Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3806 The people have also toiled, and can now enjoy a modest prosperity.

The chaos in the southern city did not immediately subside with the entry of the cavalry, revealing the full complexity of human nature at this moment.

The starving people rushing out of the city gates had only food in their eyes, and the Cao army soldiers who tried to stop them at the city gates were crushed into dust by the flood.

Zhang Liao led his cavalry and, once the flood peak had passed, captured the southern city with almost no effort.

Perhaps due to long-term repression, or perhaps due to sudden changes, this area in the southern part of Ye City presents a strange state of intertwined noise and death.

Survival, death.

The cold autumn wind, carrying ashes and the stench of blood, swirled among the broken walls and ruins.

Meanwhile, in other areas of the southern city that were not mobilized, the emaciated people on the streets either huddled fearfully behind broken doors to peek out or sat numbly in the ruins.

Some of them didn't even know what had happened...

They were reborn amidst confusion.

The occasional cries and shouts of the cavalry soldiers maintaining order in the distance added to the desolate scene.

Zhang Liao immediately went to the intersection of the newly cleared main street in the south of the city.

During the attack on the southern city, some of Cao Cao's soldiers inevitably put up a stubborn resistance.

The bloodstains on Zhang Liao's armor were from those soldiers who remained 'loyal' to the Cao family...

With the fighting over, Zhang Liao stood near the south gate of the city, gazing towards the north of Ye City.

The South City, the North City, and the Prime Minister's Mansion are like three giant staircases, and Zhang Liao and his men have now stepped onto the first level.

This type of city structure was quite common during the Han and Tang dynasties.

Zhang Liao frowned, his gaze sweeping over the devastated southern city area, and also over the faces of the Ye City residents huddled in the corners, their expressions a mixture of fear, numbness, and hope.

Zhao Yun, standing beside him, was still conspicuous in his white robe and silver armor. His expression remained calm and composed as he slightly turned his head, listening carefully to the reports from the scouts. Occasionally, he would ask for details, his voice steady and clear.

Report! Most of the markets and wards in the southern part of the city are in ruins. Eight or nine out of ten people lack food and clothing, there are refugees everywhere, and the situation is chaotic. Furthermore, multiple wells have been found to be contaminated with corpses…

"The passage to the north city has been completely blocked by Cao Cao's army with heavy gates and debris!"

"Report! Many streets and alleys in the city are congested and damaged; cleanup is underway!"

"A small group of Cao Cao's defeated troops were discovered looting civilian homes. They have been captured and killed by our law enforcement team, and their heads are displayed at the street corner!"

"Report! During the attack on the north city, Cao Cao's crossbow carts were spotted at Taijie! Our squad has suffered dozens of casualties!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liao snorted and ordered the feint attack squad to withdraw. He then said to Zhao Yun, "Zilong, although half of the city has fallen, the people's hearts are not yet won over. The inner city is still intact, but the passageways are blocked, and the steps are narrow. A direct assault is not worthwhile... The most urgent task is to stabilize the situation in the outer city and win over the hearts of the people. Otherwise, even with immense strength, our army will be bogged down and unable to maneuver effectively."

Zhao Yun nodded and said, "It's a pity that the Cui family general succumbed to his wounds; otherwise, he could have been used to stabilize the city..."

Zhang Liao nodded in agreement. "What a pity... If it weren't for this man holding back Cao Cao's army in the inner city, we might not have been able to take the southern city so easily... It shows that the people in the northern city aren't necessarily of one mind either... It would be better to postpone the attack on the inner city to prevent Cao Cao from using this opportunity to consolidate the morale of his troops..."

As the cavalry's momentum grows stronger, more and more people like Wang Yun and Cui Hu will surrender.

Without external factors, these people might still be working diligently in their original positions. However, with the external pressure from the Flying Cavalry, the resentment they have accumulated over the years has easily found a way to vent.

I wonder if, at this point, those former rulers will still complain about how many grievances and complaints the people have—well, perhaps what we'd call palace grievances?
After capturing the southern city, the cavalry attempted to storm the northern city of Ye, but the heavy gate could not be moved. Another route was a series of zigzag steps. After two or three probing attacks, they found that Cao Cao's defenses were tight and they suffered heavy losses.

Zhao Yun thought for a moment and agreed with Zhang Liao's suggestion, "Now that we have captured the southern city, the northern city will naturally fall like an eggshell; it's only a matter of time, there's no need to rush. However, the people of the southern city urgently need resettlement."

