Chapter 81 Ji Hao: I’m almost becoming an emperor!
Huang Zhong really didn't know how Liu Biao could ask for a million shi of grain in exchange for one person.

I couldn't help but wonder if I was too old and had a bad memory, and had forgotten that I was actually the fourth marshal of the Ji camp besides Cao Cao, Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao?
You have to know that it is not ten thousand shi of grain, nor is it one million jin, but one million shi!
More than 100 million kilograms.

Assuming that two kilograms of grain can make enough bread for one person to eat for a day, 100 million kilograms of grain will be enough to feed 50 million people for a day, or enough to feed an army of 100,000 for a whole year, with some left over.

That's a conservative estimate.

In fact, it can feed an army of 100,000 for two years!

The military rations of the eighteen princes who attacked Dong Zhuo were not as much as this!

"It's really over this time. Liu Biao thinks I'm a spy of the Datong Society, and a high-ranking one at that. But I don't even know them, and no one will come to rescue me." Huang Zhong looked at Wei Yan who was imprisoned with him and sighed, "I was greedy for merit and rushed into Zhou Yu's trap, and that's why I've implicated you!"

Yes, Wei Yan was also imprisoned.

Ancient times were not like modern times. There was no such thing as a deadbeat debtor who could rely on his relatives, friends, and ex-partners. Instead, there was a "collective responsibility system." If something happened to Huang Zhong, not only would his family be doomed, but his subordinates would also be implicated.

As his deputy general, Wei Yan couldn't escape at all.

When he is beheaded, his head must also be lost.

However, Wei Yan, who had a rebellious mind, did not blame Huang Zhong at this time. Instead, he said, "It was Liu Biao who was extremely stupid, not you, old general."

He didn't complain that he had joined the wrong person.

Because he only supported Huang Zhong, not Liu Biao, and as he came from a lower class background, he could never reach Liu Biao's level.

It is for this reason that in the original novel, he decisively surrendered to Liu Bei.

The reason why Zhuge Liang wanted to kill him and never used him was not only because Wei Yan had once "betrayed his master for fame and fortune", but the bigger reason was that people from aristocratic families, more or less, looked down on common people.

People at the bottom want to make progress, get promoted, and become successful.

That's human nature.

But in the eyes of those who are born superior, it is too utilitarian, just like rich people complaining that poor people attach too much importance to money. Of course, those who have never lacked money do not value it.

"The only thing I regret now is that I didn't really join the Datong Society and become a Datong Mr.!" Wei Yan said.

When the Eagles suspect that you have nuclear weapons, you'd better actually have them, because that way you can negotiate.

When others suspect that you are Mr. Datong, you'd better really be one, because that's the only way you have a chance to survive!
"Alas!" Huang Zhong shook his head.

The two stayed in the dark dungeon and had no idea of ​​the time. They only knew that they could only eat a bowl of rice when they were extremely hungry and almost starving to death.

There are no dishes.

Until one day, a big meal was suddenly delivered, including pork, beef, mutton, and a whole roast chicken.

Both of them knew that they were going to be executed.

"Kill them! Eighteen years later, I will be a brave man again. If Datong Society still exists by then, I will join it and give all of you damn nobles to 'Datong'!" Wei Yan cursed.

Hearing this, the soldier escorting him curled his lips.

"Stop pretending. Your boss has paid for it. Who are you pretending for?"

This made Wei Yan stunned.

Huang Zhong also showed a puzzled look and asked: "What do you mean?"

But the man did not answer.

He just took them to reunite with their families, then loaded them into a prison van and set off, heading to... not to Caishikou, but to the official road.

We kept on traveling for ten full days before we stopped.

Huang Zhong looked up and found that he had already left Jingzhou and arrived at "Shu City".

It was Yuan Shu’s mechanical city.

It was built quite well. A fire destroyed some of the buildings, but the city walls were still there. Ji Hao renovated it and hung a sign of "Yuzhou Prefecture" on it, making it the provincial capital.

"What's the matter?"

Wei Yan discovered that the soldiers escorting him had run away.

In front, soldiers from Shu City came over to unlock the shackles and lead the two in.

Head straight to the central mansion.

"This is?"

Huang Zhong and Wei Yan finally discovered that they were brought before Ji Hao!

"Nothing, I spent a million stones of grain to redeem you, Han Sheng!" Ji Hao said with a smile, "And Wen Chang, buy one get one free, a million stones of grain will get you two top generals, it's a huge profit!"

