The imperial cause at the end of the Han Dynasty was not one of partial peace.

Chapter 64 Conferring Marquis Titles and Appointing Ren Zongqin as Prefect

In late May, as the summer heat in Hebei intensified and the summer harvest approached, Liu Bei finally led over ten thousand infantry and cavalry back from Heishan. His troops' red banners shone brightly in the sky, and their armor gleamed in the sun.

Wherever the army passed, the people along the way, young and old, lined the roads to welcome them with food and drink. The local gentry and elders praised their merit in defeating the bandits, protecting the territory, and safeguarding their homeland, and vied to offer them wine and meat.

In the villages and towns, everyone wanted to witness the heroic demeanor of this man who had defeated more than ten bandit groups from the Black Mountain in just ten days and whose fame resounded throughout Hebei.

Since receiving the imperial edict to suppress the rebels, Liu Bei, as the Commandant of Martial Valor, led an army alone in several months, fighting in more than twenty battles, large and small, in Julu, Changshan, Weijun, Henan, Shangdang and other counties, winning every battle he attacked.

More than ten leaders of the Black Mountain tribes, including Huang Long, Guo Daxian, Zuo Zizhangba, Wu Lu, and Lei Gong, were either killed or surrendered. A total of over 300,000 rebels were defeated, with over 20,000 heads taken, and at least ten heads sent to the capital region. The power of the Black Mountain tribes in Hebei was thus greatly diminished, and they ceased to be a major threat.

Even Huangfu Song, who was renowned throughout the land last year, fought his way through Yingchuan, Dongjun and other places, but his achievements were nothing more than this.

Now Liu Bei is leading a separate force and has achieved such a remarkable feat within a month, showing signs of becoming a rising star and following in the footsteps of his predecessors.

The elders of Hebei also said: Last year, Huangfu Song fought across thousands of miles, and this year Liu Bei is fighting bravely in Hebei. He is truly a rising star of the Han Dynasty and a famous general of our time.

Upon hearing the news of the victory in Luoyang, Lu Zhi exclaimed to his colleagues, "Our school has Xuande, just as Confucius's school had Zilu. However, Zilu was only known for his bravery, while Xuande possesses both literary and martial talents; he is truly an outstanding figure beyond his time!"

His words were brimming with pride.

Liu Bei's great victory is a testament to the guidance and training he received from his mentor.

His generosity is worthy of the sincere respect and high expectations placed upon him by the heroes of Hebei.

This is because Liu Bei was magnanimous and generous, knew how to treat people well, and possessed the qualities of Emperor Gaozu and the qualities of a hero!

He knew that without the loyal and devoted soldiers of Moxia, even with the strategies of Sun Tzu and the bravery of Xiang Yu, he would find it difficult to achieve a great and powerful career.

Therefore, after each victory at Pingzhai, the spoils obtained were distributed among the generals, and none were taken for himself!

In particular, the two strongholds of Yudu and Bairao each had a population of over 100,000. After years of operation, they plundered the wealthy lands of Weijun and Henan, accumulating immeasurable wealth.

After the two strongholds were captured, Jian Yong led his clerks to take three days to complete the inventory of the accounts.

The total amount of gold seized was no less than 2,000 catties, money worth hundreds of millions, more than 20,000 bolts of cloth, and armor and weapons piled up like mountains.

Once the rewards were distributed, cheers erupted throughout the army.

Wen Chou received fifty catties of gold, twenty bolts of Shu brocade, and a set of Mingguang armor personally bestowed by Liu Bei.

The Bright Light Armor is a variant of the two-piece armor. The two iron plates on the chest are forged using a cold forging method and repeatedly hammered until they are shiny enough to reflect a person's image. It is not awarded to anyone who has made great contributions.

He accepted the armor with both hands, his tiger-like eyes reddening, and clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "I am but a humble hunter, yet the Commandant has not abandoned me, pulling me out of the wilderness, and today I have received this generous reward—I would give my life to repay him!"

Gao Lan obtained twenty catties of gold and three fine horses, one of which was a fine steed from Bingzhou, captured from Yu Du's mount. It was over six feet tall at the shoulder, entirely black, and had snow-white hooves.

He took the reins, overjoyed, and stroked the horse's neck, laughing at his comrade beside him, "The commander has treated me like a national hero; I should repay him with my life!"

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei each received 100 catties of gold, 1,000 bolts of cloth, and over a million coins!

