Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3878 The Ruler is Right

With the recapture of Gongxian and the elimination of hidden dangers, the good news, along with a special "trophy," was delivered to the Central Army Camp of the Flying Cavalry, located on the west bank of the Gong River.

The gunpowder, which had been dug out from under the Gongxian government office and soaked in river water to ensure its safety, was carefully placed on the open ground outside the central command tent, like a group of silent and dangerous prisoners.

Fei Qian did not linger on the text of the victory report; his gaze was quickly drawn to the gunpowder from the heart of Shandong.

When Fei Qian gave Shandong the gunpowder formula back then, he realized that this day would come. Now that it was placed in front of him, Fei Qian couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.

Human technological development is inextricably linked to a stable life.

Without a stable life, living in constant uncertainty, worrying about where the next meal will come from after finishing one meal, how can one possibly have the mindset to innovate or develop? Even if one has a little bit of energy, it will probably be used to figure out how to make the next meal, and there will be no possibility of any progress.

During the feudal dynasties of China, due to the slow pace of social development, a small number of elites were able to satisfy the various needs of the ruling class, while the material and cultural needs of the lower classes were ignored by the elites.

Even if windmills and waterwheels were invented, it was largely to gain the favor of the ruling class, rather than to solve the basic problems of food, clothing, shelter, and transportation for the common people.

In such circumstances, technology inevitably becomes utilitarian and politicized, developing not according to the needs of the people, but rather according to what the ruling class wants. And individual desires and demands are constantly changing; perhaps the emperor is thinking about something one day, but he quickly forgets about it. By the time artisans or other elites have invented something, the emperor has lost interest, and the new invention ends up in storage…

Under such circumstances, the artisan system in Shandong...

Fei Qian remained silent for a moment, then ordered his men to summon the chief craftsmen and senior gunpowder masters who accompanied the army. In the open space outside the tent, in front of Jia Qu, Du Ji, Sima Yi, and other officials of all ranks, they disassembled and analyzed the gunpowder on the spot.

The craftsmen worked with professionalism and caution, using wooden tools to pry open the sealed wooden barrel, revealing the dark, soaked gunpowder inside.

There is some danger, but damp gunpowder isn't too much of a problem.

The craftsmen sampled, crushed, observed, and smelled the gunpowder produced in Shandong. They even took a very small amount and conducted a burning test on a specially made copper plate to observe the flame color, burning speed, and residue.

Soon the craftsmen reached a preliminary conclusion, which was then reported to Fei Qian by the master craftsman.

"General, this batch of gunpowder... has many problems..."

The old craftsman's tone carried the meticulousness characteristic of a craftsman, but when he spoke of Shandong gunpowder, there was also a subtle hint of condescension, as if he were pointing out a disobedient son, "Firstly, the saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal are ground to varying degrees, resulting in extremely uneven mixing, to the point that they are even visibly separated..."

The old craftsman counted on his fingers, "Secondly, the impurities are visible to the naked eye, and it also contains a lot of sand..."

Thirdly, the proportions seem to be problematic, as it leaves a lot of residue after burning. Such gunpowder is truly a very poor-quality product…

The old craftsman concluded: "This gunpowder is far inferior to the standard gunpowder produced in our Guanzhong workshop. It can only be used for quarrying, and even then, the results are unpredictable and difficult to assess."

Fei Qian listened quietly, his face revealing neither joy nor anger.

He first gestured to his advisors to examine the Shandong gunpowder, and then had some gunpowder made in Guanzhong brought out and placed on a bronze plate for comparison.

The gunpowder from Shandong has tiny, gritty crystals that feel rough to the touch and is mottled in color.

Gunpowder produced in Guanzhong is fine and uniform to the touch, with a pure black color and almost no impurities.

After Fei Qian, Jia Qu, Du Ji, and Sima Yi had all examined the gunpowder, they slowly asked, "The gunpowder formulas are largely the same... why is the quality of the gunpowder produced in Guanzhong so different from that produced in Shandong?"

