Shuhan

Zhuo County in Youzhou, under the caress of autumn, displays its simplicity and tranquility.

On the walls of Zhuo County, the ancient bricks and stones have been eroded by wind and rain. Although they are mottled, they still stand firmly, silently witnessing the rise and fall, honor and disgrace of this land.

The stone pavements of the city streets have been polished smooth by time. People come and go, and the sounds of hawking and light-hearted chatting and laughing blend together, outlining a simple and vivid picture of city life.

Behind this seemingly calm appearance, Crown Prince Liu Si had quietly arrived in Zhuo County for more than half a month.

The mansion where he stayed was quiet and peaceful. In the courtyard, Liu Si, wearing a simple yet luxurious robe, paced and thought every day.

The breeze blew gently, ruffling his clothes. His eyes were deep and sharp, just like the twinkling cold stars in the night sky, observing everything that was happening around him without making a sound.

In the first few days, Liu Si seemed to have done nothing in Zhuo County. He only pretended to deal with local officials every day, attended some insignificant banquets, accepted gifts from all parties, and never mentioned the matter of land measurement.

This made the officials and powerful people in Youzhou gradually relax their guard. They talked about it in private, and all believed that the prince was just here for formality, and that he was gentle and easy to talk to, and was not to be feared at all.

One morning half a month later, just as the golden sunlight poured into the courtyard, Sima Yi hurried over with a few local Youzhou warlords who looked a little nervous.

Sima Yi was dressed in a black robe, with a tall and slender figure and a face as cold as ice. However, there was a hint of irrepressible excitement in his eyes.

Those powerful men were dressed in simple clothes and followed Sima Yi uneasily. From time to time, they looked up and surveyed the surrounding environment with awe and uneasiness in their eyes. They also unconsciously slowed down their steps, as if they were afraid of disturbing the tranquility of the mansion.

"Your Highness, I have fulfilled your mission and brought with me several loyal and righteous men who are willing to serve you." When Sima Yi saw Liu Si, he immediately saluted respectfully and spoke in a loud and firm voice. The sound was like the sound of a huge bell, echoing in the courtyard.

Liu Si nodded slightly, his eyes gently fell on those powerful men, and a warm smile appeared on his face: "Please stand up, don't be restrained. It is a great honor for me to have your help this time."

His voice was gentle and powerful, just like the soft breeze in spring or the warm fire in winter. It instantly made those nervous heroes relax a lot, and their tense nerves gradually soothed.

One of the burly and strong men said with courage: "Your Highness, although we are natives of Youzhou, we have always hated those evil forces that hinder the implementation of the court's policies. This time, we are willing to act as an undercover agent for Your Highness. When you measure the land, we will pass on key information to Your Highness. Once the critical moment comes, we will give those opponents a fatal blow!"

His voice trembled slightly with excitement, and his clenched fists seemed to be venting his inner indignation. He was ready to fight at any time.

Liu Si walked forward steadily and helped them up one by one, his eyes full of praise and affirmation: "I will remember your loyalty in my heart. When the land survey is completed, I will definitely reward you according to your merits and grant you official positions and titles, so that all your efforts will be rewarded as they deserve." His eyes were firm and sincere, like the shining stars in the night sky, which made these powerful people feel warm in their hearts. Their eyes turned slightly red, and they all shed tears of gratitude and knelt down to thank the emperor for his grace.

After seeing off these powerful men, Liu Si's gaze became more determined.

This is just the first step. There are still many difficulties and obstacles waiting for him on the long road ahead.

Immediately afterwards, he found the remaining soldiers of the powerful forces in Zhuo County.

Yu Bing was exactly the powerful man who had come to give gifts before. After an in-depth and detailed investigation, Liu Si learned that he was forced by other local powerful men and was still loyal to the court.

Liu Si met Yu Bing in a side hall that was simply yet elegantly decorated.

Yu Bing stepped into the hall and saw Liu Si sitting in the main seat with a solemn and majestic look. He immediately bowed respectfully, his voice trembling slightly, with awe for the prince and a hint of uneasiness: "I am Yu Bing, and I pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Liu Si gestured for him to stand up with a gentle and kind smile: "Please stand up, Mr. Yu. I am aware of your difficult situation. I invited you this time in the hope that you can lend me a helping hand." Liu Si's eyes were full of sincerity and expectation, which made people want to trust him involuntarily, as if there was a magical power contained in his eyes.

