"Your Majesty, the top priority now is to seize the opportunity to pacify Yizhou. The Di people Li Xiongxin has been defeated and the internal military morale is unstable. It is very possible to decide in a battle."
Xun Sui, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.
"Then what will happen if Gou Xi gets into trouble again?" Liu Yu said.
"The people led by Gou Xi are Qianghu and Guanzhong refugees. These people have seen the strength of the imperial army. Even if they are bold and want to use Shu to rebel, they may not be able to work together."
Xun Sui began to explain.
"What's more, there is Xi Jian's army in Hanzhong. If they are advancing in two directions, why should we care about Gou Xi?"
When Liu Yu thought about it, it seemed to be the same reason.
"Then give Xi Jian the order now and let him defend."
"As long as Yizhou can be captured, whether it's Gou Xi or Liu Yan of Chang'an, we can follow his lead."
Liu Yan, who is currently guarding Chang'an, is a relatively special person among the Han army.
Although the uncles and nephews of Liu Kun and Liu Yan did not have many troops in their own troops, the old troops under their command were all very capable troops.
Except for Liu Yu, it is difficult to mobilize other people.
Now that Liu Yu has spoken, Xi Jian's power can completely control Guanzhong.
"However, if Your Majesty does this, the taxes from Guanzhong and Henan counties this year will not be enough to support it, and I am afraid that it will have to be supplemented from other places."
Gongsun Sheng immediately mentioned another important issue.
Today's Han Dynasty should have been pursuing recuperation and recuperation, and only retained the necessary parts of some taxes and corvees, without much major construction and collection.
Now a military operation to conquer Yizhou suddenly breaks out, which will inevitably increase the cost.
"Relying solely on Guanzhong and Henan is definitely not enough."
Liu Yu naturally understood this situation very well.
"Your Majesty, conquering Yizhou will definitely cost a lot of money. It is better to increase taxes in other states and counties." Xun Sui then said.
For the financially strapped imperial court, temporary increase in taxes was the most common operation.
However, Liu Yu did not intend to do this.
"I have already issued an edict to rest and recuperate for at least five years."
Liu Yu stroked the stubble on his chin and said slowly.
"It's only two years now, are we going to go back on our word?"
Gongsun Sheng and Xun Sui both looked at each other.
How could they not know that changing orders from morning to night has many disadvantages?
However, the military operation Xi Jian suddenly launched to conquer Yizhou was a gold-swallowing behemoth.
If it's just one battle, this may not be necessary.
However, Yizhou has so many natural dangers, who knows whether the entire war will be fast or slow.
Then all you have to do is prepare more.
"If we don't increase taxes, how can we support the army in Hanzhong?" Gongsun Sheng said with a frown.
“This problem cannot be solved by simply increasing taxes.”
Liu Yu immediately expressed his thoughts.
"If taxes are increased, it will have to wait until summer tax time."
"But the summer tax harvest is last year's harvest. If we collect one more share, the people will lose one share."
“Many people’s livelihoods have already been planned for the beginning of spring.”
"If there is a sudden increase in taxes, I don't know how many farmers will have to take out loans and pawn sales."
After hearing Liu Yu's words, Gongsun Sheng and Xun Sui felt the same way.
These people now have just settled down from the war.
Almost every family has no surplus food. If there is a sudden increase in dispatch, they will have to go to the powerful to borrow money.
And high loans are one of the means used by powerful families to embezzle and control Dingkou.
Liu Yu had just freed some people from the hands of the powerful, and he would never force them back in person.
"Your Majesty, since taxes cannot be levied, then commercial taxes will be increased." Xun Sui suddenly said.
"Business tax? Yes, I think so too." Liu Yu said immediately with a smile.
His plan is to increase business taxes.
"Commercial tax? If you only receive some gold and silver cloth, but they cannot be used as food and grass, wouldn't it also increase the cost of pawn sales?" Gongsun Sheng said.
"Actually, it's not that troublesome." Liu Yu explained.
"The current business tax is basically in Chang'an and Luoyang. There are more and more business travelers now. Not only can we collect money and cloth, but we can also easily purchase livestock from the Western Regions."
"With these livestock, it will be much more convenient to transport grain and grass."
Since the business trip with Liangzhou was reopened, Liu Yu used the method of collecting taxes to encourage the Hu people from the Western Regions to sell horses and donkeys on a large scale.
The Central Plains, which has been war-torn for many years, is extremely hungry for these livestock.
"If we have these pack horses and livestock to support Hanzhong's food and grass supplies, we will save a lot of consumption on the road."
Liu Yu said very happily.
Much of the food and fodder consumed during marching operations was consumed during transportation.
Among them, there are losses caused by rainy accidents, and more are caused by the food transportation team.
As long as one more day is delayed in the transportation journey, the required food and grass will be consumed one more point.
If the time on the road can be reduced, the efficiency can be greatly improved.
"But how many pack horses and donkeys can be confiscated from Chang'an and Luoyang alone?" Gongsun Sheng was still a little worried.
"For this problem, you have to find someone who is familiar with the situation." Liu Yu said.
