"Zhao Pu, Qinglian layman has a poem saying that the road to Shu is as difficult as climbing to the blue sky. Although the road is dangerous and narrow, with high mountains and steep mountains, and many strong passes, it can be seen that its terrain is favorable. However, through the ages, all large armies entering Shu have often succeeded. Those who are far away can follow the Western Jin Dynasty to destroy the Shu Han, and those who are close can see the Later Tang Dynasty conquering Shu. Now my Han Dynasty is marching, and the overall situation is about to be ruined. What do you think is the reason for this?" Calling Zhao Pu, walking between the palaces, Liu Chengyou said with a asked him in a probing tone.
After hearing this, Zhao Pu became interested. He enjoyed discussing current affairs and the rise and fall of ancient and modern times with the emperor. After thinking for a while, Zhao Pu said: "I think there are four reasons.
First, Sichuan and Shu are relatively peaceful places with high mountains and dangerous roads. Although they are a barrier for them to rely on to protect their country, they also hinder their enterprising spirit and make it difficult to expand. Although Shuzhong is called the land of abundance, even though it has millions of people and hundreds of thousands of soldiers, how can it be compared with the Central Plains and Hebei? When the world is under control and the central government is strong, sending troops to seize Shu is like Mount Tai squeezing an egg. It is beyond the power of Shu to compete!
Secondly, when foreign troops enter Shu, it is often when Shu’s national and military strength is weak. Just like the current Meng Shu, political chaos, military weakness, sunset, Xishan is on the verge of collapse.
Thirdly, when Shu was prosperous, its national power was even stronger than that of the Han Dynasty. However, when the heroes of the Central Plains came out, they repeatedly attacked and weakened their ambition. As a result, the Han Dynasty became stronger and Shu became weaker. The rich people in Shu often corrupted their ambitions. Meng Chang, the leader of Shu, had been in power for twenty years and could be called a promising leader. However, in the later period, he indulged in pleasure, indulged his subordinates, and became a coward. How could he protect the country?
Fourthly, it is the cycle of ordering and chaos in the world, and the transition from chaos to order is the general trend. Your Majesty has established a majestic position in the Central Plains, has the ambition to conquer the heaven and the earth, raises an army to destroy Shu, and unify it. This is a great trend that cannot be stopped by human power! Even if there is a chariot with a mantis arm, it will eventually be reduced to ashes and turned into powder! "
Hearing what he said, Liu Chengyou couldn't help but laugh and said to Zhao Pu: "How many people are as knowledgeable as Zhao Pu?"
The emperor's evaluation was not low. Zhao Pu accepted it with a slight smile and showed humility: "I have only a little humble opinion, and I dare not receive such high praise from your majesty!"
"You don't have to be humble!" Liu Chengyou raised his hand and said, "If you, Zhao Pu, are not talented, how can I rely on you as a close minister to preside over the affairs of the Chongzheng Palace?"
Walking among the palaces, there is a festive atmosphere everywhere. The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and many maids and chamberlains are under the command to decorate the palace with lanterns and colors in preparation for the festival.
Seeing this, Liu Chengyou summoned a chamberlain, Du Zhi, pointed at the decorative brocade ribbons, and directly ordered: "Inform me, this Mid-Autumn Festival, no extravagance or waste is allowed in the palace, only a little decoration in Chongyuan Hall and Ciming Hall. Just decorate it!”
Facing the emperor's order, the head of the chamberlain did not dare to neglect, and immediately responded: "Young master, I will convey the official decree!"
After Liu Chengyou and the others left, the little eunuch, who was still holding a lantern in his hand, walked up to the chamberlain Du Zhi and said blankly: "How to deal with this?"
Douzhi glared at the little eunuch and scolded slightly: "What else can you do? The government has an edict, how dare you violate it! Get them all out!"
On Liu Chengyou's side, he walked all the way to the palace garden and continued the topic of Sichuan and Sichuan with Zhao Pu. Liu Chengyou asked: "Just now in the palace, what do you think of Prime Minister Fan's suggestions regarding the aftermath of the aftermath in Shu?"
