Brother, stop curling up! You're curling up like the founder of the Han Dynasty!

He accidentally became the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat.

The obscure vocabulary left Zhang He and Gao Lan stunned on the spot.

Comparison is the thief of joy. If an inside agent can become a high-ranking official, second only to the emperor, then what about all the hard work and merits they have earned in battle?
"Sir, everything you have said and done in the past has been for the sake of His Majesty. Now you say that you are Liu Bei's inside man. This is really puzzling. Why do you do this?"

Zhang He asked the question that had been troubling him.

As things stand, Zhang He sees nothing about Guo Tu's words or actions that have anything to do with being an inside agent.

Zhang He was more inclined to believe that Guo Tu surrendered out of desperation.

Given the current war situation, if Guo Tu were to suggest surrendering, Zhang He would not object.

After all, Yuan Shao left, and Guo Tu held out for a year.

Now that Yuan Tan has left, taking his elite troops with him, the remaining civil and military officials are no different from abandoned pawns.

In other words.

Zhang He has been abandoned!

If there had been no other way to surrender and if Guo Tu hadn't been so fearless in the face of death that year, Zhang He would have surrendered long ago.

result.

Guo Tu, however, claimed that he was an inside man.

You're an inside man, yet you've shown such righteous indignation this past year, vowing to live and die with Nanpi. What's the purpose of that?

Zhang He couldn't understand Guo Tu's thought process at all, nor could he comprehend the purpose of an inside agent becoming second only to the emperor.

They couldn't understand why Guo Tu would cover the rear for Yuan Shao and Yuan Tan.

Even if Guo Tu surrenders today, Yuan Shao will only think that Guo Tu surrendered not out of fear of death, but to protect the people and soldiers of Nanpi.

In Zhang He's eyes, Guo Tu is now just that kind of "loyal minister"!
Gao Lan also looked at Guo Tu with a puzzled expression, as if asking a question.

Anyone could be an inside agent, but Guo Tu was the least likely to be one, yet he himself revealed that he was.

Seeing the two men's doubts, Guo Tu smiled without hesitation: "It's very simple. His Majesty the Han Emperor's requirement for me is to do my best to advise Yuan Shao. That's why I, as an inside agent, was able to gradually become the Minister of the Palace Secretariat under the false Zhong."

"His Majesty the Emperor of Han never considered Yuan Shao as his opponent, but rather used Yuan Shao's power to deal with the powerful clans in Hebei. For a monarch, weakening the powerful clans is the only way to consolidate his rule; this is an age-old truth."

"If the powerful clans of Hebei cannot be weakened, what good will it do to destroy Yuan Shao? Even if Yuan Shao is destroyed, a new leader of a powerful clan can emerge. This is not the outcome that His Majesty the Emperor of Han wants to see."

"Therefore, rather than saying that I am considering Yuan Shao's interests, it is more accurate to say that Yuan Shao is only part of my plan, and my role as an inside agent is only part of His Majesty the Emperor of Han's plan."

After hearing Guo Tu's explanation, Zhang He and Gao Lan understood the situation but were even more frustrated.

If Yuan Shao was just one link in Liu Bei's plan, then what about those who followed Yuan Shao in his campaigns?
An ant in the eyes of a tiger?
Is it something that can be dispensable?
a long time.

Zhang He and Gao Lan exchanged a glance and bowed to Guo Tu, saying, "We are willing to obey your command, sir."

These words meant that the two men no longer intended to resist, and Guo Tu couldn't help but laugh: "It is a good thing for Hebei that the two generals are willing to abandon darkness and embrace light."

Subsequently.

Guo Tu then organized the civil and military officials of Nanpi City to surrender.

However, Guo Tu did not elaborate on why the civil and military officials of Nanpi City surrendered or what the inside story was about.

Currently, only Zhang He and Gao Lan in Nanpi City are qualified to know the inside story; the rest are not yet qualified to know such a secret.

Liu Bei then appointed Guo Tu as the governor of Ji Province and Zhang Liao as the governor of You Province, to govern the two provinces and implement new policies.

The fall of Nanpi City also marked the formal end of Yuan Shao's pseudo-Zhong regime in Hebei.

