The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 720 Working together
The next day, Lu Kang formally came to pay a visit to the emperor.

This news quickly spread everywhere, and everyone knew that Lu Kang had surrendered.

Lu Kang also officially became a regular attendant of Cao Mao, following Cao Mao and giving him advice.

However, before the ministers could react, another distinguished guest arrived in Luoyang.

Yes, Goguryeo King Go Ranbo finally came to Luoyang after traveling thousands of miles.

There was another guest in Cao Mao's VIP area.

Gao Ranfu is not too old, not even forty years old.

His situation was much better than Tuoba Liwei's. Gao Ranfu was already very satisfied that he could escape from Guanqiu Jian alive and come to Luoyang.

He initially thought that Guanqiu Jian was going to torture and kill him.

Cao Mao naturally had to convene a court meeting. It would be impossible not to hold a court meeting when a new member joined.

However, because of the lesson from the last meeting with Tuoba Liwei, the ministers no longer dared to underestimate such court meetings.

The last time the emperor met new guests, he almost scared them to death.

So, when Gao Ranfu came into the hall, what he saw was a group of ministers with their heads lowered and solemn expressions.

This made him very uneasy.

Cao Mao's distinguished guests sat on his left side, which was no different from the past, except that the position of Desert Khan was replaced by his father.

Liu Chan looked at his new friend and shook his head secretly.

This emperor is really warmongering. He kills one person every year.

If this continues, it will be a question whether there will be enough seats for them.

Gao Ranfu took a few steps and then kowtowed deeply in the direction of Cao Mao.

"Your Majesty, the guilty minister Gao Ranfu, pays homage to His Majesty!"

His voice is very loud.

It can be said that among all the distinguished guests, he was the most respectful when facing Cao Mao.

Cao Mao immediately laughed and asked, "I have never conferred an honor upon you, so how can you be considered my subject?"

Gao Ranfu quickly replied, "Your Majesty is the common ruler of the world. Although I am outside the Great Wall, I dare not be ignorant of your grace and power!"

Cao Mao looked at the ministers around him and said, "I've heard a lot about the impoliteness of the small nation of Goguryeo, how it allied itself with the Later Han but then attacked its counties, and how it allied itself with the Great Wei but then broke its alliance and attacked them. Now it seems that these rumors may not be true."

Hearing this, Zhong Hui stood up, bowed to Cao Mao, and then looked at Gao Ranfu. He said disdainfully, "When Goguryeo was weak, it paid tribute to the Later Han and became its vassal. When the Later Han weakened, it immediately turned against us and plundered us. Now that the Wei is strong, it has become its vassal again. Who can predict what it will do in the future?"

"Your Majesty, you can execute this man first, then kill the rest of the Goguryeo people, raze their cities to the ground, and leave no grass growing on their land."

Hearing this, Gao Ranfu's face turned pale and he was about to collapse.

The ministers glanced at Zhong Hui a few times and immediately understood what he was thinking.

A minister immediately expressed support.

Cao Mao shook his head. "Since they have already surrendered, how can we treat them like this?"

"If they really do not repent and continue to revolt as Mr. Zhong said, then we can proceed according to Mr. Zhong's suggestion."

Gao Ranfu hurriedly bowed again.

"Your Majesty, I will serve you wholeheartedly and will never make another big mistake!"

Cao Mao smiled and appointed him as Marquis of Shouyi, and then let him sit among the prisoners.

Cao Mao looked at his ministers and suddenly spoke, "The world is now at peace, and the four corners of the country are paying tribute. This is a blessing for the world. However, Deng Ai, the governor of Bashu, has reported that the Shu nobles are refusing to implement the land reward order, concealing their household registration, bribing officials, and slandering the court!"

Cao Mao suddenly looked at Liu Chan.

Liu Chan just felt horrified.

Just when he was about to say something, Cao Mao looked at his ministers again.

"I have been very lenient towards Shu! The policies I have implemented cannot be said to be unkind!"

After Cao Mao conquered Shu, he implemented a tax exemption policy for six years, which has not expired yet!

In history, Sima Zhao implemented a tax-free policy in Shu for twenty years.

But it's no use!

What Bashu needs is not tax exemption, what they need is relief.

The arable land and farming materials are all in the hands of the big families, so this tax exemption is basically for the big families. Are ordinary people starving because of taxes?

He has no arable land and no living environment.

Cao Mao was considered quite benevolent. He moved all the former high-ranking officials of Shu Kingdom to Sili and other areas, leaving only a few elderly people there, who have now passed away.

He promoted many local talents, used Shu to govern Shu, and used Wei people to supervise.

At the same time, he distributed the spoils to the local people and transported a lot of production tools to Shu. Relief and tax exemption went hand in hand, which improved the local situation.

He was unwilling to do what Sima Zhao did, who exempted the local wealthy families from taxes for twenty years at a time, and ended up feeding them.

In fact, the land reward order posed no threat to the big families in Shu.

