"Liangzhou has a large territory, with high mountains and long rivers. It is criss-crossed by various places and has entrenched forces. Although it is easy to suppress bandits, it is difficult to maintain it. Bandits are rampant. The root cause of the banditry lies in the livelihood of the people. It is difficult to maintain their livelihood. They will either become disaster victims or join the mountains as bandits!"
"If livelihoods can be guaranteed, half of the bandits in Liangzhou can be eliminated..."
"Why did the imperial court fail to suppress the bandits several times? The fundamental reason is that people's livelihood is unsustainable. After the suppression, the army retreats, and it will not take long for them to reappear!"
Xu Tong pointed out the crux of it one by one in a few words.
"Um!"
After hearing this, Li Rui felt much more relaxed.
Along the way, Xu Tong shared many of his opinions with Li Rui, and Li Rui learned a little more about Liangzhou.
Two days later.
The five carriages finally entered Liangzhou.
Liangzhou is divided into six counties. Hedong County has a flat terrain and relatively fertile land, and the Liang Prince's Mansion is located here. It is said to be the Liang Prince's Mansion, but it is actually the product of the reconstruction of a wealthy merchant's residence in the previous dynasty. It is not even as good as some in the capital.
A bigger mansion.
However, it is already quite good to have such a palace in Liangzhou.
"Brother Xu!" Li Rui asked with some confusion: "Didn't you mean that on the day of the vassalage, local officials will come to congratulate you and report on the situation in each place?"
Xu Tong smiled bitterly and said: "We were short of food, so we speeded up the journey. We arrived in Liangzhou one day earlier than planned. Officials from various places probably don't know you are coming!"
"That's fine!"
Li Rui was stunned for a moment and then laughed: "Let's go out for a walk too!"
After entering Liangzhou, Li Rui's mood improved a lot.
After leaving the capital, it was a depressing journey. I also saw scenes of people dying of hunger everywhere. Although this place is not prosperous, it finally has the atmosphere of a marketplace.
Leaving the maid and servant behind to pack their things, Li Rui took Xu Tong to wander around Hedong County.
Inside the county and outside the county, there are almost two different scenes.
There were people dying of hunger outside, and although the city looked a little shabby, it was still manageable.
"Brother Xu, Liangzhou has just been hit by a disaster. Should we also write to the emperor and ask him to provide food relief?" Li Rui asked.
"It is necessary to provide food relief for disasters, but now that the government has decided, the national treasury is not rich. Construction is going on everywhere. Even disaster relief is probably a drop in the bucket. I don't know how many victims have been displaced and starved to death on the streets..." As he spoke,
Xu Tong sighed.
There is nothing we can do about this.
It has only been thirty years since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Although your Majesty has great military skills, it is difficult for a clever woman to make a meal without rice.
"Then we can only find ways to save ourselves." Li Rui nodded: "But we still have to open our mouth..."
Li Rui has his own concerns in his heart. Children who cry will be fed by milk. He still knows this truth. Even if he is no longer favored, his cheap father will never let the people suffer. Next, Liang
I need to control the state officialdom a little bit.
If there is not enough food, there are not enough methods!
Thinking of this, Li Rui waved his hand and said: "Let's go to the county government office!"
Xu Tong hurriedly agreed and led the way.
Unexpectedly, after arriving at the county government office, except for some soldiers, no one in charge was there.
Until Li Rui revealed his identity.
A government official then hurriedly ran out.
Li Rui winked at Xu Tong, and Xu Tong followed quietly.
Li Rui sat quietly in the county government office, drinking the tea brought by his servants and waiting quietly.
About half an hour or so.
A fat guy in official uniform hurriedly ran in. After seeing Li Rui, he knelt down on the ground with a thud: "Your Majesty, Su Changyu, see you, Your Majesty. May your Majesty be blessed!"
At this time, Xu Tong also returned to the county government.
He lay next to Li Rui's ear and whispered a few words.
Li Rui nodded slightly, with a displeased look on his face: "It seems that the girls from Wanxiang Tower are of good quality, and they can make Commander Su stay in such a disaster, regardless of the life and death of the people, and never leave!"
"Your Majesty, this subordinate is guilty!"
After the words fell, Su Changyu's head hit the bluestone board hard, and his body couldn't help shaking.
"Guilty or innocent is not my decision. I ask you..." Li Rui's voice was cold: "How many people were affected by the flood in Liangzhou, how many were dead and missing? How many people fled? How many people collapsed?
How many houses are there? How much economic loss has Liangzhou suffered in total?"
"Plop, pop..."
Su Changyu's head banged hard on the ground again.
Soon, his forehead was covered with blood.
"Your Majesty, you are guilty!"
"Bang!"
Li Rui slammed the teacup in his hand to the ground, his eyes were cold: "What? It's been half a month since the flood, but you haven't even calculated these data? Kowtow? Even if you smash your head, is it possible?
Are you going to bring the dead people back to life?"
"Xu Tong, cut off his head!"
Li Rui scolded angrily.
"yes!"
Xu Tong drew his knife and stepped forward angrily.
Unexpectedly, at this time, Su Changyu trembled violently, and then fainted.
And Xu Tong's sword stopped suddenly. He didn't really swing it.
After a while, a foul smell came out of Su Changyu's body. He was so frightened that he became incontinent.
"Master..." Xu Tong turned his head and glanced at Li Rui, with a hint of questioning in his voice.
Li Rui frowned slightly.
Although he is a prince, this is also his fiefdom. However, the abolition and death penalty of the county governor need to be reported to the court, and then decided by the emperor. In order to check and balance the power of the vassal king, the emperor specially formulated the system of enfeoffment instead of tin soil.
The rule is to be a noble but not to the people, to live in a salary but not to manage things.
Basically isolated from local military and political affairs.
However, the sky is high and the emperor is far away.
If the feudal lord really wants to make some small moves, as long as they are not too big, Kyoto will turn a blind eye.
That's why I was able to scare Su Changyu.
Although the emperor would definitely be unhappy about executing the governor of a county, he would never punish a prince who had just become a vassal because of such a thing. Even if the young prince was not popular.
Li Rui stood up from the chair.
"From today on, I will take over the county government office! I will wait until there is a suitable candidate to take over the position of county governor!"
Li Rui snorted angrily: "Press Su Changyu down and put him in prison! In addition, summon the county guards and chief registrars from the other five counties! Ask them to go to the county office of Hedong County before noon tomorrow. I have important matters to ask.
!”
"Where is the Registrar of Hedong County!"
Li Rui looked around.
At this time, a dark-faced middle-aged man hurriedly ran out from behind the county government office and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, I'm here!"
"Um!"
Li Rui looked up and down and asked coldly: "Do you know the questions I asked before?" This chapter has been completed!