Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 283 The appearance of an old friend
Outside Yiling City.

The villages and towns were in complete disarray, devoid of any human presence.

After learning that the Han army had captured Zigui, Zhu Ran quickly sent people to relocate all the people within a 20-mile radius of Yiling into the city, implementing the so-called scorched earth policy.

Liu Shan walked slowly along the ridge of the field. As far as the eye could see, there was no one around. Occasionally, the hoarse cries of crows came from afar, adding to the desolation.

"Your Majesty," Yan Yu, the prefect of Badong, approached and lowered his voice, "Zhu Ran acted swiftly. Before our vanguard arrived, he had already driven all the people within a twenty-mile radius into the city."

Liu Shan remained silent, his gaze falling upon a paddy field beside the road. The turbid water flowed wildly, uprooting newly established rice seedlings or trampling them haphazardly into the mud.

“It wasn’t just the fields,” Yan Yu continued to report. “Before the Wu army withdrew, they filled in all the wells in the surrounding area that could be filled in, and threw filth into the wells that could not be filled in. Some wells even contained dead livestock.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Shan frowned.

Filling wells and poisoning them is arguably the most vicious scorched-earth tactic.

The underground water veins are interconnected. If one well is contaminated, it may affect an entire water source. This will not only affect the drinking water of the Han army, but also the people who were not driven into the city by the scorched earth policy may contract diseases due to the contaminated groundwater.

Zhu Ran was willing to risk the lives of ordinary people to maximize the difficulty for the Han army to resupply locally.

Beside a weed-covered ditch, several corpses, some male and some female, some old and some young, lay scattered and beginning to decompose.

The flies lingered and wouldn't leave.

Looking towards the orchard on the riverbank, the peaches and apricots are already in full bloom, a riot of color.

As the weather warms up, the humidity near the river increases, making it too easy for epidemics to spread.

"The weather is warm and humid, which makes it easy for plagues to spread. Send down the order that wherever our troops go, if they find any corpses, they must bury them deeply on the spot and burn them without fail."

"Yes, sir." Yan Yu bowed and accepted the order. In fact, he had been doing this all along, but the area of ​​twenty miles was too large, and not every corpse could be discovered immediately.

A squad of soldiers received instructions to deal with the bodies in the ditch.

On the distant hills, dozens of refugees descended the mountain under the organization of Han soldiers. They received some rations at the foot of the mountain and temporarily stayed in the army camp. Xuan Yi Lang explained the policies of the Han Dynasty to them and registered their households.

From these refugees, Liu Shan learned that Zhu Ran had committed many evil deeds when he drove the people of Yiling into the city.

Some of Wu soldiers broke into the homes of people who had been forced to relocate, ransacking their homes and looting their last rations and possessions. Many of them also took the opportunity to rape women.

Zhu Ran was not unaware of this, but in extraordinary times, extraordinary measures are often needed to maintain the morale and execution of the army.

In order to suppress public discontent, he had to increase manpower and carry out a lot of propaganda.

As for how to spread the propaganda, it was nothing more than threatening words such as the people of Shu being tyrannical and cruel, leaving no one alive, and abducting women and children.

By fabricating a few more horrifying stories, it is easy to incite those people who are not well-informed, to make them feel fear, and to make them feel that entering the city is the only way to survive.

Finally, they blamed all the misfortunes on the Han Dynasty, the invader, and tried to transfer the people's resentment onto the Han army that was on its eastern expedition.

However... such tricks might fool the common people, but trying to fool powerful clans is a joke.

Of course they didn't believe it.

But what can you do if you don't believe it?

Thieves pass by like combs, soldiers pass by like fine brushes; this has always been the case, and there's no reasoning with you about it.

According to the people who fled into the mountains, Yiling was a remote and inaccessible place with no powerful clans. The county was known for the three prominent families of Qin, Tian, ​​and Wen.

During the honeymoon period between Han and Wu, trade between the two countries continued uninterrupted. These three companies, having controlled several wharves at the mouth of the Yangtze River, accumulated a great deal of wealth and a formidable armed force through river transport and trade.

The Tan and Tian families had not anticipated that the war would develop so quickly. Caught off guard, they were forced to move into the city by Zhu Ran's personal army, with no power to resist.

