Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3748 Thai Oath
Inside the council chamber, candlelight flickered.

The clamor of the gate during the day seems still audible today.

The shadow of the canopy seemed to sway within it as well.

The generals sat on either side, their gazes meeting.

Fei Qian slowly surveyed the area.

"In the past, King Wen studied the Book of Changes in Youli, spitting out his food and grasping his hair, thus gaining the wisdom of Hong Yao and San Yisheng, and the courage of Lü Shang and Nangong Shi. At the foot of Mount Qi, a rustic offered celery, and the Zhou dynasty rose. Why? Because he did not reject the humble and readily accepted their advice. Virtue is not about scarcity, but about shared hearts; even metal and stone can be carved. Strength is not about brute force, but about united will; even Mount Tai can be moved. Now, Cao Cao's army drives the emperor like cattle and horses, violating loyalty and righteousness, and breaking the rules of the world."

Fei Qian was the first to express his opinion.

Inside the council chamber, everyone nodded in agreement.

"In the past, Emperor Gaozu of Han rose from the Si River. Xiao He was his chief clerk, Cao Can his prison official, Fan Kuai his dog butcher, and Zhou Bo his weaver. Those who sold silk and played the flute all rose to high positions; those who caught chickens and butchered dogs all became officials. Emperor Gaozu did not distance himself from them because of their humble origins, but rather employed them because of their talents. Therefore, he was able to unite the brave men of the Three Qin regions, gather the remnants of the Six Kingdoms, and ultimately establish a four-hundred-year dynasty. This is what is meant by 'the sea accepts all rivers, its vastness lies in its capacity; people from all directions gather, and prosperity comes from diversity.' Therefore, those who now oppose Emperor Gaozu, defy the sages, and obstruct the path of scholars are the people of Shandong."

Fei Qian set the tone, which was naturally a very important thing.

Pang Tong, standing nearby, almost immediately interjected: "My lord, the traitor Cao Cao has seized the emperor and ascended the city wall, using the imperial edict as a shield, and clamoring for loyalty and righteousness. This is truly a calculated move. If we attack, we risk being branded as 'disobeying the emperor' and 'murdering the emperor,' causing unrest throughout the land; the calamities of the Six Kingdoms serve as a stark reminder. If we do not attack, we will miss a golden opportunity, and all our previous efforts will be in vain. What you, my lord, have said... do you mean by 'uniting the brave warriors of the Three Qin regions and gathering the remnants of the Six Kingdoms'—is that a coalition of forces?"

Fei Qian laughed heartily, "Indeed."

Upon hearing this, most of the generals pondered the matter.

In essence, Fei Qian's meaning can be summarized in five words: "Unite the majority."

Pang Tong asked, "The people's hearts are certainly strong, but how do we truly 'unite the masses'? Mere words may mislead them."

Fei Qian smiled calmly, "Shi Yuan's concerns are spot on."

Fei Qian slowly said, "The masses, should we only focus on the wealthy and powerful, the nobles and officials? The Book of Documents says, 'The people are the foundation of the state; when the foundation is firm, the state is at peace.' This 'people' is not merely the high-ranking officials. Farmers toil in the fields, artisans work in their shops, merchants travel to the markets, and ordinary people work as laborers in the fields… These hundreds of millions of common people are the cornerstone of the nation, the very foundation of the country!"

Some people understood, while others remained confused.

In fact, Fei Qian has already made it very clear.

"Unite the brave warriors of the Three Qin regions and gather the remnants of the Six Kingdoms," so the Han Dynasty's current "unity of the majority" cannot be understood merely as uniting the landlords and bureaucratic class.

The true "majority" consists of the vast majority of self-sufficient farmers, tenant farmers, artisans, small merchants, and other people at the bottom of society. They are the foundation of social production and also the root cause of social instability.

Winning the support of these 'majority' is a crucial issue.

Pang Tong glanced at the generals on his left and right, then asked, "My lord, if that's the case... is the Emperor just a smokescreen orchestrated by Cao Cao?"

Fei Qian nodded and said, "That should be so."

Liu Xie was not tall, but his canopy was large and a bright yellow, making him stand out conspicuously on the city wall. This naturally attracted attention, which not only easily led people astray in their thinking, but also might have caused them to go through roundabout ways in dealing with the issue of Liu Xie personally...

But is the problem really with Liu Xie himself?
Fortunately, Fei Qian had undergone nine years of compulsory education and knew that there was a concept called seeing through appearances to the essence.

