Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 183 Bloodstained Jingxiang, Devouring Nine Counties
Looking at the questions before them, some students frowned in confusion, some picked up their pens to answer, and some pondered deeply.

What should we do now?

This is an open-ended question. Candidates can approach it from any angle, including domestic affairs, foreign affairs, military strategy, people's livelihood, etc. As long as their answers are substantial, they should be able to get a high score.

This is a topic that allows all students to showcase their talents and speak freely in their respective areas of expertise.

Such an open-ended question was of course no challenge for Lu Su. He wielded his brush with divine inspiration, and a policy essay was written in his hand.

[“Dividing the country along the river and ruling from the south, then ruling as the sole ruler”:]
In the past, Emperor Gaozu wanted to honor Emperor Yi but could not because of the harm caused by Xiang Yu.

Cao Cao is currently holding the emperor hostage and commanding the feudal lords, just like Xiang Yu in the past. Why does the General want to revive the Han Dynasty and cleanse the court of corrupt officials?
Su secretly predicted that the Han dynasty could not be restored and Cao Cao could not be eliminated quickly.

For the sake of the Great General, the only option is to establish a foothold in the Jianghuai region, remain in the southeast, and observe the conflicts in the world.

Today, Jingzhou is its neighbor. The water flows northward, with the Yangtze and Han rivers to the outside and mountains to the inside. It is as solid as a fortified city, with fertile fields stretching for thousands of miles, and its people are prosperous and wealthy.

We should first target Liu Biao, then advance to conquer Nanyang, and seize control of the entire Yangtze River region. Only then should we establish ourselves as emperor and rule the world!

This is the legacy of Emperor Taizu Gao.

Now Liu Biao has just suffered a defeat, while the General has won consecutive victories. The ministers who strategize for the country are working tirelessly at home, and the generals who have fought a hundred battles are forgetting themselves on the frontier. This is because they are grateful for the General's extraordinary favor and have no way to repay it!

Now that the Jianghuai region is pacified, our military strength is sufficient, the people's hearts are with us, and we are the people's hope.

General, you are a hero of the land. You should lead your troops with one heart and one mind to take Jingzhou and seize Nanyang. If you do not go now, I fear Cao Cao will get there first.

At that time, Liu Biao will be overthrown, all nine commanderies of Jing and Xiang will be taken, the southeast of the Yangtze River will be divided to establish an imperial dynasty, and the two dynasties of the North and South will be established to manage internal affairs.

Literature carries the Way, shepherding cultivates the land, and scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants each perform their respective duties.

Befriend distant states while attacking nearby ones, and encourage open communication.

Punishments are clearly defined, and rewards and punishments are appropriately balanced.

】

Lu Su's thoughts flowed freely, and he picked up his pen to write this policy essay. He began by analyzing the general trend of the world, and then went on to discuss domestic and foreign affairs, military strategy, people's livelihood and punishment. He was proficient in everything.

At the same time, Zhuge Jin's eyes lit up when he saw the question. Also...

It was precisely these open-ended topics that allowed him to freely express his strategies and write them down without hesitation.

[Bloodstained Jingxiang, Nine Counties Swallowed]

Liu Biao raised an army to attack the Grand General, suffering heavy losses in both soldiers and generals, and also losing Huang Zu.

Now that Liu Biao has just suffered a defeat, he has conscripted troops, which has led to discord between the north and south, and the prefects of each prefecture have different thoughts.

Zhang Xian, the Prefect of Changsha, had governed Jingnan for three prefectures and had long been in the area, winning the hearts of the people. However, he was deeply feared by the local authorities.

Liu now commands 10,000 troops each in Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang, along with several generals; this is the foundation laid by Zhang Xian.

They must harbor resentment, and the reason they haven't rebelled is that they have no external support.

Yu requested permission to be sent as an envoy to Jingnan to persuade Xian to defect in order to plot against Liu Biao. He would surely be pleased and comply.

If this is true, then Jingzhou and Xiangyang can be pacified, and the world can be conquered.

】

Zhuge Jin also kept writing diligently, analyzing his understanding of the prefects of various counties in Jingzhou and the series of decrees recently issued by Liu Biao in Xiangyang, pointing out the points that could be used.