Guan Yu immediately transferred all the money to the generals and soldiers of the Jingse Iron Cavalry, which made the Jingse Iron Cavalry overjoyed.

Zhang Fei kept only the cartload of fine wine, which Liu Bei had bestowed upon him, totaling more than twenty shi (a unit of dry measure), and gave the rest to the soldiers of Gengshi Camp.

The ordinary soldiers of the Gengshi Camp cheered even more. This was because, in addition to what Zhang Fei had bestowed upon them, each soldier also received five bolts of silk and five hundred coins, with the platoon leader receiving double that amount and the squad leader receiving double that amount as well.

Those who died in battle were given a thousand bolts of silk and three thousand coins as compensation, while the wounded were given additional medical care.

Although most of the able-bodied men conscripted from the six major reclamation areas did not personally experience battle, each of them received a bolt of silk.

Nine hundred coins, along with various implements, oxcarts, and provisions.

When it was time to receive the reward, the soldiers in the camp lined up in long queues, eagerly waiting.

Some people held the newly issued crimson silk, turning it over and over to look at it, reluctant to put it away; others strung together heavy copper coins and hung them on their waists, making a jingling sound as they walked, which drew laughter from their comrades.

There was also a burly squad leader in his thirties who, carrying more than ten bolts of cloth that he had received in total, was almost bent over by the weight. But he looked up to the sky, tears streaming down his face, and shouted with pride, "I have lived for more than thirty years and have never seen such a generous reward! The captain has treated us so well, so my life belongs to the captain."

After the rewards were distributed, Liu Bei said generously to his generals, "Today's rewards are what you all earned with your blood and sweat. I was able to quell the rebellion entirely thanks to your efforts."

"Although Hebei has been pacified, the realm is not yet at peace, and the Han dynasty is still in turmoil. I wish to join hands with you all to work together to restore the Han dynasty, and one day, when we achieve our goal, we will share wealth and honor!"

The generals responded with a resounding roar, their voices echoing throughout the camp.

Ju Shou stroked his beard and smiled, knowing that his lord had won the hearts of all the generals and heroes!

He won people's hearts with loyalty and righteousness, and gained loyal followers with generosity.

Even with minor setbacks, morale will not waver, and these elite troops will surely follow loyally.

In the past, Emperor Gaozu shared the world with his generals, and Emperor Guangwu put his heart into the hearts of the people. Today, our lord has given away all his gains and taken nothing. With such popular support, how can we not achieve great things?

Liu Bei's popularity was clearly not limited to the army, but also extended to the people of Hebei.

In late May, the wheat ears droop, signaling the imminent summer harvest.

Since Liu Bei overcame all opposition last year to save the lives of 170,000 surrendered soldiers and implemented the government-owned land system on both sides of the Zhang River, this war-torn land has finally ushered in its first harvest season.

According to the "Four Seasons Monthly Ordinances," "In May, wheat can be harvested, and large wheat and small wheat can be obtained." Tian Feng then took charge of Xiaquyang, coordinated the six major reclamation areas, and ordered 170,000 soldiers to use the villages as camps and do their utmost to carry out the harvest.

Thanks to Tian Feng's meticulous arrangements for spring plowing, irrigation, and fertilization, the more than 4,100 hectares of fertile land cultivated by the garrison soldiers are now a golden expanse.

The wheat fields stretched from the west bank of the Zhang River all the way to the foot of the Taihang Mountains, rustling in the wind. The ears of wheat hung heavily, bending the stalks.

Liu Bei led his personal guards on horseback to inspect the various villages. Wherever they went, they saw sickles being brandished, oxcarts coming and going, wheat grains piled up like small mountains on the drying ground, and women and children grinding the new wheat around stone mills. The air was filled with the fresh fragrance of new wheat.

When the villagers saw his flag from afar, they put down their sickles and rushed to the roadside to kneel and kowtow.

An elderly man with white hair tremblingly picked up a handful of freshly cut wheat ears, raised them above his head, and said in a choked voice, "We will never forget Commander Liu's kindness in saving our lives! If it weren't for his shelter last year, we would have been nothing but withered bones in the ditch. This year, we harvested more than two bushels per mu. After paying the rent and taxes, we still have several dozen bushels of grain left—I've lived for over fifty years and have never had such a bountiful year!"