This question seems simple; it's just asking about the differences in gunpowder quality.

However, the three people present were all perceptive and immediately understood the deeper subtext in Fei Qian's words.

This isn't just about gunpowder; it's about the root cause of this difference...

The question also concerns the logic behind the two systems and frameworks...

Jia Qu frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then answered from a practical perspective, "Your Excellency, I have observed that the craftsmanship is crucial to the military and national defense. The ancient text *Kaogong* records, 'Examine the curves and shapes to regulate the five materials,' which is the essence of regulations. The gunpowder workshops in Guanzhong are under the command of the Grand General, following the Qin system of inscribing craftsmen's names on materials. Craftsmen are selected like Sun Bin selected soldiers, and trained using the Mohist principles of squares and squares. The production process follows the six methods of *Kaogong*, and the materials conform to the regulations of the Five Auspicious Objects in the *Book of Yu*. Supervision is based on thorough examination of the land's resources, and rewards and punishments are similar to those of Shang Yang's 'standing the wooden pole at the gate.' Craftsmen receive regular official salaries, thus allowing them to specialize in their craft, resulting in exquisitely crafted tools."

"In contrast, Cao Cao's camp in Shandong, though heavily armed, suffered from the same problems as the Qi state's system of local officials managing land and sea resources. Craftsmen were scattered and affiliated with powerful families, much like the four Warring States period's practice of employing retainers, resulting in fragmented governance. The quality of goods was inconsistent, like the finest silks of Qi and the finest garments of Lu. Even the practice of using conscripted soldiers as craftsmen followed the old system of blocking roads with tattered clothing. Therefore, the craftsmen's hearts were scattered, and the materials were adulterated. This was truly a flawed system in Shandong."

Du Ji, standing to the side, bowed and said, "What the governor said is quite right. In the past, when the Zhou dynasty prospered, it first cleared the fields for grain; Guan Zhong, in governing the country, prioritized full granaries and proper etiquette. Now, since the governor of Guanzhong took charge, they have followed the wisdom of Qin in repairing the Zheng Guo Canal and implemented the Zhao system of cultivating land by replacing crops, diverting water from the Qian and Wei rivers, planting beans and millet, and filling the granaries with grain as abundant as mountains, seas, and marshes. Therefore, saltpeter is produced like boiling seawater to make salt, sulfur is produced like the fire springs of Shu wells, and charcoal from mulberry and mulberry trees can be obtained in accordance with the lunar calendar and the prohibitions on forestry."

"Looking at the provinces of Yan and Yu, they suffer from the devastation of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and the remains of those killed at Guandu are still unburied. Although the Cao family continues the old policy of military-agricultural colonies, their harsh treatment and heavy taxes are akin to those imposed by King Ling of Chu at Qianxi Terrace. The people of Shandong are exhausted, and granaries are empty. Furthermore, during periods of urgent taxation, materials naturally become mixed, and standards are ruined and inaccurate. This is not merely a matter of the nation lacking nine years' worth of reserves; it truly reflects the crucial importance of valuing grain to encourage agriculture."

Du Ji touched on another aspect of this issue...

Fei Qian nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to Sima Yi, who seemed lost in thought: "Zhongda, what do you think?"

Sima Yi bowed slightly and slowly began to speak, "What Jia Zhizhong and Councilor Du said is indeed insightful. However, in my humble opinion, the root of this difference may be attributed to four words..."

Orders must be obeyed.

"The reason why the same ingredients can produce vastly different effects lies in the differences in personnel, terrain, and laws. As Han Fei once said, 'When those who uphold the law are strong, the country is strong.' The successful development of gunpowder in Guanzhong truly demonstrates this principle. The General's decrees are like golden rules and jade tablets; when wards and offices are established, all craftsmen gather; when regulations are promulgated, everyone follows them; when purity is set, screening is rigorous; when salaries are reasonable, supplies are sufficient."

