In Liu Hong's impression, those high-ranking officials and important ministers in the court always want to instill their ideas into their heads. If Liu Hong's decision does not conform to the ideas of high-ranking officials and ministers, those guys who are old will use a lot of righteous and strict sage methods to "educate" him well.

In contrast, the eunuchs' different opinions on Liu Hong would only be expressed in a very tactful way. Due to the difference in status, Liu Hong's proposals to the eunuchs were always only happily accepted and easily vetoed, and there would never be a phenomenon of argument.

Of course, among the eunuchs, the good and the bad are mixed. Some people's temperament also makes Liu Hong not very satisfied. However, the ministers and scholars in the court often talked about some small mistakes made by the eunuchs that were bigger than the sky. Under such circumstances, Liu Hong instinctively had a feeling of distrust of what the ministers and scholars said.

For example, two or three years ago, in order to repair the collapsed palace, Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong collected timber, wood, and aragonite from Zhaofa Prefecture and transported them to Beijing. As a result, such a trivial matter was attacked by the courtiers.

What's even more odious is that among the people, some people actually spread the decision to increase the tax by ten yuan per mu in order to meet the salaries of the Liangzhou counterinsurgency army, and spread it into a tax increase for the purpose of repairing the palace!

Liu Hong, the emperor, from the day he ascended the throne, lacked sufficient authority to control the ministers in the court. But he's not a stupid man. On the contrary, Liu Hong is extremely intelligent by nature. This man is not only proficient in singing, but also likes mechanical construction.

After sitting in that seat for a long enough time and having enough political experience, Liu Hong finally saw through accurately what kind of guys were filled inside and outside the court.

For those guys who put their personal family interests above the interests of the emperor of the imperial court, although Liu Hong is the son of heaven, he is still helpless against them. However, he decisively created a formidable opponent for those guys.

The eunuchs, as well as the courtiers who were attached to the eunuchs, were the key weapons that allowed him to grasp the authority to govern the country in the hands of today.

Although the eunuchs lacked talent in their hands and could not provide enough competent officials for the governance of the country. Although most of the affairs of the state still need the help of scholars. However, in any case, the eunuch family is the most relied on assistant in governing the country today.

Liu Hong is not only an extremely intelligent son of heaven, but also a very creative son of heaven. In order to collect and cultivate a group of reliable officials for himself, he did not hesitate to resist the ridicule of the Shi clan in the world, and in the first year of Guanghe, he founded the "Hongdu Gate School" in order to compete with the "Taixue" where the children of the Shi clan gathered.

From the day of its establishment, "Hongdu Gate Studies" did not intend to start in the field of scriptures. On the contrary, the "Hongdu Gate Studies" mainly included those studies that were not much cared about by the orthodox scholars, such as poetry, painting, calligraphy, and so on.

Learning talents such as poetry, calligraphy and painting, and calligraphy has never been valued by the children of the family because it cannot be of much help to scholars in their careers. Liu Hong took a fancy to this, so he vigorously supported the creation of "Hongdu Gate School", and included a large number of poor children who suffered from no way out, so that they could become "protégés of the Son of Heaven", and then succeeded in Liu Hong's exceptional promotion.

However, the idea is good. Educating people to become talents is not a year's work. Although the children of the poor families who came out of the "Hongdu Gate Study" have some ability to govern, it is still difficult to compete with the intertwined local Haoqiang clan. Even with the strong support of Liu Hong, the son of heaven, "Hongdu Gate Learning" can only barely support the façade.

Therefore, in recent years, there have been more and more troubles everywhere. Liu Hong sighed all day long, and he didn't want to face these troubles more and more.

However, even as an emperor, many things are still inescapable. Under such internal and external pressure, Liu Hong's body has also deteriorated significantly. During the Zhongping period, he had fallen ill several times.

After pondering for a while, Liu Hong, the son of heaven, still picked up another scroll of silk books, frowned and spread out the silk, and started to work.

"The Taixing Army begs to surrender ......"

Seeing this title, Liu Hong's originally flat face was filled with a hint of joy. However, after reading the rough content, his face became gloomy again. Gently throwing the silk book to the ground, Liu Hong muttered:

"Paradox ......"

A pair of white hands picked up the silk book from the ground and put it back on the desk. The owner of these hands is an old man who looks extremely kind, but judging from the costume, he is the "middle attendant" in the palace.

"Your Majesty, you can't throw it away at will for major national events!"

Although there was some exhortation, the tone of the old man's speech did not make people feel uncomfortable at all. Liu Hong said casually:

"Lao Zhang, this Shangshuli is really timid!"

can be affectionately called "Lao Zhang" by today's son, there is only one person in the world.

The head of the "Ten Standing Servants" who is in power, the eunuch who was named the prince many years ago - Zhang Rang!

"Look at it, those Taihang thieves, relying on the dangers of the mountains and high grounds, the officials and soldiers can't be requisitioned, and they actually want to seek the name of the country."

Zhang Rang opened the silk book and glanced at it, and said with a smile:

"It's just a group of moth thieves, why should the emperor be angry with some thieves? If it is inappropriate, it will be dismissed. ”

"Nonsense!"

Liu Hong scolded with a smile, pointed to a sentence on the silk book, and said:

"Ten million dollars, tsk, these thieves have some wealth! 10 million dollars, which is enough money to buy a county order! 1”

Zhang Rang smiled slightly, making people feel like a spring breeze:

"A group of moth thieves, do they dare to come and ask for the official position of the county order?"

