SWDnovel Chapter 1477 This Person Lü Yi
Chapter 1477 This Person Lü Yi
Chapter 1477 This Person Lü Yi
In early August of the fourteenth year of Yanxi, the lingering heat of late summer still lingered in Chang'an. Fruits and melons were chilled in the ice chests of the Grand Marshal's mansion to slightly alleviate the heat.
The household has just received a secret report from a spy: there are signs of troop movements in Qing and Xu provinces.
As Grand Marshal Feng was pondering over the map, a personal guard suddenly reported:
"Grand Marshal, Wu envoy Lü Yi has arrived, claiming to be here on the orders of the Wu ruler and Prime Minister Sun Jun to present this letter."
Grand Marshal Feng raised an eyebrow slightly: "He's arrived quickly. Please come to the waterside pavilion."
The pavilion overlooks the pond, where the fragrance of lotus blossoms is faintly present.
Lü Yi had changed out of his travel-worn clothes and was now dressed in a dark Wu Kingdom official robe, plain and unembroidered, as understated as ink.
He was thin, pale, with deep-set eyes, and his gaze was like a hook, as if he could scrape off a layer of flesh.
But upon seeing Grand Marshal Feng, the coldness in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by respect, and he bowed deeply to Grand Marshal Feng.
"Wu envoy Lü Yi greets the Grand Marshal of Han."
"No need for such formalities, Lord Lü." Grand Marshal Feng offered a gesture of support, glanced at the other man, and smiled. "I have long admired Lord Lü's name, and today I finally have the pleasure of seeing your brilliance."
Lü Yi gave a wry smile, but the smile appeared rather stiff on his face:
"Grand Marshal, you jest. I am already over fifty, with graying hair at my temples. How can I speak of elegance? It is Grand Marshal's imposing presence that makes one dare not look directly at him."
"Over the years, while I was in Jiangdong, I often heard about the great achievements of the Grand Marshal in defeating the Sima, recovering Hebei, and pacifying the Central Plains. Whenever I thought about it, I was filled with admiration."
Grand Marshal Feng laughed heartily and pointed at Lü Yi:
"Speak, sit, and drink tea!"
The two sat down.
The waiter served tea, which was Sichuan Mengding tea, a type of tea that was only available within the Xinghan Society, and had a refreshing aroma.
Grand Marshal Feng sipped his tea, a hint of emotion in his voice:
"I remember during the Jianxing era, Lord Lü sent Qin Xiao to travel between Han and Wu. They settled a trade agreement while chatting and laughing. More than ten years have passed in the blink of an eye."
"I never imagined that it would be so many years before I would finally get to see Master Lü again."
When the past was mentioned, Lü Yi's eyes flickered slightly, and her expression completely relaxed.
What he feared was that although he had corresponded with Grand Marshal Feng many times, this was their first meeting and they were bound to be awkward with each other.
Seeing that Grand Marshal Feng was taking the initiative to reminisce, he felt much relieved and forced a smile.
"Grand Marshal has a good memory. If it weren't for your mediation back then, the trade route between Wu and Shu would have been impossible, and the Imperial Academy wouldn't have the resources it has today. Over the years, it's all thanks to your guidance, Grand Marshal, that we've been able to..."
He paused, not finishing his sentence, but the meaning was clear:
Thanks to the Grand Marshal's secret protection, this cruel official was able to survive the bloody intrigues of the Wu court.
But today, Lü Yi certainly didn't come all the way from Wu to meet with Grand Marshal Feng in person.
After exchanging pleasantries for a moment, Lü Yi took out the letter of state from his sleeve, presented it with both hands, and his expression was respectful:
"His Majesty the Emperor of Wu and Chancellor Sun Jun hereby submit a letter to the Emperor of Han and Grand Marshal: The alliance between Wu and Han has remained unchanged through the reigns of the late Emperor and the current Emperor."
"Former Chancellor Zhuge Ke's secret dealings with Wei were his personal actions, not Wu's intentions. Now that Ke has been demoted to Governor of Xiling, Wu has absolutely no intention of breaking the alliance."
Grand Marshal Feng took the letter of state, glanced at it, and placed it on the table:
"Has Lord Lü already met with the Emperor of our Great Han?"
"That's right," Lü Yi quickly replied. "The Han emperor ordered me to come to see the Grand Marshal with a letter from the state, saying that the Grand Marshal has full authority to handle this matter."
