Chapter 343: The Kingdom is like a chess (eight)

Before the fangmen was closed, the secret party scattered in a hurry. Yu Chaoen still disguised himself as a soldier and mingled with Yang Guozhong's guards. After crossing several streets, he left the brigade. Yu Chaoen did not immediately execute Li Longji's orders, but quietly returned to his own home. The eunuchs in the Tang Dynasty had relatively high status. Generally, large eunuchs had their own private houses. Like Gao Lishi, they could marry and adopt children, and they were appointed as generals of the cavalry. Therefore, after Yu Chaoen gradually stood up, he set up a house outside the palace to keep slaves.

Almost an hour after the meeting ended, Yu Chaoen's fear still lingered. He took out Li Longji's secret decree and wanted to see the contents clearly through the light. Li Cong's mansion had a master of imitation. A new secret decree was right in front of him. He arbitrarily changed the imperial decree. This was the crime of killing the nine clans, but what made his fear unable to disappear was that he signed a letter of loyalty and pressed his hand model.

Yu Chaoen sighed deeply. The emperor trusted him very much and had a faint tendency to replace Gao Lishi. He really didn't have to take this risk. Although he often comforted himself that he was seeking a future for King Qing, he knew in his heart that if he had not had the three thousand taels of gold, he would not have dared to take this step today.

Yu Chaoen locked the door and wrapped himself in three quilts, but the chill that oozed from his bones still made him tremble, and even the bed trembled. His heart was full of contradictions. Whether to report or not, he had already made a big rebellious move. Even if he reported it, Li Longji would not forgive his betrayal. Moreover, if it was involved in the prince, he would probably kill him to silence him; but if he did not report it, Li Cong would be defeated in the future, he would also die. Yu Chaoen pulled his hair in pain. He hated why he had accepted Li Cong's bribes at the beginning. Now it was too late to say anything. Three thousand taels of gold bought everything about him, even life,

The next morning, it was dawn, and Yu Chaoen opened the door. His eyes were covered with blood and his steps were extremely heavy. He found a confidant and handed him the secret order and a gold medal in his hand. He said hoarsely: "In ten days, we will join the secret order to the hands of King Guangping of Anxi."

Looking at his confidant's figure disappearing into the snow, Yu Chaoen suddenly wanted to call his confidant back. His lips moved, but he did not make any sound in the end. At this moment, he could no longer hold on and fell on the snow pile with exhaustion, burying his head deeply into his knees. Anxi Kucha, Li Longji's secret decree had been passed to the hands of King Guangping. He had just been renamed Yu a few days ago, but the new secret decree ordered him to serve as a fulfilment envoy of the Tang Dynasty to negotiate the attack on Daqin. Li Yu was very confused. It was early winter, and the road to the Western Regions was snowy and snowy, and even caravans were not available. How could the emperor let him go at this time? With doubts, he immediately went to find his master Li Mi to discuss.

After Li Mi served as the judge of the Anxi Jiedu Prefecture, Li Qing wrote a letter to him as the doctor of the Ministry of Revenue. At the same time, Zhang Xun's appointment as the chief of the Anxi Jiedu Prefecture was also brought down. At this moment, these two senior civil servants in Anxi were discussing the tax on immigration in the yamen.

At present, there are 80,000 immigrants in the Suiye area, and there are more than 100,000 immigrants who temporarily stayed in Shazhou, Kucha, Bahuancheng and other guidance points in winter. Not only were government organizations, but more were spontaneous. The great success brought by the first batch of immigrants strongly tempted landless farmers in various places. The equal-land system in the early Tang Dynasty was 100 acres of men and 80 acres of women, but in fact, they have never been fully awarded. Most of them only had more than ten acres. After a hundred years of land annexation, it is enviable that they could have three or five acres of land on their hands. More landless farmers rented land for landlords and became tenants and even slaves.

However, Anxi's land is a real hundred acres, with fertile land and abundant water sources. Although the journey is long, it still has a strong attraction to millions of landless farmers. Originally, the government forced them to leave. Gradually, after the autumn harvest in September, a large number of Central Plains farmers sold their property and exchanged them for carriages and grains. They carried the family's hope to Anxi, and gave special access to the immigrant governments who went to Anxi, so that immigrants could be seen everywhere on the official road from Chang'an to Hexi Corridor to Kucha.

