Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 184 Always by My Side
"Since the Marquis of Guiyi has no other intentions, once the Minister of Ceremonies arrives in Chang'an, I will order him to carry my imperial decree, the imperial tally, and the betrothal gifts to formally propose marriage to the Marquis of Guiyi," the Emperor said gently.

Yang Tiao and the other Qiang elders remained prostrate, agreeing and acknowledging the order.

The emperor's ministers, including the prime minister, Chen Zhen, and Fei Yi, heard the Qiang elders prostrating themselves in gratitude and instead of saying "yes" or "thank you," they did not concern themselves with the fact that the elders were unaware of the proper etiquette of the Han dynasty. They simply exchanged glances and smiled slightly.

Although powerful figures like Meng Huo, Meng Yan, and Cuan Xi have submitted to the Southern Central Plains and pledged their allegiance, the overall resistance among the barbarians in the region still outweighs their desire for submission.

Conflicts between the Han and the barbarians were frequent, so the Han Dynasty had to establish the Yijiang Governor-General to oversee all affairs in the south.

Judging from the behavior of Yang Tiao and the Qiang elders, the degree of Sinicization of the An Ding Qiang people, who are adjacent to Guanzhong, is indeed quite high. It is true that they admire Han virtues and admire Han customs.

After the emperor issued a decree for them to rise, Yang Tiao and the other Qiang elders were still in a daze, unable to believe it.

Finally, they all rose from the ground, trembling slightly, and bowed again to the emperor to express their gratitude.

After rising, the Han emperor slowly approached Yang Tiao and spoke earnestly to Yang Tiao, who was still bowing his head in obedience:

"Marquis of Guiyi".

"Although the Han Dynasty has already recovered Guanzhong."

"However, the population of Guanzhong is depleted, and taxes and corvée labor are insufficient."

"Without several years of relocation, settlement, agriculture, and military training, the restoration of the Han Dynasty would not be possible."

"Sichuan and Hanzhong have a population of one million, fertile land stretching for thousands of miles, abundant resources and prosperous people, making the country rich and strong."

"My ancestors, the late emperor and the first emperor, established their imperial enterprise through this, and I, too, have achieved the small merit of returning to the old capital through this."

"Therefore, although Chang'an was the former capital of the Han Dynasty and Guanzhong was the place where the dragon rose, the present Han Dynasty still had to rely on the hearts and resources of the people of Shu, Hanzhong, and even Nanzhong to achieve the great cause of restoration."

"However, the Prime Minister has been away from Shu for a year and a half, and I have been away from Yizhou for half a year."

"The absence of any rebellion in this heartland is truly due to the tireless efforts of the ministers within and the selfless dedication of the loyal officials without. Furthermore, the Northern Expeditionary Army, led by me and the Prime Minister, has achieved a series of resounding victories, thus ensuring that there is no risk of unrest in Yizhou."

"But... this situation is difficult to maintain for long."

"If the Prime Minister and I do not return to Sichuan to oversee the country and manage affairs for a long time, not to mention the local powerful clans and families of Yizhou may be disunited, even the civil and military officials who remain in Chengdu, as well as the prefects, magistrates, and chiefs of various counties, will still feel uneasy."

"Your Majesty is preparing to return to Shu?" Yang Tiao finally understood why the emperor had told him so much when he heard the emperor mention this.

I was surprised and my mind was in turmoil.

If His Majesty were to truly return to Shu, it is truly unknown when we would meet again.

Just like when Zhaolie entered Shu, Guan Yu was stationed in Jingzhou, and they never saw each other again until their deaths.

Furthermore, if the Han emperor were not stationed in Guanzhong, what attitude would other Han officials, powerful clans and gentry have towards these Qiang people who migrated from Anding to Guanzhong?

"Your Majesty, isn't there Chief Secretary Jiang overseeing the state in Yizhou, and Commander Xiang in charge of the army?" Yang Tiao seemed somewhat anxious.

After asking the question, I suddenly realized that I had been a bit presumptuous.

But before he could say anything more, Liu Shan had already explained:

"The strategy of having Chief Clerk Jiang oversee the country and Commander Xiang in charge of the army is not a long-term solution. With this victory in the Northern Expedition, there are too many people in Yizhou watching the court's moves."

"The Prime Minister and I must have one of us return to Yizhou to oversee the affairs of the state, in order to appease the loyal ministers and deter those with ulterior motives."

"However, if Guanzhong were to become the foundation of the Han dynasty and the place where the dragon rose again, only the Prime Minister could accomplish this."

"Therefore, only I can return to Sichuan to pacify the people's hearts."

