Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 224 Official
Liu Hong leaned back on the imperial couch, his fingers unconsciously twirling a string of warm, smooth jade beads.

His gaze slowly swept over He Jin's face, which was flushed with excitement, and Yuan Wei's thin face, finally landing on Zhang Rang, who stood to the side with his head bowed and eyes lowered.

"Zhang Changshi".

Liu Hong drew out his words: "Bingzhou...did they send some more gifts from the north to the palace a few days ago?"

Zhang Rang immediately put on a fawning smile, stepped forward, and said in a high-pitched voice, "Your Majesty, General Zhang is truly loyal! A few days ago, a fast horse arrived in the capital, bringing thirty fine white fox pelts, ten pairs of old ginseng from Shangdang, a red-gold wolf head crown, and... a hundred jars of newly brewed Han Tan Xiang wine from Bingzhou, three catties of strong liquor from Jinyang, and a hundred catties of white frost sugar."

This old servant has already ordered it to be stored in the imperial treasury. General Zhang presented it, saying that the liquor was too strong and he didn't know if His Majesty would like it. If so, he would send more next time.

(Don't argue with me about eunuchs being the emperor's servants.)
"Oh? Jin Yang Lie? The Jin Yang Lie that the people from the borderlands love?" Liu Hong seemed to have become interested, licking his slightly chapped lips.

"I heard it's very spicy? What does it taste like?"

"My goodness! This wine is much stronger! It is said that in the Bingzhou army, when it is freezing cold, a sip can warm the whole body! It is a good thing to ward off the cold!"

Zhang Rang was beaming with joy.

"Um…"

Liu Hong gave a noncommittal snort, his gaze sweeping once more over the tense assembled officials, a barely perceptible sneer curling at the corner of his lips.

He slowly sat up a little straighter and looked at Yuan Wei.

"Minister Yuan, you say that Zhang Xian's construction of the Jingguan (a mound of corpses) is against the will of Heaven?"

"Yes, Your Majesty! Benevolence and virtue should extend to all corners of the land; this is the way of a wise ruler! Such cruel methods may alienate those far from home and further damage Your Majesty's virtue!"

Yuan Wei bowed in response.

"Losing the hearts of distant people?"

Liu Hong chuckled as if he had heard something funny.

"When those distant people who built mounds of corpses were burning, killing, and looting on the border of You and Bing in previous years, did they ever think about the meaning of benevolence and virtue? When my people were captured and enslaved, and froze to death on the road, where were their hearts?"

Yuan Wei was speechless for a moment.

Liu Hong then turned to He Jin: "The General says, should we be rewarded?"

"Your Majesty is wise! Zhang Xian's achievements are comparable to those of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing! He should be richly rewarded to encourage the soldiers and ensure they are willing to defend the country's borders!"

He Jin quickly replied.

“Wei Huo…”

Liu Hong pondered these two words, his eyes somewhat unfocused, as if recalling the illustrious martial prowess of Emperor Wu.

After a moment, he looked away and waved lazily.

"The argument is simply because they are afraid that Zhang Xianwei is too big to handle, but they are also reluctant to give up the great achievement of expanding the territory in the north."

His words hit the nail on the head, and the expressions of the officials in the hall varied.

"Zhang Changshi," Liu Hong called out again.

"The old slave is here!"

"Draft the decree." Liu Hong's voice returned to its languid tone.

"Marquis of Jinxiang, General Zhang Xian, drove out the barbarians in the north, displayed his might in the northern frontier, and recovered our old county of Wuyuan. His merits are great to the state. He is hereby granted an additional one thousand households as a fief."

"A thousand catties of gold and a thousand bolts of silk shall be bestowed upon him! His officers and soldiers shall be rewarded according to their merits; Zhang Xian shall submit a memorial to the throne!"

"Your Majesty!" Yuan Wei and the others' expressions changed, and they were about to speak.

"Indeed." Liu Hong changed the subject.

"Wuyuan has just been recovered, and everything is in need of rebuilding. The Hu people are not yet at peace. Zhang Xian is hereby appointed as the temporary governor of Wuyuan, to handle all military and political affairs in Wuyuan and strive for stability! The necessary officials, money, grain, artisans and households can be raised by Bingzhou itself, and the court will allocate funds as appropriate."

It's said that the funds are allocated at the discretion of the imperial court, but in reality, it's just telling you about your own expenses.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Yuan Wei, Cui Lie, and the others, before slowly adding, "As for what Minister Yuan is worried about... the Sili Commandant's Department is to send capable men north to Wuyuan under the pretext of rewarding the army, to observe their actions and the feelings of the soldiers and civilians, and to report back truthfully."

"Your Majesty is wise!" He Jin was overjoyed and rushed to praise him loudly.

He felt that Liu Hong was getting closer to Zhang Xian, which made him even more convinced that his secret order was absolutely right. Although it was an accident, it had indeed consolidated his power.

But is Liu Hong really getting close to Zhang Xian?