Although Youzhou was a vast territory, it was sparsely populated, and Yuan Shao had gone to Liaodong, so the powerful clans who were unwilling to submit to Liu Bei also went to Liaodong.

In Hebei, there was no other regime that could rival Liu Bei.

As for the powerful families who relied on fortified villages for defense, although they were numerous, their fighting strength was low. Faced with Liu Bei's Lingyan Army, they either surrendered from their fortified villages or perished with their fortified villages.

By the ninth year of Zhangwu (200 AD), in March, apart from Yuan Shao's regime which had fled to Liaodong, only Jia Long, who relied on the strategic advantage of the mountains and rivers of Xichuan, was still putting up a stubborn resistance.

Although Xichuan was easy to defend and difficult to attack, Jia Long dared not be careless, and even felt that each day was like a year and he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

This was all because Liu Bei launched a propaganda offensive against Xichuan, calling on the common people of Xichuan to rise up and oppose Jia Long's "tyranny".

to this end.

Liu Bei also sent Zhang Yan, He Man, and others who came from the Yellow Turban Rebellion to Xichuan to mobilize the common people.

Although the Yellow Turban Rebellion had less impact on Western Sichuan than on the Central Plains, its existence was still significant.

Furthermore, with the mobilization of professional leaders like Zhang Yan to change the way of life among the common people, the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out like mushrooms after rain in various counties of Xichuan.

Jia Long had no choice but to send troops to quell the rebellion.

"General Gan, most of the troops in Chengdu have already been transferred out by Jia Long. This is our chance!"

A resentful voice rang out; it belonged to Liu Zhang, who had been out of contact since entering Yizhou.

In the past, Liu Zhang was ordered to enter Yizhou. He was originally instructed by Liu Bei to persuade Liu Yan to return Yizhou to the Han Dynasty. Unexpectedly, Liu Yan not only did not respond to Liu Bei, but also joined forces with the powerful families of Yizhou to oppose the new policies. In the end, he was captured alive by Jia Long and handed over to Yuan Shu.

Liu Yan and Liu Mao were killed, but Liu Zhang and his sister Wu Yi managed to escape with their lives and sought refuge with Gan Ning.

Gan Ning was appointed by Jia Long because of his bravery.

However, due to Liu Bei's advance recruitment and Gan Ning's disdain for Jia Long, he had always secretly intended to join Liu Bei.

Now, Liu Bei is issuing proclamations and mobilizing the common people in Xichuan, while Jia Long's Dacheng regime is also on its last legs.

This was also an opportunity for Gan Ning to distinguish himself.

Once Jia Long is eliminated, the powerful clans and gentry of Xichuan will fall apart, and the generals stationed at various passes and forts will surely consider their own future.

The Han dynasty's recapture of Western Sichuan was an inevitable trend, and Jia Long could not stop it.

Gan Ning did not hesitate and led his troops into the palace directly with Liu Zhang, Wu Yi and other generals.

Seeing Gan Ning and his men approaching in armor and carrying bows, Jia Long stood up in astonishment: "General Gan, why are you leading troops into the palace?"

While questioning him, Jia Long winked at the eunuch behind him.

However, the little eunuch had barely stepped out when Gan Ning shot him dead with an arrow. Jia Long was horrified: "General Gan, I have treated you well, why have you betrayed me?"

Gan Ning sneered: "Jia Long, I have never served you, so how could I have betrayed you? I was originally recruited by His Majesty the Emperor of Han, and I am a general of the Great Han!"

Liu Zhang immediately removed his helmet, brandished his sword, and shouted, "You dog Jia Long, you harmed my father and brothers! Today I will surely kill you!"

"Liu Zhang? You're still alive?" Jia Long's heart sank, sensing something was wrong.

Liu Zhang was originally Liu Bei's envoy to Yizhou, and he could directly promise Gan Ning an official position, with benefits sufficient to win Gan Ning over!
Wu Yi also removed his helmet: "You scoundrel, and me too! Today I will avenge Lord Liu!"

"Don't waste words with him, kill Jia Long quickly to avoid any complications." Gan Ning drew his bow and shot an arrow that struck Jia Long in the left leg.

Jia Long was in pain and couldn't run away even if he wanted to.

