flstandardbreds Chapter 174: A Prominent Person
Chapter 174: A Prominent Person
Chapter 174: A Prominent Person
Liu Bian sat in the carriage, his eyes flashing, and his mind still racing with thoughts.
The surprise that Captain Huangfu Jian gave him was really big!
He was given several years' worth of taxes in one go, which was enough for him to do so many things!
"I was right about him!"
Liu Bian looked at the memorial in his hand again, paying attention to the situation in Yuzhou, and said to the window: "Pan Yin, Cao Cao is present in the Palace of the Imperial Attendant."
"Yes." Pan Yin responded outside the window.
Zhao Yun and Dian Wei, who were riding horses and following on both sides, were looking at the curtain, wanting to say something but stopping themselves.
Seeing that Liu Bei, Lu Bu and others had made repeated military achievements, they also wanted to leave the capital and lead the troops.
Who among the Han people doesn't want to be awarded a title of nobility based on their merits? !
The carriage hurried to the Suzaku Gate. Before the carriage got closer, Zuo Li stepped out from the side and said respectfully and happily, "Your Majesty, Empress Tang is pregnant."
Liu Bian, who was dozing in the carriage and thinking, suddenly opened his eyes, then pulled down the carriage curtain and looked at Zuo Li and said, "Has the doctor confirmed it?"
"Yes, it has been diagnosed. The Empress Dowager has already passed away due to her happiness after hearing the news." Zuo Li said happily with a pale face.
Liu Bian narrowed his eyes slightly and was very excited.
Cai Wenji’s pregnancy doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a boy, but with Tang Ji added in, the probability doubles!
As long as one of them gives birth to a boy, it will be of great help in stabilizing the morale of the people in the court!
Liu Bian glanced at the memorial in his hand, and said to Zhao Yun, Dian Wei and others with a smile: "Today is a good day. You can drink to your heart's content tonight, eat meat and drink wine with big mouthfuls!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Your Majesty!" Not only Zhao Yun and Dian Wei, but the plainclothes guards around them also responded with joy.
Liu Bian waved his hand, thinking again and again, and noticed Zuo Li from the corner of his eye. He was moved and walked forward, saying, "You all go back, Zuo Li, come with me."
When Pan Yin, Zhao Yun, and Dian Wei saw that Liu Bian was about to walk to the Shizhong's residence, they did not think much about it. They just walked a few steps in the palace, responded, and watched Liu Bian's back.
Zuo Li's heart tightened, and he followed Liu Bian in small steps, with his head lowered and his eyes flickering slightly.
"Then Chen Gong did a good job as the magistrate of Luoyang." Liu Bian looked in the direction of Shizhonglu and said slowly.
After Chen Gong took office as the magistrate of Luoyang, he worked hard to appease the people and improve public order, which greatly changed the face of Luoyang city.
Zuo Li didn't dare to speak and lowered his head even more.
After Liu Bian walked for a while, he saw Huangfu Song just entering the Palace of the Imperial Attendants. He stopped on a small bridge, raised his head and looked towards the south. He handed the memorial in his hand to Zuo Li and said, "Take a look at this memorial."
"Yes." Zuo Li took it quickly, not daring to look up, and opened the memorial.
Zuo Li and Huangfu Jianchang were from two completely different systems, so information was not communicated with each other. This memorial went directly to Pan Yin, and Zuo Li knew nothing about it.
Zuo Li looked at it quickly at first, but soon his face showed a strange expression, and then his expression became tense, and he felt frightened and panicked.
'This Huangfu Jian was calm and collected, yet he actually did such a big thing!'
Zuo Li's eyes flickered violently. The greater Huangfu Jian's contributions, the more useless he seemed!
His breathing quickened a little, and his mind was thinking quickly about how to perform meritorious service and win back the emperor's favor.
Before he could finish his thought, Liu Bian said calmly: "Jingzhou is in chaos, you should go there."
Zuo Li understood immediately, and became even more panicked. He raised his hand and held up the memorial, saying, "I obey your order."
This memorial already states what he needs to do.
Liu Bian took back the memorial, glanced at him, and said, "Do it in a more covert way."
"I understand." Zuo Li bowed in understanding, and secretly decided in his heart that he would definitely do better than Huangfu Jianchang!
When Liu Bian walked towards the Shizhong Mansion, everyone inside had been discussing for a long time.