As for the grain and supplies accumulated at home, they were all diverted to military provisions and supplies.

Zhu Ran treated the clan chief as an honored guest, saying that once the war between Wu and Shu ended, all the supplies they had borrowed would be returned.

However, the Wen family of Jingmen was far from Yiling. After learning that Zhu Ran was implementing a scorched-earth policy, they quickly built a fortified village and refused Zhu Ran's "good intentions".

Japan and China.

Liu Shan went again to the foot of Tiger Tooth Mountain in Jiangbei, to the Han camp at Xiaoting.

At dusk, a scout boat from downstream reported:
"Your Majesty! A fleet of ships, consisting of nearly a hundred vessels of various sizes, has been spotted on the river. They are sailing upstream towards our army!"

Liu Shan frowned, as if he had thought of something, and then led his courtiers, including Huo Yi, Zhuge Qiao, Fa Miao, and Zhang Shao, to the riverbank.

Before long, a light boat, escorted by Han army warships, approached the dock.

Several guards stepped forward and led a dozen or so people to Liu Shan, who was dressed in plain clothes.

The elderly man at the head of the group was led to Liu Shan and his entourage. He saw a young general who was nearly eight feet tall, with an extraordinary bearing, and was surrounded by the crowd. Knowing that he was the person in charge, he quickly stepped forward and bowed in greeting.

"Generals, I am the head of the Wen clan of Danyang, Jingmen. My surname is Wen and my given name is Zheng."

As he spoke, he handed over a brand-new silk letter of greeting with both hands. When he stood up, his gaze lingered on Liu Shan's face for a moment, and he was slightly taken aback.

Liu Shan accepted the visiting card and quickly glanced at it.

The above details how the Wen family secretly helped the scattered Han soldiers after Lü Meng crossed the river in disguise and Guan Yu was defeated.

Furthermore, during the Battle of Yiling, they presented 10,000 shi of grain to the late emperor who came to attack Eastern Wu.

Finally, it describes how the Wen clan was exploited and suppressed by Sun Quan's officials after Sun Quan occupied Jingzhou.

Of course, the last and most important part of the letter of invitation stated that the Wen family had brought more than 30,000 shi of grain to present as tribute.

"Old Master Wen," Liu Shan handed the visiting card to Zhuge Qiao behind him and asked calmly, "Our Han army has just arrived at Yiling, and the outcome is still uncertain, while the Wu bandits are already close at hand. At this time, you have sent more than 30,000 shi of grain. Aren't you afraid that if our Han army suffers a defeat, Sun Quan will settle scores later and implicate your clan?"

"General, you are wise," the scholar said solemnly.

"Last year, His Majesty the Great Han personally led a northern expedition, recovered Guanzhong, and returned the capital to Chang'an. His power shook the world, and everyone in the world knew of him."

"As for last autumn, His Majesty of the Han Dynasty defeated Wu at Xicheng. Bu Zhi, who had been suppressing Yiling for Sun Quan for several years, was also defeated and captured by His Majesty."

"The people of Jingzhou have longed for the Han Dynasty, for the late Emperor, and for the Prime Minister. As a result, they are all excited. They thought that Wu County was in the hands of the Wu people and was impregnable, and that the Han Dynasty's attack on Wu might only be a brief encounter."

"Unexpectedly, the mighty Han army broke through the impregnable river defenses set up by the Wu people in Wuxian and Zigui, and besieged Yiling, forcing Zhu Ran to adopt a scorched earth policy. What else could this be but a heavenly army? Such a thunderous force, is it not the Mandate of Heaven returning to the Han?"
"I, an old man, live in the wilderness of Yiling. I was forced by the wolfish bite of the Sun family and was unfortunate enough to receive the grace of the Han emperor. However, I was born a Han man and will die a Han man. I have heard that the Han has repeatedly defeated Wu and know that the hatred of Jingzhou will be avenged and the hatred of Yiling will be wiped away. Therefore, I have gathered the Wen family and wish to use our whole clan to help the great Han dynasty and do our best for the cause!"

Liu Shan remained silent upon hearing this, yet he was also somewhat invigorated.

