Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 296 The Wuling Incident
Yiling Official Temple.

Liu Shan, dressed in a black military uniform, was taking his usual afternoon bow and arrow practice when he heard that Fei Yi had arrived. He went to the gate to greet him.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Fei Yi bowed deeply to the emperor from below the steps.

"Minister Fei has traveled all the way south, enduring a long and arduous journey, yet he has worked tirelessly to stabilize the order in Wuxian and Zigui for the Han Dynasty. He has truly worked hard." Liu Shan smiled and gestured for support.

"Serving the country and sharing Your Majesty's burdens is my duty. What hardship is there in it? It is Your Majesty who fights in the north and south for the restoration of the Han Dynasty without a moment's rest, which makes us ashamed."

Liu Shan shook his head and said, "The trend is irreversible and cannot be stopped. Moreover, compared with the Prime Minister and other ministers, I have fewer affairs and more leisure time. I am also in the prime of my life and do not feel tired. I am grateful for your concern, Attendant."

Fei Yi looked up and was suddenly struck by a surprise. The emperor, dressed in a black military uniform, appeared even broader and more masculine than he had been six months ago. If one didn't know better, they might mistake him for a young general. Fei Yi immediately offered his heartfelt praise:

"It has been half a year since I last saw His Majesty's face. His Majesty is even more majestic and heroic than when he was in Chang'an. The late Emperor was no more than this when he was young and fighting on horseback. This is truly a blessing for the country and the nation."

Upon hearing this, Liu Shan laughed heartily a few times: "The fish in the river are plump, which is why they nourish people."

After speaking, he and Fei Yi walked one after the other towards the main hall of the official temple. However, after walking only a few steps, Zhuge Qiao suddenly exclaimed in surprise from behind:
"What's wrong with Chief Secretary Fei's legs?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Shan stopped and subconsciously looked at Fei Yi's legs, but Fei Yi had also stopped and couldn't see anything unusual.

Seeing the emperor's puzzled expression, Fei Yi suddenly laughed and spoke:

"Your Majesty is too kind. When I was in Zigui, I thought that Yiling might not fall for a hundred days, but unexpectedly the good news came suddenly."

"At that time, I was in Wu County, leading agricultural officials to the fields to inspect the spring plowing of the people. When I heard that Yiling had been captured in a single day, I was so disoriented that I fell off the back of the donkey and sprained my ankle."

Liu Shan was immediately taken aback and asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

After asking, he looked at Xi Zheng and said, "Lingxian, go and find the imperial physician for me."

"Your Majesty, there's no need!" Fei Yi quickly stopped him.

"I have already consulted a doctor. The doctor set my bones and applied some plasters. I am much better now."

Liu Shan shook his head and said, "Let the imperial physician examine the Chamberlain. After Jingzhou is recovered, the Chamberlain will need to measure the size of Jingzhou for me and to appease the people of Jingzhou."

Upon hearing this, Fei Yi wisely refrained from refusing and immediately bowed to the emperor, saying, "Your subject Fei Yi thanks Your Majesty for your great favor!"

After expressing his gratitude, he laughed loudly again: "Upon hearing this good news, I was overjoyed and could not contain my excitement."

"I wonder when such good news will reach Chengdu and then Chang'an."

"What a joy it will be for the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and all the civil and military officials, scholars, and common people in both the northern and southern capitals."

Liu Shan nodded slightly upon hearing this.

In just over a month, the Han Dynasty recaptured three important towns and strategic locations of Sun Wu: Wuxian, Zigui, and Yiling, thus gaining full control of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River.

Such a great victory will undoubtedly inspire all the ministers who have high expectations for the eastern expedition, and will also strengthen the confidence of those who have doubts about the expedition. As for the opponents, they will shut their mouths and dare not speak recklessly again.

In this way, Liu Shan could take advantage of the momentum of this great victory to address the long-standing problems of the country's weak national strength and empty treasury, and use the credibility of the court and the confidence of the people to do something about it.

The grain taxes levied by the Han Dynasty, along with the spoils of war and donations from the people along the way, were barely enough to sustain the eastern expeditionary army until the autumn harvest.

