Han officials

Chapter 298 The Unfamiliar World at the End of the Han Dynasty

Jingzhou, Xinye County.

Under the blazing sun, a rider hurriedly approached from afar and soon entered the Liu residence with a letter in his hand.

After he entered, Liu Bei was sitting opposite a young scholar.

The scholar had a face like jade, wore a crane-feather cloak, and possessed an extraordinary temperament; he was clearly no ordinary person.

Seeing that Liu Bei's expression was quite complicated after reading the letter, the man couldn't help but feel a little strange.

Seeing this, Liu Bei didn't explain further, but simply sighed softly.
"Liu Zhi, the Prince of Donghai... has passed away!"

After saying this, Liu Bei handed the letter to the other party, his eyes filled with sadness.

The young scholar was somewhat puzzled, as he had never heard of any connection between Liu Bei and the King of Donghai.

However, upon receiving the letter, he realized that Liu Zhi, the Prince of Donghai, had not died a natural death.

If what the letter says is true, then Liu Zhi, the Prince of Donghai, must have died suddenly from an illness because he blocked the land reclamation project in Xuzhou.

The Donghai Kingdom was likely abolished for this reason.

Upon realizing this, the man immediately understood why Liu Bei had acted this way.

There's no other reason than that they feel sorry for each other!

It should be noted that although both were members of the Han imperial family, Liu Zhi, the Prince of Donghai, had a much better background and treatment than him.

Even so, the general still killed them without hesitation, as if slaughtering dogs and cattle.

Comparing the two situations, it's understandable that Liu Bei felt a sense of unease.

After all, the Liu family's reputation was no longer of any use, and it affected all members of the Han imperial family.

However, this man clearly knew this, but with a quick glance, he stroked his beard and smiled, saying:
"General, is this because you are worried about the country, or perhaps you are worried about yourself?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei couldn't help but smile wryly:
When did Fengxiao become so narrow-minded?

"If the skin is gone, where will the hair attach? What I am worried about, does it even matter?"

Indeed, sitting in front of Liu Bei at this moment is Guo Jia.

He was invited by Shi Sunrui to go to Luoyang for an inspection, but after learning about it, he was quite disappointed.

It wasn't that Shi Sunrui was doing a bad job, but rather that Guo Jia realized he was only fit to be a subject, not a ruler.

Even though the once arrogant Lü Bu was unusually well-behaved in front of Shi Sunrui, Guo Jia understood that this was precisely Shi Sunrui's weakness—he was not assertive enough.

Therefore, let alone becoming a regional lord, Shi Sunrui could barely even become a powerful minister.

In this respect, Xun You was perhaps more suitable than Shi Sunrui to take command of the Han army in Luoyang.

In this situation, how could a smart man like Guo Jia possibly follow Shi Sunrui?

Rather than following Shi Sunrui and submitting to others in the future, why doesn't he choose a wise ruler for himself?
Guo Jia then went to Chang'an and stayed at Zhong Yao's residence for half a month before quietly leaving.

He didn't even bother to comment on the court in Chang'an; he just felt it was a pity that the young emperor was born at the wrong time.

After leaving Chang'an, Guo Jia went from the position of Prefect of Jingzhao to Nanyang County to visit Liu Biao, who was not well-known.

However, perhaps because there were too many scholars from the Central Plains fleeing south to escape the chaos, Liu Biao did not pay much attention to Guo Jia.

His actions, though seemingly respectful and courteous, were in reality merely a means to gain fame; he did not actually use external forces for his own benefit.

Seeing that Liu Biao was all show and no substance, Guo Jia intended to leave, but unexpectedly encountered Liu Bei at a banquet.

After exchanging only a few words, the two began to admire each other.

So after the banquet, Guo Jia went to Xinye at Liu Bei's invitation to listen to his words and observe his actions... and to learn more about Liu Bei's troops in Xinye.

For three consecutive days, Guo Jia finally made his final probing attempt.

Seeing that Liu Bei did not give a direct answer, Guo Jia immediately repeated:

"Given only the surface, where does the general stand?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei finally composed himself and fell into deep thought.

After a moment, Liu Bei, with a firm look in his eyes, said in a deep voice:
"The nation and its people are one; what more can be said!"

After saying that, he raised his cup and drank the wine in one gulp.

Seeing this, Guo Jia finally showed a slight smile.

There's no way around it; a top-tier strategist like him wouldn't want to be a second-rate subject.

They painstakingly serve a lord, pouring their hearts and souls into it, only to have him submit to someone else in the end. If that's the case, why go through all that trouble? Wouldn't it be better to skip the middleman and get it done directly?

While Guo Jia received the answer he wanted, Liu Bei did not.

