Han officials

Chapter 186 The Curtain Is About to Rise [22]

With the help of the fragments of "Rongcheng Sutra", Dongguo Lu successfully met Wei Zhe.

However, what he did not expect was that this young and promising General Zuo was not interested in the "art of sex".

After reading the ancient secret scroll presented by Dongguo Lu, Wei Zhe actually asked, "Is the Daoyin technique here really passed down by Rong Chengzi?"

To be honest, even though Wei Zhe was knowledgeable and experienced in later generations, this was the first time he had seen this method of practicing martial arts.

Because the guiding technique in this unique copy actually teaches people how to pronounce the word "zha" (tā).

The simple character "吒" (zha) actually has various training methods in this unique copy.

"Shuowen Jiezi" says: "Zha" means to spray, to scold angrily.

It is said that this was a spell used by ancient Chinese ancestors to scare away wild beasts during battles.

But nowadays, apart from witches, few people believe in this anymore.

Seeing Wei Zhe's words, Dongguo Lu immediately said with some embarrassment, "I dare not deceive you, my lord. I don't know anything either. I only heard from my father that this must be the technique of Qigong practitioners in the pre-Qin period. Practicing this technique for a long time is indeed quite effective."

"Oh? Have you practiced it?" Wei Zhe immediately became interested when he heard that.

Dongguo Lu was even more embarrassed when he heard this: "...I am stupid and have not been able to enter yet."

Hearing this, Wei Zhe smiled and didn't embarrass him anymore.

After a brief hesitation, Wei Zhe transferred Dongguo Lu to be the secretary of the marquis's mansion.

Although it seemed like a demotion, Dongguo Lu was overjoyed and immediately bowed to express his gratitude.

After all, the provincial government and the shogunate seem to be the kind that get things done, and they are too unfriendly to people like him who have connections.

In comparison, the position of a retainer in the Marquis's mansion was more to Dongguo Lu's liking.

But before he could be happy for a while, he was assigned a task by Wei He.

That is to take my father to Dongshan Academy to help Zheng Xuan and others interpret ancient books from the pre-Qin period.

You should know that some of the rubbings and manuscripts in the collections of Dongguan, Lantai, etc. can even be traced back to the Shang and Zhou dynasties, which gave Zheng Xuan and others a headache.

If it was bronze inscriptions or bird seal characters, they could still recognize them to some extent.

But when it comes to Zhuanwen or even older characters, these old gentlemen are at a loss.

In comparison, some wizards and alchemists are actually better at this than them.

But then again, isn't this also a kind of luck?

In other words, this dynasty was not too far away from the pre-Qin period, and there are still some rubbings and copies passed down.

If Yuan Jun had not taken that risk, the fire in Luoyang would probably not have left future generations with even a chance to worry.

As for the descendants of the Chinese nation two thousand years later, they will have no idea about the contents of these ancient documents.

Xi Zhicai did not comment on Wei Zhe's actions.

Although he did not believe in the art of sex, the timing of Dongguo Lu's presentation of the book was too coincidental.

Just when the Youzhou nobles wanted to form an alliance with Wei Zhe, Dongguo Lu came forward, and it was hard for Xi Zhicai not to think too much.

Of course, the Youzhou gentry still had some dignity, and most of the women they sent up were concubines' daughters.

Only the small nobles or powerful people could be so ashamed as to give their legitimate daughters to Wei Zhe as concubines.

However, to their disappointment, Wei Zhe did not collect any.

After Dongguo Lu left, Xi Zhicai looked worried and asked, "Mingsir, are you really not considering this anymore?"

Xi Zhicai did not question Wei Zhe's judgment, but felt that he should give the Youzhou gentry some face.

He knew that the gentry had become a chronic disease in the world, but they were also the foundation of the world.

Cutting off the dead flesh can cure the poison, but amputation would be an overreaction.

However, Wei Zhe just smiled lightly when he heard this: "Don't worry about your talent, I know what I'm doing."

If Wei Zhe was from another state, he might now take advantage of the situation and marry into the Youzhou nobles.

After all, in the local bureaucracy where "officials avoid their hometowns", there is an inherent contradiction between local and foreign forces.

For example, when Han Fu was the governor of Jizhou, he led the scholars from Yingchuan to Jizhou to assist him in governing the local area. It was for this reason that scholars from Yingchuan such as Xun Chen, Xun Yu, Guo Tu, Xin Ping, and Xin Pi appeared in Jizhou.

To a certain extent, this was why Han Fu was excluded by the counties and prefectures of Jizhou.

Of course, he is not the only one like this. Looking at the Three Kingdoms period, similar situations actually existed among the Cao, Liu, and Sun families.

For example, although Cao Cao claimed to promote people based on their talents, the core officials of Cao Wei, especially those holding military power, were always from Qiaopei. Meanwhile, after Liu Bei entered Shu, the top officials were scholars from Jingchu and veteran officials from the Yuan Dynasty.

Therefore, the people of Shu Han often said that "people from Jingchu are noble", and there was also the "Nanlu dispute" in Dongwu.

The same is true for the Sun family in Jiangdong, who have always relied on scholars from Jiangbei, especially those from Huaihe and Sihe.

As for the Jiangdong gentry, they were slaughtered by Sun Ce in the early days, with countless casualties. Even Sun Ce's assassination was a sacrifice in this conflict between local and foreign forces.

