Chapter 313: Conference of Princes

"When Emperor Gaozu came to the throne, it was hard to find even four horses of the same coat color. Therefore, the rule of Wenjing followed Huang Lao's rule of inaction, without government orders, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. The court taxed one for fifteen or even one for thirty."

"Naturally, it is impossible for princes in various places to pay a tax of 15 or 1 tax. In order to maintain a large army, the tax must be extremely heavy. to Luoyang."

Hearing Jia Xu's strategy, Xun You nodded approvingly: "That's right, many princes pay ten or even five taxes. If the imperial court only asks for thirty ones, no matter how rebellious the princes are, they will be ashamed." agree."

Liu Ye was thoughtful.

In order to maintain a huge military system, these local princes must step up the exploitation of local taxes. If the imperial court orders the tax to be changed to thirty one tax and then collected, it is naturally impossible for these local princes to really change the tax to thirty one tax. They will still go their own way. And what they need to do is to turn over the "thirty taxes and one" tax to the central government.

Thirty taxes are not too much, and the princes from all over the country can collect it by gnashing their teeth. First, it maintains the authority of the court, and second, it reduces the power of the princes and strengthens the power of the court.

"Okay!" Liu Ye turned to look at Xun You: "Gong Ze, you are responsible for this matter. Draft an imperial edict and announce it to the princes of the world."

"Yu took the lead."

Liu Ye hummed, and said again: "The princes of the world are mobilizing their troops and attacking each other. I intend to invite the princes of the world to join Luoyang. What do you think?"

Yu Jin praised: "During the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Huan of Qi united nine feudal lords to rule the world. The general convened an alliance of princes, and his achievements far surpassed Duke Huan of Qi's."

Zhang Jai smiled: "That's right, the general pacified Liangzhou and recovered Guanluo, and now his power is overwhelming the world, presumably the princes from all over the world dare not refuse."

"Well, Wenhe, don't just sit idle and do nothing. You can't let Gongda do everything." Liu Ye turned to Jia Xu.

Jia Xu had a bitter face: "General, as the saying goes, those who are able do more work, you should let Mr. Gongda draft it."

Liu Ye shook his head: "No, Gongda is a certain Xiao He, and you are Zhang Liang, not an idler."

When Xun You heard this, he smiled at Jia Xu, "Wen He, the general values ​​you more than I do. It would be impossible without Zhang Liang's advice."

Jia Xu had no choice but to smile wryly: "Zhang Liang takes orders."

After Liu Ye discussed with all his officials, he immediately announced it to the world and issued two decrees.

Article 1, the tax reform order.

During the Western Han Dynasty, Emperor Wen and Jing respected the teachings of Huang Lao and Huang Lao, advocating the rule of inaction, and the world was at peace. The ropes that strung money in the warehouse rotted because of years of accumulation. Today, the world has experienced the Yellow Turban Rebellion and Dong Zhuo Rebellion one after another. The imperial court specially issued a decree to change the local taxation to 30 one, and the unpaid taxes in the past will not be held accountable. The states and counties will help the victims, but from now on, the annual taxes must be handed in in time.

The second article, the alliance order.

Dong Zhuo was in chaos, he abolished the emperor, and the princes from all walks of life in the Guandong raised troops to serve the king. The court praised him very much. Now that Dong Zhuo died, the court wanted to reward all the princes who worked hard to put down Dong Zhuo. They asked all the princes to send envoys to Chenggao, east of Luoyang. (That is, the famous Hulao Pass) Huimeng.

As soon as these two decrees were released, they immediately caused an uproar in the thirteen states in the world.

Hanoi County.

Yuan Shao looked at the two documents copied out in front of him, his face was cloudy and uncertain.

"My lord, what are you thinking about?"

He looked up, and the person who came in was his number one confidant, Feng Ji.

Yuan Shao handed the two pieces of documents in his hand to Feng Ji, frowned and said, "Yuan Tu, this is an edict issued by Liu Ye, what kind of imperial court are you calling, hmph!"

When I met him in the general's mansion that day, the straightforward Yuan Shu showed his dissatisfaction with Liu Ye, while Yuan Shao was smiling. In fact, Yuan Shao was duplicity.

Feng Ji took the two-point copy of the imperial edict, read it carefully for a while, and put it down.

"The world is in chaos. Liu Ye married Princess Wannian with a lowly status and entered the court. The emperor is young. He is just the second Dong Zhuo, Dong Zhuo in the skin of the Han clan." Feng Ji sneered.

"However, Liu Ye's move to restore the old system will kill three birds with one stone."

Yuan Shao frowned: "Three kills with one stone?"

Feng Ji nodded: "That's right. If everyone in the world pays taxes to him, the strength of the local princes will inevitably be weakened. This is one of them; the taxes of the princes from all over the country are gathered in Luoyang, and Liu Ye has a large increase in money and food in his hands. He can recruit soldiers and horses. The second thing is that once the 30-tax tax is implemented in the whole world, the people will all be grateful and grateful when they see it, praise the benevolent government, and win the hearts of the people in the world, this is the third thing."

Yuan Shao snorted: "Let me wait to contribute money and efforts, then Liu Ye can get such benefits without any effort."

Feng Ji had an indifferent expression on his face: "It's okay, thirty taxes and one tax is nothing, the key is the second edict. Liu Ye is different from Dong Zhuo, although both of them are extremely powerful, but Liu Ye is a Han Family clan, secondly, he is much smarter than the cruel and heartless Dong thief, and he has a profound meaning in meeting the princes this time."

Yuan Shao's eyes narrowed into a line: "Does he want to follow the example of Duke Huan of Qi and the nine princes to govern the world?"

"Not only that, I'm afraid it's more like King Xiang summoned the generals after the Battle of Julu."

The curtain was suddenly lifted open, and a smooth-faced scholar with a mustache came uninvited.

"My lord, in the battle of Julu, Xiang Yu won nine battles and defeated the Qin army. The generals of the six countries who had been watching from the sidelines were all frightened. After the battle, King Xiang summoned the generals, and they walked forward in fear. Liu Yuqing marched eastward, He almost used his own strength to expel Dong Zhuo, and summoned the princes of the world this time, I am afraid it has a deep meaning."

Hearing this sentence, Feng Ji smiled: "Brother Gongze, then you analyze and analyze for me and the lord, what is Liu Ye's deep meaning? Is he going to follow the example of King Xiang and entrust the princes of the world?"

When Xiang Yu entered Guanzhong, he was crowned king according to the merits of destroying the generals of Qin Dynasty. For example, Liu Bang was named King of Han, and he ruled Nanzheng in Hanzhong. However, Xiang Yu is naturally not a selfless saint. He also has selfish intentions in entrusting the princes. The princes who are close to him have larger lands, while Zhang Han and other three Qin generals divided the original Qin land into three parts and named them three kings of Qin. , Contain Liu Bang.

Guo Tu sneered and said, "Hehe, I'm afraid Liu Ye also has King Xiang's intentions this time. This son's ambition is for the world."

Yuan Shao heard the conversation between Guo Tu and Feng Ji, he was silent for a while, and then said: "Since this alliance is so important, who should be sent?"

Feng Ji stepped forward and said without hesitation, "Ji wishes to share the Lord's worries."