Huangfu Song, Xun You, Xun Yu, Cai Yong and Cao Cao were present at the meeting, and they were still talking about the affairs of Yu and Yang provinces.
Xun You said with a serious expression, "Yangzhou is a vast land with few people and many smoky and malaria-ridden places. It may be several times more difficult to quell the rebellion than Yuzhou."
It was Cai Yong's first time to attend the event and he felt strange. However, due to his special status, he pretended to be reserved and kept nodding his head.
Cao Cao stroked his beard, and then his eyes were cold, and he said: "Yuan Shu is just a man. If the court gives me 30,000 soldiers and horses, I will definitely take Yangzhou within three months!"
Xun You glanced at him and didn't answer.
To be honest, Xun You still had deep doubts about Cao Cao's ability. So far, his only achievement was the pacification of Yanzhou. The rest were almost all failures, the kind that were worthy of beheading and having their property confiscated.
Xun Yu had a face that showed he was mature beyond his years as he sat there, saying nothing.
Huangfu Song looked at Xun You and said, "Minister Xun, how much summer tax can the court collect?"
Xun You's face froze when he heard this, and he said, "To be honest with you, Grand Marshal, the Ministry of Revenue has carefully calculated again and again, and the grain tax is no more than 100 million. Add the salt tax, the Shihou paper, and the money available from the banks, and it's not enough to fill the hole last year."
The Han Dynasty's imperial court had been living beyond its means for many years, and coupled with various events last year, it had borrowed an unknown amount of money under various pretexts.
The hole in the front was still getting bigger, and more holes appeared one after another behind it.
Huangfu Song frowned and said, "Let's put Dong Zhuo aside for now. We can transfer troops from Xu and Jing to encircle Yangzhou and try to pacify it within a month."
Cao Cao agreed with Huangfu Song's proposal and said in a deep voice, "I am willing to lead the army to defeat Yuan Shu!"
Huangfu Song pretended to be thoughtful. He had always been low-key in the Grand Marshal's Mansion and would never take the initiative in matters involving military power.
Cai Yong understood a little bit. He had participated in the Shangshutai many times recently and knew more about government affairs. He suddenly said, "I think General Cao should go to Qingzhou and let Envoy Zhu of Qingzhou lead the troops to attack Yuan Shu. This way, Dong Zhuo would be hesitant and dare not act rashly. Secondly, it would also make Xuzhou and Jingzhou sincerely convinced and willing to obey orders."
When everyone heard this, they couldn't help but look at Cai Yong.
In their eyes, Cai Yong was just a talented, corrupt scholar who was keen on fame and fortune. This view surprised them quite a bit.
Xun You looked at Cai Yong, thinking about his special identity, and wondered if Liu Bian was using Cai Yong's mouth to convey a message to them.
At this time, Xun Yu, who had been silent all this time, said to Huangfu Song: "Grand Marshal, no matter what, we must not allow Yuan Shu time to relax, we must send out a surprise attack!"
"What kind of surprise attack?" Huangfu Song asked.
Xun Yu said: "Order the Suppressing Enemy Captain Lu Bu to cross the Yangtze River, hide during the day and come out at night to attack Liyang by surprise!"
Liyang, the seat of Yangzhou, was in Jiujiang County, adjacent to Guangling County of Xuzhou.
At present, Yuan Shu, Han Fu and others have stationed their troops in Wujun and Danyang.
If the government of Yangzhou was breached, the blow to Yuan Shu's rebels could be imagined.
Huangfu Song pondered silently for a while and said, "Okay."
Xun Yu looked at Xun You and said, "I remember that the Shangshutai has made some arrangements in Jiaozhi. Can I use them?"
Xun You thought about it, shook his head and said, "Jiaozhi is very complicated, Zhu Fu may not be able to get out of it."
Among the Thirteen Great Han, Jiaozhi is quite special because it is not a "state". The governor of Jiaozhi, Zhu Fu, is the son of Zhu Jun.
Jiaozhi not only had many aristocratic families, but also had a complex network of barbarians. Various rebellions rose and fell. Zhu Fu was nearly murdered several times in the three years since he took office. As for the situation in Jiaozhi, it can only be said that it was barely stabilized.
Xun Yu thought of Sun Jian, and suddenly looked at Cao Cao, with a hint of hesitation on his slightly old face.
