Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3814 Drawing from One's Own to Another
On a mound in the southern part of Ye City, one can see the construction site of the Zhang River.

Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao stood side by side, gazing at the bustling, lively scene of labor, and couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

At first, they didn't feel anything special, and they didn't even think that Pang Tong's dealings with the aristocratic youths and the arranging of the market residents had anything to do with the current situation. But after seeing what was happening, Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao gradually understood why Pang Tong was doing these things that seemed unrelated to the capture of Beicheng.

Sharpening your axe won't delay your woodcutting work. Many people understand this saying, but many are still unwilling to sharpen their axe, only wanting to make a quick cut.

"With the people's hearts so united, what can't be accomplished?" Zhao Yun sighed softly, his white robe fluttering slightly in the autumn breeze. "It was often said that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it... Now it seems that this water can not only be used for navigation, but also for building dams, irrigation, reclaiming new land, and nurturing all things... Military Advisor Pang... truly a genius..."

Looking at the people who were working spontaneously, Zhao Yun gained a deeper understanding of Pang Tong's elaborate scheme.

This is not just about solving the food problem, but also about reshaping order and uniting people's hearts.

It kills two birds with one stone, no, it kills four birds with one stone, or even more.

Zhang Liao's eyes also held a complex expression. "Yes… I've been thinking about soup kitchens and relief efforts, and I know the term 'work relief,' but when it came to actually doing it, I didn't know where to begin… Today, observing the strategist's actions, it's all so natural and effortless… The people of the southern city, originally scattered like sand, are now as easily controlled as an extension of their own limbs… They don't need large quantities of grain, yet they can be used as an asset… This strategic approach is truly remarkable…"

Zhao Yun nodded slightly upon hearing this, his gaze still fixed on the busy figures at the Zhangshui construction site. His tone carried a hint of melancholy. "Wen Yuan's words are quite true. When I governed the northern regions, I originally thought that making the assimilated Hu people abide by the law, pay taxes, and change their clothing and customs would be… well, now I realize that's merely a superficial measure. Only with something like what Military Advisor Pang has done… can one truly penetrate the hearts of the people and cultivate their spirit…"

Zhao Yun paused, seemingly with a different kind of realization, "Back when I was in Changshan, I often thought that if the people were law-abiding and the officials governed according to the law, then the world would be at peace... Later, after joining your ranks, I realized that the suffering of the people was mostly caused by corrupt officials and powerful local gentry... Later still, I went to the northern deserts and saw that my Han people could also roam the desert like the Hu people... Only then did I realize that the Han people were not born to till the land... It was the old rules that forbade them to ride horses..."

That's a rather heavy statement.

Zhang Liao frowned slightly upon hearing this, and after a moment of silence, said, "The Protector-General's words are reasonable... It's like the military administration in Bingzhou, which only knows how to enforce strict discipline, and doesn't think about anything else... Only after entering the Military Academy did I realize that in the past, the army was 'orders were obeyed without question,' but in the civilian population, it was 'orders were obeyed, but the people found it difficult to follow'... It's clear that it's not that the people are unwilling to follow, but rather that they don't see the benefits and don't understand the proper way..."

Zhang Liao raised his hand and pointed to the people working along the banks of the Zhang River. "Now, the people of Ye City are free from whips and canes to urge them on, and need no scolding; they are working spontaneously… all because the strategist has instructed them that digging this canal and building this dam will not only provide them with immediate sustenance, but also allow them to use the river silt to fertilize their fields, ensuring a good harvest next year…"

Zhao Yun nodded, a hint of relief in his eyes. "That's right... The old ways treated the people like leeks, only knowing how to harvest but not how to nurture them... The strategist's current approach, however, considers the farmers' needs, taking into account both the present and the future... In this way, the people have hope in their hearts, and naturally, they have strength... What was originally scattered like quicksand can be gathered into solid rock!"

Zhang Liao nodded in agreement, "With a lord like this, and a strategist like this, how can we worry about the Han Dynasty not being restored? Governing a country and its people is not about controlling them to obedience, but about making them willingly contribute to their cause and the world! Strategist's plan is truly remarkable!"

Zhao Yun smiled slightly, "And this strategist's methods...there's more to come..."

Zhang Liao followed Zhao Yun's gaze to the north of the city and laughed heartily.

Both men felt that since Pang Tong arrived, all the difficulties seemed to have disappeared, and everything was in good order. This feeling made them feel relaxed and also filled them with energy. Apart from training soldiers and reorganizing military affairs, they kept their eyes on the north city...

