xymnovel Chapter 54, "The Edict for Promoting Worthy and Virtuous Officials," and the arrival of ol
Chapter 54, "The Edict for Promoting Worthy and Virtuous Officials," and the arrival of ol
Although by the time spring arrives, Liu Bei's forces will already be teeming with talented individuals!
But that's not enough! Far from enough!
This was simply not enough to satisfy Liu Bei's thirst for talent.
The more ambitious a person is and the more vast the world is, the more fervent his desire for talented people becomes.
Upon hearing Tian Feng's words, Liu Bei immediately looked at him intently and said, "Sir, the Book of Poetry says, 'Many talented men gathered, and King Wen brought peace.' The rise of the Zhou Dynasty was not due to the efforts of King Wen alone, but truly relied on the gathering of virtuous men."
"Although we have many talented people under our command today, they are far from enough to save the world. In the past, the Duke of Zhou would wash his hair three times and spit out his food three times during a meal, still fearing that he would lose the talents of the world. When Guan Zhong governed Qi, he set up the ceremony of lighting torches in the courtyard to welcome the virtuous and left the gates of the villages open to guests."
"Although I dare not compare myself to the sages of ancient times, my desire to seek out worthy men has never diminished. Most of the worthy men in my tent today have come to serve me because of my reputation."
"However, the world is vast, and virtuous men may be found in humble fields or hidden in the mountains. We wish to advance further and seek out talented individuals widely. Sir, you have long resided in Hebei and are well aware of the virtuous and capable people in the prefectures and counties—I wonder if you have any recommendations?"
At this point, Liu Bei's tone already carried a hint of resentment.
Wise rulers and virtuous ministers in history were not like that!
Other people's strategists recommend talented individuals. Why haven't you made any moves as their strategist?
Even Zhang Fei could righteously help Wen Chou.
Why is it that you, Mr. Yuan Hao, a virtuous and trusted minister, are not being promoted?
Upon hearing this, Tian Feng knew what Liu Bei was thinking, but Liu Bei was stubborn and had few close friends.
But he still came up with a solution, saying, "If we're talking about virtuous scholars, then we must also have virtuous teachers. Confucius had seventy-two virtuous disciples, all of whom were able to display their talents because of the sage's skillful teaching. If we're talking about teachers of our time, who can compare to Zheng Xuan or Zheng Kangcheng?"
"My lord's esteemed teacher, Lord Lu, and Lord Zheng are from the same school. Lord Zheng has always admired my lord's righteousness, and now he is again working for the people's livelihood. Why not write a letter and ask Lord Zheng to send his disciple to assist us?"
Should we ask our martial uncle Zheng Xuan for help?
Liu Bei's eyes lit up; this was indeed a good idea.
Zheng Xuan taught many outstanding students, such as Cui Yan, Guo Yuan, Xi Lu, Wang Ji, and Zhao Shang, all of whom were outstanding figures of their time.
If we could get one or two disciples from our master's school who are proficient in agricultural calculations to come, we would not only be more confident in the matter of land reclamation, but we could also use this opportunity to form connections with the famous scholars under his tutelage.
He immediately spread out bamboo slips, wrote a letter, and earnestly described the difficulties of farming in Jizhou and the people's desperate need for food. He earnestly requested Zheng Xuan to send one or two disciples who were knowledgeable in agriculture and good at managing industries to help him.
This also gave him a great inspiration—potential is like water in a sponge; you can always squeeze some out.
Even a renowned scholar like Tian Feng, who was not good at socializing, could recommend a few talented people when pressed.
Liu Bei's gaze swept over the generals under his command. Why couldn't they do the same?
So Liu Bei said with ease, "Confucius said, 'Speak out what you know.'"
"Now that Ji Province has been newly pacified, everything is in need of rebuilding, and it is precisely the time when we need capable people. Although I have many heroes under my command, there is a shortage of people in agriculture, water conservancy, taxation, adjudication, and education. Therefore, I wish to follow the example of the sages of the past and broaden the channels for recommendation."
"When Yan Zhao bought bones, he eventually found Yue Yi; when Han Gaozu selected soldiers, he found Chen Ping. Now, I order all the generals and officials in the army to each recommend one person they know, regardless of background or social status—whether they are skilled in agriculture and sericulture, knowledgeable in water conservancy, proficient in taxation, good at governing the people, knowledgeable in law, or capable in military strategy. Anyone with a skill that can benefit the people can be recommended."
