Upon hearing Zhong Yao's words, Li Jue was momentarily stunned. When he finally reacted, he was overjoyed but then quickly became a bit annoyed.
"Minister Zhong, if you have a good plan, speak of it quickly," Li Jue demanded, his face darkening slightly. He couldn't help but think this was too good to be true.
Zhong Yao extended his hand toward Li Jue, and Sima Lang instantly understood what he meant. He quickly returned the scroll to Zhong Yao.
"To the north of Chang'an lies the abandoned Zhengguo Canal, as well as the Six Auxiliary Canals from the reign of Emperor Wu of the Former Han. If we reopen these canals, they can instantly turn barren land into fertile fields, providing enough food to sustain all of Guanzhong and Xiliang, eliminating any future worries about grain shortages," Zhong Yao explained, outlining a plan almost identical to the one Xun Yu had considered before.
"What? Impossible! We don't have enough manpower. It would take tens of thousands of laborers years to complete such a project," Li Jue objected, shaking his head vigorously. This didn't seem like a good plan at all. He knew it was a trap. Li Ru had proposed a similar idea before, but he never had the opportunity to carry it out.
"We may not have enough people, but the Qiang tribes do. The Qiang have plenty of people but little grain. Ma Teng holds great influence among the Qiang. If we entice them with the promise of restoring the Qin Dynasty's old granary, they will surely agree to help," Zhong Yao said with a smile. "It's simple: send someone to Ma Teng with this proposal, and he won't be able to refuse."
Sima Lang silently stared at the ground. Zhong Yao's confident demeanor reminded him of Xun Yu, who used to sit calmly in the imperial court, always in control.
Li Jue was momentarily taken aback, but then it all made sense. The Qiang had followed the Xiliang forces before, seeking food. Now they were allied with Ma Teng for the same reason. If they had access to such a large granary, food wouldn't be an issue!
The Qiang tribes could be controlled by Li Jue just as easily as by Ma Teng. The only reason they had turned to Ma Teng recently was due to the Xiliang army's lack of grain. With food, the Qiang's loyalty would be up for grabs.
"Thank you, Minister Zhong," Li Jue said, overjoyed. He bowed repeatedly. "This is a brilliant plan. There are at least two to three million Qiang people in Xiliang. As long as we solve the grain problem, Ma Teng and Han Sui will be nothing more than minor nuisances."
"Why worry about them? In times of great change, everything can be manipulated. Ma Teng and Han Sui can be lured with official positions, or alliances can be formed to gradually absorb their forces. It's a simple matter. Now, where's the scroll?" Zhong Yao said, abruptly changing the topic and leaving Li Jue momentarily speechless.
However, having served under Li Ru, Li Jue still respected the wisdom of strategists. Although his character had not yet fully deteriorated, his ingrained habit of following intelligent advice remained. Zhong Yao's words gave him a sense of security, as if Li Ru were still alive, and he instinctively followed Zhong Yao's instructions.
"Quickly, fetch all of Minister Cai's calligraphy for Minister Zhong!" Li Jue ordered, pushing Sima Lang aside and gazing at Zhong Yao with admiration. "Minister Zhong, please wait here. When we gathered Cai Yong's belongings, we found many of his works. I'll have them brought to you immediately."
Soon enough, Sima Lang returned with several scrolls. When Zhong Yao saw them, he eagerly rushed forward, practically pushing Li Jue aside in his excitement. His eyes gleamed with joy as he seized the scrolls.
"Minister Zhong, here are all the scrolls we collected. Now, please continue," Sima Lang said with a smile.
"Certainly, certainly. This matter is quite simple. Send someone to explain the situation to Ma Teng and Han Sui clearly. As for the previous imperial edict, just declare it a forgery. You can blame whichever warlord you prefer. Then, spread word throughout Xiliang that we plan to reopen the Zhengguo Canal and restore the Three Qin Granary," Zhong Yao said, casually stuffing the scrolls into his sleeves, not caring that his robe was now lopsided.
"Excellent, excellent," Li Jue said, ecstatic. Everyone in Chang'an knew how important the Zhengguo Canal had been. Reopening it would mean tens of thousands of acres of prime farmland. With that, Li Jue could ensure his Xiliang cavalry would be well-fed, and he could begin to restore the military discipline that had been eroded by hunger.
"With your influence in Xiliang and among the Qiang, you're not any less respected than Ma Teng. If you take an oath and have the emperor issue an edict to oversee the project, you'll solidify your position and erase any past... indiscretions," Zhong Yao said, letting his words trail off. But the meaning was clear to Li Jue. If this plan succeeded, it would serve as a shield, ensuring his legacy as the savior of a province. Even in death, he would be remembered.
"Thank you, Minister Zhong!" Li Jue bowed deeply. "If this succeeds, I will restore discipline to the Xiliang army. But please, Minister Zhong, recommend someone to handle the negotiations. Most of my men are warriors, not scholars. I need someone skilled in diplomacy to carry this out."
"He will do," Zhong Yao said, pointing to Sima Lang. "The Sima family of Henei has the status and talent needed. I can see you hold him in high regard, and I owe him a debt for securing these scrolls. Let him handle it. This way, you won't have to worry about his future prospects either."
Sima Lang kept his head bowed, knowing that Zhong Yao had likely already figured out his true identity, even though he hadn't explicitly revealed it.
"Excellent!" Li Jue laughed. The Xiliang forces had long wanted to connect with the powerful clans, but the Guanzhong aristocrats had always kept their distance. Now, with the opportunity to ally with the Sima family, Li Jue saw a path to bringing more noble families under his influence. He knew that the real power in the land lay with the aristocracy.
"Thank you, General, and Minister Zhong, for your trust. I will do everything in my power to secure this alliance!" Sima Lang said solemnly.
"Good, good, good!" Li Jue laughed heartily. "Berda, don't worry. On your journey, when you pass through Changping Pass, Old Fan and Old Zhang will ensure your safety. And remember, the top warrior of Xiliang will be protecting you as well. You're in good hands."
Li Jue's mention of Zhang Xiu made Sima Lang pause. Zhang Xiu, one of the few warriors who could defeat two other Inner Qi experts at once, commanded great respect. In this era, Inner Qi experts were not only powerful fighters but also wielders of military strategies.
"Thank you, General, for your trust. I will devote all my efforts to achieving this alliance!" Sima Lang said earnestly.