Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 281 When you achieve success, you conquer the world!

The Shouchun Palace was brightly lit. Yuan Yin knelt on the ground, looking up at the familiar yet unfamiliar face amidst the swirling smoke and clouds.

"Your subject Yin pays respects to Your Majesty!"

"What's the matter?"

"Yao'er came to me today, talking about the release of the Yuan family's hidden slaves. The child is too ignorant to tell Your Majesty."

Yin thought that this was also a matter of benefiting the people and the country. If he could do it, he could release some Tibetan slaves, which would not only not affect the foundation of the Yuan family, but also mobilize the aristocratic families to work together for the country.

Therefore, I have come to seek His Majesty's permission.

Yuan Yin bowed deeply and prostrated himself on the ground, awaiting Yuan Shu's decision.

At that time, the naive Yuan Yao even came to him to ask him to secretly release some Tibetan slaves, saying something like:
Given the Yuan family's wealth, Father would certainly not suspect anything. Besides, even if he did, he wouldn't necessarily punish his two closest relatives for such a trivial matter.

Only Yuan Yin, who had personally experienced Yuan Shu's kick, knew that his cousin was utterly intolerant of any sentimentality.

If Sun Ce and his family are still useful, he can make Sun Ce become Yuan Ce and treat him even better than his own son.

If Mao Jie and Yang Feng were dead, it would be useful for him to have Yang Feng accompany Mao Jie through the torture of being slowly sliced ​​to death day and night, while ignoring his grievances.

Let alone others, even you, Yuan Yao, as his own son, are now in a situation where you are controlled by Yuan Ce in every way. How much more so for Yu Yin, this so-called cousin?
But as one of Yuan Yao's biggest supporters, all he could do now was to say a few good words to the Prince of Han and see if he could get a way out.

In his anxious wait, he finally heard the sound of a bell, followed by a faint word:
"can."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your divine grace. I shall take my leave now."

Yuan Yin performed the ceremony, faced the Prince of Han, and hastily retreated.

Watching Yuan Yin happily retreat, Xiao Qiao, who had come to refill his teacup, couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.

"Your Majesty, look how frightened your brother Yin is."

If you want to release the slaves of the Yuan family to increase the number of households, why don't you do it yourself?
Let alone touching your own property, which has nothing to do with others, even if you really want those powerful families to comply one by one.

With just a single command, let's see who dares disobey!

"Little sister, you're being naughty again."

Before Yuan Shu could speak, Da Qiao, who was grinding ink, lightly flicked her finger and tapped it on Yuan Shu's forehead.

"What nonsense are you spouting? The king has his own reasons. Have you forgotten what I taught you?"
"Avoid discussing state affairs."

"Sister~"

Xiao Qiao, looking pitiful, covered her forehead and immediately tugged at Yuan Shu's sleeve.

"Your Majesty, look, when you're away on campaign, my sister bullies me like this every day."

Da Qiao: "."

"alright.

It's fine to discuss state affairs with me, just don't let others see.

Seeing her sisters playing around, Yuan Shu smiled and rubbed Xiao Qiao's forehead, saying to her:

"With a single command, none dare disobey. But is anything in this world so easy?"

I can establish rules that those who treat the people well, release people, and return land can be rewarded with merit, thus providing them with incentives.

Whether or not this is implemented depends entirely on the voluntariness of the aristocratic families; some may disregard it, while others may act on their own if they need it.

But I am not only the King of Han for the people of Jing, Yang and Yu provinces, but also the head of the Yuan family and the leader of all the powerful families in the land.

I can encourage and guide them to release the hidden population. There are precedents for this in the four hundred years of the Han Dynasty. It is just an attitude that the court is putting forward.

But I cannot personally step forward and release all the people the Yuan family has been hiding.

In the eyes of the powerful families, this meant that the emperor's interests were no longer aligned with theirs, and that it was time to go to war with them.

As the King of Han, I must seek the well-being of all people; however, as the head of the Yuan family, I must also weigh the pros and cons for the sake of the powerful clans.

