Chapter 353

Liu Bian spoke with a solemn face, his expression filled with sincerity.

"We thank Your Majesty!"

After hearing Liu Bian's promise, these Han people all expressed their endless gratitude to him.

In this way, with sweet potatoes and corn, they would never have to go hungry again in the future.

"Everyone, disperse for now. Later, I will arrange for the government offices to distribute them to you uniformly."

Seeing that the crowd was still gathered together, Liu Bian spoke to them again.

"We respectfully send off Your Majesty!"

After hearing Liu Bian's words, the crowd also felt it made sense; if they blocked the road like this, how could Liu Bian go and handle the city's official business?

Immediately after bowing and thanking Liu Bian, they all stood up and left the main street.

After all, they also wanted to get the corn seeds into their hands as soon as possible.

Seeing the commoners beginning to leave, Liu Bian also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's go!"

After saying this to Xu Rong beside him, Liu Bian headed toward the City Lord's Residence first.

Very quickly, the group arrived at the Prefect's Residence. After Liu Bian sat down, he looked at the people standing below and said:

"Everyone, sit down!"

Upon hearing Liu Bian's command, the group took their seats one after another.

Seeing that everyone was seated, Liu Bian looked at Xu Rong, who was sitting at the very end on the right, and spoke:

"General Xu Rong, you have performed meritorious service by surrendering the city. I appoint you as a Colonel, initially under the command of Lü Bu, Commander of the Xiliang Army."

"Later, I will arrange your duties uniformly!"

Seeing that Liu Bian had actually appointed him as a Colonel, Xu Rong was deeply moved. He immediately knelt on the ground and responded loudly to Liu Bian:

"This subordinate, Xu Rong, thanks Your Majesty!"

After arranging matters for Xu Rong, Liu Bian turned his gaze toward Jia Xu, who was to the side.

"Wenhe, the matter of corn cultivation should still be left to you to arrange. I will give you the corn seeds shortly."

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, this minister will certainly arrange this matter well!"

Seeing that Liu Bian had entrusted this matter to him again, Jia Xu also responded respectfully.

He was very familiar with this; back when they were in Linjing City, he was the one who had arranged it.

"By the way, take all the land in the city into the hands of the Imperial Court. Court officials and great aristocratic clans may only retain one hundred mu of land."

"These one hundred mu of land are enough for them to live on. Moreover, our Han Empire will follow the path of Martial Dao in the future; what use is having so much land?"

"It would be better to distribute it to the commoners. Only when their lives are better and they have money and grain in their hands can our Han Dynasty become prosperous."

"Chen Gong, you will handle this matter personally. Lü Bu, cooperate fully with Gongtai. If anyone dares to resist, kill without mercy!"

Liu Bian recalled that the land of the Han Empire was still controlled by the great aristocratic clans at this time.

The commoners nowadays did not have much land in their hands. Now that Fuping City had just been recovered, it was the perfect time to push this matter forward.

Otherwise, once these great aristocratic clans regained their composure, their resistance would be even more intense.

"Your Majesty, will this matter provoke resistance from the great aristocratic clans?"

"Moreover, once this spreads throughout the world, the great aristocratic clans in other provinces and commanderies will certainly unite with the local marquises to resist the Imperial Court."

After hearing Liu Bian's decision, Chen Gong did not accept it immediately, but instead offered his advice.

"Gongtai's words are incorrect. The Han Dynasty is currently at a time of breaking and then establishing; the opportunity Your Majesty has chosen is just right."

"If we wait until the world is settled to discuss this matter, let alone the great aristocratic clans trying to stop it,"

"even among the ministers in the court, there would likely be quite a few who would come out to stop it. After all, they also hold quite a bit of land themselves!"

After hearing Chen Gong's words, Jia Xu, who had a good grasp of human nature, immediately spoke up in opposition.

"This..."

After hearing Jia Xu's argument, Chen Gong was momentarily speechless; clearly, he had not thought of these points.

"Your Majesty, this minister also feels that reclaiming the land from the great aristocratic clans at this time and distributing it to the commoners is feasible."

"As for those who oppose it, whether now or in the future, they will come out to oppose it; it is only a matter of time."

"Then we might as well take this opportunity to wipe them out in one fell swoop, so that the commoners can get the land they want as soon as possible."

"As for those clans loyal to Your Majesty, no matter what decision Your Majesty makes, I believe they will certainly support Your Majesty."

At this time, Guo Jia also stood out and explained to Liu Bian with a smile.

"Fengxiao and Wenhe are right. This matter will be left to you, Gongtai, to handle. If anyone dares to cause trouble, just leave it to Fengxian to deal with."

Seeing that his ministers, Guo Jia and Jia Xu, both agreed with this matter, Liu Bian immediately decided to take action against the land held by the great aristocratic clans.

"Understood! This minister (this subordinate) obeys!"

Seeing that Liu Bian's mind was made up, Chen Gong no longer opposed it and immediately bowed and responded along with Lü Bu.

"Good. After you go down, General Xu Rong, go find General Lü Bu. He will teach you the Martial Dao cultivation method practiced by the army of our Han Empire."

After arranging everything, Liu Bian said to Xu Rong with a smile.

"Your Majesty, I wonder what this Martial Dao cultivation method is?"

Hearing the term "Martial Dao cultivation method" for the first time, Xu Rong asked Liu Bian with some confusion.

"Fengxian will tell you about these things himself. All you need to do is cultivate diligently from now on!"

Seeing that Xu Rong was somewhat confused, Liu Bian smiled mysteriously at him and did not explain directly.

"..." Xu Rong.

Seeing that Liu Bian did not want to tell him, Xu Rong felt a bit helpless. There was no way around it; this was an existence he could not afford to provoke.

Immediately, he bowed to Liu Bian and responded: "Understood, this subordinate thanks Your Majesty!"

After speaking, he bowed and withdrew.

Seeing that all matters were settled, Liu Bian said to the group: "Alright, you all go and arrange your tasks. Jia Xu and Lü Bu, stay behind. Xu Rong, if you have nothing else, you can stay and watch as well."

"We obey, we thank Your Majesty!"

Except for those Liu Bian had asked to stay, everyone else shouted in unison to salute Liu Bian before exiting the main hall.

Seeing that the others had left, Liu Bian said to Jia Xu and the others:

"Let's go, let's go outside the main hall. Otherwise, with so much corn seed, it won't fit inside this hall."

Upon hearing this, even Jia Xu, Lü Bu, and Guo Jia, who had seen Liu Bian's methods before, were a bit expectant.

After all, this was creating objects out of thin air; even though they often followed Liu Bian, they did not see it often.

Subsequently, everyone followed closely behind Liu Bian and walked outside the main hall.

At this time, Xu Rong, who was confused, followed behind the crowd and asked Dian Wei in a low voice:

"General Dian, what does Your Majesty mean by this? How come it looks like I'm the only one who doesn't know?"

Seeing Xu Rong's confused expression and the curiosity on his face as he looked at him, Dian Wei couldn't help but smile triumphantly.

He said to Xu Rong in a rather mysterious way: "It cannot be said. Once we go out, you will know!"

After speaking, he smiled at Xu Rong again, then followed Liu Bian's footsteps closely into the courtyard outside the main hall.