"That's not true. If you can get 100 million dollars, you can consider it. The gang of thieves in Liangzhou has made my 'Wanjintang' 2 a lot empty! ”

"Your Majesty, the bid is too high, can those moth thieves afford it?"

Hearing Zhang Rang say this, Liu Hong felt very reasonable. He stood up and paced around the palace.

-- The counties and counties in the Taihang Mountains have always produced little output and have not been able to collect any taxes. It's occupied by the moth thieves, but there's nothing heart-wrenching.

-- In the name of guarding against thieves, several surrounding counties withheld the taxes they paid and prepared the county soldiers. If the Taihang thieves are recruited, these counties will have to pay 100 million or 200 million yuan a year......

-- The bitter cold of Jizhou has always needed money and grain from Jizhou. However, the transportation channel of this money and grain happened to be blocked by Taihang thieves, and he had to make a detour to Sili. Over the course of a year, it will cost another six or seven million dollars in freight......

-- The most important thing is that I haven't been back to my hometown in Hejian once since I ascended the throne! Now that I'm older, I should take Bian'er and Xie'er back to pay tribute to our ancestors3......

-- For the sake of the purity of the ancestors, let's be lenient......

As the most trusted person around today, Zhang Rang thinks he can figure out Liu Hong's thoughts to eight or nine points.

"Your Majesty, where are you settling accounts?"

"Hmm. Lao Zhang, you can also help me calculate. If the Taihang thieves are recruited, how much more money can the treasury have in a year? ”

For this number, Zhang Rang already had a bottom in his heart. He did the math, put together the items that could be calculated, and "surprised" a number:

"Three hundred and sixty-eight million dollars...... Your Majesty, I am very happy! ”

Liu Hong's face flashed with joy, and he pretended to be calm and said:

"You can't afford to be cheaper than those moth thieves. Gotta get some blood from those thieves! Pay 50 million dollars, and you will surrender them! ”

“…… I'm afraid this number is a little difficult? ”

If you count the share that Taixingjun promised to Zhang Rang, it is not that there is no 50 million money. However, Zhang Rang still has a strong work ethic. Since he received the money from Taixingjun, of course, he should try to keep the customer's expenses as low as possible. Under Zhang Rang's persuasion, Liu Hong finally set the reserve price in the spirit of business negotiation.

"Pay 20 million dollars first, and then pay 5 million in taxes every year. That's it! ”

Zhang Rang is also very satisfied with this result. At least, the 20 million money that Tai Xingjun sent to his house, Zhang Rang received it with peace of mind.

"Then, the emperor, what kind of official position do you want to give these moth thieves remnants?"

Zhang Rang struck the iron with a hot iron, wanting to take the opportunity to clarify the matter.

"Well...... this"

Liu Hong frowned, thought about it in his heart, and said:

"Decent positions, of course, can't be given to them. So, aren't they entrenched in the Taihang area? I named him the captain of Taihang. ”

"Captain Taihang?"

Zhang Rang exclaimed in surprise and dissuaded:

"Your Majesty, this can't be helped! With only 20 million dollars, how can you give them a school captain? That's more than 2,000 stones! ”

Liu Hong glanced at Zhang Rang and said:

"Lao Zhang, are you pretending to be stupid? How could I possibly give them a full-fledged lieutenant? Captain Miscellaneous, of course! ”

"But ......"

Zhang Rang said with a reluctant face:

"Miscellaneous lieutenant, also a senior official of Chichishi. Twenty million, too cheap......"

Liu Hong tilted his neck and thought for a while, and said:

"Yes, the official of Chichishi, you can't give these moth thieves. Lao Zhang, thanks to your reminder. ”

"Where, can help the emperor make up for it, that's the old slave's business. In the opinion of the old slave, give 600 stones, and send it away. ”

"The captain of the rank of six hundred stones? That's a good idea. ”

The position of captain of 600 stones, in the eyes of old officials who are familiar with the official system of the Han court, is simply a joke. However, as the most powerful person in the world today, Liu Hong can certainly give this ridiculous official position to a moth thief.

In the spring of the fifth year of Zhongping, the Han Dynasty issued an edict to Jizhou and Bingzhou to assassinate the history:

The "Tai Marching Army", which was raging on the border of the two states, was willing to surrender because it was inspired by the benevolence of the Son of Heaven. The Son of Heaven was merciful, and specially appointed Zhang Mao, the leader of the "Taixing Army", as the "Taihang Captain", with a rank of 600 stones, and a person of "filial piety" could be raised for three years to dominate the Taihang tribes to calm the place.

ps: 1 The governor of the large county of the Eastern Han Dynasty is called the county order, and the rank is 1,000 stones.

20,000 Golden Hall: In the second year of Zhongping (185), Emperor Ling ordered his subordinates to build 10,000 Golden Hall in the West Garden, and moved the national property and money hidden by Si Nong into the hall for private storage.

3 Liu Hong is the great-great-grandson of Emperor Zhang of the Han Dynasty, Liu Hong's great-grandfather is Liu Kai, the king of Hejian, his father Liu Chang, the Marquis of Jiedu Pavilion, and Liu Zhi, the emperor of Huan, are cousins, Liu Hong is the cousin of Emperor Huan, and has been living in Hejian Kingdom in Jizhou before succeeding to the throne. Therefore, Liu Hong's direct ancestors were all buried in Hejian Kingdom.