The old man surnamed Wen in front of us spoke the truth, and his attitude and views on the Han Dynasty can basically represent the attitude and views of a large part of the powerful families in Jingzhou towards the Han Dynasty.

Therefore, victory in war is indeed far more effective than any verbal or written propaganda; the victory itself is the best form of propaganda.

The people of Jingzhou are trustworthy.

"I wonder if the general's surname is Guo?" The old man from the Wen family suddenly asked when he saw the young general with a short beard in front of him remain silent.

"Oh?" Liu Shan paused. "My surname is indeed Liu. How could Elder Wen know that?"

Na Wenzheng recalled: "When I saw the general, he was young and brave, with an extraordinary demeanor. He looked just like... just like a general who received me here six years ago."

Liu Shan was taken aback upon hearing this, but understood immediately. He then took over the conversation, saying, "I accept your kind offer on behalf of the soldiers of the Han Dynasty. This 30,000 shi of grain can indeed relieve our army's urgent needs. I will certainly report this matter truthfully to Your Majesty."

Upon hearing this, Wen Zheng's face lit up with joy, and half of the weight in his heart was lifted:
"Thank you, General! When the royal army recaptures Yiling and restores Jingzhou, I humbly request that you grace Danyang with your presence so that my family, the Wen family, may do our best to repay your kindness in introducing us today!"

The Wen family of Jingmen, a mere local strongman, unknown to anyone, could only offer their beauty to the Han Dynasty if the Han Dynasty was willing to accept it, and even more so if the general in charge was willing to relay his words to the higher-ups.

Otherwise, what's the point of saying the best things if the people above can't hear them?

No matter how much grain is offered, the higher-ups have no idea about it. Or what if more than 30,000 shi of grain is reported but only 10,000 shi are actually reported? What would that mean?
Therefore, this statement not only expressed gratitude but also subtly hoped that the General Liu would speak well of Wen to the important figures.

Just then, the slightly younger elder behind Wen Zheng stepped forward, his gaze bypassing Liu Shan and landing directly on Huo Yi behind him, his tone tinged with excitement and uncertainty:
"May I ask if this young lord knows Huo Jun, Huo Zhongmiao, from Zhijiang in Nanjun?"

Upon hearing this, Huo Yi paused slightly, then looked at Liu Shan. After receiving tacit approval, he stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said in a deep voice:
"My name is Huo Yi, courtesy name Shaoxian."

"What the village elder said is indeed my late father's name!"

Upon hearing this, the old man's eyes lit up. He carefully looked Huo Yi up and down, and finally, his voice was filled with both emotion and excitement:
"So he is Zhongmiao's son! No wonder he has the looks of the brothers Boxin and Zhongmiao! Shaoxian, Shaoxian, Shaoxian's noble character, what fine calligraphy, what fine calligraphy!"

Liu Shan exchanged a glance with Huo Yi, Zhuge Qiao, and others, clearly somewhat surprised, yet upon reflection, not entirely unexpected.

The Huo Zhongmiao mentioned by the old man surnamed Huo is Huo Jun, the father of Huo Yi, and Huo Boxin is Huo Du, the elder brother of Huo Jun.

During the Jian'an era, a time of decline for the Han dynasty and fragmentation among warlords, Huo Du, relying on his family's influence, gathered hundreds of men in his hometown and formed a local armed force. Huo Du died young, and Huo Jun took over the family's troops. After Liu Biao's death, Huo Jun submitted to the late emperor and was appointed General of the Palace Guard. When the late emperor returned south from Jiameng and attacked Liu Zhang, he left Huo Jun to guard Jiameng City.

Zhang Lu of Hanzhong then sent his general Yang Bo to lure Jun, asking him to join him in defending the city.

Huo Jun replied, "I can take his head, but I cannot take the city."

Yang Bo then withdrew.

Later, Liu Zhang sent Generals Fu Jin and Xiang Cun with tens of thousands of men northward from Langshui to besiege Jiameng, but they could not take it for a year.

Huo Juncheng had only a few hundred soldiers. Taking advantage of the moment when Generals Fu Jin and Xiang Cun were lax, he selected his elite troops to launch an attack, inflicting a great defeat on them and beheading Xiang Cun.

