xymnovel Chapter 49 Agricultural Commandant - The Unyielding and Fierce Liu Bei
Chapter 49 Agricultural Commandant - The Unyielding and Fierce Liu Bei
When the envoy from Luoyang arrived at the county seat of Julu County, Yingtao, it was already late October. The autumn wind was bleak, and the surrendered soldiers on both sides of the Zhang River were busy harvesting the last batch of beans in the official fields.
The imperial edict was sent back along with Huangfu Song's report of victory—Huangfu Song attributed all the credit for suppressing the rebellion in Hebei to Lu Zhi's strategies and Liu Bei's military prowess. The emperor was delighted upon reading the report and specially ordered the Ministry of Personnel to discuss and reward them generously.
An angel read the imperial edict in the Yingtao Prefecture. Huangfu Song was appointed General of the Left Chariots and Cavalry, Governor of Ji Province, and Marquis of Huaili, with a fief of eight thousand households, for his merit in suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion.
Cao Cao was promoted to Chancellor of Jinan for his military achievements in Yingchuan and Hebei.
The generals of the Northern Army were rewarded in different ways, some were promoted to Commandant, and some were appointed as Gentlemen of the Palace.
Liu Bei, holding the position of Commandant of Martial Valor, should have been promoted to magistrate of a large county or prefectural assistant or commandery commander. However, Huangfu Song added a special note in his memorial: "Liu Bei, the Assistant Military Advisor, has made great contributions, but he has requested to use all his accumulated military merits to atone for the sins of his teacher Lu Zhi. Your servant Song believes that such loyalty and righteousness should not be limited by ordinary rules."
Therefore, the Emperor issued a special edict: granting him due recognition for his loyalty and righteousness, pardoning Lu Zhi's crime, and promoting him to the position of Minister, in charge of the Ministry of Personnel. The Ministry of Personnel was the most important department within the Ministry of Personnel, and the promotion and demotion of officials throughout the empire were all decided by it.
This greatly excited everyone in the hall. It proved that the emperor also knew that Lu Zhi had been wronged and therefore had made amends.
Zhang Fei, who was surrounded by countless generals and officers, was specially commended by the angel: "In the Battle of Zhangshui, he personally captured Zhang Liang, and his merit surpassed that of the entire army. He was specially awarded the title of Right Attendant of the Tiger Guard, with a rank equivalent to 600 shi."
The angel closed the edict and smiled at Zhang Fei, saying, "Zhang Huben, the Emperor heard that you captured Zhang Liang alive at the Zhang River and personally beheaded Zhang Bao at Xiaquyang, praising you as 'a fierce warrior of Yan and Zhao, a match for ten thousand men.' This position of Huben Pu She is the personal guard protecting the Emperor, and the head of the Huben Lang is skilled in archery. Only those who are bravest in the entire army are appointed. Although you have not yet entered the capital to take up your post, this name is already enough to awe the world."
"The emperor greatly admired the ruler and bestowed upon him a hundred gold pieces, a thousand bolts of silk, five fine horses, and a powerful bow to commend his bravery."
Zhang Fei laughed heartily upon hearing the praise. He didn't care about the official position, but the reputation of being a match for ten thousand men and the evaluation of being the bravest in the army made him very happy.
From this day forward, he will be the emperor’s personally recognized mighty general of our time, fierce and powerful, invincible!
Besides Zhang Fei, many of Liu Bei's generals and officers also received military merits and rewards, which was due to the benefits of being a close confidant of the main general.
When Lu Zhi reported the victory, he emphasized the need for credit for Liu Bei and his subordinates.
Although Huangfu Song's achievements were not as dramatic as Lu Zhi's, he was an upright man who always rewarded those who had made contributions without bias.
Therefore, the merits of Liu Bei's generals and officers were all directly recorded in the Imperial Archives.
Guan Yu was appointed as the magistrate of Anxi for his meritorious service, and was in charge of the county. His military achievements and rewards were even higher than those of Liu Bei's historical position as the county magistrate of Anxi.
Tian Yu was appointed as the Commandant of Gaoyang, and Zhang Nan was appointed as the Commandant of Liyang.
In addition, there were more than ten others, including Wang Tong, who served as county magistrates or village heads.
In the end, only Liu Bei, the hero who had been plotting since before the Yellow Turban Rebellion, ended up with nothing, just like in history, after all his efforts.
but!
it's out of the question!
