xymnovel Chapter 41 The Law of Official Land Acquisition and the Abundance of Military Generals
Chapter 41 The Law of Official Land Acquisition and the Abundance of Military Generals
Tian Feng remained calm and spoke eloquently: "What Lord Liu is concerned about, allocating land according to the number of people, is a common practice throughout history."
"However, it cannot be implemented. Feng believes that the difficulty lies not in the obstruction of powerful families, but in the fact that you are weak and powerless. As a mere military officer, you are undertaking the task of granting land. If your name is not righteous, your words will not be proper, and if your strength is insufficient, the matter will be difficult to accomplish. Therefore, you need to seek help from others."
"Borrowing strength?" Liu Bei's gaze sharpened.
"Exactly." Tian Feng pointed a finger, seemingly towards the direction of the temple in Guangzong County. "These wastelands within Julu Prefecture are certainly coveted by powerful families, but they are not the only ones who covet them. Doesn't the prefectural government also want them?"
"Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Julu County has been devastated, its granaries are empty, and taxes have ceased. If these unclaimed wastelands could be taken over by the county government, re-registered, designated as official land, and then rented to displaced people and surrendered soldiers for cultivation, with 50% of the harvest going towards taxes and replenishing the county treasury—"
"For the prefecture, this means they can reap tens of thousands of bushels of grain without firing a single shot. Why not do it?"
"At that time, the one who implemented this policy was not necessarily the Assistant Military Advisor, but rather Guo Dian, the Prefect of Julu."
"Lord Guo has been besieged in the isolated city of Yingtao for several months, resisting Zhang Jiao's army of 100,000 without surrendering. His prestige is soaring, and his name is known throughout the court and the countryside. If we can obtain his approval and implement this official land policy in the name of the prefecture, it will be a just and upright prefecture administration."
"If the powerful clans want to obstruct us, they will be making enemies of Lord Guo and the Julu Prefecture—how could they not be afraid?"
Liu Bei suddenly understood. The way of being an official is to blend in with the world.
In fact, he didn't need to do it personally. Instead, he could have turned it into a prefectural policy and used Guo Dian's prestige and power to promote it, which would have greatly reduced the resistance.
No matter how powerful the local magnates were, they dared not openly confront a prefect who had just fought against the Yellow Turbans and whose name was known throughout the land.
Seeing that his expression relaxed, Tian Feng continued, "Moreover, there is no conflict between powerful families seeking land and the prefecture seeking grain. According to the law on official land, the land is only temporarily under the jurisdiction of the prefecture and is not privately transferred."
"Whether it's the original powerful family who owned the land, or the tigers and wolves from all directions who coveted it, they can all demand it back from the prefectural government through lawsuits. By the time the ownership is clarified, it may be several years later."
"At that time, the situation was stable, and the surrendered Yellow Turban soldiers had been settled. Whether to continue the lease on the official land or return it to its original owners could be discussed later. This was a temporary measure that would neither harm the interests of the powerful clans nor exacerbate the immediate crisis. What does Mr. Liu think?"
Liu Bei stood up with a sigh, feeling that he had benefited greatly!
The system of government-owned land was indeed a compromise. Throughout history, every dynasty had its own system of government-owned land, some of which may have numbered in the hundreds of thousands of hectares.
The most ingenious aspect of this method is that it can leverage the power of the imperial court, ensuring its implementation.
He immediately bowed deeply to Tian Feng: "Sir, your words have relieved me of my predicament for several days. I will proceed according to your plan. I will now go to see my mentor and ask him to introduce me to Lord Guo."
Soon, inside the county temple, Lu Zhi saw Liu Bei return and was slightly surprised. He asked, "Xuande, has something important happened that you've returned?"
Liu Bei immediately introduced Tian Feng, then explained the laws governing official land ownership in detail, and attributed all the credit to Tian Feng.
