Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 66: The Emperor’s Grace is Really Enormous!
Because Shangshu Ling Liu Yu was temporarily out, Zhang Yu was unable to report in person. However, Deng Guang still had a sense of responsibility and finally delivered Zhang Yu's memorial to Liu Yu through other channels, which dissuaded the conscription of Xianbei as soldiers.

Liu Yu had served as the governor of Youzhou and had dealt with the Xianbei, Wuhuan, Fuyu and other Hu peoples, so he had some understanding of the Xianbei.

After reading the contents of Zhang Yu's memorial, he immediately realized that Zou Jing's strategy was unreliable. He immediately went to see Emperor Ling of Han and informed He Jin, Zhang Wen, Yuan Wei, Deng Sheng and other four officials.

In order to prevent the Xianbei from rebellion, Emperor Ling of Han summoned all officials to discuss the matter. Fortunately, many of the officials were talented people. They refuted Zou Jing's strategy of recruiting Xianbei as soldiers, and argued from various aspects that the Xianbei troops should not be used.

After some discussion, Emperor Ling of Han rejected Zou Jing's strategy and adopted the opinions of everyone. He continued to recruit 3,000 Wuhuan cavalry and ordered them to rush to the northwest battlefield. In order to prevent the rebels from recruiting brave warriors from Guanxi, he ordered the counties in Guanxi to recruit brave warriors.

At this point, although the plan to recruit troops has been finalized, the court has once again started discussing the candidate to lead the Wuhuan cavalry.

However, as there were not many generals who were qualified to be the commander-in-chief, the task of commanding the Wuhuan cavalry eventually fell to Gongsun Zan under the operation of the Hou family in Jingji.

The reason why Jingji Hou family would help Gongsun Zan is well known. Gongsun Zan is the son-in-law of Jingji Hou family.

Although the Hou family of Jingji was not well-known in the Three Kingdoms, it had considerable influence in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Its ancestor can be traced back to Hou Ba, the founding minister of Liu Xiu. However, if it was only Hou Ba who lived more than a hundred years ago, it would not be enough to have such strength if it had been passed down to the present day. Instead, the Hou family prospered in the Eastern Han Dynasty.

After Hou Ba died, his son Hou Yu inherited the title of Marquis of Zexiang and was promoted to the position of Grand Coachman. He was also granted the title of Marquis of Ling for his meritorious service. Since Hou Yu, the Hou family has inherited the title of Marquis of Ling until now. Although no one in the family has served as an official, the connections and wealth accumulated through the hereditary title of marquis, as well as the advantages of operating in Luoyang, are unmatched by ordinary gentry.

It can be said that Gongsun Zan was able to become the commander of the Wuhuan Cavalry with only the magistrate of Zhuo County, and his father-in-law, the Luoyang Hou family, made great efforts. Otherwise, there would be many people more qualified than him, and Gongsun Zan would not have been able to take the position.

When Zhang Yu heard that the court had ordered Gongsun Zan to lead 3,000 Wuhuan cavalry, he smiled bitterly. If he remembered correctly, Wuhuan would rebel after the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and Gongsun Zan had been ordered to fight against them.

Although no one knew why the Wuhuan rebelled before, Zhang Yu had been in the Eastern Han Dynasty for so long that he could probably guess that the Wuhuan might have rebelled because of military expenses.

After all, one of the reasons why he opposed the conscription of the Xianbei was that he felt the imperial court would be stingy with military spending, and given the character of the Xianbei people, they would definitely rebel, so he wrote a memorial to advise against it.

Of course, this is just Zhang Yu's guess. The specific situation depends on how the situation develops. It is possible that the Wuhuan soldiers rebelled because of other things.

In any case, the appointment of Gongsun Zan as commander-in-chief had nothing to do with Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu made great contributions by dissuading the emperor from submitting memorials. Although he did not receive any reward from Emperor Ling of Han, he was commended by the Minister of the Secretariat Liu Yu. Zhang Yu also became famous in the Secretariat, and even the officials of the Three Dukes and the General's Office had heard of his reputation.

Compared with his fame, Zhang Yu was more concerned about getting Liu Yu's approval. After all, as the head of the Shangshutai, Liu Yu had the right to assign Zhang Yu's whereabouts.

Time passed quickly and it was mid-February. On the day when the Shangshu Tai was closed, Zhang Yu, Zhong Yao, Yuan Mi, Sun Zi and Wang Chen made an appointment to go for a trip to Luoshui.

However, just a few steps after the five people set out, they saw that the Nangong Palace in Luoyang suddenly caught fire. The fire started from the Nangong Lingtai and burned towards the Taiwei, Sikong, and Situ mansions.

There was chaos in the Nan Palace, and the city officials and civilians, under the organization of the senior officials who were on leave, rushed to fetch water to put out the fire. The five people had to give up their original itinerary because of the fire in the palace and joined the firefighting team.

The fire was brought under control due to the separation of Nangong and Sangong Mansion by palace walls and streets, and the officials of Sangong Mansion worked hard to put out the fire, and did not affect Sangong Mansion.

However, the fire spread easily in Nangong because the houses were connected, the pillars were full of intrigue, and the corridors were crisscrossed. Moreover, the officials and civilians outside the palace could not enter the palace. The eunuchs, palace maids, and imperial guards could not control the fire in Nangong at all.

After a struggle, Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong finally told Liu Hong that the fire in Nangong could not be put out and had to let the fire burn.

The Nan Palace was burned down, and Liu Yu was worried that the documents in the Secretariat would be damaged. With Liu Hong's consent, he moved the Secretariat out of the palace.

