Chapter 3240 Officials Dispersed and Birds Came to the Empty Courtyard

Chapter 3239 Officials dispersed, birds came to the empty courtyard

When the morning mist rose hazily, it settled on the low hills and low ground of the Yuncheng Basin, as if the resentful souls that spread from the underworld were lingering.

The low temperature in the early morning froze the smoke and blood that were still pervasive not long ago. The once noisy and chaotic Yuncheng Basin is now gradually quiet.

The reason for the silence is not that the war has subsided, but because the living beings have turned into dead souls.

War is the strongest manifestation of political conflict.

If it is just based on the generals, it is Fei Qian and Cao Cao, but in fact, it is a struggle between the political groups represented by Fei Qian and Cao Cao.

And the Hedong gentry in the Yuncheng Basin, it is obvious that most people did not realize this, and still thought that the war was just about attacking cities and fighting between generals.

Cao Cao's troops have already approached the vicinity of Anyi.

Facing the surging Cao army, whether to fight or surrender is indeed a problem.

The final factor that determined the fate of Anyi was the external factor of Cao Cao, but more important was the internal factor in Anyi City.

Just like the climate of the Little Ice Age.

Generally speaking, climate change does not coincide with the time of dynasty change, but when the dynasty changes, climate change basically plays a role. This shows that in many cases, internal factors are more fatal, and external factors are just boosters. If the dynasty is united, then even if the external factors are strong, it can still resist.

But if the internal is no longer good, then perhaps only a little external force is needed to break the original balance...

It's just a pity that some people in Anyi City are still hesitating until Cao Cao's knife is handed to them.

This is also very consistent with the characteristics of the landlord manor economic system.

As long as the land is still there, the untouchables on the land are just grass.

Wildfires cannot burn it all, and spring breezes will blow it back to life.

Life and death, it's just like this.

As long as you are alive and the other party is willing to recognize the land deed in your hand, then it's okay. Or it's just a matter of endurance. So those who think they can still endure it are enduring it, and those who can't endure it are trying to find a way...

On the way to Cao Jun's camp, Pei Jun saw countless corpses on both sides of the road.

The black and red blood coagulated, just like the color of the flag of the Han Dynasty fell to the ground.

The arrows inserted diagonally into the corpses broke, and the destroyed villages were emitting black smoke.

Everything in front of him was like an invisible hand, tightly grasping Pei Jun's heart.

Occasionally, a small team of Cao Jun soldiers would be seen, looking at Pei Jun and his party with ill intentions, as if looking at a group of cattle and sheep.

Occasionally, one or two points of light appeared in the dead silence, and I don't know where it was ignited.

He didn't know whether it was right or wrong for him to do this.

He just couldn't let it go.

He couldn't let go of the wealth and power he once had.

Anyi City was obviously not so easy to be breached, and the capricious spring cold current also caused some trouble for Cao Jun's attack. After a few days of continuous advance, I don't know if it was because of the weather or some other factors, Cao Cao temporarily stagnated and did not move forward.

But they will still march in the end...

Pei Jun regarded this as the last "window period" given by Cao Cao, so he came.

Came secretly.

Like a little thief.

He came for his own manor, his own wealth, and his own power.

That's right, whether they are ready to continue to endure or can't endure, they are all the people at the level of the gentry in Hedong who are thinking about themselves. As for the ordinary people in this land, they did not take them into consideration.

In the eyes of the gentry, this world belongs to them, not to those humble grass-roots people.

Unfortunately, Prime Minister Cao did not come to greet Pei Jun, nor did he take off his boots to show his respect. Instead, he sat high up and said calmly, "I came here first, but what can I do for you?

"I... I..." Pei Jun coughed, as if he was choked by his own saliva, and seemed to be a little hesitant, but finally said, "I have lived in Hedong for a long time and know its internal strengths and weaknesses. If the Prime Minister does not abandon me, I am willing to help the Prime Minister with my meager strength.

"Ahahaha... Fengxian is too modest! 'Cao Cao said with a smile, clapped his hands, and asked someone to bring some wine, 'Come, let's drink a cup to congratulate Fengxian for abandoning the dark and joining the light! '

Abandoning the dark and joining the light?

Pei Jun smiled on the surface, but he was a little confused in his heart.

If he could, he didn't want to do such a thing.

But if he didn't do this, he wouldn't be able to keep his little money...

