Of course, he still needed to use Zhang He to investigate specifically, but he already vaguely understood that everything Zhang Song handled in the Sili area could not avoid a very important link, which was taxation, and Sili
Even though the townships in the subordinate areas have their own rank, it is impossible for all of them to obey Zhang Song. Zhang Song is not that capable, but there are still people who can instruct them and conceal the true local tax rate. That person is Yuan Shao, who is Sikong.
If this is the case, then it makes sense that Yuan Shao was the only one who could put Yuan Shu in such a difficult position and not hesitate to take the blame.
It can also be explained clearly why Yuan Shu acted so perfunctorily. Obviously he wanted to see for himself that he was begging for mercy in disguise and wanted to use himself in exchange for Yuan Shao's life.
The emperor was thinking about this and remained silent, with murderous intent in his eyes. Hua Xiong sat in front of the emperor and could see clearly. He asked with some confusion: "There are so many people involved in the case??"
"Yes, the three princes and nine ministers, all the ministers in the dynasty..." the emperor said coldly.
Hua Xiong thought for a moment and said, "That would be troublesome..."
"Oh? What's the trouble? There are tens of thousands of Northern troops. Is it possible that we still can't deal with them?"
Hua Xiong shook his head and said: "After arresting those county magistrates before, the appointment issue is a huge headache for me. If all the ministers in the court want to arrest them, I will not be able to help Your Majesty with the appointment issue!"
The emperor laughed and said: "It makes sense, it makes sense, so what should we do? Just leave these traitors alone?"
"I don't know about that. In fact, I'm still thinking about Zhang Song..."
"What are you thinking about?"
"I don't know whether he is a good person or a bad person. If he is a good person, he oppresses the people, hides the secrets from the emperor, and forms cliques for personal gain. He cannot be considered a good person. If he is an evil person, then when he was a county magistrate in various places, his political achievements were indeed
He is very outstanding, and people in many places are still talking about his good name. After he became the Yin of Henan, although he increased tax rates and squeezed the people, he used the money to build water conservancy projects and roads...
.”
"It's a pity that he died like this. Now that I think about it, it's a pity... With his appearance, if he hadn't died, he would have done something great!"
Listening to Hua Xiong's words, the emperor didn't know what he thought of, but he fell silent. After thinking for a long time, he nodded and said, "Maybe so."
He suddenly raised his head, looked at Hua Xiong, and asked: "Hua Jun, why do you think so many ministers do such things? Is it because of me?" Hua Xiong grinned and said: "
Your Majesty, this is so simple. Not everyone is like me, Hua Xiong. I am different from them. As long as I have a place to sleep and a mouthful of food, I feel it is enough. They are different. They want a bigger house.
I want to eat better and get more..."
"There are very few moral people like me..." Hua Xiong sighed.
The emperor laughed, nodded, and said, "That's true."
"Hua Jun..." The emperor looked at Hua Xiong in front of him and said: "There is a library in my palace. If you want to study in the future, come to me, whether it is ancient books or works by famous people today.
I can find them all here!”
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. It's just that I get sleepy when I study. It's been so many years that I haven't even been able to read Gong Yang Chun Qiu..." Hua Xiong said with some embarrassment.
After Hua Xiong left the Hall of Houde, for some reason, the anger in the emperor's heart was much lessened. He asked Hanmen general Zhang He to find him, read out several names and crimes, asked him to collect them, and informed him
, even if you get the evidence of the crime, you can't take action.
.........
In the first month of the seventeenth year of Xiping.
Xizhou burst out for the first time with amazing potential, which shocked all the officials in the temple. Xizhou was only established for more than a year, but during this period, the commercial tax provided by Xizhou actually exceeded that of other states, including Sili Prefecture.
Cao Cao was never procrastinating in dealing with the commercial taxes of the fifteen prefectures. He seemed to want to turn the entire Xiting County into a huge market. Xiting County was filled with goods shipped from all over the Han Dynasty.
Thousands of merchants settled here, and foreign Parthians and even Kushan people appeared here. While trading with the Han Dynasty, they also had to pay corresponding taxes, and in Xizhou
, many workshops and planting bases appeared. In order to reduce transportation costs, merchants directly carried out manufacturing, weaving, mining and other matters in Xizhou, and sold them in Xiting County.
The Han Dynasty began to engage in foreign trade from a very early time. During the Hanwu period, there was foreign trade in the northwest region and maritime trade with the Japanese country. However, the Han Dynasty never paid attention to these merchants. Merchants have always been regarded as the most important.
It was a lowly industry with high business taxes, but it had never seen such huge benefits. The huge benefits brought by Xizhou stunned the ministers and shook their minds.
Of course, it is impossible to change their long-term views just by wavering and relying on the benefits brought by some commercial taxes.
They still hate these merchants and despise business, but they are enjoying these real benefits. The first person to look for the emperor was Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao was very happy that Xizhou's development surpassed him.