Upon hearing this question, Zhao Pu glanced at Liu Chengyou subconsciously, but he couldn't tell anything from his calm expression. The emperor's reaction in the palace came to mind. After pondering for a while, he asked tentatively: "Your Majesty seems to have objections?"
"Is it me who is asking you, or are you asking me?" Liu Chengyou said calmly: "Just tell me what you think! I want to collect opinions from the public and also listen to them!"
When the emperor said this, Zhao Pu felt confident that the emperor had other ideas. After all, he was a person who had been on an envoy to Chengdu, and he was much more familiar with the military, political and civil affairs of Shu than Fan Zhi.
After pondering for a while, Zhao Pu raised his hand and said, "Xiang Fan's words are actually a safe method. If it can be implemented, it can be used to bring Sichuan and Shu under the rule of the imperial court in a short period of time. This is beyond doubt."
After hearing what he said, Liu Chengyou said calmly: "You still haven't finished what you said! Could it be that after a long time, Shuzhong can still break away from the imperial court?"
Shaking his head, Zhao Pu said: "With the strength of the Han Dynasty and the majesty of the imperial court, if Shu surrenders, it will be under its rule. How can it be separated from it? But I think that Shu has long-standing disadvantages. If it is dealt with according to Fan Xiang's words, it will be tantamount to the imperial court accepting it." The disadvantages. In that way, the imperial court may suddenly gain peace in Shu, but it will also bury hidden dangers!"
"You mean something!" Liu Chengyou raised the corner of his mouth and said, "Tell me about it!"
Zhao Pu said: "The several items drawn up by Prime Minister Fan, including calming the people, suppressing bandits, and pacifying the army, can all be implemented, and they should be implemented quickly. This will greatly benefit the public security in Shu."
"It seems that you feel that you should not treat the king and ministers of Shu kindly?" Liu Chengyou chuckled.
Zhao Pu still shook his head and said: "There is nothing wrong with treating the Lord of Shu's family with a little courtesy to show His Majesty's kindness and tolerance. It's just that the officials and dignitaries of Shu should be treated differently. I have tasted the envoy to Shu. , take a look at its disadvantages.
For many years, because of Meng Chang's lenient treatment and even indulgence of his ministers, the dignitaries and officials of Shu State wantonly amassed wealth and territory, especially in recent years! From the ministers down, they are arrogant, extravagant and greedy for enjoyment. Their wealth is derived from squeezing the people and sucking up the national power. This is a chronic disease. If these people do not take advantage of the destruction of the country and the beginning of the economic structure to screen and rectify them, and accept them all, if things go on like this, how will the Shu land of the imperial court be different from the Meng Shu country? "
Zhao Pu's words spoke to Liu Chengyou's heart. Looking at the autumn scenery of the Royal Garden, he picked up a gravel and threw it into the lake. Liu Chengyou said: "In the past two years, I have read a lot of reports from the Department of Military Affairs and the Department of Military Intelligence on the military, political and people's situation in Shu. Chengdu is a land of abundance, and Shu is rich and prosperous, but in whose hands is most of its wealth concentrated? The powerful and powerful. , bureaucrats, landlords, merchants! In recent years, Shu has been short of food, but is there really a food shortage within its territory? If there is no shortage, whose hands is the food?
For many years, the poor and small people have not been without a place to stand, and they have benefited from the stable situation of the country, so they have their peace. But what happens after his peace is broken by a big man? Land annexation is becoming increasingly serious, refugees are multiplying, and public security is deteriorating. Those in power will always go out of their way to plunder people's property and seize their fields. This is why there is today's chaos in Shu!
If I don’t change my ways and eliminate its shortcomings when I take the land of Shu, I will suffer from it in the future! "
"Your Majesty is wise!" Seeing the emperor confiding his feelings, Zhao Pu immediately agreed.
Liu Chengyou continued, with a cold look in his eyes and a stern tone: "I even suspect that in the past three years, the bureaucrats and tyrants of Shu State have seen the decline of Shu State, so they have not restrained themselves for personal gain and expansion of private property. Wait. If I want to destroy Shu and bring peace and order to Shu, then I will have to rely on them to appease them and protect their interests... If so, how can I be willing to do so?"
The indifference shown by the emperor when he said this made Zhao Pu shrink back, feeling that Liu Chengyou was in danger at this time.
