Liu Che grasped the essence of the Tui’en Order immediately. It was a brilliant ploy that leveraged the ambitions of the feudal lords’ sons.
When a feudal lord passed away, his fiefdom would be split among all his sons, effectively fragmenting their power. Within two or three generations, these once-formidable feudal lords would be reduced to insignificance, unable to challenge the court.
The strategy was as simple as it was ingenious, exploiting human nature. Since ancient times, people had resented inequality more than scarcity.
Allowing only the eldest legitimate son to inherit had always been a source of discontent for the other sons.
With the court’s endorsement, why would they not support the new order? It was an open conspiracy, one the feudal lords could only watch as their lands were divided and reclaimed by the court.
The hall fell silent.
After a pause, Liu Che exhaled slowly, attempting to steady his racing thoughts. His eyes gleamed with shock and joy.
“An excellent strategy.”
“Sang Hongyang, did you think of this?” he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
Sang Hongyang shook his head with a faint smile. “Your Majesty, I cannot claim credit for such a scheme. It originated from Yang Yi, the most cunning strategist of the Zhou Dynasty.”
Liu Che’s brow furrowed at the name, an inkling of familiarity tugging at him. “Yang Yi… the most cunning strategist of the Zhou Dynasty?”
He knew he had heard the name before but couldn’t place it. The Zhou Kingdom was distant, and news from there rarely reached the Han Dynasty.
Sang Hongyang’s eyes gleamed with admiration as he continued, “Yes, Your Majesty. He is a legendary figure in the Zhou Dynasty. I have heard that he once mixed sand with relief grain to distribute aid during a crisis.”
“What?” Liu Che’s frown deepened, his tone critical.
“That sounds preposterous. Was he a treacherous minister?”
Sang Hongyang’s expression remained solemn.
“On the contrary, Your Majesty, he was a pillar of the Zhou Dynasty. If the relief grain had been of high quality, corrupt officials would have seized it before it reached those in need.
“The wealthy would also claim shares despite not needing aid. By mixing sand with the grain, Yang Yi ensured it reached the truly needy while deterring greed.”
Liu Che’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Wh—what?”
Who would have thought that such a seemingly malevolent act would actually be a stroke of brilliance?
Sang Hongyang continued a glimmer of excitement in his voice.
“Another time, a severe drought struck Hangzhou in the Zhou Dynasty, driving up grain prices. Local merchants colluded to hoard supplies and inflate prices, making grain unaffordable for the common people. The government had no means to intervene effectively, and the populace suffered greatly.”
Liu Che listened intently, already feeling the tension rise. “And what did Yang Yi do?”
“He ordered the local government to halt their distribution of relief grain and, instead, to purchase grain at exorbitant prices,” Sang Hongyang explained.
Liu Che’s brows knit together. “Wouldn’t that worsen the situation and cause further suffering?”
Sang Hongyang’s admiration deepened. “That was precisely Yang Yi’s brilliance. The outrageous prices attracted merchants from across the land, eager to profit from the high rates.
“When they amassed their stocks in Hangzhou, Yang Yi abruptly stopped purchasing grain and began distributing the relief supplies.”
Liu Che’s mouth fell open slightly as Sang Hongyang continued, “Merchants, facing unexpected competition and high costs, found themselves unable to sustain their operations. Yang Yi negotiated with them, purchasing their grain at reduced prices, enough for them to break even and leave Hangzhou.”
“The surplus grain was then sold to the people at affordable rates, stabilizing prices within days and resolving the crisis.”
A stunned silence engulfed the hall.
“Such an incredible strategy,” Liu Che whispered, awe-struck.
“This man truly deserves to serve a king.”
He had never encountered a strategist with such audacious and effective methods.
Sang Hongyang smiled knowingly.
“Your Majesty, are you familiar with the conflict between the Qing and Zhou dynasties?”
Liu Che pondered briefly.
“I recall the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty humiliating the Zhou, leading to enmity.”
“Indeed,” Sang Hongyang nodded.
“At the time, the Zhou Dynasty had been weakened by disaster and had an empty treasury. It was Yang Yi who stepped forward once more.”
“And how did he secure funds for war?” Liu Che speculated. “By soliciting donations from the nobles?”
Sang Hongyang’s smile widened. “No, Your Majesty. He traveled alone to the Qing capital and acquired their funds.”
Liu Che’s eyes widened, bewildered by the audacious claim.
Sang Hongyang recounted Yang Yi’s cunning scheme in detail, highlighting its sheer audacity and the Qing’s eventual downfall. Liu Che was left with a mixture of shock and admiration. The court resounded with the silence of awe.
Yang Yi’s strategies were ruthless, and his understanding of human nature was unparalleled. Hearing of them alone made Liu Che’s heart race and his palms sweat. The thought of such a mind opposing the Han Dynasty sent a chill down his spine.
If Yang Yi were ever to turn against them, Liu Che knew they would face a formidable foe indeed.
After a while, Sang Hongyang spoke in a deep voice, “The Tui’en Order I present to Your Majesty today is also a strategy of Yang Yi of the Zhou Dynasty. I believe it is an ancient, heart-winning strategy that is extremely suitable for our Han Dynasty, so I am presenting it to Your Majesty.”
Liu Che suppressed his inner shock. “You are right. No country is more suitable for the Tui’en Order than our Han Dynasty.
“Yang Yi is truly a genius. We must keep a close eye on him in the future. If this man ever opposes our Han Dynasty, we must be extremely cautious.”
The thought of Yang Yi’s terrifying plans left him deeply shocked and filled with worry.