novelSusiti Chapter 62 What do those who don't know me seek from me?
Chapter 62 What do those who don't know me seek from me?
Since arriving in Wancheng, Lu Yi often felt as if his eyes had been opened to a whole new world.
To put it simply, Yuan Yao is completely unlike the image of a monarch in Lu Yi's mind.
Born into a prominent family in Wu County and having received a traditional Confucian education, Lu Yi was more inclined towards the traditional ideal of a wise and benevolent ruler, also known as an inner sage and outer king, who practiced benevolent governance and the way of the king.
But now?
Lu Yi often felt a sense of absurdity.
Whether it was the Golden Knife Scheme that forced him onto the pirate ship, or the use of force to coerce Hua Xin into giving up Chaisang, or the high-pressure dictatorial rule that Yuan Yao implemented in Huainan, all of these show that Yuan Yao himself was closer to a tyrant like Jie and Zhou.
On the other hand...
If that's all there is to it, Lu Yi can simply turn around and leave.
This was the chaotic period at the end of the Han Dynasty, where not only did the ruler choose his ministers, but the ministers also chose their rulers.
Even if his clansmen were imprisoned by Sun Ce and urgently needed to be rescued, Lu Yi did not need to hang himself on Yuan Yao. With his abilities, as long as he was willing to risk everything, he could make a name for himself by joining the Xu Du court, Liu Biao of Jingzhou, or even Chen Deng of Guangling.
As for Yuan Yao marrying his sister to Lu Yi and appointing him as Right General of the Central Army, giving him ample prestige and treatment, it can be said that he valued him highly. However, this could not shake Lu Yi's heart, and his principles remained very firm.
Why didn't Lu Yi leave?
You can tell the truth from a small thing.
In July of the fifth year of Jian'an, the Propaganda Department—a new agency established specifically to counter Yuan Yao's series of propaganda campaigns on the doctrine of winning—organized a public opinion survey in Huainan. The department conducted on-site interviews in three cities: Wancheng, Shouchun, and Hefeichao, asking the people about their opinions on Grand Commander Yuan Yao. In total, it collected tens of thousands of evaluations.
The result was that over 99% of people supported Yuan Yao.
"The Grand Commander is a good man, and I am very grateful to him. Now I have ten acres of land and an ox, and I can finally support my whole family. Although life is hard, better days are sure to come."
"The Grand Commander is our great hero! I heard his speech in Wancheng. If it weren't for his desperate protection of us, those wicked Japanese devils from Jiangdong would have already invaded and turned us into slaves!"
"To be fair, the Grand Commander has his faults and shortcomings. His biggest problem is that his methods are too extreme. However, in chaotic times, harsh measures are necessary, which is understandable. He can correct his mistakes in the future and there will be no problem."
"I don't know, I'm not sure, don't ask me. But things have definitely been much better lately than before, at least there aren't as many bandits. What, this was done by the Grand Commander? Then I support him."
Public opinion polls were a first in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, so Lu Yi was completely shocked when he learned that Yuan Yao had such a high approval rating. He quickly went to the Blue House to get firsthand interview results and carefully observed them.
Then they discovered something fishy.
First of all, this opinion poll itself was very intriguing, as it was specifically chosen to be conducted in Wancheng, Shouchun, and Hefei. These three cities are deeply influenced by Yuan Yao, and their stances naturally lean towards him.
Secondly, the survey questions are very suggestive, strongly implying that interviewees recall days from a few years ago and compare them with today. When the comparison is with Yuan Shu, it's hard not to win.
Finally, the people who organized the investigation were all low-level officials of the Zhong clan. With this official status, coupled with the legend of Zhang Kai being the Zhong Gebo (a high-ranking military officer) circulating among the people, everyone would naturally only say good things about him.
If any one of these three conditions changes, the result will be different from today's.
However, even so, such a high approval rating is still quite astonishing, indicating that Yuan Yao's reputation among the people is indeed good, and the lives of the people in Huainan are indeed improving.
In contrast, the old bureaucratic class and powerful families had a much worse opinion of Yuan Yao. They bore the brunt of the costs of Yuan Yao's comprehensive reform plan and were eager for Sun Ce or Cao Cao to invade so they could welcome the royal army.
However, Lu Yi had no sympathy for these parasites. It was the fervent support of the people of Huainan for Yuan Yao that made him feel that Yuan Yao must have some merits, and he was willing to observe him for a while longer.
Half a month later, Lu Yi happened to be on payday, and as the Right General of the Central Army, he went to collect his share of wages.
Then they realized something was wrong.
