Picked up a copy of Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 526
After Yuan Shu got married, Liu Mastiff did not stay in the Yuan Mansion any longer. He returned to his East Palace, and he could not continue to bother Yuan Shu. In this way, after staying in the East Palace for seven or eight days, he returned to the Yuan Mansion. After entering the mansion, he noticed that the atmosphere was a bit unusual. The veterans in Yuan's mansion didn't look happy, and most of them looked worried.

Liu Mastiff went to the study to meet the master.

The two chatted for a while, and then a maid came in, put some food in front of the case, and said with a smile: "I heard that His Highness came, and my mother specially asked the servant to bring these and let me ask, Your Highness, do you want to eat?" some fruit?"

Liu Mastiff got up quickly and said: "Thank you for my wife's kindness, don't bother me."

The maid bowed to the two of them, and then walked out of the study.

Yuan Shu frowned. It seemed that he, who was used to being alone, felt a little uncomfortable now. Liu Mastiff smiled and said, "Master is virtuous, I wish you great joy."

"Okay, there's no need to say more about these things. Recently, are you still reading that crooked book?" Yuan Shu asked a little displeased.

"Master, are you talking about Wen Rengong's transcripts?" Liu Mastiff asked back, feeling a little helpless. In addition to studying scriptures, during this period of time, he also came into contact with many miscellaneous books, including some agricultural books, Cui Gong's great agricultural work, as well as laws, mathematics, etc., "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic", he read with great interest, and often debated and discussed with the great Confucian scholars in the Taixue.

Therefore, everyone thinks that he has the style of the temple of benevolence.

Emperor Renzong Xiaokang was a master of mathematics. Emperor Xiaokang once debated with Liu Hong, a master of mathematics in the Jianning period, all night. He is considered to be the most accomplished emperor in the field of mathematics among the emperors of all dynasties, and Liu Mastiff may become the second one.

Of course, it is impossible to surpass Emperor Xiaokang. You must know that everyone in Liu’s commentary on "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic" was inspired by Emperor Xiaokang. It is naturally impossible for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to obtain this realm. It is a pity. Ah, this master who is proficient in arithmetic, calendar, and even medical skills, passed away four years ago. This is a great misfortune for Dahan arithmetic and calendar science.

After reading these books, Liu Mastiff held the transcripts left by Wen Rengong and read them all day long. This made Yuan Shu a little annoyed. You only read agricultural books, laws, and arithmetic. Why is this business book , do you want to see it too?You are the prince of a big man, how can you see these?

Liu Mastiff said: "Master, as a crown prince, if I don't even know the situation of the treasury, how can I manage my family and country in the future? Although Wen Rengong's writing is a bit rough, but in the words, it is the important matter of the family and the country. What the people need, what the army needs, this book makes me know." Liu Mastiff knew why Yuan Shu objected to him reading this book. This book is just Wen Rengong's transcript, and the words are very vulgar.

He still can't forget Shijun's livid face when he gave the book to Shijun to read.

The words at the beginning of the transcript read like this: "Everything in the world is realized because of money. Without money support, the emperor is also fictitious and not real." When Yuan Shu saw this, he almost burned this book, because Liu Mastiff still suffered. Persuade, only to stay.

Yuan Shu had long known that Liu Mastiff would argue, "Just look at it, but you have to remember that merchants are lowly businesses. They ignore their family and country, and they are lowly. All their behaviors are only for profit and nothing else. You can't get caught up in it, big man. Prince, you must not be someone who loves lowly work." Yuan Shu said, Liu Mastiff listened, pretending to be educated, and agreed with it very much.

However, I was thinking in my heart, merchants seek wealth, celebrities seek fame, officials seek power, who has no desires and desires?
Seeing Liu Mastiff's respectful appearance, Yuan Shu didn't reprimand him and continued to explain Confucian classics.

Walking out of the study, Liu Mastiff was still thinking about it. In the front yard, there were seven or eight old soldiers standing there, a little anxious and at a loss, and there were some servants cleaning the courtyard. Dazed, looking at the servants around him blankly, not knowing what to do, Liu Mastiff walked up, and the servants and old soldiers rushed to see him.

"What's bothering you gentlemen?" Liu Mastiff looked at the old soldiers and asked with some doubts.

The veterans said nothing, shook their heads, and sighed helplessly.