Behind him, a sea of ​​villagers knelt, men, women, and children all weeping and kowtowing. Some shouted, "Long live Commandant Liu!" The sound echoed across the fields.

Liu Bei would never dare to accept the title of "Long Live the Emperor".

Although "Long live the emperor" is not now exclusive to the emperor, for example, the "Biography of Han Leng" in the Book of Han records that Han Leng was the governor of Yingchuan. He had outstanding political achievements, and the people and officials all shouted "Long live the emperor!"

However, this is not something a subject should always accept.

He quickly dismounted, helped the old man up with both hands, and then looked around at the villagers kneeling on both sides of the field ridge.

Who says the common people are foolish? They are the ones who best know who treats them well and who has been kind to them. They will fight to the death to bring them down!

He felt a surge of righteous fervor welling up in his chest, bringing tears to his eyes. He addressed the crowd, saying, "Rise, everyone. Today's harvest is not the work of one person alone, but the result of your diligent labor. It is you who, with hoes and plows, cultivated this barren land, and with sickles and ropes, harvested this full granary of new wheat! Every grain is the product of your blood and sweat, the fruit of your own hands!"

"Last year, I said: 'Let everyone have land to cultivate and grain to eat.' Today, the wheat ears droop in the fields, and the granaries are full; the time has finally come. I hereby swear that after the summer harvest, each household, after paying rent and taxes, will have all the remaining grain as their own!"

"We, the descendants of the Chinese people, are self-reliant and unyielding. Natural disasters cannot destroy us, bandits cannot seize our lands, and oppressive governments cannot subdue us! We should rightfully share in this peaceful world and celebrate this bountiful harvest!"

Having finished speaking, he took a deep breath, raised his arm, and shouted, "May my great Han Dynasty last ten thousand years! May all people under heaven live ten thousand years!"

Upon hearing this, the villagers on both sides of the field erupted in cheers. Some held up ears of wheat and raised their arms in triumph, while others prostrated themselves on the ground, weeping uncontrollably. Some even lifted their children high above their heads, shouting, "My son, look! This is Commandant Liu! He is our benefactor; when you grow up, you must remember his kindness!"

The child, no more than four or five years old, still clutching half a stalk of wheat in his hand, called out in a childish voice, "Thank you for your kindness, Commandant!"

This drew laughter from those around them.

When Liu Bei returned to his tent in Xiaquyang after inspecting the various camps for half a day, Tian Feng came to Liu Bei with a letter. He smiled and cupped his hands to congratulate Liu Bei.

"May Feng congratulate the Lord!"

"The commanders of each garrison have recently compiled and submitted their summer harvest accounts. Of the 4,100 hectares of official land, about 2,200 hectares were planted with winter wheat, nearly 1,000 hectares with spring wheat, and the remaining 900 hectares were planted with millet, beans, vegetables, and other miscellaneous grains. Thanks to favorable weather and proper irrigation this year, all the garrisons have had a bumper harvest."

"The average yield per mu is estimated to be around two shi (a unit of dry measure), with a good winter wheat field yielding three and a half shi (another unit of dry measure), and a slightly less fertile spring wheat field yielding one and a half shi (another unit of dry measure). Based on this, the total summer harvest of the 4,100 hectares of official land will be no less than 850,000 hu (another unit of dry measure) of grain."

Upon hearing this, all the generals around Liu Bei looked astonished.

Eighty-five hundred thousand hu! One hu is approximately ten dou in the Han Dynasty system, so eighty-five hundred thousand hu is eight million five hundred thousand dou of grain.

If we calculate that each household of five people consumes twenty bushels of coarse grains per month, the harvest from this summer alone would be enough to feed 170,000 garrison soldiers for nearly two years.

Of course, not all of this grain could belong to the soldiers; most of it had to be used to pay rent and taxes.

Tian Feng continued, "According to the regulations on official land, 50% of the annual harvest goes to the public and 50% to the garrison households. Those who rent government-owned oxen for plowing pay an additional 10% rent. This summer's harvest of 850,000 bushels was distributed to the government, with approximately 460,000 bushels going to the military granaries and various garrison granaries to prepare for military needs and provide relief during famine years."

"The remaining 400,000 bushels will belong to the 170,000 households. Divided among each household, there will be at least 20 bushels and at most 30 bushels, which will be enough to support them until the next harvest."