The Han emperor also said that the Grand Marshal was the pillar of the state and could make decisions on all matters.
Grand Marshal Feng glanced at the official letter again, then suddenly chuckled:
"Prime Minister Sun is quick to act. He brought the Han state down in June and came to clear up the doubts in August. Is he afraid that the Han state will take the opportunity to invade the south?"
Lü Yi's tone softened further:
"Grand Marshal, you are wise. Wu and Han have been allies for decades. The Prime Minister was afraid of any misunderstanding, so he sent you here overnight."
Before his departure, the Prime Minister repeatedly instructed him: "Grand Marshal Feng is an outstanding figure of our time, and he will surely be able to see through everything. Do not let any petty people sow discord between Wu and Han."
"A misunderstanding?" Grand Marshal Feng said quietly, "Zhuge Ke's collusion with Wei is well-documented. Prime Minister Sun only demoted him, but still allowed him to command troops..."
"Is this for the Han state to see, or for the powerful clans of Wu to see?"
After a moment of silence, Lü Yi said with some difficulty:
"Zhuge Ke has a high reputation in both the court and the army because of the Battle of Dongxing. If he is dealt with too harshly, the people will not be convinced and there may be a mutiny. We must be careful."
Grand Marshal Feng nodded, indicating his approval of the explanation.
Considering that he shares the same surname as the prime minister, it's not impossible to make an exception.
"I have seen Wu's sincerity. However, Han also has doubts. Zhuge Ke has already made peace with Wei and is now stationing troops on the border between Han and Wu. How can our soldiers be at ease?"
Grand Marshal Feng stared at Lü Yi, his tone becoming more forceful:
"Moreover, Xiling is only a hundred li away from Jiangling and is separated from Xiangyang by a river. These two cities are the hubs of the Han-Wu trade route."
"If Zhuge Ke harbors resentment and tampers with the trade routes privately, the Xinghan Society will suffer huge losses, and the Finance Department will also be damaged."
"Lord Lü," Grand Marshal Feng leaned forward, "you really haven't considered this?"
Lü Yi understood immediately, lowered her voice even further, and said in a conciliatory tone:
"Grand Marshal, rest assured. Zhuge Ke is in Xiling with no more than three thousand soldiers. His provisions are all allocated from Wuchang and are supplied monthly."
"Liu Cheng, the Prefect of Xiling, was a confidant of the Prime Minister. He was nominally assisting him, but in reality, he was monitoring him."
Grand Marshal Feng remained silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed:
"Prime Minister Sun is truly sincere..."
Sometimes, when your opponent is too honest, you feel embarrassed to make a move.
"However, Zhuge Ke's unauthorized communication with Wei has caused quite a stir in our Han Dynasty. Even senior officials in the court, such as Elder Deng, have mentioned the matter of Jingzhou at court meetings..."
As Feng Da Sima spoke, he glanced at Lü Yi.
Lü Yi's expression changed drastically.
When the Han dynasty only possessed the Shu region, the Wu kingdom dared to say to the Han envoys, "Let us establish two supreme rulers, one in the east and one in the west."
When the Han dynasty captured Yong and Liang, some people whispered about Jingzhou, but the Wu kingdom pretended not to hear.
Now that the Han dynasty has recovered Hebei and the Central Plains, whenever the Grand Marshal mentions the words "Jingzhou," no matter who the Wu envoy is, they will tremble.
"Grand Marshal..." Lü Yi's voice tightened, "What does this mean? The Wu-Han alliance has lasted for many years, how can it be overdue for old grievances..."
What happened to the promised alliance between the two countries?
Grand Marshal Feng looked at Lü Yi sincerely:
"Lord Lü, we must give those veteran officials an explanation in terms of appearances. Otherwise, not only will I, the Grand Marshal, be criticized to my face."
“Even His Majesty,” pointing to the sky, Grand Marshal Feng looked troubled:
"It's a difficult situation! His Majesty has always been benevolent, but those senior officials, relying on their seniority, actually dare to curse His Majesty in court, in front of all the other officials!"
"Grand Marshal," Lü Yi leaned forward, almost kneeling:
"Is there any room for maneuver in this matter? Before his departure, the Prime Minister instructed that everything is negotiable, and that we should only ask that the alliance between Wu and Han remain intact."
If that's how you put it... then I won't hold back?
After pondering for a long time, Grand Marshal Feng slowly raised two fingers: "Two conditions."