Zhang Liao pointed to the young men of the Jizhou gentry who had come with the Flying Cavalry and were now standing beneath the southern city walls. "Now is the perfect time to use them. We can divide the city into districts and have them pretend to be civil officials to observe their abilities and also to avoid any unforeseen circumstances."

Zhao Yun pondered for a moment and said, "These people can be used, but not all of them. Wen Yuan should be cautious."

Zhang Liao cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Zilong's words are quite correct."

After some communication between Zhang Liao and Zhao Yun, the two gradually developed a better understanding of each other. Zhang Liao was responsible for the specific implementation of many things, while Zhao Yun focused on overall coordination.

As Zhang Liao and Zhao Yun issued their orders, soon squads of cavalry soldiers, carrying long halberds and large shields, marched in orderly and heavy steps, escorting several young men dressed in Confucian robes or slightly worn Han official attire, and appeared separately in the main streets and alleys of the southern city.

These young people were the sons of the Jizhou gentry who came one after another to respond to Zhao Yun's call.

Cui Lin of Boling, Ju Hu of Guangping, Geng Chen of Julu, Zhen Xiang of Zhongshan...

They each represented the interests and expectations of their families, and also harbored personal ambitions to establish merit under the command of the General of the Cavalry.

At the street entrance of Yongpingli, the cavalrymen quickly cleared a space on the still relatively intact street and used the timber they carried with them and door panels they found in the ruins to temporarily build a somewhat crude wooden platform.

Cui Lin straightened his clothes and stood below the stage.

Cui Lin's experience in Zhao Yun's army was also full of ups and downs, highs and lows, and his emotional fluctuations almost led to his downfall. But now he feels that he can do it again...

His brows held the reserved and solemn air that seemed to be ingrained in the blood of aristocratic youths, along with a hint of excitement at about to step onto an "important stage."

There was even some hidden happiness!
That's right.

Because Cui Hu is dead.

Although Cui Lin outwardly feigned grief, he was secretly delighted. If Cui Hu were still alive, setting aside their past conflicts, the credit for surrendering the city would undoubtedly have gone primarily to Cui Hu, with Cui Lin only receiving a tiny fraction. But now that Cui Hu was dead, Cui Lin could claim a much larger share…

In any case, you can't write two 'Cui' characters in one stroke, can you?
Cui Lin was one of the first gentry from Ji Province to seek out Zhao Yun. However, Cui Lin failed to assess the situation properly and did not make the necessary mental adjustments. Now, it's like he got up early but arrived late...

Seeing that the cavalrymen had already set up the wooden platform, Cui Lin took a deep breath and, under the watchful eyes of several of his clansmen and the cavalrymen, steadily climbed onto the platform.

After standing still, he surveyed the gazes cast upon him from behind dilapidated doors and windows, from the shadows of street corners, and from the eaves of crumbling houses—gazes a mixture of surprise, numbness, and longing. Gathering his strength, he began to speak loudly in his Boling accent—

"Fellow citizens of Ye City! I am Cui Lin of Boling! The royal army under the command of the General of the Cavalry has arrived here to relieve the people's suffering and punish the guilty. This is not a massacre, but a pacification of the people from their dire straits, to restore the glory of the Han Dynasty! The General has issued strict orders: No innocent people to be killed! No looting! No disturbance of the people's livelihood! From this day forward, the order of the southern city will be taken over by my Cavalry army, ensuring everyone can live and work in peace, and restoring tranquility!"

Cui Lin's voice was initially a little tense, but soon, the demeanor and eloquence he had been cultivated since childhood as a scion of a prominent family came into play, and his voice became fluent.

Who on the stage can't say a few words?

Those who cannot speak have no chance to stand on it.

Most of the people in the audience listened blankly, with only a few literate people trying to decipher what Cui Lin was saying.

Cui Lin was clearly unaware of his problem, while Ju Hu, who was giving a speech in another market, was much better in this regard.

Ju Hu's personality was even more straightforward and outspoken than Cui Lin's, even displaying a touch of youthful recklessness and a desire for self-expression. He abandoned refined language and instead spoke directly in the more down-to-earth, commonplace Jizhou dialect, shouting to the crowd: "I am Ju Hu, from the Ju clan of Guangping, and I am also from Jizhou! Fellow villagers! Open your eyes and see! The Cao family is incompetent, unable to defend the city, even embezzling our last remaining rations! They hide behind the high walls of the north city, feasting and drinking, never caring about the lives of us in the south! Now, the Flying Cavalry has arrived, bringing food! They've come to give us a way to survive! As long as everyone behaves themselves, follows instructions, registers at the designated place, and acts according to the rules, they can receive their life-saving rations! They can live!"

