At the height of summer, the Han Empire fell into a new round of busyness from top to bottom. People everywhere began to carry out summer harvest and planting under the scorching sun. At the same time, they raised grain money, handed over the imperial grain, and paid taxes.
Due to the Northern Expedition, the agricultural work of the Han Dynasty suffered a great negative impact, especially in the Central Plains and the North. The impact was even more severe. The further north the prefectures and counties were, the more land was abandoned for farming. In some places, it was not even half as much as in previous years.
Therefore, in the new round of harvest, the imperial court showed great importance. The Zhengshitang issued several orders to the world and issued orders to local governments to strengthen the management and supervision of summer grain and summer tax collection.
Not only because they care about farming, but also because this also means that the court will have an objective new income to make up for the ongoing financial deficit.
During this period, many of the court's initiatives basically revolved around "money" and "taxes," and not many people dared to neglect the matters involved. Prime Minister Zhao Pu, in particular, has been extremely aggressive in the past six months. Under his instruction, more than a dozen wealthy businessmen in the two capitals, as well as businessmen who had made it difficult for the country during the war, were cleared of old scores and liquidated after the fall.
Although the purpose was somewhat impure, while a large part of the money was confiscated and put into the national treasury, it also played a huge role in the implementation of the new commercial laws introduced by the imperial court. After all, the purpose is to cut off the flesh for profit. Even if the appearance of eating is not so ugly and the performance is not too naked under Emperor Liu's instructions, the promotion effect is still obvious and it is a shock to everyone. Whoever dares to take the lead will be targeted.
After all, the Han Dynasty was an empire based on officials, and power and money colluded. However, in the face of power, businessmen still did not have much ability to resist, and the so-called intricate network of relationships was even less able to withstand the test in the face of power.
That is to say, Zhao Pu's intention is not to attack the merchants, and with the holy edict in front of him, Zhao Pu also knows when to stop, otherwise all the merchants will be in danger, and the commercial development of the Han Dynasty will stagnate even if it does not regress.
Of course, this attack is also targeted, and violations of laws and disciplines are inevitable. The most important thing is to see whether the background is strong and whether the background is deep. For example, those wealthy businessmen who are backed by ministers and nobles will be treated differently. As long as Once you restrain yourself and support the court's policies, you will be able to stand firm and continue to maintain wealth.
Compared with the turmoil in the shopping mall, the officialdom is even less peaceful. The Ministry of Civil Affairs launched an "anti-corruption" campaign, and the leader behind it was of course Zhao Pu.
However, the anti-corruption campaign is still superficial after all. In the name of fighting corruption and cleaning up the government, it targets those officials who have hindered the implementation of new financial policies in the imperial court.
Those who fail to implement the policy will be reprimanded; those who oppose and obstruct it will be dismissed; and those who corrupt the New Deal will be investigated and prosecuted in the most severe manner. For Zhao Pu, such officials are the most abhorrent.
Therefore, in the first half of the ninth year of Kaibao, officials inside and outside the imperial court felt the pressure, and Zhao Pu also became a whip in the hands of Emperor Liu, a whip made of thorns, used to spur officials and ministers.
When Zhao Kuangyi was still running Luoyang and building up his power, Zhao Pu was already truly ruling the court and stimulating the world. After several years, and the test of being in charge during the Northern Expedition, Zhao Pu, the prime minister, has established a firm foothold in the court, and through the New Deal, his influence has begun to spread to the local areas.
After these few months, the local Daozhou bureaucrats have gained a basic understanding of this prime minister: this prime minister is not easy to mess with.
In the past, Emperor Liu strictly centralized power in the Central Plains and supervised and supervised local areas. In the past, many local officials feared the imperial power and feared the central government. But now, it is Prime Minister Zhao who many people fear. In March and April, four prefects and more than a dozen county magistrates were dismissed, removed from office, or questioned in various parts of the Han Dynasty. There were also many high-ranking Taoist officials who were reprimanded and relegated.
Zhao Pu made things happen, and it was accompanied by criticism and criticism. During this period of time, Emperor Liu received no less than twenty impeachments and criticisms about Zhao Pu.
Regarding these impeachments, Emperor Liu naturally remained silent and even asked Yantuo to find a small box for storage and lock it up. The news inevitably leaked into Zhao Pu's ears, and Zhao Pu also made a panic gesture and went to Chui Gong Hall to plead guilty. Emperor Liu naturally knew what he was thinking. How could Zhao Pu be nervous because of such things? All he wanted was the emperor's attitude and comfort. Emperor Liu also graciously satisfied him and expressed his sincerity, allowing him to continue to work hard and be bold in politics.
However, this still did not stop the criticism and criticism. There were fewer direct remonstrances, but there was no shortage of secret reports. As for those who submitted memorials, Emperor Liu silently paid attention to them. Those who were high-ranking admonishers were just that. Whether they were seeking fame or reality, they had little influence.
The key is that there are many ministers and nobles among them. Emperor Liu had to carefully consider the intentions of these people. Some people may be really afraid and worried about Zhao Pu's power, but some people naturally cannot attack Zhao Pu for no reason. Attack the prime minister of the dynasty, who is also the most powerful prime minister in the Han Dynasty.
Politically, although there are constant turmoil, the new fiscal policy is operating normally and the overall environment is stable. The economy is also recovering. Whether it is commercial law, salt affairs and currency reforms, they have begun to enter the trial stage. Review and adjustment may be painful, but the stimulating effect is obvious.
The military has also been completely stabilized. The Privy Council's adjustments to the Forbidden Army and the Border Army have been completed. In external military affairs, except for Khitan affairs, all military affairs have been carried out.
The peace talks with the Black Khanate in the Western Regions have finally come to an end with the arrival of the Black Khan's envoys in Beijing. The two sides reached a consensus to reach a de facto and nominal peace based on the actual land occupied by the two countries at present, reduce the number of garrisoned troops and horses, release the prisoners, and each would defend its city and govern its territory.
Territory is the fundamental issue, and if this issue is resolved, other issues will be easily resolved. The peace agreement has been established, and for the Black Khanate, it means that their eastward march, which has lasted for more than ten years, has a relatively certain result. They have expanded eastward for nearly a thousand miles, and the vast areas mainly Qiuci and Yanqi have been officially annexed by them.
However, a price of blood was paid. Tens of thousands of Black Khan soldiers and civilians died in it, and their blood was almost drained. Moreover, due to the years of war, this vast land was almost in ruins. Occupation is one thing, reconstruction is another.
At the same time, the two sides agreed to open border markets, strengthen private economic exchanges, relax commercial trade restrictions, and at the same time, each provide protection for the other party's caravans. There is no reason to refuse this kind of thing that is beneficial to the development of both parties.
This also means that the Silk Road, which has been cut off for more than ten years, will be reopened, economic and cultural exchanges between the East and the West will also be revived, and silk, porcelain, tea and other commodities favored by foreigners will continue to flow. The land was transported westward, creating wealth for the officials and people of the Han Dynasty.
In addition, the envoy of Black Khan suddenly had a whim and wanted to form a marriage kingdom with the Han Dynasty and ask for the princess to marry his monarch. In this regard, the court naturally declined politely, not to mention that Emperor Liu was reluctant to marry his daughter away and be tainted by the miscellaneous people from the Western Regions. Even the Black Khanate was not worthy of it. In this regard, Emperor Liu's attitude was extremely arrogant. .
