Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3813 Its Destiny is to Renew
Awakening is difficult.

An individual's awakening often occurs when their personal interests are being severely exploited, leading them to angrily take up arms in resistance.

Moreover, this kind of resistance is often just an outlet for emotions, and not necessarily a true awakening.

Therefore, the awakening of class consciousness and historical responsibility becomes even more difficult...

It's already difficult enough to know just this much.

Knowing something and then putting it into practice is an incredibly difficult task.

Similar to Zhang Tao's act of robbing others' gains, he was not the only one to do this in feudal dynasties, nor was it the only case!
As Zhou Shuren once said, when a cockroach is found in a room, it often means that the dark corners can no longer hide it...

I thought that deducting four yuan from five yuan was already the ultimate exploitation?
No, they even want to take away the last dollar!
Under feudal rule, each level exploited the next, and orders from above were considered divine mandate. The lower one went, the more severe and cruel the exploitation became.

The Han Dynasty divided everyone into different ranks, which later became known as the Nine-Rank System.
Therefore, Zhang Tao didn't think there was anything wrong with him exploiting poor students.

Su Ming is of lower status than me, so Su Ming has to pay tribute to him. Is there anything wrong with that?

Similar scenes played out repeatedly in different collection areas over the course of several days.

The scions of powerful families, relying on their numbers or family reputation, forcibly "requisition" fertile land from poorer families or smaller clans that had been discovered first or had established a proven track record of exploitation, sometimes even seizing a portion of the spoils. Faced with such blatant oppression, most poorer families, like Su Ming, dared not speak out in anger, and could only swallow their grievances or be forced to cede some of their gains.

This has been the case in the Central Plains region of Shandong for the past three or four hundred years.

Under these rules, no matter how capable an individual is, if they offend these powerful and wealthy families, they will find it difficult to move forward.

(Taishi Ci sighed.)
However, these people forgot one thing.

Today, the rule-makers and enforcers are Pang Tong and the General of the Cavalry.

When the people of the oppressed neighborhoods, after a hard day's work, have their harvest drastically reduced because their land has been taken away, and when they return to their neighborhoods and see the thin porridge and the smoke rising from the chimneys of other neighborhoods, their resentment can no longer be contained. Instead of appealing to the gentry, they go directly to the cavalrymen who are maintaining order.

"Sir! You must do us justice! Those Zhang family members have seized our good land! They've also stolen a lot of our harvest! What are we going to eat tonight!" An old farmer grabbed the arm of the squad leader, tears streaming down his face.

The squad leader's expression turned serious, and he immediately prepared to record and report it.

Seeing this, Su Ming hurriedly stepped forward to stop them, whispering, "Sir, sir! You mustn't! Why make such a fuss over such a small matter? We're all from the same village, we'll see each other again soon... The Zhang family is powerful, and in the future... we still need to establish ourselves in Jizhou! This is a matter of face..."

"face?"

The cavalry sergeant abruptly flung Su Ming's hand away, his voice booming like thunder, drawing the attention of the surrounding crowd. "Su's son! You've got it wrong! Here in our cavalry army, whether the people have enough to eat is the most important thing! What are your honors? Can they fill your stomachs?!"

Su Ming was stunned. He hadn't expected that the usually cheerful cavalry squad leader would be so serious now.

The cavalry sergeant surveyed the surrounding populace, noticing their pale faces, and declared loudly without hesitation, "The General and Military Advisor Pang have repeatedly ordered that all matters be based on the people's welfare and on actual results! How can we, out of fear of the powerful, stand idly by while the people are bullied and the rules are broken?! This matter must be reported!"

Su Ming was speechless after being refuted, his face flushed red as he retreated to the side, feeling a mix of emotions.

As the evening glow illuminated the sky, the South Gate once again became the focus of attention.

Pang Tong stood on the platform, his face cold and stern.

Below the stage, Zhang Tao and several other aristocratic youths who had committed robbery were escorted in front, followed by a large crowd of ordinary people.

Pang Tong didn't say much or expound any grand principles; instead, he directly ordered someone to read out the charges.

When and where was the land forcibly seized, and by whom was it first discovered and operated? What was the amount of profit plundered? There is ample evidence, both physical and witness testimony.

After reading the passage, Pang Tong swept his gaze over Zhang Tao and the others: "Do you all know your crimes?"

