Three Kingdoms: I, Ma Su, Only Seek Death

"Prime Minister, this is the taxation of the five counties of Longyou last year reported by Fei Ci. Compared with the previous two years, it can be clearly felt that the taxation has increased significantly."

"And the governor of Brazil also reported that the Longyou caravan purchased a large amount of bamboo from Shu in the past two years..."

One of Zhuge Liang's scribes presented the files of Yongzhou to Zhuge Liang and briefly described the situation reported by the governor of Sanba.

After Zhao Yun's letter was delivered to the Prime Minister's Mansion, Zhuge Liang immediately began to investigate and wrote a letter asking Fei Yi for details.

Fei Yi's reply has not yet arrived, but the Prime Minister's Office has almost checked all the files in the five counties of Longyou.

But you don’t know if you don’t check it. Once you check it, the Prime Minister’s Mansion was shocked.

In just three years, Longyou's taxes suddenly surged, and each year there was a large amount more taxes and grain than the previous year. Until now, Longyou's taxes have increased by more than 40%, and they are still increasing.

And for some reason, Longyou's demand for bamboo suddenly increased a lot. Located next to Shu Road, Sanba has Longyou businessmen purchasing large quantities of bamboo every year.

This was an abnormal signal, and Zhuge Liang was also a little confused about it.

He was not worried about Fei Yi's loyalty. This popular governor was, as Chushibiao said, a loyal and good minister. However, Zhuge Liang was also very curious about Longyou's sudden changes.

After some investigation, Zhuge Liang targeted Ma Di. Because from the accounting point of view, the largest increase in tax revenue was in Longxi County and Hebei County where Ma Su was responsible.

"Prime Minister! The general of the auxiliary country wants to see you!"

At this time, a scribe came in and reported to Zhuge Liang.

"He came just as I was looking for him. Let You Chang come in." Zhuge Liang was startled, then laughed and said.

Then Jiang Wan pulled Ma Su in, saluted Zhuge Liang and then retreated.

"Prime Minister!" Ma Su saluted.

"Youchang, I was just about to send someone to find you." Zhuge Liang smiled, pointed at Ma Su with his feather fan and said,

"Your boy has not been coming out of Guangduo Mansion for the past two days. Do you know how many people His Majesty has sent to me to ask you to go to the East Palace to teach the prince?"

"Ahem... Prime Minister, I'm not good at teaching others, and it's easy to delay the prince..." Ma Su said with an embarrassed look on his face, and said cautiously.

"Stop talking nonsense and go to the East Palace honestly from tomorrow!" Zhuge Liang snorted lightly and gave the order directly, regardless of Ma Su's sophistry.

Ma Su's current identity must be bound to the prince. Only in this way can Ma Su and his subordinates truly fight wholeheartedly to help the Han Dynasty in the future.

Moreover, Liu Chan directly set Ma Su as the prince's father-in-law, so he would naturally have more intimacy with the prince. Otherwise, if the relationship between the prince and Ma Su is not good in the future, it will easily cause turmoil in the court.

Even if you can help yourself, you still have to follow me and make out, right?

Under Zhuge Liang's direct order, Ma Su could only hold his nose and admit it.

Just teach, it’s just one more student.

After saying this, Zhuge Liang changed the subject and said suddenly.

"Speaking of which, Youchang, you worked in Longyou a few years ago. What achievements have you made?"

"Longyou's taxes have increased significantly in the past two years, and the government's treasury is full of money and grain. But according to the calculations of the Prime Minister's Office, Longyou will never have such taxes."

"So, Youchang, do you have any clues?"

"No, Prime Minister!" Ma Di said honestly.

He really didn't have a clue and wasn't interested in understanding this.

After all, he has been away from Longyou for two or three years, and the governor of Longxi has become Li Mu. Ma Su has no news about what is happening over there now.

I don’t know how Li Mu, Yao Hu and the others are doing, or whether they have been affected by the Qiang rebellion.

"No?" Zhuge Liang narrowed his eyes, somewhat disbelieving.

Usually you, Ma Su, have the most thoughts, whether it's fighting or courting. You've been living in Longyou for more than a year, but you haven't made any changes to the place?

But Zhuge Liang didn't say anything, he just nodded and asked Ma Su's purpose.

Ma Su was not polite and said directly to Zhuge Liang.

"Prime Minister, I find that the salaries of our Han officials are a bit too low, and they are often in arrears. If this continues, it will not only affect the operation of the government, but also undermine the determination of the Han officials to serve their country."

"So I hope to increase the salary of officials in the Han Dynasty, at least to return it to the amount in the Later Han Dynasty."

Ma Su has been planning for a long time about his salary.

The Han Dynasty was really too poor. The national treasury was in deficit all year round and there was basically no income.

Especially when Lao Liu borrowed so much debt to fight the Hanzhong War, Shu Han's finances were once close to collapse. Even with the Shu brocade trade now, the Shu Han economy is still unable to make ends meet.

There is no way, no matter how small the Shu Han is, it is still a country, with at least 50,000 officials. Even if Cao Wei and Soochow used all Shu brocade, the profits they received would not be able to make up for such a huge deficit.

Therefore, the salaries of Shu Han officials are very low, and they will be in arrears during difficult times.

Because of this, officials like Xiang Zhang Yi who came from a poor background had no money for medical treatment. As for Ma Su himself, a standing general like this, his salary was not enough to subsidize his personal guards.

This resulted in Ma Su not being able to even afford a concubine! !

But now, the Shu Han Dynasty has won several foreign wars, and its finances are somewhat wealthy. So Ma Di also used Zhang Yi as an excuse to come to Zhuge Liang to talk about this matter.

Regarding Ma Su's proposal, Zhuge Liang couldn't help but frowned and hesitated for a while.

Ma Su is indeed right. Official salaries are indeed a big problem. But the problem is that although finances are not that difficult now, there is not much wealth either.

Once wages increase, I am afraid that the finances will return to the difficult period before. Many policies that may be launched by then may have to be delayed again.

This is a choice between a family and a country, and Zhuge Liang is not immune to this.

But while Zhuge Liang was thinking, another scribe came in.

"Prime Minister! The reply from the Governor of Longyou Fei has arrived."

"Oh?" Zhuge Liang was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously waved his hand and took the letter.

This is Fei Yi's reply to Zhuge Liang, and it also explains the changes in Longyou during this period.

After reading Fei Yi's letter in general, Zhuge Liang's eyes suddenly lit up and the corners of his mouth raised slightly.

"I see, Ma Youchang, you hide it so deeply!"

Ma Su: "???"

Seeing Ma Su's confused look, Zhuge Liang pointed at Ma Su with a smile.

"If Fei Yi hadn't written back and explained, I might still have been kept in the dark."

"No, Prime Minister..."

"Okay, I understand that you want to surprise the court, but there is no need to hide it so deeply."

"Can……"

"Needless to say, since you have already had the idea and implemented it, I have nothing more to say. Let's implement it first. If it succeeds, not only will the officials' salaries be increased, but the finances will no longer be in deficit in the future. "

Ma Su: "..."

What is the Prime Minister talking about?