September 187 A.D.

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The eldest Zhao Qi heard that the matter of appeasement had been negotiated, and then regardless of his age, under the escort of the black panther Yicong, he traveled day and night and rushed to Jinyang as quickly as possible.

Li Hong, Zhang Yan and others greeted each other hundreds of miles away.

On the bumpy carriage, Li Hong said very apologetically: "I asked Your Majesty to ask the old man to go out of the mountain, but it was really helpless......"

Zhao Qi stroked his beard and smiled: "The general is bad." It has been my wish for many years to do what I can for the people of Bingzhou in my twilight years. Speaking of which, I would like to thank the Shogun......"

Li Hong Zhengse said: "The boss calls me like this, which is really killing the juniors. If you don't blame me, please call me people. ”

Zhao Qi shook his hand and said with a smile: "My lord is wrong, although the age difference between you and me is too big, the etiquette between the upper and lower levels must not be messed up." There is a way to be polite, and there is a law to convince people, and there is no need for adults to say this. Also, I admire you. Although I am infatuated with you in my sixties, compared to you, I have been mediocre all my life, and I have not done anything I want to do, so I am ashamed. Now that I'm dying, I'm getting the light of an adult and coming to Bingzhou to do what I want to do. If I can complete the tuntian before I enter the ground, so that the people of Bingzhou can be fed and clothed, I will die blindly. Anyway, I want to thank you. ”

"When I was in Luoyang, I repeatedly told adults about my unfulfilled wishes, but fortunately, the adults remembered them in their hearts and didn't forget my old bones." Zhao Qi patted Li Hong's shoulder affectionately and said with a smile, "If the adults forget, I will run to Bingzhou to find you." ”

Li Hong smiled movingly and didn't say anything more. The Tuntian of the Prefecture is the most arduous and complicated to Mintun, and it is difficult to see the results without a few years, and it is conceivable that the responsibility and workload of the Captain Hutian of Mintun are as great as they are. Facing the old man in front of him with white hair, Li Hong felt very uncomfortable, and he now regretted his decision. Isn't it too much for an eighty-year-old man to take on such a difficult task?

Zhang Yan said very excitedly: "I heard from the general that the affairs of Mintun were personally taken care of by the boss, and I was immediately relieved, and I was not even willing to talk about many details. You know, sir, this is the third time I've seen him. ”

Zhao Qi glanced at him in surprise, suddenly came to his senses, pointed at him and said happily: "It turns out that you are Zhang Yan." ”

Zhang Yan nodded again and again, "Did the old man remember?" ”

"I remembered, remembered." Zhao Qi said excitedly, "You are the child who carried the medicine basket for the great sage and good teacher, I haven't seen you for seven or eight years, and you have grown so big." ”

Li Hong was stupid. And this good thing.

Zhao Qi patted his forehead, thought hard for a while, and said, "I remember that the great sage and good teacher called you Feiyan, Feiyan, and a child, who is more beautiful than you, what is it called, what is it called...... The nine-headed bird, yes, is called the nine-headed bird. ”

Zhang Yan was even more excited, he grabbed Zhao Qi's hand, nodded vigorously, and his eyes gradually turned a little red.

"Okay, okay, okay." Zhao Qi reached out and touched Zhang Yan's head, and said with a smile, "Have you improved your chess skills now?" Then he shook his head a little sadly and sighed, "The master's group of disciples are as talented as you." ”

Zhang Yan bowed her head and was silent, looking pained.

Zhao Qi looked at him and comforted: "Feiyan, you have taken a good step." You know, how many lives have you saved? If Tuntian succeeds, millions of displaced people can live and work in peace and contentment in Bingzhou, which is actually another way to realize the master's original ideal. Under the master Jiuquan, he will definitely not blame you. ”

Li Hong saw that the two of them were holding hands, very affectionate, and couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Boss, how do you know each other?" ”

"Zhang Jiao and I have been friends for many years." Zhao Qi explained, "When I was doing the history of the Bingzhou Assassin, there was a plague in Jinyang one year, and he brought his disciples to treat the disease and save people, and we began to interact from then on. After the disaster began, I had nothing to do, and I asked a few friends to travel around, and I met Zhang Jiao many times on the way, and we lectured on the scriptures together. At that time, he took the Taiping Dao disciples all over the world, passed on the scriptures and gave talismans, cured diseases and saved people, and was famous at home, but it was a pity that ......"

