Joy of Life: I am a Han Dynasty succubus, and I rebel from the beginning

Chapter 342: War Contribution Debt? Burning Tangzhou City, this is not to investigate corruption, it is to suppress
After a while, Han Xin's eyes regained their previous confidence and determination. He clenched his fists and responded in a deep voice.

"A man should never worry about not having a wife!"

"King Han, I am still young and have time to continue choosing a wife."

Liu Hong nodded with a smile, with the ambition to destroy the Qing Kingdom and unify the world.

Han Xin can abandon everything and move towards this goal.

Han Xin turned around again and looked at Liu Hong.

"King of Han, now that you have brought Lin Wan'er and Liu Ying back, will you return to Kyoto or supervise the battle in Hengzhou?"

When it comes to supervising the battle, Han Xin's face looks a little conflicted.

If someone above keeps micromanaging, not to mention the God of War, all the Ten Sages of the Martial Temple may fail.

Liu Hong shook his head and stared at the rolling Yangtze River for a long time.

"No hurry, I plan to go to Dongyi City, and then to Beiqi to see the shortcomings of the reform."

The contents of the reforms are all for the benefit of the majority of the people, but it is not known to what extent they can be implemented locally.

If 50% of the reform can be implemented, then the official is qualified. If 70% can be implemented, then he is a capable official and worthy of promotion.

As for more than 90%... forget it.

This is impossible in the 21st century. Take education as an example. School tutoring should be cancelled and students should get eight hours of sleep.

There are very few places where this can actually be implemented.

If anyone wants to explore this, don't ask. Just ask about the policy adjustments in local education.

Han Xin looked shocked.

Is the King of Han just going to give up his power so carelessly?
But then, a hint of bitterness and realization appeared at the corners of Han Xin's mouth.

Not to mention that the King of Han was away for half a year, even if he was away for a year, the King of Han still held the highest power in the Han State.

It’s not because Liu Hong is just a grandmaster.

Rather, the reason why both Han Xin and Lin Ruofu were so powerful was because Liu Hong was willing to stimulate their initiative.

Senior officials above the third rank, as well as generals, were all old men who had followed Liu Hong for a long time and were completely loyal to him.

There were also local public opinion conferences, which were supported by all major classes except the aristocratic families.

As the founding monarch, Liu Hong's reputation was at its peak and he didn't care at all whether there were powerful ministers who threatened his imperial power.

Liu Hong waved to Han Xin, stepped on the small boat, and disappeared from everyone's sight.

From Hengzhou to Wuzhou, from Wuzhou to Danzhou, and then to Jiaozhou.

Along the way, we passed through seventeen states and counties, where the degree of reform varied.

Liu Hong, dressed in cloth, watched the reform scenes, with a growing smile on his face.

The basis for the reform is constantly expanding, the peasants' taxes are reduced, and they are contentedly enjoying the harvest of wheat and rice.

Under the national policy of 10% tax, local prefectures and counties were strictly prevented from increasing taxes privately.

The burden that ultimately falls on farmers is basically five taxes and one percent.

Having enough food is still a luxury at the moment, but the living standards have improved a lot after all, so people don't have to sell their children when they encounter a little difficulty.

Under the catalyst of war, bourgeois factory owners continued to produce various cloths and canned goods and expand production.

There are more and more workers in the states and counties, and they have become a stable branch in the people's conference.

Liu Hong nodded repeatedly.

He put forward advanced theories and at the same time popularized the three major workshops of Neiku to promote the development of productivity.

So far, advanced ideas have influenced the rapid development of productivity.

As for what disadvantages there will be in the future, Liu Hong doesn’t know either. The timeline of Joy of Life has been changed beyond recognition during his rebellion.

Who can predict what will happen in the future? Let future generations decide for themselves.

However, Liu Hong's good mood came to an abrupt end when he arrived in Tangzhou, the capital of Dongshan Road.

The farmers in Tangzhou were still burdened with heavy taxes. The Han Dynasty's tenth tax was indeed implemented, and the taxes in the prefectures and counties were not increased separately.

But some genius came up with the war contribution debt.

What it meant was that the Han Kingdom and the Qing Kingdom were at war, and people from all walks of life were required to contribute enthusiastically and donate silver and grain.

If you don’t donate, you are unpatriotic!

