There was a dead silence above the court, Liu Xiu stood at the bottom of the stairs with low eyebrows, while bowing his head and confessing his guilt, the three princes and nine kings and other courtiers sat in their positions, all with different faces, some were stunned, some wanted to laugh but couldn't laugh, some shook their heads and sighed, some were very angry, and more were disappointed.

Yang Biao, the captain of Sili, looked at Liu Xiu, who was speechless, and then looked at Fa Yan, whose face was swollen and red, and showed a rare faux pas, raised his hand and rubbed his nose, so as not to laugh out loud.

After preparing for a long time, I originally thought it would be a fiery court debate, but it was a little funny because Liu Xiu's defeat without a fight, Liu Xiu was of course a look that was all my fault, and the person who won the big victory did not have the joy of victory at all, on the contrary, it was very embarrassing.

Shang Shu was the first to attack Chen Yu, who accused Liu Xiu of not conforming to the scriptures of the sages in Bingzhou. Liu Xiu sincerely admitted his mistake, and then changed his words, talking about Chen Yu's son Chen Chen's refusal to envoy Xianbei, and solemnly suggested that Chen Yu personally go out and go to Xianbei to use the sage to influence the Xianbei people, and let Tanshi Huai offer a table. One sentence made Chen Yu roll his eyes, Chen Chen, who was recruited as an attendant because of his meritorious service to the Northern Expedition, was also in the palace, and he was ashamed of himself.

After the accusation of deviance was dumbfounded, Situ Peng Fayan stood up and accused Liu Xiu of encouraging the state to become powerful and powerful, weakening the power of the central government, and endangering national security. Liu Xiu once again admitted his mistake, saying that this move was indeed possible, and then countered again, Situ Mansion has statistics of various counties and counties, and the population of Bingzhou was only six or seven hundred thousand at its peak, but it was one percent of the country, and Bingzhou is not a suitable land for farming, even if the wealth of Bingzhou is all occupied by those dozen or so families, they only make tens of millions of profits every year, and there are many anointed places in the four prefectures of Yuyanqing and Xu, and there are more than three million people in one county in Runan, which is equivalent to five mergers, and the strength of the family is far greater than that of Bingzhou. Dare to ask what plans does Situ Fu have for a strong and weak branch recently?

Fa Yan was speechless, the Yuan family is the largest family in Runan, wouldn't Situ Mansion have a policy of strong cadres and weak branches that he can't get along with? But if you don't talk about a giant family like the Yuan family, but talk about those families in Bingzhou who can't talk about it at all, wouldn't there be a jackal in charge, a fox, and a suspicion of bullying the soft and afraid of the hard? Others don't say that, because they don't want to disobey the face of the Yuan family, but Liu Xiu has never taken the Yuan family in his eyes, and if he wants to use the Yuan family to suppress him, I'm afraid it's just a dream, and if he doesn't get it right, it will become a nightmare.

Because Liu Xiu actually pointed to the Yuan family, Yuan Kui was okay, but Yuan Feng couldn't sit still, and he accused Liu Xiu of handing over the benefits of Shanze, which originally belonged to the royal family, to Bingzhou Haoqiang to manage, and to embezzle the interests originally belonging to the royal family. Liu Xiu once again admitted his mistake, and then said that because Dasi Nong had no money, he had to pay for it by the Son of Heaven, which shows that only the Son of Heaven really cares about the world, and those who claim to be the pillars of the empire but sit back and watch the country's finances are tight, and those who do not pull out a dime should be ashamed.

Liu Xiu followed up and added, I think at this point, Master Situ is everyone's example, he took out 100 million money to support the Son of Heaven, and he is worthy of the heavy responsibility of this Situ.

As soon as he said this, not only did the hundred officials feel speechless, but even Yuan Kui, who was praised by him, became restless and used 100 million yuan to buy a Situ, which was not a glory, but a shame on the contrary.

Yuan Feng was defeated and retreated, and Cao Song, the big farmer, stood up again, saying that the main source of the country's finance is salt and iron, and now you have handed over the salt and iron to the private people of Bingzhou, which has affected the income of the big farmer, and the big farmer will have no money to give you in the future, so don't complain.

