Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3351: Turning Point

Whether or not Xiahou Dun had thought about coming to Linfen one day, he certainly had not thought about arriving here in his current capacity.

Being captured is, in most cases, equivalent to humiliation.

On the day Xiahou Dun arrived at Pingyang, Linfen, he happened to see Linfen escorting a group of reinforcements and food supplies to the front line.

About 2,000 soldiers, wearing traditional Han red robes and armor, holding battle flags and carrying swords and spears, lined up in the parade ground outside Linfen City. Although they were about to face a life-and-death test on the battlefield, Xiahou Dun felt that they were not preparing to go to the battlefield, but to go on a picnic or attend a grand party.

This made him feel very uncomfortable.

The city of Pingyang in Linfen is very big.

When Xiahou Dun first saw the city of Pingyang in Linfen, he almost thought he had arrived in Chang'an.

Because the city of Pingyang is so huge.

Even Xiahou Dun had heard spies and Shandong people who had been to Linfen describe the hugeness of Pingyang in Linfen more than once before. At that time, Xiahou Dun was skeptical, thinking that these spies and Shandong people might not have seen much of the market, so they thought that Pingyang was big...

How big can a city near the north and beside the Fen River be?

And now, the red city wall of Linfen Pingyang stands tall, as if a giant is standing with his hands on his waist, looking down on the surroundings and also looking down on Xiahou Dun.

Xiahou Dun couldn't help but lower his head and sigh.

Although it is a wartime state, people still need to live, especially in such a large city, the number of people who rely on mutual division of labor to survive is a very large number. However, at the beginning, Xiahou Dun did not pay attention to this, but almost instinctively observed the military deployment in this city.

Those stationed here are naturally the Guards Battalion under the Cavalry.

This is the guard camp of Pingyang Hou. It has always been Fei Qian's core force to stabilize the Linfen Basin, control the north, involve Yinshan and the northern region, deter the enemy, and protect the Qiang and Hu. These guards were once briefly transferred to the Western Regions for combat, but now they have basically returned.

The guards of Pingyang Hou in Linfen are divided into three parts: cavalry, infantry, and direct guards. When Fei Qian went to the front line, he would take one-third of them with him, the remaining one-third would be in Chang'an, and the remaining one-third would be here. Together with the local garrisons in Linfen and Pingyang, they would be stationed in the area together.

Most of these guards were selected from local armies, and then spent at least five years in the guards, and some would spend longer, and then retire to serve in local areas, or continue to work as military instructors, local inspectors, or change their jobs to become clerks and serve as communication channels between local governments and counties.

Of course, there are also some people who don't want to hold any official position after retiring.

In this way, more local official positions were replaced.

There are certainly many advantages to doing this, but the disadvantages are also inevitable.

As long as people still have desires, there will always be conflicts and contradictions between selfish desires and justice. The elimination of human desires only exists in an ideal state, or in the mouths of keyboard warriors.

Xiahou Dun observed all the way from Taiyuan, and he found that not only in Taiyuan, but also in Pingyang and even in other places in Linfen, there were still many brave soldiers...

Logically speaking, these tough, strong, even elite soldiers should be transferred to the front line, or become the core troops under Fei Qian. Why are they scattered around like this?

If there were such troops in Shandong, they would definitely be directly incorporated into the Central Commander's Army and then deployed in the Hedong Campaign.

The person who met Xiahou Dun was not a military general or a jailer, but Linghu Shao, the former chief academician of Shoushan Academy.

Linghu Shao was getting older, and his energy and physical strength had inevitably declined. He really didn't have the energy to deal with the naughty students in the academy, so he simply retired. However, after he really retired, he had some retirement syndrome, so Fei Qian simply rehired him as a "state planning engineer"...

In ancient China, there was no independent position of "planner". This position was included in the system of construction examinations and became a part of craftsmen or great craftsmen. Then it was integrated with the construction studies of Confucian scholars, which was very confusing. Fei Qian came to appease Linghu Shao's half-old heart, and also had a more long-term consideration, which was to separate this position into "planning the country".

