Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 236 Hero
Inside the prefectural governor's office, Xun Yu spread out a sheet of paper more than three feet wide, with a black jade paperweight pressing down the corners.

Outside the window, locust blossoms bloomed like snow, their fragrance wafting in the air, yet they failed to disturb the somber atmosphere inside.

He closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment. When he opened them again, his brush was fully dipped in thick ink. He wrote with the speed of the wind, his strokes penetrating the paper.

[General Zhang, Marquis of Jinxiang, of the Great Han Dynasty, hereby issues this proclamation to heroes throughout the land.]

Heaven and earth possess righteous energy, which manifests in various forms! Below, it becomes rivers and mountains; above, it becomes the sun and stars!

The opening uses the "Ode to Righteousness" from the textbook compiled by Zhang Xian, immediately giving the reader a sense of awe and righteousness.

Xun Yu continued to wield his wrist like a spear, his brushstrokes flowing like dragons and snakes, each character carrying immense weight.

"For a hundred years, the dust of the northern barbarians has obscured the sun. Now, thanks to the soldiers' valiant efforts and the mercy of Heaven, Wuyuan, Yunzhong, Shuofang, and Shangjun have all returned to Han territory!"

A mound of heads was erected on Yinshan Mountain, the chieftain of the barbarians was beheaded, the Han banners were raised over the vast desert, and the remaining people returned home! This was not the achievement of one person, but proof that the Han spirit of the world has not been extinguished!

"However, with the northern frontier newly pacified, the surrounding barbarians still look on with covetous eyes. The general once said that in order to defend the vast territory, we need to gather the heroic spirit of the nine provinces!"
"The Greatest Martial Arts Tournament is hereby established in Jinyang! No distinction of birth or social status, no past grudges, all who are skilled in archery and horsemanship, possess exceptional strength, and have strategic acumen are welcome to participate!"

"On land, a nine-zhang square platform, forged from iron, stands where life-or-death pledges are made, and contests are held in broad daylight! On water, the Fen River is blocked, where warships race against each other, breaking through the waves under the watchful eyes of the masses!"
The champion will be bestowed with a full suit of armor made of refined steel, a divine weapon forged from a thousand layers of iron, a prized Ferghana horse, and a promotion to the rank of military officer in Bingzhou!

"The second-place winner will be bestowed with fine steel armor, a hundred-times-forged precious sword, a fine horse from Hexi, and promoted to the rank of military commander!"

"Those who attend the banquet again will be bestowed with fine iron chainmail, a good steed, and appointed as commanders of a hundred men!"

"Those who make it into the top 100 will be rewarded with money and silk, and their names will be recorded in the military roster of Bingzhou!"

"This is it!"

"The World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament!"

These eight characters, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirred up a thousand waves. Centered on Jinyang, they spread rapidly throughout the thirteen provinces of the Han Dynasty, carried by fast horses and postal cavalry day and night, spread far and wide by merchants, and were passed on by word of mouth in taverns and teahouses.

The rewards on the hero's invitation were enough to make any martial arts practitioner's blood boil and their eyes dazzled.

The fine steel armor, a divine weapon forged a thousand times, is enough to become a family heirloom.

The prized Akhal-Teke horse, priceless and highly sought after, is a symbol of status! Not to mention the solid prospects of a military career!
Especially the title of "Number One Under Heaven," shining brightly like the sun, hangs in the hearts of all martial artists. It is the supreme honor that they pursue throughout their lives, and an opportunity to make a name for themselves in history!

The news needs some time to spread and develop.

Meanwhile, in Bingzhou, the three-year plan for the next three years is already under intensive discussion.

After more than ten days, the officials from various regions returned to Jinyang to report on their duties, weary from their journeys.

The council hall of the former general's residence.

A huge sand table occupies the center of the hall, meticulously depicting the mountains, rivers, counties, and passes of Bingzhou. The four newly recovered counties of Bingzhou are marked with brand-new small red flags.

A chill rose from the bronze iron vessel, suppressing some of the early summer heat.

The hall was packed with people, civil officials in their blue robes standing solemnly, and military officers in their armor clanging loudly, creating a pragmatic and enterprising atmosphere.

Zhang Xian sat in the main seat, his gaze slowly sweeping over every familiar or new face in the hall.

Guo Jia wore his usual lazy smile, his fingers unconsciously stroking a jade pendant, while his eyes gleamed as if he were deducing something.