Time passed slowly, and as the candidates wielded their pens, three drumbeats sounded.

With the invigilator's announcement, "Time's up! This examination is over. Anyone found touching anything will be expelled from the examination room, and their score will be invalid."

Upon hearing this, the students were startled and all stopped writing, none daring to move again.

As everyone left the examination hall one by one, Lu Su cheerfully pulled Zhuge Jin aside, "Brother Ziyu, it feels so relaxing after the exam. Come on, let me treat you to a drink at Zuichunlou."

Zhuge Jin, observing his smug and radiant appearance, smiled and said:
"Brother Zijing, you seem quite confident in your answer?"

"Eh? Brother Ziyu, what are you saying? Don't you know me? I'm just going out to broaden my horizons and gain some experience. Whether I pass the exam or not depends entirely on luck. So naturally I feel refreshed."

Zhuge Jin nodded in agreement upon hearing this. To be honest, he had come to know Lu Su's talent well these past few days.

He has unique insights into domestic affairs, diplomacy, military law, and strategy. If it weren't for his naivety and his tendency to only take him on trips, Zhuge Jin would really consider him his biggest rival.

It's a pity right now!
Zhuge Jin believed that no one present could surpass his strategy essay, "Blood Stained Jingxiang, Whale Swallowed Nine Counties."

So he smiled sincerely, holding Lu Su's hand tightly, "Yes, the exams are over, so it's time to relax."

"Let's go, tonight we're brothers, we won't leave until we're drunk."

While the candidates were enjoying themselves after the exams and traveling around Shouchun, Jiang Gan, the chief examiner at the academy, was facing a dilemma.

When he first saw a policy essay titled "Blood Stained Jingxiang, Nine Counties Swallowed Up," he was so impressed he wanted to slap the table in admiration!

If this is the case, and if we can force the three southern counties of Jingzhou to rebel, then Lord Yuan's great cause can be accomplished and great things can be expected.

However, before he could even rank this essay as the best, another essay appeared before him.

"Divide the country along the river and rule from the south, then claim the title of emperor"?
As Jiang Gan read this policy essay, his expression changed several times. The more he read, the more astonished he became, and the more his heart trembled and his scalp tingled!

Without him!

Familiar, so familiar!
Although they weren't exactly the same, many of the words and phrases seemed familiar to Jiang Gan, and left a very deep impression on him.

Isn't this a modified version of "The Strategy of Collapsing"?

That's right! It was written in the letter from Fengxiao, the strategist who changed Jiang Gan's life and led him from Cao Cao's camp to Yuan Shao's camp:

"Strategy on the Bed"!
Upon realizing this, Jiang Gan was horrified and terrified.
The letter, titled "Strategy on the Bed," was extremely secretive. Only Yuan Shao, the strategist Fengxiao, himself who had secretly read it, and Xi Zhicai, who reported it back to Cao Cao's camp, knew about it.

Then the problem is coming!

The men in Cao Cao's camp wouldn't be foolish enough to use the "Strategy on the Bed" to take the exam.

The military advisor Feng Xiao was far away in Youzhou, thousands of miles away.

Jiang Gan himself would never leak the questions!

Therefore, the only person who could leak this information is probably...
At this moment, Jiang Gan dared not think any further. The waters here were too deep, and a slight misstep would drown him.

Yes!

No wonder they appointed Jiang Ziyi as the chief examiner.

Aside from those who have secretly read "The Strategy on the Collapse," who else can truly grasp its profound meaning?

So, without saying a word, "Blood Stained Jingxiang, Whale Swallowed Nine Counties," which was originally designated as the top scholar, was removed as the second-place scholar.

"Governing by dividing the river, ruling from the south as the sole ruler" ranks among the top scholars.

Not long after, when Yuan Shu inquired about the matter of passing the imperial examination, he learned of the misunderstanding from Jiang Gan's hesitant and reluctant words, and couldn't help but smile wryly.

Back then, he tricked Jiang Gan by casually modifying and using what he remembered as Lu Su's "Strategy on the Bed" presented to Sun Quan. Little did he know that this imposter would run into the real Li Kui.