Linghu Shao himself was also very interested in this matter. He first wrote a "Theory of Building a Country". After submitting it, Fei Qian said that it was well written, but not good enough...

So old man Linghu was very depressed. He couldn't figure out what was wrong for a while. Even when he came to arrange Xiahou Dun, he was still muttering, "Renying country, nine miles square, three gates on the side. Nine meridians and nine latitudes in the country, nine tracks on the meridians, ancestral temple on the left and community temple on the right, facing the market... Hey, what's not good enough?"

  Therefore, when Linghu Shao met Xiahou Dun, he asked Xiahou Dun about how Xu County was arranged and how Yecheng was divided. This made Xiahou Dun confused and he felt as if he had come to the wrong place, or that his identity had changed inexplicably?

However, not asking Xiahou Dun about the military arrangements of Cao's army or the war arrangements was naturally something that Xiahou Dun could accept, so he naturally discussed the functional issues related to the city with Linghu Shao. Then Xiahou Dun suddenly discovered a problem. In Pingyang, it seemed that the main focus of arranging the functional areas of the city was whether it was convenient for ordinary people...

  But in Shandong, who cares whether it is inconvenient for the people?

What’s important is whether it’s convenient for the children of the gentry and the officials!

Take the simplest market for example. If it is in Shandong, it must be centrally managed. Otherwise, what will happen if those damned untouchables sell privately? Wouldn't that mean a lot of small money will be lost? So the market must be surrounded by a wall, and only a narrow entrance and exit are left. Soldiers and tax collectors are sent to collect money at the door. No one can escape, and not a penny can be lost!

As for the long queues at the market gate caused by collecting money, or the people having to spend more time shopping, or the pushing and trampling caused by it...

  So what does it matter?

The key is easy management!

Therefore, in Shandong, the market must not be too far away from the government management agency. The larger it is, the more centralized it should be. Otherwise, those officials will run themselves to pieces and die of exhaustion on the road. How could that be tolerated?

Therefore, in Shandong, going to the market is a very important and hard work. Officials, common people, merchants, it seems that everyone is complaining about the hard work, but nothing has changed in a hundred years.

In Pingyang and Linfen, the markets seem to be small in scale, and the larger the market, the closer it is to the city. Isn't it unreasonable that there are only market squares for daily sales in the city, but no large-scale markets?

Regarding this point, Linghu Shao felt that the approach taken in Shandong was unreasonable.

Linghu Shao said that because the four classes of people are equal and need to perform their respective duties, farmers only need to focus on planting crops and producing grain, while merchants themselves need transportation and communication, so merchants should be the ones to run errands, rather than waiting in the shop for farmers to deliver the goods.

As for the management platform...

cough cough.

If the farmers were to be pushed onto the shoulders of the other three people, many problems would inevitably arise...

Linghu Shao did not say specifically what the problem would be, but Xiahou Dun broke out in a cold sweat!

Because this is the current situation in Shandong!

When farmers from the lower classes of Shandong go to the market, who cares whether they go on foot, push carts, or ride donkey carts? Who calculates how much time these farmers spend and how much energy and strength they expend on the road? Once, twice, a year, two years, and you get used to it?

  Moreover, Xiahou Dun thought of the most fatal problem of Shandong's model, that is, what if... it's really just a matter of time, what if the tragedy of Yangcheng happens again?

In scattered markets like Linfen, it would be difficult even for Cao's army to plunder.

In Shandong, it was because of the Yangcheng Market that year...

Moreover, those big bazaars were run by aristocratic families for generations, and they hoarded goods and money incalculably.

Dong Zhuo has cavalry, and the Hussars also have cavalry!

Xiahou Dun's sweat could not stop...

If things really get to the worst, the economic and trade markets in Shandong will inevitably suffer the heaviest blow!

It’s hard to run!

  How to do?

What to do now?

Just when Xiahou Dun felt helpless, there seemed to be a turn for the better.

Fei Qian summoned Xiahou Dun to the front line...

……

……

Xu County.

Chongde Hall.

As for what kind of "virtue" the Chongde Hall worships, no one knows, but no one will ask.

