Lu Ming had also sent men to observe the situation in Chang'an.
Prices inside had skyrocketed, especially rice, which had collapsed from fifty copper coins per jin to two hundred copper coins per jin, and there were often shortages.
Not only millet, but pork too.
Chicken, duck, and fish prices had also increased, though not to the same dramatic extent.
One hundred kilometers from Luoyang, the army continued to set up camp, and soldiers received snake grass.
Sprinkling some snake grass on the campfire at night could keep the fires extinguished all night, though the smell might be a bit pungent.
It was better than no mosquitoes; the infections brought by mosquitoes were the most terrifying.
Especially in plague-stricken areas, it could easily lead to an uncontrollable collapse.
In the commander's tent, Lu Ming was discussing the next steps with Fa Zheng.
First, they definitely needed to go to Anding County, but how to handle the situation was still a problem.
Fa Zheng didn't understand this, but could offer some suggestions.
That is to seize control of Anding County, which is currently plagued by disease, meaning a large number of people have died.
The land is vast and sparsely populated, with large tracts of land unclaimed.
This is both a good and a bad thing. Currently, the most important thing is to suppress the spread of the plague and control its transmission, and then find a way to take control of Anding County.
This highlights the shortage of manpower. It seems like a simple matter, but in reality, there aren't enough people to control the county.
Managing a county or town involves many aspects and is not a simple task.
It definitely requires the help of scholars; otherwise, just the statistics alone would be a headache.
And precisely, this is Lu Ming's weakness.
The powerful families certainly won't help him, nor will they provide him with talent.
This seems like a bad thing, but it's actually also an advantage.
That is, he won't be held hostage by the powerful families. He won't be timid or hesitant just because members of powerful families are in key positions.
Loyalty is utterly insignificant compared to the inheritance of family interests.
Just look at the scholar-officials of the late Ming Dynasty; they surrendered faster than anyone else.
"My lord, the situation in Chang'an is dire. Prices have been rising for days, proving the powerful families in the city don't want to cooperate with us; they don't want to pay! This wouldn't happen without someone pushing things along!" Fa Zheng frowned, but his expression was excited. The more difficult the situation, the more opportunities the strategists have to shine.
"No problem, Xiaozhi. I plan to do this. First, go to Chang'an and find the wealthiest and most disobedient among them. On charges of treason, confiscate their property. Display their heads in Chang'an to intimidate other nobles and powerful families. As long as they pay up, I won't make things difficult for them! Once we take Anding County, we'll start land reclamation, provide free primary education, and cultivate our own scholars. Hmph, if they want to deal with me, they can't blame me for being ruthless." Lu Ming's method was brutal—a show of force! Compared to Sun Ce's indiscriminate slaughter in Jiangdong, he only needed one example.
Moreover, openly killing other opponents, while impressive, would have endless repercussions.
He wasn't afraid of assassination attempts because the map showed which assassins would come.
They would be discovered before even getting close, and in a one-on-one fight, they wouldn't be a match for him.
But what if they got desperate? Who knew if they might resort to desperate measures?
The retainers of this era still had some backbone, unless they could be truly wiped out!
Killing was definitely necessary, but so was winning them over.
First, kill the troublemakers, confiscate their property to enrich himself.
Then, offer some projects and benefits for cooperation. If there was money to be made, things would be easier to negotiate.
Killing was merely the opening to negotiations. If he didn't give them a good beating before discussing cooperation, they would think he was backing down and start making exorbitant demands!
Listening to Lu Ming's plan and explanation, Fa Zheng's heart was filled with astonishment. His lord was practically a reincarnation of Sun Tzu—no, he didn't even know how to describe it.
Such a brilliant strategy made him feel ashamed!
"My lord's brilliant strategy makes me feel ashamed!"
"Alright, Xiaozhi, no need for flattery. I've only come up with a general outline; you'll need to fill in the details. Chang'an is definitely ours now. We need some money and supplies to ensure our initial development. We'll need them to help us earn money and supplies. We also need to pacify Liangzhou and support Bingzhou. There's still a lot we need to do. The world is not at peace; war is raging, and the situation is precarious. We need to be prepared." Lu Ming's words implicitly suggested that the Han Dynasty was in turmoil and needed the combined efforts of many—a case of everyone pushing a falling wall!
If the struggle for supremacy among warlords represents the future, then we're still two stages away from that era; it's not appropriate to say so now. A 20% success rate is not the same as a 70% success rate! Fa Zheng excitedly added some details, such as setting up an ambush to prevent the enemy from resorting to desperate measures.
Also, they needed to be wary of the Yuan family trying to take advantage of the situation, testing the reactions of the noble families to prevent them from escalating tensions.
One side wanted money, the other didn't want to give it; the key was where the money would come from.
After seeing Fa Zheng off, Lu Ming stretched. Just then, Zhang Yulan entered carrying a bowl of chicken soup, topped with bright red goji berries—good for kidney health!
"My lord, you've worked hard. I've made a bowl of soup; please drink it while it's hot," Zhang Yulan said with a smile, her demeanor elegant and poised. A young married woman naturally knew how to serve her man.
The other concubines didn't dare compete with her; they took turns making the soup.
One person was enough; too many would cause problems.
Lu Ming chuckled, pulling Zhang Yulan close and kissing her red lips. He then pressed her head down towards his crotch. "Perfect timing, my wife. Lick it, and I'll fuck you after I finish my soup!"
Zhang Yulan blushed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She lowered her head, lifting Lu Ming's robe, releasing a pungent, erotic scent. She took a deep breath, enjoying the aroma.
Her small mouth parted slightly, her delicate tongue nimbly licking the glans. The instant, wet, warm sensation made Lu Ming hiss in pleasure.
A seductive smile played on her lips as her small mouth kissed the glans, slowly opening and, under Lu Ming's gaze, swallowing it bit by bit!
Lu Ming, meanwhile, picked up the chicken soup and gulped it down. Determining strategies and discussing tactics was indeed mentally taxing. He needed to replenish his energy, especially to release his pent-up desire!