Can I get to the other side?.

Chapter 271 The best families in the Han Dynasty are none other than our Yang, Fu, Zhen, Cui and Dong families!
It is human nature to pursue fame and fortune.

Liu Xie used fame as bait, and even the major families knew it and could not ignore it, because the value of the four words "the first good man of the Han Dynasty" was too high.

Carving stones and erecting monuments to pass on to future generations is the lifelong goal of their generations.

Why were they unwilling to contribute money and food before?

Because there was no benefit for them to do so. No matter how much money and grain they donated, they could only leave some good impression on Liu Xie, and that was all.

As for the fame, it all belongs to Liu Xie.

The people only knew that it was the emperor and the court that paid the money and grain to settle those hundreds of thousands of Yellow Turbans, and they only knew how to praise the emperor's benevolence. Those of them who actually contributed money and effort got nothing.

But now it is different.

Liu Xie gave up this reputation and gave the title of the greatest philanthropist in the Han Dynasty to the person who donated the most, and also erected a stone tablet to commemorate him.

In this way, the people will know who has made the contribution, and know who to be grateful to and whose reputation to spread.

A good reputation will spread from one person to ten, and then to a hundred, and then to a thousand. In the long run, it will bring huge benefits to the entire family. This deal is a good deal no matter how you look at it.

Therefore, even though the major families knew in their hearts that this was a conspiracy of the emperor, for the sake of the reputation of "the best people in the Han Dynasty", they still couldn't help but start to make moves.

But no one took the initiative to attack.

……

Imperial Palace, Tai'an Hall.

Liu Xie held in his hand the statistical book of donated materials over the past few days, and said to the ministers in the hall with a smile: "It seems that the people of our great Han still have a sincere heart to serve the country."

"Since the donation notice was issued, the common people and gentry in Yecheng and the surrounding counties have donated enthusiastically. So far, 5,000 dan of grain, 3,400 guan of money, and a large number of cloth and various supplies have been raised."

"As the saying goes, water accumulates to form a depression, and soil accumulates to form a mountain. With the concerted efforts of the people, I believe we can gather enough money and food to settle hundreds of thousands of refugees."

Liu Xie's tone was full of laughter, but he knew clearly in his heart that the people were too poor, and relying solely on public donations would not have much effect.

If it weren't for the efforts of many wealthy and powerful businesses, they wouldn't have been able to collect even 5,000 shi of grain and 3,400 strings of cash.

Only when these aristocratic families take action can the people brought by Zhang Yan be properly resettled.

Upon hearing this, all the ministers began to praise him.

"Your Majesty is wise! Just a piece of imperial edict can make the people donate enthusiastically, which shows how deeply your Majesty is loved by the people!"

"I only lament that my family does not have much wealth, otherwise I would definitely contribute to the Han Dynasty."

"Your Majesty is so kind!"

"Our Han dynasty is blessed by God, Your Majesty will surely overcome this difficulty!"

"I am a humble official, but I would like to donate this month's salary as a token of my appreciation!"

"I am also willing to donate this month's salary!"

……

The ministers first praised Liu Xie, and then expressed their willingness to donate this month's salary to show their support.

Liu Xie smiled and said, "I appreciate your kindness, but I know that your families are not very wealthy, so you should keep the salary."

"Okay, nothing to do today, let's adjourn."

After saying this, he announced the adjournment of the court session, stood up and left Tai'an Hall. All the ministers also took their leave and left the palace along the Imperial Road.

The ministers walked in groups of three or four.

Yang Biao and Fu Wan walked side by side out of the palace and asked calmly, "Mr. Fu, how much grain do you plan to donate?"

"Me? How can I donate money?" Fu Wan shook his head and sighed, "There are hundreds of thousands of refugees. I would like to share your worries, but I am really powerless."

As he said this, he turned to look at Yang Biao and said, "But Lord Yang, with the foundation of the Yang family, donating tens of thousands of dan of grain should not be a problem, right? Why don't you fight for the title of the most philanthropic person in the Han Dynasty?"

As soon as these words were spoken, many ministers glanced over.

Yang Biao's expression changed slightly, and then he smiled bitterly and said, "That's not true, Mr. Fu. After years of war, my Yang family's foundation has long been consumed."

