Late Han Zhao Tang

In June, the sun was stronger than usual.

On the Wei River road, carts rumbled and horses neighed. Pedestrians carried bows and arrows at their waists. Children tugged at their clothes, stamped their feet, and blocked the road, crying. Parents, wives, and children saw them off. Strong men spoke frankly about earning fame and fortune.

Among the pedestrians, Ma Kui, who had come from Longyou, felt tired from walking and called his fellow villagers to find a restaurant by the roadside to sit down.

The restaurant was bustling with activity. Seeing Ma Kui and his group occupying a table, armed with bows and knives and exuding a fierce aura, the waiter quickly went over to greet them. He first had the waiter bring a pot of wine to quench Ma Kui and his men's thirst, and then had his wife prepare some cold dishes.

"Which department do you gentlemen belong to?" the tavern owner asked in a friendly greeting.

"The Tianshui Army of Longyou Guard!" Ma Kui took a big gulp of cold wine, feeling a refreshing coolness, and said, "The wine here is quite good, it really cools you down!"

“A childhood friend of mine is serving in the Wudu Army of Longyou Garrison. He went south a few days ago to report for duty.”

Previously, the Tang army's military system was reformed into four prefectures and sixteen guards. Today, the Yongzhou Guard, along with the Hexi, Jingji, and Hanjiang Guards, belong to the Left Guard of the State. During this expedition to the south and southeast, almost all the troops from the four prefectures were drawn from the army.

Due to the long distance, the Yongzhou and Jingji Guards were ordered to set out for the Yuzhou battlefield.

Compared to past campaigns in the Central Plains, the soldiers going to war today are not in high spirits. They are unwilling to travel thousands of miles to fight, and after so many years of war, they have already acquired all the necessary things at home. They do not know if they will be able to return alive from this southern expedition. This is in stark contrast to the officers who are eager to make a name for themselves.

However, since the Qin soldiers were among the most combat-effective troops in the Tang army, Zhang Yu could not refuse to conscript them. Instead, he ordered them to go to Huainan to fight against Cao Cao's army. Thus, the Guanzhong troops had no choice but to go on the expedition, hoping to fight one last battle and then return home safely to live a good life with their wives and children.

The tavern owner exchanged pleasantries and chuckled, "My wine has been soaking in a well for quite some time, wouldn't it be refreshing?"

Ma Kui smacked his lips and said, "It tastes good, but fifty coins a dou of wine is really expensive. I wonder if you could lower the price a bit? So that my brothers and I can buy more!"

The tavern owner said helplessly, "To be honest, ten coins of the wine price must be paid to the government. If it's cheap now, there's no profit to be made. Besides, because we're going to war, grain is scarce in the market. So every pot of wine I sell is one less pot available. Not raising the price is my conscience. My childhood friend is going to war, and his captain bought wine from me. I also sold it to him for fifty coins a peck."

"Ma Er, you're not married yet, so leave some extra money for me today!"

Seeing that Ma Kui was about to take out his money, the elders on either side quickly stopped him.

"That's it!"

Ma Kui abandoned his plan to pay and said, "One shi of grain costs thirty coins, and a dou of wine can feed me for a month. I'm sorry to bother you, tavern!"

"nothing!"

The tavern owner chuckled and said, "Soldiers live on the edge, all they do is save money to buy cattle, get married, and build a house!"

“My childhood friend joined the army after His Majesty broke through Guanzhong. His family owns 250 mu of land and even bought an ox two years ago. Now his family has everything they need. If His Majesty hadn’t issued an edict to send troops, he would have preferred to farm peacefully and enjoy the pleasures of peace!”

“If we can achieve merit, wouldn’t it be even more prosperous to buy a servant?” Ma Kui said dismissively.

"Now that the imperial court has issued an edict to free slaves, the price of servants has skyrocketed. Previously, two oxen were worth one servant, but now five oxen are needed to buy a single servant," the tavern owner said. "Judging by military merit, one would need to behead at least four or five people before there's any hope!"

"That's a bit difficult!"

Ma Kui shook his head repeatedly and said, "Since I joined the army, I have only managed to behead one enemy and have been rewarded with fifty acres of land. Those in the army who can behead more than five enemies have probably already been promoted to officers."

"If we can survive this southern expedition, that will be good enough!"

The innkeeper said, “Huainan is full of mosquitoes, and the southeast is a land of pestilence. I have heard from travelers that few northerners who go to the southeast survive; most fall ill. I had a fellow villager who went south to Jingzhou, but when he reached Nanjun, he suddenly fell ill, vomiting and having diarrhea. He died in Nanjun in less than a month.”

"You are unaware of the situation in the southeast. The southeast is rainy, and the rivers there are like towering waves. Only people from the south can travel by boat..."

"Don't talk nonsense, tavern owner!"

The soldiers of the Capital Garrison shouted, "The officers have prepared medicinal herbs, and His Majesty has ordered physicians to take precautions against the miasma. As for the naval battle, the Southerners will handle it. Don't blame me for reporting this to the authorities for your nonsense!" "I wouldn't dare!"