The civil and military officials, led by Jiang Wan, the Chief Secretary of the Imperial Household Department, and Xiang Chong, the Commander of the Central Army, made invaluable contributions to the Han Dynasty in this Northern Expedition by stabilizing the country, comforting the people, supplying provisions, ensuring uninterrupted supply lines, and preventing rebellions.

Liu Shan could not have forgotten them, and after their contributions in the Northern Expedition, they were all rewarded with different ranks and titles.

Ministers such as Dong Yun and Chen Zhen had already drafted and issued the decrees of bestowal of honors.

But the reward is material.

Just as Liu Shan had been working to unite the hearts of the civil and military officials who had participated in the Northern Expedition, these officials, who were stationed in the rear for the Han Dynasty, also needed a place to settle their hearts after the emperor left the capital.

This foothold must be provided by Liu Shan, and can only be provided by Liu Shan.

Imperial decrees and rewards are far from enough.

Only through deep, heartfelt discussions and frank conversations can they understand how the current Han emperor differs from the previous one.

Only in this way could they know that the emperor, whose power and prestige grew daily after the success of the Northern Expedition, valued and recognized them—the civil and military officials who were unable to serve him due to their duty in the rear—no less than those who had participated in the expedition.

As for those local powerful families and clans of Yizhou who contributed money, manpower, and effort to the Northern Expedition, jointly rewarding the royal family and contributing to the Han dynasty's cause.

Their long-standing contributions to the Han Dynasty must be recognized and realized to some extent after the emperor returns to Yizhou.

Just as Liu Shan spent a month touring Zuo Fengyi, the most populous and geographically important region in Guanzhong.

After he returns to Yizhou, he should also tour the various counties and prefectures of Yizhou.

In particular, we should appease and reward Li Yan (Chongqing), the governor of Jiangzhou who is stationed in Bazhou, Li Hui, the governor of Yijiang who is stationed in Nanzhong, and Chen Dao, the governor of Yong'an who is stationed in Baidi.

Of particular note is Li Yan, the regent who, along with the prime minister, was entrusted with the care of the young emperor by the late emperor.

Recently, this person sent an envoy with a letter to Chang'an, hoping that the Prime Minister could submit a memorial to the Emperor to separate the five prefectures of Ba, Baxi, Badong, Fuling, and Jiangyang from Yizhou and appoint Li Yan as the governor of Bazhou.

The Prime Minister didn't say much, nor did he intend to hide the matter from Li Yan. He directly delivered Li Yan's letter to Liu Shan.

To be honest, Li Yan's act of taking credit and asking for rewards was rather unconventional.

After all, if you truly have the merit and ability to lead a province, wouldn't the court and the emperor see it?

If you don't ask for a reward, does the imperial court not know how to reward you?

Are you writing to request an official title because you are dissatisfied with the court's original offer?

Therefore, logically speaking, the prime minister, who had always been committed to getting the ministers to work together to reward the royal family, would have quietly suppressed Li Yan's request for a reward in order to avoid any conflict between the emperor and Li Yan.

However, the Prime Minister still delivered Li Yan's letter to Liu Shan.

Liu Shan was quite surprised at first.

He then realized that, given his performance over the past six months, the prime minister could confidently entrust him, the emperor, with some important decisions.

As for Li Yan, his intentions are all too clear.

Jiangzhou was the transportation hub of the entire Yizhou. The transport of most of Yizhou's grain and military supplies, which was the lifeline of the Han Dynasty's Northern Expedition, all had to pass through the hands of this Governor of Jiangzhou before reaching the front lines.

This person either thought he had made great contributions and wanted to ask the court for a title based on Xiao He's merits in governing the country and pacifying the people.

They either didn't expect that this Northern Expedition would directly capture Guanzhong and return the old capital, or they were dissatisfied and resentful that they hadn't been able to directly participate in the Northern Expedition and make contributions, so they asked the court for appeasement.

I don't aspire to be on equal footing with the Chancellor, who holds the titles of Governor of Yizhou and Commandant of the Capital Region, but I do aspire to become the second Governor of a province in the Han Dynasty.

Liu Shan knew that this was a man who had a high opinion of himself and cared a lot about his reputation.

However... some things, which were not worth worrying about at the time for the sake of stability in the rear, must now be carefully considered now that the war is over.

On the day Liu Shan left Chengdu, he sent an envoy with imperial credentials to Jiangzhou by fast horse.

Li Yan appointed Li Feng, son of Li Yan, as the Protector-General of Grain Supply, and ordered Li Yan to allocate 3,000 Jiangzhou soldiers to Li Feng's command to escort grain supplies to the front lines.

His purpose was self-evident: he didn't trust Li Yan and wanted Li Yan to hand over the hostages.