He hurried to the palace to discuss the budget with the emperor. In the Hall of Houde, Yuan Shao told the emperor his plan.
"Since the establishment of Xizhou, it has not received much support from the temple, but it has become what it is today. I believe that if the temple can support Xizhou on a large scale, it will make Xizhou develop more rapidly, which will have a great impact on the future.
Financial matters are of great benefit. In addition, we should slow down the policy and allow merchants from various states in the country to go to Xizhou for trade at will. In addition, such locations can be set up in Ningzhou and Jiaozhou."
"For merchants who intend to participate in trade, a pass order will be issued to allow them to go to these three locations for trade... There will no longer be restrictions on them..."
Yuan Shao spoke seriously, and the emperor also listened very carefully.
Yuan Shao explained all his plans. Generally speaking, they were to relax too many restrictions on merchants and establish three free trade areas. At the same time, they should strengthen the control of trade in ordnance, grain and grass, and prevent the loss of these items.
In addition, the most important thing is the settlement of foreigners. Yuan Shao said: "Today, there are a large number of foreigners in Xizhou, Ningzhou, and Jiaozhou. These people trade here, but they cannot stay.
,because they cannot settle..."
"If there are people who want to join our Han Dynasty, we should not stop them... These people can enrich the frontier household registration and bring us news from foreign countries. As long as they are registered in the household registration and become citizens of the Han Dynasty..."
Listening to Yuan Shao's many plans, the emperor nodded from time to time and said with some doubts: "If it is implemented in this way, I am afraid that the ministers will not allow it!"
Yuan Shao shook his head and said: "No problem, your majesty can just leave this matter to the ministers, and they will agree to it!"
The emperor then laughed and said, "With such a great talent as Benchu, I have nothing to worry about!"
Yuan Shao didn't dare, so he said goodbye and left. After he left, the emperor's face turned cold. He found out the evidence about Yuan Shao from under the case. This was what Zhang He had found, and it was exactly what Zhang Song said.
, the emperor smiled, and carefully put the papers away, and under the papers, there were piles of papers.
...........
In Yuan's Mansion, Hua Tuo was checking Yuan Shu's injuries. Yuan Shu looked a bit thinner than before. He seemed to have only a skeleton left, which looked like a skeleton. Hua Tuo carefully checked his body.
, laughed and said: "Mr. Yuan is fine, he is just too thin. In the future, you can eat more meat... four meals a day..." As he said, the slave beside him quickly wrote it down.
.
After Hua Tuo finished speaking, he added: "Also, I have to congratulate Mr. Yuan..."
"Madam is happy, I'm afraid she's three months pregnant..."
Yuan Shu, who had a dull face, jumped up as if struck by lightning when he heard these words. He widened his eyes, looked at Hua Tuo in front of him, and asked in disbelief: "What did you say??"
, Hua Tuo said: "Madam is happy... Congratulations to Mr. Yuan..." Yuan Shu looked at him blankly, but there was no joy on his face. Looking at Hua Tuo who was a little confused in front of him, Yuan Shu asked: "
How long can I live?"
"Ah?? What can I say?"
"I hope you don't want to bully me and tell me the truth. I know my body well, but I don't know the exact time. I hope you can tell me... maybe I saw this child?"
Hua Tuo looked at Yuan Shu in front of him and was stunned for a long time. He sighed helplessly and said, "I don't know... this..." Looking at Yuan Shu in front of him, he had no choice but to say: "Mr. Yuan, tell the truth.
Tell me, I never thought that Mr. Yuan could persist. The medicine I gave him could save him from severe pain, but it would be harmful to him... If Mr. Yuan refuses to accept it, he may be able to see the birth of the child... But
If you take medicine, I'm afraid that within three or four months..."
Yuan Shu nodded, without any fear on his face. He laughed and said: "That's good, Mr. Hua, don't tell others about my condition... I can survive..."
"Here you go!"
When Hua Tuo left, Yuan Shu went to Sima's place with a smile on his face. Sima was knitting children's clothes with his head down. Yuan Shu looked at her busy with a smile on his face and a hint of emotion in his eyes.
Feeling sad and not sure what he was thinking about, Sima was busy when he heard someone behind him say: "The weaving is so beautiful..." Sima was stunned and quickly turned around and saw Yuan Shu behind him.
This was the first time Yuan Shu said such words. She was a little at a loss. Yuan Shu sat next to her, picked up the children's clothes she knitted, looked at it carefully, nodded, and said with a smile: "Yes, if I
If you put it on, it will definitely fit you!"
"Husband, this..."
"Hahaha..." Yuan Shu laughed and said: "If he is a man, I will name him Gong. In this way, when others call him, they will respectfully call him Yuan Gong..."
"Husband! How did this happen?!" Sima took Yuan Shu's naughty joke seriously and asked in surprise,
Yuan Shu laughed again and said, "What's the matter? Do you know Hua Xiong? He told us before that if he had a son, he would name him Champion Hou!"