Yes, no.

Zhang Xian's role at this moment is nothing more than a signboard to attract attention.

The civil officials in the court were very powerful, which is why Liu Hong praised Zhang Xian in every way, making the court officials feel that Zhang Xian was favored by the emperor. This led to the development of a faction that wanted to befriend Zhang Xian or even join him.

This, in turn, disrupted the monolithic structure of the ministers.

As for He Jin, he would have been the one to take the lead if Zhang Xian hadn't appeared. But things are actually quite good now; he has become one of the first important officials to try and win over Zhang Xian, which can be considered an unintended consequence.

Yuan Wei's face turned ashen, his lips moved, but he ultimately said nothing more.

He knew that His Majesty was trying to maintain a balance.

Sending the Commandant of the Capital Region was both a means of surveillance and a warning.

"You may all leave." Liu Hong waved his hand listlessly, as if he had dealt with a trivial matter.

"I am tired. Zhang Changshi, bring me a pot of Jin Yang Lie."

"This old servant obeys the decree!" Zhang Rang smiled like a chrysanthemum.

"Your subject Xun Yu bows his head a hundred times, filled with trepidation, and respectfully reports to Your Majesty on the matter of securing the northern border and ensuring the perpetual stability of Wuyuan. General Zhang Xian, by virtue of the Emperor's might and with divine might, crushed the Hu court, recovered our old Wuyuan prefecture, and reclaimed the strategic pass of Yinshan. His merit is immeasurable!"
However, although the barbarians were defeated, they were difficult to tame. Wuyuan was a vast and sparsely populated area with its city walls completely destroyed. Only a large army and capable generals could subdue them, and only those who were well-versed in military strategy could pacify them.

Your Majesty, I observe that Colonel Huang Zhong, the Commandant of the Liaodong Camp, is the bravest in the army, his might shakes the northern deserts, he is deeply knowledgeable about the Xiongnu, adept at defending the territory, and utterly loyal. This man is a pillar of the nation, a cornerstone of the northern frontier! I humbly beg Your Majesty's grace to promote Huang Zhong to the position of Protector-General of the Xiongnu, assisting in the defense of the Yinshan passes! To pacify the region! In this way, the northern frontier will be secure! I am filled with trepidation and fear, and I humbly submit this report at the risk of my life!

The following day, thanks to the efforts of certain individuals, the memorial concerning the official in Bingzhou circulated among the literati.

Huang Zhong was not the only official in Bingzhou to submit a memorial; generals of all ranks in the army, including Lü Bu, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, also submitted memorials.

In Yuan Wei's study, he slammed the copy of the memorial onto the desk, making the pen holder bounce wildly.

"Xun Wenruo! What a Xun Wenruo! How dare he so blatantly request an official position for his lord's henchman! And he calls himself a scholar from Yingchuan! Huang Zhong? Lü Bu? Liu Bei? Nameless generals! How can such a despicable person govern a region?!"

"Uncle, please calm down!" Yuan Shao, who was standing to the side, frowned.

"Xun Yu's memorial, seemingly a request for an official position, is actually Zhang Xian using it as a pretext to firmly control the military and political affairs of Wuyuan with his cronies! If the court approves the memorial, then Wuyuan County, from top to bottom, will be Zhang Xian's private army! His intentions... are already crystal clear!" "He wants to carve out his own territory!" Yuan Shu sneered from the side, his eyes flashing with jealousy and greed.

"Crack the earth?" Yuan Wei took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, his eyes flashing with cold light.

"He doesn't have the guts yet! But the gradual encroachment is already a foregone conclusion! Your Majesty... Your Majesty actually granted that fool He Jin's request for reward! And now there's Xun Yu's recommendation of worthy men... Where are the people from the Commandant of the Capital Region? Why haven't they set off yet?!"

"I've heard... the candidate has been chosen, it's Wu Qiong, the Commandant of the City Gates," Yuan Shao said in a low voice.

"This man is a good friend of mine. Does Uncle need me to give him a few words of advice?"

Yuan Wei glanced at his cousin, Yuan Shao. He was quite satisfied with Yuan Shao; this kid was quite a character for being able to observe six years of mourning for his adopted parents.

"Just tell him to observe more and ask fewer questions, and when he comes back, just praise Zhang Xian more."

Yuan Shao narrowed his eyes slightly and immediately cupped his hands in greeting: "Nephew understands."
-
Wuyuan County is located on the southern slope of Yinshan Mountain.

The warm sunshine of early spring finally dispelled the last stubborn chill in the border region.

The sky was a clear, deep blue, with a few wisps of thin clouds drifting lazily by.

Melted snowmelt forms trickling streams, nourishing the newly sprouting green shoots on the sunny slopes.

The outline of the ruined city of Jiuyuan has been greatly changed.

The dilapidated city walls were filled and reinforced with huge stone blocks and rammed earth. Although they are far from being restored to their former glory, their imposing framework has been erected.

