Chapter 333 Don't be afraid, the widow is not the king of Zhao
"This trip to Bashu is going at full speed. There won't be any grand ostentation, and we can't make a big show of it. After we go out, we will be Chang'an Xungui, don't call us kings anymore..."
Liu Chang rode a tall horse and gave serious instructions to the people around him.
He did not take many people with him on this trip, only more than 300 people accompanying him, but well... these more than 300 people are the most elite knights of the Northern Army, with three horses per person, almost armed to the teeth. Liu Chang brought
It was enough for them to charge a large army of Jizhu. They were accompanied by ministers such as Zhao Shi, Zhao Mei, Lu Lu, Fan and Zhou, Zhou Shengzhi and others. They were also riding horses and following Liu Chang.
After hearing Liu Chang's instructions, Zhou Shengzhi frowned slightly and looked at the king in front of him.
"Your Majesty, we can change our name... It's you..."
"What's wrong with the widow??"
Zhou Shengzhi pondered for a long time before saying, "The king has a domineering aura about him. Even if we don't say it, some people will recognize it."
"Hahaha~~"
Liu Chang laughed and said, "I am so mighty and mighty that I cannot hide my weakness. You don't know that I am the sun in the sky. I am so bright that I cannot hide myself!"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Mr. and Mrs. Fan nodded, deeply satisfied with what the king said.
Chang'an is actually not that far away from Bashu. Their first stop is Anyang County. This group of people are all cavalry, and they are marching very fast. There are no unsighted local officials who dare to stop them along the way. Only
When they were approaching Anyang, the director of the pavilion came forward tremblingly and asked them to show their inheritance.
Liu Chang once again ordered the people around him not to reveal his identity. He, Liu Chang, just wanted to keep a low profile and check out the situation in various places.
The chief of the pavilion looked at these elite knights and seemed to feel that something was wrong. Then he looked at the leader and saw that the man was wearing a golden armor exclusive to the princes and kings. He was as tall as an iron tower and had a white horse on his crotch. He was tall and mighty.
The man was riding a horse and was a whole circle bigger than the people around him, like a giant. Without thinking, the pavilion chief immediately bowed to Liu Chang and said, "Meet the King of Tang!!"
As soon as he opened his mouth, the soldiers who followed him also paid their respects one after another.
Liu Chang shook his head helplessly. Sure enough, Zhou Shengzhi didn't lie. I couldn't hide my temperament at all. Even a pavilion chief who had never met him could see through it at a glance, "Okay, get up, I.
If you don’t want to make it public, you don’t have to tell anyone else...you do have good eyesight!"
The chief of the pavilion was stunned for a moment, then went up to the road and said hurriedly: "The king has majesty, who in the world doesn't know it?"
"Hahaha, yes, you are not bad as the pavilion chief. Do your best. The position of pavilion chief is also very important. My father is the pavilion chief..."
When Liu Chang said the first few words, the pavilion chief was quite happy. When he heard the rest, he was so frightened that his legs weakened and he collapsed directly on the ground, too frightened to speak.
Lu Lu couldn't stand it anymore, so he kindly asked the pavilion chief to leave, and everyone chose a place to camp and rest. Liu Chang liked this atmosphere very much, so he made a bonfire, roasted the meat, and sprinkled some meat from the Tang Dynasty
The fragrance brought by Hexi is really evocative, and this fragrance can only be tasted in the wild. Along with the smell of weeds and earth, it has no taste in the palace.
Seeing the lamb leg being roasted and becoming sizzling with oil, Liu Chang had a great appetite. He laughed and went to get it. Everyone picked up the meat and enjoyed it together. While eating, Liu Chang said: "We are going to Bashu this time.
, mainly for those merchants... After arriving in Bashu, you can't be as cheerful as you are now. You have to keep a straight face and show a serious look to make them obedient..."
Zhou Shengzhi pondered for a moment and asked: "If your Majesty is going to investigate first, then you should change your clothes first..."
"Why?"
"Your Majesty... you are wearing the armor of the princes and kings, with such a figure... how can you hide yourself?"
"What you said makes sense!"
Liu Chang had never thought about traveling secretly. These knights had already made it impossible for him to hide his traces. He just didn't want to cause too much of a sensation in the local area and affect the local farmers and mulberry trees, which were currently being cultivated.