"The recommended person must have their abilities described in detail and attached to the recommendation letter. If they are indeed talented, they should be given a position according to their abilities and treated with great courtesy. If the recommendation is not false, the recommender will be rewarded; if the recommendation is made out of favoritism, the recommender will be punished the same as the person who recommended them."
"From this day forward, each of you shall recommend one person within seven days. If you have no one to recommend, you may recommend your own abilities."
Liu Bei personally drafted the "Edict for Promoting Worthy and Virtuous Officials," then looked at everyone and solemnly said, "Gentlemen, this is a military order. It shall be implemented from this day forward."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei's leopard-like eyes widened, and he asked, "Brother, should I also recommend a capable person?"
Liu Bei laughed and said, "Third brother, this is the easiest thing for you. You were able to recommend Wen Chou out of righteousness, and you value virtuous and talented people, especially famous ones. Recommending virtuous people is a piece of cake for you."
Zhang Fei opened his mouth, wanting to say that he respected famous scholars, but famous scholars might not respect him.
But Liu Bei no longer tolerated any questioning. Even Zhang Fei needed to recommend virtuous men, so others had nothing to say and could only rack their brains to recommend talented people from the surrounding area.
Guan Yu was the first to complete this task. He was also very ambitious and principled, and he quickly realized that his elder brother was training and tempering them.
The responsibility of recommending talented individuals was reserved for prefects with a salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain).
They are currently in lowly positions and have little reputation, so they naturally feel it is particularly difficult. But if they can still complete this important task under such circumstances, wouldn't they be even more capable and able to shoulder the responsibility of being in charge when they become officials with a salary of two thousand piculs in the future?
So after returning to camp, he stroked his long beard and pondered while looking at the bamboo slips.
In fact, he had many talented people and guests under his command. Because he followed Liu Bei to defeat the Yellow Turbans, he was known as a tiger general and a warrior capable of defeating ten thousand men. His reputation had spread throughout Hebei.
Many poor scholars and martial heroes did not join Liu Bei's forces, but instead joined Guan Yu's.
In fact, many generals had such people under their command. They mainly believed that Liu Bei had many talented people under his command, and if they directly joined him, they might not be valued and would find it difficult to stand out.
Therefore, many people turned to join the ranks of various generals, hoping to be more easily discovered and recommended.
Such things were quite common in this era. For example, Yang Yi, a famous minister of Shu Han in history, defected from Cao Wei to Guan Yu's subordinates. Then he was transferred away by Liu Bei.
Besides Zhou Cang, Guan Yu now has several guests and retainers under his command.
After thinking for a moment, he decided to recommend Shi Yan, a talent he had recently discovered in the agricultural settlement department.
Shi Yan was illiterate and a member of the Yellow Turban rebels. Before the rebellion, he was merely a carpenter. Moreover, he was taciturn and illiterate, so it was hard to see any special talent in him.
Therefore, although the military officers and soldiers were selected time and time again, he was illiterate and could not read a single character; he was not brave or strong enough to stand out; and he was timid by nature and not one who dared to die. In the end, none of them were selected.
But this seemingly timid and unremarkable ordinary person displayed astonishing talent during the land reclamation and water conservancy projects.
The cause was that the Zhang River was rising and falling unpredictably, and two of the three waterwheels in the garrison area under Guan Yu's supervision were damaged due to continuous use.
The waterwheel built by Shi Yan not only did not break, but also drew twice as much water as other places.
So the sergeant of the craftsmen's battalion ordered Shi Yan to repair the waterwheel. Shi Yan lived up to expectations and led his men to completely repair the waterwheel in just three days. After the repair, it was not only undamaged, but also more than 30% lighter and faster than before, and the water output increased significantly.
The news spread like wildfire, and villagers flocked to his door. Some had broken plowshares from days of farming, others had broken cart shafts, and still others had damaged looms used for weaving. They all asked him for help in repairing them.
Shi Yan accepted all comers and repaired each and every one of the items.
