Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 228 The Waters of Canglang
"The waters of the Canglang River are clear; I can wash my hat tassels there."

"The waters of the Canglang River are muddy, but I can wash my feet in them."

"Whether the water is clear or muddy, it doesn't change because of people."

"Wash your hat and feet, each according to its own use."

East of the Canglang River, the Yunmeng Great Marshland.

Sun Quan, all alone, gazed at the vast expanse of the Canglang River, his heart heavy with sorrow as he spoke to himself.

The "turbid" people he referred to naturally meant the powerful and influential families of Gu, Lu, Zhu, and Zhang in the Wu and Hui regions.

The "Qing" he referred to was undoubtedly the former Huai-Si troops who had fought alongside his father and brothers in their early years, crossing the Yangtze River to establish their own independent regimes.

These former subordinates helped Sun Yat-sen seize the foundation of his state in a foreign land, but now they are all dying out.

Just now, he received a message from the East.

Zhou Tai, who longed to do another good deed for him, died of illness in Ruxuwu half a month ago.

As a result, there are very few Huai-Si military men who can stand alone and shoulder important responsibilities.

The turbid currents are increasing, while the clear currents are decreasing.

Sun Quan was filled with sorrow and could hardly control himself.

Within a year, his trusted confidant Lü Fan died of illness before he could receive the seal of Grand Marshal.

Right General Bu Zhi and Left General Zhuge Jin were both captured.

The veteran general Zhou Tai, who fought like a tiger and was willing to risk his life, also passed away from illness.

In the Wu Kingdom, there were only a handful of generals capable of holding the position of regional commander: Lu Xun, Zhu Ran, Zhu Huan, Zhu Ju, Quan Cong, and Lü Dai.

Among them, only Lü Dai, the governor of Jiaozhou, was not from Wu or Kuaiji.

“Wu Hui… Wu Hui…” Sun Quan stood facing the wind and sighed deeply, “Decades of hard work have finally come to this.”

Since he inherited the family business, he has made many concessions to the Wu and Hui gentry such as Gu, Lu, Zhu, and Zhang, thus enabling them to use the corrupt elements for his own purposes. Now that he wants to advance to the throne, these corrupt elements in Jiangdong have not posed much of an obstacle.

Having been together for nearly thirty years, the two have developed a tacit understanding, and many things are understood without being said.

The powerful clans of Wu and Hui did not oppose his ascension to the throne; in fact, they supported and urged him to do so. He should reciprocate this favor and not disappoint the people of Jiangdong.

The first step was to make "repeat customer service" a national policy.

The State of Wu had a large number of customers who migrated south from the north, namely the Hakka people.

They were initially captured and forced to cultivate land for the Wu Kingdom. Later, in order to gain the support of the powerful clans of Jiangdong, Sun Quan directly assigned clients to these clans, making them their private tenants.

For the past two decades, these clients, who were allocated by the state to prominent Jiangdong families such as Gu, Lu, Zhu, and Zhang, had to pay a symbolic portion of their rent and taxes to the state, as well as perform some military service.

Since the Han Dynasty's Northern Expeditions, the Wu Kingdom had frequently experienced auspicious omens, prompting Sun Quan to issue national policies.

To thank Heaven and to commend the achievements of all civil and military officials, from this day forward, all tenant farmers owned by officials and wealthy families will be exempt from taxes and corvée labor.

Whether the clients were granted to them by the state, or the slaves, refugees, and tenant farmers captured and recruited by these powerful clans themselves, it was all the same.

Of course, there are still some limitations.

The size of the patronage of each household was linked to the number and rank of the officials held by the head of the household.

As a result, Chancellor Gu Yong, General Lu Xun, and the Zhu family, which produced several great generals such as Zhu Ran, Zhu Huan, Zhu Ju, and Zhu Cai, naturally received the greatest benefits.

The size of the tenant farmers on their estates was roughly in line with the number of tenant farmers exempted from taxes and corvée labor under national policy.

From then on, these tenant farmers became the private property of the powerful families of Jiangdong, and had nothing to do with the state.

Even before the exemption from corvée labor and taxes, these powerful families in Jiangdong had already rapidly expanded their manor economy through the "re-guest system," creating a situation where "the wealth accumulated in the public treasury."

It will probably become even more extraordinary in the future.

The second national policy was to formally recognize the legitimacy of the hereditary military leadership system.

Historically, the private armies led by powerful clans in Jiangdong were hereditary within their families, and the state granted them official positions commensurate with their abilities.

However, the state is not responsible for the provisions and compensation of these private armies.

