Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Following the ritual of offering sacrifices to Heaven and proclaiming himself king, Liu Bei, upon Li Ji's suggestion, did not adopt the customary general amnesty, thereby not pardoning the labor camp prisoners, including those from the Xun family.

Instead, besides directly reducing a portion of taxes for the people under his rule, the local governments provided grain and oil to the orphaned, widowed, elderly, and young, sharing the joy and celebration with the people.

The new edition of the newspaper, in addition to detailing Liu Bei's ascension to kingship and the appointment of Marquis Li Ji as Prime Minister and Chief Commander, also listed the bestowal of honors upon the other officials in detail.

The Three Dukes and Nine Ministers were all included.

The position of Minister of Education (司徒) was originally established to replace the Prime Minister; now that Liu Bei had reinstated the Prime Minister position, the Minister of Education was naturally no longer needed.

Alongside Prime Minister Li Ji, the other two of the Three Dukes were Grand Commandant Lu Zhi and Minister of Works Cai Yong.

Of course, discerning individuals clearly understood that while the Three Dukes appeared to be equal, in reality, Grand Commandant Lu Zhi and Minister of Works Cai Yong merely held honorary titles, with all the power of the court concentrated in Li Ji's hands.

Those promoted to the Nine Ministers were: Grand Master of Ceremonies Gu Yong, Director of the Imperial Clan Xiahou Bo, Commandant of the Guards Chen Dao, Grand Master of the Palace Chen Gui, Minister of Justice Kuai Liang, Grand Herald Sun Qian, Director of the Imperial Clan Liu Yu, Minister of Agriculture Mi Zhu, and Chamberlain Jian Yong.

Of course, Li Ji had intentions to reform the court system as well.

The Three Dukes and Nine Ministers system undoubtedly appeared somewhat bloated, and there were many systems from later generations that Li Ji could draw inspiration from.

However, after some deliberation, Li Ji was well aware that now was not a suitable time.

One should not take too big of a step at once.

The reform of the tax system had already caused quite a stir in the territory, but the voices of opposition had all been suppressed.

Liu Bei's advancement to kingship was essentially to completely inherit the Han Dynasty's legacy and establish a righteous claim.

To carry out a large-scale reform of the bureaucratic system at this moment would undoubtedly be cutting off his own arms.

The real opportunity for reform would be more suitable after unifying the world...

In addition to the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, the group of military generals who followed Liu Bei were also granted titles and promotions.

Among them, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun were simultaneously promoted to the three great generals, General of the Vanguard, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and General of the Guards, respectively, second only to the General-in-Chief.

General of the Vanguard Guan Yu was even on par with the Three Dukes, becoming the head of the military generals.

In addition, to show the importance attached to generals from other backgrounds, Sun Ce and Huang Zhong, who also had distinguished military achievements, were exceptionally promoted to General of the Van and General of the Rear, respectively, and together with Guan, Zhang, and Zhao, were listed as the "Five Tiger Generals."

The name of these Five Tiger Generals greatly enhanced their reputation, and they were regarded by the people, who spontaneously spread their stories, as pillars of the military.

In the past, the common people rarely, if ever, participated in discussions of political affairs, and even knew very little about changes in the political situation.

Now, with the popularization of the "newspaper," it greatly aroused the people's interest in participating in discussions, and also greatly enhanced cohesion and a sense of belonging.

......

These kinds of news also quickly spread from Liu Bei's territory to Zhao and Wei.

Now, the King of Zhao, Lu Bu, sat openly on the throne of the imperial palace, listening to Chen Gong's report, and only left a contemptuous comment on this.

"What Five Tiger Generals? Guan, Zhang, and Zhao are just defeated generals, and Sun Ce and Huang Zhong are just a child and an old man, not worth mentioning."

