Chapter 107: The Population Problem

Meng Yi.

When Meng Di arrived at Fei Yi with his warhorses, he found that shops belonging to the Tian clan had sprung up everywhere. He casually stepped into a few small stores to inquire about prices and found them relatively reasonable.

This left him quite satisfied. Seeing that Su Er was in high spirits and he was preparing to continue browsing, he was surprised to see Ji Ran hurrying toward him. Sensing that something must have happened, Meng Di stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Has something occurred?"

"Some time ago, Yang Hu executed Liang Huai. You must have heard of this when passing through Qufu, my lord. But there is another matter that is rather subtle: the states of Zheng and Cao have dispatched envoys to the state of Qi."

Upon hearing this, Meng Di frowned. Although the various feudal states had been deeply dissatisfied with Jin following the Conference of Zhaoling, why was Zheng being so proactive this time?

The state of Cao, wedged between the states of Wei, Song, and Lu, lived in constant fear of annihilation. Since it bordered neither Qi, Chu, nor Jin, its vacillating stance was understandable. But why was Zheng acting with such uncharacteristic urgency? Their traditional strategy had always been to play both sides. Caught between Jin and Chu, they typically aligned with whichever power happened to be invading at the time.

Yet, their unexpected approach to Qi was intriguing. Meng Di asked, "This behavior from Zheng seems strange; it deviates from their usual policy."

Ji Ran, realizing Meng Di was unaware of the internal situation, explained in detail, "Previously, the Great Officer Zi Dashu of Zheng favored Jin, but he died suddenly last year. The newly appointed Si Chuan is determined to strengthen Zheng. I suspect their goal is to annex the state of Xu, which is why they have shifted their strategy."

"With Jin in a state of decline and internal strife, and Xu’s traditional protector, Chu, also in a weakened position, Zheng needs a new, reliable backer before they launch their invasion."

"In today's world, only Qi remains relatively stable, so their actions are understandable. However, there is one point you must consider, my lord: what will our stance be?"

Meng Di was caught off guard, but after a moment of reflection, his expression shifted. "Are you implying that Zheng taking Cao along to Qi is aimed at our state of Lu? The timing is impeccable—Chu has been defeated by Wu, and Jin is mired in internal conflict."

"If Zheng annexes Xu and then pulls other states into an alliance with Qi, they gain the spoils while securing favor with Qi. Their calculations are masterful. Everyone says the people of Song are 'deaf' and those of Zheng are 'mute,' but I see that is not entirely true."

The "Deaf Song and Mute Zheng" referred to the era when those states, exhausted by the endless power struggles between Jin and Chu, sought a truce, leading to the "Alliance of Mi." This brought a few decades of stability, during which Song and Zheng, rather than striving for progress, comfortably enjoyed a period of peace. Because they failed to remain vigilant, they were mocked by their contemporaries.

Ji Ran laughed in agreement. "If they had seized their opportunities, they might not be in this position now. But the most pressing issue is: what shall we do? Given the current situation in Lu, they will likely continue to follow Jin's lead."

"That puts us in a dangerous position. Although Yang Hu gave us Xiyun, it was meant to guard against Qi. Given the current trends, our future is precarious."

Meng Di had his own perspective. After pondering for a moment, he said, "I did not meet Fan Yang during my trip to Jin, but I had a long talk with Zhao Yang. From his words, it is clear that Fan Yang still maintains strong control over Jin."

"If Zheng truly unites with other states to strike at Lu, Jin will inevitably intervene, as it concerns their fundamental security. Jin remains the hegemon; its strength has not yet reached the point of terminal decay. Furthermore, the former commander of the Jin Upper Army, Wei Shu, was a master of military formations, having pioneered the 'Wei Shu Phalanx' and reformed their military."

"Moreover, Zhao Yang is actively pushing for new reforms within his territory. Despite the political instability, Jin's military power is not yet frail. We only need to stall for a time."

Ji Ran nodded. While he acknowledged the logic, he knew that in the wars of great powers, variables were many, and thorough preparation was the superior strategy. He suggested, "Gongshu Ban possesses extraordinary skills. I believe you should entrust him with the defense works of Xiyun and reorganize the defenses within our territory to prepare for any eventuality. Then, there is the matter of manpower."

"The most critical problem is the labor shortage. We cannot even clear all the land for farming. Although you wish to foster various industries, we lack the people. While there are many in Lu, few are coming to join us."

This stumped Meng Di, who briefly considered raiding other states for people. However, Ji Ran remained calm. Recognizing that Ji Ran already had a plan and was merely testing him, Meng Di smiled and said, "Master Ji, if you have an idea, please speak plainly. I am at my wit's end."

Ji Ran sighed with a look of resignation. "Since we cannot find people in Lu, we must look elsewhere. But this requires sufficient military strength. We only have a few thousand men, and they are tied up guarding the borders of Lu. Any plan would be difficult to implement."

This remark provided Meng Di with a clue, and he immediately grasped where Ji Ran’s sights were set.