As Pang Tong's series of measures progressed, Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao both felt that Pang Tong's strategies were not limited to what they were currently showing, and that there should be further developments to come.

What impressed Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao the most was that these strategies and developments were presented openly and honestly to everyone, without any deception!

This is the most fundamental and crucial factor that can truly move the people of Yecheng!

In ancient times, feudal officials deceived and misled the common people, believing they were ignorant of the law and scriptures, and even illiterate, so they felt no guilt in deceiving them. The power to interpret and enforce laws and decrees rested entirely in the hands of officials. Officials and the common people lived in two completely different worlds; deceiving the common people was to officials as easy as deceiving speechless pigs, dogs, cattle, and sheep—there was no moral pressure whatsoever.

Yes, most of the time, ordinary people are powerless to resist or obtain any compensation when faced with deception by officials. However, the credibility of officials collapses completely in the process of making promises and breaking them again and again.

The sincerity shown by the General of the Cavalry and Pang Tong, and their timely fulfillment of promises, is the best way to communicate with the people of Ye City, building a direct bridge between their previously separated hearts!
……

……

The Bronze Sparrow Terrace stands in the northern part of Ye City.

The autumn wind blew by, carrying the faint sounds of shouts and the earthy smell from the south of the city, adding to the desolate atmosphere.

Cao Pi gripped the cold railing, feeling as if his entire body, like the stone railing in his hands, was stiff and icy. He stared intently at the dense crowd of people working like ants along the Zhang River, his chest heaving violently, his teeth clenched in fury.

"You wicked people! You lowly people! You are all ungrateful wretches! How dare you, you brats!" Cao Pi couldn't help but curse, his voice sharp with anger and filled with the pain of betrayal. "In the past, Father exempted them from taxes and provided disaster relief, yet they showed no gratitude! No reciprocation! And when asked to do even a little labor, they complained bitterly, outwardly obeyed but inwardly defiant, lazy and procrastinating!"

"Now they're willingly serving these traitors like cattle for the slightest favor!" Cao Pi cursed, increasingly convinced of his own righteousness. "Unable to distinguish right from wrong, aren't they worse than beasts?! If it weren't for Father's tireless efforts in pacifying Hebei, they would have perished in the Yellow Turban and Black Mountain rebellions, their bones never to be found! Father has always treated you with benevolence, exempting you from taxes in spring, providing grain relief in summer, encouraging agriculture in autumn, and distributing winter clothing—such kindness is truly generous! Yet today, these people are nothing but straw dogs on the ridges, ants by the roadside! Ungrateful! Despicable, vile! Shameless! Unruly people! Lowly people! With Hebei in chaos, you brats willingly become their lackeys, betraying your sovereign and father's kindness, joining the ranks of traitors—truly unforgivable by Heaven and Earth!"

Cao Pi clearly could not understand why the "favors" bestowed upon the people of Ye City by the Cao family could not be exchanged for "loyalty".

Chen Qun gazed intently into the distance, trying to reassure Cao Pi and himself.

"Your Highness, please calm your anger." Chen Qun tried to find an explanation in the classics. "The Zuo Zhuan says, 'The hearts of the people are fickle.' The common people are ignorant, short-sighted, and easily swayed by immediate gains; this is their nature. Even with a thousand favors, they cannot gain a shred of loyalty; even with ten thousand recitations of the classics, they cannot awaken the slightest bit of their ignorance. The Analects also says, 'Rotten wood cannot be carved, nor can a wall of dung be plastered.' These common people are like that rotten wood, that dung. Even if Confucius and Mencius were reborn, they could not teach you to distinguish right from wrong or to know propriety! Why should Your Highness bother with such common people? When the royal army sweeps away the bandits one day, these ungrateful wretch will be dead before the sword!"

Chen Qun paused, then continued, "Moreover, the sage said, 'The people can be made to follow a path, but not to understand it.' To govern a country and rule the people, one must demonstrate authority and win their hearts with virtue, so that they fear authority and cherish virtue—this is the right path. How can one act like General Huo Qubing, indulging the lowly commoners… Haha, such petty people are the most cunning and deceitful! The rebel army's practice of exchanging labor for grain seems secure, but in reality, it disrupts the established order! Your Highness, weren't these same commoners behaving the same way when the Three Platforms of Ye City were being built?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Pi's anger subsided slightly. He let out a long breath and said bitterly, "Changwen is absolutely right! Most of these lowly people are blinded by greed and forget righteousness! Once they've exhausted their strength and gained little, they'll surely harbor resentment! Then let's see how that bandit army ends up!"

