"Didn't His Majesty send Xiao Jiyuan to you? There is nothing he can do?" Seeing Liu Xin's worried look, Liu Xu asked casually.
Upon hearing the question, Liu Xin immediately shook her head and said: "Xiao Jiyuan is very capable, but it is difficult for a clever woman to make noodle soup cakes, let alone..."
Xiao Jiyuan is Xiao Siwen's disciple. He is simple and good at governance. He is the most outstanding talent among the Xiao family's children. He is also the only person recommended by Xiao Siwen. Even the prince values it very much. He has been serving as a Banzhi general in the East Palace.
The country of Raole was feudal. Emperor Liu ordered his officials to select capable people and go north to Raole to build a feudal country and defend the border. In order to support Rao Leguo and take care of his fourteenth brother, Prince Liu Yang "reluctantly gave up his love" and transferred Xiao Jiyuan from the East Palace to Rao Leguo to help him.
Although Liu Xin is only about the same age as Liu Wenyuan, and although he has developed a low-key and tolerant character since he was a child, it does not mean that he is not smart, and he is even very sensitive. He accepted the prince's kindness, but to say thank you, maybe It just floats on the surface.
In Liu Xin's view, Xiao Jiyuan's status as a Khitan tribe really helped him govern Raole, especially in appeasing the Hu people in the territory. Including Khitan, Xiren, Shiwei, etc.). However, this is not the most important thing. The key is that Xiao Jiyuan has "other" missions in Rao Le, just like Anton's Ma Huaiyu and Fu Zhaoyuan before.
Liu Xu was able to drive Fu Zhaoyuan out of Anton and rush back to the court through restructuring, but Liu Xin did not have the confidence. Seeing Liu Xin's hesitant look, Liu Xu chuckled and said: "Fourteenth brother, places like Anton and Rao Le have difficult conditions and harsh environments. I have been living in poverty for nearly twenty years, and my biggest emotion is It is not easy to keep people alive, but the most important thing to insist on is to keep people safe when they are far away.
Population is the foundation of a country. If there is no population, there will be precious mountains that cannot be mined, and there will be fertile soil that cannot be utilized. I am not afraid of the bitter cold in Anton, let alone the barbarians on all sides. I am afraid that the population will not be abundant."
Hearing what Liu Xu said, Liu Xin suddenly became energetic. She picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp, saying: "What the elder brother said is true! This is also what troubles me the most and what is the most embarrassing thing for Rao Le at the moment.
To be honest with you, brother, before I even arrived in Raole, people were already migrating out of the country. Even after I arrived, it still didn’t stop. It was just because the cold winter was coming and it was inconvenient to travel and move. However, I am really not optimistic about the situation after the spring of next year.
If we don’t try to retain people, it won’t be long before our country, Raole, will be empty.”
"That's not the case!" Liu Xu shook his head again, rarely analyzing "rationally": "Raole's land has the most abundant pastures around it, and Yuli breeds livestock. Just for this reason, there will always be people who stay. of.
Today's migration is just a mediocre and reckless behavior of ordinary people. When they wake up, those who should come back will eventually come back.
What you need to do most right now is to appease people's hearts and establish your prestige in the minds of Rao Le's subjects."
Liu Xin nodded repeatedly and then asked: "I'm about to ask my brother for advice!"
Liu Xu couldn't help but cough a few more times. Geng Jixun, who was sitting next to him, couldn't help but say to Liu Xin with a cold face: "King Rao Le, your Majesty is not feeling well and needs to rest urgently. If you have anything to say, let's talk about it another day! "
One sentence made Liu Xin extremely embarrassed, especially after seeing Liu Xu's sick look. Seeing this, Liu Xu smiled softly and said: "It doesn't matter. I'm very happy that my fourteenth brother is here. My brothers are talking to each other. Brother Xun, please don't interrupt!"
"Yes!" Geng Jixun stood up, bowed respectfully, then sat down and listened silently.
Seeing this monarch and his ministers, seeing Liu Xu's behavior, even when he was ill, his kingly aura was heart-wrenching. In an understatement, he was able to convince Geng Jixun, who seemed not so easy to get along with. Liu Xin was secretly envious. Compared with her, she really looked like a child.
Liu Xu calmed down, pondered for a while, and then said: "People, regardless of Hu or Han, are all seeking benefits and favors. If you want quick results, you have to promise benefits! Take me, Anton, for example. At that time, in order to attract people, they were allowed five guans per person to settle down. If you add in the investment in houses, seeds, farm tools, and cattle, each old man who moved in would cost ten guans, which was worth a lot of money. , almost emptying Anton’s finances. Half of the support given by the court at that time was used by me for immigration.”
