Chapter 365: The Difficulty of Reform, Cao Cao Deceiving the Emperor Deficit has always been an extremely unfamiliar word to Lao Cao. He has only experienced food shortages, but not deficits. Food shortage and deficit may seem to be very similar, but their natures are completely different and they are not the same thing at all. The lack of food meant that his financial situation was positive, but he just didn't have enough food left to continue the war. The deficit meant that his finances had deteriorated to the point where his expenditures were not enough to cover his income, and he would need to consume last year's grain reserves. Cao Cao thought that he would lose a lot in this battle, but he didn't expect the loss to be so huge! Two hundred and seventy million coins and five hundred thousand shi of grain and fodder were enough for him to support another fifty thousand elite soldiers! But such a huge amount of money and grain is the deficit he needs to make up now, which is simply appalling. Therefore, when Cao Cao heard this number, he was shocked and slammed the table and said: "Our army hasn't fought in half a year, why is the deficit still so great?" Xun Yu had obviously anticipated Cao Cao's reaction. When he saw him asking, he sighed and said: "Lord Cao, the reason for such a huge loss is not just because of the war, but because our army's income has not increased, while its expenditure has not decreased."

As he spoke, he explained to Cao Cao the reasons for their deficit, which were various. It was also because they developed too well in the early stage that Lao Cao forgot one thing - their territory was not large. The reason why they were able to support an army of more than 200,000 was because they had hundreds of civilians farming under their command, and they had cultivated tens of millions of acres of land! Qin Zhen implemented the strategy of military farming in Yanzhou, Yuzhou and Luoyang, which enabled them to have well-trained soldiers and sufficient food. It can be said that Qin Zhen laid a solid foundation for Cao to dominate the world, allowing Cao to continue to squander. If they had not suffered a disastrous defeat at Guandu, the financial situation would not be as dire as it is now. However, the defeat at Guandu caused Cao Cao to lose a large tract of high-quality arable land in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. The only areas that were exchanged were a few poor counties such as Shangdang, Hedong and Henei. The high-quality land they also owned was limited to Nanyang, Guanzhong, Chenliu, Yingchuan and other places. The food and grass produced in these places are not enough to compare with their previous income. In addition, due to the destruction of the war, they migrated a large number of people south. Also, because of the serious annexation of the nobles under Cao Cao's command, they did not have enough high-quality arable land to settle these settlers. Therefore, in order to resettle these settlers, they either had to reclaim wasteland or settle them on less fertile land. Not only does this item not bring them a lot of income as before, it also consumes a lot of resources. Similarly, Liang Province under Cao Cao's command was also a negative asset. The materials contributed by Ma Teng and others were not enough to cover the money and food they paid. On this basis, they also needed to maintain cavalry, provide for court expenses, and repair the already dilapidated Chang'an. Each one of them is like a money-eating beast and will not produce any results within several years. After telling Cao Cao this, Xun Yu looked bitter and helpless, saying: "It would be fine if we only suffered losses this year, but according to my estimation, it will be difficult for our army to turn losses into profits within five years!" Five years was enough time for the situation in the world to change again and again, and Cao Cao naturally could not accept it.

