Han Shizu

Chapter 764
Cross the Hutuo River from Zhending to the west, and after seventy miles, you will arrive at Jingxing.As one of the eight Taihang Eight Xings, Jingxing has a high reputation from ancient times to the present. Before Bai Chongzan was transferred to Huazhou, he guarded here for several years.

At that time, Jin Emperor Shi Chonggui was captured by Khitan northern captives. Gaozu Liu Zhiyuan also led an army, under the banner of Qin Wang to help those in need, and wanted to go east to Taihang to rescue him. The route he chose was also Jingxing (Tumen).At that time, he fought a victorious battle with the Liao Army in Jingxing, but he returned to Jingxing. Soon after returning to Taiyuan, under the planning of the executive director Liu Chengyou and others, he was given a yellow robe.

As one of the important traffic routes between Hedong and Hebei, Jingxingguan has received special attention from the imperial court. Since the founding of the country, there have been heavy troops stationed there. , then rely on Jingxing and guard Taihang, so as not to affect the foundation of Hedong.

However, later, with the support of Liu Chengyou, Zhao Yanshou led the Yan Army to the Northern Expedition and successfully captured Youzhou. Afterwards, the Khitan's strength shrank significantly to the north and was gradually cleared out of Hebei. Coupled with Wei Bodu's pacification, the situation in Jingxing It's not that urgent either.

After that, the northern defense line of the Han Dynasty was gradually consolidated, the situation in Hebei was stable, Jingxing's military status was further reduced, and the garrison was gradually reduced to the current [-] soldiers.

However, no matter what, the importance of Jingxing is still here, and with the stability of Hedong and Hebei, commercial uses have also been vigorously developed, and there are an endless stream of travelers.

Guancheng is surrounded by mountains and rivers, strong and steep, easy to defend and difficult to attack, which is the basic attribute.However, standing on the gate tower, Liu Chengyou's attention was not on the defense of the gate.

Jianshui flows in front of the city gate, meanders away, and quickly hides in the deep mountains and old forests. The sound of water hitting the wall and colliding continues to echo around the city gate.Looking to the west, the mountain road is very far away. Although it is tortuous, the road in the field of vision is obviously opened up and repaired.

Inside and outside the Chengguan, there are many tents and post houses, where a large number of travelers and businessmen are congested. Because of the arrival of the emperor, Jingxing Pass is temporarily under martial law, so pedestrians who come and go have to be restrained in it and wait for it to open.

Although the Dahan has abolished most of the customs taxes within the borders, special checkpoints such as Jingxing are still retained, and the third division also specially dispatched city officials to manage taxes. They are all used to strengthen customs defenses and open mountain roads.

The current Jingxing Pass, in addition to being a military fortress, is also a place for commercial exchanges between Hedong and Hebei, especially Taiyuan and Zhending.In the pass, an area was also designated as a market, not only for business travellers, but also for the surrounding people, who would gather here every now and then to barter. After three or four years like this, it became more and more prosperous.According to investigations, every season and autumn, the merchants and common people who gathered in Jingxing once broke through 7000 people at most, which is not a small number.

"Now here in Jingxing, how much tariff and city tax can I get every year?" Liu Chengyou asked the Jingxing city official who was called to him while touching the hard and cold wall.

It should be the first time to see the emperor, but still being questioned in such a gentle manner, the city official looked very cramped, his body was tense, and the shrewdness that he usually manages in the city was completely gone.

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou's attitude became more cordial, and he said, "Don't be nervous, I'm just asking casually!"

"Return to Your Majesty, the tariff is more than [-] guan, and the city tax is more than [-] guan!" The city official calmed down and replied: "In recent years, it has been increasing year by year, and there will be more next year!"

"It's not too little!" Liu Chengyou said with some uncertainty.

"A lot!" The city official hurriedly said: "I have been in Renjingxing for six years. I still remember that the combined customs and city taxes at the beginning were only more than [-] yuan a year. These years, the law and order have been stable, and the court has With the removal of customs duties in various places, there will be more merchants coming and going, and the people will also compete in the market for transactions, and the tax revenue will also increase unprecedentedly!"

Liu Chengyou made some calculations. Up to now, the annual income of the Han court is only 1000 taels. In comparison, the tax revenue of Jingxing is not as miserable as the superficial figures seem, and it is even sufficient.

