Super Cultivation System of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 898 The Power of Rumors
After hearing Xu Shu's plan, Liu He was surprised and delighted, and applauded repeatedly.

"Very good, very good. Yuan Zhi's plan hits the weak spot of the Qiang people. Among the many foreign tribes near the Han Dynasty, the strongest ones are the Western Qiang tribes and Goguryeo. As long as these two tribes are destroyed, the Han Dynasty can be guaranteed to be stable for hundreds of years. Yuan Zhi's contribution is indispensable and his name will be recorded in history."

Xu Shu said modestly: "I have only done a small amount of work, so I dare not take credit for it."

Since returning to Luoyang from Yuzhou, Liu He has been in a gloomy mood and full of worries. However, after learning Xu Shu's plan, the clouds in his heart dissipated and he felt greatly relieved.

But Xun Yu looked up at him, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated, which caught Liu He's attention.

"Wen Ruo has something to report?"

Xun Yu took a step forward and said, "Your Majesty is in a good mood, and I don't have the heart to upset you again, but..."

Liu He replied: "Well, since there are state affairs, I should deal with them. Am I such a foolish ruler?"

"As you wish." Xun Yu finally spoke.

"Your Majesty, do you still remember the slanderous rumors that you heard in Luoyang City a few days ago?"

Liu He was stunned and said, "If Wen Ruo hadn't reminded me, I would have almost forgotten about it."

Xun Yu said: "Although the court issued a notice to clarify the matter, the rumors have not stopped, but have become more and more intense. According to reports from officials from various places, this rumor is not only circulating in Luoyang, but also in Bing, Ji, Liang, Yan, You, and even in Qingzhou and Xuzhou. Among them, Yanzhou is the most serious."

Liu He's face darkened: "Humph, it is indeed the work of Cao Cao."

"I'm afraid there's more to it than that." Xun Yu shook his head and said, "With Cao Cao's ability, he couldn't have caused such a stir. There must be other people and families behind him who fanned the flames and helped Zhou to commit atrocities."

"Humph, a bunch of clowns, why should I be afraid of them?"

Liu He said disdainfully, then he looked at Xun Yu: "What are these rumors about?"

"This..." Xun Yu seemed a little hesitant.

"Wen Ruo, between you and me, what else do we have to worry about? Just speak freely."

With Liu He's words, Xun Yu finally spoke out boldly.

"Some say that Your Majesty values ​​merchants over scholars, that you listen to one side and believe one side, that you slander loyal ministers, that you appoint people based on personal connections and stay away from wise men. Others say that our army is now at its peak, that the soldiers are becoming more arrogant, that they bully men and women, that the generals have acquired a lot of land and houses, that they have countless beautiful women, that they revel every night, and that they no longer have the fighting spirit they once had."

"Nonsense!" Liu He shouted angrily.

"That's right." Xun Yu said, "They made up these rumors into a series of stories, such as a certain Sima in General Guan's army forcibly took a woman from a certain family in a certain place in a certain year and month. A certain military officer under General Gao robbed someone's good farmland. They made it sound very convincing."

Liu He waved his hand and said, "Order all places to strengthen patrols. Whenever such rumors are encountered, the spreaders should be arrested immediately."

"No." Xun Yu hurriedly stopped him.

"After these rumors spread, there were always some people who disappeared after talking about this matter on the streets. People in the streets were saying that it was your majesty who ordered people to arrest them and bring them to justice in order to silence the public."

After hearing this, Liu He remained silent for a long time, but his expression looked extremely ugly.

"Great, this is going to prove my guilt."

"Your Majesty is right." Qian Li stepped forward and said, "Now even in Bingzhou, people often talk about this matter. In their words, they are already wary and terrified of Your Majesty, the court, and our soldiers. As for other states and counties, it is even worse." Xun Yu frowned, "This is not the worst."

Liu He turned his head and looked at him: "Why, what kind of rumor is more hateful?"

"There is one rumor that has spread the most widely and caused the people the most panic. It has almost reached the point where everyone is terrified when talking about it and everyone sighs."

Seeing Xun Yu's description, Liu He couldn't help but sit up straight: "How can a mere rumor have such power?"

