At the mention of increasing taxes, the ministers in the hall were all shocked, and they all peeked at Liu Xiu.

In the past, some ministers advocated increasing taxes, but every time they mentioned this matter, it always provoked the anger of the Son of Heaven.

This time, Liu Xiu was not angry, he looked at Han Hao expressionlessly, and he didn't say a word for a long time.

Han Hao was stared at by Liu Xiu, subconsciously knelt on his knees, kowtowed forward, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, with the current taxes, it is difficult to maintain the campaign against the enemy, and it is even more difficult to maintain the disaster that may occur in the whole country at any time, I hope Your Majesty will think twice!" ”

Taizhong Doctor Yan Yang came out of the queue and bowed his hand to Liu Xiu and said: "Your Majesty, Doctor Han is reasonable, and Weichen thinks that with the current situation, it is imperative to increase taxes!" ”

Yan Yang was originally just a county magistrate, and he was promoted only after being recommended by Hou Ba, but Liu Xiu did not have a good impression of Yan Yang.

In many political opinions, Yan Yang disagreed with him.

Before Liu Xiu could reply, Zheng Xing, who was also a doctor in Taizhong, lifted the wat board and said, "Your Majesty!" ”

Liu Xiu turned his eyes, looked at Zheng Xing, raised his hand, and said, "Doctor Zheng, please have something to say!" ”

Zheng Xing is an old minister of Kui Huan, and later took refuge in Liu Xiu's side, although he served as a doctor in Taizhong, but he usually did not express his opinions in the court, this time it was rare for Zheng Xing to speak, Liu Xiu still attached great importance to it.

He took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty, Weichen thinks that increasing taxes is like drinking water to quench thirst, and this move is not allowed!" ”

Han Hao and Yan Yang frowned in unison, and Yan Yang said: "Doctor Zheng's words are wrong, with the current taxes, the imperial court wants money and no food, and the war against the enemy is the most expensive and food-consuming, if the tax is not increased, where will the money and grain of the imperial court come from?" ”

Since Liu Xiu ascended the throne, he has always admired the Western Han system, and in the sixth year of Jianwu, that is, in the 30th year of AD, Liu Xiu implemented the policy of 30 taxes and one tax.

In other words, one-thirtieth of the peasants' annual harvest is used to pay taxes, and such a tax rate, even in the prosperous times, is the lowest, not to mention that it is still a troubled time.

said that Liu Xiu is a good emperor, not a casual definition made by anyone who has a hot head and pats his head.

When Liu Xiu founded the Eastern Han Dynasty, the population of the whole country was two out of ten, and only two of the original ten people survived.

The chaos in the world and the turmoil in society have really reached the point where the people are struggling to make a living and corpses are everywhere.

However, in the late period of Liu Xiu's reign, the country's population increased by more than 20 million, more than double the country's population when Liu Xiu had just established the Eastern Han Dynasty.

What kind of emperor can govern the country like this?

What kind of person can take over such a big mess and make a qualitative change in the country in a few decades?

A very important factor in the resurgence of the Han dynasty in Liu Xiu's hands was that Liu Xiu's long-term implementation of low taxes turned the lives of the people upside down.

Zheng Xing said: "Your Majesty implements thirty taxes and one, the court is poor, but the people are rich!" ”

Speaking of this, Zheng Xing became excited, his eyes were wet and red, and he said in a choked voice: "Since the reckless thief usurped the Han Dynasty, the life of the people has been too hard, the tyranny of the imperial court, the rebellion of the rebels, the people of various states, where is there still a way to live?"

"Your Majesty's restoration of the Han Dynasty and the ascension to the top of the Ninth Five-Year Plan are the blessings of the Han Dynasty, and it is also the blessing of the people of the world, and it is precisely because of Your Majesty that the people can live and work in peace and contentment.

"But the people have just lived a good life for a few years, and the imperial court is going to increase taxes, which is to displace the people of the world again, and make the people of the world miserable again!" Until now, the rebel army in various states has not been completely quelled, and from time to time it is still making waves, if the imperial court increases taxes, the rebel army will definitely take the opportunity to bewitch the people everywhere, which is shaking the foundation of the Han family! ”

Speaking of this, Zheng Xing kowtowed to Liu Xiu and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, you must not add taxes!" ”

Zheng Xing is getting old, and when it comes to emotion, the old tears are rampant, and anyone who sees it can't help but be moved.

Han Hao sighed secretly, he advocated increasing taxes, but he didn't know the suffering of the people in the world, and he didn't know the consequences of increasing taxes, but now there is no way, the court wants money or not, food or not, how to fight the war?