"However, in order to support Your Majesty, my son and I plan to donate our monthly salary. It can be considered as doing our part for the people."

Fu Wan praised with admiration: "Mr. Yang is so righteous!"

Cui Yan, who was walking behind them, also interrupted and said, "It seems that if we want to talk about the title of the best philanthropist in the Han Dynasty, it must be the Zhen family."

"Zhen Shi wants to resettle 30,000 refugees for His Majesty. Such a generous move really makes him worthy of being the richest businessman in the world. No wonder His Majesty thinks highly of Zhen Shi."

Everyone looked at the Zhen clan elder again.

At the beginning, the elders of the Zhen family were the first to step forward and offer to help resettle 30,000 refugees. Up to now, the Zhen family has definitely made the greatest contribution, and no one can surpass it.

"It's just an empty title." The elder of the Zhen clan said calmly, "It doesn't matter whether it's the best or not. We, the Zhen clan, are not after this title."

"If you have the money to spare, you can donate more money and food. After all, this is a good thing that benefits the country and the people. The people will definitely be grateful."

"Resettling 30,000 refugees is already the limit of our Zhen family. I would like to see you donate more money and grain than our Zhen family."

"After all, we are all here to share His Majesty's worries and serve the Han Dynasty, right?"

This is quite beautifully said.

Naturally, the ministers praised him again.

Dong Zhong, the head of the Dong family who had just arrived and had already joined the team, sighed: "My Dong family has a shallow foundation, how can we compare with the Zhen family? Otherwise, we would definitely support Your Majesty."

Cui Yan shook his head and said, "Alas, every family has its own problems. My Qinghe Cui family has spent all our wealth to build 3,000 Tiger Guards. There is really nothing we can do."

Upon hearing this, the other ministers also cried poor.

Each one is more miserable than the other.

The Zhen clan elder looked at everyone deeply, said nothing, and was the first to walk out of the palace gate and get on the carriage.

The rest of the ministers also left one after another in their cars.

After Yang Biao and Yang Xiu boarded the carriage, their faces instantly fell and they snorted coldly, "Fu Wan, this old fox, really doesn't trust me! He was obviously testing me just now."

Yang Xiu was a little confused and asked, "Father, aren't we planning to donate 20,000 shi of grain? Why are we hiding it?"

During this period of time, Yang Biao asked him to contact the Hongnong Yang family and start to vigorously raise food and supplies, but he told him to do this in secret and keep it secret from the outside.

He didn't quite understand why such a kind act had to be done in secret.

Wouldn't it be better to make a big splash?
"You are too young." Yang Biao shook his head. Although Yang Xiu was smart, he still lacked experience in officialdom and wisdom in dealing with people.

"What we want is to take away the title of the best man at the lowest cost. If those guys knew the amount of money and grain donated by our Yang family, they would have to compete with us. We don't know how much we will have to pay by then."

"We hide it so that they can relax their vigilance and think that we, the Yang family, will not fight for it. When the last day comes, we will donate it all at once and win the title of the most philanthropic person in the Han Dynasty!"

How could he not want the title of the best man in the Han Dynasty?

But the more he wanted it, the more he had to endure it. A lack of patience would ruin a big plan, and he couldn't let other families know his intentions.

Yang Xiu suddenly realized what was going on. "So that's how it is. This is just like an auction. There is so much knowledge involved."

……

On another carriage.

Fu Wan looked at his son Fu De and asked, "Where is the 100,000 strings of money I asked you to raise?"

Fu De replied respectfully, "It's still in Qingzhou, but it's about to enter Jizhou. It should arrive before the last day of donation. In order to facilitate transportation, all the copper coins have been exchanged for gold cakes."

"But father, donating so much money at once will drain half of our family's savings. Is it really worth it just for a reputation?"

Fude felt heartbroken when he mentioned this.

Many days ago, Fu Wan asked him to notify his hometown in Langya to start raising money, a full 100,000 strings of cash, which could be converted into seven or eight boxes of gold cakes.

So much money is going to be donated!

"You know shit!" Fu Wan glared at Fu De and said unhappily, "With this title of the best man in the Han Dynasty, our Fu family's position will be more stable, and your sister's position will also be much more secure!"

