Transmigrating to the Three Kingdoms as Lu Bu: I Have a Pseudo-Apocalypse System

Not only the merchants, but also the officials and soldiers in the imperial court, government offices, and the army who received their salaries on time and in full every month were puzzled about the source of Lü Bu's money, food, and military supplies.

In the Grand Commandant's residence, Grand Commandant Yang Biao, Minister of Works Zhao Wen, and Minister of Public Works Zhang Xi sat around a stove, the charcoal fire illuminating their solemn faces.

"Lord Yang, have you received your salary from last month?" Zhao Wen asked.

Yang Biao nodded: "Received. Fifty shi of millet and one hundred guan of cash, not a penny less." (At the end of the Han Dynasty, salaries were paid in half grain and half cash.)

Zhang Xi sighed, "During the reigns of Dong Zhuo and Li Jue, salaries were often withheld or even withheld. Lü Bu, however, paid our salaries on time every month without fail. I have served in the court for thirty years, and since the late reign of Emperor Ling, it has been rare for salaries to be paid on time and in full. This is the first time I have ever received a salary paid on time every month like this."

"That's precisely the problem," Yang Biao said slowly. "Where did Lü Bu get so much money and grain? With years of war, the surrounding prefectures and counties don't pay tribute. Li Jue and Guo Si had to plunder with their troops just to barely raise enough supplies. Logically speaking, the granaries should be empty by now."

Zhao Wen frowned: "Could it be that Lü Bu transported it from elsewhere? He controls Guanzhong now; perhaps he can buy grain from places like Jingzhou and Hanzhong?"

"Buy grain?" Yang Biao shook his head. "Lord Zhao, you've managed finances before, you should know how much it costs to buy grain."

"Lu Bu's army numbered in the tens of thousands, and the daily food and supplies for his men and horses amounted to astronomical figures."

"In addition, we paid salaries to court officials, allocated funds and grain to prefectures and counties, won over Ma Teng, Han Sui, and Zhang Ji, and provided disaster relief to the victims."

"Such a huge expenditure wouldn't be enough even if all the wealth in Guanzhong were plundered, so how could there possibly be money to buy expensive grain from other places?"

"Then," Zhang happy hesitated, "could it be true, as the rumors say, that Lü Bu possesses sorcery?"

Yang Biao remained silent for a long time before saying, "The talk of sorcery is absurd and ridiculous. But I really can't figure out where his money and provisions come from. Unless, as other rumors say, he has a divinely bestowed granary?"

Even he himself found it laughable to say that.

But the reality is that Lü Bu has an endless supply of money and provisions, and he can do things that Dong Zhuo and Li Jue could not.

"In any case," Zhao Wen said, "the people benefited, the army received provisions, and order was restored in Guanzhong. In the end, Lü Bu was better than Dong Zhuo, Li Jue, and even Wang Yun."

"Yes," Zhang happy sighed. "At least he doesn't kill indiscriminately or let his troops plunder, and he even governs with benevolence. Compared to Dong Zhuo, Li Jue, and Guo Si, he's already much better."

Yang Biao didn't reply, but just stared at the fire, his expression complex.

He still harbored loyalty to the Han dynasty and hoped that the emperor would regain power after coming of age. However, in reality, Lü Bu won over the hearts of the vast majority of people in Guanzhong with substantial sums of money and provisions.

The common people don't care who's in power; they only care about whether they can have enough to eat.

The soldiers didn't care who the emperor was; they only cared about whether their rations and pay would be issued on time. Whoever provided them with rations and pay, and ensured they were well-fed, would serve them.

And now, Lü Bu has accomplished all of this.

The General's Mansion, the Ministry of Personnel.

Jia Xu sat at his desk, dealing with a mountain of official documents.

He still can't use his left hand too much, but reviewing documents is no longer a problem.

Meng Cheng came in carrying a stack of bamboo slips: "Mr. Wenhe, this is a summary of the winter relief expenditures reported by various counties."

Jia Xu took it, quickly glanced at it, and his brows furrowed more and more deeply.