Shortly after, he dismissed his attendants and bowed respectfully to Guo Jia, saying:

"The world is now in imminent peril. I am unworthy, yet I wish to restore the Han dynasty from darkness to light and the state from danger to peace. However, my wisdom and abilities are limited, and so far I have accomplished nothing, wasting my years in vain. Sir, you are a rare talent in this world. I humbly request your guidance. If you would not despise me, I would be extremely fortunate!"

Guo Jia immediately became solemn, helped Liu Bei up, and then spoke frankly without any reservation:
"Today, the world is in disarray, the emperor has moved away, the people have abandoned their livelihoods, famine has led to displacement, the government has no reserves to last a year, and the people have no will to live in peace. The Han dynasty is already doomed to perish."

"However, the Wei family in Hebei now has a force of one million, and it is impossible to contend with them."

"Liu Biao of Jingzhou, though possessing a rich and prosperous land, has not taken any steps to establish a solid foundation, and thus his reign will not last long."

"Liu Yan of Yizhou is old and frail. The people of Bashu are prosperous and the country is wealthy, yet he does not care for them. This will inevitably lead to chaos in the long run."

"These two provinces were bestowed upon you by Heaven. Why don't you take them for yourself?"

At this point, Guo Jia, with a solemn expression, slowly said:
"If Heaven grants an opportunity and you do not seize it, you will suffer the consequences; if the time comes and you do not act, you will suffer the calamity. I urge you, General, to think this through carefully!"

After pondering for a moment upon hearing this, Liu Bei slowly shook his head and said:
"Both of them are members of the Han imperial family, and are relatives and elders of the same clan as Liu Bei. How can they be taken away?"

It seemed as if he was rejecting Guo Jia's suggestion, but Guo Jia understood the implied meaning.

Liu Bei was clearly asking him what pretext he should use to legitimately seize the two men's empire.

After all, only when the name is correct and the words are appropriate can one achieve twice the result with half the effort.

Guo Jia was prepared for this, and immediately dipped his finger in wine to draw a simple map of the nine provinces on the table.

Guo Jia pointed to Nanyang County in northern Jingzhou, his eyes gleaming, and said:
“Nanyang Commandery is the hometown of the current emperor. Emperor Guangwu established his career here and thus enabled the restoration of the Han Dynasty.”

"Although Yuan Shu has seized power, he is a coward who bullies the weak and fears the strong, and his ambition is shallow. If Jingzhou were to provide military supplies, it would not be difficult for you, General, to defeat Yuan Shu's army in Nanyang."

"Although this prefecture is in ruins, it can serve as a base for the general."

"Now that Nanyang has fallen, General, you should serve the Emperor to command the disobedient."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei's eyes lit up, and he subconsciously moved forward, staring at Guo Jia with anticipation.

Guo Jia did not disappoint him, and continued to explain each point by drawing with his fingers:

"The Liang army of the Three Auxiliary Regions appears fierce, but they fight independently, making them easy to defeat."

"The Han army in Luoyang has no great ambitions; they can truly be of assistance to you, General."

"Once the general recovers the Guanzhong region, the ancestral temple can be restored in Luoyang."

"After that, they recuperated and rested in Guanzhong, cultivated the land, and raised military supplies."

"Years later, when they are entrusted with the emperor's authority and command the world, and their campaigns have not yet ended, who can rival them?" "Even though Liu Biao of Jingzhou and Liu Zhang of Yizhou are elders of the imperial clan, how can they defy the emperor's orders?"

"If Bashu falls, the Qin dynasty can achieve its dominance. If Jingzhou is taken, the hegemony can be established!"

"In a few years, we will control two-thirds of the country, and the restoration of the Han dynasty will be inevitable!"

As he uttered these words, Guo Jia appeared somewhat weary.

However, Liu Bei was breathing rapidly, and his eyes were filled with excitement.

After years of traveling around, this was the first time he had ever truly seen the dawn of the Han Dynasty's revival!
Most importantly, if Guo Jia's strategy is followed, all of this seems to be truly achievable.

Thinking of this, Liu Bei couldn't help but take a few steps forward, excitedly grasping Guo Jia's hands and exclaiming:

"Listening to your words, sir, has enlightened me greatly. I am truly fortunate to have met you."

Guo Jia, upon hearing this, did not become arrogant. Instead, he grasped Liu Bei's hand and chuckled lightly:
"Is it not a blessing for the common people to have met General Jia?"

After saying this, the two like-minded men held hands, looked at each other, and then burst into unintentional, hearty laughter.

When Guan Yu and Zhang Fei entered following the sound, they were immediately puzzled by the scene before them.

This was the first time they had seen their elder brother so happy since they had gained and then lost Yanzhou.

Upon seeing the two men enter, Liu Bei solemnly addressed them:
"From this day forward, you shall all respect Fengxiao as you would respect me. Anyone in the entire army who disrespects him shall be executed!"