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhi rose from his seat, paced back and forth in the hall several times with his hands behind his back, and then clapped his hands and laughed: "Wonderful! Wonderful! What a wonderful 'land not to be lightly granted'! This method of official land—land belongs to the prefecture and is rented to displaced people—is neither taking land from others nor sitting idly by and letting it lie fallow. It is exactly in accordance with the practices of the former kings."
"This aligns well with the words of Guanzi, 'Equal distribution of land and labor, enabling the people to know the times'; it also does not contradict the current situation, truly a sound strategy for governing the world!"
He became more and more excited as he spoke, and walked to the table, spread out a blank bamboo scroll, picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote rapidly, saying as he wrote: "This method can not only be applied to Julu, but can also be promoted to all the prefectures in the world."
"After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the provinces of Qing, Xu, Yan, and Yu were all desolate with fields lying fallow and refugees everywhere."
"If the system of official lands can be implemented in all directions, it can not only settle surrendered soldiers and refugees, but also quickly restore agriculture and sericulture in the prefectures and counties. It is truly the best policy for quelling rebellion and pacifying the people. It is precisely to continue the legacy of the Three Dynasties and the old rules of the Zhou Dynasty."
"I will now draft a memorial and send it to Luoyang, requesting the court to implement this good policy in all directions so that all prefectures can follow suit, so that all the refugees in the world can have land to cultivate and food to eat."
After finishing in one go, Lu Zhi put down his pen, turned to look at Tian Feng, and his eyes were full of admiration.
"Yuan Hao truly lives up to his reputation; no wonder Xuande strongly advocates for his recruitment. You will remain in my disciple's camp to advise on military affairs and assist him in pacifying the people and suppressing the rebels. With you here, Xuande will be even more powerful, and I can rest easy!"
Tian Feng cupped his hands in agreement: "Now that I have received this order, I will do my utmost to repay the kindness shown to me by General Liu and Lord Liu."
When Liu Bei explained this strategy just now, he did not hold back at all and attributed all the credit to him.
Tian Feng then realized that Liu Bei's reputation as a gentleman was truly well-deserved! He was indeed a benevolent and righteous ruler!
Then Lu Zhi looked at Liu Bei and said, "Xuande, you should also promptly reorganize your troops, settle the prisoners, and follow my army north to join Lord Guo in besieging Xiaquyang."
Liu Bei asked in surprise, "The army has just captured Guangzong, and you're already setting off?"
Lu Zhi nodded and said, "Zhang Jiao and Zhang Liang have been defeated, and the chief culprit of the Moth Rebellion, Zhang Bao, is the only one left. He failed to capture Julu and has already encamped at Xiaquyang. Zhang Jiao must have fled here. Our army should immediately advance and surround him, without giving the enemy a chance to catch his breath."
Liu Bei immediately cupped his hands and said, "This disciple will immediately gather his troops and is willing to be the vanguard for my esteemed master, to defeat the enemy and vanquish the bandits."
Lu Zhi was resolute and principled, loyal to the country and devoted to his principles. His disciple should also do his utmost to quickly defeat Zhang Jiao.
He fought so hard because he didn't want his mentor to repeat the mistakes of history and be taken away in a prison cart by the imperial court.
Lu Zhi laughed loudly, "Very well, since Xuande has such a loyal and righteous heart, then you shall be the vanguard of the entire army to sweep away the evil influence."
Afterwards, Liu Bei and Tian Feng took their leave and went together to the camp in Quzhou.
With this top strategist of the late Han Dynasty by his side, Liu Bei would certainly humbly seek his advice.
His subordinates were numerous and fierce, with many brave and powerful generals.
However, strategists capable of making strategic plans and assessing the enemy's situation have always been in short supply.
Now that he has finally obtained Tian Feng's assistance and is serving as a military advisor, he is truly thriving.
So after returning to the camp, Liu Bei invited Tian Feng to the central command tent, and then summoned his trusted generals and officers, including Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Qian Zhao, Tian Yu, Cheng Pu, and Yan Rou.
He announced to the crowd: "Mr. Yuan Hao is a renowned scholar from Julu, possessing exceptional talent and extraordinary strategic skills. From this day forward, all military affairs, large and small, will be decided by him. You should all treat him with the respect due to a teacher and must not disobey."