When he was poor, he could say generously, what is money? The happiest time for him was when he had no money! If the Han Dynasty needed it, he could donate all his wealth to the country for free!

But when he really had money, these money became part of his flesh and blood, and if he cut some of it off, it would be as painful as drilling bones and digging marrow...

After drinking a round of wine, the atmosphere relaxed a little, and after sitting down again, Cao Cao asked Pei Jun about his strategy for dealing with Hedong.

Pei Jun cupped his hands and said, "The great ancestor established the country and prospered the country. The people were harmonious and happy, and the country was peaceful and peaceful." The monarch and his ministers are virtuous, govern the world with benevolence, extend their kindness widely, and moisturize things silently. All nations come to congratulate, the world is at peace, the weather is smooth, and people are prosperous. Then he ordered the officials to treat the people lightly and treat the people leniently. Farmers cultivate their fields, Jia sells their goods, and workers can weave silk. Rest and recuperation can be said to be the highest virtue, like the light of the sun and moon, shining for thousands of years, like the water of a river, nourishing all things. The descendants of future generations will all admire the great ancestor, remember his aspirations forever, and never forget the grace of recuperation. In this case, if the Prime Minister can comply with Gaozu's move and decide on a strategy for recuperation, Hedong will be leveled, and Guanzhong will also be settled..."

Cao Cao seemed to be very serious when he listened, but he didn't seem to take it to heart at all.

Recuperate and recuperate?

It does make sense, but in fact, ordinary people are not the ones who recuperate, and the key is how to "recuperate"...

At the beginning of the founding of the Han Dynasty, one thing is certain. There was indeed a policy of "recuperation and recuperation", but many people did not study it carefully. What exactly was the "people" who recuperated?

In most feudal dynasties, the "goodwill" of the ruling class did not directly extend to the most basic people.

Although this kindness was not much in the first place.

Strictly speaking, when the Han Dynasty was in Liu Bang's hands, he did not really "recuperate" and was still fighting continuously.

Liu Bang reigned for twelve years, but ended up fighting for more than eleven and a half years. He didn't fight for the last four months, and then he died. In the eleven years, internal and external wars were frequent. The first stage was the rebellion of Xiang Yu's old troops. King Han Xin of Han surrendered to the Huns and colluded with the Huns to invade the south several times. The subordinates of the puppet King Han Xin supported Zhao Li as King of Zhao and colluded with the Huns to cause rebellion. The second stage was Chen Wei, the general who controlled Dai and Zhao, launched a rebellion, triggering rebellions by Liang Wang Peng Yue, Huainan Wang Yingbu, and Yan Wang Lu Guan, and also colluded with the puppet Han Xin and the Xiongnu.

Of course, these rebellions also represent Liu Bang's reduction and suppression of the old local aristocrats and military lords in order to maintain the centralized imperial rule.

So when the second generation rises and "recuperates", who "recuperates", and in what direction are the compromises and adjustments contained in the political system?

Therefore, when Pei Jun said "recuperate and recuperate," Lao Cao would naturally not interpret it as Pei Jun speaking out for the ordinary people in Hedong.

However, Cao Cao did not comment on what Pei Jun said. After smiling noncommittally, he asked, "Did Feng Xian gain anything from Husband Tianzheng's teachings?" Please also enlighten me. 』

Pei Jun never thought that just a few words could make Cao Cao really let go of the Hedong gentry, and more importantly, he could show an attitude.

Pei Jun's own attitude.

Cao Cao's attitude.

As for other things, there are some things that don’t need to be explained too clearly.

After all, Pei Jun doesn't want to be Xu You's second best.

After Cao Cao raised the question, Pei Jun was silent for a moment, and then said slowly: "The system of hussars is similar to that of the pre-Qin Dynasty, not Qin law, and originated from Han law, but not Han rules..."

Cao Cao nodded, "I would like to hear the details." 』

Pei Jun said slowly, "Prime Minister, the system of the early Han Dynasty was based on the Qin Dynasty..."

Basically, there is no objection to this.

Liu Bang was not an academic master in the traditional sense, nor was he a well-educated Confucian. Therefore, regarding the national system, Liu Bang could only rely on instinct, follow the suggestions of some Confucian scholars, and then make selections. Therefore, in general, the early Han Dynasty "followed without changing" the Qin system, and implemented it very strictly.

