Tiger Owl

Chapter 101 Zhao Yun Descends the Mountain
Zhao Yun had already returned to his seat, and the innkeeper gave him a thumbs up and praised, "A brave and chivalrous man, this meal is on the house."

Just then, footsteps came from the stairwell, and the family from before came up.

They saw Zhao Yun and quickly exclaimed, "Our benefactor is over there!"

The whole family rushed forward and knelt down. The old man said with tears in his eyes, "Thank you for saving my life!"

Zhao Yun quickly helped everyone up and said with a smile, "It was nothing, please don't stand on ceremony!"

Tian Yu, standing nearby, chuckled and said, "Judging from your accent, old man, you seem to be from Youzhou as well!"

The old man nodded. "We came from Zhuojun."

Tian Yu chuckled and said, "Then we're from the same hometown. I'm also from Zhuojun, and the brave warrior who saved you is from Changshan Kingdom."

The old man exclaimed with delight, "What a coincidence!"

Tian Yu invited them to sit down and then asked the waiter to give each of the two children a piece of cake.

"Why would my father-in-law come to the south?"

The old man sighed and said, "Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan fought a great battle, plundering each other's people. Countless people fled south. Our family was originally quite well-off, but we had no choice but to flee south as well, all the way to Xuzhou."

Unexpectedly, war broke out in Xuzhou as well, causing unrest among the people. Just then, Cao Cao decided to relocate the refugees from Xuzhou to Lujiang County. We thought things might be better in the south, so we followed him and were settled in Shuxian County.

"I see," Zhao Yun asked, puzzled. "If you were assigned to Shu County, why did you come to Wan County?"

The old man bowed and said, "My benefactor, you may not know this, but General Gan exempts us from the poll tax and the land tax is low, so of course we are willing to risk our lives to come here."

Zhao Yun was still quite puzzled and laughed, "The poll tax is twenty-five coins a year! Two children only cost fifty coins a year. Is it worth coming all the way from Shu County to Wan County?"

The old man quickly explained, "Reporting to our benefactor, we are not here for the fifty coins, but for General Gan's benevolence. It is only fifty coins, but it shows the benevolence of a ruler. Even birds know to choose a good tree to perch on, let alone people!"

The old man's words were like a wake-up call for Zhao Yun, making him realize that justice resides in the hearts of the people, and that the true way to rule is to win the people's hearts and minds.

Birds choose good trees to perch on; even ordinary people know this, yet they still can't make up their minds.

Gan Ning was traveling by fast boat towards Lujiang County when he received a message from Xu Shu via carrier pigeon, which made him ecstatic. Zhao Yun was actually in Lujiang County, along with Tian Yu.

Gan Ning didn't know if Zhao Yun was planning to join Liu Bei, but since he had appeared, he had to stop him no matter what. This legendary warrior of the Three Kingdoms had to be captured.

Two days later, Gan Ning arrived in Wan County. Xu Shu and Taishi Ci came out to greet him. Xu Sheng had already returned to Pengze. Wan County had 15,000 troops and several thousand surrendered soldiers.

Upon entering the main tent of the military camp, Gan Ning asked anxiously, "What's the situation with Zhao Yun?"

Xu Shu bowed and said, "I spoke with Tian Yu on the mountain before. I didn't see Zhao Yun at the time, but I feel that if I can persuade Tian Yu, I can also persuade Zhao Yun."

"What is Tian Yu's attitude?" Gan Ning asked.

"I feel that Tian Yu has no intention of becoming an outlaw. He has repeatedly emphasized to me that they were forced to come up the mountain temporarily, and they value their three hundred men very much. Therefore, if we can properly settle their men, it will be the best way to persuade Zhao Yun."

Gan Ning nodded, "I'll go up the mountain with you again."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a soldier below reported, "Reporting to my lord, a scholar named Tian Yu requests an audience with you."

Gan Ning was stunned for a moment. He had just arrived in Wan County when they came. It seemed that they were concerned about him.

Gan Ning hurriedly said to Xu Shu, "Please ask Military Advisor Xu to bring him to see me!" Soon, Tian Yu was led into the inner hall. He had been in Wan County for the past few days, so he knew as soon as Gan Ning arrived there.

"Mr. Tian, ​​please have a seat!"

Gan Ning politely invited Tian Yu to sit down, and Tian Yu said apologetically, "I'm sorry to trouble General Gan to come all the way from Nanchang County."

