Han family achievements

Chapter 422: Strong Dragon and Local Snake
Liu Bian tidied up for a while and then sat down a little more comfortably.

Wang Cheng also walked in with several large boxes, put the top few thick books on Liu Bian's table, and said: "Mr. Liu, these are half a year's account books. If you have any questions, I'll just shout out. Just come here.”

Liu Bian couldn't wait to reach out and took it, turned the first page, suddenly raised his head and looked directly at Wang Cheng, and said: "Master Wang's book, there are no secret account books or small treasury in the government office, right?"

Wang Cheng said without changing his expression: "The principal is joking. These are copies. The originals are to be submitted to the state pastor and the imperial court. How can they be fake?"

'Is there a lie? '

Liu Bian smiled calmly and said, "It's okay if you don't. I'll call you if anything happens."

"I'll excuse you." Wang Cheng turned around and left. Before leaving, he glanced at the large boxes beside him and thought to himself, this can't be finished in less than ten days and a half. If you arrange some trivial matters later, it should be enough to last a month. .

Liu Bian opened the account book and immersed himself in reading it.

Tao Ergen stood outside the door, a little bored.

This new boss has many quirks. Not only is he picky about food and drink, he also has to have a clerk standing by the door when he is on duty, ready to be dispatched at any time.

Tao Ergeng, who was used to being busy, suddenly became free and looked at his busy colleagues not far away, feeling a little embarrassed.

Wang Cheng sat in his seat for a while, and there was no movement from Liu Bian for a long time. He pretended that something was wrong, left the room, and quietly came to Cui Jun's room.

After Cui Jun heard Wang Cheng's report, he said with some surprise: "Can you sit still?"

Wang Cheng nodded and said, "I've been observing carefully for a long time. It doesn't look like he's cheating."

Cui Jun's face softened slightly and he said: "If you think about it carefully, what I said just now is a bit harsh. Although Liu Bo is eccentric, he is not acting recklessly. He does not look like an ignorant and naughty person."

Wang Cheng nodded in agreement and said: "Master Fu, it's a small matter for Liu Bo. If we can't raise the money now, what will we do after spring starts?"

When Cui Jun heard this, a sad look suddenly appeared on his brows, and he mused: "I guess Sima Shijun can't get much from him, so we have to find a way on our own."

Wang Cheng listened and suddenly said: "Master Fu, Master Sima asked us to resettle at least 5,000 victims, shouldn't we give them enough money and food? Besides, when we were in Luoyang, didn't Shangshutai say that we should give Qingzhou at least 50,000 yuan?" ?"

Cui Jun laughed and sighed helplessly: "It's not like we give it right away. Water far away can't save the fire nearby. Let's find a way on our own. If it doesn't work, let's see what belongings we have and sell some more."

Wang Cheng looked around. This huge government office was completely ruined. What else could be sold?

He also knew that Cui Jun was not the kind of corrupt or mediocre official who only cared about the people, but it was hard for a clever woman to make a living without rice. In this situation, they couldn't conjure up money and food out of thin air, right?
"Fu Jun!"

Suddenly, a clerk hurried in and said in a panic: "Master Chen is back."

Wang Cheng was shocked and said: "Didn't he go to Jinan? It's only been a few days, why did he come back so soon?"

The clerk shook his head and said, "I don't know."

Cui Jun snorted coldly and said nothing more.

Wang Cheng also shook his head, but suddenly his face changed slightly and said: "No! Mr. Fu, something is going to happen!"

Cui Jun frowned and said, "What's going to happen again?"

Wang Cheng said hurriedly: "Have you forgotten, Mr. Fu? It turned out that the head of the household was the one the Chen family wanted very much!"

Cui Jun sat up straight and said in a deep voice: "Go, keep an eye on them, don't let anything happen to them!"

One is an unknown nobleman from Luoyang City, and the other is one of the leading gentry in Pingyuan County. They are both ancestors who cannot be offended!
Wang Cheng responded and hurried out.

At this time, in the teahouse opposite the government office, Huangfu Jianchang, Zhao Yun, and Dian Wei stood at the second-floor window, looking at the seemingly peaceful government office.

"Are you ready?" Zhao Yun asked.

Huangfu Jian looked at the door and said: "It has been arranged. There are a total of 800 people around, and the mansion is preparing to arrange for 30 people, and we are trying to send them in in the next few days."

Zhao Yun glanced at the tall and towering Dian Wei beside him, thinking about how to send him in.

Huangfu Jianchang saw it immediately, shook his head and said: "Dianwei is too eye-catching, and it is easy to check."

Zhao Yun looked slightly condensed and said, "I'm still worried."

Huangfu Jianchang, however, was relatively calm and said, "There is nothing to worry about. In this mere plain county, no one dares to make a mistake."