The reason why the system is obviously the same, but the former Qin Dynasty is about cruelty, and the Han Dynasty is about fertility. In addition to the politically correct smear campaign, it is also because during the Liu Ying and Lu Pheasant period, "foreign corvee" meant that residents were required to be registered in the county or even the local area. The number and scale of military service outside the county was much better than that of the Qin Dynasty. In addition, "big construction", that is, large-scale construction, was indeed much less than that of the Qin Dynasty.

There is no way, the people at the lowest level are so easy to fool. As long as they are a little better, they are already grateful, which makes the rulers above them feel good about themselves and feel so happy.

In fact, both the Han Dynasty and the Qin Dynasty did not regard the grassroots people as human beings.

It's just that the early Han Dynasty was indeed not as tossing as the late Qin Dynasty.

The Han Dynasty can truly be called "light corvee and low taxes" until a series of tax reforms were implemented after Liu Heng came to the throne. Of course, compared to the Han Dynasty of three to four hundred years, Liu Heng can indeed be regarded as the "Early Han Dynasty". It's just that the people who benefited most from this "light corvee and low tax" were not ordinary people, but the landlord and manor class with Han characteristics.

"The hussar system puts military merit first. Pei Jun said slowly, "I mean, military merit is not the most important thing." Military is the most important weapon of the country and the glory of the soldiers. The emperors of the past matched heaven with their virtues and did not forget about military affairs. Therefore, they were able to stabilize the country and dominate the world. Military merit is not just about killing generals and knocking flags. In fact, it is about making decisions and then taking action. It is the result of both wisdom and courage. Therefore..."

Pei Jun glanced at Cao Cao, lowered his head and said, "Therefore, the military merits of the hussar are very important, and they are used by the scholars." Those who are powerful should take their strength, and those who are good at wisdom should take their wisdom. Similar to this, there is also the method of imperial examination and the study of workers and peasants. 』

Cao Cao nodded, "In this case, selecting talented people is indeed the key to managing politics." 』

Everyone knows that talents are a very important part of governing the country.

Everyone understands the principle, but the methods and results are somewhat different.

At least between Cao Cao and Fei Qian, as hidden in Pei Jun's words just now, they are two completely different parties.

On the surface, it seems to be a battle between Guanzhong and Shandong, a war between Fei Qian and Cao Cao, but in fact it is a collision of different political ideas.

After understanding all this, you can understand that the so-called Han Dynasty and Qin Dynasty is a typical process of "shifting from a military economy to a manor economy", and in this process, the people at the bottom will always fill the cornerstone.

The Qin Dynasty was a typical expansionary military state, and everything was in the service of war.

This is because of the national temperament that grew up under the specific historical conditions of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. It was a country that focused on farming and war, and had the world in mind. If it were not for the Qin Dynasty's relatively low productivity era, the Qin Dynasty's territory would not only be the Central Plains. At this point, it may even expand to East Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and other regions.

The Qin Dynasty was basically built on war. The ultimate goal of all economic activities was to fight. When fighting, some people would receive military honors. The country would then distribute the land acquired through external plunder to them, which injected liquidity into the entire Qin Dynasty society. sex.

Therefore, the entire economy of the Qin Dynasty was based on external plunder. The money and slaves plundered from the outside were the pillars of the country's economy. Once the expansion slowed down and there were not enough slaves, the entire economic system collapsed.

What Pei Jun means is that Fei Qian's political system is somewhat similar to that of the Qin Dynasty.

This was indeed a very important weight that Pei Jun finally invested in Cao Cao.

He cannot obtain military honors like others.

He only knows how to read, but if he wants to go into battle to kill the enemy, he really doesn't have the courage, and if he wants to make suggestions, he doesn't have the intelligence. But here in Fei Qian, if you can't get enough military merit, no matter how much wealth you have, it will be exhausted after three generations, and you won't even be able to keep it for three generations.

In fact, the structure of the central leading army and the central protecting army under Cao Cao is actually the same military merit system. It's just that Cao Cao didn't do it as thoroughly as Fei Qian, and Cao Cao's military merit system had too many of his own.

It's just that now, the military class under Fei Qian is broader than that under Cao Cao, which makes Fei Qian's current hidden dangers more and his future hidden dangers less than Cao Cao's.

