The System Forces Me to Be the Emperor

Xiao Rui is very willing to play dead, but Xiao Rui is not sure about convincing His Majesty, the king of a country, to play dead.

"The method is a good method, but I'm afraid His Majesty will not agree." Xiao Rui expressed his concern.

Zhang Liang said with a smile: "If you don't try, how will you know if His Majesty will agree? And now we really can't think of a better way, because we know too little about the situation. As the saying goes, knowing yourself and the enemy is the only way to win every battle. The success rate of other strategies is too low. .”

Jia Xu said: "Your Highness, this is a major matter of regicide. It involves treason and cannot be held in our hands. We must report the truth to His Majesty. As for your Majesty's willingness to follow the plan, it depends on His Majesty's will."

"Mr. Wen He is right. This time it is not a small fight, but a rebellion against the king! The instigator is likely to be another prince, and this matter cannot be concealed! In order not to be framed in the future, it is His Highness who is eradicating dissidents." Xiao He also put forward his own views.

Guo Jia said: "Your Highness, you hand over the package of poison to your subordinates, and your subordinates will go to Hua Tuo to see if he can distinguish the type of poison, so that we can facilitate our strategy!"

Xiao Rui handed the poison to Xiao Guojia, and finally nodded and said: "The four gentlemen are right. I will enter the palace now, and I will persuade His Majesty to pretend to be dead at any cost. Once His Majesty agrees to the plan, what should I do next? It depends on His Majesty's instructions."

The four nodded in agreement.

Immediately, Xiao Rui returned to the palace.

However, it was getting late, when Xiao Rui came to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, His Majesty was not in the hall, and only after inquiring did he learn that His Majesty was a little tired after reviewing too many memorials today, and had already gone back to rest.

The internal officer asked Xiao Rui if there was something urgent that he needed to see, Xiao Rui hesitated for a while and finally shook his head and returned to the East Palace.

The next day, Xiao Rui got up early to go to court.

In the early morning, His Majesty asked Yang Feiyuan, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, about the progress of clearing the world's grain fields. Yang Feiyuan replied that 80 areas had been completed, and other areas were intensively clearing the Zhang, which was expected to be completed within two months.

This nationwide clearing of the grain fields is of great significance. Only by familiarizing with the family can we better cope with the coming Little Ice Age.

In addition to clearing the grain fields in the world, His Majesty also asked the Ministry of Accounts to take stock of the internal and external warehouses of the Ministry of Finance and the local grain storage and grain reserves. This task is easier than clearing the grain fields. It is said that the Ministry of Accounting has already completed the inventory, and the data from various places have also been aggregated to the Ministry of Accounting. It is being done The final step of statistics and verification.

"Within seven days, the statistics and verification will be completed. I need to know how much grain the Great Xia has in store! There must be ten years' worth of grain reserves!" Emperor Xia said leisurely while sitting on the dragon chair, scanning his eyes across the ministers.

Emperor Xia worked hard for 23 years, and the first ten years were like a doctor treating the barren Great Xia, restoring vitality and prosperity to the riddled Great Xia, and regaining the lost land, even making Zhao and Qi fearful. In the next ten years, recuperating and recuperating will benefit all the people. Coupled with the beauty of the heavens, there will be no large-scale bad weather, and the disaster situation in some areas will be effectively controlled. Therefore, the people live in peace and health, and the major granaries of the imperial court are full of surplus. Emperor Xia didn't have an accurate figure on how much grain the Great Xia had in store, but as he said, there must be ten years of grain reserves!

Yang Feiyuan, Shangshu of the Household Department, said respectfully: "I understand, I must check the number and submit it to Your Majesty as soon as possible."

Emperor Xia nodded.

Yang Feiyuan arched his hands and retreated to his position, but his brows were slightly furrowed, as if there was something depressed, which made Xiao Rui, who was secretly observing him, raise his brows, which made it more interesting.

It seems that His Majesty asked him to investigate Yang Feiyuan, not just because he formed a party to protect his family, but now the top priority is not to deal with him, let Wei Zhongxian investigate him first.

This morning, apart from clearing the grain fields and inventorying the granaries, there was another major event.

Only to hear Emperor Xia say again: "Let's discuss how to manage the expanded territory."

As soon as these words came out, the entire hall was silent, and their eyes were eager.

Leaving aside Qi State for now, although the champion marquis has reached Fengtian City in Qi State, the people of Qi State have a strong sense of resistance, so the occupied areas are guarded by troops, and even for a long time to come, they will have to rely on Force deterrence.

Why are the people in the occupied land of Zhao very obedient, but the people of Qi resist?

In fact, in the final analysis, it is because of the hearts of the people.

Emperor Qi was determined to be a good emperor, so after he ascended the throne, he was relieved of corvee and reduced taxes, which won the approval of the people. Even if he played a trick to lure wolves into the house, the people of Qi still had to defend their country against the Xia army.

On the other hand, in Zhao State, the forced conscription, heavy corvee, and heavy taxation made the people breathless. In the end, in order to resist the Xia army, they even forced the recruitment of men. Ten rooms were empty. The people lived in such a hopeless country. In China, can you still expect the people to resist for the country?

The common people just want to eat, drink, and clothe themselves warmly. The needs are very simple. Zhao Guo also has righteous men who resist, but most of them are simple people.

Now the territory east of the Qijiang River is included in the Daxia territory. There are 14 counties, a land area of ​​more than 4 million square kilometers, and a population of 30 million. It is not easy to manage such a large area. .

At this stage, Emperor Xia is adopting the method of stationing troops in important counties and prefectures to form a deterrent, and then dispatching officials to manage them.

