Jinting Han people

Chapter 178 Yuankang Four Years (4k)

God still had mercy on Liu Xian. After almost seven days of tossing and turning, Lu Zhu's condition finally improved. The high fever caused by excessive blood loss gradually subsided, and she was finally out of danger.

However, the negative impact of Sun Xiu's surprise attack on Xia Yang is not so easy to eliminate.

In the first year of the Yuankang reign, when Liu Xian first took office, Xiayang County had just over 300 households and a population of less than 1,500. However, after Liu Xian's diligent efforts, by the end of the second year of the Yuankang reign, the number of households in Xiayang County had risen to over 1,000, and the population had reached 5,000. By July of the third year of the Yuankang reign, just before Sun Xiu's surprise attack, the number of households in Xiayang County had reached a staggering 1,800, and the population was approaching 10,000.

This was all thanks to Sun Xiu's harsh policies. The more he levied heavy taxes on the other counties in Guanzhong, the more people migrated to Xiayang. As a result, during the third year of the Yuankang reign, over a hundred households migrated to Xiayang every month. If this rate of growth continued, by the fifth year of the Yuankang reign, Xiayang County's population would surpass Linjin, becoming the largest county in Fengyi Commandery.

But this time, Sun Xiu's surprise attack dealt a heavy blow to Xiayang. Although no one has revealed who was behind the attack on Xiayang County, the conflict between Sun Xiu and Liu Xian is well known. The only person who could mobilize so many people and have such weapons and armor was Sun Xiu.

So, in the eyes of others, this represented an open escalation of the conflict between Sun Xiu and Liu Xian. No one knew whether something more radical would happen next.

The people fled to Xiayang for tax relief, but faced with life-threatening danger, they knew what to do. Those who had already moved to Xiayang remained, but those who had originally planned to move there mostly adopted a wait-and-see approach. Even the number of merchants who previously traveled through Longmen Ferry had decreased by nearly 60%.

Liu Xian felt helpless about this, and he became increasingly aware that in the hearts of the people, the rule of the Jin Dynasty was still very stable, and he still had a long way to go.

So in the following days, Liu Xian appeased the people of Xiayang on the one hand, and at the same time sent Xi'an to contact Sun Xiu under the pretext of asking about the rewards related to persuading Hao Duyuan to surrender, to see how he could get the greatest benefit for himself while handling this matter lightly.

Sun Xiu had already prepared himself for Liu Xianyu's death, so he was overjoyed to learn that Liu Xian was willing to keep the matter under wraps. He immediately expressed his willingness to speak with one voice, declaring it all a misunderstanding.

He actually sent these people to Yanmen to guard the border, but he didn't expect that these people were unwilling to leave and missed their hometown very much. As a result, when they arrived in Xiayang, they got drunk in the North Camp, which caused the camp to explode, and this big misunderstanding occurred.

Therefore, Sun Xiu was willing to compensate Xia Yang three times for his losses and demanded the captives captured and imprisoned by Liu Xian, saying that he wanted to go to Chang'an to try them.

Of course, although they said they were going to judge the crimes, both sides knew that this was just a process. At most two or three heads would be chopped off, and the lives of the rest of the believers would be spared.

When Xi An brought this offer back to Xiayang, Liu Xian was very dissatisfied. After all, the price was obviously too low, and the people Sun Xiu brought with him were obviously his loyal followers. Otherwise, he would not dare to bring them to Xiayang with such trust, so he absolutely could not return them so easily.

So Liu Xian immediately put forward another condition:
"What bullshit! Sun Xiu thinks I'm a beggar? Tell him, you can have the people, but leave all the armor and weapons to me. The rest of the people will be 20 gold coins each! One hand for the money, the other for the people!"

Sun Xiu left five hundred people in Xiayang, and Liu Xian was going to extort a large sum of money from him.

It wasn't that Sun Xiu couldn't afford it, but the price he was asking was clearly too high. The most expensive slave in the Luoyang market was only two gold coins per able-bodied man. So he and Liu Xian began haggling over each other, arguing back and forth for several rounds. It wasn't until the winter of the third year of the Yuankang reign that they finally settled on a ransom of sixteen gold coins per person, and the matter was considered nearly settled.

In the twelfth month, Sun Xiu sent Xin Ran to retrieve the people, bringing Liu Xian four boxes of gold cakes, eight thousand gold for ransom, and two thousand gold to compensate for the loss, a total of ten thousand gold. After Liu Xian confirmed that everything was correct, he handed over all five hundred believers.

But before handing it over, Liu Xian had a plan. He secretly drafted a confession accusing Sun Xiu of inciting his followers to rebel, inscribed with a slew of outrageous statements, and then forced the followers to press their fingerprints on it. This would serve as a final threat, ensuring that Sun Xiu wouldn't dare to make any further moves against him.

After making such a huge sum of cash, Sun Xiu's surprise attack on Xia Yang was officially over.

