Three Kingdoms

While a group of people in Sichuan and Sichuan were thinking about their one-third of an acre of land, Fei Qian in Chang'an was preparing to launch a second wave of propaganda offensive.

Taking advantage of the opportunity of the Qinglong Temple lecture, Fei Qian not only established some research and development of Confucian classics, but also specially arranged some personnel to conduct eloquent discussions. The powerful and somewhat unreasonable policy was to survey the land twice.

I can't say that there will be a third time, a fourth time...

Just like the census of later generations, is it really just to write down names?

Many nobles said that there was no need for a second measurement. They even said that this was because they did not believe in their noble moral character and sincere quality, and it was even an insult to their personality. They were very indignant, and some even rolled up their sleeves on the spot. And go.

This policy is indeed beneficial to the country. The country has no money and dares not even fight a war. Even many central officials who have been in the central government for a period of time know this. They also understand that Tian Fu is an important financial pillar of the court, and in many cases, the court The land gifts in the hall are often pitiful, and will even become less and less.

The problem is that when you know, you know, and when you do it, you do it.

The tax system of the Han Dynasty can be said to have become a model for later feudal dynasties.

This model of dual tax collection based on population and land was only modified and modified by later feudal dynasties without any major changes. The most basic reason is to pay close attention to the two aspects of land and population. It is simple, direct and effective, and facilitates the rulers. Exploiting and oppressing the masses of people.

But if we only collect taxes at the national level, the lower class people can still survive to some extent, and they may even live a certain quality of life. But if the middle and lower classes also extend their greedy hands, the people will start to be completely ruined...

Therefore, most feudal dynasties can prosper for a period of time in the early days of the founding of the country. When the number of small gangsters in the middle and lower classes gradually increases, the entire dynasty will gradually lose blood and then decline.

Among these small gangsters, the most common corruption method is to conceal the number of acres and falsely declare taxes. Even in our Qing Dynasty, local officials colluded with the countryside and openly jointly reported various disasters in order to reduce or reduce the taxes that should be paid and earn the middle price difference.

The root of all this lies in the lack of control over the local government at the court level. As the core issue of the court's control, it is also the most fundamental thing, which are two, land and population. Therefore, checking the acres, measuring the land, checking the roster, and registering the residents are the most important means for the ruler to thoroughly investigate and control the place.

Pang Tong and Xu Shu Jia Xu did the first inventory work before when they were in Sanfu. But at that time, most of them were spot checks and reports from the nobles. They also knocked down one or two thorns. However, due to limited manpower, many The specific number is still superficial and not very detailed.

After all, it was the first time and no one had much experience.

After the previous time, Fei Qian mentioned it again. Some people understood, and some people pretended to be confused because of their understanding. But no matter which way it was, Fei Qian stood above the justice of the court and said how to fix it without money. road? How to pay officials? How to distribute benefits to the people? How to refine weapons and armor? Even though many people had some complaints, they couldn't say much. After all, they were afraid of giving Fei Qian the impression that there was no money here, so after talking for a while, they fell silent, folded their arms, and showed a non-objection. But there was no cooperation.

A few years ago, it would have been a bit troublesome for Fei Qian to do such a thing, but in recent years, one is a bachelor of agriculture and a bachelor of engineering are basically equipped in every big town, and on the other hand, the academy also provides a large number of Young grassroots civil servants, these young people who are hoping and dreaming of changing the world on their own, are full of energy and enthusiasm, and are the best candidates to go to the mountains and countryside, uh, to conduct an inventory of the population and land.

However, if we only use these young students with little experience, some problems of this kind will inevitably arise...

Don't think that such an activity is simple. In fact, it is something that looks simple but is actually very complicated. Most people really can't do it. For example, if a field is square, it will be easier to calculate, but what if it is a triangle? What about polygons? Is there a big rock in the field that cannot be cultivated? What is a superior field? What is the standard of poverty? What should a local official do if he encounters someone cheating or cheating? What should we do if there are officials and local powerful people who work against the will?

Ordinary inspectors may not know arithmetic, and those who know arithmetic may not know how soil is graded. Those who understand soil problems may not be able to defeat local officials. Therefore, under such circumstances, Fei Qian must make comprehensive arrangements and consider everything. This means that a large number of manpower is needed, and this order did have some problems in Feiqian's previous government structure, but now...

This batch of enlightenment envoys just made up for the last shortcoming.