He shook his head and said:
"What a joke! How could I possibly do such a thing out of personal favoritism?"

Great minds think alike; this is a common occurrence, so please do not doubt it.

Jiang Gan hurriedly bowed and said from the bottom of his heart, "Lord Yuan, you are wise. I never meant that."

Gan believed that the argument "rule by dividing the country along the Yangtze River, and ruling from the south as an empress" was truly excellent and should rightfully be considered the best.

Yuan Shu: "."

After some deliberation, he did not interfere with the ranking determined by Jiang Gan. This was a fortunate coincidence, and he was able to repay the favor of Jiang Gan by becoming the top scholar.

Ultimately, the so-called Shouchun imperial examination, with its top scholar ranking, was of paramount importance to the students taking the exam.

But for Yuan Gong of Huainan, what he was truly concerned about was what Zhuge Jin had said in his strategy.

"Zhang Xian rebelled? Yes, it happened much earlier than I remember."

Yuan Shu pondered this matter, stroking the strategy written by Zhuge Jin in his hand. After a long silence, a soft call rang out.

"Go and summon Zhuge Ziyu."

While Shouchun was bustling with activity due to the imperial examinations, the distant sea was also a scene of magnificent waves.

Following Lü Bu of Xuzhou, General Hai Gong's fleet arrived in Qingzhou in a grand procession.

After all, with General Long Gong right beside him, General Hai Gong couldn't very well openly plunder the territory under Tian Kai's command, which was under Gongsun Zan's control.

However, in Qingzhou at present, with Tian Kai's repeated defeats, most of the counties have been occupied by Yuan Tan.

They need not be polite to Yuan Shao's subordinates.

Therefore, the Yellow Turban pirates politely avoided the counties under Tian Kai's command and instead targeted the counties under Yuan Tan's command for plunder.

Tens of thousands of people pushed large siege engines such as Lü Gongche and battering rams, and set up siege ladders to plunder the coastal counties.

He was shouting loudly!
“Yuan Tan is tyrannical and has seized control of prefectures and counties, driven out governors; he is incompetent and tyrannical!”

Today we shall revive the legacy of the Great Teacher of Virtue, take the place of the Great Han to punish the rebels, and lead the Great Way to establish the Yellow Heaven!

The Blue Heaven is dead; the Yellow Heaven shall rise!

Under the weight of slogans, how could a small county town with only a few hundred soldiers possibly resist?
After several counties were easily captured, the same method was used to conquer Xuzhou: confiscating the wealth of the local tyrants, seizing the government granaries, distributing grain to the people, and spreading the name of Huang Tian Yuan Gong far and wide.

When Yuan Tan, who was gradually encroaching upon Tian Kai's territory, heard this news, his face was filled with disbelief.

"What? You're saying there's a group of Yellow Turban rebels who can't stand seeing us oppressing the Han governor, and they've come to act on behalf of Heaven for the Han?"

He looked at the messenger soldier, his face full of the expression that seemed to say, "Are you playing a trick on me?"

How many years has it been since the Yellow Turban Rebellion was destroyed? Where did this new Yellow Turban army suddenly come from? The key question is, is your Yellow Turban army here to avenge the governor of Qingzhou of the Han Dynasty?

Didn't you always shout: "The Blue Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise, and we beg the great Han to die?"

However, when he ignored these messy thoughts and personally led a large army to suppress them, where could he find anyone?
All that could be seen was the vast, boundless sea, leaving no trace.

On the contrary, the counties that had just been plundered by the Yellow Turban Army were now flying large flags with the character "田" (field) on them.

Clearly, Tian Kai's men arrived earlier and took over the city immediately after the Yellow Turban army withdrew.

Seeing him leading his troops, the men on the city wall parted to make way, and the one in the lead laughed and said to him:
Why is Young Master Yuan Tan so late?
You have bullied the governor and seized control of the prefectures and counties. Fortunately, Heaven has eyes, and even the Yellow Turban rebels can no longer stand by and watch.

This is because I, who have attained the Way, have received much help, while you, who have strayed from the Way, have received little help!