The Analects says, "I am not worried about not having a position; I am worried about how to establish myself."
Although Liu Bei's military achievements have all faded, his reputation and integrity have now made him famous throughout the world!
After the distribution of rewards was completed, Huangfu Song approached Liu Bei, somewhat emotionally, and asked, "Do you harbor any resentment about what happened today?"
Liu Bei quickly cupped his hands in greeting, his tone generous: "General Huangfu is too kind. I am overjoyed and would never dare to complain. My esteemed teacher has been exonerated and all the generals have received their rewards. Although I am temporarily a commoner, my heart is at peace."
Huangfu Song nodded, a hint of admiration on his face, and said, "I've spent half my life on the battlefield, witnessing the rise and fall of countless heroes. Some achieved great military exploits but ultimately failed to achieve their ambitions, while others suffered setbacks at first but eventually succeeded. Do you know the difference between them, and what it is?"
Without waiting for Liu Bei's reply, he said decisively, "It's not about the amount of military merit, but about the level of one's integrity! I'm relieved that you can see this clearly. Don't betray this integrity."
Liu Bei bowed and agreed, his spirit undiminished. He knew very well that his greatest advantage was his early fame!
He is only twenty-four years old this year, yet he is already famous throughout the world!
Compared to this, what are these minor achievements worth mentioning?
The world is in turmoil now, it is the time for heroes to display their prowess.
If he can maintain this ambition and persevere, let alone before the age of thirty, even before the age of twenty-five, why should he worry about not rising to great heights?
As expected, seeing his generous expression and lack of resentment, Huangfu Song stroked his beard and laughed, saying, "Xuande is a renowned scholar of the world, unparalleled in loyalty and righteousness, and his integrity is unmatched, comparable to Yan Hui and Zengzi of ancient times. I, being in a position of advantage, will appoint you as my Chief Administrator to manage the affairs of Ji Province. What do you say?"
As soon as Huangfu Song finished speaking, all the civil and military officials in the hall turned their gazes toward him.
The Chief Administrator was one of the most important assistant officials under the Governor, in charge of general affairs, documents, and personnel selection within the prefecture.
Huangfu Song had just been appointed Governor of Ji Province and wanted to appoint Liu Bei as his Chief Administrator.
This is a cause for great joy for both sides.
There is no need to say more about Huangfu Song. Liu Bei is a famous scholar in the world today. Appointing him as an aide can greatly enhance his political prestige and his image of respecting and valuing talents.
Especially since he had just become the governor of the prefecture, he needed a group of respected people to appease the prefecture and win over the hearts of the people.
Liu Bei was renowned throughout the world for his unparalleled loyalty and integrity, and was even praised by Zheng Xuan as having "the strategy of Sun Tzu and the integrity of Yan Hui and Zengzi."
By appointing Liu Bei as his aide, Huangfu Cheqi (Huangfu the Charioteer) was to declare to the people of Hebei that Huangfu recognized talent and valued virtue, and that even a loyal and righteous man like Liu Xuande, admired throughout the land, was willing to serve him.
When powerful local figures in the prefectures and counties hear of this, they will surely flock to him and vie to submit to his cause.
Of course, for Liu Bei, this was entirely beneficial! It was precisely the huge benefit brought by his reputation.
Although he used all his military achievements to atone for his mentor's sins, he seemingly did not receive any reward from the imperial court.
But the gains far exceeded the military achievements.
After all, no matter how generous the imperial court was, it could only give Liu Bei the position of governor or prime minister at most.
There was no way that Liu Bei could control a province.
However, the duties of the chief clerk are different. This is the chief civil official under the governor, in charge of state and county documents, memorials, elections, and criminal matters.
Although his status was slightly lower than that of a "Biejia" (别驾) official, the "Biejia" official was so named because he rode in a separate carriage for each department, thus displaying his prestige and seniority.
In simple terms, the Chief Administrator was in charge of internal affairs, residing in the prefecture and managing documents and personnel; the Assistant Administrator was in charge of external affairs, accompanying the governors on inspection tours, supervising counties and prefectures, and participating in confidential matters.
For a hero like Liu Bei who valued practical matters more, the position of Zhizhong was clearly more suitable than that of Biejia!
His current position is similar to that of Ju Shou after Yuan Shao took control of Ji Province, being able to oversee all affairs of the province, manage both internal and external affairs, and command the respect of the three armies.