Liu Zhang and Wu Yi rushed forward with their swords and hacked Jia Long to death. The civil and military officials of Xichuan had served Liu Yan first and then Yuan Shu, and already lacked cohesion. With Jia Long's death, chaos immediately ensued.

May of the ninth year of Zhangwu (200 AD).

Huangfu Song entered Chengdu from Hanzhong and officially took over Xichuan.

Upon receiving the news, Liu Bei ordered the nineteen-year-old Zhuge Liang to enter Xichuan with imperial credentials and serve as the governor of Yizhou. He also appointed Huangfu Song as the governor of Yizhou and left him in Chengdu to quell the rebellion.

Since then.

Apart from Yuan Shao, who established his state in Liaodong, Liangzhou, Yongzhou, Sili, Bingzhou, Youzhou, Jizhou, Qingzhou, Yanzhou, Xuzhou, Yuzhou, Yangzhou, Jingzhou, and Yizhou have all been pacified.

Although there are still some rebellious forces in various states and counties, they are basically unable to cause any trouble.

The region centered on the Central Plains had long been characterized by the coexistence of scholars and commoners, and the fertile ground for the implementation of the new policies was found in the North, South, West, and Xinping regions.

Simplified Chinese characters, printing, papermaking, and the Ping Le Tong Yi were also being promoted in large quantities.

Only by continuously improving the public's knowledge level can we improve productivity. If there are too many illiterate people and too few people with expertise in areas related to people's livelihoods, the Han Dynasty will find it difficult to restore its prosperity.

In the tenth year of Zhangwu, 201 AD, in the first month.

Grand Master of Ceremonies Han Rong petitioned Liu Bei to establish the eight-year-old Liu Cheng as crown prince in order to stabilize the foundation of the state, but Liu Bei rejected the proposal.

The reason given was: "Liu Cheng is too young to shoulder the heavy responsibilities of the nation."

In the same year, Liu Bei printed an additional 30,000 copies of "Ping Le Tong Yi" and ordered it to be popularized in official schools in various prefectures and counties.

Liu Bei's actions once again demonstrated his determination to his ministers; he truly had no intention of allowing Liu Cheng to live as the crown prince.

Not only that, Liu Bei also sent Liu Cheng to study at the official school incognito, abolished the system of princes, and canceled the privileges of the emperor's sons.

In other words, if the emperor's son is incompetent, he can only make a living by farming; if the emperor's son is exceptionally talented, he can enter officialdom through his abilities.

Liu Bei did not intend for the Liu family to continue for ten thousand generations; the only thing that could ensure such a lineage was the Han dynasty!

Although this move was opposed by many Confucian scholars, Liu Bei now had no external enemies and enough time to deal with internal troubles.

He not only personally debated with Confucian scholars, but also took the initiative to go to the countryside to promote "Ping Le Tong Yi".

As for state affairs, the Secretariat was responsible for performing its duties in accordance with Liu Bei's requirements.

Liu Bei did not confine himself to the palace, but instead traveled to all the provinces of the Han Dynasty.

Nothing was more effective than Liu Bei personally promoting "Ping Le Tong Yi".

Just like Zhang Jiao in the past, why could he get eight provinces to respond?
Besides the corruption of the imperial court and the suffering of the people, the most important factor was that Zhang Jiao spent more than a decade spreading his teachings in eight provinces.

Every ideology needs the support of loyal followers.

As the founding emperor, Liu Bei could only set a good example for future emperors by leading by example.

If someone in later generations tries to restore the old system, there will be a large number of believers who will oppose it; if a future emperor only wants to enjoy comfort in the palace and become detached from the people, there will be Liu Bei as a role model to warn him.

Once you become emperor, you must bear the weight of the throne.

From the tenth year of Zhangwu (201 AD) to the twentieth year of Zhangwu (211 AD), Liu Bei's footprints covered all thirteen provinces of the Han Dynasty.

Not only were the new policies implemented in the thirteen prefectures, counties, and townships, but the people of the world also gained a deeper understanding and support for Liu Bei.

Throughout history, which emperor would spend ten years traveling across the thirteen provinces of the Han Dynasty?

