Three Kingdoms: Cao Ying's mastermind, from nine to five

On the same day, the common people returned to Jizhou, and the soldiers and civilians worked together to hand over their belongings and distribute them again.

In addition, Cao Cao promised to use the treasury of the three counties to help, which relieved Xu Zhen's immediate urgency.

Three days later, Xu Zhen even took Hejian down. In fact, he fought cautiously. There was not a single defender in him, only a few thousand defenders left.

The outstanding achievements made the people have to surrender. Fortunately, after hearing Xu Zhen's various reputations in Yanzhou, Xuzhou and the south, they all know that he is a prince who loves the people like a son.

Today, it is also the Jizhou Shepherd personally sealed under the emperor's edict.

There is no doubt that he chose to support.

However, when Jia Xu and Xu Zhen resumed the situation at night, they still thought it was possible because of Yuan Shao's robbery plan.

It's good that he took away the money, and it's good that he took away the hearts of the people, but what made a huge difference in the end was to plant a seed of fear in the hearts of the people.

No matter how good Huizheng is, no matter how good the lord is, if he is in a hurry, he will kill the common people.

Will Xu Zhen be like this?

Who knows, but he beat Yuan Shao to the point where he ran away with his head in his arms, and he would definitely rob more thoroughly in the future, and he couldn't be provoked.

Burning hundreds of thousands of stones of grain and grass at every turn is the key to the victory of the two armies and is worth celebrating, but it is a fart celebration for the common people. When they squat in the field and look at the fire, they want to Cry without tears.

That was the result of hard work throughout the year, relying on Tianyan, stepping on the steaming ground, working hard to hoard food for the family, one pulled it out and snatched it, and the other caught up and burned it.

just this.

But they knew there was no other way. If they didn't burn it, they could get it back, and they couldn't get back the food either.

After all, it is bitter.

Only when there is no war at all, can we live with a stable harvest every year.

"If I remember correctly, the three counties where Xu Junhou was located, that is, Chenliu, Jiujiang and Lujiang, have stopped recruiting soldiers and bought horses. They only care about farming, and the land is leased at the beginning. After a few years The property can be bought by means of a buyout.”

"I heard that it is such a policy. His policy of benefit is to follow the Yanzhou military settlement. Of course, the military settlement is also his idea. First, lend cattle and fields to the people, pay taxes for farming, and store the surplus at home to wait for the surplus. If you have enough money, you can exchange it for money, if you have more money, you can exchange it for gold and silver, and finally you can buy land and grow it yourself.”

"Then, what's the difference between renting and buying..."

"The tax on renting land is high. If you buy a field, you only need to pay one cent. Sometimes the harvest is good, and you can pay half a cent. Of course, not all land can be bought and sold. If you want to grab it, it depends on how much you can reclaim. Our land in Jizhou is close to the Yellow River. There are many floods."

"one cent?"

Whoever agrees with the later sentence of the Yellow River flood is thinking why there are so few. When Yuan Shao was there, the tax was paid on the [-]th, and most of the land was not owned by the common people. They will never have a sense of belonging and may be driven away at any time.

Farming steadily for a few years can save money to support the family, but it is a pity that troubled times are never stable.

Therefore, the peace of mind still depends on the land. Ten years ago, people may have thought that it would be good to have land to grow, as long as it can produce food, and when it is produced, it can be distributed to the family.

Now I am afraid there will be more. I want to ask if the field can be divided into a small piece and planted for my family to cultivate for generations.

Most of the gentry will not understand this kind of mood, and they may laugh at why some people want to farm the land for generations instead of serving the country and making a name for themselves.

However, in the eyes of the people who have experienced the famine of refugees, farming the land for generations is the most down-to-earth way of living, living by God.

Taxes on the [-]th are not too much, and the people of the [-]th can accept it. Even if someone gets the [-]th, the common people will grit their teeth and curse secretly, and then they can't accept it.

"Let's plant it, this farmer's government sounds much more lively than before."

"It's a good thing to gain a foothold in the common people. I'll go back and tell the villagers first. Please leave."

"Farewell!"

"I'm going to run around and tell everyone!"

This is the notice place outside Qinghe, and many literate people in rural pavilions have come to see the new notice, but it is not the content of the new policy of internal affairs, it is only equivalent to an early warning.

The purpose of informing them of the general changes in internal affairs is to make them mentally prepared.

Don't feel that the psychological gap is too big to accept for a while.

Unexpectedly, the effect is not bad. The person who started the discussion just now is actually Jia Xu’s undercover spy. He is familiar with rumors and other affairs these years, and he can accurately grasp how to say it in an amazing tone at the best time. corresponding words.

Of course, on such an occasion, one must speak first and act first, to stir up the topic. If there is a situation where no one can read, he must be responsible for reading the notice to the people.

