My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 477 Disrupting the Weak Central Plains
Hu Sichun had a calm expression on his face.

He was doing work that offended people and saying things that offended people, but he seemed to care nothing at all.

Seeing that Erzhu Rong was not going to pursue the matter, he kept quiet.

He is very clear about his own position.

In terms of military leadership and political skills, even ten of him could not have achieved his current position.

He was Erzhu Rong's henchman, and he was very clear about his ecological niche.

He wanted to indiscriminately attack all the important officials favored by Erzhu Rong.

Erzhu Rong also tacitly agreed that such a person was needed by his side. Human nature is such that people will become arrogant because they are favored. Those who are favored are so fearless. Having such a person by your side, who will seize the opportunity to find fault and nitpick, can effectively serve as a warning.

This also demonstrates Erzhu Rong's 'magnanimity'. Despite the many people around him being dissatisfied with 'you', Erzhu Rong still believed in you, entrusted you with important responsibilities, and was not swayed by rumors and gossip.

Generally, no one would bother arguing with someone like Hu Sichun, just like the imperial censors in the court; that's their job.

Even if you go to great lengths to take down Hu Sichun, there will still be Li Sichun, Liu Sichun, and Zhao Sichun to take her place. Moreover, this will make you seem guilty, as if you are so afraid of being supervised.
People like Hu Sichun never deliberately target any particular person. They only nitpick at those who are favored or given important positions.

Yang Yin and others often advised Gao Yu to send people to supervise him, regardless of whether he was a civil or military official. This was also a way of "protecting" his subordinates. Because of the presence of these people, those who were favored maintained "reverence" at all times. Once people lose their sense of reverence, they are more likely to overstep their bounds and become ambitious.

"You all leave. Black Otter and Lingchuo, stay here. I have important matters to discuss with you two."

Erzhu Rong raised his hand, and the others all retreated.

Only Yuwentai and Su Chuo remained. They were the core of Erzhu Rong's implementation of the Fubing system in Guanzhong. All government orders were discussed and decided by the two of them, and then reported to Erzhu Rong before being promoted.

Erzhu Rong still held the official document Su Chuo had handed him in his hand, looking at the six edicts, his mind filled with many thoughts.

Su Chuo seemed to sense Erzhu Rong's worries and offered words of comfort.

"Prime Minister, things cannot be accomplished overnight. I am only suggesting these points; we can proceed slowly..."

Yuwentai also chimed in, "Judging from the information we've received, Moheduo doesn't seem to want to send troops out in the short term. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Erzhu Rong sighed, "The expenditure is enormous; I wonder if the treasury's resources can sustain it."

After a moment of silence, Su Chuo said, "I have carefully calculated with others that if there are no natural disasters or wars, we can barely maintain our current situation. However, if... we encounter natural disasters or war breaks out, then we can only make the people suffer even more and increase taxes."

Special times call for special measures.

Erzhu Rong had no doubt that Su Chuo's greatest strength was his mastery of arithmetic. "If war breaks out, the whole country will be like a fully drawn bowstring, with everything required to meet the country's needs. This is not a way to govern the world. We can only rely on future generations to loosen the drawn bowstring."

Culture speaks in a roundabout way.

Su Chuo's original intention was simply to believe in the wisdom of later generations.

Erzhu Rong sighed.

Yuwentai then added, "Of the six edicts issued by Lingchuo, the most important is 'cultivating the mind.' Officials in the court and local areas must 'purify their minds' and set an example in order to ensure the smooth implementation of government orders."

Erzhu Rong looked at him, seemingly understanding the implication in his words, and asked, "Is there anyone who is disobeying the imperial edict?"

Yuwen Tai had some concerns, but Su Chuo did not. He spoke directly, "Prime Minister, the Chief Clerk of the Zhechong Prefecture under Beiyong Prefecture has sent an official document saying that the iron farm tools and grain seeds that should have been distributed to the soldiers under his jurisdiction have not been distributed on time."

"How can this be?"

Erzhu Rong quickly denied it, saying that implementing the Fubing system was his biggest concern after the war ended.

He personally signed all government decrees.

There is no shortage of people in Guanzhong. There are also many strong and healthy refugees. By selecting the best of the best, we can find good candidates for the imperial guards.

But these refugees had no savings.

It's impossible to become a full-time employee right away.

At the beginning, Gao Yu directly assigned the captured prisoners and the weak people selected from the refugees to the garrison soldiers as tenant farmers. At the same time, he would provide the garrison soldiers with rations as appropriate in the first year. The seeds for planting grain and the iron farm tools needed were all distributed by Tian Ce Prefecture to Zhe Chong Prefecture according to the quota.

"Yongzhou is in charge of..."

After a moment's thought, Erzhu Rong suddenly came to his senses.

A flash of anger crossed his eyes, but he suppressed it. "They must be under Tian Guang's command."

They were not given farming tools, seeds, or even tenant farmers, so the soldiers had land but no way to produce anything.

if it is like this.

They might not dare to openly sell the land, but they could lease it to people who are capable of cultivating it and collect rent.

This is essentially the exploitation of the soldiers.

Because the land was allocated to the soldiers, all the produce from the land should have belonged to them, allowing them to focus on practicing martial arts.

Right now, even though the garrison soldiers seem to be collecting rent like landlords and don't have to worry about anything, how much of the land's produce will ultimately end up in their hands?

Corruption and embezzlement; those in power treated the soldiers of the government as their private property and slaves.