How will the affected people be resettled?

Yan Yang was dissatisfied in his heart, glanced at Zheng Xing coldly, and asked, "Doctor Zheng keeps saying that he can't increase taxes, so maybe Doctor Zheng will take out hundreds of thousands of stone grain to help the disaster now?" ”

Zheng Xing's body was shocked, he kowtowed to Liu Xiu, choked and said, "Your Majesty, Weichen is incompetent!" But Wechen knows that he can't increase taxes! ”

Liu Xiu stood up, stepped down from the throne, came to Zheng Xing's approach, stretched out his hand to help, and said, "Doctor Zheng, please get up quickly!" ”

When Zheng Xing got up, he burst into tears, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty......" Liu Xiu is not from a noble background, before the incident, he did not live a prosperous life, on the contrary, he is an out-and-out farmer, the reason why he did not starve is only because he has a good grasp of agricultural technology, good land planting, and good harvest.

He is well aware of the suffering of the people over the years, and he has come this way.

He looked around at the ministers present and said: "The reckless thief usurped the Han for fifteen years, Liu Xuan reigned for three years, and my Han family was a thief for eight years.

The taxes of the imperial court are as numerous as cattle hair, the thieves are running around, burning, killing and looting, the Han dynasty is full of holes, and all kinds of waste are waiting to be revived.

The water will carry the boat, and the water will capsize the boat! Wang Mang made the people unable to live, the green forest, the red eyebrows extinguished, the green forest made the people unable to live, the red eyebrows were extinguished, the red eyebrows made the people unable to live, I Liu Xiu extinguished, now, if I Liu Xiu let the people not live, who will destroy them? ”

Yan Yang's body trembled, and he hurriedly kowtowed, and said, "Your Majesty, Weichen...... Weichen ......" Liu Xiu ignored Yan Yang, he paced back and forth in the main hall, and said: "Doctor Zheng's words, I deeply believe that even if the imperial court smashes pots and sells iron, it can't increase taxes!" ”

The imperial court was unable to provide disaster relief, and it was the hundreds of thousands of Hongnong people who were affected by the disaster that made trouble, but once the imperial court increased taxes, it would be the people from all over the country who made trouble.

Whether to let the people of a county make trouble or let the people of a country make trouble, the pros and cons can be easily distinguished.

There was silence in the main hall.

Speaking of which, but the fundamental problem has not been solved, what about the Daijun battlefield where Wu Han is located?

What about the people affected by the disaster in Hongnong?

Li Tong suddenly stepped out of the column and said loudly: "Your Majesty Shengming! ”

People looked at Li Tong strangely, now is not the time for you, the great commoner, to flatter the Son of Heaven! Wang Yuan hurriedly stepped out of the queue and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, Da Sikong privately called relief grain, resulting in the imperial court's inability to provide disaster relief, this is all the fault of Da Sikong, and I hope Your Majesty will severely punish Da Sikong's mistakes!" ”

In fact, Wang Yuan is not trying to harm Li Tong, but now that the imperial court is unable to provide disaster relief, someone must stand up and suffer on behalf of the Son of Heaven, and there is no one more suitable than Li Tong.

Da Sikong is the top boss of Zongzheng, Shaofu, and Sinong, and in this area of food, Da Sikong is the supreme supervisor, and now that there is a problem with food, he has not received it on behalf of the Son of Heaven, who has received it on behalf of the Son of Heaven?

Liu Xiu frowned and said, "At the beginning, Da Si Air ordered emergency food, and I also agreed, how can I put all the responsibility on Da Sikong alone?" ”

Wang Yuan frowned and said: "Your Majesty's responsibility is far less than the responsibility of the Great Sikong, please also ask Your Majesty to be strict with the law!" ”

Liu Xiu's lungs were about to explode, but Wang Yuan made him angry, which was not the same as Yan Yang.

Yan Yang is short-sighted, selfish, and only knows how to stare at the interests in front of him, without long-term consideration, while Wang Yuan is brainless and does not know how to be flexible, even if he is angry, it makes people unable to vent it, and it makes people feel uncomfortable.

Liu Xiu said: "I will issue an edict for my own crimes, and all the faults will be borne by me alone!" ”

Hearing this, Wang Yuan immediately knelt on his knees, and the ministers present also knelt on the ground.

The only one at the scene who did not kneel was Li Tong.

Deng Yu glanced at Li Tong again and again, even if Your Majesty protects you, you can't do this, it's too much! Of course, Li Tong saw Deng Yu's floating eyes, and he also smiled at Deng Yu.

The latter was so angry that he grinded the posterior molars.