"In the past, Shang Yang moved a log to establish trust; today, craftsmen act according to orders. When making utensils of the same type, their size, length, width, and narrowness must be equal. All craftsmen now regard this as a standard. Furthermore, supervisors are appointed, like the Han dynasty's provincial governors, to verify and assess performance, and rewards and punishments are decided according to regulations. In Guanzhong, orders are the standard, implementation is the guideline, supervision is the rule, and verification is the measure."

"Therefore, the gunpowder we produce is not merely a mixture of saltpeter and powder, but a solidification of laws and regulations. In the past, when Zichan forged the penal code, the people of Jin were terrified; now, with the invention of firearms, the world is astonished—all because of the strictness of the laws. Guanzi said, 'To govern the people without understanding the law is like writing on the left and resting on the right.' The current problems in Shandong under the Cao family stem precisely from this."

After listening to the three men's opinions, Fei Qian looked up at the gloomy sky outside the tent, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "Gunpowder alone reveals the grand scale. Liang Daoyan spoke of the artisan's craftsmanship, Bohou discussed the foundation of material resources, and Zhongda debated the implementation of government decrees. All are reasonable. However, ultimately, it comes down to differences in people, systems, and mindsets..."

"The Guanzhong region united the people and inspired their strength, enabling artisans to focus on their craft, farmers to dedicate themselves to the fields, and soldiers to fight bravely on the battlefield. This was not achieved through coercion or bribery, but through guidance, trust, and demonstration of merit. The people all knew that following this path would yield results. Skilled craftsmen would be respected, and those who rendered meritorious service would be rewarded. Thus, the people's hearts were united, and their strength was mobilized; the creation of gunpowder is merely a small example of this."

"While Cao Mengde possessed great talent, his rule was plagued by deeply entrenched problems and vested interests. Any undertaking he sought was met with formidable obstacles; any attempt to unite his people was thwarted by widespread distrust. The crudeness and instability of his gunpowder mirrored the very foundation of his empire—seemingly robust, yet riddled with internal flaws and fraught with hidden dangers. His current defeat in the Heluo region was not solely due to inadequate weaponry, but also a manifestation of these internal problems on the battlefield."

Fei Qian glanced at the crowd and said, "The excellence of artifacts stems from the superiority of the system and the cohesion of the people. In the past, the Duke of Zhou established rites, and artifacts embodied the orthodox principles; Guan Zhong governed Qi, and salt and iron were monopolized. Now, looking at the predicament of Shandong, it is not a lack of skilled craftsmen and ingenious techniques, but rather a consequence of the entrenched old system. Powerful families have carved up the law like the feudal lords of the Warring States period, and government orders are fragmented like the Seven Mu of Zheng. Craftsmen have been reduced to lowly laborers, and materials are mixed with inferior and counterfeit goods. Therefore, if we wish to improve the artifacts of Shandong, we must first change the system to follow the right path. Otherwise, even if we obtain the secrets of Gongshu Ban, we will ultimately be unable to escape the predicament of the Chu people, like monkeys in disguise."

Everyone in the tent was awe-inspiring and receptive to the instruction.

A simple inspection of the spoils of war was transformed by Fei Qian into a profound political lesson and strategic self-reflection.

These are silent testimonies of two fates and two paths.

There's no way around it; people these days clearly don't have the resources for nine years of education. If we want them to have a deeper understanding, we have to present them with real objects for comparison, just like elementary school students do. And even then, not all of them will necessarily agree. They might agree on the surface but say one thing behind the scenes.

However, this is the only way for now.

Fei Qian waved his hand, ordering the ordinary officials to go back to their work, and then had Jia Qu, Du Ji, and Sima Yi return to the central command tent together.

Although Gongxian has been captured, there are still many troubles. First of all, the supply of food and fodder has been delayed again, and some facilities in the Heluo area have been destroyed. Now, in addition to arranging matters at the front, we also have to take care of the repair of villages and equipment in Heluo...

However, no matter how many things Fei Qian has to do now, or how much of a headache he has, it can't be more of a headache than Cao Cao's.

Cao Cao was really having a headache.