If you are not patriotic, you cannot enjoy the fruits of the Han Dynasty's reforms, and the officials of Tangzhou began to exploit people with greater ease.

But if you donate, it will be no different from the national debt of Qing State, and the previous three taxes and one, or five taxes and one.

The old farmer, covered in mud and wearing patched clothes, drank a large bowl of water, pursed his cracked lips, and looked a little sad.

Looking at the middle-aged man in front of him who was dressed simply.

After thinking for a while, I couldn't help but ask.

"Sir, those officials are always preaching about how good the reform is, but I feel the same as when I was in Qing Kingdom."

"I heard that farmers in other counties and prefectures live well, but there has been no change in our Tangzhou. Or is our Tangzhou not the land of the Han Kingdom?"

When Liu Hong heard the old farmer say this, his face darkened and he suppressed the anger in his chest.

What does it mean that there are policies from the top and countermeasures from the bottom?

That's it! Tangzhou was responsible for monitoring the People's Conference, Qianhang, and Baoyue Tower, all of which were bribed.

If Liu Hong had not traveled alone this time, he probably would not have known that Tangzhou's reforms could be so perfunctory.

Liu Hong forced a smile and handed over some small pieces of silver.

"My dear father-in-law, you are joking. How can I be called an adult?"

The old farmer looked at Liu Hong suspiciously, then shook his head with certainty.

"Sir, you must be the imperial censor sent by the court! Although you are dressed as a peasant and wearing plain linen clothes, you don't look like one."

Liu Hong was about to raise his foot, but he paused and looked at the old farmer with interest.

"Why do you say that?"

The old farmer weighed the change and his voice became more certain.

"Because you ask too many questions, sir. We don't care much about these political affairs. We just want to have enough food and clothes, that's all."

"Besides, your clothes are so clean, sir."

Liu Hong took a look at his clothes and burst out laughing.

Farmers' clothes are never clean and tidy; they are filled with sweat, dirt and dust, and are always patched and mended.

This is a symbol of hard work and endurance.

Seeing that Liu Hong did not continue to deny it, the old farmer also laughed.

He had met many officials, and this gentleman was very good.

He is not arrogant and knows how to give a lot of money even if he asks for a bowl of water.

Liu Hong took out a token from his arms and threw it to the old farmer.

"Old man, we'll see each other again!"

Then he waved his hand and walked towards Tangzhou City.

The old farmer took a look at the token, but unfortunately he was illiterate. Tangzhou had even changed the national policy of 10% tax beyond recognition.

As for the one-year compulsory education in the reform, how could we be willing to implement it?

"Old Li, what are you still standing there for? Get to work!"

Muramasa walked towards Old Li in a rage and slapped him on the head.

"You idiot, have you forgotten? In a few years we will have to pay the war contribution debt again."

Old Li scratched his head and handed the token to Muramasa.

"Village chief, what does this mean? A man is digging the ground with a hoe, and there are five bars."

Muramasa took the token, glanced at it casually, and his face changed drastically in an instant.

The Yinglong pattern of the Han Dynasty is flying with its wings spread, which is lifelike. The farmers are sweating under the protection of Yinglong, and five golden patterns are intertwined on their bodies.

"A fifth-rank agricultural envoy? Old Li, where are you from? If you steal this, you will be beheaded."

The village chief was in a panic and stuffed the food into Old Li's arms like a sweet potato.

Old Li scratched his head and was also surprised.

"Fifth rank? Or a farming envoy? This was given to me by a middle-aged man, who also told me to see you again if we are destined to meet again."

After saying this, Old Li and Muramasa froze in place.

Muramasa's voice was dry.

"Have you met the King of Han? In the entire Han Kingdom, only the King of Han and the cabinet can personally appoint agricultural envoys and scientific research envoys above the fifth rank."

The two looked at each other in silence, and then fell into ecstasy.

Muramasa looked at the beaming old man Li, feeling envious and jealous. Why didn't the King of Han look for him?
Liu Hong arrived at Tangzhou City and saw the guards at the city gate collecting the city entry tax carelessly.

He was so angry that he burst out laughing. His Han Kingdom had abolished the city entry tax long ago to promote the economic integration of the Han Kingdom and the development of its trade economy.

As a result, Tangzhou remained unchanged despite his knife.

