Chapter 423

Soon, Liu Bian's decree to distribute land to the people and reduce taxes spread throughout the thirteen provinces of the Great Han Empire.

Although Liu Bian's decree had spread throughout the thirteen provinces of the Great Han, except for the three provinces controlled by Liu Bian himself, other provinces and commanderies did not implement it.

Some provinces and commanderies were because the inspectors also had no way to deal with those aristocratic families; the personnel under them were mostly from aristocratic families and simply did not have the strength to execute it.

And there was another part of the provinces and commanderies, such as Yanzhou, Jingzhou, Yizhou, Yangzhou, and Jiaozhou, these five provinces, because these inspectors simply did not put Liu Bian's decree in their eyes.

"His Majesty has already posted the decree; why is there still no movement in our Yizhou? Not distributing land to us is fine, but now they don't even lower the taxes."

"If you ask me, these officials simply don't care about the life and death of us people; now, they even don't listen to His Majesty's decree!"

"Shh... keep your voice down; if this is heard by the officials..."

"Disperse, everyone disperse; these decrees are all fake; everyone don't believe them!"

Just as everyone was gathered in front of the posted decree, discussing, soldiers came and scolded them loudly.

Upon seeing these fierce-looking soldiers, the crowd gathered together immediately dispersed and disappeared.

From this point, one could see how much the people of Yizhou feared these soldiers.

"Bang!"

"How could the brat Liu Bian do this, actually daring to really take action against the aristocratic families of the world; doesn't he know that without the support of the aristocratic families, can he sit firmly in that position?"

At this time, in the Yizhou Inspector's Mansion, Liu Zhang slapped the table in front of him angrily and said with a gloomy face.

"My lord, the urgent matter now is to appease those troublemaking people; now, people in many places are making a fuss, shouting that they want to lower taxes and distribute land!"

At this time, a middle-aged military general in armor under Liu Zhang's right hand said to him anxiously.

This person was exactly the great general under Liu Zhang, the famous Wu Yi of Yizhou.

Hearing this, Liu Zhang was not in a hurry, just glanced at him like an idiot and said to him with annoyance:

"How could I possibly listen to the brat Liu Bian; if I really distribute land and lower taxes to those lowly people."

"Then where will this land and taxes come from? Could it be from you?"

Hearing this, Wu Yi immediately shook his head like a rattle-drum and said without thinking:

"How is that possible; the land in my family is not even enough for myself!"

"Then that's it; if I really distribute land to those lowly people, wouldn't it still have to come from your hands, so don't pay attention to these little tricks of Liu Bian."

"Moreover, if the taxes are really lowered, what about the military pay for my hundreds of thousands of troops in Yizhou?"

"Should you people pay, or should I let my hundreds of thousands of troops go drink the northwest wind!"

Seeing that even Wu Yi disagreed, Liu Zhang immediately shouted at him with annoyance.

"My lord, calm your anger! I know I'm wrong!"

After seeing Liu Zhang get angry, Wu Yi immediately admitted his mistake respectfully to Liu Zhang.

Seeing this, Liu Zhang didn't make things difficult for Cai Mao again, just exhorted him:

"You first arrange for people to appease the emotions of those lowly people, telling them that I am verifying this matter with His Majesty, and tell them to wait for the notice from the government."

"Once time passes, these lowly people will forget about this matter; I just won't follow the decree of the brat Liu Bian."

"He Liu Bian is far away in Luoyang, and I am far away in Yizhou; even if he wants to attack my Yizhou, but the roads in Yizhou are dangerous, and it is a famous place that is easy to defend and hard to attack, what can he do to me?"

Liu Zhang said with some disdain, not putting Liu Bian in his eyes at all.

"My lord is wise!"

Yan Song, Fei Guan, and others below heard this and also flattered him with fawning expressions.

They didn't put Liu Bian in their eyes, wasn't it just because they relied on Yizhou's dangerous terrain and difficulty to attack!

Seeing this, Liu Zhang also had a proud look on his face.

In Yanzhou and Yizhou, after it was clear that they refused to follow Liu Bian's decree, Liu Biao of Jingzhou, Liu Yao of Yangzhou, and Shi Xie of Jiaozhou all refused Liu Bian's decree without exception.

They all relied on the geographical advantage and didn't take Liu Bian's decree to heart.

And the inspectors and prefects of other provinces and commanderies were because they had no way to deal with the local aristocratic families and could only lower the taxes of the people.

"Hmph, good!"

"Liu Zhang, Liu Biao, Liu Yao, Liu Dai, Shi Xie, you are really good!"

Not long after, Liu Bian received the news sent back by the Dark Guards; looking at the memorial handed over by Tai'a, Liu Bian was suddenly angry.

"You are really unworthy of being the Liu family imperial clan; one by one, you have all given rise to rebellious hearts."

Although Liu Bian had already guessed that there would definitely be a few provinces among the thirteen provinces of the Great Han that would give rise to rebellious hearts.

But he didn't expect that among the five provinces, four were from the Liu family imperial clan; how ironic this was.

Still remembering that Liu Bei, who considered himself a member of the Han clan, didn't he also give rise to a rebellious heart.

One by one, they were all using the identity of the Han clan in a high-sounding way to satisfy their own ulterior motives.

"Tai'a, tell the Shadow Guards to keep a close eye on them for me; arrange a large number of personnel in these five provinces."

"I estimate that these imperial uncles of mine will definitely resist to the end; at that time, a great battle will be inevitable."

"And the Dark Guards are the key to our ability to quickly break the city!"

Liu Bian immediately said solemnly to the Dark Guard Commander, Tai'a.

Ever since conferring Jia Xu as Minister of Justice, Liu Bian had separated the Dark Guards from Jia Xu's hands.

The current Dark Guard Commander was served by Tai'a, responsible only to Liu Bian alone.

Hearing this, Tai'a immediately responded respectfully: "I obey the decree!"

"By the way, is there any news about Yu Ji and Zuo Ci that I asked you to find?"

Just as Tai'a intended to leave, Liu Bian suddenly asked him.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, both of these people have been found and are being escorted to Luoyang by the Dark Guards; however, the Nanhua Old Immortal, there is simply no such person."

"According to Yu Ji and Zuo Ci, Nanhua Old Immortal is a pseudonym used by the two of them while traveling the world."

Tai'a replied respectfully after hearing Liu Bian's inquiry.

"Oh, since Yu Ji and Zuo Ci can be found, it's still considered okay; bring them to see me as soon as possible."

Seeing that there was no such person as Nanhua Old Immortal, Liu Bian was only slightly disappointed and then exhorted Tai'a.

"I obey the decree!"

"Alright, you go down first!"

"I take my leave!"

"Hehe, didn't expect this Nanhua Old Immortal to be a pseudonym for Yu Ji and Zuo Ci; it's really interesting!"

After Tai'a left, Liu Bian sat there and pondered.

"Your Majesty, I saw that you were still busy, so I specially boiled ginseng soup for you."

At this time, Diao Chan's figure appeared in the Imperial Study; seeing Diao Chan wearing a light green dress, she came to Liu Bian and said gently.