Ji Han Da Sima

Chapter 556: Initial results
Since Liu Bei issued an order to the states to search for hidden households, the governors of the states have strictly adhered to the law and urged the counties to verify the household registrations of large families. Although there were more than ten riots during this period, they were all suppressed by county soldiers.

In July, Bu Zhi, the governor of Yangzhou, took the lead in reporting that there were 68,312 men and women in Yangzhou.

In the same month, Gu Yong, the governor of Jingzhou, reported that there were 59,681 men and women in the counties of Jingzhou.

In August, Zhuge Jin, the governor of Liangzhou, and Xu Shu, the governor of Jiangzhou, respectively reported that there were 26,356 men and women in Liangzhou and 45,571 men and women in Jiangzhou.

According to Sun Shao's calculations by Shangshu, in addition to the six counties of Xuhuai, the four counties of Nanzhong, and the seven counties of Jiaoling, there were a total of 326,719 men and women in the six prefectures of the Han Dynasty. This is consistent with Zhuge Liang's earlier judgment. consistent.

Among the hidden population of about 330,000, their origins are complex, including slaves, hangers-on, or tenants. Perhaps because of trafficking, poverty, or war, they fled into the family of a wealthy family. For their own benefit, the wealthy families, either proactively or passively, hid them under their houses.

In the early years, it was difficult to detect these hidden populations, but with Liu Bei's prestige reaching its peak and Zhuge Liang's governance, it is not difficult to identify the hidden population.

In order not to affect the fundamental interests of the big families, the government did not change the nature of the household registration of these separated populations. They were slaves or tenants before and will still be slaves or tenants in the future. Only after that, the wealthy families were required to truthfully pay taxes based on the number of people in their name and perform corvee services in accordance with the law.

Under the moderate policy, most nobles and powerful people chose to report the hidden population and spend money to eliminate disasters.

Of course, it’s not that no wealthy people chose to rebel in order to make a little money. However, under the thunderous methods of Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, all these wealthy families were destroyed. Even without the dispatch of Han soldiers and horses, many tribesmen took action in advance to eliminate the crisis internally.

"This local search for hidden houses lasted more than a year. It must be the hard work of the Prime Minister and Sun Lingjun."

Compared with the prosperous times in the Han Dynasty, the country has made great efforts to govern the country, the population has increased, and the people live and work in peace and contentment.

Hearing this, Liu Bei laughed and stood up and went down the steps, helped Zhang Zhao up, and said to everyone with a smile: "I have no intention of boasting about my achievements. The reason I am asking this question is because I have the intention of the Northern Expedition."

The Jinghou was none other than Liu Ba, who passed away some time ago. At the invitation of Zhuge Liang, Liao Li and others, Liu Bei posthumously named Liu Ba the Jinghou.

Liu Bei put down the memorial, looked at the ministers at the foot of the stairs, and said with a smile.

"If there are those who have outstanding political achievements, in addition to being promoted and transferred, they will also be given Shu brocade, salt and sugar as rewards. This matter should be worked on for a long time, and the names of meritorious officials will be submitted."

Liu Bei was displeased and said coldly: "I have fought several battles with thieves, with many victories but few defeats. The thieves have lost their troops and lost their land, and there are disasters within. How can we say that the Han Dynasty is not stronger than the thieves?"

Liu Bei stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Since the year before last, I have been doing light corvee and paying little taxes, admonishing farmers and mulberry farmers, and military officials to cultivate themselves, just for the sake of temporary happiness. Today, the people in the mountains have joined, and the common people have separated. It can be said that it is the southern part of the country. The land is in great shape!”

After two years of rest and recuperation, the Nanhan government treasury gradually had more money and food. The local officials did a great job in searching the population this time, and Liu Bei is willing to pay more year-end bonuses. Although being an official is slightly different from working part-time, it does not mean that officials do not like money, and happiness alone is not as good as happiness among others.

Zhuge Liang held his fan and cupped his hands and said humbly: "It is not the work of Liang and Changxu alone, but the hard work of Jinghou, Shangshu, and the officials of prefectures, counties and counties."

