Late Tang Dynasty: Descendants of the Imperial Clan

Chapter 78 Six Strategies for Governing Fengxiang (6,000 words, I've done my best, that's all for now)

Li Cenji raised an eyebrow slightly, put down his teacup, and said, "What do you mean by that, sir?"

Zhao Zhang did not answer directly, but continued speaking to himself, his voice not loud, but every word clear: "In these two days in prison, although I have been isolated from the outside world, I have heard quite a lot from the guards. Zheng Tian, ​​as the commander-in-chief of all the military campaigns around the capital, led all the troops and decisively defeated Shang Rang at Longwei Slope, advancing with unstoppable momentum and recapturing Chang'an. Such a great achievement is comparable to that of the Prince of Fenyang back then. After the emperor returns to the capital, Zheng Tian will surely return to court and be entrusted with important responsibilities. In my opinion, he will either become the Grand Secretary or the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel; in short, the position of prime minister is inevitable."

Li Cenji didn't reply, but just looked at him quietly.

Zhao Zhang continued, "With Prime Minister Zheng gone, the position of Military Governor of Fengxiang and Longyou became vacant. The acting governor is Prime Minister Zheng's close disciple, and has made great contributions in beheading Shang Rang at Longwei Slope and forcing Huang Chao to his death in Chang'an. He is already an acting governor, and further promotion would be perfectly justified. Am I right, my scumbag?"

Li Cenji nodded and said frankly, "Sir, your prediction is correct. If my mentor enters the court, I will succeed him as the military governor of Fengxiang and Longyou."

Zhao Zhang smiled slightly, looked at Li Cenji, and slowly said, "Then, this sinner will ask the Regent one more question: Is the Regent capable of governing the region?"

Li Cenji was taken aback.

Before he could answer, Zhao Zhang continued, "The military governor is renowned for his bravery, capable of taking the head of a general from among ten thousand soldiers as easily as taking something from a bag—this is common knowledge. However, governing a region is different from fighting a war. Fighting a war relies on courage, strategy, and the soldiers' willingness to fight; governing a region relies on governance, policies, and the well-being of the people. Does the military governor know how many things a regional military governor has to manage? Finances, criminal law, civil administration, land reclamation, water conservancy, education, commerce, postal services—every single thing requires the regional military governor's attention. Has the military governor studied these things? Has he ever done these things? Does he have any experience in this area?"

Li Cenji fell silent.

He didn't.

In his previous life, he studied science, and history was just a hobby. After transmigrating, he spent a few months learning military tactics and troop deployment from Zheng Tian, ​​but he knew almost nothing about local government affairs.

Zheng Tian did teach him some things, such as how to deal with the officials in the court, how to get along with his officers and soldiers, how to win over the hearts of the people, and how to handle military affairs.

But that was just scratching the surface; it was far from being a true leader in governing a town.

Seeing his silence, Zhao Zhang knew he had hit a nerve. He stroked his beard and continued, "Your Excellency need not feel ashamed. Throughout history, many famous generals rose from the ranks, excelling in battle, but were largely unfamiliar with governance. Even Guo Linggong, the Prince of Fenyang, whose achievements were unparalleled, could not match the local administration skills of those scholars who had served as local officials for years. Your Excellency is still young, with a long future ahead; these things can be learned gradually. But the problem is…"

He paused, his voice turning serious: "After the Emperor returns to the capital, everything needs to be rebuilt. What's needed isn't gradual learning, but immediate results. If the acting governor takes over as military governor and makes mistakes in his first year, leading to widespread poverty, population displacement, and fiscal deficits, what will the court think? What will the Emperor think? What will those who are envious of the acting governor's achievements say?"

Li Cenji tapped his fingers lightly twice on the table, then remained silent in thought.

With military power in hand, what could the court and the emperor dare to say?

The only fear is that if they can't pay the soldiers' salaries, there will be a mutiny in the army.

Li Cenji believed that Zhao Zhang knew this, and understood that Zhao Zhang was saving face for him.

"Sir, what exactly are you trying to say after all this?"

Li Cenji raised his head, his gaze fixed on Zhao Zhang, calm yet sharp.

Zhao Zhang met his gaze, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly stood up, dragged his shackles to him, and knelt down.

