Han officials

Chapter 286 A God-given Opportunity
During the Three Kingdoms period, Bu Zhi was considered a representative figure of the scholars who had fled to Wu.

In his previous life, he lost all his wealth while fleeing the chaos in Jiangdong, but this led to the most glorious period for the Bu family.

After entering Jiangdong, Bu Zhi started his career as Sun Quan's chief clerk and later became the magistrate of Haiyan. He never had any dealings with Sun Ce, which reassured Sun Quan.

Eastern Wu was not without great talent, but there were few capable advisors like Bu Zhi who could be regarded as a trusted confidant by Sun Quan.

It was precisely because of this that Bu Zhi's career in Jiangdong was remarkably smooth sailing.

However, within ten years, he was personally recommended by Sun Quan as a "distinguished talent," becoming Bu Zhi's recommender and ruler.

The following year, Bu Zhi was appointed Prefect of Poyang, and then transferred to Governor of Jiaozhou.

Less than a year later, he was posthumously appointed as Imperial Envoy, General Who Conquers the South, General Who Pacifies the Barbarians, and Marquis of Guangxin.

In the first year of Huanglong (229), Bu Zhi was appointed by Sun Quan as General of the Cavalry and Governor of Xiling, replacing Lu Xun in pacifying the border between Wu and Shu.

Wow, his career path is so impressive that even describing Bu Zhi's meteoric rise is an understatement.

Compared to Bu Zhi, Lu Xun was simply unlucky. In his youth, he encountered Sun Ce, a notorious killer, who slaughtered two out of three members of the Lu clan of Wu Commandery, leaving every family in mourning. Just when he finally managed to put aside his deep-seated hatred and serve the Sun family, Sun Ce, in the prime of his life, died, and the even younger Sun Quan ascended to the throne.

As mentioned earlier, Sun Quan was always very narrow-minded and was always very suspicious of the old ministers left behind by his brother.

As a result, the more meritorious Lu Xun became, the deeper Sun Quan's suspicion of him grew.

Even in his later years, Sun Quan's harshness towards Lu Xun was so extreme that it was as if he was trying to drive Lu Xun to his death.

In fact, Sun Quan did just that.

After Lu Xun died of grief and indignation, Sun Quan immediately and impatiently appointed Bu Zhi to replace Lu Xun as prime minister.

It can only be said that for every miserable life Lu Xun led, Bu Zhi's life was incredibly fortunate.

Of course, Bu Zhi's ability to be trusted by the suspicious Sun Quan was not simply due to his clean background.

The most crucial reason is that Bu Zhi himself was Sun Quan's brother-in-law.

Although his sister Bu Lianshi was a concubine, she was the most favored by Sun Quan among all the ladies. She was known as Lady Bu in history. At that time, she was even openly called Empress in the Eastern Wu harem. After Bu Lianshi died, she was indeed posthumously honored as Empress.

In this situation, Bu Zhi was practically Sun Quan's most trusted confidant.

The Bu family of Huaiyin also reached its peak because of these two siblings.

However, at this time, Bu Lianshi was only seven years old, just a young girl, and had no future Empress Fengyi.

Upon learning that her second brother had returned home, she excitedly carried the windmill in her hand and ran towards the backyard.

However, before she could get close, she saw her second brother sitting cross-legged in the distance, disregarding all decorum. His clothes were covered in water stains, but he didn't care and just kept laughing like an idiot.

Strangely, the elder brother standing to the side did not scold him. Instead, he held a scroll of articles and laughed loudly, as if he had gone mad.

Upon seeing this scene, Xiao Bu Lian Shi turned pale with fright and immediately stood still.

A moment later, the little girl burst into tears and ran towards her mother's room.

"Mother! Mother, something terrible has happened! My brothers have all gone mad..."

As the little girl ran further and further away, shouting and yelling, Bu Zhi, who was under the corridor, finally came to his senses.

Bu Zhi chuckled and shook his head: "My self-control is lacking; I'm afraid I've made you laugh, little sister!"

"Hey, what's the point of worrying about your little sister at a time like this?" Bu Qu, having rested enough, suddenly stood up and said excitedly, "Brother, let's get started now!"

Bu Zhi, who had just been laughing with great joy, shook his head firmly.

