Chapter 73 Liu Bian selected a concubine and established his queen, and tens of millions of stones of grain and fodder were sent to the capital!
To enter the capital Luoyang from Henei County, one needs to pass through Xiaopingjin Pass or Mengjin Pass on the north side of Luoyang's eight passes.

Wang Kuang escorted the Zhen family's grain transport team from Mengjin Pass into Mang Mountain in the north of the capital, where soldiers from the five schools of the Northern Army, the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the eunuchs of the Eastern Depot were already waiting to meet them. In addition to handing over grain and fodder, they also escorted the Zhen family's good daughters into the palace.

The Zhen family took the initiative to donate food and supplies, and Liu Bian highly appreciated it.

The Zhen family took advantage of the situation and proposed to present their legitimate daughter to the palace to serve the emperor. After discussion among civil and military officials, the legitimate daughter of the Zhen family, Zhen Jiang, entered the palace and was named a beauty, serving the Han Emperor Liu Bian.

Empress Dowager He and all the officials in the court went with the flow and selected a concubine for Emperor Liu Bian of Han, and announced the matter to the world.

In addition to the Zhen family, there were also good girls from various aristocratic families and official families who tried every means to enter the palace.

Even if she was just a palace maid, she could be favored by the Han emperor and rise to high position. If she gave birth to a son or daughter, she would be honored as a noble lady or even become the empress.

This is not a fantasy. We must know that the current Empress Dowager He was just a butcher. She gained the favor of Emperor Ling of Han by means of palace fighting. She gave birth to the current emperor's son, Queen Bian, and rose to fame and became the mother of the country.

The current emperor has no queen, let alone any offspring!
This has also led to the frequent entry of convoys from all directions into the capital in recent times, all of which are escorting good girls to the palace for selection. Although it is autumn and winter in December, it cannot stop the enthusiasm of these families to enter the palace.

I don't know if God is celebrating this, but this winter seems to be a little warm, which is a rare warm winter. In addition, the New Year is approaching, and the capital is even more prosperous and lively.

...

"Five and a half million dan? One jin less?"

The general who received the grain transported by the Zhen family at Beimang Mountain was none other than 'Wang Fang'. He has now been promoted to the rank of Captain of the Five Cavalry Schools of the Northern Army due to his official duties. Of course, he still maintains his identity as the White Tiger, the commander of the Imperial Guards.

In addition to controlling thousands of soldiers and horses of the Southern Xiliang Army, "Wang Fang" also worked to persuade the defeated and captured Xiliang soldiers, namely the captured soldiers under the command of generals such as Niu Fu and Li Jue, to surrender.

Now, the number of soldiers under his command has increased from several thousand to 20,000. Another Xiliang general, Xu Rong, also sided with the Han emperor in the "Yuan Wei incident". Later, he was rewarded for his merits and promoted to the rank of Yueqi Xiaowei, commanding 15,000 soldiers.

After Wang Fang led his soldiers to count the grain and fodder, he checked the account books provided by the Zhen family and found that not a single pound of grain was missing this time.

What is this concept?
The Zhen family volunteered 5 million shi of grain and grass, and Youzhou governor Liu Yu requisitioned 500,000 shi of grain and grass. After the Zhen family's grain transport team transported it over a long distance for more than a month, the consumption of food for people and horses was almost zero? !
This is incredible!

The person in charge of the Zhen family's grain transport team was Zhen Yi's third son Zhen Yao. He smiled and said:

"We are serving the country and helping the emperor. How dare we be shortchanged? As for the expenses on the road, the food for the people and the horses, we will naturally take care of it!"

To sum it up in one sentence: "Our Zhen family offers free shipping!"

"…You are truly loyal to your king and patriotic!"

The white tiger disguised as 'Wang Fang' couldn't help but give a thumbs up.

At this time, Zhen Yao handed over a money bag unnoticed. Baihu did not refuse. He shook the bag and realized that it contained not copper coins but gold, weighing at least several kilograms!

These aristocratic families are so generous!
Baihu has received this kind of bribe many times. Of course, even if he receives it, he still needs to report it!

When Zhen Yao saw Wang Fang accept it, he bowed and asked, "Brother Wang, the other group of people unloading grain in the granary, I think they are from the Mi family in Xuzhou?"

"You have a keen eye."

Wang Fang threw the money bag to his guards and said bluntly:
"It is indeed the Mi family's grain transport team. They arrived in the capital several days earlier than you. After all, Xuzhou has the Huai and Si water network, and the water route goes directly to the capital.