"The sinner has only one thing to say: If the heir trusts the sinner, the sinner is willing to serve the heir."

He raised his head, looked at Li Cenji, and said, word by word, "Although I am not talented, I have some knowledge of governing the country, managing the people, and ensuring their well-being. If the Governor is willing to take me in, I am willing to do my best to assist him in governing Fengxiang and Longyou, so that the people can live and work in peace and contentment, and the Governor can have no worries about the future."

Li Cenji remained silent, his gaze lingering on Zhao Zhang's face for a long time.

This person's talent is truly rare.

But he was, after all, Huang Chao's chief strategist and a "traitorous minister" who had followed Huang Chao in his rebellion for many years.

Will taking him in cause controversy? Will the imperial court investigate? What will Zheng Gonghui think?

These thoughts lingered in Li Cenji's mind, but he didn't voice them.

He simply said, "Please rise, sir. Allow me to consider this matter."

Zhao Zhang did not get up, but remained kneeling on the ground: "Your Excellency, there is no need to rush to reply. I dare to say a few more words. If Your Excellency finds that what I have said is all false, then it is not too late to send me away."

Li Cenji picked up his teacup, took a sip, and remained silent, which was taken as tacit approval.

Zhao Zhang straightened up, sat cross-legged on the ground, the shackles dragging on the blue bricks with a crisp clang. He stroked his beard and slowly spoke, his voice not loud, but each word as firm as iron: "Just now, I asked the governor if he knew how to govern the region. The governor did not answer, so I knew that the governor had no clear plan. In that case, I will analyze for the governor in detail how this town of Fengxiang should be governed."

He held up one finger and drew a horizontal line on the ground, saying, "Governing a country is like planting a tree; if the roots are firm, the branches and leaves will flourish. The same applies to governing a town. Fengxiang (Qizhou) and Longzhou are two prefectures, spanning four hundred li from east to west and five hundred li from north to south, governing eight counties in Fengxiang and two counties in Longzhou, with no fewer than twenty thousand households and tens of thousands of able-bodied men. This place is strategically located with rugged mountains and rivers, bordering the prefectures of Longyou, Tubo, and Dangxiang to the west, connecting to Chang'an to the east, Jingyuan and Fenning to the north, and overlooking the south of the mountains to the south. It is the most important town west of the capital. However, since the An Lushan Rebellion, more than a hundred years of war have been frequent, taxes have been heavy, and the people have suffered. The Huang Chao Rebellion made matters worse: able-bodied men were conscripted, fields were abandoned, trade was cut off, and the treasury was empty."

He raised his head, looked at Li Cenji, and said, word by word, "If the acting governor wishes to govern Fengxiang, he should start with six things: sufficient food, sufficient troops, peace for the people, strict discipline of officials, promotion of commerce, and defense of the border. Only by addressing these six things together can Fengxiang achieve long-term stability and peace."

Zhao Zhang held up his first finger: "First, we must ensure sufficient food, for food is the most important thing for the people. The people of Fengxiang have suffered from disasters year after year, and have been repeatedly conscripted by the rebel army and the government army. Countless fields have been abandoned. The most urgent task is to ensure that there is grain in the fields and millet in the granaries. If the people are hungry, no matter how much we talk, no one will listen to the orders of the acting governor."

He paused, then explained in detail: "The strategy for ensuring sufficient food can be divided into five aspects:"

First, a thorough land survey should be conducted. Following this great upheaval, many of the land registers in Fengxiang's counties have been lost, and many powerful families have concealed their land holdings and shifted taxes onto others. The Prefect can send people to each county to re-survey the land and create new registers. If the land is clear, taxes will be fair; if taxes are fair, the people will not complain.

Secondly, the government should appease the refugees. During the war, many people in Guanzhong fled into the mountains or other places. The acting governor could send people to appease them, explaining the advantages and disadvantages, promising them land and houses, and encouraging them to return home and resume their livelihoods. Those who returned would be exempt from taxes in the first year, subject to a 50% reduction in the second year, and only pay full taxes in the third year. At the same time, they would be provided with loans of seeds, farming tools, and oxen, enabling them to cultivate the land and support themselves. Seeds could be allocated from the government treasury, and oxen could be traded with the Tanguts and Tibetans, or obtained from old or weak oxen discarded from the army.

