After coming out of the mansion, Zhuge Liang and Xu Shu walked slowly with Shen Chen.

Liu Bei just got the Jingzhou seal today, so naturally it is not good to give orders immediately, and now he has been accompanying Liu Qi and caring about his physical illness.

The three of them did not take the carriage, but just followed the street, and before they knew it, they actually walked to the door of a restaurant.

Coincidentally, this restaurant was opened by Deng Hong, and it was here that Shen Chen and Xu Shu Pangtong met for the first time, and they had a debate with Wang Cang, Xu Shu and Pangtong at that time.

"I'm hungry and a little tired."

Xu Shu looked at the restaurant, stretched and said, "Xiaoqing, don't invite us in to sit?" ”

Shen Chen was surprised: "Just now the eldest son of the mansion set up a banquet to entertain General Zuo, and the feast was rich, didn't Brother Yuan eat enough?" ”

Xu Shu pouted: "The things on that table taste like chewing wax, how can it be delicious at your house?" What's more, when the eldest son suddenly said those words, I was also shocked at that time, and I didn't dare to move the chopsticks. ”

Shen Chen said with a smile: "I'm afraid it's not that I don't dare to move my chopsticks, but that the food is not to my liking, Brother Yuan is used to eating, and he only stares at me to eat." ”

"Then Xiaoqing won't let me eat it?"

Xu Shu smiled slyly.

"Eat, eat, eat."

Shen Chen shrugged: "One day you will be able to eat me." ”

"Hahaha."

Xu Shu laughed and stepped into the restaurant: "Eat poor, you rich man, even if it is my son, my grandson, my grandchildren, I don't know how many generations I can't eat you poor." ”

Zhuge Liang smiled slightly, did not speak, and followed the two in.

Although Shen Chen followed Liu Qi and had a different position from Liu Cong's forces, because of the relationship between Deng Hong and Cai's, the restaurant did not suffer any blow and was open normally.

It's just that it's not been peaceful lately, and business isn't very good, there are no customers at noon, and the shopkeeper and his buddies are napping there bored.

After Shen Chen came in, when the shopkeeper saw him, he suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, and hurriedly walked over and bowed his head and said, "The young owner is here." ”

"Hmm."

Shen Chen nodded, then turned his head to look at Xu Shu: "What to eat?" ”

"Nature is"

Xu Shu ordered a few good dishes in the restaurant.

As the first restaurant in Xiangyang City to start making stir-fried dishes, Xu Shu lingered, and seized the opportunity to ask Shen Chen to invite him to rub it, and the menu was like a stream.

After ordering, the three of them went to the attic private room, the door closed, Zhuge Liang sat on the seat, staring at Shen Chen with a smile, Xu Shu called him a few times, Zhuge Liang did not respond.

At this time, Xu Shu also saw that something was wrong, Shen Chen was stared at by Zhuge Liang, so he asked, "Brother, is there anything on my face?" ”

"The eldest son's move today was planned by you."

Zhuge Liang asked.

Shen Chen said with a smile: "Brother, don't smear people's innocence out of thin air, this is the eldest son's own understanding, knowing that Jingzhou can only be decided by Xuande Gong, how can it be said that I planned it?" ”

Zhuge Liang narrowed his eyes, those eyes were as cunning as a fox, as if he had the ability to understand people's hearts.

Xu Shu looked at Zhuge Liang, then at Shen Chen, and then asked, "Kong Ming, you said that this matter was planned by Xiaoqing, what evidence do you have?" ”

"Not really."

Zhuge Liang said with a smile: "I just think there is something strange in it, when the lord came to Longzhong to look for me, he told me that Xiaoqing planned for him, and when the king of Chu was called emperor, the lord could get Jingzhou." I was thinking at the time, the king of Chu is strong, even if he is called the emperor, how can he make the lord get Jingzhou? As a result, in less than two years, the king of Chu died, the great foundation fell apart, and the lord won in the chaos. ”

Xu Shu scratched his head and said: "The king of Chu is very old, and after becoming the emperor, he has suffered repeated blows, and he has been defeated several times, and it is normal for him to die suddenly. ”

"But why is Xiaoqing so sure that the day when the king of Chu becomes emperor is the time when the lord wins Jingzhou? How did he know that after the king of Chu became emperor, he would suffer a series of blows and die? ”

Zhuge Liang said: "There are so many variables in this, no one can guarantee it. And not only the king of Chu, but also now, seeing that the eldest son recaptured Jingzhou, and when our plan to seek the south was about to fail, the prince suddenly fell seriously ill and had to be handed over to the lord. Xiaoqing seemed to know when the king of Chu and the eldest son would have an accident, which made me quite puzzled. ”

"It's just a coincidence."