Due to the fire and the change of office address, the Ke Cao had been closed for almost ten days. Zhang Yu occasionally went to the Shangshu Tai to do some odd jobs, and then went for an outing in the suburbs with his friends.

At the beginning of March, the Shangshu Tai resumed work, and the Nangong fire was finally put out after burning for half a month.

In the cabinet, when Zhang Yu was handling official documents, he suddenly saw Deng Guang, who rarely got angry, slamming the table and standing up.

"What does the burning of Nangong have to do with us officials?"

Deng Guang was furious and said, "Your Majesty listened to the eunuchs' slander and asked officials to buy official titles. Now you are not only increasing the land tax, but also collecting palace taxes from the counties, and you are also collecting money from filial and honest officials. How can this be justified?"

After saying that, Deng Guang smashed the porcelain cup on the table to the ground, looking extremely angry.

"Keep your voice down!"

Minister Liu looked embarrassed and said to comfort him, "Your Majesty has already issued an order on this matter. What can you and I, as mere officials in the court, do?"

"Excuse me, two ministers, what's going on?" A filial and honest official came over and asked.

"you say!"

Seeing that everyone was gathering around him, Deng Guang really didn't want to talk, so he asked Minister Liu to announce the absurd decree issued by Liu Hong. "Ahem!"

Minister Liu cleared his throat and said, "The Nan Palace was burned down by a fire. The court wanted to repair it, so it issued a decree to collect a palace tax."

"From now on, the whole country will collect an extra ten coins per mu. In addition, the provincial governors and the officials with a rank of 2,000 shi, the talented officials, and the officials with honors and honors will all be required to pay the palace repair fee to help the army and repair the palace."

"Palace maintenance money?"

As soon as this was said, the newly appointed officials in the hall were in an uproar. They had never thought that they would have to help repair the Nangong Palace for Emperor Ling of Han before they even became officials. If they paid the palace repair fee now, wouldn't they have to pay another fee when they were appointed as officials?

"grass!"

Zhang Yu could not help but swear. He really did not expect that Emperor Ling of Han could be so outrageous. Emperor Chongzhen of Ming Dynasty lost his country because he levied taxes for war, but Emperor Ling of Han levied taxes for repairing the palace.

This tax is not only levied on the common people, but also on these officials who have just entered the officialdom. Is this to force them to engage in corruption and bribery and exploit the people after taking office?

Zhang Yu couldn't bear it anymore!
He was not upright, nor was he incorruptible, and certainly not a good official like Hai Rui. But he did have a bottom line for being an official, and he really wanted to quit his job.

"Jian!"

Seeing that Zhang Yu was angry, Zhong Yao hugged Zhang Yu's shoulders and said softly, "Just bear with it for now!"

"Your Majesty has issued this policy, and the three ministers will submit a memorial to advise against it. Let's wait and see for a few more days!"

Zhang Yu took a deep breath, grabbed Zhong Yao's arm, and said angrily: "Yuan Chang, if I gain power in the future, I will purge the evil and bring peace to the world!"

At this moment, Zhang Yu's ambitions were already burning in his heart. For himself, for the people, and for the world, he had to make a breakthrough in this chaotic world!
"Be careful!"

Zhong Yao did not understand Zhang Yu's intention, and thought that Zhang Yu intended to kill the eunuchs, so he quickly lowered his voice and said, "Since Ji An has this intention, Yao should follow him!"

"But the eunuchs are powerful, so we need to be careful!"

"Ok!"

Zhang Yu calmed down and let out a long breath. For the sake of his goal, even if he didn't want to be an official, he had to do it.

The officials were only in a commotion for a moment before being pacified and left by Minister Liu.

When Zhang Yu was about to leave, Minister Liu came and said, "Ji'an has made great contributions in submitting memorials. According to your majesty's order, you only need to pay half of the palace tax!"

"promise!"

After Minister Liu left, Zhang Yu sneered and said sarcastically, "Yuan Chang, I have to thank His Majesty for letting me pay half the palace tax. This is truly a great favor from the Emperor!"

"Be careful!"

Zhong Yao took Zhang Yu's hand and walked away, saying helplessly: "Now that things have come to this, what else can we do?"

Zhang Yu was angry about the absurd policies of Emperor Ling of Han, so how could Zhong Yao not be angry?

It was only because Zhong Yao had cultivated himself well and had seen through some things, that for the sake of reality and his future, he had to endure it!

After a while, another piece of news spread like wildfire. At the suggestion of Zhang Rang, Emperor Ling of Han ordered the shipment of wood and stone from Taiyuan, Hedong, Xihe and Longxi counties to the capital for the purpose of repairing the Nan Palace.

Upon hearing the news, Zhang Yu only sighed and said to Zhong Yao: "After this order is issued, the rebellion in the northwest will be difficult to suppress, and the rebels will rise up in Bingshuo!"

I thought that Emperor Ling of Han was a little smart but not wise, which was a compliment to him. Judging from the decrees issued at the beginning of this year, Emperor Ling of Han was getting stupider.

The Central Plains had not seen war for a long time, and even the Yellow Turban Army, which launched a large-scale uprising, was not as effective as the soldiers and civilians in the border counties.

If the people of You, Bing and Liang states were forced to rebel today, how would the Eastern Han court suppress the rebellion?
Do you really think Huangfu Song is invincible?

If Huangfu Song was truly invincible, he would not have been killed by the northwestern rebels in Guanzhong and had to lead his troops to retreat to a dangerous place!

Listening to Zhang Yu's sigh, Zhong Yao couldn't help but sigh. Back then in the Imperial Palace, he was too happy too early, naively thinking that His Majesty would correct his behavior. But from now on, he is increasingly unable to understand the government, and if this continues, the world will sooner or later be in turmoil again!
(End of this chapter)