Instead of touring the world like Qin Shi Huang, the policy was to save money wherever possible and avoid disrupting the normal operations of officials and common people.

Be more pragmatic and less hypocritical.

As a master of scrolls, one must carry out the spirit of scrolls to the very end.

If any emperor in the future dares to hide in the deep palace or make extravagant and wasteful tours, that will be a disgrace to the emperor.

In 212, the 21st year of Zhangwu, Liu Bei saw that the time was ripe and officially promulgated the imperial examination system. In 215, the 24th year of Zhangwu, he officially held the first imperial examination.

All citizens of the Han Dynasty were eligible to participate in the provincial examinations, and those who passed were awarded the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations). The examinations were held in the first month of the lunar calendar.

Scholars who passed the county-level examination could participate in the prefectural examination. Those who passed were considered outstanding talents. The examination was held in April.

Those with exceptional talent can participate in the state examination; those who pass will become Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), which are held in July.

Those who passed the imperial examination could participate in the palace examination, and those who passed were considered national heroes. The examination was held in October.

The provincial examination, the prefectural examination, the state examination, and the palace examination were all held annually.

Liu Bei added another special rule:
Those who can pass the provincial, prefectural, state, and palace examinations within a year can participate in the election for the next emperor.

This regulation officially marked the beginning of Liu Bei's process of putting the theory of public opinion in "Ping Le Tong Yi" into practice.

Heroes of the world are as numerous as carp crossing a river.

Liu spent more than a decade traveling all over the country to bring the "Ping Le Tong Yi" from theory to practice.

Because Liu Bei had already deeply ingrained the "Ping Le Tong Yi" in people's minds, almost no one opposed the implementation of the imperial examination system this time.

Those who opposed him either died or couldn't win the argument against Liu Bei.

Of course, some people are skeptical.

After all, since Qi of Si replaced Boyi as emperor, the system of abdication was replaced by hereditary succession.
Later rulers all believed that "all land under heaven belongs to the king, and all people within the realm are his subjects," and they vigorously promoted the hereditary system in order to protect their own interests.

Only Liu Bei dared to defy public opinion and implement reforms to end the hereditary system and accelerate the process of regime change.

Although there were drawbacks, Liu Bei always believed that only by stopping the centralized power of hereditary monarchy before it reached its peak and changing it to a system of succession based on popular will could the true prosperity of the Han Dynasty be achieved.

Otherwise, once the centralized power of a hereditary monarchy reaches its peak, it will evolve into an extreme regime that stifles the thoughts of officials and commoners through rigid examination systems, literary inquisitions, and the suppression of intellectual and social order.

To prevent the fruits of victory from being stolen by a learned and powerful family, thus avoiding the disaster of a restoration attempt by someone surnamed Yuan in later generations.

Liu Bei also gave a secret order to several of his disciples in advance, requiring them to pass the provincial examination, the prefectural examination, the state examination, and the palace examination within a year, and to participate in the election for the next emperor.

Even Ma Chao and Sun Ce, who weren't very bright, took it as a reference.

And the result was as Liu Bei had predicted.

Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei's most outstanding disciple, at the age of thirty-five, not only passed the provincial examination, the prefectural examination, the state examination, and the palace examination within a year, but also crushed all others with his outstanding performance in the palace examination, earning him the title of "Peerless National Scholar".

Afterwards, Liu Bei promoted Zhuge Liang, spreading the title of "unparalleled national hero" throughout the thirteen provinces of the Han Dynasty.

same year.

Zhuge Liang entered the Secretariat and replaced Jia Xu as the Minister of the Secretariat, officially handling state affairs.

In the 30th year of Zhangwu (221 AD), Liu Bei initiated the election for emperor, citing his advanced age.

Zhuge Liang, who served as the head of the Secretariat for six years, was elected as the second emperor of the Han Dynasty due to his outstanding political achievements and abilities.

Liu Bei, on the other hand, retreated to the sidelines to assist Zhuge Liang in stabilizing the throne and authored the "Zhangwu Grand Canon," the opening line of which reads: "The Great Han Dynasty lasts ten thousand generations! The Great Han Dynasty does not belong to one family, but to all the people of the world." (End of Chapter)