"promise!"

Cao Wei's country has been suffering from natural or man-made disasters. For example, there was a locust plague in Jizhou last year, and Cao Pi moved south to harm the people. This summer, due to rain for more than a hundred days, floods occurred in Cao Wei. Heluo flooded, and the people of Sili were drowned by the river, and the fields and houses on both sides of the river were destroyed.

"Your Majesty's civil rule has begun to take shape. There is no chaos in China today. It is easy to send out troops, but the work is in vain. The current government may waste all the previous achievements. Your Majesty should endure it for a few more years."

Nowadays, regardless of the Han and Wei dynasties, the salary received by officials is different from the nominal salary. On average, it is roughly 50% off. Therefore, it is normal for the families of honest civil servants to have no money left.

Liu Bei seemed to understand the meaning of Zhuge Liang's words, and said generously: "What Kong Ming said is absolutely true. This search for hidden places, and now the inspection of hidden houses, is like expanding the population of a state, and its contribution should not be inferior to the great victory of the Northern Expedition. Both internal and external "Thanks to your merits, I think I can increase the salary of the officials this year to help them."

"Your Majesty has made some great achievements in governing the Southern Territory, but if it is not as good as the achievements of the ancestors, then he has the intention of doing good things, and Zhaoshi is worried about your Majesty. Today, the world is not at peace. I hope that your Majesty will uphold the original intention, manage the country diligently and frugally, and prosper the Han Dynasty. If Your Majesty, Ji Xing, I would like to play drums and pipes to congratulate Your Majesty!"

Zhang Zhao's expression became serious, he cupped his hands and said: "The household registration in China is twice as high as that in the Southern Territory. In Cao Cao's time, the prefectures and counties set up land officials with tens of millions of dendrobium every year to serve as soldiers. Your Majesty has only been in charge of the Southern Territory for two years since he ruled the Southern Territory two years ago. After so many years, An dares to say that he is better than Ni Wei?"

Zhang Zhao bowed and bowed, and said: "In the past, when the Han Dynasty was resurgent and Emperor Xuan was at the end of his reign, he often asked ministers to inquire about government affairs, asking why the world was at peace, so why are there refugees in Guandong? Why are people's livelihood so difficult?"

As he said that, Liu Bei felt vaguely proud and asked: "But last year, there was a locust plague in Jizhou and the people were starving. This year, Yi and Luo overflowed, killing people, destroying houses and destroying fields. Between them, this will disappear." Sir, who do you think is stronger, Han or Wei?"

It's not that Zhang Zhao is trying to discourage Liu Bei, but that Liu Bei has shown signs of drifting recently, so Zhang Zhao has to come forward to dissuade him. After all, there are many emperors in the past who were virtuous at first and then faded. For example, Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty was at the peak of his literary, political and martial arts, but in the later period, he also began to be greedy for pleasure and blocked the loyal advice of virtuous ministers.

"The world is at peace, and our ancestors are merciful. They are always worried about the depression of the nine states and the safety of the people, so they put aside their swords to enrich the treasury."

Zhang Zhao cupped his hands and said: "When the people from the distant mountains surrender, Nanzhong returns to the dynasty and is ruled, the country becomes prosperous, the armor and soldiers are elite, and the grain and grass are abundant, it will not be too late to plan for China again!"

"What do Kong Ming think?"

"Your Majesty, I think what Mr. Zhang said is absolutely true!" Zhuge Liang stood up from the table, cupped his hands and said: "Although Cao Pi does not have Cao Cao's great strategy, his kindness can win the hearts of thieves. The thieves have tens of millions of stones of food every year, and the people are The Han Dynasty has lost its troops, so we can resume the campaign. Moreover, your Majesty has lost many elite soldiers in successive campaigns. I think there is no good opportunity now, so it is not advisable to act rashly."

"Ok?"

Liu Bei frowned and paced around, asking, "Where is the good opportunity Kong Ming mentioned?"

"Your Majesty, if Ma Chao is so ambitious, how can he be content with it? He will rebel within a few years."