According to the plan Li Qing first reported to the court, military service was exchanged for tax reductions, but many details were not solved, such as the tax rate, the difference between Ueda and Nakata, the tax reductions for widows, widows, orphans and disabled people, the grant of land before the age of sixteen to Chengding, and the tax rate after land sublease. These details have not been implemented. Seeing that more and more immigrants have come, it is urgent to formulate laws to clarify these details.

"I think it is not appropriate to use all the land as Yongye land. Although it can attract households now, after three generations, the government will have no land to be granted. We must make plans early."

Although Zhang Xun was higher in level than Li Mi, Li Mi was once a Hanlin Grand Secretary. Zhang Xun did not dare to regard himself as a top student in front of him. He discussed with him as a friend. He picked up a teacup and took a sip of tea, cleared his throat and smiled: "I suggest that according to the method at the beginning of the founding of the Tang Dynasty, 28 cents, 20 acres of Yongye land and 80 acres of koudi land, after death, Yongye land was inherited by his descendants, and the koudi land was paid back to the government, so that the government could have surplus land in its hands."

Li Mi smiled slightly. If Zhang Xun was in the Central Plains, his idea was correct, but now in Anxi, how could the government worry about not having land to give? Whether it is Persia, Dashi, or Tochar and India to the south, there are endless land. With Li Qing's vigorous ambition, how could he be satisfied with the Nine Kingdoms of Zhaowu? Although Li Mi has not been in Anxi for a long time, he has vaguely guessed Li Qing's real intention to immigrate to Anxi.

But this cannot be said, and even Li Yu cannot be said for the time being. After all, Li Yu has to rely on him to ascend the throne.

Thinking of this, he smiled and said, "I had discussed this issue with the general on the way to Anxi at the beginning of the year. My initial idea was the same as Zhang Changshi. I believed that there should be a division of land between otou and yongye fields. However, the general said that these lands were cultivated by immigrants themselves and should give them more benefits. He suggested that it be divided into 50 acres of Yongye fields and 50 acres of convertible land. As a soldier for one year, five acres of otou can be converted into Yongye fields. In this way, as long as you have been a soldier for ten years, all of these 100 acres of land will be borne by him, so that the descendants can inherit it. I agree with this method, which is equivalent to a disguised way to reward military merits. Once you make meritorious contributions in war, you will also be rewarded. In the eyes of farmers, joining the army is the best way to accumulate wealth, so that they can join the army more actively. What does Zhang Sima think?"

Zhang Xun was speechless. This was the contradiction in his heart. He believed that the various laws formulated by Li Qing were too biased towards military merits, as if the Qin State back then had little preferential treatment to scholars. Once the scholars did not play a leading role in Anxi, Anxi would gradually escape from the Tang Dynasty. However, in the face of the threat of big food, this seemed to be the only choice.

He sighed in his heart and said, "What about taxes? Lord Li believes that thirty taxes are suitable for one size fits the best?"

"Inappropriate!" Li Mi said affirmatively: "There should be differences between the upper and lower fields; the number of children to be raised should be different; if the orphans and widows who have no male family should be treated more preferentially; and how should scholars be treated preferentially; and if one family works hard while another family works in business with barren fields, even if the Yongye land is not recovered, the tax he bears must be higher than that of ordinary farmers. All kinds of things should be considered to show fairness."

Speaking of this, Li Mi sighed: "Taxes do not depend on the level. Whether it is ten taxes or thirty taxes, it is not important. What is important is to be fair, let the rich pay more taxes and the weak pay less. In this way, the mentality of the people can be balanced and more conducive to the governance of the government. Therefore, you and I have to discuss this tax regulations carefully, ask more experienced veterans, and formulate a complete rule. Don't think it is cumbersome, and the more detailed it is, the better."