Except for Yuan Shao, who controls a large province and has the potential to unify the entire country, Huangfu Song, the governor of Ji Province, might not even last three months…
Seeing that he was lost in thought, Huangfu Song smiled and said, "Xuande, do you perhaps find the position of Chief Administrator too lowly? Then the position of Prefect is also acceptable. I just think that you would prefer the position of Chief Administrator."
Liu Bei immediately cupped his hands in greeting, his tone generous: "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, Your Excellency. However, although the Yellow Turban Rebellion has been quelled, the wounds of Ji Province have not yet healed, and the displaced people have not returned. I have a question for you, General Huangfu. May I ask how you intend to handle the affairs of Ji Province... and how you intend to deal with the surrendered soldiers?"
This is also what Liu Bei is most worried about. Now, nearly half a month has passed since the capture of Quyang. All the prisoners in the city have been driven out of the city. Huangfu Song ordered them to be kept under strict guard, but no action has been taken against them.
Therefore, Liu Bei was worried that he might want to achieve complete success and build a magnificent spectacle to awe the world.
The most remarkable sight associated with this is naturally the Jingguan (a mound of skulls).
The so-called Jingguan is a mound built by piling up the corpses of enemy soldiers and sealing them with earth to form a high mound, in order to show off military achievements and intimidate the surrounding areas.
During the Spring and Autumn Period, King Zhuang of Chu defeated the Jin army at Bi. He once proposed building a Jingguan (a mound of corpses). Pan Dang said, "Why don't you build a Wujun (a military structure) and collect the Jin corpses to make a Jingguan? I have heard that when you defeat an enemy, you must show it to your descendants so that they will not forget your military achievements."
From then on, in every dynasty, there were those who built Jingguan (a mound of skulls) to show off their military might during conquests.
When Huangfu Song decisively defeated Bo Cai at Changshe, he beheaded tens of thousands of people and built a mound of heads in Yingchuan, which drew attention from both the court and the public.
Clearly, he has been preparing all this time to dig an even larger pit on the banks of the Zhang River and use hundreds of thousands of severed heads to create a spectacle that will be a wonder of the world.
Upon hearing this, Huangfu Song's expression darkened, and he said calmly, "These past few days, I have specifically ordered that the tunnels be dug away from you, because I know that Xuande has a benevolent heart and might not be able to bear it."
"Xiaquyang is the lair of Zhang Jiao and Zhang Bao. The surrendered soldiers in the city are mostly long-time traitors to the Han dynasty, unlike those coerced into submission from other prefectures. Therefore, I have already ordered them all to be buried alive and a mound of skulls to be built on the banks of the Zhang River to deter those who refuse to submit from the world."
Liu Bei's heart sank; his guess had come true.
He quickly cupped his hands and advised, "General, when we besieged the city, I personally went down to the city walls and proclaimed to the rebels: only the ringleader Zhang Bao would be executed, and those who surrendered under duress would be spared. Now that Zhang Bao has been beheaded, if we were to slaughter these more than 100,000 people, wouldn't that be a breach of faith? It is a small matter for me to break faith with the surrendered soldiers, but it is a great matter for the court to break faith with the world!"
Huangfu Song waved his hand dismissively and said, "It's just a feigned agreement. All's fair in war, it's always been that way."
Liu Bei clenched his fists, ready to offer his advice immediately.
Huangfu Song, however, had already hardened his expression, his imposing presence radiating authority without anger. He roared, "Today, all the surrounding prefectures and counties are watching. If we show leniency even to the traitors in the mastermind's lair, then the world will say that the Han dynasty is easily deceived. My mind is made up, Xuande, say no more. Let us not allow this joyous day to be marred by discord!"
Although their argument wasn't loud, it instantly attracted everyone's attention because they were the center of attention.
Those officials who were overjoyed and planned to come and offer their congratulations also stopped in their tracks and looked at each other in bewilderment.
The loud conversations and laughter around them involuntarily subsided.
Everyone looked at this place with surprise and doubt. What was going on?
Just a moment ago, weren't they in a harmonious and amicable relationship? How did things suddenly become so tense?
Huangfu Song lived up to his reputation as a dignified and resolute general, whose awe-inspiring presence commanded respect from all. Under his cold, dismissive voice, not a single officer in the Northern Army dared to breathe loudly.
Zhang Fei's eyes were wide open; if Jian Yong hadn't held his arm down firmly, he would have already rushed forward.
