Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

"I finally got Sikong. Come in quickly."

In Linqiu City, the provincial capital of East County, Yanzhou, Sun Zi, the governor, had been waiting outside the government gate for a long time. As a carriage slowly drove over and stopped, Sun Zi smiled and came to the side of the carriage to greet the people who got off.

"Brother Yanlong, what kind of banquet are you holding in your mansion today?" Sima Yi asked with a smile as he got off the carriage.

"Of course it's a farewell banquet." Sun Zi pointed his hand inside and said, "Hurry, it's a cold night with heavy frost. The wine in the house has been warmed up and the dishes have been prepared. We are just waiting for Sikong to come before we can start the banquet."

"Thank you, Brother Yanlong, for coming to greet you personally. Please come in." Sima Yi nodded.

The two of them walked side by side into the main hall of the mansion. Not only were there servants standing by the table, but there were also ten musicians sitting in order on the side of the hall. After receiving Sun Zi's gesture, they started playing music at the same time.

Sima Yi took a quick glance and shook his head slightly: "Brother Yanlong, please don't be funny while we are talking. Let them all go back."

"Well, then, let's do as Sikong says." Sun Zi did not insist. He waved his hand, and the musicians understood and left one after another. The servants also followed suit and brought in wine and food.

For Sima Yi and Sun Zi, who were the Sikong and the Inspector, whether the banquet was wasteful or not, whether there was music and dance, and whether there was a show or not were all trivial matters that were not worth mentioning. They could come and go as they pleased. The only things they needed to care about were political achievements and the emperor's favor.

"Come, I toast to the Minister of Works." Sun Zi raised his wine jar and said, "Tomorrow I will set off to return to Luoyang. The journey is long and the weather is cold. I hope everything goes well for me."

"Good, good." Sima Yi also drank the wine. After putting down the wine bottle, he said with a little emotion: "When I first arrived in Yanzhou from Xuchang, I thought it would only take a month to go back and forth. But after dealing with so many matters, it took two full months. Fortunately, I have lived up to your majesty's trust, and with the help of Brother Yanlong, the military farming affairs of Yanzhou have been divided up without any omissions."

Sun Zi said with some emotion: "I have been in Yanzhou for more than two years. I have been away from the court for a long time, and I have gradually become unfamiliar with the affairs of the court."

"To be honest, when I first received your Majesty's letter and heard that you were going to stop the military farming in Yanzhou, I was really surprised and even wrote a letter to your Majesty to express my confusion. It was not until the Minister of Works came to Yanzhou from Xuchang that I understood the determination of your Majesty and the officials in the court."

"The military farming system has existed for nearly forty years. It is easy to preserve it, but it is extremely difficult to change it." Sima Yi seemed to be thinking about something. "Brother Yanlong, in the four and a half years since your majesty ascended the throne, the entire Wei Dynasty, from the court to the prefectures and counties, to the various armies and border troops, has been completely renewed. Over the past four years, I have gradually come to understand. Your majesty is truly gifted with wisdom and judgment, as if he were gifted by God. All internal and external affairs have been gradually implemented, and all have been effective."

"Yes." Sun Zi interjected, "At least the elimination of military farms was impossible during the Huangchu period."

"It's not that we don't want to do it, but that we can't." Sima Yi said, "The military farming is actually to collect more taxes from the people and then control them over the land. It is a good policy in troubled times, but in peaceful times, the disadvantages are revealed. During the Huangchu period, the border troubles were not settled. There were Hu people in the north and Gongsun in Liaodong. This was the situation that Hebei faced. In addition, the previous emperor attacked Wu three times and died in his prime, so he had no time to consider the military farming."

"And the military farms." Sima Yi filled his glass again, and drank with Sun Zi. After taking a long sip, he continued, "The military farms are related to food and the people. If the border troubles are not settled, there is nothing we can do. Didn't the news from Luoyang come in yesterday?"

"Wei Gongzhen stopped Zhuge Liang on the old road. He is in a desperate situation and will retreat sooner or later. This year, I followed Your Majesty to personally patrol the border and pacify Liaodong to build Yingzhou. Although there were many disasters this year, Xu Yuanzhi forced Sun Quan to retreat in Jingzhou, and Chen Situ and Jiang Zitong built cities in Ruxu and Dongxing, pushing the border around Hefei to the river. In short, Wu and Shu are no longer able to disrupt the overall situation of Wei."