As a result, Li Feng missed the deadline by more than a month. Not only did he miss the decisive battle with Cao Zhen, but Zhang He had already been beheaded. The prime minister was about to leave Longxi when Li Feng finally rushed to Xiegu.

Li Feng, being relatively honest, tremblingly apologized, saying that spring was rainy and the roads to Shu were difficult to travel, and that it had taken some time to coordinate the supplies. Liu Shan knew what kind of person Li Yan was.

During the Prime Minister's fourth Northern Expedition, the one in which Zhang He was killed at the Wooden Gate Pass, Li Yan ran out of supplies and called on the Prime Minister to return the army to Hanzhong.

Upon learning the news, the prime minister had no choice but to withdraw his troops.

Li Yan feigned surprise upon hearing of the army's retreat.

The Prime Minister asked, "With ample military provisions, why are we returning home so soon?!"

He wanted to use this to excuse his own failure to do the job and to make the Prime Minister's failure to advance the matter clear.

He then submitted a memorial to Liu Shan, stating, "The army is feigning a retreat in order to lure the enemy into battle."

The prime minister was furious and presented Li Yan's previous and subsequent letters and memorials. Li Yan was at a loss for words and had nothing left to say, so he kowtowed and apologized.

All of this makes him, as a regent entrusted with the heavy responsibility of raising a young emperor, quite clownish.

When he gets to Jiangzhou, he wants to see what kind of person Li Yan really is, and whether he dares to ask for five counties to be ceded to him as the governor of Bazhou.

While in silent contemplation, Liu Shan, along with his prime minister, Yang Tiao, a group of elite soldiers, and a group of Qiang elders, slowly walked eastward along the banks of the Zheng Guo Canal.

After traveling about half a mile, Liu Shan stopped.

Turning to look at Yang Tiao, whose expression was a mixture of trepidation and reluctance, Liu Shan roughly understood what the King of Anding was thinking. After a moment of silence, he revealed the most important purpose of this trip:
"Lord Guiyi, I just told you all this, firstly to say goodbye."

"Secondly, I hope that after I leave Guanzhong, the Marquis of Guiyi can properly assist the Prime Minister and Protector of the Qiang, Zhao Hunyi, in pacifying the hearts of the Qiang people."

"Thirdly, I would personally discuss with the Marquis of Guiyi the matter of stabilizing the Qiang people's manpower and resources so that they could be fully utilized by the Han Dynasty, and not let tigers, leopards, eagles and falcons be buried in muddy shallows."

Yang Tiao paused for a moment upon hearing this, then clasped his hands in a fist salute:

"Whatever Your Majesty commands, the Qiang tribes will obey without question!"

The fact that the highest ruler of the Han Dynasty would condescend to form a marriage alliance with the mere Qiang people is truly unprecedented.

There is truly nothing that better demonstrates the Han emperor's appeasement attitude towards the Qiang people, nor can it better demonstrate the close relationship between the Han and Qiang peoples.

Once this matter is accomplished, cooperating with the Han Dynasty and contributing to its restoration will no longer be a matter for Yang Tiao alone or his unit.

Throughout the entire Anding Qiang region, the vast majority of tribal chiefs and warriors who longed for a peaceful life would be willing to sacrifice their lives for the Han Dynasty.

From now on, the Qiang people will also have a part in the cause of restoring the Han Dynasty.

As long as the Han Dynasty is restored, the Qiang people, including those in Longyou, may be able to shed the discriminatory label of "Qiang" and integrate into the Han people.

This is what the emperor meant when he said: "Bloodlines are intertwined, and customs are mutually transformed."

Liu Shan saw that Yang Tiao clasped his hands in a generous and passionate gesture, and knew his determination.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that the Qiang elders on the periphery showed no signs of vigilance or caution.

It was then known that the marriage alliance between the Han and Qiang people was indeed a great shock to the Qiang people, who said:

"Marquis Guiyi should know that the pseudo-Wei had the assistance of the Xianbei, Wuhuan, and Xiongnu tribes. Relying on the knights and warhorses of the Xianbei, Wuhuan, and Xiongnu, they trained a famous cavalry force known as the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry."

"And Guiyi Hou also saw that, not to mention the elite Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, the Bingzhou light cavalry trained by Generals Tian Yu and Qian Zhao for Cao Wei was slightly more elite than the Qiang and Di cavalry of Guanzhong."

"Whether it is to recover Liang and Long in the future, or to fight a major battle with the pseudo-Wei in the Central Plains, without a truly elite cavalry force, our Han Dynasty dares not say that it has the strength to fight Cao Wei."

"Now, let's talk about Liangzhou in the west. It is a vast area of ​​two thousand miles, but it has neither people nor waterways. It is impossible to recover it by relying solely on infantry."