Yu Bing raised his head, a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes, and he stammered: "Your Highness, I am just an insignificant tyrant, I am afraid..."

Liu Si waved his hand, interrupted him, and said in a firm and powerful tone: "Sir, there is no need to belittle yourself. Sir, you have extensive connections in the local area, and you are well aware of those forces that oppose land quotas. This is exactly what I urgently need. As long as you are willing to help with all your strength, I will ensure that your family is safe and worry-free, and give you generous rewards." Liu Si's eyes revealed unquestionable determination, as if he was promising Yu Bing a bright future.

Yu Bing's heart moved. He lowered his head and thought for a moment. The scenes of bullying by the powerful people emerged in his mind. He looked up and saw the sincerity and expectation in Liu Si's eyes. Finally, he made up his mind, with a hint of determination in his voice: "Thank you for your trust, Your Highness. I am willing to go through fire and water for you!" It seemed that at this moment, he found his own value and direction, and a sense of mission surged in his heart.

Liu Si nodded with satisfaction, his eyes full of relief: "Great! With your help, I will be even more powerful. When the land measurement is successful, you will be a great contributor to our Han Dynasty." A relieved smile appeared on his face, as if he had already seen the beautiful scene of the prosperity of the Han Dynasty after the successful land measurement.

At this time, other officials and powerful people in Youzhou were still immersed in the wrong perception that the prince was easy to talk to, and their vigilance had greatly decreased.

They were still enjoying themselves in their respective mansions, living a life of luxury and decadence, unaware that a thrilling storm was quietly approaching and danger was approaching them step by step.

At the same time, Liu Si received the envoys from the Xianbei and Xiongnu in the secret room of his mansion. The light in the secret room was dim, and the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive, as if the air had become sticky. Liu Si sat upright on a carved chair, his posture was upright, and his eyes were coldly staring at the two envoys in front of him, as if his gaze could penetrate their hearts.

"I am deeply honored that the two envoys have come from afar. I invited you two here because I have something to discuss with you." Liu Si's voice was low and powerful, as if it came from an ancient bell, echoing in the secret room.

The Xianbei envoy was tall and burly, with a thick beard and a fur robe, exuding a rough aura. He snorted with disdain, his tone arrogant and rude, full of provocation: "Your Highness, please speak frankly, we don't have so much time." That attitude seemed to show Liu Si their strength and unruliness.

Liu Si didn't care about his attitude. He looked calm and smiled: "I heard that the two tribes have many warriors. I want to borrow 10,000 cavalry and pretend to invade Youzhou. After the success, I will definitely reward you handsomely." His eyes were as firm as a rock. He looked directly into the eyes of the envoys without fear, as if announcing his determination to them. The Xiongnu envoy frowned, his voice hoarse and low, full of vigilance: "Your Highness, this is not a trivial matter. What benefits can you give us?" His eyes revealed suspicion and caution, and it was obvious that he would not agree easily.

Liu Si narrowed his eyes slightly, with a shrewd look in his eyes: "After the matter is accomplished, part of the land on the border of Youzhou will be given to you for grazing, and a large amount of silk, tea and fine wine will be given to you every year." Liu Si's conditions were extremely tempting, like a huge magnet, which made the two envoys excited, and greedy light appeared in their eyes.

The two envoys looked at each other and began to communicate in their own language in a low voice, their expressions sometimes solemn and sometimes relaxed. After a moment, the Xianbei envoy said, "Okay, we agree. But you must keep your word." His eyes revealed a trace of greed and cunning, as if he was calculating the gains and losses of this deal.

Liu Si nodded and said in a firm tone: "It's a deal. However, in this operation, you must obey my command and not act on your own." His tone became serious and his eyes were majestic, as if he was emphasizing his authority to the envoys.

Although the envoys were somewhat dissatisfied, they reluctantly agreed when they thought of the generous rewards. Their reluctant expressions seemed to express their helplessness, but greed eventually prevailed over everything.

Of course, for Liu Si, it is okay to give benefits, but the key is whether you have the fate to get these benefits.

As for faith?

Trust and loyalty are determined by the strong.

Everything was ready. Liu Si stood on the high platform of the mansion, overlooking the streets and alleys of Zhuo County, thinking silently in his heart.