During the season, it would be bad if the officials were busy summoning the people to welcome them and delayed the busy farming season.
Liu Chang went to Bashu not just for fun, but because he wanted to see the situation here with his own eyes. Xiuyi's foundation here is not too strong, mainly because the roads are not very convenient, and the business activities here are relatively frequent.
Big businessmen can even organize private armed forces, and officials are polite to them. This is not good.
Liu Chang had no prejudice against merchants, but after experiencing what happened in Qi State, he no longer had a good impression of these powerful guys, and always felt that they would do something harmful to the people.
The further he walked toward Bashu, the hotter Liu Chang felt. When he woke up, he was sweating profusely and felt quite uncomfortable.
He had also stayed in places such as South Vietnam, but the climate here was still different from that there. When they came to Anyang, there were subtle differences from Chang'an in all aspects, starting from the accent.
The difference was that this was Liu Chang's first time here and he was extremely curious. He would stop anyone he met on the road and ask about the situation here.
Soon, Liu Chang and his party alerted the Anyang County Lieutenant, who led the county sergeant to find them in the countryside.
At this moment, Liu Chang was eating at the people's houses. When he saw the county captain coming, he waved his hand and asked him to come over.
The county captain looked at this posture and did not dare to be rude. He just asked: "I wonder where this noble man comes from?"
Liu Chang said proudly: "I am just an ordinary noble disciple who comes to play in Chang'an, no need to be polite!"
The county lieutenant was stunned. He thought carefully about the words of the man in front of him. Then, his legs softened and he knelt in front of Liu Chang, "Greetings to the king!"
Hearing the voice of the county lieutenant in front of him began to tremble, and his face began to distort with fear. Liu Chang knew in his heart that the county lieutenant might have misunderstood, so Liu Chang had no choice but to help him up and patiently explained: "You
Don't be so afraid, I am not the King of Zhao, but the King of Tang!"
The county captain suddenly became more frightened, but he didn't dare to show it. He just showed a smile that was uglier than crying, "The king has arrived, but he didn't come to greet him..."
Liu Chang's reputation was also well-known among the Bashu generation. It was not that strong at first, until the sages came here to make troubles, and everyone suddenly knew about the King of Tang. After all, when those sages were making troubles in various places
, he would always mention a few words about King Tang and talk about how he and King Tang were doing in the past. If he heard these words too often, he would naturally become more afraid of King Tang.
Liu Chang shook his head, looked at Zhou Shengzhi on the side, and said: "I have been mistaken for King Zhao several times when I came out, and I was frightened. It can be seen that King Zhao's bad reputation is well known all over the world..."
"For someone like him, even giving a posthumous title of "You" in the future would not be too much!"
"Forehead..."
Zhou Shengzhi hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
After the normal humiliation session, Chang Liu formally asked the county captain about the situation in the county. The county captain told him everything he knew. After talking for a long time, he sent someone to invite the county magistrate to come and serve as the county magistrate.
When he came to visit, Liu Chang's eyes lit up, he smiled and took his hand, "Long time no see, how are you?"
The county magistrate was not young, but he had a strong back and a full beard. When he saw Liu Chang, his eyes widened, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, have we ever met?"
Liu Chang was immediately displeased and cursed: "How dare you pretend not to know me? I once followed my mother to Luoyang and was hosted by Peng Yue. Weren't you serving as a county captain in Luoyang at that time? I also borrowed it from you.
Qian, you said the family was poor...didn’t we let go of a few ministers at that time?"
When Liu Chang said this, the county magistrate immediately remembered it. He looked at Liu Chang in front of him again and exclaimed in surprise: "It's you...you were just a little bit...", he looked at him in surprise.
Looking at the burly man in front of me, I couldn't connect him with the young child.
"Remember??"
"I remembered it! I remembered it!"
The county magistrate also laughed, and Liu Chang took his hand and started chatting like old friends. At this scene, several guys around him were dumbfounded.
Zhao Mei asked in surprise: "Your Majesty, you have such a good memory!"
Fan and Zhou Shengzhi seemed to have been used to it for a long time. Fan just said calmly: "The king's memory is good and bad."
"oh?"
"The king can always remember things that are useful to him, but he can't remember things that are of no use to him... For example, he borrowed money from me thirteen times, but never paid it back... I told him
He borrowed it once, and he still mentions it to this day..."
