Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3769 Introspection Without Guilt, Heart Shaking

The cold autumn winds of the north, carrying sand and dust, swept across the endless military tents.

Surrounded by a group of guards, Zhang Liao followed Zhao Yun as they rode into the Northern Cavalry Army camp.

A raw and vigorous energy permeates this place.

The cavalry, both Han and non-Han, mingled together, their voices mingling with the neighing of horses. The air was filled with the aroma of roasted meat and the slightly intoxicating scent of mare's milk wine. Occasionally, one could hear a few desolate war songs sung in broken Chinese or other languages.

Wei Yan received the news before arriving at the central camp and rushed over from the rear.

Zhang Liao dismounted swiftly and decisively, and bowed respectfully: "General Wenchang."

"Hahaha!" Wei Yan laughed loudly, "General Wen Yuan!"

Perhaps because they were both of the "Wen" generation, Wei Yan stepped forward, took Zhang Liao's arm, and acted very affectionately.

Zhao Yun dismounted as well, observing the interaction between Wei Yan and Zhang Liao. After a moment, he spoke calmly, "General Wen Yuan, you must be tired from your journey. A small feast has been prepared in the tent to warm you up."

"Yes!" Wei Yan grabbed Zhang Liao's arm. "General Wen Yuan! What are the lord's orders? I will go through fire and water for you!"

Zhao Yun gestured for the two to enter the central command tent. He slightly turned his gaze to sweep over the guards Zhang Liao had brought, keenly noticing the wariness in their eyes, but remained calm and did not point it out.

The three of them stepped into the warm tent.

The tent was simply furnished, with a brazier of burning cow dung and firewood in the center to ward off the chill, and a rough wooden table with some wine and meat on it.

The meat is simply dried meat, grilled meat.

The wine is mare's milk wine.

The imprint of life in the northern region is also revealed in these details.

Zhang Liao looked on, his smile unchanged, but there was a hint of worry in his eyes.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries and several rounds of drinks, Zhang Liao put down his wine bowl, his expression turning solemn. He took out a roll of silk from his bosom and carefully unfolded it. It was the "Letter to the People of the World," which Fei Qian had mentioned and which Pang Tong had issued, and which was now rapidly spreading throughout the land.

"This is the proclamation recently issued by our lord to the entire realm," Zhang Liao's voice was steady, yet he deliberately slowed his speech. His gaze seemed fixed on the silk, but he was actually carefully observing Zhao Yun and Wei Yan's every reaction. "I have been ordered to lead the vanguard for our lord. I have come today for two reasons: first, to meet with you two generals to communicate and coordinate our operations… second, to deliver this document to your ranks, ensuring the soldiers are aware of it."

The tent fell silent for a moment, with only the crackling of burning cow dung and firewood in the brazier.

Zhao Yun wiped his hands with a cloth, stood up and took the silk scroll. He did not unfold it immediately, but looked at Zhang Liao and then at Wei Yan before slowly opening the scroll and examining it carefully.

The ink marks on the silk are vigorous, and the clerical script is as sharp as a knife.

After reading it, Zhao Yun remained calm and handed the silk to Wei Yan.

The proclamation listed the reasons for the decline of the Han Dynasty, denounced the problems of warlord separatism and the obstruction of the aristocratic class, and finally explained that General Fei Qian wanted to "sweep away the chaos and rebuild the lives of the people" and implemented a series of groundbreaking policies such as equal land distribution, promoting practical education, establishing performance evaluation, and abolishing the recommendation system.

This is not merely a proclamation condemning Cao Cao, but also a declaration of breaking with the old order and a blueprint for a new world.

Zhang Liao's inner thoughts were far from as calm as they appeared.

He had already studied the proclamation word for word, and even listened to Fei Qian's explanation when Emperor Liu Xie appeared at Sishui Pass...

However, Zhao Yun and Wei Yan did not experience these things.