Zhang Tao instinctively wanted to argue, but under Pang Tong's all-knowing gaze and before the detailed evidence presented, he finally lost his nerve, dejectedly lowered his head, and remained silent.

"According to the law, the punishment is thirty strokes of the cane! All stolen goods must be returned to the victimized residents! Future land for gathering will be centrally planned and allocated by the military, with rotation in sequence; private appropriation and forcible seizure are strictly prohibited! Repeat offenders will be severely punished!"

Pang Tong gave the order in a stern voice.

The military batons fell again, striking not only the bodies of Zhang Tao and the others, but also the arrogance of them and all the other scions of powerful families who were watching.

Pang Tong then looked at the civilians who were robbing along with Zhang Tao and the others.

The people couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"There was no prior order, and you were accomplices..." Pang Tong's next words brought a sigh of relief to the people who had followed Zhang Tao and the others in committing the crime. "Your basic supplies will remain as usual today, and you will not be punished further. If you commit the crime again, the two offenses will be combined, and you will be punished more severely. There will be no leniency!"

As for the civilians who were robbed, Pang Tong provided them with a small amount of compensation and stated that because they had not reported the incident in time, they should bear some of the losses themselves.

Upon hearing this, the people were moved to tears and shouted, "The strategist is wise!" and "May the General be victorious!"

These ordinary people may not have understood what Pang Tong was doing or why he was doing it, but that did not prevent them from feeling the sincerity of the Flying Cavalry.

The common people could directly feel that the Flying Cavalry Army was truly capable of managing affairs, maintaining order, and handling disputes, rather than only appearing when collecting taxes and then knocking on doors in the middle of the night when problems arose...

This incident completely exposed and widened the hidden rifts within the Jizhou gentry.

Zhang Tao and other members of powerful clans were punished again. They dared not resent Pang Tong, who commanded a strong army, but instead directed their resentment at those "ungrateful" members of poor families, such as Su Ming, who dared to make a big fuss.

Su Ming and other children from poor families, after experiencing oppression and trying their best to save face but to no avail, were repeatedly resented by Zhang Tao and others, which inevitably fueled their anger.

In this process, these children from humble backgrounds also saw clearly how fragile so-called "hometown ties" and "associations" were in the face of self-interest. They realized that if they wanted to survive in this chaotic world and secure a place on the list, relying on the powerful and wealthy families who treated them like dirt was absolutely impossible. Only by relying closely on the cavalry, which had a clear system of rewards and punishments and provided a relatively fair competitive environment, could they have a glimmer of hope.

These scholars from humble backgrounds gradually changed their attitudes. Without Pang Tong and others making any special efforts to win them over, the harsh reality naturally forced these scholars to side with the General of the Cavalry.

……

……

In this nationwide food-hunting campaign, others also found themselves exposed.

There are always some people who are either idle and dissolute, or spies in Cao Cao's army who are plotting to create chaos. They either refuse to participate in labor, only wanting to sit back and enjoy the fruits of others' labor and receive basic relief, or they spread negative rumors and sow discord among the people.

If the southern part of Ye City had been stagnant, these people, hiding in the lowest levels, would have been difficult to detect. However, now that they have accomplished nothing in their labor for several days, their actions stand out conspicuously in the southern city where most people are busy trying to survive.

Through the preliminary household registration, market allocation, baojia system, and labor statistics, Pang Tong gradually sorted out the population of the entire southern city. When all the data was compiled on Pang Tong's desk, and with the cooperation of the military clerks and the on-site supervision and observation of the cavalry soldiers, those who repeatedly refused to participate in firewood gathering without reason, or even secretly incited resistance and acted suspiciously, could no longer hide.

Pang Tong once again ordered the arrest of these "playboys" hiding among the common people.

These people initially tried to incite other civilians to cover for them and resist the cavalry's arrest operation by claiming that the cavalry had "arbitrarily arrested" them, "attempted to kill" them, and "poisoned them." However, unfortunately, after several days of mutual understanding, especially after Pang Tong's repeated public trials and sentencing, the people of Nancheng have begun to reach a consensus...

The Flying Cavalry was good, at least better than the original Cao army, and those people judged by Pang Tong were not innocent, the evidence was conclusive. So when the Flying Cavalry started arresting these people, although the common people may not have known what was going on, no one would think that Pang Tong or the Flying Cavalry were arresting people without cause.

It was even less likely that they would stop the cavalry's advance.

The arrest went exceptionally smoothly.

