Wait, please don't call me Emperor Zhaolie

Chapter 32: All matters, big or small, are consulted
Liu Bei's study is still as simple as before.

The furnishings remained unchanged, except that many Hu chairs were placed on both sides of the table, and a Hu bed was placed behind the table, which was separated by a mat curtain.

We have to thank Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong, for this. We can say that he was stupid, but we cannot say that he was not smart.

Compared with the later Emperor Hui of Jin from the Sima family, he was really not very smart.

Before Liu Hong passed away, he vigorously promoted the Hu bed and Hu chair, which changed the kneeling habit of many officials.

In the eyes of the people of the world, it has become one of the evidences of his stupidity.

Emperor Lingdi took the blame, but it benefited Liu Bei a lot.

After all, my legs do feel uncomfortable after kneeling for a long time.

Except for the old ministers of the Huan and Ling dynasties who could not accept it, other young gentry and powerful families did not accept it, but at least they did not dislike it.

After returning to the study, Liu Bei was not idle. He called the official Cao in charge of metallurgy and the household Cao in charge of civilian households and agriculture.

Both offices have clerks and historians.

There are two positions, one principal and one deputy.

Whether it is the smelting and casting of military equipment and agricultural tools, or the household registration and agriculture, Pingyuan County cannot do without them.

Liu Bei said solemnly, "This year's spring ploughing in several counties is more complicated than before. Among them, farm tools are in great shortage. The iron tools for farming in the government treasury can barely be lent to the people for rotational use."

"Now that there are many more refugees, if we don't cast more iron tools, the progress of reclaiming wasteland will be much slower. We can put off the armor and weapons for a while."

Liu Bei replied: "In order to quell the Yellow Turbans, the autumn ploughing was often delayed for the past two years. From this year on, the autumn ploughing will be resumed."

Jin Caoyuan looked a little embarrassed. Although the refugees who surrendered from the Yellow Turbans were divided into various counties, they were actually all under the jurisdiction of the Pingyuan County government.

The State of Jinan has not yet recovered its former forging scale, and many iron tools have to be drawn from the plains. Not to mention the State of Le'an, which has become so desolate.

Many people had almost fled, and the county officials could not even raise one-tenth of the money they used to.

Furthermore, the previous governors of these two counties had never thought of lending the government's iron farming tools to the common people.

Therefore, the forged products were only enough for farming in the county. If the people needed them, they could only buy them or rent them.

As for those who have neither money to buy nor money to rent, the county will not care how much land you can cultivate with manpower alone, because you cannot avoid paying taxes anyway.

The amount of land tax depends on whether the tax collectors are corrupt and insatiable.

If you are lucky, you will have enough left to barely fill your stomach after all the harvest, and then wait for the next round of farming, praying for a good harvest.

If you are unlucky and don't want to starve to death, you have no choice but to sell yourself to the rich and powerful.

Now that's bad enough. I've just worked hard for nearly two years to finish casting iron tools for farming in Pingyuan County, and now I have another task for two more counties. It's so hard!

How can Qingzhou's production be restored if Pingyuan is the only one making the effort while Beihai and Donglai in Qingzhou are just standing by and watching?
Isn’t it said that Kong Rong, the governor of Beihai, has submitted a petition to the court to appoint Fujun as the governor?
It's time for them to contribute as well.

Jin Caoyuan was complaining in his heart. In the official assessments in the past two years, he had often been among the top, but he knew better than to be ranked at the top.

It was Lord Xuande who forced them from behind. It wasn't with swords, spears or whips, but it was worse than that.

They actually adopted Emperor Xiaoling's method of selling official positions and titles for promotion, replacing performance points for promotion and dismissal.

He could not bear to see honest officials being humiliated by money, so he registered their performance points and announced them by beating drums in front of the county government every month.

At the end of every month, when he was the last one to go to the office, he would see his colleagues and officials, just like Zhang Chang did in the past, covering their faces with their masks as they walked by.

