After hearing Xu Shu's plan, Liu He was surprised and applauded repeatedly.

"Okay, okay, Yuanzhi's plan hits the key points of the Qiang people. Many foreign races are close to the Han Dynasty. The strongest ones are the Western Qiang tribes and Goguryeo. As long as these two tribes are destroyed, they can ensure the stability of the Han Dynasty for hundreds of years. Yuanzhi's contribution is indispensable and it is enough to win the reputation of history."

Xu Shu said humbly: "I don't dare to take credit for my merits because of my own efforts."

Since returning to Luoyang from Yuzhou, Liu He has been in a gloomy mood and full of thoughts, but after getting Xu Shu's plan, his heart was completely dispersed and he was very happy.

But Xun Yu looked up at him, and his expression was about to stop talking, which attracted Liu He's attention.

"If Wen has something to report?"

Xun Yu took a step forward: "I see that Your Majesty is in a rare mood. I can't bear to make Your Majesty unhappy again, but..."

Liu He retracted and said, "Hey, since there is state affairs, it should be dealt with. How could I be so stupid?"

"Abide by the order." Xun Yu then spoke.

"Do your Majesty still remember the rumors of slandering Your Majesty heard in Luoyang City a few days ago?"

Liu He was stunned and said, "It's not Wen Ruo's reminder, I almost forgot about this."

Xun Yu said: "Although the court issued a list to clarify, the rumors have not stopped, but have become more and more intense. According to the replies of officials from all over the country, not only are there such rumors in Luoyang, but there are even rumors in Bing, Ji, Liang, Yan, You and other places, as well as Qingzhou and Xuzhou. Among them, Yanzhou is the most powerful."

Liu He's face turned dark: "Hmph, it's really Cao Cao's work."

"I'm afraid it's not just that." Xun Yu shook his head and said, "With Cao Cao's ability, he can't cause such a stir. There must be other people and families behind him who will fuel the fire and help the evildoer."

"Hmph, what are I afraid of a group of clowns?"

Liu He said disdainfully, and then he looked at Xun Yu: "What do these rumors say?"

"This..." Xun Yu seemed a little hesitant.

"Wenruo, what are the concerns between you and my king and my minister? But it's okay."

With Liu He's words, Xun Yu boldly said it.

"There are those who say that Your Majesty values ​​business and downsides scholars, and those who listen to and believe in others, those who slander loyal ministers, those who are close to others, and those who stay away from wise men. Also, those who say that our army is now at its peak, and soldiers are becoming more arrogant and bully men and women. The generals have built a lot of land and houses, and they are countless beautiful ladies, and they are singing every night, and they are no longer the fighting spirit of the past."

"Nonsense!" Liu He angrily scolded.

"That's true." Xun Yu said: "These rumors were compiled into deeds by them, such as a Sima in General Guan's army, a woman from a family that was occupied by a certain family in a certain month, and a military marquis under General Gao's command, and robbed who was his fertile land, and said it was quite appropriate."

Liu He waved his hand: "I sent an order to strengthen inspections in various places. Whenever such rumors occur, the spreaders will be arrested immediately."

"No." Xun Yu hurriedly stopped him.

"After these rumors spread, there were always people who would disappear after talking about this on the streets and alleys. There were rumors in the crowd that His Majesty ordered people to arrest them so that they could be sealed."

When Liu He heard this, he didn't speak for a long time, but his face looked extremely ugly.

"Okay, this is to confirm my crime."

"Your Majesty's words are not bad." Qian Li stepped forward and interrupted: "Now, even in Bingzhou, people often talk about this matter. In their words, they have become more wary and frightened towards Your Majesty, the court, and the soldiers of our army. As for the other prefectures and counties, it is even worse."

Xun Yu frowned: "This is not the most serious."

Liu He turned his head and looked at him: "Why, what a rumor, it's even more hateful?"

"There is a rumor that spreads the most widely, and the people are most panicked about it. It has almost reached the point where everyone is afraid of talking about it, and everyone sighs."