Yuan Tan looked up and saw that the person on the city wall was none other than Tian Kai.
He immediately turned red with anger. If it weren't for the fact that Tian Kai's troops were already heavily guarding the city, he would have almost ordered an attack.

Soon after, Yuan Shao in Ye City, Ji Province, received a military report from Yuan Tan.

He learned that his plan to annihilate Tian Kai had been disrupted by a Yellow Turban army that appeared and disappeared without a trace.

Not only were they plundered, but they also lost several county towns, which were then acquired by Tian Kai, giving him a chance to catch his breath.
"How could this be?"

He repeatedly examined the military report, still disbelieving it, and had no choice but to show it to his ministers.

What do you gentlemen think?

"Utterly absurd!"

After Shen Pei finished reading it, he chuckled.

Young Master Yuan Tan has always been close to Guo Tu's faction, so how could he not seize this opportunity to press his advantage?

"Back then, the Yellow Turban Rebellion ravaged Qingzhou, causing particularly severe damage, with numbers reportedly reaching millions."

However, several years ago, they had already been wiped out by Cao Mengde, who selected the young and strong and trained them into the Qingzhou Army, which they then used to start an uprising.

The former Yellow Turban rebels are now either White Wave bandits or Black Mountain bandits.

Moreover, since the death of the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao, these leaders, big and small, have been fighting for power. Which of them still takes the slogan "The Blue Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise" to heart?

What Yellow Turban Army that comes and goes without a trace? The leader of the rebels is Zhang Jiao's fourth brother, General Hai Gong, and his posthumous son, General Long Gong, etc. Upon hearing this, it is even more of a load of nonsense and not worth believing.
In my opinion, could it be that the eldest son's campaign against Tian Kai was unsuccessful, and he was defeated by Tian Kai, but dared not report it, so he fabricated the story of the Yellow Turbans?
To be honest, with Tian Kai's limited forces, why has he delayed until now?

"If my lord were to appoint a concubine to assist the young master Shang and put him in charge of Qingzhou affairs, Tian Kai would surely be destroyed within a year."

As soon as Shen Pei made this statement, Feng Ji and others from Yuan Shang's faction echoed his sentiments.

Guo Tu, a member of Yuan Tan's faction, could not remain silent any longer and immediately stepped forward to rebuke him.

"Who exactly is spouting nonsense?"
Shen Zhengnan! Young Master Shang is only in his early twenties, yet you recommend that he take charge of Qingzhou?

"Are you, Shen Zhengnan, assisting Young Master Shang, or are you also trying to emulate Cao Cao and use Young Master Shang to control Qingzhou?"

These words, so scathing, caused Shen Pei to change color drastically.

"I am utterly loyal to my lord. Guo Gongze, how dare you slander me with malicious speculation and judge a gentleman by the standards of a petty person?"

Guo Tu laughed and glared at him, rebuking him.

"I suspect you are a petty person who judges a gentleman by his own standards?"
The eldest son is also the lord's eldest son. He is always reliable in his work and his virtuous reputation is widely known.

He must have had his reasons for reporting the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Instead of sharing the burdens and planning for our lord, you, Shen Zhengnan, are making malicious speculations and sowing discord between father and son.

"With such unwavering loyalty, how could I bear this humiliation?"
"Gentlemen, do not stop me! I will kill myself today by striking my head against this very hall, facing north, to demonstrate my loyalty!"

"If you can touch it, then I cannot?"

"Gentlemen, do not stop us. Today, let's see who is more loyal to Shen Zhengnan."

At that time, people were trying to pull Shen Pei away and stop Guo Tu. Meanwhile, the factions supporting the two princes, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, were arguing and pointing fingers at each other in the main hall.

"enough!!!"

On the high platform, Yuan Shao roared and shoved the table in front of him over!

With a loud "bang," the argument and noise of the crowd were finally silenced!

Meeting his piercing gaze and hearing his heavy breathing, the courtiers lowered their heads and remained silent.

Again!
Whenever their own family is settled and there is no external crisis, these officials are either fighting and arguing among themselves.

Yuan Shao had really had enough.

(End of this chapter)