"Although Zhang Jiao has the intention to save the people from fire and water, his method ......" Zhao Qi sighed and said, "Forget it, don't talk about it, everyone has their own aspirations, which is right and which is wrong, and future generations have their own comments, we ordinary people can't see through the heavens, so we have to do things in good conscience." ”

Zhao Qi then smiled happily: "Feiyan, this kid likes to play chess, when Zhang Jiao and I were playing in our spare time, he and the boy called the nine-headed bird just got together to watch, just watch, and chirped non-stop, annoyed." So, I was very impressed with these two children. It's just that I didn't expect that the famous Zhang Yan is him, incredible, incredible. ”

Li Hong was overjoyed and said happily: "Boss, that nine-headed bird is also amazing now, he is Yang Feng, the leader of the Yellow Turban Army of the Shangdang. I'm sending someone to contact him and talk to him about appeasement. ”

"Oh." Zhao Qi said in surprise, "Such a coincidence. I'll meet him when I have time. ”

"Boss, Master Xiangkai is also in Jinyang." Zhang Yan said.

"Haha......" Zhao Qi laughed, "Okay, good, there are too many old friends in this state, okay." After the kid on the donkey ran away from Jizhou, I was still worried about him, okay, okay. ”

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Li Hong and Zhang Yan gave a detailed introduction to the old man about the details of the appeasement and the preparations for Tuntian.

After Zhao Qi listened, he immediately asked, "How to solve the matter of the land?" ”

Li Hong said: "The land of Juntun is naturally owned by the imperial court. Part of the grain planted by the Tuntian soldiers belonged to the Tuntian soldiers in lieu of military salaries; part of it was returned to the Governor's Mansion and retained as military funds; There is also a part of the Zhenbei General Department and the Peace Trouble General Department. The exact distribution plan has not yet been decided. My opinion is that we should first try to meet the needs of the Tuntian soldiers and the Dian Nong Governor's Mansion, and then do the rest to merge with the state military supplies. ”

"As for the land in Mintun, it is not suitable to sell it to individuals for the time being, first, because the people have no money in their hands, and second, to prevent rich people from taking the opportunity to annex land at a low price." Li Hong said, "If the land is owned by the imperial court for a long time and is rented by the people, the people's enthusiasm for cultivation will be hit, so the land will still be sold to the cultivators." I plan to discuss the sale and purchase of land in three years' time. Three years later, if the initial results of the tuntian were effective, the people could be fed and clothed, and the land sales would begin immediately. The money for the purchase of land was replaced by the grain they grew over a period of five years. If they can't afford to pay it back in five years, it will be postponed for another five years. ”

"How to deal with land annexation?" The old man nodded appreciatively and continued to ask.

Li Hong and Zhang Yan glanced at each other, and felt that the boss's insight was really extraordinary, and the things they asked were all crucial questions related to whether Tuntian was successful.

"Land is the lifeblood of the people, it is not related to their own life and death, they will not sell it, so on the one hand, we must strictly prohibit the sale of land and crack down on land annexation, and on the other hand, we must establish a relief system in the Captain's Mansion to provide relief to the people who are unable to survive due to natural disasters or diseases, so as to ensure that they can continue to live."

Zhao Qi thought for a moment and said: "In the early days of this dynasty, Tuntian also used this method to prevent the people from selling land privately, but it was difficult to implement. In my opinion, the key is to severely punish those who buy land privately, otherwise, there will be many people who dare to defy the law. ”

Li Hong and Zhang Yan nodded repeatedly.

"Where's the money? What about the money used in Tuntian? The imperial court currently has no money, how can this money be solved? Zhao Qi asked with a serious expression.

"I plan to supplement agriculture with business." Li Hong then explained his idea to the boss in detail, "The key is to allow private individuals to intervene in the salt and iron business. At present, it is very difficult to hope for the consent of His Majesty and the Imperial Court. ”

Zhao Qi was neither surprised nor expressed his opinion at Li Hong's suggestion, but continued to ask: "My lord, I want money, food, and tuntian materials now, I want them immediately, can you give them to me right away?" ”

"Yes, I have already ordered the Zhenbei General's Mansion to do it." Li Hong said, "The first batch of grain has been transported to Jinyang, and the follow-up grain and tuntian materials will continue to be transported to all parts of Taiyuan." ”

Zhao Qi was overjoyed, praised Li Hong a few words, and asked, "What about Master Zhang Yi, the assassin of Bingzhou?" ”

"Lord Zhang has been ordered to leave Jinyang and go to Yanmen County." Li Hong replied, "But I left behind the group of people engaged in and Peng Shi in the Bingzhou Assassin Mansion, because they are familiar with the affairs of the Bingzhou Prefecture, and I plan to hand them all over to the boss and let them go to the Hutian Captain's Mansion to serve as Pengshi at all levels." ”

Zhao Qi smiled and said to Li Hong: "Okay, I don't have anything to ask, I'm starting to take up Tuntian." ”

Li Hong looked at him strangely and asked, "Don't you ask me where the money came from?" Is there anything else? ”

Zhao Qi laughed and said, "My lord, do you know what Your Majesty and the ministers of the imperial court think of Fufu and Tuntian in Bingzhou? ”

Li Hong shook his head.

