I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 446 Planning
In the Yuntai Hall, Liu Bian and Lu Zhi looked at each other.

The development of the matter was somewhat beyond Liu Bian and Lu Zhi's expectations.

Liu Bian felt that he often could not guess what those local big families were thinking.

During the Zhongping period, he just wanted to increase the country's annual revenue and forced local officials to find some hidden households and hidden fields. This small attempt led to a backlash from local forces.

But now, his new tax law is bound to harm the interests of the wealthy and powerful who own large amounts of land, but the only places that can really form a large-scale resistance are Yizhou, Jizhou and Xuzhou.

What Liu Bian and Lu Zhi worried about, such as the situation in which many counties and kingdoms rebelled after Emperor Guangwu measured the land, did not occur at all.

"I thought the rebellion in Xuzhou was just the beginning, but I didn't expect it to be the end."

Lu Zhi said with shame: "I also made a mistake in judgment."

"Otherwise, if we hadn't mobilized such a large army in Luoyang, we might not be able to deter potential thieves." Liu Bian said.

"In my opinion, these powerful people are all paper tigers. If you are strong, they are weak! I just don't know if they can continue to endure like they do today when they start farming again in the future."

Lu Zhi reminded: "Your Majesty, do not underestimate the enemy. You should also make full preparations like you did this year!"

Liu Bian nodded.

This can be regarded as a post-war review between the two.

After the Xuzhou Rebellion, although there were some small-scale rebellions in various places, they were all quickly suppressed by the prefectures and counties, and none of them reached the level that required Liu Bian to dispatch the central army.

Lu Zhi added: "Your Majesty no longer needs to go to the army often. I think you should resume holding court in the Yuntai Palace as before. As for me, the Grand Marshal, and the General, we should also perform our respective duties."

But after Lu Zhi finished speaking, he saw that Liu Bian did not answer immediately, and his heart sank - Oh no, maybe the emperor was pretending to be lazy in order to win public support, and he took it seriously?

Thinking of this, he immediately said: "Your Majesty, please don't say that the recent government affairs have not been delayed... You must know that the upper class follows the lower class. For decades, the Han Dynasty has had a luxurious style. If the emperor indulges in pleasure, the subjects will follow suit, and the administration will gradually be damaged. A thousand-mile dam will collapse because of an ant hole. Your Majesty must be cautious."

Liu Bian didn't expect that Lu Zhi had predicted his thoughts.

Honest advice may hurt the ears, but it does make sense.

After thinking for a while, Liu Bian said, "I have no intention of indulging in pleasure. I will return to Yuntai Palace to work tomorrow. However, I think it is better not to dismiss the Minister of the Secretariat."

The decision-making power of Liu Bian as emperor was divided among the Shangshu affairs.

Logically speaking, Liu Bian should have firmly grasped this power.

But he understood more clearly that now that reforms were involved, the affairs of the court were becoming increasingly complicated. Even with the presence of the Secretariat, it would be too difficult for him alone to make all the decisions and select appropriate solutions for all the problems.

Although this goes against the original intention of Emperor Guangwu to establish the Secretariat to consolidate power, Liu Bian now really needs someone to share the pressure of decision-making with him.

Rather than dying of exhaustion early, it is better to live longer and grasp the general direction of national development.

And selfishly speaking, just as Lu Zhi worried - after this period of indulgence, Liu Bian was indeed unwilling to return to his previous busy state, even though he had found ways to be lazy before.

But I've been lazy and happy all the time.

For ministers, especially those at the duke level, it is almost instinctive to try their best to share the decision-making power from the emperor.

Lu Zhi was no exception.

It's just that he has enough self-control to give up his greed.

After listening to Liu Bian's words, Lu Zhi knew that if he could maintain the normal "Ping Shangshu Affairs", the officials in the court would surely cheer.

But——"Your Majesty must not slack off because of this." Liu Bian nodded heavily.

Speaking of not slacking off, Liu Bian brought up an old matter again and asked Lu Zhi, "Master Lu, if there is no natural disaster next year, can we take this opportunity to re-measure the fields?"

Lu Zhi rejected it without even thinking: "This year has been filled with natural and man-made disasters, and the people need to rest. It will also take time for the new tax system to be truly implemented and known to the people."

"But there is something urgent that needs to be done right now."

"What did Master Lu talk about?" Liu Bian asked.

"Water conservancy!" Lu Zhi said, pointing to the memorial from Fan Ling in front of him.

Liu Bian took it and read it. It roughly stated Fan Ling's idea to take advantage of the northerners' migration to the south to develop and utilize the rivers in the south and turn the original wasteland and saline-alkali land into fertile fields. It also stated the general plan that Fan Ling had made during his visits to various places during this period.

Liu Bian had no reason not to allow it.

He was only worried about one thing: "Will there be enough manpower and grain to do it this year?"

Lu Zhi replied, "That's the right question."

Then he mentioned another matter: "Your Majesty, the rebellion in Jizhou has been basically quelled. The Black Mountain bandit Bai Rao and others have been executed. The eunuch Rang and others have been in Jizhou for many days and have destroyed many families. Now there is no major rebellion anywhere. I think we should recall Zhang Rang... As for Xuzhou, although the rebellion has not been completely quelled, I think there is no need for the eunuch Zhong to act as a deterrent."

After Lu Zhi finished speaking, he suddenly saw Liu Bian couldn't help laughing out loud.

He did not understand what he meant, so he explained himself: "At the beginning, I used the bad reputation of the two eunuchs to deter the rebels, and now it has worked. Although recalling them may seem like putting away the bow after the bird has been killed, it can at least prevent trouble before it happens."

But Liu Bian finally explained after laughing for a while: "Master Lu, you don't know, I received a letter from Zhang Changshi yesterday, saying that he was planning to return. I wrote back and asked him to hold on for another half a month."

Lu Zhi:?
Although he had tacitly agreed to let the eunuchs leave the capital, he also understood that it was easier to let them go than to call them back, but the current development was completely beyond his expectations.

"Why is that?" As soon as Lu Zhi said this, he suddenly thought of the name that basically appeared next to Zhang Rang in the official documents from Jizhou some time ago - Man Chong.

He suddenly understood the reason.

"Empress Zhang feels that he is old...the new generation is better than the old one." Liu Bian said.

"As for Zhao Changshi, with Wang Yun, the Prime Minister of Donghai, here, Master Lu should not worry about him losing control."

Liu Bian explained: "They have been in the palace for a long time. Although they are obsessed with fighting for power and profit, they have lost their former enterprising spirit in the comfort."

After hearing this, Lu Zhi admitted that at least with the current emperor, he didn't have to worry about eunuchs interfering in politics.

But the school affairs department...

If this department loses control, I am afraid the damage it will cause will be no less than that caused by the eunuchs!

But he thought about it and didn't speak at this time.

At least for now, the School Affairs Department is still playing a positive role.

After discussing these matters, Lu Zhi saw that Liu Bian seemed ready to leave Yuntai Hall, so he suggested: "Your Majesty, it is better to start today than to wait for a day to resume diligent government tomorrow. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

"Furthermore, Your Majesty, do you not want to know what opportunities I have for re-farming the land?"

Liu Bian, who was about to go to Ye Ting, stopped leaving after hearing this.

(End of this chapter)