Like a thorough cleaning, it eliminated the unstable factors within the southern city and calmed the people's hearts.

Whether they were true libertines or traitors within Cao Cao's army, almost all of them were uprooted under Pang Tong's combined attack, and the order in the southern city was restored... However, this was only the beginning of Pang Tong's combined attack.

……

……

In late autumn, the Zhang River is no longer as abundant as it was in the height of summer, but it still carries a somber color as it meanders along the banks of Ye City.

The food collection over several days, while not completely solving the food shortage, acted like a shot in the arm, revitalizing the previously lifeless southern city with hopeful vitality.

The faces of the people have lost some of the numbness of despair, and gained more of the sweat of struggling for survival and the laughter that rings out at harvest time.

More importantly, through firsthand participation and observation, their view of the Flying Cavalry gradually changed from initial simple fear or expectation of relief. They began to believe that this army seemed to be truly different from the previous soldiers who only knew how to plunder and kill.

At the same time, Pang Tong's efforts to sort out the sons of the aristocratic families in Ji Province have begun to show results.

The repeated public punishments, coupled with the competitive ranking on the food-hunting list, acted like a great wave washing away the stubborn, hypocritical, or empty-talking spoiled brats.

The rest, such as Cui Lin, Ju Hu, and some poor students who were forced to become pragmatic under pressure, saw the opportunity and understood the rules set by Pang Tong.

These aristocratic scions, eager for new opportunities, understood that under the banner of the Three-Colored Banner of the Generals, only tangible achievements mattered.

They began to actively cooperate with the various orders of the Flying Cavalry, and even offered their own suggestions, hoping to gain a place in this new order.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Pang Tong finally unveiled his long-planned next step.

This time, Pang Tong did not simply ask the people to "voluntarily" participate in the work. Instead, he issued a new order, which was quickly disseminated throughout the southern city through the "food officials" of each ward and the civil officials of the Flying Cavalry Army...

"On the banks of the Zhang River, fish and shrimp lurk, a gift from heaven. However, sporadic fishing yields limited results. We are now conscripting laborers, one able-bodied man from each household, to construct earthen dams along designated sections of the river, blocking tributaries and creating depressions to facilitate fishing! Participants will be paid according to the amount of earthwork they move and the hours they work each day! This merit can be exchanged for corresponding grain and salt in the army! Accumulated merit can also be used to earn land grants! The more you work, the more you earn; fair trade, no credit!"

This order immediately caused a huge uproar!

Unlike their previous aimless foraging in the wild, this time their goal was very clear.

They built dams to block water and then fished for profit.

Work hard and you will reap the rewards.

All of this is stimulating the people of Nancheng.

The key point is that Pang Tong issued this order to mobilize the people on a large scale and have them work together only after he had done a series of preparatory actions!
It's not just the simple phrase "work relief"!
Without the trust of the people and without a team of officials who can carry out orders transparently, how can one expect to "replace work with relief"?
Just the upper lip touching the lower lip?

……

……

When the order reached the various neighborhoods of the southern city, the first to erupt in uproar was the slum in a corner of the western market.

Sun the Cripple was sitting at the doorway, sharpening his chipped sickle on a stone.

A few days ago, he went with the cavalry to gather firewood outside the city. He gritted his teeth, limped along, and earned some food, managing to get through it all. Even this broken sickle was earned through hard work...

Upon hearing the order read aloud by Li, the clerk in the neighborhood, Sun the Cripple paused for a moment, his eyes fixed on the sickle in his hand. A moment later, he abruptly stood up, and the sickle he had once treasured fell to the ground with a clatter.

Sun the Cripple straightened his neck, his eyes even turning bloodshot. "That kid! What did you say? Men are sent out to build dams, paid for with work hours in exchange for grain and salt, and they can even save up to exchange for land?!"

Li, ignoring Sun the Cripple's nonsensical shouts, nodded and addressed the growing crowd of people who had come to hear the news, loudly proclaiming: "The Cavalry Army has a clear agreement! One cubic meter of earth used for building a dam is worth ten 'ji' (a unit of currency), which can be exchanged for half a liter of coarse rice! Those who help with fishing, sorting, and transporting the catch for an hour are worth two 'ji'! If you accumulate five hundred 'ji', after the northern city is pacified, you'll have priority in choosing a good acre of land! Furthermore, at the end of each workday, those willing to exchange their 'ji' for grain and salt can do so on the spot! It will never be delayed until the next day!"

