"Prime Minister, this is the tax paid by the five counties of Longyou last year as reported by Fei Tingshi. Compared with the previous two years, it is clear that the tax has risen significantly. ”

"And the Brazilian county guard also reported that in the past two years, the Longyou caravan has purchased a large number of bamboo from Shuzhong......"

A scribe of Zhuge Liang presented Zhuge Liang with the files of Yongzhou, and briefly described the situation reported by the county guard of Sanba.

After Zhao Yun's letter was delivered to the Prime Minister's Mansion, Zhuge Liang immediately began to investigate and wrote to inquire about Fei Yi's specific situation.

Now Fei Yi's reply has not yet arrived, but the Prime Minister's Mansion has almost checked the files of the five counties of Longyou.

But I don't know if I don't check, and I was shocked by the Prime Minister's Mansion.

In just three years, Longyou's taxes suddenly surged, and every year there was a large amount of taxes and grain more than the previous year. Until now, Longyou's taxes have risen by more than 40%, and they are still increasing.

And for some reason, Longyou's demand for bamboo suddenly increased a lot. Located next to Shu Road, Sanba has Longyou merchants buying a large amount of bamboo every year.

This is an abnormal signal, and Zhuge Liang is also a little puzzled by this.

He is not worried about Fei Yi's loyalty, this popular assassin is just like the teacher said, this is a loyal and good minister. However, Zhuge Liang was also very curious about the sudden change in Longyou.

After some investigation, Zhuge Liang targeted Ma Yan. Because judging from the ledger, the largest increase in tax revenue is Longxi County and Ji County, which Ma Jian is responsible for.

"Prime Minister! The auxiliary general asks to see! ”

At this time, a scribe walked in and reported to Zhuge Liang.

"He came just when I wanted to find him, let you come in." Zhuge Liang was stunned for a moment, then laughed and said.

Then Jiang Wan pulled Ma Jian in, saluted Zhuge Liang and retreated.

"Prime Minister!" Ma Tan saluted.

"Youchang, I was just about to send someone to find you." Zhuge Liang smiled, pointed at Ma Tan with a feather fan,

"You kid hasn't come out of the Guangduo Mansion in the past two days, do you know how many people Your Majesty has sent to me to go to the East Palace to teach the prince?"

"Ahem...... Prime Minister, I'm not good at teaching others, it's easy to delay the prince's ......" Ma Tan looked embarrassed and cautiously quibbled.

"Don't talk nonsense, give me an honest trip to the East Palace from tomorrow!" Zhuge Liang snorted lightly, ignoring Ma Yan's sophistry, and ordered directly.

Ma Yan's current identity must be bound to the crown prince. Only in this way can Ma Jian and his subordinates really fight wholeheartedly for Kuang Fu Han in the future.

Moreover, Liu Chan directly set Ma Jian as the prince's father, so naturally he had to be more intimate with the prince. Otherwise, the relationship between the prince and Ma Jian in the future will not be good, and it will easily cause turmoil in the court.

Even if you can take it yourself, you have to go up and make love, right?

Under Zhuge Liang's direct order, Ma Jian could only pinch his nose and admit it.

Just teach, it's just one more student.

After saying this, Zhuge Liang changed the conversation and said suddenly.

"Speaking of which, you served in Longyou a few years ago, what achievements did you have?"

"In the past two years, Longyou's taxes have increased substantially, and the treasury is full of money and grain. But according to the calculations of the Prime Minister's Office, Longyou will never have this tax. ”

"So, do you have any clue about it?"

"No, Prime Minister!" Ma Tan said honestly.

He really didn't have a clue and wasn't interested in learning about it.

After all, he has been gone for two or three years, and Longxi Taishou has become Li Mu. What is going on over there now, Ma Jian has no news at all.

I don't know what happened to Li Mu and Yao Hu, and whether they were affected by the chaos.

"No?" Zhuge Liang narrowed his eyes, a little disbelieving.

Usually you have the most ideas, whether it's a war or a court. You've been in Longyou for more than a year, and you haven't changed the place at all?

However, Zhuge Liang didn't say anything, just nodded and asked Ma Yan's intention.

Ma Jian was not polite, and said directly to Zhuge Liang.

"Prime Minister, I found that our Han officials' salaries are a bit too little, and they are often in arrears. If this continues, it will not only affect the operation of the government, but also hit the heart of the Han courtiers to serve their family and country. ”

"Therefore, I hope to increase the income of Han officials, at least the amount of money that can be returned to the Later Han Dynasty."

Ma Tan has been planning for a long time for this article.

The Han is so poor that the treasury is in deficit all year round, and there is basically not much income.

In particular, Lao Liu borrowed so many debts in the battle of Hanzhong, which once made Shu Han's finances close to collapse. Even if there is Shu brocade trade now, the Shu Han economy is still beyond its means.

There is no way, no matter how small the size of Shu Han is, it is also a country, with at least 50,000 officials. And even if Cao Wei Dongwu used all Shu brocade, the income obtained could not make up for such a big deficit.

Therefore, the Shu Han officials' salaries are very low, and they will be in arrears in difficult times.

Because of this, officials like Xiang Zhangwei who came from a poor background have no money for treatment. And Ma Jian himself is such a permanent general, and there are not a few left to subsidize the guards.

This caused Ma Jian to not even be able to raise a concubine!!

But now, Shu Han has won several foreign wars, and his finances are a bit rich. Therefore, Ma Jian also took advantage of Zhang Wei's excuse to come to Zhuge Liang to talk about it.

Regarding Ma Yan's proposal, Zhuge Liang couldn't help frowning, and hesitated for a while.

Ma Tan is indeed right, and the article on the payment of officials is indeed a big problem. The problem is that although the finances are not so difficult now, there will not be much wealth.

As soon as wages are raised, I am afraid that the financial situation will return to the previous difficult period. At that time, many policies that may be launched may have to be delayed again.

This is a trade-off between a family and a country, and Zhuge Liang cannot be exempt from vulgarity because of this.

But just as Zhuge Liang was thinking, another scribe walked in.

"Prime Minister! Longyou's reply to Fei Tingshi's reply came. ”

"Oh?" Zhuge Liang was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously waved his hand to take a letter.

This is Fei Yi's reply to Zhuge Liang, and there is also an explanation of the changes in Longyou during this time.

After a general look at Fei Yi's letter, Zhuge Liang's eyes suddenly lit up, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly.

"I see, Ma Youchang is hiding so deeply!"

Ma Tan: "??? ”

Looking at Ma Jian with a blank expression, Zhuge Liang pointed at Ma Jian with a smile on the corner of his mouth.

"If it weren't for Fei Yi's reply to explain, I'm afraid I'd still be in the dark?"

"No, Prime Minister......"

"Okay, I can understand that you want to surprise the court, but there is no need to hide it so deeply."

"......"

"Needless to say, now that you've got an idea and implemented it, I don't have much more to say. Let's carry it out first, if it succeeds, not only will the officials be promoted, but the finances will no longer be in deficit in the future. ”

Ma Yan: "......"

What is the prime minister talking about?

(End of chapter)