Big man: I am the Champion Marquis!

Chapter 7: General
Although it was very uncomfortable to be watched by others, Huo Xian knew that he had no choice.

In addition to status, age is also a big factor. If she is really fourteen or fifteen years old or older, even if she wants to live in Weiyang Palace forever, the ministers will raise objections.

Princess Pingyang looked at Huo Xian and said, "The harvests from your fiefs are good this year. What should be stored should be stored, and what should be sold should be sold."

Huo Xian's fief was quite large, almost 13,000 households. This was naturally because Huo Qubing had made great military achievements, so Emperor Liu Che specially set up Guanjun County as the fief of Guanjun Hou.

It doesn't mean that Huo Qubing and Huo Shan can directly collect rent from these 13,000 households.

Although the fief system was popular in the Zhou Dynasty, when the nobles and officials enjoyed the right to rule in their fiefs, during the Qin and Han dynasties, those who received titles gradually lost the right to rule in their fiefs, and the food salary was instead allocated from taxes levied on the people in the fiefs, and the amount was calculated based on the people's property.

Huo Xian was not surprised. He had been living and eating in the palace for so many years, and basically had no expenses. Therefore, the income from the fiefdom was basically saved. Many people attached great importance to this matter.

The Queen and the Crown Prince paid attention to these matters. Wei Qing and Princess Pingyang also attached great importance to this matter. Huo Guang would also pay attention to it from time to time.

It's not that he was eyeing Huo Xian's property, but he was afraid that someone would take advantage of Huo Xian's young age and take the property away.

"Sell the grain for gold and copper coins." Huo Xian said, "It's useless to keep the grain just in the grain pile, so it's good to exchange it for some copper coins. The other thing is to take some out. Forget it, I'll go talk to my cousin."

Seeing Huo Xian about to run away, Princess Pingyang grabbed him and said, "Tell me, what is it that the Crown Prince can know but we can't?"

Wei Zifu also joked, "Shan'er, no one can touch your property. Your aunt and I hold the key to the storehouse, and we have to check every account that goes in and out."

"That's something I'll need to discuss with you. I just want to use 20% of my wealth to support the orphans and widows." Huo Xian said directly, "This matter can only be handled by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. I can't do it."

It's not possible to buy people's hearts, especially for someone of Huo Xian's status.

When it comes to comforting the soldiers, etc., Huo Xian needs to be more careful about the degree of this, because he is the Marquis of Guanjun and cannot seize the power of the emperor.

Princess Pingyang quickly became serious, "Xian'er, what do you think?"

Wei Zifu also hurriedly advised, "Xian'er, let's not talk about the fact that you have a lot of food and money. You want to support the orphans and widows, this is not good."

"I know, that's why I said I wanted to find His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Huo Xian replied, "I only need the orphans of those who died in battle, or the elderly who have no one to support them. I won't do anything else. I should also learn from the general and my grandfather and not keep retainers."

Nowadays, people with some status will keep retainers, and this custom has been passed down since the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. It was also the same in the Han Dynasty, and many powerful people kept many retainers.

Some of these retainers have real talents and can do things for their masters at critical moments, but some of them are just in name only and are there to eat and drink for free.

These people usually have no fixed jobs, do not have to do odd jobs, and still eat and drink and get paid. They are only assigned work when their masters need them to do something.

The so-called Four Gentlemen of the Warring States Period all maintained a large number of retainers.

Princess Pingyang thought about it carefully and said, "This is still a little inappropriate. You should discuss it with His Majesty."

"It's okay to raise orphans and support the elderly, but you can't support scholars." Wei Zifu then said, "This matter needs to be discussed with Your Majesty and the Crown Prince. You can't make the decision, and neither can we."

Princess Pingyang couldn't help but joked, "It used to be said that it is more important to cure diseases than to save soldiers. Can't you learn from some generals who respect the wise and treat their soldiers like their own sons? I can't see that. You are kind-hearted."

Wei Zifu pretended to have a headache and looked disgusted. "I'm afraid that the only person who rode a horse in Chang'an before was Qubing. He was too flamboyant, and he would cause trouble every time he left the palace. At that time, I thought it would be fine as long as he was not too arrogant, but who would have thought that he would have made so many contributions."

Huo Qubing served as a close minister to the emperor when he was young, so some people thought he did not know how to cherish his soldiers. He even ordered the palace service department to prepare food for him when he went to war, and there were dozens of carts. When the army returned to the frontier, the uneaten rice and meat were thrown away from these food carts, and the soldiers looked hungry. When the soldiers were short of food outside the frontier, he played football in the barracks.