Victories required rewards, and the dead and wounded required compensation. Liu Shan used the court's money plus his own private funds to distribute a small portion of these rewards and compensations, but the rest had to be put on hold for the time being.

Not to mention, the tens of thousands of captured Wu soldiers also needed to eat, as did the tens of thousands of Yiling residents who lost their food due to the scorched-earth policy, and the laborers and servants in the city.

Liu Shan is currently distributing rations and planting materials at a rate of two shi per person, but this is only a temporary measure. If only two shi of grain were distributed, it would be a betrayal of the people of Yiling who had launched a city-wide uprising.

Next, Liu Shan planned to implement a work-for-relief program, allowing people to transport grain for the Han Dynasty during their off-season and to repair cities, water conservancy projects, and defensive works.

In this way, the conscription of laborers and soldiers in Sichuan can be reduced.

Next, he planned to hold large-scale public events in Yiling, such as a Cuju (ancient Chinese football) competition, using his status as the emperor to attract wealthy households, officials, and soldiers in the city to spend money.

During the event, related industries such as catering, beverages, gambling, and furniture will be stimulated, and money and grain will naturally circulate within Yiling City, creating new job opportunities and income for the common people.

A few days ago, he also ordered Yan Yu, the prefect of Badong, to issue a large-scale grain purchase notice to the Shu region, and to significantly increase the price of grain purchased by the Jiangzhou government from the original eighty coins per shi to three hundred coins.

Raising grain prices was not because the imperial court had money; on the contrary, it was because the court was short of money that it did so. Its purpose was to attract powerful rice merchants from Shu, so that they would rush to transport grain to Jiangzhou day and night to sell.

When grain from all directions flooded into Jiangzhou, the market supply surged, and grain prices naturally fell back to normal levels.

In this way, the government can buy grain at a fair price on the market and save on transportation costs, without having to spend manpower and huge sums of money to buy grain from all over the place.

Back to the main hall of the official temple.

A group of civil and military officials sat in attendance.

Fei Yi took out a secret document from his sleeve and said:

"Your Majesty, on the day I left Zigui, Ma Humiao sent a secret letter via his Tiger Guard to ask Your Majesty to take a look."

Although there are hundreds of thousands of mountains south of Zigui, there are several open mountain roads leading directly to the depths of Wuling. In the Battle of Yiling, because the Yuan River was blocked by the Wu army, Sha Moke went north from Wuling along the mountains, and then went east along the Yi River from the Enshi area in later generations. Finally, he set up a stronghold for the Han army in Yidao, southwest of Yiling.

Standing beside Liu Shan, Long Xianglang Gao Ang took the "inspection tube" with the seal ink at the knot from Fei Yi and returned to the emperor's desk.

Liu Shan glanced at the seal on the knotted rope and confirmed that it was indeed Ma Liang's son, Ma Bing, the Protector of Seedlings. He casually removed the seal, letting the mud dust fall to the ground.

Just as Liu Shan was reading the letter, Fei Yi spoke solemnly:
"Your Majesty, according to the envoy Ma Hu Miao, after Sun Quan usurped the throne, he sent two envoys, Zhang Mi and Xu Yan, to Wuling to enfeoff Sha Lie, the son of Sha Moke, as the pseudo-Wu Miao King."

"However, the title of king was a pretense; the assassination was the real purpose."

"Assassination?" Fa Miao frowned deeply. "Sun Quan is truly a wolf in sheep's clothing!"

Liu Shan handed the letter to Fa Miao and said with a smile:
"As agreed, Ma Nan'an (Ma Zhong), Sha Lie, and Ma Humiao led an uprising on the second day of the second month. All nine counties in Wuling rebelled, but the magistrate of Hanshou County defended the city."

"Nine counties have all rebelled?" Zhang Biao was somewhat surprised upon hearing this. He had indeed considered that the Han Dynasty still held considerable influence in the four southern commanderies of Jingzhou, but he never expected that its influence would be so great.

