"Prime Minister, is it too much to ask the eight cities?" The monks of Kucha retreated in dismay. They needed to contact the Kucha royal family as soon as possible to discuss the matter. Liu Bian finally couldn't help asking: "With my great Han's wealth, there are not many cattle and sheep, right?"

Ye Zhao began to attach equal importance to farming and animal husbandry in recent years. After the Xianbei and Xiongnu exterminated the clan, he had already begun to plan pastures and developed a reasonable pasture plan. There was even a plan for complementary farming and animal husbandry in Guanzhong. There were 5 million stones of grain tax in Shuzhong every year, part of which was stored as military funds and emergency food and grass, and part of them were operated by caravans controlled by the court in exchange for large resources. The taxes paid by Yang Xu before meant that a state tax was referred to Guanzhong. After all, the population was not as large as that of Shuzhong. Although Liu Bian did not know the specific number, he also knew that million stones of grain and grass were really not a problem for Ye Zhao today.

"Your Majesty." Ye Zhao said to Liu Bian: "Can you know how many people are in Kucha?"

"This~" Liu Bian was speechless, he really didn't know.

"The 16 cities, the 5,000 people mentioned just now, are said to be the minimum number of people. The total population of Kucha should be around 150,000 to 160,000. If the disaster comes today, it may be even smaller. One million grains, plus a thousand cattle and sheep, the soldiers and people of Kucha may not be able to finish eating it in three years." Ye Zhao sneered: "The foods and grasses of our great Han were planted by the people and paid to the court as taxes. Our court uses these taxes to raise soldiers and develop new equipment. If there is a famine, they will provide relief to the victims and repair the city. It is said that it is taken from the people and used for the people."

"As a vassal state of our dynasty, Kucha is protected by my great man, but he has made no contribution to my great man. I dare to ask Your Majesty, what do we owe him to Kucha? Do you want the wealth that should be used on the people, to sacrifice our lives and sprinkle our blood on the people of Kucha?" Ye Zhao looked at Liu Bian and said loudly: "Since you have something to ask, you should take out something equivalent to mortgage it. Your Majesty can ask the court officials and ministers whether the requests of these millions of food and grass are worthy of this millions of food?"

Liu Bian really didn't understand, so he could only look at Yang Xu.

Yang Xu was a native of Taishan County. His ancestor was the Sili School during the reign of Emperor An, and his father was also appointed as Taichang. When Yang Xu's generation, no matter his knowledge and reputation, even if he was not as different as Cai Yong, Lu Zhi, Zheng Xuan and others. After Liu Bian ascended the throne, Yang Xu moved westward and became the leader of the Guanzhong Scholar class. Of course, the scholars today only have a high status. In fact, the scholars in the four prefectures under Ye Zhao's rule were not much stronger than ordinary wealth.

However, Yang Xu is famous and does have the ability. After entering the court, he was recommended by Ye Zhao as the Taifu. He has a high position, but he has no real power. However, in the hearts of the Guanzhong scholars, he is a banner and a loyal supporter of Liu Bian. But at this moment, when he saw Liu Bian looking at him, he could only smile bitterly.

In this matter, he could not deny Ye Zhao's words. Although this further encouraged Ye Zhao's power, Liu Bian clearly favored Kucha people this time. Not to mention Ye Zhao's confidant counselors and military generals, even among the scholars, many of them would feel dissatisfied. This is not a good thing. Moreover, the Kucha people obviously regarded the great man as a sucker. First, they used Buddhism to deceive Liu Bian. After being beaten back to their original form by Ye Zhao, they spoke loudly and were rebelled against Ye Zhao, and they only suffered the consequences. Liu Bian really had no need to argue with Ye Zhao on this matter.

When Liu Bian heard this, he could only sigh, and he gave up the matter.

...

"Lord, our army is going to use troops to Guanzhong now. If we really transfer millions of food and grass to the people of Kucha, we will feel burdened by the military rations!" After the scattered court, Qiu Chi caught up with Ye Zhao and bowed.

Nowadays, under the combination of Ye Zhao's work, agriculture, and merchants and the promotion of Ye Zhao's operations, a virtuous cycle has formed. If they could also take out millions of grain and grass in normal times, and it would not affect the operation of the court. But now, a war with Cao Cao is imminent. At this time, a million stones of grain and grass plus a thousand cattle and sheep will be transferred out, which will allow the logistics shortage to be solved without affecting people's livelihood in the war. Now the economy in various places is in a state of vigorous development. Once logistics problems occur, a chain reaction will occur, and the economy will be stagnant and even begin to regress. This is not a trivial matter.

"Isn't this given yet?" Ye Zhao sneered: "Even if they agree, the millions of food and grass will only be sent in batches. A group of bald donkeys came here to find a sense of superiority. I really don't know who gave them the courage."

Xi Zhicai, Li Ru, and Guo Jia just smiled and said nothing. When Ye Zhao agreed to the Kucha people, they probably guessed Ye Zhao's idea. If it were not for the uneasy today, and the war was about to come, Ye Zhao's main energy was all focused on the Central Plains. In Ye Zhao's style, he would not have let the Kucha people go so simply. Knocking bones and marrow sucking are light. Even now, Ye Zhao used a method of cutting flesh with a blunt knife. When the hand was freed, it would probably be the time when the Kucha royal family and the monks were in trouble.