Thirdly, water conservancy projects should be undertaken. Fengxiang is traversed by the Wei River, Yong River, Qian River, and Qian River, but these have fallen into disrepair over the years, with many canals and weirs silted up. During the off-season for farming, the governor could conscript laborers and displaced people for work-for-relief programs to dredge the rivers and repair the canals and weirs. The banks of the Wei River are particularly crucial, as the fields of Fengxiang, Qishan, and Fufeng counties largely rely on its irrigation. Repairing the canals and weirs would ensure preparedness against drought and flood, potentially increasing yields by more than 30%.

Fourth, establish military farms to store grain. Those elderly, weak, or prisoners of war in the army who wish to return to farming can be allocated wasteland and allowed to cultivate it. They will be exempt from taxes for the first three years; after that, they will be required to pay grain according to regulations. In this way, the supply of military provisions is solved, and idle populations are resettled—a win-win situation.

Fifth, stockpile grain. The grain stored in the Fengxiang Prefecture granary has been largely depleted by this battle. The acting governor should collect a fixed amount of grain tax after each autumn harvest and store it in granaries to prepare for famine years. The method of grain storage should emulate the Han dynasty's Ever-Normal Granaries, taking in grain in years of plenty and releasing it in years of famine to stabilize grain prices and prevent unscrupulous merchants from hoarding and speculating.

If these five principles are implemented, within three years, wealth will be stored among the people; within five years, granaries will be full. When the people have food to eat, they will not take desperate measures; when the army has provisions and pay, they will not rebel or cause chaos.

Zhao Zhang held up his second finger: "Secondly, sufficient troops. After sufficient food, there must be sufficient troops. To the west of Fengxiang are the Tubo and Dangxiang, to the north are Jingyuan and Binning, and to the east is Chang'an. We must defend all four sides. Without a strong army to deter them, let alone resist foreign enemies, even the local strongmen may not be willing to submit to the governor's control."

He stroked his beard and said, "The strategy for building a strong army can be divided into four aspects:"

Firstly, the weak should be weeded out and the strong retained. The army under the governor's command includes soldiers from Fengxiang, recaptured defeated troops, and, it is said, even the Boye army that was once stationed in Fengtian—a mixed bag of good and bad. The governor could choose an auspicious day to conduct a grand review of the three armies and assess each soldier individually. Those who are old and frail, wounded, disabled, or unable to fight should all be sent back to their hometowns, given travel expenses, grain, and barren land, so they can return to farming. This would not only reduce the burden of provisions and salaries but also maintain the army's elite forces, and these soldiers could also serve as the governor's spies in the countryside. Judging by my own calculations, out of the more than ten thousand soldiers, eliminating one or two tenths would leave eight thousand elite troops.

Secondly, drills and reorganization are crucial. Although the various armies have been combined, they are unfamiliar with each other, and commands are inconsistent, which is a major taboo in the army. The remaining troops should be mixed up, their original structures broken up, and reorganized to allow them to become familiar with and integrate with each other. At the same time, rigorous training should be implemented, military discipline should be clearly defined, and orders should be obeyed without question. Drills are indispensable, and monthly drills are essential. Training methods should be based on actual combat, including formations, archery, swordsmanship, horsemanship, siege warfare, and siege defense—all must be mastered.

Thirdly, prisoners of war can be used to fill vacancies. Many of the prisoners are from respectable families, forced into banditry, with no history of wrongdoing, and are in their prime, skilled in archery and horsemanship. If these men sincerely surrender, they can be selected to fill vacancies in various armies. However, they must be dispersed, with no more than three to five men per brigade and no more than ten per battalion, and not retained as organized units to prevent them from harboring rebellious intentions. Furthermore, veteran soldiers must be assigned to strictly manage them, gradually assimilating them. Over time, with their newfound experience, they will forget their former masters and become reserve troops.

Fourth, enforce strict military discipline. Nothing is more taboo in the army than plundering civilians. The acting governor should reiterate the military order: anyone who enters a civilian's home without permission, robs property, or abuses women will be executed. The rules established by the acting governor in Chang'an should be used as the foundation, written into military law, and proclaimed to the entire army so that everyone knows them. Strict military discipline will ensure the people's loyalty to the government army; with the people's loyalty, the army's provisions, laborers, and...