Of course, the various scandals that followed also played a significant role, and the so-called plot twists and turns have been experienced many times.

After all, there are far too many cases of people using various trending topics to offset scandals, openly revealing gossip while secretly taking the fall. For example, someone might have a major scandal, but soon after, news of relationships, divorces, or even controversial remarks from years ago by several other A-list celebrities suddenly breaks, instantly grabbing the top spots on the trending topics list...

So when Fei Qian saw what Lao Cao was up to, he quickly came to his senses.

The key issue is not Liu Xie as a person, nor is it about how to deal with him, but rather the problems hidden beneath the guise of Liu Xie as emperor.

This is what Fei Qian called "uniting the majority"!
Fei Qian continued, “The people toil and labor, paying taxes and serving the public. When the granaries are full, propriety and righteousness flourish; when the granaries are empty, chaos and disorder arise. Therefore, to secure the foundation and maintain peace in the country, one must first win over these people. The collapse of a dynasty is not due to the strength of the enemy, but rather to its own self-destruction. Losing the support of the people leads to utter ruin. The stability of China lies in internal harmony; internal strife inevitably leads to external aggression. This is the profound meaning behind your concern about chaos. When considering the length of a nation's lifespan, it is not only about comparing the rulers, but also about protecting the people below and preventing chaos from arising.”

Just as the downfall of the Great Meng Dynasty cannot be simply attributed to the victory of its rulers.

At that time, the Great Meng Dynasty was utterly corrupt, and the people had completely lost faith in it; it was more like a systemic collapse.

This involves not only military factors, but also political and economic issues.

Its downfall stemmed from the failure of the entire imperial system to address long-term structural challenges related to population, economy, environment, and military, as well as the inherent flaws in its institutional design that were amplified and solidified throughout history, ultimately leading to a loss of its capacity for self-renewal and repair. It wasn't about how powerful the long braid was or how many suits of armor it boasted about being invincible.

A glint of light flashed in Pang Tong's eyes. "Brilliant! My lord's intention—the emperor ascending the city walls, the imperial palace dazzling—is truly a scheme by Cao Cao to seduce us into a quagmire! They wish to lure our ruler and ministers into a stalemate over the deposition and installation of one person, the preservation and destruction of one roof, causing us to forget the very foundation of the realm! I, Pang Tong, am foolish and nearly fell into their trap!"

Some of the generals also seemed to realize something.

It's not that Pang Tong is truly dull-witted, but rather that when Pang Tong says it this way, others think that even a fat black bird like him is confused, so it's not embarrassing for me to not understand...

After a pause, Pang Tong asked again, "However, the people of the world are mostly foolish and ignorant, and are misled by the corrupt officials of Shandong... Moreover, the people of Shandong are deeply entrenched and have been entangled for centuries; how can they be easily divided?"

Fei Qian's expression was solemn. "Shi Yuan's words are excellent! Now that we have broken through the barriers, we should put into practice the unity of the people. The way to unite the people begins with rectifying names and returning to the source, and advocating benevolent governance. Mencius said, 'The people are the most important, the state is next, and the ruler is the least important.' He also said, 'There is a way to gain the world: gain the people, and you will gain the world.' Today, we retreat three steps not for the sake of the emperor, but because we are practicing benevolent governance, valuing the people, and respecting the masses!"

"The people are mostly ignorant, yet they do know right from wrong," Fei Qian continued. "Therefore, we will respond with six policies for the people."

Fei Qian looked at the generals, his voice steady, and emphasized again.

First, to nurture the people. Following the examples of Emperors Wen and Jing, efforts should be made to reduce taxes and corvée labor, allowing the people to work at the right time and preventing the disruption of agriculture and sericulture. In times of disaster, waivers should be issued, like Yu weeping for his crimes, demonstrating compassion. Second, to maintain stability. Mencius said that the way of the people is that those with stable property have stable minds. The annexation by powerful families is the root cause of the people losing their stable property. Therefore, it is necessary to suppress annexation to accommodate displaced people. Third, to limit land ownership. Although the proposals of Dong Zhongshu and Confucius are difficult to implement, their principles are sound. Laws should be clearly defined to limit the land owned by the people. Although this cannot achieve complete success, it demonstrates the court's determination to suppress powerful families and protect the common people. Fourth, to assess land ownership. Following the example of Emperor Guangwu, land ownership should be assessed vigorously, verifying the actual number of acreage and checking for hidden households. Although this may offend powerful families, it is the foundation for strengthening the nation and increasing taxes. Fifth, to prepare for famine. Establishing granaries for the purpose of pacifying grain supply and reducing famine through grain purchases would stabilize prices and prevent merchants from hoarding and speculating. This is the principle of "light and heavy" governance employed by Guan Zhong, beneficial to the people. The sixth aspect is water conservancy. With the Zheng Guo Canal and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System already in place, we should extensively repair ponds and ditches, maximizing their benefits to both increase agricultural production and provide shelter for displaced people. This is the sixth practical measure of "nurturing the people."