After being warned, the tavern owner quickly changed his tune, laughing, "Although there is miasma in the southeast, the people of the south are weak. If the navy can defeat the enemy, you gentlemen can cross the river and rampage through the prefectures and counties, making it easy to behead enemies and gain merit!"

"May you all achieve great success and be granted titles. Enjoy your meal and drinks tonight!" The tavern owner, fearing being reported, turned around and went to curry favor with the soldier.

After the tavern owner left, Ma Kui's face remained unchanged, but his mood grew heavy. If what the tavern owner said was true, wouldn't it mean that not only would he fail to achieve anything on this expedition, but it was also uncertain whether he would even return alive?

"Hey!"

Ma Kui took a sip of wine, looked at the soldiers who were reluctant to leave on the road, and sighed silently.

With soldiers away from home, no one is tilling the fields. Even if strong women do the work, the yield will be cut in half at least. Now, only his elderly mother remains at home. If he doesn't return for a long time, who will till the fields next spring after his mother harvests the autumn crop?

Besides, he is not an elite soldier; as an ordinary soldier, he undertakes the most arduous tasks in the army, including building camps and transporting supplies. Even if he pacifies the southeast, without achieving any major victories, who knows how much credit he will receive?
In times of chaos, people say that soldiers can earn a living, but little do they know that they are driven like cattle and horses!

Life is tough!
Compared to the ordinary soldiers who were treated like cattle and horses, Emperor Zhang Yu also had his worries, troubled by the lack of rain this summer.

"Your Majesty, the spring rainfall this year was normal, but there has been little rain in Hebei. In recent months, the sun has been scorching, and officials in the prefectures and counties are worried about a reduced autumn harvest," Du Ji reported.

Zhang Yu rubbed his temples. Hebei mainly grows millet and wheat. Although the drought will not result in a complete crop failure, it will at least significantly reduce the yield. Although millet is drought-resistant, the yield reduction will be better than that of wheat, but not much better.
To alleviate the rain problem, we must strengthen irrigation of fields to avoid a significant reduction in yield.

Of course, drought and reduced yields are not the most fatal thing; the most fatal thing is that drought is accompanied by locust plagues. Back then in Shangdang, locusts swept through the mountains and forests, and the fields were almost completely destroyed. If it weren't for the life-saving grain sent by Youzhou and the coercion of the Shangdang gentry to provide grain, Zhang Yu would probably have failed in his entrepreneurial endeavor.

At this crucial moment in the southern campaign, Zhang Yu was suddenly told that Hebei had been without rain for a month and was on the verge of drought. How could Zhang Yu not be worried? After all, Hebei was a major grain-producing region, and a poor harvest in Hebei would have a significant impact on the imperial court.

"The lack of rain in January has resulted in poor harvests of millet and wheat, but I am worried that locusts will rise up as a result, sweeping through the prefectures and counties of Hebei and causing complete crop failures," Zhang Yu said with concern.

As he spoke, Zhang Yu looked at Zhong Yao and Du Ji and asked, "You two are in charge of government affairs, what strategies do you have?"

"Your Majesty," Zhong Yao said, "I believe we should immediately order the prefectures and counties of Hebei to dredge the irrigation canals and irrigate the fields before the severe drought hits, thus preventing a major crop failure and impacting this year's tax collection. We should also instruct the prefectures and counties to keep a close watch on locusts, and if locust eggs are found, order the local authorities to exterminate them."

"allow!"

Zhang Yu said, "I am now dispatching an imperial envoy to Hebei to supervise whether the water conservancy projects in Hebei have been repaired. Anyone found to be in violation will be dismissed from office!"

"promise!"

Zhong Yao responded, then hesitated and asked, "Your Majesty, there may be a drought in Hebei. Should we postpone the military campaign, or allow soldiers and civilians from Hebei to return to their hometowns so that the prefectures and counties can conscript laborers to repair the canals?"

"A major war is imminent; how can we suddenly call it a day?"

Zhang Yu frowned and said, "The soldiers in Hebei must be conscripted, but the civilian laborers can be temporarily exempted. The grain and fodder in Hebei must not be moved arbitrarily. The grain stored in the prefecture must be inventoried and reported beforehand, in preparation for disaster relief in case of crop failure."

"If Hebei suffers a poor harvest while Guanzhong remains normal, then grain should be purchased in Guanzhong to supply Hebei. Alternatively, grain should be purchased from Henan and the coastal areas to stabilize grain prices in Hebei!"

Zhang Yu's tone was slightly somber as he said, "The world is vast, and the output of each prefecture and county varies from year to year. Sichuan and Chongqing are the land of abundance, with fertile fields stretching for thousands of miles, and their annual grain production is immeasurable. Therefore, if there is a shortage of military provisions, we will have Yizhou send grain south down the Yangtze River to replenish the army's supplies."

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Zhong Yao felt the pressure and accepted the order.

Seeing this, Zhang Yu encouraged him, saying, "You have been appointed Prime Minister and granted the title of Duke of Xia. Now that there are no difficulties, how could the world know of your talents as Prime Minister!"

“Your subject will do his utmost to supply the army with provisions and ensure that Hebei is free from famine!” Zhong Yao said.

"Excellent!" (End of Chapter)