Chapter 993: Top-Tier Open Conspiracy【2】

After Zuo Feng sat back down, Duan Yu briefly disclosed to him the ambush by heavy crossbows and bed crossbows, as well as the fact that the Liangzhou gentry had been secretly funding Beigong Boyu.

Hearing Duan Yu's account, Zuo Feng's eyes widened in astonishment.

"How could these people be so bold!"

Zuo Feng said indignantly: "The Marquis of Ji acts for the country and the people, yet they actually dared to commit such an act of treachery against the Marquis of Ji!"

"It is simply lawless. Once this humble one returns to Luoyang, I will certainly report this matter to His Majesty."

Duan Yu was not at all worried about whether Zuo Feng would keep his promise.

Whether it was Zuo Feng, Zhang Rang, or Zhao Zhong, these palace eunuchs would do things for you as long as they took your money.

And although Zuo Feng was only a minor Huangmen, he was no less capable than the likes of Zhang Rang.

In history, a single word from Zuo Feng was enough to have Lu Zhi thrown into a prisoner cart to Luoyang, which shows just how much Liu Hong trusted him.

This time, handing the taxes to Zuo Feng to escort back to Luoyang was also a deliberate move to sell Zuo Feng a favor in front of Liu Hong.

Presumably, after returning to the palace this time, Zuo Feng would likely be promoted to the position of Regular Palace Attendant.

Once everything that needed to be said was said, Zuo Feng was in a hurry to take his leave and prepare to return to Luoyang.

He had come with Liu Hong's orders and had to return to Luoyang within ten days.

Therefore, he had no intention of lingering in Hanyang Commandery.

After Zuo Feng left, Duan Yu returned to his study.

Before long, Jia Xu, Li Ru, Cheng Yu, and Liu Bai Tu, who had been summoned, all arrived in Duan Yu's study.

"This Marquis has just entrusted the money, grain, and silk to the minor Huangmen Zuo Feng to be sent to Luoyang."

"Presumably, once Zuo Feng arrives in Luoyang, it will not be many days before the Emperor's decree comes down."

"You should have all seen the intelligence gathered by the Military Intelligence Office."

"What are your thoughts on these ten clans and eight families, and how should they be dealt with?"

Duan Yu's gaze turned to the four people kneeling in the study.

"Kill them!"

The first to speak was Cheng Yu.

Dressed in a gray robe, the tall Cheng Yu said with eyes full of malice: "For these people, the only way is to kill them and be done with it."

"If the Marquis allows them to continue existing, they will not only hinder the development of Liangzhou but will also constantly cause trouble for the Marquis."

"Although killing them may invite the resentment of the world, even so, they must be killed."

Duan Yu turned his gaze back to Li Ru and Jia Xu.

The two looked at each other, then both nodded and said: "Zhongde's words are correct; they should indeed be killed."

"Moreover, the Marquis's intention this time is to borrow the Emperor's name to execute these ten clans and eight families, so even if there is damage to your reputation, it can be minimized," Li Ru said, gently stroking his chin.

"Oh?"

Duan Yu smiled and looked at Li Ru, saying: "Wenyou has seen through this Marquis's intention?"

Li Ru nodded slowly and said: "This subordinate is only guessing; I do not know if I am correct."

"Speak and let me hear it." Duan Yu looked at Li Ru, then leisurely picked up his teacup.

After a moment of reflection, Li Ru began to analyze:

"The Marquis's act of paying the taxes of the three Liangzhou commanderies in full is a way of telling the Emperor that under the Marquis's governance, Liangzhou can provide taxes to the imperial court."

"Since the Qiang rebellion of the Yongchu era, Liangzhou has spent hundreds of millions in military expenses every year to suppress the Western Qiang."

"Duan Jiong campaigned in Liangzhou to suppress the Western Qiang for ten years, only capturing some cattle, horses, and sheep, yet spent a full 4.4 billion in military expenses."

"And under the Marquis's governance, although it is only the taxes of three commanderies, it amounts to 200 million coins in a single year."

"The imperial court is empty; these 200 million coins are not much, but what if it were the entire Liangzhou?"

The corners of Duan Yu's mouth curled up slightly.

That's right.

That is exactly what he wanted Liu Hong to think.

Just three commanderies in Liangzhou yield 200 million in money and grain a year.

What if the remaining seven commanderies and the Western Regions were added?

Liu Hong is not a fool; he can calculate this account.

But he had also expressed his own meaning very clearly.

If you want the taxes of the entire Liangzhou,

you must wipe out the ten clans and eight families in those seven commanderies.

Duan Yu could not take the initiative to do this.

Because once he did, it would be equivalent to offending all the gentry and powerful families in the world.

Because all the gentry and powerful families in the world are doing the same things they are doing.

Annexing land, hiding population, and accumulating wealth.

No one in the world today dares to touch the issue of land reform.

Whoever touches it must die.

If it weren't for his pushing new policies in Hanyang, Jincheng, and Longxi, the Liangzhou gentry would not have funded Beigong Boyu so heavily.

This is a warning from the past.

Because he pushed new policies, the gentry saw their impending loss of interests.

That is why these people took the risk to fund Beigong Boyu.

This is the reason why the ten clans and eight families took action.

The reason the gentry dare to be so unscrupulous in their respective commanderies, encroaching on land, hiding population, and avoiding taxes, is because they are certain of one thing.

If the Emperor wants to govern the world, he cannot do without these gentry.

If there are no gentry to govern the world, the world will fall into chaos.

Imperial power will be overturned.

This seems to be a knot as difficult to untie as in all dynasties in history.

Imperial power needs the gentry and powerful clans to maintain rule.

But while maintaining imperial rule, the gentry and powerful clans also constantly erode the dynasty's fortune and national destiny.

From ancient times to the present, this problem has been unsolvable.

The longer a dynasty lasts, the more serious this situation becomes.

In the four hundred years of the majestic Han, this rot has eroded every corner of the Han dynasty.

In the Central Plains, no one dares to touch the cake of the gentry and powerful families' interests, otherwise, they will face a torrent like the Huang Jin Rebellion.

The current Han can be described in just four words.

The master is weak, the servants are strong; strong on the outside, hollow on the inside.

The imperial family is declining, but the gentry are powerful.

It looks like the world belongs to the Liu family, but that is only a facade.

And Liangzhou...

This is one of the reasons why Duan Yu chose Liangzhou before.

Although Liangzhou also has gentry, compared to the gentry in the Central Plains who have developed for over two hundred years,

the Liangzhou gentry, who have declined for two hundred years, are nothing but empty shells.

Moreover, the land of Liangzhou is full of Qiang troubles and mixed Hu tribes.

It has been in a state of war for years, and even the imperial court has discussed abandoning Liangzhou more than once.

Under these premises, a bloodbath of the Liangzhou gentry would not have the same impact as it would in the Central Plains.

Because the interests have not yet touched the vast gentry system of the Central Plains.

Of course.

The premise is that Duan Yu cannot actively raise this butcher's knife, otherwise, he will still be pointed at by thousands of people.

Therefore, he is now handing the right to wield the knife to Liu Hong.

He uses the taxes of the three Liangzhou commanderies to move Liu Hong and let Liu Hong make the choice.

If the Liangzhou gentry are dealt with, the imperial court will have a huge annual income.

Whether for Liu Hong himself or for stabilizing the Han, this money is a life-saving sum.

But if these Liangzhou gentry are not dealt with, then the result is also obvious. ===== CHAPTER 995 =====