"Sikong, you said it well." Sun Zi raised the wine jar and pointed it slightly towards the west in the direction of Luoyang: "Long live the emperor!"

"Long live the emperor!" Sima Yi and Sun Zi drank it all together.

After taking a few bites of the dishes, Sun Zi put down his chopsticks and sighed again: "Speaking of military farming, I really admire your majesty and the prime minister's decision to first reduce rent and taxes and then enrich the people's livelihood."

Sima Yi just smiled slightly.

Sun Zi said, "According to the military farming strategy originally set by Emperor Wu, the grain obtained from military farming was 50% for officials and 50% for civilians if one had private cattle, and 60% for officials and 40% for civilians if one had no cattle. This was considered a good policy at the time. I am a little older than the Minister of Works. I lost my parents when I was three years old and was raised by my brother and his wife. I have been well-informed and have a good memory since I was young, so I still have a lot of impressions of civilian affairs."

"Speaking of taxes for the people, it is actually the sum of land tax, head tax, calculation tax, tribute, etc. Children aged seven to fourteen have a head tax of 23 coins per year. After the age of fifteen, they have to pay calculation tax, 120 coins per person per year, and 63 coins of tribute are also required. Emperor Huan began to tax one tenth of the land, and 10 coins were added for each mu of land. When Emperor Ling renovated the palace in Luoyang, he increased the tax by another 10 coins per mu. The head tax has to be collected from the age of one."

"According to this calculation, the total tax burden of ordinary farmers would be 50% to 60%, and they would also often be exploited by officials."

"More than 50% or 60%? Brother Yanlong is underestimating." Sima Yi also snorted: "After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the tax was collected more than once a year. There were chaos and fighting in many places in Hebei and Henan, and taxes were collected everywhere. In some places, the tax was collected more than ten times a year!"

"Who would still farm in this world? Brother Yanlong, if it were you, would you be able to farm?"

"Me?" Sun Zi chuckled. "I don't want to farm. Wouldn't it be better if I could just serve the Emperor as an official? At worst, I can just become a farmer and farm!"

"Hahaha." Sima Yi laughed a few times. "So the 50% or 60% tax collection at that time, based only on land, was already a good policy among good policies. Ten days ago, Your Majesty and the Secretariat approved the petition jointly submitted by you and me in Xuchang, and also determined the new tax. It's time for our names to be recorded in books and silk."

"Who says it's not true?" Sun Zi stroked his beard and said, "What a great reputation, Huang Gongheng has earned all of it in Yuzhou before. A few years ago, when Yuzhou reduced rent and taxes, the households using private cattle for farming changed the official rate of 5% to the civilian rate of 4% and the civilian rate of 6% to the official rate of 5% and the civilian rate of 6% for the households using government cattle for farming, and both were reduced by 10%."

"Now, according to the new land tax in Yanzhou approved by the court, the head tax is reduced from 23 coins to 20 coins, the tax remains at 120 coins, the tribute is reduced from 63 coins to 60 coins, and the land rent is reduced from 20 coins per mu to 10 coins per mu." Sun Zi drank another sip with Sima Yi and said with a smile: "According to this calculation, the tax for ordinary people who farm is only about 35%."

Sima Yi said: "The people's head tax and tax are calculated based on the number of people, while the land tax and rent are calculated based on the land and the harvest. People with less land have to pay higher taxes."

"Your Majesty, didn't you say that in your reply? Nowadays, the people have little money, and the rent and taxes are all collected in the form of grain and grass, with a fixed rate of thirty coins per stone. If the tax ratio is higher than 35%, it will still be collected at 35%." Sun Zi nodded: "The Holy Lord is above, which is a blessing for the people."

"Come, Sikong, please drink this cup." Sun Zi began to toast again: "I haven't seen Sikong for nearly three years since I came to Yanzhou from Luoyang. I don't know when I will see him again after this separation tomorrow."

Sima Yi drank another cup with Sun Zi and sighed, "Time is merciless. Brother Yanlong, look at my hair. I am only fifty years old, but I have been busy with state affairs for the past two years. I have even grown a few strands of white hair on my forehead."

"When I followed Emperor Wu to Hanzhong during the Jian'an period, I never felt so tired. This year, I feel extremely exhausted. It's not like the previous years."

Sun Zi sighed and said, "Even if you have a body made of iron, how can you withstand such fatigue? Sikong has had a very hard time this year. He first accompanied Your Majesty to patrol the borders of You and Bing, then conquered Liaodong, and then rode back to Luoyang and Yecheng to preside over the funeral of Empress Wuxuan, and then went to Xuchang and Yanzhou."