Zhang Fei held such renowned scholars in the highest esteem and had no objections.
However, Guan Yu, skilled in military affairs but arrogant towards the scholar-officials, opened his phoenix eyes slightly upon hearing this, stroked his beard, and asked, "Brother, what extraordinary talent does he possess that makes him worthy of such an important task? If the wrong person is entrusted with this responsibility, wouldn't it jeopardize our great ambitions?"
Tian Feng was also a stubborn man. He first bowed to Liu Bei and said, "Since I have received your command, how could I not do my best?"
Then he turned to Guan Yu and said, "What insights do you, a mere soldier, have?"
Guan Yu snorted coldly and said, "Then please tell me, sir, now that you have grasped the military strategy, what should we do given the current situation? We have won consecutive battles, Zhang Liang has been captured, Zhang Jiao has died of fright, and the main army is heading north to besiege Zhang Bao. How can we quell this great chaos?"
All the generals looked at Tian Feng, wanting to see how he would answer.
Liu Bei sat upright, for what Guan Yu said was exactly what worried him.
Tian Feng glanced at the generals, smiled faintly, and said, "You all say that we have won every battle and that the Yellow Turbans can be quelled with a mere wave of your hand?"
"However, Feng believes that although our army appears to be invincible, it is actually as precarious as a pile of eggs!"
Liu Bei's expression hardened, and he cupped his hands, saying, "What is your meaning, sir? I would like to hear the details."
Tian Feng first extended a finger and slowly said, "When King Wu of Zhou attacked King Zhou of Shang, he met with the feudal lords at Mengjin. Eight hundred feudal lords arrived unexpectedly and all said, 'King Zhou can be attacked.' Only Jiang Ziya thought it was not advisable."
King Wu asked the reason, and Taigong said: "Heaven's way has no calamities, so one should not initiate action; human affairs have no troubles, so one should not plan ahead. Although King Zhou is tyrannical, the heart of the Shang Dynasty has not yet collapsed. If the royal army goes deep into the territory, it will surely be met with a desperate struggle." King Wu then withdrew his army.
"Two years later, King Zhou killed Bigan and imprisoned Jizi, causing the core of the Shang Dynasty to collapse. King Wu then launched an eastern expedition and pacified the region in one battle. Hence, the Six Secret Teachings states: 'The way of Heaven is difficult to see, and the way of man is difficult to know. The sage sees the beginning and thus knows the end.'"
He then looked at Liu Bei and said, "Our current situation is similar to theirs. Although our army has won many battles, can the million Yellow Turbans be wiped out in one battle? Their core forces have not collapsed, and Zhang Jiao has retreated to defend an isolated city. This is precisely the time for a 'struggle of a cornered beast.' If our army hastily sets out to besiege them, I fear we will face certain death."
Guan Yu snorted coldly, about to retort.
Tian Feng, however, did not give him a chance to speak, and continued, "But this is merely a minor ailment. The real threat lies not with the traitors, but with the court itself."
"Throughout history, the greatest taboo in military affairs has been remote control by the imperial court and obstruction by eunuchs. Lord Liu should know that in countless battles throughout history, those defeated at the front lines are few, while those defeated in the rear are many!"
"During the Warring States period, Yue Yi captured more than seventy cities of the State of Qi. He besieged Ju and Jimo for three years without success. King Hui of Yan believed slander and replaced Yue Yi with Qi Jie, thus all his previous achievements were wasted, and the people of Qi were able to restore their state."
"During the reign of Qin's second emperor, Zhang Han led a convict army from Mount Li on an eastern expedition, defeating Zhou Wen and Tian Zang in succession, killing Chen Sheng at Chengfu, and defeating Xiang Liang at Dingtao. He almost single-handedly saved the Qin dynasty from collapse. At that time, Wei Jiu committed suicide by burning himself, and Tian Dan was beheaded. Wherever the Qin army's iron cavalry trampled, the feudal lords trembled in fear and dared not look up. The Qin dynasty believed that the great chaos could be quelled within a month and that the restoration was just around the corner."