You, on the other hand, had to cross the Taihang Mountains from Jizhou, detour through Bingzhou and enter Henei, crossing mountains and ridges, and traveling by boat and carriage, which was tiring. "

...

"How dare I complain about the pain of sharing your worries?"

Zhen Yao complimented him and started asking again. This was not the information he wanted to hear. Did this damned "Wang Fang" fail to see his true intentions? Or did he take the money but not do the job?

Finally, Zhen Yao asked bluntly, "Brother Wang, the Mi family also has a legitimate daughter entering the palace? They are just a merchant family, are they also qualified to enter the palace?"

It's not that Zhen Yao looked down on the Mi family. Their Zhen family inherited the title of nobility, and their ancestors were also from the noble families of the three dukes and nine ministers. The Mi family, on the other hand, was just a merchant family, not up to the standard.

"Do you know how much the Mi family has helped you?"

Wang Fang smiled and said directly without keeping the secret: "The Mi family donated all their wealth! The money and grain sent to the capital amounted to 10 million dan!
“It is said that when the Mi family’s grain transport team was dispatched, there were tens of thousands of ships and tens of thousands of civilians, and the momentum was so great that even Yuan Shu of Nanyang was jealous and tried to intercept them.

"Fortunately, the loyal officials of the Han Dynasty, such as Liu Biao of Jingzhou, Liu Dai of Yanzhou, Tao Qian of Xuzhou, Liu Chong, the Prince of Chen, and the governor of Yuzhou, took action to suppress the rebellion, so this batch of grain and grass was able to reach the capital without any danger!

"Such loyal and patriotic people want to let their legitimate daughters enter the palace to serve His Majesty. It is reasonable and should not be rejected, right? Of course, their family background is not good after all, so they are only named as concubines, unlike your Zhen family, who are named as beauties!"

...

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!!!"

Zhen Yao immediately looked in the direction of Luoyang, bowed and saluted, and burst into tears of gratitude. After chatting with Wang Fang for a long time, Zhen Yao finally withdrew and returned to the convoy with a serious face.

"Brother, what happened?"

Zhen Jiang looked at Zhen Yao's serious expression and asked curiously.

This was Zhen Jiang, the daughter of the Zhen family who was presented to the palace. She was as beautiful as a flower. Zhen Mi, who was only seven years old, accompanied her and looked curiously at the prosperous grain unloading scene in Beimang Mountain.

Zhen Yao looked around. The Jinyiwei and the eunuchs from the East Factory who came to meet him stood far away and did not bother them. He said, "I have already inquired clearly. There are at least hundreds of beautiful women entering the palace this time!"

"What do I think? Your Majesty is the ruler of a country, the ruler of the Han Dynasty. Isn't it normal for you to have three thousand beauties in your harem?"

Zhen Jiang was unmoved, but smiled confidently: "And I am confident that I can stand out in the harem. I believe that our Zhen family's status should be the highest!"

It's not that Zhen Jiang is blindly confident. You have to know that Your Majesty recently implemented the "taxation per acre", which intensified the conflict between imperial power and the gentry.

At this time, apart from their Zhen family, are there any other noble families that would escort their legitimate daughters into the palace?
These noble families must be watching, but the Zhen family is doing the opposite, betting on both sides. This is taking the lead!
No wonder the Zhen family could become one of the top five wealthy merchants in the world. This unique vision can be said to be a good way of doing business!

...

“Hey, do you know who your competitors are?”

Zhen Yao looked at Zhen Jiang's curious eyes and said in a deep voice,
"Cai Yan, daughter of the great scholar Cai Yong; Cao Qinghe, daughter of Cao Cao, governor of Dongjun; Tang Ji, daughter of Tang Mao, governor of Kuaiji; Fu Shou, daughter of Fu Wan, commander of the imperial guards; Dong Shi, daughter of Dong Cheng, commander of the Xiliang army; and Lü Qiling, daughter of Lü Bu, commander of the Bingzhou army...

"Even Mi Zhen, the daughter of our old business rival, the Mi family of Xuzhou, has entered the palace. In order to cross the class and change his birth status, Mi Zhu donated all his family wealth!

"It is true that the land tax may make many aristocratic families wait and see, but in the Han Dynasty, there are still many loyal officials of the Han Dynasty. Upon hearing the news that Your Majesty is going to choose a concubine and a queen, they will naturally flock to him!"

...

Zhen Jiang's smile gradually froze. Whether in terms of birth status or family background, their Zhen family was not the best. Even from Zhen Yao's description, those women's looks and talents might not be much inferior to hers.