But even in this tense situation, where a thunderous wrath could be triggered at any moment, Liu Bei, who was always kind and forgiving, did not back down and faced the challenge head-on.
Liu Bei cupped his hands and said, "I dare not lightly offend Your Excellency's anger. However, today's matter concerns the lives of more than 100,000 people, the credibility of the court, and Your Excellency's posthumous reputation. Although I know that these words will surely provoke Your Excellency's wrath, for the sake of the country and for Your Excellency's sake, I have no choice but to speak out."
Huangfu Song whirled around, his eyes blazing with anger as he stared at Liu Bei. His voice was low and menacing: "Xuande, watch your words! Think carefully. Are you a subject of the Han Dynasty or a subject of the Yellow Turbans? For the sake of these hundreds of thousands of rebels, are you really going to abandon your loyalty and integrity and argue with me in public? If we don't kill these hundreds of thousands of rebels to deter the world, and rebellions break out everywhere, can you bear the responsibility?"
These words are too harsh; they touch upon Liu Bei's reputation and implicitly accuse him of betraying his loyalty.
Upon hearing this, the entire room fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone looked at the two men. At this moment, they could understand the source of Huangfu Song's anger. He had just intended to appoint Liu Bei as an administrator, and Liu Bei had immediately clashed with him. How could he not be furious?
Even with Tian Feng's stubbornness, he wanted to advise Liu Bei not to say anything more. They were just a mere hundred thousand or so bandits; why make such a fuss?
Liu Bei took a deep breath and said generously, "What I say is precisely for the Han Dynasty and for the world!"
As the ancients said, of all things in heaven and earth, humanity is the most precious!
"Humans live between heaven and earth, and their lives depend on food and clothing. If they do not have enough food, they will be hungry; if they do not have enough clothing, they will be cold. If hunger and cold are acute to their bodies, then it is impossible to make the people live in peace and prosperity and not rebel!"
"Therefore, whether or not there is a rebellion depends on whether the people are well-fed and clothed, not on the threat of slaughter. Have you not heard the folk song that says, 'The hair of the common people is like chives, which grow back after being cut; their heads are like chickens, which crow again after being cut. Officials need not be feared, nor should the people be looked down upon.'"
"Therefore, the people do not fear death, so why threaten them with death?"
Huangfu Song, barely suppressing his anger, asked, "Xuande, in the end, you still haven't addressed the key point. If these more than 100,000 rebels aren't killed, how can we deter the world, and how can we ensure that no one will rebel again next year?"
Liu Bei, emboldened, puffed out his chest and said, "What I have said is precisely for the purpose of pacifying the people and quelling the rebellion. As the late king said, 'If one man does not till the land, there will surely be those in the world who suffer from hunger; if one woman does not weave, there will surely be those in the world who suffer from cold.'"
"Now that Huangfu Cheqi has killed more than 100,000 people, next year there will surely be 200,000 more suffering from hunger and cold."
"To expect people suffering from hunger and cold to live in peace and prosperity is unprecedented in history!"
Finally, Liu Bei drew his sword, held it to his neck, and said resolutely, "If it were Huangfu Chariot and Cavalry today, he would surely slaughter 100,000 people. Please kill me first! If next year Ji Province does not have 200,000 troops, and rebellion breaks out again, attacking and seizing counties, then my death will have been worthwhile!"
"If two hundred thousand bandits rise up in Ji Province next year, then I request that General Huangfu be killed! This rebellion is entirely due to General Huangfu!"
The sound of a pin drop could be heard all around, and everyone stared wide-eyed, stunned by what they saw.
If no 200,000 troops rebel, kill Liu Bei. If 200,000 troops rebel, kill Huangfu Cheqi!
No one could have predicted that Liu Bei would be so fierce.
This heroic spirit is so magnificent that it shakes the world and soars to the heavens!
Cao Cao's eyes gleamed with admiration, his heart pounding with excitement, and he couldn't help but inwardly cheer, "Excellent!"
Liu Bei truly possessed the spirit of a hero, unparalleled throughout the land!
He is the only true hero of his time!
Even he himself felt inferior.
Huangfu Song was so shocked by these strong words that he lost his composure and remained silent in the hall for a long time before he came back to his senses.
Then he stepped forward, placed both hands on Liu Bei's sword-wielding hands, pressed down on the sword, and laughed loudly: "Haha, I always thought that Xuande had a magnanimous and elegant demeanor, and was a loyal, kind and righteous gentleman."