"Therefore, Zhao Gao held power in the court and slandered others day and night, saying, 'The bandits in Guandong are incompetent, and Zhang Han is holding onto his troops and is not fighting a decisive battle for a long time. He must have ulterior motives.' The Second Emperor believed him and sent an envoy to question Zhang Han about why he was not fighting a decisive battle for a long time."
"Zhang Han was afraid and sent his chief clerk, Sima Xin, back to Xianyang to request an audience. Zhao Gao refused to see him, and they could not communicate for three days. Zhang Han was caught in a dilemma and finally surrendered 200,000 Qin troops to Xiang Yu, causing the Qin dynasty to collapse. All his previous efforts were in vain, just a matter of a single thought."
Amidst the astonishment of the crowd, Tian Feng said with deep feeling: "I have heard that a ruler who brings prosperity to a country first cultivates human affairs, then makes full use of the geographical advantages, and finally observes the timing of the heavens. Therefore, all his undertakings are successful, and the country is at peace and prosperous."
"The Ten Attendants now wield power within the palace, indicating that human affairs are not yet properly managed! Julu is suffering from famine, and Quyang is heavily fortified, signifying that the advantages of the terrain have not been fully utilized. In the fourth month, a solar eclipse will obliterate the sun, making daytime darkness obscure the stars, and birds will fall from the sky. The constellations of the Dipper and the Ox signify impending doom, indicating that the timing of the heavens is not in harmony!"
"If none of the three things are accomplished, even a sage in the world would find it difficult to understand the Way of Heaven."
Upon hearing Tian Feng's words, the generals were all filled with doubt and skepticism.
Only Liu Bei rose up with a sigh, took Tian Feng's hand, and said, "Sir, you are truly a rare talent in the world! To have you is like a parched seedling receiving rain and dew."
After all, Liu Bei had seen this situation far too many times in historical records.
Before the An Lushan Rebellion and the Battle of Tongguan, the Tang army's Shuofang troops almost reached Fanyang, and 200,000 Hebei militia cut off the rebels' retreat. The rebellion could have been quelled in just ten months.
As long as the emperor relinquishes power and allows the Tang court's renowned generals and elite troops to fully display their talents, An Lushan's execution will be just around the corner.
As a result, the emperor insisted on ordering the Tongguan garrison to hastily march out to meet the enemy at a time when the situation seemed extremely favorable. Ultimately, the once-prosperous Tang Dynasty collapsed in a single day. Chang'an fell, and the rebellion raged on. What should have been quelled in six months dragged on for decades.
There are countless examples of such near-misses.
The reason Tian Feng specifically cited Zhang Han's example in great detail is because his situation was most similar to the current situation of the Han Dynasty, almost exactly the same.
The army at the front was victorious in a hundred battles, while the eunuchs in the court at the rear were causing chaos in politics.
If the imperial court doesn't interfere recklessly, and if the renowned general Lu Zhi, jointly recommended by the four prefectures, leads the army, given the current circumstances, victory is assured. The million-strong Yellow Turban rebellion could be quelled in just a few months.
However, given the current incomplete personnel situation, those eunuchs will certainly try to interfere by spreading rumors once the situation is settled.
Ultimately, what should have been a month-long war turned into a series of setbacks, defeats, and even dragged on for several years, proving difficult to quell.
But Liu Bei knew that this kind of thing was bound to happen!
After all, Lu Zhi in history was framed by eunuchs and taken to Luoyang in a prison cart. Then, the Hebei army, which had won many battles, suffered a series of crushing defeats.
Liu Bei immediately asked Tian Feng, "In that case, what do you think we should do?"
Tian Feng shook his head and sighed, "The Ten Attendants' interference in politics and the Emperor's indulgence are chronic problems in the court that cannot be eradicated overnight. We, the generals and officers on the front lines, brave arrows and stones and face blades, our lives hanging by a thread, yet we have no say in the power struggles within Luoyang. In truth, I am powerless to do anything about this."
