Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3811 The Chapter of the People
The next morning, just as dawn broke, a large number of people gathered on the open ground inside the south gate of Ye City.

Sparse morning light filtered through the crenellations of the city gate tower, illuminating faces that held a mixture of bewilderment and inexplicable joy.

The news somehow spread that Military Advisor Pang intended to settle the sons of noble families here.

One aspect is the desire for entertainment, since those well-dressed aristocratic sons rarely end up being publicly punished.

But in reality, it is more of an outward manifestation of the deep-seated divide between these Shandong gentry and ordinary people...

The common people know they are not "one of us," so they always feel happy when they see them suffer.

These aristocratic sons of Ji Province, masquerading as representatives of the countryside, might, while walking through the villages, feign kindness by helping a fallen child or offering words of comfort to farmers. In times of famine, they might distribute some grain for porridge, but this wasn't always out of genuine goodwill; some feared the people would starve and resort to violent plunder, so they preferred to keep the people alive...

While the common people may not be able to see through the tricks of these aristocratic sons who wear the cloak of "local worthies," it does not prevent them from perceiving the evil beneath the outward appearance of goodwill of these aristocratic sons through their own experiences.

The gentlemanly demeanor they display is nothing more than a fig leaf to cover up their own ugliness.

Their roots are clearly planted in the local soil, and their ancestors may have been farmers. But once they rise to the ranks of the gentry based on their clan's prestige or some knowledge, they immediately separate themselves from the common people.

When walking on the road, people had to keep their distance. If they accidentally bumped into someone, they would be scolded by servants or whipped. During the autumn harvest, they would take away most of the grain from the people under the pretext of "collecting and paying taxes on behalf of others", "distributing corvée labor", and "clan offerings".

The common people work hard, shedding blood and sweat, yet they have little money left at the end of the year. Meanwhile, the officials live in brick and tile houses, drinking and making merry every day, wearing fine silks and satins, taking the people's hard work for granted, and from time to time standing on high ground criticizing the people for being lazy, or for the people's ancestors being lazy.

They said, "The ruler is the guide for the subjects, and the father is the guide for the son," which meant that the people should obediently submit to the rule and not resist in the slightest.

They said, "Among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, scholars are the most noble," which meant that the people should acknowledge that they were born superior and willingly be exploited.

Verbally, they constantly talk about "speaking out for the people" and "caring about the countryside." Whenever local officials hold meetings, they always stand up as "representatives of the people" and say a few perfunctory words about "the people's suffering and the need for lighter taxes and levies," which earns them praise from officials for their "virtue." Then, they secretly share the profits with the officials.

The cavalry has arrived.

The General of the Flying Cavalry said there was a new system, a new way...

Having been bullied so often that they had become somewhat numb, the common people mostly just listened without believing that the arrival of the Flying Cavalry would mean they wouldn't be on the same side as the original aristocratic families of Ji Province.

Oh, if the big man doesn't have trousers, then it means that government officials and gentry members wear the same undergarment.

Now, in the eyes of the people of the southern part of Ye City, Pang Tong's handling of the sons of the Ji Province gentry is like a couple sharing the same fig leaf about to fight...

Hey!
We'll have to take a look.

Who knows, someone might reveal something, which would be enough to make these ordinary people laugh for a while.

A commotion arose from the crowd, and someone pointed into the city gate and shouted, "They're here! They're here!"

The people held their breath and looked in that direction. They wanted to see if Military Advisor Pang's punishment of the aristocratic sons could truly vent their long-standing grievances and make those high-and-mighty "representatives of the countryside" truly taste the bitterness of the common people.

Soon, Pang Tong, escorted by Zhao Yun, Zhang Liao, and a group of armored soldiers, ascended the makeshift wooden platform.

Guo Yu, Zhang Tao, and five or six other aristocratic sons who had been named yesterday were escorted by armored soldiers and knelt dejectedly in front of the platform.

Without wasting any words, Pang Tong directly ordered the clerk beside him to read aloud the words and actions of these people in the streets yesterday, comparing them with their actual deeds.

Each and every one of them is clear and distinct.

In particular, when Zhang Tao's lie about "donating half of his grain reserves" was exposed on the spot, a commotion and boos immediately arose among the people in the audience.

These aristocratic sons, who usually acted arrogantly, now dared to deceive the world and steal fame in times of crisis, even attempting to sow discord between the military and the people. This greatly angered the already suffering people of Nancheng.

