Yuan Shu frowned and snorted: "All the heroes are recruiting troops, why do you want me to lay off the soldiers? Do you want to cut off Huainan's hands?"

"I have no intention of doing so. Natural disasters have led to a reduction in food production, and the imperial court has incurred huge expenses for generals. It is really unaffordable to continue to increase troops..." Yan Xiang felt bitter in his heart and could not express it. He could not shake the interest groups, so he could only start by reducing military supplies.

.

Yuan Shu proclaimed himself emperor and appointed hundreds of officials. The officials were still the same as before, but their salaries generally increased with the promotion of official positions. In addition, Yuan Shu also carried out large-scale construction and built a new palace for his enjoyment.

The emperor of the Zhong family could share wealth with the middle and upper classes, but he still ignored the officers and soldiers of the lower classes. As for the people at the bottom, they were completely ignored. As wars, natural disasters, corvees and taxes intensified, the lives of the people of Huainan became increasingly difficult.

.

The army is the lifeblood of the country. No matter how stupid Yuan Shu is, he will not dismantle the army. After listening to Yan Xiang's explanation, he stood up directly. First he looked at His Highness and his ministers, and finally his eyes fell on Yan Xiang.

"Natural disasters are not limited to Huainan. Which one of Lu Bu, Cao Cao, and Liu Biao has laid down its soldiers? The rebel Sun Ce occupied Wu County last month. There are also locust plagues and droughts in Jiangdong. Will Sun Ce lay down his troops because he has too many troops? How can he defeat him without an army?

Zou Tuo, Yan Baihu?"

"I didn't mean that..."

"It's okay if you don't. As a senior agricultural officer, Yan Qing only needs to coordinate the country's money and food. Don't worry about the military. I have my own issues with the generals..."

"I..."

Yan Xiang was so moved that he cried without tears. He changed from the chief clerk to the chief clerk. Although his official position was greatly improved, the scope of his duties did not change at all. On the contrary, it became more and more difficult to be the leader of the family.

After Yuan Shu beat Yan Xiang, he stared at Yang Hong and asked: "Qing's plan of hunting wolves and tigers failed. Instead, Sun Ce defeated and occupied Wu Commandery one by one. If you don't control it, Jiangdong will not be protected. Don't you have anything to say?"

Yang Hong wiped away the sweat on his forehead, walked out of the train, bowed his hands and explained: "Your Majesty Rong Chong, Zou Tuo, Qian Tong, Wang Sheng, Yan Baihu and others all have selfish motives and do not coordinate their plans and fight independently. This is why those people

Sun Ce took advantage of the loophole..."

"Don't talk about the reasons like Da Sinong. What I want to hear now is the countermeasures. Do you understand?"

"Well...our army has been newly defeated and has no fighting spirit. In addition, natural disasters are raging and it is difficult to raise food and grass. It is not the right time to attack Sun Ce at this time. There are many clan traitors entrenched in the east of the Yangtze River. I suggest that we continue to be gentle and use kindness to defeat thieves."

After hearing this, Yuan Shu pondered for a moment, then sat down with his wide sleeves stretched out, looked at Yang Hong and asked: "As you said, I will treat the Jiangdong clan thief with kindness and deal with the rebel Sun Ce, but what will Cao Cao do? How will Lu Bu deal with it? Even Chen

People like Yu dare to rob me of Guangling, so the recruitment and expansion of the army must continue. You can also give Da Sinong some ideas to solve the problem at hand."

After hearing this, Yang Hong turned around and glanced at Yan Xiang. He also knew that Huainan's expenditures mainly came from the court, but killing people's wealth was like killing their parents, so he didn't have the courage to let Yuan Shu take action against the officials.

"Your Majesty, I have a fellow countryman who came from the state of Chen last year. It is said that under the rule of King Chen, there have been good harvests year after year, the people live in peace and the treasury is full. Why don't your majesty borrow grain from King Chen?"

There was no good way to reduce expenditure internally, so Yang Hong quickly thought of increasing revenue externally.

"Prince Chen? That's a good idea." Yuan Shu stroked his beard and nodded slightly, and then said: "I have an old relationship with Prince Chen. Since Yang Qing initiated this matter, he went to the Chen Kingdom with you to ask for grain and rice for me.

One hundred thousand dendrobium."

"Yes...I accept your order..." Yang Hong bowed and saluted. When he lowered his head to answer, he felt like he was trapped in a cocoon.

