Chapter 496: Lord Wen Breaks the Formation. Wherever the Emperor’s Sword Points, the Iron Hooves Will Go!

After Liu Xie issued the decree to clear the land across the country and conduct a population census, Jia Xu quickly took action.

Xiuyi made a team composed of the Joint Tax Bureau go to various places immediately, starting with the census of local wealthy families.

The swift action caught all the aristocratic families off guard.

There wasn't even time to react.

The census of aristocratic families started with the Hongnong Yang family. Because of Yang Biao's instruction, the Yang family was extremely cooperative with the census.

During this census, it was found that the Yang family's land property that was cleared out totaled more than 100,000 acres, while a total of 70,000 acres of land was concealed!

And there are as many as ten thousand tenants under Yang's name!

These numbers may not seem like much when you look at them alone, but they are just the numbers found from Yang’s!

And the world is so big, and there are so many gentry and gentry, one can imagine how much land and population are concealed.

All the taxes that should have been handed over to the court went into the pockets of the gentry and gentry. This is the fundamental reason for the emptiness of the national treasury!

It only took ten days from the time Yang was investigated to the results.

After the results came out, Yang Biao immediately went to Shu to plead guilty to the emperor, but the emperor thought of his outstanding achievements and did not punish him.

They only confiscated 50,000 acres of land as punishment, and ordered the Yang family to carry out rectification within a time limit, and register all tenants with the name in the court.

This treatment can be said to be lenient, because according to the law established when Emperor Wu was in power, concealing land without reporting it will result in the confiscation of all the concealed land, and a large fine will also be required.

But Yang was only fined 50,000 acres of land. Although it was a massive hemorrhage, it was not really a serious injury.

However, although the emperor did not punish him severely, Yang Biao still felt ashamed of the emperor, so he took the initiative to ask for retribution and return home.

Although the emperor repeatedly tried to persuade Yang Biao to stay, Yang Biao still insisted, so the emperor had to give him a set of ceremonial guards and allow him to retire in old age.

At the same time, Yang Xiu was transferred to Shangshutai and promoted to Shangshu Zuopushe.

Yang's investigation was just the beginning.

After the Yang family, other major families were also investigated, and a large amount of unreported land and unregistered populations were discovered.

In order to deal with these affairs, the tax bureau keeps the lights brightly lit every night, and the officials are almost running around, even sleeping, eating and drinking have to squeeze out time.

…

Weiyang Palace, Greenhouse.

Liu Xie has now changed the propaganda room into the cabinet office, which is used by academicians to handle government affairs, and the greenhouse has become a new place to receive ministers.

At this time, Jia Xu and Fazheng were reporting to him the progress of the current land and population inventory.

"Your Majesty, we have uncovered a total of 270,000 acres of hidden land from the Yang, Cui, Dou, Dong, Xun and other major clans, with as many as 40,000 households."

"These are only rough estimates. The specific figures are still being calculated and it will take some time to get the results."

Fazheng said respectfully.

The tax bureau was originally established to be responsible for trade, salt and iron, commercial tax and other matters. Land statistics and tax collection were not under the management of the tax bureau.

But the emperor temporarily assigned them the responsibility of counting the numbers brought up by the embroidery envoys, so that the officials at the tax bureau were extremely busy.

As the director, he only sleeps less than three hours a day.

Even the dark circles under my eyes came out.

However, although I am busy, I dare not complain at all, and if this matter is handled well, the tax bureau's future functions will be improved to a higher level.

It truly became the department with real power in control of the imperial court's finances!

After listening to Fa Zheng's report, Liu Xie took the statistics book from his hand. After briefly reading it for a few times, he placed it on the desk.

"From just five aristocratic families, 270,000 acres of land and more than 40,000 households were identified."

"It seems that I still underestimate them too much."

There was not much joy in Liu Xie's tone, but instead it was full of indifference, and his expression showed no fluctuation.

These figures all show that the land annexation of the Han Dynasty has reached a very serious stage. Without his inspection this time, the national treasury will only become increasingly empty, and it is simply a luxury to hope that the Han Dynasty can prosper.

Throughout the ages, the fundamental reason for the decline of dynasties is serious land annexation. Because a large amount of resources are concentrated in the hands of a few people, the people are increasingly unable to survive, so they turn to the road of rebellion.

It's just that Liu Xie didn't expect that the current level of land annexation by the Han Dynasty was so exaggerated, with several big families annexing so much land.

Fazheng didn't dare to answer the question. This topic was a bit sensitive and it was difficult for him to speak.

Jia Xu didn't have so many scruples, and said: "As long as we can carry out the land clearing to the end, my country's national strength will definitely be greatly improved."

