Chongde Hall, back hall.
Liu Bian looked at Cao Cao's "Memorial of Apology", reviewed it again and again, and put it aside.
There were two people sitting in front of him. Xun Yu, who already had some wrinkles on his face and looked more mature, and Xi Zhicai, who looked pale and sickly.
Liu Bian picked up the tea cup and said, "Are you two gentlemen saying that there was something fundamentally wrong with last year's autumn grain?"
Although Xi Zhicai was very sick, he was full of energy and said: "Yes. According to my investigation and inference, as well as the acres of land and population in Yanzhou, the autumn grain of 100,000 dan is just a basis. The real number may be around 20 Above ten thousand stones.”
Liu Bian took a sip of tea and looked thoughtful.
He was also greatly surprised by Xi Zhicai and Xun Yu's memorial.
He knew that the wealthy gentry in Yanzhou hid their land and households to avoid paying taxes from the court, but he never imagined that the gap would be so big.
If there were really 200,000 shi, it would be almost half of the imperial tax.
Yanzhou has hidden so much, you can imagine other states and counties.
Xun Yu raised his hand and said: "Your Majesty, I and others have discussed taking this year's summer grain as an opportunity to conduct a thorough inventory of Bingzhou, Sili, and Yanzhou to ensure that all summer grain enters Taicang."
Liu Bian held the tea cup, looked at Xi Zhicai and Xun Yu, and said with a smile: "It doesn't have to be so troublesome, and it treats the symptoms rather than the root cause."
Xi Zhicai was stunned and said: "What does your Majesty mean?"
Liu Bian put down his tea cup and said leisurely: "The imperial court has been promoting the two things of 'clearing land acres' and 'registering households'. Due to various things, the implementation has not gone smoothly. Starting from this year, Shangshutai and Liucao will focus on Promote it and complete it as soon as possible. Only if the fields and households are clear, then the taxes will also be clear."
Hearing this, Xi Zhicai didn't react for a while.
The imperial court has actually been doing these things, but no one seems to be too concerned about it.
Now listening to Liu Bian's words, Xi Zhicai felt a little regretful, and couldn't help but look at Liu Bian with a strange look.
Your Majesty, did you already know this?
He immediately rejected the idea. In order to be sure, they spent several months investigating, and only now did they dare to report it with certainty.
How could His Majesty in the palace know?
Xun Yu thought for a while and said: "Your Majesty, I will take a two-pronged approach to treat the symptoms and root causes."
Liu Bian pondered for a moment, shook his head and said: "The energy is too scattered, we still need to focus on the main issues. The six Cao Cao should pay close attention to the main issues, and the Hu Cao is responsible for taxes and land. The Li Cao is in charge of the official administration and must cooperate closely with the Yushitai. Eliminating officials is the first step in governing the country!"
When Xun Yu saw Liu Bian say this, he could only raise his hand and said: "I will accept the order."
Liu Bian looked at the two of them, paused, and said: "Since Wang Yun's incident, various rumors have been spread. I need to remind you two ministers to concentrate on your affairs, ignore them, and concentrate on the government affairs of the court. "
Wang Yun was defeated, and various rumors spread in both the government and the public. The most common one was that the imperial court wanted to summon Liu Yu back to replace Yang Biao as prime minister.
"I will obey the holy precepts." Xun Yu, Xi Zhicai responded.
Before Liu Bian could nod, a palace maid ran to the door and said anxiously: "Your Majesty, His Highness is sick again."
Liu Bian's expression changed, he stood up and said, "You two, please go and get busy."
Xun Yu, Xi Zhicai said quickly: "I will leave."
Liu Bian left the back hall and went straight to Yong'an Palace.
There was a crowd of people in Tang Ji's bedroom.
When Tang Ji saw Liu Bian coming, her eyes were red and tears kept flowing.
Liu Bian patted her back and came to the bed silently.
Liu Yu's face was pale and his brows were furrowed together, feeling very painful.
The doctor was diagnosing the pulse. After a while, he raised his hand and said to Liu: "Your Majesty, His Highness is not seriously ill. I will prescribe you some medicine and you will be fine."
Liu Bian breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Pan Yin, you go with the doctor."
"Yes." Pan Yin responded quickly.
As soon as the doctor left, Liu Bian sat by the bed. Seeing Liu Yu's soft voice from time to time, he felt extremely uncomfortable. He wanted to smooth his frown with his hands, but he was worried that it would only cause more pain.
The reason why he was named "Yu" is that this little guy has been frail and sick since he was born, and he looked like he couldn't survive.
Tang Ji stood behind Liu Bian, crying silently and also worried.
After taking the medicine, after a while, the little guy's brows relaxed and he was no longer in so much pain. His face returned to a slightly rosy color and he gradually fell asleep.
Liu Bian stayed with him for a long time, until he was sure that nothing happened, and then he left Yong'an Palace.
"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother has invited you." After walking a few steps, Pan Yin followed and whispered.
Liu Bian hummed, turned around and walked towards Yongle Palace again.
Queen Mother He was not in the palace, but holding He Yan in her arms and looking outside the palace, quietly lost in thought.