"Firstly, Xiangyang and Jiangling are opened as free trading ports, allowing Han merchant ships and fleets to dock and trade freely, and Wu shall not impose heavy taxes or detain goods without cause."
Lü Yi quickly calculated in his mind:
Xiangyang and Jiangling were strategic points on the Han River and the Yangtze River, and Han Dynasty merchant ships had been traveling between them for many years.
The so-called "free trade" is actually a legalization of existing trade and the acquisition of more privileges.
This is beneficial to Wu's tax revenue... To be precise, it is beneficial to the Office of the Imperial Academy, which has the Pingzhun Division under it, and is fully in charge of trade with the Han.
If customs duties could be abolished, trade routes would undoubtedly increase significantly, and the Stabilization Department would profit...
And this good thing? !
Once Lü Yi understood the matter, he looked up at Grand Marshal Feng in astonishment.
Grand Marshal Feng smiled and took a sip of tea.
“Master Lü, you may not quite understand what this free trade port means. I mean, it means abolishing customs duties.”
Goods from the Han state entering the Wu state were subject to two taxes.
One is the customs tax, and the other is the trade tax.
Customs duty, also known as transit tax, was levied on merchants and travelers crossing the border. One-tenth of the tax was collected.
This tax amounted to 10% of the value of the goods. In principle, this tax should have been turned over to the national treasury, but given the actual military and political situation in Wu at that time, it was mostly collected and retained by the border garrisons.
Especially for the military system of Wu, where the troops were hereditary, once the taxes went into the pockets of the military leaders, why would they ever return them?
The imperial court tacitly approved this situation, not because it truly intended to collect taxes, but rather to use it to filter out suspicious individuals and control the flow of strategic materials.
Back when his father-in-law, Guan Yu, was stationed in Jingzhou, he underestimated the despicable nature of the Jiangdong rats, and Lü Meng, under the guise of a merchant caravan, orchestrated a surprise attack by crossing the river in disguise.
Of course, there were also scoundrels like Mi Fang who had taken bribes or had shady dealings, and turned a blind eye to Lü Meng's fake caravan.
As for the exchange tax, also called market tax or transaction tax: "For goods traded in the market, ten out of every hundred are taken."
That is, 10% of the transaction amount.
During Sun Quan's reign, the Office of the Directorate of State Affairs set up checkpoints to collect this tax, which was criticized by court officials as "creating a pretext to compete with the people for profit."
Now that Sun Jun is in power, the Imperial Household Department has the right to control the Equalization Bureau, and this 10% has become a "legal windfall."
Taking Xinghanhui as an example, they transported large quantities of goods to Jiangling, paid 10% tax, and then sold them to Pingzhunsi, earning 30% to 50% profit.
The Pingzhun Company then used various channels to resell the goods to wealthy merchant caravans in Jiangdong, adding a fraction of the original price.
In this way, it's as if the school administration not only collected taxes but also made a profit from the price difference, thus winning from both ends.
Grand Marshal Feng gave Lü Yi earnest advice:
"Lord Lü, as you know, those military leaders on the border are used to extorting and demanding bribes."
“If ten ships of goods pass through, they dare to detain three as ‘losses’ and then impose heavy taxes on the remaining seven. As a result, merchants are deterred and goods are drastically reduced.”
"With fewer goods, the tax revenue collected by the Equalization Office will naturally decrease, and the profits of the Imperial Academy... won't they also decrease as a result?"
Lu Yi, who was in charge of the Imperial Academy, had been in contact with the Xinghan Society for many years; how could he not be aware of this? But this involves a fundamental problem:
The military leaders in Jingzhou were all generals who held military power and whose troops were hereditary.
To snatch the lucrative customs tax from them is like taking chestnuts out of a fire or snatching food from a tiger's mouth.
Lü Yi smiled wryly: "Grand Marshal, you are wise. The customs and ferries taxes... are actually tied to the private pockets of the generals of Jingzhou. If we forcibly cancel them, it may lead to a mutiny."
Grand Marshal Feng put down his teacup and slowly said:
"Lord Lü, it's not that this is impossible, the key lies in the method."
"Prime Minister Sun has just assumed power and needs to establish his authority. If we can devise a plan to both seize the tax authority of the Jingzhou military leaders and leave them with no room for complaint, wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?"
Lü Yi leaned forward: "Please enlighten me, Grand Marshal."
Grand Marshal Feng held up three fingers:
"The best strategy is to use the pretext of 'strengthening border defenses and replenishing military funds' to carry out 'tax reform' in practice."
