Bingzhou Camp.
Outside the camp, Zhang Huan personally led the officers and soldiers of the army to see off Lü Bu, Gao Shun, and other young officers.
Looking at the group of spirited young men before him, Zhang Huan's eyes were filled with satisfaction.
"Fengxian, Gongren, on this trip to Luoyang, officers from all the armies will be going with you. You must always remember this, diligently study and learn your skills to serve the Emperor, and never bring shame to the men of Bingzhou..."
"We will heed the general's instructions!"
Lü Bu, Gao Shun, and more than a dozen officers responded in unison.
"Alright, go ahead!"
"We'll take our leave!!"
The crowd bowed to Zhang Huan, then mounted their horses and gazed at Luoyang, the sacred place in their hearts.
Before setting off, Lü Bu disregarded Yan Jin's struggles and lifted him onto his horse, while Lü Zhen was handed over to Gao Shun.
Although Lü Zhen was unwilling, seeing Gao Shun's cold expression, she had no choice but to obediently shrink back there and dare not be naughty anymore.
Gao Shun is currently in the Bingzhou army. He is known as "Iron Face Gao" and even Lü Bu is afraid of him. Lü Zhen is no exception.
Deyang Palace.
After reading the urgent secret letter sent by Zhang Huan, Liu Hong couldn't help but chuckle.
"Zhicai, take a look!"
As he spoke, Liu Hong handed the secret letter to Xi Zhicai, who was standing to the side.
Xi Zhicai took the secret letter, read it, blinked, and shook his head with a light laugh, just like Liu Hong.
In the secret letter, Zhang Huan took all the blame for Lü Bu's actions, such as killing prisoners and acting rashly against the enemy, and proposed remedial measures, which was the same as Zhang Huan's previous scheme against Qiang Qu and his son.
Unfortunately, neither Liu Hong nor Xi Zhicai took this defeat to heart. Whether it was Tan Shihuai or Xie Zhiyu, no matter how much they profited, it was irrelevant to the Han Dynasty at present.
If they panic, it's a bonus for the Han Dynasty; if they don't panic, the Han Dynasty has plenty of ways to make them panic.
"What does Zhicai think?"
Xi Zhicai smiled and said, "General Zhang really cares deeply for Lü Bu, but... he underestimates His Majesty's magnanimity and the strength of the Han Dynasty!"
"Well, you can't say that. General Zhang is far from Luoyang, so it's normal that he can't see some things. People naturally have more things to consider when they get old!"
Liu Hong smiled and waved his hand, tearing the secret letter to shreds as he spoke.
Watching Liu Hong's actions, Xi Zhicai couldn't help but think to himself: You're the one who cares most about Lü Bu, aren't you? You're really good at playing dumb.
"Zhicai, the new recruits of the Imperial Guard have already begun their assessment. The Military and Political Affairs Department must also hurry up and not slack off on the ideological work among the recruits!"
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I have already prepared a tutorial!"
As they were talking, Xi Zhicai took out a tutorial sheet and respectfully handed it to Liu Hong.
"Good! Not bad!"
As Liu Hong watched, he nodded repeatedly, expressing his strong approval of the tutorial's emphasis on cultivating collective honor and national self-confidence, as well as the relationship between the military and the people.
Meanwhile, after several days of travel, Lü Bu and his party had arrived in the southern part of Hedong Commandery in Sili, and would reach Luoyang in two more days.
At this time, the harvest of floating wheat was nearing its end, and the tax collection work had begun. For a time, the officials of various prefectures of the Han Dynasty were extremely busy.
Along the way, seeing the people happily pushing carts of grain to pay their taxes, Lü Bu and his men were greatly astonished.
"Fengxian, the people of Sili seem quite willing to pay taxes. They're all so proactive?" Yan Jin, riding alongside Lü Bu, was also surprised as he looked at the people on the road.
"Sili is right under the emperor's nose. His Majesty is benevolent and loves his people. Naturally, the people are grateful and indebted. It is not surprising that this situation exists!"
Lü Bu was used to this. In his view, with the current emperor being so wise, it was not surprising that anything incredible happened in Sili.
As they traveled, the group arrived at a tax collection point north of a small town.
More than a dozen long lines of people had already formed in front of the tax collection point to deliver their grain.
At the center of the tax collection point, dozens of constables and hundreds of strong men were divided into more than a dozen points, busy weighing the goods.
"Zhao Laowu from Chengxizhuang, with nineteen mu of fertile land, shall pay nineteen shi of grain, without error!"
At the bailiff's shout, the clerk beside him quickly took notes.
Immediately, a dozen strong men began carrying the grain they had unloaded to the royal transport caravan at the rear.
After the weighing and recording were completed, the clerk took out a wooden plaque, wrote the number "19" on it, and then stamped it with a seal that read "Great Han Tax System".
"Alright, take this and go collect your money!"
"Thank you, sir!!"
The laborer named Zhao Laowu happily accepted the wooden plaque and then quickly walked towards the "subsidy point" not far away.
Soon, Zhao Laowu successfully received 1,900 coins from the subsidy point and happily drove the rented oxcart home.
The scene before them left Lü Bu and his entourage completely stunned.
The fact that ordinary people voluntarily paid taxes was already unbelievable to them, but now they were even receiving money in return for paying taxes, which shattered their previous understanding.
"His Majesty is indeed a supreme sage and a divine being!"
Lü Bu, Gao Shun, and the others sighed inwardly and then quickened their pace to continue their journey.
After traveling for several days, the closer they got to Luoyang, the more amazed Lü Bu and his men became by its prosperity and wealth.
If you compare their Jiuyuan village to this place, it's like comparing a dilapidated rural village to a bustling city—one is on the ground, the other is in heaven.
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