Han Shizu

"You repeatedly mentioned how the local area in Huazhou and Xiagua County in your hometown are. Obviously, you have a deep understanding of the local situation, and you have made detailed visits and investigations!" After stabilizing his emotions and regaining his composure, Emperor Liu looked at Kou Zhun asked, "Tell me, in your Huazhou, who are the most active in land annexation?"

This is to allow Kou Zhun to continue to betray the "elders" in his hometown by name and name. However, Kou Zhun obviously does not have too much moral burden on such matters, otherwise he would not use Huazhou as an example to point out the truth to Emperor Liu. .

After deliberating, Kou Zhun said: "Your Majesty, there are some powerful prefects in Huazhou, some officials at all levels with small powers, successful merchants in business, and honors for returning home from the army. , the job fields operated by the state and county governments are also gradually expanding.”

Hearing Kou Zhun's words, Emperor Liu was not surprised, and even exclaimed: "Officials, merchants, and powerful, you really can't escape these three!"

Soon, he reacted belatedly, staring at Kou Zhun and said: "The retired honor you mentioned refers to the retired military officers and officials arranged by the imperial court to serve in various government offices and villages?"

"Yes!" Kou Zhun nodded.

Emperor Liu was stunned for a while when he heard the words, and then he laughed a few times, with sarcasm in his words: "It's useless work! It's useless work! I take it for granted! I think too highly of myself!"

Emperor Liu was talking nonsense there, making Kou Zhun and Yan Tuo, who was waiting beside him, look at each other, but the level of caution in their hearts was raised to the highest level. Although Emperor Liu was smiling, his expression did not look happy.

You know, when Emperor Liu placed those low-level officers and meritorious soldiers who had retired from the army in the village, it was to use these people to balance the original powerful clan.

In the early days, these retired soldiers who had certain management skills, were grateful to the emperor and the army, and highly recognized the court and the country did play a positive role in maintaining the rule of the Han Dynasty.

After figuring this out, Emperor Liu began to consider the purpose of Kou Zhun's admonition, which may not be on the issue of immigration.

"In front of me, there is no need to put on such a show!" Emperor Liu said impatiently: "I have said so much before, how can you be happy if you don't finish it?"

They have seen the big world, and those who can be arranged as officials are basically military meritorious, with honors on their bodies, and, because of their military background, their style is often tough and rude, and they have a strong desire to control.

However, when faced with Kou Zhun's statement, Emperor Liu still couldn't help chuckling and said, "What you said is nothing more than a cliché! Didn't the imperial court always do this in the past? But why is it still difficult to stop?"

Most of the retired soldiers who were placed as officials at the grassroots level in the village were assimilated, colluded with those old clans and powerful forces, and even directly replaced them to become the local emperors in the village.

At least, having these low-level officials who highly identify with the country will indeed help Emperor Liu centralize power and help the government control the locality.At least, in terms of taxation and corvee collection, it is indeed much more convenient.These two points are the most important for both the central court and the local government.

Without waiting for Kou Zhun to answer, Emperor Liu said coldly: "In the final analysis, it is still the court's work that is not done properly, some people who supervise and enforce the law laxly, even know the law and break the law, and those who are in collusion with stakeholders!"

Even though Emperor Liu has been insisting on immigrating to the border, he only let those grassroots reclaim another place, enrich the border by the way, consolidate national defense, and maintain the rule of the great Han.For the fart, if the restraint and control are completely relaxed, the world will probably not be stable, and social order will also be chaotic.

As for the low-level officials who were veterans, Emperor Liu had already noticed their development trend, and he was not a fool. I just don't know.

When asked, Kou Zhun replied with some reserve: "I am shallow and ignorant, so don't talk nonsense!"

But the development of things is dynamic. Today, the 23rd year of Kaibao, when it comes to tyranny, Emperor Liu is still so strict in his mouth, but he has already compromised in his heart.

To be honest, local land annexation and control of ordinary people are beneficial to the rule of the imperial court.Many things that the imperial court could not do, depended on their help.

At that time, it was precisely because of the existence of these people that the imperial court's ability to control the village was greatly enhanced, whether it was tax collection, labor service or military service, it was very smooth.

Therefore, the method adopted by Emperor Liu has always been to restrict and improve, to treat the symptoms but not the root cause.With the current productivity and social development of the big man, it is unrealistic to seek a cure for the root cause. Emperor Liu also knew this well in his heart. The revolution is his own life.