As a general who came from the northern border region and experienced the chaos of Dong Zhuo and the rise and fall of Lü Bu, he knew all too well what a terrible scene it would be if a powerful army lost its political direction, or if its leader only knew how to conquer cities and territories but not how to govern the country and bring peace to the people.

Dong Zhuo led his troops to Luoyang, ultimately resulting in his death and the extermination of his clan; Li Jue and Guo Si fought for power and profit, causing chaos in Guanzhong; Lü Bu was the bravest warrior in the army, yet he was like a rootless duckweed, ultimately becoming confused and unable to control himself.

These painful lessons were like brands, deeply etched into his memory.

He once followed Dong Zhuo and witnessed Dong Zhuo's overwhelming power, but in the end, he also met a tragic end with no place to be buried, and his entire family was reduced to dust.

He had followed Lü Bu and witnessed the limitations and destructive power of pure brute force. The once-mighty Lü Bu succumbed to decadence and decay, his once-sharp halberd ultimately falling into the dust of the desert…

Now, Fei Qian had clearly put forward political goals and social visions that went beyond military conquest, which was nothing short of a reassurance to Zhang Liao. He was glad that he had finally followed a lord who not only knew how to fight, but also deeply understood why they fought and how to rebuild after the war. This manifesto was, for him, hope, direction, and a guarantee to avoid repeating past mistakes.

Zhang Liao observed silently.

Wei Yan read the proclamation with great enthusiasm, occasionally slapping the table in approval, but Zhao Yun remained expressionless throughout. This made Zhang Liao slightly uneasy.

Zhang Liao was well aware of the weight of this manifesto, and also of the enormous controversy and backlash it might provoke.

When Zhang Liao came to meet Zhao Yun, he couldn't help but wonder why Fei Qian would issue a proclamation at this time instead of waiting.

Doesn't Fei Qian worry about Zhao Yun's or Wei Yan's attitude toward this matter?
If these generals who command the troops do not share Fei Qian's thoughts, wouldn't that shake the entire situation?

With this hidden worry in mind, Zhang Liao observed Zhao Yun and Wei Yan as discreetly as possible.

"Protector..." Zhang Liao asked directly, staring intently at Zhao Yun, "What does the Protector-General think of this proclamation from our lord?"

Zhao Yun raised his eyes, not looking away, and gazed at Zhang Liao with clear and honest eyes.

"General Wen Yuan," Zhao Yun's voice remained steady, yet carried a thoughtful and cautious tone, "Your lord's proclamation is ambitious and grand in its vision, directly addressing deep-seated problems and aiming to lay the foundation for lasting peace. I... deeply admire it."

Zhao Yun paused slightly, then subtly changed the subject: "However, if I may be frank, issuing this proclamation at this moment will likely have both advantages and disadvantages; the outcome is unpredictable."

Zhang Liao's heart tightened slightly, but he remained outwardly calm: "Oh? I'd like to hear General Zilong's insightful opinion."

However, what follows these words is the most important...

Zhang Liao clenched his fist. Although he still had a smile on his face, his muscles tensed up involuntarily.

Wei Yan suddenly raised his eyebrows and then curled his lips into a smirk.

Zhao Yun, seemingly oblivious to everything, calmly stated, "The advantage of issuing this proclamation lies in its clear message and well-defined purpose. It informs the world that our ambitions extend beyond conquering cities and territories; we aim to pacify the world and implement new policies. With a clear objective, the army can avoid confusion and internal strife. In this way, we can avoid the fate of Dong Zhuo and Li Zicheng."

Zhao Yun did not mention Lü Bu.

Zhang Liao did not speak immediately, but continued to wait...

Sure enough, after a moment, Zhao Yun continued to speak, his tone becoming more serious.

