Volume 1 I Want to Be an Emperor Chapter 42 To Do Things, You Need Food!

  Today's first update. I'll finish today's update first and then make up for yesterday's. Although I don't know what time I can finish making up, those who can't wait can just sleep. It will be the same when you wake up tomorrow.

  The six ministries are the Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Rites, Ministry of War, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Works.

  In fact, departments with similar powers have already appeared at this time, but the name is different. This name was finally determined after going through several dynasties.

  It was either the Tang Dynasty or some other dynasty, Liu Xuan couldn't remember, anyway he just knew that this structure had been used for thousands of years, until modern times when it was changed again and some new departments were added.

  Even in modern times, these departments have not been abandoned to a certain extent.

  The Han Dynasty had six Cao Shangshu at that time, which was actually the predecessor of the Six Ministries. After Xun Yu told Liu Xuan about the relevant matters, he understood how to take action.

  "Completely reorganized."

  "Still under the Shangshu Tai?" Liu Xuan had previously only explained the general powers of the six departments to Xun Yu, and hadn't yet gone into details about the division of duties.

  Xun Yu thought that by promoting the status of the Six Ministers and gradually transferring the powers of the Nine Chamberlains, as long as the emperor was always among the six ministers, the nine chamberlains would eventually lose control over the entire court. At that time, the position of the nine chamberlains would be replaced by the six ministers - according to what the emperor said, they should be renamed the Six Departments.

  Liu Xuan didn't remember the Six Ministries system very clearly, but he also knew that this system was originally called the Three Departments and Six Ministries system, with three higher levels above it.

  But he didn't need a higher rank, because if it were any higher, it would be on par with the Three Dukes, and wouldn't that just create more trouble for himself? So instead, he had the Six Ministries report directly to the Emperor, thereby weakening the power of the Three Dukes.

  The Three Dukes and Nine Ministers system, where each of the three dukes is in charge of three of the nine ministers, seems to be a perfect division of power. However, in reality, officials have always liked to compete with the emperor, holding all the power in their own hands, leaving the emperor unable to do anything.

  Now, although Zhang Wen, Wang Yun and Yang Bi have not yet started their activities, the visitors who come to pay respects are endless. These three people do not make any statement for the time being, but just pretend to be so.

  "No, the six boards report directly to me." After some thought, I might as well bring out all those official positions from my memory, at least it's convenient for myself to call them up: "Each of the six boards has one Shangshu as the chief administrator, and a left and right Shilang as deputy officials. Below them are Langzhong and Yuelang and other positions, specific situations depend on the specific division into several Si."

  Xun Yu nodded, understanding that the six departments below were specific offices, which were the actual departments that got things done. Their powers were highly targeted and only reported to their superiors for approval and application of important matters. If the main officials could not make a decision, they would report to the emperor.

  One after another, the emperor had to deal with some crucial matters. According to the previous division of the emperor, some powers of the six departments were mutually restrained, so as to prevent one department from dominating the court politics.

  This is quite different from the current situation where most affairs are handled by the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, each with their own set of subordinates, forming a small imperial court of their own, any one of whom could potentially control the imperial court.

  Xun Yu and Liu Xuan discussed further, and finally Liu Xuan asked: "In your opinion, which of the Three Dukes can be relied upon for assistance?"

  This matter must be carried out, and relying solely on the emperor's violent suppression will not work. It would be best to win over some people in the imperial court.

  Lu Zhi, Zhu Jun and others do not need to be mentioned. They are just practical people who follow the emperor's orders without question. In a good light, they can be called loyal and patriotic, but in a bad light, they can be called foolishly loyal - Liu Xuan just happens to like their foolish loyalty very much.

  Zhang Wen, the Minister of Works, was quite capable and loyal to the imperial court - as I recall in the novel, he was used by Dong Zhuo to demonstrate his power and then beheaded. This time, thanks to Liu Xuan's intervention, Zhang Wen escaped unscathed and fled with the Emperor to Chang'an.

  Situ Wang Yun...

  Liu Xuan originally did not want to have any further involvement with this old man, but Xun Yu directly said: "Wang, the Imperial Tutor, has a good reputation in the court. Your Majesty should reason with him using great righteousness; he will surely lend you his support."

  "Prince's Teacher?"

  It was unexpected that Xun Yu recommended Wang Yun, is it because they are from the same aristocratic class? Liu Xuan couldn't guess either, he just nodded and responded, then dismissed Xun Yu, and the day passed by in confusion.

  The next day at dawn, Liu Xuan had processed more than half of the accumulated government affairs. The officials in the court were originally about to make a fuss, but unexpectedly the emperor suddenly appeared and handled many things as soon as he ascended to the throne. They couldn't talk about this matter anymore and could only report the matters to be handled in an orderly manner as usual.

  Actually, there is nothing to report at this time. It's just: "The Chang'an Imperial Palace has been in disrepair for a long time and most of it cannot be inhabited." "The reorganization of the five northern military academies needs to start as soon as possible, otherwise, even if the Tiger and Dragon Guards and the Feathered Forest Army can rely on Tongguan to block Dong Zhuo's army, they will eventually be unable to stop the people from the northwest.