Upon hearing this, Chen Gong couldn't help but repeatedly mention in the summarized intelligence that Li Ji had been appointed as Prime Minister and Chief Commander, in charge of all military and political affairs, and that after Liu Bei's territory had greatly reformed the tax system, the people seemed to be showing a new vitality...

However, Lu Bu completely ignored Chen Gong's words and couldn't help but wave his hand to interrupt.

"Alright, alright, what prosperity and flourishing are just temporary bubbles. In the end, the outcome will always be decided by swords and spears on the battlefield!"

"As long as we win on the battlefield, isn't that enough? By then, no matter how prosperous Liu Bei's territory is, it will all belong to me."

Hearing these words, Chen Gong swallowed back the words he originally wanted to persuade Lu Bu to emulate Liu Bei and reform the tax system in his territory.

Due to his different position, Chen Gong had to maintain absolute vigilance against Li Ji at all times, but he had never doubted Li Ji's ability.

Moreover, the "Taxation Based on Land and Population" implemented in the four provinces of Yu, Xu, Yang, and Jing had already begun to show results, and the people were almost visibly revitalized, and the past problems of insufficient arable land or labor were quickly resolved.

Lu Bu's attitude made Chen Gong feel somewhat disheartened.

If Lu Bu didn't attach much importance to it, how could he use Lu Bu's authority to force the aristocratic clans, including the Chen family, to cede their interests and support the "Taxation Based on Land and Population"?

......

In fact, not only Chen Gong noticed the institutional advantages of "Taxation Based on Land and Population" in terms of enhancing national strength and stabilizing people's livelihoods, but Cao Cao and his counselors and officials also noticed this.

Cao Cao was very tempted by this and secretly gathered confidants and poor scholars such as Xi Zhicai to discuss it many times.

However, the conclusion reached through the discussion undoubtedly made Cao Cao feel both regret and pity.

The conclusion was that Cao Cao was currently completely unable to implement "Taxation Based on Land and Population."

Now, Cao Cao, who occupies Qing, Ji, and a small part of Bing province, seems to have some possibility of confronting Liu Bei, but in fact, Cao Cao is still extremely dependent on the support of aristocratic clans.

Not to mention anything else, even after Xun Yu's suicide, the civil official system under Cao Cao's rule is still dominated by the Xun family.

Especially since the Xun family, who stayed in Yingchuan to assist Cao Cao, were purged by Liu Bei, and Xun Yu even committed suicide.

At present, if Cao Cao reveals even the slightest intention to suppress the Xun family, the entire civil official system would instantly collapse.

Moreover, even Cao Cao himself was born into the Cao family, and the Xiahou family, which Cao Cao relied on to control the military, were also aristocratic clans.

Once Cao Cao tried to implement "Taxation Based on Land and Population" and reduce the interests of the aristocratic clans, not to mention the civil official group would rebel, even the military general group would have different ideas.

"So, Liu Daer, a straw sandal seller, relies mostly on mud-legged people for his civil and military officials, which gives him an advantage?" Cao Cao's tone was full of depression.

"What Your Majesty says... cough, cough, is not wrong."

Xi Zhicai coughed and replied.

"Moreover, the many aristocratic clans under Your Majesty's rule now support you, repeatedly providing money, food, and materials, precisely because they are frightened by the 'Taxation Based on Land and Population' policy. If Your Majesty is determined to implement it, it will make the territory unstable, and you must not rush it."

Cao Cao was naturally clear about this, otherwise, he would not have only secretly discussed it with Xi Zhicai, who was born into a poor family, and would not have dared to reveal the slightest bit of information.

The implementation of "Taxation Based on Land and Population" ostensibly damaged the interests of too many aristocratic clans.

Li Ji's ability to smoothly implement this policy amazed Cao Cao, but it also made the aristocratic clans outside Liu Bei's territory like frightened birds.

If it weren't for this, Cao Cao would not have been able to quickly seize Ji and Bing provinces, and behind it, there was undoubtedly strong support from local aristocratic clans.

(End of this chapter)