binnovel Chapter 226: Not Affiliated with the Government
Chapter 226: Not Affiliated with the Government
Chapter 226: Not Affiliated with the Government
Chongde Hall, back hall.
Liu Bian looked at Cao Cao's "apology letter", examined it again and again, and put it aside.
There were two people sitting in front of him: Xun Yu, who had some wrinkles on his face and looked more mature, and Xi Zhicai, who looked pale and sickly.
Liu Bian picked up the teacup and said, "You two gentlemen, are you saying that there was something wrong with last year's autumn grain?"
Although Xi Zhicai looked sick, he was full of energy and said, "Yes. According to my investigation and inference, as well as the farmland and population of Yanzhou, 100,000 dan of autumn grain is just a basis. The actual number may be more than 200,000 dan."
Liu Bian took a sip of tea, looking thoughtful.
He was also greatly surprised by the memorials submitted by Xi Zhicai and Xun Yu.
He knew that the wealthy and powerful families in Yanzhou concealed their land and households to avoid taxes from the imperial court, but he never imagined that the gap would be so huge.
If there really were 200,000 shi, that would be almost half of the imperial court's tax revenue.
If Yanzhou has so many hidden treasures, one can imagine the number in other provinces and counties.
Xun Yu raised his hand and said, "Your Majesty, therefore, we have discussed and decided to use 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 the Taicang warehouse."
Liu Bian held the teacup, looked at Xi Zhicai and Xun Yu, and said with a smile: "There is no need to go through so much trouble, and it is only treating the symptoms, not the root cause."
Xi Zhicai was stunned and asked, "What does your majesty mean?"
Liu Bian put down his teacup and said leisurely, "The court has been promoting the two things of 'land measurement' and 'household registration', but due to various reasons, the implementation has not been smooth. Starting this year, the Secretariat and the six ministries must work hard to promote them and complete them as soon as possible. Only when the land and households are clear, then the tax collection will be clear at a glance."
When Xi Zhicai heard this, he was a little unresponsive for a moment.
The imperial court has actually been doing these things all the time, but it seems that no one takes them too seriously.
Now after hearing what Liu Bian said, Xi Zhicai felt a little guilty, and looked at Liu Bian with a strange look.
Your Majesty, have you known this a long time ago?
He immediately rejected this idea. In order to confirm the truth, they spent several months investigating and only now dared to report it with certainty.
How could His Majesty in the palace know?
Xun Yu thought for a while and said, "Your Majesty, I think we should take a two-pronged approach to address both the symptoms and the root cause."
Liu Bian pondered for a moment, shook his head and said, "Our energy is too dispersed. We still need to focus on the main issues. The six ministries should focus on the main issues. The household department is responsible for taxes and land. The official department is responsible for the administration of officials and should work closely with the Censorate. Cleaning up the officialdom is the first step in governing the country!"
Xun Yu and Xi Zhicai heard Liu Bian say this and could only raise their hands and say, "Your Highness, I accept your order."
Liu Bian looked at the two men, paused, and said, "Since Wang Yun's incident, various rumors have been spread. I have to remind the two ministers to concentrate on their work and ignore them. You should focus on the government affairs of the court."
After Wang Yun's defeat, all kinds of rumors spread throughout the court and the country. The most common rumor was that the court wanted to summon Liu Yu back to replace Yang Biao as prime minister.
"We, the ministers, will follow the Holy Instructions." Xun Yu and Xi Zhicai responded.
Before Liu Bian could nod, a palace maid ran to the door and said anxiously, "Your Majesty, the Second Prince is sick again."
Liu Bian's face changed, and he stood up and said, "You two ministers, go and get busy."
Xun Yu and Xi Zhicai hurriedly said, "We will take our leave."
Liu Bian left the back hall and headed straight for Yong'an Palace.
A group of people crowded into Tang Ji's bedroom.
When Tang Ji saw Liu Bian coming, her eyes turned red and tears kept flowing.
Liu Bian patted her on the back and walked silently to the bedside.
Liu Yu's face was pale, his brows were furrowed, and he looked in great pain.
The doctor was taking the pulse for a while, then raised his hand to Liu Bian and said, "Your Majesty, the Second Prince is fine. I will prescribe some medicine and he will be fine."
Liu Bian heaved 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 down beside the bed and watched Liu Yu gasp from time to time. He felt extremely uncomfortable and wanted to smooth his frown with his hands, but he was worried that it would only add to his pain.
The reason why he was named "Yu" was that the little guy was weak and sickly since birth and looked like he could not be raised.
Tang Ji stood behind Liu Bian, crying silently, and was equally worried.
After taking the medicine for a while, the little guy's brows relaxed, he was no longer in so much pain, his face regained a little bit of redness, and he gradually fell asleep.
Liu Bian stayed with her for a long time, and only left Yong'an Palace after he was sure that everything was fine.