Emperor Liu Xie sat on the throne with a pale face. The eunuchs and palace maids around him all retreated far away. Only the sharp voice of Liu Xie's personal eunuch was echoing softly in the hall.

"…The occupations of the four classes of people are the foundation of the country. Scholars establish themselves through diligent learning, farmers make a living through farming, craftsmen make tools through skills, and merchants make money through currency. The four perform their respective duties, support each other, and work together to promote the prosperity of the Han Dynasty." "Scholars are the pillars of the country..."

"Agriculture is the foundation of a country..."

"The craftsman is the skill of the country..."

"Business is the lifeblood of a country..."

"The four classes of people each have their own strengths..."

The eunuch of the Yellow Gate read, and Liu Xie listened silently.

The sunlight shone in from the doorway, but stopped at less than half of the hall. It seemed that in the depths of the hall, an invisible force swallowed up the light, leaving behind darkness.

The eunuch paused, secretly glanced up at Liu Xie, and then continued to read, "In the past, during the reigns of Yao, Shun, Yu and Tang, morality was prominent and benevolent government was prevalent. Those in power established themselves according to the Tao, governed the country with virtue, and adhered to their original intentions, not being swayed by the secular world. Therefore, within the four seas, the weather was good, the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, and the atmosphere was harmonious."

"Therefore, the rulers should guard the mountains..."

"Enough!" Liu Xie shouted angrily.

The eunuch stopped immediately, put away the copy of the manifesto in his hand, and stood with his head bowed.

This manifesto is slightly different from other manifestos released by Fei Qian before.

Of course, if you just want to listen and watch, there is certainly no problem.

Liu Xie closed his eyes tiredly.

The fight between Fei Qian and Cao Cao was not just a matter between two people, nor was it just an ordinary battle. It was even different from the previous fights between the princes in the Han Dynasty.

Whether it was Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao, or any other princes, none of them were as complicated as Fei Qian. Fei Qian was reactionary, but he repeatedly paid tribute and gifts to Liu Xie, and even when Shandong asked for something in the name of the emperor, Fei Qian agreed.

But how loyal is Fei Qian?

Look, what does this manifesto say? !

Some time ago, this manifesto had already spread throughout Shandong, and interestingly, Liu Xie always seemed to be the last one to know about it...

Well, maybe there are some ordinary people, farmers and women who are illiterate and have no interest in these politics, so even if they hear about it, they may not know anything.

In fact, Liu Xie also knew that Cao Cao had selected a group of new people from the local area, who were directly managed by his confidants and operated in Guanzhong and Hedong. Although some people died inexplicably, he still got a lot of information. The hidden strength of the general Fei Qian was gradually revealed.

Some corrupt Confucian scholars in Shandong had previously declared that they wanted to give up Yongliangbing, but in fact, anyone with a little common sense would know that Yongliangbing was more like the armor worn by the Han people to defend against foreign enemies. If these armors were really lost, the Han people would be just a piece of meat and could be put on the chopping block at any time.

And now, the armor that originally belonged to the big man is beginning to devour the big man's flesh and blood!

"Look, look at the back, is there any mention of the court...is there any mention of the emperor's grace..." After calming down a little, Liu Xie asked in a deep voice.

The eunuch had actually read it countless times, but when he heard Liu Xie's question, he opened it again and checked it again before answering carefully: "Your Majesty... the proclamation did not mention the court or the emperor's grace... This proclamation was only written to gain reputation for himself..."

Liu Xie was silent for a long time, and then he asked in a low voice: "What do you think of this cavalry and the prime minister?"

The eunuch at the Yellow Gate shuddered.

Who dares to speak nonsense about this issue?

"Speak! You are innocent!" Liu Xie waved his hand.

Do you have the final say in this matter?

But the eunuch had to answer.

"I thought..." The eunuch lowered his head and said, "The cavalry and the prime minister are the same..."

  Same what?

The eunuchs of the Yellow Gate said nothing.

They can be understood as the same loyal subjects, or as the same jackals, tigers and leopards.