Liu Hong's face became increasingly gloomy. He wrote a secret letter and mobilized soldiers from all over the county in Dongshan Road.

About 20,000 people marched towards Tangzhou on Dongshan Road, and then Liu Hongcai swaggered into the residence of the Civil Affairs Commissioner of Dongshan Road. Civil Affairs Commissioner Wu Heng, who was a thin middle-aged man a few years ago, has now become a greasy middle-aged man with a big belly.

Because he had been the governor of Jiaozhou and had engaged in smuggling without imposing taxes, he was appreciated by Liu Hong and promoted to a third-rank official.

Wu Heng chuckled and squeezed the plump breasts of his concubine hard.

Only when the concubine's eyes were filled with tears of pain did Wu Heng let go of her hand with satisfaction and walked towards the dining table.

The dining table should have been a scene of singing and dancing, but now the wives and concubines were hiding aside, looking at Liu Hong who was wolfing down his food with expressions of horror.

Wu Heng wanted to get angry, but when he saw that it was Liu Hong, the anger in his heart instantly subsided and he quickly knelt on the ground.

"I did not know that the King of Han was visiting incognito, and I did not greet him promptly. Please forgive me, King of Han."

Liu Hong laughed strangely and wiped his mouth.

"Forgive me? When I was the Grand Commander of Andong, you were a well-deserved hero! You led the Jiaozhou soldiers to support me unwaveringly."

Wu Heng didn't hear anything unusual in Liu Hong's tone and breathed a sigh of relief.

He puffed out his chest with pride. The proudest thing in his life was the fight between Fan Xian and Liu Hong.

Relying on momentary enthusiasm, he firmly supported Liu Hong.

However, Liu Hong's next words immediately made Wu Heng feel like he was falling into an ice cave.

"War Contribution Debt, what a good name! You should be the Minister of Finance, Versace."

"But I don't know who got the silver. Anyway, the court didn't receive it, the army didn't receive it, and the people didn't receive it either."

"There is also a public opinion conference responsible for supervision and advice. I don't quite understand. Is Tangzhou special?"

"Why are they all from aristocratic families? Even the most distant relatives have managed to get a membership quota."

Liu Hong kept talking and making clicking sounds.

Tangzhou is so stubborn that he can tamper with the content of the law at will. He is still alive.

I can’t even imagine what will happen after he dies.

Wu Heng now had no appetite even for food, and kept cursing the group of officials and aristocratic families under his command in his heart.

He repeated it many times.

The King of Han is on a tour, traveling incognito across the country. He should be more restrained. What's wrong with not making money for a few months? Will he die?
As a result, this group of people treated his words as nonsense and made him take the blame.

Now that things have come to this, it will be impossible not to use some officials as scapegoats.

Wu Heng wiped the sweat from his forehead, and the fat on his face kept trembling.

"Please calm down, King Han. I will definitely give you a satisfactory explanation."

Liu Hong could not deny it and waved his hand.

"Let me see what explanation you are going to give me first. Regardless of whether you know about these things or not, since they have already happened, you can no longer serve as the Civil Affairs Commissioner."

The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. If you are unable to shoulder the responsibility, then you are not worthy of being a third-rank official.

Wu Heng's face turned pale and he staggered out of the mansion.

It seems that the King of Han is really angry this time.

Tangzhou’s public opinion conference, Baoyue Tower, Qianhang, and all officials above the seventh rank will probably be replaced.

Liu Hong watched Wu Heng leave quietly and took a sip of sake.

There was a deafening sound in my mind.

"I wish to be a member of the Liu family and wear the left lapel!"

Because of this sentence, Liu Hong was willing to give Wu Heng a chance.

If Wu Heng can't control the situation, then don't blame Liu Hong for being ruthless and taking action against his own loyal followers.

Wu Heng mobilized the soldiers of Tangzhou County and captured a large number of the aristocratic families who were once arrogant and powerful.

After there were about a hundred of them, they stopped.

Wu Heng unceremoniously occupied the residence of the governor of Tangzhou, took a sip of tea, and his fat body shook constantly.

He spoke with a fake smile.

"My Lords, please don't blame me for being ruthless. It's better for all of you to die than for all of us to die."

"Wu Heng, you are treacherous. Don't forget that you still have hundreds of thousands of taels of silver in your home that we sent you!"

"The account books are still in our hands. Do you think you explained it clearly?"