Even Mi Zhen, a girl from the Mi family who came from a merchant family, was said to be extremely beautiful, with skin as white as jade, and in the dark night she looked like frost and snow under the bright moonlight.

Zhen Jiang originally thought that since the Zhen family donated 5 million shi of grain and grass, and was directly praised by His Majesty as a beauty, this would definitely be a good start. But now it seems that she was a little careless!
"Why are there so many girls from good families entering the palace all of a sudden? There was no news when we set out from Zhongshan?" Zhen Jiang asked, not quite understanding.

Zhen Yao sighed and said:
"It was after we set out that Empress Dowager He and all the civil and military officials in the court announced to the world that Your Majesty had reached the age to choose a concubine and establish a queen, and that the country could not be without a ruler for a day, let alone a crown prince.

"These people have been in the capital for a long time, and many officials and eunuchs have already entered the palace to scout the area ahead of time. We have lost the opportunity!

"but--"

Zhen Yao looked around, thought for a moment, and then lowered his voice and said:

"I got a piece of gossip unexpectedly. It seems that His Majesty suddenly fell ill a month ago. Although the news was blocked, some fragments of information were still leaked.

"Although His Majesty has recovered since then, Empress Dowager He and all the officials in the court are worried that His Majesty might have an accident and that the lack of an heir would destabilize the country, so they went with the flow and announced to the world that a concubine would be chosen and a queen would be established."

...

Zhen Jiang immediately covered his mouth to suppress his exclamation, and looked around carefully, asking in confusion: "Your Majesty is in his prime, why did he suddenly fall ill?!"

...

“I don’t know the specific information, but I have deduced based on the intelligence - because of the food crisis in the capital, His Majesty ordered the palace to tighten its belt, and he set an example himself by eating only bran and vegetables for two meals a day, resulting in malnutrition.

"In addition, Your Majesty works hard to govern the country and is concerned about state affairs. It is said that he gets up at 1:00 pm every day and goes to bed after 1:00 pm at night. He only sleeps for one or two hours a day. Add to that the malnutrition, and even an iron body can't bear it!"

Zhen Yao guessed.

During that period, there were also natural disasters and man-made disasters such as the earthquake in the capital, which caused Your Majesty to fall ill.

...

"I see."

Zhen Jiang nodded and sighed in her heart. If this incident hadn't happened, her Zhen family would have entered the palace first and she would have taken the lead. Now she has to compete for favor with so many competitors, and she is under great pressure!

...

Zhen Yao was about to say something when the steward came running over to report that the unloaded food had been counted, and the Fifth School of the Northern Army had inspected the merchant team and found no prohibited items, so the Fifth School of the Northern Army had allowed them to pass.

Zhen Yao said no more and set off to lead the Zhen family caravan into Beijing.

The grain transport team naturally stayed in Beimang Mountain or was dispersed and returned to their respective garrisons. Therefore, the number of carriages and horses in the team suddenly decreased, but there were still nearly a hundred carriages and horses transported to the capital, which the Zhen family was preparing to use for bribery. This time, in order to send Zhen Jiang to the palace, the Zhen family definitely spent a lot of money. But compared to the Mi family donating all their wealth, the Zhen family suddenly had some doubts, should they increase the stakes? !
On the way into the capital, there were more and more checkpoints, and the security was very strict at every checkpoint. This made Zhen Yao a little suspicious. He looked at the Jinyiwei and the eunuchs of the Eastern Depot, and used money to pave the way and make indirect attacks.

"The end of the year is approaching, and the capital is busy and prosperous, because next year's era name will be changed to Xingping. The local governors and princes will return to the capital to report on their work. There will also be envoys from various countries, and good girls from good families who will come to the capital for the selection of concubines. Therefore, the defense of the capital has been strengthened several times."

After receiving the money, a Jinyiwei decisively explained to Zhen Yao:

“Of course, the real reason for such tight security is that the sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn are about to be harvested, and His Majesty has decided to celebrate the harvest himself.

At that time, all the people will watch and enjoy a feast, so the factory guards have joined forces with the five schools of the Northern Army to control the capital and clean up those stinky rats (spies). "

After hearing this, Zhen Yao asked in surprise: "Sweet potatoes, potatoes and corn? Are those crops real? Are the yields per mu really that high?!"

The Zhen family, who were far away in Zhongshan, Jizhou, had all heard of the three auspicious signs in the capital, but Yuan Shao claimed that these were rumors. Furthermore, a yield of 5,000 kilograms per mu was indeed nonsense and unbelievable!
There are so many different opinions that the Zhen family has been confused and unsure.