Just like this time, the reason why the Yuan family released people was only because of Yao'er and Yindi's private actions, and the number of people released was not too large.

Eat your food one bite at a time, and leave yourself room for maneuver in everything you do.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qiao cheered repeatedly, "As expected of the King! He's truly amazing!"

Da Qiao frowned slightly, looking somewhat worried, and hesitated to speak.

"But Your Majesty, even my younger brother Yin knows that without your permission, he would not dare to release the person."

"What if there are capable people in those aristocratic families who can see through it?"

Yuan Shu smiled faintly, gazing outside Shouchun Palace, his eyes suddenly turning cold.

"That's exactly what we want—for them to see it!"

Otherwise, what kind of face do you think Ce'er has that would make the Jiangdong aristocratic families offer up 300,000 people for him?
Throughout Yuan's camp, everyone knows that I greatly admire Ce, and he represents my will.

Today, those who contribute to the population will be rewarded for their merits and can compete for a ranking in the Lingyan Pavilion and exchange for special privileges in the Hall of Merit.

I have already given them enough leeway and dignity; if they still disobey, then they might just start a war against me.

Not long after, under Yuan Yin's leadership, the Yuan family took the lead in releasing 30,000 people who had been hiding. The powerful families of Yuzhou followed suit after being persuaded by Liu Ye.

Thus, a report that had increased the population of the Han Kingdom by 400,000 within a few days was placed on the Han King's desk.

The King of Han commented: "Excellent!"

Those who have performed extraordinary feats, number four!
At that time, the powerful families released their population, which spread from Yingchuan to Lu, Liang and Chen, down from Runan to Huainan, through Lujiang to Danyang and Wujun, down to Kuaiji and to the East Sea!
In the past, these people might have lost their livelihood and struggled to make a living if they left their families.

But right now, providing relief to the people is also an important part of the achievement, and there are kind people everywhere giving out porridge and food.

The powerful families released the people and provided relief at the same time, arranging a one-stop service and earning two merits on the spot.

Such a magnificent scene heralded the beginning of a golden age of governance for our ancient ancestors, and the world universally regarded the King of Han as a paragon of virtue: "Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang!"

The common people, freed from the status of slaves in aristocratic families, each had their own destiny, during which:

The elderly, having toiled half their lives and suffered from half their bodies, burst into tears the moment they see the sun again.

As a young man, I cannot bear to recall my past, but I will repay my lord's kindness with my sword.

Young man, you are fortunate to have met the sage king in this life and to have entered the academy to be immersed in the fragrance of books.

Seven hundred thousand people were freed from slavery, and the people of the two states cried out for peace!
This is what is meant by: The hope of the King of Han is as bright as the midday sun!
On the other side, at the Sun residence.

Everyone gathered, and the meeting proceeded hastily.

"Gongjin, what should we do now?"

"Exactly, who would have thought that Liu Ye would be so shameless? We release people we've been hiding, and they're doing the same?"

"That's absolutely right!"
What is the significance of these prominent families in Yuzhou?
Want to see who's more ruthless? Let's see who's more ruthless to themselves! They have 400,000, we have 500,000?

"nonsense!

Brother Wu Jing, you've gone mad.

Their Yuzhou aristocratic families are so large and powerful that they could potentially have another million people.

They're risking their lives, so we're going to risk ours too? Do you think you can win?

Startled by the rebuke, Wu Jing, who had been agitated, calmed down and then looked dejected, complaining.

"What should we do? Are we just going to stand by and watch that brat Yuan Yao, who has neither military merit nor ability, be ranked above Ce'er for no reason?"

As he spoke, his gaze involuntarily fell upon Sun Ce, who seemed carefree and unconcerned about these matters, and he rebuked him:

"Ce'er, say something! All your uncles are worried about you."

Sun Ce: "."

He scratched his head, smiled with overly clear eyes, and replied, "This plan should be asked of Gongjin; he will surely have a good solution."

Upon hearing this, everyone turned their attention to Zhou Yu, who was indeed calm and composed, clearly possessing a brilliant strategy.