Now the people of Nancheng understood much more, and some commotion began to rise around the stage, with more whispers and murmurs. Seeing this, Ju Hu smiled with satisfaction, but he didn't expect that while Cui Lin and he were giving their speeches on the platform, Geng Chen, who arrived a step later, appeared more pragmatic and low-key.

Geng Chen did not rush to give a speech, nor did he ask the cavalrymen to help build a high platform. Instead, he first had his attendants post several public notices that had been made overnight on wooden boards and in prominent places such as the walls of the market.

The entourage carried the banners and shouted as they walked deeper into the market town. Gradually, some people peeked out and gathered under the town wall.

Geng Chen stood by the wall of the neighborhood, pointing at the notice and explaining the terms to the crowd of people who had gathered around, especially the provisions regarding the establishment of a temporary civil official, allowing people to appeal their grievances, and how to restore the market.

The people in the market gathered by the wall, listening intently, their eyes seeming to gleam with anticipation.

Zhen Xiang, who arrived even later and was almost the last to reach Ye City, fully demonstrated the characteristics of the Zhen family of Zhongshan, who had been in business for generations and were known for their tactful and gentle manners.

He led two attendants carrying cloth bags containing some emergency rations and medicine, and went directly into the streets and alleys with his cavalrymen. They distributed cakes and medicine to the people hiding in their homes, especially the widows, widowers, orphans, and the elderly who were huddled in corners trembling, and the women, children, and the weak who were slumped under broken walls, barely breathing.

He knelt down, whispered comforting words, patiently inquired about their family situation and any urgent needs, and provided detailed information about the location and pickup method of the soon-to-be-established porridge kitchen.

Zhen Xiang's movements were gentle and his words sincere, not as if he were declaring victory, but more as if he were visiting his suffering neighbors.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see the underlying, unspoken competition among these individuals.

What Cui Lin wanted to demonstrate was the composure and prestige of the Cui family, a prominent clan, and their ability to set an example for the community.

Juhu, on the other hand, wanted to highlight his empathy and closeness with the grassroots people.

Geng Chen works diligently and focuses on practical operational efficiency and the establishment of systems, which are the foundation for his future livelihood.

Zhen Xiang, however, took a different approach, focusing on the softer side of people's hearts. Coming from a business background, he knew exactly what the common people needed...

They have competition, but they don't undermine others.

temporary.

The cake is too big for anyone to eat, so it's not time to tear it down yet...

However, it is foreseeable that now that there is a cake, it will naturally attract more "diners", and disputes will still be inevitable.

Because once the news spreads, it's inevitable that a large number of other disciples will rush over!

Of course, these verbal pronouncements or small amounts of relief alone are still not enough to completely stabilize the situation in the southern part of Ye City.

At the same time, the military law unit of the Flying Cavalry also began its operation.

Following the instructions of Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao, all residents of the outer city of Ye City, organized by neighborhood, were required to register at designated locations outside the city within a specified time.

The registration point was set up outside the south city to facilitate the use of the Zhang River for disease prevention and control. It was jointly managed by clerks dispatched by the Flying Cavalry and local Jizhou natives familiar with the area. They carefully verified the registrants' place of origin, age, original occupation, and family member information, and made temporary wooden household registration plaques.

There were bound to be disturbances, doubts, and even hidden hostility among the crowd. The process was slow and filled with various trivial disputes. However, under the watchful eyes of the gleaming swords and halberds of the cavalry soldiers, and with the repeated persuasion of the young men of Jizhou in their familiar local dialect, especially the guidance of the words that "only after receiving the token can one receive the grain," this road to establishing a new order, despite its bumpy road, stubbornly extended forward.

……

……

North City, Bronze Sparrow Terrace.

As dusk fell, the setting sun, like blood, dyed the western sky a poignant crimson, casting an ominous halo over the majestic pavilion beneath Cao Pi's feet and the triple eaves not far behind him.

Cao Pi deliberately wore a set of gleaming armor, covered with a black brocade cloak, and stood by the railing of the highest level with his hand on his sword.

He deliberately stood ramrod straight, attempting to demonstrate to all the officials and soldiers in the inner city his determination to live and die with Ye City.

However, if you get closer, you can still see Cao Pi's legs trembling slightly under the railing.