This is just a small microcosm, almost surrounding Qinghe County, and even most of Jizhou, which is currently under reconstruction, is still like this, mobilizing people's hearts and preparing for another season of busy farming.

It's not yet May, so it's completely in time to catch up with the planting, but the harvest will be later, and if the season is missed, the harvest will be less, but it's better than nothing.

……

Xu Zhen left Zhuge Liang in Qinghe City, and used the money and food in the treasury to repair and rebuild the government office and various mansions.

All the houses in the major ministries have to be slightly modified and rebuilt, and the streets in the inner city must also be repaired due to war damage.

Originally, all the houses of the gentry in the inner city of Qinghe County were sealed up and recorded, and were left for officials to live in later.

There is still one Cui Yan living in Qinghe, and the rest of the local celebrities have yet to be visited, but Xu Zhen should not particularly need them.

After deciding Zhuge Liang to be in charge, Xu Zhen left Zhao Yun and Xu Chu as Zhuge Liang's military force.

He went to Yecheng with Jia Xu and Dian Wei.

From Jieqiao, if you don't bring soldiers and horses, you can travel lightly, which is half a day's journey.

Arriving in the evening, a feast has already been held in the main city of Yecheng. Civil and military personnel gathered here, and I don't know how many heroes celebrated.

When Xu Zhen arrived, Tiger and Leopard Cavalry came to meet him in person, and welcomed him into the gate of the huge main hall in Ye City.

Then enter the square, go straight along the big stone road, and walk up more than [-] stairs. In the middle of the stairs is a carved tiger, which is fierce and majestic.

This government office, which is more spacious than the Xudu Imperial Palace, was the residence of General Yuan Shao.

The main hall is even more majestic, with gold-inlaid carvings on the pillars of the scriptures and courtyards. The craftsmanship is almost all high-quality craftsmanship, meticulous and lifelike.

Xu Zhen walked up the stairs. At this time, the red carpet had already been spread, and someone in the hall wrote poems loudly and generously.

Hearing the applause from the guards outside the door, and seeing Xu Zhen standing upright under the stairs, he didn't dare to slack off in the slightest.

Along the way, the singing became more and more intense and melodious, which infected Xu Zhen's face and gradually revealed a smile.

It happened that in front of the main hall, Guo Fengxiao was holding a jug, his face was slightly rosy, his beard was fluttering, his hair was disheveled, and he was passing by crookedly, holding a wine bottle to invite another person.

I also saw Xun You sitting next to Cao Cao whispering softly, which made Cao Cao laugh constantly.

Until someone heard the announcement and saw Xu Zhen.

The scene gradually became quieter.

"The lord is here! I said earlier, the lord will come at night today! Come, come! Your seat, lord!"

"Bowen, come to me."

Cao Zihe leaned against the first pillar on the lower right, and took the empty seat next to him.

"Your Majesty, this is your place of honor." Cheng Yu smiled and pointed to the left with his hand.

When Xu Zhen came here, he felt a feeling as if he had passed away, as if it was time to call out.

Wherever you go, there are people who know you and call you out with enthusiasm. Whether you go or not, you won't offend anyone. They will naturally have a suitable reason to convince themselves.

In the end, it was Cao Cao who looked up at Xu Zhen with vacant eyes, beckoned and said, "Bowen."

Xu Zhen walked forward quickly, bowed to Cao Cao, his face was still very calm, with a little smile.

At this stage, it can be said that half of the country has been restored. Although it expanded from the inside out and chose a strange route, fortunately, it has also achieved various strategic goals. Now it has reached a level that Xu Zhen knows. It will arrive sooner or later, but being in it is quite impressive.

"My lord, I came from Qinghe after receiving the letter, but I have something important to discuss?"

Cao Cao's expression froze suddenly.

Can I call you?

After so many years, it is still so rigid!

"It's nothing, let you come here in advance to see the scenery of Yecheng, what a beauty! In the future, you will lead the Jizhou pastoralist, and the government here is really a rare scenery in the world!"

"My seat must be in Qinghe."

Xu Zhen was stunned.

Cao Cao also paused for a moment, his face became half a smile for a moment, and then became quite serious again.

Wen Wu, Guo Jia and Xun You, who were playing and celebrating in the hall, Jia Xu and Zhuge Liang who followed Xu Zhen, and even Yang Xiu who came to celebrate for his servants all stood still and looked at Xu Zhen. He did not want Yecheng to be ruled. Therefore, I chose Qinghe instead.

This kind of thinking is too public. Would the strong buildings in Jianye, the streets and alleys, and such beautiful farmland in the water be wasted?
Abandoning gold and jade, Ye City did not take it, but took Qinghe County as the government. That place was besieged by many months of war, and it had destroyed a long time of fields, mountains... and even the roads were diverted, and the rivers were not flowing. The massacre of the realm was destroyed, and the land was cracked.