At this point, both of them understood.

Liu Biao was a fool. He captured his own generals and asked the enemy to redeem them, but the enemy's brain circuits were even more surprising.

He actually redeemed it!

Two years' worth of food and fodder for a hundred thousand troops was forcibly given away.

Huang Zhong didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Why, don't you want to work for me? Then you can leave at will!" Ji Hao said: "Anyway, the redemption of people has not been approved by you, it is just my intention, so you don't have to feel burdened."

But having said that, his eyes were looking at Wei Yan.

Huang Zhong may be difficult to subdue, but Wei Yan will definitely be easy.

as predicted.

Wei Yan knelt down on the ground, kowtowed and said: "I, Wei Yan, am willing to die for you, my lord!"

He came from a poor family and had many talents, but he was unable to make a name for himself in Jingzhou, a place controlled by aristocratic families. He had long wanted to find another wise leader.

Now the opportunity is in front of us, and one of the greatest princes in the world, King Cheng Ji Hao, is personally recruiting him.

How could he not seek refuge?

"Huang Zhong, I am willing to surrender!"

Huang Zhong did not insist because Ji Hao was too sincere.

"Very good. From today on, I will appoint you, Huang Zhong, as the deputy commander of the Haotian Army and concurrently the commander of the Imperial Guards!" Ji Hao said, "Wei Yan will be the vanguard general!"

After saying that, he paused.

He then said, "The probation period is one year. I hope that within one year, you can make achievements and become regular employees!"

These words stunned the two of them.

"What does probation mean?"

"This is the unique system of our Jiying!" Ji Hao said: "Jiying appoints people based on merit, regardless of seniority. As long as they are capable, they can directly take up a high position. But during the probation period, they must make meritorious contributions to justify themselves and eliminate criticism, otherwise their official position will be re-evaluated after the probation period ends!"

This is the system he established after balancing qualifications and abilities.

Seniority cannot be completely ruled out. Otherwise, assuming that Zhuge Liang came over and was capable enough to be the prime minister, could he still be allowed to ride on the shoulders of Cao Cao and others?

It doesn’t matter for Liu Bei’s small workshop, but it’s not a problem for his own powerful force.

But we can't not give it a chance.

Otherwise, if you climb slowly, how can you ever reach the top?
Therefore, he combined the company system of his previous life and set up a "probationary period", which is similar to the "temporary replacement" that already exists in this era, so that people can have the opportunity to display their abilities.

Then, if you have made contributions, you can become a regular employee.

Just right for those who are truly talented.

If you have made achievements and have sufficient qualifications, others will not criticize you.

"Achieve merit?" When Wei Yan learned that his position as the "vanguard general" was not strong enough, he was not discouraged but full of energy. He immediately asked, "Where are you going to attack, lord? I am willing to be the vanguard and expand the territory for you!"

In response, Ji Hao smiled and said, "Don't worry, let the bullets fly for a while!"

……

The matter of one million grains and fodder is one of the most important events in the world, apart from war.

Outsiders couldn't tell whether Huang Zhong was Mr. Datong or not. At the beginning, they all wanted to watch the show and see how Ji Hao would respond.

Unexpectedly, Ji Hao changed decisively.

He really gave a million shi of grain.

Directly aid the enemy, just to get back Huang Zhong.

Many people at the time felt that he had lost out, and even a famous scholar said, "Although it is easy to get a thousand soldiers but difficult to get a general, food and grass are better than a thousand soldiers, and also better than a general."

This great scholar is Huang Chengyan.

He said that Ji Hao suffered a great loss, which shows how important one million shi of grain and grass are.

But some people also say that Ji Hao is trying to win people's hearts.

He was roasted on the fire and had to be rescued.

There are different opinions.

In short, it was this huge loss that led to Liu Biao extorting one million shi of grain for nothing.

But not long after, when Huang Zhong officially took office as the deputy commander of the Datong Army and announced all his resume, everyone was dumbfounded: they discovered that Huang Zhong joined the Datong Army only after the exchange.

He was not Ji Hao's subordinate before.

In this way, the nature of the matter changed from "losing a million dan of grain and grass in vain" to "exchanging a million dan of grain and grass for a general."

"So, Ji Hao lost?" After Liu Biao learned about this, he was furious and said angrily: "He is spending a fortune on horse bones! If he loses a few more times, he will become the emperor!"

(End of this chapter)