All the generals in the tent remained silent. Guan Yu stroked his beard without saying a word, while Zhang Fei slapped his thigh hard, his face full of resentment but with nowhere to vent it.
Liu Bei, unwilling to give up, asked, "Are we just going to stand by and watch, helpless?"
Upon hearing Liu Bei's words, Tian Feng's eyes blazed, and his tone suddenly became impassioned: "No! In my view, this is precisely the time for heroes to rise up!"
He stood up, his robes fluttering, and looked down at the generals in the tent: "Gentlemen, if the court is efficient and the people are harmonious, and the villains disappear, Lu Zhonglang will pacify Hebei in one battle, the Yellow Turbans will be quelled in a month, and the world will return to peace."
"By then, Liu Jun will be nothing more than a junior military officer, and you gentlemen will be mere subordinate officers in the army. In terms of seniority, when will you ever get a chance to rise in rank? The court has its own system for recognizing merit; how can it allow commoners to suddenly rise to high positions?"
He turned to look at Liu Bei, his words ringing out: "Only in times of chaos can a hero's true colors be revealed. The court's initial victory followed by defeat and the current state of disarray presents a golden opportunity for heroes."
The Six Secret Teachings states: "When a bird of prey is about to strike, it flies low and folds its wings; when a fierce beast is about to pounce, it lowers its ears and crouches low. When a sage is about to act, he will always show signs of foolishness."
"Liu Jun, when the time is not yet ripe, you should keep your wings folded and lie low, accumulating strength. When the court changes and the world yearns for virtuous men, that will be the time for heroes to rise up."
"Now, Lord Liu should focus on settling the surrendered soldiers and spreading the name of benevolence and righteousness among the rebels. Only in this way can he gain popular support and become a pillar in the midst of the rebellion when the rebellion is quelled in the future."
Liu Bei immediately understood. This was an imitation of Cao Cao's story. When Cao Cao pacified the Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou and tried to persuade them to surrender, the Yellow Turbans only trusted Cao Cao.
Now Liu Bei has the Gengshi Camp as his trusted confidants within his ranks, and tens of thousands of surrendered soldiers outside who have earned him a reputation for benevolence and righteousness.
If the Yellow Turban Rebellion needs to be quelled and appeased in the future, then he is the only one who can do it.
However, whether it's advancing into Xiaquyang or meeting with Guo Dian to settle the surrendered soldiers, these are matters that should be handled as they come, and he doesn't need to be distracted by them.
So he left Zhao Yun there to reorganize the Gengshi camp.
The resettlement of surrendered soldiers, logistics and supplies, and all other military and political matters were decided by Tian Feng.
He himself, along with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, led over a thousand elite infantry and cavalry to march north towards Julu County with the main army.
This time, a group of troops were left behind to assist Tian Feng in settling the surrendered soldiers. Although the number of troops heading north was small, their combat strength was further enhanced.
This is because the number of talented generals under Liu Bei's command has increased again! Now he has a wealth of talent under his command, including Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Tian Yu, Qian Zhao, Cheng Pu, Xiahou Lan, Zhou Cang, Yan Rou, Zhang Nan, Shi Ren, Wang Kai, Li Zheng, Wang Tong, Han Jing and many other good and brave generals.
Moreover, with Tian Feng's assistance, he was able to organize the captured Yellow Turban supplies at an even faster pace, and from the captured supplies, he managed to find more than 400 sets of heavy armor, more than 1,000 suits of armor, more than 500 crossbows, and more than 1,000 warhorses and draft horses.
Now, his troops are not only fully armed with elite cavalry and excellent armor and weapons, but also all his foot soldiers are armored, and there are three hundred elite armored soldiers wearing heavy armor.
If we were to fight Zhang Yan again, even with only our brave soldiers fighting fiercely and their blades flashing wildly, they would be able to defeat Zhang Yan's central army with just three hundred armored warriors as the vanguard!