Cao Cao understood instantly, raised his hand to Huangfu Song, and said in a deep voice: "Grand Marshal, I request your order to lead the troops from Yuzhou to Jiujiang to support Lu Bu!"
"The Cao Qing family is going to go to war?"
At this time, Liu Bian's voice came from outside.
Everyone stood up quickly and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects to you."
Liu Bian waved his hand and said, "No need to be polite."
The five people watched Liu Bian sit on the main seat before they put down their hands.
Cao Cao's eyes sparkled. He raised his hand and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, we have decided to order Lu Bu to launch a surprise attack on Liyang. I request your support."
Liu Bian looked around at the expressions of the five people and said, "No need. I am going to draw troops from Yu and Xu states to attack Yangzhou together!"
Xun Yu looked at Liu Bian with a hint of doubt on his face.
Dong Zhuo pressed for money and grain, and almost wrote in the memorial that he would not move without it.
Gongsun Zan and others had to check and balance Dong Zhuo and could not leave at all.
Where did Yuzhou get the troops? Xuzhou could only use Liu Bei and Lu Bu's combined 10,000 troops.
Not only was he puzzled, but Huangfu Song, Xun You, Cai Yong, Cao Cao and others were also puzzled.
Liu Bian smiled and said, "Yuan Shu was able to recruit so many people, so many soldiers and money, there is no reason why others can't do it. This matter is settled, all the ministers of the Shangshutai should concentrate on government affairs."
Xun You wanted to, but how could he concentrate if the military and politics were inseparable?
"I wonder, Your Majesty, who you plan to send to lead the troops?" Huangfu Song looked at Liu Bian with a cold and expressionless look.
Liu Bian took the teacup and said, "I have already chosen someone. You will know in a few days. I came here today to say three things."
Having said that, he lowered his head and drank his tea.
The five people looked at each other. Has someone chosen? Who?
Liu Bian held the teacup in his hand and said, "The first thing is to survey the land and verify the population of Sili, Yanzhou, and Bingzhou. So far, the progress has been slow and there are many obstacles. The Shangshutai must take tough measures to eliminate interference and work hard to advance. By the end of this year, I want to see the initial results."
Xun You and Xun Yu showed a trace of solemnity on their faces, bowed and said: "Your Highness, we obey your order."
The biggest obstacle to land survey and household verification was the laxity and corruption of officials appointed by the imperial court and local governments, and the obstruction by local gentry and wealthy families!
Up to now, not to mention Sili, even Bingzhou and Yanzhou, which have been ravaged by successive wars and are in ruins, still need local gentry and wealthy families to "support" them. Whether they are officials appointed by the court or local factions, the relationship with local gentry and wealthy families can be said to be complicated. You are in me and I am in you.
It is very difficult to find out the situation of land and the number of people in each household.
Liu Bian glanced at them and said, "The second thing is the grain administration and salt administration. Zhang Liao has already taken control of the Jizhou salt fields. Xun Yu's suggestion to me is that the salt should be managed by the chief officials of each state, county, and prefecture, and the money collected should be paid every six months and sent to the Taicang warehouse. What do you think?"
Huangfu Song seemed unaware and just sat there, looking lost in thought.
Seeing this, Cai Yong thought of his Shihou paper and said, "Your Majesty, you also have to consider the loss during the journey and the situation of driving up the price of salt and seeking huge profits."
Liu Bian raised his eyebrows, looked at Cai Yong and nodded, saying: "What Mr. Cai said makes sense. Let the Taicang magistrate be in charge of this matter, and we must not be careless!"
Xun Yu raised his hand without changing his expression and said, "I accept your order."
Liu Bian took another sip of tea and said, "The third thing I want to talk about is the separation of civil and military affairs. Provincial governors, prefects, and county magistrates will not command the army. Assistant officers and lieutenants will be appointed to lead the troops of the provinces, counties, and prefectures. The number of soldiers is limited. In addition, the court will gradually send generals to lead troops to be stationed in various provinces. They will be under the jurisdiction of the Grand Marshal's Office and will not be under the jurisdiction of the Secretariat or the local governments."
Liu Bian has been hinting at this matter since he ascended the throne. At that time, he was testing it cautiously. Now, he doesn't need to worry so much.
As the Grand Marshal, Huangfu Song was very clear about this.