Han Dynasty Achievements

Chapter 80: Intricacies

After Zuo Li left, Liu Bian looked at Huangfu Song and Xun You and smiled, saying, "I will consider the selection of the commander of the army. Where do you think the money and food should come from?"

Now that Xiliang is temporarily stable and Dong Zhuo is in the capital, Liu Bian can mobilize a lot of troops, and the only constraint is money and food.

Xun You saw Liu Bian asking a question, raised his hand, and said solemnly: "Your Majesty, I would like to collect a year's salt tax in advance, which can earn 500 million, which is enough to pay for the military pay."

Liu Bian frowned slightly. He had never discussed the issue of salt tax with Xun You.

He calmly picked up the teacup and said, "If we want to collect the salt tax in advance, we need the concerted efforts of the Shangshutai."

Liu Bian's words were full of self-evident meanings.

To put it bluntly, no matter whether it is Liu Bian's edict or the court's order, its value will be greatly reduced once it leaves Luoyang. It would be fine if the local authorities just perfunctorily dealt with it, but if they take the opportunity to increase taxes on the people, and the tax collected is less than 30%, and it takes a long time, then this year's task may not be completed in three to five years. It would be better not to levy taxes.

Liu Bian's edicts and the orders from the Secretariat were far less effective than the words of prestigious families.

Xun You was moved when he heard this, and said directly: "Your Majesty, I would like to send Yuan Taifu as an envoy to go out of the capital to collect from the seven northern states. Yuan Taifu and the other envoys will surely understand the difficulties of the court and Your Majesty and do their best to collect."

The governors of the seven northern states were all recently appointed by Liu Bian, and the Yuan family had deep roots in Jizhou and Yanzhou.

"No!"

Liu Bian flatly rejected it. At this time, he would not allow Yuan Wei to leave the capital and escape from his control.

Xun You was stunned, a little confused.

Liu Bian quickly recovered his expression and said with a smile: "I will consider the commander of the army. The matter of money and grain will be discussed by the Shangshutai."

Xun You thought of something and changed the subject, "Your Majesty, if the government and the public impeach the defeated general, how should we deal with him?"

Just as Liu Bian was about to speak, he heard footsteps outside. He looked outside and saw Empress Dowager He coming in with a group of people, smiling.

Liu Bian quickly stood up and said casually, "There is no such thing as an undefeated general in the world. So, all of you can go now."

Xun You and Huangfu Song also saw Empress Dowager He, greeted her, and then said, "We will take our leave."

Queen Mother He ignored Xun You and Huangfu Song, walked in with a smile on her face, pulled the girl aside, and said to Liu Bian: "Bian'er, look, do you remember who this is?"

Liu Bian looked at the woman next to her, who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, tall, dignified and beautiful, with hair like clouds, eyes like water, and a kind of classical fragrance.

The woman pursed her lips and saluted in a gentle voice, "Tang Ji greets His Majesty."

Liu Bian had no idea who this was. He looked at her for a while and then asked, "Girl, can you read?"

The woman's name was Tang Ji. She lowered her head and said softly, "I have read some at home."

Liu Bian nodded. He had encountered a lot of unfamiliar characters recently and it was not easy to find Pan Yin to help him learn characters. This woman was just right.

"That's good. Stay and study with me." Liu Bian said.

Seeing Liu Bian's serious look, Empress Dowager He turned around and said with a smile: "Okay, you guys can chat, I'm leaving first."

Liu Bian knew what Empress Dowager He meant. He felt a little embarrassed and said, "I will send my mother off."

Empress Dowager He didn't need him to send her off. She turned around, gave Liu Bian a meaningful smile, and pushed him back.

Liu Bian touched his nose, turned around and smiled at Tang Ji, saying: "Come, read with me."

Tang Ji responded softly, trying her best to keep her pretty face calm, but her heart was tense and tangled.

Empress Dowager He left Jingfu Palace with a happy look on her face. As soon as she returned to Yongle Palace, a eunuch with a hunched back and a haggard look was waiting for her.

Empress Dowager He's eyes suddenly turned cold, she waved away the servants and slowly walked over.

The eunuch bowed in front of Empress Dowager He and whispered, "Your Majesty, one of them was leaked. She was the general's favorite concubine when he was alive."

