"Isn't this a bit reckless? We don't have absolute control here at this stage. According to our investigation, many locals are still very hostile to us. In the past few days, some people on the logistics transport team deliberately gave us the wrong way, causing great losses to our people."
When Huo Qubing was speaking, Changsun Ze beside him also nodded. The local people really had nothing in common with us. Even if we didn't do anything to them, in the eyes of these Vietnamese, we were real invaders.
"Also, I think it's unlikely to fight those people in the mountains. According to the information I received, many of the sons of Vietnamese people around here are in the mountains. If our blockade wasn't so tight, these people would even send supplies to the mountains. In this case, can they help us?"
Chang Sun Ze added another piece of news, which meant one thing in short, that is, he wanted to recruit vassal troops from the surrounding people, and then let them attack the people in the mountains. This was basically a fantasy and it was unlikely to happen. Maybe he would end up shooting himself in the foot.
Li Xiang certainly understood what they were saying, but now the entire army was at a loss. If we wait until the rainy season ends, we don't know when that will be. What if we haven't come up with a good plan by then? Or what if they launch a large-scale attack while we are still there?
If this is the case, we will have missed an opportunity and given them an opportunity, which will be a huge pit for our plan to unify South Asia.
"I understand what you two are saying, but I have my own thoughts. Have you considered another possibility? That is, we can increase the reward rate. If anyone can kill a person from the mountains, we can reward them with thirty strings of cash, or even a thousand kilograms of rice."
When Li Xiang finished speaking, the two men stopped their actions instantly and stared at Li Xiang with their eyes wide open. If they could really give so much money, there would surely be brave men who would take up the responsibility under such a big reward. But are we paying too much?
"There are still quite a few people in the mountains, and many have gone in to join them. If I'm not mistaken, there must be at least 20,000 people. If each person is given 30 strings of cash, that would be 6 million strings of cash."
This amount of money is definitely not a small number. Take the Jiangnan region of the Tang Dynasty as an example. It can only provide this amount of taxes in a year. If we really do this, it will probably bring us a huge financial crisis.
"Money might not work. Otherwise, we can use food. We have plenty of food anyway. These people should be willing to exchange a head for a thousand kilograms of rice."
Li Xiang's words made the other two nod their heads. An adult consumes less than 300 kilograms of food a year. If they could be given 1,000 kilograms, it would be equivalent to reserving three years' worth of food for one person in advance. These people's lives are quite difficult now. Once you offer this price, there will definitely be people who will go in to work.
"How about we give it a try? We can't break the deadlock now anyway. I think we should use 800 kilograms first. There's no need to give them 1,000 kilograms. These people around here are already so poor that they can barely afford to eat. 800 kilograms of food is a sky-high price for them. We can save 200 kilograms each."
Chang Sun Ze thought about it and said that killing a Vietnamese soldier would give a thousand kilograms of food. Such a reward could be said to have never been seen before. If it really works, it will cost a lot to the Tang Dynasty. It would be better to save two hundred kilograms first. Don't underestimate these two hundred kilograms of food. If this matter really becomes popular, it can save the Tang Dynasty several states and prefectures' taxes.
"Forget it. Do you know what you're asking them to do? This is betrayal of their country, their compatriots, and their own army. If there weren't sufficient benefits, no normal person would do such a thing. Only those who are about to starve to death would take such a risk. So I said one thousand kilograms is one thousand kilograms. You should spread the word quickly. Also, arrange for our people to drag two corpses out of the mountains, have them disguise them as Vietnamese civilians, and give them money on the spot. If they still don't believe it, then go and bribe the Vietnamese people."
When it comes to acting, if Li Xiang admits to being second, I'm afraid no one will admit to being first. Li Xiang has already made up his mind about this matter. No matter what happens next, we will continue to follow this path. After all, there is no other strategy during this period of time. Instead of getting wet in the rain every day, we might as well make use of the advantages we have and use food to let these people work for us.
The two men immediately went out to convey the order. Miss Huaihua had been listening from behind. After hearing Li Xiang's order, she was very surprised. She had heard that our prince was smart, but she didn't expect that our prince was so courageous. A thousand kilograms of food in exchange for a life. It was a blessing that his prince could think of it, especially in such a poor place like Vietnam.
When the news spread, many Vietnamese people started cursing in their villages. They were still patriots. When the Tang army left, they immediately cursed Li Xiang's ancestors, saying, "You want to make us betray the country in exchange for a thousand kilograms of food? You really underestimate us."
Some people also cursed casually, but their eyes were always moving. Although they did not want to betray their country, their whole family was about to run out of food. Not everyone in Vietnam could have enough to eat. Most people had two meals a day, and they had to eat tree bark for two months a year.
They had also seen the troops in the mountains. They were basically all pale and thin. The people outside were almost unable to survive, let alone these people in the mountains. If several people worked together, they might be able to kill two of them. Each person had a thousand kilograms of food, which allowed them to survive for at least a few months.
As for those who are more ruthless, they started contacting their subordinates after returning that night. We are almost dying, why bother with so much? Now that there is a way to survive, we must seize it, otherwise your whole family will meet in Hades.