After saying this, Liu Bei solemnly appointed Guo Jia as Military Advisor General, entrusting him with the management of military and political affairs.

Seeing Liu Bei's serious attitude, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, though puzzled, did not disobey their elder brother's wishes and immediately paid their respects. Guo Jia also treated them with the same courtesy.

……

Meanwhile, with the completion of the land survey in Xuzhou, the land survey in Yanzhou was also put on the agenda.

However, compared to Xuzhou, Yanzhou, being a strategically important area in the Central Plains, was much easier to manage.

There's nothing we can do; Yanzhou is located in the Central Plains!

Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Yanzhou has been repeatedly plagued by war and constant warfare.

After Dong Zhuo took control of the court, Yanzhou never had a year of peace; there were only minor and major battles.

Since the time of Liu Dai, the governor of Yanzhou, internal strife in Yanzhou has never ceased.

Needless to say, after Cao Cao took control of Yan Province, the loss and subsequent recovery of the province caused immense suffering to the people of Yan Province.

After Cao Cao finally gained real control of Yan Province, the Wei army north of the Yellow River began to move south again.

In an instant, the sounds of fighting filled the air once again throughout Yanzhou.

It can be said that for a full six years, Yanzhou did not have a single day of peace.

As a result, not only ordinary people, but even the powerful clans and wealthy families of Yanzhou could not survive.

From this perspective, the war-torn Yanzhou and the peaceful Xuzhou can be seen as two extremes.

This might be why Tao Qian couldn't defeat Cao Cao.

After all, the former's troops were all bloodthirsty warriors who had emerged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood, so they were naturally much more capable than the soldiers of Xuzhou who had enjoyed peace for a long time.

Of course, there were some benefits to Yanzhou being turned into a mess.

At least for now, facing ruins, Wei Zhe has saved himself some trouble.

The land survey that the gentry of Xuzhou were determined to undertake did not encounter much resistance in Yanzhou.

The local gentry and powerful families in Yanzhou had had enough of this precarious existence.

Yes, they are greedy, but they crave stability even more.

Only with a stable environment and order can these people thrive and multiply.

Therefore, the local powers in Yanzhou decisively chose to pay money to avoid trouble.

Since everyone's fled, even if we seize more land, no one will cultivate it. Rather than letting the land lie fallow and inviting attacks from the Wei army, it's better to actively cooperate with their policies to secure more benefits for the family!

Faced with this drastically different situation, Wei Zhe did not exterminate the gentry and powerful families of Yanzhou.

He never intended to eliminate anyone; he only wanted to save the world.

Moreover, the gentry and powerful clans cannot be completely eradicated. As soon as one group is killed, another group will immediately fill the power vacuum in the localities, thus continuing to hoard resources.

Therefore, Wei Zhe also left a way out for the local forces in Yanzhou who were very sensible.

After reserving them the appropriate land according to legal standards, they were also given opportunities for advancement.

At this moment, the quota for Zhixing Academy had an extraordinary meaning, making many frustrated powerful families in Yanzhou flock to it.

However, on the other hand, Zhixing Academy could not possibly only admit students from poor families.

If that's the case, Wei Zhe would be essentially crippling himself and gouging out his own eyes.

If Wei Zhe truly wants to achieve the goal of "learning in government," then he must be open-minded and inclusive.

On this day, outside Cangting in Dong'e County.

Looking at the ruins of Cangjie Pavilion, Wei Zhe couldn't help but feel a little melancholy.

It was here that he killed Bu Si in battle, achieving a great feat in his life.

Time flies, and ten years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Time never stops, and things change!

Stroking the ruins in the wilderness, Wei Zhe couldn't help but sigh.

Xi Zhicai was quite moved upon hearing this, because it was that year that he met Wei Zhe.

But most of the famous scholars of Yingchuan back then have turned into a pile of bones, while he, a poor man, is living better and better.

However, among the civil and military officials present, only Xi Zhi could resonate with Wei Zhe.

Upon hearing this, Xun You not only lamented his own poor judgment back then, but also felt even more regretful that he hadn't met Wei Zhe sooner.

The others, such as Zhou Yu and Bu Zhi, were simply curiously observing their surroundings with the mindset of listening to a legendary story.

Lu Su even took out paper and pen, and silently took notes while listening to Wei Zhe and Xi Zhicai reminisce about the past.

After all, this is rare first-hand information, which may be recorded in history in the future.

It must be said that this traditional art of recording history is practically ingrained in the very marrow of the Chinese people.

Wei Zhe, who was chatting with Xi Zhicai, did not stop Lu Su from writing it down.

Whether they know me or condemn me, only history will tell.

Anyway, he has already done it, so let future generations judge him.

However, after a brief chat, Wei Zhe got down to business with Xi Zhicai and Xun You.

"I intend to divide the power of the governor and establish a new military governor. What do you all think?"

(End of this chapter)