Inside the city, large areas of ruins were cleared away, creating a spacious drill ground, a neat barracks, and even the foundations for government offices and residences.

Soldiers in bright armor patrolled the city walls, while Zhang Xian's single-horned black tiger banner fluttered in the spring breeze.

Outside the city, on a gentle slope backed by the foothills of the Yin Mountains, a brand-new military camp rose up, far exceeding the size of the previous marching camp.

This will be the core of Wuyuan County in the future, and the residence of the Protector-General of the Xiongnu.

At this moment, on a wide open riverbank outside the camp, people were bustling about, creating a lively and exciting atmosphere.

Thousands of young and strong Hu prisoners were forced to do hard labor under the strict guard of Han soldiers.

Some people wielded huge stone hammers and iron chisels, quarrying the exposed bluestone at the foot of the mountain, the clanging and banging sounds echoing incessantly.

The stones were roughly hewn into squares and dragged to their designated locations by thick ropes and logs.

Another group dug deep trenches on the riverbank, buried huge rocks deep into the frozen soil as foundations, and then built layers upon them.

Sweat soaked through their tattered leather robes, and heavy leg irons made them stagger, but the cold blades and whips in the hands of the Han overseers kept them from slacking off in the slightest.

"Hurry up! The foundation needs to be stable! Make sure the stones are firmly laid!"

The craftsman sent by the Works Department shouted loudly to the group of supervising soldiers, holding blueprints and simple rope rulers and spirit levels in his hands.

"Our lord said that this fortress is our nail driven into the foot of Yinshan Mountain! It must withstand the strong winds and heavy snow, as well as these overconfident barbarians!"

"I know, I know."

The overseers responded, and then the sound of whips became more and more frequent.

A little further away, the Jingguan (a mound of skulls) that was previously erected in the Southern Xiongnu royal court was moved here.

A massive mound of skulls, made up of countless grotesque heads, stands imposingly beside the main road leading north.

The lime-cured head gleamed a ghastly white in the sunlight, its hollow eye sockets staring blankly at the vast grasslands north of the Yin Mountains.

The strong smell of lime mixed with a faint stench of corpses permeated the air, and even the spring breeze could not dispel it.

Every Hu captive who passed by would instinctively lower his head, his body trembling slightly with fear.

This is the most direct and brutal form of deterrence.

Outside the camp gate, Zhang Xian was talking with the team of officials who had been transferred there.

Leading the group was the Deputy Clerk of the Taiyuan County Bureau of Works, a middle-aged scholar skilled in water conservancy construction, and also a familiar figure, Xu Mao from Taoyuan.

"My lord." The clerk pointed to the unfolded map of the Yinshan Mountains.

"According to the strategy of Prefect Xun and Chief Clerk Han, we plan to first dredge the old course of this river and divert its water into the newly dug reservoir east of Jiuyuan City. This will solve the drinking water problem for the military and civilians, and also irrigate the newly reclaimed wasteland east of the city."

After autumn, we will conscript more labor to build dams and divert water to irrigate the area on the southern slopes of Yinshan Mountain. Vast grasslands at the foot of Yinshan will then be transformed into fertile fields!

Zhang Xian carefully examined the map, his finger tracing over several key points: "The reservoir must have sufficient capacity, the walls must be rammed earth and covered with stone to prevent leakage, the irrigation canals must be dug deep, and the bottom of the canals must be paved with pebbles to prevent erosion. The required stone and timber are plentiful in Yinshan, and the captured laborers are also sufficient."

"Xu Mao, this is something you excel at, so go ahead and do it!"

"Yes! This humble subject understands!" Xu Mao's spirits lifted immediately, and he bowed. He hadn't expected that the manor lord would still remember him.

The deputy clerk standing to the side also glanced at the person beside him with surprise.

Unexpectedly, one of the builders he temporarily recruited had this connection.

“There’s more.” Zhang Xian nodded slightly to Xu Mao, then turned his gaze to the majestic, continuous Yinshan Mountains to the north.

“The passes of Yinshan, especially the old sites such as Gaosai, should also be rebuilt immediately with beacon towers and fortifications!”

I'll have Han Ji provide the blueprints and standards; the timber will be felled locally, and the stone will be quarried nearby.

The clerk was startled and quickly replied, "Yes! I will arrange for site selection immediately!"

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats approached from afar.

A scout from the Youyi Army galloped over, dismounted, and knelt to report: "Reporting to the lord! The envoy from the Sili Commandant's Department of Military Rewards, Wu Qiong, the Commandant of the City Gates, has arrived thirty li away!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xian's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

The eyes of Luoyang have finally arrived.

He turned around and gave instructions to Ashan, the commander of his personal guards who was standing to the side.

"Order all battalions to straighten their ranks! Open the gates wide and welcome them with courtesy! Let Captain Wu see how our Han warriors, the Tiger Warriors, are forging swords into plowshares and expanding our territory in this desolate frontier!"

"promise!"

　I'm begging for votes at the beginning of the month, please!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)