Dahan first prince

Chapter 272 God's Last Concern
Liu Bang turned a blind eye to the sorrow in Liu Ying's eyes, hid the blood-stained handkerchief back in his arms, and signaled Liu Ying to continue.

Seeing this, even though Liu Ying's mood had some ups and downs, she could only put her mood aside temporarily.

Chen Xi and Lu Wan in the north, and Ying Bu in the south have all reported. Liu Ying's report work naturally went to the basic plate of the Han Dynasty: Guanzhong.

This is also the part that Liu Ying has been most concerned about in the past year or so.

"At the end of last year, under the order of my father, my ministers repaired the Zhengguo Canal at the beginning of this year; now that the Guanzhong Autumn Harvest is over, the repair of the canal has achieved initial results."

"According to Marquis Feng, last year, the average yield per mu in Guanzhong was no more than two and a half shi, more than three shi in Weibei, and more than two shi in Weinan; but this year, thanks to the renovation of the Zhengguo Canal, the yield in Weibei is more than four shi per mu!"

"The yield per mu in Weinan is still less than two shi, but this year in Guanzhong, the average yield is nearly three and a half shi."

"There are more than 4000 households in Guanzhong, and each household owns more than [-] mu of land; so this year's autumn harvest, Guanzhong will get grain, nearly [-] million shi."

"According to the tax rate of 'fifteen taxes and one' set by the father, this year, the treasury of the prime minister's government should be paid more than 2000 million shi in agricultural taxes;"

"According to the word of 'Dingbai twenty qian', the money in the Shaofu is in Guanzhong this year, and it is nearly [-] million yuan when it is imported."

After reporting the financial revenue of the Han Dynasty Mansion and Treasury this year, Liu Ying's face was involuntarily filled with joy.

"In addition to the taxes paid by the government and treasury, the monopoly of grain and rice in Shaofu has also been deployed in Guanzhong."

"According to Shaofu's proposed measurement: This year, the people of Guanzhong who store grain in Shaofu are worth nearly 2000 million shi; according to Shaofu's storage of grain on behalf of the people, the storage fee of the 'Eleventh' is taken, and the storage of grain on behalf of the people is one item. Shaofu can also benefit [-] million shi, and the agricultural tax in the national treasury is equal!"

"In addition to the item of 'storing grain on behalf of the people', the Shaofu can also resell Guanzhong grain for nearly tens of millions of shi in Kanto, and the profit is huge..."

Hearing that Liu Ying talked about the profit forecast of Shaofu's "official grain and rice", Liu Bangzong didn't smile to the extent that he looked at Liu Ying with a touch of sincere joy.

A year, or even just half a year ago, Liu Bang still held a certain wait-and-see attitude towards the statement that "shaofu government officials can make a lot of money with rice".

But this year, after seeing Liu Ying's means of promoting the government-run grain and rice, as well as the "acquisition" of granaries in various places in Guanzhong, the purchase and sale of grain, etc., Liu Bang's views on this matter have undergone earth-shaking changes. .

——At the end of last year, Chen Xi of Dai County proclaimed himself the king of Chaos and Chaos; at that time, Liu Bang just wanted to fight against the rebellion, so he moved away the family fortune accumulated by Prime Minister Xiao He's Soso!

Not only that, the entire Guanzhong, from the prime minister Xiao He himself, down to the unranked (annual salary less than a hundred stones) small officials, have experienced the days of "half salary" for nearly half a year.

As a result, this year, the court not only settled the salaries "owed" to the entire bureaucratic class in Guanzhong at the beginning of the year, even Liu Ying's expedition to suppress the rebellion hardly touched even a grain of rice in the treasury!

But don't think that 'going out to counter the rebellion but not moving the treasury' is such a trivial matter!

Since the Han Dynasty, the situation that "whenever the princes rebel, the treasury will be emptied" has long been the norm in the Chang'an Central Committee.

As for last year, it is not enough to evacuate the entire government and treasury, and it is not unheard of to temporarily embezzle bureaucrats' salaries.

The most important thing is: last year when Chen Xi rebelled, Liu Bang only conscripted 10,000+ troops, which already made the Chang'an Central Committee stretched;

And this year, Liu Ying went out to quell the Yingbo rebellion, and almost moved all the soldiers and horses that the Han Dynasty could recruit now, and even took out food to solve the food shortage in Qi and Chu!
Even leaving aside "how much food and how much money the Shaofu can get from the official grain and rice", such a change alone is gratifying enough for Liu Bang.

——In the 12 years since he was appointed King of Han, how has Liu Bang ever fought such a rich battle?

But a few years ago, in order to make enough military expenses to put down the rebellion of princes and kings, Liu Bang even ordered the Shaofu to issue fake and inferior currencies like 'Han Ban Liang'!

But now, less than half a year has passed since the policy of "Shaofu Officials Run Grain and Rice" has been implemented, and the Han Dynasty has changed from the past to "running rats with poor treasury", "to counter rebellion and have to embezzle officials' salaries", and even rely on printing money. Especially the printing of 'counterfeit banknotes' is the only way to maintain order, and it has developed to the point where 'hundreds of thousands of troops go out to fight, and it takes a few months to put down the rebellion, but it doesn't require the slightest effort from the treasury'.