"The luck of an adult is like a golden toad falling from the sky, no one will believe it." Zhao Qi said with a smile, "The matter of appeasement is so smooth, not because you have made too many concessions, nor because of Feiyan's active cooperation, but because of your good luck." Your Majesty and the ministers of the court and the central government think that you are cheating in the state and deceiving Feiyan and his Yellow Turban Army, so you must be accurate, and even before you have negotiated, Your Majesty has already rewarded Feiyan with a Zhonglang general, and even I have been stained with your good luck, and I have been made a countryman by Your Majesty for no reason. ”

"I'm fake?" Li Hong looked at Zhang Yan in surprise, thinking that this was too ridiculous, "The imperial court thinks I'm cheating?" ”

"yes." Zhao Qi said with a smile, "It is precisely because everyone from top to bottom thinks that you are deceiving the Yellow Turban Army, so the proposal to appease has not encountered any resistance, and Your Majesty quickly approved it." ”

"As for how the adult's money came from, I don't care, I just need you to Tuntian. I'm eighty years old, and I still can't see through anything. Although I am old and dizzy, I still know who is loyal to the country and who is the scourge of the country. ”

"Your salt and iron strategy is nothing new. During the time of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing of this dynasty, he believed in the Taoist Huang Lao's learning, ruled the country by doing nothing, was quiet and law-abiding, lightly punished the poor, rested with the people, and governed the country according to law. At that time, taxes were low, there was little intervention, checkpoints were canceled in various places, and the ban on the development of mountains and rivers was also canceled. The imperial court was fully opened to various industries such as boiling salt and iron smelting, and private traders were allowed to operate freely, and even key industries such as copper smelting and coinage were opened, allowing private merchants to engage in coinage. Therefore, these methods of yours are not new, but if you can pick them up and use them again in this year, it will be a great thing for the Han Kingdom. ”

"What field is there without money? However, Tuntian is related to the stability and rejuvenation of the Han Kingdom, so it is necessary to Tuntian, so it is necessary to find a way to get money from Tuntian. Zhao Qi stroked his beard and smiled, "Originally, I also planned to propose to you to open up the salt and iron industry in the state, but since my lord has already thought of it, what should I worry about?" ”

Li Hong was overjoyed and hurriedly asked, "Boss, do you mean that Your Majesty and the court will agree to my proposal?" ”

Zhao Qi nodded slowly, and said helplessly: "My lord may not know that the salt and iron industry of the Great Han Kingdom has been controlled by the traitorous relatives and princes and magnates of the court as early as a few decades ago, and the reason why the income of the Shaofu is not as good as a year is not because the salt ponds are drying up and the iron mines are empty, but because of man-made disasters, just like the displacement of people everywhere, the root cause of the endless rebellion is the land annexation, the root cause of the decline of the Great Han Kingdom and the depletion of the treasury of the two governments for many years is because the salt and iron have been collected by these ministers of the troubled country. ”

"Your Majesty will agree to this proposal, because after the opening of salt and iron, the income of the Shaofu will increase, and the Dasi Nongfu will also increase the income of commercial taxes, which will be beneficial to the Great Han Kingdom, but for the powerful people in the DPRK, it will be a handful of hands and hit them to the point."

He looked up at Li Hong and asked, "Has this recital been sent to Luoyang?" ”

"Nope." Li Hong shook his head and said, "I'm worried that Your Majesty and the ministers of the court will violate the laws of the Han Dynasty and the ancestral system under the pretext of opening up the salt and iron industry, and they will strongly oppose it, so I haven't prepared a proposal yet." ”

"Would you like to help?"

