Thief Emperor

Chapter 818 Relocation
The Central Plains experienced ten years of turmoil. Those who could survive and live well in this turmoil must have some unknown abilities or unknown means.

This is especially true for a family like the Zheng family, which will do anything to protect itself.

During the past ten years, some of their methods were no less ruthless than those of thieves and bandits, and...

They had communicated with some of Wang Junping's subordinates and some benefits were transferred.

In just one day, the entire Zheng family was ransacked by Luoyang Prefecture, and the next day, their crimes were made public by Luoyang Prefecture.

During this process, Zhao Cheng asked his second sister and three nephews and nieces to participate, while he himself, after saying hello to Yao Zhong, returned to the barracks to take charge of military affairs.

Confiscating the Zheng family property may be a big event for the Zheng family or Zhao Cheng's nephews, and it may even be the end of twenty years of feud. However, in the entire Central Plains and even the whole world, it is just an insignificant ripple.

The only reason this incident caused a sensation in Luoyang was because the Luoyang government was "settling old scores", which made some people who were not so clean but had already cleaned themselves up feel a little uneasy.

However, soon, the relationship between General Zhao and the Zheng family spread in Luoyang City, and this matter once again became unremarkable.

After a few days, no one mentioned it anymore.

At this time, Li Yun, who was in Jinling, had basically completed the establishment of the framework of the new dynasty.

The skeleton is established, and all that's left is to build on this foundation to add flesh and blood, and wings.

At this time, the Xue Mansion in Jinling City was extremely lively.

The two sons of the Xue family, Xue Shou and Xue Fang, had returned to Jinling City at this time.

Not only did the two sons return to Jinling, but also the son-in-law Li Yun, daughter Xue Yun, and grandson Li Yuan came to the Xue Mansion together.

The entire Xue family was bustling for quite a while, until noon, when everyone sat together to have a family dinner. After the dinner, Li Yun was invited to sit in the main seat, and then several adults started chatting.

Li picked up the tea and drank a cup with everyone, then said with a smile: "In the past few months, I have been annoyed by their calling. I don't know how many things I have to do every day. Today at home, we agreed to still call each other by the old name. If anyone calls me by the old name, I will be angry."

The two brothers Xue Shou and Xue Fang looked at each other and nodded slightly. Then Xue Shou mustered up the courage to say with a smile, "Erlang, my son has been with you for a while. I have always been worried that he is not up to the task. Now I finally have a chance to ask."

Li Yun smiled and said, "Brother, what you said is true. Xue Gui has been with me since he was twelve or thirteen years old. I brought him up by myself. If he is not useful, then it is because I, his uncle, did not teach him well."

As soon as this was said, everyone laughed.

Li Yun put down his teacup and continued, "Xue Gui is a little less calm than Su Zhan, but this is an age issue, it will be fine in a few years. During this period, he and Zhou Luo have a very good relationship."

Mr. Li chuckled and said, "If the Pinglu Army behaves well, Zhou Luo will be the future King of Linzi. If Xue Gui can get along well with him, it will be beneficial to both sides in the future."

Speaking of the Prince of Linzi, Master Xue Song looked at Li Yun and said, "Speaking of which, Minister Tao left Jinling yesterday with a delegation to Qingzhou to confer the title of Prince of Linzi. He is the Minister of Rites. With his departure, the newly established Ministry of Rites fell on the shoulders of this old man, the Minister of Rites."

Mr. Xue shook his head and complained, "I'm so busy."

"I was at home this morning and asked for leave. I think I'll have to go to the government office in the afternoon."

Xue Shou smiled and said, "Erlang is right here. Father, why don't you ask Erlang for a little more time off?"

Li Yun's face was tense, and he imitated Master Xue's tone and said seriously, "This won't do. Public is public, private is private. How can we mix the two?"

He and Mr. Xue had known each other for quite some time and had spent a lot of time in contact. The tone and demeanor of the two sentences they imitated were very similar, and everyone burst into laughter.

Even Xue Fang, who didn't like to laugh, couldn't help but smile.

Mr. Xue waved his sleeves angrily and wanted to get up and leave, but after thinking it over, he sat down.

Li Yun looked at Xue Shou and said with a smile: "Brother, you have done a good job in Jingxiang, but right now, there are more things to do in Jinling. Brother, you should work in Jinling in the future."

"I have two errands for you."

Li Yun looked at him and said softly, "The first one is to go to the Censorate and become the Chief Censor, and be Xu Ziwang's deputy."

Xue Shou listened quietly, thoughtfully.