The Right General of the Central Army was a high-ranking military officer, with an official rank equivalent to two thousand shi (a unit of grain), and an income of five thousand coins and thirty-four bushels of rice per month.
But Lu Yi received a full ten thousand coins.
Even if we calculate it using the method of half money and half grain, this number is still far too high.
Lu Yi immediately asked the official who distributed the money what was going on, but the official hesitated and could not explain clearly, only saying that he was acting according to the plan given by Chief Secretary Yang.
Yang Hong?
After pondering for a moment, Lu Yi decided to personally confront Yang Hong.
"It's Boyan." Yang Hong's attitude was very friendly: "No doubt about it, there's no problem with your salary. There are a few extra subsidies included, plus the newly added food and travel expenses, so the money you received was a little more than a hundred million."
It sounded reasonable, but Lu Yi wasn't happy at all.
Because he had specifically inquired and found that the income of all the officials of the Zhong clan had recently increased significantly, with an average increase of more than 30%, while Lu Yi himself received an 80% raise, which was clearly Yang Hong's intention to win him over.
But Lu Yi showed no gratitude whatsoever; instead, he turned around and reported the matter to Yuan Yao.
It's important to know that the Zhong family has several thousand officials, and Yuan Yao has specifically expanded the recruitment several times, so the number is probably close to ten thousand now. With this significant pay raise, the overall financial expenditure will likely...
However, Yuan Yao's expression did not change after learning about this: "I know, I agreed to it."
Lu Yi came prepared: "I specifically looked up the previous official documents. In the relevant documents submitted by Yang Hong, the salary increase was less than 10%."
This means that Yang Hong used underhanded tactics to deceive Yuan Yao.
After saying that, he took out the document and analyzed it for Yuan Yao on the spot, showing him where Yang Hong had tampered with it.
"No need, Boyan," Yuan Yao said with a smile. "I knew there was something wrong with it when Yang Hong gave it to me."
But Yuan Yao still approved it, tacitly approving this wave of collective salary increases.
Why?
The core reason was that he needed to appease the Zhong clan's officials.
During this period, Yuan Yao continuously rectified officialdom, and for this purpose, he specially issued a clean and honest decree, requiring officials to set an example, prohibiting all kinds of corrupt behavior, and not allowing any bureaucrat to abuse their power for personal gain, in an attempt to establish a clean and efficient new system.
If we want to prevent people from being greedy and also get them to focus on their work, then of course we have to improve their benefits. Otherwise, who would be willing to work for Yuan Yao?
Lu Yi still didn't understand.
"If that's the case, why not just say it openly and honestly, instead of letting Yang Hong take advantage of you?"
"Because this is Yang Hong's way of life, I also need to meet his needs."
As the former head of the Zhong clan's civil officials, Yang Hong had lost most of his power, except for some financial freedom, which was one of the rewards Yuan Yao paid for Yang Hong to serve him.
Lu Yi roughly understood.
Then I completely lost understanding.
"I don't understand," Lu Yi said, utterly confused. "Then what do you want yourself?"
Lu Yi recounted everything he had seen and heard during this period and raised the questions that had been lingering in his mind.
Given Yuan Yao's usual behavior, he should value money the most, to the point of being calculating to the point of being mercenary. However, he himself lives a very simple life, completely unrelated to luxury and enjoyment.
Based on Yuan Yao's repeated purges, he must have valued power, yet he tolerated Yang Hong's abuse of power. He was also very patient with others as long as they were willing to do things.
Popular belief holds that Yuan Yao was extremely lecherous, even taking two beautiful concubines while fighting. This is undeniable, as Yuan Yao only had three harems to date, and each one had its own reasons.
Was Yuan Yao after fame? It doesn't seem so. He was more concerned with the interests of the common people and didn't care about offending the powerful clans and wealthy families at the top, even though these were the ones who held the power.
It cannot even be said that Yuan Yao cherished the people. He made no secret of adopting a policy of keeping the people ignorant, and he was ruthless in conscription, land reclamation, taxation, and corvée labor, using them like dirt.
Lu Yi really couldn't understand it. It wasn't that he couldn't serve Yuan Yao, but he had to know what the other party wanted, right?
"What do I want?" Yuan Yao smiled and casually picked up a silk scroll from the table: "I've been thinking about writing some propaganda slogans for various government offices recently, and this is one of them. I'm most satisfied with it, so I'll give it to you."
Lu Yi took it and opened it. There was only a simple sentence on it, but it stunned him, as if a wild beast was roaring at the top of its lungs in his ears—
"Forward! Forward!! Forward by any means necessary!!!"