Seeing Xun Yu's description, Liu He couldn't help but sit up straight: "A mere rumor is so powerful?"

Xun Yu's face was serious and worried: "It was rumored that the outside world that His Majesty has been fighting for years, and the national treasury has long been empty. Now he wants to expand his army, which can be said to be...it can be said to be a military force. The national treasury is difficult to support, so...so..."

Liu He took it on for him: "So there is a rumor that I want to increase taxes?"

Xun Yu nodded: "Your Majesty is wise."

Liu He smiled coldly. The tax collection is naturally the concern of everyone. No people would like to increase taxes. These two words are a hundred times more terrifying than any poisonous snake or beast in the minds of the people. Therefore, there is a saint who is "harsh taxes are more fierce than tigers".

"As the rumor, how do I plan to increase taxes?"

Speaking of this, Qian Li stepped forward and answered: "Report to Your Majesty, the current taxes of the court are mainly composed of land tax, renewal tax, verbal tax, calculation tax, and tariffs."

"The land tax is calculated from the yield of land acres. During the reign of Emperor Huanling, land tax has gradually increased, from forty-one tax, and has been raised to fifteen tax for decades. Local officials and wealthy families have exploited them wantonly and charged various taxes. When His Majesty ascended the throne, he vigorously rectified it and reduced the land tax twice. Now the land tax is forty-five taxes."

"The tax is for men over 22 years old to perform labor service. If they refuse to perform labor service, each person will pay 300 qian tax. However, within decades, the tax has been raised from 1,000 to 2,000 qian in various places. Now, after the court rectifies, the tax is unified to 1,500 qian."

"The tuition is the tax that people over the age of seven and under the age of fifteen need to pay every year. However, various places impose heavy taxes, and gradually newborn babies are included in the tuition, and the tax is also raised from a hundred coins to more than a thousand coins."

"Similarly, when the tax is 15 years old and under 56 years old, many people over 60 years old or even 70 years old are also levied, and the tax rate is greatly increased."

"In the past few years, Your Majesty has worked hard to govern, reform bad policies, crack down on local tyrants and reduce tax rates. It was originally effective and the people were grateful. Therefore, wherever Your Majesty's army went, the people were exhausted to welcome the king's army."

Liu He was also very clear about what Qian Li said. Only by reducing taxes by himself, he reclaimed wasteland and prospered trade, so that the treasury revenue would increase instead of reducing, so that he could support such a large army.

Qian Li continued: "However, now it is rumored that Your Majesty wants to increase land tax to 15 tax, and some even say that you need to pay 10 tax. At the same time, in order to expand your troops, Your Majesty also needs to reduce the age of corvee to 16 years old, and increase the tax to 3,000 coins. The tuition, tax, levies, sacrificial orders, customs duties, etc. have been greatly increased, at least one or three or five times, and even more, it is said that it needs to increase it by more than ten times."

"It's simply ridiculous. Does anyone believe such groundless things?"

Liu He didn't know whether he should laugh at those who believed in rumors or angry at those who spread rumors.

"I don't know how many people believe, how many people doubt, how many people disdain, but over the past few days, many people and great tribes have moved away from the land under His Majesty's jurisdiction and went to Qing, Xu, Yu, Jing and other places, and there are countless people, and there are probably hundreds of thousands."

Qian Li's words made Liu He's only disdainful heart disappear, and his face became extremely serious.

"How long has it been so long that so many people have been scared away?"

"That's right." Qian Li nodded and said, "There are many local wealthy families among them. Your Majesty has suppressed these local tribes. Now, after hearing these rumors, those who have never been an official in the court and have a wide range of local assets will naturally be frightened and eager to escape. If this rumor continues to spread, I am afraid that within a year, the territory under the jurisdiction of the court will reduce at least one million residents and a population of millions."

Xu Shu, who was standing beside him, was also a little surprised: "I don't want a few words or stories to be so powerful? Millions of people left, which would be very unfavorable to the court's taxes and conscription. If they go to the territory under Liu Yan, Cao Cao and others, it would be no different from the enemy."
Chapter completed!