"From having nothing last year and surviving on bran and wild vegetables, to today having full granaries and overflowing stores, I am deeply grateful for the lord's life-saving grace..."

The policy of military colonies has already benefited nearly 200,000 people in Hebei.

At this point, a genuine smile appeared on Tian Feng's usually resolute face. He cupped his hands and said, "I congratulate my lord on the abundant fruits of the benevolent seeds you sowed last year."

Liu Bei was overjoyed. The lives of tens of thousands of people and nearly a million bushels of grain were saved from the brink of death. This joy and achievement, this sense of accomplishment in preserving the vitality and strength of the various states, made him even happier than when he had defeated the bandits!

If Huangfu Song had acted as he did last year, slaughtering them all and ending it all, these people and their provisions would certainly not exist now.

With these 400,000 jin of grain, it is unknown how many refugees could be helped and how many lives could be saved.

He suppressed his inner turmoil and instructed Tian Feng: "Now that the military farms have yielded a bumper harvest and the grains are plentiful, all the grains borrowed from various counties, powerful families, and wealthy merchants last year must be returned in full, without the slightest delay."

"A person cannot stand without integrity, and a government cannot function without integrity. Last year, in order to protect 170,000 surrendered soldiers, I had no choice but to borrow grain from all sides. At that time, the price of grain was soaring, with a bushel of millet costing several hundred coins, yet they were still willing to give me all they had. This was not because of my personal reputation as Liu Bei, but because they believed that I could succeed in this agricultural settlement project."

"If we break our promise now and become wealthy, even if we save tens of thousands of bushels of grain, we will lose the trust of the entire Hebei province. In the future, when there is another year of famine, who will be willing to lend us a single grain?"

"This matter will be entirely overseen by you, sir. Xianhe and his clerks will verify each loan receipt, ensuring that the principal and interest are fully repaid within one month after the summer harvest. Furthermore, for those who borrow more than one hundred bushels of grain, a personal letter of thanks must be written to express gratitude."

Tian Feng nodded, stroked his beard, and said, "The Analects says: 'Since ancient times, all men have died, but a state cannot stand without the trust of its people.' Your lord's actions are truly an act to gain the trust of the world, and will surely win the hopes of the entire nation."

He paused for a moment, then said, "But this is, after all, hundreds of thousands of bushels of grain. I fear that if it were all distributed in a single day, it would be something that Lord Wang would not want."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei's leopard-like eyes widened, his tiger-like whiskers bristled, and he stepped forward, sword in hand, his anger blazing. He roared, "How dare he! This is the result of my elder brother's tireless efforts, working day and night, personally leading the soldiers to cultivate the land and encourage agriculture. Every grain is the fruit of his blood and sweat, the result of the soldiers' and villagers' own labor!"

"He hasn't accomplished anything, what right does he have to come and steal our grain? If he dares to lay a hand on us, I, Old Zhang, will chop off his dog's paws!"

Tian Feng sighed, "In the end, we are living under someone else's roof, so we have to be careful."

At this moment, Liu Bei also desperately hoped to have his own base of operations! He wanted to no longer be hampered by such cunning people.

If it were only for his own benefit, Liu Bei, with his fierce nature, would absolutely not tolerate it!

But this was after all about the livelihood of 170,000 garrison soldiers, and Liu Bei was afraid that once he left Ji Province, Wang Fen would act inhumanely and ruin the livelihoods of 170,000 people.

So after thinking for a moment, he slowly took a deep breath and said, "In the end, we must consider the future of the world."

"We cannot take the taxes paid by the garrison soldiers with us. Apart from paying off debts, the surplus grain will be transferred to the prefectures and counties where the six major garrison areas are located. Only when the prefectures, counties, and counties all benefit can we be happy to see the garrison system still in place."

Tian Feng nodded slightly and said, "This is the only way."

Although Liu Bei was the Agricultural Commandant, it was impossible for him to privatize all the grain and fodder. The garrison soldiers were from Ji Province, and the official land was provided by various counties, so the taxes should have been turned over to the public and could not have been given to a private individual.

What Liu Bei could gain was the profit from the fake oxen and horses; those who rented his oxen had to pay him a ten percent rent.

Liu Bei looked at Tian Feng and asked, "How much tax can I get from this?"

Tian Feng immediately reported back: "The profit from the fake cattle and horses is about 50,000 bushels."

Liu Bei then waved his hand and said, "Ten thousand bushels of them will be handed over to the state government in my name, to thank the state government for the benefits of the military farms."