"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother invites you." After walking a few steps, Pan Yin caught up and whispered.
Liu Bian nodded, turned around and walked towards Yongle Palace again.
Empress Dowager He was not in the palace. Instead, she was holding He Yan, looking outside the palace in a quiet trance.
When Liu Bian came closer, Empress Dowager He finally came to her senses. She sighed, looked at the quiet He Yan in her arms, put him on the ground, and said with a smile, "Go and play."
He Yan raised his little face and looked back and forth at Liu Bian and Empress Dowager He, then he identified the direction and turned towards Yongning Palace.
Empress Dowager He looked at He Yan's back with a somewhat sad expression and sighed softly, "He Xian was only a few years older than you, how could he be gone just like that?"
Liu Bian didn't know how to comfort Empress Dowager He.
Nowadays, it is not surprising for people to die at any age.
"When he was little, he loved to stay with me the most. He said he wanted to raise pigs and buy me a big yard..."
Empress Dowager He was in a trance and kept talking to herself.
Liu Bian didn't say anything, just stood by.
Liu Bian had no interest in the affairs of the He family.
After a while, Empress Dowager He came back to her senses, shook her head, and said helplessly: "What's the point of telling you all this. What I want to tell you is He Xian's funeral."
At this point, Empress Dowager He paused and said, "After his father's incident, He Xian has few friends left except Cao Mengde. I plan to leave the funeral to him. What do you think?"
Liu Bian wanted to put pressure on Cao Cao, but seeing the disappointed look on Empress Dowager He's face, he nodded and said, "Okay, I'll send someone to pass on the message."
Empress Dowager He was relieved, and sighed to herself, looking outside the palace, and said: "I heard that He Miao has been addicted to wine and women recently, and his health is very poor. I don't know when he will suddenly die again."
Liu Bian understood why Empress Dowager He was so sad and shook his head secretly.
The He family rose to prominence because of Empress Dowager He, but they did not know how to advance or retreat, and ended up in the current situation.
On the other side, Xun Yu and Xi Zhicai left the palace and went straight to the Household Department.
Xun You was called over, and the three of them sat down and started discussing the matter.
Xi Zhicai coughed twice and said, "From your Majesty's words, it is not difficult to judge that your Majesty knew about the local false reporting of money and grain, corruption and illegality, but it is impossible to judge how much he knew."
Xun You heard this and said thoughtfully, "I'm afraid he knew it before he ascended the throne. I remember that His Majesty talked about this with me two years ago."
Xun Yu glanced at him and said, "Your Majesty wants us to focus on advancing the land survey and household registration."
Xun You immediately understood and asked, "Are you worried about the state treasury?"
Xun Yu said: "Jizhou, Qingzhou, Yanzhou and other places need a lot of money and food. Now basically all places have to raise money on their own. This is not a long-term solution."
Xun You and Xi Zhicai looked at each other and fell into deep thought.
Although local governments have to raise money and food on their own, recruit their own troops, and even appoint their own officials, this is a last resort, but it also contains unpredictable dangers!
Yizhou and Yizhou Governor Liu Yan, who are rarely 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 instruments. The court could only turn a deaf ear and be helpless.
Now, except 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 will become local lords.
The Han Empire will allow them to compete for supremacy!
"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 court, followed by the newly established Jizhou and Youzhou in the north.
The governor of Jizhou is Ying Shao. He has insufficient prestige and is unlikely to act recklessly. Jizhou will be guarded by Zhang Liao.
Youzhou was exhausted, with a vast territory and sparse population, little food and few soldiers. Liu Yu was the governor of Youzhou, so there was basically no need to worry.
On the contrary, in Qingzhou, Cao Cao forced the surrender of a million Yellow Turban Army and trained hundreds of thousands of young and strong men into an army. Although he followed the order of the Grand Marshal's Mansion to carry out "military farming", the court was very uneasy with so many soldiers in his hands.
Especially in the recent case of Xiahou Yuan, the court tacitly magnified this matter, obviously wanting to take the opportunity to suppress Cao Cao.
Xi Zhicai's eyes turned colder, and he said, "I see Cao Cao has the look of a wolf and an eagle, and a fierce face. He is not the kind of person who is willing to be under someone else for long. Once he gains power, the court may find it difficult to control him."
At this time, a clerk knocked on the door outside and said, "Shangshu, General Cao sent someone to ask for money and food."
Xun Yu looked calm and said, "According to custom."
As usual, they were sent away directly.
The poorer the national treasury was, the more requests for money and grain there were. The most important task for the Household Department every day was to deal with officials of all sizes who came from all over to demand money and grain.
The clerk did not leave, but said, "Shangshu, General Cao was ordered to host He Xian's funeral, and he came here for this reason."
Xun Yu was not familiar with He Xian, so he looked at Xun You, who was once a staff member of the General's Mansion.
Xun You knew that He Xian was gone, and recalling some of He Jin's favors, he nodded slightly and said, "Most of the people in the court now are related to the general, so allocate some of them."