"What standards are used to collect taxes?" Liu Chengyou asked.Speaking of it, Liu Chengyou really didn't pay close attention to it.

"According to the regulations of the Third Division, the judgment is based on the horses, horses, weight, and value of the goods. However, different goods have different taxation management!" The city official replied.

"In this way, it is not easy to be a good tax collector!" Liu Chengyou smiled slightly.

"It's just doing things according to the regulations of the imperial court. There are garrisons here, and the merchants who come and go are very disciplined. For Yuchen and others, it's not too much trouble!" The city official replied.

Nodding his head, Liu Chengyou pondered for a while, then suddenly stretched out his hand, pointed at the closed city gate, and said to the town general: "Release the switch! Those merchants have waited hard, but there is no need to break the daily order and trade of Jingxing because of me! "

"Yes!" The town general ordered the order immediately.

"Let's go, take me to Guanya to rest!" Liu Chengyou looked at Jingxing Town General again.

The town general is not very old, probably less than 30 years old, with an ordinary appearance and a few acnes on his face, but his beard is thick and fluffy.The point is, his surname is Sun, and his name is Sun Quanhui, and he is the son of Sun Fangjian.

Paying attention to the buildings and streets in Jingxing City, both familiar and unfamiliar, in Liu Chengyou's view, they have changed a lot.Liu Chengyou had been to Jingxing twice before, one time when he recovered Hengzhou (now Zhending Mansion) at the beginning of the country and came to inspect the checkpoint.The second time was the winter tour in the second year of Qianyou. At that time, he originally planned to meet the emperor's uncle and Taiyuan king Liu Chong, but Liu Chong refused.

When he arrived at the Guanya, he sat down and drank a couple of sips of water, then he saw the town general Sun Quanhui prostrating in front of the hall, kowtowing and saying: "Please punish the crime, Your Majesty!"

Faced with his sudden move, Liu Chengyou was not surprised, his eyes flashed playfully, he waved his hand, and said, "General Sun doesn't have to do this? You have guarded Jingxing well, the law and order are stable, and the roads are smooth. How can you talk about crimes when you show your merits?"

Hearing this, Sun Quanhui said in a solemn tone, "Your Majesty, you will never hear about the affairs of Dingzhou. My uncle's actions are serious crimes. Now I beg for punishment to redeem my sin!"

"No need to be like this! The matter of Dingzhou is over, and I have already concluded and dealt with your uncle!" Liu Chengyou looked at Sun Quanhui with a smile: "Furthermore, an uncle is an uncle, and a nephew is a nephew. , you don't have to be uneasy because of this, continue to take up your duties and work on your affairs, this Jingxing still needs you to be stationed!"

"Get up!"

Hearing what the emperor said, Sun Quanhui felt relieved and heaved a sigh of relief. He stood up and bowed his hands deeply: "Thank you, Your Majesty! Your Majesty is so broad-minded and open-minded, I will be thankful in the end!"

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou still had a warm smile on his face, and said: "Before I came to Jingxing, I also received an apology from your uncle Sun Fangjin, and I was punished! You guys are supercilious, loyal and traitorous!" How about it, I have a steelyard in my heart, so I won't act foolishly and suspiciously! Just relax!"

When Sun Quanhui heard this, he was a little surprised at first, and then said: "Your Majesty is so sincere, you will be ashamed in the end!"

Liu Chengyou still felt very comfortable about Sun's uncle and nephew taking the initiative to plead guilty, and still said in an amiable manner: "Your father and uncle have all made contributions to the country, especially the few battles against Khitan. Boost morale!"

"It is said that you were the first to capture Feihu Village for the second time. You personally beheaded seven Hu captives and were injured because of it!" Liu Chengyou's tone was very affirmative.

Sun Quanhui grinned, his bushy beard trembled, but his expression seemed a little embarrassed: "Your Majesty is so clear about the general's resume!"

Liu Chengyou smiled lightly, it was natural, he did his homework in advance whenever he went to a place.

"I have done meritorious service for the great man and shed blood for the imperial court. It is too late for me to treat such a hero and warrior generously, so how can I punish him for his crime?" Liu Chengyou said.

"Your Majesty's kindness will never be forgotten!" Sun Quanhui swore immediately.

(End of this chapter)