Inside Sishui Pass, the atmosphere was even more biting than the winter wind. Cao Hong, covered in dust from his battle, his face filled with shame, and his defeated troops, staggered into the pass.

Anyone with eyes can see that Cao Cao's army has been defeated yet again.

The defeat was like the flu in winter; a few coughs and it quickly spread to every corner of the country, bringing even deeper panic and unease.

Cao Cao did not reprimand Cao Hong in front of everyone.

Superficial efforts are no longer very effective.

Cao Cao listened calmly to Cao Hong's brief but difficult battle report...

From the fall of Gongshui Ferry, to the repeated back-and-forth battles over the breach in the city wall, and finally to being broken by Sima Yi's stratagem, the city was forced to break out and flee.

"This humble general...this humble general is incompetent and has failed the Prime Minister's trust. I beg the Prime Minister to punish me!"

Cao Hong knelt on one knee, his helmet set aside, his voice hoarse, filled with exhaustion and humiliation.

The hall was silent, and all the generals held their breath.

Everyone knows what losing Gongxian means—

With the last barrier to Sishui Pass gone, the cavalry army could advance on the pass without hindrance.

Cao Cao remained silent for a moment, a silence so oppressive it was suffocating.

Finally, he slowly got up, walked to Cao Hong, reached out to help him up, and even patted the dust off his shoulder armor.

This move stunned Cao Hong and his generals.

"What crime has Zilian committed?" Cao Cao's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears. "Gongxian is a small city, not a place to hold out for long. I ordered you to garrison it not to defend this isolated city to the death, but to delay the advance of the Flying Cavalry, to allow our army to adjust its deployment, and to buy time for the Emperor's carriage. Now, you have accomplished this task. Although the Flying Cavalry is numerous, their repeated assaults and sieges have worn down their morale and weakened their forces. More importantly..."

Cao Cao turned to face the civil and military officials in the hall, his gaze sweeping over their astonished and uncertain faces. "Now we must unite and overcome this difficult time! I have received a secret report from Ziwen, and with the assistance of the righteous men of Yan and Yu, we have devised a clever plan to lure and annihilate the forces of the fierce General Wei! Zilian's withdrawal from Gong County will allow us to coordinate with Ziwen from the east and west, jointly attacking Wei's forces from both sides, clearing the way for the Emperor and the Han Dynasty to return east!"

Whether it's "returning east" or "returning home," it's all about returning!
That's right!

What everyone is most concerned about now is not whether Cao Cao will turn the tide, but whether they can escape danger before the arrival of the Flying Cavalry!

Of course, some people were thinking about whether they could abandon the darkness and embrace the light, or set things right, but no matter how they thought about it, they didn't feel that they could be carefree and without any risk under the swords and spears in Sishui Pass. It would be best to avoid the enemy's advance for the time being.

Therefore, Cao Cao almost forcibly turned an undeniable defeat into a proactive move of "strategic retreat" and "cooperation with a larger plan"...

Everyone just chuckled and reluctantly accepted it.

After all, being able to successfully evacuate Sishui Pass is obviously more important than investigating and verifying Cao Hong's crimes.

Cao Hong looked up in surprise, meeting Cao Cao's deep eyes, and instantly understood his meaning. Cao Hong took a breath, straightened his back, his shame lessening slightly, and clasped his hands in a deep voice, saying, "This humble general...this humble general understands!"

"Good, I understand." Cao Cao nodded. "Go and properly appease the soldiers, reorganize the troops, and replenish supplies and weapons. Inform the entire army that we will soon join forces with Ziwen to defeat the General of the Cavalry's detachment and relieve the siege of Sishui! All meritorious soldiers will be generously rewarded by the court!"

"Yes, sir!" Cao Hong responded loudly, as if he had regained some confidence, and turned to leave to make the arrangements.

