Wen Ping immediately said: "Since the prime minister has proposed the reform, and Master Ma is the chief official of tax collection, I firmly support it, and I will firmly support your work and fully cooperate to do things well!" ”

"Ma people have the courage to take responsibility, this work as the top priority of the reform, must be done well! I will do my best to assist Master Ma to do things and successfully complete this task! Yang Xiu also said.

Ma Chao said enthusiastically: "Father, we will do what you say, I will do whatever you say, everything is arranged by my father!" ”

When Ma Teng heard this, he exclaimed, "Good! With the support of General Wen and Yang Zhubo, why worry about the big thing? But to do this, you really have to come up with a specific plan, the goal has been determined, but you have to come up with an idea of how to implement it! ”

Wen Ping immediately said: "To achieve this goal and to be the first to complete, from now on we have to do it, we don't have to occupy the day, let alone wait for the agricultural time, I think we start with the big households in Luoyang, and I think Luoyang has to occupy half of the 5 million collection task, no!" Half to be exact! ”

"General Wen is reasonable, now you can do some investigation of the big households in Luoyang, it's easy to do this thing, the situation of the big households in Luoyang has been mastered, and it has been clearly recorded on the gift list of the previous New Year, and this time it can be levied according to the gift list!" Yang Xiu said after hearing this.

Ma Teng stroked his beard and said, "Do you two know these big families in Luoyang?" ”

Wen Ping immediately said: "I have been in Luoyang for just a year, and I have seen some but know very little!" I guess they're not familiar with me either! ”

"I've had contact with these people, but it's just a one-sided acquaintance, and I think there's a suitable candidate for these people!" Yang Xiu said.

Ma Teng's eyes lit up when he heard this: "Oh? Who? Hurry up! ”

"That's Luoyang Ling Chen Xin!" Yang Xiu said immediately.

Ma Teng continued: "This person has this energy? ”

"It was his job to give gift slips to these big families the other time, and I think the same will be true for this tax! Let's just go to him! Yang Xiu said.

After hearing this, Ma Teng nodded and asked, "But I don't know if the reform document has been sent to various places?" ”

"It has been issued a long time ago, and it has been clearly stated above, listing the matters of reform and personnel arrangements one by one. And also explained the specific division of labor! Yang Xiu said immediately.

Ma Teng said proudly after hearing this: "This is easy to do, and the order will be forbidden!" I'm afraid that he doesn't know us and I'm worried that it will be inconvenient for him to deceive his life, and since the court's document has been issued, I think he will not dare to slack off! ”

"Master Ma, you said yes, how dare he be vague if we do things for the prime minister, don't rush at us and the prime minister. How dare he not give face to the prime minister, and besides, Zhu Wen made it very clear, those who dare to obstruct the reform will be severely punished and will not be spared, how can Master Ma, as a high-level person in charge of justice and prison, not be able to accept the Luoyang Order? Yang Xiu persuaded.

After Yang Xiu finished speaking, he saw Ma Teng's grim expression, and his eyes also shone brightly, and he immediately slapped the table and said: "Since the prime minister gave me this power, I will naturally enter the role, Yang Zhubo is right, from now on, if anyone does not obey the order, I will have the power to punish!" ”

"Father, don't worry, we followed the prime minister to Luoyang. As the prime minister, who would dare not obey it, for the kind of people who don't listen to the order, there are policies and countermeasures, and they will take it regardless of the reason, what is there to discuss, as long as my father says a word, I will take someone on the spot! Ma Chao cheered for Ma Teng.

Ma Teng refuted after hearing this: "What are you talking about? Since I am in charge of the administration of justice and prisons, I should act according to orders, enforce the law impartially, and enforce the law justly. ”

"Master Ma really understands righteousness! That's too well said. It seems that the prime minister's vision is still good, and this Shaoqing of Dali Temple has to be taken on by someone like Master Ma! Yang Xiu immediately complimented.