Xi Zhicai arrived from the dusty, wind-swept Qiangyin region. His thin face bore the sharpness etched by the harshness of the northern landscape, and his gaze swept across the Yinshan Mountains on the sand table with scrutiny.

Zhao Hu, exuding a fierce and capable aura, returned from Weize Pass. His armor seemed to still carry the biting chill of the Taihang Mountains, and he stood as straight as a javelin.

Han Ji also rushed back as the representative of Wuyuan. He was covered in dust from the journey, but his focus on the craftsmanship was still evident.

Below them, Chen Ji, Wang Lie, Wang Xiang, and even the promising new officials Ruan Yu and Zhou Wen, all held their breath, awaiting this meeting that would decide the future of Bingzhou.

"Gentlemen," Zhang Xian's voice was not loud, but it instantly suppressed all the subtle noise in the hall, and everyone's eyes focused on him.

"Wuyuan has been recovered, Yunzhong has been initially pacified, and Shuofang and Shangjun are just around the corner. However, while recovering lost territories is easy, it is difficult to revitalize Bingzhou! Today, I have summoned you all to report on your duties, not to celebrate our achievements, but to seek your advice on how to make Bingzhou more secure, its people more prosperous, and its soldiers more elite."

He pointed heavily at the Zhaoyuze area on the sand table, where the Taiyuan West River intersects with the river, a region crisscrossed by waterways.

"Grain is the foundation! Last year, we resettled hundreds of thousands of refugees and opened up millions of acres of land. This year, we must seize the opportunity and continue to expand! In Luqi, Jinyang, and Zhaoyuze, we must continue to vigorously reclaim wasteland in all fertile areas! Ministry of Works."

He turned his gaze to Han Ji: "Curved plow, animal-drawn seed drill, all kinds of farm implements. In the future, production needs to increase by at least 50%. Can you accomplish that?"

Han Ji abruptly stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said in a deep voice, "Reporting to my lord! The craftsmanship camp currently has three steam-powered forging hammers and seven water-powered forging hammers, operating day and night, producing seven hundred curved plows and two hundred seed drills per month! If we want to increase production, we can only expand the workshops and open more production lines! However…"

He frowned slightly: "The shortage of skilled craftsmen is still quite large, and we urgently need to recruit and send them to various counties! Especially those who are proficient in iron forging and woodworking mortise and tenon joints."

"Wenruo will arrange this matter properly, but the Ministry of Works cannot rely entirely on the supply of personnel from various prefectures; its own talent training system must also be developed in parallel."

Han Ji cupped his hands in greeting: "I accept the order!"

Zhang Xian nodded, then turned his gaze to Xi Zhicai: "Zhicai, Qiangyin controls the trade routes in the northern frontier, a crucial position. Agriculture is also fundamental. Now that the northern grassland herders have been assimilated, the pastures are lush, but relying solely on the weather is ultimately unstable."

The improved alfalfa variety has been trial-planted in Taiyuan for more than two years with remarkable results. It is cold-resistant, drought-resistant, and has a high yield, making it an excellent forage crop.

This time, with the return of strong yin energy, we must vigorously promote the planting of this herb in places with abundant water and vegetation.

Furthermore, in areas where water conservancy projects are being built, wasteland will be reclaimed, and a system of integrated agriculture and animal husbandry will be implemented, with agriculture supporting animal husbandry and animal husbandry promoting agriculture.

Xi Zhong was prepared. He rose and bowed respectfully: "My lord, you are wise! Qiang Yin has already scouted three river valleys with excellent terrain, suitable for building dams to store water! If we mobilize the people and build dams with cement, diverting mountain springs and snowmelt into new canals, we can irrigate hundreds of thousands of acres of grassland and nourish newly reclaimed farmland! However…"

He pointed to the estimated scale of the project on the sand table: "The project is massive and will cost a huge amount of money. It cannot be supported by the resources of Qiangyin County alone, and it will require the guidance of a large number of skilled craftsmen who are proficient in water conservancy."

"The prefecture government will take charge of all matters concerning money and provisions!" Xun Yu interjected, his tone steady and forceful.

"Last year, Bingzhou had a bountiful harvest of grain and the treasury was full. Special funds and grain can be allocated to prioritize the Qiangyin water conservancy project! The Ministry of Works needs to allocate sufficient cement and mountain-opening machinery, and select capable water conservancy craftsmen to accompany Zhicai."

