The most arrogant in history

Chapter 423: I have both the kingdom and the beauty!

Ye Kun clasped his fists in return: "Miss Xiao, there is no need to be polite. If you have something to say, just speak directly. As long as it is not difficult, I will definitely satisfy you."

Xiao Ruliu raised her head:

"I am willing to serve the King of Han as a slave. I only ask that after the King of Han conquers the Central Plains, he spare my second brother's life, just like he forgave my mother and my whole family. I came from Jiangbei this time and stole some military secrets, which I will also present to the King of Han to show my sincerity."

After saying that, Xiao Ruliu pulled out a piece of white silk from his sleeve.

There is a map on it, showing the distribution of troops in Shouchun, Hefei, and Chaohu areas, the specific locations of various passes, and the distribution of various warships.

Ye Kun was surprised and a little embarrassed.

It's so obvious, and you're going to offer yourself to me?

Cherry is not a good person. She squinted her eyes and grinned, raising her eyebrows at Ye Kun.

Ye Kun pretended not to see it and smiled at Xiao Ruliu, "Miss Xiao, you are too kind. You are also a royal family, and I dare not blaspheme you. As for how to treat your second brother after conquering the Central Plains, we can discuss it later."

Xiao Ruliu was about to cry: "Does the King of Han think that I am too old or too ugly to serve you?"

In ancient times, women got married at the age of fourteen or fifteen.

Xiao Ruliu is almost twenty years old, which is indeed old.

"No. Miss Xiao is in her prime and beautiful. Don't underestimate yourself."

Ye Kun smiled and said thoughtfully:

"I don't kill innocent people. Even if I attack the Central Plains, I will not implicate innocent people. So Miss Xiao doesn't have to worry about the safety of her family. As for your second brother, I can't guarantee it.

If he resists and causes heavy casualties to our army, I cannot forgive him."

Xiao Ruliu was silent for a moment, then said:

"I am willing to go with the army to help the King of Han win over the old ministers of Jiangdong and atone for my second brother's sin. If I can make some contribution, please show some mercy to the King of Han and spare my second brother's life."

Huangfu Lin said: "If Miss Xiao really made a contribution, the lord can consider the treatment of Xiao Dequan at his discretion."

Cherry also chimed in, laughing:

"King of Han, maybe if you and Miss Xiao get married, Xiao Dequan will take the initiative to surrender when he finds out that you two are related. It's hard to say. At that time, you will get the country and the beauty, wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

"Miss Cherry, please stop causing trouble, okay?"

Ye Kun rolled his eyes.

This damn girl was born to be a brothel owner.

Now that she’s a first-rank lady, she still can’t change her old habits!

Cherry also rolled her eyes: "I'm doing this for your own good."

Ye Kun chuckled and waved his hand:

"I'm tired, let me rest now. Yingtao, take Miss Xiao back and help me entertain the guests. Don't neglect them."

Yingtao obeyed the order, took Xiao Ruliu's hand, and left together.

Huangfu Lin stayed and analyzed the information brought by Xiao Ruliu with Ye Kun.

This thing is of no use to Ye Kun.

One force can bring down ten.

Ye Kun's current strength crushes Jiangbei Xiahou Chang. No matter how many ambushes and tricks he uses, Ye Kun is not afraid.

The only thing to consider now is to reduce casualties.

It is to reduce the enemy's casualties and facilitate post-war reconstruction!

Huangfu Lin said: "As far as I know, Xiao Ruliu's mother and Xiao Ruliu used to have a certain prestige in Jiangdong. My lord, you might as well accept Xiao Ruliu. In this way, you can recruit a group of people from the remnants of Xiao Dequan."

"it's me again?"

Ye Kun was helpless.

During the last southern expedition, he sacrificed himself for the peace of the Southern Wilderness and became husband and wife with Madam Hongyun.

This time another one...

What a miserable life.

Huangfu Lin smiled and said, "My Lord, those who are capable should do more work."

