Goose Three Kingdoms

Chapter 643: Dongyi Surrenders
As midsummer approaches, the woodlands surrounding the Sijin Duwei Mansion are filled with the chirping of cicadas.

The newly appointed Sijin Duwei Jiang Wan completed his three-day internship and officially handed over the official seal to Ma Liang.

Ma Liang felt somewhat empty inside, but it was a great comfort to him that the person who succeeded him was Jiang Wan.

What made him even more excited was that he would go to Pingyang to take over the vacancy left by Zhuge Liang.

This deliberate arrangement shows that the Grand Marshal was very concerned about Zhuge Liang's future.

However, Ma Liang and Jiang Wan were not very familiar with each other, so he just handled the matter in a businesslike manner.

The rank of Sijin Duwei was equivalent to that of a two thousand stone official, which was equivalent to that of a major colonel; while the rank of Pingyang Ling was one thousand stone official, which was similar to that of a lieutenant colonel.

Although it seems that he has been demoted two levels, Ma Liang is already far ahead of his peers in Jingxiang.

If nothing unexpected happens, he will be able to become a county governor and join the ranks of two thousand stones within ten years.

The vacation was precious, and after leaving Sijin Duwei Mansion, Ma Liang first went to Chang'an University and stayed at Jingzhou Guild Hall.

Considering his official position, it was also a quiet courtyard.

This type of state and county-level guild hall has to pay rent to the university town, and its daily operation also requires donations from the scholars of the state.

Although Ma Liang did not pay rent, he would donate part of his salary and subsidies to the guild every year.

The largest donor to the guild hall was Lou Gui from Nanxiang, who donated no less than a thousand gold coins every year; Liu Qi would also donate money and grain here.

Officials from Jingzhou would also donate some to make it easier for their children and fellow villagers to live and study in Chang'an.

The most affluent of the state guilds was the Yizhou Guild, which also provided medical services.

In the small courtyard, Ma Liang checked the account book of the guild. This was a public account, and all income and expenditure were recorded.

When checking the accounts, the guild hall sent someone to bring Ma Su back, and Ma Su stood in front of the hall waiting.

After Ma Liang signed and closed the account book, he asked, "How is your study going recently?"

"I participated in the translation of dragon bone script in Caixue. Mr. Sun Gongyou from Beihai taught Zhengxue in Zhengxue Academy, and I often attended the lectures."

Ma Su did not dare to look up: "He also participated in the research and development of the flying lantern in the museum."

The Sijin Duwei Mansion was very close to Chang'an, and Ma Su's studies were also supervised by Ma Liang himself.

Ma Liang was in no mood to ask any questions, so he said, "I have discussed this with Brother Kong Ming. You should say goodbye to your friends in the next few days, and then go to Chencang to do some copying work for your elder brother. I heard that Mr. Cui has submitted his resignation letter. If the shogunate does not try to keep him, he will return to Guanzhong to recuperate within the year. Then, you can become Mr. Cui's disciple."

Ma Su widened his eyes, not quite willing.

Seeing his expression, Ma Liang said, "The Cai and Zheng families are not far away, and the Grand Marshal is a man who cherishes the past. Mr. Cui should rest for a while, as he will eventually have a chance to serve in the government, so you must not treat him lightly."

"Yes, I understand."

Ma Su immediately asked, "Brother, do you want to visit my sister-in-law?"

"There are many secrets in the Gewuguan, so it's better to go there less often."

Ma Liang warned him and said, "The Grand Marshal went to Chencang by boat a few days ago. I will go with him on the return voyage. When you say goodbye to your friend, don't reveal too much. This is a dangerous place, and you are straightforward. From now on, you should talk less and do more."

"Yes, I understand."

Ma Su said again: "My family has sent me some more cloth. I have asked someone to make some summer and autumn clothes for me. I will go get them."

Ma Liang just nodded and watched Ma Su run away.

In Chencang, Black Bear went out for a ride on horseback, and Zhuge Liang led several county officials to follow.

At the foot of Wuzhangyuan, a new nursery is lush and green.

Walking in it, the black bear felt happy.

When fruit tree planting was first promoted and encouraged, saplings were dug from the mountains, or planted by grafting or sowing.

Now almost all counties have begun to establish nurseries and improve seedlings.

