord Nei Shi can go to Mohism and take a look!" Li Si's chief guard suddenly spoke up.

"?" Li Si and Li Yao looked at the captain of the guards in confusion.

Everyone in the world knows how poor the Mohist school is.

At that time, there were two major schools of thought: Confucianism, Taoism, and Mohism. Who doesn’t know that the Mohist school was the poorest?

Life is not easy, so the master performs his art for a living.

The Mohist School is so poor that they even have to send their Grand Masters to be bodyguards. How can the Mohist School be rich?

"The Mohist School is no longer the Mohist School it once was." The chief guard said seriously.

"General, please tell me in detail!" Li Yao's eyes lit up, and he pulled the captain of the guards to find a pavilion to sit down.

The prejudice in people’s hearts is as big as a mountain.

He was also limited by his timed thinking and ignored the Mohist School at the first moment. "After the Mohist School moved north, another spring came. Almost all high-tech industries in Bingzhou were involved in the Mohist School. Therefore, in Bingzhou, the imperial merchants under the command of Emperor Xuanwu were the richest, and the Mohist School was the second richest." The chief guard sold out the Mohist School without hiding it.

It's not that they sold out the Mohist school.

Rather, the Mohists were unwilling to migrate north and were forced to leave the Central Plains of China.

But as one of the most prominent schools of thought of the time, would Mohism really be willing to leave the heartland of China's Central Plains?

Therefore, Mohism will return sooner or later.

All they lack now is a chance to come back.

"Liulichang, Cashmere Factory..." Li Yao's eyes brightened.

Yes, Mohism can be regarded as the first school of contemporary science and technology, how could it be poor?

It is true that they spend money like water on scientific research, but it is precisely because they have money that they can spend it.

"The Qin State can cooperate with the Mohist School to form a new trading company, or a craftsman's office. The Mohist School will provide the people and money, while the Qin State will provide the land and policies. Then, we can attract investment and develop the Baiyue, Yelang, and Dian kingdoms." The captain of the guards said bit by bit.

Li Yao hurriedly ordered someone to record it.

These are all ideas and good strategies.

If the Mohists wanted to return to the south, and if the Qin State showed its attitude and provided policy support, then the Mohists would have the reason and means to return openly, rather than returning secretly.

"For example, after the Qin conquered the Baiyue, Yelang, and Dian kingdoms, we must have established counties, garrisons, and passes. We would need to build water conservancy projects and cities, right?"

"Da Qin just needs it, and my Mohist School is specialized in it!"

The captain of the guard continued.

Li Yao understood that the Qin State would conquer Yelang, Dian Kingdom, and Baiyue, and would inevitably set up counties for governance, which would inevitably require building cities and establishing military passes and garrisons. Even Gongshu Jia would not dare to say that he was more proficient in these things than the Mohists.

Gongshujia's tyrannical mechanical arts are good at destruction, while Mohism is good at reconstruction.

"It's not just these places that are being conquered. After the Qin unified the six kingdoms, it redivided the administrative regions and re-established the prefectures and counties. These also require a large number of craftsmen to manage them. It's not that my Mohist school looks down on the Qin State, but can the Qin State produce so many professionals?"

The captain of the guards asked back.

Li Yao and Li Si were both silent.

Although the Qin Shaofu also employed many craftsmen, they were still far inferior to those of the Mohist school.

"My Mohist school can provide people and money to help Qin build water conservancy projects and construct new cities."

The captain of the guard continued.

"Then what price do we need to pay?" Li Yao asked thoughtfully.

Although the Mohists advocated non-aggression, it did not mean that they were running charity organizations.

As the boss of the underworld, the tombs of the Mohist sect, which he treated as a charity, were covered with weeds three feet high.

"This is not something I can decide. The specific cooperation agreement still needs you or even His Majesty to personally go to the Master to discuss it!" The chief guard shook his head.

Although his status in the Mohist School is not low and he is one of the new leaders of the Mohist School, he is not yet qualified to make decisions for the future development of the Mohist School.

The specific agreement still requires the Qin State to negotiate with Jing Ke, and then Jing Ke will initiate the Mohist political discussion platform, and finally all the Mohist leaders will vote to decide.

He just came to reveal the intention of Mohism to Li Yao and Li Si.

This is also everyone’s rule, we won’t come to your door directly.

The intention is expressed through the disciple, and only if the other party also has the intention will the conversation be formally initiated.

"Thank you, General!" Li Yao and Li Si both bowed and thanked him gratefully.

If the captain of the guards had not spoken, they would not have known that the Mo family was now so rich and had the intention of returning south.

(End of this chapter)