After listening to Liu Xu's introduction, Liu Xin's expression changed from excitement to sadness. Due to politeness, he did not interrupt Liu Xu. After he finished speaking, he said a little depressed: "Brother, I am not as happy as you Anton, really. Not much money can be spent to appease people's hearts. The support from His Majesty and the imperial court is barely enough to maintain the operation of the administration. In order to support me, King Raole, my mother sold all her savings of more than 20 years. Now, In Xingguo, it was just plain clothes and wooden hairpins.”
Liu Xin's words highlight the poverty, shabbiness and desolation of a person. Of course, the current happiness is really nothing but poverty.
Unlike his brothers, Liu Xin had not long since opened his house, so he had no time or opportunity to save some wealth.
Naturally, it is impossible to bring a large amount of property to the country like Laojiu Liu Shu, not to mention money, food, cloth, and silk. In terms of population alone, there are more than 30,000 servants, retinues, craftsmen, and tenant farmers "following" them, including even some Scholars, monks, and Taoists, not to mention the three thousand armored soldiers.
As for the support from the imperial court, it is of some symbolic significance, which is considered positive to others, but you have to keep it. As for money, food and materials, it is not as good as what Emperor Liu allocated from the internal funds and the Shaofu. After all, the feudal state has been established, and it is obviously impossible to support Anton at all costs like that of the past, and it goes against the original intention of the feudal state.
Firstly, there was no accumulated property, and secondly, there was no opportunity. Therefore, Liu Xin's Raoleguo was destined to be stunted from the beginning. Compared with Anton next door, it pales in comparison. If you want to develop well, you have to rely on yourself. .
Thinking of Rao Le's predicament, Liu Xin almost had his depression written on his face, raised his glass again, drank deeply, and said to Liu Xu with envy: "My eldest brother is still very talented and admirable. He managed Anton so well." Prosperity, harmony above and below, and a bright future.”
Liu Xu smiled reservedly and was about to answer when Liu Wenyuan walked in and cooled down the lobby that was heated by the stove. Seeing Liu Wenyuan, Liu Xu's pale face showed a hint of joy. He waved to him and said: "Wenyuan, come and pay homage to your fourteenth uncle, and then take a seat!"
"yes!"
Liu Wenyuan looked at Liu Xin, and Liu Xin also looked at Liu Wenyuan. In terms of age, Liu Xin was one year younger than his nephew. However, there was not much embarrassment about the seniority, but the unfamiliarity was obvious. After all, in the past, the uncle and nephew only met at palace banquets, and soberly speaking, they were just acquaintances.
"You just said that Anton was harmonious. No, your nephew just settled a disharmony!" Liu Xu pointed at Liu Wenyuan and said to Liu Xin.
Then he asked Liu Wenyuan: "Is a small riot worth going to war in person?"
Liu Wenyuan withdrew his gaze from Liu Xin, took a sip of hot wine, and then said: "Not long after the establishment of the Anton feudal state, Meituozhou was in chaos. It was a provocation to Anton and must be severely suppressed!"
"Have you packed it up?" Liu Xu asked again.
Liu Wenyuan paused and told the truth: "Before the troops led by Zai'er arrived, the officials and people of Meituo Prefecture had defeated him and fled back to the mountains and forests."
Liu Xu: "I heard that you killed more than a thousand local barbarians. What were your considerations? To vent your anger? Or to take revenge?"
"Revenge!" Liu Wenyuan answered directly without any concealment.
Liu Xu sighed and said in a reminding tone: "Your move shocked the whole Anton! Everyone said that you, the prince, are the second to Tian Qinqi."
"Compared with General Tian, I am far inferior!" Liu Wenyuan said: "This situation is different. Destroying my town and killing my people is no different from rebellion. These barbarians must be taught a profound lesson, otherwise Anton will be uneasy. For the sake of long-term peace and stability in Anton, what does this mere reputation mean?"
Hearing what Liu Wenyuan said, Liu Xu was noncommittal, but his dark eyes showed a little satisfaction. Without asking any more questions, he stretched out his hand: "Drink!"
"Fourteenth brother, this banquet is your wedding wine. You are a distinguished guest. How about bringing it to my son to wash his hands and celebrate his success?" Liu Xu looked at Liu Xin again.
“The guest does as he pleases!”