After all, as far as he knew, General Ma Zhong of Annam only led more than three thousand men from Fuling into Wuling, while the Wuxi Yi under Sha Lie probably only had seven or eight thousand able-bodied men who could go to the battlefield.

Ma Bing's handwritten calligraphy attracted a crowd, prompting many to sigh in admiration.

It turned out that at the end of the first month, Zhang Mi, who had been temporarily appointed as Grand Herald by Sun Quan, and Xu Yan, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, arrived at Wulingyuan.

Since the two envoys only brought a few dozen followers and actually brought the so-called "Great Wu Miao King" seal, Sha Lie was not wary at first. In order to make the act more convincing, he set up a banquet and invited the two envoys, Zhang and Xu, and all their followers.

Because Zhang and Xu were "high-ranking envoys," Sha Lie did not search them to see if they were carrying weapons. Or rather, Sha Lie never expected that these two honest men would come to assassinate him.

Just as everyone was getting drunk and about to fall asleep, several Wu assassins suddenly attacked Sha Lie.

This startled Zhang Mi and Xu Yan so much that they were terrified, while Sha Lie's personal guards, who were already so drunk that their legs were weak, were caught off guard and knocked down by the assassins.

If Ma Bing hadn't suspected a trap and ordered his most valiant Tiger Warriors to attend to Sha Lie, pretending to be Miao people and feigning drunkenness, Sun Quan might have succeeded.

"Fortunately, Ma Hu Miao has foresight. Shamoke's son has finally gathered his people. If he dies, I fear the Wuxi Yi will fall into internal strife again." Fa Miao frowned and sighed.

The Wuxi Yi people can be said to be the greatest and most trustworthy help to the Han Dynasty in Jingnan. Other powerful clans or aristocratic families may only contribute some money and grain as a symbolic gesture, and even if they send troops to help, they cannot possibly provide thousands of soldiers like the Wuxi Yi, let alone be willing to sacrifice their lives for the Han Dynasty like the Wuxi Yi.

Liu Shan nodded in agreement, saying that sending Ma Bing to protect the seedlings was indeed a wise move.

The feud between Sun Quan and Zhang Zhao was common knowledge in Jingzhou. Liu Shan knew about it when he conquered Zigui, but he didn't think much of it.

Zhang Zhao, a trusted minister entrusted with the care of the young emperor, was publicly ridiculed by Sun Quan. This actually happened in history and was quite dramatic. Liu Shan had some historical memory of this, but he never expected that it was Sun Quan's deliberate act to assassinate Sha Lie.

However, according to Ma Bing's account, Sun Quan's Grand Herald Zhang Mi, Commander of the Imperial Guard Xu Yan, and some of his entourage who were unaware of the assassination attempt had already been treated with great courtesy.

Leaving aside the lower-ranking soldiers, as long as Sun Quan's Grand Herald and Commander of the Imperial Guards are alive and well in the Han Dynasty, that is the best advertisement for Sun Quan.

"Linyuan has been captured, and Wei Jing has been captured?" Zhang Biao, who reads at lightning speed, suddenly exclaimed in shock.

Linyuan was the seat of Wuling Commandery.

The officials and temple servants surrounding Fa Miao were all taken aback.

Liu Shan glanced at Fei Yi with a half-smile, but found that Fei Yi's expression was also one of surprise and delight. For a moment, he was puzzled, thinking that Fei Yi had already learned about this from Ma Bing's envoy.

In fact, it was not that the entire Wuling prefecture rebelled and Wei Jing had already been captured, but rather that Linyuan had been captured and Wei Jing had already been captured, so the entire Wuling prefecture rebelled.

Specifically, Ma Zhong and Sha Lie had already dispersed their thousands of troops to various counties in Wuling, agreeing to launch an uprising on February 2nd, the day of the Awakening of Insects and the spring plowing season, when the people were working in their fields.

Since Yuanling in the southwest was the closest, and the slogan of the uprising was not to restore the Han Dynasty, but to express their unbearable oppression by the Sun Wu government.

