Chapter 499 Focus on the heart
Tian Ze never likes to push people into desperate situations. If a problem can be solved peacefully, there is no need to take extreme measures that would hurt both sides.
Whether it was Lu Bu, Gongsun Zan or Liu Fan, Tian Ze gave them a decent result.
Although these enemies ended up with a good end in the end and Tian Ze suffered some "grievances", the people in various states basically did not suffer much disaster and the transition was smooth.
Tian Ze also wanted to do the same when he took over Central China next.
It is too difficult to rebuild a ruined Central Plains.
If Cao Cao and Yuan Shao were forced into a desperate situation and ended up with a destroyed Central Plains, it would be of little significance to Yu Tianze.
That's why Tian Ze chose to defeat the enemy without fighting.
Using cavalry as a breakthrough point, Yuan Shao and Cao Cao were forced to see the situation clearly and admit defeat.
There are examples of people turning the tide in desperate situations in history. For example, Liu Bang was able to conquer the world in Shu. When Liu Bei was at his worst, he used the land of Xinye to resist Cao Cao, who dominated the north.
Looking at history from a God's perspective and looking at it from a personal perspective are two completely different perspectives.
If we were not looking at it from a God's perspective, wouldn't it seem stupid that Cao Cao fought against Yuan Shao at Guandu?
The situation ahead is unfavorable, the rear is unstable, and there are countless internal and external troubles. If you didn't know the outcome, who would have thought that Cao Cao would win?
It is not easy for Tian Ze to completely extinguish the hopes of Yuan Shao and Cao Cao.
In this battle, Tian Ze showed much more than what the two sides had shown in the fight.
Absolute superiority in military strength and logistics, absolute steady and calmness, absolute invincibility and no flaws.
The fire in Duchang extinguished all possibilities for Yuan Shao.
The loss of several million shi of grain was insignificant, but it also took away most of Cao Yuan's cavalry.
How to fight this battle?
Yuan Shao could not see any advantage on his side.
Military strength? Military generals? Civil officials? Decision-making? The right time and place? Reputation and public support?
Almost nothing. Even if they could gain a slight advantage over military generals and civil officials through local battles, it was not enough to reverse the downward trend.
Starting from Jizhou, Tian Ze shattered Yuan Shao's hopes in battle after battle, making him completely lose all ideas.
"I know Yuan Benchu and Cao Mengde." Tian Ze said lightly.
"These are two fierce heroes. To subdue them is like subduing a wild horse."
"After the battle of Qingzhou, Yuan Benchu doesn't have to think too much about it. Wenhe, send someone to deliver a letter to him."
"If Cao Mengde wants to fight again, I will station 300,000 troops in Qingzhou, which is enough for him. Tell him not to move his troops in Xuzhou. Once I defeat Cao Mengde, he can pack up and prepare to go to the Western Regions."
"Also remind him that it's best to pack up early. Since you're leaving, please help me deal with what needs to be dealt with. I owe him a favor, and I will repay him in the future."
Jia Xu bowed slightly.
"Has Ling Cao's navy arrived in Jiangdong?" Tian Ze asked.
Jia Xu glanced at Chen Gong, then said, "We have arrived near the eastern part of Wujun, and the Wujun garrison has discovered us."
"I'm afraid Sun Bofu and Zhou Gongjin will be frightened when they return. In the future, Jiangdong's navy may not dare to go out to sea again."
Tian Ze nodded gently: "It can be regarded as a reminder to them."
"Next year, we will go to the Central Plains and deal with Liu Xuande, and then we can take over Jiangdong directly."
Tian Ze, together with Jia Xu and others, had already conducted a thorough study of the situation of the four princes in the Central Plains and had already formulated a strategy.
It is neither necessary nor cost-effective to simply defeat the enemy; the best strategy is to defeat the enemy without fighting.
After Cao Cao took Jingzhou, many advisers advised him not to attack Jiangdong.
Because as long as Cao Cao firmly holds Jingzhou, Jiangdong will surrender in no time. At that time, Liu Zhang of Yizhou has even prepared to surrender.
But Cao Cao became arrogant and suffered a disastrous defeat at the Battle of Red Cliff, which led to the subsequent Three Kingdoms period.
If Cao Cao had remained stable at that time, Jiangdong would have been captured immediately.
Because Cao Cao firmly controlled the general situation, Jiangdong was no longer just the Jiangdong of the Sun family and Zhou Yu. No matter how good they were at fighting, they could only be swept away by the general trend.
The most difficult enemy is often not outside, but inside.
After Tian Ze captured Yizhou, the chess game in the world had actually entered the countdown.
"This year's major battles have basically ended here, Gongtai, you will have a heavy burden ahead! Qingzhou and Yizhou need to be managed as soon as possible."
"The most important thing is that now that the external threat has been resolved, it's time to take action internally." Tian Ze said in a deep voice with a fierce look in his eyes.
"I understand!" Chen Gong said respectfully.
He was more anxious than Tian Ze.
There are two more big troubles. The Ministry of Finance is now almost unable to make ends meet. If there is no windfall, he, the Minister of Finance, will have to beg for food.
"I have already started checking the household registers, taxes and banks. Some counties, forces and people have been targeted. They can't escape." Chen Gong said in a deep voice.
Even the most skillful culprit will leave clues.
The method that Tian Ze gave them was very different from ordinary exploration methods. It could be said to be fantastic, but it was extremely effective.
Before this, Chen Gong found it hard to imagine that it was possible to investigate cases from these aspects.
Tian Ze nodded and said, "In addition to investigating these people, you should also sort out the situation in various places for me and get rid of those parasites who are just sitting there doing nothing."
"What Da Qi lacks the least right now is these middle and lower-level talents. If they are really rotten, we will clear them all out and start over again."
"Anyway, the world is not unified yet, so don't even think about dividing the cake in advance at this time."
Chen Gong nodded solemnly.
Now he deeply understands what Tian Ze often says: numbers don't lie.
The local county magistrate talks a lot of nonsense, but the people do not have much money in the banks, the money circulation in the county is not frequent, and the tax revenue is not high, which means he is derelict in his duty.
If we put the household register, taxation and money houses together, and just organize the data a little, we can reveal a lot of problems.
No matter how powerful these corrupt officials and evil gentry are, they can't use their own money to fill the gap in tax revenue and people's deposits, right?
As long as the local people have a hard time, that will be the focus that Chen Gong will focus on.
In the past, the emperor was far away and there was a lack of powerful tools, so these things were difficult to count, but now.
There are many officials in Da Qi who can go straight to the bottom and provide all kinds of data. Moreover, the data are closely linked to each other, making it difficult to falsify them.
It is almost impossible for ordinary people to live a normal life without being included in the household register. The cost for wealthy and powerful families to hide their population is so high that they cannot accept it, so there will not be major deviations in the household register.
Money shops have been deeply rooted in people's hearts. People have long formed the habit of saving money and can see at a glance how much money they have in their hands.
These things are difficult to falsify. Even if officials can plug the tax gap, what about the people's pockets? These things can be found out as long as they want to check.
As long as Tianze is there, there will be no major disasters in the states and counties. If they cannot develop even with this, and the people cannot guarantee enough food and clothing, then there is definitely a problem.
No matter how much officials protect each other or how much collusion there is between the upper and lower levels, the numbers never lie.
(End of this chapter)
