In addition to completing Liu Shao's new Imperial College, Liu Yu had just returned to the palace when he received Gongsun Sheng's latest report.
"Your Majesty, we now have the opportunity to pacify the Piao Kingdom. The Piao people have suffered a new defeat, and the internal military morale is unstable. It is very possible to decide in a battle."
Gongsun Sheng, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.
"What's more, there are still Nanzhong armies, so why should we care about Gou Xi when they are advancing in two directions?"
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 we can defeat Piao, whether we use 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 that a military operation to conquer the Pyu Kingdom suddenly breaks out, the cost is bound to increase.
"Relying solely on Guanzhong and Henan is definitely not enough."
Liu Yu naturally understood this situation very well.
"Your Majesty, conquering the Piao Kingdom will definitely cost a lot of money. It is better to increase taxes in other states and counties." Gongsun Sheng said immediately.
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?"
How could they not know that changing orders from morning to night has many disadvantages?
This sudden military operation to conquer the Pyo Kingdom was a gold-swallowing behemoth.
If it's just one battle, this may not be necessary.
However, the country 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?" 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 Gongsun Sheng also 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." Gongsun Sheng 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 Maximilian."
A little Huangmen immediately took the order and left.
"Maximilian?" Gongsun Sheng heard that it was a foreigner's name.
"Yes, his name is Maximilian." Liu Yu said.
"Who is this Maximilian?"
"A barbarian from the Great Qin Kingdom."
"The Great Qin Kingdom in the Western Regions?"
"Well, it's that Great Qin resident, Maximilian, who presented me with ten bloody 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. but."
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.
"Maximilian, get up."
"I thank you, Your Majesty!" Maximilian said with a Liangzhou accent.
"You're in the Interpretation Hall, how are you now?" Liu Yu asked with a smile.
This Maximilian walked all the way from Chang'an to Yecheng. After meeting Liu Yu with ten sweat-blooded horses as a stepping stone, he told all the truth and falsehoods of the Western Regions. Liu Yu was immediately very happy and gave him directly to Liu Yu. He holds 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 various languages in the Dongluo area are the top priority.
"Your Majesty the Emperor, I have now basically sorted out the language of Great Qin. In another ten days, I can complete it." Maximilian said respectfully.
"What's there to learn from?" Gongsun Sheng saw that this barbarian looked almost exactly the same as those Jiehu people. He was immediately disgusted and 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.
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.
"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."
Maximilian 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 arrangements in the Interpretation Hall were wrong, wouldn't his Maximilian status as a noble Han official be in ruins?
"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 man named Maximilian from the Qin Kingdom in the Western Regions, although he only had the title of ninth-grade officer, he had become a full-fledged 'elite man'.
I already admire everything about the big man to the extreme.
"It is Maximilian's honor and mission to serve the supreme emperor in the world!" Maximilian 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.
"Maximilian, what percentage of the commercial tax increase do you think is reasonable?" Liu Xuan 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?" Maximilian asked.
"How about increasing it to three hundred dollars?" Liu Yu said.
After Maximilian 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!" Maximilian 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.
According to Maximilian, this directly increased the business tax to almost three times.
"What I want is to temporarily increase business taxes, not to kill the goose that lays the eggs."
Liu Yu said with some worry.
After all, the profits of this Western Region trade route are increasing, which is a very good supplement for the Guanzhong region, which has been idle for more than ten years.
If Liu Yu desperately raises taxes and scares away all the Hu merchants from the Western Regions, then who will he look for to collect taxes in the future?
"Your Majesty, you don't have to worry about this issue."
Maximilian said very confidently.
"Those businessmen from the Western Regions took great risks, crossed the vast sea and the Gobi Desert, and endured the robbers and barbarians who might be killed at any time. Do they really care about the business tax of 500 yuan?"
After hearing these words, Liu Yu was stunned.
According to Maximilian's tone, these barbarian traders from the Western Regions seem to be making huge profits!
Liu Yu decided to ask this matter clearly.
"Maximilian, tell me, how many times the profit can a businessman from the Qin Dynasty in the Western Regions earn by making a round trip from Chang'an?"
After Maximilian heard Liu Yu's question, he immediately became energetic, and his eyes showed a rare light.
"Your Majesty, Chang'an is nearly 6,000 miles away from the nearest Chang Shi's Mansion in the Western Regions."
"The gangsters and barbarians on this road need to have strong force to protect themselves, or to have the strength to be protected by the Liangzhou army along the way."
"As a result, the cost required is very high. Without very strong strength, it is not enough to complete a trip from Chang'an to the Western Regions."
