It is the so-called medicine with three points of poison.

To be honest, Qingji still has some doubts about the anti-aging pill refined by Bian Que, Nan Rong and others.

You can't live forever, you can't prolong life, but the anti-aging effect is also not small.

After all, Qingji expects that he can always maintain his most vigorous energy, and he can still be like a middle-aged man, in the spring and autumn......

"This elixir, have you ever asked someone to test the medicine?"

Qingji asked with squinted eyes.

"Back to the king, I've found it."

Bian Que clapped his hands, and there were three young men with childish spirit and dark skin, with terrified eyes, and their bodies trembling like chaff were taken into the Zide Hall by the guards and knelt under the majesty's platform.

Bian Que pointed at the three teenagers and said slowly: "The king, these three people, how old is the king?" ”

"Eleven or twelve?"

Qingji guessed.

Bian Que bowed to Qingji and said, "Great King, they are about fifteen or sixteen years old. ”

"Four years ago, after they took this medicine, their bodies no longer developed, and they have maintained this form, and they are in good health and have no diseases."

This is enough to prove that the three teenagers who were tested will remain at the age of eleven or twelve for the rest of their lives, and they will remain unchanged for the rest of their lives.

It is worth mentioning that they are all Kunlun slaves, so they are used to test the medicine, and it is harmless to die.

"Good."

Qingji bowed slightly, believing in the efficacy of this anti-aging pill.

The elixir of life cannot be refined, but the anti-aging pill is not.

"Chen Xuan, how many anti-aging pills are there?"

"Five."

"Can it be mass-produced?"

"No."

Bian Que sighed regretfully: "King, the anti-aging pill is all used in rare medicinal materials, which can be described as a treasure of heaven and earth, and it is very rare. If you take one pill, you can see the effect, so why do you need too much? ”

"Refine as much as you can."

Qingji just explained.

Anti-aging pill, Qingji can be taken, Ji Ko, Xi Shi, Zheng Dan and other concubines, as well as Qingji's heroes, may not be able to take it.

If it is really rare, Qingji can only choose to let his close people take it.

Eternal youth, delay aging, this is a great elixir!

……

The time entered the twenty-third year of King Qingji of Wu, that is, in 491 BC, the second month of the lunar calendar.

When Wu Guo recuperated and restored people's livelihood, a new pattern had also emerged.

The allied forces of Han, Zhao, Wei, and Dai annihilated Zhi, which means that the territory of the original overlord Jin was basically divided between Korea, Zhao and Wei.

Today, there are still eleven vassal states, namely: Wu, Qi, Han, Zhao, Wei, Song, Lu, Wei, Zheng, Yan, and Zhongshan.

The Dai State is the same as the Eight Kingdoms of Xirong, which belongs to the Rong Di Fang Kingdom, and is not the princes canonized by Zhou Tianzi, so it is not listed.

A new pattern has been formed.

At this time, Qingji was sitting in the Zide Hall with Sun Wu, Wu Zixu, Ji Ran, Fan Li and other ministers of the humerus to discuss state affairs.

After the destruction of Qin, Qingji believed that the first priority was to restore the people's livelihood and show favor to Li Shu, so he instructed Ji Ran, Wen and other ministers to conduct a national census.

What Qingji was reading in his hand was the piece that Ji Ran had presented.

"Great King, after several months of national census, excluding the Western Regions Protectorate, the twenty-four counties and three hundred and sixty-eight counties of our Wu Kingdom, the statistics show that the number of households is 2.92 million, and the population is more than 14.62 million."

"1,670 chariots, more than 47,000 horses, 150,000 forbidden troops, 350,000 border troops and county troops, a total of 500,000 standing troops."

"In addition, the Kunlun slaves who are not registered in the household register, as well as the Persian prisoners of war before, are about 960,000."

Hearing this, Qingji was quite satisfied.

With a population of more than 14 million, can't Wu sweep the world?

"The king, the minister has a word, I don't know whether to say it or not."

Dazai said hesitantly.

"But it doesn't hurt to say it."

"Our country of Wu is now in ruins, and it is when we are committed to restoring the people's livelihood and ruling the arch, and the standing army of 500,000 is too large. The minister thought that some of the soldiers could be reduced and returned to the fields so that the country could save resources. ”

Hearing this, Qingji did not make a direct decision, but looked at Sun Wu and Wu Zixu, and asked, "Sun Wu and Wu Yuan, what do you think?" ”

These two people, one is a national lieutenant and the other is a great Sima, who is good at leading troops in battle, and they are extremely prestigious in the army.

】

If we want to carry out disarmament, we should naturally ask their opinions.

After Sun Wu pondered for a moment, he replied, "My lord, the minister thinks that what Dazai said is not unreasonable. ”

"The nine southern counties, which used to be full of rebellions, have been naturalized over the years, and they no longer riot at every turn."

"With the strength of Great Wu now, the northern countries can only survive, although they are still carrying out reforms, they will never be able to catch up with the footsteps of our Wu country."

As a result, the threat from the north has been greatly reduced. Why, then, did the king not disarm the treasury in order to relieve some of its military expenditures and at the same time allow them to return to their homeland and become self-reliant? ”

"The king, the minister seconded the proposal."

Wu Zixu said that he had no objection.

The benefits of disarmament are self-evident.

With a standing army of 500,000, Wu can naturally afford it.

But, it's really not necessary!

The monarchs and ministers of the State of Wu can foresee that in the next few years, the State of Wu will not fight at every turn, but will only focus on the people's livelihood.

The northern nations did not dare to go south and invade the borders of Wu.

After so many years of hard work, the absolute hegemony of Wu is unshakable.

Moreover, if it were not for the alliance of hundreds of thousands of princes, there would be no need for Wu to maintain so many soldiers and horses as a standing army.

Wouldn't it be more beneficial to the state of Wu if some soldiers could be allowed to retire, turn into farmers, work diligently, and reproduce more children?

It's just that disarmament is not an easy task.

How to cut and how many troops to cut, Qingji needs to be considered.

After some careful consideration, Qingji finally made a decision.

"My country of Wu is now a vast territory with a large population, and the standing army cannot be too small."

"Disarmament...... 150,000 is enough, keep 350,000 horses, garrison in various places, and garrison 100,000 forbidden troops in the capital. All retired soldiers must be given heavy pensions and properly resettled. ”

Qingji set his eyes on Prime Minister Wen Chong, and said slowly: "Wen Chong, this matter will be handed over to you to be fully responsible." ”

"No!"

Wu's standing army of 350,000 is indispensable.

After all, not to mention other places, Ba County, Shu County and Chang'an County (the land of the old Qin) are all newly incorporated into the territory of Wu, and a certain number of soldiers and horses need to be stationed in case of accidents.

"The King."

Wu Zixu frowned and said: "Now my Wu soldiers are strong and strong, and there are more than 1,600 chariots and 20,000 iron cavalry. ”

"However, the minister thinks that on today's battlefield, the lethality of chariots is no longer as good as that of cavalry with complete armor."

"That's why I think the king should consider phasing out the chariots and make every effort to build more and stronger elite iron cavalry!"