Chen Qun nodded slightly. "Relying on small favors is not a long-term solution. Once the rebel army runs out of food and money, the people will surely rebel!"

The two did not lower their voices during their conversation; in fact, they deliberately raised their voices.

Cao Pi straightened his back, looked around, and said in a deep voice, "Have you all heard that? The people's hearts are no longer what they used to be, and they are easily taken advantage of by wicked people! But as long as we hold the city and uphold righteousness, once the Prime Minister's reinforcements arrive, we will surely be able to restore order and let these ignorant fools know that only loyalty and righteousness are the right path in the world!"

The guards on the left and right responded in unison.

However, no matter how much they quote scriptures, how much they belittle their opponents and the public, or how much they comfort themselves and emphasize orthodoxy, they cannot dispel the unease that lingers in their hearts.

They had a vague feeling that something was spiraling out of control, but they couldn't understand it...

Perhaps it's because of their own perspective that they are unwilling to understand, or perhaps it's because of the limitations of the times that they are unable to understand.

They can only attribute it to troublemakers, petty favors, and deceit, seeking a sliver of illusory comfort and a sense of superiority in the repetition of classic dogmas.

But this false comfort and sense of superiority quickly crumbled in the face of cold reality...

While Cao Pi and others focused their attention on the people of the southern city working along the Zhang River, transporting soil and silt to fertilize the fields, they failed to notice that the water level in the northern city was quietly dropping.

At first, it was just a minor inconvenience.

Although some noticed that the water level in the wells seemed to be dropping faster than in previous years, and some secondary irrigation ditches near the city walls were gradually drying up, they didn't pay much attention. After all, it was common for water levels to drop in autumn and winter. But soon, the situation took a sharp turn for the worse. When Chen Qun received the definite report, a chill instantly ran down his spine. He immediately realized that Pang Tong, ostensibly there to fish and fertilize the fields, was actually investigating the water sources around Ye City!

Pang Tong has now clearly found it and cut off the underground channel leading to the north city!
Although the northern part of the city is large and has scenic ponds and several deep wells such as the Bronze Sparrow Terrace and the Wenchang Hall, its daily water supply largely depends on the flowing water brought in by the underground canals that run through the city.

Now that the source of life has been cut off, Alexander is obviously about to fall.

News of the water supply being cut off spread like wildfire, and Chen Qun reacted swiftly. He immediately dispatched trusted officials to travel between the wards, loudly proclaiming: "The city's water reserves are plentiful! The deep pool beneath the Bronze Sparrow Terrace and the clear pond in front of the Wenchang Hall are both full as mirrors! Furthermore, there are more than a dozen deep wells, sufficient for our needs! The General's attempt to cut off our Zhang River is like an ant trying to shake a tree—a futile effort! Gentlemen, do not panic, remain at your posts, and guard your posts!"

However, slogans can never overcome reality.

As the water level continued to drop, the line of people waiting to draw water from the well grew longer and longer, but the water drawn from the buckets became increasingly murky.

The deep pool beneath the Bronze Sparrow Terrace?
That was the exclusive domain of Cao Pi and his core guards; how could ordinary officials and soldiers dare to covet it?

The green pond in front of the Wenchang Hall?
That was more of a symbolic sight, with limited water storage, and even when it was supplied, priority was given to the Prime Minister's residence and high-ranking officials.

A person can survive for a few days without food, but once dehydrated, they immediately panic.

This panic caused by resource scarcity also exacerbated existing factional conflicts.

The long-standing grudges between the Jizhou faction and the Yuzhou faction had already escalated to a boiling point, like a volcano covered with dry tinder, after Cui Hu's betrayal led the enemy into the southern city.

Now, the water issue has become the fuse that ignites the conflict.

"Why do the people of Yuzhou always get priority access to water? And it's always from those wells with the clearest water!"

A low-ranking officer from Jizhou watched as several clerks with Yingchuan accents easily filled buckets with water and left, escorted by their servants, at another well not far away. Meanwhile, he had been queuing for half a day but had only received a small half-bucket of murky water. He couldn't help but mutter curses indignantly.

"Exactly! They talk about sharing weal and woe, but when it comes to the crucial moment, aren't they just looking out for their own people?" A veteran from Jizhou spat, his face also full of anger. "Back then, Commander Cui... sigh, if he hadn't been forced into that situation..."