Only then can the intelligence be found.

If these four measures are implemented, within a year, the troops of Fengxiang will be well-trained; within three years, they can become a formidable army. With such elite troops at his command, the governor can advance to defend the emperor, or retreat to protect the borders and the people. What is there to fear?

Thirdly, Zhao Zhang extended his third finger: "After ensuring sufficient food and military strength, the next step is to pacify the people. If the people are not at peace, there will be insufficient food and a weak army; everything else is just empty talk. The key to pacifying the people lies in ensuring they have stable property, a stable mindset, and hope."

He paused, then explained in detail: "The measures to pacify the people can be divided into five aspects:"

First, reduce or exempt taxes. The people of Fengxiang have long suffered from levies; during Huang Chao's reign, grain and labor were conscripted. Nine out of ten households were already empty. Now that the acting governor has taken control of the town, he should allow the people to rest. I suggest: In the first year, all miscellaneous and cleverly disguised levies, except for the regular tax, should be abolished. The regular tax should also be reduced by half to allow the people some respite. In the second year, the amount should depend on the harvest; those with good harvests should pay the full amount, while those with poor harvests should receive a reduction. In the third year, taxes should be restored to normal. In this way, the people will be grateful for the acting governor's kindness and will truly submit to him.

Secondly, provide relief to the widowed, orphaned, disabled, and elderly. In times of war, the widowed, orphaned, lonely, disabled, and elderly are the most vulnerable and helpless. The governor can send people to each county to investigate and register them. Those without support should be given monthly rations to prevent them from freezing or starving to death. Although this requires money and resources, it is the most convenient way to win over the people. When the people see that the governor doesn't abandon even the poorest, they will perceive him as a benevolent ruler.

Thirdly, register all households. After the great chaos in Fengxiang, the population was scattered, powerful families went into hiding, and the household registers held by the county officials were a complete mess. The Prefect can send people to each county to re-register households, recording the population, land, and able-bodied men of each household. With a clear household register, taxes can be levied fairly, and with a clear tax levy, the people's burdens will be equitable. Although this method is cumbersome, it is fundamental to governing the town and cannot be neglected.

Fourth, redressing wrongful convictions. When Zheng Xiangong was in power, he focused his energy on military affairs, and there were bound to be cases of arbitrary arrests and detentions in the prefectures and counties.

Not everyone imprisoned deserves to die. The acting governor could appoint a judge to handle backlogged cases and overturn wrongful convictions. The guilty should be punished according to the law, and the innocent released on the spot. Only in this way will the people believe in the court's laws and that the acting governor is a reasonable person.

Fifth, establish charitable granaries. In addition to the government's regular granaries, wealthy households in the villages can be encouraged to donate grain to establish charitable granaries. The grain in these granaries would be jointly managed by the local gentry and used for disaster relief in the event of famine. The government would not interfere, but would only supervise. This method would both reduce the burden on the government and mobilize the people's resources for self-help, achieving two goals at once.

If these five principles are implemented, the people will live in peace and prosperity, the population will gradually increase, and the hearts of the people will gradually turn towards them.

Zhao Zhang held up his fourth finger: "Fourth is to purify the officials. After pacifying the people, the next step is to purify the officials. The people don't suffer from the court, but from those corrupt officials who abuse their power."

Officials who exploit and oppress the people. If the bureaucracy cannot be reformed, even the best and most beneficial laws issued by the regent will be distorted by the time they reach the local level.

He stroked his beard and said, "The strategy for suppressing officials can be divided into four aspects:"

Firstly, a selective system was implemented for retaining officials. Those officials in Fengxiang's various prefectures and counties who were capable and honest could remain in their posts; those with bad records or who were corrupt had to be dismissed. Those retained could then be sent to each county to conduct assessments and gather public opinion. Those praised by the people were retained; those criticized were dismissed. Although this method was time-consuming and laborious, it effectively won over the hearts and minds of the people.

