"Investigate the corrupt officials in Runan? Lord, you can't!"
Xi Zhicai quickly objected.
"It's not that I'm biased towards Runan's officials, but if all of them are investigated, the entire Runan will definitely be in panic!”
"When my lord first arrived in Runan and destroyed the Runan Yellow Turban, the officials of the counties and villages in Runan are all grateful to my lord.”
"If we investigate their corruption at this time, it will definitely cause dissatisfaction among the officials of Runan. These officials are involved with the local powerful families.”
"Once you offend the public, it will be difficult for the lord to establish a foothold in Runan!”
Cao Cao was silent.
How could Cao Cao not know of Xi Zhicai's advice?
However, the money and grain that Zhao Mu had confiscated in Pei Country was too tempting for Cao Cao!
A small Pei Country had actually stolen eighty thousand gold and one hundred and twenty thousand stones of grain. If they had stolen all the officials in Runan, it would have at least doubled!
Cao Cao was so short of money that he secretly sent people to rob tombs.
Although…
Grave robbing had been canceled under Zhao Mu's persuasion, but Cao Cao's thirst for money and food had not lessened at all!
Otherwise…
Cao Cao would not agree to Zhao Mu's strategy and borrow money from Cao Song to attack the Yellow Turban army in Yuzhou!
"Zhicai, most of these people are corrupt officials." Cao Cao didn't give up.
"My lord," Xi Zhicai sighed,"how could I not know?" However, in this world, from the state to the county, which official wasn't greedy?”
"Corrupted officials have hoarded a large amount of money and food, and also kept a large number of servants and hanger-ons. If these people gather together, with the secret support of the local powerful families, even if the lord wins, the losses will not be small.”
"Punishing corrupt officials can't be done overnight. If my lord really wants to punish them, it won't be too late to break them one by one after completely controlling Runan!”
Cao Cao's expression became complicated as he handed Xiahou Yuan's battle report to Xi Zhicai.""But Miao Cai and Jing Lue have already succeeded in Pei Country!”
Xi Zhicai glanced at the battle report and was instantly stunned.
Arrange for the Yellow Turban?
Raising bandits and self-respect?
Create something out of nothing?
..
A series of words flashed through Xi Zhicai's mind.
Xi Zhicai returned the battle report to Cao Cao with a complicated look in his eyes.
How could he persuade her?
"My lord, I still think that we can't imitate what happened in Pei Country in Runan.”
"We have to think long and hard about investigating Runan's officials!”
Xi Zhicai wanted to say something, but he stopped and swallowed the rest of his words.
It was because of his interest in acting that he saw the determination in Cao Cao's eyes!
As expected.
In the next moment, Cao Cao's tone became vicious.
"Zhicai, I know you're worried, but I need money and food now, a lot of money and food!”
"Even if the entire Runan rebelled in the end, I have to first confiscate the money and food of these corrupt officials!”
Cao Cao knew the consequences of going against the officials of the entire prefecture.
When he was the Minister of Jinan, Cao Cao dismissed most of the officials. In this aspect, Cao Cao was deeply moved.
However…
Cao Cao still remembered Zhao Mu's advice.
"In the first year of Xingping, which is next year, there was a drought in Guanzhong. A bushel of grain in Chang 'an City was worth 300,000 yuan. The people were starving!”
"After the drought came the locust plague. The locust plague also swept through the counties of Yanzhou.”
"Therefore, before spring ploughing next year, the Duke of Cao must clear Yuzhou and use the money and grain of the Yellow Turban to support the army. At the same time, he must restore the lives of the people in Yuzhou to deal with the effects of the drought in Guanzhong!”
Zhao Mu's advice rang in his ears.
If these corrupt officials were allowed to exist, not to mention restoring the people's livelihood in Yuzhou, when the time came, these people would suddenly have a conscience if they did not take the opportunity to raise prices and hoard!
Xi Zhicai saw Cao Cao's determination and stopped remonstrating.
Once Cao Cao had decided on something, he would not change it.
"Gather the generals!"
Cao Cao had made his decision. He immediately beat the drums and gathered his generals to prepare a new year gift for the officials of Runan!
When they heard that they were going to investigate and confiscate the money and grain of corrupt officials, the generals were all excited!
Robbing the people's money and food was naturally not allowed.
However, robbing the money and food of corrupt officials was simply a benefit delivered to their doorstep!
Cao Cao was also excited.
Thinking about the large amount of money and food he was about to obtain, Cao Cao was so excited that he could not sleep.
However, Cao Cao did not replicate Zhao Mu's method in Pei Country.
Zhao Mu had used the Yellow Turban as bait to make the entire Pei Country rebel. He had already used it once.
The officials in Runan would definitely get wind of it.
If this group of people really settled down the Yellow Turban, Cao Cao really could not find a reason!
Since he had to offend them, Cao Cao might as well do it more directly!
He directly investigated all the officials in Runan with the crime of corruption!
Just like when he was the Minister of Jinan!
It was swift and decisive, and its might was unstoppable!
No matter what background you have, whether you are a tyrant or an aristocratic family, we will investigate you!
For a moment.
Runan's officials were all investigated by Cao Cao.
In order to prevent these people from running away with the money, Cao Cao even ordered that they could pay for their lives by handing over their money and food!
Those who resisted stubbornly and fled in fear of punishment would be killed on the spot. All three races would be wiped out!
Under the intimidation of Cao Cao's army, the officials of Runan, except for some who were blind, all handed over their assets.
A large amount of money and grain were piled up in Runan City!
"200,000 gold coins and 300,000 dans of grain. These people are really rich!”
"This is much better than tomb raiding!"
Cao Cao's sharp eyes swept through the list of money and food, and he immediately felt much more comfortable!
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