Chapter 370: All Present

The Prince of Badong had not yet recovered from his shock; he took a deep breath, his gaze still dazed, muttering to himself:

"I've truly seen the divine today... Today, I finally understand what it means to be peerless in talent..."

As if struck by a sudden thought, his dazed expression and lingering fear vanished instantly! His brows shot up, and fire seemed to ignite within his pupils with a whoosh!

He pointed at Wang Yang, eyes gleaming:

"Wang Yang, you're terrifying! I'm convinced!"

Han Jiyang bowed deeply to Wang Yang:

"Whether I'm terrifying or not, Your Highness has the final say—I must take my own life if ordered. So even if Wang Yang is terrifying, he cannot surpass Your Highness. I, too, am convinced."

The Prince of Badong first blinked in surprise, then burst into laughter, his voice shaking the hall.

"Look at you! You can't even tell I was joking? It was all in jest! How could I ever order you to kill yourself? I couldn't bear to lose you!"

The Prince of Badong laughed like a tiger wearing a smile—his face wore an expression of genuine sincerity.

Wang Yang laughed with utter carelessness:

"I knew Your Highness couldn't bear to lose me! But Your Highness, while life and death may be joked about, the reward you promised earlier..."

The Prince of Badong immediately adopted an expression of utmost seriousness:

"Granted! Absolutely granted! Someone—"

Tao Rui suddenly interrupted:

"Your Highness, please wait."

The Prince of Badong frowned:

"You're Bufu?"

Tao Rui remained calm, bowed respectfully, and spoke steadily:

"Wang Gong's brilliance and grand strategy—I dare not dispute. But Your Highness yourself declared that anyone may test Wang Gong's arrogance. Now that Wang Gong has bested Li Li Li Jingxuan, his arrogance is likely greater than ever. I, though unworthy, dare to venture a challenge."

The Prince of Badong was surprised:

"You too wish to test Wang Yang in a debate?"

"How could I dare? I have enough self-awareness: in military strategy and grand planning, ten of me would not match Wang Gong's single mind. But Your Highness only spoke of tempering his arrogance—not limiting the test to military affairs alone."

The Prince of Badong grew curious:

"Then what do you intend...?"

Tao Rui, fearing Wang Yang would evade, deliberately goaded:

"I have another question for Wang Gong—does he dare answer?"

Wang Yang smiled:

"Why not? Let us sit and speak."

The Prince of Badong said:

"Yes, sit and speak! Someone—give Wang Yang a seat of honor!"

All present watched as Wang Yang, moments ago a prisoner on the steps, now became an honored guest—each heart stirred with complex emotion.

According to the original rules, Wang Yang had to defeat everyone to live—but now, the Prince of Badong's attitude clearly showed no intent to kill. Not only no intent—he intended to promote him! Yet no one dared speak out, not because they feared the Prince, but because Wang Yang was too monstrous: his talent had long surpassed all rules, rendering rules meaningless. Anyone who now cried for his death would be exposing private envy and malice toward talent.

More crucially, everyone knew deep down: even without Wang Yang and Li Li Li Jingxuan's debate, just from his earlier analysis of Jingzhou's strategic points, this man could not die. Not because the Prince favored him—but because if they were the Prince, at this very moment, they too would never kill such a talent...

Still, silence didn't mean surrender. One must still compete: first, the Prince's lavish rewards and honors were not to be easily ceded; second, they must at least curb Wang Yang's arrogance—could not let him monopolize all glory before the Prince. Best if he could be humiliated, so the Prince would know: even if Wang Yang's talent soared highest, he could not outshine the entire assembly of wise men!

After all took their seats, Tao Rui said:

"A state cannot go a day without troops; troops cannot go a day without food. You claimed five thousand troops suffice to guard Jingzhou's vital points—then tell me, how much grain does five thousand troops consume in a year?"

At these words, all faces changed.

Though everyone could chatter about military matters, few knew anything about grain expenditures.

The Prince of Badong ignored civil affairs, so he knew nothing. Li Li Li Jingxuan specialized in military strategy but handled only planning—logistics were not his domain. Thus, only Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Kong Zhangyu (in charge of finances), Guo Wen (in charge of secret logistics), and Chen Chen Qiming (secretary) knew the answer.