"I just tested that old man Yang Biao, and it seems that he has no intention of competing for this reputation. Our only opponent is the Zhen family."

"One hundred thousand strings of cash can easily defeat the Zhen family!"

Fu Wan had made a very good calculation. The only ones who could pose a threat to him were the Zhen and Yang families, but Yang Biao would not participate, so he only needed to have more than the Zhen family.

Although Fu De still didn't understand, Fu Wan had made up his mind, so he had to nod.

……

Cui's mansion.

After Cui Yan returned home, Cui Lin came to greet him immediately: "Brother, the supplies you asked me to collect have been prepared." "Twenty thousand stones of grain and grass, five thousand sheep, and many houses have been newly built and vacated in the counties around Yecheng, which is expected to accommodate tens of thousands of refugees."

"Well done." Cui Yan was overjoyed, with a satisfied smile on his handsome face: "We have gone all out this time, spending so much money, material resources and manpower. How can the Zhen family compare with us?"

"On the last day of the donation, I must catch the Zhen family off guard and seize the title of the best philanthropist in the Han Dynasty!"

As long as people like Yang and Fu do not participate in the competition, he will definitely be able to seize the reputation of the best person in the Han Dynasty from Zhen.

Cui Yan is full of confidence in this.

Cui Lin looked longing, and said: "With this reputation as the best man in the Han Dynasty, not to mention the future development of the family, brother may be able to be one of the three highest officials in the future."

Cui Yan nodded and patted Cui Lin on the shoulder. "Right now, the only families willing to fully support your majesty are the Zhen family and my Cui family. In my opinion, you will be able to join the ranks of the Nine Ministers in the future."

Cui Lin's eyes lit up and he pulled Cui Yan aside to talk again.

……

Xuanshi.

Guo Jia handed the statistical book of donated materials to Liu Xie and said worriedly: "Your Majesty, the donated money, grain and materials are getting less and less."

"It has been ten days so far, and there are five days left, but those noble families still have no intention of donating. Could it be that they have fallen into a trap?"

The abilities of the people are too limited.

After all, their lives are not rich and they may not even have enough to eat.

Most of the money, grain and supplies collected these days were donated by wealthy businessmen and gentry in order to meet the emperor.

The prey of this conspiracy are those aristocratic families, but they still have no plans to end it.

This made Guo Jia feel worried.

It would be a disaster if hundreds of thousands of people could not be properly resettled.

It was also a huge blow to the emperor's reputation.

"No hurry, no hurry." Liu Xie put down the memorial in his hand and smiled faintly: "It's not too late to let the arrows fly for a while. They can't just sit there and do nothing. What do you think?"

Seeing Liu Xie's gaze, Jia Xu smiled and said, "Indeed, your majesty's strategy is really brilliant. Those noble families have fallen into the trap."

"Now we just have to close the net."

Every move of Yang Biao and his people was under the surveillance of the Embroidered Uniform Envoy.

Guo Jia was not clear about their actions, but Jia Xu knew it very well.

Seeing that Jia Xu seemed to have some information that he didn't know, Guo Jia suppressed his doubts and said, "Your Majesty, the person who topped the donation list today is already waiting outside the palace."

Those who top the daily donation list can be summoned by the emperor.

This is one of the reasons why ordinary people and wealthy businessmen are flocking to it. However, the competition was fierce only in the first four or five days. In recent days, there have been no donations from wealthy businessmen.

Because they had already paid a heavy price in the first few days, and now they were asked to compete for this opportunity, they really couldn't afford it.

"Call him in."

Liu Xie nodded slightly.

Soon Zhang He brought a man into the Xuanshi Hall. When Liu Xie saw this man's appearance, he was stunned.

The person who came in was a dark-skinned, shabby-dressed old man who looked to be at least sixty years old.

The old man was very reserved. He kept his head down after entering the Xuanshi Hall. He saluted Liu Xie tremblingly and said, "I am Shi Delu, a humble man. I pay my respects to Your Majesty!"

Liu Xie looked at Guo Jia with questioning eyes.

Previously, those who topped the daily donation list and were summoned by him were either wealthy businessmen or heads of small families.

The old man in front of me has an unattractive appearance and is dressed very poorly. He doesn't look rich or powerful at all. How could he be at the top of the donation list today?