Many ordinary people cursed and spat at them.

This left Guo Yu, Zhang Tao, and the others looking ashen-faced. It wasn't that they didn't want to defend themselves, but faced with the irrefutable facts and the overwhelming public outcry, they were speechless and could only lower their heads in shame.

"A country has its laws, and an army has its regulations! Deceiving superiors and misleading the people is punishable according to the law!" Pang Tong's clear voice echoed throughout the assembly. "Twenty strokes of the cane as a warning to others! Execute!"

Merely making empty promises to gain fame is not a capital offense.

Twenty strokes of the cane are not a severe beating; there's no hidden, underhanded tactic involved.

Pang Tong disdained such underhanded tactics.

His judgment was fair and just.

The soldiers stepped forward and pinned the men to the ground in front of everyone. The batons fell with a cracking sound, accompanied by muffled groans of pain and the complicated gazes of the people.

His white buttocks were exposed, and then they turned red with a series of splatters.

The audience below watched with beaming smiles and cheers...

This beating not only struck Guo Yu and his group, but also the hearts of all the Jizhou gentry who harbored illusions and thought of taking advantage of this upheaval.

Cui Lin, Ju Hu, and the others stood at the front of the crowd and could see clearly. Cold sweat broke out on their backs as they secretly rejoiced that they had not made any false or exaggerated claims yesterday.

After the execution, Pang Tong's gaze swept over the crowd below the platform, then over the pale-faced gentry of Ji Province. He first gestured for the crowd to quiet down, then spoke in a firm and resolute voice: "Fellow villagers! The General of the Cavalry entered the city not to plunder, but to relieve the people and punish the guilty! The bandits are not yet subdued, and the northern city has not yet fallen. We share the same lack of provisions; we are in a life-or-death situation! At this critical moment, only by working together can we overcome this difficulty! I will not allow anyone to deceive or incite others for their own selfish gain, thus destroying our hope for survival!"

Pang Tong raised his hand, pointing outside the city. "Though autumn is deep and the fields are barren, heaven and earth nurture all things; surely there is a glimmer of hope? In the fields outside the city, there must be leftover ears of grain and roots of wild vegetables to dig up! In the Zhang River, there must be fish, shrimp, clams, and mussels to catch! Instead of waiting to die, we should rise up and fight for survival!"

Having said that, Pang Tong's gaze fell on Cui Lin, Ju Hu, and several other aristocratic youths who had performed reasonably well yesterday. "Cui, Ju... heed my command! Effective immediately, you are hereby appointed as temporary 'Food Collectors'! Your responsibility is to organize and guide the people to go out of the city to gather all edible things! Survey the terrain, identify edible plants, plan hunting and fishing areas, maintain order, tally the harvest, and distribute it fairly! Can you do this?"

Cui Lin, Ju Hu, and the others tensed up. Without hesitation, they stepped forward, bowed, and pledged: "We will certainly do our utmost to fulfill the strategist's expectations!"

Although it was only temporary and strange, the so-called "food service" was undoubtedly a "gate" opened for the sons of the Jizhou gentry!

Furthermore, Cui Ju and other aristocratic youths who were more willing to join the General of the Cavalry had witnessed Guo Yu and others being flogged, and they knew that the fat, dark-skinned man in front of them was ruthless, fair in rewarding and punishing, and was by no means an easy opponent.

Although this "serving the people" position is a temporary job without rank, it is a real duty and opportunity to perform well. If done well, it may preserve the family and even advance further. Why wouldn't one accept it?

Other aristocratic sons were also appointed by Pang Tong as "Food Seekers." Along with Cui Ju and others, and even Guo Zhang and others who were flogged, they began to explore a path to survival from chaos to organization, following the original market allocation, under Pang Tong's combined approach of kindness and severity.

……

……

In the southern part of Ye City, the autumn sun, carrying a hint of weakness, illuminated the dilapidated streets and alleys and the turbulent hearts of the people.

Yesterday's caning and appointment at the city gate seemed to inject a glimmer of vitality into the stagnant southern city of Ye, bringing a new light to the scene.