"No rush. It's fine to leave this matter untouched. If we're going to launch an attack, we need to find a great achievement as a stepping stone to advancement!"

Hunting down some of Cao Cao's soldiers and vassal officers was hardly a merit for Bu Zhi.

Since they were going to do it, the Bu family should seize this rare opportunity and rise to the top.

Upon hearing his elder brother's words, Bu Qu thought it made sense and immediately frowned and pondered deeply.

To be honest, after racking his brains, he actually came up with a target.

Bu Qu grinned wickedly and said, "Brother, why don't we... take down the Chen family of Huaipu?"

Upon hearing this, Bu Zhi was taken aback at first, but then his eyes lit up immediately.

"Excellent! Let's do it this way!"

In a flash, Bu Zhi gritted his teeth and made this decision.

After all, news of Cao Cao's massive attack on Haixi City had already spread around Xiapi.

If the Bu clan could take the opportunity to attack the Chen clan of Xiapi, then regardless of success or failure, it would tie down a portion of Cao Cao's forces... He didn't believe that Chen Gui would really risk the extermination of his clan to serve Cao Cao.

If this old fox truly had such magnanimity, he wouldn't have sided with Cao Cao against Wei this time.

With this in mind, Bu Zhi no longer hesitated and immediately took action.

It's quite a coincidence that Huaiyin is located upstream of Huaipu, and one can travel downstream along the Huai River from morning to evening.

Under these circumstances, it would be incredibly easy for the Bu family of Huaiyin to launch a surprise attack on the Chen family of Huaipu.

……

While Bu Zhi was making his move in Huaiyin, someone at the western end of Xiapi had the same idea.

Lushiwu, Dongcheng County.

On the towering corner tower, a tall, handsome young man was looking at the notice.
-
[By order of Wei Zhe, General of the Cavalry and Governor of Xu Province]

"Suppressing Thieves and Safeguarding the Country"

Heaven has not blessed the Han, and war has ravaged the land. Therefore, I have upheld righteousness and led the royal army to punish the disloyal. Now, Cao Cao, the self-proclaimed governor of Yan Province, outwardly feigns loyalty and righteousness but inwardly harbors ruthlessness and cruelty. He has coerced displaced people to seize control of the prefectures and counties, and is truly the culprit who has brought ruin upon Xu Province!

Since entering Xuzhou, he has recruited followers such as Chen Gui and Ze Rong, plundering the countryside, abusing officials, and harming local worthies. These are all tyrannical people! Such bandits are entrenched in Xiapi like wolves in their den, and they will surely devour the people's flesh and blood soon!
You have lived in Xuzhou for generations; how can you allow foreign invaders to destroy our homeland?
I hereby declare to the people of Xuzhou that anyone who brings me the head of a bandit will be rewarded with wealth and rank.

Anyone who takes Cao Cao's head will be rewarded with a thousand catties of gold, and may be granted the title of Marquis within the Passes, permanently stationed in his homeland, and enjoying wealth and honor for generations to come!

Those who follow the rebels and surrender their heads will also be rewarded according to their merits, and we will never go back on our word!

Upon receiving this proclamation, we shall immediately raise an army!
If a man leads a thousand brave men, he will be appointed as the Commander of the Expeditionary Army and given a thousand bolts of silk.

If a man gathers three hundred local militiamen, he will be granted the title of Marquis of Righteous Service and awarded five hundred bolts of silk.

Those who defend their strongholds and cut off the enemy's supply lines will be exempt from taxes and corvée labor for three years on the day the enemy is defeated.

If one secretly communicates with Cao Cao, it will be considered treason.
Anyone who harbors thieves will have their head of household cut in half at the waist, and their wives and children will be confiscated by the authorities.
Those who provided provisions and fodder to the bandits had their land confiscated and their clans exiled.

Alas! The sons of Xiapi are now taking up arms to defend their homeland; it is time for heroes to rise up!

When the evil forces are wiped out, I will personally reward the troops; shrines will be erected to honor the fallen, and their descendants will be exempted from corvée labor; the common people who assisted in the war will have their taxes reduced by 30% to demonstrate their loyalty and righteousness!

This edict is issued in accordance with the law!
In the third month of spring in the first year of Xingping, Wei Gongwei affixed his seal.
This proclamation was actually written by Zhang Zhao on behalf of Wei Zhe, but the reward was personally determined by him.

