When I returned to the palace, it was already the middle of the day.

in the main hall.

After the ministers sat down, Xiong Huai sat on the throne, looked at the ministers in the palace, and then swept over Jing Cui, the head of the ministers, and then swept over Zhao Ju and Qu Yuan, and then bowed slightly in the gaze of the three.

Then, Xiong Huai smiled, and then said: "Zhuqing, today's court discussion, the widow has three things to announce.

The first thing is that the Chu State was besieged by the Six Kingdoms before, and under the desperate service of the Zhuqing and the soldiers and the people, my Chu State was fortunate to be protected by the Black Emperor and fought hard for more than a year before successfully repelling the soldiers of the Six Kingdoms.

Therefore, the first thing the widow wants to say is reward. ”

Xiong Huai paused, and then under the gaze of the ministers, his eyes fell on Jing Cui, and he slowly spoke: "Ling Yin led the army to garrison Huaishui, and tried his best to ensure that my Huainan was safe. ”

As soon as the words fell, a waiter came to Jing Cui's side and presented a four-color stone.

At this time, when the ministers saw the appearance of the four-color stone, they suddenly let out a burst of exclamation in their hearts. The four-color stone given by the king of Chu is really extraordinary and beautiful.

What's more, this four-color stone is exactly the same as the five-color stone they saw from the King of Chu during their previous sacrifices, except for one color missing, everything else is the same.

At this time, Xiong Huai smiled in the exclamation of the ministers: "Ling Yin, since more than half a year ago, the widow obtained the five-color stone refining method, it took more than half a year, and it took huge manpower and material resources to obtain two five-color stones. And this four-color stone is the five-color stone that the great witches refined, and the five-color stone worn by the widow came out of the same furnace, only because of the lack of luck, so the achievement of the four virtues, the five virtues are dissatisfied.

However, the five-color stone is the artifact of the country and cannot be given to people, but the four-color stone is different, although it is not as good as the five-color stone, but it is also a rare thing. In the past six months, my Chu State has refined a total of two five-color stones, and similarly, these four-color stones have only been refined into six. Today, the widow gave one of these six pieces to Ling Yin, and hoped that Yin would be exempted. ”

When Jing Cui heard this, his face was excited, and he bowed his head and said, "Thank you, the king." ”

At this time, when the ministers saw the four-color stone in Jing Cui's hand, they immediately showed envy.

This four-color stone is so similar to the five-color stone, and it comes out of the same furnace, even if it is not as good as the five-color stone, I am afraid it is not ordinary.

Besides, can it be an ordinary thing that can be next to the artifact?

At this time, Xiong Huai nodded, and then turned his gaze to Zhao Ju.

Then, Zhao Ju, Gongsun Yan, and Qu Yuan, in the envy of the ministers, each got a four-color stone.

Then, Xiong Huai looked at the ministers, and saw that many of them had a look of expectation on their faces, and more ministers were disappointed.

Seeing this, Xiong Huai smiled and said: "Zhuqing, although the four-color stones are scarce, but the widow also got a lot of two-color stones and three-color stones. ”

The ministers were stunned when they heard this, some with joy on their faces, some with regret, and their expressions were different.

At this time, Xiong Huai coughed lightly twice, and said again: "The previous war was able to defeat all countries, but the whole country did it, so the widow not only wanted to reward the ministers, but also to reward the people of the whole country.

Therefore, the widow intends to exempt all the nobles from taxes for one year in the entire Chu State in the next year, regardless of whether they are high or low, so as to give the fathers and brothers in the country. In addition, because the land of northern Han was ravaged by Qin and Han, the widow decided to give him a tax for two years so that the people could cultivate. ”

When the ministers heard this, they were all overjoyed.

If the previous gift of stones was just another reward, then the tax exemption for one year is a real benefit for everyone.

Then, all the ministers bowed with joy and sincerity: "The king is merciful, and the ministers thank the king for his gift." ”

Xiong Huai nodded, and then said with a smile: "In addition, because the people were homeless due to the military disaster, they had to flee into the deep mountains and valleys to avoid the sword soldiers, or flee to other places. Now that the war is over, the people's homes have been destroyed, and it is difficult for them to return to their hometowns, so they have to become thieves.

The widow could not bear to displace the people, so the widow decided that for the next two years, it was strictly forbidden to catch thieves who were not in the household register in the land of Hanbei and the surrounding areas. In addition, the northern Han prefectures should also take the initiative to accept the displaced people and thieves in the territory, provide them with help, and settle in situ. ”

Before Xiong Huai's words fell, Yan Lingjun hurriedly got up and saluted: "The king is benevolent and righteous, cares for the people, and the ministers empathize. However, in addition to the people who had been uprooted by the war, the thieves everywhere were also extremely vicious and tyrannical. If they are not screened and all of them are resettled, isn't this just letting the villains get mixed in and corrupting the local atmosphere? ”

As soon as Yan Lingjun's voice fell, another minister chimed in: "Great King, what Yan Lingjun said is extremely true, not only is it inappropriate to place thieves without screening. Moreover, the two-year period was too long, and the minister thought that one month would be enough time for the people in exile to settle down. ”

"The king, the minister seconded the proposal, one month is enough..."

When the minister was discussing, Qu Yuan stood up and retorted loudly: "The princes are wrong in saying this, the people fled because they avoided the sword soldiers, lived in seclusion in the mountains, and it was difficult to transmit information, and they would only come out to inquire about the news for several months all year round. In January, how can we get the fleeing people out of the mountains? ”

As he spoke, Qu Yuan saluted and said: "Great King, according to the views of the ministers, if you want to win the trust of the people and make the people believe that the country is really resettled by the people, you must implement this law for a long time."

Otherwise, the time is too short, and when others get the news, the deadline for the decree has expired, which is undoubtedly a breach of trust to the people. ”

At this time, Xiong Huai watched the argument between Qu Yuan and Yan Lingjun, and his heart was clear about the purpose of the two.

Qu Yuan didn't need to say much, he had already reported it to him.

As for Yan Lingjun, and even many people who have the same intention as Yan Lingjun, they plan to make a big war windfall.

The so-called arrest of thieves is the capture of slaves, and slaves are cheaper than vassals. There are not a few people who fled because of the war this time, and these people may have already become prey in the eyes of the nobles and are the targets of their capture.

Perhaps, Yan Lingjun's feudal lord was near Yancheng, and he had previously followed Yin Jun to defend Yancheng before heading north to pursue the Qin army. Perhaps, after the Qin army retreated, his slave hunting team captured slaves in the deep mountains and valleys and even on the southward trail.

It is precisely because of the huge interests that the prohibition of the arrest of thieves will be resisted by them.

Thinking about it, Xiong Huai shook his head and sighed: "I can't protect the territory and the people, so that the enemy army will kill my heart, and the people will be forced to flee because the enemy army has killed, this is the dereliction of duty of the widow as the king of a country, how can the widow let the people suffer a heavy price for the mistake of the widow."

Moreover, the placement of fugitive thieves on the spot, this is the first time in hundreds of years in my Chu country, the people have not yet believed, if you want to win the trust of the people, so that the people can rest assured that they will come out of the seclusion and become the children of the widow again, it will take several years to work.

Therefore, there is no need to persuade Zhu Qing again, this time the widow has made up his mind, and it will be two years. ”