Zhou Yu lightly waved his feather fan and calmly replied:

"Since we can't compete in terms of population, let's try something that Liu Ye can't learn this time."

"Now we shall offer up our land to Lord Yuan."

"Zhou Gongjin! You have ulterior motives!"

"This is insane! If that's the case, then we might as well not fight for the position of heir apparent!"

"In my opinion, Zhou Gongjin is too selfish and has been blinded by the star position of Lingyan Pavilion."

"We'll take care of Yuan Ce's position ourselves; there's no need to concern ourselves with him."

As soon as Zhou Yu uttered the words, "[Offer up land]", the entire audience erupted in uproar, their emotions running high, and they launched a fierce attack, their words like knives.

If some people had been released before, that would have been fine, but if they are released today, they can easily hide back in the event of a natural disaster or man-made calamity.

But the land is the foundation of their family's thousand-year legacy. Generation after generation has worked hard to expand the family's land holdings, and there is absolutely no way they would hand it over!

"Gentlemen, why the rush?"
"Please listen to what Yu has to say."

Zhou Yu looked at everyone and smiled sternly.

"Do you gentlemen know why I bring this up? Liu Ye cannot emulate him, so why do I address him as Lord Yuan instead of the King of Han?"

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback.

Indeed, if it's just about offering land, it's merely a matter of ruthlessness. If the Jiangdong aristocratic families can offer it, why can't the Yuzhou aristocratic families?
Seeing that everyone's emotions had calmed down, Sun Ce could only sigh inwardly and step forward to cooperate with Zhou Yu.

"Gentlemen, Gongjin is not a man without strategy. Let's listen to his words today and then make a decision."

If he is indeed an enemy of our noble families, I, Yuan Ce, will be the first to drive him out without you even lifting a finger!

Seeing that Sun Ce had given them a way out, everyone decided to accept it and listen to Zhou Yu's plan.

Once the noise and arguments in the room had subsided, Zhou Yu began to explain to everyone.

"Gentlemen, where do you think the people of Huainan are now living in peace and prosperity, and who are willing to die for the King of Han?

The reason why Yu said that Liu Ye could not follow suit was because there were no more aristocratic families' lands in Huainan, Runan and other places.

All the land has already been annexed by the Yuan family. Even the newly recovered Liang, Chen, and Lu regions, and what remains, could never compare to the land of our six counties in Jiangdong!

"What? This happened?"

"This"

For a moment, everyone was speechless.

The land has been annexed by the Yuan family. Where can we seek justice?
They could annex the lands of powerful families, poor families, and ordinary people. As the largest aristocratic family in the world, the Yuan family could naturally annex their lands as well.

Although there have been a lot of mergers and acquisitions lately, it doesn't seem like there's any problem?
"How did those aristocratic families of Yuzhou manage to survive?"
Is the King of Han trying to cut off our aristocratic families' path to survival?

"Because Yuan Gong's annexation is not the kind of annexation you think it is!"

Yuan Gong, in the name of the state, rented land from the powerful families of Yuzhou to the common people; the land remained with the powerful families, and Yuan Gong was merely leasing it.

Renting land to rent to the people?

Why is everyone so confused by what I'm saying?
We can all read the words, but this matter? Is he in HR?

Meeting their questioning gazes, Zhou Yu smiled and explained the situation to them.

“In these chaotic times, the state taxes one-tenth of the land owned by wealthy families.”

The powerful families levied a tax of 50% to 80% on the common people, of which 10% was used to pay national taxes.

Since Lord Yuan obtained the imperial seal and the mandate of heaven, Lord Yan has been carrying out his orders and wielding Lord Yuan's sword to annex the lands of the people of Runan and Huainan.

How could ordinary people possibly stop the Yuan family from annexing the land? After annexing all the land belonging to the people in both places, Yuan then rented the land back to the people.

Therefore, Runan and Huainan now only have two forms of land.

One type was land owned by the Yuan family, which was rented to the common people, with a tax of one-fifteenth of the land.

One type is land owned by aristocratic families, which is also rented to ordinary people, with taxes ranging from 50% to 80% of the rent collected.

