Straight man of steel

Chapter 149
Originally, he expected to see Wei Qing in Jianzhang Palace, but after looking around inside and outside the palace for a long time, he did not see Wei Qing.

"It's just that the front palace played it right. Zhang Xingren wouldn't want to ask everyone about His Majesty's thoughts."

Seeing Zhang Yuan slowing down, Sima Xiangru's displeasure was already evident on his face.

He couldn't wait to see Liu Che, just like a dog who wanted to beg for meat after completing its master's mission.

"Officer Sima Lang doesn't understand the hardships and dangers of court, the last time I got it right, it was not easy for me to save my life.

Naturally, I have to be careful in everything. There are more than 100 people in my family waiting for me to return home safely. "

Sima Xiangru glanced at Zhang Yuan.

I don't know why the closer you get to Chang'an, the worse Sima Xiangru's attitude towards Zhang Yuan is, and he deliberately distances himself from Zhang Yuan.

Thinking about the scene when Zhang Yuan gave him an idea in Chengdu a few months ago, it is probably impossible to see it again.

"If you all want to be truly loyal to His Majesty, why are you so afraid of His Majesty.

As long as there is always awe in your heart, how can His Majesty kill loyalty. "

Zhang Yuan was too lazy to talk to Sima Xiangru any more, so he sped up and headed towards the front hall.

Since ancient times, loyal officials have died the most, while treacherous officials have lived the longest.

"Xuan Xing ordered Zhang Yuan, Lang and Sima Xiangru to have an audience."

Zhang Yuan and Sima Xiangru who were waiting outside the front hall took off their shoes, lowered their heads and bent their backs, and walked slowly into the front hall.

Both sides of the hall were full of courtiers, Zhang Yuan saw Wei Qing in it, and only then did he know why he hadn't seen him before.

For the sake of this performance, Liu Che dragged the court meeting until noon, and Zhang Yuan was enough.

I have dragged on for such a long time, how many people must be dissatisfied now.

And Sima Xiangru must have known about it, but he didn't tell himself.

This world is really sinister.

"Minister Zhang Yuan and Sima Xiangru pay their respects to Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty."

"Both get up."

Hearing Liu Che's voice again, Zhang Yuan definitely didn't feel friendly.

After standing up, Zhang Yuan held up the talisman with both hands and shouted.

"My minister Zhang Yuan has returned from his mission to Yelang, and now he returns the Emperor's valuable weapon."

Liu Che moved his finger, and Wang Sui, the servant of Huangmen, came down from above and took the talisman from Zhang Yuan's hand.

"Tell me, Yelang Hou Duotong, did you have anything to say to me?"

Zhang Yuan then took out another silk document from his bosom.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this is the letter of credence presented to you by Marquis Yelang."

Wang Sui was not upset at all, and came down again to take the letter of credence from Zhang Yuan, and handed it to Liu Che.

The rules are like this, Zhang Yuan also wants to return everything to Liu Che at once.

The content of the letter of credence is probably something like submitting to the big man, agreeing to Liu Che's dispatch of officials to Yelang for management, and at the same time agreeing to levy corvee in the territory of Yelang.

Even so, Liu Che was still a little dissatisfied.

Although Yelang's territory is large, it is not much smaller than that of the big Han, and its population is only about 20.

Less than a third of Berkshire's population.

"Only more than [-] strong men can be recruited every year? This is a bit too little."

Zhang Yuan didn't tell Sima Xiangru about the matter of Yelang Kingdom, and Zhang Yuan could only do what was right.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, these more than [-] strong men can be used by my big man throughout the year."

People in the Han Dynasty had to serve corvee for about one month a year, and if there were more, it was no more than three months.

It is also because of this that the three counties of Bashu have aroused such great public anger.

If the opening of the road to Southwestern Yi is only undertaken by the people of the three counties, it will definitely not be effective in a short time.

But Tang Meng wanted Liu Che to see the benefits of this matter, which led to the previous situation.

Having said that, Liu Che's face began to soften.

“That way it’s okay.

I heard that the gold in Yelang Kingdom is inexhaustible, is this true? "

Zhang Yuan was afraid that Liu Che would ask this question. He didn't know how to explain that once money is not in circulation, it is actually no different from stones. The reason why it is precious is entirely due to the human beings.

Its essence is nothing more than a method used by those in power at the top to exploit ordinary people.

In later generations, diamonds, jade, etc., what other use are they for besides being beautiful?

To be honest, if you want to say it looks good, it will look good if you freeze it into ice and carve it with some water.

But it is such things that have allowed capitalists to exploit ordinary people for hundreds of years, so the number of dead people is even more unknown.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Yelang's gold reserves are less than one percent of that of Dahan."

"But I heard that the sewers of Duotong's palace are full of gold sand and precious stones. Is this true?"

Many people were seen at this scene, and Zhang Yuan couldn't tell lies at all.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it is true."

Hearing Zhang Yuan's affirmation, discussions in the court suddenly rose up.

Tian Fu stood up and said to Liu Che directly.

"Your Majesty, since Yelang Kingdom has been included in our territory of the Han Dynasty, everything in Jianwei County should be handed over to the imperial court.

Please Your Majesty send another mission to Qianwei County.

No, maybe His Majesty can set up a prefect in Qianwei County, seal the fiefdom of Marquis Yelang in Guannei, and let him bring his family to Chang'an to meet Your Majesty. "

As soon as Tian Fu finished speaking, more than three-quarters of the ministers in the DPRK were in agreement.

Zhang Yuan can be sure that Liu Che also wants so much gold, but he doesn't want to see so many supporters of Tian Fu.

For the sake of balancing power, Liu Che could even give up his wealth.

Anyway, for him, no matter whether the money is in the treasury or in whose home it is, it is always his and cannot escape at all.

It just depends on your mood and when to pick it up.

"What's your opinion on this matter?"

There are so many ministers in the court, why are you asking me what I am doing? Zhang Yuan was speechless in his heart.

"Your Majesty should first send a prefect to be in charge of government affairs in Qianwei County. As for whether to give Yelang Hou a fief, it is not up to the status of a minister to discuss."

If there is no way to escape, the two can only help each other. Even if people on both sides are offended, they will not be guilty of death.

If Tian Fu or Liu Che were really offended to death, Zhang Yuan would also be killed.

Up to now, Zhang Yuan is still a small person.

"Since you all want me to send officials to Qianwei County, then I will do as you wish.

At the same time, in Qianwei County, set up Hanyang Duwei, Yelang Duwei, and Nanbu Duwei, and sent [-] soldiers to settle there. "

Until now, no one has asked about the strength of the Yelang Kingdom, and the ministers in the court are still at the level where the Yelang Kingdom has [-] elite soldiers, so Tian Fu's original intention was to send troops to directly seize all the wealth of the Yelang Kingdom. Come, but in the middle of the conversation, he changed the subject and asked Liu Che to give Duo Tong the title.

(End of this chapter)