Lü Yi craned his neck: "I'd like to hear the details."
If Mi Shiyilang could come up with ingenious strategies, then the renowned "wise and far-sighted" Grand Marshal would surely be even more capable.
"Prime Minister Sun can first have the Wu ruler issue an edict: the military preparations of the Jingzhou armies have been lax for many years and need to be reorganized."
"However, the national treasury was empty, so a special 'Commissioner for Military Supplies Allocation' was established to oversee the tax revenue from the passes and ferries of Jingzhou, with all proceeds used for military preparations."
"The prime minister's trusted confidant was then appointed as the envoy, carrying imperial credentials to Jingzhou, where he set up offices in Jiangling and Xiangyang."
"All Han merchant ships passing through the territory shall be inspected and taxed by the Pingzhun Division. The tax revenue shall be directly deposited into the military treasury and allocated to each army on a monthly basis."
“The most crucial point here,” Grand Marshal Feng said with a profound look, “is granting the generals of Jingzhou the power to supervise taxes. Each army can send one officer to the Pingzhun Bureau as a tax supervisor, with accounts made public and profits distributed monthly.”
A glint of light flashed in Lü Yi's eyes:
"Does the Grand Marshal mean... that in name only, they've taken away their tax collection rights, but in reality, they're allowed to participate in the profit sharing, with transparent accounting, so that the profits are actually greater than what they could have kept privately?"
"Exactly." Grand Marshal Feng nodded. "If military leaders privately collect customs taxes, and half of it ends up in their own pockets, they are considered honest."
"If the Pingzhun Division collects the taxes uniformly, eliminating embezzlement, then 80% or 90% of the revenue can be actually collected."
"Even if we give them 30% or 40%, it will still be more than before. Moreover, it is legitimate and we are not afraid of being impeached by the censors."
Lü Yi remained silent, seemingly weighing the pros and cons repeatedly in his mind.
Grand Marshal Feng did not urge him, but simply raised his cup and sipped it lightly, listening to the occasional chirping of cicadas from the pond in the waterside pavilion.
When he saw Lü Yi's eyes darting around, Feng Da Sima's lips curled up slightly.
He knew that this was indeed the best strategy for the Wu Kingdom, and if Sun Quan were still alive, he might have started preparations immediately.
It not only brought customs and tributary revenues to the central government, but also allowed the government to monitor border generals under the guise of "tax supervision," making it an effective way to strengthen centralized power.
Sun Quan dreamed of achieving this.
However, this best strategy for Wu was a poor strategy, or even the worst strategy, for Lü Yi.
The border military commander is lining his own pockets, while the entire military administration is supposed to be honest and incorruptible?
Xu Jingzhou's generals were granted "tax supervision authority," and they even demanded that the accounts be made public?
This is tantamount to exposing all the ways the school administration has been secretly operating to the light of day.
Not to mention the two copies that were to be handed over to Sun Jun and Princess Quan's residences, where would they be made up?
If Lü Yi were to agree to this today, Sun Jun and Princess Quan would skin him alive tomorrow.
Moreover, it was the school affairs office staff who personally took action.
Finally, Lü Yi breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Grand Marshal Feng:
"May I ask, Grand Marshal, what is this middle strategy?"
"If Lord Lü thinks the best strategy is not feasible, then the middle strategy is also worth discussing."
Grand Marshal Feng put down his cup and slowly said, "On the grounds of 'Han and Wu forming an alliance to jointly clear trade routes,' we will establish the 'Han-Wu Joint Trade Route Protection Camp.'"
“The Han state will send some of its elite troops, and the Wu state will send some of its soldiers, to form a mixed battalion specifically to protect the trade routes.”
“All caravans passing through the area are escorted by this camp, and are exempt from customs duties as ‘escort compensation’.”
These days, things are not peaceful everywhere, and three or five travelers dare not set out on the road; it is not uncommon for ten or eight to travel together.
Some even waited specifically to travel with the caravan.
After all, those who can organize caravans to travel between the two countries are likely to have powerful backgrounds.
Otherwise, dangerous and secluded places are often places where people cannot be taught. A seemingly honest and kind old farmer might just smash your head with a hoe.
"The commander of this camp will be one from each of the Han and Wu sides. In this way, although the customs tax will be waived, the safety of the trade routes will be greatly increased, the volume of goods will surely increase, and the tax revenue of the Pingzhun Division will be enough to make up for the losses."
