Chapter 69: Draw a ton of potatoes, rob the rich and help the poor!

"Da da da--"

Military intelligence and battle reports from Jizhou, Qingzhou and Yanzhou were sent to the capital as soon as possible.

Jinyiwei Commander Zhuque reported:
"Yuan Shao's army fought against Gongsun Zan at the Battle of Jieqiao. Gongsun Zan underestimated the enemy and rushed forward rashly, nearly all of his troops were annihilated and took refuge in Weijun City. Yuan Shao's army surrounded them but did not attack, using them as bait to attack the reinforcements.

"Liu Bei, Liu Dai, Bao Xin and other generals came to help Gongsun Zan but failed and retreated...

"After Liu Bei fled to Jizhou, he was chased by the Yellow Turban bandits in Qingzhou and was defeated in succession. But after Guo Jia joined him and assisted him, he came up with many clever strategies. He defeated the Yellow Turban bandits in Jinan, Qingzhou, and beheaded them. He obtained nearly 10,000 surrendered soldiers and 50,000 to 60,000 people...

"Yanzhou Governor Liu Dai and Jibei Xiang Bao Xin also successively suppressed the local bandits and stabilized the situation. After receiving the imperial edict, Cheng Yu did not excuse himself from illness, but decisively went to Liu Dai's residence to report. Dongjun Prefect Cao Cao arrived in Dongjun in the evening and was about to take office...

"In Yuzhou, Chen Wang Liu Chong joined forces with Chen Guoxiang and Jingzhou Liu Biao to attack Nanyang Yuan Shu. Because Yuan Shu's fierce general Sun Jian died in the battle, Yuan Shu's army was shaken and seemed to be on the verge of fleeing.

"Li Siye and Zhang Liao have been at Xuanyuan Pass, ready to attack at any time..."

With the news of success, Liu Bian's mood finally improved a lot.

Liu Bei stabilized Qingzhou and Jinan and captured countless spoils. This was a good start. Liu Dai, Bao Xin, and Cao Cao, who had just taken office, could undoubtedly stabilize the situation in Yanzhou.

Even Yuzhou and Liu Biao of Jingzhou jointly attacked Yuan Shu, making it impossible for him to stay in Nanyang.

It should be noted that Nanyang is adjacent to Runan, which is the Yuan family's old nest. It can be seen that Yuan Shu's situation is also extremely critical.

The stability of these states and counties played a vital role in Liu Bian's control of the world.

Moreover, during the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven and ancestors tomorrow, Liu Bian will implement the policy of allocating land tax to each person. The strong control over these states and counties will also enable him to carry out tax reforms more quickly.

As for Yuan Shao's army in Jizhou, Liu Bian could not allow Yuan Shao to become more powerful. Gongsun Zan and Han Fu were surrounded in Weijun, and he could not sit back and watch them be annexed by Yuan Shao.

Liu Bian put forward his own ideas.

The ministers believed that Qingzhou and Yanzhou were both stable and improving, and they could wait for Liu Bei and Liu Dai to suppress Qingzhou and Yanzhou before launching a counterattack against Jizhou.

Moreover, we can order Lu Bu and other Bingzhou troops to turn from the Eight Passes of Taihang to attack Jizhou, thus forming a pincer attack on Yuan Shao's army from all sides.

Liu Bian finally agreed to this proposal. Now he still needs to focus his main energy on tomorrow's worship of heaven and ancestors.

Amnesty and tax reform are of great importance!

The emperor and his ministers continued to discuss until the hour of Hai, which was around ten o'clock in the evening, before they gradually dispersed.

Liu Bian continued to handle government affairs.

Although Liu Bian focused his main energy on Guandong and Guannan, he did not neglect Guanxi and Liangzhou.

It should be noted that when the princes besieged the city, Xiliang Governor Ma Teng was also a prince, but because of Huangfu Song's suppression, it did not cause too much unrest.

After the truth of Yuan Wei's conspiracy was revealed, Ma Teng of Xiliang woke up and asked for forgiveness. Liu Bian pardoned their death penalty and ordered them to make up for their crimes by performing meritorious deeds.

These loyal ministers of the Han Dynasty were deceived by Yuan's conspiracy and trickery, thinking that they were coming to the capital to save the emperor, but in the end they discovered that it was a treasonous counterattack against the capital.