Ma Teng's eyes blinked and said, "Tomorrow, everyone will go to Luoyang Lingfu with me to find Chen Xin." Our tax collection work is officially on the right track from tomorrow, we must work diligently in accordance with the established goals, General Wen and Yang Zhubo are both people in public affairs, especially Yang Zhubo, who is riddled with many things, Yang Zhubo wears many hats, there is no need to be confined to this, I only need to coordinate and coordinate here, and the rest of the things can be supervised by me personally! ”

"Thank you for your understanding. If you have any difficulties, just mention it, the prime minister put me in this camp, this intention should be clear to the prime minister, the prime minister knows that collecting taxes is a difficult thing to do, and Ma has just taken office. The burden on my body is not light, I am specially arranged here to better assist Ma Daren, if Ma Daren encounters a problem, even if he encounters problems and difficulties, I will try my best to help solve it, if I can't solve it, I can report it to the prime minister to solve! Yang Xiu explained.

Ma Teng then said: "Thanks to the Prime Minister's love, I should be loyal and do my best to complete this task and gnaw this hard bone!" Tomorrow, I have to have Lao Dezu go to Luoyang Lingfu with me! ”

"That's fine!" Yang Xiu replied briskly

Just when Ma Teng's tax collection work was in full swing, a work led by Liu Bei personally to collect money and grain from the princes also kicked off, this work Liu Bei was the chief marshal Da Honglu Zhou Huan as the deputy marshal, Yang Xiu participated, in accordance with the reform implementation plan to determine the goal: Yuan Shao one million taels of silver; Cao Cao's one million taels of silver; Liu Biao, one million taels of silver; Sun Ce's one million taels of silver; Yuan Shu one million taels of silver; Liu Zhang's 800,000 taels of silver; Zhang Lu 500,000 taels of silver; Han Sui 500,000 taels of silver; Gongsun Chan 500,000 taels of silver; A total of 7.3 million taels of target tasks. Liu Bei did not dare to slack off, this is a work led by him personally, in addition he is also responsible for the overall coordination of the construction of urban defense, the heavy responsibility and burden of reform is really not light, after the implementation of the plan was announced, Liu Bei immediately also held a sub-meeting, Liu Bei's sub-meeting will involve the two work of the ministers all gathered together, he personally arranged the deployment, and strive to promote the two work together.

Although it was put together for a meeting, Liu Bei still divided the importance of it, and collected money and food from the princes, which was his main job, and it belonged to him, as for the construction of city defense, he was just a general coordinator, coordination was help, this play was sung for others, and he was just helping the field. Although it is to help, Liu Bei also regards it as a responsibility, Liu Bei, who is also Zongzheng, the emperor's uncle and the general of the chariot, is the prime minister's sworn brother, Liu Bei's status is self-evident, in the eyes of the Manchu Dynasty civil and military, this is a pivotal person, and the current imperial court Guan Yu has the final say and has real power, which is worthy of being the "boss". Emperor Xian's status is lofty and glorious, but he is young and has no real power, in fact, he is only a No. 2 person at best, although Guan Yu respects him and listens to his opinions in many things, this Liu Bei is a well-deserved No. 3 person, although he debuted a little late, but the latecomers prevail, Liu Bei went against the tide and his status suddenly surpassed many first-class members in the court.

To sum up, Liu Bei is still relatively powerful, so he convened a meeting of the ministers, and the ministers also gave him this face, Taiwei Zhu Jun, Da Honglu Zhou Huan, Tai Changqing will be the minister Chong Gao, the Ministry of Industry Lang Dian Nong Zhonglang General Ren Jun, the Lord Bo Yang Xiu, and the City Gate Captain Cui Lie have come to the house. The busiest is Yang Xiu, he just finished participating in Ma Teng's meeting and came to Liu Bei's mansion to participate in Liu Bei's meeting, Liu Bei's meeting is much larger than Ma Teng's, the level and specifications are also higher, Yang Xiu came to this meeting regardless of fatigue, for Liu Bei he can't help but give face, this person is very important, Yang Xiu knows that Liu Bei is not an ordinary person. This is the prime minister's right-hand man, and he naturally does not dare to slack off. It is simply that there is no conflict between Ma Teng's meeting and Liu Bei's meeting, otherwise he will be at a loss, and he can't be separated!

