Chapter 90 If you want to get rich, build roads first!
As soon as this statement came out, the officials were in an uproar!

They started talking about it, some marveled at the magic of rice, while others worried whether this crop could really take root and sprout in the land of Baiyue.

The First Emperor was also shocked!

He was well aware of the importance of food to the empire. If rice, a high-yield crop, could be grown on a large scale in Baiyue, it would undoubtedly have a profound impact on the agricultural development of Daqin!
Thinking of this, there was a bit more approval and expectation in his eyes when he looked at Ye Chi!

The result is here!

In the court, those clans finally couldn't stand it anymore and stepped out one after another to argue again!
"That's easy to say!" A clan leader stepped forward, narrowed his eyes, and shouted sternly, "What if the Baiyue rebels again after my Qin army withdraws?"

"You know, the people of Baiyue are tough and the terrain is complex, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack!"

"If we want to send a large army to garrison, how many people will we need? How much food and fodder will it cost? Have you ever thought about these?!"

A white-haired clan elder leaned on a cane and asked in a trembling voice, "That's right! The people in the Baiyue area are fierce and incompatible with the people of the Central Plains. Once our army withdraws, they will definitely rebel. When the war breaks out again, the people will suffer. Can you bear this responsibility?!"

Then, another clan leader came out to speak. He frowned and looked worried: "It does sound tempting to ask the Yue people to grow rice for our Great Qin, but the Yue people are cunning and difficult to tame. What if they secretly collude with foreign enemies and take the opportunity to counterattack? Wouldn't our Great Qin be asking for trouble?!"

"Besides, have you ever thought about how high the transportation cost of rice is, as the Baiyue land is thousands of miles away from the Central Plains?"

"Moreover, how many officials and troops do we need to send to manage the Yue people to work for us? Where will the expenses come from? Are we going to increase the tax burden on the people?!"

Their words were full of doubts and opposition to Ye Chi's plan, as if they had already refuted Ye Chi's plan thoroughly.

However, Ye Chi was not in a hurry when he heard this. He smiled slightly and said, "Every word you said makes sense."

"Of course, there are always more solutions than problems in this world! There are ways to solve these problems..."

As soon as these words were spoken, the clans were speechless. They looked at each other and looked at Ye Chi in surprise, as if they couldn't believe that he could deal with their rebuttal so calmly.

When the First Emperor heard this, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes. He leaned forward and asked anxiously, "Oh? What is Ye Qing's plan? I would like to hear the details."

He highly valued Ye Chi's wisdom and vision, and now he expected him to come up with a perfect solution to refute the arguments of these clans.

Ye Chi took a deep breath and slowly uttered two words: "Build the road!"

"Your Majesty, as the saying goes, 'To get rich, you must first build roads.' The benefits of building roads are indeed numerous."

He paused, then continued, "First, building roads can make it easier for government orders to be passed down from top to bottom. Whether it is the imperial decree or the local people's sentiments, they can be transmitted quickly and at the right time."

"In this way, the land of Baiyue has become a whole, and the tribes are no longer independent and fighting each other."

He looked around and saw that everyone was listening attentively, so he continued, "Secondly, building roads can greatly improve the convenience of transportation."

"The land of Baiyue is rich in resources, but due to its dangerous terrain and inconvenient transportation, it has never been fully developed and utilized!"

"If the road is smooth, the products of the Baiyue can be transported to the Central Plains continuously, enriching the people's dining tables. The culture and skills of the Central Plains can also be introduced to the Baiyue, educating the Yue people and making them true subjects of the Qin Empire!"

Ye Chi became more and more excited as he spoke, his eyes gleaming with determination: "In addition, road construction can also promote the prosperity of commerce, making the roads smooth, attracting merchants and travelers, and thriving all industries!" "In this way, the land of Baiyue will become a big market, attracting countless merchants to trade! And the prosperity of commerce will also surely bring more and more wealth to Baiyue, making the people of Yue richer."

"Therefore, building roads is a strategy that kills two birds with one stone!"

Ye Chi smiled slightly, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, and said: "What's more, Baiyue in the future will have countless free manpower, why not use it?"

"Your Majesty, although the habits of the Baiyue people are different from those of the Central Plains, they are also people with flesh and blood, hands and feet! As long as we treat them with sincerity and educate them, they will surely become loyal subjects of the Great Qin and dedicate their lives to the Great Qin!!"

When the First Emperor heard this, a hint of approval flashed in his eyes.

He looked at Ye Chi deeply and said in a deep voice: "What Ye Qing said is deeply in my heart!"

"I am determined to conquer the land of Baiyue! However, what I am worried about is not the lack of troops or money and food, but how to govern this vast land and educate these numerous people."

"Ye Qing's plan can not only build roads to convey government orders, facilitate transportation, and promote commerce, but also obtain free manpower to help our Great Qin prosper. It is truly a brilliant plan that kills two birds with one stone!"

At this point, the First Emperor couldn't help but clap his hands and laugh: "Hahaha! Ye Qing is really my lucky general! With such a wonderful plan in hand, why worry about the unrest of the Baiyue and the unification of the world?"

He had to admit that although the strategy Ye Chi proposed in the previous Baiyue War was quite vicious, judging from the final result, the effect... was really good!

At this moment, the First Emperor sat upright on the imperial couch, dignified and solemn, his eyes as sharp as torches.

He spoke slowly and solemnly, mentioning the clan's sons' expedition, his tone was firm and resolute, as if every word carried the unshakable will of the emperor: "Since I unified the six kingdoms, the world has been peaceful, and the Qin has gradually become stronger, but outside the borders, there are still powerful enemies eyeing us covetously."

"As a member of a great clan of the empire, a noble family, you should shoulder the responsibility of your country and go to war to defend the territory. You cannot refuse."

As soon as these words were spoken, the air in the hall seemed to freeze a little.

As an important official in the court, Li Si keenly felt the subtle changes in the atmosphere.

He stood in the palace with his eyelids lowered, but his mind was rapidly calculating the far-reaching impact that this expedition would have on the clan.

Thinking of this, he turned his head slightly and glanced at the clan members standing aside.

Those clans that usually boasted of their noble blood and arrogance were now like eggplants hit by frost, with their heads hung and their men saying nothing.

They avoided each other's gazes and turned their heads away, not daring to look at the First Emperor and Li Si.

Li Si sneered in his heart. These clans were arrogant and domineering in the court on weekdays, but when faced with real big events, they became cowards.

He knew very well that His Majesty's mention of the expedition was intended to test the clan's loyalty and determination, and it was also a blow to the clan's power.

"Everyone," the First Emperor's voice sounded again, breaking the silence in the air, "I have made up my mind. The clan members should serve the country and fight together in national crisis. What do you think?"

(End of this chapter)