But as long as they came to their senses in time, Liu Bian would give them a generous pardon.

However, because Ma Teng led his army to wreak havoc in Sanfu and echoed the Suanzao coalition, the Sanfu area was devastated by war and countless lives were lost.

Because of the food crisis in the capital, the chiefs of the Sanfu region collected food and shipped it to the capital, causing a famine in the Sanfu region. The famine had reached the point where people were eating each other and even their own children.

At this moment, Liu Bian deeply felt that for the common people, a speck of dust of the times was like a mountain on their shoulders.

Now that the capital was facing a food crisis, Liu Bian had no way to rush to the aid of the Sanfu Chang'an area. He could only order local officials to temporarily suspend aid to the capital. Relief of the people and stabilization of the Sanfu area were the top priorities.

However, during the secret investigation by the Embroidered Uniform Guards, Liu Bian unexpectedly found out!

The common people had to trade their children for food, and the government had no surplus grain. But the grain stored in the homes of the wealthy and powerful families was piled up like a mountain and was about to go moldy!

The gap between the rich and the poor is so huge!

This also strengthened Liu Bian's determination to implement the "tax reform based on land area"!

The man has reached the edge of the cliff. He can either wait for chronic suicide or carry out a vigorous reform to see if he can break through and then rebuild!
However, it will take time to implement the "taxation based on land", and the food crisis in the capital and the famine in the Sanfu area are imminent!
Even if you draw something magical like sweet potato or corn, it is still far away and cannot quench your thirst, and it is out of reach!

At this time, Jinyiwei commander Zhuque secretly proposed a plan - rob the rich to help the poor!
Under the instruction of Liu Bian, the Jinyiwei has gradually become involved in the underworld and established the No. 1 Village in the World, specifically to recruit heroes and talents from the underworld.

Within just a few days of its establishment, it had already won over hundreds of gangsters around the capital. After hearing the news, it was said that gangsters from surrounding areas rushed to the No. 1 Village in the World to seek refuge, like a swarm of carp crossing the river.

The reason why the effect was so rapid and terrifying was because Suzaku came up with a solution - the martial arts conference!
Wen Wu is the first, Wu Wu is the second!
People who practice martial arts all think they are the best in the world. They can't wait to participate in the opportunity to prove their unparalleled martial arts skills in front of the world.

The capital is the center of the world!
Therefore, the No. 1 Manor in the World has already attracted many talents, and Zhuque wants to use this opportunity of "robbing the rich to help the poor" to prove the "chivalrous heart" of these people!
People in the martial arts world value chivalry and the national justice of serving the country and the people!
Such an opportunity can be utilized without affecting the relationship between the imperial court and the aristocratic families.

Even though everyone knew that the imperial court was behind this, there was no direct evidence and nothing could be done.

It's like the aristocratic families fanned the flames of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, fought against the imperial court, and forced the imperial court to delegate military power. Do you really think the imperial court can't see it? Doesn't Emperor Ling know the reason?

It's just that I'm forced by the situation and can only pretend I don't know!
Now, Zhuque hopes to use the strategy of "robbing the rich to help the poor" and utilize these "chivalrous" heroes to "eliminate violence and maintain peace" against those wealthy and unkind aristocratic families!
This can also help us see if there are any spies from the aristocratic families among these heroes!
This actually violated the rules a bit, but considering that it was already the end of the dynasty, Liu Bian thought carefully and decided to acquiesce to this secret request!

The common people are the ones who suffer from prosperity and decline, so why can't you, the aristocratic families, suffer too? !
At this moment, a prompt sound suddenly rang in my mind.

"Ding dong."

"The host has obtained a chance to draw a lottery."

“Will there be a lottery?”

Before we knew it, it was already midnight, a new day had arrived and it was time to draw the lottery again.

Liu Bian stood up and said to Cao Zhengchun, "I am tired, you should go down and rest too!"

"I obey your command!!!"

Cao Zhengchun retreated respectfully, and after coming out of the hall, he called in his trusted eunuch Wei Zhong.

"How about the Hedong Wei family serving the country and the king?"

Wei Zhong didn't know what Eunuch Cao meant, so he said ambiguously: "When your Majesty was in trouble, they didn't show any reaction!"