The common people were displaced, and the gentry and merchants were in trouble because of this. The original household registration was already less than one in ten. How can it be used as a governing place.

Among the Cao family members, such as Cao Hong and Xia Houyuan, those who used to ridicule and dissatisfied with Xu Zhen have long since laughed bitterly inwardly.

There is not much sarcasm, but most of them are sad for Xu Zhen. Why did he come to Jizhou and still be so wise and protect himself? Everyone is already a prince. He can be called the first minister with a foreign surname under the Cao family in Xudu, and he still has to live Be so careful.

It is also quite embarrassing to say.

"Why, it must be in Qinghe?"

There was a slight smile on Cao Cao's face again, and he leaned closer and asked, "The source of famous scholars in Qinghe? But most of them are broken walls and ridges, and it will take a long time just to repair them."

Xu Zhen smiled wryly and said: "The north and the south are well connected, a place of fame, and there are many hometowns of noble families. Qinghe and Hejian are both counted as one, but here in Yecheng..."

When he said this, he paused and shook his head, "This place is too magnificent, and it's not something I can bear. The lord has to come and claim it in person."

Cao Cao leaned back, and his face became more and more beautiful, "What do you say?"

"Yuan Shao rebelled against the Son of Heaven, and even granted him the title of Great General and Duke of Ye. The lord now has elite soldiers and good generals, who have won most of the fertile land. He has made contributions to the great Han until he is a martyr. For 400 years, no minister can be on the right of the lord. Why can't he be in this position? He even dared to invite the Son of Heaven to be the Duke of Wei."

That is, this city of Ye is specially reserved for Cao Cao.

The Han Dynasty itself did not have a "Duke" and was divided into princes and marquises. Because Emperor Gaozu once made the White Horse Covenant, the king was not the surname of Liu, and the world fought against him, so it is a great honor for people with other surnames to be named marquises.

Among the generals, the champion is the title that everyone wants, but it is a pity that no one has been able to receive this title since that person.

There was only one person who held the title of Duke for a very long time, that is, Wang Mang called An Han Duke at the end of the Western Han Dynasty, which was specially used for usurping the throne.

At that time, Yuan Shao was not actually harmed for the purpose of elevating him, but Yuan Shao never claimed this identity, and it was useless to defuse it skillfully.

But now that Xu Zhen said these words, all the civil and military personnel in the hall were still silent, and no more words were said.

Especially among the gentry, they were extremely silent, while Guo Jia and the others squinted their eyes and looked around, unavoidably showing more admiration for Xu Zhen.

I have to admit that this sentence is probably worth thousands of words of flattery, or even ten pieces of military merit. One sentence from him, Xu Bowen, is likely to give him a preference for Jizhou who will value great profits and even important talents for ten years. Because, he wanted to leave Yecheng and even Weijun to the lord as a feudal state.

excellent!

Guo Jia immediately shook his head slightly, and put his hands behind his back. All the literati present were like this, and they all looked at Xu Zhen with incredible eyes.

Unexpected.

The main thing is that these words are even more wonderful when he uttered them. He was born in Baiding. And will never be blamed.

In the end, Cao Cao will definitely not accept it.

"What nonsense!"

Cao Cao couldn't help laughing, pulled Xu Zhen past him, let him sit on the futon beside him, looked around at the civil servants and generals, and took in all the expressions of everyone for a moment. He probably had a guess, so He waved his hands and said loudly: "The affairs of Yecheng are decided by Zhoumu, everyone, don't worry too much!"

"Drink and celebrate, Bowen is just joking!"

After saying this, he put his hand on Xu Zhen's shoulder while taking advantage of the smell of alcohol. After the atmosphere returned to eagerness, he pulled Xu Zhen to the front, and said with a smile, "You boy, what did you mean just now???"

"Seriously, those who have made great contributions can be admitted to the public. If you ask for three times, you will not accept it. If the emperor asks you again, you will be promoted. Ten years is enough to accomplish this." Xu Zhen looked back at Cao Cao, and calmly turned He dodged his hands a little bit, slapping them, annoyed to death.

"Um……"

Cao Cao calmed down and thought for a while.

"Okay, come back to Xudu with me, and first finalize Jizhou Mu, people's migration, internal affairs, military affairs, and report to His Majesty one by one."

"Here."

Xu Zhen bowed quickly to let him know that he had to go, and if he couldn't escape, he had to report to the emperor himself, and he had to bring his family to Qinghe.

Besides, have to go back... for money!
Xu Zhen secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The money he got back was not enough, and he still needed a lot of funding. Go back and do what you can.