"However, its drawbacks cannot be ignored. Shandong is not yet fully pacified... As the saying goes, even a centipede with a hundred legs does not fall down easily. The powerful clans and gentry in Ji, Qing, Xu, and Yan provinces are deeply entrenched and their power remains. The words in this proclamation are too extreme... Those people in Shandong may have been observing the situation or trying to divide us, but this proclamation will likely provoke many rebellions... If this causes them to unite closely and fight to the death, it will undoubtedly increase the troubles of pacifying Shandong, and may even..."

Zhao Yun fell silent at the end, not finishing his sentence.

Zhao Yun raised his head and looked outside the tent, as if he could see the vast and turbulent land of Hebei, and even further away.

Some generals enjoy war, while others do not.

Zhao Yun couldn't say he disliked war, but he certainly didn't like it either. To some extent, Zhao Yun even loathed war, because war brought more destruction, refugees, and casualties...

If this proclamation causes more complications, prolongs the war, and results in more casualties in the pacification of Shandong, then...

Is it worth it?
Perhaps if the overall situation is settled before issuing the decree, there will be much less resistance?

Zhao Yun's concerns were pragmatic and calm, stemming from his profound understanding of the complex situation. He was not against the content of the proclamation, but rather questioned the timing of its release, and consequently worried about the resulting strategic shifts.

Zhang Liao listened silently, a slight ripple stirring within him.

Zhao Yun's attitude was neutral and objective, recognizing both the long-term benefits and clearly pointing out the immediate difficulties.

This attitude, ironically, reassured Zhang Liao somewhat.

At least, Zhao Yun's actions were based on careful consideration, rather than a simple act of pandering or rejection.

Moreover, Zhao Yun's frankness in discussing the pros and cons shows that he was open and honest and had no ulterior motives.

Before Zhang Liao could even ask Wei Yan, Wei Yan slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Hey! General Zilong, you're being far too cautious! I think our lord's proclamation is well-written and well-sent!"

Wei Yan stared, his face beaming with excitement and agreement, his eyebrows and beard strutting upwards. "Those scoundrels and powerful clans! I've long disliked them! They're all a bunch of parasites sucking the blood of the common people! This proclamation from our lord makes it clear! It tells the whole world that we won't tolerate this! If they don't change, they'll have a hard time from now on!"

Wei Yan spoke with great enthusiasm, "If they jump out because of this, that's perfect! It saves us the trouble of distinguishing who's loyal and who's treacherous later! When the time comes, anyone who disobeys, regardless of the Cui or Lu families, I'll personally lead the troops and cut them down one by one! It's like harvesting crops; only after the first crop is cleared can new seedlings be planted! Those who support our lord will naturally enjoy the rewards! Those who oppose him, chop them up! How simple and decisive!"

Wei Yan's statement appears to be direct and violent.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liao couldn't help but laugh. "It's not that simple..." How can the affairs of the world be completely resolved by killing people alone?

If that were true, Dong Zhuo would have succeeded long ago.

But Zhang Liao also understood that there were probably quite a few generals and military officers in the army who spoke like Wei Yan.

Zhao Yun frowned slightly and glanced at Wei Yan: "Wen Chang, be careful what you say. Battles and bloodshed are inevitable, but governing a country and maintaining peace cannot be achieved through indiscriminate slaughter. Our lord's proclamation also emphasizes 'restoring the people,' not 'exterminating them.'"

Strangely enough, Wei Yan, who usually acted with arrogance and considered himself the most important person in the world, became somewhat less arrogant upon seeing Zhao Yun frown. He coughed and said, "I was just saying... Anyway, I think my lord is right! This proclamation is excellent!"

Wei Yan lowered his head, as if trying to hide something.

Zhang Liao took in both men's reactions, but he was still not completely at ease.

Zhao Yun was rational and neutral, and could see the hidden dangers; Wei Yan appeared to be a fanatical supporter, but his thinking was not necessarily that simple.

Both of these attitudes differ from Zhang Liao's own deep identification with and sense of relief regarding a clear political program, which arose from his painful experiences.

