At noon, Jingniang was still sleeping soundly in bed. Guo Shao was already sorting out the money and property reported to him from various places on the table.
He looked very excited. Just the properties of the prefectures and cities currently occupied, including the treasuries of Hanzhong and Chengdu, were roughly estimated to be worth more than 50 million strings of cash. The total fiscal and tax revenue of the entire Zhou Dynasty for several years was not as much. Of course, Shu had been accumulating this for forty years.
This does not include the large amount of grain reserves. The Taicang, Fucang, and Yicang cannot be counted in detail. Grain can be used as hard currency in the north, but it is more troublesome to transport it. In addition, some prefectures and counties have not yet sent people to receive it; there should be even more wealth in the palace.
Guo Shao didn't know how to use an abacus, he could only use a calculator. Of course there was no calculator here; he could only do the math with pen and paper and roughly sum up the amount so that he would have an idea in mind.
What does 50 million strings of cash mean? If we assume that a war with 100,000 elite soldiers is launched, the average reward money for mobilizing each soldier before the war is 20 strings of cash, which is not a small amount. A buffalo only costs 2 strings of cash, so a war only needs 2 million strings of cash. It can be roughly calculated that Guo Shao can launch 25 large-scale wars with the resources of Shu.
The Zhou court's treasury was empty. They were arguing over the 800,000 guan promised by the Southern Tang as a tribute. The court was so poor that it was almost bankrupt. It was extremely difficult to come up with a million in military expenses. If they were not careful, they might run out of food. Now all the officials in the court should be satisfied.
Because there was no looting along the way, there were fewer things destroyed and discarded, so there were so many things. Guo Shao scribbled on the draft paper for a while, and only took out one-fifth of it to reward the soldiers, 10 million strings of cash.
The imperial army and local soldiers and naval divisions that entered Shu totaled about 70,000 people, and each person could be rewarded with 150 strings of money. Copper coins were not that much, but silk fabrics and other property could replace currency to a certain extent in the Central Plains. This money could buy 15 concubines or 70 to 80 cows and a dozen horses at the right time. It took a soldier two months to earn so much, which was already a windfall.
Guo Shao suddenly felt rich and powerful. As for what would happen if he divided up the treasury privately, it didn't seem to matter. He led everyone to rob it, so handing over the bulk of it to the government was already a very honorable move.
Of course, the rewards cannot be divided equally. For example, the commander of the First Army, who was heavily armored and charged forward many times as a blade, must be rewarded differently. Some people can be rewarded ten times as much. And the families of the troops of Yidu who were annihilated in the Qumen towpath and fought desperately to seize the water fort should also be compensated generously.
Jingniang got up and dressed, and saw Guo Shao sitting there laughing so hard that his face was about to break. She came up to him and asked:
We have become rich. Guo Shao no longer cares about his image, and is simply dancing with joy. He thought for a moment and said: There must be a lot of valuable things in the palace, and there are also those noble families in Shu, all of whom are extremely rich.
Jingniang said: Alang wants to rob Chengdu
It sounds so bad, this is not called robbery. We didn't rob the people. Guo Shao's eyes still retained crazy excitement: Humanity is poor in troubled times, and these countries actually have so much property. The Southern Tang Kingdom is probably more stingy than the Li family, and they actually offered me a million to negotiate.
Jingniang said coldly: Alang, why are you so greedy? You can't spend it all.
Guo Shao was originally very calm, but after seeing such a huge wealth, he could no longer remain calm. He also thought that the nomadic cavalry in the north always wanted to go south to rob, so it seemed that they had no choice.
At this time, someone shouted outside. Guo Shao walked out of the bedroom and went to a living room. Lu Chengyong said: Li Liangyou brought a woman to ask to see the central army headquarters outside the city. This person has been here. He is Wang Zhaoyuan's son-in-law.
A woman named Guo Shao frowned and said, "It's not Wushan Bailao."
Lu Chengyong bowed and said: I don’t know, it’s in the carriage. I only saw a woman vaguely inside, but it’s not easy to check carefully, so I came to report first.
Guo Shaodao: Call him in and see who it is.
At this time, Jingniang also walked into the hall, found a chair and sat down without saying a word, then yawned with her hand covering her mouth. She really looked very tired, and she also said that Guo Shao was greedy, and she usually didn't want to give others the food she couldn't finish.
After a while, the person brought in was a young girl, who was indeed good-looking, with delicate skin and tender flesh, and dressed very beautifully in a skirt. But she looked aggrieved, and after entering the room and taking a look at the scene inside, she knelt down and saluted, saying: "I am here to see Marshal Guo, and I am honored to be here."
No need to be polite. Guo Shao asked, who are you
The young girl seemed a little distracted and her face looked very bad. At this time, she suddenly said: My name is Wang, the daughter of Wang Zhaoyuan, the Deputy Envoy of the Privy Council.
Oh, Guo Shao also nodded and said, I know, it means Li Liangyou is here too.
Wang said: Marshal Guo, can we talk for a moment
Jingniang immediately interrupted and said: I think we can talk here, just say whatever you want to say, don't be embarrassed.