Zhuge Liang advised: "At that time, the Chinese army was in chaos, and all the land in the south was exhausted. The whole country used the strength of the Northern Expedition. The strong ones were ordered to hold halberds, and the weak ones were transported. Your Majesty led the six armies out of Xiangfan and marched into Luoyang. In the west, Lu Xun was ordered to send the Shu Han After his death, the army was stationed at Longyou, and Huo Jun and Pang Tong were assigned to the generals, directing the expedition to Shouchun. "

"It has always been Qing, Xu, Wancheng and Shouchun who are trapped by the enemy. To the west of Chang'an, Ma Chao, Lu Xun and Xu Luo are bound to be separated. Your Majesty will march forward together, and the people will respond internally."

"The generals are facing each other. Huo Jun is powerful and invincible. The thieves are in trouble. If one army is defeated, the three armies will be separated. Your majesty drives forward, marches through the cities and towns, and takes advantage of the victory to drive north. Then China will be established and the Han Dynasty will be established."

"Now that the civil administration has just begun, the people are in a state of peace. It is not appropriate to raise a small number of soldiers. They will be frustrated in the city walls. It is easy to retreat repeatedly. The people will be tired and their authority will be lost. All previous efforts will be wasted. This is not the best policy!"

Liu Bei paced, looking worried.

The reason why he had the idea of ​​​​the Northern Expedition was not because he thought there was an opportunity to take advantage of it, but because he felt that he was getting older and those hidden diseases were torturing him. If he didn't fight hard, he was afraid that he would never have another chance in the future.

But what Zhuge Liang and Zhang Zhao said is correct. We are at the beginning of his effective governance of the country, and it is not appropriate to use troops easily.

It is still possible to say that the Northern Expedition will succeed. If the Northern Expedition fails, not only will the national strength be damaged, but the military power he has accumulated over the years will also dissipate.

Liu Bei stroked his beard and said in a deep voice: "What the two gentlemen said is true. Now we should take control of the southern territory. We should strengthen our troops and horses to wait for changes in China. During the northern expedition, we should use all the strong men from the southern territory to decide the outcome with the thieves."

"Do you still have any memorials, sir?"

Qin Mi went out to ask for a report and said: "Your Majesty, there is a strange phenomenon in the Taibai Shaoyin this month. I have a brief report."

"speak!"

"promise!"

Qin Mi presented the memorial and said: "Taibai Shaoyin, the main star is dim, and cannot change direction, so it is not considered a boundary by oneself, and it cannot travel through the sky. If it passes through the sky, it will be reported, and its occupation is a sign of mourning for soldiers and a sign of disloyalty. , to change the throne; the master is weak, the servant is strong."

"what for?"

"Is there someone who wants to rebel?"

Liu Bei listened to a bunch of professional terms and almost didn't understand a word.

Qin Mi coughed softly and said: "Your Majesty, the main star refers to the country, and it is China. The main star is dim now, which means that China is gradually declining. The star below has the power to overshadow the main star. If it is called a minister, the country will be uneasy; If they are in the country, then the southern land will prosper and our Han Dynasty will become stronger."

Qin Mi, courtesy name Zichi, was from Guanghan County. He is talented at studying people and is good at understanding celestial phenomena.

When Liu Bei went to Yizhou, the prefect of Guanghan was recruited as an official. Later, he was transferred to the inner court by Wang Can and was responsible for the celestial omens of the Han Dynasty.

"good!"

Liu Bei smiled and said, "You have done a great job in predicting the celestial phenomena. I should give you money and food."

When he was about to leave, Liu Bei thought of something and asked, "How is Zhong Miao doing these days?"

"Your Majesty, Xuhuai is gradually in peace. The people are happy to work and farm, and the sergeants are training in an orderly manner. In recent days, Huo Du has been fishing in the rivers and lakes and riding horses for hunting." Wang Can replied.

"So happy, it seems Xu Huai is fine!"

Liu Bei smiled and said, "I am issuing an edict to summon Huo Du to return to the capital, and let Shi Yuan and Zitong do the work on his behalf."

"promise!"

(End of this chapter)