"Go away, you are not a good guy either. Just like Cherry, you take advantage of others' misfortunes and gloat over their misfortunes."

Ye Kun waved his hand to send the guest away.

Huangfu Lin chuckled and clasped his hands before saying goodbye.

The next morning, Yingtao came again with Xiao Ruliu and invited Ye Kun to go out for a walk in the city.

Ye Kun played the role of a good host and accompanied Xiao Ruliu to experience the local customs and people outside the city.

Xiao Ruliu was filled with emotion as he visited the place along the way.

The countryside in the south of the Yangtze River has also changed a lot.

Ordinary people could have enough food to eat, afford salt, and buy iron tools and farm implements.

Most families raise chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, dogs, and have small fish ponds. Eating fish and eggs is common.

Especially salt and iron, which were strictly controlled in Jiangdong before, but under Ye Kun's governance, these two items were almost relaxed.

No one went to jail for selling salt and iron.

Yingtao was very proud and said to Xiao Ruliu:

"Miss Ruliu, in your Jiangdong in the past, women often had insufficient milk when giving birth. But now, which woman who is breastfeeding doesn't have a bulging breast?"

Xiao Ruliu blushed when she heard that.

She's still a girl!

Ye Kun couldn't help but smile, and squinted his eyes and said, "Sister Cherry, could you please be more careful with your words?"

Cherry smiled evilly: "My Lord, are you very delicate?"

Ye Kun was furious.

Xiao Ruliu changed the subject: "Brother King of Han, your salt and iron have been liberalized, where will the tax revenue come from?"

"Not only the salt and iron industries have been liberalized, but the head tax has also been waived. There is also the agricultural tax, which is now 10% of the total tax, which is lower than before in Jiangdong."

Ye Kun smiled and said, "For example, in the past, Jiangdong produced 10,000 dan of grain every year, and the tax rate was 30%, so the tax collection was 3,000 dan. Now, my annual grain production is 50,000 dan, and the tax rate is 20%, so the tax collection is 10,000 dan. The tax revenue on grain and mulberry has doubled compared to the past. I only need grain and supplies, no money."

"Production increased five times?" Xiao Ruliu was surprised.

"It's really five times, because Jiangdong in the past was not in the hands of your Xiao family, but in the hands of the gentry group. They concealed the amount of land and even didn't pay taxes. In Jiangdong now, the gentry must report the amount of land in full and are not allowed to conceal it."

Regarding the increase in grain production, one reason was that the hidden land of the gentry was discovered.

One is the promotion of new agriculture, and the other is the contribution of reclaiming wasteland.

Ye Kun has calculated that the number of acres of farmland in Jiangdong is now three times more than before.

The research on nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers has been launched for three years and has entered the key research stage. It will be put into use soon and grain production can be increased.

"Yes, my second brother said that Jiangdong was lost because of the betrayal of Yan Ju and Yu Guinong."

"Yan Ju and Yu Guinong are just representatives of the Jiangdong aristocratic families."

Ye Kun smiled faintly and did not hide it: "In fact, I had already reached an agreement with the Jiangdong gentry a year before I attacked Jiangdong. Even if this loose alliance of gentry in Jiangdong is not taken down by me, it will be taken down by Xiahou Chang."

"So, is Xiahou Chang of the Central Plains the government of the gentry alliance?"

"No, the Central Plains is a highly centralized ruling model, and it has even regressed to the slave era a thousand years ago. Xiahou Chang ruled with an iron fist. Under his rule, even the Five Tiger Generals, the Three Dukes and the Nine Ministers were slaves."

Xiao Ruliu became even more interested and asked, "Can Xiahou Chang's model ensure long-term stability?"

Ye Kun thought about it:

"If there is no external pressure, Xiahou Chang can hold on for decades. But he has to prepare for war against me, so he will collapse soon. I heard that the people in the Central Plains have begun bartering."

Once large-scale barter occurs in a region or country, it means the collapse of the economy.

It was also the collapse of the court's credibility.