Similar discussions and grievances quickly spread among soldiers, low-ranking officials, and even their families from Jizhou.

They felt they had been treated unfairly, believing that the Yuzhou faction, by virtue of its close relationship with the Cao family, had monopolized the already scarce water resources.

Soon, a violent conflict broke out near a well located at the border of the two factions' settlements, where the water quality was relatively good.

The cause is very simple.

Jump in line.

Normally, I just tolerate it when I see people cutting in line.

However, given the existing conflicts and the immense pressure they were under, a verbal dispute escalated into a bloody conflict in the blink of an eye.

"The dogs of Yuzhou are going too far!"

"Fight them! We'll die anyway without water!"

At the beginning, they didn't use knives directly.

The people of Jizhou grabbed carrying poles and wooden sticks and rushed forward.

The military commander of Yuzhou and his men were not to be outdone, and they retaliated with fists and feet.

In an instant, chaos erupted around the well, with shouts, screams, and the sounds of collisions all mixed together.

It's unclear which side drew their sword first, but blood stained the land around the well.

By the time Cao Pi's personal guards arrived and forcibly suppressed the situation, dozens of people on both sides had been injured, seven or eight of whom were critically wounded.

The scene was a mess, stained with blood. Although the two sides had been separated, they still glared at each other, and the air was thick with hatred and unease.

Cao Pi was both shocked and furious.

What is shocking is that the internal conflict has escalated to such an extent, and what is infuriating is that these fools who lack a sense of the bigger picture are killing each other over a little water when the city is surrounded by formidable enemies!

Cao Pi's arrival brought a moment of calm to everyone, but Cao Pi also knew that if he could not handle the situation in time, the bloodshed before him would be like a spark falling into a haystack, sooner or later spreading into a raging inferno!
Cao Pi gritted his teeth, his cold gaze sweeping over the crowd. He took a deep breath of his spicy hot pot, then suppressed his anger. Instead of reprimanding anyone, he first ordered that the wounded be treated: "Guards! Take all the wounded, whoever they are, to the physician immediately! No delays!"

Immediately, Cao Pi ordered armored soldiers to completely seal off the area around the well, strictly prohibiting anyone from approaching with weapons, and forcibly separating the key personnel from both sides in the conflict.

Chen Qun followed suit, launching a media offensive against both sides of the conflict and seizing the moral high ground.

Chen Qun's voice was heavy and pained, "How foolish you all are! The traitors outside the city have cut off our water supply, intending to throw us into chaos and cause us to kill each other! What is the point of your bloodshed here today?! It only brings pain to our loved ones and joy to our enemies! How is this any different from committing suicide?!"

Cao Pi also showed a rare display of his decisive and ruthless side as a ruler.

Without hesitation, he immediately ordered the arrest of five people who had committed the act and caused injuries or deaths...

The main problem is that these guys have too much blood on them, and it's obvious that it was splattered at close range.

Both sides have them; three are from Yuzhou, and two are from Jizhou.

Ignoring their cries and explanations, Cao Pi, right beside the well where the blood had not yet dried, announced their crimes of "disrupting the morale of the army and causing injury through fighting" and beheaded them according to military law!
The head rolled down, turning the faces of those around them pale and leaving them speechless with fear.

After the stern warning, Cao Pi suppressed his irritation and disgust for these fools, walked to the well, pointed at it, and said loudly: "The rebel army can cut off the hidden channels of the Zhang River, but can they cut off the water veins beneath Ye City? Heaven and earth nurture life; how could they cut off a man's path? From this day forward, choose a site within the city and dig a new well! All those who can contribute will be remembered for their merits! If fresh water can't come in, we can dig wells to get water! What's the panic?!"

Indeed, the long queues for wells are due to a shortage of wells. If more wells were drilled, or even just one or two more, the situation would improve immediately.

Chen Qun immediately added, "Two new wells will be dug! One in the east and one in the west! One will be in Ji Province, and the other in Yu Province! The locations will be determined by drawing lots! All tools and craftsmen will be equal! Whoever digs the first well will be rewarded with a thousand gold pieces!"

Under the skillful guidance of Cao Pi and Chen Qun, who took turns leading the conflict, the two sides were temporarily calmed down and focused their attention on the matter of opening new wells. However, this was only a temporary solution and did not fundamentally resolve the conflict between the Ji Province faction and the Yu Province faction.