Chapter 536 Banquet to Celebrate
"That's for sure. I've already taken action. If I don't take back the entire Jingzhou, I won't have the shame to go back to Chang'an." Ma Su nodded and answered cheerfully facing Zhuge Liang.
"Now all the eight counties in Jingzhou have become the territory of the Han Dynasty, and Jiangling and the Public Security Bureau are also flying the banner of the Han Dynasty. The prime minister can send officials to take over as soon as possible. After all, this is a rich state."
Although Jingzhou has suffered from many years of war, it has always been the front line of the tug of war between Han and Wu. But this does not include Jingnan and Jiangling. This area has developed relatively richly over the years.
At present, the whole country of Jihan is undergoing self-cultivation, and many places need money and food subsidies. Now that a large and rich state was taken back at once, it was a huge support to the Han Dynasty's finances.
Zhuge Liang also knew this very well, nodded slightly and said,
"The officials have been prepared for a long time and can take office immediately. However, the original plan was to wait for the expedition next year. Unexpectedly, Youchang made such rapid progress and has now taken back Jingzhou."
"I can only thank the common man Sun Quan for the opportunity..." Ma Su spread his hands and reported to Zhuge Liang honestly.
Originally, Ma Su didn't want to take action against Jingzhou from the beginning. He was still busy working overtime in Yizhou at that time. If Lu Xun hadn't come to the door himself, he wouldn't have made such a big fuss.
"Anyway, it's a good thing that we can take back Jingzhou so long in advance. Many old officials in Jingzhou in the imperial court have wanted to go back to their hometown for a long time." Zhuge Liang shook his head, shook his feather fan, and said with a smile,
"Especially Gongyan, he even asked me a few days ago that he would have a chance to go back to Lingling before he died. I will give all the ministers a holiday and let them go back to visit their relatives..."
"Speaking of you, Prime Minister, do you still remember the thatched cottage in Wolong in the past?" At this time, Ma Di suddenly interjected and asked Zhuge Liang curiously.
He still remembers that before Zhuge Liang came out of the mountains, he once said that after the late emperor helped the Han Dynasty, he returned to the thatched cottage to farm. It turns out that this ambition in history was not achieved in the end, and the prime minister also died of exhaustion in the middle.
But now it seems that Zhuge Liang should have the opportunity to live until the world is unified. What choice will the Prime Minister make then?
Zhuge Liang also fell silent when Ma Di asked this question. At this time, he also suddenly realized that the unattainable ambition he once imagined seemed to be not so difficult.
Even now, Cao Wei still occupies Hebei, the richest land in the Central Plains, and is fighting to the death with all the troops in the world. But as long as it is operated properly, victory in the Northern Expedition is within reach.
"I was entrusted by the late emperor in Baidi City, and I wanted to do my best to be loyal to the chastity and die." Zhuge Liang finally spoke and gave his answer calmly.
"So I won't go back to the thatched cottage in Wolong Mountain. Let him continue to remain in the memories."
Zhuge Liang's words showed his attitude that he would stick to his post and work until he died. As for the bold words he once made when he was young, they were ultimately no longer worth the promise he made to the late emperor.
"The Prime Minister is really loyal! But when our Han army returns to Guandong, the Prime Minister should go back to Langya's hometown to take a look." Ma Di said with a smile, and promised Zhuge Liang easily.
"In five years at most, I can let the Prime Minister return to Langya's hometown and let the banner of the Han Dynasty appear in Guandong again!"
"You kid, when did you become so good at talking..." Zhuge Liang smiled hoarsely, pointed at Ma Di with his feather fan and smiled.
"Okay, as your master, I believe in you! Don't let me down!"
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Soon, the news that Jingzhou was recaptured spread throughout Chang'an. All the officials cheered for joy, especially the officials from the Jingzhou faction, many of whom were in tears.
Ever since Guan Yu defeated Maicheng and Jingzhou fell, they have been like duckweeds without roots. Now after working hard for more than ten years, my hometown is finally back.
While the entire court was in jubilation, Liu Chan quickly announced a reward for the heroes of the southern expedition. Including Ma Su, Xiang Chong, Liu Yin, and even Xing Daorong, etc., all received heavy rewards.
However, the benefits of regaining Jingzhou this time are far more than that.
Soon, Li Hui also reported the money and grain seized in Jiangling and the police. When the Shangshutai received this report, all the officials, including Jiang Wan, were stunned.
There is no other reason, this harvest is really too much.
It goes without saying that Jingzhou is rich, and Sun Quan, as a conservative lord, is even better at hoarding money and food. In Jiangling City, Soochow had hoarded Jingzhou's tax money and grain for several years, and all of it belonged to the Han with the recovery of Jingzhou.
After seeing this batch of seizures reported, Jiang Wan once suspected that there was a false report. After repeatedly confirming that there was no moisture at all, the entire Shangshutai was ecstatic.
"After so many years, Dahan's finances can finally be settled." Jiang Wan burst into tears over this and was extremely excited.
God knows how great the financial pressure he has faced after working as a minister for so many years. Several financial shortfalls almost drove Jiang Wan crazy.
For Ji Han's Northern Expedition in recent years, basically everything was supplied to the military. The money and food that were already scarce had to be frugal, and in many places even the east wall had to be demolished to make up for the west wall. The court had suffered huge losses in these years.
These are still a big problem that troubles Jiang Wan to this day. According to his and Fei Yi's predictions, it would take at least four years of rest to fully make up for the deficit.
Now, this batch of seizures in Jingzhou has become the greatest confidence for the Han court to settle the accounts.
"Youchang, you really helped a lot this time!" Jiang Wan came to the Hussar General's Mansion in person, pulling Ma Su along and said excitedly.
"Without Jingzhou's money and food, the Han Dynasty would not be able to make up for the previous overdraft deficit in another three years. But now that it is all over, Shangshutai no longer has to worry about those shortfalls."
"Is the deficit so big? It has been so long and it has not been replenished? We even have to rely on Jingzhou's money and food to balance the debt." Ma Su was extremely surprised by this and asked in shock.
Obviously, the financial deficit was so huge that he could not imagine it. It's hard for this veteran, who is older than Zhuge Liang, to worry about the fiscal deficit every day.
"Many of them are bad debts left over from the late emperor's era. There is still a period of time where stability is needed, and money and food are needed to support this." Jiang Wan shook his head, thought about it, and finally started to smile and said,
"But all this has passed, and my colleagues at Shangshutai finally don't have to worry about this matter."
"Now that the imperial court is no longer living beyond its means, this is something worthy of celebration. When the next holiday comes, invite the prime minister and we will have a banquet to celebrate!"