Once the new national policy was promulgated, the private armies of the powerful families in Jiangdong would become the soldiers of the state. When they went to war for the country, the state would have to provide them with provisions. If they died in battle, the state would have the responsibility and obligation to provide them with compensation.

Within the estates of the major clans, all finances, civil affairs, and military affairs were controlled by the powerful clans of Jiangdong. National policies could not influence them, and the state even had to provide them with provisions from the national treasury in order to requisition their troops.

what is this?
This is a country within a country!
Of course, Sun Quan made these concessions not only for his own selfish desire to become emperor, but also because he was forced to do so by the circumstances.

After the defeat at Xicheng, Zhuge Jin and Bu Zhi were captured, and the Wu region once again saw calls for a ceasefire with Han and an alliance to attack Wei.

Completely disregarding the peace terms offered by the Han Dynasty, which required Sun Quan to cede the cities of Wuxian, Zigui, Yiling, and Jiangling.

Let them cut it.

if not?
What is the connection between Jingzhou and Wu?
We won't benefit from winning.

If we lose, the Han and Wei armies will be at our doorstep.

Sun Quan's move of the capital to Wuchang was clearly intended to establish Jingzhou as his base, cultivate the Jingzhou faction led by Pan Jun, and counterbalance Wu.

As for keeping Lu Xun and Zhu Ran by his side, it was partly because they were talented and capable, and had troops to use, but on the other hand, it was also to prevent trouble from arising in Jiangdong.

Since Sun Quan personally led the expedition, people everywhere have been saying that auspicious omens have appeared in the world.

Everyone is not stupid; they all understand that with the Han Dynasty's capital back in Chang'an, the people's hearts are unsettled. Sun Quan, who had repeatedly refused to claim the title of emperor, finally could no longer sit still and wanted to declare himself emperor.

Six or seven years ago, a saying circulated in the Wu and Hui regions:
Sun Quan first heard that Cao Pi had accepted Liu Xie's abdication, and then he heard that Liu Bei had also declared himself emperor in Shu. So he summoned someone knowledgeable in astrology and asked him about the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of the stars in his own region.

The answer was naturally auspicious.

However, he felt that his position was still too low and that it would be difficult to gain the respect of the people if he suddenly stood out. So he decided to pretend to be humble and accept the gifts from the King of Wu of Wei. He planned to turn against him and establish himself as king later, in which case Cao Wei would surely send troops to punish him.

When Cao Wei attacks, it can arouse the hatred and indignation of the people and soldiers of Jiangdong.

Once everyone is enraged, it will be perfectly logical for him to then declare himself emperor.

Now that Sun Quan's ambition to become emperor is obvious, and the Han and Wei kingdoms have come together to fight, how can those in the Wu and Kuai regions who have never enjoyed Sun Quan's favors live in peace?
Sun Quan wasn't stupid, so how could he not be wary of them?
five years ago.

Sun Quan sent envoys to Baidi City to pay homage to Emperor Zhaolie and reconcile with the Han Dynasty.

Meanwhile, spies were secretly dispatched to communicate with powerful figures in the south, such as Yong Kai.

The following year, Zhaolie died of illness.

Taking advantage of the situation, Yong Kai raised an army, killed Zheng Ang, the governor of Jianning of the Han Dynasty, and bound Zhang Yi, who was then the governor of Yizhou, to the state of Wu.

The rioters of Yuexi killed the prefect Jiao Huang.

The Zangke mob killed Chang Qi, who was in charge.

The three prefectures in the south all rebelled.

Prefect Huang Yuan of Hanjia wanted to attack Chengdu. Yang Hong suggested that Liu Shan, who was then the crown prince, should raise an army to counterattack. He also said that if things went wrong, Huang Yuan would go downstream to join Sun Quan. In the end, Chen Hu indeed captured Huang Yuan alive on the Yangtze River when he wanted to join Sun Quan.

Without Sun Quan's instigation, how would Yong Kai and Huang Yuan, as outsiders, have dared to start a rebellion?
When a country is in turmoil, foreign enemies will certainly take advantage of the situation to incite internal strife.

Great changes occurred in the Han Dynasty at that time.

Great changes have occurred in Wu.

If the Han and Wu kingdoms were to switch places, Sun Quan would have no choice but to be wary.

Therefore, they had no choice but to rely heavily on the powerful families of Jiangdong, who were only barely trustworthy due to their shared interests, and to make more concessions to them.

This would enable their private troops and retainers left in Jiangdong to serve the country and prevent potential rebellions.

After doing all this, there were virtually no obstacles left for him to become emperor.

All he needed was a military victory.

He was determined to win this military victory. —Even a defensive victory against the combined forces of Han and Wei would still be a victory.