"I regard you as family members, why do you hide from me?"

"Your Highness, the Colonel's wedding, we are very happy. I am happy for the Captain. But the mistress brought a lot of servants and maids to clean the courtyard and serve the Captain. We are not as good as them. Now, what are we doing?" I can’t do it, just live in the captain’s mansion for nothing, eat and drink for nothing. We don’t want to.” The old soldier said a little lonely, he was also the most elite member of the Northern Army, he has his own pride .

"What's more, our face is incomplete, I'm afraid I will scare the mistress"

Listening to their words, Liu Mastiff felt a little sore in his heart. Because of Zhang Taiwei's contribution, the Great Han had 18 troops in the early Xiping period, and nearly 6 standing troops. After these decades, These elite soldiers in the standing army returned to their hometown, but they were a little at a loss. My father practiced benevolent government and supported these old soldiers, as if he was like a teacher. He never thought about whether they would accept it or not, and what was in his heart think.

We can't just support them, we have to arrange them well.

Liu Mastiff was thinking in his heart, and suddenly had some ideas. He looked at the old soldiers and said, "Don't worry, gentlemen, just wait for me for two days."

After leaving Yuan's mansion, I went to my uncle's house. The servants of Zhuge's mansion were very close relatives of Liu Mastiff, so they welcomed him in without telling the patriarch. I couldn't help but say that my aunt had already run away the moment I entered the mansion. After coming out, he took Liu Mastiff's hand, went to the main hall, served food, exchanged greetings, and asked about the emperor and the empress.

The two chatted for a long time before Zhuge Liang walked in. When he saw Liu Mastiff, he subconsciously wanted to salute him, but Liu Mastiff hurriedly got up and said, "Uncle is well!" Princess Raoyang glanced at Zhuge Liang, He said with some displeasure: "Mastiff is your junior, you can't always meet as a minister!"

"Although you are my relative, you are the crown prince of a great man. The etiquette cannot be broken." Zhuge Liang said, sitting next to Liu Mastiff. Liu Mastiff talked about the old soldiers in the Yuan Mansion, and Princess Raoyang was also a little curious. Listen, Zhuge Liang was about to speak when he saw Princess Raoyang frowned, and reprimanded displeasedly: "I will discuss with His Highness, what are you doing standing here like a woman?! You are not going back to the house yet! !"

Princess Raoyang stared at him for a moment, and said: "What your husband said is true." Then she went back to the house.

Seeing her like this, Zhuge Liang was in good spirits, so he said to Liu Mastiff: "Your Highness Minghui, this matter of the old soldiers of the Yuan Mansion is a trivial matter. Seven or eight people don't need to be ordered by Your Highness. As long as I speak, they will all I can find an errand and start a family in Luoyang." Zhuge Liang said again: "However, there are so many old soldiers in the world."

"Since Jianning, the military system has changed. In the past, the standing army was all middle-aged men with families, but now, most of them recruit Yu Ding who have never married. These Yu Ding have no family property, no family, and can work harder. However, when they return to their hometowns when they are old, most of them have forgotten about farming and are unwilling to do it.

"At the local level, it is not easy to do some illegal things, or to conflict with the local rural officials. Earlier, a corporal leader who returned from the Northern Army killed a Ting with an iron pick in his hand. Commander, the four pavilion soldiers at this time, Da Honglu Zhao Gong once played in the temple, but because the Taiwei and others were not there, it didn't attract much attention."

"I think it's not enough to treat these old soldiers just with alimony. They can't start a family and start a business. Most people don't want to marry their daughters to them. However, I found one thing. During the Jianning period, After the crusade against Xianbei, many soldiers returned to their hometowns and retired, which caused a lot of troubles, but in Hezhou and Xinzhou, there was no turmoil."

"After careful observation, I found that the two governors at that time had worked out a new policy together, and some of them used retired soldiers as soldiers in the local pavilion."

"Oh? This is feasible!" Liu Mastiff said, and asked again: "I remember that Mr. Situ once served as the governor of Hezhou, and the other person, I don't know who it is?"

"The other one is called Yang Qiu, but he has a bad reputation and is said to be a cruel official."

Liu Mastiff nodded, Yang Qiu?It seems that he is also a talented minister, but he has never heard of it before.

"Then how should we proceed?" Liu Mastiff asked again.