But now it seems that these three major crops are real? !

Your Majesty is harvesting the crops in person? If the yield per mu doesn't reach the target, won't you become a laughing stock? !

"Hehe, you will know when the time comes." The Jinyiwei didn't say much.

Zhen Yao used money to bribe the eunuchs of the Eastern Depot and obtained a lot of information indirectly.

He unexpectedly received a shocking piece of news - in order to send his legitimate daughter to the palace, Cao Cao even appointed Cao Zhengchun as his adoptive father. Cao Qinghe naturally became his adopted granddaughter, and it was said that she had already entered the palace to scout out the area.

"As expected of a eunuch's descendant!"

Zhen Yao secretly complained in his heart. He was curious about Cao Song's expression. His biological father was not dead yet, but he already had a godfather?! Of course, even if he scolded him, if he was in a different position, Zhen Yao would have the chance to worship him more thoroughly.

Cao Zhengchun is a close attendant of the Han Emperor. With such an opportunity to win over a close attendant, let alone make him your godfather, you can even make him your godgrandfather!
"Alas, I don't know if my eldest sister can gain a foothold in the palace!"

While Zhen Yao was daydreaming, their Zhen family convoy finally approached the capital city of Luoyang.

They came from Beimang Mountain and passed through Gumen on the north side of Luoyang.

It was just a Gumen city gate, but the bustling scene with huge crowds of people made Zhen Yao feel as if he was in a dream. After all, he had been to the capital once a few months ago.

At that time, the dispute between He Jin and the Ten Eunuchs, and later Dong Zhuo's occupation of the capital, caused the capital to decline. Coupled with the impact of famine, it became deserted.

There was no place like today's bustling city with its bustling traffic and huge crowds of people. Just from a corner of the city gate, one can get a glimpse of the grandeur and beauty of the capital.

The Zhen family's convoy lined up for an hour before it was their turn to enter the city. Zhen Yao wanted to use money to clear the way, but the guards at the city gate didn't dare to accept it because they didn't know what had happened!
The closer we get to the capital, the more we can feel the soldiers' discipline becoming more regular, as evidenced by the fact that they dare not accept bribes.

Zhen Yao first escorted Zhen Jiang to the selection office to report, and then returned to the Zhen family's house in the capital. He did not even have time to visit the prosperous capital, and immediately began to make arrangements for money to pave the way.

……

"Your Majesty, the Zhen family has sent 5.5 million shi of grain to the capital, plus the 10 million shi of grain from the Mi family in Xuzhou. The other prefects have also requisitioned grain. Now the capital has a total of about 20 million shi of grain..."

Jinyiwei commander Zhuque delivered the intelligence to the palace as soon as possible.

Liu Bian browsed through the intelligence and smiled as he looked at the food and fodder. After this incident, the food and fodder crisis in the capital could finally be alleviated.

According to the calculation that an adult laborer needs 5 liters of food per day, 10 liters is equal to 1 dou, and 10 dou is equal to 1 shi (or 1 hu). Therefore, the current grain reserves in the capital can support a population of one million for days of food.

Of course, this is the optimal algorithm. The food for the people and horses, the payment of military salaries, front-line operations, and some redundant consumption must be reduced. But it will be no problem to maintain it for a year or two!
It could even provide assistance to the Sanfu region where famine was breaking out.

Not to mention, when the sweet potatoes, potatoes and corn are harvested, there will be food and fodder in the account. Then they can be put into the planting cycle. In a year or so, these high-yield crops will provide food for the capital.

The food supply of the entire capital will enter a virtuous cycle.

Seeing the joy on his majesty's face, Zhuque handed over the second piece of information: "Your Majesty, today there are 30 more beauties entering the capital for the selection, and Zhen Jiang, the daughter of the Zhen family, is among them. Here is the name list..."

When Liu Bian looked at the list, his face turned a little ugly.

In fact, he did not agree with the selection of a concubine and the establishment of a queen, but he announced it to the world in such a high-profile manner.

In Liu Bian’s new-age concept, one should establish a career before starting a family. How can one support a family without money, a house or a car?

What’s more, Liu Bian is only eighteen years old now!
In the modern era, 18 years old is still a high school student or college student, right?! They have not even reached the legal age for marriage.

In addition, Yuan Shao of Jizhou was lying in wait, Yuan Shu of Nanyang was instigating unrest, the Southern Xiongnu of Bingzhou was in turmoil, the Black Mountain Army of Taihang Mountain was in turmoil, and there were attacks from the Xianbei and Wuhuan at the border. Liu Bian was not yet in the mood to talk about marriage.

however!
Today is not a new era, but the Han Dynasty of the third century!

