The Duke of Shu Han began guarding Jingzhou in place of Guan Yu.

Chapter 283 On Agriculture
It's still about farming.

Although Zhuge Liang's strategies included suggestions such as encouraging agriculture and sericulture and organizing fields, they were mostly general statements and lacked detail.

In contrast, Mi Wei's policy document included many specific governance measures.

Among these, what impressed Liu Shan the most was the description of the Sinicization of the Han people within the pass.

Mi Wei said that since the Jian'an period, Guanzhong had suffered several periods of chaos and destruction, and the people had not focused on farming, but instead went to learn herding from the Hu people.

There are various reasons for this.

The very first one.

Because of the constant warfare, the Cao Wei government was constantly conscripting people, making it impossible for the people to work in the fields with peace of mind.

Furthermore, due to the war conscription, Cao Wei officials, in order to cope with military needs, were often short-sighted and had no time to restore people's livelihoods.

This further exacerbated this trend.

In addition, there is the ever-present issue of taxation.

The land rents for military and civilian farms in Cao Wei were too high, and even in times of peace, people could barely make ends meet.

When natural disasters and man-made calamities strike, survival becomes extremely difficult, so the villagers abandon their fields and flee.

Of course, the Han army certainly contributed to this "man-made disaster".

If the war could be brought to a halt for three to five years, and Cao Pi could send a capable minister to manage agriculture and sericulture and alleviate local conflicts, this trend might be reversed.

But both sides in a war must do everything in their power to weaken the other.

Therefore, there is nothing to argue about on this issue.

The key point is that now it's Ji Han's turn to govern Guanzhong.

The mistakes that Cao Wei made should be corrected in time, and agriculture should be restored as soon as possible.

Miwei also offered three detailed suggestions.

First, he followed his experience in establishing civilian settlements in Nanyang and attracted displaced people back to the fields with a lower percentage of land rent.

Just after the One Year War, there was a lot of idle land in the interior.

Given the current military prestige of the imperial court, local resistance is negligible.

It is time to act swiftly and decisively, setting a precedent for the implementation of similar policies in other regions in the future.

Secondly, based on this, the household registration of soldiers and civilians within the pass should be re-examined in order to reduce the phenomenon of local powerful families privately recruiting displaced people.

Because Liu Bei had promised at Jianzhang Palace not to confiscate the people's farmland in order to appease the people of the Three Qin regions.

Therefore, these powerful clans in these areas certainly cannot be disturbed.

But not taking action does not mean not taking precautions.

In this regard, the officials of Shu Han had already accumulated a great deal of experience in outwitting and outmaneuvering local gentry in Shu, so there was no need for Mi Wei to say more.

Thirdly, there are specific measures for quickly restoring production.

For example, the government could recruit craftsmen to teach people how to make carts and plows.

Furthermore, it encourages herders to exchange livestock such as horses and sheep for oxen, thereby forcing them to return to the agricultural production model.

Of course, the actual implementation must be overseen by experienced agricultural officials.

Otherwise, no matter how good the idea is, it's all for nothing if the execution is wrong.

Mi Wei recommended his own governor Shi Tao and his chief clerk Deng Ai for this purpose.

However, Mi Wei also stated frankly that all of the above measures were based on the premise that the Han army could continue to achieve military victories and ensure that Guanzhong was not threatened by the Wei army.

Otherwise, if the prospect of war remains unchanged, all measures will only be treating the symptoms, not the root cause.

Upon seeing this, Liu Shan couldn't help but think of Chengdu, where he had lived for over ten years.

Due to its geographical isolation, Yizhou, especially Shu Commandery, was a relatively stable region after the chaos that ensued.

For example, the Qingyi Qiang and Wenshan Qiang people on the north and south sides of Chengdu.

After a century of royal rule, they are now not much different from the Han people.

Another example is the Di people of Wudu Commandery.

If we don't consider differences in accents and marriage customs, it's even difficult to tell whether their ancestors were Han or Di.

One of the most direct pieces of evidence is that most of the former "Thirteen Di Circuits" have now been abolished or reorganized into counties.

However, the Qiang roads have largely retained their original appearance because the nomadic customs of the Qiang people have not changed.

This is evidence of the Sinicization of the Hu and Yi peoples, contrary to the situation in Guanzhong.

"Stability, peace, order and chaos..."

Liu Shan muttered something under his breath, but no one could hear him except Dong Yun, who was standing to the side.

Even Dong Yun couldn't say what the young emperor was thinking or understanding at that moment.