"No one in the court cares about this matter. If His Highness can speak, it will definitely be feasible." Zhuge Liang said, and then said: "However, I still have to inform the emperor."

Liu Mastiff nodded.

Walking out of Zhuge's mansion, Liu Mastiff took a deep breath, looked towards the imperial palace in the distance, and stood quietly, thinking about something, but did not move for a long time. The guard behind him asked, "Your Highness? Are you going to the imperial palace?" ?”

Liu Mastiff was still thinking, after thinking for a while, he shook his head and said, "Let's go back to Yuan's Mansion."

After two days, the emperor held a court meeting.

The main focus of the imperial court is still on the war. Now, Yuan Shao can't bear the pressure. He hopes that the emperor can withdraw his troops. As Sikong, he has the most thorough understanding of the state of the treasury. If the war continues, the treasury will be destroyed. In his own hands, this point, he already understood in his heart, no matter what, the war must end, this infamy, I can't let me bear it!

As soon as the court meeting started, all the officials in the court showed great unity. They all asked the emperor to end the war. Some cried and some complained directly, but the purpose was the same. The emperor still ignored it. He knew more about the treasury than Yuan Shao. He also knew how long the treasury could last, so he chose to ignore the persuasion of the ministers.

The prince sat next to the three princes, listening to the discussions of the ministers.

After the ministers gradually calmed down, he stood up, and the temple was suddenly silent. After the crown prince went to court, he never made any performances or words. He always listened to the ministers' narration quietly, never opening his mouth. Today, is he going to make a statement?
He stood up and said: "I'm still young, I don't know about wars, and I don't dare to speak rashly. However, I have other things to report to Your Majesty!"

He looked at the Son of Heaven and said: "Your Majesty, the ministers did not pay any attention to the matter of Dahongyu Zhao Gong who reported to the old soldiers earlier. I have heard more things in the past few days. After the old soldiers returned to their hometowns, there were many illegal acts." , there was an act of resisting officials and killing officials." He picked out a lot of things and gave examples one by one. Finally, he said: "There was a famous minister Yang Qiu in the past, do you know about it?"

Lu Zhi trembled all over, and looked at the prince. Many old officials were lost in memory, frowning, not knowing what they were thinking.

Liu Mastiff looked at Lu Zhi, smiled, and said: "In the past, Mr. Situ negotiated with Mr. Yang, and he used the old pawn as a pawn, so that Hezhou and Xinzhou will be ruled, and there will be no worries, bandits, and turmoil. It is really good. , Therefore..." He looked at the emperor, and said solemnly: "My minister, please implement this policy with the country, let the old soldiers be soldiers in the pavilion, govern one side, and defend against bandits. This policy is good for old soldiers. You are kind to the villagers, and I hope His Majesty will agree!"

He bowed to the emperor.

The emperor was taken aback, and frowned, why didn't this kid tell me about such a big matter?
He was thinking about it, but many ministers started to play, starting from Situ Luzhi, all the officials agreed, and only Guo Jia and Xing Ziang did not speak. The rest of them all supported the proposal of the prince, and even some people I hope the emperor can let the prince take charge of this matter.

Standing among the officials, Liu Mastiff raised his head and looked at the emperor.

Facing Liu Mastiff's gentle and simple gaze, the Son of Heaven was still a little puzzled, why didn't he inform Yuzhen in advance?If this is the case, then there is no need for him to play, and I will directly order it to be carried out, wouldn't it be much more convenient?

"The prince has the common people in his heart, and he really has the legacy of the Temple of Benevolence!"

"With this order from the crown prince, I am afraid that those veterans will set up plaques for His Highness and pay homage day and night!"

The emperor suddenly became a little dazed.

"Father, I am studying in the Yuan Mansion alone... I am a little scared."

"Father.. Let me think about it.. Go to the Jinwu Camp"

"Father! Those disabled soldiers are so pitiful!"

"Father, can I live in Yuan Mansion?"

"Father, Mr. Lu, Mr. Zhuge, said that I have the qualifications of Mr. Ming."

"Your Majesty, Mr. Yuan's teaching is limited, Your Highness should go to Taixue!"

The emperor took a cold breath, his heart was beating violently, and he looked at the prince below.

It seemed that he had misread the eldest son all along.

(End of this chapter)