Chapter 5: If I can unify the world once, I can unify it a second time After settling several people, Liu Xie did not stay in the underground base for long and returned to the palace. If we want to reform the Han Dynasty, then we must not only change the generals and the army, but also all other aspects. For example, an important core point in the industrialization process is to liberate and reconfigure the labor force. Before machines were introduced to completely replace manual labor, labor was the top priority. Therefore, if the Han Dynasty wants to achieve full industrialization, it must first liberate enough labor to free it from traditional, inefficient production methods. However, if we want to carry out this kind of reform, it will inevitably affect the interests of many people. If he dared to bring these things up in the court, it would definitely cause an uproar. Even among the ministers alone, there were a large number of opponents. But this series of social structures must be changed.
Otherwise, it would be difficult to talk about industrialization... Afterwards, Liu Xie summoned Yuan Shao, Liu Bei and Cao Cao separately and expressed his ideas to them directly. He is the emperor, so of course he cannot bear the blame alone. Therefore, when it comes to reform, someone must first propose it, and then he can approve it. "Your Majesty, your previous series of measures have made many nobles dissatisfied, but your majesty is majestic and you have killed a group of people, so the voices of dissatisfaction have temporarily disappeared. But if your majesty wants to carry out this reform, I am afraid..." Yuan Shao said tremblingly in front of Liu Xie. The so-called aristocratic families, also known as powerful families, are the wealthy and prominent families with strong economic and political influence in this era. They often control local resources, have private armed forces, and have a significant impact on the central and local governments. These powerful people have long been a force that the Han Dynasty cannot ignore through their control of land, population, military power, and local political influence. It can even be said that they are a chronic disease of the Han Dynasty. It can also be said that every high-ranking official in the court was a powerful person, and even Liu Xie's Liu family was the biggest powerful one. Yuan Shao didn't dare to think about how loud the opposition would be and how many people would die if Liu Xie really insisted on his own way. Since Liu Xie rebuilt the Han Dynasty so quickly, even faster than when Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu established his rule over the world, many so-called powerful people did not rebel from beginning to end. The Yellow Turban Rebellion and some areas that were later harmed by Dong Zhuo did not have much impact on these so-called powerful people. This resulted in the fact that even though Liu Xie was aware of their shortcomings, he had no excuse to deal with them. Important officials he valued, such as Yuan Shao, Liu Bei, and Cao Cao, were all powerful and influential, and even many of the so-called fierce generals under his command were also such. How to deal with this? Just like Emperor Guangwu of the past, although he conquered the world in a very fast manner, he left many problems for future rulers. If Liu Xie traveled through time to normal history, he would have been just like Emperor Guangwu, only concerned with unification and not solving problems. After his death, it will probably not take many years before the world falls apart again. "I'm afraid...I'm afraid the world will be in chaos again, Your Majesty!"
Yuan Shao deliberately exaggerated the situation. The head follows the butt, and deep down he certainly doesn't want to support such reforms that are detrimental to the interests of his own class. But he knew that if Liu Xie wanted to use force, the so-called powerful people would have no choice but to obey or wait for death. Because times have changed, and the most advanced equipped armies of the Han Dynasty are in Liu Xie's hands. rebel? What to use to resist? I was afraid that as soon as the slogan of rebellion was shouted out, I would be killed by the imperial cannons that very night. "Oh, I am not Wang Mang. If I can unify the world once, I can unify it a second time." Liu Xie sneered, "The world is in chaos? They better really dare to rebel!" Liu Xie knew that if he wanted someone like Yuan Shao to carry out such reforms for him, he had to adopt a very tough attitude from the very beginning. Otherwise, Yuan Shao, and even all the ministers in the court, would feel that there is still an opportunity and would dare to become the backers of all the powerful people. But he acted like, "At worst I can conquer the world again." Yuan Shao and other ministers who came from powerful families had to be cautious. They could still weigh the pros and cons of whether to give money or life. "minister……" Hearing Liu Xie's shocking words, Yuan Shao became even more frightened. At first, he had become the most powerful prince in the world, but in the end he still surrendered obediently. why? Isn't it because when he saw Liu Xie suddenly rising in power, he knew that no matter what he did, he would never be able to achieve great things. Is this why you are so obedient in showing loyalty just to get a high position as an official and continue your legacy of three officials for five generations? Of course, it is impossible for him to choose to do something that will cost his life now. "Your Majesty, I am willing to be your pioneer!" Liu Xie's meaning was very clear, there was no other possibility, and no matter how reluctant Yuan Shao was, he had no choice but to compromise. "Benchu, don't just focus on the small profits in front of you. What I take from you now, I will give you more in the future..." Seeing that Yuan Shao had compromised, Liu Xie also softened his expression and patted him on the shoulder, saying: "You know very well how many impossibilities I have created to lead the Han Dynasty step by step to where it is now." "The world is big. Believe in me. I will lead the entire Han Dynasty and you to go higher and further..." Liu Xie painted a big picture in front of Yuan Shao with a determined look. "I am terrified." Yuan Shao naturally bowed down again. After Yuan Shao left.
When Liu Xie and Cao Cao talked about this again, they felt relatively relaxed. "Your Majesty should have done this long ago. Continuing to allow these powerful people to grow stronger will only do harm to the country..." As expected, Boss Cao is a man of great courage. After listening to Liu Xie's ideas, he immediately expressed this. Liu Xie was delighted: "Meng De is the descendant of Marquis Feiting, and his family background is also prominent. There are many sons and nephews in the family, and many of them are officials in the court and local governments." "Speaking of which, Meng De is also a powerful man, but why is he like this?" To use a phrase from later generations, that is betrayal of one's own class. "It's just a few possessions, not worth mentioning! Your Majesty will not let me become so poor that I can't afford to eat and starve to death, right?" Seeing Liu Xie's relaxed tone, Cao Cao also replied in a joking tone: "I know that your majesty has great ambitions and a broad mind, and the world is not in the eyes of short-sighted ministers like us." "Your Majesty once said that I am a hero in troubled times and a capable minister in peaceful times." "Is the world peaceful nowadays?" "I am not a talented person, but I dare to be the minister who governs the world as your majesty said..." As he spoke, Cao Cao's tone became more heroic. In short, there is one central idea: he knew that Liu Xie's ambitions were not limited to the Han Dynasty, and he also knew that Liu Xie had the ability to realize those ambitions. Therefore, he had no reason to go against Liu Xie over the things before him. The bigger the world in Liu Xie's mind, the bigger the stage he can have to realize his ambitions. In the end, only Liu Bei was left. Although Liu Bei was also one of the Three Dukes, he was the weakest among Yuan, Cao and Liu. This is normal. After all, whether in the novel or in history, he became rich relatively late. Both Yuan Shao and Cao Cao invested in Liu Xie with their own capital, and apart from Guan and Zhang, there was nothing else worth mentioning about his capital. Now that Liu Xie had rebuilt the Han Dynasty so early, it would be a shame if he did not intend to recognize him as the emperor's uncle and promote him to the position of one of the Three Dukes. It would be impossible for him to reach the position of Situ relying solely on his own abilities. Therefore, Liu Xie summoned him just to inform him. (End of this chapter)