Shen Chen poured himself a glass of water to cover up his weakness.

However, he maintained a calm look on his face, but his heart was extremely shocked.

Brother Xindao is really wise and close to the demon, and he can actually see some clues through some clues.

Because he knew that Liu Biao would die of illness last year, and Liu Qi would die of illness this year.

Therefore, when he gave Liu Bei ideas, the content was very rough, with only a general direction, and no detailed planning.

It's not that he's lazy, it's that he doesn't need to plan at all.

When Liu Biao dies, as long as he unites with Liu Qi to defeat Liu Cong and seize Jingzhou, and then after Liu Qi dies of illness, it will be a matter of course for Liu Bei to get Jingzhou.

But it was precisely because the planning was very rough and the words were too sure before, which led to the development of everything too smooth, and almost less than three years have passed since Liu Biao called the emperor, and Liu Bei really won Jingzhou as Shen Chen said.

So Zhuge Liang became suspicious, could it be that there is an invisible hand behind this?

He suspected that it was Shen Chen.

And Shen Chen naturally knew that he actually knew exactly the death dates of Liu Biao and Liu Qi, so he quietly waited for the opportunity.

It's just that there is Jia Xu secretly doing things inside, he opened one eye and closed one eye and didn't make a sound, that's all, he didn't do anything to assassinate Liu Biao and Liu Qi at all.

Therefore, if Zhuge Liang thought that Shen Chen secretly poisoned Liu Biao and Liu Qi or something, then he really wronged him, he just knew history, and he was not so mad that he poisoned Liu Biao and Liu Qi.

But fortunately, Zhuge Liang just felt that the matter was too coincidental, and asked tentatively, without any evidence.

Otherwise, he might really show some kind of horsetails.

"I hope so."

Zhuge Liang nodded slightly, then looked at Shen Chen and said, "But if the eldest son can think of that, I don't believe it, I'm afraid that someone will pull it behind it." ”

Shen Chen said with a smile: "It was my sixth ancestor who understood the righteousness, and for the sake of the eldest grandson of the King of Chu and the second son and the third son, he strongly persuaded the eldest son to give the state affairs to General Zuo, and the eldest son was seriously ill and could not be maintained, which was also a helpless move."

"Really?"

Zhuge Liang looked at him with a smile.

Even Xu Shu's eyes were full of suspicion when he looked at him.

Liu Qi is Deng Hong lobbying behind his back, so who is behind Deng Hong?

It's not you Shen Chen yet.

If you believe Shen Chen's words, then you will call a ghost.

"That's nature."

Shen Chen naturally couldn't admit it, and quibbled: "Brother, don't suspect that I am behind my back, everyone knows that I am favored by the King of Chu, and I am friendly with the eldest son, and I was born and died for the great cause of the King of Chu, how can I have the intention of betraying the Lord?" ”

Zhuge Liang rolled his eyes, and then said: "Now General Zuo has won Jingzhou, but Jingzhou is also in turmoil, the various factions are fighting each other, the state capital is deserted, the officials are resentful, the wealth valley is lacking, and the redundant officials and soldiers are redundant, what do you think should be?" ”

Xu Shu pondered: "I'm afraid we have to carry out rectification up and down, such as cutting down soldiers and horses, being diligent in farming, accumulating money and valley, and building sword soldiers, at least for a few years to recuperate." ”

"Hmm."

Shen Chen also nodded and said: "Back then, I made a plan to the King of Chu, collecting the remnants of the Yellow Turban and hundreds of thousands of displaced people in Guanzhong, Henan and other places, reclaiming wasteland, and raising people's fields, so that in a few years, the palace of the King of Chu was solid, and there was a lot of grain and grass. ”

Zhuge Liang smiled: "It's easy to say, then you should give a practical plan." ”

Xu Shu and Shen Chen glanced at each other, slightly hesitating.

This is actually reforming internal affairs.

Shen Chen, Zhuge Liang, and Xu Shu have all lived in the south for a long time, and they all know how serious the problems within Jingzhou are.

Liu Bei has just grasped the power of the state capital, and if he wants to make a difference, he must not only solve external contradictions, but also solve internal problems, such as food and clothing for the people, strong soldiers and horses, abundant food and grass, and unity of mind.

However, the situation of internal affairs is extremely complicated, far from being clear in a few words, including class contradictions, land problems, official problems, soldiers and horses, and the problems of the powerful family, etc., resulting in Jingzhou being like an old man who is about to die, exuding a drooping old spirit.

