After Yu He finished speaking, I didn't speak.
Li Si stabilized his mind, cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, the governors of the four counties have no regard for the lives of the people and have neglected political affairs. I beg your Majesty to convict you. I am negligent and cannot escape the blame. Please join me in convicting me!"
Li Si couldn't help but think of his conversation with Li You. If he had known that Yu He would find out about this, he should have made it clear to the court, but now he was passive.
I glanced at Yu He: "Building houses, clearing land, or building mausoleums and palaces, which one will cut down the most?"
Yu He put it bluntly: "Especially the construction of mausoleums and palaces is the most important, followed by land reclamation, and then building houses."
I sighed secretly in my heart, since Ying Zheng was the one who cut off the most, what can I say? No wonder no one dared to report it to the court in the past nine years. However, they cannot be spared the forced household increase.
"Since it is for the construction of Afang Palace and Lishan Mausoleum, let's not pursue it." I changed the topic: "However, the forced increase of households must be investigated carefully."
Yu He cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty is wise. The forced increase of households must be to collect more taxes, which may involve bullying the people, harsh administration and excessive taxation. I will definitely investigate to the end."
I glanced at him: "I remember that after the incident in Changsha County last year, I asked you to go to various counties and counties to investigate and deal with corrupt officials. Why didn't you find it at that time?"
Yu He's face turned red and he carefully replied: "Your Majesty, at that time I focused on checking household registrations and land acres in various places. I didn't think about the mountains and forests... I have neglected my duty. Please forgive me."
I said calmly: "That's all. In the future, if there are any cases involving the First Emperor thirty-seven years ago, especially those involving the late emperor, unless the evildoers have committed the crime to this day, they will no longer be pursued."
Several people said in unison: "Your Majesty is wise!"
"Baichong, tomorrow the court will draw up a regulation on spring plowing and tree planting. It is roughly to encourage tree planting on both sides of Deshui River. It is prohibited to burn wasteland for reclamation within one mile of both sides of Deshui River. At least ten trees must be planted for every acre of land in counties and counties that flow through it. In Qin, the number is twenty. If each household plants more than a hundred trees, they will be rewarded with money and silk. Aren’t they forced to increase the number of households and collect more taxes? Let them find their own way with the reward money!"
"Don't wait until the coast of Deshui becomes a desert and then regret it. You must leave a fertile land for future generations."
The Yellow River began to become turbid, probably during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. It had not yet reached the level of "yellow" during the Qin Dynasty. I didn't pay much attention to it before, thinking it was a natural law. Now it seems that the human factor is greater, and maybe it can be remedied.
————
In mid-February, Zalut's credentials requesting trade arrived in Xianyang.
Nearly 1.5 million shi of grain was spent in one winter, and some people in the court had already expressed their dissatisfaction. Fortunately, it had the expected effect.
Xianyang Hall, court meeting.
The envoy sent by Zharut was Hazhusu. After expressing his intention to come and presenting his credentials, he bowed and said: "Emperor of Great Qin, Great Khan Lute is very grateful to Great Qin for his help. Now that the vegetation has recovered, the cattle that will be returned to Great Qin will The sheep have been driven into the pasture, and Beihu will return a sufficient number of livestock as scheduled this autumn. Please rest assured, Emperor Qin."
I smiled and gave me a little support: "I'm an envoy without any courtesy. What I care about is not corn and livestock, but the restoration of peace between Beihu and Qin Dynasty. The two countries have been fighting for hundreds of years, and now Lut Khan can consider the people of the two countries and open up trade." I'm very relieved. This matter is of great importance and I want to discuss it with my officials. Chen Qing, send the envoy back to rest."
Dianke Chen Qing accepted the order and retreated with Ha Zhusu.
"Geyue," I scanned the circle and asked by name, "What are your thoughts on doing business with Beihu?"
Ge Yue stood up and said: "Your Majesty, since the world was unified, Great Qin has never opened and closed trade with other countries. I believe that the trade between the two countries focuses on mutual benefit, but copper, iron and grain should not be given lightly. The only thing that can be traded with other countries is Da Qin’s silk cloth.”
I praised and said, "That's right. However, Beihu may also have the same idea. If they are only willing to trade sheep, how should we deal with it?"
Even if Zarut secretly surrenders to me, I can't let him do business at a loss openly. Let's not say whether he can do it. It is no different from directly telling Beihu that he is a traitor, so I have to help him find someone. Justifiable reasons.
Li Si cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, I think we can add copper and iron grains to the list of allowed mutual trade, including salt and sugar. The goods in Da Qin's hands are all necessary for them, and the initiative is in our hands. How much of each kind of goods can be traded? It’s not me, Da Qin, who has the final say. If we lower the value of sheep to lower than the price of cattle and horses, if we want to pay less for livestock, we have to choose the cattle and horse trade. What do you think, Your Majesty?”
"Yes." I agreed: "Do you have any other good ideas?"
Looking around, everyone agreed.
I made a decision: "That's it. Ge Yue, you need to carefully negotiate the details of the trade with the envoy. You should not make a loss-making transaction. You just have to consider the production capacity of Daqin's silk cloth. You must not have enough cattle and horses. There is no silk available in Da Qin."
Ge Yue quickly said yes.
Late at night, a carriage quietly left Xianyang Palace.
In the post house, Hazhusu had already made an excuse to pass through Xianyang City to see the strength of Great Qin, and had not returned yet during the curfew.
Wanlixiang's doors and windows were closed, and Hazhusu and I sat across from each other.
"How is Beihu doing now?" I went straight to the topic.
Hazhusu said respectfully: "Your Majesty, after a year of recuperation, Beihu has recovered a little bit. The south is close to Da Qin and has recovered better. As for the north, after the Donghu War and the Unification War, more than half of the casualties were lost in the two wars. There are almost no men left, and they are still struggling to survive.”
I nodded: "Not only do the northern tribes hate Donghu, but they are also very hostile to Da Qin. They were hit hard, which is a good thing for Zalut and Da Qin."
Hazhusu cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty is wise. The fact that Great Qin gave Beihu corn had a great impact on Beihu. Many people couldn't believe that Great Qin could save Beihu from danger regardless of past suspicions, and they were very grateful to Great Qin. And about the trade this year, I believe It can meet His Majesty’s expectations of winning people’s hearts.”
I nodded slightly and said, "How is Zarut?"
Hazhusu naturally understood what I meant and responded: "Zalut asked the villain to tell your majesty that he will remember your majesty's kindness to him and feel very ashamed that he failed to start trading with Daqin last winter. I have betrayed His Majesty’s trust.”
"Yes. Is there any movement from the Huns?" I stopped worrying about the mutual trade and asked about the Huns. They were closest to the Huns, and the news they received must be more detailed.
"No. Although Hedu has unified the north, its strength has been greatly reduced. The border patrols reported that the Huns were grazing in the Beihai and there was no movement."
After hearing this, I felt a little relieved, but I still warned: "Go back and tell Zalut that you must be careful about the Huns. They are scheming and cruel by nature. They suffered such a big loss at the hands of Da Qin and Bei Hu. They will definitely not Give it up and let it go."
