Chương 26: Defeat the Landlords and Distribute the Good Land

Eastern Han Dynasty.

1 gold = 10 silver = 10000 coins In 184 AD, during the Eastern Han Dynasty: one shi (石) was equal to 50-100 qian (钱) (this value varied depending on the situation).

Ordinary soldiers received about 300-400 coins per month (only the central army and border troops received a fixed salary plus food; county and prefectural troops did not receive a fixed salary, and most received food).

The average monthly income of a family of five is around 88 yuan.

Ten thousand ordinary soldiers consume approximately 1. 5 shi (a unit of dry measure) per month.

Ten thousand heavily armored soldiers consume approximately 1. 8 shi (a unit of dry measure) per month.

Ten thousand elite soldiers consume approximately 2. 1 shi (a unit of dry measure) per month.

Ten thousand cavalrymen consume about 20 shi of grain per month.

In ancient times, transporting grain from the Central Plains to the frontier consumed fourteen shi of grain just along the way for every shi of grain transported.

The normal ratio of consumption to transportation is 3: 1, but this gradually increases with distance.

The extent to which each prefecture is able to collect grain and fodder.

Large prefectures (such as Nanyang): 100-200 million shi/year Medium-sized counties (such as Donghai): 50-100 koku/year Small border counties: 10-30 shi/year (The above are all generated under normal circumstances. In the event of natural disasters, man-made calamities, or corruption, the number will be much less than under normal circumstances.) Liu Ce was alone in his study, looking at a pile of bamboo slip account books, counting his family's assets on his fingers.

"More than 500, 000 refugees poured in, the treasury was piled with 300 million coins, 10, 000 gold, and 30, 000 silver, the army supported 10, 000 infantry and 800 cavalry (the system space also held 100 million coins and more than 2, 000 cavalry as a trump card), and the granaries stored more than 1 million shi of grain..."

These figures are quite alarming on their own; he could definitely be considered a "small-time tycoon in troubled times."

But when Liu Ce thought about the expenses that would be incurred every day when he opened his eyes in Zhuojun, he suddenly felt that this windfall was not going to last long.

"Maintaining an army is the most expensive thing." Soldiers' salaries, armor and weapons maintenance and replacement, and horse feed—aren't they all money-devouring beasts?

"Resettling displaced people is a bottomless pit." Five hundred thousand people need food, housing, and medical treatment, and we also have to prevent them from causing trouble when they have nothing to do.

Not to mention maintaining the operation of the entire prefecture's government, repairing bridges and roads, and developing water conservancy projects... Liu Ce muttered to himself, rubbing his temples.

"This isn't just getting rich, it's like getting a giant money-shredding machine!"

Despite his worries, Liu Ce knew perfectly well that in chaotic times, population and food were the most important things.

The current headache is because the scale has suddenly expanded. As long as we can get through this transition period, integrate these 500, 000 people into the workforce, and train the army into elite troops, Zhuojun can become an impregnable foundation.

He turned his head to look in the direction of Luoyang, pondering another matter: The report of victory has been sent out; now we just wait to see how the emperor will react upon seeing it.

Is it a promotion and a title? Or is it suspicion and suppression? We must make things a fait accompli before the imperial decree arrives!

The next day, at a meeting held at the prefectural government, Liu Ce directly put forward his most core policy—to remeasure and redistribute the land of the entire prefecture.

He addressed the Prefectural Magistrate Zhao and the others with unwavering resolve:

"Old Zhao, immediately arrange for men to measure all the fields in the entire prefecture from top to bottom!"

"All uncultivated wasteland, illegally seized land by powerful figures, and ownerless land confiscated from traitors' property shall be registered and distributed to landless refugees and local poor peasants according to the number of people!"

The officials below turned pale upon hearing this. This was tantamount to confiscating the assets of local powerful landlords! Old Zhao, steeling himself, reminded them:

"My lord, this... this might affect the interests of many people, and those wealthy families may not agree..."

"You won't agree?" Liu Ce sneered and slammed his hand on the table.

"What time is it now? The Yellow Turban Army is still causing trouble outside!"

"Anyone who dares to obstruct government orders or engage in hoarding and speculation at this critical juncture is in league with the remnants of the Yellow Turban Rebellion and is undermining the overall stability!"

His gaze swept across the entire arena, finally settling on Zhang Fei, Dian Wei, and Cheng Yaojin, who were rubbing their hands together in anticipation. He deliberately raised his voice:

"Anyone who's not satisfied, let him go and argue with Yide, Elai, and Zhijie! Those three are itching for a fight lately and would be more than happy to help this kind of 'stubborn element' clear his head!"

Zhang Fei immediately jumped up, his voice booming:

"Rest assured, my lord! Which bastard dares to cause trouble? My spear will be just what I need to tell him what to do!"

Dian Wei and Cheng Yaojin also grinned maliciously, looking just like two door gods.

This menacing "arrangement" instantly silenced all the officials who wanted to offer advice.

After the beating was finished, Liu Ce made detailed arrangements for the resettlement of the displaced people: Work-for-relief programs were implemented. Displaced people were organized to participate in public works projects such as building city walls and digging irrigation canals. Those who did the work not only received priority in land allocation but also received extra rations, preventing them from running out of resources.

Register the households and resettle the people. Register the displaced people and disperse them to various villages. Select officials to explain the policies and help them settle down as soon as possible.

Military support. Intensify military training to deter external forces with elite troops and maintain internal order with disciplined units to prevent looting during periods of chaos.

Liu Ce's governance experience is: The primary approach is education, with punishment as a secondary measure. The core principle is to ensure that people have land to cultivate, food to eat, and hope for the future, which will naturally lead to social stability.

Only with internal stability can we cope with potential turmoil in the court and remain invincible in the face of greater chaos in the future.

Originally, Liu Ce planned to develop movable type printing, papermaking, saddles, stirrups, horseshoes, and so on all at once. However, considering that the Eastern Han Dynasty was still in its infancy and Emperor Ling of Han was still alive, he decided to wait until the Yellow Turban Rebellion was quelled before making any decisions.

……

Inside Guangzong City.

Since Lu Zhi, the General of the Northern Army, led the imperial army to attack, Zhang Jiao has suffered several defeats and can only close the city gates and hold on with the city walls.

He sat in his slightly messy tent, looking at the simple map on the table that marked the enemy's and his own positions, feeling as if a huge rock was pressing on his heart.

"Big brother! Big brother!" Zhang Liang's voice preceded his arrival as he rushed in like a gust of wind, his face flushed red with excitement.

Zhang Jiao raised his head, his brows still furrowed:

"What a flustered scene! Is it that old man Lu Zhi challenging us outside the city again?"

His recent string of defeats has made him prepare for the worst in response to any news.

"Not Guangzong! It's Yingchuan! Fantastic news!"

Zhang Liang rushed forward, his breathing uneven.

"Our Yingchuan chieftain, Bo Cai, has clashed with the government army's Right General of the Central Army, Zhu Jun! Zhu Jun was utterly defeated and fled in disarray!"

"Even that Left General of the Household, Huangfu Song, can only cower in Changshe City with Zhu Jun, surrounded by Bo Cai's army, like turtles in a jar!"

This news was like a thunderclap, and also like a shot in the arm, instantly brightening Zhang Jiao's previously somewhat gloomy eyes.