These are all explicitly prohibited.

But it has already happened! How could Erzhu Tianguang be unaware of it?

Will we not get any benefits at all?
If Erzhu Tianguang is like this, what about the other members of the Erzhu clan?
Erzhu Rong clenched his fists, but there was nothing he could do.

Losing Sizhou, the Hebei campaign, and then Henan was a heavy blow to his personal prestige. Guanzhong was his stronghold, and Erzhu Rong no longer trusted outsiders. Even though he knew that the Erzhu clan members were all good-for-nothings, he still had to grit his teeth and entrust them with important responsibilities, letting them control the territory for him. At least they were all Erzhu clan members, and they would not easily betray him.

His prestige was damaged, and his personal confidence was further eroded.

Erzhu Rong was actually caught in a vicious cycle.

"I will write a letter to Tianguang to tell him to keep his men in line. You two can rest assured."

Erzhu Rong thought for a moment, "No... I will send Tian Guang with troops north to guard Hedong."

"The Prime Minister is wise."

Su Chuo cupped his hands in praise.

After Erzhu Rong left, Yuwen Tai shook his head and said, "Lingchuo, you shouldn't have brought this up directly. On the surface, Erzhu Tianguang even helped you out. If you speak like this, wouldn't you be seen as an ungrateful person?"

Su Chuo, however, did not care. "If it weren't for Erzhu Tianguang's obstruction, I would have already taken my family to Shandong to avoid disaster."

"Now that I am serving the Prime Minister, I should do my utmost and not hold back."

Yuwen Tai opened his mouth, looking somewhat embarrassed and ashamed, and respectfully bowed, saying, "Lingchuo is truly a gentleman; I am no match for him."

"The Prime Minister is also a capable man. It depends on whether he can make up his mind. The situation is not too bad now. If we can seize this rare time to recuperate and build up our strength, and take advantage of the terrain, we may be able to turn defeat into victory."

"I hope so."

........................

Southern desert.

It is located several hundred miles north of Fuming Town.

Fuming Town was the westernmost of the three easternmost towns among the six towns of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and it was not far from Rouxuan Town.

In his tent, Anagui was cutting a piece of beef with a horn-tipped knife and putting it in his mouth. He then picked up a crystal-clear wine cup in front of him. The liquid in the cup was deep red, a fine grape wine brought from the Western Regions.

Since the Six Garrisons Uprising, the Great Wei Dynasty has been in continuous decline and could no longer eat, sleep, and beat the Rouran like it did under Emperor Tuoba Tao.

Anagui was also a great ruler. Under his leadership, the Rouran became the true overlords of the grasslands, and their strength grew ever stronger.

Tutujia, who had previously sent his daughter, Princess Rouran, south to marry Gao Huan, returned to the grasslands with his personal guards after the Battle of Julu.

"Great Khan, will our actions displease Moheduo?"

Tutujia was somewhat worried. "The Ashina tribe had previously pledged allegiance to him, and even sent troops to help him capture Yingzhou and defeat Erzhu Rong in Hebei. Now you are putting such pressure on the Ashina tribe."

Hearing the familiar name 'Moheduo'.

Anagui paused, as did everyone else in the tent, as if a memory was flashing through their minds.

"Haha, it's alright."

Anagui smiled and shook his head, continuing to enjoy the grape wine. "Tutujia, I recently learned a principle from the Han scholars in the Central Plains."

"Please give your instructions, Great Khan."

"The Tuoba Xianbei's ancestors were even less capable than us now; they were merely hired laborers by the Central Plains. Why did the Tuoba Xianbei ultimately gain control of the world?"

Everyone in the tent shook their heads.

They're good at hunting and womanizing, but what about discussing the history of the Central Plains?

I'm sorry, this is a bit difficult for me.

They might not even be able to understand the characters used in the Central Plains.

"This is because since the Jin Dynasty, the Central Plains had been plunged into internal strife, with the Han people fighting amongst themselves and suffering losses, while the Tuoba Xianbei took the opportunity to grow stronger and eventually take control of the Central Plains!"

"No matter how fertile the pastures on the grasslands may be, how can they compare to the rich and fertile lands of the Central Plains?"

"Right now! Erzhu Rong and Moheduo are locked in a standoff, and the Southern Dynasty is also eyeing us covetously. Just like the story of the War of the Eight Princes in the Jin Dynasty, this is an opportunity bestowed upon us by the Eternal Heaven to take control of the Central Plains!"

Tutujia frowned. "If that's the case, shouldn't we try to observe as much as possible instead of bringing the war to the grasslands?"

Anagui laughed and said, "The Ashina tribe has made rapid progress in strength recently. This move is to warn the other tribes on the grasslands and let them know who truly reigns supreme on the grasslands!"

"Furthermore... I am certain that even if Moheduo learns of this, he will not bring his troops here."

“He Liuhun will speak up for us. With Erzhu Rong’s army at the forefront, he won’t easily divide his forces. In this way, we can make the tribes that share the same idea as Ashina, who want to rely on Moheduo’s protection to break away from my control, give up and pledge allegiance to me again. All we need to do is secretly provide Erzhu Rong with cattle, sheep and horses to exchange for ores, and have artisans forge armor and precious swords for us to build up our strength!”

"A chaotic Central Plains is in our best interest."

"If Mohedu were to unify the northern border, how could we possibly have a day of peace with such a talented and powerful ruler?"

(End of this chapter)