This poem by Yang Ling is easy to understand, but cruel and true, which shocked Zhao Yun deeply!
No matter how prosperous the dynasty is, the people at the bottom will always suffer!
"My eldest brother cares about all the people in the world. Zilong really admires me."
Zhao Yun sighed.
Yang Ling just smiled bitterly and looked at Cao Cao in front of the army.
Originally, he planned to be lazy and fish, and just live out his life lying flat.
But the war scenes he saw along the way made him feel quite uncomfortable.
Maybe God allowed me to travel through time and arrive at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty just to end this troubled world.
Thinking of this, Yang Ling made up his mind to assist Cao Cao with all his heart, develop as soon as possible and dominate the world!
…
After another day's march, Cao Cao led his troops and finally arrived at Puyang County, the seat of Dongjun.
There were only a few petty officials standing under the city gate. When they saw Cao Cao arriving, they hurriedly stepped forward to greet him.
"I've met Governor Cao!"
As the highest official of a county, Cao Cao took office for the first time today. Not to mention the officials of all sizes in the county, even the powerful local nobles should send people to welcome him.
But there were only a few people at the city gate.
He frowned and asked coldly,
"What about the rest?"
"If I go back to the prefect, they are all busy with official duties, so they can't spare any time..."
A clerk hesitated.
"You are so busy with official business, you clearly don't take the prefect seriously!"
Xiahou Dun always had a hot temper. When he heard this, he couldn't help but scolded,
"I think you are getting tired of living!"
"General, calm down, there's nothing I can do about this..."
The man smiled bitterly.
Cao Cao looked uncertain.
He knew in his heart that those people were going to give him a blow!
But I am new here, so now is not the time to have an attack.
He could only say coldly,
"Let's go to town!"
After the group entered the city, Cao Cao first settled the army, and then led Dian Wei, Xiahou Dun and others straight to the county government office.
In the county government office.
Without saying a word, Cao Cao led people into the lobby. After sitting down, he said in a deep voice,
"Call all the officials here!"
Not long after, all the officials from the county government gathered over.
"I've seen the prefect!"
Cao Cao looked around at the officials and said calmly,
"Where is the county magistrate?"
"Report to the prefect, my subordinates are here!"
A wizened old man emerged from the crowd and said with a cupped hand.
"Where are the county's account books regarding population, land, and taxes over the years? Submit them quickly."
Cao Cao ordered.
Land, population, and taxes are the foundation of Dongjun and determine whether Cao Cao can stand firm.
So as soon as I came up, I asked to check the accounts!
The county magistrate did not dare to hesitate and immediately ordered people to bring the county's account books over the years and present them to Cao Cao.
However, Cao Cao's expression changed drastically after reading it for a moment!
After choosing Dongjun as his foundation, he had understood the situation in Dongjun in advance.
Although it has experienced several wars, Dongjun is still relatively wealthy and has a large population.
However, the population, land, and taxes recorded in the account books were less than one-third of the amount provided to the court in the early years!
If this situation prevails, let alone developing power, Cao Cao's own five thousand troops will starve to death first!
"Are you sure there is nothing wrong with this account?"
Cao Cao's eyes were cold and he stared at the county magistrate in front of him and asked.
Although Jun Cheng was afraid in his heart, he still bit the bullet and said,
"Reporting to the Prefect, when Prefect Qiao was here, the account books looked like this."
Cao Cao stared at him for a while, then waved and said,
"You all go down!"
After all the officials left, Cao Cao was so angry that he beat the table and said,
"These bastards deserve to be killed for how dare they fool me!"
Dian Wei and others saw Cao Cao's rage, but they didn't know how to share his worries.
Cao Cao calmed down for a moment, then remembered that he still had Yang Ling as his counselor, and said quickly,
"Go find Mr. Yang Ling quickly!"
Xiahou Dun accepted the order and left.
However, after a while, he turned back and said with a wry smile,
"Prefect, I don't know where your husband has gone. We can't find him."
"knew!"
Cao Cao sat there with a livid face.
I don't know how long I waited until the sky darkened and I saw Yang Ling and Zhao Yun wandering into the lobby.
"I've seen the prefect!"
Yang Ling bowed his hands.
"You know what you did all afternoon when you came back?"
Cao Cao said angrily.
He was sulking in the county government office, but Yang Ling was happy and happy.
Yang Ling chuckled, avoided answering, and asked,
"What's the matter with the governor looking for his subordinates?"
"That's right, I've already reviewed the county's accounts..."
Cao Cao gave a brief explanation and then showed Yang Ling the county's account books.
Yang Ling looked over it and nodded slightly.
"So that's it."
Seeing that he was not surprised, Cao Cao couldn't help but said,
"Did Sir already know this in advance?"
"The prefect doesn't know. In fact, my subordinates did not go out to have fun this afternoon, but went to share the prefect's worries."
Yang Ling smiled slowly.
"Share your worries for me?"
Cao Cao looked at Yang Ling blankly.
"I've already done a thorough job of the situation in Puyang County."
Yang Ling explained,
"The account books provided to you by Jun Cheng are actually correct."
"How can it be?"
Cao Cao looked unbelieving.
How could Dongjun, which had always been prosperous, only have such a small amount of land and population?
"In fact, most of the land and population are in the hands of the gentry."
Yang Ling said slowly.
At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the emperor was fatuous, the court was in chaos, and the land annexation situation became more and more serious!
Those noble families with privileges used various means to steal land from the people!
More and more farmers are losing their land or even have no land!
In order to survive, they had no choice but to seek refuge with the gentry as tenant farmers.
However, wealthy noble families can rely on their status to enjoy tax exemption and exemption from military service!
As a result, the taxes collected by the government every year will naturally become less and less!
"In order to maintain the army, the former governor Qiao Mao was forced to have good relations with the nobles."
"The food and supplies for his army are provided by the nobles, and in exchange, most of the nobles' children serve as officials in the county."
"Rather than saying that Dongjun is under the jurisdiction of the imperial court, it is better to say that it is controlled by the nobles!"
"This situation does not only happen in Dongjun, similar situations can be found in thirteen states across the world!"
"It is precisely because of this that more and more farmers are unable to survive, which is why the previous Yellow Turban rebellion occurred, leading to chaos in the world!"
Yang Ling sighed.
These wealthy nobles were like blood-sucking insects, lying on the huge Han Empire, sucking blood desperately.
As long as they become obese, everyone in the world will suffer.
This is also the reason why Cao Cao wanted to suppress the gentry in history!
After all, if the noble clan becomes stronger, it will only shake the rule of the country!