The people present had no idea what Jin Caoyuan was thinking. If it weren't for Lord Liu in person, he would have complained bitterly.

The Jin Cao historian seemed to have guessed something, and he bowed hastily and said, "My Lord, at present, the ironware of the three counties is almost entirely supplied by Pingyuan.

Even if we stop producing weapons and armor, we won't be able to meet the needs of the other two counties in such a short time." Liu Bei smiled and said, "It's okay. There shouldn't be any conquests this year. We can first cast more farm tools and ironware, and make as many as we can."

"I am not forcing you to do this. Once Jinan County is restored to its former forging scale next year, the pressure on the plains will be greatly reduced."

"You have worked hard over the past few years. I remember the hard work of the officials and foundry craftsmen."

"My Lord..." The historian of the Jin Cao was somewhat moved.

No matter whether it is merit or hard work, it is undoubtedly a good thing to be seen and remembered by superiors.

What's more, the Lord of the Mansion clearly distinguishes between rewards and punishments.

Liu Bei decisively changed the subject, stopped the other party from weeping with gratitude, and took out a piece of fine silk to wipe his tears.

Jin Cao Shili is good in every way except that he is a little too emotional.

He raised his hand and asked them to leave.

Liu Bei then asked the officials from the Household Department who had been waiting for a long time.

He said solemnly: "Although there is a lot of arable land at present, there is a lack of iron tools and cattle everywhere, so there is not much food."

"Jin Cao is forging farm tools. You should also make arrangements for the people. You should explain that the farmland and iron tools are leased by the county and no money will be charged. They should be well protected and not destroyed. Anyone who dares to violate the law will be severely punished."

"When the farming is completed, all the farm tools and ironware that have been loaned out must be put into the government treasury and must not be hidden privately."

"Teach people to cultivate more wasteland and keep it tilled year after year, so that the people can have enough food. This is the greatest responsibility of the household department."

Liu Bei sighed, "During the two years of fighting, farmers were responsible for transportation, which delayed farming. Now we have decided to focus on farming and store up grain and straw for fodder."

Liu Bei thought that it was fortunate that his troops were stationed in Qingzhou, so they could transport food and fodder by boat.

If we need land transportation to attack other states and counties in the future, I am afraid that the food and fodder will run out within two months.

If there was time to store up grass and grain, even if we cultivated two out of ten and had one out of ten, with the vast fertile land in the three counties now, even if we planted a lot and harvested little, it would be enough to fill the treasury.

The two most important points for stabilizing the world are farming and warfare.

Then Liu Bei opened the document, took a look at it and put it down.

I asked, "How are mulberry trees planted in Jinan and Le'an?"

Due to the Yellow Turban Rebellion, both the counties and prefectures of the Han Dynasty and the Yellow Turban faction cut down a lot of mulberry trees and used them as rolling logs during the crisis.

A lot of farmland and mulberry picking were destroyed, and everything had to start all over again.

Moreover, planting mulberry trees takes more time, but it cannot be avoided because mulberry leaves are used to raise silkworms, which can produce silk.

Silk can be ranked alongside linen, but is more precious, and silk products are also considered hard currency in troubled times.

Liu Bei reminded him: "Agriculture and hemp planting are fundamental, and we must do them well even if it takes a lot of effort."

After they all left.

He also summoned the water official in charge of repairing canals and ponds, and discussed with him for a while about the water conservancy repairs in Jinan and Le'an.

But when the servant came in with a lamp, Liu Bei realized that it was almost dusk. After quickly giving his instructions, he smiled and shook his head, asking the water officer to go back first.

It happened that Yin came over in person and reminded her that the meal was ready and when her husband would return.

Liu Bei stretched his back and said with a smile: "Madam, don't worry. I will not go anywhere tomorrow. I will stay in the mansion to accompany you two."

(End of this chapter)