Fan Fan said quietly.
Zhao Mei patted his shoulder and whispered: "Don't take it too seriously... Your Majesty is a man who knows how to repay kindness and will never forget you."
"What do I care about...the money is all paid by the city people."
Zhao Mei was stunned when he heard this. Who are these people?
Lu Lu cleared his throat, "Fuck, don't make jokes when outsiders are around, lest they take it seriously."
Just as Lu Shizhi and Zhao Shi had a hard time getting along, Lu Lu and Zhao Mei also had a little quarrel. There was nothing they could do about it. They both believed that they were Liu Chang's cousins and that the other was a fake.
While the sages were fighting openly and secretly, Liu Chang asked a lot of information from the county magistrate. Probably because he had known each other before, the county magistrate was not so restrained towards Liu Chang. He smiled and said: "Your Majesty, you have
Unknown to everyone, Liang...General Peng settled here. He always talked about you, saying that you were an outstanding person not seen in a thousand years... He spoke very highly of you... and said that he would treat his most proud client
Arrangements have been made for you..."
"Ah? Peng Yue is here?"
The county magistrate shook his head, "He died seven or eight years ago..."
"His health was not very good to begin with. He persisted for a while and then passed away."
Liu Chang just sighed. If this person was still alive, he really wanted to take him to Chang'an. Peng Yue was also an outstanding general. Han Xin looked down on people like Xia Houying and Zhou Bo, but he valued Peng Yue very much.
He has never humiliated him. There are really not many generals who have not been humiliated by Han Xin. Cao Shen is one, Peng Yue is one, and Yingbu is half.
Judging from Han Xin's evaluation, Cao Shen's fighting ability may be slightly better than Zhou Bo, Fan Kuai, Xia Houying and others, and is probably on the same level as Peng Yue and others.
Seeing Liu Chang feeling so sorry, the county magistrate couldn't help but said: "General Peng is very happy to be here with his old friends and family, living freely. He also wanted to write a letter to thank you personally, but
Afraid of causing misunderstanding..."
Liu Chang nodded and asked: "I want to ask you something else. Have you ever accepted a bribe?"
"No."
"Has anyone sent it to you?"
"have."
Liu Chang laughed. This man has not changed much. He is still quite down-to-earth. He said: "The main purpose of my visit this time is to rectify the merchants here. I heard that the merchants here are extremely powerful. Compared with private soldiers,
There are even more from the government, is this true?"
The county magistrate shook his head, "We have a lot of property, but the private soldiers are not that exaggerated. Emperor Gao once cleaned up the merchants here. Today's merchants still dare not forget it. There are only dozens of retainers, and they dare not be fully armed. The famous
The big merchants have to build roads for Bashu every year...residences and work for the government in order to continue..."
"However, the situation of bribery is indeed serious. However, it is not because the businessmen want to make profits, but more because the officials are extracting benefits on the grounds of suppressing business..."
What he heard from the county magistrate was somewhat different from what Liu Chang heard from the sages. However, Liu Chang was not in a hurry to believe or doubt. He understood at a very young age that people should believe in what they know.
You can never know the truth of things from other people's mouths.
Later, the county magistrate took Liu Chang to worship Peng Yue.
When Han Xin taught Liu Chang, he used Peng Yue as an example many times. Therefore, Liu Chang knew his achievements very clearly. The clearer he knew, the more respect he had in his heart. In the battle between Han and Chu, he would
Xiang Yu beat two people who lost their minds, one was Han Xin and the other was Peng Yue.
Without reviewing Peng Yue's battle, it would be difficult to understand why this man who had not commanded many armies could become the king of vassals after the war.
Although Liu Chang and Peng Yue had no friendship, they still bowed to him seriously.
Next, Liu Chang found the most famous local wealthy family. This merchant's surname was Wang. He heard that his family had been appreciated by local officials for collecting millet during the Qin Dynasty. What they were doing here was the tea business.
At this time, it is still a luxury product that only rich people can afford. The tea at this time is thick and cannot be drunk directly. It is often consumed as medicine, and in some places it is even used as a sacrifice.
When Mr. Liu swaggered into this man's mansion, Mr. Wang was so frightened that he trembled.