"I never imagined that Xuande could be so resolute and valiant! He dared to fight to the death for more than 100,000 surrendered soldiers, even risking my life."
He then released his grip, looked around at everyone, and said, "Although I am a warrior, I have heard Mencius say: 'Wealth and honor cannot corrupt him, poverty and hardship cannot sway him, and power and force cannot subdue him. This is what is meant by a great man.' I have spent half my life on the battlefield and have seen many heroes, but only Xuande has shown such generosity and integrity."
"In that case, I believe in your unwavering loyalty and righteousness, which is for the sake of the Han dynasty. After all, your previous words about border troubles have already been proven true."
As he spoke, he laughed and said, "This old man has no intention of betting his life on this game that he is bound to lose."
Huangfu Song may have committed many atrocities, but he was absolutely devoted to the Han Dynasty.
Upon hearing Liu Bei's words, "If one man does not till the land, there will surely be those in the world who suffer from hunger; if one woman does not weave, there will surely be those in the world who suffer from cold," I already believed Liu Bei's judgment. If these more than 100,000 people are killed, more than 200,000 bandits will surely rebel again next year.
This was something he did not want to see.
As for not wanting to gamble with people's heads, that was just a joke.
Upon seeing this, Liu Bei quickly threw down his sword, straightened his clothes, and bowed deeply to Huangfu Song, earnestly saying, "In my haste, I spoke rashly and offended your might. Your magnanimity has spared me from punishment, and you have even accepted my honest advice. I am deeply terrified and would only repay you with my life. I hope you will forgive my unjust offense."
Upon hearing this, Huangfu Song laughed heartily, stepped forward to help Liu Bei up, and patted his arm, saying, "It's alright! As the Analects says, 'A gentleman seeks harmony but not uniformity; a petty man seeks uniformity but not harmony.' What Xuande is arguing about is a matter of loyalty to the country and a plan for the well-being of the people. Although I am not as wise as the ancients, I still have this much magnanimity—what crime have I committed?"
He spoke with great bravado, but clearly still harbored resentment. He didn't mention the matter of Pi Weizhi again, but instead spoke solemnly, saying, "However, since Xuande strongly advocates benevolence and leniency, settling these more than 100,000 surrendered soldiers is no easy task. I'll leave it entirely to you to handle, what do you say?"
"This is a heavy burden. A soldier consumes 1.5 shi of rations per month. These more than 100,000 surrendered soldiers would require 200,000 hu of rations per month, and more than 2 million hu of grain per year. Has Xuande figured out how to handle this?"
"I have already stated that even with the wealth of Ji Province, it would be absolutely impossible to supply two million bushels of grain!"
"Furthermore, I have already planned to petition the court to exempt Jizhou from one year's land tax in order to support the starving people. I have absolutely no spare capacity to take care of the 100,000 surrendered soldiers."
Liu Bei immediately cupped his hands and said, "I already have a plan. How can surrendered soldiers compare to Han soldiers? They are already fortunate to receive five dou of grain per month."
"Why should we support these 100,000 surrendered soldiers for a year? If we can just let them farm, they can consume a million bushels of grain a year, which would double the amount of grain they could get from farming. We only need to lend them grain until next spring and summer."
"I request that you lead the people to cultivate the land, following the suitability of the soil and making full use of irrigation. By next autumn's harvest, we will surely have a bountiful harvest of rice, accumulating a million bushels of grain!"
Upon hearing this, Huangfu Song stroked his beard and nodded slightly. He was no stranger to the military agricultural system on the border of Liangzhou.
Since Zhao Chongguo established military farms in Huangzhong during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, the practice of using military farms to support troops in border regions has become a standard practice of the Han dynasty.
He simply hadn't considered bringing this military system to the Central Plains before.
So he nodded and said, “This method is excellent. I was reluctant to release the surrendered soldiers of the Moth Rebellion back to the countryside, fearing that they would scatter and rebel again. If we can gather them together to cultivate the land and govern them with military law, they can both farm and support themselves, and it will be easier to control them. This is truly a win-win solution.”
"Therefore, I hereby appoint you as the Commandant of Agriculture, in charge of the agricultural settlements and the pacification of the people in Ji Province. The official lands in Guangzong, Quzhou, and Xiaquyang will all be under your management. However, you will be responsible for procuring the necessary seeds, farming tools, oxen, and other necessities."