With the newly pacified prefectures of Wuyuan and Yunzhong, some able-bodied men from surrendered Hu tribes and some Hu captives can be allocated to participate in construction projects as a form of work relief, accelerating integration.

He looked at Zhang Xian, who nodded in agreement.

"Understood, the Ministry of Works will give priority to this!" Han Ji replied immediately.

The agenda quickly unfolded, and everyone immediately engaged in a heated and pragmatic discussion on the development of Bingzhou.

"My point remains the same: when roads are open, all industries thrive!"

Zhang Xian's fingers traced the rugged Taihang Mountain path on the sand table.

"Weize Pass connects to Ji Province, Zhao Hu!"

"Your subordinate is here!" Zhao Hu's voice boomed like a bell.

What is the progress of the Taihang Trail widening and reinforcement project? What obstacles have been encountered?

"Reporting to my lord!" Zhao Hu clasped his hands in a fist salute, his dark face full of fortitude.

"The most difficult passes have already been improved and the roads are accessible! If we want to widen them further, the rocks are hard, so we can only repeatedly boil the rocks and smother them with water. Fortunately, there is no shortage of firewood in the Taihang Mountains."

Zhang Xian pondered: "We can proceed steadily along the Taihang Mountains. The path is now several times more convenient than before. Taiyuan can't provide much support for carving out the road right now, so you'll have to rely on yourself."

"Yes, sir!" Zhao Hu accepted the order.

Zhang Xian nodded and shifted his gaze.

"Furthermore, water is vital, especially in border regions!"

"In all counties and prefectures, the digging of deep wells and the construction of reservoirs and ponds shall be the primary performance evaluation items for the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Agriculture in the next two years! The manpower and resources required shall be provided by each locality in a timely manner. Any spare time shall be used to support other regions. In short, no matter what kind of natural disaster occurs, I will ensure that Bingzhou is free from the tragedy of thousands of miles of barren land and people dying of thirst by the roadside!"

"promise!"

All the officials and clerks stood up and bowed in unison.

Zhang Xian waved his hand, telling them to sit down again.

Wang Lie spoke from the left.

"Education and moral education remain a long-term endeavor!"

"My lord, primary schools, county schools, and night schools have been established in various prefectures, but good teachers are hard to find and classic texts are scarce."

This old man earnestly requests that special funds be allocated to establish a library in Jinyang to copy classic texts from across the land, widely print elementary education materials and books on agricultural and industrial skills, and distribute them to all schools! Furthermore, outstanding students from each school should be periodically selected to pursue advanced studies at the prefectural school, with the best of the best chosen to enrich the teaching staff!

“Okay.” Zhang Xian nodded slightly and looked at Xun Yu.

"Wenruo, you and the prince will take charge of this matter. As soon as possible, come up with a plan for the necessary funds, food, and venues. It takes ten years to grow a tree but a hundred years to cultivate a person. Education is a matter that cannot be taken lightly."

"Yes." Xun Yu cupped his hands in greeting.

The meeting lasted from dawn until the sun began to set. The ice in the bronze mirror in the hall had long since melted, and the servants quietly replaced it with new ice.

Each issue underwent intense and pragmatic debate, ranging from specific regulations on how to encourage intermarriage between Han and non-Han peoples in border regions to accelerate integration, such as prioritizing the allocation of good pastures or fields to intermarried families and reducing or exempting some taxes, to establishing large border markets in Qiangyin and Wuyuan to facilitate trade and travel, and the specific locations and management details of controlled goods.

From optimizing the ratio of military to civilian settlements to establishing new post stations, the selection and maintenance of beacon towers... every decision was made with a focus on practical implementation and clear responsibilities assigned to specific individuals.

The markings on the sand table became more and more numerous and dense. Small blue flags representing the reservoirs that were about to break ground were planted in Bingzhou, and thin red lines symbolizing the extension of roads radiated from Jinyang to various counties.

As the final agreement on the simplified household registration system to facilitate administration, taxation, and corvée labor was finalized throughout Bingzhou, dusk was already falling outside the window.

Zhang Xian looked around at everyone, seeing their faces, some tired and some resolute, and slowly stood up.

"With Bingzhou newly pacified and everything in ruins being rebuilt, this is the time for us to strive! What you gentlemen are discussing today is all for the well-being of the people of Bingzhou and for the eternal security of the northern border of the nation!"