Zhao Qi pondered for a long time and said, "Okay, I'll write it." I want to tell Your Majesty exactly what happened behind the salt and iron, and I want Your Majesty to know who stole Your Majesty's money, who harmed the country, and who forced the people to rebel every year. ”

Li Hong happily shook Zhao Qi's hand and thanked him, "The boss just writes, I, the general of Xingzhenbei, still have a bit of weight, even if I annoy Your Majesty and the power of all parties in Luoyang, no one dares to do anything to me for a while." ”

"Haha......" Zhao Qi smiled, "I don't dare if the adults ask me to sign it." This hornet's nest is dozens of times bigger than the hornet's nest you stabbed in Xiliangsu. ”

Li Hong was secretly frightened.

"Didn't Your Majesty let your lordship divide your troops into four guards?" Zhao Qi said with a solemn expression, "At this time, adults should be cautious, delay as much as possible, and never divide the troops." ”

"Moreover, we must wait until the Yellow Turban Army of Shangdang Yang Feng is also appeased before it can be played, so as not to make the ministers of the DPRK and China obstruct it and cause an accident in Tuntian."

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Accompanied by Yan Liang, Yang Feng rushed to Yangyi City in Taiyuan County.

He is indeed very contradictory, he is not like Zhang Yan, who is dragged down by millions of displaced people. In the vicinity of Montenegro, the army of him, Bai Huan and others plus the displaced people is only three or four hundred thousand, and they are very close to Wei County in Jizhou and Hanoi County in Gyeonggi.

In the Yellow Turban Army in Montenegro, he and Bai Huan have the largest forces, but Bai Huan is more popular and has a higher reputation than him, so Yang Feng purposefully pulled the army to the vicinity of Shangdang, preparing to break away from the Black Mountain tribes when he has the opportunity to defend himself. During that conversation near Zhending City, he was greatly inspired by the way out that Li Hong pointed out to them.

This time, An Dingshuai made an incident in Youzhou and asked for the support of the Yellow Turban of Taihang Mountain, which just gave Yang Feng the opportunity to capture the party. Zhang Yan took the lead in sending troops to Taiyuan, clearing the obstacles for Yang Feng and allowing him to easily occupy the entire territory of Shangdang. Then his mind changed.

Zhang Yan, under the persecution of Li Hong's army, quickly agreed to be cared for, which made Yang Feng very unhappy. In any case, they were disciples of the Taiping Dao and the leaders of the Yellow Turban Army, and he couldn't accept this.

The arrival of Yan Liang and Zheng Xin did not impress him either, but the arrival of Yan Liang and Zheng Xin alarmed the Yellow Turban soldiers and the displaced people who followed the Yellow Turban Army, who gathered outside the city in the hope that their leaders would agree to be appeased. His subordinates, Li Yao, Yang Zhen and Liang Baiwu, also agreed to be appeased. Yang Feng was shocked and finally wavered.

Yang Feng saw Li Hong, Zhang Yan, Zhao Qi and Xiangkai go out of the city to greet him together, and he had nothing to say and bowed to the ground.

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In the middle of this month, the Son of Heaven came to agree to Li Hong's appeasement plan, and at the same time named Yang Feng as the captain of Montenegro, and ordered Li Hong to use this plan to appease the Shangdang Yellow Turban Army, and there was no need to play it again.

This month, Zhang Chun, a rebel in Youzhou, and Bai Huan, a rebel in Montenegro, both learned about Zhang Yan's appeasement, and the morale of the two Yellow Turban armies was hit to varying degrees. But Zhang Chun was not discouraged at all, and he relied on the bravery of Karasuma's iron cavalry to command the army to continue south. His goal is still to rendezvous with the Yellow Turban Army of Montenegro.

After many consultations with Bai Huan, Zheng Gu, Ku Gu and other leaders, it was decided to continue to lead the army north. Now there are fewer officers and troops in Jizhou, and the Yellow Turban Army has an absolute advantage in strength, only the two armies can meet, and it is not impossible to capture the entire territory of Jizhou.

The Son of Heaven was very anxious and continuously urged Li Hong to quickly send troops south to Hanoi County to seek the safety of Gyeonggi, but Li Hong delayed on the grounds that the appeasement was undecided. The Son of Heaven was furious and ordered him to send troops north to Yanmen Pass and south to Hanoi before the end of this month, otherwise he would be punished for violating the order.

At this moment, Guo Tai, the leader of the Xihe Yellow Turban Army, gathered in the Baibo Valley and sent troops to capture Lishicheng, the seat of Xihe County. Guo Tai raised troops at this time, nothing more than to drag Li Hong's army in Bingzhou, so that he had no time to divide his troops in Jizhou.

After Li Hong received the news from Xihe County, he excitedly took the case, "Okay! ”

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