For Tian Feng and his companions, it was only at this moment that they truly understood what domineering meant, and what it meant that everything within their sight belonged to the Han people.
While everyone was still in a daze, Liu Hong handed the map to Zhang Rang, who was standing to the side.
"Go and give this map to Huangfu Song, and tell him to complete it within five years."
"promise!!"
Zhang Rang took the map and retreated.
After Zhang Rang left, Liu Hong looked at Tian Feng and the others, and asked with a smile, "What ideas do you gentlemen have for developing the Northeast?"
Ju Shou spoke first: "Your Majesty, I have observed the surrounding area and found that the vegetation here is lush and the land is mostly black, which must be extremely fertile, and the grain yield must be higher than in other places."
Your subject believes that we can relocate displaced people, landless tenants, and people with little land from Ji, Qing, Yan, Yu, and Xu provinces to develop the area.
Liu Hong asked, "How exactly should this be implemented?"
"We believe that we can promise the people that as long as they are willing to come, the court will sign a permanent lease agreement with them, leasing the land to them at a low price of five coins per mu."
They were also provided with seeds and farming tools. Newly reclaimed land was exempt from taxation for the first two years; thereafter, taxes would be 30% of the land's yield.
Liu Hong nodded: "That's a good idea. Without the exorbitant rent, let's do it this way!"
Although it appears to be a lease to the people, the annual rent of five qian (approximately 150 grams) is equivalent to a jin (approximately 0.5 kg) of grain, which is essentially a free gift.
Moreover, all of these lands belonged to the imperial court, and no one dared to annex them, which greatly protected the interests of the farmers.
Liu Hong then smiled and said, "In addition to the ones mentioned above, we can add one more."
"Oh? What does Your Majesty mean?"
Tian Feng and the others looked at Liu Hong with puzzled expressions.
Liu Hong said in a deep voice: "After repeated wars, nearly 500,000 women in Goguryeo, Buyeo, Hanye, and Okjeo have lost their fathers, husbands, and families."
I think it would be perfectly acceptable to assign them to the single young men who have migrated here as wives. This way, the couples can work together to cultivate more land and increase the population as quickly as possible.
If one has the ability to support himself, the imperial court will not object to him marrying ten or eight women.
If there aren't enough women, the court can go to the Three Hans, the Northern and Southern Wuhuans, the Xianbei, and that Dog Slave Kingdom on the eastern sea to buy them. It would be best to buy up all their women..."
Upon hearing this, Tian Feng and the others were stunned once again.
If the Emperor's plan is implemented, it is likely that within ten years, the number of women from the surrounding foreign lands will decrease by more than half. By then, the Han Dynasty will not even need to fight; they will probably become extinct on their own.
This method is truly ingenious.
After much discussion, a decree was drafted and sent throughout the territory of the Han Dynasty.
March 4th.
After making arrangements in Liaozhou, Liu Hong immediately ordered the army to return to the capital.
The accompanying engineering and transportation teams, along with most of the guards and military and political personnel, continued to organize the local people to build bridges and roads and construct infrastructure.
Gongsun Zan, Ma Teng, Gongsun Du, and others also stayed here, serving under Huangfu Song, and went to Tongliao and Daqing respectively to handle matters related to the construction of military towns.
Early the next morning, Liu Hong led the remaining army out of Ji'an City and headed towards the Han Dynasty.
As for Wei Qiutai, Zhu Yao, and the nobles and officials from Buyeo and Goguryeo, they were also taken along. These people were a potential threat if left behind, so it was better to bring them back to Luoyang to live out their retirement.
Of course, accompanying the army were nearly 30,000 "ladies' troops".
Upon learning that the Han army was leaving, the people of Goguryeo came to see them off. In their view, without the arrival of the Han army, everything they owned would still belong to the private property of those nobles and officials, and they would continue to live in misery.
In the words of those instructors, it was the Han Dynasty that liberated them, freeing them from a life of exploitation and allowing them to live the same life as the Han people.
Therefore, the people of Goguryeo were deeply moved and staged a touching scene of bidding farewell to the Han army for twenty miles.
It moved countless passionate soldiers to tears, and at that moment they finally understood what their instructors often said: the feeling of living in the light.
......
Luoyang in March has the most pleasant climate.
The trees along the official road leading north to Luoyang were also covered with a layer of lush green.
Between the ridges on both sides of the field, children chased and played with each other, while adults were busy sowing and clearing land. In their spare moments, watching the children laughing and playing, the adults' faces showed happy smiles.
Some officials in their robes rolled up their trousers and wandered around the fields, guiding farmers in their cultivation and taking notes on key points.
The eunuchs dispatched by Yang Qiu also patrolled the official road with menacing expressions.
A spring breeze swept by, and people couldn't help but stop what they were doing, greedily enjoying the freshness of early spring and the fragrance of the earth.
Looking out from afar, the area outside Luoyang City resembles a paradise, so peaceful and serene.
"Da~ da~ da~!"
Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats reached their ears.
People looked up and saw several Imperial Guards riding fast horses from north to south.
Upon seeing the busy farmers and officials in the fields, the leading imperial guard immediately reined in his horse and shouted:
"Our army achieved a great victory. His Majesty personally led an army of 80,000 to rescue Buyeo, defeated 400,000 Goguryeo troops, beheaded 150,000, captured 250,000, and captured the Goguryeo king alive on the battlefield, thus conquering the Goguryeo capital in one fell swoop."
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