"Disclose the intelligence information on the five wealthy merchants investigated by the East Factory to the Imperial Guards."

Cao Zhengchun frowned and thought for a while, then spoke directly.

"...I obey your command!"

Wei Zhong nodded.

Cao Zhengchun originally wanted to order the Eastern Depot to take action himself, but their members were all eunuchs. If the imperial court and His Majesty were involved, it would be a case of losing the greater for the smaller.

In that case, it’s a good deal for the Jinyiwei!
Although Cao Zhengchun felt the pain, he was loyal to the country and served the emperor!
...

The Embroidered Uniform Guard received the news, and Suzaku also received the imperial edict from the palace.

"Your Majesty has acquiesced!"

Zhuque looked at the four commanders and said in a deep voice: "Qinglong and I are too obvious targets, so we need Xuanwu to disguise ourselves and attack.

Baihu can intervene secretly. If those heroes are no match for the private soldiers of the noble families, you will be needed to lead the troops to attack. "Everyone nodded.

A country definitely has a dark side.

It’s just like Yuan Wei back then, who used the Xiliang Army under Dong Zhuo to do shady things, while he lived in the sunshine.

Now the Jinyiwei also needs to do some shameful things for His Majesty, the country, and the people who died of famine.

But in their view, robbing the rich and helping the poor is justice!

It’s just like when the Yellow Turban rebels rebelled, those Yellow Turban rebels also thought they were “rebels” and “just”!

And now, the Jinyiwei also thinks so!

These things seem to be shameful and may even implicate innocent people, but in the face of millions of civilians, hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and the food crisis faced by His Majesty, they are willing to go deep into the darkness!
Who says people covered in mud are not heroes? !

Who says that only those who stand in the light are heroes? !

Xuanwu disguised himself as 'Murong Hu', who was the 'Murong Hu' of the brothers Murong Long and Murong Hu under Yuan Shu. They had stolen the six seals of the emperor and the imperial seal, and were killed or injured by the Jinyiwei.

With this identity, he was well-known in the martial arts world, and he was also a subordinate of Yuan Shu, so he could divert the trouble to others and not implicate the imperial court.

Murong Hu and nearly a thousand heroes of the martial arts world began to kill the wealthy and powerful families in a "rob the rich and help the poor" manner.

Their first stop was one of the five most powerful merchants in the Han Dynasty - the Hedong Wei family!
……

Liu Bian didn't know the specific actions of the Jinyiwei, but he knew that commanders such as Zhuque would arrange everything. After fighting side by side for this period of time, Liu Bian still expressed approval of their abilities.

After Cao Zhengchun left the hall, Liu Bian lay down on the bed and drew a lottery. Since he overslept yesterday, Liu Bian decided to go to bed on time at 12 o'clock from now on and not stay up late any more.

The body is the capital of revolution!

The lottery opportunities refreshed daily by the system were like an alarm clock. Once it rang, no matter what he was doing, Liu Bian would put it down, lie down on the bed, and go to sleep immediately after the lottery.

While he was daydreaming, the turntable began to spin, and the pointer passed over attribute points, weapons, armor, military supplies, combat readiness, auxiliary talents, soldiers and population, martial arts secrets, etc. It turned around and around, and finally slowly slowed down and stopped.

Once again, the focus was on the food and supplies option!

"Congratulations on winning a ton of potatoes!"

"Please confirm the delivery location..."

Potato! ! !

Wow, the three major food artifacts of time travelers - sweet potatoes, corn and potatoes, have been collected by Liu Bian!
Potatoes have many advantages.

As one of China's five major staple foods, it has high nutritional value, strong adaptability and high yield. It is the third most important food crop in the world, second only to wheat and corn.

Potatoes have a larger planting area than sweet potatoes, and the yield is similar, about 5,000 kilograms per mu, but they have better storage resistance than sweet potatoes and everyone can eat them, unlike some people who are not suitable for eating sweet potatoes.

the most important is!

Potatoes prefer cool weather and are low-temperature-loving crops. They can adapt to growing in the northwest and northeast, as well as in dry and cold areas!
Of course, potatoes also have disadvantages. They can only be eaten fresh and stored fresh. The storage requirements are lower, but they cannot be eaten for a long time. Potatoes also contain solanine, etc.