"Your Majesty, scouts report that Cao Xiu's vanguard of about 20,000 to 30,000 men has entered the Canglang River!" Chen Xiu, the Jiefan Commander, reported.

Upon hearing this, Sun Quan's somewhat dejected expression finally brightened slightly:

"Very well, prepare the army for battle, I will personally beat the drum, and we will surely inflict a great defeat on Cao Cao here!"

...

Baidi City.

Liu Shan received the news from his spies.

First, Sun Quan did not intend to cede territory to sue for peace, but instead exchanged Bu Zhi and Zhuge Jin for a peace alliance with the Han Dynasty.

Upon seeing this news, Liu Shan was filled with emotion.

It is said that Cao Cao was suspicious, harsh, and ungrateful.

Wasn't Sun Quan the same?

Otherwise, why would he first make Sun He the crown prince after the death of Wu's crown prince Sun Deng, but then enfeoff his fourth son Sun Ba as the Prince of Lu, and favor Chong Te just like Sun He?
He even allowed Sun Ba to establish his own government, appoint officials, and attract guests, creating a situation where he could rival Crown Prince Sun He.

Why?

It was just like the struggle for succession between Cao Pi and Cao Zhi.

As a competent politician, Sun Quan's move was not simply a matter of favoring one side, but rather a way to use Sun Ba and his associates, such as Quan Cong, Bu Zhi, Lü Dai, and Lü Ju, from humble backgrounds to counterbalance the powerful clans behind Sun He, including the Gu, Lu, Zhu, and Zhang families.

As long as those from humble backgrounds and those from powerful families cannot stand on the same side, then no one can threaten his position.

As a result, the Wu Kingdom split into the Crown Prince's faction and the Lu King's faction, leading to extremely fierce internal struggles and ultimately causing long-term political instability in Eastern Wu.

Finally, Sun Quan deposed Sun He, ordered the death of Sun Ba, and executed his associates Quan Ji, Yang Zhu, and others. He then installed his seven-year-old son Sun Liang as crown prince, while he himself continued to hold power.

Regardless of whether they sided with the poor or the powerful, they were almost completely wiped out.

The Gu, Lu, and Zhu families of Jiangdong, as well as the Zhuge and Zhang families who had immigrated there, suffered heavy losses.

Although Bu Zhi, Lü Dai, and Quan Cong, who came from humble backgrounds, managed to save their lives, their military power was soon stripped away, and their sons were also treated coldly.

Sun Quan eliminated two major potential threats in one fell swoop.

— With the older crown prince and the powerful vassal king both out of power, there is no longer any danger of a powerful minister and prince jointly undermining the imperial authority.

The power of the powerful families of Jiangdong, such as Gu, Lu, Zhu, and Zhang, was reshuffled: whoever stood high was eliminated, and power was completely returned to their own hands.

Finally, seven-year-old Sun Liang became the crown prince.

After Sun Quan's death, the regents became henchmen of the imperial clan, such as Sun Jun and Sun Chen, instead of important ministers from outside the clan like Lu Xun and Bu Zhi. Power returned completely to the hands of the Sun clan.

All gifts bestowed by fate have a price tag attached in secret.

For every gain Sun Quan made, there was a loss he was bound to lose.

What did he lose?
First, military and political talents such as Lu Xun, Zhu Ju, Wu Can, and Gu Tan either died or were rendered incompetent, resulting in a complete loss of strategic commanders in the Wu Kingdom.

The old grudges between the commoners and the aristocratic families had not been resolved, and the new ruler was young, which led to three coups in ten years by Zhuge Ke, Sun Hong, Sun Jun, Sun Chen and others, who took turns seizing power and slaughtering each other.

Sun Quan used the blood of his two sons and the lives of dozens of important officials to secure his absolute imperial power during his lifetime, ultimately dragging down the country.

Now that Bu Zhi and Zhuge Jin have been captured, Sun Quan is facing such a dire situation, yet he is still unwilling to cede territory and seek peace. He is not even willing to make a verbal agreement and then secretly make other plans. Is he really blinded by his ambition to become emperor?
The second piece of news concerns the Wu envoy.

The Wu envoy who was captured in the western city and later released by him was from Xiangyang, a member of the same clan as Liao Hua, and named Liao Shi.

He had a younger brother named Liao Qian.

Now he is the Commandant of Lingling, in charge of the troops of the entire Lingling prefecture.

According to the news brought back by Ma Bing, two years ago, Liao Qian, the Commandant of Lingling, and Fei Yang, the Chief Clerk, sent envoys to Wuxi, hoping to establish contact with the Han Dynasty through the Yi people of Wuxi.

This surprised Liu Shan somewhat.