Liu Xiu was already clear about the Cao family's thoughts at this time, so he said honestly and unceremoniously, it is well documented how much income the salt and iron of the state has a year, and the income of the salt and iron income of the state in the entire national finance is only a drop in the bucket, I just plucked a hair, if you want to take the whole cow home because of this, but you want to put the responsibility on my head, it is a little too deceitful.

Are all your men blind in the world?

Cao Song retreated curtly, refusing to say a word more.

Several important ministers were speechless by Liu Xiu, Taiwei Zhang Huan, Situ Yuan Kui and Sikong Tang Zhen were silent again, and the others did not dare to say anything. They gradually became a little uneasy. Originally, they expected Liu Xiu to vigorously advocate the benefits of the new policy in order to pass the new policy of merging the states, but after the new policy was passed by the Son of Heaven, they would hitchhike and make a fortune while chanting the Shengming of the Son of Heaven. However, Liu Xiu did not say a good word about the New Deal from beginning to end, but only destroyed the reasons of the opponents one by one, so that they could collapse without a fight, which was a big surprise to everyone, and the countless arguments prepared were in vain.

Yang Biao felt strange, but also couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, he is the kind of minister who really thinks about the imperial power, and has no intention of making a profit from it, he is very worried that the new policy of the state will be fully rolled out, and it will be a disaster for the imperial power.

He remembered what his father Yang Ci said to him after his dismissal, which seemed to be very casual, when Liu Xiu was in Luoyang, everything was developing in a good direction, and when Liu Xiu left Luoyang, everything was completely chaotic. This young man, who likes to do business at every turn, is a capable minister, although he is not above board. If the Son of Heaven could always trust him, the Great Han might be able to live a few more years of peace.

Can the Son of Heaven trust him? Yang Biao couldn't help but glance at the Son of Heaven on the throne. Since Yuan Hui entered the palace and was favored, the alliance between the inside and outside of the Yuan family has been better than before, and the momentum has become more and more ferocious, can Liu Xiu beat the Yuan family?

The Son of Heaven propped one hand on the throne, blinked a pair of slender eyes, looked at Liu Xiu's back, the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, and he forcibly endured the pleasure in his heart. He was originally very worried that Liu Xiu would fight with reason and push him into a dilemma, but now it seems that this worry can be put aside halfway, and Liu Xiu beat the opponents to the ground without mentioning the difficulties of merging the state.

If this situation can continue until the end, then he has nothing to worry about.

Shang Shu Ling Yang Zhi coughed dryly, broke the silence in the court, left the table and saluted the Son of Heaven, straightened up and looked at Liu Xiu, and said word by word: "Then dare to ask General Beizhonglang, and the new policy of the state is good governance and evil government?" ”

The Son of Heaven's heart jumped, and he couldn't help but hold his breath, and the problem of his heart finally appeared.

Liu Xiu tilted his head, thought for a moment, and arched his hand: "Dare to ask Yang Lingjun, what is good government and what is bad government?" ”

Yang Zhi smiled calmly: "Naturally, what is beneficial to the country and the people is good governance, and what is not beneficial to the country and the people is bad governance." Don't you even understand this truth? ”

Liu Xiu didn't think it was wrong, and then asked: "Dare to ask Yang Lingjun, who does this people refer to?" Is it me, you, or the whole world? ”

Yang Zhi frowned: "Nature refers to all the people in the world. ”

Liu Xiu asked without thinking: "Then dare to ask Yang Lingjun again, killing one person and saving a hundred people, is it good government or bad government?" ”

Yang Zhi hesitated a little, weighed it for a long time before saying: "The death of one person and the life of a hundred people are naturally good governance. ”

Liu Xiu turned around and bowed to the Son of Heaven: "Your Majesty, the minister knows that he is wrong, Zhang Jiao's killing of Haoqiang in Jinan is indeed good governance." I would like to ask Your Majesty to extend the experience of Zhang Jiao's administration to all counties in the world. ”

The Son of Heaven hasn't come back to his senses yet, and he said in his heart, you have a good argument, how did you get involved with Zhang Jiao. Yang Zhi was the first to react, and he hurriedly said loudly: "General Beizhong Lang, don't misinterpret what I mean. ”

"Where do you start?" Liu Xiu said with a smile: "Don't say anything else, your sheep Lingjun is one of the eight gus, and virtue comes first, but the land occupied by the Taishan goat family is enough to feed two or three hundred people, and the fat of your sheep family is damaged to help the lives of hundreds of people, such a thing of virtue, you are reluctant to do it?" ”