Li Tong arched his hand to Liu Xiu and said, "Your Majesty! ”

Liu Xiu turned around, looked at Li Tong inexplicably, and signaled with his eyes, what do you want to say?

Don't rush to confess with me! I am the Son of Heaven, I have made mistakes, and the issuance of a guilty edict will be over, if you want to bear the fault of this time, dismissal is the lightest punishment.

Li Tong nodded slightly to Liu Xiu, and his eyes were also very firm.

Liu Xiu frowned, pondered for a moment, and waved his hand and said, "Speak!" ”

"Your Majesty, Weichen can call for 200,000 stone of grain, plus the existing 100,000 stone emergency grain, you can make up 300,000 stone of grain, which is enough to relieve the victims!"

As soon as he heard this, Liu Xiu was stupid, and the ministers present were also stupid, and people raised their heads one after another and looked at Li Tong like a madman.

Da Sikong is crazy, right?

Where did he go to get 200,000 stone of grain?

Does it come out of thin air?

Yan Yang subconsciously asked, "What does Da Sikong mean is that on a national scale, forcibly requisition grain?" ”

Li Tong Zhengse said: "Doctor Yan, Your Majesty has made it very clear just now that the people's lives are still poor, and it is not appropriate to increase taxes!" ”

Yan Yang asked, "If there is no forcible collection of grain across the country, then ...... Where can Da Sikong get 200,000 stone of grain? ”

Just rely on your red mouth and white teeth for a word?

Li Tong looked at Liu Xiu, who was also looking at him intently, as if to say, yes, where are you Li Jiyuan going to get 200,000 stone of grain?

That's not a small amount, 200,000 stones! "Your Majesty!"

Li Tong Zhengse said: "Weichen has been a former general! ”

"I know, I'm not old yet!"

Liu Xiu replied angrily.

Li Tong continued: "When Weichen was a former general, he had been in Nanyang Tuntian for several years. ”

Liu Xiu raised her eyebrows and looked at Li Tong in surprise.

Li Tong went to Nanyang Tuntian, of course he knew that this was originally an order given by him.

's own little sister Bo Ji has also suffered with Li Tong in Nanyang for several years! Li Tong continued: "Your Majesty asked Weichen to be in Nanyang Tuntian in order to meet the needs of the Southern Expeditionary Army's grain and grass, but Your Majesty may not know that the Southern Expeditionary General is not only good at using soldiers, but also good at governing.

Over the years, the grain harvested by Weichen in Nanyang Tuntian has been hoarded and placed in Nanyang, no more, no less, exactly 200,000 stones! ”

Hearing this, there was a sound of inhalation in the hall, Liu Xiu was stunned for a long time before he came back to his senses, walked quickly to Li Tong, and asked urgently: "Dimension, ...... you Are you serious? ”

Li Tong bowed forward and said, "There is no joke in front of the king, and Weichen does not dare to bully the king!" ”

After receiving Li Tong's affirmative reply, Liu Xiu was so excited that he almost jumped so high that he slapped him hard, and couldn't help but look up to the sky and sigh: "Gaozu protection, Xing my big man!" Gaozu shelters, Xing my Han family! ”

Liu Xiu sighed twice in a row, looked at Li Tong, raised his hand and pointed at him, and said, "Dimension, this time you have made a meritorious service, and you have made a great contribution!" ”

This sudden 200,000 stone of grain is really a timely rain, and Liu Xiu's mood at this time can be described as 'a long drought and a sweet rain, a foreign country meets an old acquaintance, the cave house spends candle nights, and the gold list is inscribed'.

He walked back and forth in the main hall excitedly, walking back and forth several times, he stopped, pointed at Li Tong, and said, "Dimension, you personally go to Nanyang and transport the hoarded 200,000 stone grain back to Luoyang...... No, no, no, don't transport it back to Luoyang, transport it directly to Hongnong, to relieve the affected people, I don't want to see a single affected person starving to death! ”

Li Tong bowed and saluted, and said loudly: "Weichen obeys orders!" ”

Liu Xiu said again: "Feng Sinong! ”

"Wechen is here!"

Sinong Feng Qin stepped out of the ranks and bowed his hand.

Liu Xiu said: "You will transport 100,000 stone of emergency food to Hongnong first to solve the urgent needs of the victims!" ”

"Wechen obeys!"

Feng Qin bowed in response.

Liu Xiu let out a long breath, turned his head to look at Li Tong, and couldn't help but laugh, now the dimension is becoming more and more cunning, and he actually secretly hid 200,000 stone grains, and his mouth is still so tight, he didn't even reveal the slightest rumor to himself in advance.