Therefore, these enlightened envoys who had been separated from the gentry circle for a period of time and had no connection with most local powerful people, who had endured hardship, endured pain, and fought against hatred, became the main force of this investigation. In addition, The students from the academy who cooperated with him, as well as the bachelors of agriculture and engineering who were already in various places, established a relatively complete inspection team structure. When the New Year of the third year of Taixing came, they successively went to various places to start a period of A one-year verification operation, and this work will be their first assignment when they enter the Feiqian political group.

However, that's not all.

Fei Qian has never been a person who only looks at one step at a time. Maybe many times it looks like a mess to outsiders, but suddenly you will find that the purpose of the previous moves of the Hussars General was actually this!

As early as the time of Jingxiang, Fei Qian discovered that the entertainment life of the Han people was very boring, monotonous, and very boring. For example, dancing Nuo, for example, was not bad at all, but people in the Han Dynasty still surrounded it. Watching the inner and outer three floors with great interest has become a must-have program every year at the end of the year and the beginning of the year.

So when a group of Niubi Taoist priests appeared in the Guanzhong area and brought the latest water and land conference, they naturally attracted the attention of the grassroots people in the Han Dynasty. They all felt that such an organized and well-planned event was better than bringing a person with them. Mask dance will be more beautiful and interesting...

Chang'an is near and beautiful.

Although it is close to Chang'an, it is not as prosperous as Chang'an. It is generally just a small county. Moreover, after Dong Zhuo and Li Guo's military disaster, the original population of Meiyang was also much smaller. However, Meiyang is still a second-tier city in Guanzhong after all, and there are also some nobles who have taken a back seat to the second-tier city, such as Zhongjie.

At that time, Zhongjie was considered a well-known high-level government office, but with the downfall of Mr. Zhong, the Zhong family basically failed to recover. It even had no place in history. It was just unknown and silent in the long river of history. But maybe it was Because of the painful experience, or for some other reason, Zhongjie's silence and responsibility during this period of time made Fei Qian feel that he could be used again, so he gave Zhongjie a new task, and Qiao Bing. Together, we will do a big thing, a very big thing indeed, and build the Chenwei Palace outside Meiyang City in Chang'an. Well, it is no longer called the Chenwei Palace because it was personally recognized by Han Emperor Liu Xie and was renamed "Chiwei Palace". Imperial Palace".

Qiao Bing came back first, while Wang Can stayed in Xu County and did not come back together.

But Qiao Bu secretly gave Wang Can some eye drops while looking at Fei Qian's face. Wang Can was mysterious anyway, and he used his status as an envoy to point fingers, even the statue of Guangwu that Qiao Bu had kept. Take it away. If it weren't for the fact that there seemed to be no problem with the statue in the end, I would have fallen out with Wang Can long ago.

However, what makes Qiao Bing a little regretful is that General Hussar didn't seem to express anything about Wang Can's self-assertion, or he didn't express it in front of Qiao Bing, so Qiao Bing didn't know what Fei Qian was thinking, so he could only feel dissatisfied. Accepted a new job...

Red Emperor Palace.

A big man, anyway, he has been fighting with the Red Emperor for three to four hundred years. At the earliest time, Liu Bang said that he was the son of the Red Emperor. Later, when Emperor Guangwu was born, it is said that the whole house was filled with red light. Even Liu Bei In the later stages, it was also said that he was of the bloodline of the Red Emperor...

Anyway, the Red Emperor only loves the Liu family, there is no other semicolon! The old Liu family held down the Red Emperor and pulled the wool from the Red Emperor's body until he was almost bald.

Therefore, it seems logical that the Chenwei Palace where the statue of Guangwu should be enshrined should be the Red Emperor Palace.

This change was not opposed by anyone. Firstly, they felt that there was no need to worry about the name. Secondly, they were not very interested. Most noble families, especially aristocratic families, knew what kind of second-rater Liu Bang was. For example, the old-timers who participated in the "Fifty" movement in later generations openly talked about some things in class that were not in the books. When the superiors knew about it, they could only laugh and pretend that they had not seen or heard anything.

What's more, the title of Red Emperor is not inviolable. In addition to Yan Emperor, there is also Zhu Rong, who is also called the Red Emperor. There is also a god with a long name in Taoism, who is also called the Red Emperor. Everyone seems to be in peace with each other, unlike a certain sect who always says that I am the only one in heaven and earth. If I believe in others, it is a heresy. The sin is unforgivable and can only be atone with blood. Of course, if you insist on giving gold instead of blood, it is not unacceptable...

