"Da Sima, how many rations are there in the army? How long can it last? ”

After the fateful guards took Bo Que down and beat him with thirty military sticks, Qing Ji set his eyes on Sun Wu's body again.

When Sun Wu heard this, he silently calculated for a moment and replied: "King, there is still less than 40,000 stone of food, which can be supplied to our army for about ten days at most. ”

For the soldiers who went out on the expedition, the monthly ration was about three stones and three buckets.

The soldiers of the coalition army came from all over the world, but they still mainly used millet and rice, plus some soup made of wild vegetables, and the conditions were very difficult.

Except for high-ranking generals, there was very little meat to eat, except for horses, which also led to the fact that soldiers had to eat a lot of food to sustain themselves for a day.

This cannot be compared with modern times, after all, modern food is oily and sufficient, and the body's caloric needs are easily satisfied, so eat less.

One stone of Wu is about equal to thirty catties in modern times, so it is estimated that the daily rations of Wu soldiers are basically about three catties.

And now, there are still more than 40,000 soldiers of the coalition army on the front line, and 120,000 catties of grain are consumed in just one day.

That is, the coalition army consumes 4,000 stone rations per day!

That's an astronomical amount!

Or a conservative estimate!

Because not only soldiers, but also war horses also need to eat soybeans, hay, and even grain to replenish their energy.

"Ten days? Within ten days, will our army be able to capture Suicheng? ”

Qingji said with a frown.

No one dared to answer Qingji's words, even Sun Wu and Wu Zixu didn't dare to boast about Haikou.

Because in the area of Qingfashui, it was not only grain and grass that was burned by the Chu army, but also all kinds of equipment.

In the case that the grain and baggage cannot be replenished, it is impossible for the coalition forces to take Suicheng within ten days!

At this time, Wu Zixu pondered for a moment and said, "King, it will take at least a month for the second batch of subsequent grain to arrive at the front line. ”

"Far water can't quench your thirst. With such an urgent need, the minister thought that our coalition army could get grain on the spot and collect grain from the nearby Chu State city! ”

"No!"

As soon as Wu Zixu's words fell, Cai Houshen hurriedly stood up to dissuade him, and said, "King, Doctor Yushi's words are wrong!" ”

"The state of Chu has been fighting for many years, and the Chu people in various places have long been hollowed out, and their vitality has been greatly damaged, and they may not be able to support themselves even with the most basic rations."

"If our coalition army requisitions food, I'm afraid it will ......"

Cai Houshen didn't continue.

However, everyone present knew what he was trying to express.

Cai Houshen certainly has an enmity with the Chu State, but what he hates is the monarch and minister of the Chu State, the dead Ling Yin Nangwa, not the Li Shu of the Chu State, not the Chu people!

As the saying goes, God has the virtue of a good life.

The state of Chu has been reckless in military force for many years, and since the war against Zheng last year, the war has not stopped.

Not only was the young and middle-aged labor force in Chu exhausted, but even the grain of every household was also requisitioned, and the only remaining rations were barely enough for them to survive.

At this time, if the coalition army collected grain in various parts of the Chu State, it would undoubtedly force the Chu people to a dead end.

This will kill a lot of Chu people!

"Cai Hou, do you want to sit back and watch the soldiers of our coalition army starve and be defeated by the Chu division in the end?"

Wu Zixu sneered and said: "The people of Chu are still devoted to the Chu State and are not worthy of sympathy. ”

Wu Zixu is really ruthless!

I don't care about the life or death of the Chu people everywhere at all!

Cai Houshen gritted his teeth, glared at Wu Zixu and said: "My coalition army is an upright king and a righteous teacher, how can they do such a thing that hurts heaven and reason?" ”

"Ridiculous!"

Wu Zixu said disdainfully: "Now, how can our army have the kindness of a woman?" ”

"Either you die, or I die, full of benevolence, righteousness and morality, you can't make a big deal!"

“……”

Cai Houshen wanted to go back to Wu Zixu, but he didn't know where to start.

After all, the situation of the coalition forces is now very critical.

Either they plundered and collected food from all over the Chu State, or they chose to retreat and lift the siege of Suicheng.

Everywhere close to the Tang Kingdom, but with the strength of the Tang Kingdom, I am afraid that it will not be able to raise so many people and horses.

So the best way is to do what Wu Zixu said, to collect grain nearby.

Because once the coalition army retreats, the Chu army in the city will inevitably take advantage of the situation.

When the time comes, those who wait for the coalition forces are afraid that there is only a dead end.

"Let the widow think about it, think about it."

This time, Qingji did not make a decision immediately, but waved his hand to let the generals retreat, and he closed his eyes and meditated.

Whether to go or stay, it is all in the thought of Qingji.

Both options make it difficult to make a favorable judgment.

In order to capture Suicheng and completely destroy the main force of the Chu army, the coalition army must plunder all the cities of the Chu State, loot the only remaining rations of the Chu State, and watch them starve to death.

The consequence of this is nothing more than that the Chu people hate Wu even more and will not die, laying the foundation for Wu to rule this Chu land in the future.

The legacy is endless!

And choosing to retreat, it is obvious that Shen Zhuliang will seize the advantageous fighter opportunity, and then destroy the coalition army in one battle.

The difference between the two options lies in the fact that one is a long-term solution and the other is an immediate benefit.

One is to kill chickens and take eggs, and the other is to fish with all their might!

……

Three watches in the middle of the night.

In Qingji's sleeping tent, there is still a brightly lit scene.

I saw Wu Wang Qingji lying on his marching bed, tossing and turning, and it was really difficult to sleep.

The Spring and Autumn period was different from the troubled times in the later period.

If Qingji is placed in the last years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, he will definitely choose to rob the rations of Li Shu in various places without hesitation to feed his army and win this war.

However, this is the Spring and Autumn Period, which emphasizes the name of righteousness.

The world of great controversy!

People's moral quality still has a certain bottom line, at least until the last resort, they will not choose to let themselves be ruined.

Qingji also wanted to maintain his own personality, and he did not commit any crime against Li Shuqiu of Chu State.

However, the price is too great, and all the efforts made by Wu Jun before may be in vain.

Of course, Wu Guo can also afford such a price.

It's just that Qingji, the commander of the coalition army, will inevitably be swept away in majesty, causing irreparable effects.

The current Qingji is thinking about it and weighing the pros and cons, but he has not figured out a choice that is more beneficial to himself and Wu Guodu.

"Great King, Great Sima asks to see!"

At this moment, the voice of a guard sounded outside the tent.

"Let him in."

"No!"

After a while, Sun Wu, who was still wearing a helmet and armor, entered the sleeping tent step by step and bowed towards Qingji.

"King!"

"Changqing, don't be polite. Sit! ”

"King Xie."

Sun Wu immediately came to the futon on the side and sat opposite Qingji.

"The king is still worried about the interception of our army's grain and the running out of grain?"

"Exactly."

Qingji shook his head and said, "Changqing, don't hide it. Don't look at the widow in front of the generals today, he still looks calm and composed, in fact, the widow can't make up his mind. ”