Sun the Cripple couldn't understand the words on the proclamation held up by Li the Clerk, but his eyes remained red as he stared intently at it. His hands and feet trembled, his very soul shook, and he asked with longing, "Can...can I, with my lame leg, also go to build the dam?"

Li, the clerk, glanced at Sun the Cripple. "It's calculated by the amount of earthwork, not by the number of feet! Besides, even if earthwork is inconvenient, you can still help with fishing and transportation, and you'll still get points!"

Sun the Cripple trembled. In his life, he had worked as a farmhand for landlords and repaired post roads for the old government. Every time he went to work, he was hungry and his wages were cut when he finished.
When the walls of Ye City were being repaired, Cao Cao's officers were given plenty of food. But when they actually went there, they were only given two cornbread buns mixed with sawdust and sand every day.

At that time, Sun the Cripple wasn't a cripple yet.

The official said that he was "full" after eating one cornbread and could not possibly eat a second one, and now that he had been given two, how could it not be "all you can eat"?

Moreover, the official who distributed the steamed buns said that he was there on orders and that if there were any problems, the people should go to their superiors themselves.

Then he went with some people to argue, and was crippled by Cao's soldiers.

Without medical care, he became lame.

After all, according to the official statement of Cao Cao's army, Sun the Cripple and others were guilty of inciting a disturbance.

"Wow! Wow!"

Old Zhang, who was not far away, shouted first, "I still have some strength left! I can build two cubic meters of earth a day!"

"I'm strong and healthy, I'll go too!"

Are they all really strong and healthy?
Actually, that's not the case. Most of the people in these slums are thin and weak, and some, like Sun the Cripple, have disabilities. But they don't think that just because they are thin or disabled, they can lie down and wait for food and drink...

Within half a day, long queues formed in front of the wooden signs for registering able-bodied men in each neighborhood.

Although the Flying Cavalry Army accepted all comers, it did not allow all the common people to dig dams and build earthen dams in the Zhang River. Once a certain number of people had registered, it declared that enough people had been registered and would no longer accept new applications.

The cavalry were quite used to this kind of scene, because when some of them joined the army, it was the same situation where it was first-come, first-served, and those who arrived late regretted it. So they all smiled and explained to the civilians who missed the registration, saying that they should register earlier next time.

Three days later, the south bank of the Zhang River was bustling with activity.

Cui Lin had changed into a coarse cloth short coat and was standing by the river directing the laborers to ram the earth.

He didn't know when he had ever worn such a short brown, nor did he know when he had ever stood in this foul-smelling mud before...

He was born into the Cui family of Qinghe. From childhood to adulthood, he was always dressed in fine clothes and fed in luxury, and was always chauffeured around. He had never been exposed to such foul-smelling mud.
But now, he knows to stand with his feet apart, and even his toes should be spread as wide as possible, so that he won't slip and fall in the wet mud.

"This needs to be reinforced! It needs to be solid!" Cui Lin said as he picked up a ram to demonstrate, his hands blistered but he didn't utter a sound.

Ju Hu caught a cold a couple of days ago. He was treated by the physician of the Flying Cavalry Army and was feeling better. However, he couldn't sit still. He put on his robe and assisted the scribe of the Flying Cavalry Army in recording merits in the thatched hut by the river.

After the people finished their work, they would bring wooden signs to keep track of the accounts. Ju Hu would register the records in person and let the people confirm them with their own eyes. His original temperament as a member of the aristocratic class seemed to have disappeared. When he encountered people with poor eyesight or hearing, Ju Hu would not mind the trouble and would repeat the explanation as much as possible. Even when his voice became hoarse, he did not have time to drink a sip of water.

The relationship between humans and the environment is a dialectical and unified dynamic equilibrium system.

Old Ma said that humans rely on nature for survival, and in the process of changing the environment, they are also affected by it.

The wind blows from the Zhang River, carrying the fresh scent of fish and shrimp, as well as the laughter of the laborers.

Sweat soaked through their tattered clothes, and mud covered their hands, feet, and faces, but many of them had a long-lost gleam in their eyes.

The shouts, the clanging of tools, and the voices of officials announcing numbers, mingled with the sound of the Zhang River flowing, creating a symphony of labor that was arduous, busy, and full of vitality.

Pang Tong's elaborate scheme, amidst this music, gradually revealed its true nature...