Secondly, severely punish corruption. In chaotic times, harsh punishments are necessary. Anyone found guilty of embezzlement, bribery, or exploiting the people should be dismissed from office or executed. The acting governor should personally preside over several public trials, publicly announcing the crimes of corrupt officials and executing them in public. This will both deter wrongdoing and demonstrate the governor's resolve to the people.

Thirdly, select virtuous and capable officials. County and prefectural officials cannot rely solely on the old guard. The acting governor should establish a "recruitment hall" to widely recruit talented individuals from all over the country. Regardless of background or region, anyone with genuine talent and upright character should be employed. Especially those scholars from Guanzhong, many of whom have failed to find their place after the imperial examinations; if the acting governor treats them with respect, they will surely be willing to serve. The administration of Fengxiang is complex and demanding; even with three heads and six arms, the acting governor alone cannot manage it all. A group of capable advisors and subordinates is essential to govern the town effectively.

Fourth, clearly define rewards and punishments. Officials should be incentivized. The acting governor could establish a performance evaluation system to assess county and prefectural officials annually. Those with outstanding performance would be promoted; those with mediocre performance would remain in their posts; and those with poor performance would be dismissed. In this way, officials would have the motivation to improve and would work diligently.

If these four measures are implemented, the administration will be clean and efficient within three years; within five years, Fengxiang can become a model of good governance in Guanzhong.

Zhao Zhang held up his fifth finger: "Fifth is to promote commerce. After purging officials, the next step is to promote commerce. Fengxiang is located at a strategic point in Guanzhong, connecting Longyou to the west, Chang'an to the east, Bashu to the south, and Hebei to the north. It has always been a hub for merchants. However, since the Huang Chao Rebellion, trade has ceased, and the market has become desolate. Without the flow of merchants, the people cannot exchange their goods for money, and the government cannot collect commercial taxes. It is like a stagnant pool."

He paused, then explained in detail: "The strategy for promoting commerce can be divided into four aspects:"

Firstly, the post roads should be restored. Many of the post roads within Fengxiang's territory were damaged during this war. The garrison commander could send people to repair the roads and bridges, establish post stations and inns along the routes, and equip them with post horses and messengers to ensure the safe passage of merchants and travelers. With the post roads open, goods could flow smoothly.

When goods flow smoothly, commerce thrives.

Secondly, reduce commercial taxes. During Huang Chao's reign, Prime Minister Zheng needed funds and provisions to support his army, inevitably leading to heavy commercial taxes. Even in Chang'an, I heard that the commercial tax in Fengxiang was as high as 50-60% of the total. The acting governor can emulate the methods of the early Han dynasty, opening the passes and bridges, and relaxing the restrictions on mountains and marshes. The commercial tax should be reduced to 1/30, and collected only once at the border crossings, not again after entering the market. Lower commercial taxes will attract merchants; more merchants will bring more goods; more goods will benefit the people.

Thirdly, protect merchants. West of Fengxiang, scattered Tibetan and Tangut tribes frequently raided merchants. The governor could dispatch cavalry to regularly patrol the post roads and escort caravans. At the same time, alliances should be formed with the Tibetan and Tangut tribes, agreeing to non-aggression and joint protection of trade routes. Only with the safety of merchants would they dare to travel far; only with the courage to travel far could trade flourish.

Fourthly, markets and marketplaces should be established. Each prefecture and county in Fengxiang should select convenient locations to establish markets, opening regularly each month to allow people to buy and sell goods. Simultaneously, rural markets should be established, held every ten days, to facilitate the exchange of agricultural products. With markets and marketplaces established, goods will circulate, people will have money, and the government will be able to collect commercial taxes.

If these four measures are implemented, trade will resume within three years; and the markets will prosper within five years. With commercial tax revenue, Fengxiang's treasury will naturally be full, eliminating the need to further increase taxes on the people, thus creating a virtuous cycle.

Zhao Zhang stretched out his other hand and held up another finger, his voice deepening: "Sixth is to secure the borders. After promoting commerce, the next step is to secure the borders. Fengxiang borders the Tubo and Dangxiang to the west. Although these two tribes have declined, their cavalry can come and go like the wind, and we must be on guard. If the borders are not secure, once there is trouble, war will break out and the people will not have peace. All the previous five strategies will be empty talk."

