Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 172: It's completely engulfed!
Meanwhile, Wei Dan, Du Jian, Jin Lian, and the others who were the first to receive the bamboo slips unfolded them with trepidation.

They couldn't help but feel uneasy, for the contents of those few scrolls of bamboo slips contained hundreds of rules from the Han Dynasty that governed their behavior.

This essentially patched up the way for subsequent land reclamation and water conservancy projects, preventing them from recklessly exploiting manpower and plundering land.

In this way, the principle of the Han Dynasty governing Guanzhong with strictness rather than leniency is obvious and inevitable. They do not know how this scroll of bamboo slips in their hands will restrict their power.

The bamboo slips were spread out on the table, making a series of crisp sounds as they clattered together.

"The imperial guards?" Du Jian was taken aback.

"Zhechongfu?"

For a moment, the heads of prominent families in Jingzhao, such as Wei Dan, Du Jian, and Jin Lian, looked at each other in bewilderment.

The other minor clans and families also looked at each other, or muttered to themselves.

"Record all the people and people from Guanzhong and Longxi, regardless of whether they are Han or Qiang..."

"Eight households of average or above-average means support one soldier from the Zhechong Prefecture."

"The armor, weapons, bows, crossbows, oxen, donkeys, warhorses, and provisions of the Zhechongfu troops were all provided jointly by the eight households, who raised and trained them as if they were their own children..."

"The soldiers of the Zhechong Prefecture are exempt from taxes and corvée labor..."

"Military officers of the Zhechong Prefecture who have been awarded merits may be granted a certain number of acres of land."

“Eight households can all receive a share of the land they are entitled to occupy as provided by the soldiers.”

"Those who have received six or more merits and have contributed funds to support eight households of soldiers in that prefecture may have their sons or nephews enrolled in the Imperial Academy, and may also be eligible for hereditary appointment as officials..."

The tribal leaders present were all dumbfounded.

Large clans with numerous retainers, such as the Wei, Du, Jin, and Geng clans, could immediately recognize this as a policy of the Han Dynasty to gain something for nothing.

They wanted to entice them to contribute their family's private troops without spending a penny of cash, relying on the long-term benefits of the Fubing system.

Not only did they have to hand over their troops, but these powerful clans also had to bear all the expenses of those troops. If they couldn't afford the expenses, they couldn't become soldiers.

But... even though they knew this was a scheme by the Han to get something for nothing, could they bear to refuse?

A soldier who has reached the sixth rank or higher will grant his entire family the right to occupy seven or eight hundred acres of land, as well as other opportunities such as admission to the Imperial Academy and selection for official positions…

If a clan can muster two hundred soldiers, how much political and economic benefit will they bring to the entire clan?

Even if only a quarter of these sons who become soldiers of the Zhechong Prefecture survive and successfully achieve the sixth rank or higher in merit, it will still create fifty small powerful families for the entire clan!
They were still minor tycoons who held official positions and possessed economic and political privileges!
Having these official positions and privileges means that the upward mobility of each small family and the larger family behind them has been opened up!
Although once these retainers are separated and made into the Han Dynasty's military forces, they will develop their own ideas, become relatively independent of their clans, and be dependent on the imperial power.

But... what does it take for a family to grow strong?
We rely on branching out and supporting each other!
As long as they still bear the surname Wei or Du, and their ancestral graves remain in the clan's territory, they cannot truly sever ties with the clan. In this day and age, it is very difficult for people to survive independently without their clan; otherwise, they will eventually be exploited by their clan members or outsiders.

The imperial court limited the number of soldiers each ethnic group could contribute by adopting the rule of "eight households supporting one person".

Therefore, the more clan members and followers a clan has, the stronger its power, and the more political and economic benefits it can obtain in the future.

This is clearly a boon for large clans like the Wei, Du, and Jin, which have numerous households and strong economic power.

What about smaller clans?
Unless one is short-sighted, there is no reason to refuse.

The Prime Minister's "edict for seeking talent" just now undoubtedly aims to recruit elite young men.

The number and quality of such elite offspring possessed by powerful clans with deep-rooted traditions like the Jingzhao, Wei, and Du families are undoubtedly greater than those of smaller clans.

This means that these small clans are at a disadvantage in the struggle for and division of interests.

However, the introduction of the Fubing system immediately gave their small clans more opportunities.

Why?

The reason why many small families and surnames are not as prominent as large families such as Wei, Du, Jin, and Ma lies in their family's academic heritage and the quality of their talents.

In terms of population size and economic strength alone, they were not necessarily inferior to powerful clans like the Wei and Du families of Jingzhao.