Cui Lin and Ju Hu, who had been appointed as "food handlers," along with other aristocratic youths, whether willingly or not, reluctantly organized the able-bodied men remaining in their respective wards at the crack of dawn the next day. They set off towards the desolate fields and bleak riverbanks outside the city, according to the areas they had roughly divided the previous night. Although the area around Ye City had likely been thoroughly cleared, the Han Dynasty was a less densely populated period compared to later dynasties, so some flora and fauna probably still remained a dozen or so miles from the city.

Most of these aristocratic youths were relatively confused about the area they had discussed last night. They were not very supportive of exploring the unknown wilderness, but after being introduced by some of the elders in the market, they generally knew what to do.

Or perhaps they hadn't fully realized the seriousness of the problem, and their bewildered departure from the city was partly due to their fear of Pang Tong's methods.

After leaving Ye City, several timid and cowardly noblemen secretly left the main group and quietly returned to their hometowns...

Running away and hiding are human instincts.

These aristocratic youths, who were escaping reality, mostly thought that once they arrived, they would be treated as honored guests. They would then boast and brag while enjoying the hospitality of the Imperial Cavalry for free, much like how the American gentry would be treated to free food, lodging, and pocket money when they went to a third-rate country.

Unexpectedly, in the cavalry, not only was there no good wine and meat to entertain them, no pocket money, and no geisha to offer to sleep with them, but they also had to work!
Running errands is one thing, but now I have to go out and gather firewood!

As a result, some people with poor mental fortitude fled without saying a word, taking advantage of the opportunity to leave the city...

Strangely, even though the patrolling scouts spotted these fleeing aristocratic youths, none of them gave chase. Even the barbarian cavalry ignored them, focusing only on their horses, seemingly pretending not to see them at all.

Of course, most of the Ji Province gentry who came to the General of the Cavalry were eager to climb the ranks, so even though they had been flogged by Pang Tong, Guo Jing, Zhang Fei, and the others still harbored resentment and gritted their teeth to stay on the cart.

However, the actions of Guo, Zhang, and others also had a somewhat dubious air about them...

Besides Guo and Zhang, there were also some aristocratic sons who, whether due to their own lack of ability or some other reason, did not lead the villagers they were assigned to go far out. Instead, they were led to areas that seemed safe but yielded little harvest. After a busy day, they had only a few thin wild vegetable roots and a few berries that were not enough to fill their stomachs.

The people dragged their tired and empty bodies back to their respective neighborhoods. Looking at their meager harvest, and then smelling the faint aroma of fish and meat wafting from other directions—perhaps the lucky ones had caught a large catch—disappointment and resentment grew uncontrollably.

At this time, the common people were no longer "numb" in their temper...

"It's all their fault! What kind of route did they take! They were just trying to fool us!"

"I should have gone with the people from Dongfang! I heard they found a wild pond and collected a lot of snails!"

"It's all because these young masters are useless! They're arrogant and aloof all the time, but when it comes to a life-or-death situation, they can't help at all!"

Complaints echoed softly through the twilight-shrouded market.

As for the Flying Cavalry, Pang Tong indeed did as he predicted, further reducing the amount of diverted military rations used to supplement the ordinary soup kitchens, making the soup visibly thinner.

At the same time, the cavalry also announced that the soup kitchens would be dismantled within three days, and replaced by a basic food ration supply in each neighborhood. Some people initially thought that the basic food ration was good, but after doing some calculations, they found that if they did not work and find new food sources, they could only barely get a bowl of thin porridge a day.

This change has made life even harder for the elderly, women, and children who rely on relief, and has also plunged young and middle-aged families who go out to work but have not reaped good results into deeper anxiety.

Some people began to numbly accept reality, only sighing and cursing the injustice of fate; while others, more resourceful, began to secretly inquire how those thriving markets found their food...

The same was true for the sons of aristocratic families. The once stagnant southern city of Ye began to gradually stir.

……

……

Amidst this atmosphere of intertwined hope and despair, resentment and the will to survive, the cavalry's operations quietly commenced once again.

The following morning, eye-catching "Food Lists" were posted at several major intersections in the southern part of the city.

This list wasn't just in one place; it appeared in all the major passageways, and even low-ranking military officials were loudly proclaiming it.

The list wasn't just empty encouragement; it used simple diagrams and text to indicate the general directions each gathering team went in the previous day, the main types of food they obtained, and the names of the team leaders in larger font...