He stroked his beard and said, "Strategies for securing the borders can be divided into four aspects:"

Firstly, repair the fortified villages. West of Fengxiang, from Longzhou to Minzhou, there are dozens of fortified villages of varying sizes, many of which have fallen into disrepair and collapsed. The governor can send people to survey them one by one, select the key ones for reconstruction, and station troops there. Each fortified village should be equipped with a beacon tower, connected to neighboring villages. In case of an alarm, a fire can be lit as a signal, and a hundred villages will respond immediately.

Secondly, recruit Tibetan soldiers. The Tibetans and Tanguts are skilled in horsemanship and archery from a young age, and are brave and good at fighting. The governor can send people deep into the Tibetan territories to recruit Tibetan soldiers and incorporate them into the army. Tibetan soldiers are familiar with the terrain and are good at riding and archery, so using them to defend the border will be twice as effective with half the effort. However, they must be led by Han generals to prevent them from rebelling.

Thirdly, use trade as a means of control. When dealing with border tribes, one should neither resort to force nor show weakness indiscriminately. The best approach is to use trade as a means of control, allowing them to enter the country to trade and exchange for tea, cloth, grain, and other goods. If the tribes benefit, they will naturally be willing to improve relations with the court. At the same time, eloquent and persuasive envoys should be selected to go to the tribes to convey the court's benevolence, thus sowing discord and preventing them from uniting to cause trouble.

Fourthly, establish military settlements to strengthen the border regions. Near border fortresses and villages, there are many uncultivated fields. Troops can be stationed there to cultivate and defend these fields. Simultaneously, people from the interior should be recruited to migrate to the border areas, given land and houses, and exempted from taxes for several years. With a saturated population, the border will naturally be secured. Emperor Wu of Han used this method in the Hexi Corridor with great success.

If these four measures are implemented, the borders will be secure, and the Tibetans and Tanguts will not dare to easily invade. With the western frontier stable, the governor can then focus on governing the internal affairs.

""

After recounting his six strategies, Zhao Zhang was parched. He looked up at Li Cenji, his voice hoarse but firm: "Sufficient food, sufficient troops, peace for the people, strict discipline of officials, promotion of commerce, and secure borders—these six strategies were originally devised by a criminal for Huang Chao. However, Huang Chao is stubborn and self-willed, and unable to control his troops. If the acting governor can implement them step by step, there will be minor success in three years and major success in five. By then, Fengxiang will be prosperous and its troops strong. The acting governor can advance to defend the emperor, retreat to protect the borders and the people, and even the court will have to rely on him as a bulwark."

He paused, then kowtowed to the ground: "This sinner has said all. Whether you listen or not is up to you."

Li Cenji remained silent for a long time, lost in thought.

The candlelight on the table flickered, casting his shadow on the wall, sometimes long, sometimes short.

His gaze fell on Zhao Zhang, and he suddenly noticed that Zhao Zhang was still kneeling on the ground. He quickly stepped forward to help him up, and said with heartfelt admiration, "Sir, your six strategies are all well-founded and reasonable. If Huang Chao had listened to your words, the overall situation would have been settled!"

Li Cenji wasn't saying anything flattering.

Zhao Zhang even had a rough idea of ​​the number of households, able-bodied men, and fortified villages in Fengxiang, so he must have been prepared to take Fengxiang.

Preparations for taking over in full.

Unfortunately, Shang Rang was killed, and all his efforts were in vain; Huang Chao died, and all his efforts were in vain.

Zhao Zhang said solemnly, "The six policies are good, but their implementation requires the right people. If they are mediocre, even the best policies are just empty talk. But the acting governor is different. He has the courage of ten thousand men, cares about the people, and has a strong sense of righteousness. As long as he is willing to put in the effort and delegate authority to capable people, these six policies can be implemented one by one."

Li Cenji turned around, his gaze falling on Zhao Zhang. He looked at him for a while, then suddenly smiled.

"Sir, are you praising me, or praising yourself?"

Zhao Zhang frankly said, "The sinner has praised himself as the acting governor. If the acting governor has no capacity to accept advice, then no matter how eloquently the sinner speaks, it will be of no use."

If a sinner lacks sound strategies, even the most studious descendant will have no way to learn. Only when both aspects are combined can success be achieved.

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