With the outline of the three-year plan now finalized, I hope everyone will fulfill their respective duties and work together with one heart! Today's meeting is adjourned; the detailed rules will be reconsidered in the next two days.

"You have all traveled a long way and must be very tired. Tonight, the prefectural government has prepared a banquet for you. Please set aside your work and get some rest!"

"I obey the lord's (former general's) orders!"

Everyone responded in unison, their voices filled with a sense of relief and anticipation for the future. That night, the prefectural government was brightly lit and filled with laughter and chatter.

It was a rare occasion for officials who were far from Jinyang and in charge of affairs in this harsh and cold place to gather together. During the banquet, all kinds of food and wine were served in a continuous stream.

Although lacking the extreme luxury of imperial delicacies, the livestock and poultry carefully raised at Zhang Xian's ranch are showing their advantages at this moment.

The grilled pork, with its perfect balance of lean and fat and no gamey smell, sizzles and drips with oil; the stewed beef brisket is tender and fragrant; the whole roasted lamb is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, golden and glistening; and the large bluefish, with its delicate flesh, is steamed with scallions and ginger, making it incredibly sweet and delicious.

There were also roast chicken and roast goose with crispy skin and tender meat, and an irresistible aroma... served with newly brewed wine from Bingzhou, creating a very lively atmosphere.

Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai chatted and laughed in hushed tones, Zhao Hu and his comrades drank heartily, while Wang Lie, Chen Ji and others sipped their drinks slowly and exchanged their teaching experiences.

Han Ji was surrounded by several officials who inquired about the distribution of farm tools.

Zhang Xian raised his glass and drank with everyone, his gaze sweeping over each vibrant face.

The three-year plan for Bingzhou was finalized after two days of detailed review.

The core is nothing more than consolidating the foundation, building bridges and roads to ensure smooth flow of resources, reclaiming wasteland and storing water to strengthen the foundation, developing all industries to enrich people's livelihoods, promoting integration to secure the border regions, and emphasizing education to nurture the future.

Each item was broken down into specific goals and assigned to specific counties and responsible persons.

After three days of discussions, Zhang Xian rarely had time to leave the General's Mansion.

Nearly half a month after being recalled to his post, and after three days of discussions, General Zou Wan's due date was drawing ever closer. The entire General's mansion was extremely tense, and four experienced midwives were stationed at the mansion to be ready to deliver the baby at any time.

In addition, two or three senior physicians from the Medical Bureau and Pharmacy also arrived, ready to deal with any emergencies.

All kinds of medicinal materials were prepared.

Of course, this was only done to reassure the people of Bingzhou.

In fact, as long as Zhang Xian is around, there won't be any accidents in production, as he has prepared all kinds of rare medicines and foods.

Even if Zou Wan had to give birth for a whole day, he could guarantee that she would have plenty of energy and vitality!

But as time goes on...

The news of the Bingzhou Heroic Invitation gradually caused a huge reaction among the people.

People everywhere were filled with admiration for the former general's might. The homeland that had been separated from the Han Dynasty for a hundred years had been recovered, which was probably the only piece of exciting good news in recent years.

The subsequent World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament further stirred the interest of martial artists across the land.

A full suit of steel armor?!
A divine weapon forged a thousand times!
The Akhal-Teke horse is extremely rare!

There are also military officers from Bingzhou!
The key point is that they don't ask about background or investigate past, so in a short time, all the warriors who lived near Bingzhou headed towards Bingzhou.

However, there is still quite some time before the start of the martial arts tournament.

In order to attract talents from all over the world, Zhang Xian set the start time of the martial arts tournament for the spring of next year, which means that this grand event will not begin for at least ten months.

Of course, coming early is fine too, as long as you abide by the laws of Bingzhou, that will also contribute to the economic development of Bingzhou.

Luoyang.

The General's Mansion.

He Jin also received a post from Guangfa.

"What a Zhang Zixu! What a grand gesture! What a resounding reputation! The best in the world...tsk tsk, with this kind of attention, even His Majesty might take notice!"

There was a calculating glint in his eyes.

"Quickly, select capable retainers from the household, prepare generous gifts, and head to Jinyang immediately! Firstly, to congratulate on the great victory in Bingzhou, and secondly... to see if we can recruit some talent, and incidentally to probe their strength!"

Situ Mansion

Yuan Wei's face was ashen.

"This fellow is becoming increasingly presumptuous! 'Number One Under Heaven'? How dare he use such a title? Where does this leave the dignity of the imperial court? Where does it leave the emperor?"

