The Thousand Ounce Burden
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The drumbeats of war echo through the palace of Wu. King Ho Lu has commanded you, General Wei, to mobilize against the hostile state of Ch'u.
You stand before the King and your mentor, Sun Tzu. The scale of the operation is staggering: one thousand swift chariots, one thousand heavy chariots, and one hundred thousand mail-clad soldiers.
Sun Tzu looks at the ledger and speaks softly. "To raise such a host, with provisions to carry them a thousand li, and to cover the cost of glue, paint, armor, and entertainment for guests... the expenditure will reach a total of one thousand ounces of silver per day."
The King looks worried. "The treasury can bear this, General Wei, but not forever. How will you begin this campaign?"