What made Liu Bang most gratified and reassuring was that the food and rice run by the Shaofu officials was not a one-off sale, but a "way to get rich" that could continue to bring income to the treasury, just like taxes and taxes.

Therefore, even though Liu Bang still has some slander in his heart that "Liu Ying is not a perfect candidate for the crown prince", Liu Bang is 1 satisfied with Liu Ying for the matter of the Shaofu government's grain and rice alone.

——That is to say, Liu Ying is already the prince and her own son. Liu Bang has no rewards and no seals.

If "official grain and rice" was proposed and it was foreign ministers who promoted the matter, then even if Liu Bang was reluctant to part with a "vassal lord with a different surname", he would at least seal a [-]-household Chehou out!
Full of approval for the matter of "official grain and rice", Liu Bang didn't intervene much, and only smiled gratifiedly, watching Liu Ying heroically depicting the blueprint she had drawn for the Han Dynasty.

"I believe that the government of the Shaofu officials to manage grain and rice is enough to ease the emptiness of the government and treasury; but Guanzhong does not encounter droughts and floods. In the future, there will be no 'food price boom' in the three Qin."

Modestly and somewhat proudly, she said the rhetoric of "grain prices in Guanzhong will be as stable as old dogs since then", and Liu Ying was not too obsessed with the achievements she had made, but naturally moved her eyes to the future.

"Only today, in Guanzhong, only Weibei has a large grain production, and Weinan has less grain, which is still less than [-]% of what it was in Qin Dynasty."

"Guer thinks that even if Weibei has already benefited from the renovation of the Zhengguo Canal, the renovation and dredging of Weinan's water conservancy should also be included in the regulations."

"If it is not enough, we should renovate the existing water conservancy in Weinan in the winter of the second year of this and next year; we will discuss the new water conservancy in Weinan when the government and reservoir are full in the next few years."

"In addition, at present, the land in Kanto is poor and the grain production is insufficient, and Kanto relies too much on Guanzhong grain; if only Guanzhong grain is used to support the world, even though Guanzhong still has enough energy to feed it, in the future, it will eventually be overwhelmed."

"I also heard that although the lands of Ba and Shu are very good, the soil is very fertile and the agricultural products are abundant, but because the roads are blocked, there is no way to transport grain to Guanzhong and Guandong."

"Therefore, in addition to the renovation and dredging of Weinan water conservancy, and the construction of new canals, the land and water routes from Guanzhong to Bashu should also be discussed and proposed by the imperial court to transport the grain of Ba and Shu to Guanzhong and Kanto."

After narrating the manuscript in her heart, she bowed her head and recalled it, making sure that there was nothing missing, then Liu Ying gave Liu Bang another hand, indicating that she had finished the report.

In front of Liu Ying, watching Liu Ying said, "Although the grain production in Weibei has been improved because of the Zhengguo Canal, the grain production in Weinan is still not abundant" and "in order to reduce the pressure of Guanzhong to support the world, we should find a way." When the food from Ba and Shu was sent out, Liu Ying's eyes shone with solemnity, and on the face of the old emperor, there was finally a touch of nostalgia.

"Ugh·······"

"Don't class me... don't class me..."

"So what's the matter?"

"Qin collapsed and Han prospered, taxes and corvees were lightened, wars and disputes were eliminated, the people lived and worked happily, and the people and common people got what they deserve..."

"In the world in the future, there will be no need for another Pei Gong..."

Sighing secretly, Liu Bang did not forget to look deeply at Liu Ying's face, which was obviously not like him, but at the moment exuded inexplicably heroic, the old man couldn't help but shook his head and sneered.

"Hey·······"

"Young Mu Ai's age, he actually behaves like an old man..."

"Alright~"

"Although the master is young and doubtful, he is still young and mature..."

"It's the good fortune of the community..."

Thinking so, the old emperor finally smiled and retracted his legs, and sat cross-legged on the futon.

But after a while, the smile on the old man's face was replaced by a faint worry.

Because in addition to Chen Xi and Lu Wan in Kanto, and even the defeated Yingbu, and the infrastructure construction in Guanzhong, there is one more thing that makes the old emperor still worry.

But this matter, it is not good to ask too directly...
With his back to his late father's clothes, he was thinking about Liu Ying cross-legged for a long time, the old emperor finally raised his head calmly.

"Yingbu was awarded the head, Chen Xi's defeat is imminent, Lu Wan..."

"Let's rein in his horse on the cliff, and there is no reason to be king Yanji."

Said the sentence with a complicated expression, "Even if Lu Wan is cowardly, she must not continue to be the king of Yan." Liu Bang looked at Liu Ying with a look of scrutiny.

"Furthermore, Peng Yue was punished for his rebellion, King Jing was killed by a tattooed bandit, and today's Guandong, Yan, Liang, Jing, and Huainan have no masters."

