Chapter 144 Lu Zhi in Trouble - Part 2 (2/2)
The crowd was shocked once again. They looked at Lu Zhi's family workers with fiery envious eyes as a kind family like this was rare. They wished that they could have worked for Lu Zhi, too.
Meanwhile, Lu Zhi's subordinates gazed at Lu Zhi with blank faces. They had no idea what Lu Zhi was talking about because it was their first time hearing the terms ”Employment Loss Payment”. In addition, there were only 20,000 workers in Lu Zhi's family businesses. Lu Zhi's number was not right.
Liu Ping was not stupid, he knew about the term as it was something from his previous world. He figured that Lu Zhi must have made this up on the spot or had learned from Tong. If he were to pay for it, Liu Ping would be scammed. If Liu Ping would not pay, Lu Zhi would discredit him for being irresponsible and such. In the end, he would suffer losses either way.
”I can't give them gold. I need them for my campaign against Zhang Jiao.” Liu Ping refused.
”I don't mind if I don't have the gold. I request that you'll give them food.”
”Fine. One year of food it is. How many tons do you need?”
”The same for an army of 60,000 men, your majesty. Sixty tons for one day, so two years would be 44,000 tons.”
”… Alright. I'll give them to your men.”
Lu Zhi laughed in his mind. Forty-four thousand tons of provision was not much, but Lu Zhi knew about the incoming famine this year and next year. The food price would skyrocket and those 44,000 tons would save his subordinates' lives, assuming that those provisions were well-keep and would not go bad.
Secondly, Lu Zhi had sabotaged Liu Ping's provision successfully. It was not a significant amount at the moment, but in the long run, it would cut down Liu Ping Army's longevity. As long as Tong and his men turtled in his city long enough, Liu Ping would lose.
”From this moment on, you will accompany me at all time. Wang Yun, arrange a hundred guards for Lu Zhi. Also, arrange an additional thousand guard reserves for night shifts and other shifts. I want him 'PROTECTED' 24/7!”
Though Liu Ping said ”Protected”, Lu Zhi understood that it meant ”Imprisonment” instead.
'I can't escape now. I'm sorry disciple…'
Lu Zhi gazed at everyone in his family who had been escorted to the military camp as hostages.
'Everyone… I'm sorry.'
'Because of me, all of you are implicated into this.'
'I swear by our surname, I'll destroy Liu Ping from within!'
'He will pay for this tyranny!'
…
At night
Liu Ping returned to his chamber with a foul mood. He knew that Lu Zhi had conned him somehow, but he had to keep this old fox in check. He also wanted to kill him and his family on the spot, but if he were to do it, he would suffer backlashes from the officials and Lu Zhi's colleagues as he was well-known as the honest politician.
Killing Lu Zhi in the open was impossible with his current status!
”How annoying. This is why I hate politics.”
”But it doesn't matter. I'll kill him eventually and I'll show his head to Tong.”
”Tong, you will regret messing with me in Hell!”
Liu Ping walked to the strategic map on the table. The map of the country laid on the table with sculptured dolls on it.
One of the dolls stood on the northern part of the map, which is Julu City. Below the Yellow River, four triangle wooden blocks were there. They represented the Imperial Armies of Dong Zhuo, Zhu Jun, Huangfu Song, and the main army, his army.
Like a tabletop game, Liu Ping gazed at the location of each city, mountain, and river.
He extended his hand and placed his army on Jinyang City while the other three armies at the Yie City of Han Fu.
”How about a pincer attack, how are you going to deal with this?”
Then he put a few small wooden blocks on the northern city, Ji City of Liu Yan.
”I can also have him launch an attack from the north.”
Liu Ping paused when his eyes read the name of a city, Nan Pi.
”He wouldn't dare to help Tong, right? But just in case, I'll put you as a possible reinforcement for Tong.”
Liu Ping placed a wooden doll on Nan Pi city.
”Now, how many lords will answer my edict, I wonder?”