Not long after, in the first month of the fourth year of Yuankang (294 AD), the imperial edict of commendation arrived. The content was very simple: because Liu Xian had made great contributions in pacifying Tiefu Hao Duyuan, the court decided after discussion to promote Liu Xian from the seventh rank Xiayang Chang to the sixth rank Xiayang Ling, and specially rewarded him with pieces of silk.

This reward really made Liu Xian laugh.

Although he had thought that if this matter was reported to Luoyang, Jia Mi might find a way to disgust him. Perhaps he would assign him to be the governor of a particularly poor small county, or to work under Sun Xiu in the Zhengxi Army. In the end, he never expected that Jia Mi would be so shameless as to directly promote him without even moving.

According to the system, large counties were appointed by a magistrate, while smaller ones were appointed by a chief. Although Xiayang had greatly improved under Liu Xian's governance, it still fell short of being a large county. Remember, during the Han Dynasty, a county had to have a population of over 10,000 households to be considered large. The requirements were lower during the Wei and Jin dynasties, but generally required at least 5,000 households and a population of over 30,000 to be considered large.

Xiayang is still far from this! But Jia Mi did it, and Liu Xian had nothing to say, because his aunt was the regent queen.

Of course, there are some differences between a sixth-rank county magistrate and a seventh-rank county head. The most obvious difference is the salary, which increases from 500 dan to 800 dan. Secondly, the bureaucratic group under one's command can also expand accordingly.

Originally, a county magistrate had only one county lieutenant and one county lieutenant. Now, as a county magistrate, he can have two lieutenants and two county secretaries, and the rest of the county's staff has also increased. Perhaps the most important thing is the increase in the number of county soldiers. A county lieutenant could recruit 300 soldiers, but now that number has doubled to 600, making him a full-fledged corps.

But this obviously couldn't satisfy Liu Xian's expectations. After taking such a huge risk and running back and forth, with only this result, where would his next chance to make a contribution be? What kind of tricks would Jia Mi play on him then?
So Liu Xian had a very troubled New Year.

"Don't be so gloomy, sir. At least there is always a reward for every effort, right?"

That morning, the county government was closed and heavy snow was falling. Liu Xian had nothing to do, so he sat in the yard, warming himself by the fire and playing the flute to relax, while Lu Zhu lay on the bed, listening with a gentle expression.

The excessive blood loss that day had left Luzhu with some aftereffects. Since then, her strength had diminished considerably, her face remained as pale as jade, and her spirits were low, often requiring her to rest in bed.

Liu Xian was playing the famous "Gathering Wild Wheat Song" at this time. He was frustrated by his recent experiences and wanted to learn to be patient. He used this melody, which was like returning home in the snow, to express his inner desolation. He repeatedly played the final section, which was the famous "When I left, the willows were swaying. Now I return, the rain and snow are falling. I walk slowly, thirsty and hungry. My heart is filled with sorrow, and no one understands my sorrow."

Liu Xian was in a state of confusion, and his breathing was not steady. Lu Zhu could tell, and when Liu Xian's flute stopped, she smiled and said:
"Sir, do you hear any noise outside the courtyard?"

Liu Xian put down the bamboo flute in his hand and listened carefully. Besides the sound of wind and snow in the sky, there was also the faint sound of something exploding.

Lu Zhu said to Liu Xian with a happy smile on her face:

"That's the sound of firecrackers! People all over the city are celebrating!"

"They heard you stayed and would continue to serve as Xiayang's county magistrate. They were all very happy. They truly regard you as their own parent and believe you can bring them happiness!" "You have become the pillar of their hearts. Isn't that something to be happy about? This shows that you have become a great tree."

Hearing Lu Zhu's words, Liu Xian's gloomy mood eased somewhat. He had originally hoped to relieve himself with the sound of flute music, but the more he thought about it, the more melancholy he became, which only exacerbated his dissatisfaction. But now, the sound of the firecrackers in the city, though faint and sometimes loud, was like a spark that leaped into his heart, quietly dispelling his unhappiness.

Liu Xian stood up, walked to the door, looked at the wind, snow and sky for a while, and sighed:
"The universe is so vast that everything in it seems so small!"

Lu Zhu replied, "But it is precisely because of this that the greatness of the achievement can be revealed."

Liu Xian was speechless. He sat back down in front of the couch and said to Lu Zhu, "You always come up with things I haven't thought of yet, and you always say things for me. Where does all your cleverness come from?"

"Of course, it was all taught to me by time, and also by you, Master."

"Me?" Liu Xian laughed. He still didn't understand the subtext of Lu Zhu's words. When someone loves another person too much, they become stupid about their flaws, but at the same time, they also become very smart in another aspect: how to help their loved one become better.