The only thing that is not a problem is that there is still a surplus in the Xiangyang treasury, and the grain and grass are relatively sufficient, so there will be no shortage of food.

But the people are still living very poorly, such as the people of Tuntian in Nanyang, who are currently mixed with food and clothing, and in the event of a famine or military rebellion, ten rooms and nine empty, and the people in other places are similar, and they will not die of hunger in a bumper harvest year, let alone want to have a surplus.

Therefore, it is by no means a simple matter to properly handle these internal affairs issues.

Reform is necessary.

If reform is to be carried out, it is necessary for a bold person to stand up and make an arbitrary decision to control the entire situation.

For example, in the military, the old and weak are eliminated, the elite are retained, and the soldiers are trained.

In the officialdom, we should eliminate mediocrity, fight corruption and promote honesty, and select and appoint talents.

At the local level, it is necessary to appease the barbarians and distribute land to the landless people.

At the same time, it is necessary to deal with the big families with fierce measures, cut farmland, check hidden households, and emancipate slaves.

He also found out the people hiding in the mountains, persuaded them to go down the mountain, compiled household registrations, distributed farm property, and solved poverty.

None of these are easy to deal with.

The reason why Shen Chen and Xu Shu hesitated was because the forced reform would move the cake of those with vested interests, and officials at all levels in Jingzhou and the big families would inevitably be resentful.

For example, land and population reform.

The big families have a large amount of land and population, and they do not pay taxes, do not pay, do not serve the state government, and oppress the people, hide the clan soldiers, and become an internal disaster.

Land and population reform will inevitably snatch food from their mouths.

Just like Shang Ying's reform, it touched the interests of the old aristocracy, and was finally liquidated by the old aristocracy, and the five horses split the corpse and died.

Although they are not afraid of death, in the face of such a powerful old force, everyone will hesitate a little.

Seeing that they hesitated, Zhuge Liang said softly: "I'll do this." ”

"I can't do it."

Shen Chen shook his head and said, "At least I can't do it now, and it shouldn't be done by my brother." ”

Zhuge Liang smiled bitterly: "If we don't do it, how can we strengthen the army and the state?" Although Cao Cao was defeated, but the lord of Jingzhou was newly obtained, the soldiers and horses were insufficient, and the people's hearts were unstable. ”

Xu Shu looked at Shen Chen with some confusion and said: "Xiaoqing, when it came to national affairs in the past, you said that the chaos in the world began with man-made disasters and natural disasters, and now Kong Ming wants to change from man-made disasters to man-made governance, why do you oppose it?" ”

Shen Chen asked, "How long does my brother plan to govern?" ”

Zhuge Liang muttered: "Xiaoqing once said that the frog is boiled in warm water, and the current situation in Jingzhou should not be radical, if the system is forcibly reformed, the family will be centrifuged, and the people will not have a good life." Therefore, I plan to start with the army and officials, dismiss the old and weak soldiers, investigate and deal with corrupt officials, and order that there are elite soldiers and strong generals in the army, so that the local government can be politically clear, and then improve the people's livelihood step by step, maybe in three to five years, or even longer. ”

Shen Chen said with a smile: "Brother, this is easy first and then difficult, the direction is right, but this difficulty is also the most important point." The people need good land for survival, but these lands are occupied by the big families, and if they do something to them, the elder brother will cut himself off from the villagers. ”

Zhuge Liang's brows were locked all of a sudden, and Xu Shu was also thoughtful.

That's the big problem.

Now that Jingzhou has just been pacified, the interior is in a mess, and it must be rectified, so as to strengthen the army and strengthen the state, so that Liu Bei has the strength to go north to attack Cao Cao.

Otherwise, if it continues to be so rotten, even if there are 200,000 troops in the air, it will be a rabble.

Just like Zhuge Liang did internal affairs in Yizhou in history, he must first handle the internal affairs well, stabilize the people's hearts, fill the treasury, have more finances, and train the soldiers well, so that he can go out of Qishan and revive the Han Dynasty.

Therefore, seeing that Shen Chen and Xu Shu couldn't come up with any good ideas, Zhuge Liang planned to reform the system himself.

His way of doing things is also very smart, knowing that there is a lot of resistance, and he is afraid of causing a strong backlash, like many of Wang Mang's policies, which will make people angry, so he did not choose a radical way, but planned to deal with it step by step, first difficult and then easy.

But no matter what way he goes, he can do those internal affairs in Yizhou, but not in Jingzhou.