"In your opinion, how should I solve this shortcoming?" Liu Chengyou asked Zhao Pu.
Zhao Pu thought for a while and responded: "I believe that the crux of the problem lies in the land. Start with the dignitaries and bureaucrats, reward them for their integrity, punish them for their corruption, and conduct an inventory of the land in Shu to seize the illegal ones." Take what you take and distribute it to the poor..."
Before Zhao Pu finished speaking, Liu Chengyou smiled lightly and said: "According to what you said, directly infringing on its interests in this way may easily cause chaos in Shu!"
Liu Chengyou's eyes showed a little reminiscence, and he said leisurely: "At the beginning, when I first took over, the country had a lot of shortcomings. Although I was determined to reform, I did not dare to offend the public, so I could only walk on thin ice and make adjustments gradually.
The Khitan Lord Yelv Deguang led hundreds of thousands of troops to destroy the Jin and capture the Central Plains. Why did he retreat north in a short period of time to take advantage of the rise of the Han Dynasty? It is because it infringes on the interests of Jiedu and powerful people in the Central Plains.
With the strength of the Khitan, all the army and troops returned north in embarrassment. If I offend the nobles, bureaucrats, and landlords in Shu, will I be driven out of Liangchuan?
After all, Shuzhong is not as good as Jinghu. Jingnan is narrow. Although Hunan is vast, the ruins can be rebuilt. I can make drastic changes..."
"Your Majesty, I believe that it is really because of the deep evils in Shu that we should vigorously rectify it. Otherwise, it will not be a threat to the future rule of the imperial court. Today's Shu cannot be compared to the Central Plains and Hebei in those days. The reason why the Khitan was defeated is of course It offended Fan Zhen in Zhongyuan because it violated the interests of the common people.
Although there are many dignitaries and bureaucrats in Shu, they are only a minority compared with the majority of ordinary people in Shu. As long as they win the hearts of most of the ordinary people in Shu, why worry about it?
The Han Dynasty destroyed Shu, not only to complete the great cause of unifying the world, but also to punish the people! Whose crime is it to attack? Naturally, it is those dignitaries and bureaucrats who use their power to exercise authority, those powerful landlords who do evil and live in fish and meat villages. They have a good reputation, hold great righteousness, and hold high the banner. Why worry about not winning the hearts of the people?
Even if the Han army is strong enough to destroy its country, why can't it still eliminate some demons and monsters?
Even if there is chaos, what are the pros and cons in the long run by using today's small chaos to achieve great peace in the future?
Moreover, Shuzhong is closed within the fortress, and chaos can be contained within it! "Zhao Pu gave a long speech, which deeply understood the emperor's intention.
Paying attention to Liu Chengyou's reaction, Zhao Pu continued: "Furthermore, for the upper and middle levels of Shu, it is not all liquidation. Those who are honest should be greatly praised and reused, small evils should be punished, and big evils should be punished. This is enough to form divisions.
There are many people in the Shu army who are landless and propertyless. For these people, the court can give them land and land, which can win the hearts of the Shu army and people. The treasury and official warehouses of Shu should be returned to the imperial court. The wealth of the palaces in Chengdu should be given to the internal funds, and the ill-gotten wealth confiscated can be used as rewards for the troops who defeated Shu. And those who are being punished can also move out of Shu, and settle down for the Han Dynasty, so as to avoid future troubles..."
What Zhao Pu said was to clearly divide the cake of conquering Shu...
"Hahaha..." Liu Chengyou laughed heartily.
Seeing this, Zhao Pu also smiled. In fact, all Zhao Pu's suggestions were based on the emperor's wishes. He could see that Liu Chengyou had a desire to rectify the situation, so he made such remarks.
If Liu Chengyou wanted Shu to be settled quickly, then he would definitely agree with Fan Zhi's suggestion. This is Zhao Pu, smart Zhao Pu!
"You should also keep an eye on the officials sent to Liangchuan. The selection must be strict. I want people who can do things!" Liu Chengyou suddenly gave instructions.
"yes!"
"Who can take charge of the governor of Chengdu?" Liu Chengyou muttered in a low voice.