As the king of a country, Liu Bian needed to consider the issue of his offspring and the crown prince.

Originally, Liu Bian could have suppressed the proposal of Empress Dowager He and all the officials to select a concubine to become the queen, but a month ago, he fell ill.

Yes! What Zhen Yao heard was not a rumor. Liu Bian fell ill a month ago and had just recovered recently.

Because of his hard work, he only slept four hours a day and ate coarse food, and finally he could not bear it and fell ill.

But the real cause of the disease was actually Liu Bian's genetic problem, or the genetic problem of the Eastern Han emperors as a whole.

Short life!

Looking at the emperors of the Eastern Han Dynasty, they all died in their thirties, and then the young princes ascended the throne.

It is precisely because of this that the external relatives had the opportunity to monopolize power.

Because the emperor was young, the empress dowager could rule the country. After the empress dowager's relatives from her natal family came to power, they gradually became greedy for power and refused to give it up. This would lead to the emperor having to seize power by killing his relatives when he came of age.

This almost became the only way for the Eastern Han emperors to come to power!
For example, Liu Bian’s father, Emperor Ling of Han, was only 32 years old when he died!
Liu Bian is now 35 years old. According to the average life expectancy of the Eastern Han emperors, which is less than years old, he only has or years left to live...

What long live? That’s all bullshit!

It was based on this concern that Empress Dowager He and all the officials in the court, after Liu Bian fell ill a month ago, ignored his opposition and directly announced to the world that they would choose a concubine and establish a queen.

It is necessary to choose a concubine for Liu Bian and have her give birth to children, so as to avoid the situation where the country's foundation will be shaken if he has no children after an accident.

It should be noted that Emperor Huan died without an heir. In order to choose a successor, a lot of chaos occurred in the court, and even the local areas began to be unrest.

The unrest did not subside until Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong, who was then Marquis of Jie Du Ting, was chosen.

It is understandable that Empress Dowager He and all the officials in the court were worried!

This treated Liu Bian like a "stud" for breeding, which naturally made him unhappy, but he could not resist the advice of Empress Dowager He and all the officials!

The die was cast and things had come to this point, so Liu Bian just let things take their course.

However, Liu Bian believed that he was a man with "heaven's will" and would never repeat the mistake of the short-lived emperors of the Eastern Han Dynasty!
The reason is simple, because he has a system!
Ever since he fell ill a month ago, the rewards from the system lottery were mostly attribute points to improve physical fitness, skills, tonics, etc. He even got an "attribute panel".

Liu Bian's current attributes are as follows:
[Host: Liu Bian]

[Identity: Emperor of the Han Dynasty]

[Attributes: Military Strength 65, Command 91, Wisdom 85, Internal Affairs 83]

[Skills: Emperor's Qi-gazing Skill, Emperor's Qi-fortune Skill, King's Instructor, Full-level Sword Skill, Full-level Archery Skill, Full-level Spear Skill, Full-level Riding Skill...]

[Life span: 18/35 years]

[States under complete control: Sili, Qingzhou (2/13 states)]

[Luck value: more than 8 million]

……

In addition to the main page, there are also secondary pages, such as the "Weather and Fortune Technique" and the "Imperial Seal" that comes with the [Good Weather] skill.

It is worth mentioning that the last time the luck value reached one million, it obtained [Good Weather and Good Harvest], and then it did not reach five million until it obtained [Prosperity], which boosted the capital's economy.

As explained in "Royal Division", [Royal Division bonus, the emperor leads the army in person, the commander can reach the maximum level! ]

and many more.

Although Liu Bian's current life expectancy is only 35 years at most, he believes that with his hard work in drawing the lottery, he will definitely be able to win a way to extend his life span.

After all, he still had 17 years to live, and with 6205 draws to make, Liu Bian didn't believe that he wouldn't be able to draw a way to extend his lifespan.

Moreover, this system is quite intelligent, and Liu Bian has figured out the trick.

At the beginning, when there was a shortage of soldiers and generals, I drew soldiers and generals. Later, when there was a food shortage, I drew sweet potatoes, potatoes, corn, curved plows, water wheels, fertilizers and other farming-related items.

Later, Liu Bian fell ill due to his hard work, and began to draw skill points, skills, tonics, etc. related to physical fitness.

Therefore, he doesn't worry about his longevity at all!
(End of this chapter)