After all, judging from the Wu envoy's initial demeanor, he had already been subdued by Sun Quan and did not seem to have already submitted to the Han Dynasty.

"Could it be that the Liao brothers, Liao Shi and Liao Qian, did not communicate with each other beforehand?"

Liu Shan was puzzled and continued to read the messages sent back by the spies.

The letter said that the Wu envoy Liao Shi brought back the news that the Han Dynasty had asked Sun Quan to cede territory to sue for peace with the Han Dynasty, and that the Han and Wu would then form an alliance to attack Wei. After that, he also said something to Sun Quan.

This enraged Sun Quan, who ordered Lü Yi, the school administrator, to interrogate Liao Shi rigorously to see if Liao Shi had already pledged allegiance to the Han.

Upon hearing of this, Pan Jun, who was in charge of Jingzhou, hurriedly sent an envoy to write a letter pleading for Liao Shi. In the end, the inspector Lü Yi was unable to find anything out, so Sun Quan finally relented and allowed Pan Jun to take Liao Shi to the front line in Wu County, hoping to give Liao Shi an opportunity to prove his loyalty to Wu.

"The time is not yet ripe. Perhaps we can give Liao Shi and Liao Qian some more time." Liu Shan handed the letter to Chen Dao, seemingly lost in thought.

...

...

Guanzhong.

Thin willow.

After entering Chang'an, the population began to grow denser, and the feeling of emptiness completely disappeared. Merchants traveling to and from trade would frequently appear in Bu Zhi and Zhuge Jin's sight, leading pack animals such as cattle, horses, mules, donkeys, and camels.

They even spotted a caravan of Western Region merchants with red beards and blue eyes. Although Shu brocade was produced in Chengdu, several carts of exquisitely woven Shu brocade were prominently displayed in the caravan of these Western Region merchants.

Only after asking Zhuge Qiao did they learn that this was not Shu brocade, but "Jing brocade".

A few months ago, when Consort Zhang, the younger sister of Empress Zhang, traveled from Chengdu to Chang'an, she brought with her dozens of female officials skilled in Shu brocade craftsmanship.

The prime minister ordered the construction of another "Jin Guan City" on the banks of the Wei River.

Right on the banks of the Wei River, using the weaving techniques of Shu brocade and utilizing the produce of Guanzhong, Longyou, Anding, and the northern regions, "Jingjin" was woven.

Due to differences in water quality, dyes, silk, and other raw materials compared to those in Chengdu, the quality of Beijing brocade is inferior to that of Shu brocade.

However, merchants from the Western Regions believed that the quality of this Jingjin brocade was already excellent enough, so they bought it at 60-70% of the price of Shu brocade.

Just as they were about to head to Chang'an, Zhuge Jin learned from Zhuge Qiao that his younger brother was not in Chang'an, but at Zheng Guo Canal, where he was in charge of dredging the canal.

Upon hearing about the famous Zheng Guo Canal, Bu Zhi suggested that instead of entering Chang'an City, they should go and take a look at the Zheng Guo Canal.

Zhuge Jin also chimed in with his words.

Zhuge Qiao seemed to have anticipated this, and without consulting anyone, he put the two of them in a carriage and sped off towards the Zheng Guo Canal.

Before Bu Zhi entered Guanzhong, he only thought about visiting Chang'an.

After entering Guanzhong, he put aside the idea of ​​seeing Chang'an and instead focused on seeing the people's livelihood, geography, border defense, and water conservancy in Guanzhong.

He was eager to know the extent to which Shu Han could transform Guanzhong in less than six months.

From Xiliu to Zheng Guoqu, there are dozens of villages along the way, each inhabited by many "laborers" who look like they've been through countless battles.

They were physically strong and had a menacing look on their faces.

Some people gathered at the village entrance to hunt hawks and hounds, or to play dice and other games.

However, there were also activities such as horseback archery, gladiator combat, practicing killing techniques, and rehearsing flag and drum commands.

Therefore, Bu Zhi and Zhuge Jin speculated that although these warriors were neither regular soldiers nor weak agricultural laborers, they would obey the call to arms once Shu Han issued a conscription order.

This is clearly different from the military system of the Great Wu.

They resemble the "good families from the six prefectures" of the Han Dynasty.

During the Han Dynasty, the central government did not maintain a large army. Instead, it used the Imperial Guard as its core. Whenever there was trouble in any direction, it would issue an edict to conscript cavalrymen from the Three Rivers region and good men from the Six Commanderies as soldiers. The Imperial Guard was used to command them. Each member of the Imperial Guard was a mid-level officer. In this way, an army of 100,000 could be mobilized in a short period of time.

As evening fell, the group finally arrived at the famous Zheng Guo Canal.

(End of this chapter)