If a hero from Xuzhou were to bring Cao Cao's head as a tribute, Wei Zhe would truly have struck it rich.

Let alone a mere Marquis of Guannei, he could even become the King of Guanzhong... well, that's definitely not an option.

However, that's the gist of it; anyone who reads this manifesto will understand.

For example, Lu Su, who was standing on the top of the dock at that moment, looked excited.

In fact, Lu Su's family background was similar to that of Mi Zhu; both came from extremely wealthy families.

However, Mi Zhu was a wealthy merchant with assets exceeding 100 million, whose financial resources were among the best in Xuzhou.

In comparison, the Lu family of Dongcheng was at best a powerful clan in a county town.

Therefore, Lu Su also encountered the same predicament that Mi Zhu faced back then.

Even according to the original political order of the Han Dynasty, it would have been even more difficult for him to take up an official post.

It was precisely because of this that after the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Lu Su immediately sold off his land, distributed his wealth to relieve the poor, and made friends with the local people, thus winning their hearts and minds and preserving the Lu family.

That's all he can do; he still hasn't had the opportunity to take up an official post.

Neither Tao Qian, the governor of Xuzhou, nor Zuo Rong, the former chancellor of Xiapi, ever glanced at him.

Therefore, Lu Su could only study at home while learning swordsmanship and archery, waiting for the right time to act.

However, at this moment, Lu Su was absolutely certain that the time he had been waiting for had finally arrived.

With this thought in mind, Lu Su decisively took out all the grain stored in his home.

A full six thousand bushels of rice were used by Lu Su as a bargaining chip to recruit soldiers.

Thanks to the good karma he had accumulated in the past, not long after Lu Su led more than a thousand clansmen away from the fortified village, he had gathered several thousand people around him. This made Lu Su even more excited, and he immediately took advantage of the situation to attack Dongcheng County.

Of course, Lu Su did not act impulsively to the point of losing his mind.

After unexpectedly capturing Dongcheng, Lu Su became more conservative and chose to attack Gaoshan County in the northeast.

If things went wrong, Lu Su prepared to lead his men to retreat to Guangling County to protect himself first.

As Lu Su and Bu Zhi launched their uprisings in the east and west respectively, the entire city of Xiapi finally became completely agitated.

In no time, countless wandering knights and brave warriors began to roam the countryside, waiting for an opportunity to hunt down lone Cao army soldiers or traitorous soldiers.

……

……

Meanwhile, in the suburbs of Huaipu.

On the open field, Sun Ce and Bu Zhi stared at each other, wide-eyed.

After a moment, Sun Ce, having regained his senses, rolled his eyes and immediately raised his head proudly, saying:

"I am a Colonel of the Vanquishing Army under the General of the Flying Cavalry. I have been ordered to attack the enemy. Since you are willing to serve the country, you shall join my troops!"

After saying this, Sun Ce couldn't help but glance at the rebel army behind Bu Zhi, a look of satisfaction on his face.

Despite the decline of the Bu family in Huaiyin, they still possess some cultural heritage.

In order to seize this opportunity, Bu Zhi went to great lengths to recruit young men and women, eventually gathering more than 5,000 men. When Sun Ce first encountered them, he thought that the Chen family had discovered them in advance.

However, before Sun Ce could even begin his plan, Bu Zhi refused without hesitation.

That's ridiculous. He didn't go bankrupt to risk his life for Sun Ce and earn merit.

Moreover, Sun Ce currently only has two thousand men, so if a combined force is to be assembled, he should be the one to lead it.

"Let's skip the joint force. We are only acting under the orders of the General of Chariots and Cavalry." Bu Zhi said slowly with a forced smile, "If Lieutenant Sun does not wish to come along, please do so. We will not see you off!"

Seeing this, Sun Ce, who had just been smiling, immediately glared at him with his tiger-like eyes:
"You dare disobey orders?"

As Sun Ce's expression darkened, Zhou Yu and the others behind him immediately drew their swords, their faces filled with murderous intent.

However, Bu Zhi was not to be outdone and immediately drew his sword with a cold expression to confront Sun Ce.

In the blink of an eye, before even attacking Huaipu, the allied forces of Sun Ce and Bu Zhi were on the verge of turning on each other...

(End of this chapter)