When the late emperor pacified Shu, he praised Huo Jun's achievements and divided Guanghan into Zitong Commandery, appointing Huo Jun as the Prefect of Zitong and concurrently serving as a General. Huo Jun died after serving in office for three years and was buried in Chengdu.

The late emperor was deeply grieved and issued an edict to the Chancellor, saying: "Jun was a fine man who had rendered meritorious service to the country; I wish to offer libations at his tomb."

The reason for asking the prime minister was that this action was somewhat against etiquette for the emperor. However, the prime minister was also a man of strong character. So the late emperor personally led his officials to attend the memorial service and even stayed overnight at Huo Jun's tomb, which was considered an honor by the people at the time.

Huo Yi was raised in the Eastern Palace. His courtesy name was Shaoxian, which was given to him by the late emperor. The meaning was just as the Huo clan elder said: to continue the illustrious will of their ancestors.

Huo Yi suppressed the turmoil in his heart and asked respectfully:
"May I ask your name, sir? And what is your relationship to my late father?"

The old man quickly said:

"I am the current clan head of the Huo clan in Qingheju, Zhijiang. My name is Huo Can."

“Bo Xin and Zhong Miao are my own nephews.”

"Back then, Zhongmiao led most of the able-bodied men of his clan to follow the late emperor into Shu."

"I have been ordered by Zhongmiao to lead more than 30 families of the clan to stay in the ancestral land of Zhijiang in case of emergency, so as to ensure that the bloodline of the ancestral hall will not be cut off."

This is normal. For both aristocratic families and powerful clans, the survival of the family is always the top priority. Diversifying investments is the best way to ensure the continuation of the family bloodline. This is the wisdom of survival in chaotic times.

Huo Yi suddenly realized, his tone becoming more intimate:
"It was my uncle who was in person; I was impolite."

He lost his father at a young age and lived in Chengdu. He grew up in the Eastern Palace and had little affection for his clan in Zhijiang. Even when the Han and Wu were on good terms, he never thought of visiting his relatives in Zhijiang.

But meeting relatives in a foreign land at this moment, I felt quite emotional.

Huo Can looked Huo Yi up and down, his tone earnest:
"Shaoxian.

"For the past few years, the Huo family of Zhijiang has been under the surveillance of the Sun family."

“In recent years, many young people from the clan have served as officials for the Sun family in Zhijiang and Jiangling.”

"As the clan leader, I have never stopped thinking about returning to the Han Dynasty! I am even more unwilling for the clan members to become subjects of the Sun family, but... for the survival of the clan and the lives of the clan members, I have no choice but to pretend to be friendly with the Wu people."

“Last year, after learning that the alliance between Han and Wu had been broken and that His Majesty had defeated the Wu bandits in Xicheng, I summoned the young talents of my clan to consult with him.”

"But... some fear the power of the Sun family, some are greedy for immediate gains, and there are many who are hesitant and unable to make a decision. Even when I secretly left Zhijiang this time, there were still disagreements within the clan. I scolded them for being short-sighted, but I am old and many things cannot be decided in a few words."

He paused, then pulled two young children, around ten years old, who looked slightly nervous but tried to remain calm, forward from behind him.

"These two sons, one named Xin and the other named Yan, are my grandsons."

"Today, I entrust these two sons to Shaoxian. Shaoxian will keep them by his side, either as servants or as pageboys, only hoping that they will stay in Han and fulfill the determination of the Huo family of Zhijiang."

This is the pledge of loyalty.

They offered their eldest grandson as a hostage, promising to surrender the city and provide grain in the future.

Huo Yi looked at Liu Shan again, clearly seeking Liu Shan's opinion.

Huo Can, not having finished speaking, continued:

"Shaoxian, Zhijiang is only a stone's throw from Jiangling, but the Sun family's navy has already blockaded the river. Our clan's grain and supplies cannot be transported out and cannot be offered to the royal army."

"When the mighty Han army besieges Jiangling, my Huo clan will surely respond in kind, and all our stored grain will be offered to the Han!"

Liu Shan nodded slightly and said gently, "Elder Huo is very wise and righteous. Let Xin and Yan stay with Shaoxian for the time being."