Liu Xie narrowed his eyes and looked at the eunuch, with a little dissatisfaction in his eyes. But he also knew that even he himself could not express this kind of thing directly, let alone a small figure like the eunuch.

After a moment, Liu Xie slowly said: "Remember, I am the Son of Heaven! The Han surname is Liu! Although the world has been in turmoil in recent years, the princes are undecided, and there are also unruly people with evil intentions, but no one dares to rebel at the moment! I have the support of the people and the orthodoxy of the world! Yuan Gonglu is the best example! As a minister of the Han Dynasty, if you rebel, you will lose the support of the people! "

Liu Xie spoke in a powerful voice, and seemed to be full of confidence in the matter.

"The Yuan family had disciples all over the world!" Liu Xie snorted, "Three officials in four generations! A role model for the world! How great is that? But what happened in the end? How much of the world does the Yuan family have now?"

The eunuchs of the Yellow Gate quickly made fun of Liu Xie's words to prevent them from falling on the ground, "So that's how it is! Your Majesty is wise! I was a little worried at first, but after hearing what Your Majesty said, I feel relieved!"

Liu Xie snorted. What he just said was just to comfort himself. Liu Xie couldn't really tell what Cao Cao and Fei Qian were going to do. Cao Cao had ambitions, but didn't Fei Qian have any? The Han Dynasty was like a candle in the wind, how many local lords would obey the so-called imperial edict?

In addition to Fei Qian and Cao Cao, the two big bosses, the people in Jiangdong also formed their own faction, and seemed to want to live along the river. Although Liu Xie was the emperor, he had no power to deal with these people...

This is also the drawback of all feudal dynasties. They do not rely on the people, but rely on bureaucrats to deal with bureaucrats, use bureaucrats to investigate bureaucrats, and try to use bureaucrats to manage the country and rule the people...

"On the Four Classes of People..."

Liu Xie repeated it, as if smacking his lips. He felt that this article was indeed a little different, especially the "Four Classes of People", which seemed to be closely related to something and would affect many things, but where exactly it was related to and what things it was, Liu Xie only had such a feeling, but could not put it into concrete words.

It seemed that within just a few years, the Han Dynasty had enemies all over the world.

  Before, it was just the Western Qiang and Hu people, then it was the Yellow Turbans, and then things took a sharp turn for the worse, with the princes from east to west and from south to north all becoming powerful and difficult to control!

On the other hand, the Han court no longer had any effective means to deal with such a situation.

To be honest, when the imperial decrees of the Han Dynasty could not be delivered to the local areas and the local lords refused to obey the orders, the Han Dynasty was at the end of its life. Now, the flags of the Han Dynasty have not been removed in various places, but these local lords are just checking each other. The most typical example is of course Fei Qian and Cao Cao, Shanxi and Shandong.

But now this balance seems to be broken.

  What was Fei Qian's plan for writing this manifesto after the balance was broken?

In the fight between Fei Qian and Cao Cao, it was said that Cao Cao had a better chance of winning, but now it has become that Fei Qian has a higher chance of winning. These forecasters are just like the stock market experts in later generations. The most important thing is to attract attention. As for whether their opinions are right or wrong...

Anyone who believes it is a fool.

That’s right, it’s used to deceive fools anyway. It’s just right if one is willing to fight and the other is willing to be beaten.

Liu Xie was also stupid in his early years. After being educated by reality several times, he gradually began to remember things.

"You said, if we send someone... like we did before to mediate between Yuan Benchu ​​and Gongsun Bogui, and order them to cease fighting..." Liu Xie said slowly, "What do you think will happen?"

The eunuch immediately broke out in a sweat, "Your Majesty, this, ah, Your Majesty, that, ah..."

"Forget it!" Liu Xie waved his hand, "Useless thing. Leave the manifesto behind and get out!"

The eunuchs of the Yellow Gate were as if they had been pardoned. They hurriedly left the notes of the manifesto on Liu Xie's desk, then retreated with their butts sticking out.

The hall soon fell into silence again.

After a long while, Liu Xie reached out his hand, grabbed the copy of the manifesto, spread it out on the table, and read it again carefully, word by word...