The construction of the Red Emperor's Palace is naturally not something that can be built in a day or two. While building the Red Emperor's Palace, one of the things in front of you is to complete it. It represents the arrival of the Red Emperor's divine will in Guanzhong and represents the new year of Taixing in the third year. The blessing at the beginning represented a land and sea meeting in which the Cavalry General was trusted by the Red Emperor.

That's right, the Water and Land Conference is not the Water and Land Dharma Conference. The Dharma Conference was created after Buddhism became popular, and this conference is a simplified version of Fei Qian Mo Gai...

A leader's words can cause his subordinates to lose their legs.

Naturally, those who want to be a minor official must have the awareness to be a minor official, not to mention that this time it is for the glorious image of Emperor Guangwu, so it is appropriate to work harder.

But how to actually do it, whether it's a marriage or a mercenary, is a bit tricky.

Fei Qian probably knew what the situation was between these two people, so he matched up with two more people as supplements, one was an old acquaintance, Wei Duan, and the other was not very familiar, Yun Yi.

Wei Duan is an old official. Basically, he is like an official. He can obey both the top and the bottom, bully the weak and fear the strong, and deceive the superiors and subordinates. He knows a little bit about all kinds of methods. Naturally, he knows how to deal with the third assistant and other officials. Departmental consultations should be made more effective. Yun Yimo was originally in Pingyang Dao Palace. After taking over from Zuo Ci, he served as the director of the Dao Palace. Now he was transferred to Chang'an by Fei Qian.

These four people can open a table...

Ahem.

However, these four people can complement each other.

Yun Yi coughed and took the initiative to say: "In terms of etiquette, we should sacrifice six chariots to seek the blessings of Haotian God, the God of East, West, South, North and Central." 』

The six-wheeled chariot sacrifice is an ancient ritual, that is, the first green chariot is used to worship the God of Haotian; the second green chariot is used to worship the Eastern God; the third is the red chariot, to worship the Southern God and the sun; the fourth is the yellow chariot to sacrifice the earth. , the central God; the fifth use of the white chariot is to worship the Western God and the eclipse moon; the sixth use of the black chariot is to worship the northern God, Gandi, and Shenzhou.

The other three people looked at each other and nodded.

Because this five-direction God is not unique to Taoism, Confucianism also has the theory of five-direction God, so there is nothing particularly abrupt or causing differences in understanding. As for acquired and congenital matters, Yun Yi avoided talking about them. Anyway, we had to sacrifice together and eat incense together. It would be nice to be harmonious.

The main central ceremony was finalized, and then various details were added, such as how many people to use, what colors to use to represent the five elements, the five directions, etc., etc., which were quickly discussed and determined, and finally a written document was prepared. Submitted to General Hussars for final review...

Qiao Bing coughed slightly and said, "However, among the five directions, what is the honor?" 』

Zhongjie suddenly frowned.

Wei Duan rolled his eyes left and right but kept silent.

The Five Emperors used to take turns to be the head of the family. In fact, they were just the incarnation of the theory of the Five Virtues.

In fact, the theory of the Five Virtues is just a big hole left by the predecessors.

As for Zou Yan, at that time he advocated using "five virtues" to refer to the five elements, that is, the five virtues represented by wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, and "end and beginning" means that the "five virtues" can start over and over again. cyclical operation, and use this to explain historical changes and the rise and fall of dynasties.

As soon as the theory of the Five Virtues was launched, it received applause and praise from princes all over the world, just like when Dong Zhongshu presented the "Theory of Induction of Heaven and Man" and was praised by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, it was for the rulers to wear a coat of arms. A fig leaf, a veil of mystery.

So do we still talk about the "Five Virtues" now?

This is indeed a big question and one that is not easy to answer. If you deny the "Five Virtues", you are denying the correctness of the Han Dynasty's inheritance of the previous dynasty. If you admit the "Five Virtues", it is equivalent to providing an excuse for the next careerist, especially Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu. After the two brothers in trouble started a cycle of "Five Virtues", if the Cavalry General also talked about "Five Virtues" here, it would inevitably give other people more ideas...

Wei Duan glanced at Qiao and said, "This is a stick, a big stick from Sichuan and Sichuan. Didn't you see that no one has mentioned this? You went out of your way to say it!"

Zhongjie was also a little dissatisfied, but in the blink of an eye he saw Yun Yi smiling slightly at the side. He couldn't help but feel moved in his heart and asked, "I dare to ask Taoist Master Yun... but what is your advice?" Can you give me some advice? 』