Zhang Liao suddenly realized that under his lord's command, generals from different factions, backgrounds, and experiences had vastly different levels of understanding and acceptance of the same policy document. This was certainly the norm, but it also meant that integrating ideas and unifying understanding was extremely difficult.

On the road ahead, internal disagreements and disputes may not be easier to deal with than external enemies.

However, in the short term, they are still in a state of relative cooperation outweighing their differences.

So after putting aside the matter of the proclamation, Zhang Liao discussed specific military coordination with Zhao Yun and Wei Yan, mainly about how to deal with the main battlefield, namely the battle of Ye City, and how to prevent possible armed uprisings by the gentry in the rear.

Zhao Yun had clearly considered the chain reaction after the proclamation was issued, and indicated that he would make corresponding arrangements for maintaining stability in the rear, namely the defense zones of Youzhou and northern Jizhou.

However, as Zhang Liao bid farewell to the Northern Army camp and returned to his temporary camp, a deeper worry gradually welled up within him...

Was Zhao Yun on guard against him?

Or perhaps, is Zhao Yun willing or not...?

Zhang Liao couldn't help but sigh.

The meeting with Zhao and Wei did not completely dispel his doubts; on the contrary, it made Zhang Liao see the more complicated situation at hand.

What weighed heavily on his mind was that, according to Zhao Yun, many counties in Jizhou surrendered without a fight during the Northern Army's southward march.

This shows that Jizhou is still the same Jizhou, with not much change.

When the officials and gentry of these cities came out to greet him, their faces were plastered with humble smiles, their words full of flattery, expressing their firm support for the General of the Cavalry. But it was only a change of flags on the city walls; inside the cities, those familiar faces, who had been entrenched in the area for many years, were still moving about.

The clerks in the government offices and the powerful figures in the streets seemed to have remained unchanged. They had simply changed the objects of their loyalty, while the old rules by which they relied for survival and profit seemed completely unaffected.

Fei Qian's proclamation was sharp and incisive.

But wasn't Cao Cao's decree to recommend talented people tough back then?
Or going further back, which of the proclamations issued by the Shandong gentry was not deafening and earth-shattering?
But what happened next?

Now, those old, decaying bricks and stones that originally belonged to the old Shandong region seem to be trying to cleverly embed themselves into the foundation of the new world, and may even become a part of it.

This stark contrast sent a chill down Zhang Liao's spine.

If the outcome of a war is simply a change of personnel sitting on top while the underlying structure remains the same, then what is the point of fighting a bloody battle?
How can those beautiful visions in "A Letter to the People of the World" be realized?
This resistance may not come from open and direct opposition, but rather from this silent and ubiquitous erosion and assimilation.

And Zhao Yun...

Those previous rumors...

With such complex and heavy feelings, Zhang Liao returned to his army.

It was already late afternoon, and the afterglow of the setting sun gilded the continuous camp with a layer of dark gold.

The air was filled with the simple aroma of rice porridge and pickled vegetables cooked by the cooks.

Feeling frustrated, Zhang Liao strolled over to a bonfire where soldiers were gathered to eat.

When the soldiers saw the general arrive, they stood up and saluted, looking slightly nervous.

Zhang Liao waved his hand, indicating that they didn't need to be so polite. He casually sat on a fallen log, took a bowl of porridge from his guard, and ate it silently with some pickled vegetables.

At first, the soldiers were a little reserved and dared not speak loudly. But seeing that the general was approachable and simply ate his porridge with his head down, the atmosphere gradually relaxed. They began to talk in hushed tones, discussing nothing more than the day's drills, trivial matters from their hometowns, and...

Zhang Liao was lost in his own thoughts and didn't notice the soldiers' idle chatter until a few words of conversation drifted into his ears.

A slightly immature voice, sounding like a new recruit, asked, "Hey, Brother Wang, is what they said up there true? After the war, will people like me get land too?"

Another rough voice rang out, carrying a hint of worldly experience: "Hey! Kid, what the General says, how could it be false? Didn't you hear what the clerk said? It's been done like this for ages in Guanzhong and Bingbei! As long as you perform meritorious service, you'll get your own land!"