In this way, Wei Zhe, who was crossing the river by following the four families of Yuan, Cao, Sun and Liu, would naturally not be biased.

Yes, he is from Youzhou, but the fact that the local forces in Youzhou are too strong may not be a good thing for him.

Especially in the early stages of his career, he had to try his best to maintain a certain factional balance.

He didn't want to be like Yuan Shao, who was still fighting among his own people even when the enemy was at the gates of the city.

……

A month later, Ji County, Youzhou.

With the return of Taishi Ci and Zhong Hu, the counties of Youzhou finally fell completely into the hands of Wei Zhe.

In fact, Taishi Ci and Zhong Hu only took action three times during this trip.

Most of the time they were like an armed parade, and once they were at the gates of the city, the other side would surrender.

There is no way. With their reputation and military power, not many people dare to resist.

That day, in the general's mansion, in the lobby.

Shi Yi solemnly read out the rewards and appointments:
-
On the Xinchou day of the eleventh month of the winter of the first year of Chuping
General Zuo Zhe ordered:

To quell rebellion and pacify the people is to follow the will of Heaven; to reward people according to their merits is to comfort the people.

Now that Youzhou has just been pacified, with much to be done, it is thanks to your devotion and courage in the battles that the rebels have been brought down and the state and county have been cleared. At this time, we must honor your loyalty and bravery, and reward your meritorious service.

Herewith:

The county magistrate Xi Zhong is a master strategist who can win battles thousands of miles away and make important decisions in times of crisis. Now, I specially commend him as a military advisor and general, and grant him five hundred kilograms of gold and a thousand pieces of silk, and he will be in charge of the confidential matters of the shogunate.

Taishi Ci, the commander of the Liaodong vassal state, has led the troops in battle and bravely fought in the front lines. Now, he is specially commended as General Yingyang, and is given a set of armor and ten fine horses. He will lead the left army of the Jingnan Campaign, stationed in Zhuo County, and supervise all military operations in Zhuo County.

County Lieutenant Zhong Hu defeated the bandit Dong in Luoyang and captured the bandit general at Hulao Pass. Now, he is specially commended as the Protector-General, and is given a set of armor and ten fine horses. He will lead the Right Army of the Jingnan Campaign, stationed in Quanzhou County, and supervise all military affairs in Yuyang County.

Yan Rou, the chief secretary of the Liaodong vassal state, has repeatedly defeated the Hu Lu and guarded the border. Now he is specially appointed as the commander of the Xianbei protection team and is granted a residence in Ji County. He is stationed in Wuzhong County and supervises all Xianbei affairs.

The county Sima Liu Yi has repeatedly defeated the Dongyi and conquered Haidong. Now he is specially appointed as the commander of the Wuhuan Guard, stationed in Guangning County, to supervise all Wuhuan affairs.

……

……

He appointed Kuang Sheng as the commander of Juyongguan and Xu Kuan as the commander of Lulongsai to guard the border.

All soldiers who died in battle shall have their names recorded and their orphans and widows provided with relief.
Each soldier who participated in the battle was given three hu of millet and five hundred coins; the wounded were given double the amount.

Alas, fellow officials, you should consider the hardships of starting a business and always be cautious in maintaining it. Serve the country and bring peace to the people. Let us work together with one heart and one mind to overcome these difficult times.

If you harbor ulterior motives, military law will not forgive you;
If you achieve new achievements, you can expect to be granted a title of nobility!
After a long time, as Shi Yi finished speaking, everyone in the hall responded immediately.

After this round of rewards, even those who did not receive any rewards could not help but feel inexplicably excited.

Many people suddenly had a new understanding in their hearts. Although it is a chaotic world now, it is also a world of great struggle.

They had never felt so clearly that wealth and glory were so close to them.

Thinking of this, many people's mentality began to undergo subtle changes.

This is also the result Wei Zhe wants. He wants them all, whether they are powerful nobles or common people.

However, after everyone said goodbye and left, Wei Zhe left Taishi Ci and Zhong Hu behind alone.

Without waiting for the two to speak, Wei Zhe handed them a copy of the latest military report.

It was clearly written on it that Gongsun Zan, who was originally on the verge of taking Yecheng with an unstoppable force, had now switched from offense to defense.

Having lost his supplies from Youzhou, he is now using Hejian State as his base to engage in a tug-of-war with Han Fu in Anping State.

As for Yuan Shao, he entered Ye City and seemed to have resolved his rift with Han Fu and began to join forces to deal with Gongsun Zan.

When they saw this, Taishi Ci and Zhong Hu couldn't help but frown.

If Yuan Shao and Han Fu joined forces, it would probably be a matter of time before Gongsun Zan's troops were destroyed.

On the corridor, looking at the lonely rocks in the backyard, Wei Zhe narrowed his eyes and said, "Pay attention to Bohai County. If you encounter anyone who is ignorant, you can act tactfully."

Although Taishi Ci and Zhong Hu were puzzled by what he said, they still bowed and accepted the order.

After the two left, Wei Zhe called the newly appointed Zhuo County Prefect Gongsun Zhao and Yuyang County Prefect Hua Xin to give them some instructions.

I don’t know what Wei Zhe said, but Gongsun Zhao and Hua Xin looked happy when they left.

Until then, looking at the sunset in the sky, Wei Zhe couldn't help but sigh:
"Yuan Benchu, I hope you can still have some shame!"

(End of this chapter)