Seeing this, Kou Zhun thought about it for a while, then cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the most important countermeasure is to clarify the administration of officials, restrain the tyrants, and prohibit them from colluding with each other, taking plunder, and doing anything wrong! The imperial court should prohibit the local tyrants from restricting the people. Freedom of person, those who break the law and discipline should be severely punished in accordance with the law."

From the perspective of his Liu family, these tyrannical powers are necessary. For the ruler, it is best for those heads of the people to be bound to the land forever, to be obedient citizens of the empire with peace of mind, and to be honestly accepted by the emperor. exploit.

As soon as Kou Zhun's words came out, it already proved his status. This is the representative of the common landlord class.The countermeasures proposed are also extremely compromised, seeking improvement, not reform.

However, when Kou Zhun exposed these things that Emperor Liu had deliberately ignored, Emperor Liu naturally had mixed feelings in his heart.

The messy thoughts in his mind fluttered for a long time, Emperor Liu regained his composure, glanced at Kou Zhun, and said, "You pointed out these problems to me, and I accepted them, but do you have an idea on how to solve them?"

However, most of the exploiting classes in the world don't seem to have this understanding, but they are greedy and habitually do things to the extreme. This situation is what Emperor Liu really wants to attack. These are also the enemies that shake the rule of the great Han.

How much does Emperor Liu hate the powerful?In fact, it depends on the needs of governance and the situation of the country.When the Han Dynasty was first established, there were separatists from various countries outside, while there were many feudal towns and towns inside, and the authority of the central government was weak. Under such circumstances, how could Emperor Liu have a good impression of those strong and powerful places? Imperial court.

What's more, where so many people go, they are not all reduced to tenants, retinues, and servants, but also those who do business, go to sea, and immigrate to the border.From the point of view of the whole big man, after all, there are still so many self-cultivating farmers left. Even if the situation has a tendency to deteriorate, at present, how serious it is, we need to treat it rationally.

For today's Emperor Liu's evil words, what he thinks and thinks is only for the continuation of his empire's rule.As long as the land transaction policy remains unchanged, mergers are inevitable. Changing the policy is not easy, not to mention it is easy to bring out new problems.

Land annexation can be done, but if you go too far, you can't eat too badly. Even if those ordinary people are attached to you, you have to make people survive and not drive people to a dead end.

As a matter of fact, regarding retired military officers and officials being violent and domineering, committing crimes, and violating laws and disciplines in the local area, as early as the Qianyou period, Emperor Liu was very angry and dealt with them severely. A group of people.However, the reliance on their appointment has not changed in the slightest.

However, time is passing and people are constantly changing. The trick that Emperor Liu thought he thought was a wonderful move has gradually exposed its disadvantages.

In the past, the imperial court relied on local powerful and prominent families. In addition to being unable to control it, this aspect was also an important factor.

Once the energy of these people burst out, the impact on the local grassroots can be imagined.It is more normal for them to have some misconduct, but can the local government control it?Obviously it's difficult. Groups like soldiers are also easy to cling to. With such a layer of identity, there is an aura of halo around them, and they are not easy to bully.

Emperor Liu is a highly centralized autocratic monarch. The position of his buttocks has made him "correct" his thinking. The ruler is the ruler, and the exploiting class is the exploiting class. He is willing to do anything that is beneficial to his rule. Everything that is not conducive to his rule must be stopped and banned.

Twenty percent of the landless peasants are not many. Considering the current population of nearly [-] million in Dahan, the number is quite large.However, without these people, who would plant the land of so many powerful families and bureaucratic landlords in the Han Dynasty, and who would satisfy their interests. After all, their role in maintaining the rule of the Han Empire is the greatest.

Therefore, regarding Kou Zhun's proposal, while expressing his approval, Emperor Liu said: "It seems that the big man needs to be cleaned up once again from the government to the local area! You say that I can make those who steal by stealing, oppress the good, know the law and break the law, Is it better for the traitor who dug out the foundation of my man?"

Emperor Liu spoke lightly, even gently, but the chill in his tone made people tremble.

Looking at Kou Zhun again, Emperor Liu thought for a while, and said, "Kou Zhun has made great contributions in admonishing, and he has something to say, and I worship him as the supervisor of the Guannei Taoist censor!"

Kou Zhun was a little surprised, so he was promoted?But with a calm face, he respectfully said: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

In fact, this is not considered a promotion, but just a full-time job and a real job.As a Jinshi who has just passed the scientific examination and became an official, it is quite legendary to be able to become a full-time official in less than a month, at least among the current big men, it is relatively rare.You know, even the last Jinshi, there are still some people who have not decided where to go, and are still observing politics as trainees.