0p0 Chapter 252: Dissatisfaction caused by protecting Cao Cao
Chapter 252: Dissatisfaction caused by protecting Cao Cao
Chapter 252: Dissatisfaction caused by protecting Cao Cao
As soon as Xun Yu finished speaking, Yang Biao's fat face trembled subconsciously and his eyes flashed with surprise.
Three hundred million!
At the end of the year, after deducting losses and other expenses, the taxes levied by the Han Dynasty that reached Taicang were only about 100 to 300 million yuan, which was almost three years' taxes of the Han Dynasty!
Zhong Yao's face was serious, and he reacted quickly, saying, "Is it due this year?"
The original debts all had a time limit, ranging from three months to five years.
Xun Yu shook his head and said, "One hundred million will be due this year, and all two hundred million next year."
Yang Biao was somewhat relieved. If it was only 100 million and the imperial court returned a part of it, he could shamelessly host a banquet and perhaps delay the event.
Xun You looked at Yang Biao's expression, shook his head secretly, and said: "Prime Minister, the shortfall in the national treasury this year may be more than two hundred million."
Yang Biao was stunned for a moment and said, "Last year it was only 300 million, how come it is so much this year?"
Zhong Yao also sighed silently at the prime minister, saying that he really didn't care about state affairs at all.
Xun Yu looked calm and said, "One is that the salaries of officials in various states are gradually being paid by the court, including those in arrears. The second is the expenses of Cao Cao's expedition against the Black Mountain Army and the subsequent relief. Third, the Imperial Guards have a strength of 100,000 soldiers, and the expenditure is constantly increasing."
Beads of cold sweat appeared on Yang Biao's fat face, but he didn't dare to wipe it off and remained motionless.
"I second the motion!" Zhong Yao followed.
Xun Yu's somewhat mature face showed no sign of change as he said, "Your Majesty, Bingzhou, Sili, and Yanzhou have made more than half of their progress, while Youzhou, Jizhou, and Qingzhou have made less than one-fifth."
Yang Biao blinked his eyes continuously, and then coughed repeatedly, saying, "You guys should go. I haven't been feeling well lately, so I've already asked for leave."
However, this is a very good step.
Xun Yu was silent for a moment, then said, "This is a serious matter. Are you sure you don't want to enter the palace?"
"Yes."
Liu Bian picked up the pen and casually reviewed it, saying, "Can we stop them by issuing a few decrees?"
But the reason why it is a dilemma is that reality does not give this time.
Now that we have this beginning, things will be much easier in the future.
Taking the teacup from Pan Yin, Liu Bian said, "Regarding the sharp reduction in taxes, I will discuss this with you in detail when I have time. Now let's talk about Cao Cao occupying Qiao County."
As the Minister of Revenue, Xun Yu was sensitive to these instincts and said, "Your Majesty, there are many unowned lands in the northern states. I think this strategy is feasible."
This is the real dilemma faced by the Han Dynasty. There is only one prescription to solve it - time.
Xun You, Zhong Yao and others were stunned and looked at Liu Bian with a little surprise.
Liu Bian said: "I am talking about how to deal with this matter."
Yang Biao sighed in his heart, he couldn't escape it after all.
Huangfu Song said, "Yes. I think that although Cao Cao suddenly occupied Qiao County, Dong Zhuo may not really dare to rebel openly. He will most likely continue to keep a low profile. With Yuan Shu in front of him, Dong Zhuo will not become another Yuan Shu."
Xun Yu stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, according to the plan of the Secretariat, the overall progress has reached halfway."
Xun You and Zhong Yao looked at each other and saw deep worry in each other's eyes.
Cao Cao's sudden move will certainly disrupt all the court's plans!
Xun You looked angry and said, "Your Majesty, I impeach General Cao Cao for acting recklessly and crossing the border without permission. This is high treason. I ask Your Majesty to punish him severely!"
Yang Biao glanced at Liu Bian secretly and then shrank back.
"I obey your command." Yang Biao and Xun Yu raised their hands and said.
Everyone listened to Liu Bian's words and didn't think anything of it at first, until the last one, everyone except Huangfu Song was shocked.
Huangfu Song said, "Don't worry, Prime Minister."
Liu Bian took a sip of tea and asked, "What does Huangfu Qing's family think?"
In addition, Dong Zhuo secretly formed an alliance with Yuan Shu, and the originally good situation in Jiangdong might change drastically!
