"I don't have anything to say, that's all. Let's disperse."
Three minutes later, Yuan Ke raised his hand and waved everyone away.
He had just inspected the Dasinong Yamen under the leadership of Zhang Tianye and Xu Tao. He visited each department and met with the main officials in charge. After that, he went into the treasury to check it again, and found out to his surprise. The inside of this vault is quite desolate.
"Zhizhi..."
There was no gold, silver, or copper coins in the huge treasury, only a few hungry and skinny mice.
"Master Hou, since Dong Zhuo moved the capital to Chang'an, all the tax revenue that can be collected has gone into Dong Zhuo's pocket, and he has allocated all the expenses of the court."
"For the past three years, this treasury has been idle, and our big Sinong Yamen has nothing to do."
"The imperial court is poor."
Zhang Tianye introduced the current situation of Da Sinong Yamen.
From time to time, he complained to Yuan Ke about the poverty of the imperial court and the embarrassment of their big Sinong Yamen.
After hearing this, Yuan Ke finally understood that this old guy Sang Le was not only trying to protect himself, but also that he had no way to solve the financial crisis of the Han Dynasty, so he handed over this mess to him.
"What? Is the imperial court already so poor?"
Yuan Ke was also surprised when he heard this.
Although he knew that the court was short of money, he never expected that the court would be so poor.
As a modern person who traveled through time, he understood that during this period, the Eastern Han Dynasty court was very poor. Historically, ever since Dong Zhuo entered Beijing to cause chaos, the court could no longer collect taxes.
Taxes from each state were appropriated by local separatist forces.
At the same time, due to the warlords' melee, the people were displaced, their fields were abandoned, and they had no income.
He remembered that in history, during the middle period of Emperor Ling, the Eastern Han Dynasty had more than 12 million households, a population of about 65 million people, about 8.6 million acres of registered land, and an annual land lease of 4.2 billion yuan.
The oral tax, calculation tax and updated tax are about 8.8 billion yuan.
These are just the money under the command of Da Sinong Yamen. The Shaofu is the emperor's private treasury, and the gardens and palaces under his name are worth about 6.5 billion yuan every year.
The total of the three is approximately 16 billion yuan.
This money was converted into silver, which was about 16 million taels.
"Da Sima, you don't know something. Nowadays, taxes from various places cannot be collected. As for the taxes from counties and counties near Chang'an, they have all fallen into Dong Zhuo's pocket, and not a penny has gone into the national treasury."
Xu Tao is also complaining.
"..."
Yuan Ke was silent.
He did not express his position lightly, because the money in his hand could not be put into the national treasury. After all, the current treasury was not his, and he was afraid that the court would spend his money.
However, he felt that it was time to hammer the states, prefectures and counties. The court had no money and could not make things easier for them. It would take as much as it could ask for.
Before, when Dong Zhuo was in chaos, various places had reasons not to pay taxes. Now that Dong Zhuo is dead, they should have no reason to refuse to pay taxes, right?
I don’t expect to hand them all in. I’ll collect as much as I can.
Zhang Tianye and Xu Tao saw that Yuan Ke was silent and did not interrupt. They just stood aside quietly and waited.
"Snapped!"
Yuan Ke raised his hand and patted the table.
"Okay, that's it."
he shouted.
"Da Sima——"
"I, we..."
Upon seeing this, Zhang Tianye and Xu Tao instinctively knelt on the ground.
"We just spoke out and forthrightly, and we didn't make up any nonsense. Please be honest with me, Grand Sima."
The two of them forced themselves to explain.
"Well, I didn't mean to accuse you just now. I just thought of a way to make money. I immediately issued documents demanding taxes to the states, prefectures and counties in the name of the imperial court. Not only did I add the name of Da Sinong Yamen, The big seal also added the commanding seal of Da Sima, telling them that if anyone fails to pay the tax, I will personally send troops to collect it."
Yuan Ke couldn't help but said loudly.
"ah--"
"Da Sima, does this method work?"
Xu Tao whispered.
"I have a somewhat prestigious reputation. I understand that the feudal lords on one side will give me some face. Of course, don't push me too hard. Take as much as you can."
Yuan Ke said.
"yes!"
Xu Tao and Zhang Tianye said.
The two agreed verbally, but in their hearts they were worried that Yuan Ke's method would not be very effective.
In their view, the princes from all walks of life who hated Yuan Ke, a traitor and traitor, would not necessarily give him face.
However, they did not dare to say this out loud.
"You will give me a plan for the court's money this year and see where money needs to be spent. Remember, our policy is to reduce unnecessary expenses, keep everything simple, and rest and recuperate."
Yuan Ke said.
"yes!"