This fierce battle with the opposing forces is about to enter a white-hot stage, and he has made full preparations to completely eliminate the forces that hinder the land measurement in Youzhou and lay a solid foundation for the prosperity of the Han Dynasty. His eyes are firm and resolute, as if he is announcing his determination to this land, and the fire burning in his eyes seems to be able to turn all obstacles into ashes.

In the following days, Liu Si still acted calm on the surface, socializing with officials and powerful people, chatting and laughing, and showing his gentleness and humility while toasting. In secret, he discussed the details of the action closely with Sima Yi and others, and repeatedly scrutinized every step and every link to ensure that there would be no mistakes. He arranged for Yu Bing and other insiders to collect intelligence. These insiders were like tentacles hidden in the dark, and they passed on every move of the opposition forces to him in a timely manner.

At the same time, he maintained close contact with the Xianbei and Xiongnu cavalry to ensure that they could implement their plans accurately at critical moments.

Finally, on a dark and windy night, 10,000 cavalrymen from the Xianbei and Xiongnu gathered quietly at the border of Youzhou. They were dressed in black armor, the cold metal gleaming in the moonlight, like messengers from hell. They held sharp long knives, the blades humming in the night wind, as if they were thirsty for blood.

Liu Si stood on the city wall, looking at the black torrent in the distance, feeling nervous and excited. He knew that the battle was about to begin, and success or failure depended on this one move. His heartbeat accelerated involuntarily, and blood rushed through his veins.

"Pass the order down, act according to the plan!" Liu Si's voice was deep and powerful, like a thunder, echoing in the night sky. The voice contained endless power, as if it could penetrate the darkness and lead everyone to victory.

As Liu Si's order was issued, the remaining soldiers and other internal forces in the city quickly took action. They created chaos in the city and set several warehouses on fire. In an instant, the flames shot up into the sky, illuminating the night sky.

Thick smoke rose up, and a pungent smell filled the air. Shouts and cries of killing rose one after another, like an exciting war song. Those tyrants who opposed the land transfer were frightened by this sudden change, their faces turned pale, and they organized people to resist, but their actions seemed flustered and disorderly.

At this time, the cavalry of the Xianbei and Xiongnu poured into Youzhou like a tide. They plundered everywhere outside the city, leaving a mess wherever they went.

The cries of the people and the screams of the livestock intertwined together, as if it were a sad song of purgatory on earth.

They created the illusion of an invasion, causing the officials and powerful people in Youzhou to mistakenly believe that it was a real foreign invasion. They turned to Liu Si for help in panic, their voices filled with fear and despair.

Liu Si was not in a hurry. He looked calm and composed. He led his trusted troops and began to suppress the powerful forces that hindered the land measurement in the name of suppressing the rebellion. His troops were well-trained and moved quickly and agilely, just like a cheetah, rushing towards the target quickly and accurately.

They cooperated perfectly, as if they were an organic whole. Soon, they took control of the situation. Those arrogant and domineering tyrants surrendered one after another under Liu Si's thunderous tactics. Their former prestige was gone, leaving only fear and despair on their faces.

After several days of fierce fighting, the situation in Youzhou was finally under the control of Liu Si.

More than 10,000 Xianbei and Xiongnu cavalry were almost wiped out.

He stood on the city wall, looking at the gradually subsiding war, feeling filled with emotion.

The victory of this battle was just the beginning of the land reclamation. There would be more difficulties and obstacles waiting for him in the future. But he believed that as long as he had firm faith and moved forward courageously, he would be able to complete the land reclamation and make an indelible contribution to the prosperity of the Han Dynasty. His eyes revealed determination and confidence, as if he was announcing to the world that no difficulty could stop him from moving forward.

The next morning, the sun shone on the land of Youzhou, dispelling the haze of last night. The warm light caressed this war-torn land, bringing a glimmer of hope.

Liu Si began to deal with post-war affairs. He personally comforted the people, and his eyes were full of concern and compassion for the displaced people. He rectified the administration of officials and punished those officials who colluded with the opposition forces one by one without mercy.

As for the benefits given to the Xianbei and Xiongnu people?
No!

If there really is an invasion, the Han army has already assembled in Youzhou.

In the following days, Liu Si officially began to implement land measurement in Youzhou.

With his wisdom and courage, as well as the foreshadowing he had laid before, he successfully completed the initial work of measuring the land. (End of this chapter)