Taihang Mountain Foothills, Heishan Army Camp
Inside the main hall, after Bai Rao finished speaking, Yu Du and Sui Gu both turned their gazes toward Liao Hua.
They wanted to see what else Liao Hua had to say.
“Very well said!” Liao Hua stood up and declared, “As for civil officials governing the people and administering local affairs, our army has its own strategist.”
“And the civil officials under my lord are no less impressive than his generals.”
“Our strategist is none other than the renowned scholar of Yan Province, the former guest of Governor Liu Dai—Cheng Yu, courtesy name Zhongde!”
“In addition, members of the great Yan Province clans such as the Yan, Yang, Wang, and Xue families have all entered service under our army.”
“Tell me— In the eyes of the three chiefs, do these men count as civil officials? Can they govern the people and administer the land?”
The three men exchanged glances, each seeing the shock in the others’ eyes.
“Commander Zhang is actually serious about this!”
After hearing this, Bai Rao was thoroughly convinced.
Though he didn’t know the exact details behind everything Liao Hua had mentioned, it was enough.
“Could it possibly be false?” A look of admiration appeared on Liao Hua’s face.
“What the three chiefs may not know is that only a few days ago, my lord enacted a new policy throughout his territory.”
“From now on, every commoner living under our rule will receive ten mu of fertile farmland.”
“And after next year’s harvest, only the land tax will be collected. All other taxes and levies will be abolished.”
“At present, the dozens of county magistrates under my lord’s command have already been dispatched to survey and measure land throughout the counties.”
“By now, tens of thousands of commoners have likely already been settled.”
“My lord possesses both literary and military brilliance.”
At this point, Liao Hua looked toward Yu Du.
“With wise ministers and fierce generals at his side, and several million people following him, do the three chiefs truly believe that my lord cannot contend for the realm?”
The three men fell completely silent.
“Brother Liao Hua!” Bai Rao protested unwillingly.
“If your lord is truly so capable, then why did he send you here at all?”
At that moment, Bai Rao felt like a man whose sworn brother had promised they would grow old together only to discover that the other had secretly gone off and improved himself.
The sense of disparity was difficult to accept.
“Chief Bai, that is where you are mistaken.” Liao Hua shook his head.
“My lord once said that we all come from humble commoner backgrounds. Therefore, we ought to support one another and stand together for warmth.”
“Otherwise, we will only be defeated one by one by the Han court.”
“Now that my lord already commands a powerful domain, and since you all border Yan Province, you should think not only of yourselves, but also of the brothers under your command.”
“Do you truly intend to hide in the mountains forever, becoming bandits and outlaws in the eyes of the world, with no hope of ever changing your fate?”
“Or perhaps— Do the three chiefs intend to wait until the situation in the realm becomes clear, and only then descend the mountains to serve some enlightened ruler?”
“Leaving aside whether you would be valued at that point, could those rulers give every one of your brothers—and every member of their families—ten mu of fertile land?”
“Are you willing to continue being oppressed by those corrupt officials?”
“I urge the three chiefs to think carefully.” Liao Hua’s tone grew solemn.
“To be honest, my lord does not lack elite soldiers or brave generals.”
“There were only two reasons he sent me here.”
“First, because we all come from humble commoner backgrounds. Had the Han court not driven people too far, none of us would have become outlaws. My lord understands your situation.”
“Second, because he is compassionate.”
“Only a few days ago, I was merely an ordinary squad leader.”
“It was only after I persuaded Chenliu to surrender that I earned my lord’s recognition and was promoted three ranks in succession to become a Central Army Sima.”
The three men nodded in realization.
After all, the young man before them was only fifteen or sixteen years old.
If someone claimed he had long held the rank of Military Sima, it would be difficult to believe.
But if he had only recently been a squad leader that made much more sense.
“In these past days,” Liao Hua continued, ignoring their reactions, his face filled with fervor,
“I have remained constantly by my lord’s side, eating and living alongside him.”
“To be honest, there are simply too many people under our rule. The consumption of grain is enormous.”
“Because of that, both the army and the common people eat almost exactly the same food every day.”
“Hot porridge.”