Fei Qian said in a deep voice, "Regardless of the emperor's virtue or vice, only the six real measures to nourish the people should suffice. The concrete actions of Guanzhong and Hedong should be used to counter the empty talk of Shandong and the Central Plains."

Pang Tong clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Brilliant! My lord, your words are excellent!"

Some of the generals and officers understood, while others did not. However, even those who did not understand saw that Fei Qian and Pang Tong were both logical and well-reasoned, and their unease gradually dissipated.

Fei Qian and Pang Tong exchanged a glance.

Without experiencing certain events in later generations, it's easy to be led astray by Old Cao.

As the backbone of the Guanzhong political group, Fei Qian's success wasn't solely due to the number of people he killed on the battlefield or the number of enemy generals he beheaded. Otherwise, Xiang Yu wouldn't have died such a gruesome death, his body even dismembered.

Fei Qian must demonstrate unwavering conviction in front of the generals and, in the face of such a sudden event, immediately possess a clear understanding, break through the fog, and provide guidance.

Just like now, Fei Qian and Pang Tong are working together to guide the generals to return to and reinterpret the Confucian ideas of "benevolent governance" and "people-oriented governance".

This is undoubtedly the safest and most powerful ideological weapon at present. Even the various gentry and powerful families of Shandong have no choice but to reluctantly acknowledge it!
Fei Qian emphasized that "the people are the foundation of the state, and when the foundation is firm, the state is secure," "do not compete with the people for profit," "reduce taxes and levies," "suppress land annexation," and "select the virtuous and capable." He regarded these classical ideals as the standard of "progress" and criticized those large landowners and bureaucrats who violated these principles.

At the same time, Fei Qian also emphasized "national interests" and "long-term stability," packaging reform measures, such as curbing land annexation, cracking down on powerful clans, rectifying officialdom, and building water conservancy projects, as necessary requirements for maintaining national unity, stability, tax revenue, and military manpower, and as "sharing the emperor's worries" and "being loyal to the country."

This makes it easier to gain the understanding of the imperial authority and some rational bureaucrats.

This provides the foundation and standard for the "people".

Never mind what tricks Lao Cao is up to...

Simply put, regardless of what style of boxing a fighter uses, the first priority is to establish one's own fundamentals without wavering.

Focus on the fundamentals and ascertain the facts!
Don't easily follow Lao Cao's lead and sign to take responsibility!
Now, Fei Qian can't easily say he wants to kill or depose Liu Xie, as that would be tantamount to signing a pledge of responsibility. If any problems arise in the future, Fei Qian would be implicated, and even the people of Guanzhong would likely agree, "If you didn't do it, why did you sign?"

However, these are just Fei Qian's own enhanced understanding. Even if the worries of the generals and officers have been dispelled, the next action plan still needs to be adjusted for Emperor Liu Xie, who appeared at Sishui Pass today.

Pang Tong cupped his hands in greeting to Fei Qian, then rose and declared proudly, "Today's events remind me of the old story of Duke Zhuang of Zheng defeating Duan. Duke Zhuang, born of Wusheng, tolerated his brother Gongshu Duan's injustice, ultimately leading to war. Yet, even with countless reasons, he was still criticized by historians for 'misbehaving' and 'being unfriendly,' bearing eternal infamy. Now, the Han dynasty is in decline, and the emperor is like a child carrying a jade disc in a bustling marketplace, held hostage by the traitor Cao Cao and the remnants of the Yan and Yu states. His arrogance surpasses even that of Gongshu Duan. If we were to break through the pass with lightning speed, even if our intention was to save the emperor from this dire situation, weapons have no eyes, and stray arrows are unpredictable. We cannot guarantee that we will not 'disrupt the emperor' or 'startle the emperor'! Once such accusations are confirmed, the traitor Cao Cao will surely use the words of the Shandong scholars to widely circulate proclamations denouncing us as 'regicide' and 'treason'!" Even if our army sweeps through the land and conquers Shandong, the clamor of public opinion will gnaw at us like maggots on a bone, spread like wildfire, and bring endless unrest! Qin conquered the six states and unified the world—how magnificent! Yet, the remnants of those states, using the name of the tyrannical Qin, incited restoration, leading to rebellions one after another, until the mighty Qin dynasty collapsed after only two generations! The lessons of the past are stained with blood and tears; they must be heeded!