Xun Yu turned around and asked, "How much do you want?"
"Reporting to the Minister, three million." said the clerk.
Xun Yu was stunned. He Xian’s funeral only cost three million?
"Give it to him." Xun Yu said.
The clerk responded and turned to leave.
Xi Zhicai was a little surprised and asked, "Your Majesty, are you still going to use Cao Cao?"
Xun You thought about how Liu Bian had been forcing Cao Cao to protect him all along the way, and said, "Qingzhou doesn't have to be Cao Cao. I suggest that Cao Cao stay in the capital for the time being."
Xi Zhicai immediately said, "I agree, but will His Majesty agree? And what if something unexpected happens in Qingzhou again?"
Xun You thought for a moment and said, "Then let Cao Cao move his troops and let Envoy Zhu take over the entire Qingzhou. With Envoy Zhu's ability, it shouldn't be a big problem."
Xun Yu said, "Envoy Zhu does have the ability, but he lacks the courage."
Xi Zhicai glanced at him and understood what Xun Yu meant by "courage".
Zhu Jun was in Qingzhou for more than two years, and he could only hold back the Yellow Turban Army, and he was defeated repeatedly. It was not because of his lack of ability or the lack of support from the court, but because Zhu Jun lacked the ruthlessness of Huangfu Song.
Huangfu Song was able to massacre cities, build Jingguan, and kill the surrendered without mercy.
In this regard, Cao Cao is even more ruthless than Huangfu Song. In order to "win", Cao Cao can do whatever it takes!
But Zhu Jun couldn't do it.
Therefore, once the Yellow Turban Army rose up again, Zhu Jun would not be able to bear the ruthlessness and would not be able to control the situation at all.
Xun You frowned deeply and began to think seriously about the candidate.
The current imperial court has no shortage of military generals, but there is no one else who can control the complex situation in Qingzhou!
Xun Yu saw Xun You and Xi Zhicai thinking hard, and said, "Let's put this matter aside for now and talk about the Taicang incident."
Taicang means the national treasury.
Xun You suppressed Cao Cao's matter and said, "Your Majesty wants to survey the land and register the households in order to solve the problem of not keeping up. This is a national policy and we should support it. However, we also have the responsibility to alleviate the emptiness of the national treasury and cannot evade it, otherwise we will not be able to explain to Your Majesty when the money is needed."
Xi Zhicai also nodded. They had to carry out the palace's request. It was their responsibility, and they could not be perfunctory or ignore it because of this request.
Xun Yu said: "Well, let's make a detailed plan, cooperate with the Ministry of Personnel and the Imperial Censorate, and keep a close eye on the summer grain."
Xun You sat up straighter and said, "Okay. Next month, I plan to leave the capital and travel from Sili to Bingzhou and then to Jizhou."
Xi Zhicai glanced at him and said, "Do you want the Censorate to send someone to help you?"
Because of Xi Zhicai's performance in Shanyang County, he was highly regarded in the Censorate. Not only was his rank promoted, but his power also greatly increased.
Xun You thought for a moment and said, "My main purpose this time is to appease the people. I shouldn't do anything big. I don't need the Censorate. 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 a puzzled look in his eyes and said, "Didn't they say that he would be transferred to the position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice?"
Xun You was startled and said, "The Ministry of Personnel did not propose this. Was it the idea of the Shangshutai or the palace?"
According to the current system, officials of all ranks are either recommended by important figures or assigned by the palace. Otherwise, they are basically selected by the Ministry of Personnel first, and then reported and discussed.
Xi Zhicai heard Xun You say this and said, "I have also heard such a statement. Since the Ministry of Personnel did not say so, then, was it the Prime Minister's intention?"
As everyone knows, Prime Minister Yang Biao's only "party member" is his family's tutor, the prefect of Shanyang County, Wang Lang.
Xun Yu's expression seemed to be moved, and then he said: "Don't worry about him for now. The salt fields in Jizhou have been cleared. Zhicai, I want you to take care of it."
Xi Zhicai was sickly, shook his head and said, "I don't have soldiers in my hand, so I can't stand it. You might as well go to Han Bin."
Xun You saw the conversation between the two, coughed, and pretended to cover up, "Not long ago, the Imperial City Office, Jizhou Mu, and Tiger Guards wrote to me jointly, saying that the salt field would be taken over by them. However, the specific operation and official arrangements will still be decided by the Li Cao and Hu Cao."
Xi Zhicai was stunned and said, "This..."
Xun Yu asked: "Imperial City?"
Xun You hesitated to speak and glanced at Xi Zhicai.
Xi Zhicai smiled unconsciously and said, "Why are you and your nephew not so familiar with each other? The Imperial City Palace is headed by the Second Master Huangfu as a lieutenant, specializing in espionage. It was appointed by His Majesty and is not affiliated with the court."