I also request that Governor Wang take good care of these people who rent government land in the future.

"Another 30,000 bushels will be distributed to the soldiers stationed in the fields to relieve their hunger."

"The remaining 10,000 bushels will be used for supplies to our troops."

Tian Feng cupped his hands and sincerely praised, "Our lord's benevolence and righteousness are truly praised by the world. Hundreds of thousands of grain supplies were distributed to the soldiers and civilians of Hebei with a mere wave of his hand, while he himself kept no more than ten thousand bushels."

"In the past, Zichan governed Zheng by using his imperial carriage to ferry people across the Zhen and Wei rivers; Mencius said he was benevolent but did not know how to govern. Your Majesty's governance today is not only benevolent, but also a principle of governance. It ensures that the people have a stable livelihood, the prefectures have a stable tax revenue, and the scholars have a stable mindset. This is the foundation for long-term stability and peace. Do not covet the benefits of a small corner of the land, do not boast of temporary achievements, but only care about the well-being of all people. Such a mindset is something that even the sages of the past could not match."

Liu Bei smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Yuanhao, don't flatter me with such high praise. What sage-like magnanimity? This is out of necessity. Although we have plenty of provisions, we have no foothold in our own territory. In the end, we are dependent on others and have no choice but to share resources with various parties to ensure our survival. If I had my own base, allowing me to govern freely and benefit the people, why would I be in this predicament?"

Even as his words were still ringing in the air, and the cheers for the distribution of grain to the people had not yet subsided, three days later, Zhao Yun hurried into the tent, clasped his hands in greeting, and announced, "Commander! The imperial envoy has arrived! It's a eunuch from Luoyang!"

Liu Bei's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly rose and led his generals out of the tent to greet them. There they saw a young eunuch dressed in a black straight-hemmed robe and wearing a tall mountain-shaped hat, riding up on horseback under the protection of several Tiger Guards. He dismounted, unfolded a crimson imperial edict in his hand, and read it aloud in a shrill voice.

"On the day of Gengwu in the sixth month of the second year of Zhongping, an imperial edict was issued to Liu Bei, the Martial and Mighty Commandant:"

"I believe that the key to governing a country lies in appointing virtuous and capable officials; the foundation of national security lies in selecting good governors. You, Liu Bei, the Martial and Mighty Commandant, are a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan, a great-grandson of Emperor Jing of Han, a member of the Han imperial family, and a loyal and virtuous man for generations."

"When the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, eight provinces were shaken. You, a commoner, gathered righteous men, fought bravely in Youyan, captured Zhang Liang at the Zhang River, and beheaded Zhang Bao at Xiaquyang. Your prestige shook Hebei, and your achievements surpassed those of the three armies. You then used all your military merits to atone for your teacher's sins. Your loyalty and righteousness are praised throughout the world."

"I commend your meritorious service and promote you to the rank of Imperial Advisor, then to the rank of Martial and Mighty Commandant, entrusting you with the task of suppressing the bandits in Hebei. You received the imperial edict and immediately set out, fighting across six prefectures. Within a month, you successively defeated more than ten tribes of the Black Mountain, including Zhang Niujiao, Yu Du, and Bai Rao, beheading more than 20,000 people, and sending the heads of no fewer than ten to the capital region. The Black Mountain's power in Hebei was greatly weakened from then on, the people were able to live in peace, and the prefectures and counties were restored to tranquility."

"Since you raised your righteous army, you have fulfilled your military duties in the prefectures and counties, and your civil and military affairs have been well prepared. You possess both literary and military talents, and your achievements are remarkable. In the past, Emperor Gaozu of Han rose from Fengpei, and Emperor Guangwu rose from Chunling. Both relied on the outstanding members of the imperial family to establish their royal enterprises."

"As a member of the imperial clan, you should continue the virtues of your ancestors; having achieved extraordinary merit, you deserve a great reward. Therefore, I hereby appoint you as the Prefect of Mount Tai, with a salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain), enfeoff you as the Marquis of Guangwu, with a fief of five hundred households, and bestow upon you five hundred catties of gold and one thousand bolts of silk, to recognize your achievements."