Wang suddenly looked uncomfortable and hesitated to speak. Guo Shao felt very uncomfortable when he saw her. This woman was pretty, but Guo Shao had completely lost interest at this time. Unless Guo Shao was a lustful person who couldn't walk when he saw a woman, he would not want to touch her because it would reduce his self-identity in his heart. It seemed like he was a villain who forced a good woman into prostitution.
They were both young and beautiful girls, but Madam Huarui did not give Guo Shao this feeling last night. If she had not promised Jingniang, he would have felt that it was a very pleasant acquaintance. It was hard to explain why, but Madam Huarui was much more charming, and that kind of charm was not something that could be expressed by appearance.
I, Wang, look as if I am about to cry.
Guo Shao hurriedly said: Don’t say anymore, I know what’s going on.
Wang stood there in a daze.
Guo Shao's heart gradually became angry, and he thought: Even if that guy is shameless, he can't do it so obviously.
His tone gradually turned cold: I just want to ask, is this Wang Zhaoyuan's intention or Li Liangyou's
Wang shed a tear and shook her head: I didn't do it well, but I volunteered.
Guo Shao repeated it again. Wang's voice was out of tune, and she lowered her head and said: My husband also knows about this. He sent me here. Marshal Guo, don't worry, no one will blame you.
Guo Shao was furious. He had already spared Wang Zhaoyuan and Li Liangyou for Bai Lao's sake, and had kindly advised Li Liangyou to live a good life with his wife and concubines. What was the meaning of forcing his own woman to come here? However, Wang had nothing to do with Guo Shao, she was just a strange woman; Guo Shao didn't know why he was so angry. It was probably because he had been so self-inflated recently, and felt a little free.
For a moment, he wanted to kill Wang Zhaoyuan and Li Liangyou.
Guo Shao subconsciously reached for his waist, but felt no weapon. He realized that he didn't have a sword with him in the morning. He then came to his senses and thought that even if he wanted to kill someone, he could just say a word and he didn't have to do it himself.
Thinking of this, Guo Shao suddenly had an idea: the public property in the treasury can be taken directly. The nobles are rich enough to rival a country. It seems too ugly to rob them directly, and the side effects are also great. Wang Zhaoyuan and Yue Xu seem to be very valuable.
Guo Shao thought: I asked you to persuade Wang Zhaoyuan to surrender, but you didn't do your job and just wanted to gain personal benefits. You can't blame me.
I appreciate your kindness. Guo Shao breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You don't have to do that. Madam Li, please go back. I will give your father and husband a good job."
Wang wiped her tears and said: "Lady Huarui also came to Marshal Guo yesterday and returned at night. Does Marshal Guo think I am not as good as Lady Huarui?"
Guo Shao was embarrassed and uncomfortable when he heard this. This woman is really not very sensible. He hurriedly said: Madam Huarui has seen me, but I didn't do anything to her. She knew Jingniang beside me before, and they just talked a few words to reminisce about the past. It's not what you think. Jingniang, please send the guest away.
Wang walked out of the gate and ran into Li Liangyou who was waiting in the carriage. Li Liangyou looked at her suspiciously and said: "He didn't accept you so soon, did he?"
No. Wang heaved a sigh of relief. But seeing Li Liangyou's unhappy face, she immediately said in embarrassment: Let's not do that. It feels so sad, and you will dislike me in the future.
Li Liangyou said kindly: How could I despise you? Then he sighed, the country is ruined, and I am the fish on the chopping board. There are so many people in our family, and the wife has dedicated herself to many people. Everyone can't thank you enough. The wife is young and beautiful, and she is also a good wife. Guo Shao is not tempted.
Wang said: Now that things have come to this, everyone else has refused, so let it go.
Li Liangyou was slightly angry, but he held back his breath and said softly: "You just didn't think it through, so you couldn't lure Guo Shao. You have to think it through. Your father-in-law was ordered to return to the country to persuade him to surrender, but he persuaded His Majesty to use troops to resist. What kind of behavior is this? You betrayed your father-in-law's family of so many people, and you only lost a little face. The price is very small, but you can take the blame for your father. Isn't it worth it
Then what should I do? Wang's eyes were filled with tears.
Li Liangyou pondered for a moment: "When you have a chance to see him again, you should say this: Your husband regrets divorcing you and treats Bai Sanniang as his legal wife. You are just a concubine. It is a refined thing to share a concubine with others. You should act happy and flirty."
Also, you wrap yourself up tightly, which can't make people impulsive at all. Men don't show their wealth and women don't show their breasts. Why are these two things so attractive? So next time, show a little bit of it unintentionally.
I can't do it. Wang's face turned pale. Oh my God, why did it become like this? Why is the world suddenly so dangerous
Li Liangyou's eyes lit up, staring at her and said: Your father Wang Zhaoyuan is very wealthy, he has properties everywhere, and he has offended a strong man. Others don't kill the chicken to get the eggs, so when will they? Madam, you grew up in a wealthy family, can't you understand this? It's not easy for your father-in-law to accumulate so many things, you must find a way to keep them.
No matter who is in power in Shu, there will always be people who are hungry and thirsty and people who are freezing and starving to death. Keep your power and wealth, and you will have whatever you want in the future.