Selecting good varieties from various places for promotion and using the original fruit trees as rootstocks is a good idea. No matter how many fruit trees you have at home, you will not be taxed for fruit; and fruit can be used to make wine, and there is no limit on fruit wine. People who have peach orchards, pear or jujube orchards can make a lot of money just by making wine.

Zhuge Liang, leaning on a cane, pointed to a patch of chestnut trees and talked about how to improve them. These were local oak trees, but they were grafted with chestnut branches shipped from Youzhou.

The black bear drove his horse forward and reached out to pick a long, green oak nut. If it were fatter, it would be the acorn he was familiar with.

The difference between acorns and oak nuts is probably the difference between a thin monk and a fat monk.

Some grafted branches produce chestnuts covered with thorns. This is only a preliminary grafting to ensure the survival of the chestnut branches. Only later will the grafting be complete and the chestnut trees will be able to carry loads over a large area.

Planting oak trees is relatively simple. Those sown this year have already sprouted and can be grafted on a large scale in two years.

"The more side dishes people eat, the less food they consume for their main meals."

The black bear threw away the green oak nut in his hand and said to Zhuge Liang: "Everyone knows the principle, but how to do it is difficult. Mr. Kong Ming is willing to do it with his heart, which is much better than most magistrates."

"Your Excellency is over-praised."

Zhuge Liang actually likes his current working environment. He is very busy every day, and what he hates most is rain.

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If it rains, you can only stay in the house.

After inspecting the nursery, Zhuge Liang rode his horse and headed for the shipyard with Black Bear.

Shaking off the county official, Black Bear said, "A few days ago, the General of the Expedition to the Barbarians sent a report of victory, saying that the various tribes of the Eastern Barbarians had been subdued. I didn't expect him to be so quick, it took less than two years."

Zhuge Liang thought for a moment and replied, "Your Majesty, the Dongyi people are gentle in nature, and most of them rely on farming, fishing, hunting and trade. Lord Xuande defeated the capital of Goguryeo in one battle, and Goguryeo was the strongest, so the rest naturally surrendered."

Black Bear just nodded, still a little unwilling: "It's too fragile."

Zhuge Liang thought this was normal, so he said, "Lord Xuande has hundreds of thousands of elite troops under his command. There are many wise men in the Dongyi countries, so they will naturally know how to make choices."

After Liu Bei entered Liaodong, he did not carry out large-scale construction, but instead focused on military settlements and restoring production.

Fairness was also emphasized in trade with the various Dongyi tribes. This kind of treatment without discrimination or exploitation immediately softened the attitudes of the surrounding Dongyi tribes and villages.

But Goguryeo controlled the salt and was unwilling to give it up, so a war broke out between it and Liu Bei.

The war process was extremely unstoppable. Liu Bei led the Dongyi vassal army and Guan Yu led his own troops, and they actually captured the capital of Goguryeo in one fell swoop.

In terms of personality, Liu Bei and Black Bear are similar types of people. They don't like luxury and advocate simplicity.

We can also treat the barbarians and Hu people equally as long as they abide by the rules and laws.

Therefore, Liu Bei resolved the issue of the Dongyi states through diplomatic means supplemented by military strikes.

The next difficult part is that if we continue to maintain "fairness", we will be able to assimilate the Dongyi nations; but if we increase taxes and exploit them harshly, the Dongyi nations will develop a desire to disengage and confront each other.

But no matter what, Liu Bei was able to free up his hands to conquer the Three Han.

There were not many spoils of war from conquering Goguryeo; but for the Three Han states, spoils of war were needed to stimulate the enthusiasm of the Dongyi vassal armies.

Since they have all become spoils of war, the Three Han states will naturally resist.

Seeing Zhuge Liang calmly accept this matter, Black Bear continued: "The Dongyi are just being settled. If they want to naturalize in the future, they still need to be influenced by virtue. I will have someone sort out the official documents and war reports of Liaodong. I hope you can study them carefully. I hope you can help me with the southwest in the future."

"Don't dare."

Zhuge Liang leaned slightly aside and said: "It is the duty of a minister to share his worries while receiving his salary."

Ma Liang succeeded Si Jin Duwei, and most people knew his relationship with Ma Liang.

But Jiang Wan made Zhuge Liang somewhat moved.

He did not have a close personal relationship with Jiang Wan, but their friendship was deep. Basically, Ma Liang and Jiang Wan would continue his management methods.

The Sijin Duwei Mansion is very important to the shogunate, but the fact that it has not undergone any major changes so far is the greatest recognition of it.

(End of this chapter)