Therefore, none of the three of them said anything, but Qiu Chi couldn't see these things. As a minister, he came to give advice and was loyal. Ye Zhao naturally would not look at the other party's IQ. Qiu Chi is a specialized talent, especially in recent years, with more and more talents accumulated around Ye Zhao, and Qiu Chi gradually focused his energy on the operation of commercial affairs. In this regard, no one in the court could make Ye Zhao feel more at ease than Qiu Chi. It was already great that he could do this.

In fact, Ye Zhao has many talents like Qiu Chi, who are specialized in specialization. Ma Jun, among the craftsmen, Huang Shao, who is proficient in agriculture, and even now in the academy, they have begun to pay attention to the education of specialized talents. After all, geniuses like Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, and Fa Zheng are all a few. It is good to have so many in an era.

Qiu Chi suddenly realized that after getting his answer, he immediately resigned to Ye Zhao. Now that the Silk Road has stabilized, Ye Zhao’s main energy is in the Central Plains, but Qiu Chi’s current main energy is devoted to the Western Regions, so he generally does not participate in the military discussion.

"Calling the time, Zheng'er should arrive in Hongnong now." Ye Zhao brought everyone back to the prime minister's mansion and said, "What's the situation in Luoyang now?"

"Since Cao moved the capital to Xuchang, some of the revived anger in Luoyang has been taken away by Cao Cao. According to rough statistics, the Luoyang area, plus Yangliang, Yanshi, Gongxian, Gucheng and other places, has a population of only a few thousand households. The prince's trip to Luoyang is probably difficult to recruit craftsmen. The hundreds of craftsmen who accompany him are probably not enough to complete the task of rebuilding Luoyang, unless all the soldiers of the three armies are used to rebuild Luoyang." Li Ru looked at Ye Zhao and hesitated and said, "Lord, have you recruited some farmers from Hongnong and Hanoi?"

"No, the autumn harvest is coming soon, and the farming is busy everywhere. At this time, too much recruitment of farmers will affect this year's taxes." Ye Zhao shook his head and refused directly: "It depends on his ability. This is the first battle to collect children. The more difficulties they have, the greater the benefits for him in the future."

When several strategists heard this, they couldn't help but look at each other and smiled bitterly. Although Ye Zhao's teaching methods of Ye Zheng were effective, they were too cold-blooded. They didn't look like father and son?

However, since Ye Zhao had made such a decision, they couldn't persuade him anymore. Their son was not in a hurry, so why were they worried about it?

"I want to know, what is Cao Cao doing recently?" Ye Zhao looked at everyone and pulled the topic away.

"Cao Cao was settled in Jizhou recently. I heard that the girl from the Cui family in Qinghe married Cao Cao's eldest son Cao Ang. After suppressing the aristocratic family, he began to win over the aristocratic family. After all, a war is imminent, and Cao Cao is different from our army. If aristocratic family rebels at this time, it will be difficult for Cao Cao to do it." Li Ru smiled.

"No one is so stupid. You can still keep most of your property with Cao Cao. If you help us defeat Cao Cao, the benefits will not be as good as losses." Ye Zhao shook his head and said, "This is an illusion. Cao Cao is doing this now, hoping that we will think so. Of course, it also means to appease the aristocratic family, but if I were Cao Cao, I will take this opportunity to further weaken the aristocratic family."

Aristocratic families account for a large proportion of Cao Cao's political team, such as Xun Yu, Zhong Yao, and Chen Qun. Therefore, under the pressure of Ye Zhao, Cao Cao and the aristocratic families were destined to be like grasshoppers tied to a rope. At least before Cao Cao defeated Ye Zhao, the aristocratic families would not dare to easily deviate from Cao Cao. After all, if Ye Zhao won this time, it would be a real disaster for the aristocratic families. With the stability of the four states, Ye Zhao had completely owned private land. This is also the reason why those aristocratic families who defected to stand by Liu Bian and support Liu Bian. Ye Zhao's move was equivalent to destroying the previous survival mode of the aristocratic families.

Therefore, when dealing with Ye Zhao, even if the aristocratic family is dissatisfied with Cao Cao's various suppression over the past two years, they will firmly stand behind Cao Cao in this matter and spare no effort to support Cao Cao in fighting this battle.

If Cao Cao did not take this opportunity and took another wave of weakening, it would not be Cao Cao.

"I suggest that our army in the Central Plains pay close attention to the movements of each of Cao Cao's troops. Since it is difficult to penetrate to the top, it will start from the grassroots level. No matter what he wants to do, if he wants to fight our army, his troops will definitely be mobilized. In this regard, he cannot deceive people." Guo Jia politely said to Ye Zhao.

Ye Zhao nodded silently when he heard this. Although this method was a bit stupid and used a lot of manpower and material resources, the information obtained was the most real. Ye Zhao sent people to infiltrate Cao Cao's senior management more than once in recent years, but the results were very little. Even a servant in Cao Cao's mansion had to find out the 18th generation of ancestors, and he had to find out where the other party had been in the past few years. However, if you don't know anything, you will never hire it. It was difficult for the people sent by Ye Zhao to get in. Moreover, it was not only Cao Cao, but also important generals under Cao Cao and counselors who would have conducted similar methods since Guo Jia's affairs.
Chapter completed!