Yang Zhi's face turned blue with anger, although he had heard of Liu Xiu's notoriety for a long time, but he didn't pay attention to it, this time he was accidentally bypassed by Liu Xiu, and he lost face. He said coldly: "My sheep's land is not forcibly occupied by power, and secondly, it is not favored by luck, every piece of land is hard to accumulate, why should it be shared with others?" ”

"Then it's a fact that your Yang family occupies more land than the imperial court regulations, right? It's also true that your Yang family competes with the imperial court for population, and there are many vassal people, right? I want to ask Yang Lingjun, there are so many slaves and maids in your family, so many attached farmers, have you paid more money according to the regulations of the imperial court? Liu Xiu asked a few questions in a row, and finally shouted in a loud voice: "Yang Lingjun, please think about it before answering, this is the court, in front of the Son of Heaven, you only need to send an imperial history to Mount Tai to check whether it is true or false." If you find out that something is wrong, you are guilty of deceit...... Hey, hey, hey......"

Yang Zhi opened his mouth and stammered, he was forced into a dead corner by Liu Xiu alive, and there was no place to move, standing there, answering no, not answering.

Yuan Kui sighed, got up and left the table, and after saluting, he coughed and said in an affectionate tone: "General Beizhonglang, what we are talking about today is the new policy of merging the state, and other things will not be discussed for the time being." If you tell us about the pros and cons of the new policy of merging states, the Son of Heaven and Shengming, all the monarchs here are also reasonable people, if the new policy of merging states does have merits, I think they will not be unreasonable. ”

Liu Xiu sneered, and said in his heart that you want to use me as a gunman, it seems that I am still a little tender. He shook his head: "Don't hide it from Lord Situ, I don't think the new policy is good governance, as for the pros and cons, I think it's also between the two, it's too early to say this." ”

Yuan Kui was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help laughing: "You don't even know the pros and cons, so you dare to implement it, it's a bit reckless, right?" ”

Liu Xiu said very sincerely: "Lord Situ blames me, and I also feel a little reckless. It's just that the war in northern Xinjiang is tense, and the money and grain that Situ Mansion should allocate have not been in place, so I have no choice but to make this decision. The fourth generation and third duke of the Yuan family, the adults have been in prominent positions for a long time, and they have rich political experience, and now the adults have returned to the position of Situ, which is really gratifying. Dare to ask Lord Situ, when will you be able to allocate the money and food I need? ”

Yuan Kui hesitated: "This ...... Now that the finances are tight, the payment war is indeed a bit difficult, do you think you can make another plan? ”

Liu Xiu asked, "I don't know if Lord Situ's other plan refers to delaying for a while, or does it mean giving up the battle?" ”

Yuan Kui set his eyes on Tai Lieutenant Zhang Huan: "In military matters, let's listen to Tai Lieutenant's opinion first." ”

Liu Xiu smiled slightly: "Lord Situ is right, in military matters, we really have to listen to Lord Taiwei's opinion." However, before that, I would like to introduce to you the situation in the state. Although all the gentlemen here are full of wealth, I don't think there are many people who really know anything about the situation in the state other than Lord Taiwei. He paused, and said in an obviously contemptuous tone: "It's a pity that Yuan Benchu is not here, he has fought in the northern Xinjiang, killed people, marched in the wind, and swallowed ice in the snow, but he is not hiding in the fortress, sitting by the fire, drinking wine, and reading can be compared." ”

Chen Chen suddenly felt that his face was hot.

Zhang Huan coughed and interrupted Liu Xiu's sour words: "General Beizhong Lang, you can tell you about the situation in the state, although you can't come to the battle in person, it's good to have some understanding." ”

"Whoa." Liu Xiu turned around and asked the Son of Heaven for instructions. The Son of Heaven nodded and motioned for Jian Shuo to hang up the map. Liu Xiu pointed to the map and explained the situation in the prefecture one by one, especially emphasizing the situation at the various passes along the border. He finally said, "If Luoyang is the heart of the Han Dynasty, then the mountains and mountains of Bingzhou are the ribs that protect the heart." If you can't hold the state, the barbarians on the grassland will be killed all the way to the east of the river and drink the water of Maluo, this kind of thing is not alarmist, I think you still have some impressions of the Huns entering the east of the Kou River many times in the early years of this dynasty. ”

"The state is lost, condescending and taking Jizhou, you can counterattack Youzhou to the north, you can take Qingxu directly to the south, thousands of miles of fertile land, all of which have become barbarian horses and horses, everyone, you are not spared."