“And my lord is no exception.”
“Every day, he eats exactly what the soldiers eat, with not the slightest special treatment.”
“On one occasion, I asked him about it.”
“My lord replied: ‘The brothers are all tightening their belts to get by. How could I have the face to feast on fish and meat?’”
As he spoke, Liao Hua’s eyes gradually reddened.
“A benevolent lord such as this is something I have never encountered in my life.”
“In my heart, my lord’s love for the people is no less than that of the Great Worthy Teacher himself.”
Seeing this, Yu Du couldn’t help swallowing hard, his eyes filled with admiration.
He had never expected that the formidable Commander Zhang of the rumors could also possess such a benevolent side.
“Brothers!”
After taking a deep breath, Yu Du looked toward Sui Gu and Bai Rao.
“What Sima Liao has said does not seem false. Besides, remaining hidden in the mountains forever is not a long-term solution.”
“I intend to make a trip to Wuyan.”
“If Commander Zhang truly possesses the qualities of a benevolent ruler…”
“I’ll go with you, Brother!” Bai Rao immediately spoke up.
“After hearing Sima Liao’s words, I too have begun to admire Commander Zhang.”
“Very well, then.”
Sui Gu paused briefly before replying with a bitter smile.
“I’ll remain behind to guard the stronghold. Nothing should go wrong in the short term.”
“But what about Chief Zhang Yan?”
“What could Chief Zhang Yan possibly say?”
Before Yu Du could answer, Bai Rao replied matter-of-factly:
“If Commander Zhang can truly rise to power, then Chief Zhang Yan will naturally work alongside us.”
“Unless he intends to betray the Way of Great Peace.”
“…”
Sui Gu found himself speechless.
“…”
Seeing the scene before him, a surge of joy welled up in Liao Hua’s heart.
Could it be that I really do have a talent for persuading people to surrender?
While Liao Hua was carrying out his mission, the northeastern four commanderies of Yan Province were equally bustling with activity.
On one side, officials were working tirelessly to settle the population.
On the other, the various armies had begun dismissing the elderly and underage soldiers from service.
…………….
Lu City
On the city walls, Pan Zhang stood in armor, looking miserably at Zhou Cang as though he were on the verge of tears.
“General Zhou, couldn’t you make an exception?”
“I’m only thirteen this year, that’s true.”
“But I’m naturally gifted! I look eighteen or nineteen.”
“If you don’t say anything and I don’t say anything, nobody will know.”
“Wouldn’t you agree, General?”
“My lord already gave his orders.” Zhou Cang kept a stern face.
“Soldiers under fifteen years of age are to return to farming or enter the youth academy to study and learn literacy.”
“You’re only thirteen. If you want to join the army, come back in two years.”
Truthfully, Zhou Cang thought highly of Pan Zhang.
The boy was strongly built, hardworking, and quick-witted.
But he could not disobey his lord’s orders.
“General Zhou!” Pan Zhang said seriously,
“My enlistment was personally approved by the lord before he departed on campaign.”
“Surely he can’t go back on his word?”
“…”
Zhou Cang felt a headache coming on.
After some thought, he said:
“How about this? I’ll arrange for someone to escort you to Wuyan and let the lord decide how to handle you.”
It was precisely because of Zhang Jing’s earlier promise that Pan Zhang had not been expelled from camp immediately.
“That works too!”
Pan Zhang’s eyes lit up as he agreed at once.
Inwardly, he thought that going to see the lord was far better than being sent away from the army.
…………….
Wei Commandery, Neihuang County
Cao Cao’s military camp.
“My lord!”
Cao Ren strode quickly into Cao Cao’s tent, his expression grim.
“There are rumors circulating throughout the county.”
“They say that the heads of Zilian and the others are currently in Lord Wenruo’s possession.”
“And that anyone wishing to recover them must bring grain as payment in exchange.”
“Wenruo is still alive?!”
Cao Cao’s spirits immediately lifted.
Then his expression darkened.
“Knowing Zhang Jing, he is unlikely to spare Wenruo.”
— The end of the Chapter–
TL note : Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up ahead of the release :
https://www.patreon.com/DeCakraWnloverz