"The three kingdoms of Gengyan, Dai, and Zhao are the crown jewels of the north wall of our Han family, but now we have been able to live in the age of a child as Wang Dai, and as wishful thinking in the age of Wang Zhao."

"If Yan continues to be king with a young man, the northern wall may be in danger of rampant northern barbarians and endless cavalry..."

As he said that, Liu Bang's gaze towards Liu Ying also became sharper, as if he wanted to see through Liu Ying inside and out.

"According to the Crown Prince's opinion, who should be the king of Yan's choice?"

"Jing, Liang, and Huainan, who should be the king?"

Hearing that her father asked about her opinion on the distribution of the Kanto vassal states, Liu Yingzong had already prepared a draft, but at this moment her heart is tight!
Because of the imperial edicts of the princes and kings, although theoretically speaking, it is a major event that the court will "commonly discuss with the people", the world will "receive the expectations of all", and even require the Queen Mother (if there is one) to "promulgate the imperial edict in person", but in fact, it is completely up to the government. The Son of Heaven decides.

As for who will be entrusted to be the princes and kings, not to mention ordinary people, courtiers and officials, meritorious princes, and even crown princes, in most cases, even the promulgator of the imperial edict—the queen mother herself—has only suggestions. Power, but no right to decide!

Under such circumstances, the old emperor, who was obviously dying soon, asked the crown prince, who had already supervised the country, about the issue of the title of princes and kings. His intention was obviously impossible to be as simple as "I want to hear your opinion".

Especially in today's Han Dynasty, the Liu clan who can be named clan vassals and kings are almost all the sons of Liu Bang today, this problem is even more complicated.

——The emperor granted the title of king to his sons other than the prince. In a sense, it is of the same nature to share the family property with ordinary people!

On this issue, the prince who has already tacitly "eat the big head" expresses his views on how much family property and which part should be divided among other younger brothers, which can easily involve some human relations issues such as family and seniority.

Thinking of this, Liu Ying finally understood: Today's "Cewen", why did Dad choose this place, in the Taimiao of the late Supreme Emperor Liu Xie.

——Because this is the most unlikely place in the whole world where "walls have ears"...
"Old man, I just want to ask where my younger brothers should go..."

"Still using this to test my opinion of Liu Ruyi..."

Thinking secretly, Liu Ying finally opened her mouth tentatively, giving her own opinion cryptically.

"The enfeoffment of clan relatives as feudal lords is something that the father and emperor should appoint, and sons and ministers should not speak falsely."

"However, my father and emperor occasionally asked about it, and my son, I boldly tried to speak..."

First express her attitude of "talking casually", and when the old man nodded with his usual expression, Liu Ying cleared his throat a little.

"As Emperor Father said, Yan, Dai, and Zhao are the most important members of the north wall of our Han family; if the three kings are not strong enough, or even crowned, it may be disadvantageous to our Han family."

"And now, Dai and Zhao have already obtained Ruyi, King Heng's choice, and King Yan's choice, the father should think twice."

"Zongyanji is also selected by the prince of the immature clan, and the selection of the king's prime minister should be carefully planned to make up for the king's youth."

Concisely pointing out that "Yandi needs older princes, at least a reliable king", Liu Ying wisely moved the topic away from Yandi.

But the Liang land that followed it was a sensitive area that made Liu Ying afraid to "speak freely"...
"Ji Liang..."

"Um·······"

Pretending to be thinking hard, but actually pondering for a long time, Liu Ying finally gritted her teeth and gave her own opinion in the most direct way she could.

"Liang Guo, located in the east of Luoyang, beyond Hangu, is the gateway to Guanzhong and the humerus of Sheji."

"My son thinks that anyone who is not a close relative of the father's emperor, who is also gentle and respectful, can't be cured..."

But when Liu Bang heard the words, a hint of meaning suddenly appeared on his calm face.

As the founding emperor who conquered the Han dynasty step by step almost from scratch, it is impossible for Liu Bang not to know the importance of the Liang Kingdom.

But Liu Ying's suggestion to Liang Guo made Liu Bang very interesting.

Brothers are close relatives, needless to say, they naturally refer to brothers;
As for the "gentle-tempered" and "Gongshan", they are actually the younger brother - obedient.

But what's interesting is: Liu Jiao, Liu Bang's only younger brother, is already the unshakable king of Chu.

As the founding king, Liu Bang didn't need to send an obedient younger brother to Liang Guo to be king in order to ensure the stability of Guanzhong.

In the past, even Peng Yue and Liu Bang, princes with different surnames, dared to send them to be the king of Liang and show Guanzhong the gate!
In this way, the deep meaning implied by Liu Ying's words is very intriguing.

——Liang Guo is very important, and should send the emperor's siblings, preferably an obedient younger brother, to be the king.

But today's emperor Liu Bang doesn't need to do this at all.

In this way, the emperor who needs to use his "obedient younger brother" to guard the gate of the gate is not the current emperor, but...
"Hey·······"

"Fat, Heng, and Ruyi have all been sealed, and the other four are all young, only a little older and trustworthy."

"so·······"

"Prince, I want to restore Wang Liang..."

(End of this chapter)