I seek economic hegemony in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 105 Cao Wei: Just four liters, no more, no more!
The Eastern Han Dynasty thought it was rags, but Ji Han thought it was a treasure land.

There are horse farms in Longyou, and the horse farms in Liangzhou and Hexi are even wider, and the Hu and Qiang forces in both places are very large.

The Eastern Han Dynasty had a protracted war with the Qiang and Di.

Cao Wei inherited most of the political legacy of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and of course also inherited the conflicts with the Qiang and Di.

Ji Han and Cao Wei are mortal enemies.

Most of the time in this world there is one rule: the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Zhuge Liang mentioned "Xihe Zhurong" in "Longzhong Dui", which refers to uniting the Qiang and Di.

According to official history, both Zhuge Liang and Jiang Wei appeased the Qiang people, and the Qiang people also responded in Longyou.

But it’s not a holiday.

On the tenth day of the fifth lunar month, the Wei envoy returned to Luoyang from Soochow and relayed Sun Quan's conditions to Cao Rui one by one.

"Sun Quan wants us to sell our war horses to him. What do you think, gentlemen?"

"If Sun Quan wants a war horse, just sell it to him," Liu Fang said.

The other ministers also nodded, and no one objected.

"Then pick some horses and sell them to Sun Quan." Cao Rui waved his hand without hesitation.

Hold on first.

However, Cao Rui noticed something else from the attitude of the officials today.

Why did the ministers unanimously agree to satisfy Sun Quan?
Because everyone now feels the crisis on the Western Front.

The Battle of Chang'an has reached this point. Although some people are impeaching Sima Yi, if you think about it carefully, even Sima Yi is helpless. Who dares to say that standing up will definitely defeat the overall situation?

On the contrary, the previously discussed strategy of building a deep walled city on the western front to defend against the Han army was further recognized and received widespread support.

"We still have to fight on the Western Front and continue to build cities, but my treasury is a little empty. Do you have any suggestions?"

The ministers fell silent.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say." Liu Fang came out and said.

"But it doesn't matter."

"The expenses of the country are very tight, so I think I can save some money by rewarding the princes and ministers."

"Your Majesty, how much can be saved in this regard?" Gao Tanglong said.

"Then according to Gao Qing, how can we increase the revenue of the treasury?"

Gao Tanglong said: "The number of ministers in the world is limited, but the number of common people is infinite. If you take the limited ones, you will get less; if you take the unlimited ones, you will use them inexhaustibly!"

Grand Sinong Cuilin also came out and said: "Your Majesty, it is true."

"The taxes on the people are already heavy." Liu Fang said, "More taxation may increase the burden, laboring the people, and causing endless troubles."

"The taxes in our dynasty are much lighter than those in the previous Han Dynasty, so why bother the people!" Cui Lin said.

Cao Wei compiled taxes for all households: four liters of land per mu, and two bolts of silk and two pounds of cotton per household.

This is indeed not high.

But the problem is coming.

In ancient times, tax payment was not done online or paid with banknotes.

This tax is in kind.

Physical objects need to be transported, and transportation will result in losses.

In the Ming Dynasty, this kind was called Huo Xian, and later Huo Xiao Gui Gong was talking about this.

But in the Three Kingdoms era, taxes were neither copper coins nor silver, but in kind.

The consumption of physical goods must be borne by the people.

Basically it will increase by [-]%.

Of course, it was also very common in ancient times for local officials to collect some exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes for a clever purpose.

When you meet an upright censor, you will be tidy up. Under normal circumstances, everyone will have a collective amnesia.

Cui Lin continued: "Your Majesty, I suggest that some military service be introduced as appropriate. Now the country needs to fight a war and recruit soldiers from the private sector. If you don't want to go to the front line, you can exchange them with grain. It's not much. An increase of four liters per acre."

When other ministers heard this, they started talking.

Four liters?Four liters is not much!

Four liters is very little!

It’s just four liters per family!
Liu Fang wanted to say something, but Cao Rui said, "Isn't four liters much?"

"Four liters is not much!" Liu Shao said as he stepped out of the queue.

"Four liters is indeed not much." Even Cao Shuang expressed his opinion.

The other ministers also nodded, and they all said that it was not much more than four liters.

Cao Rui then said: "In that case, let's borrow some from the people first. After all, it is an emergency. After the war on the Western Front is calmed down, we will stop. What do you guys think?"

"Your Majesty Shengming!"

Cao Wei Chaotang collectively compiled a very gentle story.

The next day, Sima Yi, who was idle at home, heard about it and fell into deep thought.

Master Sima said: "Father, you have just returned from the Western Front and the current situation is turbulent. Please stop thinking about state affairs."

"The princes in the court want to double taxes. What do you think at this time?"

"Father……"

"Let's just say it's okay."

Master Sima hesitated for a moment and said, "There will be endless troubles!"

"Why?"

"Today there are four liters, and tomorrow there are eight liters, and what day will come again?" Sima Shi sighed and continued, "There are countless despicable people in the country. As soon as the four-liter military service comes out today, there will be Eight liters!”

Sima Yi asked again: "You mean, even if the government increases taxes, it can't defeat Zhuge Liang?"

"Why do we need to win?" Master Sima said, "If we build a vast walled city west of Chang'an, even if Zhuge Liang has the power to reach the sky, he will not be able to defeat it."

There is nothing wrong with what Master Sima said.

The Han army started to build a stronghold. In this mode, the attack will be very slow, but the defense is absolutely strong.

This kind of defense is not just a solid defense of the city, but a defense of the force structure, which adds a lot of room for tactical reinforcements.

"So, the Western Front will definitely enter a protracted war?" Sima Yi also sighed.

He never dreamed that the Western Front would be fought like this.

"It must be."

"Then how will the situation change next?" Sima Yi asked again.

"If we can provoke a conflict between Wu and Shu, it would be the best."

"How to provoke?"

"I have nothing to say yet."

Sima Yi stood up, walked out and looked up ahead, as if deep in thought.

"I think we should send more troops to Liangzhou." Sima Yi said, "Liangzhou is a vast territory. If the Shu army attacks Liangzhou, the front line is extremely long and the supplies cannot keep up. Liangzhou cannot be conquered, and Liangzhou is like a sharp sword. On the right side of Long, the Shu army was surrounded on both sides."

"Didn't you already suggest that His Majesty recruit troops in Liangzhou?"

"Not enough, I mean more elites."

Master Sima fell silent.

"Let's take a quick look at the situation. The Shu army's front line has been stretched very far, and it is impossible to plot against Liangzhou in a short period of time."

On May [-], Xu Miao, the governor of Liangzhou, was checking the troop quota when he suddenly received an urgent letter.

After reading it, he said: "Ma Yong is urging us! The Shu army continues to station troops in Nan'an County. He is guarding by the river and has repelled several Shu army attacks!"

Guo Shu said: "We have just recruited [-] soldiers and horses!"

"That's enough!" Xu Miao said, "Let's set off tomorrow to the front line of Jincheng."

"Here!"

On May [-]th, the Han army scouts near Jincheng County were bored, but they suddenly discovered a large group of troops.

(End of this chapter)