The Conquest of the Three Kingdoms

Chu Palace, in front of the main hall in the backyard.

A group of former nobles of the Yuan family were brought to the gate of the main hall led by the guards led by the captain of the Yulin Army.

The captains patrolled the ground one by one.

Among them, Yuan Mai, who is relatively young but a bit expensive, is very conspicuous among them.

The captain of the Yulin Army reprimanded these people: "As prisoners of war of the enemy country, the king of Chu has ordered you to be confiscated in the palace of the king of Chu and reduced to official slaves. You all report to each other, what expertise do you have, so you can do your best?"

These nobles of the Yuan family who were waiting to be slaughtered did not speak, because their words and deeds might directly send them to the god of death.

Lieutenant of the Yulin Military Academy pointed at Yuan Mai: "You stand up..."

Yuan Mai heard the captain calling for himself to stand up, and hurried to the captain.

I saw that this young man, eighteen or nineteen years old, had black hair tied with a white ribbon, and was dressed in snow-white satin.A long tasseled white silk sash is tied around the waist, and a piece of suet white jade is tied on top, covered with soft smoked gauze.

His eyebrows grew into the temples, his slender and gentle eyes, his straight nose bridge, and his fair skin, standing in this hall, he looked like a tree like a tree, and he could be called a young talent.

The captain asked: "Look at you, you have a dignified appearance and an elegant manner. Have you ever raised a horse?"

Yuan Mai shook his head. As a prisoner of war who had just been captured, Yuan Mai now has a kind of fear, a fear of being killed at any time. Now he can be as silent as he can.

The captain then continued to ask: "Then would you like to raise a horse?"

Yuan Mai nodded.

The captain couldn't help but said: "Yes, Yumayuan has newly acquired a batch of strong Hebei horses, and they need someone to feed and train them. I think you can do it, so you can raise horses! This job is not bad. Go, stand at Go over there..."

Yuan Mai obediently walked to the designated place.

The captain looked at the other nobles of the Yuan family again:

"Is there anyone who can blow the deer whistle? We need two more deer whistle blowers. This is what you Hebei Yuan Jun is good at!"

However, a car roared past nearby, blocking the line of sight, but it was still going on here.

In the car sat Jia Xu, General Jia Xu, Cao Cao's first adviser, and Xun Yu who joined the army.

Jia Xu was worried, and Zhong Zhong said to Xun Yu who was facing him: "Your Majesty is on Da Sheng's head. Reporting the flood in the Huaihe River at this time will definitely dampen His Majesty's interest..."

Xun Yu replied helplessly: "Is it okay if you don't report it? The livelihood of the 70 disaster victims is waiting for the relief of the King of Chu!"

Jia Xu sighed and said: "You don't know that the king is planning a bigger battle with the generals recently." Xun Yu asked in amazement: "The king wants to fight another big battle?"

Jia Xu smiled and replied: "Your Majesty is a king with ambition. He wants to reach wherever the power of Chinese tradition based on history and geography can reach. How about the Yuan family in the north?"

Xun Yu also frowned and thought: "Of course I like the idea, but where can I find money?..."

He couldn't help asking: "Three points in the world, we have already occupied two points, and become the number one prince in the world, why is the king still not satisfied?"

"Well, I don't know, I only know where the king said, where will we fight?"

They talked and talked, and they felt that they had come to the main hall without knowing it.

The car has arrived at Nie Zefeng's palace.

The two got out of the car and walked back and forth into the palace gate.

Inside the palace gate, the battle clothes of many generals shone with cold light, reflecting off the inside of the hall.

Nie Zefeng was discussing with Lu Bu, Chen Dao, Wei Yan, Wenpin, Zhou Cang and other senior generals.

Nie Zefeng said at this time: "...Yuan Shao adopted Jushou's suggestion. Before the Guandu battle, they even withdrew their main force back to Hebei, and they deployed heavy troops at the mouth of the Yellow River. They boasted that Hebei has a natural danger of the Yellow River, and you can't take it down. What do you think? Do you have such ability?"

The generals watched Chu King Nie Zefeng's questioning, but they didn't speak for a while.

Nie Zefeng looked at Chen Dao, saw this General Chang Sheng and asked, "General Chen Dao, do you have one?"

Chen Dao jokingly said: "As long as the king is willing to pay two taels, there is nothing that cannot be done?"

Nie Zefeng turned to look at the general asking for money and asked, "How much money do I need?"

Chen Dao replied with a smile: "General Lu Bu has settled this account."

Nie Zefeng turned to Chen Dao, startled and said to himself, "General Lu Bu settled the account?"

Chen Daoyi bowed and reported: "Your Majesty Shengming, the strategy given by Ju is indeed an opportunity for our army to win. Our army can formulate a campaign plan to wipe out the main force of the Yuan family in Hebei, but the premise is that our army's current logistics must be reformed. The transportation capacity and method. The main difficulty of the reform lies in funds and money. For example, in a long-distance battle, especially if you plan to capture Jizhou, Youzhou, Liaodong, and Bingzhou in one fell swoop, and participate in the decisive battle, then the army and horses participating in the decisive battle must be at least [-] horses. Because to cross mountains, jungles, and even deserts, these military horses must be raised with millet, strong and durable special military horses, which greatly increases the cost of military horses. This is just for combat Army horses. When a hundred thousand cavalry fight, at least the same number of horses are needed to carry the baggage, and these horses themselves need to be fed, so the cost required..."

Nie Zefeng replied mutteringly: "Yes, this is indeed a lot of money. I don't know if we can get it now. You go back first. I have an appointment with a military adviser, join the army, and look for it. Where can I find the money?!"

