"It sounds a weighty charge," she says sincerely. "I don't know how much I can help—I'm good with ideas, but I have never commanded an army, much less fought a battle. But here is what I know. Besieging a city, particularly a walled city, is very difficult, and very expensive. If the army can keep supplies from entering the city, it's possible to starve them out, but what will the army eat? Thousands of men require food and drink, not to mention weapons and armor, and their horses must also be provided for. The cost of dispatching a single soldier may be up to half a liang of silver per day, so unless the dispatching kingdom has very deep pockets, it is difficult to outlast the store of provisions kept in a city. That is why Sun Tzu advises never to besiege a walled city if it can be avoided."
She pauses to eat more falafel. "And now let me tell you of the situation in Huainan, and you may tell me your thoughts. First of all, you must know that the Emperor of the Wei kingdom is unique." She remembers telling Magnus that she was married to a princess. She hopes he won't make the connection here, only because Qi Yan has no desire to discuss her personal matters. "The previous Emperor had nine sons, yet even among so many, there was no suitable heir to inherit the kingdom. He refused to name an heir while alive, but left an edict to be read upon his death stating his intention to leave the kingdom to his youngest daughter. She was prepared for this, and had already secured military and political support, but it was nevertheless a bloody and controversial succession. Many in the court and the kingdom still find it difficult to accept a female Emperor. Beyond that, the kingdom has suffered a series of natural disasters, especially torrential rain and flooding, that destroyed much of the grain harvest in farming provinces such as Huainan. Many farmers were forced to leave their lands and become refugees. Because of their dire straits, and out of anger towards the idea of a female Emperor, a rebel army formed. They were even able to secure a walled city as their base of operations.
"The Emperor gathered her closest ministers for guidance, and they determined that it was not feasible to settle this matter militarily—for several reasons, but primarily the expense. Their suggestion was for the Emperor to issue an 'edict of self-blame,' essentially an imperial decree acknowledging the hardships that had befallen the rebels, and taking responsibility. This edict would state that the rebellion was the fault of the Emperor, for mishandling matters, and not the fault of the people. It would also offer the rebels amnesty, promising that if they gave up the rebellion and returned to their homes, their crimes would be pardoned, and the matter not investigated further. This would keep them from continuing to rebel solely out of fear of being prosecuted for treason. What do you think of this plan? Can you see any flaws?"
no subject
She pauses to eat more falafel. "And now let me tell you of the situation in Huainan, and you may tell me your thoughts. First of all, you must know that the Emperor of the Wei kingdom is unique." She remembers telling Magnus that she was married to a princess. She hopes he won't make the connection here, only because Qi Yan has no desire to discuss her personal matters. "The previous Emperor had nine sons, yet even among so many, there was no suitable heir to inherit the kingdom. He refused to name an heir while alive, but left an edict to be read upon his death stating his intention to leave the kingdom to his youngest daughter. She was prepared for this, and had already secured military and political support, but it was nevertheless a bloody and controversial succession. Many in the court and the kingdom still find it difficult to accept a female Emperor. Beyond that, the kingdom has suffered a series of natural disasters, especially torrential rain and flooding, that destroyed much of the grain harvest in farming provinces such as Huainan. Many farmers were forced to leave their lands and become refugees. Because of their dire straits, and out of anger towards the idea of a female Emperor, a rebel army formed. They were even able to secure a walled city as their base of operations.
"The Emperor gathered her closest ministers for guidance, and they determined that it was not feasible to settle this matter militarily—for several reasons, but primarily the expense. Their suggestion was for the Emperor to issue an 'edict of self-blame,' essentially an imperial decree acknowledging the hardships that had befallen the rebels, and taking responsibility. This edict would state that the rebellion was the fault of the Emperor, for mishandling matters, and not the fault of the people. It would also offer the rebels amnesty, promising that if they gave up the rebellion and returned to their homes, their crimes would be pardoned, and the matter not investigated further. This would keep them from continuing to rebel solely out of fear of being prosecuted for treason. What do you think of this plan? Can you see any flaws?"