So when this question came, all assumed Wang Yang had fallen into a trap: noble families normally ignored such mundane matters. Tao Rui, low among the gentry, entered the Prince's court only through practical ability—he paid attention to details, already an oddity. Wang Yang, of the Langya Wang clan, a noble youth—how could he possibly know this? Especially since he was young and unexperienced in governance—he certainly did not—

"Jin's Gu Zhen said, 'Soldiers eat seven sheng, forget self, rush to peril'—this is hyperbole. Military grain calculations use generous estimates: six sheng daily is sufficient. Thus, Liu Mian's strategy against Xuanhu stated, 'Twenty thousand troops consume 480,000 hu of rice annually; over five years, 2.4 million hu total'—that's two hu per man per month, nearly six sheng daily. Yan You said: 'For troops deployed beyond the frontier, calculate 300 days' rations at eighteen hu of dried grain per man'—again, six sheng daily. Now, at six sheng per day: one man consumes one hu eight dou monthly, twenty-one hu six dou annually. For fifty thousand men: 1.08 million hu. This is only food. For prolonged campaigns—sieges, garrison farming—the cost doubles. Deng Ai said: 'After deducting all other expenses, five to six million hu annually can be accumulated on the Huai River over six to seven years—enough for ten thousand troops for five years.' According to Deng Ai, one soldier costs sixty hu annually—not just food, but all expenses included. Thus, fifty thousand men require three million hu annually—sufficient."

All were stunned!

Not... you—you actually know this?!

Tao Rui's jaw nearly dropped!

You—a young nobleman—know this?! This is beyond absurd!!

A typical noble youth focused on such matters would be mocked—called petty, neglecting statecraft, or ridiculed as a lowly clerk unfit for high discourse. But Wang Yang, trained in orthodox Confucian classics, versed in both Confucianism and Daoism, skilled in rhetoric—this is literary mastery! Add military strategy, and his abilities are fully rounded—who dares mock him?!

A noble youth who knew only this would be lowly—but a noble youth who masters both literary and military arts, and knows this? This is heavenly talent!

Before anyone could recover, Wang Yang continued:

"May I ask, Master Tao, if these fifty thousand troops were organized under the garrison farming system, how many hectares of medium-grade land would they cultivate annually? What reserves could they accumulate?"

Tao Rui: (⊙_⊙)

Garrison... garrison farming system? What's that??

"Um... this... um..."

Tao Rui stammered, unable to answer.

Guo Wen spoke up:

"Standard practice: seventy mu per person, medium land yields two hu six dou on average. With fifty thousand men, one-twelfth resting, four thousand farming—thirty thousand mu yields nearly eight million hu."

Oh?

The Prince's staff truly has talent!

First Li Li Li Jingxuan, now another—

Wang Yang looked at Guo Wen, who bowed:

"I am Guo Wen Qu Qu Yuan of Nanping. May I ask Wang Gong: in garrison farming, should troops or civilians be mobilized? If seed and grain are lent, what interest rate should be charged? If irrigation ditches damage farmland, how should compensation be calculated?"

Wang Yang paused briefly, then replied:

"Garrison farming was established adaptively—temporary measures shaped by circumstance: to relieve military supply burdens, to populate frontier regions, to ease transport strain, or to pacify displaced refugees. Thus, Han mobilized convicts, Wei recruited civilians, Jin used frontier garrisons. Their remedies differed, their goals varied—only appropriateness matters, not 'best.' When times suit, mobilizing both troops and civilians works; when times oppose, mobilizing either is wasteful.

As for lending seed: in generous times, exempt from tax for two years; in tight times, one year. The next year's interest depends on harvest: in abundant years, take one-third; in moderate harvests, one-fifth; in slight harvests, one-tenth. In average years, collect only principal. In famine years, waive both principal and interest—no further collection. This will attract distant and near alike; no fear of lack of laborers.

Regarding irrigation ditches damaging farmland: by old precedent, the more land damaged, the richer the soil becomes, and the greater the future yield. Thus, compensation must weigh future benefit, to comfort the people, encourage compliance, aid ditch construction, and secure long-term gains. For paddy fields, roughly ten new mu compensate one lost mu. So if ten mu are damaged, grant one hundred mu of paddy; if five mu, grant fifty—this principle applies..."

All: (ｷ｀ﾟДﾟ´)!!!

