Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 476 Extra Chapter: Luoyang (Part 3)
Righteousness does not govern wealth, and compassion does not govern troops.

Pei Qinghe single-handedly built the Pei family army with strict military discipline, eliminating mountain bandits and killing villains, defeating the Bohai Navy, fighting the Xiongnu cavalry and killing the imperial guards. Killing people was commonplace for him.

The veterans were completely stunned. No one dared to have any further thoughts. They even took out the daggers they had hidden on their bodies. When they walked out of the wooden gate of the military camp, it was as if they had just walked through the gates of hell. Their legs were weak.

"Xie Laosan and his gang dared to cause trouble, so they deserved to be killed to establish their authority!"

"Fortunately, we handed over our weapons earlier."

"Shh! Stop talking and let's go! When you all go back to your hometown, be honest farmers and live a good life."

Half a day later, all the veterans in the military camp had left.

The weapons were piled high next to the wooden door.

Pei Qinghe didn't actually care for these dilapidated weapons. He simply wanted to use this opportunity to teach the veterans leaving the army a lesson they would never forget, to instill a sense of awe in them, and to make them behave better when they returned home.

"Pei Wan, take some men and move the weapons into the storeroom," Pei Qinghe casually instructed. "Take an inventory of all the weapons in the storeroom."

Pei Wan is meticulous and thorough in her work, so this task is perfect for her.

Pei Wan accepted the order and left.

Pei Qinghe then assigned Pei Yue the task of counting the warhorses and taking stock of the provisions to Pei Yu.

The military camp was cleared out, cleaned and tidied up, and was ready for the Pei family army to move in.

In the past few days, Prime Minister Pang and Minister Qin have also been busy, each keeping their feet on the ground. The surrendered officials in Luoyang are packing their belongings to go to Yan County, and on the way, they are studying the memorials compiled by Minister Qin and learning the laws of the new dynasty.

The people of Luoyang lived in fear for several days, but surprisingly, no soldiers or bandits came to their doors demanding money. The Pei family army patrolled the streets in waves, arresting only petty thieves and hooligans, and not harassing ordinary citizens. Occasionally, a soldier would get thirsty and go to a teahouse for tea, always paying for it.

Shops selling grain, oil, salt, and sugar were required to open. The government set prices, prohibiting hoarding, price gouging, and arbitrary price increases. Grain prices, in particular, were reduced by 50% compared to before.

The people queuing outside the grain store to buy grain were so excited they almost cried.

"In the past few years, there has been constant fighting both inside and outside Luoyang. Grain prices have been rising day by day. I never expected that as soon as Emperor Zhaoyuan arrived, grain prices would drop."

"I heard that the emperor summoned all the owners behind the grain shops and asked them to lower the price of grain so that we could all afford to buy it."

"You're making it sound so convincing, did you see it with your own eyes or something?"

"Hey, my wife's brother-in-law works as a clerk in the Ministry of Revenue. He saw it with his own eyes, how could it be fake!"

"In this world, there is actually an emperor who is so considerate and loving towards us! We must have accumulated good karma in our past lives!"

Nothing stabilizes people's hearts more than lowering grain prices!

Impoverished people who had neither food nor money could go to the soup kitchens to get porridge every day. There were more than a dozen soup kitchens in Luoyang. Although the porridge was made from old rice, it was enough to fill their stomachs.

The grain used in these porridge shops was actually donated by wealthy families in Luoyang. Without Emperor Zhaoyuan, who would have been willing to provide grain to relieve the poor?
In just half a month, Emperor Zhaoyuan's reputation for benevolence and love for the people spread throughout Luoyang.

In addition to these, the government also issued Emperor Zhaoyuan's new policy proposals. For ordinary people, nothing was more important than taxes.

Starting this year, taxes in the south will be collected at a uniform rate of 30%, just like in the north, and will only be collected once a year.

Furthermore, people without seeds can borrow them from nearby grain shops. The grain shops are only allowed to charge one percent interest. Anyone dissatisfied with the emperor's new policies or uttering complaints will face the elite blades of the Pei family army.

The taxes on ordinary merchants have also decreased significantly compared to before. However, the taxes on large households are set quite high. Those whose family assets exceed a certain amount are considered large households, and they have to pay 50% of their annual income from farming and commerce to the imperial court.

Emperor Zhaoyuan forcefully implemented his new policies, and no one dared to oppose the powerful emperor. Occasionally, someone would try to trip him up or make underhanded moves, but once discovered, they would immediately beheaded, have their family property confiscated, and be exterminated.

After four households of officials and wealthy families in Luoyang were wiped out, the new policies proceeded exceptionally smoothly.

Three months after Pei's army entered Luoyang, the people talked about Emperor Zhaoyuan all the time. No one remembered General Situ, who had been dead for several months, and no one missed King Qiao or the Jiangnan rebels.

Pei Qinghe summoned Prime Minister Pang, Minister Qin, and other civil officials, and Pei Yun and a group of military generals also came.

"The people in Luoyang are gradually becoming more settled. I plan to send troops south to completely eliminate Tao Wudi." Pei Qinghe's sharp gaze swept across the faces of the crowd: "What are your opinions and thoughts? Please speak up."

Pei Qinghe was a warrior who conquered the world through sheer force, fighting her way to power. Naturally, no one objected to her sending troops to deal with Tao Wudi.

Prime Minister Pang said, "This old minister, along with Minister Qin and others, will remain in Luoyang to handle the emperor's administrative affairs."

Minister Qin and others readily agreed.

The military officers eagerly volunteered for battle.

Pei Qinghe had already thought this through and first said to Pei Yun, "You stay in Luoyang and guard the rear for me."

Luoyang, being the former capital of the Jing Dynasty and the political and economic center of the south, wields considerable influence. It must be guarded by a reliable person. Just as when they captured Bohai Commandery, Pei Qinghe's best choice was always Pei Yun.

Pei Yun bowed and accepted the order: "This subordinate obeys the decree. The Emperor has granted me three thousand men in Luoyang."

Three thousand elite soldiers are indeed enough to defend the city.

Pei Qinghe nodded slightly: "Alright, I will leave you three thousand men, and I will take the rest of the elite troops to the south. You can recruit new soldiers and expand the force here to ten thousand."

Pei Yun was a skilled warrior and an expert at training troops.

Pei Yun bowed again in acceptance.

Next was the military preparations meeting. The civil officials didn't need to attend. Pei Qinghe summoned all the military generals, and, having obtained a map of the southern terrain stored in the palace, carefully studied it to determine the route and plan for the expedition.

The Ministry of Revenue in Luoyang was too slow in preparing provisions, forcing a postponement of the troop deployment by half a month. At this time, Pei Qinghe missed Shi Yan terribly.

Unfortunately, Shi Yan had to stay in Yan County to prepare supplies for the Liaoxi Army, Guangning Army, Beiping Army, and Fanyang Army, and also to make preparations for future expeditions beyond the Great Wall. He was too busy to attend to everything.

Thinking of Shi Yan inevitably brings to mind his daughter.

When she led her troops away, the little monkey was only three months old. Half a year has passed since then, and now he's over eight months old. He should be able to roll over, sit, and crawl by now. I wonder if he still recognizes her as his mother.

You can't have your cake and eat it too.

She was destined to lead troops into battle and pacify the world, which meant she was destined to be no good mother.

Pei Qinghe gazed silently in the direction of Yan County, sighing inwardly.

"Your Majesty, the proclamation to punish the traitor Tao has been written."

Pei Qinghe immediately came to his senses: "Pass on my imperial edict and send the proclamation to all the counties and prefectures in the south."

(End of this chapter)