"If the income of the Shaofu is transferred to the Da Si Nong for use, I wonder if it can make up for the deficit?" The income of the Shaofu was the emperor's private property. Although Liu Xie was a puppet, Cao Cao never treated Liu Xie badly over the years. He thought that he could hardly make a living now, so there was no need for Liu Xie to live too well. However, when Xun Yu heard this, he shook his head, indicating that it was not enough to fill the gap. Liu Xie's assets consisted of only some mountains, forests and farms, which could not fill such a huge gap at all. As soon as he denied it, Cao Cao put his hands behind his back and paced back and forth. After a long time, he stopped and said: "If our army follows Liu Bei's example of promoting commerce and reforming the system, can we make up for the deficit?" Although they suffered a lot of spies losses due to Qin Zhen's attack, he still had a general idea of ​​the situation of Liu Bei's army. Compared with his current financial difficulties, Liu Bei's subordinates were extremely wealthy. As far as he knew, Liu Bei's army's income last year was no less than 10 billion, and this year's income was even more terrifying, probably no less than billion. Coupled with the large amount of money, grain and supplies that Liu Biao had stored in Jingzhou, Liu Bei's army was simply the richest in the world. Originally, he wanted to make changes similar to Qin Zhen's, but he never found the time. Now that he knew he had no choice but to change, he wanted to see what Xun Yu thought. But when Xun Yu heard this, he shook his head again and sighed directly to Cao Cao: "Our army is in dire straits right now, and even restructuring won't be enough to make up for the shortfall!" He had thought about reforming the system, but reform was not that simple. The reason why Qin Zhen's reform was successful was that Huainan was already extremely poor at that time. There is a large amount of labor and barren land, and there is food from Jingzhou as support. Under such conditions, it took Qin Zhen two years to turn the loss into profit. Now they are already short of money and food, and have no material basis for reform at all. Similarly, they did not have so many refugees to serve as labor to build workshops. These refugees were originally settled in the countryside, and you have finally settled them down. If you take back their land, it will cause a peasant rebellion! Moreover, Qin Zhen's workshop can make money, mostly from the black technology in Qin Zhen's hands. Qin Zhen can make Huai paper, glass, white sugar, and ceramics. Can they make these things? Most of Liu Bei’s army’s territory is close to the sea, and can produce cheap sea salt. Can they produce these? Even if they produce the products, the market has already been occupied and their goods may not be sold. What's more, the killer weapon of Qin Zhen's reform was to distribute the tax on land to free up the labor force and land occupied by the gentry. With so many nobles under their command now, once the reforms are carried out, they will definitely rebel. If the common people rebel, they can still suppress them, but if the nobles rebel, it will be a disaster that will lead to the country's destruction. Therefore, only Qin Zhen can make the reform, and they cannot copy Qin Zhen's operations at all.

Whenever he thought of these things, he couldn't help but recall what Qin Zhen said to him five years ago. If Xun Wenruo could not change the system, Cao Cao would not be able to change the institution either. Perhaps Qin Zhen had foreseen the present at that time. Assisting Cao Cao would not win the world, and even if he did, it would be riddled with holes. Perhaps it was because he foresaw this that Qin Zhen resolutely left. While thinking, Xun Yu gritted his teeth, looked up at Cao Cao and said: "My Lord, the only solution now is to reduce the army. If we can reduce 100,000 soldiers, then we can." "No, absolutely not!" Before he finished speaking, Cao Cao frowned. "Liu Bei currently has at least 400,000 soldiers and Yuan Shao still has 300,000 soldiers!" "They are several times larger than ours. If we withdraw our troops, how can we resist them?" The reason why he wanted to preserve his troops was to be able to resist the attacks from the two families. If he withdraws his troops, his strategy of retreating to Guanzhong will be meaningless! "But our army can no longer support so many troops. How can we continue?" There was already some despair in Xun Yu's words, and he didn't know whether it was right or wrong to continue insisting. But Cao Cao still had a determined look on his face. He suddenly turned around and looked at him and said: "In that case, our army will give you five cents each. Let's get through this first!" The small Wuzhu coin was a currency issued by Dong Zhuo in order to raise military funds, which once caused prices in Guanzhong to soar. The issuance of this kind of currency is not much different from the issuance of large coins by Wang Mang, Sun Quan and others, all of which are for the purpose of plundering the wealth of the people. When Xun Yu heard this, his face changed drastically and he hurriedly tried to dissuade Cao Cao from doing so. After the Battle of Guandu, which forced the relocation of a large number of civilians, Cao Cao's reputation among the people had almost reached rock bottom. If Cao Cao were to issue five small coins again now, his reputation would probably plummet. Even if he gets through this, Cao's reputation won't be much better than Dong Zhuo's. But no matter how he tried to dissuade him, Cao Cao had no intention of changing his mind. While the two were arguing, they suddenly heard Xu Chu report from outside the mansion: "My lord, Master Guo has something important to discuss with you and is waiting outside the palace." When Cao Cao heard that Guo Jia was coming, he immediately glared at Xun Yu and said in a deep voice: "This must be military intelligence. The current situation is like this. If I don't act, how can I continue?" After saying this, without waiting for Xun Yu to reply, he asked Xu Chu to bring Guo Jia to an audience. As soon as Guo Jia entered the mansion, he brought bad news to Cao Cao: Liu Bei and Liu Zhang had formed an alliance. The two families have joined forces to launch a full-scale attack on Zhang Lu in Hanzhong. When Cao Cao saw that Liu Bei was going to seize Hanzhong right after taking Jingzhou, he immediately became angry and said: "Why is the big-eared thief pressing us so hard? He has just captured Jingzhou and is now looking to Shu?" He didn't believe that Liu Bei seized Hanzhong in order to help Liu Zhang. Now he was seizing Hanzhong either to take Xichuan. Or they are preparing to march into Guanzhong from Hanzhong and seize the horse-producing area in Xiliang! Hanzhong is not like Nanyang. There are no junctions along the way from Hanzhong to the north, and there are three routes to the north.