The generals who came out of the palace walked shoulder to shoulder with Jia Xu, Xun Yu, etc. who entered the palace, and the two sides just smiled wryly at each other.

Jia Xu and Xun Yu just walked into the main hall, and they saw the guards next to them just carrying down the battle map.

In the main hall, Nie Zefeng was pacing back and forth about money.

Jia Xu and Xun Yu, who entered the hall, reported to Nie Zefeng the flood in the Huaihe River behind.

After hearing the shocking news, Nie Zefeng, who was very unhappy, said to himself: "...What happened! 70! There are so many people! It's really a leaky house and it's raining!"

Jia Xu said with a slightly distressed face: "... 70 victims of the disaster lacked food and clothing, and the government opened warehouses to provide relief, which was like a drop in the bucket. Even if they borrowed food from rich households, it would be difficult to meet it."

Nie Zefeng sighed helplessly: "Then let's see what to do. According to the number of 70 people, even if we transport food, the transportation capacity will not be enough!"

Xun Yu took a step forward, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have a plan. Instead of transporting food to Huainan, it is better to let the victims in Huainan move to Shandong for food... You can pay the victims for travel expenses, and order the government along the way to help. Shandong, where not only the population has become sparse, but the granary is very abundant."

Nie Zefeng held Xun Yu's hand for a while and said, "I think it's feasible, so I'll do what I said to join the army. Not only Huainan, but Jingzhou, Xuchang, Luoyang, and Chang'an counties can also divert and resettle the victims. It is estimated that the food and clothing of so many people That's a lot of money!"

Jia Xu sighed: "Your Majesty, the current financial situation of the Chu Palace has reached a point where it must be resolved."

In the silence, Nie Zefeng stood up and walked slowly.

Xun Yu shared the monarch's worries and said, "Your Majesty, I have encountered a new incident recently. I wonder if Your Majesty is interested in listening to it?"

Nie Zefeng waved his sleeves and said, "Tell me, what's new these days?"

Xun Yu smiled and said, "There is a Henan native named Gongchuang who heard that the king was going to conquer Yuan Shao not long ago, so he wrote a letter to Wang Ting and was willing to donate half of his family wealth as military expenses."

Nie Zefeng's eyes lit up, because he had an uncontrollable mood when he saw it, and asked quickly, "Is there such a thing?"

Xun Yu: "This Gong Chan was born as a shepherd. He has herded sheep for more than ten years and has more than a thousand sheep. After he sold the sheep, he used the money he got to buy land and became a rich man."

At this time, Nie Zefeng asked with some doubts: "Why did he donate money? Could it be that he wants to become an official?"

Xun Yu replied with a smirk: "At first, I thought this was the case, so I sent someone to ask him this question, but he said that a villain can only herd sheep, he doesn't know how to be an official, and he doesn't want to be an official. The person asked him again, 'Then do you have any grievances at home and want to appeal to the emperor?' The communist said, 'I have never quarreled with others in my life, how could there be grievances?'"

Nie Zefeng listened and agreed casually: "Yes, he must have a reason!"

Xun Yu smiled even more at this time, and replied: "But the communist replied: the king conquered Yuan Shao, and the villain thought that those with intelligence and ability should serve and dedicate themselves, and those who are rich should lose money and donate money. That's the only way." Only those who have the strength to contribute, and those who have the money to contribute, can destroy Yuan Shao!"

Nie Zefeng couldn't help asking, "Oh, there is such a person?"

The more Jia Xu listened to it, the more suspicious he said: "This is not in line with human nature, and it is a bit hypocritical."

Nie Zefeng thought about it, and the joy that had just climbed up on his face faded.

Xun Yu still held the pot and said: "I thought so too, so I ignored it. But this time the Huaihe River flooded, and this Henan native lost 20 yuan in total to relieve the victims. Surprised and delighted, if every wealthy family is like him, voluntarily donating, the imperial court will not worry about having no money."

Nie Zefeng turned around, pointed at Xun Yu and said, "I'll find a chance, and I'll summon this communist!"

Nie Zefeng instructed Jia Xu again: "It can be seen from this that there are two attitudes towards the current financial shortage of the imperial court, one is positive and the other is negative. What I need is the former."

Xun Yu said: "Your Majesty, I believe that financial management and military operations are the same. Combat requires the selection of good generals, and financial management also requires the appointment of talents."

Nie Zefeng also approached and said, "Yes, who do you think can take on this job?"

Xun Yu then said in a pedantic manner, "Your Majesty has them by your side."

Nie Zefeng asked, "Who?"

Xun Yu pointed to the finance room in the side hall, and said, "Shao Lei."

Nie Zefeng sighed: "That's right, I called Shaolei into the palace when he was 13 years old, and he was in charge of financial planning, but it's only been two years, and the management of accounts is okay, so let him take full charge of financial affairs..."

Xun Yu persuaded: "When Shaolei chatted with my ministers, I talked about changing money and minting coins, especially about the official salt and iron monopoly, and the balance of equal losses... Many ideas, I think they are very insightful."

Feeling interested, Nie Zefeng ordered the guards: "Ask Shaolei to come over immediately!"

After receiving the order, the guard turned around and went down.

Nie Zefeng said reproachfully, "This Shaolei, why don't you tell me directly if you have something to say, but you, Xun Yu?"

Xun Yu hastily explained: "Because it involves the Chu army's political affairs, Shaolei is afraid that his own people will not be taken seriously." Nie Zefeng also couldn't help laughing: "It seems that he is really a reckoner!"

Nie Zefeng smiled.