Yang Biao, Xun You, Xun Yu and others all stared at Liu Bian. Seeing that what he said did not sound false, they all looked at each other with expressions of surprise and contemplation on their faces.
He also did not agree with Cao Cao's actions. Provoking Dong Zhuo now would do more harm than good to the court!
"I second the motion." Xun Yu raised his hand, appearing nonchalant.
Liu Bian put down his teacup, his expression cold and disdainful, and said: "I think that although Cao Cao's move was unexpected, it can make me and the other nobles see the situation and some people clearly, which may not be a bad thing."
"Prime Minister, the Grand Marshal is here." In the silence, the clerk outside the duty room hurried to report.
Everyone held their breath, subconsciously lined up, stepped over the threshold one by one, and entered the palace gate.
'Surveying the land and registering the households' is not an easy task. They have put in a lot of effort in the past few years, but the results are still far from what they expected.
Although Xun Yu lowered his head, he knew Liu Bian was looking at him, but he did not say anything.
Xun Yu was silent for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, the northern states have suffered from war and the land has been severely devastated. The wealthy families will be of great help in restoring farming."
In addition to various bandit problems and resistance from local gentry, the court's control over the local areas was too weak.
The saying "imperial power does not extend below the county level" is fully reflected in this kind of matter.
Liu Bian did not even raise his head and said calmly, "How far have we progressed in surveying the land and registering the households?"
With so much money, let alone fighting a war, it’s even harder to see whether the imperial court can remain stable!
Yang Biao remained silent, and Xun You, Xun Yu, Zhong Yao and others also remained silent.
Zhong Yao stepped out of the line, raised his hand and said solemnly, "May I ask your Majesty, is this your Majesty's order, or did Cao Cao act on his own?"
Yang Biao quickly stood up, with his big belly bulging, and was about to go out to greet them.
Zhong Yao clearly sensed that Liu Bian still wanted to protect Cao Cao, and said, "Your Majesty, I think we should send troops to suppress Dong Zhuo and force him to stop making any moves, giving the court time to wipe out Yuan Shu first!"
Yang Biao was thinking about all the things going on in the government and the country, and he began to feel uneasy. He whispered to Huangfu Song, "Grand Marshal, why did you come here in person?"
Zhong Yao knew that Yang Biao just wanted to avoid trouble, so he ignored him and asked, "Does your majesty know about this?"
Liu Bian looked thoughtful and said, "Let me see what you mean first."
Huangfu Song did not hide it and said, "It's a big deal."
The imperial court is now striving for stability and does not want to cause any more trouble.
Upon hearing this, Xun Yu, Xun You and others stood up and looked at Huangfu Song with confusion.
Cao Cao's sudden move must have frightened Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo, who has always been quiet, is likely to have other Dong Zhuos.
Liu Bian looked at the crowd, all of whom were ministers of the court. Except for Yang Biao, he regarded them all as his confidants. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "I have decided to redistribute the land to the people who have no land or little land."
There is no other way except to use time to digest it slowly.
Huangfu Song had already prepared a plan, and he said directly: "Your Majesty, I think that we should respond to all changes with the same attitude."
Zhong Yao came to his senses and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, I request your permission to go to Pei State and order Dong Zhuo to behave himself and not dare to raise an army!"
Liu Bian took in their expressions and said indifferently, "The south is going to war, and the imperial court's taxes are decreasing instead of increasing. What do you think we should do?"
Yang Biao's expression changed slightly, and he asked, "What happened?"
Yang Biao, on the other hand, understood the situation and raised his hand quickly, saying, "Your Majesty, I agree with what the Grand Marshal said. At this time, the court should act in secret and not give Dong Zhuo any excuse. If Dong Zhuo is really plotting rebellion, he must be deterred with thundering means!"
Liu Bian hummed and said, "Let the Ministry of Revenue take care of this matter. Also, from now on, the Shangshutai will issue an order to strictly prohibit the sale of land. Those who violate it will be severely punished!"
Yang Biao thought about that situation and suddenly said in a hurry: "No! Your Majesty, if we do this, we will relax the encirclement and suppression of Yuan Shu, and it may also make Dong Zhuo desperate and the court will have to start wars on multiple fronts. We must not do this!"
Xun You glanced at him, feeling annoyed with Cao Cao, but he didn't show it on his face. He continued, "Your Majesty, Xu Rong of Yanzhou, Gongsun Zan of Jiujiang and Jiangxia, Yuan Shao, and Sun Jian of Guangling may all order them to send troops to suppress Dong Zhuo."