"Then your Majesty, can anyone ask?" Gongsun Sheng asked with concern.
"Of course!"
Liu Yu immediately thought of someone.
"Come on, go to the Interpretation Hall and summon that Nashi Pantuo."
A little Huangmen immediately took the order and left.
"Nashi Pantuo?" Gongsun Sheng heard that it was the name of a barbarian.
"Yes, it's called Na Shi Pan Tuo." Liu Yu said.
"Who is this Nashi Pantuo?"
"A barbarian from Kang."
"That Kang country in the Western Regions?"
"Well, it's that Kang Juguo, Nashi Pantuo, who presented me with ten blood-blooded horses from the Western Regions last month. He is also familiar with the customs and customs of the Western Regions. It would be best to use him to do this."
After waiting for half an hour, a curly-haired Hu man wearing a blue official uniform came in.
As soon as he entered the hall, he knelt down, prostrated for two steps, and then shouted long live.
Liu Yu waved his hand and said.
"Nashi Pantuo, get up."
"I thank you, Your Majesty," Nashi Pantuo said with a Liangzhou accent.
"You're in the Interpretation Hall, how are you now?" Liu Yu asked with a smile.
This Nashi Pantuo walked all the way from Chang'an to Yecheng. After using ten sweat-blooded horses as a stepping stone to meet Liu Yu, he told all the truth and falsehoods of the Western Regions. Liu Yu was immediately very happy and gave it to him directly. A minor official title in a newly established translation office.
The so-called Interpretation Hall is a collection of the languages and customs of the surrounding small countries specially organized by Liu Yu.
Among them, the languages of the Western Regions are the top priority.
"Your Majesty the Emperor, I have now basically sorted out the language of Kangju Kingdom. In another ten days, I will be able to sort out the languages of Wusun and Cheshi." Nashi Pantuo said respectfully said.
"The small country of Zuer, what's there to learn from?" Gongsun Sheng saw that this barbarian looked almost exactly the same as those Jiehu people, and he was immediately disgusted, and then he said gloomily.
"Haha, sir, you are really worried. All the countries in the Western Regions have their own customs and cannot be treated uniformly. Only by studying them all clearly can we teach you the way to become kings in the future."
Liu Yu's obsession with the Western Regions has almost penetrated into his bones.
Because Liu Yu knew that the Western Regions meant more than just wealth and territory.
More importantly, the Western Region is the hub connecting the East Asian zone and distant places.
After mastering this hub, the expansion of Chinese civilization can not only stop here, but can also continue to expand westward, even as far as Sasanian Persia.
What's more, in the future, when the various nomadic armies on the grassland are under high pressure, they can also vent this pressure through the Western Region.
Let these nomads on the grasslands know that there is not only a Central Plains that is rich enough, but also a slightly farther Western Region and beyond where they can go shopping for zero dollars.
After all, whenever a natural disaster strikes, if the grassland nomads want to survive, zero-yuan purchases are the means they must master.
"Your Majesty, this thing you have done demonstrates your magnanimity as the King of Kings, and will definitely make all the countries in the Western Region surrender to your wisdom."
Nashi Pantuo immediately flattered him.
He finally gained the appreciation of the Emperor of the Han Dynasty. He compiled books on the customs, customs and languages of the Western Regions for the Han Dynasty, and became a glorious ninth-grade official. He would never allow others to question the emperor's wise actions.
If the emperor's arrangement in the Interpretation Hall was wrong, wouldn't his status as a noble Han official who accepted Shi Pantuo be ruined?
"You have done a good job in the translation office, so I think you have greater talents that need to be used." Liu Yu said very majesticly, indicating that I am optimistic about you.
This native of Kangguo in the Western Regions named Nashi Pantuo, although he only has the title of ninth-grade official, he has become a full-fledged man.
I already admire everything about the big man to the extreme.
"It is Nashipantuo's honor and mission to serve the supreme emperor in the world!" Nashipantuo said again with a Liangzhou accent.
Later, Liu Yu announced his plan to increase business taxes on the Hu people's business travelers, and to confiscate and requisition their pack horses and other livestock.
"Na Shipantuo, what percentage of the commercial tax increase do you think is reasonable?" Liu Hua asked in advance.
The current commercial tax of the Han Dynasty still retains the previous style. The commercial tax is only levied on the carriages and horses of business travelers. Calculated, it is about two hundred dollars.
"Your Majesty, how much do you plan to increase it to?" Nashi Pantuo asked.
"How about increasing it to three hundred dollars?" Liu Yu said.
After Nashi Pantuo heard this, he immediately shook his head.
"Is it too much?"
Liu Yu was already slightly dissatisfied.
This Hu man is indeed not of my race, but he must have different ideas. It is just an increase of 100 yuan in business tax, and he refuses to agree.
"No, Your Majesty, it's not too much, but too little!" Nashi Pantuo said.
"Too little? Then how much do you want to increase it?"
"Your Majesty, you can count five hundred dollars first!"
"Five hundred dollars? I want to increase taxes, not rob!" Liu Yu was startled.
