After hearing what Liu Bei said, Liang Hu could only smile.
"You're right, I don't want to be the second Xi Jian, so let's not talk about selling salt for the time being?"
"That's natural. Let's not mention the salt issue for the time being. Don't do this kind of thing for the time being."
Liu Bei smiled and said: "Compared with table salt, there are clearly better things that can be sold into Shu. For example, there is a shortage of good horses in Shu, and there are good horses in Liangzhou that can be sold. There is also Liangzhou's peach wine, which can be sold." Entering Sichuan, there must be many people who like it. These are all good aspects.
This time His Majesty sent you to Shu, not only to stabilize Shuzhong, but also to develop it. I am in charge of military affairs, and you are in charge of government affairs. If we work together, Shuzhong will definitely be stabilized. As long as it is stable, the purpose will not matter. It is achieved. "
Liang Hu nodded happily, but slightly worried.
"With such a huge profit from selling salt, do you really not plan to sell it in Sichuan? Are you really planning to hand over these benefits to those wealthy people in Sichuan? I think that although it cannot be successful for the time being, if you can use some means If so, it might not be possible to open a gap, right?"
"of course."
Liu Bei grinned and said: "But things must be arranged in order and have priorities. We cannot turn all the great clans in Shu into enemies at once. We must win over some and then attack some, so that they will fight among themselves. It also keeps us from being isolated.
How can we, as outsiders, gain a foothold in Sichuan if we are isolated? But as long as we can win over one group of people first and then deal with another group of people, it won't be that difficult.
Besides, when selling salt in Sichuan, if you can’t use local well salt but have to transport salt from Liangzhou, that would be the stupidest thing! Transporting salt from Liangzhou over mountains and ridges consumes a lot of salt. How can it compete with local well salt? "
Liang Hu was stunned for a moment, and then was shocked.
"You want to seize Yizhou's well salt for your own use?"
"Can't you?"
"It's not that it's impossible, it's just that it's a bit too difficult."
Liang Hu said in a low voice: "Seizing the salt wells for oneself basically means going to war with the local wealthy families, and they have to destroy their families. Otherwise, how can we seize the profitable salt wells?
If you destroy your family, it will affect your whole body. Are you sure? Didn’t you say you shouldn’t make relations with the locals too stiff? I really want to do something about the well salt, is that okay? "
"If you talk about military affairs, I am confident now. As long as I bring all the Liangzhou army here, all the great clans in Shu will form a coalition to fight me, and they will not be my opponent."
Liu Bei smiled confidently and said: "But that is the way of a hero in troubled times. We are serious officials in the imperial court. We hold great power, so we must follow the rules and not act randomly, otherwise we will be easily criticized by thousands of people."
"what do you mean?"
"We are here in good faith."
Liu Bei said with a smile: "When the situation stabilizes, check their taxes, check their land, property, and slaves to see if their taxes are legal. If any problems are found, punish them and make them pay back the taxes. They will also have to pay fine.
A gentleman loves money and gets it in a wise way. I am a gentleman. I come with integrity and do not follow evil ways. Everything is done according to Han law. If they want to tell you about Spring and Autumn Judgment, then let them tell me and I will give it to them. Explain what the Spring and Autumn Judgment is. "
Liang Hu was stunned.
"If we continue to investigate like this, how many people will be fine? Isn't the whole of Sichuan and Sichuan going to be on edge? Something big is going to happen."
"But I didn't break the law by doing this. I was aboveboard and acted in accordance with the laws and regulations of the court. What's wrong with that?"
Liu Bei spread his hands and said: "If this is wrong, it must not be my fault. If someone tells me that it is my fault and I can't do this, then I'm sorry, I will kill someone."
Liu Bei grinned and showed a kind smile.
"I act in accordance with the laws and regulations of the imperial court, but I can't succeed. I can't perform my duties normally. How can I be an official? Isn't it true that I have failed the emperor's trust? Isn't it disloyal? A disloyal person can continue to hold the position. ?
Preventing me from doing something loyal is also disloyal, and is on the same level as rebellion. Under my rule, someone actually wants to rebel, and someone actually wants to threaten the Han Dynasty. That is something I cannot bear. I must take action. Soldiers kill people and make disloyalty disappear. "
Liang Hu was greatly amazed.
As expected of the god of debate who was rampant in Luoyang back then, a matter of destroying a family and annihilating an entire family could be described in such a high-sounding way to him, even involving loyalty and rebellion.
Once such a political and moral high ground is established, it will be in an invincible position in terms of public opinion, and it will probably be much easier to get things done by then.
If Liu Bei really wanted to use this method to seize the salt well in Shuzhong for himself, I'm afraid it wouldn't be difficult.
"In that case, are you really going to do this?"
"I have this idea, but I still have to be steady and steady at the beginning and complete the task first."
Liu Bei set his sights on Bajun in the south: "It will be easier to get rid of these most difficult group of thorns first, and then do other things."
Liang Hu was noncommittal about this.
"If you have such ambitions, then I will obey your arrangements. Anyway, I came to Yizhou mainly to assist you in your affairs. I will do whatever you say."
"You trust me so much?"
Liu Bei looked at Liang Hu with a smile: "Aren't you afraid that I will harm you?"
"I have no enmity with you in the past and have no enmity in the recent past. There is no need for you to trap me."
Liang Hu also smiled and said: "And with your power and future, there is no need to be angry with someone like me. Your ambitions are very high, but I am not ambitious and just muddle through.
After leaving Luoyang, I was a lonely wandering ghost, with no confidence in my heart. I was afraid that I would be killed one day. Now that I can find peace under your wings, I am satisfied and don't ask for more. "
"You see clearly."
Liu Bei smiled and patted Liang Hu on the shoulder, and said with a smile: "We are both officials of the imperial court. We only need to cooperate sincerely. Liang Jun will handle the political affairs of the governor and leave the military affairs to me. I will keep you safe."
"In that case, I would like to thank you sir."
Liang Hu laughed and said: "Then, let's go south!"
"Well, it's time to head south."
Liu Bei nodded.
The day after the conversation, Liu Bei led his army and set off.
In this attack, he will lead his troops from Hanzhong directly to Bajun. The target is Danqu County of Bajun, which is the base area of the rebellious Mi people.
The number of rebels this time was neither too large nor too small. They were about 20,000 to 30,000 people, and they were marching across Ba County. The officers and soldiers of Ba County were unable to resist.
The previous governor of Bajun was killed by the Yizhou Yellow Turban Army. The new governor of Bajun has not yet been elected, let alone taken office. In addition, the current governor of Yizhou has not yet taken office, so Yizhou is in a state of leaderlessness. , so it is difficult to deal with the current situation of rebellion and chaos.
However, with the fighting power of Yizhou's official army, even with a leader, it is not a simple matter to put down the rebellion of this group of people.
But it would be different if Liu Bei was replaced.
On August 26, Liu Bei led his army to Hanchang County. Here he encountered a rebellious army of Ti people, numbering about three to four thousand. Liu Bei personally led the troops, commanded them, and personally observed the Ti people's behavior. Ways of fighting.
He found that regardless of the quality of the people's equipment, the quantity and coverage were very complete. Almost every soldier who went to the battlefield wore leather armor and held iron swords, and a considerable number of them held wooden shields.
They lined up in an orderly manner, with shield soldiers in the front row, knife-wielding troops at the back, and crossbow troops at the back. Their military appearance was in good order, with flags flying, and they looked quite elite.
(End of chapter)