At that moment, the copper cauldron on the brazier began to make a noise. Liu Xian quickly stood up to investigate, and after removing the lid, he discovered that the porridge inside had begun to boil. This was for Lu Zhu, a red bean porridge simmered for an hour with brown sugar and red beans, meant to replenish the blood.

Liu Xian quickly pinched a wet towel, took the copper cauldron off the brazier, and placed a kettle on top. He then blew on it and poured a bowl of porridge for Lu Zhu.

When she sat back on the couch, Luzhu had clearly not drunk yet, but her eyes were full of sweetness.

Liu Xian sighed and turned to his usual way, confiding his worries to Lu Zhu, "I'm still worried about how to get Xia Yang back on track after what happened with Sun Xiu. With so many murders, many people are still watching and wondering if Xia Yang will cause more trouble."

"It's nothing, really. Young Master has done well enough. As long as you continue to show this kind of determination, everyone's eyes will be bright. The people will naturally know what is good and what is bad. After a long period of comparison, they will always make the right choice."

"Yes, time always gives people the correct judgment, but the people involved often lack patience, myself included."

Only then did Liu Xian deeply realize that Sima Yi was indeed exceptional. Patience and waiting—these two words sounded simple enough, but in practice, they were inevitably disheartening.

Because people seem too small in the face of the world, they may indeed be able to make predictions about the future. However, time, wind and rain, daily life, dust, these trivial things that will never end will make people doubt their own judgments.

Was he really right? Why was everything so peaceful? The answer was that even the so-called cataclysmic collapse of the heavens and earth itself was insignificant compared to the universe and the Earth itself.

Therefore, patience becomes even more precious. It means not caring about what others think and staying true to yourself. But be careful not to equate the mediocrity and numbness honed by time with patience; it is something completely different, yet easily misunderstood.

Liu Xian was now testing his patience. That evening, he went out to check out the night market in Xiayang. Since everyone had nothing to do during the New Year holidays, there was no curfew.

Because it was Chinese New Year, there were few caravans in Xiayang at this time of year; it was mostly local residents who were there to join in the fun. The night market was mostly filled with people selling things, but mostly performances and games.

As the sun set, many people had already lit bonfires. Children, lighting firecrackers, raced and played hide-and-seek through the streets, stirring up a gust of wind around Liu Xian.

There were still many men and women walking around on the streets, some watching cockfighting, some competing in pitching pots, and some shouting about playing backgammon. It was still very lively on this snowy day.

The busiest spot was the southern part of the city, where local residents had spontaneously erected a stage and were performing a variety of acts, including spear-holding dances, drum-beating dances, and the 18-beat hujia instrument. The crowds gathered to watch, and at the end, according to tradition, they performed a dance to the god Yu the Great at Longmen, praying for peace and prosperity in the new year.

Liu Xian walked towards that direction while looking around to see if there was any risk of fire. In the twelfth month of the previous year, there was a fire in the west of the city, which burned several people. That was why Liu Xian came out to patrol.

Fortunately, nothing serious had happened today. By the time he reached the south of the city, it was already completely dark. The sea of people and laughter everywhere filled him with joy. For a moment, he thought, if this kind of life could last a little longer, it wouldn't be bad.

At this time, Liu Xian heard a boy crying. When he approached him and asked why, the boy stopped crying. It turned out that the boy was too short to see the community opera on stage and was very disappointed. Liu Xian lifted the boy up and stood at the edge of the crowd, letting him sit on his neck and watch.

A performance of "Fake Officials" was currently underway on stage. This was a farce, a tradition dating back to Emperor He of the Han Dynasty. It was performed by two actors. One pretended to be a corrupt official, while the other pretended to be a righteous hero, perhaps a knight-errant or an honest official. The hero then teased the corrupt official, venting public anger and endearing the performer to the common people.

Liu Xian couldn't help but laugh when he discovered that the scene on stage was exactly "Liu Xian" fighting "Sun Xiu". Many county residents were pointing and saying:

"That Sun Xiu costume isn't ugly enough! I think the nose should be a little pointier."

"Yes! The county lady's appearance is not right either. I always feel like something is missing. She should be more heroic..."

"Don't use your sword! I heard that the county lord is very skilled with a sword. He conquered the Longmen thieves with his sword skills!"

"Yes, yes, it's just one less beautiful sword!"

"..."

Listening to the county residents' incoherent discussions, Liu Xian couldn't help but laugh. Perhaps due to a lack of verbal training, they couldn't really pinpoint what was wrong with Sun Xiu and what was truly good about them. So where did their assessments come from? Perhaps it was intuition.

It was a bit awkward to watch him perform, but luckily it was too dark and he was standing at the outermost edge, so no one noticed that he was in the crowd, clapping with the county residents.

After the community opera ended and the people dispersed, Liu Xian put the boy down, took his hand and led him home. After receiving repeated thanks from his parents, Liu Xian began his journey back. There were fewer people on the street, which made him look up at the starry sky for a while, feeling full of strength again.

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(End of this chapter)