Pang Tong's words not only pointed out the moral risks and political passivity of attacking Sishui Pass, but also laid bare the protracted social identity crisis and governance dilemma that the Guanzhong political group might face, which transcended the war itself.

There's even some hidden meaning...

Xu Chu frowned and said, "Does your statement, my lord, mean that because that brat is in charge, we tens of thousands of soldiers will be held back? Wherever our lord points, we will charge! We don't care about the emperor or anything like that; under swords and spears, we are all flesh and blood!"

Xu Chu's initial statement was both surprising and reasonable.

Because Xu Chu was from Shandong, his rough behavior at this moment was actually a way to conceal his meticulousness.

Fei Qian remained noncommittal.

Hao Zhao took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart. He rose and bowed deeply to Fei Qian. "My lord, your wisdom is profound, and General Xu's loyalty is unwavering. I deeply agree with both… Today, our army raises the banner of righteousness, upholding justice to cleanse the world and eradicate evil, all for the sake of the people. However, if we make even the slightest mistake in dealing with the Emperor, I fear that those with ulterior motives will tarnish our reputation and destroy our foundation! At that time, the people will be filled with fear and the world will be in turmoil. Even if we break through the pass, the consequences will be endless! Like being trapped in a quagmire, we will find it difficult to move an inch, and we fear falling into an abyss of no return! I dare to offer this advice, and I earnestly hope that my lord will consider it carefully!"

Hao Zhao only mentioned "disposal," clearly indicating his lack of goodwill towards Emperor Liu Xie. However, Hao Zhao was also worried that Fei Qian might act rashly and fall into the same predicament as Dong Zhuo before him...

He emphasized not only the military risks, but also the fundamental undermining of the regime's legitimacy, a fatal hidden danger to the future stability and long-term security of the Feiqian Group.

Zhang Liao remained silent until everyone else had spoken, then slowly said, "Today, I observed the garrison at Sishui Pass. Most of them were hastily conscripted able-bodied men; their ranks were scattered, their armor incomplete, their flags askew, barely holding them together thanks to the canopy atop the city wall and the sound of drums. This is a rabble, all bark and no bite!"

Fei Qian's eyes lit up. "Wen Yuan, tell me in detail."

Zhang Liao cupped his hands in greeting, "The Sishui Pass was originally the domain of Cao Zilian's troops... Although their soldiers suffered repeated defeats and retreated inside the pass, their armor and weapons were still intact... But today, Sishui Pass is scattered and in disarray, with many laborers and officials scattered, and their armor and weapons incomplete... Therefore, I believe that Sishui Pass is now completely empty! The original troops inside the pass have already been transferred elsewhere!"

Xu Chu's eyes widened, and he couldn't help but say, "Isn't this... um..."

Pang Tong laughed heartily, "That traitor Cao... I'm afraid the moment our soldiers are the first to charge will be the moment of 'regicide'!"

The council chamber suddenly fell silent.

Fei Qian glanced over and understood.

Although everyone said they were willing to follow Fei Qian's orders, and some, like Xu Chu, even stated that the emperor was also "of flesh and blood," if these people were truly to bear the name of "regicide"...

Once you sign this name, it will be a sin for life!

Then it's not just about betting on the fairness of the judges, but also on the wisdom of the people!
If the judge is impartial, that's one thing, but what about the wisdom of the people...?

Just look at how many people in later generations have been misled by keyboard warriors, and you'll know whether this is reliable or not.

Although Fei Qian took Li Ru in, what could he do?

How many people believe that Liu Bian died because of that cup of poisoned wine?

This time, Cao Cao practically laid out the legal framework of the regime at Sishui Pass...

"Your opinions are all insightful and pertinent to current problems, and I deeply agree with them."