Even if the amount of donations is getting lower and lower, it won’t be this low, right?

Guo Jia stepped forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, this man exchanged all his property for food and donated it all."

"All the family property has been donated?" Liu Xie was shocked. He looked at Shi Delu and after a moment's silence, he said, "Stand up and answer."

"Thank...thank you, Your Majesty."

Hearing Liu Xie's gentle voice, Shi Delu relaxed a little, but he still kept his head down and did not dare to look up to face the emperor.

Liu Xie asked, "I heard that you donated all your property in exchange for food and fodder. Is that true?"

"Just donate what you can. I see that you don't come from a wealthy family. Is someone forcing you to do this?"

He was somewhat worried that the officials under him saw that the donated materials were too little and it would be difficult to report back, so they forced the people to donate. He absolutely could not tolerate such a thing.

Shi Delu waved his hands again and again, and said anxiously: "Your Majesty has misunderstood. I am completely willing to do this, and I am not forced by anyone."

"The reason I did this is just, just..."

As he spoke, a trace of sadness flashed across his wrinkled face. After hesitating for a while, he whispered, "I just want to make up for the guilt in my heart."

Guilt?

Liu Xie frowned, and Guo Jia and Jia Xu also looked puzzled.

Shi Delu's eyes were slightly moist, and he said in an old voice: "Your Majesty, I was once a refugee, fleeing from famine in Bohai."

"Cao Min originally had a family of four, including a son, a daughter-in-law, and a little grandson."

"When I was fleeing from famine, my daughter-in-law was kidnapped, and my son went out to look for her, but neither of them ever came back."

"I fled with my grandson and was almost starving to death. Someone gave us a bowl of meat soup, which allowed us to survive."

"But the broth, the broth..."

Shi Delu burst into tears and sobbed.

Liu Xie remained silent.

In the years of great famine, when people were fleeing from famine, there was only one source of meat soup - human flesh.

Just like the woman he met when he led the army through Qinghe County, her son died and she was going to be cooked and eaten.

"There is cannibalism everywhere, Your Majesty."

Shi Delu held back the tears in his eyes and said in a trembling voice: "All along the way, the common people have been living by eating human flesh. My little grandson is lucky enough not to become rotten meat in the pot of others."

"Now I have settled down in Yecheng with my grandson. Although life is hard, I can make a living by relying on a blacksmith shop."

"But if the refugees don't have anything to eat, they will starve to death and turn to cannibalism."

"That's why I donated all my savings and property over the years. Even if it can only save one person, it will be good."

"The feeling of eating human beings is horrible."

Over the years, Shi Delu felt guilty all the time. The experience of cannibalism haunted him like a nightmare, making him repent even when he woke up in the middle of the night.

He really didn't want to see such a tragedy again.

Liu Xie was silent after listening for a long time before he slowly spoke: "How old is your grandson now?"

Shi Delu replied: "My grandson is ten years old this year."

Liu Xie nodded and said, "In two years, I will send him to the Imperial Guards to serve in the palace."

Upon hearing this, Shi Delu was stunned at first, then he was overjoyed and immediately bowed deeply.

Yulin Guards, the emperor’s personal army!

If his grandson could join the Yulin Guard, it would be a great honor for his ancestors!

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Majesty. I thank Your Majesty on behalf of my grandson Shi Bao."

Shi Delu kowtowed and bowed continuously, and the wrinkles on his face were smiling like a chrysanthemum.

"Stone bract?"

Liu Xie was shocked when he heard the name and asked quickly, "Where is your hometown in Bohai?"

Shi Delu replied: "My ancestral home is Nanpi, Bohai."

He was from Nanpi, Bohai, his surname was Shi and his given name was Bao, and his grandfather was a blacksmith.

After comparing various information, Liu Xie was certain that the grandson of the old man in front of him was an important general from the late Three Kingdoms period to the Western Jin Dynasty.

Shi Bao, the Duke of Leling County of the Jin Dynasty, was a founding hero of the Jin Dynasty. He served successively as Grand Marshal, Palace Attendant, and Minister of Civil Affairs. He was an old acquaintance of Deng Ai and a confidant of Sima Yi. He was the one who facilitated the abdication of Cao Huan to Sima Yan.
(End of this chapter)