After hearing Li Mi's opinion, he finally mentioned the preferential treatment of scholars. Zhang Xunxi couldn't help himself. He stood up and bowed to Li Mishen and said, "What the official said is very true. I will urge the general to adopt it. If he still refuses, I will resign from this official position."

As the two were talking, there were rapid footsteps coming from afar, and Li Yu suddenly appeared at the door, "Master, I have something to look for you!"

"Since Lord Li has something to do, we will talk about it another day and say goodbye." Zhang Xun bowed to Li Mi and Li Yu separately and left quickly.

"Master, I just received the emperor's secret decree." Li Yu closed the door casually and handed the gold medal and secret decree to Li Mi.

Seeing his face was so sad, Li Mi was secretly surprised and hurriedly accepted the secret order and read it carefully. Gradually, his brows frowned, and his eyes were full of doubts. He felt incredible that Li Yu had sent a mission to Daqin. Now that the immigration has just begun a year, he has been waiting for the whole world and has no strength to compete with Daqin. Once Daqi counterattacks, all efforts will go to the fullest. Li Longji cannot make such an unwise decision at this time.

Li Mi looked at the gold medal in his hand carefully. It was true, and this imperial edict was also written by Li Longji. After thinking for a long time, Li Mi said to Li Yu: "This matter is a bit strange, don't worry. I guess the general will come back in the next two days. Let's ask him what he means."

Three days later, Li Qing guarded his family and finally returned to Anxi. He had been dealing with Li Longji for nearly ten years. Li Qing knew him very well. Once he was confirmed that An Lushan was going to rebel, he would definitely not let other military governors who were also respectful. He would also take away their military power before turning against An Lushan, so as to prevent them from gaining the benefits of fishermen while the court fought against An Lushan. At that time, Huangfu Weiming, Wang Zhongsi, and Gao Xianzhi and An Sishun were all tricked into Beijing in this way, either to kill or to be idle?

This report happened to be another opportunity, and they would be kept in Beijing for a while and then slowly cut off their power. For him, Li Qing, his family was the biggest weakness. If Li Longji threatened his family, he, Li Qing, could only obediently go to Beijing.

Therefore, he took the initiative and of course he would lose something, but Li Qing knew in his heart which was more important.

"General, I have been waiting for you for three days and have important matters to discuss."

The situation was urgent. Before Li Qing could calm down, Li Mi hurriedly came to him and handed him the secret decree again, "Look at this?"

Li Qing took the secret order and said to several personal soldiers who were cleaning the study for him: "You go and rest first, and come and clean up tomorrow."

After the soldiers withdrew, Li Qing opened the secret order and hurriedly browsed it. He did not speak, but silently returned to his seat and sat down. He rubbed his temples gently with his fingers. He suddenly sneered and said to Li Mi: "If I guess correctly, this secret order must be fake."

"Fake?" Li Mi was shocked, "How does the general know that it is fake?"

"It's very simple. The court and An Lushan are about to turn against each other. How could Li Longji start a war at the same time? What support does he have?" Li Qing's face was full of contempt. "Besides, there is no seal on this secret decree, so it's really easy to make a fake one."

"But if this is false, then where is the real secret? What will it be? Who did this?" Li Mi asked in confusion.

"Hmph!" Li Qing snorted softly and said with a hint of mocking tone: "Do you still need to think about it? Of course, it is the prince who almost goes crazy if he wants to be an emperor."

Li Qing stood up and walked a few steps with his hands behind his back. Suddenly he stopped and turned around and smiled at Li Mi: "When the war is approaching, I guess the content of the real secret decree is to let the little prince return to Beijing immediately."

"What the general meant was to ask the little prince to return to Beijing or not?" Li Mi asked quietly.

Li Qing raised his head and smiled, saying, "Go back! Of course I have to go back, and I have to follow me, so as not to forget me after the little prince entered the East Palace."

At this moment, a personal soldier rushed over, holding a pigeon letter and shouting, "General, it's always a red letter."

This is a pigeon letter transferred from Shazhou. The red represents emergency. Li Qing took it casually, spread it and read it. Gradually, the smile on his face became stiff.

"Is something wrong?" Li Mi felt something was wrong.
Chapter completed!