"Alas! Mount Tai stands tall and majestic, the land of Qi and Lu vast and boundless. Good governance brings peace to the people, clear laws rectify customs, and martial prowess quells the rebellion. Let no Yellow Turban Rebellion in Qing and Xu be allowed to rise again. Be reverent and do not fail my expectations. This proclamation is hereby issued to the world, so that all may know."

Upon hearing of the emperor's reward, Liu Bei was so surprised that he almost forgot to get up and receive the imperial edict. It wasn't until Tian Feng nudged him from the side that he snapped out of his daze and hurriedly stepped forward.

The emperor not only acknowledged his achievements but also recognized his status!

Previously, Liu He, the head of the Imperial Clan, had been pushing for his status as a member of the imperial clan, and with his outstanding achievements in Hebei, the task had been successfully completed!

He is now a member of the Han imperial family and a member of the royal nobility, recognized by the Grand Han Imperial Clan!

However, there was one thing that made Liu Bei somewhat embarrassed. After the officials of the Imperial Clan Court questioned the three elders, copied the family genealogy, and compared it with the genealogy of the imperial family at the mausoleum of Prince Jing of Zhongshan, it was finally confirmed that he was not "Uncle Liu" but "Nephew Liu". In fact, according to seniority, he was already a grandson of the current emperor.

Because he was the 19th generation descendant of Emperor Xiaojing, while the current emperor, Liu Hong, was the 13th generation descendant of Emperor Xiaojing.

If he were to meet the emperor, he would not only be addressed as an equal, but should also call Liu Hong "Grand Uncle".

This caused all the generals in the tent to burst into laughter. Zhang Fei laughed so hard he almost fell over, slapping his thigh and shouting, "I thought you were my uncle, but it turns out you're just a grand-nephew! Brother, how do we explain this?"

Liu Bei didn't care. Whether he was a royal uncle or a royal grandson, what mattered was his royal status.

Once he has this identity, coupled with his military achievements and reputation, it would be perfectly justified for him to become a governor of a state, or even go further and rule over all directions!

Now that his status as a member of the imperial clan is established and he is about to be granted a fief and a marquisate, his identity as a "grandson of the emperor" makes him even more humble, quite unlike those relatives who are proud of their seniority.

Moreover, the current emperor is indeed generous to his own members of the imperial clan, directly bestowing upon him the title of Marquis of Ting! And granting him a fief of five hundred households!

During the Han Dynasty, there was a custom of bestowing titles upon people based on their hometowns. As the saying goes, "One should not return to one's hometown without wealth and honor, for it is like wearing brocade at night!" Being granted a title in one's hometown meant that glory would return to one's native land and achievements would be known to the elders.

The Marquis of Guangwu Pavilion was a pavilion under Ji County of Guangyang Commandery, which was the most prosperous place in Youzhou.

During the Han Dynasty, a pavilion was formed every ten li (approximately 5 kilometers). A li contained anywhere from thirty to fifty households to over a hundred households.

The fiefdom consisted of 500 households, which meant that almost every village and 10 li (approximately 5 kilometers) in the area belonged to Liu Bei!

Although Liu Bei had no authority to command or levy taxes on them, even though the taxes were collected by the local counties and then delivered to Liu Bei.

But emotionally, it was completely different! Everyone in the area knew that from that moment on, every blade of grass, every brick and tile of Guangwu Pavilion was inextricably linked to Liu Xuande's fate.

More importantly, once this relationship is established, it will be a bond for generations to come. He will be the ruler of these people and their descendants, able to turn a group of strangers into his closest kinsmen and neighbors.

If he is willing to recruit soldiers at that time, they will be his most trusted and loyal followers.

Of course, the fiefdom was only nominally granted to Liu Bei. For him, the most important practical promotion from this reward was the position of Prefect of Mount Tai!

The edict clearly states: "Mount Tai stands majestically, and the land of Qi and Lu is vast and boundless. Good governance brings peace to the people, clear laws rectify customs, and military force subdues the rebellious. Let no Yellow Turban Rebellion in Qing and Xu be allowed to rise again."

It seems that his remarks at the Ministry of Personnel last year have attracted the attention of the court and the emperor.

The resurgence of the Black Mountain bandits also taught the officials a great lesson—although the Yellow Turban Rebellion was quelled, the world was not yet at peace.

With the Black Mountain bandits causing trouble now, the Yellow Turbans in Qing and Xu provinces may very well rise again in the future.

What is needed most right now is a renowned general like him, who can awe the enemy and pacify the surrounding areas.