"After all his hard work, if the court does not give Sikong an extra reward, even I would feel that it is unfair to him."

"Really?" Sima Yi smiled and said, "I remember that Brother Yanlong was born in the same year as Jia Liangdao?"

"That's right." Sun Zi nodded.

Sima Yi said, "Jia Liangdao has been guarding Wankou for the past two years and has done his job well. But I heard that he was not in good health and seemed to want to return to the court to serve. At that time, his letter had just arrived in Xuchang, and it happened that His Majesty ordered Chen Situ to build a city in Yangzhou. Something happened in the southeast, so this matter was also delayed."

Sun Zi asked, "Since the southeast is now peaceful, then there should be some clues about Jia Liangdao's return to the court?"

"Maybe." Sima Yi had an indecisive expression: "Who can say for sure?"

Sun Zi said: "Your Majesty is kind-hearted..."

"Your Majesty is kindhearted, but there is no place for him in the court." Sima Yi sneered: "Now the positions of the Nine Ministers and the Shangshu are all full, there is no position in the Privy Council, and he is not qualified for the cabinet."

"What about the Minister?" Sun Zi suddenly asked.

"Shizhong..." Sima Yi was at a loss for words for a moment: "We do have a shortage of Shizhong, but Xu Yuanzhi is almost back from Xiangyang soon, so it's hard to say if we have one less person."

"Probably not." Sima Yi shook his head to himself: "Jia Kui is a bit old, he won't be able to fill the vacancy of the Minister of the Court."

"Let's not talk about him for now." Sima Yi looked at Sun Zi and said, "Brother Yanlong, are you telling me this? Are you thinking about returning to the court to serve as an official?"

Sun Zi lowered his head slightly and said, "If you say that you don't want to return to the court, that's a lie. It's just that I lost your Majesty's favor before, and I don't know if I can go back."

"It's good to be the governor of Yanzhou, but it's not like being an official in Luoyang. If I can get a position as one of the nine ministers, it will be enough to comfort me for the rest of my life!"

"Nine Ministers?" Sima Yi said with a smile, "With Brother Yanlong's talent, a mere Nine Ministers may not be incapable. In my opinion, this time when Brother Yanlong is in charge of the military farming in Yanzhou, it is your time to make a comeback. The fourth year of Taihe is about to end, and next year will be another year of recuperation. If you really want to change it, it will have to be the year after next or even a year later."

"If there is any news, I will write a letter and send it to Yanzhou."

"Sikong is kind and righteous." Sun Zi immediately stood up from the table and bowed: "If I am favored by the emperor again, I will thank Sikong for his kindness!"

Sima Yi stared at Sun Zi seriously for a few moments, then walked up to him and helped him up, saying with a smile: "Brother Yanlong, Brother Yanlong, you are a little older than me, and I always treat you as my brother. Why are you so distant with me? Just call me Zhongda!"

"Where are your eldest son Sun Hong and your second son Sun Mi working now?"

Sun Zi straightened up and responded, "Sun Hong is now the mayor of Mouping in Donglai County, Qingzhou. Sun Mi was implicated in the Fuhua case two years ago. He is now studying at home in Hedong and has not yet entered the government."

"The head of Mouping..." Sima Yi paused for a few moments before saying, "Muping is on the shore of the Bohai Sea, a remote and poor place, and it is not possible to achieve any political achievements. I will transfer him back to Luoyang to be a Lang, and then to Qinzhou to be a Shangjiyuan under Chen Jibi. Sun Mi can go directly to Yangzhou to be a state official."

"I really don't know how to thank Zhongda." Sun Zi said with a hint of emotion: "Come on, Zhongda, drink more today, and don't leave until you are drunk!"

"Okay." Sima Yi smiled and said, "Then I will sacrifice my life to accompany Brother Yanlong today."

Sima Yi assigned two positions to Sun Zi, one as a provincial accountant and the other as an ordinary provincial official, both of which were good starting points for the official careers of children of scholars.

For ordinary scholars, this arrangement might make them grateful, but for Sun Zi, who was the governor of a state, a mere state official was nothing, and it was more like an attitude of letting things take their course.

Chen Jiao from Qinzhou, Jiang Ji from Yangzhou? Sun Zi thought to himself, and drank more and more. (End of this chapter)