The garrison farming system, initiated in Han, declined after mid-Ming, yet persisted into Qing. Through generations of trial and accumulation, its operations and management grew refined. Wang Yang, drawing from all schools and integrating past strategies, spoke freely—every person present, whether knowledgeable or not, was stunned into silence!

For those like Guo Wen who understood, it was terrifying! As he wrestled with the implications, Wang Yang asked:

"When soldiers and civilians co-reside in garrison farming, disorder often arises. Yet Wu Hou, facing Wei on the southern Wei River, stationed troops among civilian homes—and the people remained calm. Why? What is the essential principle of mixed soldier-civilian garrisoning?"

Guo Wen was dumbfounded, unable to answer.

One in the hall suddenly spoke:

"Record-keeping Assistant, Hedong Xue Shao (Military Office Director), Wang Gong, do you know the grain-carrying capacity of boats, carts, and men?"

Wang Yang answered immediately:

"Standard: one grain boat carries one thousand hu; one hundred boats carry one hundred thousand hu. (The Wei Shu records Xi Yong's memorial: 'Build two hundred ships, two ships as one fang, one ship carries two thousand hu... one transport carries two hundred thousand hu.' Here, 'one ship carries two thousand hu' is likely a textual error—perhaps a miswriting of 'one fang'; the Zhonghuashu Bureau edition should note this in a future revision.)

Standard: one grain cart carries twenty hu; one hundred carts carry two thousand hu. For human transport, distinguish soldiers from laborers (combat troops and logistics troops). Soldiers typically carry three dou of grain—enough for five days (this is why ancient novels say soldiers carry three days' rations—realistically, soldiers carry five days' rations; thus, during the Southern Song's Duanping campaign into Luoyang, logistics failed, and each army carried five days' rations—meaning no dedicated supply line, only individual rations. In the Wanli Korean campaign, Ming troops chasing Japanese forces carried five days' rations—pursuing, they could not wait for supply trains. Chen Zhengzhong's suppression of rebellion, troops carried five days' rations, marching three hundred li—same principle. Wang Xiong attacking Xudu told Chen Zilong, 'My ten thousand troops have only five days' rations—what to do?'—meaning no dedicated transport, only individual rations, hence five days' supply.)

For light troops with reduced load: one dou eight sheng per man—enough for three days (classic examples: Xiang Yu smashing his cauldrons, carrying three days' rations; Xi Jin chasing Heling Ding, 'abandoning baggage, carrying three days' rations'; Yuwen Tai's light troops crossing the Wei River; Ming general Li Rong pursuing enemies deep in Yunnan; Zhu Dadian relieving Laizhou—all carried three days' rations. These are light, rapid advances—not standard military practice.)

Laborers can carry two hu each (Shen Kuo's Dream Pool Essays: 'Logistics carriers carry six dou of rice'—this reflects Tang-Song vs. Southern Dynasties measurement differences; Southern Dynasties followed Han standards, vastly different from Northern Song. One Southern Dynasty dou equaled three sheng in Northern Song). But laborers must also eat daily. If one soldier carries three dou, and one laborer supports him, they can last seventeen and a half days. Thus, if laborers are fewer than soldiers, and supply transport is delayed, the army's rations will last fewer days...

(For example, Yue Fei's campaign against Cai Zhou: 'Twenty thousand troops, seven-tenths armed, carrying ten days' rations'—seven-tenths armed means combat troops are 70%, logistics 30%, less than 1:1, so only ten days' rations. He Zhuge Zhuge Liang's Anbian Book says: 'For ten thousand soldiers, assign ten thousand laborers carrying six dou each... then soldiers and horses have half-month rations'—this achieves 1:1, so they can last half a month.)

All present, watching Wang Yang speak fluently and effortlessly, were stunned!

Xue Shao felt an increasing sense of dread!

Indeed, Wang Yang turned to Xue Shao and said:

"... If two laborers serve one soldier, we can reduce redundant manpower by accounting for grain consumption. May I ask, Master Xue, if we calculate return rations for laborers, and ten thousand troops march with twenty thousand laborers, how should laborers be allocated? And how should they be dispatched home in sequence, so that army rations last longest, and soldiers never lack food?"

The hall fell utterly silent.

Xue, rigid, could not speak.