Everyone came to the house as promised, and Liu Bei's meeting was also held on time, the first topic was the issue of collecting taxes from the princes, Liu Bei first asked Dahonglu Zhou Huan for advice: "Lord Zhou has been in charge of diplomatic work for so many years, what do you think about this matter?" ”

Zhou Huan stroked his beard and said, "The old man has been in charge of this great Honglu for several years. During the period, there was a lot of dealing with the barbarians, and there were many difficulties in the dark diplomacy of the imperial court, and it was really difficult to carry out, in fact, this diplomatic thing is also determined by strength, as the saying goes, 'a weak country has no diplomacy'. Now the situation is different, now the court is getting stronger and stronger, there is a foundation for this work to advance, but the matter of collecting money and grain is to touch the fundamental problem, there are still a lot of difficulties, to do this need to be done in the name of the court to the princes to send a document, affirming the intention of the collection, know to be powerful, so the princes must have followers and more disobedient, for those who do not follow, where to go this has to be decided by the prime minister! ”

Zhou Huan's words were very smooth, everyone was still confused when they heard it, Liu Bei stroked his beard after hearing it and said: "After sending a document first, we will discuss it, after all, the amount of levy is not expensive, we have to consider whether the levy can come to a united way once it encounters difficulties, and the princes support the army and respect themselves, but after all, it is the princes, we call the shots in the name of the court, after all, there are those who support the court, and we can find other princes to crusade against those who disobey the levy, and teach him a lesson!" ”

Zhou Huan then said: "Uncle Huang, you can try this method!" There should also be a time limit for levy, some princes do not say that they do not pay, he plays tricks with you, and protracts a protracted war with you without hesitation, and a time limit should be set for this situation to be restricted, after this period is to disobey the holy decree, we can also have a preconceived reason to avoid passivity, to pave the way for the conquest, and to be famous as a teacher, to avoid being exploited by these people! ”

"Lord Zhou reminded me right, the text must be clear about the time to avoid loopholes!" Liu Bei said.

Yang Xiu made a recommendation: "The princes dare to have refusals to pay can threaten and threaten them to force them to comply, after the document is issued, the princes will inevitably have those who look forward to the left and right and those who are slow to move, we can send a letter to scare and scare them, if they do not pay within the time limit, the court will press the soldiers, and if necessary, you can make some moves at the border to increase the bargaining chips for this matter!" ”

Liu Bei nodded after hearing this: "Dezu is reasonable, it seems that this matter cannot be rushed, and it is necessary to have a long-term battle with these princes, and use both grace and power, but the text will be put on the agenda soon, and after it is prepared, I will report it to the Prime Minister and His Majesty the Son of Heaven for approval, and after it is implemented, it will be sent to various places and presented to the princes immediately!" This matter is fully handled by Lord Zhou and Lord Yang! ”

Zhou Huan and Yang Xiu immediately received the order, and Liu Bei continued: "I am the general coordinator of the city defense construction, and the city defense construction is still played by the Taiwei Zhu, if there are any difficulties, you can discuss with me, I will help solve them, what does Lord Zhu think?" ”

"Since Uncle Huang said it, it is natural to do what Uncle Huang said, and now it is the end of winter and early spring, and the weather is not suitable for construction, but the preparations can be carried out one after another, and I want to visit these cities in person next. In view of the importance of the two capitals of Tokyo, Luoyang and Xijing, Chang'an, the defense of these two cities will be supervised by the imperial court, that is, we will personally supervise the construction, and the construction of other cities, I suggest that the local chief officials should give us guidance and supervision, and we will do the final acceptance work. In this way, it is possible to ensure that the construction of seven cities will start at the same time, and it will be successfully completed within this period of one year! Taiwei Zhu Jun suggested.

Liu Bei couldn't help but nod and praise after hearing this: "This suggestion of Lord Taiwei is good!" However, I would like to add that in addition to the two cities of Chang'an and Luoyang, in view of the importance of the Tiger Prison Pass and the Bishui Pass and the severity of the damage, I suggest that the restoration of the Tiger Pass and the Bishui Pass should also be handed over to the imperial court itself! ”

Zhu Jun hurriedly greeted: "Uncle Huang reminds that Tiger Prison Pass and Bishui Pass are the gateways to the east of Luoyang, and the entire city of Bishui Pass will be restored, so the restoration of these two cities will also be done by us!" But there is one more thing that needs to be coordinated by Uncle Huang! ”

"Whatever it is!" Liu Bei said after hearing this.