Gan Ning shook his head and smiled, "I am not from a noble family, and most noble families are unwilling to serve me. I crave talent even more. I acquire talent not to collect them, but to use them correctly and make the best use of their abilities. This is the best way to respect talent."

Tian Yu nodded and smiled, "If I pledge my loyalty to the general, how does the general intend to use me?"

Gan Ning pondered for a moment and said, "I will appoint Mr. Tian as the Prefect of Luling County and let him govern the Yue people."

"General Gan, do you think I can govern the Yue people?"

Gan Ning nodded, "Sir, you governed the Xiongnu people so well in Youzhou that you can also govern the Yue people in the mountains so well."

Historically, Tian Yu was very adept at governing the northern nomadic peoples, employing a combination of kindness and severity. Whether it was the Xiongnu, the Wuhuan, or the Xianbei, they were all well-behaved under his rule. Gan Ning believed that he could govern the Yue people in the same way.

Tian Yu remained silent. Gan Ning truly understood him. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "I have another question. Why did the general exempt me from the poll tax?"

Gan Ning said calmly, "Sir, you have come from Hebei and must have seen with your own eyes the displacement of people and the depletion of the population. I have always believed that population is the foundation of a strong regime. The Han Dynasty rulers encouraged early marriage on the one hand and levied taxes on children on the other, which is undoubtedly a contradiction."

To encourage people to have children, first, they need food and a stable life. Second, the tax on children must be abolished. Although the poll tax is not large, it is a huge burden on the people's hearts. Therefore, since my time in Chaisang, I have been determined to abolish the poll tax, remove this huge burden from the people's hearts, and encourage them to have children. The population will then gradually increase.

Without further hesitation, Tian Yu realized that General Gan before him was the lord he had been searching for.

He bowed deeply and said, "I, Tian Yu, am unworthy, but I am willing to serve General Gan with the utmost loyalty!"

Gan Ning was overjoyed and quickly helped him up, saying, "With Lord Tian, ​​my Luling County will finally have a true governor."

Tian Yu added, "Zhao Yun is also willing to submit to the general. He has returned to the mountain to lead the people down the mountain. I implore the general to treat the people kindly!"

Gan Ning nodded, "Please rest assured, Mr. Tian, ​​the people are the foundation of the country, and I will definitely treat every citizen who comes to me with kindness."

Gan Ning then went to greet Zhao Yun personally. On the way, he indeed encountered a large procession, with the elderly and children, numbering six or seven thousand people. Zhao Yun was at the very front of the procession.

Behind them was another prison van carrying Sun He, who had been arrested, followed by more than a hundred of his men, who were being escorted by soldiers.

Tian Yu hurriedly went to greet them and introduced Zhao Yun, Fan Fang, and Pei Yuanshao to Gan Ning.

Zhao Yun stepped forward, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands, and said, "Having wandered the world, I am fortunate to have met you, General. It is like rain after a long drought, allowing me to see the light of day again. I am willing to serve you like a dog or a horse, General. I humbly request that you accept me as your retainer!"

Gan Ning quickly helped Zhao Yun up and said sincerely, "With General Zhao, I feel as if I have been given a second arm. I, Gan Ning, will definitely achieve great things and will never let you down!"

Gan Ning then appointed Zhao Yun as a colonel and Pei Yuanshao as a captain. He handed over Zhao Yun's own 1,000 men and 10,000 surrendered soldiers to Zhao Yun. Together with the 3,000 garrison troops from Chaisang, a total of 14,000 men were formed into the Sixth Army. Zhao Yun's 1,200 soldiers became his personal guard.

In addition, Gan Ning appointed Fan Fang as the magistrate of Wan County.

Gan Ning treated Zhao Yun's force very well. Not only was Zhao Yun appointed as a colonel and given his own army, but Tian Yu was appointed as the governor of Luling Commandery, Fan Fang was appointed as the magistrate of Wan County, and even Pei Yuanshao was appointed as a commandant.

Gan Ning then arranged for ships to transport Zhao Yun's army to Chaisang for training, effectively making Chaisang the base of the Sixth Army.

Zhao Yun was truly moved. He had fled Youzhou, wandered the world, and even almost became an outlaw, but he never expected to find his home in Yuzhang County.

(End of this chapter)