Liu Shan did not intend to delve into whether Huo Can's purpose was investment or speculation.

The fact that they were willing to offer hostages already demonstrated their sincerity.

As for when the army approaches Jiangling in the future, even if it only has 10,000 or 20,000 shi of grain, it can keep the eastern expeditionary army going for a few more days or ten days. How could they possibly refuse?

Huo Yi stepped forward and took Huo Xin and Huo Yan, the two children, into his arms.

The two boys were clearly well-mannered, calm and collected, and obviously no longer the mischievous kids they were at that age.

Not long after.

The Wen family's more than one hundred boats sailed upstream against the current.

Huo Yi and Zhuge Qiao, who were already very familiar with logistics, immediately led their officers to take over.

Liu Shan originally intended to have Huo Yi leave the two elders, Wen Zheng and Huo Can, to stay in the army camp, but both wanted to return to their clans as soon as possible. So Liu Shan ordered Chen Hu to lead warships to escort them.

At Xiaoting Wharf, Liu Shan looked at the apricot blossoms on the riverbank and said to Wen Zheng, an elder of the Wen clan:

"Old Wen is from Jingmen, not far from here."

"Now that the apricot blossoms are in full bloom and it is time for spring plowing, war has broken out in Yiling."

"Many people dare not go out to farm, but they cannot stop farming. If they miss the farming season, many people will have no harvest this year and will not have enough to eat."

"After Elder Wangwen returns to his clan, he should call on the people of Jingmen to come out and farm. Our Han soldiers will certainly not disturb the people's farming."

The elder of the Wen clan hesitated repeatedly, unsure how to answer.

Upon seeing this, Liu Shan asked, "Old Wen, is there some difficulty?"

The elder of the Wen clan said:

"This general..."

"Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to Han. The Han Dynasty has brought its heavenly army, but it will not harass the people. The people believe this."

"Because back then... when the late Emperor of Han went to Yiling to attack Sun Quan and avenge Guan Yu, it was also springtime, the time for spring plowing."

"The late emperor then issued an edict, ordering his soldiers not to harass the people. Anyone who disobeyed the order would be beheaded by the late emperor of the Han Dynasty. As a result, the people all trusted the late emperor and the Han Dynasty."

"But... what the people fear now is not the Han Dynasty, but Sun Quan."

“Sun Quan is a scoundrel who is good at fortifying the city and clearing the fields. In the Battle of Yiling, he destroyed all the surrounding farmland, which caused resentment among the people.”

"This time, the Han army has arrived again, and Sun Quan will surely do the same."

"After all, Zhu Ran on Yiling City had already implemented a scorched earth policy."

“Because our Wen clan refused to move the whole clan to occupy Yiling, Zhu Ran was furious. The Wen clan’s hundreds of acres of land, which had just been planted with rice seedlings, have now been mostly destroyed by Zhu Ran’s troops.”

Liu Shan pondered for a moment and said:

"Don't worry, Elder Wen. Go back and tell the people to continue cultivating the land."

"With the Han army here, Sun Quan will certainly not resort to the scorched earth policy this time."

"If he dares to continue the scorched-earth policy in Yiling and Jiangling, you should tell the people that once our Han Dynasty conquers Yiling and Jiangling, those who have no food can come to our Han Dynasty for food."

"Even if our Han soldiers tighten their belts, they can still feed them."

Wen Zheng, the elder of the Wen clan, was taken aback upon hearing this.

Huo Can, the patriarch of the Huo clan, first glanced at Huo Yi, then looked around at the group of civil officials standing behind Liu Shan, and finally his gaze fell on the Dragon Guards who were protecting everyone. His eyes flickered, and he immediately knelt down:
"Common people see you, Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty?" The civil official was suddenly stunned, looking at the young man in front of him who bore a resemblance to the general from six years ago. Seeing that the civil and military officials around him showed no surprise, and seeing that the young man neither dodged nor avoided Huo Can's obeisance, how could he not know that this was undoubtedly the Emperor of the Han Dynasty?!

If this person is the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, then isn't the General Liu he met here a few years ago...?

"This humble subject pays respects to Your Majesty!" Wen Zheng also prostrated himself on the ground, his voice trembling.

(End of this chapter)