If we go out of Qishan, we can directly take Xiliang and occupy Liangzhou. If we go out of Baoxiade, we can enter the Guanzhong Plain. If we go out of Ziwu Valley, we can go directly to the city of Chang'an. If Hanzhong is captured by Liu Bei, his subordinates will be invincible and there will be no way to defend against them! If Liu Bei used troops from Jingzhou and Yuzhou to tie down the city, he would not be able to defend Guanzhong at all. After thinking about it, Cao Cao made a decision and gave an order to Guo Jia: "Go and pass on my military order immediately. Gather the troops and prepare to follow me south to resist Liu Bei!" Upon hearing this, Guo Jia immediately took the order and left. However, Xun Yu said with a look of shock: "At present, there is not enough money and food. It will be of no benefit to the country or the army if Sikong sends troops!" Seeing him like this, Cao Cao sneered, drew his sword and said: "Now I want to send out troops, who dares to stop me? Therefore, I know that Wen Ru respects the emperor. Now Cao will go and ask for orders." "I think the emperor, seeing Cao's devotion to the country, would also be willing to issue an edict to raise grain!" After saying this, he walked out of the mansion and headed straight towards the imperial palace. Xun Yu saw this and hurriedly tried to dissuade them, and the two of them went straight into the palace. Liu Xie was sitting with Empress Fu at this time. When he saw Cao Cao coming, he trembled with fear. Cao Cao didn't waste any words. He looked at Liu Xie and directly asked for permission to issue small coins. Liu Xie had long been tamed by Cao Cao and obeyed his orders. He immediately covered his face and trembled as he said: "I have appointed Sikong to be in charge of this matter. Sikong can handle such a minor matter on his own!" Seeing his cowardly appearance, Cao Cao became even more angry and stepped forward with his sword in hand, saying: "Your Majesty, if you say this, outsiders will think I am deceiving you. Please issue an edict as soon as possible!" Liu Xie was so frightened by him that his legs were trembling. He quickly ordered his servants to bring some cloth and wrote an edict. After Cao Cao received the imperial edict, he directly handed it to Xun Yu and asked him to act according to it. When Xun Yu saw this, his eyes turned red and he had no choice but to obey the order. He then comforted Liu Xie for a while before leaving. When the two men left, Empress Fu burst into tears. Liu Xie gnashed his teeth in hatred and said: "The wicked Cao brought a sword into the palace today. He may commit regicide tomorrow!" Thinking of this, looking at Empress Fu crying her eyes out, he couldn't help but feel a surge of regret. If he had known this, why would he have listened to Cao Cao and moved the capital here? Rather than being a cowardly emperor here, it is better to abdicate and give the throne to Liu Bei! As soon as he finished speaking, Empress Fu raised her head and wiped her tears, and suggested: "My father Fu Wan has always wanted to kill Cao. I will write a letter to him and discuss the matter with him in secret." When Liu Xie heard this, although he had the intention, he did not dare to act, and just shook his head: "Dong Cheng was not careful about his work and suffered a great disaster. I am afraid it will be leaked again. I and you are done with it!" Empress Fu saw that he was erect for less than five seconds and then waned, and she was annoyed: "I feel like I am sitting on pins and needles every day. It would be better for me to die early!" "I think among the eunuchs, the most loyal and righteous one is Mu Shun, so I should ask him to send this letter." After saying this, he ignored Liu Xie and sent someone to invite Mu Shun over.

When Liu Xie saw Mu Shun coming, he burst into tears and asked him to take the letter out of the city to meet Fu Wan. Mu Shun was also loyal, so he agreed immediately and took Shu Xing out of the palace. (End of this chapter)