"Goodness..." another voice joined in, filled with disbelief, "If...if it's true, then this war was worth it! Before, what else could we get from war besides pay? And we didn't even get our full pay! Now, there's hope!"

"Exactly!" a gruff voice chimed in. "Before, soldiers just got paid and coasted along. Now it's different. The general said that from now on, based on military merit, not only will we get land, but we'll also become officials! We peasants finally have our day! This isn't fighting for others, it's fighting for ourselves!"

An older veteran, his voice steadyer, said, "It's not just about the land. The proclamation also says it's about promoting... practical learning? The children can go to school, learn to read and write, and acquire skills, so they won't be blind for generations. If this really happens... that would be an immense blessing!"

"That's why we have to fight like mad!" The rough voice suddenly rose, full of enthusiasm, "Beat Cao Cao's army to the ground! Clean up those bastards who are blocking the General of the Cavalry's new policies! Our good days are yet to come!"

"Yeah! Let's beat the hell up!"

A low but enthusiastic murmur of approval rose from the campfire not far away.

In the flickering firelight, the soldiers' faces shone with a light called 'hope'. They interpreted the manifesto in the simplest and most straightforward language, transforming it into their most tangible desires and their strongest fighting will.

Zhang Liao, holding the bowl of porridge, stood frozen in place, as if taken to a trance. Listening to these rough yet incredibly sincere words, his heart felt as if it had been struck by something, pounding violently.

What had he been thinking about?
He was thinking about Zhao Yun, Wei Yan, the potential backlash from the gentry, and the feigned compliance of local powers...

From the perspective of a general and a high-ranking military officer, he was concerned about the difficulty of strategy and tactics, and the complexity of political maneuvering.

But he overlooked the most important point—

Who exactly is this manifesto for?
Zhang Liao suddenly realized what was happening.

The lord's choice to issue this proclamation at this time may have a deeper meaning!

Yes, it will exacerbate conflicts with the old vested interests and make the path to conquest more difficult, just as Zhao Yun feared.

However, it has won the hearts of the vast majority of people in the world!

It gave these ordinary soldiers a fighting reason that was far more concrete and real than pay and honor!

It ignited a fire in their hearts!

With this power, what do the resistance of those aristocratic families and the superficial compliance of those places matter?
It's like a mantis trying to stop a chariot!
Why did Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu fail?

Because they only had an army, but no direction, and no popular support. Their army was merely mercenaries, fighting for money, and would crumble instantly if the tide turned against them. But what Lord Fei Qian is doing now is building an army that knows why it fights and is supported by countless people who yearn for a new life!
Zhang Liao slowly put down his bowl of porridge, his gaze sweeping over the vibrant young faces around him, brimming with energy as they discussed the future. The gloom and doubts in his heart were swept away at that moment by the simple yet powerful force before him.

The lord's plan far exceeded his expectations.

"A Letter to the People" is not a simple political declaration; it is a spark that has been thrown into the hearts of millions who yearn for change, and it will surely ignite a prairie fire.

Since it is a spark, it should be released and ignited as soon as possible.

Of course, doing it too early is also not good.

After all, only now, when the people of Shandong are too busy to take care of themselves, will they allow such space for the common folk. If it were when the political situation was stable and the control was strict, where would there be room for the spark to ignite?
I'm afraid that after just a few casual words, they'd show their credentials, open the box, and break into my house in the middle of the night.

Zhang Liao stood up without saying anything more; he understood what he had to do…

He nodded slightly to the soldiers who saluted him, then turned and walked toward his tent. His steps became unusually firm, and the heaviness and worry he had felt before had vanished.

Under the night sky, the stars are just beginning to appear.

The cold air seemed to carry a new, hopeful atmosphere.

Zhang Liao suddenly stopped feeling as anxious and uneasy as before he arrived.