"My lord, everything else is easy to talk about. It's just that the finances are a bit unable to make ends meet." Ma Liang became the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs and had an understanding of Jingzhou's financial situation.
You won’t know if you don’t know it, but you will be shocked when you look at it. This year’s total taxes in Jingzhou are 320,000 yuan. It seems like a lot, but Liu Cong and Jiangdong purchased pig iron, fought with Cao Cao, and Liu Bei, and the cost of restructuring Jingzhou was paid to the army.
Military pay......
In total, it cost nearly 800,000 yuan. If Liu Biao had not saved his fortune for him in the past, Liu Cong would not have the money to do so many things.
Even so, Ma Liang knew that Liu Cong would continue to invest in infrastructure construction for people's livelihood recently. Jingzhou no longer had the wealth it had before Cao Cao went south.
Liu Cong smiled and said, "Ji Chang doesn't have to worry. Gu and Zizhong have discussed the money matter. There shouldn't be any major wars in the next one or two years. Gu wants to prosper and develop Jingchu. Money comes from the people."
What is collected in the hand must be taken from the people and used for the people.”
"Take it from the people and use it for the people! The Lord is the true parent of the people." Yi Ji praised again.
"Hahaha, I can't help but praise you." Liu Cong was a little embarrassed.
Pang Tong smiled and said, "It's not just us who want to praise you, but it's really your lord who is wise."
"Hahaha......"
While everyone was laughing and talking, a child ran over and bumped into Liu Cong. Duan Kun hurriedly hugged the child away.
"Wen Qin, don't run around." Not far away, a strong man chased after him and bowed to everyone, "Here in Wenji, I apologize to you. The dog was ignorant and bumped into you."
Liu Cong smiled and said, "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. I see you are chasing him. I wonder why?"
Hearing this, Wen Ji smiled bitterly and said, "I'm from Qiao County, here to participate in the martial arts examination. I just saw the notice from the Marquis of Chu and wanted to take Quan Zi to register. Who knew that this traitor refused to agree and was still running around on the street."
Wen Qin? Liu Cong suddenly thought, isn't this a famous general in the later period of Cao Wei? Wen Qin's son is called Wen Yang!
Liu Cong looked at Wen Ji and asked, "People from Qiaojun, why do you come to Jingchu instead of the near and far away?"
Wen Ji said with some embarrassment, "Dong Cao has so many good generals, why not come to Jingchu to try your luck."
Wen Qin ran to Wen Ji, a little rebellious, "Father, I really don't want to study."
"Guizi, such a huge good thing will never happen in eight lifetimes. You have no reason to do this. Come with me." Wen Ji grabbed Wen Qin's collar and said to everyone, "I'm sorry to bother you, I'll take my leave."
Liu Cong looked at Wen Ji disappearing into the crowd, and said to Duan Kun beside him, "Keep an eye on him. No matter whether he can pass the exam or not, after the imperial examination, bring him to see the orphan."
"Promise." Duan Kun promised.
Pang Tong looked at Liu Cong's decision thoughtfully.
On November 18th, Man Chong went to Jingchu as an envoy again, bringing nearly 30,000 family members with him. When he returned, he took Xu Huang and 20,000 Cao army prisoners with him. As for Yu Jin's body, it was Man Chong's last mission.
Brought it back.
In the open space to the west of Xiangyang City, more than ten thousand men were busy building here. Liu Cong ordered a place to be set aside here. Those who surrendered to Cao Jun and Liu Bei and wanted to settle in Jingzhou could build their own homes here.
It was already winter, and the cold wind was blowing mercilessly. There were three to five hundred of these men living in one place, those who burned bricks and those who made pottery, each building their own home.
"Everyone, stop working and line up!" Dozens of knights galloped on horseback, shouting among the crowd.
The woodcutters in the forest not far away were the last to return. When the number of people was complete, on the high platform that had been set up, Pang Tong, Jiang Wan, and Ma Liang led the generals to inspect the team.
The new recruit Chen Dao nodded and said to himself, "Although they don't even have any clothes on, the spirit of this army is very exciting and they are an elite force."
"Commander, come on stage!" Xu Feng shouted at Pang Tong's signal.
When the messengers boarded the high platform in the military formation, Pang Tong began to shout, "Everyone, since you have decided to submit to the lord of Chu, the lord of Chu will naturally consider it for you."
"Today, your family members are all here. Later..." Before Pang Tong could finish his words, there was a lot of discussion below.
"Silence!" Xu Feng shouted.
Pang Tong continued, "Someone will instruct you to accept the family members later. In addition, Chu Hou Rende has allocated land for you in Xiangyang. After you receive the family members, report to the officials on your own and receive the land according to the number of people in each household!"
"Long live the Marquis of Chu! Long live the Marquis of Chu!"
Pang Tong nodded and said to Jiang Wan and Ma Liang, "Ji Chang, I'll leave the rest to you."
Jiang Wan and Ma Liang cupped their hands and said, "Don't worry, Zhongshu Ling."
"Don't be anxious, be careful when you step on it!"
On the official road not far away, Liu Jun directed the people coming from the south to meet with their husbands or sons!
Zhang Liu was from Xuzhou. After following Cao Cao south, he was stationed in Shuizhai. When Yu Jin committed suicide, he was not far away. The heavy rain poured down and the waves were turbulent. Zhang Liulian didn't even have half of his usual strength. Then he was beaten by Jing Xiang's army.
When he was in the water and almost suffocating, he was picked up, tied up and captured.
After being brought to Xiangyang, he thought he would never be able to return to the north. In order to survive, Zhang Liu chose to surrender. Even if he saved his life, he still missed his family. The general of Chuhou said that he would take their family members over. At first
He didn't believe it, and later he gradually got used to life in Jingzhou.
Today, Zhang Liu was so excited that he cried. He had participated in the Battle of Guandu and the Battle of Wuhuan in the north. The iron-blooded man who fought in the southern and northern battles couldn't help but cry. Zhang Liu stood in front of the team, wiping his hands
With tears in her eyes, she looked towards the crowd of family members opposite, hoping to find her own family.
"Zhang Liu!" the clerk standing in front looked at the bamboo slips and read.
"Here, here." Zhang Liu shouted and hurried forward, "Sir, I am Zhang Liu."
The clerk nodded, then turned around and shouted to the crowd behind him, "Zhang Liu's family!"
The surrounding knights galloped on both sides of the crowd, "Zhang Liu family! Zhang Liu family!"
When no one responded, Zhang Liu became nervous and clenched his fists, his fingers turning blue and white from exerting force.
After a while, two knights led an old woman, a woman carrying a package, and two children back, "Zhang Liu's family is here!"
"Mother!" Zhang Liuzai couldn't help it, crying loudly and rushing towards several people, "Mother, mother!"
"Husband!"
"Daddy. Daddy."
Several people also shouted and ran towards Zhang Liu.
"Mother!" Zhang Liu threw himself in front of the old woman and knelt down. The old woman cried bitterly, holding Zhang Liu's head and crying, "Liuzi, my little Liuzi."
After venting his lovesickness, Zhang Liu wiped away his tears, stood up and looked at the woman, "Madam, thank you for your hard work."
Zhang's mother said, "Thanks to Fen Niang for this journey, Liu Zi, she is both a backpacker and a family supporter."
Zhang Liu's wife's surname was Shi, and her nickname was Fen'er. Zhang's mother called her Fen Niang. Fen Niang was wiping her tears and smiling, "Being able to see your husband again makes all the hard work worth it."
"Dad, Dad, there are still us." Zhang Liu looked down and saw that his two younger sons looked stiff.