Lu Bu looked at Lu Xian and smiled, "But you're different. When I put the country in your hands, you will govern a peaceful and prosperous world. There is no family rampant in the previous dynasty, and there is no enemy on the surface. You can't get a lot of money from them, and you can't fill the treasury. In this case, can you still insist on not collecting taxes? ”

"This..."

Lu Xian looked thoughtful.

Enter the inner hall.

Lu Bu sat down and said, "I just told you so much, can you understand?" ”

"Back to my father, my sons can understand."

Lu Xian arched his hand and replied: "It's just.... Erchen didn't understand. Without tax revenues, how can we support the treasury? ”

"Well, that's a good question. This is also a question that I have been thinking about for a long time. Lu Bu motioned for Lu Xian to sit down as well, and said, "My method is to replace taxes with commercial profits. ”

"In the next few years, I will set up a state-owned enterprise in every county to manufacture and sell paper, wine, furniture... Wait a minute. These are the necessities of the people. It is set up and operated by the government, and the money earned every year is equivalent to at least half of the tax revenue. There is also salt, which is government-run and is not allowed to be sold privately by any merchant. The income from salt can also offset half of the taxes. You just need to run a state-run enterprise and salt production. There will be no shortage of silver in the treasury. ”

"Oh yes, and tariffs. When the merchants pass through the checkpoint, they can collect taxes.... ”

Lu Bu said a lot, and I don't know if Lu Xian, who is only thirteen years old, understands.

"Alright, that's all for today. From tomorrow, you will go to the Zhongshu Province and help the officials of the Zhongshu Province to review the recitals. Come back in the evening and report back to me. Lu Bu got up and said.

"The retainers obey."

Lu Xian responded.

After turning around in the East Palace, Lu Bu left.

.........................

.........................

Time flies.

In the blink of an eye.

Two months later.

It's August, the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Lu Bu also summoned the civil and military officials of various prefectures and counties to Luoyang.

Night.

The bright moonlight hung in the sky, illuminating the palace transparently.

The guards set up a feast and waited for the feast to begin.

It didn't take long.

Civil and military personnel at all levels arrived at the scene.

"Yuan Zhi..." Chen Gong pulled Xu Shu and walked aside: "Regarding the exemption of taxes in the four cities of Luoyang, why did you reject it?" ”

"Gongtai, today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, let's enjoy the moon." Xu Shu didn't go back to Chen Palace, and left with his hands behind his back.

"You..."

Chen Gong chased after him: "No, I'm not at ease." You have to tell me now. ”

Xu Shu stopped, leaned into Chen Gong's ear and said, "Your Majesty let me refute it." ”

"What?" Chen Gong looked surprised, then shook his head and said, "I don't believe it." Your Majesty never collects taxes, so how can you dismiss the exemption from taxes? It must have been the idea of your Shangshu Province. ”

"If you don't believe me, ask Your Majesty."

Xu Shu was too lazy to take care of Chen Gong, walked to the front, and found a place to sit down.

"The emperor has arrived." One of the chamberlains shouted.

Lu Bu walked outside the Fengtian Palace, followed by Li Junxian, Li Yuanba, Diao Chan, and Lu Xian.

"Long live my emperor, long live, long live." The civil and military personnel present knelt down and bowed.

"Flat."

Lu Bu sat down on the dragon chair and said to the people on the side: "You guys also sit down." ”

"No..."

After everyone was seated, Lu Bu said: "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and I asked the imperial dining room to make moon cakes and share them with the people. Lu Bu instructed the guards on the side, "Put on the moon cakes." ”

"The emperor has a decree to put on moon cakes..." The guard shouted.

The palace maids came over with plates of mooncakes and put two plates on each table.

Xiao Hedao, who was closest to Lu Bu, said: "Dare to ask Your Majesty, what is the meaning of eating moon cakes in the Mid-Autumn Festival?" ”

(Note: The Mid-Autumn Festival began in the Tang Dynasty, and eating mooncakes began in the Ming Dynasty.) However, Lu Bu traveled to this era and brought the Mid-Autumn Festival and the custom of eating moon cakes with him. In the past, when there was no war, moon cakes were also eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival. ）

"The moral is there, but if I say it, it's not interesting. It is better to enjoy the moon, taste the moon cakes, and relieve yourself of the taste. Lu Bu smiled.

Lu Bu didn't say it, and Xiao He didn't ask.

"Please..."

Lu Bu picked up a piece of moon cake and took a bite, and motioned for everyone to taste it too.

...................

"Your Majesty summoned the generals from all over the country back to Luoyang, it won't be just to eat moon cakes, right?" Jia Xu on the right asked weakly.

"Of course not." Lu Bu raised his head, looked at the civil and military forces, and said, "After half a year of planning, I have listed the merits and demerits of all the soldiers and officials. It will be posted outside the shrine tomorrow. ”

"Summoning you back this time, in addition to eating the moon and eating moon cakes, you also have to accept a reward..."

Hearing the word reward, the officials became excited.

Some generals who have made great contributions can't wait.

Lu Bu smiled slightly: "After fighting for half a life, it's time to enjoy peace." It is also a time of glory for you. I will never break my word, and all generals and officials who have made military exploits, no matter what their status, will be rewarded. It will be announced tomorrow morning. ”

"Your Majesty..."

All the civil and military worshippers.

"You Aiqing don't have to be formal, please feel free to eat." Lu Bu waved his hand and said to Li Junxian on the side: "Go and call Mr. Gongtai over." ”

"No."

Li Junxian walked up to Chen Gong and whispered.

Chen Gong got up and followed Li Junxian to the stage to greet him: "Your Majesty..." ”

"The public station is free of courtesy." Lu Bu brought a coffee table and a stool, set up a table next to Lu Bu, and said, "You just sit down." I have something to say to you. ”

"Yes."

After Chen Gong sat down, Lu Bu smiled again: "No, I said something wrong just now, it should be that you have something to say to me." You say. ”

"Your Majesty knows about Luoyang's taxes?" Chen Gong had a bad premonition. Looking at Lu Bu's expression and style, it is really possible that Lu Bu signaled to Xu Shu and rejected the twists and turns of Zhongshu Province.

"The minister doesn't understand, the taxes of the four city gates of Luoyang's east, south, west, and north are not much every year. Your Majesty has always loved the people like a son, so why not get rid of them all? Chen Gong said.

"Not avoided." Lu Bu shook his head.

"That minister dares to ask His Majesty to solve his doubts."

"It's actually quite simple..." Lu Bu beckoned into the distance. Lu Xian saw Lu Bu gesturing at him, walked over quickly, and arched his hand: "Father." ”

"Xian'er. Mr. Gongtai said that Luoyang would be exempted from forty percent of the tax, but I did not agree. Do you know why I don't agree? Lu Bu asked.

"Erchen knows." Lu Xian said: "Luoyang is the capital of the emperor, and the caravans coming and going are endless. In the future, Luoyang's population will increase, and more businessmen will come. Therefore, the tax revenue of the four cities of Luoyang is not a small amount, it can greatly enrich the national treasury. It just makes up for the loophole that the state does not collect taxes from the people. ”