Now, the Han Dynasty has proposed the Fubing system, which changes the criteria for recruiting talent from various ethnic groups in Guanzhong from consideration of culture and skills to consideration of population size and economic strength.

As long as your clansmen and retainers are strong, skilled in martial arts, and have some courage, they should not cower and die as soon as they go to the battlefield.

In that case, the soldiers contributed by each clan will be able to fight for various benefits for their clan in the future.

The selection of filial and incorruptible officials and outstanding talents, as well as the recruitment of officials from the prime minister's office and various prefectures and counties, meant that small clans could not compare with large clans.

In terms of contributing soldiers, large clans could not compare to small clans.

In this way, regardless of whether they are powerful clans or minor families, they will all do their utmost to contribute their sons and troops to the Han Dynasty in order to gain more political and economic benefits.

If you won't contribute, I will; if you won't cooperate, I will.

Once this idea arises, what is it?
This means Guanzhong is completely engulfed!
By leveraging long-term interests, the Han Dynasty not only gained something for nothing but also sowed discord among the powerful and lesser clans in Guanzhong, making it impossible for them to unite and resist the court's decrees!

Since they cannot unite against the imperial court, and since huge long-term interests are at stake, then things that would harm their interests in the short term, such as relocating people to the border, allowing Han and Qiang people to live together, and building water conservancy projects, can only be temporarily put aside in order to cooperate with the imperial court.

Du Jian sighed inwardly and turned to look at the Prime Minister again, filled with admiration.

The real method is to satisfy the interests of the vast majority of people, to make the vast majority of people willingly cooperate with the Han Dynasty, and to use the manpower and resources of Guanzhong to strengthen the power of the Han Dynasty.

The Han Dynasty lacked powerful clans like Xun, Chen, Zhong, and Han in Yingchuan to resist the Fubing system, and it also had the interests of the entire empire to share with the powerful clans and gentry in Guanzhong who participated in the Fubing system.

Who did we offend?
They offended the powerful clans of Kanto.

Once the Han army reaches the Guandong region and recovers the Central Plains, the benefits promised to the local militia and powerful families in Guanzhong will be the benefits that originally belonged to the powerful families and clans in Guandong.

The world is only so big, and there are only so many official positions.

Just as there was no place for people from Kansai in the central government under the Nine-Rank System, people from Kansai and Kanto will also have irreconcilable conflicts in the future due to the Fubing system.

With this thought in mind, Du Jian looked at Jin Lian and several other old acquaintances from Jingzhao one by one.

They could read excitement, anticipation, longing, and even the joy of liberated serfs singing in each other's eyes—a complex mix of positive emotions.

Du Jian thought of something and asked the Prime Minister:

"Prime Minister, may I ask if the Shu and Hanzhong regions also have their own military garrisons?"

The Prime Minister shook his head without hesitation:
"No further action will be taken in Sichuan for the time being."

"Even if we set it up vertically, there won't be too many people."

"After all, the enemy of the Han Dynasty is the pseudo-Wei."

"The soldiers of the garrison farmed and fought at the same time, and they also needed to provide their own armor, swords, spears, bows, horses, clothing and food."

"The distance from Sichuan to the front line is one or two thousand miles, and the transportation of equipment and supplies is difficult."

"In addition, the imperial court would only conscript soldiers when war broke out."

"If we station troops in Sichuan, by the time they have traveled thousands of miles to the front lines, they will likely be exhausted and worn out, making it difficult to improve the situation."

"If the war ends before we arrive, we will have to return to Shu with our troops."

"In the meantime, food supplies are wasted and farming is delayed. If this happens repeatedly, the soldiers of the Shu region will be ruined."

Upon hearing the Prime Minister's words, the clan leaders present nodded repeatedly, suddenly realizing the truth while becoming even more excited.

The local soldiers, who had their own armor, provisions, and horses, were indeed unable to travel long distances. Establishing local soldiers in Sichuan was a form of torture for the people of Sichuan.

Therefore, the Han Dynasty could only establish the Fubing system in the Guanzhong region.

Only the people of Guanzhong and Longxi were able to cooperate with the Han Dynasty to establish this system of military garrison.

It is foreseeable that Bashu and Hanzhong will become the logistics center of the Han Dynasty, while Guanzhong will become the true military center of the Han Dynasty.

what is this?
This is like using Guanzhong to rule the whole country!

Therefore, once the Fubing system was introduced, the fate of Guanzhong was truly and completely tied to the fate of the Han Dynasty!