"Your Majesty's move is indeed wise."

Liu Xie looked at Jia Xu and asked, "Did you encounter any obstacles during the investigation?"

Clear out the acres of land and conduct a census of the population.

This kind of act of directly cutting flesh from major aristocratic families would definitely encounter great resistance, even if the embroidery envoys were deployed.

Jia Xu smiled and said: "Of course there are obstacles, but they are just minor troubles. Your Majesty does not need to worry, I can solve them properly."

Jia Xu didn't elaborate, and Liu Xie didn't ask any more questions.

He believed in Jia Xu's abilities and methods.

If he can't even solve such a trivial matter, then Jia Xu will have wasted his reputation as a "poisoner".

Liu Xie discussed with the two men for a while. At this time, Gao Lan walked into the greenhouse and came to report: "Your Majesty, the general wants to see you."

Hearing that it was Lu Bu who wanted to see him, Liu Xie said to Jia Xu and the others, "Just leave the book here, you can go and get busy first."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Jia Xu and Fa Zheng bowed and turned to leave the greenhouse.

Soon Lu Bu came in.

Seeing Lu Bu, Liu Xie smiled and asked, "Why is Lord Wen here? He is such a rare guest."

Lu Bu had a golden decree from him, which allowed him to enter and leave the palace at will. This was to facilitate Lu Bu to enter the palace to see his granddaughter, and it also represented honor and the emperor's favor.

However, Lu Bu also knew the limits. Although he had the decree in hand, he would still let someone inform him every time he entered the palace.

"Your Majesty!"

Lu Bu bowed with his fists clasped together.

Liu Xie raised his hand and pressed it down, indicating that he didn't need to be polite, and asked the eunuch to bring him a stool, and then asked: "Fengxian, what are you doing in the palace today?"

"Uh, this..."

Faced with Liu Xie's question, Lu Bu scratched his head and laughed dryly: "Nothing, it's just that I haven't seen Your Majesty for a long time, so I miss you."

"Miss me?"

Liu Xie was stunned, then laughed: "I'm not a stunning beauty, why do you miss me?"

"Fengxian, don't beat around the bush, you and I have something to say between the monarch and the minister, just say it directly, what do you want from me?"

Liu Xie could see through Lu Bu's thoughts at a glance.

It was obvious that he came to see him today to ask for something.

After Liu Xie revealed his thoughts, Lu Bu felt even more embarrassed. His old face turned red, and he rubbed his hands and said shyly: "It's not a big deal... I just want to ask Your Majesty to write a poem for me."

Ever since the emperor wrote a poem for Zhao Yun after the martial arts competition last time, he has been thinking about it, and even eating and drinking are not delicious.

A poem written by the emperor! What a great honor!

He is now a general, as the leader of the military generals, how can he not have this honor?

So after struggling at home for a long time, he decided to go to the palace and ask the emperor to write a poem for him.

"I knew it was because of this."

Liu Xie couldn't help laughing when he heard Lu Bu's request for an audience. In fact, when he heard Lu Bu's request for an audience, he roughly guessed what Lu Bu's intention was.

After all, with Lu Bu's competitive nature, it is impossible not to covet this honor. In fact, Lu Bu is not the first to make this request. Huang Zhong, Zhang Liao and other military generals have made the same request to him in a subtle way.

It's just that he has been pretending to be deaf and dumb.

The main reason is that it's not easy to start. Once he starts, everyone will come to him to ask for poems. Where can he write poems and give them to others?

Lu Bu said with a little surprise: "Your Majesty, have you agreed? Quick! I brought a pen and ink, Your Majesty, just write it down!"

He took out the four treasures of the study from his arms.

He was obviously well prepared.

Liu Xie spread his hands and said: "I didn't agree. As the saying goes, articles are naturally formed, and they are occasionally obtained by a master's hand. This poem can't be written casually."

Please...collect_6_9_book_bar (Six//Nine//Book//bar)

"I wrote that poem because I saw Zilong's heroic demeanor that day. How can I write it now?"

Lu Bu patted his thigh and said: "That's easy! I will show your majesty a set of boxing, let your majesty see my style!"

As he spoke, he stood up and rolled up his sleeves to show off his boxing.

Liu Xie's eyelids twitched, and he quickly stopped him, saying, "Okay, stop dancing. Do you want to destroy my greenhouse palace?"

Lü Bu scratched his head again, and then carefully suggested, "Then how about your majesty move to the military camp and watch me practice with Zilong and Han Sheng?"

"Your majesty, don't worry, even if Zilong and Han Sheng join forces, I can defeat them together!"

For this honor, he risked his life!

It's just one against two!

Liu Xie sighed and said helplessly, "Don't bother, bring the pen and ink."