Because they are still tax-exempt now and do not need to pay taxes to the temple. Moreover, most of these people were former ministers of Shu Kingdom, and there are not many of them serving as officials in Wei Kingdom now. As long as they do not have an official position, no matter how big their family is, they have to pay taxes.

They did not have corresponding privileges unless they became officials later.

When Cao Mao said this, all the ministers were shocked.

Sure enough, he still came.

They've figured out the trick now. To capture an external king, they need to capture a group of people on the inside.

This time it is the turn of the Shu people.

When Cao Mao forcibly relocated the prominent families in Wu, the people of Wei did not react much.

After all, they are not our own people, but outsiders. Moreover, they have lost their official titles, so they are no different from ordinary people. They can just migrate if they are told to. What else can be done?
This time we are going to target the Shu people.

For some reason, many people felt a little scared.

Will the Wei people be the next one to be targeted?

Several ministers from Shu all looked worried at this moment.

Cao Mao spoke again, "I originally thought that exempting the people of Shu from taxes would be enough to make them prosperous and grateful to the Wei Kingdom."

"But although the situation in Shu has improved over the years, the results are not significant."

"The officials I sent said that the local people's hearts have not yet returned to Wei!"

Hearing this, Liu Chan became even more frightened.

This emperor has become more and more terrifying since the unification. When I first came, he was a very friendly person and always had a smile on his face.

But now, he always has a stern face and looks ferocious, which is very scary.

He has been talking about Shu many times now. Is he going to attack me?
Liu Chan's face changed drastically when he remembered what his ministers had said.

When he surrendered, a minister told him that Cao Wei treated him well because Eastern Wu had not yet surrendered. After Eastern Wu surrendered, the situation would probably be different.

Just when Liu Chan was lost in thought, Cao Mao spoke.

"I now realize that what the people of Shu need is not tax exemption or relief!"

"Food and tools are sent from Yongzhou to Bashu every year! But what's the use of it?!"

"The farmland had just been distributed to the people, and before the tax exemption period was over, it was already snatched away by those powerful families!!"

"Whose hands are these tools, grain, and oxen sent by the imperial court?!"

"And all those water conservancy projects, built year after year, but whose grain is produced?!"

"After I pacified Shu, I implemented many benevolent policies there, but they haven't yielded any results. It's all because of these corrupt officials!"

"If we don't get rid of the pests, how can we govern Bashu?!"

Cao Mao's voice was very loud, and every word he spoke was full of power.

All the ministers lowered their heads.

In fact, Cao Mao did not fabricate these things in order to rectify Bashu. It was indeed the case.

Rebellions broke out in Wu every day. This was because many of Cao Mao's policies had greatly damaged the interests of the local powerful families, forcing them to rise up in arms and fight against Cao Wei even at the risk of having their clans exterminated.

The land of Shu is very peaceful, which is obviously because the wealthy families here live a comfortable life.

They were indeed well-off, tax-free, and the Wei Dynasty also gave them various resources. The farmland originally owned by the big families was also gradually taken back by them.

Even if they lost the protection of their original official titles, their financial resources and power were still unstoppable by ordinary people.

They can still bully others in the local area.

Cao Mao said seriously, "I want to govern Shu. I will hand this matter over to Deng Ai to carry out. As for you all, please take this as a warning!"

"You can't just care about your own personal interests. You must care about the country and the people. Assisting them wholeheartedly and not violating the law will bring you happiness. However, if anyone dares to imitate the great families of Shu and Wu, don't blame me for being ruthless!!!"

Cao Mao reminded these people again.

The meeting ended.

The ministers walked out of here in a depressed mood, with worried looks on their faces.

The road ahead seems to be getting more and more difficult.

Zhang Hua looked at the people around him, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes.

The fact that they behaved like this only proved that in their eyes, family was more important than the country.

The interests of the clan are often opposite to the interests of the country. There is nothing wrong with wanting to live a good life with your family, but this cannot be based on persecuting others, madly confiscating arable land, exploiting the people, bullying the villagers, and exacerbating conflicts in the country in order to keep the family together.

This has reached the point where he deserves to be killed.

"Moxian."

Suddenly someone called out to him.

Zhang Hua turned around and was surprised to find that the person who called him was the new imperial guard Lu Kang.

Zhang Hua hurriedly bowed to him.

Lu Kang walked over to him with a smile and looked at the ministers around him. "These ministers are still a little indifferent to me. No one wants to talk to me."

Zhang Hua explained, "It's normal for the two countries to be at war for a long time. After a while, things will definitely stop like this."

Lu Kang nodded and pulled Zhang Hua out.

"I heard from His Majesty that you are the best at handling important matters of state, and that you have even been to Shu. I would like to learn more about the situation there."

Zhang Hua naturally didn't dare to refuse and quickly said yes.

The two walked in front with smiles on their faces.

Zhong Hui stood not far away, looking at the two men with his eyes narrowed.

Working together! !
(End of this chapter)