Ordinary people don't need to understand all the characters, but they can know where those people went yesterday and what new food they discovered. The gentry, who can read, stare wide-eyed, as if trying to memorize every single word on the list.

This list is like a mirror, clearly reflecting the achievements and gaps among the sons of the Jizhou gentry in the past.

The neighbors who were blaming each other last night now have a more complicated look in their eyes.

Envy, jealousy, resentment...

Various emotions fermented in the silence.

But soon, the people noticed that the people heading out of the city gate were walking faster and faster. They realized this and didn't care about their emotions anymore. They even forgot about the incident the night before when some people said they wanted to "reason" with the cavalry about basic rations.

At this very moment, on the Bronze Sparrow Terrace in the northern part of Ye City.

Cao Pi and Chen Qun continued to observe the movements in the southern city every day.

After the initial days of panic, Cao Cao's army in Beicheng now seems to be in a rather confused state. They are supposed to be resisting the Flying Cavalry, but the Flying Cavalry doesn't seem to be in a hurry to attack Beicheng.

Cao Pi observed the varying amounts of smoke rising from the chimneys of the southern city's wards, and listened to the faint sounds emanating from within the market areas. His brow furrowed in bewilderment. "Changwen," he said, "look at this… what is the General of the Cavalry doing? Why do some of those lowly people seem to have found food, while others are still starving? This chaos is tantamount to destroying our own defenses!"

Originally, the cavalry set up soup kitchens outside the south city, and there was hardly any smoke from cooking fires in the various markets and wards. But now it's different...

A city only feels alive when smoke rises from its chimneys.

Otherwise, if we eat pre-cooked meals every day, all that's left are cold, lifeless walls.

Cao Pi did not understand why the Flying Cavalry Army would do this. Wouldn't it be even more difficult to manage if they were dispersed to various markets and wards?
Chen Qun gazed into the distance for a long time, then sighed softly, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible admiration and solemnity.

He saw more than Cao Pi did.

Faced with Cao Pi's question, Chen Qun had no choice but to patiently explain, "Your Highness, this is not chaos... this is truly a brilliant strategy for governing the people... People are often greedy, and they are more concerned with inequality than scarcity... But if the General of the Cavalry distributes food equally, how will the soldiers and officers feed themselves? Now, with each market and neighborhood cooking their own food, it is indeed somewhat chaotic, but it reduces the consumption of military rations! This General of the Cavalry... is indeed extraordinary. He cleverly utilizes the unequal distribution of food among the different neighborhoods to stimulate the people's competitive will to survive... impressive, impressive..."

Cao Pi seemed to understand somewhat, 'With the General of Chariots and Cavalry behaving this way, won't it incite public resentment?'

Chen Qun sighed again and shook his head. "When the people see that their neighboring wards have reaped a bounty while their own are empty, their resentment naturally doesn't lie with the General of the Cavalry... In this way, the General of the Cavalry remains uninvolved... A brilliant tactic, truly a brilliant tactic!"

Cao Pi frowned, pondered for a long time, then suddenly his eyes lit up. "Since they're focusing all their energy on these lowly people and finding food, the city's defenses must be lax! Why don't we take advantage of the night..."

"No!" Chen Qun exclaimed in surprise!
It's not that I'm afraid my kid is stupid, it's that I'm afraid he has a new plan!
Chen Qun shook his head repeatedly, pointing to the two main passages connecting the north and south of the city. "Your Highness, have you forgotten? To prevent a strong attack from the Flying Cavalry, the western gate passage leading to the south city has had its heavy gate lowered and filled with sand and gravel! The long north-south staircase has also had its key supports destroyed, now a dangerous pass! If our army wants to attack, repairing the passages would require a massive undertaking, a huge disturbance… or we could detour through the northern city's earthen plateau… Your Highness, look at the numerous Flying Cavalry sentries outside the city, heavily guarded. Furthermore, Generals Zhao and Zhang each lead scouts on patrol; at the slightest disturbance, their iron cavalry can arrive in an instant! Attacking now would be tantamount to walking into a trap! We must not act rashly, absolutely not rashly!"

Cao Pi gritted his teeth, then slammed his fist on the railing in frustration. "Are we just supposed to sit and watch?!"

Chen Qun pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "If we rely solely on this, chaos will still break out in the southern city... There's still a chance, there's still a chance..."

He seemed to be comforting Cao Pi, but it was more like he was numbing himself.