"Go and arrange things quickly on the highway. Send more men to infiltrate the area. First, find out the strength and weaknesses of the Bingzhou army; second, record their activities and befriend powerful local tyrants and chivalrous figures; and third... if the opportunity arises, cause some trouble!"

Yuan Shu curled his lip in disdain and bowed to accept the order.

Watching Yuan Shu's departing figure, Yuan Kui sighed. Yuan Ji was going to take up his post in a local area. Yuan Shao had made it clear to him beforehand that he wanted to take a different path from the Yuan family and was planning to become the leader of the upright officials. In Luoyang, the only one who could take on such a major role was Yuan Shu.

Unfortunately, this kid is no match for his older brother, and he can't even compare to that illegitimate son!

As the distances from which the invitations to heroes are sent increase.

Yuzhou, Chenliu Jiwu.

Dian Wei was drinking and making merry with a group of wandering knights.

Two blood-dripping iron halberds lay beside him.

Just now, while entering the mountains, I encountered a fierce tiger, which I killed with my twin halberds. At this moment, I am the most powerful.

"Brother!" Just as they were enjoying their drinks, a brother rushed over and whispered in their ear, "Lord Zhang of Bingzhou wants to hold the world's number one martial arts tournament. The rewards are generous, including iron armor, divine weapons, and fine horses, and you'll even be given a martial rank. Brother, why don't you give it a try?"

Dian Wei was stunned for a moment.

"Number one in the world? What a prestigious title!" He then asked in a deep voice, "How many miles north to Jinyang?"

"One thousand two hundred li!"

He grabbed the twin halberds beside him: "Let's go!"

Xu family, Qiao County, Yuzhou.

At only sixteen years old, Xu Chu stood shirtless in the threshing ground, his powerful bow drawn to its full extent.

As the bowstring vibrated, a willow branch a hundred paces away snapped in response.

My cousin came running up, panting: "Zhongkang! Bingzhou has issued a challenge to the heroes, demanding the title of the best in the land!"

Xu Chu's large, bell-like eyes swept across the post, his gaze landing on the four large characters "Number One Under Heaven," and then he also looked at the characters "Martial Profession."

He suddenly handed the strong bow to his cousin and ran towards the house, eventually reaching his father's room.

"Father! Your son is going on a long journey!"

"Traveling far away? What are your parents doing traveling far away while you're here!"

Xu's father grabbed the sole of his shoe and threw it at Xu Chu, looking furious.

"I will strive to be the best in the world!"

Xu Chu handed the invitation to his father.

Looking at the description of the recovery of Bingzhou and the invitation to talented people from all over the world, Xu's father sighed silently.

"Returning to the Han dynasty, this Marquis Zhang is truly a capable man."

He then had Xu Chu retrieve the shoes and handed the invitation back to him, saying, "I'm sure you have a good plan for your journey. Go!"

"Hahaha, very well, Father, just you wait! I will definitely win the title of the best in the world! Then I will become a general under Zhang Hou and take over our whole family!"

"Hurry up and go! I don't even know how many more years I have left to live. If you don't leave now, you might not be able to leave at all!"

"Yes, yes, I'll be going now."

Ba County is located near the river.

At twenty years old, Gan Ning was not yet the leader of the Jinfan pirates, but he was too lazy to read the books of the Hundred Schools of Thought. At this moment, he gathered a group of brothers, boarded a boat and went down the river, and sat at the bow of the boat.

The manifesto, dampened by the splashing waves, lay spread on his lap. When he saw that it declared that talent should be the only criterion, regardless of past or birth, a smile crept across his lips.

"interesting!"

"Let's turn north! We're heading to Bingzhou!"

"What are you going to Bingzhou for? To become a bandit?" one of his brothers asked in surprise.

"Bullshit!" Gan Ning kicked him over.

"Of course, we'll go to the arena! If we win, we'll become officials; if we lose, we'll become thieves!"

All sorts of scenes are unfolding across the land of China.

Number one in the world.

The allure of these four words even surpasses that of any overt rewards.

Unfortunately, the officials in Luoyang couldn't say anything.

The momentum of victory is overwhelming.

Reclaiming lost territory is an achievement no different from expanding territory.

During this period, I have been busy enough just advising His Majesty not to bestow titles any more.

Let that Marquis of Jinxiang have his share of empty titles.

(End of this chapter)