The Wei, Du, Jin, and Ma of Guanzhong will likely become the Xun, Chen, Zhong, and Han of Yingchuan in the future!

Why aren't you rolling up your sleeves and serving the imperial court?!
The banquet finally came to an end. The Prime Minister, busy with official duties, was the first to leave.

The leaders of the various tribes respectfully bid farewell to the Prime Minister.

Once the Prime Minister's tall figure had completely disappeared from sight, the group called their subordinates to pack up and move away the "Han Ke" and "Order to Recruit Soldiers" bestowed by the Prime Minister.

Fei Yi and Chen Zhen, representing the Prime Minister's residence, escorted the elders of the prominent families out of the residence and arrived at Qingming Gate in the east of Chang'an City.

It was dusk, and the setting sun was just right.

The elders, having rarely come to Chang'an, and even more so to enjoy the sunset from the city walls, were suddenly in high spirits and invited Fei Yi and Chen Zhen to join them on a trip to the top of Chang'an city walls to admire the view.

Fei Yi and Chen Zhen, two officials of the prefecture, refused the offer.

Climb to the top of the city wall and gaze into the distance.

The vast and magnificent Guanzhong Plain unfolds before your eyes.

The evening breeze swept across the battlements, carrying with it accumulated dust and the scent of earth.

With his white hair and beard, and a weathered face, Du Jian gazed at the setting sun and sighed.
"I am fifty-six years old this year, but it has been thirty-six years since I last set foot on the city walls of Chang'an."

"Thanks to the restoration of the Han Dynasty, I am fortunate to be able to watch the sun setting over the western mountains from the top of Chang'an city."

"What's even more fortunate is that just now in the Prime Minister's residence, I saw the Han Dynasty sun rising in the east, a sign of its great glory."

"Alas, I am old and frail, and I fear I will never have the chance to witness the Han sun rise high in the sky, illuminating the eight directions..."

Fei Yi and Chen Zhen looked in the direction of the voice, and for a moment they couldn't tell whether Du Jian was expressing his opinion to them or was really talking to himself.

Just as the two were at a loss for words, Du Jian slowly turned around, looked at them, and his eyes shone with a mixture of relief and anticipation:
"Fei Shizhong, Chen Shangshu."

"Although we are old and frail, like the setting sun."

"However, the young talents of the clan are in the prime of their lives."

"Now that the court has not abandoned us, we are willing to accept us, the old clans of Guanzhong, to serve the Han Dynasty again."

"We, the descendants of the old clans of Guanzhong, are fortunate to ride the east wind of the great Han Dynasty, soaring high and shining brightly under its sun!"

"Such kindness should be deeply appreciated!"

"Our Du family of Jingzhao will repay this kindness with utmost loyalty and wisdom!"

After Du Jian finished speaking, the others, including the Wei, Jin, Ji, Geng, Su, and Ma families, all stepped forward and expressed their opinions in unison, their voices sincere and earnest.

Fei Yi nodded slightly, drawing everyone's attention to the palaces faintly visible below the city walls. He then turned back to the elders of the prominent families and solemnly spoke:

"Guanzhong is not only the place where our great Han Dynasty rose to power, but also the place where all the nobles and clans prospered."

"The nobles and their families have held official positions for generations, and have been closely intertwined with the Han Dynasty for three or four hundred years, sharing weal and woe."

"Virtuous and loyal ministers who die for their principles emerge generation after generation!"
"From Dong Zhuo's usurpation of power to Cao Wei's usurpation of the Han dynasty, more than thirty years have passed, and countless people have died for the sake of the Han dynasty."

"For example, the ancestors of the Wei, Jin, Ji, and Geng clans."

"They were all officials of the Han Dynasty for generations, and their reputations were passed down through the ages."

"Seeing that the Han dynasty was about to fall, he thought that Ji could rise again."

"So he sighed and resolved to plot in the heart of the city of Xuchang."

"To preserve the Han dynasty, we must rise up against Cao Cao!"

"He disregarded his own life for righteousness; what loyalty and courage!"

"Though the mission failed and he perished, his loyalty and righteousness will forever shine through the ages!"
"Even now, thinking about it still makes my blood boil and makes me sigh with regret!"

When Fei Yi mentioned this, the Wei, Ji, and Jin families, whose names were mentioned, as well as the Geng family, whose entire family was almost wiped out except for Geng Hong who survived, were all moved to tears, yet they all straightened their backs, their expressions showing both sorrow and pride.

Fei Yi continued:
"Those who fought against Cao Cao in Xuchang were all old clans from Guanzhong!"

"The late emperor, Your Majesty, and the prime minister all deeply understood the longing of the old clans in Guanzhong for the Han dynasty."