"The second job is to go to the Ministry of Personnel and become an assistant minister."

Even Xue Shou understood it.

The most important thing for a leader is to achieve balance. Only by balancing the forces below can one do a good job as a referee.

These two tasks are both very important, and they are very crucial at this critical juncture.

Xue Shou looked at his father, thought about it seriously, and said, "I will go to the Ministry of Personnel, but I have too little experience and am not familiar with the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel. I don't need to be an assistant minister, I can just be a doctor."

Li Yun smiled and shook his head, saying, "The six ministries are still in their infancy, and no one is familiar with them. After working in this position for a few years, you will naturally become familiar with them as the person who formulates the rules of the Ministry of Personnel."

After saying that, Li Yun looked at Xue Fang again and asked about some issues related to grain. He thought about it carefully and said, "At this stage, grain is becoming more and more important. The Ministry of Revenue has mentioned the grain shortage to me several times, but the news must come from both ends. I also need some information about the grain supply among the people."

"Brother, just bear with it and continue to be a grain merchant for a few more years. Your matter..."

Li Yun whispered: "It's almost as important as the Ministry of Revenue of the current court." In the past few years, Xue Fang has been working as a grain merchant.

What he took over was the business stall left by Liu Bo.

In the past few years, due to the expansion of Li Yun's power, the improvement of the Nine Departments' intelligence capabilities, and the increase in the financial strength of the Jiangdong regime, Xue Fang's business has grown bigger and bigger. Now he is the largest grain merchant in the entire south, without a doubt.

He was using Li Yun's resources to do business.

To put it more bluntly, Li Yun is the boss of this business, while Xue Fang is just a shopkeeper.

It’s just that this business is so huge that it can control the direction of grain to a large extent and even affect grain prices to a certain extent.

In Li Yun's view, this invisible big hand is very important. As long as he controls a large amount of grain in this hand in the dark, he can control the market to a certain extent.

Ensure that the Jiangdong regime is in overall stability.

This invisible hand can also quickly stabilize food prices in the territories that have just been conquered.

For example, the continuous decline in grain prices in Luoyang was due to Xue Fang’s contribution.

Xue Fang nodded and forced a smile on his face: "What I do is considered an imperial merchant. Wherever I go, the local government has troops stationed there. Not only do they not dare to take bribes, but they are also polite to me most of the time."

“This business is enjoyable.”

After arranging the official business of the father and his two sons, Xue Fang looked at Li Yun and said with a smile: "Erlang, my Xue Gui has reached the age of marriage. You and Yun'er have taken care of him for so many years, why don't you arrange a marriage for him?"

Li Yun smiled dumbly: "Xue Gui will only be sixteen after the Chinese New Year? Why are you so anxious?"

"Anxious, why not anxious?"

Xue Song, Master Xue, finally got the chance to interrupt. He smiled and said, "I'm still waiting to hold my great-grandson."

The family looked at each other and laughed again.

The atmosphere is very harmonious.

…………

It was not until the afternoon that an attendant whispered something in Li Yun's ear. Li Yun then left Xue Yun and her son at the Xue family, while he himself took a carriage back to the palace, where he met the Prime Minister Du Qian.

After seeing Du Qian, Li smiled and said, "I finally got a half day off. What's the matter, Brother Shouyi?"

"It's not a big deal."

"It's just that some ceremonies need to be decided by Your Majesty, and then I can make the arrangements."

"And then..."

He looked at Li Yun and said, "I have already said last time that the capital should be in Luoyang. I have already sent a letter to Yao Juzhong in Luoyang, asking him to make some preparations in Luoyang."

"At the same time, I have already discussed whether we should start now..."

"Relocate the court?"

Li Yun rubbed his brows and smiled bitterly: "So urgent?"

"There are only one or two years left. We have to hurry, otherwise many things won't get done."

After Du Qian said some important things, he took out a document from his bosom and said, "Sir, the Shuofang Army is in Guanzhong and is levying heavy taxes."

"It caused a lot of complaints."

"This is a person from Guanzhong. He is trying to transport some valuables out of Guanzhong and present them to the king."

Li Yun took it and looked at it, and saw some valuables such as jewelry and antiques on the list.

Money is valuable in a peaceful and prosperous era, but in this world...

That's it.

Du Qian lowered his head and spoke softly.

"After these things arrive, we can take them to Wujun, Qiantangjun and other wealthy and prosperous places."

"In exchange for food."

Li Yun said "hmm" and sat back in his seat. After careful consideration, he said something in a very general way.

"Let's do it."

(End of this chapter)