Ye Feng, in a hurry, arrived at Liangzhou City. He casually tossed aside the cloak on his shoulders and entered Lu Bu's residence.
Lu Bu was still brooding over yesterday's events, sitting silently in his chair, oblivious to Ye Feng's arrival.
Ye Feng sat down on the other side without a word. He lightly tapped the table and coughed a few times, "Fengxian!"
Lu Bu snapped back as if struck by lightning, hastily rising to kneel. Ye Feng waved his hand gently, uttering a light, airy phrase, "Sit down, Fengxian. It's just the two of us, no need for such formalities!"
After Lu Bu was seated, Ye Feng coughed a few times before speaking slowly, "What were you thinking just now to be so lost in thought!"
Lu Bu explained everything clearly and concisely, his heart aching with every word. Sun Jian, who had acted for the people, ultimately met what fate?
"Lord, are we in the wrong?"
Lu Bu hesitated for a long time before finally asking the question that concerned him most. It was no wonder he felt this way; the people's reactions had chilled him to the bone!
Ye Feng gently placed a hand on Lu Bu's shoulder and smiled, "Fengxian, do you think you did wrong? Or are they in the wrong?"
Lu Bu pondered for a long time, then shook his head, still confused, "No, we didn't do wrong. But why are they ignoring Sun Jian? Isn't this biting the hand that feeds them? Lord, do we really need to do so much for the people!"
Seeing that Lu Bu had reached his own conclusion, Ye Feng did not hold back. He sighed deeply and spoke slowly, "It's not entirely their fault. If everyone had enough to eat and wear, how could they do such foolish things? Moreover, they saw Zhang Rang and were so terrified that they dared not testify!"
Lu Bu nodded heavily, lost in thought, frozen in place. Ye Feng, seeing this clearly, continued unabated, "If they had enough to eat and wear, who would disregard the lives of others!"
"Fengxian, to accomplish this task, it won't just take you or me; many might lose their lives. However, our descendants will live in glory. Fengxian, do you regret it? Are you willing?"
Lu Bu knelt on one knee, his eyes lighting up, "Lord, Fengxian is willing, willing to create great achievements with my Lord!"
"Good. I have a task for you today. Whatever land there is in Liangzhou, I want it all. No matter how much, I want it. Remember, everyone's land!" Ye Feng said excitedly.
Lu Bu was suddenly in a dilemma. Ordinary matters were manageable, but at this time, seizing land meant encroaching on everyone's interests. And the largest landowner among them was Emperor Ling. The difficulty of this task was immense.
"Lord, this matter!" Lu Bu stammered, "I fear it might be somewhat difficult!"
Diao Chan understood Ye Feng's intention, but she felt he was moving too fast. If not handled carefully, Liangzhou City might become unstable.
Ye Feng understood Lu Bu's meaning and spoke without hesitation, "Do you know why I transferred Ma Chao away from Xiliang? Ma Chao is gone, but my Third Legion remains. Fengxian, do you understand my meaning?"
"Lord," Lu Bu exclaimed, "If we confront the Emperor's men, what should we do?"
"No matter who we encounter, they cannot stop me. Rest assured, I will handle the Emperor's side," Ye Feng declared with a wave of his hand, settling the matter.
"Yes! I will certainly not fail my Lord's trust!" Lu Bu promised solemnly and hurried away, leaving Ye Feng and Diao Chan in the side room.
"Perhaps this step of mine is not well-considered," Ye Feng mused. "Those noble families will tolerate me even less."
"Since Your Majesty has decided to do this, then do it. I refuse to believe anyone dares to lay a hand on Your Majesty!" Diao Chan gently massaged Ye Feng's temples, speaking softly.
"If I cannot withstand the pressure of the noble families' alliance, then my beauty, you must flee quickly!" Ye Feng gently held Diao Chan's hand and spoke slowly.
"If that day truly comes, I would never abandon my Lord to live alone!" Diao Chan's eyes welled up with tears, wishing she could throw herself into Ye Feng's arms.
"Good, my beauty. You are loyal to me, and I will not fail you!" Ye Feng, his eyes full of affection, pulled Diao Chan into his embrace.
"The King of Chu resides here. How dare you barge in? I think you are courting death!" a sharp voice called from the gatekeeper. "Guards, seize this madman!"
At the command, figures stirred outside. Ye Feng felt his pleasant mood was completely ruined and his expression immediately turned cold, "What are you all for? You can't even stop one person!"
The gatekeeper felt a wave of panic. Lu Bu had left without closing the main gate, and he hadn't expected anyone to be so audacious. He never imagined a scholar would break in!
Ye Feng, holding Diao Chan, stared at the intruding scholar and was momentarily stunned, muttering to himself, "It seems my gatekeepers are truly rotten on the inside, unable to stop even one person!"
Diao Chan gestured with her finger and said coquettishly, "You are indeed good servants. You couldn't stop this person; you will all be punished. Go down!"