When Liu Bian came closer, Queen Mother He became somewhat sober. She sighed, looked at He Yan who was quiet in her arms, put him on the ground, and said with a smile: "Let's go play."
He Yan raised his little face and looked back and forth between Liu Bian and Queen Mother He, then determined the direction and turned towards Yongning Palace.
Queen Mother He looked at He Yan's back with a sad expression, and sighed softly: "He Xian is only a few years older than you, how can you say that he is gone?"
Liu Bian didn't know how to comfort Queen Mother He.
It is not surprising for people nowadays to die at any age.
"When he was a child, he liked to rely on me the most. He said that he would raise pigs in the future and buy me a big yard..."
Queen Mother He was in a trance and kept talking to herself.
Liu Bian didn't say anything, just stayed with him.
Liu Bian has no interest at all in the affairs of Lao He's family.
After a while, Queen Mother He came back to her senses, shook her head, and said helplessly: "Why are I telling you this? What I want to tell you is He Xian's funeral."
At this point, Queen Mother He paused and said: "After his father's incident, He Xian has no friends. Cao Mengde is the only one. I plan to leave the funeral to him. What do you think?"
Liu Bian originally wanted to suppress Cao Cao again, but looking at Queen Mother He's melancholy expression, he nodded and said, "Okay, I will send someone to deliver the message."
Queen Mother He was relieved and sighed to herself. She looked outside the palace and said, "I heard that He Miao has been addicted to drinking and sex recently and is in very bad health. I don't know what day she will suddenly die again."
Liu Bian understood why Queen Mother He was so sad and shook his head secretly.
The He family soared to the sky because of Queen Mother He, but they didn't know how to advance or retreat, and ended up where they are today.
On the other side, Xun Yu and Xi Zhi just left the palace and went straight to Hu Cao.
Xun You was called, and the three of them sat down and discussed the matter.
Xi Zhicai coughed twice and said: "It is not difficult to judge from your Majesty's words. Your Majesty is aware of the false reporting of money and food to the local area and the corruption and lawlessness. It is just how much he knows, and there is no way to judge."
Hearing this, Xun You said thoughtfully: "I'm afraid he knew about it before he succeeded to the throne. I remember that your majesty had talked about this with me the year before last."
Xun Yu glanced at him and said: "Your Majesty wants us to concentrate on promoting the clearing of land and household registration."
Xun You suddenly understood and said, "Are you worried about the state of the treasury?"
Xun Yu said: "Jizhou, Qingzhou, Yanzhou and other places need a lot of money and food. Now they basically have to raise their own funds. This is not a long-term solution."
Xun You and Xi Zhicai looked at each other and fell into deep thought.
Local governments raise their own money and food, recruit their own troops, and even appoint their own officials, large and small. Although it is a last resort, it also contains unpredictable dangers!
Yizhou and Yizhou Mu Liu Yan, which are almost never mentioned by the government and the public, are the biggest danger!
Liu Yan turned a deaf ear to the court's orders and even used the emperor's utensils. The court could only pretend to be deaf and dumb and had no choice but to do so.
Now, except for Qingzhou, Sili, and Yanzhou, this situation exists in other places.
For example, Lu Bu in Xuzhou, Gongsun Zan in Yuzhou, and Cao Cao in Qingzhou.
They have almost no dependence on the imperial court. Once they lose their 'reverence' or 'loyalty', they are just like a prince.
The Han Dynasty will let them compete!
"Now, the key place is Qingzhou!" Xun You said solemnly.
The northern states, leaving aside the two states, Bingzhou, Sili, and Yanzhou were all under the control of the imperial court, followed by the newly established Jizhou and Youzhou in the north.
Jizhou Mu is Ying Shao. This person does not have enough prestige and will most likely not mess around. He is guarded by Zhang Liao.
However, Youzhou is exhausted, with a vast territory, sparsely populated areas, little food and few soldiers, and the shepherd of Youzhou is Liu Yu, so there is basically no need to worry.
On the contrary, in Qingzhou, Cao Cao forced the surrender of a million Yellow Turban troops and organized hundreds of thousands of young men into an army. Although he followed the orders of the Grand Sima Mansion and carried out "garrisoning", with so many soldiers and horses in his hands, the whole court was very uneasy. .
Especially the recent case of Xia Houyuan, the imperial court tacitly amplified this matter, obviously to take the opportunity to suppress Cao Cao.
Xi Zhicai's eyes became a little colder and he said: "I think Cao Cao looks like a wolf and an eagle. He has a fierce face. He is not someone who is willing to live under others for a long time. Once he gains power, it will be difficult for the court to restrain him."
At this time, a clerk knocked on the door outside and said: "Shang Shu, General Cao sent someone to ask for money and food."
Xun Yu looked as normal and said: "As usual."
As usual, just send him away.
The poorer the national treasury is, the more people want money and food. The most important thing Hucao does every day is to deal with officials, big and small, who come from all over to ask for money and food.
The clerk did not leave, but said: "Shang Shu, General Cao was ordered to host He Xian's funeral, and that's why he asked for it."
Xun Yu was not familiar with He Xian, so he looked at Xun You, who was once an aide in the General's Mansion.