"So, if you want to keep the merger, you can only implement your new policy in the merger?" Yuan Kui nodded, putting on an expression of "I support you". Unexpectedly, Liu Xiu shook his head, "As I just said, the new policy is just a policy, and no one can guarantee whether the state will become a destabilizing factor." ”

Yuan Kui became a little uneasy: "Then what do you think is the best policy?" ”

Liu Xiu smiled slightly: "I think what Zhang Jiao has done in Jinan is the best policy, suppressing the strong and strong, both rich and poor, not only can concentrate a large amount of money and grain to support the war in northern Xinjiang, but also solve the problem of displaced people." As long as you can set an example for you, be happy with poverty, and be happy with morality, I think the world can be determined, and the road can be achieved. ”

This shaft, do you want to kill the world's heroes with a three-inch tongue? Yuan Kui couldn't help but curse viciously in his heart, the smile on his face was a little unnatural, he turned to everyone, those people looked at each other, and no one refused to stand up and speak again.

The Son of Heaven was very happy, and a big stone in his heart finally fell to the ground completely. Liu Xiudu said that this is a last resort, since it is a last resort, of course, it cannot be comprehensively promoted, so it can only be used, when to defeat the Xianbei people, when to cancel this policy. What made him even happier was that Liu Xiu blocked Yuan Kui's mouth tightly, the reason why I implemented this policy is because you are incompetent, when you can take out the money, I will cancel this policy.

Can Yuan Kui come up with this money? Unless he is willing to start with himself, and is willing to be the enemy of the world's powerful families, just like Zhang Jiao did.

There was obviously no way he could do that.

The Son of Heaven looked at the ministers in the court with great interest, looked at them one by one, and finally fell on Yuan Kui's face, he crooked the corners of his mouth, and said with a little provocation: "Situ, do you have anything else to ask?" ”

Yuan Kui coughed dryly: "The minister thinks that Beizhonglang will be able to fight well, and he has defeated the Xianbei people twice, and now the border is solid, and it is difficult for the Xianbei people to invade again. ”

The Son of Heaven was surprised: "Changing the levy to peace, who do you want to send to appease you?" ”

Yuan Kui shook his head: "Your Majesty, the minister just suggested that Bei Zhonglang would attack by defending instead of attacking to reduce the consumption of money and grain, and then think about a plan to appease him." Or a quick battle and a quick battle, so as not to exhaust the veteran soldiers and work in vain. ”

Liu Xiu understood that Yuan Kui was going to go to two extremes, either you should stop fighting, or you would fight immediately, and you would win. He looked at the Son of Heaven, and the Son of Heaven's face was also very surprised, and he sat up straight: "This...... Didn't General Kitakaro already say just now, it won't work if you don't fight......"

"In that case, let's do it quickly." Yuan Kui smiled slightly: "Although the minister is not familiar with warfare, he has also heard that the victory of soldiers is not expensive for a long time, and tens of thousands of troops are very expensive, and with the current income, the imperial court really can't support it." ”

"But a quick battle...... "The Son of Heaven looked at Liu Xiu with some excitement, Liu Xiu has always emphasized that although it has improved now, it is impossible to completely defeat the Xianbei people in the short term, but Yuan Kui is also reasonable, the financial situation of the imperial court really can't support the war for many years, if it can be decided in one battle, it is of course better.

Yuan Kui looked at Liu Xiu with a smile: "Bei Zhonglang will be a rare genius in the use of soldiers, I think he must have a way." ”

Liu Xiu sneered: "Lord Situ praised it falsely, I am not a genius, if I want to defeat the Xianbei people in a short period of time, I can't do it." If Lord Situ can do it, of course I can't ask for it, and immediately step aside to make way for Xian. ”

Yuan Kui laughed: "Your Majesty, the minister is not familiar with military affairs, so he does not dare to take on this important task, but if the minister recommends a person, he is well versed in the military, and he will be able to complete this important task if he has been on the battlefield for a long time." ”

Liu Xiu understood what Yuan Kui meant, this was to grab the fruit. But is it so easy to grab the tree I planted?