Zhao Yun was still worried about Liu Bian being alone in this government office, but there was no other way.

But at this moment, a young man whose face smelled of alcohol and who was staggering when he walked kicked open a door of the house, causing dust to fly and the ground to tremble.

Tao Ergen turned around and saw Chen Yong, his face changed suddenly, and he looked at Liu Bian in the check-in room, who was looking at the account books.

Liu Bian didn't even raise his head and said calmly: "Go and see what's going on."

Tao Er Geng didn't need to look when he saw Chen Yong coming straight here, unable to advance or retreat, and he was at a loss.

The other petty officials hid aside and did not dare to touch him.

Liu Bian stared at the account book in his hand, his eyebrows knitted together, his expression as cold as iron.

"Go away!"

Chen Yong came to the door of Liu Bian's duty room, pulled Tao Ergeng who was half-blocking him, and then kicked open the half-closed door.

duangduangduang~
The already unstable concierge trembled for a while, causing Liu Bian's room to sway again and again.

Liu Bian was interrupted and raised his head expressionlessly.

The smell of alcohol came oncoming, and then there was a young man with a slightly pale face and exaggerated movements.

Chen Yong leaned against the door, pointed at Liu Bian and said, "Are you the new housekeeper? Who asked you to come here? Do you know that I left this position to my brother!"

Liu Bian reached out and picked up the teacup, smiling and asked, "Your brother's? Who are you?"

Chen Yong was obviously drunk. He struggled over, knelt down suddenly, put his hands on Liu Bian's table, stared with blood-red eyes, and said angrily: "I am Chen Yong! The second son of the Chen family, the head of the house! "

Liu Bian put down his teacup, pointed to the account book on the table, and said, "It says that there are nine cities in Pingyuan County with 190,000 households, a total population of less than 600,000, and 8,000 acres of land. Is it true?"

Chen Yong glared at Liu Bian and sneered: "What a fart! I tell you, there are at least one million people in Pingyuan County, and the land is at least 20,000 hectares! You, a nerd like you, believe this to the court, go out and see Look, there are only 600,000 people in such a large Pingyuan County. This is to deceive the high officials in Luoyang City and the stupid emperor!"

Liu Bian raised his eyebrows, narrowed his eyes, and said with a smile: "I got it."

belch

Chen Yong was so drunk that he burped and suddenly stared with blood-red eyes. He stretched out his hand to grab Liu Bian's collar, but he stumbled and fell directly on Liu Bian's table.

"Ouch,"

At this time, Wang Cheng hurried over, pulled Chen Yong over, and said urgently: "Master Chen, Master Chen, are you okay?"

He tried his best to pull Chen Yong up, but he did not forget to smile at Liu Bian and said: "Mr. Liu, Chief Chen drank too much. I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"Not drunk!" Chen Yong sat back with difficulty, still glaring at Liu Bian, and said, "Let me ask you, why do you steal my brother's official position? Do you know who I am?"

Liu Bian held the tea cup, glanced at Wang Cheng, and said, "I remember that there is a vacancy for a county magistrate under Pingyuan County, Chen Yong, right? Are you interested?"

Chen Yong was startled. Even though he was drunk, he still sobered up after hearing this and said, "Do you have any idea?"

Not to mention him, Wang Cheng and Tao Ergeng were both stunned.

The county magistrate, not to mention the affairs of the six houses, even Cui Jun, the prefect, only has the right to recommend. How come Liu Bo can make decisions casually?
"Have."

Liu Bian took a sip of tea and said leisurely.

Chen Yong sobered up even more. He looked at Liu Bian seriously for the first time, then picked up Liu Bian's teapot and drank it all.

Immediately, he wiped his lips and said seriously: "Tell me, how much do you want, or what are the conditions."

Liu Bian said: "It takes one day to get here from Jinan. I will give you a letter tomorrow night."

Chen Yong looked at Liu Bian again, looking suspicious.

A one-day round trip to Jinan is definitely not enough. Moreover, why do you ask Sima Fang to give you a county magistrate with just one word? Do you think you are the emperor?

Wang Cheng was also worried that this 'Liu Bo' was exaggerating and would not be able to cash in later, which would anger Chen Yong and ruin Cui Jun's plan to raise money. He quickly helped Chen Yong up and said: "Mr. Chen, you'd better wake up in the bar first, there are things to do tonight. "

Chen Yong kept burping and swaying, pointing at Liu Bian and said: "Tomorrow night, tomorrow night I will come find you..."

Tao Ergen took Chen Yong and carried him out together with Wang Cheng.

"Master Wang, you stay." Liu Bian looked at Wang Chengdao.

Wang Cheng had no choice but to give Tao Er Geng a few words, then turned around and argued with Liu with a smile: "Mr. Liu, this Chief Chen is young and energetic, so don't take his words to heart. That matter, the county magistrate's matter should be treated as nothing." As I said, we are all colleagues, so don’t hurt your harmony.”

