Three Kingdoms: Fusion of Entries, Change of Destiny

Chapter 27 Children are the future
After receiving the military token from Cao Yan, Xiahou Lan did not leave immediately.

Having met people like Yuan Shao who did not live up to their reputation, he had become somewhat wary of the so-called "wise leaders".

Therefore, Xiahou Lan wanted to spend more time in Dongwuyang so that he could see firsthand how the people here lived.

Previously, the Montenegrin army invaded,
Dongwuyang adopted the tactic of fortifying the city and clearing the countryside.
The surrounding people were moved into the city early.

Unable to seize food, the Montenegrin army destroyed everything like mad dogs, destroying many houses, villages, fields, etc.

But as long as people are still there, houses and other things can be rebuilt.

What's more, what Dongwuyang lacks the least now is labor!
The newly built village can also be better planned and managed, which saves Cao Yan and Xun Yu a lot of other troubles.

Xiahou Lan started from the East Gate military camp and walked counterclockwise along the city wall to the South Gate.

Along the way, he saw many people building new villages and houses.

In the distance, there were many people paving roads and digging ditches, working hard.

Unlike the people who were forced to do corvee labor,

These people were shouting slogans, singing folk songs, and their faces were filled with happy smiles.

Today’s work points are in hand again!

You can eat meat tomorrow!!

Prosperity and vitality are truly embodied at this moment!

After seeing this, Xia Houlan already had the answer in his mind.

"Cao Cao may be the wise leader who truly cares about the people."

He reached into his arms and touched the military token that was warmed by his body temperature. The corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.
"Zilong, the wise leader we've been searching for is right before our eyes!"

While thinking about it,

Xiahou Lan came to the south gate.

Coincidentally, Li Dian was distributing supplies to the prisoners of the Black Mountain Army.

“Those who wish to stay, please stand on my left.

You can join the army, farm, or learn a craft!
As long as you truly want to live a good life, the Lord will certainly not ignore anyone!"

“Whoever is unwilling to come down, stand on my right hand.

We will give each of you ten days' rations and let you go.

But you must leave Dongjun within ten days, otherwise you will be treated as a spy!"

Before Li Dian finished speaking, the prisoners of the Black Mountain Army began to cheer.

"Can we really go home? Cao Gong didn't lie to us!"

"Here we have land and houses, and we can earn work points to exchange for rice and meat. Are you really planning to go back?"

"I have to go back. My family is in the village. Don't you want to go back?"

"If I eat enough, my whole family won't be hungry, so of course I have to stay!"

"I really envy you..."

"I have an idea for you... After you return, secretly bring your family out, pretend to be refugees, and then seek refuge with Lord Cao!"

"Huh? You young people are smarter!"

Xiahou Lan mingled in the crowd of onlookers and did not attract much attention.

But he looked at the larger group of Black Mountain prisoners who wanted to leave.

I couldn't help but whisper to myself, "If we let these people go, isn't Cao Gong afraid that the Black Mountain Army will make a comeback?"

Just as Xiahou Lan was puzzled, he heard a faint voice from the side: "Cao Gong's move is a psychological attack. The Black Mountain Army is about to collapse from within. To defeat the enemy without fighting is the true art of war!"

Xia Houlan turned around and looked,
But he turned out to be a middle-aged man in his thirties, wearing a faded linen gown and with an unnaturally pale face.

He bowed and asked, "Sir, your words are profound. May I ask your name?"

"I dare not," the middle-aged man said after returning the greeting, "Please don't mention your surname Xi, my given name is Zhong. What's your name, little brother?"

"My name is Xiahou Lan." "Brother, do you know where the military camp is?" Xi Zhicai suddenly asked.

Hearing about the military camp, Xiahou Lan's face suddenly changed, and he lowered his voice and replied, "I advise you not to go to the military camp. The defense there is very tight."

Xizhong, or perhaps it would be better to call him Xizhicai, heard this and asked, "Have you been there too?"

Xia Houlan said somewhat embarrassedly: "I was just beaten out..."

"Good."

"?"

"What I mean is that it is a strategic military location, so it is better to have tighter defense," Xi Zhicai explained.

"So that's how it is." Xiahou Lan suddenly understood.

"I have something important to attend to, so I won't chat with you any more, little brother. Goodbye." Xi Zhicai bowed.

"I just have some important matters to attend to and cannot delay any longer. Take care!" Xiahou Lan also bowed in return.

The two saluted again and went their separate ways.

Xiahou Lan went straight to the north. Although the journey was long, he was no longer confused.

Xi Zhicai stepped into the city.

After all this journey, combined with Xun Yu's explanation in the letter, he was basically certain that Cao Cao was the person he was looking for.

The hope of scholars from poor families may lie in Cao Cao!

I had just walked a short distance into the city gate when I
Suddenly, the sound of a child reading aloud reached Xi Zhicai's ears, interrupting his thoughts.

Xi Zhicai involuntarily stopped and listened quietly:

"When humans are born, their nature is good. Their natures are similar, but their habits are far apart.

If you don't teach, your nature will change. The way of teaching is to be focused..."

Then, the voices of older children were heard.
"The sky and earth are dark and yellow, the universe is vast and boundless. The sun and moon wax and wane, the stars are spread out in a row.

Winter comes and summer goes, autumn harvests and winter stores. The leap year makes up the year, and the rhythm of the sun and the moon adjusts to the rhythm of the sun..."

"Three Character Classic" is easy to understand and more in line with the needs of children's enlightenment.

The opening paragraph was also mentioned by Xun Yu in his letter, so Xizhi knew about the "Three Character Classic".

Xi Zhicai praised in his heart, "However, the content later on is even more elegant and profound. It is also a rare teaching masterpiece. I wonder who wrote it!"

Xi Zhicai followed the sound of reading and came to the outside of the school.

The school looked very simple, a bit like a makeshift thatched hut.

There were only three or four rooms in total, with less than a hundred children in total.

But in Xi Zhicai's eyes at this moment,
This is the future, this is hope!!!
Looking at these children who are trying hard to memorize under the ruler of their father,
Xi Zhicai couldn't help but think of Xun Yu's letter to him:

"...Cao Gong's new policies opened elementary schools to enlighten the people and established county schools to elevate the poor...abolished the old custom of hereditary wealth and privilege, allowing commoners to rise to high positions and talented individuals from humble backgrounds to enter government positions...wasn't this a precedent for hundreds of generations and a standard for all eternity?"

Xi Zhicai stood in the school for a long time before he let out a long sigh, turned around with a smile on his face, and walked towards the government office.

He kept repeating in his mouth:

"At the beginning of man's life, his nature is good..."

"Winter comes and goes, summer passes, autumn brings harvest, winter stores..."

When he arrived at the gate of the yamen, Xi Zhicai was stopped by the guards.

He bowed and said, "My name is Xizhong, and I have come to ask to see Lord Cao."

The guard looked him up and down. Seeing that he was dressed in rags and looked pale, he still replied respectfully, "The lord is currently leading his troops outside to eliminate the Black Mountain Army bandits and is not in the city for the time being."

Xi Zhicai was stunned when he heard this, and then asked, "Who is in charge of the city now?"

"Ask Xun Yu if you have any questions about internal affairs, and ask Cao Yan if you have any questions about external affairs." The guard said with a smile.
Xi Zhicai was at a loss for words, thinking to himself, "Lord Cao, you're quite willing to give up your power..."

(End of this chapter)