Huo Xian chuckled, "A general's duty is to win the battle, so it's natural for him to love his soldiers like his own sons. But if a general behaves in a panic and hesitates, how can the army still have morale? The way to be a general is to control your heart first. If you can remain calm even when Mount Tai collapses in front of you and keep your eyes straight even when a deer appears on your left, then you can control the odds and deal with the enemy." Wei Zifu and Princess Pingyang were stunned, then overjoyed, "Great, Xian'er really has the talent to be a general!"

Su Xun of the Song Dynasty said, "Even if Mount Tai collapses in front of you, your expression remains unchanged." Wei Zifu and others were certainly surprised that Huo Xian said such a thing.

Their expectations for Huo Xian were very simple, which was to complete the cause that Huo Qubing had not completed.

Even if people think Huo Xian is not as capable as Huo Qubing, as long as he can take on the important responsibility, that is enough.

Huo Qubing died young, Wei Qing's three sons were all mediocre, and Wei Qing is now almost fifty years old, which makes people a little worried.

It is very likely that the Wei and Huo families, who were once prominent, have no successors, which is worrying.

As for Huo Guang, his ability does seem good. But neither Wei Qing nor Wei Zifu considered Huo Guang as their own family member.

If Huo Xian could succeed, if he could take on the responsibility when he grew up, the glory of the Wei and Huo families would naturally continue. By then, the Wei and Huo families would not only be temporarily prominent foreign relatives, but could become so-called aristocratic families.

Huo Xian, who became a copyist, received a lot of praise and recognition, but it didn't have much effect. What he wanted to do most now was to leave the palace, but unfortunately there was no progress so far.

Although there was nothing he could do about this matter, Huo Xian was not particularly anxious.

Since she is still young, there is no need to worry too much about staying in the palace for the time being. For the time being, she can still rely on her age to act cute, and even if there are some minor mistakes, they can be forgiven.

What's more, I need to continue to learn and improve, and better understand some specific conditions of this era. If I stay in the palace, I will definitely be exposed to more things and know more about things.

After showing up in the Pepper Palace, Huo Xian ran to the Eastern Palace.

Liu Jin was happy when he saw Huo Xian, "Cousin!"

Looking at this chubby little kid, Huo Xian also felt happy, "Do you miss your cousin?"

"I thought about it!" Liu Jin replied in a baby voice, "Cousin, take me riding a horse!"

Huo Xian immediately shook his head and said, "I'm still practicing horse riding, so I can't take you with me! Let's talk about it in a few years. When you grow up, I will take you riding!"

Huo Xian can ride a horse, but he is still far from being an excellent archer. If you want to be a commander who commands thousands of troops, especially cavalry, it would be a joke if you can't ride a horse. Not only do you have to be able to ride a horse, but you also have to be an excellent rider!

Liu Ju asked Shi Liangdi to take Liu Jin away, and asked with a smile, "You rarely come to the East Palace, is there anything you want me to do?"

"I just heard from my aunt that the tax revenue from the fiefdom has been deposited into the treasury, and I thought it would be useless to keep so much money and property." Huo Xian said directly, "I plan to give some of it to my cousin, firstly to comfort the families of the soldiers who died in the battle, and secondly to let my uncle recruit some talents."

Liu Ju immediately said, "There is no need to do this. If soldiers die in battle, the court will provide compensation. I also have some money here, which is enough to recruit some talented people."

Liu Ju kept retainers, which was allowed and even supported by the emperor, so he was naturally not afraid of breaking taboos.

"That's different. Most of the soldiers who died in battle were laborers in their families." Huo Xian said, "I also know that it is difficult to take care of everyone. There are always some orphans and the elderly who are difficult to take care of. A general's success is the result of the sacrifice of thousands of soldiers. Aung's achievements are unparalleled, and we cannot forget those soldiers who died in battle."

Liu Ju was silent for a moment before he said, "Well, I'll have someone pick up these properties. Don't worry, if all these properties cannot be delivered to the orphans and the elderly, I will go and apologize! If any officials in the East Palace dare to tamper with these properties, I will kill them myself and then apologize to you!"

Huo Xian started laughing, and then added something to his own story, "I still have some money left, so I'll ask my cousin to help me build a house. I've made up my mind, so I'll go to Shanglin Garden! I'll go and ask His Majesty."

Liu Ju immediately pretended to be deaf and dumb, saying that he was busy. Shanglinyuan was a royal garden with a special status, but it was not a big problem for Huo Xian to go there. However, Huo Xian had always wanted to leave the palace, which was not acceptable. Liu Ju was the first to disagree!
(End of this chapter)