Liu Bian waved his hand and said, "You're just a small county magistrate. I kept you because Chen Yong told me that there was something wrong with the account book you gave me."

Wang Cheng pretended to be stunned and said: "There is a problem, what problem?"

Liu Bian put down the tea cup, looked directly at him, and said: "The household registration in Pingyuan County recorded in this account book is only 100,000, but Chen Yong said that there are 200,000 in Pingyuan County. As for the acres of land, it is about 20,000 hectares."

Wang Cheng was shocked. He didn't expect that big mouth Chen Yong to talk nonsense. He suddenly smiled bitterly and said: "Master Liu doesn't know something. Qingzhou is in serious trouble because of the Yellow Turban rebels. A large number of people have fled, leaving behind no one." There are not many, and most of the people from Pingyuan County go to Taishan County, so it is not surprising that the remaining 100,000 households have land.

Liu Bian looked slightly different and said: "You mean, the number of households and land are all the results of the four years of Yonghan? These are the ones submitted to the court."

Wang Cheng looked motionless, his lowered eyes full of vigilance, and said: "Yes, this is a copy. It has been reported to the court."

Liu Bian's eyes opened slightly, and he said with some emotion: "I always knew that there was moisture in those data, but I didn't expect that the moisture would be so big."

Wang Cheng didn't know Liu Bian's origin, but seeing that he already knew the data before, he couldn't help but try to figure it out again.

Liu Bian picked up the teacup again and drank while thinking in his mind.

The population is 600,000, actually more than 1 million, and the farmland has also shrunk by nearly half.

After spending so much effort and energy, I never thought that the data obtained would only be half!
Is this true only in Pingyuan County, or everywhere, or even more so?

Liu Bian was deep in thought, put down his teacup, looked at Wang Cheng again, and said, "Does Pingyuan County have the ability to conduct another census of the population and measure the land?"

Wang Cheng had a wry smile on his face and said: "Mr. Liu, the government can't pay out the salary. How many people and how much time does it take to check the household members and clear the land? I'm afraid Chief Liu can't guess the money and food required, right?" "

Liu Bian was not angry. He nodded and said, "What is the most important thing in the government office now?"

"Raise money." Wang Cheng said without thinking.

Liu Bian hummed and said, "How much do you need?"

Wang Cheng didn't care what Liu Bian asked about these things, he clapped his fingers and said: "First of all, the salary of the officials in the county has been in arrears for five years, totaling 70 million. After the spring, the required grain, cattle, farm tools, Including thoroughfares, etc., the cost is about 30 million, and there are also money and food owed to the major families, the total is more than 10 million..."

"Twenty million?"

Liu Bian was a little surprised by this number and said, "Are there so many?"

The Han Dynasty's tax last year was only 50 million. Does this Pingyuan County need so much?
Wang Chengdao: "Just a little more."

Liu Bian thought about it carefully and did not refute. He pondered for a while and said: "Okay, I...there are so many."

Wang Cheng looked at Liu Bian carefully for a while and said, "Does Mr. Liu have anything else to do?"

Liu Bian was silent for a moment and said, "Give me a copy of the county's tax situation."

Wang Cheng glanced at Liu's desk and said, "Master Liu, that's it."

Liu Bian was startled for a moment, then reached out and picked up the book Wang Cheng was reading, and said, "This one?"

Wang Chengdao: "Yes. This covers all the acres."

"Only relying on these acres?" Liu Bian couldn't hide his surprise in his words.

Wang Cheng looked slightly strange and said, "Yes."

"other……"

Liu Bian was about to ask, but then he realized something and said: "Okay, I understand. Give me a list of the big gentry families in the county."

Wang Cheng's heart was racing, his face was still, and he said: "I'll go now."

Liu Bian hummed and continued to look at the account book in his hand.

The situation in Pingyuan County was much more serious than he expected.

Wang Cheng glanced at Liu Bian again, then turned around and left.

He made an excuse, left the house, and came to Cui Jun's room.

After Wang Cheng carefully recounted what he had just seen and heard, he solemnly said: "Master Fu, the origin of Liu Bo is probably extraordinary."

Cui Jun thought more, and said in a deep voice: "Judging from the things he asked, I'm afraid he won't just stay for a month and then leave."

Wang Cheng immediately became alert and said, "Master Fu, what should I do? Then Liu Bo also said that Chen Yong would be given a county magistrate tomorrow."

Cui Jun's eyes were stern and he said, "Let's take a look first and act accordingly."

Wang Cheng understood, but felt uneasy.

Regardless of the outcome of this battle between a powerful dragon and a local snake, they will have to deal with the aftermath in the end.

(End of this chapter)