Xun You and Xun Yu both didn't quite understand what was said and were thinking seriously.
Liu Bian paused, raised his eyelids and looked at him.
Yang Biao's fat face was straightened. He struggled again and again, but did not second the motion.
Yang Biao's fat face straightened up immediately. He held his breath secretly, raised his hand and said, "Brother Huangfu, please say a few words for the Shangshutai later."
Huangfu Song would not interrupt, as this was the business of the Secretariat and he always stayed away from it.
He didn't know whether Xun Yu meant it intentionally or unintentionally, and whether he could see it or not.
Huangfu Song rarely came to the Shangshutai. When he saw Yang Biao trotting over with difficulty, he raised his hand and said, "Prime Minister, His Majesty summoned us to the palace."
Xun You and Zhong Yao also remained silent.
Huangfu Song rarely participated in the affairs of the Shangshutai. He hesitated for a moment and said, "Something happened in the south."
Xun Yu remained calm and said, "The Shangshutai has issued an order to curb this situation."
When the court's debts were due, Yang Biao could still say a few words because of his old face. But the shortfall was so huge that he didn't want to go to the palace and get into trouble.
"Your Majesty, we are here to pay our respects." Yang Biao led the group and they all saluted.
Everyone said nothing as they left the Shangshu Terrace, walked around the Jiade Hall, and headed towards the Chongde Hall.
Liu Bian looked at everyone present. After a long while, he slowly put down his pen, sat up straight, and said, "Liu Biao almost killed the angel I sent. Yuan Shao's mind is unpredictable. Gongsun Zan is hiding his strength. That Sun Jian obviously doesn't take my order seriously. Not long ago, Cao Cao sent troops to snatch Qiao County from Dong Zhuo."
They could all feel that His Majesty had only said half of what he meant, and there were more plans hidden behind it!
Liu Bian looked at Xun Yu again. He didn't expect that this matter would go so smoothly.
When everyone arrived at the back hall of Chongde Hall, they saw Liu Bian sitting behind the desk, quietly reading memorials.
Logically speaking, if the palace summoned someone, they could just send a eunuch to deliver the message. There was no need for Huangfu Song to go there in person.
He didn't know whether Liu Bian was aware that one hundred million debts would mature this year and Taicang still had a shortage of several hundred million.
Yang Biao knew all this, but he had forgotten it subconsciously. He couldn't help but frown, making his eyes even smaller, and asked, "Is there such a big difference?"
Xun You's eyes were cold and his face was serious. He said, "Your Majesty, I beg you to severely punish Cao Cao!"
Yang Biao's fat face trembled and he hesitated.
Xun Yu, Xun You, Zhong Yao and others were waiting for Yang Biao to express his opinion. It was not that they had to let Yang Biao take the blame, but many of their subsequent plans required the approval and support of Yang Biao as the prime minister.
Liu Bian narrowed his eyes and stared at Xun Yu.
Liu Bian put down the document in his hand, picked up another one, and said, "I heard that this year's summer tax has not increased but decreased, and many big families are frantically scrambling for land?"
How could Yang Biao feel at ease? Not to mention the affairs in the south, the affairs of the imperial court were enough to give him a headache.
Xun You kept staring at Yang Biao and said, "The Prime Minister needs to report this to His Majesty."
It was really unreasonable for him, the prime minister, to be away for such a big event. But if he entered the palace, he would have to endure the wrath of thunder.
Xun You, Xun Yu and others looked at each other and all had a bad feeling in their hearts.
Liu Bian still didn't look up and said, "It's been almost four years, and it's only halfway?"
Liu Bian looked at him and said, "The Xu family trapped in Qiao County asked Cao Cao for help, so Cao Cao sent troops to occupy Qiao County. I was not aware of this beforehand."
When everyone saw Liu Bian making excuses for Cao Cao again, they were filled with resentment but could not utter it.
Liu Bian could see what they were thinking. He sat upright, his expression dignified and a little overbearing. He said, "I reiterate that the court must focus on the 'New Deal' and not be distracted. 'Land Surveying and Household Registration' must continue to be implemented with all efforts and cannot be neglected in the slightest. That's all for today. Xun Yuqing's family can stay, and everyone else can go."
Yang Biao was a little stunned. There were so many important things happening in the court, but His Majesty didn't even ask a single question?