But the territory is too large, with 14 counties, 60 or 70 prefectures, and countless counties and villages under the prefectures. Now the officials sent by Daxia are limited, and they mainly rely on the original officials of Zhao State to govern.

Relying on the original officials of the State of Zhao is not a long-term solution. At the very least, the person in charge must be an official of Daxia. However, if you are not familiar with the place of life, you will be easily dismissed, so you need to set up your own official system in an all-round way. Then, with the cooperation of officials from the State of Zhao, you can The maximum speed allows the people in the occupied areas to have a sense of belonging and completely become Daxia people!

Of course, official governance is only one of them. If you want better governance, you need other means. Such as excellent policies, rewarding land, reducing taxes, relocating people, etc., and now His Majesty has issued these policies to benefit the people.

It should be mentioned that some time ago it was the autumn harvest season. After the people in the east of Qijiang experienced the war, they began to rush to harvest their own crops. In the past, the autumn harvest was taken away by the government before it was soft and warm. If you promise to join Daxia, take the initiative to complete the re-registration of household registration, and measure the land under your name, you can enjoy the policy of benefiting the people. As long as the land is your own, you don't have to hand over a grain of grain! Not only the grain was handed over, but also the young crop tax, cattle tax, etc. were all reduced or exempted, so this policy of benefiting the people directly attracted the people of Zhao State.

at this time.

Emperor Xia said again: "Now that the fourteen counties east of the Qijiang River are included in the territory of Daxia, I have considered it again and again and plan to withdraw the counties as prefectures and establish fourteen prefectures. The area of ​​each prefecture is the same as the original prefecture and will not be changed. Moreover, in order to better manage the fourteen prefectures, I plan to establish the Anxi Province and the Anxi Protectorate to coordinate and administer all the government affairs of the fourteen prefectures. Where is Li Mingchong?"

"The minister is here!" Li Mingchong hurried out and said.

Xia Huangdao: "Since the county is changed to a state, the county guard will naturally be abolished, and the governor will be established according to the Daxia system, so the cabinet will draft a candidate and select the appropriate candidate for the governor! In addition, the official department will choose the prefects of each prefecture. Candidates. This selection is not limited to Daxia officials or former Zhao officials, as long as word of mouth and character pass the test, anyone can be nominated. For example, Di Qing, the governor of Zangdong County, I heard that he voluntarily surrendered for the sake of the people and soldiers in the city. I would rather bear the infamy of treason myself. Even though such a loyal official was once an official of the State of Zhao, I can use him with confidence, so I appointed him as the governor of Eastern Tibet!"

"Yes, I understand!" Li Mingchong replied.

After a pause, Li Mingchong suggested: "Your Majesty, the newly established 14 prefectures have a vast territory. If you want to fully establish an official system, you need at least 20,000 officials, and you need to plan ahead to prepare for the new territory in the north. So I have the courage to suggest that the number of finalists for the Spring Imperial Examination next year needs to be increased!"

"I'm right! Then follow Aiqing's advice and let the cabinet discuss it." Emperor Xia nodded.

Next year will be the three-year imperial examination. This time, a large number of officials will be needed, which is a great opportunity for scholars. In previous years, there may only be one or two hundred Jinshi, but this time it is estimated that it will be doubled.

Moreover, even doubling is not enough. Xiao Rui estimated that next spring, and the year after that, he would have to open Enke to select talents through continuous imperial examinations.

After all, the number of officials is 20,000 to 30,000. If a small number of former Zhao officials are removed, most of the remaining major positions must be used by Daxia officials. And don't forget, the Champion Hou hit Fengtian City and occupied the six states of Qi State, covering an area of ​​more than two million square kilometers. It's impossible to spit it out after eating it! Sooner or later, it is the territory of Daxia, so a large number of officials are needed there.

At this time, Emperor Xia looked at Xiao Rui and asked, "Does the prince have anything to say?"

Xiao Rui came out and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, next year's spring imperial examination, will the candidates from the original Zhao Kingdom in the fourteen prefectures also be allowed to participate?"

Emperor Xia nodded and said: "Naturally, as long as he is willing to become a citizen of the Great Xia and complete the registration of household registration, he can come to the capital to take the imperial examination while retaining his original fame. If he is a high school student, he can enjoy all the same treatment."

The Great Xia Kingdom treats everyone equally, and it just depends on whether the high-minded Zhao Guo scholars are willing to come.

"Your Majesty, there is nothing wrong with my son." Xiao Rui retreated.

In fact, Xiao Rui is more concerned about the establishment of the Anxi Protectorate!

The administrative system of Daxia is the prefecture and county, and the prefecture is the highest administrative region in the area. I didn't expect that Anxi Duhufu was established to directly govern the 14 prefectures. This is incredible!

But His Majesty didn't introduce too much, so not only Xiao Rui, but all civil and military officials were curious.

Afterwards, several political affairs were discussed, and the morning court ended.

Xiao Rui was about to accompany Emperor Xia back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, when Emperor Xia had a whim and said, "Let's walk with me."

"Yes!" Xiao Rui was a step behind him, and replied respectfully.

The two walked in the palace, followed by the Imperial Army from afar, and the rising sun rendered the east golden.

"My lord, the establishment of the Anxi Protectorate in the fourteen prefectures is a temporary idea, and I haven't communicated with anyone." Xia Huang said suddenly.

Xiao Rui nodded, no wonder even Li Mingchong, the chief assistant of the cabinet, was a little surprised.

"The fourteen prefectures must be controlled as soon as possible, didn't you realize? When I talked about the governance of the fourteen prefectures, all civil and military officials were eager. Now these fourteen prefectures are all fragrant buns!" Emperor Xia said leisurely.

Xiao Rui was startled, and suddenly understood what His Majesty meant.