When the news reached Guan Yu, Guan Yu was amazed and ordered him to repair the damaged crossbows, saddles, and carts in the camp, which he did perfectly!
Therefore, when Guan Yu recalled what his elder brother had said, he immediately thought of Shi Yan, who was exactly what his elder brother meant by "a skill that can benefit the people"!
Guan Yu then wrote on the bamboo slips of recommendation:
Shi Yan, a native of Guangping in Jizhou, is thirty-one years old. Originally a surrendered member of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he is illiterate and taciturn. However, he possesses ingenuity, especially in the construction of machinery. The waterwheels he makes save 30% of the labor while doubling the water volume; the large carts he builds are lightweight, durable, and carry a greater load than usual; the saddles he makes fit the horse's back perfectly, ensuring a stable ride in battle. He currently serves as a craftsman under Guan Yu, but has not yet been given a formal position.
This man comes from humble origins and is not particularly handsome; if selected through the usual methods, he would surely be overlooked. However, his strengths are all practically applicable to land reclamation, transportation, and cavalry warfare. If he is promoted and given a position as an official in charge of public works, he will undoubtedly benefit agriculture and sericulture, and improve military preparedness.
—Recommended by Guan Yu
After writing, Guan Yu had already put down his pen, but after thinking for a while, he picked it up again and pondered.
Shi Yan is indeed talented, but how can he stand out from the crowd by only mentioning one person?
Even his third brother, Yide, could recommend Wen Chou. Guan Yu, who never wanted to be second to anyone, surely could recommend someone else.
So he picked up his pen and recommended another scholar under his command, Zhao Lei.
Zhao Lei joined him for a very simple reason: he had been appointed magistrate of Anxi by the emperor and needed several civil officials to help manage documents, money, and grain.
Although Liu Bei advised him to take up his post, saying that his brothers were close friends and all in Ji Province, and that they could reunite at any time, this would also be a good opportunity for him to gain experience.
However, Guan Yu refused the appointment and stayed by his elder brother's side, serving as the military commander of the agricultural settlements.
However, Zhao Lei, who had originally served under him and aspired to become the county magistrate's chief clerk, never left. Instead, he served as a quartermaster under him, helping him manage the grain and supplies of the military agricultural colony.
Guan Yu's recommendation for this person was relatively simple, because he fit the image of a virtuous man.
Guan Yu wrote only: "Zhao Lei is from Guangyang County, Youzhou, and is a scholar under my command. He is skilled in calculation and adept at managing grain and supplies, remembering numbers perfectly. He is cautious and honest, and is suitable for the positions of granary official and finance officer."
As Guan Yu submitted his recommendation document, others followed suit and submitted their recommendation lists.
Liu Bei indeed discovered several capable individuals among them.
For example, Zhou Cang, a subordinate of Guan Yu, recommended Pei Yuanshao, a fellow villager and bandit. He personally climbed the mountain and braved the danger to enter the bandit camp and persuade Pei Yuanshao to join Liu Bei's forces.
Upon hearing of Liu Bei's great ambition and Guan Yu's divine might, Pei Yuanshao was sincerely impressed. He then disbanded his stronghold and, with only four or five trusted men, went to join Liu Bei.
This man was quite brave; though not as brave as Zhou Cang, he could still hold his own against the Jing Sai cavalry. Of course, he was lacking in horsemanship and archery.
Therefore, Liu Bei appointed him to the position of squad leader in the Gengshi Camp.
Most of the people in Gengshi Camp were fugitives, bandits, and refugees like him, so Zhang Fei's tyranny was enough to suppress them, and Xiahou Lan was tasked with strictly enforcing military law.
Liu Bei didn't care much about their backgrounds. As long as military law was properly enforced, strict military discipline could be maintained, and apart from normal supplies, no one would be defiled, and even when passing through streets and alleys, there would be no more noise.
After all, both the Jingse Iron Cavalry and the Gengshi Camp were composed of either barbarian tribes, skilled in horsemanship and archery, and brave and warlike, or fugitives from the Central Plains, fearless of death but lacking in discipline, and were known as difficult to control.
However, Guan Yu was dignified and impartial, skilled in military command, and his actions, movements, and strategies were all in accordance with established procedures. He also moved the people with his loyalty and righteousness, thus ensuring that his army maintained strict discipline, refrained from raiding or plundering, and did not commit any offenses, even against chickens, dogs, or wild vegetables. The people were unaware that his army had set out on the day of his departure.