In the entire political system where military merit is the mainstay, every war victory will give birth to a large number of interest classes, the so-called military merit landlords. These military meritorious landowners will have a strong impact on the manorial landowners formed during the three to four hundred years of the Han Dynasty. In the face of such an impact, it can be said that the moat originally built by Shandong based on scriptures and prophecies was basically useless.

Pei Jun's meaning is very clear. Cao Cao does not need to completely defeat Fei Qian, he only needs to interrupt Fei Qian's trend of continuous victory...

Cao Cao was silent for a moment, then smiled slightly and said, "Do you know what's going on in Shanshan Kingdom?" 』

Pei Jun was stunned for a moment, nodded and said, "I know." However, the land of the Western Region is by no means a good place. Gold and silver are things that can only be obtained at one time. How can they be obtained year after year? Therefore, the battle cannot last long..."

Pei Jun is not optimistic about Fei Qian because of this.

Pei Jun felt that Fei Qian had no way out now and was forced to go to war in the Western Region. Although he conquered Shanshan Kingdom, it was like drinking poison and could not last long. Once the war stops, the military landlords have a strong need to launch a war. If you don't let them fight, they will rebel against you. Fei Qian will either suppress the princes like Liu Bang did in the early Han Dynasty, or he will be killed in the rebellion.

Pei Jun feels that Lu Fengxian is the best proof...

Even though it was officially claimed that Fei Qian did not kill Lu Bu, Pei Jun did not believe it.

Once the frequency of wars decreases, quite a few landowners with military merit will directly face the situation that their land may not be inherited. They will not be happy. Even if Fei Qian changes the law again and says that future land inheritance does not require military merit, the same will happen. no. Not to mention how many of the military landlords had previously caused their children to die on the battlefield in order to inherit the title. Even for the rest of the ordinary people, if there is no new land, the original land will be so little. The land has been divided by the former military meritorious landowners, so isn't there no hope? Will I never be able to have a piece of land of my own in the future?

These factors determined that Feiqian could not stop the war, but must continue to fight, plunder new lands, and enfeoff new landowners.

Then there were attacks on the desert in the north, Jiaozhi in the south, and expeditions to the Western Regions in the west.

There's no other way, we all know those bad lands are boring, but we can't do it without fighting...

I have to say that Pei Jun's logical chain still makes sense.

But Cao Cao just nodded slightly and did not show any joy for it.

Cao Cao knew that the manor landlords of the Shandong political group did have a different system from Fei Qian's, and they did not have as strong a desire to attack as Fei Qian's men. It can even be said that it is the complete opposite. There is no idea of ​​​​conquering foreign countries at all. They even want to directly cut Xiliang and other frontiers to cut Yong'an.

So if Cao Cao follows what Pei Jun said and adopts the so-called "rest and recuperate" strategy, that is, he will fight against the power of these manor landlords, compromise with the good landlords, and eliminate the ruthless landlords. After they are eliminated, he will fill in his own people and work hard to strengthen them. Drying weak branches seems to be a good strategy, but in fact Cao Cao knew that he no longer had time.

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the manor landlord class in Shandong had evolved towards powerful separatism, and the process was irreversible.

This kind of manor economy with the powerful as the core has already formed in Shandong. The manors of various powerful families are independent small kingdoms. The internal economy can circulate by itself. Each powerful family has its own family soldiers. As long as Cao Cao relaxes, the local area will gradually form a situation of actual separatism by powerful families of all sizes. In the end, the recuperation policy means that all the princes and counties will become kings, and Cao Cao can only stay in his own small piece of land...

Just like the King of Zhou in the past.

Cao Cao looked at Pei Jun with a slightly cold look in his eyes.

If Cao Cao still had some hope and patience to wait and drag it out before Fei Qian's gunpowder appeared, but when he found that Fei Qian's gunpowder was being used more and more, the craftsmanship was getting better and better, and the economy was getting stronger and stronger, Cao Cao knew that he had reached a dead end.

If he waited any longer, he would die.

Although the gentry, landlords and powerful families in Shandong might not die, he, Cao Cao, would definitely not have a good end...

Cao Cao smiled and seemed to nod slightly, but in fact, his evaluation of Pei Jun had been declining again and again, "Fengxian is right... not bad... haha, is there any other good advice for you? 』

『...』 Pei Jun was silent for a few breaths, then gritted his teeth and said, "I... I am not talented, but I can help the Prime Minister to capture Anyi by chance! 』