Three Kingdoms: Ten Times Speed, Diao Chan Says I'm Too Fast

After Zuo Feng sat down again, Duan Yu briefly told Zuo Feng about the ambush by the crossbows and ballistae, as well as the fact that the Liangzhou gentry were secretly supporting Beigong Boyu.

Upon hearing Duan Yu's account, Zuo Feng's eyes widened in astonishment.

"How dare these people be so audacious!"

Zuo Feng said angrily, "Marquis Ji is a man of the country and the people, how dare they do such a thing as plotting to harm him!"

“This is utterly outrageous! I will certainly report this matter to His Majesty upon my return to Luoyang.”

Duan Yu wasn't worried at all about whether Zuo Feng's promise would be kept.

Whether it's Zuo Feng, Zhang Rang, or Zhao Zhong, these palace eunuchs will do things for you as long as they take your money.

Moreover, although Zuo Feng was only a minor eunuch, he was no less capable than Zhang Rang and others.

Historically, Zuo Feng was able to send Lu Zhi to Luoyang in a prison cart with just a single sentence, which shows how much Liu Hong trusted him.

This time, he handed over the tax to Zuo Feng to escort back to Luoyang, which was also a deliberate act to give Zuo Feng credit in front of Liu Hong.

Presumably, after returning to the palace this time, Zuo Fenghe will be promoted to the position of Zhongchangshi.

After saying everything he needed to say, Zuo Feng hurriedly took his leave and prepared to return to Luoyang.

He came with Liu Hong's orders: he must return to Luoyang within ten days.

Therefore, there was no intention to stay in Hanyang County for long.

After Zuo Feng left, Duan Yu returned to his study.

Before long, Jia Xu, Li Ru, Cheng Yu, and Liu Baitu, who had been ordered to come, arrived at Duan Yu's study.

"I have just entrusted the eunuch Zuo Feng to deliver the money, grain, and silk to Luoyang."

"Presumably, once Zuo Feng arrives in Luoyang, the emperor will issue an edict within a few days."

"You should have already seen the intelligence collected by the Military Intelligence Bureau."

"What are your opinions on these ten clans and eight families, and how should they be dealt with?"

Duan Yu's gaze fell upon the four people kneeling in the study.

"kill!"

Cheng Yu was the first to speak.

Wearing a gray robe and standing tall, Cheng Yu said with a fierce look in his eyes, "The only way to deal with these people is to kill them."

“If Your Excellency allows it to continue to exist, it will not only hinder the development of Liangzhou, but will also continue to cause you trouble.”

"Although killing him might incur public resentment, we must still kill him."

Duan Yu turned his gaze back to Li Ru and Jia Xu.

The two men exchanged a glance, then nodded and said, "Zhongde is right; he should indeed be killed."

"Moreover, Your Excellency's intention this time is to use His Majesty's name to exterminate these ten clans and eight families. Even if it damages your reputation, it can be minimized," Li Ru said slowly, stroking his chin.

"Oh?"

Duan Yu smiled and looked at Li Ru, saying, "Wen You, have you seen through my intentions?"

Li Ru nodded slowly and said, "Even if I don't guess, it's still a guess, and I don't know if I'm right."

"Tell me about it," Duan Yu said, looking at Li Ru before leisurely picking up his teacup.

After a moment's thought, Li Ru began to analyze:

"Your Excellency's payment of the full amount of taxes from the three prefectures of Liangzhou is a way of informing His Majesty that Liangzhou, under Your Excellency's governance, can provide taxes for the court."

"Since the Yongchu Qiang Rebellion, Liangzhou has spent hundreds of millions of military funds every year to suppress the Western Qiang."

"Duan Jiong spent ten years fighting in Liangzhou to suppress the Western Qiang, and only managed to capture some cattle, horses and sheep, but he spent a total of 4.4 billion in military expenses."

"And under the rule of the Lord, Liangzhou, although it only has the tax revenue of three counties, still amounts to as much as 200 million coins a year."

"The imperial court is weak. Two hundred million coins may not seem like much, but what if it were the entire Liangzhou?"

Duan Yu's lips curled up slightly.

That's right.

That's exactly what he wanted Liu Hong to think.

The three prefectures of Liangzhou alone had two hundred million in taxes and provisions each year.

If we include the remaining seven prefectures, and the kingdoms of the Western Regions, what about them?

Liu Hong wasn't stupid; he could figure out the math.

But he made his meaning very clear.

They want the tax revenue of the entire Liangzhou.

They were about to wipe out the ten clans and eight families in those seven prefectures.