Zhu Jun stroked his beard and said: "The construction of urban defense is by no means a small project, according to the implementation plan mentioned in the construction of urban defense, efforts should be made to complete the restoration of seven cities, to start such a huge project of the imperial court subsidy fund of 700,000 taels of silver, the insufficient part of the local government and the method of investment in labor and capital to solve. As the saying goes, 'it is difficult for a good woman to cook without rice'! Not to mention how much the local government invests, there is also the matter of military and civilian investment in labor and capital. When will the 700,000 construction funds of the imperial court be in place? There is a saying that 'the soldiers and horses are not moved before the grain and grass go first', this city defense construction work is not like other work, and we can't carry out this preparatory work if the funds are not in place! ”

"Lord Zhu's worries are not unreasonable, but this matter is easy to handle, since the implementation plan proposes to allocate 700,000 taels of construction funds, Lord Zhu can go to the treasury to get it!" Liu Bei said.

Zhu Jun was puzzled: "Uncle Huang has made things simple, and now everything that costs money must be approved by the prime minister!" ”

"Then if Lord Zhu asks the prime minister for instructions, can the prime minister still disagree?" Liu Bei continued.

Zhu Jun continued: "I'm afraid that there are too many places to reform and ask for money. And the imperial treasury has a limited amount of silver, and we have to be ahead of all work to start this matter. The sooner this fund is allocated, the better! But don't wait for the expenditure for others to run out, we can't grab the slot, and we have to think of our own ideas, this matter will be difficult, this will undoubtedly give our work a big problem, I mean Uncle Huang is stronger than ordinary people after all. We have to get ahead of others and spend the money first, and then we can roll up our sleeves and do it! ”

Oh! I understand what Lord Zhu meant, Lord Zhu is worried that the treasury and silver problems will not be cashed, and I will personally go to the prime minister to solve this problem! I must take a lot of this construction fund! Liu Bei promised.

Zhu Jun was overjoyed when he heard this: "It's enough to have Uncle Huang's words, without further ado, in view of the distance between these cities, I propose that our group go to these cities in person." Explain the specific matters of the work to the local boss, if there is no problem with the imperial court matching funds, you should coordinate with the local boss about the local matching funds and remuneration discount, and then the specific design plan of the city will be arranged and various materials will be prepared, and the construction can start in the spring! However, I hope that Uncle Huang will come forward to visit this matter, after all, many places and many officials are not very familiar with it! ”

Liu Bei stroked his beard and groaned: "It shouldn't be any different if I go with Lord Zhu, I have just arrived in the imperial court, and I am also very unfamiliar with local officials!" ”

Zhu Jun then persuaded: "In this case, Uncle Huang can also take this opportunity to contact the officials below, the province is unfamiliar in the future, and it is difficult to coordinate and communicate with each other!" ”

After Zhu Jun finished speaking, Liu Bei nodded: "That's fine!" It just so happens that I can also use this opportunity to contact the princes on the border, and handle the collection matters together, and the province will run alone in the future! That's it! When to set off is up to Lord Zhu! ”

"I think this matter will have to be implemented by Uncle Huang before he can act!" Zhu Jun continued.

Liu Bei couldn't help but laugh when he heard this: "Since Lord Zhu is so worried, I will go to the prime minister tonight to handle this matter!" Save your worries in the future! ”

"So the best, so the best!" Zhu Jun said that it was fast.

During the conversation between the two, Yang Xiu had already made the minutes of the entire meeting, and immediately drafted the document as Liu Bei said

Ma Teng and Liu Bei first convened a meeting to study the specific plan of action, Guan Yu as the prime minister of course can not pull back, as the promoter of the entire agricultural work, Guan Yu's own burden is not light, agricultural production and development is the central work of the entire reform, the success or failure of this work directly affects the overall situation of the entire reform, Guan Yu did not dare to take it lightly, this night he was in the house to study the overall promotion of agricultural reform, but heard that his subordinates reported that Liu Bei asked to see, Guan Yu then let Liu Bei into the house.

Liu Bei came to the house and the two exchanged pleasantries, and Guan Yu asked, "I don't know what the eldest brother is doing here late at night?" (To be continued......)