Xun You knew that He Xian was gone. He recalled some of He Jin's favors, nodded slightly, and said: "Most of the people in the court are related to the general. Let's allocate some."
Xun Yu turned his head and said, "How much do you want?"
"Reply to the minister, three million." said the clerk.
Xun Yu was stunned for a moment. He Xian's funeral only requires three million?
"Give it to him." Xun Yu said.
The clerk responded and turned to leave.
Xi Zhicai was a little surprised and said: "Your Majesty, do you still want to reuse Cao Cao?"
Xun You thought that Cao Cao had been protected by Liu Bian all the way, and said: "Qingzhou doesn't have to be Cao Cao. I suggest that Cao Cao stay in Beijing for the time being."
Xi Zhicai said immediately: "I agree, but will your Majesty agree? Moreover, what will happen if something happens again in Qingzhou?"
Xun You thought for a while and said: "Then let Cao Cao move and let Zhu Shijun take over the entire Qingzhou. With Zhu Shijun's ability, there should be no big problem."
Xun Yu said: "Zhu Shijun is indeed capable, but he lacks courage."
Xi Zhicai glanced at him and understood what Xun Yu's 'courage' meant.
Zhu Jun had been in Qingzhou for more than two years, and could only hold off the Yellow Turban Army, and suffered repeated defeats. It was not that he lacked ability, nor that there was too little support from the court, but that Zhu Jun lacked Huangfu Song's ruthlessness.
Huangfu Song was able to massacre cities and build imperial palaces, and he was not merciless in killing and surrendering.
At this point, Cao Cao is even more ruthless than Huangfu Song. In order to 'win', Cao Cao will do whatever it takes!
But Zhu Jun couldn't do it.
Therefore, once the Yellow Turban Army surged up again, Zhu Jun would not be able to control the situation at all.
Xun You frowned deeply and began to seriously think about candidates.
There is no shortage of military commanders in the current imperial court. There is no one who can control the complex situation in Qingzhou!
Seeing Xun You and Xi Zhicai thinking hard, Xun Yu said, "Let's put this matter aside for now and talk about Taicang."
Taicang, that is, the treasury.
Xun You suppressed Cao Cao's matter and said: "Your Majesty wants to clear the land and register the households, so that you can never solve the problem. This is a state affairs, and we should support it. However, we are also responsible for alleviating the emptiness of the national treasury. , we cannot avoid it, otherwise we will not be able to explain to His Majesty when the time comes to use the money."
Xi Zhicai also nodded. They had to fulfill the palace's request and it was their responsibility. They couldn't just do it perfunctory or ignore it just because of this request.
Xun Yu said: "Well, let's make a detailed plan and coordinate with the officials and Yushitai to keep an eye on the summer grain."
Xun You sat up straighter and said, "Okay. Next month, I plan to go out of Beijing and walk around from Sili to Bingzhou and then to Jizhou."
Xi Zhicai glanced at him and said, "Do you want Yushitai to send someone to go with you?"
Because Xi Zhicai was the performance of Shanyang County, he was highly valued in the Yushitai. Not only did his reputation improve, but his power also increased greatly.
Xun You thought for a while and said: "My visit this time is mainly for comfort, and it is not suitable to make any big moves. I don't need the Yushitai. By the way, I heard that Wang Jingxing is still in the capital?"
Jingxing, the courtesy name of Wang Lang.
Xun Yu looked at him with confusion in his eyes and said, "Didn't he say that he was going to be transferred to the right minister of the Cao Cao?"
Xun You was startled and said: "The officials didn't make this suggestion. Is it the intention of the Chancellor, or is it the palace?"
According to the current system, they must either be recommended by important figures or appointed by the palace. Otherwise, officials, big and small, are basically selected first by the officials and Cao, and then reported and discussed together.
Xi Zhi then saw what Xun You said and said, "I have also heard such a statement, since there are no officials. Then, is this what the prime minister meant?"
As we all know, Prime Minister Yang Biao's only "partisan" is his family's teacher, Wang Lang, the prefect of Shanyang County.
Xun Yu's expression seemed to be moved, and then he said: "Ignore him for now. The salt fields in Jizhou have been cleared, Zhicai, I want you to take care of it."
Xi Zhicai looked sick, shook his head and said: "I don't have any soldiers, and I can't help you. You might as well go to Han Bin."
Xun You had a clear view of the conversation between the two, coughed, and said in a disguised manner: "Not long ago, the Imperial City Mansion, Jizhou Mu, and Hu Ben Zhonglang jointly wrote to me, saying that they would jointly take over the salt field. But the specifics The operation and arrangements of officials are still decided by Li Cao and Hu Cao."
Xi Zhicai was stunned and said: "This..."
Xun Yu said: "Imperial City Mansion?"
Xun You was about to speak but stopped and glanced at Xi Zhicai.
Xi Zhicai smiled unconsciously and said, "Why don't I know you uncle and nephew so well? The Imperial City Mansion, with the Second Young Master Huangfu as the captain, specializes in spying. It was established by His Majesty and is not affiliated with Tai Pavilion."
(End of chapter)