The intruder, adept at human affairs, quickly clasped his hands and said, "I waited for a time when no one was around to break in. It is truly not their fault. If there is punishment, I am willing to bear it alone!"
"He has some courage!" Ye Feng murmured inwardly. "I wonder if what he says is true or false!"
"Guards, seize this madman and beat him forty times. If he does not comply, add another forty. I refuse to believe anyone else dares to be presumptuous in front of me!" Ye Feng feigned a roar, glaring fiercely at the intruder.
The intruder bowed slightly and turned, prostrating himself on a long bench. "The King of Chu may beat me if he wishes, but do not take your anger out on others, lest you ruin your reputation."
Ye Feng could not quite figure out who this person was. In the history of the Three Kingdoms he knew, some people were barely mentioned. Such a gentleman should be recorded in the annals of history.
However, Ye Feng could not pinpoint who the intruder was. He could only feign a furious rage and curse, "It's not that you broke in at the wrong time, you should have been beaten to death to serve as a warning!"
The intruder smiled slightly, his face unchanged. "If the King of Chu believes I have been beaten to death, then proceed. It can be considered the price for my misjudgment. Strike!"
Ye Feng was taken aback. This person was truly unafraid of death. This was an opportunity to test him. He let out a cold哼 and said coldly, "What skills do you possess that you dare to recommend yourself to me? If you cannot state one, two, three, or four reasons, do not blame me for gaining a bad reputation today!"
The intruder slowly rose from the bench, bowed, and explained, "I am merely a scholar. I have heard of the King of Chu's virtuous reputation, and therefore, I have come to pledge my allegiance. I request the King of Chu to accept me!"
Ye Feng sat down on a stool brought by his attendants, quietly waiting for the intruder to speak. After Ye Feng was seated, the intruder cleared his throat and spoke slowly.
"The present world is fraught with many ills. In my view, there are only two: first, the noble families; second, land ownership. If these two issues can be resolved, the world will enjoy lasting peace. If not, even temporary peace will not last forever!"
"If there is anyone in the world today who can resolve this malady, it is only one person, and that is the King of Chu. Even Emperor Ling cannot do it!"
These words startled Diao Chan. His ideas coincided perfectly with Ye Feng's. If he couldn't be Ye Feng's strategist, who could? No wonder he had such confidence!
Ye Feng forcibly suppressed his astonishment and asked slowly, "You speak eloquently, but I truly wish to hear how you plan to resolve this matter!"
Ye Feng's actions were not unfounded. Although he could discern the general trend, if the person lacked the ability to solve practical problems, he would be content with a minor official position. However, if he could solve the land problem that had plagued generations, he would be more than worthy of being a provincial governor!
"King of Chu, please listen. I have three strategies, upper, middle, and lower, that can solve the world's problems!" the scholar said enthusiastically.
"The lower strategy is that since the Emperor is incompetent, you may replace him. Then, by reorganizing the noble families, you can ensure a century of peace!"
It was merely a change of personnel. Ye Feng's eyelids did not even twitch. He merely responded with a soft sound.
"The middle strategy is for the land to be nationalized, for collective farming and collective eating. This would indeed be a small nation with a simple populace, preventing people from striving against each other!"
A commune system. How many geniuses would it take to devise such a brilliant plan? Ye Feng couldn't quite tell and was stunned for a long time before speaking, "May I know the gentleman's surname and given name?"
The scholar's face flushed slightly and he spoke respectfully, "I feared my name would insult the King of Chu's ears, so I did not mention it. Now that the King of Chu asks, I dare not conceal it. My name is Li Ru!"
Li Ru! Unbelievable. Li Ru, who ordered the burning of cities, and he met him under such circumstances! Ye Feng hurriedly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said to Li Ru, "Serve the best tea!"
The attendants had never seen Ye Feng like this and did not dare to delay. Soon, tea and pastries were respectfully placed before Li Ru. Li Ru's stomach let out a few growls.
"I am truly uncivilized. Please forgive me, King of Chu!" Li Ru rose and clasped his hands.
"It's nothing," Ye Feng waved his hand and said excitedly, "We are addressing the issue of the people's land, which is essentially about food. There's no reason for me to eat my fill while worrying about others' meals. Please, gentleman, partake."
Seeing this, Li Ru sat down on the stool, picked up a pastry with his fingers, and carefully put it in his mouth. The scene was quite pleasing to the eye, and the normally crumbly pastry did not drop a single crumb on the ground.
After finishing, Li Ru gently wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and then slowly spoke, "The best strategy is for the King of Chu to take all the land into his own hands, give it to the people without collecting rent. If anyone forcibly occupies the land, the law will be unmerciful. If anyone deceives and evades the law, then rent will be collected. In this way, the ruler will be rich, the people will be prosperous, and the noble families will suffer. It is a win-win-win situation!"
Good heavens, Ye Feng's heart trembled. Was this Li Ru a穿越 (transmigrator)? He knew things so clearly. However, the assessment method could not be changed.
"Your words are worth more than ten years of study, but sir, I still do not require your services!" Ye Feng said coldly.