"The Central Plains to the east are flat and open, a thousand miles of plains. Without a strong cavalry force, even the supply lines cannot be defended."

"When the two armies face each other, they must have fine horses and cavalry to crush the enemy's sharpness and break through their formation like a cone."

"Therefore, I hope that the Marquis of Guiyi can persuade the chieftains of the Qiang tribes in Anding to give all their warhorses and cavalry to the court and obey the Prime Minister."

"First, the imperial court will implement a horse administration policy to breed better warhorses."

"Secondly, we will train and manage the army. The Prime Minister will use the brave warriors of the Qiang tribes to train a cavalry force for the Han Dynasty that is more elite than the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry and can roam the world."

Yang Tiao paused for a moment, then said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, what's so difficult about that? To become a loyal henchman of the Han Dynasty, to pacify the Qiang tribes, is something that no one could ask for but could not obtain!"

Liu Chan shook his head:

"This matter sounds simple, but it is actually very difficult. I am not afraid to speak frankly to Marquis Guiyi about the most important part."

"It is something that I and the Prime Minister know very well. Although the Qiang warriors are brave, they are by nature unruly and find it difficult to be bound by the laws and regulations of the Han Dynasty and the military.

"If they cannot be restrained, they will be like a pile of loose sand, unfit for any great task."

"Not only that, but if the Qiang warriors cannot obey the orders of the Han army and follow the laws and regulations..."

Instead, they indulged in their desires and acted as before, either plundering the surrounding areas or harassing the people.

"Firstly, it would damage the prestige and dignity of the Han Dynasty."

"Secondly, the key to victory in warfare lies in discipline, not in the number of troops or the number of scattered soldiers. If laws and regulations are unclear, rewards and punishments are not reliable, and the gongs are not stopped and the drums are not sounded, even a million troops as fierce as tigers and leopards are just a flock of sheep and are of no use."

"Therefore, I not only wish to persuade the Qiang chieftains and warriors to submit to the court, but I must also enforce them with military and national laws."

"If punishing one person causes the entire army to tremble, then punish that person."

"If rewarding one person pleases ten thousand others, then reward him."

"If this is the case, without the Marquis of Guiyi constantly persuading the Qiang chieftains and warriors, explaining to them with sentiment and reason, it will be difficult to implement."

When it comes to bestowing rewards, it's fine. But when the Qiang people break the law and need to be punished, or even executed, Yang Tiao needs to mediate to prevent the Qiang people from harboring any resentment or even thoughts of resistance.

And it's conceivable that this kind of thing would definitely happen at the beginning, and would happen frequently.

Upon hearing this, Yang Tiao finally understood what the burly man intended to do. After hesitating for a moment, he stepped forward again, cupped his hands in greeting, and spoke in a resounding voice:

"No matter what, I will do my utmost! Your Majesty's permission for the Qiang people of Anding to relocate to Guanzhong is a great blessing to them. The Qiang chieftains and warriors are not ungrateful and will surely do anything for Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Shan patted Yang Tiao's arm approvingly and affirmed:
"The heavy responsibility of protecting the northern border of Chang'an is now entrusted to Marquis Guiyi."

At this point, Liu Shan finally took off the jade hook leather belt that he had specially worn that day from his waist.

Then he took two steps behind Yang Tiao and, in front of everyone, personally tied the knot for the Guiyi Marquis, who was in a daze and had no idea what the emperor wanted to do.

"The Marquis of Guiyi is a dignified nine-foot-tall man who has made great achievements and merits for the Han Dynasty. Even in front of me, as long as he does not violate the laws of the country or the military regulations, he should not bow down and kneel.

"I shall stay away, but you shall wear this belt of mine, so that it is as if I am always by your side. In the future, no matter who you meet, you can stand up straight."

“If any Han Chinese dares to insult the Marquis of Guiyi, I will stand up for him and protect him.”

“If any Han Chinese bullies the Qiang people of Anding, then the Marquis of Guiyi should also be their pillar of strength.”

Upon hearing this, the emperor walked around from behind to the front and tied the jade hook on himself. Yang Tiao was completely at a loss and lost all composure.

However, Liu Shan suddenly shook his head again:

"That is not true. The reason why Marquis Guiyi should stand tall and straight is not because of the jade belt I bestowed upon him, nor is it related to his daughter who will become a Zhaoyi of the Han Dynasty, but because of Marquis Guiyi's sincerity, courage and loyalty."

Yang Tiao almost prostrated himself and bowed, but then remembered what the emperor had just said, so he quickly stepped back and bowed his head: "I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's trust and respect, and I, Yang Tiao, will never be able to repay you even if I die!"

Behind the emperor and Yang Tiao, a group of Qiang elders who had followed them trembled at the sound and sight, speechless.

(End of this chapter)