Xun Yu's face was serious, but not without worry: "It is rumored that Your Majesty has been fighting wars for years and the treasury is already empty. Now you want to expand the army, which can be said to be...it can be said to be excessive military spending. The treasury can hardly support it, so...so..."

Liu He took over for him: "So there are rumors that I intend to increase taxes?"

Xun Yu nodded: "Your Majesty is wise."

Liu He smiled coldly. Naturally, the collection of taxes was a concern of every common people. No common people would like to have taxes increased. In the minds of common people, these two words were a hundred times more terrifying than any poisonous snakes and ferocious beasts. That was why the saints taught that "harsh taxes are more ferocious than tigers."

"According to rumors, how do I plan to increase taxes?"

At this point, Qian Li stepped forward and replied: "Your Majesty, the current taxes levied by the court are mainly composed of land tax, shift tax, head tax, calculation tax, and customs duty."

"The land tax is calculated based on the output of the land. During the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling, the land tax gradually increased from 40% to 15% over the next few decades. In addition, local officials and wealthy families exploited the people wantonly and imposed various exorbitant taxes. Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have made great efforts to rectify the situation and have reduced the land tax twice. Now the land tax is 45%."

"The Gengfu was a compulsory labor service for men over 22 years old. If they refused to do it, they had to pay 300 coins each. However, in the past few decades, the Gengfu in various places has been raised to 1,000 to 2,000 coins. Now, after the court's rectification, the Gengfu has been unified to 150 coins."

"The head tax is the annual tax that people aged seven to fifteen need to pay. However, local governments have imposed heavy taxes, and gradually newborn babies have been included in the head tax. The tax has also been raised from 100 coins to more than 1,000 coins."

"Similarly, the tax was originally a tax that people between the ages of fifteen and fifty-six had to pay every year, but many people over sixty or even seventy were also subject to this tax, and the tax rate was greatly increased."

"Your Majesty has worked hard to govern the country over the past few years, reformed bad policies, cracked down on local tyrants, and lowered tax rates. This has been very effective, and the people are grateful. Therefore, wherever your Majesty's army goes, the people will drink their fill to welcome the royal army."

Liu He was very clear about what Qian Li said. He had to reduce taxes, reclaim wasteland, and prosper trade, so that the treasury revenue would increase instead of decrease, so that he could support such a large army.

Qian Li continued, "However, rumors are now saying that Your Majesty is going to raise the land tax to 15%, and some even say it will be 10%. At the same time, in order to expand the military, Your Majesty will also lower the age of corvée to 16, and raise the tax to 3,000 coins. The head tax, the tax on money, the customs duty, etc. will all be greatly increased, ranging from double, to three or five times, and some even say it will be increased by more than ten times."

"It's ridiculous. How can anyone believe such a groundless story?"

Liu He didn't know whether he should laugh at those who believed in the rumors or be angry at those who spread the rumors.

"I don't know how many people believe it, how many doubt it, and how many disdain it. However, in recent days, many people and clans have left the areas under your Majesty's jurisdiction and moved to Qing, Xu, Yu, Jing and other places. I don't know how many there are, and I'm afraid it's no less than hundreds of thousands of people."

Qian Li's words wiped out the last bit of disdain in Liu He's heart, and his expression became extremely serious.

"It's only been a short time, and yet so many people have been scared away?"

"That's right." Qian Li nodded and said, "Among them, most are local wealthy families. Your Majesty has suppressed these local families. Now, after hearing such rumors, those who have never served in the court but have assets in the local area are naturally frightened and eager to flee. If this rumor is allowed to continue to spread, I am afraid that within a year, the territory under the jurisdiction of the court will lose at least one million households and millions of people."

Xu Shu, who was standing by, was also a little surprised: "I didn't expect that just a few words and a few stories could have such power? Millions of people leaving would be very detrimental to the imperial court's taxation and conscription. If they went to the territories governed by Liu Yan, Cao Cao and others, it would be no different from aiding the enemy."

Liu He also felt a bit thorny. Since he came to govern the area, people from other places have always rushed to move in. This is the first time he has seen so many people moving from his jurisdiction to other places. The registered population of the various places under his jurisdiction is only more than 20 million. Millions of people left at once, which is a huge blow.

(End of this chapter)