Until Liu Shan suddenly looked up, his face filled with expectation:
"I observe that Mi Shi is virtuous and possesses the qualities of a national hero."

"After the Prime Minister passes away, perhaps someone can succeed him?"

Dong Yun wanted to say that if General Wei did not have the qualities of a prime minister, how could he have been valued by both the late emperor and the prime minister at the same time?

But then I thought, it's better for the emperor to observe these things himself rather than for him to say them.

In this way, when the day comes that the emperor needs to appoint a prime minister, he will not be misled by treacherous officials and will trust the people he appoints.

So he said:
"Your Majesty need not rush to conclusions; let us observe the consequences." Liu Shan thought for a moment and then said, "Excellent!"

……

Mid-autumn of the sixth year of Huangchu.

A carriage with a blue canopy and gold decorations is slowly driving from Mengjin towards Luoyang.

On the carriage.

Cao Rui, the Prince of Pingyuan, was in his early twenties. His eyes were deep and unfathomable, almost devoid of any emotion.

Only when the three horses pulling the carriage stopped did his eyes regain the liveliness befitting his age.

An old scholar wearing a ceremonial hat was waiting by the roadside.

Cao Rui hurriedly got out of the carriage, stepped forward to pay his respects, and said:

"Lord Zheng, how have you been?"

The old scholar was Zheng Cheng, a court attendant and also Cao Rui's tutor.

Zheng Chengzai carefully examined his disciple and was secretly pleased to see that his appearance was even better than when he was younger.

His expression became even more serious:
"Did the Prince of Pingyuan meet with any important figures on his journey to the capital?"

Cao Rui respectfully said:
"Upon receiving the imperial edict, Rui hurriedly boarded the imperial carriage, even sending word to his wife and children in his household. He received no guests along the way. It was only today that he unexpectedly met Zheng Gong on the road."

Zheng nodded and continued to ask:
"If the emperor asks about this later, how should we answer?"

Cao Rui was slightly taken aback, then said, "Answer truthfully."

Seeing Zheng Cheng stroke his beard and remain silent, Cao Rui added another sentence:
"To sit quietly by the roadside without bowing to one's master is against etiquette."

Zheng Cheng smiled.

Cao Rui's tense nerves relaxed as he walked.

But then, Zheng Cheng suddenly asked again:

"On the anniversary of her death last month, I wonder if the Prince of Pingyuan privately offered sacrifices to his late mother, Lady Zhen?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Rui's body suddenly stiffened.

He opened his mouth several times, but could only manage a weak "heh" sound from his throat.

But Zheng Cheng's smile gradually faded, and he finally took a deep breath and replied in a deep voice:
"My late mother was given death by His Majesty."

"To offer sacrifices to him is disloyal."

"Not offering sacrifices is unfilial."

"Therefore, Rui is worshipped in my heart."

"What a beautiful tribute to the heart!"

Zheng Cheng laughed heartily, finally revealing a satisfied expression.

He then waved and left.

But Cao Rui could no longer relax.

A moment later, the carriage entered Luoyang.

Multiple perimeter walls were set up inside and outside the city gate.

There were several times more soldiers patrolling the city walls than I remembered.

My mind was filled with more concerns.

Just then, two officials wearing blue sashes arrived together.

Cao Rui immediately recognized one of them as Sima Yi, and his face instantly lit up with surprise and delight as he bowed from afar.

The moment Sima Yi saw this "royal carriage with a blue canopy," he stopped and bowed in reverence.

But the carriage did not stop.

Sima Yi did not pursue them.

The two quickly passed each other.

"Sima Gong and the Prince of Pingyuan have quite a personal relationship, don't they?"

Hearing Xu Shu's subtly suggestive question, Sima Yi turned around and smiled:
“Of all the princes, the Prince of Pingyuan is the most virtuous and the eldest son of the legitimate wife, so of course he cannot be disrespectful.”

Although Sima Yi did not explicitly state it.

But the meaning of these words together—prince, eldest son, virtuous—is self-evident.

Xu Shu was not new to serving as an official in Luoyang.

Naturally, he knew that since the Prince of Pingyuan was promoted to a royal title three years ago and recognized Empress Guo as his mother, he had become a crown prince in name only.

Because his birth mother, Lady Zhen, had a grudge against the current emperor, he had to live in seclusion and was not well known to most people.

However, at this moment, Cao Rui suddenly entered the court.

Given Sima Yi's attitude, how could Xu Shu not have some thoughts?
sidewalk:

"Since returning to the capital, His Majesty has missed the first day of court for two months. I wonder if he will resume the ceremony this month?"

(End of this chapter)