Fei Qian spoke slowly, his tone neither hurried nor slow.
"The situation at Sishui Pass today is not merely about breaching a pass, capturing a person, or rescuing an emperor! This is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity, a pivotal moment to establish the future order of China and usher in a new era of lasting peace! Cao Cao and the Shandong gentry believe they have the emperor under their control here, thus binding our army's hands and feet, but little do they know that this action only exposes their own folly!"

This is also a golden opportunity for us to break with the old and establish the new, to rectify the situation and get to the root of the problem!

Fei Qian's gaze swept across the room. "The Book of Documents says, 'The people are the foundation of the state; when the foundation is firm, the state is at peace.' The Great Oath further states, 'Heaven sees as the people see, Heaven hears as the people hear.' What does this mean? The Mandate of Heaven is not suspended in some ethereal heaven, nor is it bound to the bloodline of one person or family; it is truly bound to the will of the people, to the safety of the nation, and to the well-being of all its inhabitants!"

"The throne of the emperor is not bestowed by the gods, but by the people! His honor and nobility should stem from his actual achievements in protecting, securing, and enriching the people! If his position becomes a shackle on the people, a shield protecting corrupt officials, then his mandate from heaven has ended!"

Fei Qian first quoted the core idea of ​​people-oriented governance from the Book of Documents, fundamentally deconstructing the myth of "divine right of kings" and firmly binding the legitimacy of rule to the hearts and minds of the people and their livelihood.

This laid a solid theoretical foundation for its subsequent complete rejection of the old system.

"When the Zhou dynasty moved east, the royal authority crumbled, the feudal lords waged war, and the rites and music collapsed. The sage Confucius lamented this, and poured his heart and soul into writing the *Spring and Autumn Annals*, clearly stating the great righteousness of honoring the king and repelling the barbarians, hoping to restore the rites and music of the Western Zhou to bring peace to the world. However, though his principles were lofty, they ultimately failed to prevail in his time. Why?" Fei Qian paused slightly, his gaze sharp, and answered his own question, "Because times have changed, and the world has transformed! The well-field system and the established order of rank and status of that time could no longer bring peace to the people, nor could they alleviate their suffering! Merely clinging to the empty words of honoring the king while being ignorant of the practical policies for bringing peace to the people—this is Confucius's regret, and also the shackles that bind later generations of pedantic scholars who cling to outdated ideas and refuse to change!"

"The Former Qin dynasty, having unified China and built upon the achievements of six generations, swept across the land, abolishing feudalism, establishing prefectures and counties, standardizing writing and cart axles, and possessing the vigor to break with the old and establish the new, thus reshaping the world. However, its eagerness for quick success and instant benefits, its reliance on officials as teachers, its exclusive use of legalism, its rejection of the strengths of other schools of thought, its suppression of the people's wisdom, and its stifling of free speech were self-imposed limitations and a path to self-destruction, not the foundation for lasting peace! Therefore, although it broke with the old system, it failed to establish new rules. Instead, its extreme restrictions led to widespread resentment, and it perished after only two generations. Was this accidental? It was not that the soldiers were not brave; it was that they had completely lost the hearts of the people!"

Fei Qian's four words, "eager for quick success and instant benefits," are almost the finishing touch, summarizing the reasons for the Qin Dynasty's ultimate failure and also giving advice to the generals of today.

Nothing can be solved once and for all, and nothing can last forever.

The Qin Dynasty laid the foundation for unification and broke down feudal separatism, but it went to extremes in establishing a new order, stifling social vitality and creativity, and ultimately perished quickly due to losing popular support.

The Qin dynasty failed because it destroyed the old system but failed to establish the new one, and the methods it used to establish the new system were crude and barbaric.

So, what now?

Breaking through Sishui Pass is simple, but do we have the means to rebuild from the ashes?

some.

Fei Qian slowly said, "Therefore, a single branch is easily broken, but a dense forest is hard to destroy; a solitary sound is easily silenced, but a chorus of sounds becomes thunder. The way to govern a country lies in manifesting one's bright virtue, in loving the people, and in abiding in perfect goodness. To abiding in perfect goodness, one must first observe the people's hearts as clearly as water and follow their desires as if guiding a river. Remove their barriers and eliminate their silos, so that farmers, merchants, and artisans can each live in peace in their respective professions, and scholars and commoners can each give full play to their abilities. Then, all schools of thought will return to their source, and all people will be loyal to the people. What need is there to worry about the stability of the state or the unrest of the nation?"

Emperor Liu Xie was a huge obstacle, but also an excellent opportunity...