Soon, rumors about "strategic retreat," "cooperating with Cao Cao to lure the enemy," and "opening a new front" began to circulate among the remnants of Cao Cao's army and the garrison inside the pass. Although many veterans scoffed at these rumors, at least on the surface, the despair brought on by the defeat was somewhat suppressed, and a glimmer of hope appeared amidst the chaos.

Such explanations could fool ordinary soldiers and civilians, but in another part of Sishui Pass, some people were not so easily fooled...

This courtyard was considered to be in relatively good condition, so it was assigned to the senior officials of the imperial court who accompanied the emperor.

Among these veteran officials, Wang Lang was naturally a pillar of strength.

At this moment, in the temporary residence of Wang Lang, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, the stove was warm, the tea was bubbling, and there was a relaxed atmosphere that was completely out of place with the tense military situation outside the city.

Wang Lang, Hua Xin, and several other senior officials who usually prided themselves on their integrity and came from distinguished families were sitting together, talking in hushed tones.

They weren't talking about the approaching cavalry force outside the city, nor the emperor's increasingly dire situation, nor the crumbling Han dynasty...

"Cao Zilian has been defeated, but he knows how to find excuses." Wang Lang slowly sipped his tea, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "A retreat? Heh, a retreat to turn this Sishui Pass into a dead end? To join forces with Cao Ziwen? I'm afraid that yellow-bearded fellow is in dire need of protection himself."

Hua Xin stroked his beard, shook his head, and laughed, "Haha, why spell it out? Lord Cao... also needs to maintain appearances. But these appearances, I'm afraid, won't last long. The General of Chariots and Cavalry can reach the pass in a day or two; how many days can this pass hold out?"

Wang Lang shook his head, put down his teacup, and said, "Defend? Rely on these defeated soldiers? Where are Cao Cao's once mighty troops now? The elite soldiers of Qing and Xu have been almost completely wiped out. The soldiers inside the pass are living in constant fear. I'm afraid that after the General of the Cavalry makes a ruckus, some will be thinking of surrendering the pass to save their lives."

Hua Xin raised an eyebrow. "A fair maiden is sought after by a gentleman. The key lies in the word 'seek'!"

These words revealed the truest calculations in the hearts of these people.

They had long since lost faith in Cao Cao's military capabilities, and tacitly regarded the restoration of the Han dynasty as a pipe dream.

They gathered here, certainly with worries and fears, but more than anything, they were concerned about how to assess the situation in the impending upheaval and seek the greatest benefit for their respective families, or at least preserve their vitality.

"General Fei, the Grand General of the Cavalry..." Hua Xin glanced around and said in a low voice, "I've heard that under his rule, he emphasizes practical matters and implements new policies, but it seems that he doesn't value us, the traditional scholarly families, very much."

"It's more than just not valuing them much!" A renowned scholar from Shandong couldn't help but lament, "They practically treat them like worn-out shoes! Their subordinates are mostly from humble backgrounds, military generals, and even barbarian warriors from the borderlands. In the Guanzhong region, I've heard that even a great Confucian scholar like Zheng Kangcheng was quite neglected in his later years."

Everyone echoed in agreement, and then they all sighed in unison.

Wang Lang remained silent, picked up his teacup, and sipped his tea.

"What the prince means is..." Hua Xin leaned forward.

"Let's wait and see." Wang Lang's gaze was profound. "Cao Cao might still have a last-ditch effort. The General of the Cavalry might not be a monolithic force. The Emperor... is still the Emperor... We are all concerned for the well-being of the nation... For now, let's see how Cao Cao deals with the enemy at the pass..."

He gave a soft hum, the unspoken meaning of which was self-evident.

In the eyes of an old minister like him, who had served several dynasties and seen through their rise and fall, the so-called state and the court were nothing more than a chessboard and slogans for various forces to play their games. Now that the chessboard was about to collapse, their first priority was to ensure that their own family, as a pawn, could find the safest, or even more advantageous, position in the new game.

Upon hearing this, some people agreed, while others remained silent.

Outside the window, the winter wind howled.

A withered branch trembled in the cold wind, shedding its last few remaining leaves.

(End of this chapter)