However, methods such as removing toxins with high temperature can solve 99% of the problems!
It can become one of the five staple foods and one of the three major food artifacts for time travelers, so it definitely has more advantages than disadvantages.

Sweet potatoes, potatoes and corn all have their own advantages and disadvantages, which can fully complement each other, and the yield per mu is terrifying!
Now Liu Bian can be sure that as long as the promotion is successful, with the three major food artifacts of sweet potatoes, potatoes and corn, there will be no more starving people in the Han Dynasty!
of course.

The prerequisite is that the tax rate must be distributed according to the amount of land. Otherwise, tax policies such as "light taxes and low levies" will only benefit the big landlords.

If you want to spread sweet potatoes, potatoes and corn throughout the world, all the people will benefit, provided they have land!
Therefore, "distributing the tax rate according to the land area" is imperative!
Today is the ninth day of the ninth month, and we are just waiting for the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the heaven after dawn!
A general amnesty and equalizing the land tax are the real amnesty!

Liu Bian fell into a deep sleep with a smile on his face.

But for some people, this night was ultimately a sleepless night.

Xuanwu, disguised as "Murong Hu", and nearly a thousand heroes from the martial arts world, rushed non-stop to Hedong.

Their target was not the Wei family mansion in Hedong, but the granary where they stored grain.

When Liu Bian put aside the so-called "rules", there was no concept of food crisis.

Those aristocratic families are all fat sheep!
In secret, Bai Hu, disguised as "Wang Fang", took thousands of his trusted Xiliang soldiers and took off their military armor and even changed their standard weapons, becoming a group of bandits dressed as bandits.

In fact, the Xiliang Army is familiar with this. What they did in Liangzhou was actually the activities of horse thieves and bandits. They are returning to their old business!

These people were full of murderous intent, like a pack of wolves seeing their prey, and arrived at Hedong before dawn in the early morning.

It is now the first quarter of the morning, around three o'clock. The sky is in extreme darkness, the starlight has faded, the moonlight is hidden. This is the darkness before dawn, as thick as pitch-black ink, making it impossible to see one's hand in front of one's face.

Even if they are martial arts heroes who do not have night blindness, they still need the help of torches to avoid accidents in the dead of night.

Of course, among these heroes, there are many people with special skills, including many who can find their way in the dark, or have extremely sharp hearing and sense of smell.

By eliminating the scouts and patrols of the Hedong Wei family one by one, they finally found one of the granaries.

Sudden attack!

Get ready for a feast!
But who knows!

Empty? ! ! !
One of their targets this time was a granary belonging to the Hedong Wei family, which was said to store hundreds of thousands of stones of grain and grass, but it was actually empty? ! ! !

Was it originally empty?! Or did the news leak out and the Hedong Wei family moved it ahead of time?!
Xuanwu, who was disguised as 'Murong Hu', looked gloomy.

After hearing the news, Baihu, who was hiding in the back and disguised as "Wang Fang", looked even uglier.

Just at this moment, dawn broke and the light broke through the darkness.

Gradually, they saw scattered rice, wheel marks, and dense footprints left by the hasty transfer of food and fodder on the ground...

This made them not feel the joy of seeing the dawn, but instead their faces became gloomy!
The military operation they had planned with so much effort and effort was leaked in advance and aborted? !
Today, His Majesty will hold a ceremony to offer sacrifices to heaven in the Mingtang and grant amnesty to the whole country.

They, the Jinyiwei, wanted to use this opportunity to send back a good news, but now, it would be better for them to commit suicide and apologize!

"check!!!"

But how to investigate?!

At this time, Bao Zheng and Gongsun Ce were not by his side, and their Jinyiwei were not good at investigating cases.

After leaving the granary, the wheels and footprints were gradually covered up, apparently to avoid being tracked.

In a short time, they were helpless!
But at this moment, Xu Huang volunteered:
"Captain Wang, I was once a member of the Baibo Army. The Baibo Army is the origin of the Baibo Valley in Hedong. I am also a native of Hedong. Can you give me some time to investigate?"

"If I can find out his whereabouts, I will personally report my achievements to His Majesty... ahem... on your behalf!" Baihu, who was disguised as 'Wang Fang', was nearly choked to death.

"Thank you, Chief Wang."

……

(End of this chapter)