Duan Yu would never do that on his own initiative.

Because if he did it, it would be tantamount to offending all the powerful and influential families in the world.

Because all the powerful clans and wealthy families in the world are doing the same thing.

They annexed land, concealed people, and accumulated wealth.

No one in the world today dares to touch the door of land reform.

Whoever moves will die.

If it weren't for the new policies he implemented in Hanyang, Jincheng, and Longxi, the Liangzhou gentry wouldn't have provided such financial support to Beigong Boyu.

This is the foreshadowing.

Because of his new policies, the gentry saw that their interests were about to be damaged.

That's why these people took the risk of supporting Beigong Boyu.

This is the reason why the eight families of the ten clans took action.

The reason why the aristocratic families dared to so brazenly seize land and hide people in their respective prefectures and counties to evade taxes was because they were all certain of what was going on.

If the emperor wanted to govern the country, he couldn't do without these aristocratic families.

Without the rule of the gentry, the world would descend into chaos.

The imperial power would be overthrown.

This seems to be as difficult to resolve as the intractable problem faced by all dynasties in history.

Imperial power needed powerful clans and aristocratic families to maintain its rule.

However, while aristocratic clans maintained imperial rule, they also continuously eroded the dynasty's fortune and the nation's destiny.

This problem has remained unsolved throughout history.

The longer a dynasty lasted, the more severe this situation became.

The mighty Han Dynasty, spanning four hundred years, had seen this decadent atmosphere permeate every corner of the dynasty.

In the Central Plains, no one dared to touch the interests of the powerful clans and gentry, otherwise they would face a torrent of chaos like the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

The modern Han Dynasty can be described in just four words.

The master is weak and the servant is strong; outwardly strong but inwardly weak.

The imperial family was declining, but the aristocratic families were powerful.

It may seem that the world belongs to the Liu family, but that is only a facade.

And Liangzhou...

This is one of the reasons why Duan Yu chose Liangzhou earlier.

Although Liangzhou also had gentry families, they were not as powerful as the gentry families in the Central Plains, which had been developing for over two hundred years.

The Liangzhou gentry, which had declined for over two hundred years, was now just an empty shell.

Moreover, the Liangzhou region was plagued by Qiang incursions and various other Hu tribes.

Liangzhou has been in a state of war for many years, and even the imperial court has discussed abandoning it more than once.

Under these circumstances, a bloodbath against the Liangzhou gentry would not have the same impact as it would have had on the Central Plains.

Because the interests involved have not yet reached the vast aristocratic system of the Central Plains.

Of course.

This is on the premise that Duan Yu cannot voluntarily raise this butcher's knife, otherwise he will still be condemned by everyone.

Therefore, he now hands over the right to wield the knife to Liu Hong.

He used the tax revenue from the three counties of Liangzhou to persuade Liu Hong to make a choice.

If the gentry of Liangzhou were dealt with, the imperial court would receive a huge sum of money every year.

For both Liu Hong himself and for the stability of the Han Dynasty, this money was a lifesaver.

However, if these aristocratic families of Liangzhou are not dealt with, the consequences are obvious.

"Your Excellency has employed an open strategy this time," Li Ru concluded, "and it's an unsolvable one."

"I estimate that after His Majesty receives the taxes paid by the Marquis, he will definitely order the Lord to cleanse the ten clans and eight families."

"In this way, the entire Liangzhou will fall into your hands."

"hehe."

Duan Yu put down his teacup, then clapped his hands with a smile: "Great job!"

“Wenyou is right, that’s exactly what I’m planning.”

"As long as His Majesty gives the order, within ten days, all ten clans and eight families will be massacred!"

Duan Yu's eyes were filled with murderous intent.

Two hundred million dollars sounds like a lot.

However, in reality, this figure is not even close to the actual grain and silk production output of Liangzhou this year.

After seed improvement, the yield per mu in Liangzhou has reached an astonishing level.

Today, the combined arable land area of ​​Longxi, Jincheng, and Hanyang is approximately seven million mu.

Moreover, the land in Liangzhou is fertile, and the high-yield wheat and sorghum can yield about three shi of grain per mu.

This year, most of the land was planted with improved grain seeds, and the output value almost doubled.

After deducting the half allocated to the common people, the remaining grain in the three prefectures alone amounted to more than 20 million shi (a unit of dry measure).

It is conceivable that if the new policy is implemented throughout Liangzhou next year, this number will reach an alarming figure.

Unifying Liangzhou and opening up the Hexi Corridor is imperative!