"Therefore, I have never dared to forget the blood shed and loyalty given by all my ancestors and clans for the Han Dynasty."

"Your Majesty and the Prime Minister hosted a banquet, and all the gentlemen took time out of their busy schedules to attend. Isn't this a testament to the deep friendship between our great Han Dynasty and the ancient clans of Guanzhong, a friendship that has endured through calamities and continues to thrive?"
"I sincerely hope that all gentlemen and peoples will join hands with the great Han Dynasty to rebuild the Han Dynasty, restore the world, and jointly accomplish the great cause of rejuvenation!"

Elders such as Wei Dan, Jin Lian, Du Jian, and Ji Li all wept and agreed.

After everyone had stopped crying and straightened up, Wei Dan, the Prefect of Wudu of Cao Wei, was still sobbing uncontrollably, his shoulders trembling slightly.

"Fei Shizhong, Chen Shangshu."

"Now...now Cao Wei has sent Grand Herald Huang Yong to demand that I return to Wei."

“I… my eldest and second sons died young, leaving only my youngest son, Xiong, who is being held hostage in Luoyang.”

"If we disobey orders and do not return, I fear that Cao Wei will take offense and cut off the bloodline of my Wei family in Luoyang."

“I am heartbroken and devastated by my son’s death.

"I also think of my old age and frail body, which I cannot contribute to the Han Dynasty. Therefore, I want to return to Luoyang to protect my young son. I am ashamed to face the spirits of my ancestors and my elder brother Huang in heaven, and I am also ashamed to face His Majesty and the Prime Minister for sparing my life and using the kindness of my Wei family."

"I implore Your Majesty, I implore the Prime Minister... not to blame my Wei family of Jingzhao for this."

"I will go to Luoyang to protect my young son's lineage. I will die to atone for my sins against His Majesty, the Prime Minister, and the spirits of the ancestors of the Wei family!"

After saying this, Wei Dan, who was already quite old, burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.

The surrounding elders initially looked down on Wei Dan, who had previously served as a high-ranking official in Cao Wei with a salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain), but was now two-faced and somewhat obsequious to the Han Dynasty.

Now that I hear that he wants to return to Cao Wei to protect his young son, and then commit suicide to atone for his sins, my opinion of him has improved somewhat.

Since death is inevitable, one should respect the dignity of the dying.

Fei Yi quickly helped Wei Dan up and said:
"Lord Wei, please rise immediately!"
"Are the Prime Minister and His Majesty such unreasonable and critical people?"
"Blood is thicker than water, and kinship is a fundamental principle of human relations. Your Majesty and the Prime Minister are certain of this, so Lord Wei can rest assured and return to Luoyang."

"As for atonement with death, that is absolutely out of the question!"
"Lord Wei's heart is with the Han Dynasty."

"The loyalty of the Wei family lies in Guanzhong."

"This departure is not an abandonment, but a preservation."

"No matter where you are, as long as your heart is with the Han Dynasty, you are a subject of the Great Han!"
"You need not worry about your clan. The court remembers the contributions of the Wei family of Jingzhao to the Han Dynasty and will not hold any grudges over this matter."

"When the rivers are clear and the seas are calm, and the Han Dynasty is restored to its former glory, then Lord Wei and your son will return to Chang'an together!"

Wei Dan wiped away his snot and tears with his sleeve and sighed repeatedly: "I hope that Attendant-in-Ordinary Fei and Minister Chen will convey my gratitude to His Majesty for his great favor!"

After a moment, he seemed to remember something and said:
"His Majesty previously instructed me to carve words on the chests of the two golden statues, and I completed one of them yesterday."

"The remaining statue will be carved tomorrow."

"I just don't know if the words carved will suit His Majesty's taste."

"His Majesty is not in Chang'an..."

Wei Dan started rambling on and on, and Fei Yi and Chen Zhen nodded slightly, then comforted him for a moment, following Wei Dan's words.

The sun completely disappeared below the horizon.

Fei Yi and Chen Zhen led the group of elders down to the city walls and ordered someone to escort them back to their lodgings to rest for the night.

When most people had been sent away.

The two arrived at Qingming Gate and bid farewell to Du Jian and Jin Lian, who lived near Jingzhao.

But Du Jian had barely turned around when he suddenly turned back and slapped his forehead:
"Minister Fei, Minister Chen, I came here with a few treasures to present to Your Majesty, but my memory is so bad that I almost forgot!"

"A treasure?" Fei Yi and Chen Zhen exchanged glances.

(End of this chapter)