"The Prefect of Jingzhao has allocated 30,000 shi of grain and 50,000 guan of cash for disaster relief; Zuo Fengyi has allocated 28,000 shi of grain and 45,000 guan of cash; You Fufeng has allocated 25,000 shi of grain and 40,000 guan of cash..." Jia Xu looked up, "Are all these funds and grains allocated extra by the General?"

Meng Cheng nodded: "They all came from the General's private treasury; the grain stored in the imperial granary was not touched."

"The private treasury," Jia Xu murmured, "just how large is the General's private treasury?"

Meng Cheng smiled wryly: "I don't know either. The General's Treasury is managed by the two ladies and the young lady, along with their personal guards. All I know is that whenever the court is short of money and grain, the General just sends people to allocate it from the General's Treasury. The warehouses seem to never lack military supplies; once a batch is moved out, they're full again in just a few days."

Jia Xu put down the bamboo slips and rubbed his temples; he knew more than Yang Biao.

As the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, he handled all official documents of the court and was well aware of the court's income and expenditure.

The imperial court's current revenue mainly comes from taxes collected from several prefectures in Guanzhong, while taxes from other prefectures have almost completely ceased.

Even in Guanzhong, years of war had caused people to be displaced and fields to lie fallow, resulting in very little tax revenue being collected.

And what about expenses?

The army's food and pay, officials' salaries, the operation of prefectures and counties, disaster relief, and engineering construction all involve huge expenditures.

The gap between income and expenditure is alarmingly large.

This shortfall was completely filled by Lü Bu using his private treasury.

"Chief Clerk Meng," Jia Xu suddenly asked, "you've been with the General for a long time, have you ever heard him mention where this money and provisions came from?"

Meng Cheng shook his head: "I asked, and the general only said that he had his own way and that we didn't need to worry about it or ask around. He also said that as long as we do our job well, we will have enough money and supplies."

Jia Xu said, "Aren't you curious?"

"I'm curious, but I dare not ask too many questions," Meng Cheng said honestly. "In chaotic times, knowing too much is not necessarily a good thing. I only know that following the General means I have food to eat, money to earn, and a bright future. That's enough for me."

Jia Xu remained silent.

Meng Cheng is a pragmatic person, so this kind of thinking is normal.

In fact, most officials in the imperial court and county-level government offices thought the same way: it doesn't matter where Lü Bu's money and provisions come from, as long as I can get my salary on time.

But Jia Xu was different.

He is now Lü Bu's chief strategist and knows Lü Bu's ambition to change the dynasty, so he needs to consider things from a longer-term perspective for Lü Bu.

Lu Bu's unusual source of funds and provisions may seem like a good thing in the short term, but it could become a hidden danger in the long term.

With such extravagant spending, what if one day the private treasury suddenly runs out and can't be replenished?

There are already some bad rumors circulating among the people. What if they escalate and start portraying Lü Bu as a monster?

Just then, a minor official rushed in: "Lord Jia, there are some rumors circulating in Chang'an that you should listen to."

"What rumor?"

The clerk lowered his voice: "Rumors are circulating that the General possesses sorcery, able to conjure up provisions and military supplies out of thin air. Some even say the General is the reincarnation of a calamity star, bringing disaster wherever he goes. Even more outrageous, some say the General is actually long dead, and this one is a monster in disguise..."

Jia Xu's face darkened: "Where did these rumors come from?"

"I don't know, but it's widely rumored. Many merchants in both the East and West markets are talking about it, saying that the General's grain came from dubious sources. Some refugees are also muttering to themselves as they receive their porridge, fearing that they will be punished for eating grain conjured by sorcery."

Meng Cheng angrily retorted, "Nonsense! The General provided them with relief, and they're now making fun of him!"

Jia Xu waved his hand, signaling Meng Cheng to calm down.

He pondered for a moment, then said to the clerk, "Go down first, and continue to keep an eye on the rumors and report back as soon as possible."

"promise."

After the minor official left, Meng Cheng said urgently, "Mr. Wenhe, we can't let these rumors spread like wildfire; they'll shake the morale of the people and the army!"

"I know." Jia Xu slowly stood up. "I must report this to the General in person."