The guards of the Wu Kingdom must have changed frequently, since it's impossible for anyone to have all the food to themselves.
Who eats more and who eats less depends on their internal power struggle.
Lü Yi's eyes lit up, then he pondered, "What about the worst option?"
Grand Marshal Feng chuckled, a hint of amusement in his voice: "The simplest and worst option is to get the Jingzhou military leaders to 'voluntarily' give up."
"Now that Lord Lü has been put in charge of the Imperial Academy and has regained his supervisory power, has he forgotten how he 'persuaded' those disobedient people in his early years?"
Upon hearing this, Lü Yi's expression changed slightly.
Of course he hadn't forgotten.
At its peak, the Imperial Secretariat held the power to supervise all officials. Anyone who disobeyed was either framed, imprisoned, or tortured, or someone was secretly made to "die suddenly." Court officials avoided it like the plague.
But that's in the past.
Although Sun Jun has now regained the power of the Imperial Household Department, he repeatedly warned: "Supervision is acceptable, but arbitrary killing is not; secret reporting is acceptable, but publicizing it is not."
Why?
Because Sun Jun himself came to power through a coup, he was most afraid that others would follow suit.
If the Imperial Academy were to openly stir up another storm of investigation and resort to torture, it would inevitably provoke a fierce backlash from the Wu Kingdom's officials and generals.
No matter how much power Sun Jun wielded, he was only the prime minister, not the emperor.
If he truly couldn't withstand the pressure, he would not hesitate for a moment to sell the school administration office to quell public anger.
Therefore, the current School Affairs Office acts with far greater caution than during Sun Quan's era:
The surveillance was mostly conducted in secret, and all evidence discovered was secretly reported to Sun Jun, who then handled it in the name of the Prime Minister's Office.
The school administration has transformed from a vicious dog in the public eye into a hidden eye and ears—this is something Mi Shiyilang taught him.
Lü Yi remained silent for a long time.
Feng Da Sima smiled and did not urge him.
Lu Yi suddenly stood up and bowed deeply to Grand Marshal Feng: "I have learned a great deal."
After sitting down again, Lü Yi asked:
"The Grand Marshal previously stated that there were two conditions. Now that one has been stated, what is the second?"
Upon hearing this question, Grand Marshal Feng's smile faded, he lowered his eyes, stared at the teacup, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said:
"Actually, this second condition is my personal reason."
He raised his eyes, his gaze complex.
"If you find it difficult after hearing this, then just pretend I never said it. When you get back, just mention the first condition to Prime Minister Sun."
Upon hearing this, Lü Yi's heart skipped a beat, as if he had sensed something, and he immediately sat up straight: "Grand Marshal, please speak freely."
To get this powerful and shrewd Grand Marshal to openly admit to "personal motives," and even to allow himself to "pretend he never said it"...
Such an opportunity and such a favor are truly rare.
"Lord Lü should have heard that my wife is the valiant daughter of the Guan family..."
Grand Marshal Feng raised his cup and took a sip of tea, then looked up at the distant waterside pavilion and let out a long sigh.
That sigh carried an indescribable heaviness, and a deep-seated pain flashed in his eyes.
Upon hearing the mention of Guan Jiahu's daughter, he let out another long sigh, and there was a sadness in Feng Da Sima's eyes that had never appeared before.
Lü Yi's heart skipped a beat.
Could it be that the Grand Marshal is experiencing trouble in his harem? Or is he having problems with his sex life?
Yes, after all, the title of "Tiger Woman" is not something an ordinary woman can bear.
She must have a strong personality and be very strict with her husband.
Upon further reflection, the Grand Marshal's harem consisted of no more than three to five wives and concubines, not to mention the entertainers and singers he kept.
This is quite inconsistent with his immense power and illustrious reputation.
It seems this daughter of the Guan family is very strict with her discipline...
Lü Yi was already making plans in his mind:
Should we purchase several more residences in Chang'an under our own name?
Then, carefully select several gentle and beautiful women from Jiangdong who are skilled in music and quietly place them there.
In the future, it will also give the Grand Marshal the opportunity to experience the gentleness of women from Jiangnan, and to soothe his weariness after working hard in the mansion...
P.S.: There was a mistake in the previous chapter. Yang Yi didn't surrender to Wei twenty years ago; it should have been fifteen years ago. This has been corrected.
(End of this chapter)