Cao Pi's gaze involuntarily swept over the still orderly but somewhat lifeless neighborhoods in the north of the city, and over the city wall at the junction of the inner and outer cities, which was on high alert, and turned to the area to the south that had already changed hands.

In stark contrast to the deathly silence of the north city, the south city now seemed to be showing signs of life...

The most obvious example, of course, is the smoke rising from the soup kitchens of the Flying Cavalry.

Even though they were far apart, Cao Pi could almost imagine the smell of millet bubbling in boiling water...

This aura, once used by Cao Cao's army to control the people of the southern city and later by Zhang Liao to attack their minds, now seemed to be burning his lungs.

Those insignificant, ant-like commoners, drawn by the smoke from the chimneys, formed long queues, moving from inside the city to outside, and then back into the city.

On the street, soldiers of the Flying Cavalry were maintaining order, and the tricolor flags stung Cao Pi's eyes.

A mixture of anger, humiliation, and fear that he himself was unwilling to acknowledge combined together, causing Cao Pi to abruptly withdraw his gaze as if he had been slashed, unwilling and afraid to look again.

Once a stance is changed, the attitude immediately changes completely.

Previously, the people of the southern city of Ye were under the control of Cao Cao's army. Cao Pi wished these lowly people would be numb, obedient, and honest, and even if they were worked to death, they would rather not utter a sound or complain at all. But now, seeing these people of Ye obeying the discipline under the command and guidance of the General of the Cavalry, he was filled with inexplicable anger...

These lowly bastards...

"Hypocrisy! Winning people over!" Cao Pi gritted his teeth, his voice forced out from between them. "They're masters of such tricks!"

"Your Highness, Magistrate Chen has arrived..."

"It was said in a low voice by the guard standing to the side."

"Greetings, Your Highness." Chen Qun bowed respectfully, his voice still seemingly calm.

"A long article! Did you see it?!" Cao Pi whirled around, pointing towards the south of the city. "What are they doing? They're using the people of Ji Province to win over the hearts of the people of Ji Province! Damn it! Damn it all! Do they think they can subdue the enemy without a fight? Is their next step to incite those foolish people to attack the north city?!"

Chen Qun slowly straightened up, his gaze falling on the smoke-shrouded southern city. His face remained largely expressionless; instead, he said calmly, "Your Highness, please calm down. Their actions were exactly what I expected."

"As expected?" Cao Pi's eyes showed suspicion.

How many times?
Every time it's as expected, and then something goes wrong!

Now you're saying it was "expected"?
"The General of the Flying Cavalry has brought this upon himself..." Chen Qun turned to Cao Pi, "Your Highness, what remains in the Southern City? Aside from over thirty thousand hungry mouths and dilapidated houses, is there a mountain of provisions? Is there a forest of weapons?"

Before Cao Pi could answer, Chen Qun continued his analysis with a confident tone, as if stating an irrefutable fact.

"Although the Flying Cavalry has captured the southern city, their momentum is like a raging fire spreading across the plains. However, an army without supplies will perish, and without provisions, it will also perish. Now, with 30,000 starving people at our disposal, the daily cost is a thousand taels of gold, causing unrest both inside and outside the city. Their army is fighting far from home, and transportation is extremely difficult. Even if they obtain empty granaries, how can they sustain this for long? Opening the granaries to show charity is tantamount to drinking poison. Military strategy states that wise generals seek sustenance from the enemy; now, we are using our own provisions to feed the people, which is to dull the enemy's fighting spirit and exhaust their resources. Sun Tzu said, 'A state impoverished by war is one that relies on long-distance transport; long-distance transport impoverishes the people.' How many days can the Flying Cavalry's provisions last? As the saying goes, 'First make yourself invincible, then wait for the enemy to become vulnerable.' Our army now has a fortified northern city and no starving people to burden us; we should hold our positions and await our opportunity. Distributing porridge to the Flying Cavalry is easy, but unsustainable. If we stop distributing porridge, the starving people will surely resent us!"

Chen Qun leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice, "Our army must firmly defend the northern city, relying on its high ground and strategic location, and observe the situation. When their food supplies run out and reinforcements are cut off, and their morale falters, those starving people in the southern city who are grateful for their benevolence today will turn into a mob tomorrow due to another lack of food! At that time, the Flying Cavalry will be beset by internal and external troubles, and even with the bravery of a hegemon, they will find it difficult to escape annihilation! This is the best strategy to subdue the enemy without fighting!"

Cao Pi listened and felt that there was some truth to it, but he felt that something was not quite right, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it...