The two said after hearing this.
Also when Tian Jiping led the anti-plague troops from the Imperial Medical Office to leave Chang'an, the Dasinong Yamen sent tax collection documents to all states, counties, and counties in the "Eight Hundred Miles Expedited" manner.
At night, as soon as he returned to Da Sima's mansion, Yuan Ke summoned Jia Xu.
In the study room.
"Wen He, I have called you here. I have something to discuss with you."
As Yuan Ke spoke, he pushed the [Loyalty Cookies] on the table to the other party without leaving a trace.
"This is a rare noodle that I just got. Please try it."
The reason why he used this loyalty biscuit for Jia Xu was because he was worried about Jia Xu.
"Thank you, Lord!"
Jia Xu didn't hesitate, took the biscuit and ate it carefully.
There was nothing much when he first ate it, but he soon discovered that this [biscuit] melted in his mouth and was very delicious.
Then he put most of the biscuits in his hand into his mouth.
After he finished eating, he didn't forget to lick his lips, looking like he was having endless aftertaste.
"My lord, this biscuit is delicious."
he said honestly.
"Ha ha--"
"I have also tasted it. It is precisely because it is delicious that I left a piece for Wen He so you can have a try."
"It's a pity that this thing comes from a small country in the Western Region. We Han people don't understand how to make it, so we can't enjoy it. However, if there is a chance in the future, I will definitely get the method of making this."
“At that time, I could enjoy such delicious food every day.”
Yuan Ke heard this and said with a smile.
After a chuckle, he began to get down to business.
"Okay, let's not talk about these mundane things, let's talk about business."
At the same time, he took the opportunity to check Jia Xu's attribute information.
[Character]: Jia Xu
[Force]: 56
[Intelligence]: 92
【Internal Affairs】：90
【Commander】：60
[Loyalty]: 100 (never betray)
After discovering that Jia Xu's loyalty was full, I felt completely relieved about Jia Xu.
"Wen He, you must have heard about what happened at today's meeting, right? The Great Sinong Sangle resigned, and his position as the Great Sinong also fell into the hands of this Marquis."
"It's just that now, I also have a problem. There is no one I can trust to take care of the big man's money bag for me."
"I wonder if Wenhe might be a suitable candidate?"
Yuan Ke asked Jia Xu for advice. In fact, his preferred candidate was Jia Xu.
It's just that Jia Xu now also serves as a guard, responsible for guarding the palace. If he is given the job of Da Sinong Yamen, I don't know if he can handle it.
"My lord, Changsun Wuji can be responsible for this matter. He is very capable in internal affairs. If he is in charge, he can make the best use of his talents."
Jia Xu raised his hand to recommend Changsun Wuji.
"Changsun Wuji is a good candidate, but now he is in Luoyang and has a heavy responsibility, so he can't get away from it. Wenhe, I won't hide it from you. In fact, I prefer you to be the [Da Si Nong]. Deputy Prime Minister, I am optimistic about this money bag of the Han Dynasty."
Yuan Ke got straight to the point.
"ah--"
"My lord, it's not that I don't want to take on this important task. It's just that now that I am also a guard and responsible for the safety of the palace, I am afraid that I will not be able to handle it if I am asked to take charge of the chief minister at the same time."
"I am afraid of delaying the Lord's important event."
Jia Xu said.
"I have considered this matter, and it is not a big problem."
"You first take over the affairs of Da Sinong Yamen and support me. Regarding Zhang Tianye and Xu Tao, I don't trust them."
"If they are not my subordinates, their minds will be different."
"As for matters in the palace, don't delay. Just worry more about it for now."
"As little as three months, as much as six months, I will find a successor for you."
"how?"
Yuan Ke asked.
He has an excellent candidate, and this person is Xun Yu.
Xun Yu was a native of Yingchuan County.
Speaking of Yingchuan, it is the place where outstanding people and places are located, and Xu Shu is also a native of Yingchuan.
Previously, Chen Qun and Guo Jia mentioned in the recruitment white paper were also from Yingchuan.
If it weren't for the war against Bashu, he should have gone to Yingchuan long ago to recruit these talents into Chang'an to serve him.
However, the best opportunity to capture Bashu is now.
Before he returned to Beijing, he asked Yuhuatian to send Xizuo to Hanzhong and Yizhou, especially to Chengdu. If his predictions were correct, Liu Yan should be seriously ill and bedridden now.
At this time, people in Yizhou were panicking. He wanted to take this opportunity to capture Hanzhong and even Jiange and other places. If conditions allowed, he would also use his troops to occupy Chengdu and hold this land of abundance in his hands.
"The Lord has spoken, and you must obey it."