At this point, do you all think that the fact that Yuan Gong paid less tax is his family's business?

Since the annexation of commoners' land has nothing to do with the powerful families, and the families can continue to tax their own tenants without suffering any loss of profit, will the two sides simply coexist peacefully?

Zhou Yu smiled, his sleeves fluttering slightly, and said with a laugh:

"Do you all know how much tax revenue Huainan and Runan currently generates?"

Nine out of ten draws are unsuccessful!
Of course, the Yuan family's land was exempt from taxes.

He raised his hand and gently pointed to the sky, then put it to his lips and shushed.

"Our Lord Yuan above us is none other than the Yellow Heaven Responding Origin Manifesting Sage Dao Lord!"
He can exploit the powerful families in the same way they exploit the common people!

Everything is within the rules of the aristocratic families. As the eldest son of the Yuan family, he is even more adept at these methods of annexing land and hiding people than anyone else.

Nine-tenths of the national tax was collected. After the aristocratic families paid the taxes on behalf of the tenant farmers, the remaining ten percent was shared with the tenant farmers.

Not only can they not support themselves, but they also have to support these privately held people. Otherwise, the tenant farmers will all starve to death. They will have land but will not be able to pay taxes!

Without resorting to violence, and without showing any sign of killing, the powerful families in both places have already reached a dead end.

At that time, the King of Han levied a tax of one-fifteen percent upon reaching fifteen years of age, which had already won over the hearts of the people of Huainan. Huainan was located in the heartland and was isolated from external enemies. The powerful families wanted to fight for it but had no power, and they had no way to turn back. They could only sit and wait for death!

Therefore, the previous incident involving Mao Jie was also orchestrated by the powerful families of Yu Province, who intended to use him to lure Cao Cao's troops there for a final gamble.

When Cao Cao was defeated and fled, the heads of the two powerful families gathered in front of Shouchun Palace, asking Lord Yan to send a letter to the King of Han, who was on a distant expedition, seeking only a way to survive.

At that time, Yu stood beside the King of Han, and subsequently commanded the Battle of Xiangyang. He personally witnessed the King of Han's reply, which read:
[The land now rented by the wealthy families is subject to the same taxes and rents as the nation and its people.]

May we forever be friends, and never betray this bond.

When the land lease agreement arrived in Huainan along with the letter, the noble families were overjoyed, and the common people were all delighted.

Yuan Gong annexed the land in the two places and rented it to the common people, taking one-fifteenth of the tax. Among them, those who rented the land from the powerful families would return this portion of the tax to the powerful families to pay the rent.

Although the powerful families in these two regions lost a large amount of land tax, they gained a contract that would allow them to share the fate of the nation.

As long as the Han dynasty existed, the aristocratic families existed; when the Han dynasty fell, the contracts became invalid, but the land still belonged to the aristocratic families.

As Zhou Yu spoke, his cold gaze swept over the changing expressions of those around him. His voice was not loud, but it was deafening.

"The Yuzhou aristocratic families and the Yuan family share the same fate, and there is no need to worry that my Jiangdong aristocratic family will become too powerful and annex or purge them."

Why do you all think that the powerful families of Yuzhou would be so ruthless as to release so many hidden people?
Because it's no longer needed.

So, Yu, please ask me a question:
Why are you all not taking the initiative to offer up your lands today to help Prince Yuan Ce obtain the position of heir apparent, inherit the great cause, and succeed to the throne? What are you waiting for?

Are we waiting for the King of Han to implement the same methods he used in Huainan and Runan in the six commanderies of Jiangdong?

When you are driven to the brink of desperation and can't even hold onto a piece of land, don't come begging to Young Master Yuan Ce for help!
Don’t say I didn’t warn you! "

Everyone remained silent, only bowing respectfully towards the direction of Shouchun Palace, and sighing:

"There were rumors in the court that the King of Han had controlled the world for more than ten years, leading to the chaos of today."

I do not believe in the bag.

I am now filled with trepidation and fear.

(End of this chapter)