Because of the township party problem.

The local atmosphere of the Han Dynasty was extremely strong, and the villagers gathered together in other places to keep warm, which was called the township party. Locally, they will crowd out outsiders together and help their relatives but not help them.

This kind of thing abounds not only in the Han Dynasty, but also in the new era of later generations.

For example, those traffickers abducted and sold women to remote mountainous areas, and were bought by people in mountain villages to become wives, and the police learned the news and went to the rescue, and as a result, the whole village ran out to confront the police.

Therefore, in such an era with a strong atmosphere of the township party, you, as a member of it, often have to follow this subtle rule.

Of course.

It's okay not to comply.

Xue Cheng Yu.

Just plunder the people of your hometown and make them into dried meat.

But it's not so easy to learn Cheng Yu.

When Cheng Yu plundered his hometown, it was not the powerful family that harmed, but the people at the bottom.

At that time, after the Yellow Turban Rebellion and Dong Zhuo's Rebellion, Cheng Yu's hometown was not a strong family, and those who were able to run away early, leaving only some poor people who could not escape.

The people at the bottom are not human, so even if Cheng Yu does those things, no one will do justice for them.

Jingzhou is very different.

Nanyang and Jiangxia often fight, but Nanjun, Zhangling and Jingnan are quite stable, and the families are full of powerful families, and the relationships inside are intertwined and extremely complex, which can be said to affect the whole body.

Although Zhuge Liang is not from Jingzhou, he is now a member of the Jingzhou family.

The two sisters married the Kuai family and the Pang family, and they married the daughters of the Huang family, if they want to move the cake of those vested interests, they first have to take the two brothers-in-law's family and their father-in-law's family, and their reputation is estimated to be stinky overnight.

Friends who are familiar with history know that although history is written by the people, at least history books are not.

In history, Zhuge Liang could engage in internal affairs in Yizhou, strictly enforce the law, appease the people, suppress the family, restrain officials, reward and punish in moderation, and keep Yizhou in order, and no one will scold him.

Because he is not a native of Yizhou, there is no need to care about the interests of these Yizhou families, if he is offended, he will be offended, and those people can't make any waves.

But if you do that in Jingzhou, the resistance will be very great, and the husband's family and father-in-law's family of the two sisters, the pressure from all sides will follow.

Even if it is forcibly suppressed, it will offend a large number of stakeholders, including relatives and friends, and it is estimated that the entire Jingzhou Shi clan will scold him for being a white-eyed wolf who eats inside and out.

Therefore, Zhuge Liang is engaged in internal affairs in Jingzhou, and the pressure will be very great.

And it's not just him.

Shen Chen is the same.

Although he has no sister and wife, he has a clan.

His own clan also belongs to vested interests, and he has many involvement with the major families in Jingzhou.

When he was crowned, which family didn't send someone to give a gift?

Once he came to preside over the reform, the same was true.

Therefore, if Zhuge Liang and Shen Chen came to handle this matter, it would be very troublesome, and it would even backfire, causing unpredictable results.

Therefore, Shen Chen dissuaded Zhuge Liang from engaging in internal affairs in Jingzhou.

But if the restructuring is not carried out, under the old order, if Liu Bei wants to make Jingzhou rich and strong, he has a group of elite soldiers in his hands, and he can go north to attack Cao Cao, which is not very realistic.

Even if the whole of the South is obtained, there is still a big gap between it and the North as a whole in terms of population and productivity.

So it's a dilemma.

Xu Shu pondered for a long time, gritted his teeth and said: "Then I'll do this, I'm not from Jingzhou, and I don't have a clan in Jingzhou, so I think it's better to come." ”

"That's not going to work either."

Shen Chen shook his head and said, "After all, Brother Yuan has been in Jingzhou for many years, although he has no clan, he also has relatives and friends. If you preside over the change, it will be difficult for others to find me and Brother Kong Ming. ”

Zhuge Liang frowned and said, "In the past, when it came to these, Xiaoqing had a lot of opinions. Such as class contradictions, insufficient productive forces, defective personnel selection system, corruption and incompetence of the government, and so on. Why is it that when it is time for change today, Xiaoqing is pushing back? ”

Shen Chen explained: "I am not pushing back, but I want to say that with the current situation, even if it is implemented slowly by gentle means, it will not be immune to pressure from many sides, so we must adopt other methods." ”

"What's the solution?"

Zhuge Liang and Xu Shu both looked at him curiously.

Shen Chen smiled slightly, looked at the west with a deep gaze, and said softly: "Borrow a knife to kill!" ”

(End of chapter)