The King of Tang had a bad reputation, not to mention that in recent years, the King of Tang had dealt many blows to wealthy families and merchants. There were even cases of merchants bribing ministers in Bashu. Could it be that when the King of Tang came this time, he was going to destroy them?
Fortunately, the rumored cruel King of Tang did not look so cruel. He walked around the Wang Sheng Mansion a few times out of curiosity, "They say that Bashu merchants are rich, why is your mansion so simple? Could it be that you know that
Did you move here specially because of the news that I am coming?"
"Your Majesty... Although we have family assets, we cannot buy luxurious mansions, wear silks and satins, hold weapons, ride in cars, or ride horses, and our children cannot hold official positions!"
Liu Chang's eyes widened and he asked in surprise: "There is such a decree? What idiot made this?"
Lu Lu cleared his throat and tugged on Liu Chang's sleeve.
"Your Majesty...is Emperor Gaozu."
"Oh...no wonder."
Liu Chang suddenly realized that he couldn't understand this decree. The merchants had to spend the money they earned. They had to buy houses, clothes, and horses, so that they could drive the entire market and get out the money and grain in their hands.
, you don’t allow them to buy anything, they just hoard the money they earn at home, what kind of business is this?
When merchants travel all over the country, you still don't let them ride horses or get in cars. How outrageous is this? All the merchants have to do business on foot?
Wang Sheng trembled and said: "Your Majesty, I don't dare to disobey the law for a day. There is absolutely no brocade, no weapons, no horses at home. There are cars, but the cars are only for cargo. I dare not get on the car... The mansion
It is also based on the lowest standards...I never dare to be late for the annual corvee..."
What this guy said was very pitiful, but the sages around him were indifferent. Perhaps in their eyes, this was what they deserved.
Liu Chang stroked his chin and said unhappily: "I just asked why various places have developed for so long, but they just can't develop... I see... If merchants are not allowed to exchange goods, then merchants have to do it."
What... My father is far inferior to me!"
Zhao Mei said calmly: "Your Majesty, Emperor Gao had his own reasons for doing this. At that time, the war had just ended, and people everywhere could not afford to eat. The treasury was empty. Disasters occurred everywhere, and even relief could not be provided...
At that time, Emperor Gao not only attacked merchants, but also all industries except farmers... The main purpose was to increase cultivated land and increase grain production so that the people could have enough to eat..."
"Although the treasury is empty now, the people can at least have food to eat, so the king feels that such a ban is inappropriate..."
Liu Chang suddenly turned his head and looked at Wang Sheng beside him.
"You said...if I lift the ban, will you be happy?"
Wang Sheng's eyes widened and he suddenly knelt down in front of Liu Chang, "Your Majesty! Are you serious about this?!"
"But... the national treasury is short of food, and I will raise your taxes... It's just these bans, and I will help you lift them. What do you think?"
"Your Majesty! No!"
Before Wang Sheng could speak, Lu Lu stopped him instead. Lu Lu said in horror: "Your Majesty, if a merchant does not engage in farming, he cannot produce a drop of grain for the country. If your Majesty touches the ban, everyone in the world will want to get something for nothing. No one will
If we continue to farm, the Han Dynasty will perish!"
"Fart, a businessman gets something for nothing? Who else in the world besides you and me can get something for nothing?"
Liu Chang said disdainfully: "Farming is the most important. We want the world to have enough food, but business is not important? Why could the Chu and Qi countries develop in the past? Isn't it because of their merchants?"
"Qin used the policy of focusing on agriculture and suppressing commerce to unite the kingdoms of the world..."
"Today is different from the past, Han Ziyun is the new saint, you should read more books!"
Liu Chang waved his hand and made Lu Lu speechless. Zhou Shengzhi lowered his head and couldn't help laughing. This guy was actually speechless by the king.
"This is my decision. If anyone dares to object..."
"You can think about Kuai Che's fate!"
ps: The child needs two injections a week. The second injection happens to be today. The outpatient injection is not available and can only be injected in the hospital. This means that the child will be hospitalized four days a week and at home three days... He has been busy with injections today.
I just got home... Alas, there is no end to the problem. The results of this book are acceptable, and the medical expenses are affordable. Thank you for your concern.
I plan to save some money and move to a big city in the future, where the medical conditions will be slightly better. The doctors here scare me all day long and ask me to be mentally prepared, which makes my hands tremble all the time. Big cities are better.