Unlike Guan Yu, who mainly recommended his soldiers, Zhang Fei respected scholars and officials more. The virtuous scholar he recommended was Liu Zihui, a famous scholar from Zhongshan.
Liu Zihui, a native of Liwu in Zhongshan, was one of the most outstanding scholars in the state of Zhongshan.
Although he was not a member of the Han imperial family, the Liu clan of Liwu was a prominent family in Zhongshan County and a family of scholars who had studied the Spring and Autumn Annals for generations and whose family had a collection of thousands of books.
Liu Zihui was influenced by his family's traditions from a young age and became famous in the county for his extensive learning.
By the age of fifteen, he was already fluent in the Gongyang Commentary and the Zuo Commentary, and by the time he reached adulthood, he had unique insights into the institutions and systems of past dynasties, the laws and regulations of the Han Dynasty, and etiquette.
When the local magistrate heard of this, he offered him ten thousand coins to write an inscription praising his virtues, but he resolutely refused, saying, "The pen cannot be crooked, for if it is, the writing will die."
When this news spread, all the scholars in the county admired him and called him "the bamboo of Zhongshan".
Zhang Fei first met him at a banquet hosted by the Zhao family.
People at the time discussed the heated argument between Liu Bei and Huangfu Fangbo, with some saying that he had lost his integrity and had not been considerate of his superiors.
It is also said that his implementation of the military-agricultural colony policy was a way of competing with the people for profit.
Of course, these "people" were the powerful and wealthy, and the competition was for their profits.
Liu Zihui slammed his fist on the table and angrily said, "Have you all not read the Rites of Zhou? The six policies for maintaining peace and prosperity are: first, caring for the young; second, caring for the elderly; third, helping the poor; fourth, relieving the needy; fifth, easing the sick; and sixth, ensuring the well-being of the wealthy."
"Liu Bei used military farms to pacify the people, providing land for displaced people to cultivate and grain for the hungry. This aligns with the meaning of 'protecting and nourishing all people' in the *Rites of Zhou*. He also relieved the poor and needy. How can this be considered competing with the people for profit?"
Zhang Fei was so impressed that he frequently visited Zhang Fei.
Now that his elder brother is going to recommend scholars, he will recommend Liu Zihui first.
As for whether Liu Zihui was willing to serve, he didn't know.
Besides Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, others also made their own recommendations. For example, Cheng Pu recommended his fellow townsman, the valiant general Han Dang.
He possessed extraordinary strength and was skilled in archery and horsemanship. While he may not have been able to compare with Guan Yu, he was by no means inferior to Zhou Cang, the general of the Jingse Iron Cavalry.
He has already written to Han Dang, inviting him to join him in this righteous cause.
Qian Zhao also mentioned his fellow student Shi Lu, whose teacher was the great Confucian scholar Yue Yin, and who was also quite talented.
Not long after Liu Bei's civil and military officials recommended talented individuals, Liu Bei sent a letter to his uncle and received a response!
His uncle indeed praised his righteousness and sent three outstanding disciples and wise men.
First and foremost is Sun Qian, a civil official who was destined to be with Liu Bei!
Zheng Xuan had always intended to promote Sun Qian to a higher position in the state, and just then Liu Bei sent him a letter. After a moment's thought, he asserted that Sun Qian's talents would be better utilized if he served under Liu Bei.
So he personally consulted with Sun Qian, who made a decisive decision without any hesitation and came to join Liu Bei.
The second wise man was Liu Yan, a disciple of Zheng Xuan. He shared the same clan and surname as Liu Bei, and was a man of refined manners and dignified bearing, as well as a skilled conversationalist.
Liu Bei was overjoyed to receive the reply, as both of them were among the most important ministers under his command in history.
They were all exceptionally talented and capable. What is even more commendable is that they were all loyal and devoted to Liu Bei.
Now, by a twist of fate, they have all come under my command, which is a wonderful thing.
However, the third disciple recommended by Zheng Xuan in his letter greatly pleased Liu Bei!
This person is not only a man of great talent, but more importantly, he has never served under Liu Bei in history!