  Otherwise, it would be: "Reorganizing the Northern Army is not difficult, but there are no weapons or armor, and we need to get funding from the imperial court and mobilize ironworkers to intensify casting..."

  Whenever Liu Xuan heard these things, he would wave his hand and pass them by directly.

  These things are actually not difficult to handle, but in the end there is only one problem: no money!

  The imperial court has been short of money for many years, and it's not just a recent phenomenon. Although Emperor Ling sold official positions and noble titles to frantically accumulate wealth, in reality, he only barely made up for the imperial court's deficits. Emperor Ling's obsession with making money also had something to do with the imperial finances being in a state of perpetual deficit.

  At the same time, the imperial court was massively minting coins, and had already destroyed the economic system of the Han Dynasty. At this point, ordinary people no longer recognized the currency issued by the government, but instead used bartering, with grain being the main medium of exchange, followed by cloth and silk. Luxuries like gold still held value, but you could only find them in the hands of specific individuals, not ordinary people.

  Liu Xuan led a large group of officials from Luoyang to Chang'an, although they were safe, but troubles came one after another - the court had no money, but everywhere needed money, Your Majesty, think of something!

  At this time, all the officials in the court did not say that they had a way to solve the problem. They all sat there staring at the emperor, wanting to see what method the emperor would come up with. But what could Liu Xuan do? He knew many mysterious skills and had considerable combat power himself, but these things had nothing to do with money. Could he wave his hand and conjure up a mountain of gold?

  Not to mention he can't transform, even if he really did transform, that thing is useless now.

  However, for now, there is still a way to solve it: "How much stock is left?"

  The courtiers present did not understand how the question had arisen, but Wang Yun, the Minister of Works, replied respectfully: "According to current consumption, we can hold out until May next summer."

  Liu Xuan nodded and said directly: "That's enough!"

  In this era, the most important thing is always food. When the world is in chaos, the common people only care about having enough to eat. As long as they have food, they won't rebel. Similarly, soldiers need food to fight battles, and officials in the imperial court rely on the government's grain rations to make a living. Moreover, with food, you can exchange it for everything else you need.

  So at this time nothing can compare with the status of food.

  After estimating in his heart, Liu Xuan directly issued the first very formal edict since his ascension to the throne: mobilize all young and strong men near Chang'an to farm!

  "This..."

  The officials looked at each other, and for a moment no one spoke. The imperial court had ordered able-bodied men to till the fields, but this was an unprecedented move. The main reason was that even if they hadn't been ordered to do so, those people would still be tilling the fields; it's just that in recent years, disasters have struck one after another, and the harvests have been poor, which is why many commoners had joined the Yellow Turban bandits.

  Does the Emperor really think that by sending everyone to farm, the grain will grow on its own? This is a bit too naive, isn't it?

  Many veteran officials secretly shook their heads, thinking that the emperor's recent performance was indeed very bold, but ultimately too young, and many things were simply unaware of the key points.

  They naturally didn't know that Liu Xuan did this also had his reasons: the fields near Chang'an were not abandoned, mainly because of poor harvests, but he knew that at this time the method of farming was very simple and rough, nothing more than just one way, then just wait for the harvest, without any concept of pest control or fertilization, it was truly relying on heaven to eat.

  But those are just small tricks. If you also use some tools, dig some canals and build some waterwheels, even if the weather is bad, you can still guarantee a harvest.

  Of course, more importantly, Liu Xuan has a secret to farming, although it can't make the crops grow like pumpkins and potatoes that can be thrown away and come out in large quantities, but it can greatly increase the yield.

  "The only pity is that it still can't be harvested three times a year, otherwise the grain in Chang'an and its surrounding areas would be abundant, and those who couldn't afford to eat would naturally flock to it, with a population, my next steps would be easy."

  These thoughts he did not express to the various ministers of the court, but simply gave orders and then detained the three dukes after which he spoke with Minister over the Masses Wang Yun.

  At this time, Wang Yun basically controlled the power in the court, and most things had to be handled through his hands. Not only did he hold the position of Minister of Works, but he also concurrently held the position of Minister of State, which is why Liu Xuan did not want to place the new six departments under the Ministry of State.

  After listening to Liu Xuan's introduction, Wang Yun finally understood that the emperor was not ignorant of everything, but rather understood too much - did the emperor even know how to farm?

  Liu Xuan naturally didn't understand, but just talked about some ideas, and only Xun Yu, Cao Cao, and Lü Bu knew the mysterious and subtle methods.

  When Liu Xuan had this plan, several people in their hearts were not very clear, but the food problem was indeed important. Using a year to accumulate food, it could also reflect that the young emperor did things steadily: after all, it was much stronger than not managing and directly shouting to destroy Dong Zhuo.

  Three days later, Liu Xuan summoned Cao Cao again and asked: "Meng De once said that the Hu Bao cavalry is important to the imperial court. Now I want to organize the Hu Bao cavalry, but I don't know if Meng De wants to continue leading the Yu Lin army or hopes to lead the Hu Bao cavalry?"

  This is a binary choice question. Liu Xuan now wants Cao Cao to make the choice, because he cannot give both of the only two branches of his minority troops to Cao Cao.

  Cao Cao naturally understood this principle as well, and his response did not surprise Liu Xuan: "I wish to command the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry!"