Queen Mother He's face was as pale as ice. She asked, "How much does she know?"

The eunuch said: "He should know something, otherwise he wouldn't have run away."

Empress Dowager He's eyes were filled with murderous intent. She said coldly, "Find her, and anyone she has come into contact with, and no one will be allowed to survive!"

The eunuch remained motionless and said, "Yes."

Empress Dowager He stared at him, her tone became calm, and she said, "You know the importance of this matter. If you do it well, I will guarantee a future for your entire family. If you don't do it well, your entire family will be exterminated!"

The eunuch bowed and said, "I understand."

Empress Dowager He waved her hand and watched him leave. She beckoned a palace maid and said indifferently, "Send a letter to He Miao and ask him to bring the people with him. Afterwards, kill all of them. Don't let any of them live! If he doesn't do well, I'll skin him alive!"

"Yes." The palace maid trembled and responded softly.

Empress Dowager He watched the eunuch leave the palace, then turned around and left with an expressionless face.

……

Outside the palace, the Taiwei Mansion.

"That old thief Yuan has gone too far in bullying me!"

Dong Zhuo took the sword, chopped it on the small table in front of him, and roared loudly.

Li Su rushed in from outside and said urgently, "Mr. Dong, be careful with your words!"

Dong Zhuo was sweating all over, his whole body was soaked, his face was full of resentment, he pointed his sword at Li Su and shouted: "What did you say to me before entering the capital? Now, they come to the palace to discuss matters again and again, but I, the Grand Marshal, can't even leave the Grand Marshal's Mansion!"

Li Su saw Dong Zhuo's ferocious face and knew that he was really angry. He was a little scared, but he still said, "Mr. Dong, please be patient for a while. I will find out the situation in the court and there will always be a chance!"

Dong Zhuo threw away his sword and caught a glimpse of a beautiful maid not far away. He suddenly strode over and said, "Wait for me!"

When the maid saw Dong Zhuo coming towards her aggressively, she was so frightened that her body trembled, but she had no intention of escaping at all.

Dong Zhuo picked up the maid and walked quickly inside.

When Li Su saw this, he looked awkward, as if he was constipated, especially the sound he heard afterwards, which made him even more uncomfortable.

Less than half an incense stick of time later, Dong Zhuo came out with his belt tied around his waist. His face had calmed down a lot. He sat down and drank a lot of water. Then he stared and said, "What do you think we should do?"

Li Su took a few steps forward and smelled the strange smell. He frowned and said with all his strength: "Mr. Dong, now is a time of trouble. The Han Dynasty is in trouble. As the Grand Commandant, how can Mr. Dong not be able to use his talents? If it is true as the Grand Commandant expected that the Yuan family will not last long, there must be many vacancies. It is unknown whether Mr. Dong will be the prime minister!"

Dong Zhuo was persuaded by Yuan Wei to come to the capital because of the word "prime minister". Hearing this, he became even more angry and said, "I have been in the capital for more than a month, and I can't even enter the Secretariat. How can I talk about being a prime minister?!"

Li Su already knew that the Secretariat had called for meetings, and Dong Zhuo was annoyed that he was not included in the meeting time and time again.

Li Su whispered even more: "Mr. Dong, I heard that the Yellow Turbans are rebelling again. Can Mr. Dong be left out of this?"

Dong Zhuo suddenly remembered that this was the time when the Yellow Turban Army began to become active. With a gleam in his eyes, he said, "Good, good, good!"

He thought of something, and with an excited look on his face, he looked at Li Su and said, "How about I take this opportunity to leave the capital and return to Bingzhou?"

Li Su was stunned. The reason he followed Dong Zhuo to the capital was because he hoped to rise to prominence. He never expected that Dong Zhuo would actually back out!

Bingzhou is a place of chaos, how can it be as prosperous and promising as the Eastern Capital?

Immediately, he calmly advised: "Mr. Dong, this is a God-given opportunity. If you have the military power, what can't you do in the Shangshutai?"

Dong Zhuo was immediately interested and sat up straight and asked, "How do we do it?"

Li Su glanced behind him and whispered, "Why not let Bingzhou get into chaos? Why worry about not getting the military power?"

Last day for double monthly tickets~

Asking for a monthly ticket~