The Son of Heaven looked at Liu Xiu, who was sneering, and then at Yuan Kui, who was smiling, hesitated for a while, and said, "Who is it?" ”

Yuan Kui was silent for a moment, and when everyone listened intently, he gently spit out the two names: "Yangzhou Thorn Shi Zang Min." ”

After a short silence, there was a chorus of echo in the court.

The Son of Heaven looked at Liu Xiu, frowned, and waved his hand: "The change of generals in the battle is a very important matter, and it should not be regarded as child's play." Under the edict, Zang Min immediately rushed to Luoyang, and I will discuss it with the monarchs and make a decision. ”

"Your Majesty." Yuan Kui glanced at Liu Xiu proudly and sang loudly. Those who supported him were not to be left behind, and hurriedly went out to echo him, and for a while, "Your Majesty's Shengming" in the court came and went.

Liu Xiu was very angry, he didn't expect things to change like this, but he heard something strange from the words of the Son of Heaven, and the Son of Heaven had already made a decision, if he rashly objected, he would be a little angry, so he quietly turned around and saluted the Son of Heaven:

"Your Majesty."

The Son of Heaven was very satisfied when he saw that Liu Xiu was still calm and did not have a seizure on the spot. He nodded, winked at Jian Shuo, and turned away from the throne. As soon as he left, the court, which was originally a little restrained, suddenly became lively, and many courtiers gathered around Yuan Kui, praising the person he recommended as a very suitable candidate.

Zhang Huan walked up to Liu Xiu, stroked his gray beard, and sighed lightly: "Deran, is Duan Gong's health good?" ”

"Sir is in good health." Liu Xiu replied with a smile: "He lives very steadily in Jinyang. ”

"He's blessed." Zhang Huan slapped his waist: "I've been too tired lately, my energy is a little low, and I'm about to take leave." ”

"Adults want to take leave?" Liu Xiu really frowned this time. It is very important for him to have a famous general like Zhang Huan to be a captain, don't look at Duan Cheng is very strong in battle, but he is not suitable for being a captain, he does not have Zhang Huan's means, and he does not have Zhang Huan's knowledge. Speaking in the court, you have to quote scriptures, and everything has to have some basis, and a person like him who rolls and sprinkles is really an anomaly.

"Yes, when you are old, you should fight for a lifetime, and you should recuperate for a lifetime." Zhang Huan glanced at Yuan Kui and the others, who were talking happily, and said softly: "Deran, when you are free, come to the cold house to narrate, my two dogs have a lot of respect for your calligraphy." ”

If you want to change your usual life, Liu Xiu must be very happy to hear this, the grass saint Zhang Zhi brother attaches great importance to his calligraphy, of course, it is a very face-saving thing, but now he knows that Zhang Huan's focus on this sentence is not here, and he has something to say to him in private.

"I will definitely go to your mansion to meet Zhang Gong." Liu Xiu bowed in understanding. Zhang Huan smiled, bowed to Yuan Kui who came over, and left the court with a step.

Yuan Kui looked at Liu Xiu with a smile on his face, "De Ran, you don't think I'm targeting you, right?" ”

Liu Xiu smiled: "No, I was about to thank Yuan Gong, if someone can guard the northern Xinjiang, I can go back to Luoyang to accompany Mr., hug my daughter, and work hard to have more sons." Otherwise, even if you have made a meritorious deed, no one will inherit it. ”

Yuan Kui's face suddenly seemed to be slapped in the face, red and white.

Liu Xiu ignored him, and was about to go out, Jian Shuo walked over with a small fragment, bowed to him, and said in a loud voice: "Beizhong Lang, please stay, Your Majesty has summoned you to the palace, and I have something to say to you." ”

Yuan Kui and the people around him were about to launch an attack on Liu Xiu, and when they heard this, they had to swallow the words back. Liu Xiu calmly confessed to Yuan Kui, followed Jian Shuo out of the main hall, turned a few corners, and came to the Xuanming Palace.

The Son of Heaven was pacing back and forth in the hall with his hands in his hands, and when he heard Liu Xiu's footsteps, he stopped, turned sideways, tilted his head to look at Liu Xiu, and watched him finish his salute and stand in front of him in a proper manner, before he said lightly:

"What are you thinking?"

(To be continued)