After receiving the news, Wei Jing assumed it was a local uprising by rioters in Jingzhou, so he immediately dispatched several hundred county soldiers to suppress it.

As a result, after that group of men left, Sha Lie directly led several hundred men to ambush and kill the hundreds of county soldiers. On the other side, Ma Zhong's cousin, Sima Huyan, led fifty warriors to storm the Lin Yuan official temple at night and captured Wei Jing in his sleep.

As for why Hu Yan was able to enter the city at night and how he knew Wei Jing's exact location, it was naturally because there was an inside agent in the city.

The following day, generals Ma Zhong and Sha Lie arrived at the walls of Lin Yuan City. Xi Wen, the Wuling clerk and son of Xi Zhen, the Lingling Commandant who fought to the death for the Han Dynasty, spoke passionately from the city walls of Lin Yuan:
"In the past, my father defended the land for Han, refusing to surrender to Wu even unto death. I, as a son, humbled myself to serve Wu to save my own life, my family, and my clan. You gentlemen did the same. Now that the royal army has arrived and the governor has been captured, why not welcome them?"

So the people of Wuling opened the gates and surrendered the city.

"Hu Yan is brave and valiant, Xi Wen is loyal and steadfast, and Ma Nan'an, Sha Fuhan, and Ma Humiao are skilled in command. Thus, they were able to recapture Wuling and achieve this extraordinary feat. How magnificent!" Liu Shan sat at the head of the table and clapped his hands in praise.

Located west of Dongting Lake and south of Jiangling, Wuling was a place where all nine counties of the prefecture raised the banner of rebellion. This was equivalent to inserting a sharp blade between Jiangling and the other counties in Jingnan, thus blocking the weakness of Sun Wu.

Now, Sun Quan had no choice but to mobilize troops from Jingnan and even Jiaozhou to suppress and pacify the Wu forces. This gave Ma Zhong the opportunity to start guerrilla warfare against the Wu people.

The official temple in Yiling was brightly lit.

Several simple dishes were placed in front of everyone.

The victories at Yiling and the conquest of Wuling were now history. Fei Yi calmly recounted to the Emperor the matter that mattered most to him on this trip:
"Your Majesty's method of pacifying Yiling is excellent."

"Although the cities of Wuxian and Zigui were not extensively destroyed by the Wu people, the people's savings were still completely looted by the Wu people through a scorched-earth policy, and the grain and livestock needed for spring plowing were extremely scarce."

"Although it is spring plowing season, what I see in Wuzi and Zizi counties is mostly uncultivated land and distressed people."

"Therefore, the most important thing is to stabilize people's hearts and resume spring plowing."

"However... due to my own dullness and insufficient resources, I am unable to do as well as Your Majesty in pacifying Yiling with benevolence and long-term vision."

"Only the stored and old grains seized from the granaries of the two counties were distributed in small quantities to the population to temporarily alleviate the famine."

"In addition, proclamations were posted to reassure the people, stating that the Han army would not disturb the Han people, and encouraging the scattered people to return to their hometowns and rebuild their fields."

When Liu Shan left Wu and Zi counties, the weather was still cold and spring plowing had not yet begun. In addition, the eastward advance to Yiling was imminent, so he was unable to focus on pacifying the people of Wu and Zi counties.

The saying goes, "Those in positions of power should fulfill their duties." These matters should not be the responsibility of the emperor; otherwise, it would be seen as overstepping his authority and neglecting his duties.

However, after capturing Yiling, he discovered that none of the officials he had brought with him were able to do a satisfactory job of pacifying the people.

It wasn't that these officials were incompetent; their experience in grassroots governance was far superior to Liu Shan's. However, limited by their knowledge and vision compared to Liu Shan, a time traveler with a two-thousand-year historical perspective, their performance was naturally subpar. Liu Shan couldn't stand it any longer and finally intervened.

At that moment, Fei Yi spoke again.

"Your Majesty, in my opinion..."

“The difficulty of spring plowing in Wu and Zi counties, and even in Yiling at our feet, is not only due to the availability of grain seeds, but also to the word ‘plowing’ itself.”

(End of this chapter)