Chen State is a small county located between Yuzhou and Yanzhou. It was founded by Liu Xian in the second year of Zhanghe (88 years) and has been under the current king Liu Chong for six generations. The country governs eight counties: Chen County, Xinping, and Changping.

Yingchuan, Chenliu, Runan, Peiguo, and Liangguo surrounded the center.

Runan is adjacent to the Chen Kingdom, and Yuan Shu was born into the largest wealthy family in Runan, so he said in the palace that he had an old relationship with Liu Chong. Currently, the southern part of Runan and Pei Kingdom is actually controlled by Yuan Shu, and the northern part of the two counties is Cao Cao's sphere of influence.

Because of the fear of Cao Cao in his heart, although Yuan Shu knew that Chen Guo was wealthy, he never dared to take Liu Chong's idea. If Huainan was not facing difficulties, Yuan Shu would not agree to Yang Hong's plan.

Later, Yang Hong took Yuan Shu's letter and went to Chen Guo to ask for grain.

Thinking that Liu Chong would sell Yuan Shu's face, even if he wanted less than 100,000 dendrobium grains, 30,000 to 50,000 should not be a problem, but the results were often unexpected.

Yang Hong didn't even meet Liu Chong, so he was sternly rejected by the Prime Minister Luo Jun. Luo Jun not only cursed Yuan Shu for being a traitor, but also beat Yang Hong out of Chen County with a stick.

Yang Hong was beaten until his nose was bruised and his face was swollen. When he returned to Shouchun, he knelt down in front of Yuan Shu and burst into tears, blaming Liu Chong for instigating Prime Minister Luo Jun to be rude.

"Yang Qing has been wronged. Since Chen Guo refuses to borrow food, I will convene the officials to discuss it tomorrow to see if there is any other way..."

When Yuan Shu saw Yang Hong's appearance, he felt very uncomfortable. As the saying goes, it depends on the owner to beat a dog. Even if you don't borrow food, you shouldn't be so rude.

Yang Hong heard that Yuan Shu did not intend to pursue the case, and thought that the beating he received was in vain? So he stood up angrily and said: "Your Majesty, Luo Jun's intention is what King Chen meant. Luo Jun used sticks to expel his ministers, but in fact he was slandering Your Majesty's face.

It doesn’t matter if you give me a beating, but how can your majesty’s face be blasphemed?”

Yuan Shu raised his eyes and replied: "Don't I know what you said? It's just that Chen State is adjacent to Yingchuan. If we rashly use troops against it, Cao Cao will definitely take advantage of the situation to attack. The current morale and morale of Huainan's army may not be able to defeat Cao's thieves."

.”

"Cao Cao was defeated in Wancheng at the beginning of the year. Zhang Xiu took the opportunity to seize Wuyang and other places. He must be too busy taking care of himself now. How can he have any spare time to take care of Chen Guo's affairs? There are famines everywhere now. Who among Cao Cao, Lu Bu and Sun Ce is not short of food?

"If your majesty doesn't take it, he will take it for others." Yang Hong looked heartbroken at the end.

"I'm worried that if we use troops against the Chen State, Lu Bu's men will take advantage of the opportunity to attack. Moreover, Huainan is currently having difficulty in raising food, and may not be able to sustain a big war..." Yuan Shu was still hesitant.

Yang Hong added: "It is indeed unwise to attack Chen head-on. Your Majesty can use clever tactics to get it..."

"Conspiracy? Tell me quickly." Yuan Shu trembled when he heard this.

Yang Hong patted his court clothes, cleared his throat and said: "Liu Chong relies on his family ties and has some martial arts skills, so the domestic military equipment is not secret. Your Majesty can send his trusted generals to secretly sneak into the Chen Kingdom to lure him and kill him. King Chen

If he dies, the country will be in chaos. At that time, our army will rush in quickly, and Chen’s land, money and food will be at your fingertips."

"Although the plan is clever...but..."

Yuan Shu stroked his beard and nodded gently, paused briefly and then hesitated.

"Once I head north, Xi Zuo, who is lurking in Shouchun, will definitely spread the news. I am afraid that before the Huainan army reaches Chen State, Lu Bu and Cao Cao will send troops to contain it. At that time, Yang Qing's clever plan will be used to marry others.

..”

Yang Hong was confident and said with confidence: "Chen Yu took advantage of the chaos to steal Guangling. Why don't your majesty pretend to attack Guangling? Divert the attention of Lu Bu, Cao Cao and others, wait until the army enters Guangling, and then change direction and enter Pei State.
Chapter completed!