A young man who was tied up couldn't help but shout out in anger.

The officials behind Wu Heng looked uncertain; they had already been wearing the same pants.

How easy is it to divide it now, right under the nose of the King of Han?
Wu Heng also restrained the smile on his face and threw the celadon teacup to the ground.

"If you don't accept my toast, you'll have to drink the wine for punishment. I'm trying to persuade you to be more sensible and take the blame for these crimes yourself."

"Don't think that I am a civil affairs officer who just sits there to do nothing. I have the account books in my hands. I will burn down the storehouse."

"When the time comes, you will bear all the responsibility and be prepared to confiscate the property and exterminate the clan!"

All the officials from the noble families in Tangzhou City looked at Wu Heng in astonishment.

They didn't expect that this civil affairs envoy, who usually lived a life of drunkenness and debauchery, had quietly grasped all their lives in his hands.

Wu Heng saw everyone's surprised faces and smiled triumphantly.

After all, he was a loyal minister and had not committed treason, so the King of Han would not kill him. Perhaps he would not even be imprisoned for a few days.

When he comes out, he will have millions of taels of silver in his hands.

The world is so big that there is no place you can't go. It's more than enough for you to enjoy your old age with your lovely wife and concubines.

After the group fell silent, they began to curse even more viciously.

Wu Heng didn't take it seriously, it was just the wailing of the weak!
Seize a handful of evidence of crimes committed by the aristocratic families.

Wu Heng rushed towards the residence of the Civil Affairs Envoy. The King of Han was in a hurry and would not wait for him that long.

The hall was brightly lit. Liu Hong held the evidences in his hands and smiled sarcastically.

This kid Wu Heng is really smart and he pushes all the blame onto some aristocratic families.

He and most of the noble families were made to look like blank slates who knew nothing.

Only ghosts would believe such words.

Liu Hong casually threw the evidence on the ground and was not satisfied with Wu Heng's efforts.

"Check it out again. I don't have that much time to waste with you here."

A mysterious smile appeared on Wu Heng's face, but it soon disappeared completely.

He got up respectfully and saluted Liu Hong, as if he really wanted to investigate the case again.

In Tangzhou City, a huge fire suddenly broke out, accompanied by crackling explosions.

The warehouse where silver and grain were stored exploded, and countless people shouted in anxiety.

"It's on fire, the warehouse is on fire, put it out quickly..."

The warehouse caught fire, and along with the account books, all the previous bad debts disappeared completely.

Wu Heng stopped and deliberately looked embarrassed.

"King Han, the warehouse is on fire now. I'm afraid it was done by a noble family. It will be difficult to catch the corrupt officials."

Liu Hong looked at Wu Heng deeply.
People die for money, birds die for food!

Wu Heng relied on the fact that he was a loyal minister and that Liu Hong had always been kind.

No matter what, Wu Heng should be spared.

Liu Hong lay on the chair, his eyes cold and he sighed softly.

"It seems that you have mistaken my tolerant country for weakness, forgetting that I once massacred a group of noble families in Jiangbei Road."

Wu Heng suddenly felt something was wrong and forced a smile.

"King of Han, why do you have to do this? This time we are just investigating corruption. Those aristocratic families in Jiangbei Road are against you."

"What's the difference between your current behavior and treason?"

Liu Hong glanced at Wu Heng.

"What's more, I am the King of Han! Why do you foolishly think that I will give in to you in Han? You don't deserve it at all!"

"If I say you are treasonous, then you are treasonous!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the gate of Tangzhou city was suddenly opened.

The soldiers from other counties and prefectures in Dongshan Road entered the city under the leadership of Dang Xiaobo, the admiral of the Jiaozhou Navy.

"The Civil Affairs Commissioner and all the officials in Tangzhou are plotting a rebellion. The King of Han has ordered that they all be thrown into prison and sent to the capital for trial by the three courts!"

Dang Xiaobo roared.

The ferocious county soldiers searched and confiscated all the noble families, official residences, and big businessmen in Tangzhou.

Basically, they are all caught in one fell swoop, leaving no one behind.

Wu Heng looked at the expressionless Liu Hong, and his memory overlapped with that of the Grand Commander Anton, whose hands were stained with blood.

He suddenly woke up and wondered how he could have thought that Liu Hong would be so merciful.

(End of this chapter)