Looking at Lu Bu's posture, if he doesn't write something today, then don't think about sending him away.

Lu Bu was overjoyed and hurried forward to spread paper and grind ink.

The movements were extremely skillful.

Liu Xie took the brush from him, thought for a moment, and began to write on the paper.

Lu Bu watched happily from the side.

His face was full of expectations.

But soon, this expectation gradually turned into doubt, and in the end it was full of confusion.

"Okay, take it."

Liu Xie finished writing quickly, then put the brush aside and said to Lu Bu.

But Lu Bu didn't show much joy at this time. He looked at the words on the paper with an expression that seemed to be hesitant to speak.

After hesitating for a while, he couldn't help asking: "Your Majesty, is this really the poem you wrote for me?"

"This... doesn't look like it."

What was written on the paper was not some words praising his bravery such as "Wen Gong is brave and unparalleled in the world", but some words he couldn't understand.

"Accepting the law to resign as the head of state, the general will punish the traitor.

Singing the music of breaking the formation, we all appreciate the people of peace.

The four seas are covered by the imperial wind, and the water of a thousand years of virtue is clear;

I don't wear military uniforms anymore, and today I announce my success.

The lord opened the prosperous calendar, and the ministers are loyal to the great plan;

You see, after the reform, it will be a peaceful autumn."

Lu Bu was not a rough man who couldn't read a single word. He had read some books and had at least a cultural level.

The poem written by the emperor was more like a eulogy of peace, and was completely different from the "eight-sided majesty and murderous aura" written for Zhao Yun before.

The key point is that his name was never mentioned from beginning to end, so even if this poem was written for him, he couldn't show it off to others.

"I told you to drink less and read more with Gongtai, but you refused to listen."

Liu Xie rolled his eyes at Lu Bu and said unhappily: "This is not a poem, but the lyrics of a song. I named it "Wen Gong Po Zhen Yue"."

"I'll give you this lyric. When you go back, find a few musicians with superb musical skills, compose it into a song, and let them play it at the New Year's Day banquet."

"If you don't want it, I'll change the name to "Wen Yuan Po Zhen Qu" and give it to Wen Yuan. Anyway, he is asking me for a poem."

Liu Xie is not good at writing poems. He can only recite those that are familiar to him. It is not appropriate to give it to Lu Bu.

So after thinking about it, he decided to write this "Po Zhen Yue" to fool Lu Bu.

"Wen Gong Po Zhen Music?"

After listening to it, Lu Bu was stunned, and then he was very happy, and hurriedly said: "Yes! Yes! I will find a musician to compose music when I go back!"

Wen Gong Po Zhen Music, it sounds magnificent, and the key is that it is sung, isn't it more impressive than ordinary poems?

Moreover, the emperor also said that he would have someone play it at the New Year's Day banquet in the near future. When others ask what the name of this song is, they will hear that it is "Wen Gong Po Zhen Music", which will be very impressive!

Lu Bu happily took the paper with the song in his arms, and said to Liu Xie in high spirits: "Then your majesty, I will take my leave now!"

"Wait."

Liu Xie stopped Lu Bu again.

Lu Bu thought that the emperor regretted giving him this song, so he subconsciously covered his chest and looked at Liu Xie vigilantly.

Liu Xie said: "After the New Year's Day banquet, you send Gao Shun to Jizhou to garrison and let him stay there for a while."

"I have recently been surveying the land and population of the whole country. This matter is of great importance. I am afraid that there will be troublemakers."

The survey of land affects the interests of the aristocratic families.

Liu Xie is worried that some people will be restless.

There are many aristocratic families in Jizhou, so it is necessary to send troops to garrison there, and not only Jizhou, but also Jingzhou, Yangzhou, and Xuzhou.

"Rogue? Who is it?"

When Lu Bu heard this, his face suddenly turned cold, and he said murderously: "Your Majesty, just issue the order. If anyone dares not to respect the imperial edict, I will personally lead the troops to the door!"

Seeing Lu Bu's murderous look, Liu Xie's eyes flashed with a trace of relief, and patted his shoulder and said: "Just in case."

"If it is not necessary, I don't want to shed blood."

At present, the major families are still relatively law-abiding, and Liu Xie sent troops to various places to garrison them to deter them.

Lu Bu then restrained his momentum and said in a deep voice: "I don't understand these twists and turns, but no matter who dares to disobey Your Majesty, as long as Your Majesty orders, I will kill them without hesitation!"

For him, the emperor's will is everything!

The emperor gave him the current status and honor, and also made his daughter the queen. He can't repay it in his whole life.

Wherever the emperor's sword points, his horse's hoof points!