Two hours later, the council meeting came to an end.
After the civil and military officials withdrew, only Zhang Jing and Cheng Yu remained in the hall.
“Zhongde.” Taking a sip of tea, Zhang Jing spoke slowly.
“How many Enforcers do we currently have?”
“My lord,” Cheng Yu replied after a moment’s thought,
“there are fewer than five hundred at present.”
To Cheng Yu, the organization known as the Enforcers had been entrusted by his lord to Man Chong for the purpose of punishing those who violated laws and regulations.
He himself merely held the title in name.
After all, Man Chong had only recently joined their ranks.
“Too few.” Fixing his gaze on Cheng Yu, Zhang Jing said solemnly, “As the saying goes: Know yourself and know your enemy, and you need not fear a hundred battles.”
“Foreknowledge cannot be sought from ghosts or spirits.”
“It cannot be derived from analogy, nor verified through calculation.”
“It must be obtained from people—from learning the enemy’s situation.”
“That was the original purpose behind establishing the Enforcers.”
When he finished speaking, Zhang Jing noticed the look of sudden realization on Cheng Yu’s face.
“Do you understand now, Zhongde?”
“My lord’s wisdom is profound!”
Suppressing the shock in his heart, Cheng Yu bowed with a guilty expression.
“It was this subordinate who failed to understand. I beg my lord’s punishment.”
Only now did he truly understand why the Enforcers existed.
Their true purpose was intelligence gathering and espionage.
He also finally understood why Zhang Jing had placed the title of Commander of the Enforcers upon him.
“There is no need for punishment.” Zhang Jing waved a hand dismissively.
“At the time, Yuan Shu was invading, and the Enforcers had only just been established. Even if I had explained their purpose to you then, it wouldn’t have produced results in such a short period.”
“Now that Yuan Shu has suffered a crushing defeat, Gongsun Zan is overwhelmed with his own troubles, and Tao Qian of Xu Province is little more than a watchdog guarding his city.”
“As for Yuan Shao alone— he doesn’t have the ability to attack Yan Province.”
“So it’s time for us to focus on strengthening ourselves from within.”
With Yuan Shu routed in defeat, the situation in Yan Province had changed once again.
Although the Qihuo Army could not completely seize the initiative, they no longer had to worry about being besieged by multiple warlords.
After all, among the neighboring powers, everyone except Yuan Shao was struggling.
And even if Yuan Shao launched an invasion, Zhang Jing could deal with it calmly.
In a prolonged war, the Qihuo Army would enjoy the advantage of fighting on home ground.
“My lord is wise.” Cheng Yu wholeheartedly agreed.
“I’ll give you one month, Zhongde.” Zhang Jing continued.
“Select five hundred loyal soldiers from the army. I will personally train them.”
“These men will become the vanguard of our forces.”
“This subordinate obeys.” Cheng Yu respectfully accepted the order.
Then, as if suddenly recalling something, he hesitated before speaking.
“My lord, our army first emerged under the name of the Qihuo Army. We now hold four commanderies as our foundation, and our ambition is to overthrow the Han and create an age of peace and prosperity.”
“Under your leadership, we have successively defeated Cao Cao, Administrator of Dong Commandery, and General of the Left Yuan Shu. We have sheltered and fed millions of common people.”
“Now that the situation in Yan Province has become clear, I believe it is time to establish a Central Secretariat to organize the military and civil administration of our territory and to reassure the hearts of the people.”
In Cheng Yu’s view, their government had previously been little more than an improvised operation.
After troop reductions, resettlement measures, the establishment of seven towns and twelve passes, and various reforms, conditions had improved considerably.
Yet he still felt that something was missing.
Surely they could not continue operating indefinitely under the banner of the Qihuo Army, like the Heishan Army.
What was the Heishan Army?
A band of warlords occupying mountain strongholds.
They possessed no stable territory of their own, nor did they have a civilian administration capable of governing and pacifying the populace.
At a glance, one could tell they had no future.
And in Cheng Yu’s eyes, his lord was destined for great undertakings.
Naturally, changes had to be made.
The establishment of a Central Secretariat was his proposal.
After all, they controlled only four commanderies.
To proclaim himself king or emperor now would seem rather ridiculous— like a monkey dressed in a ceremonial crown.
“A Central Secretariat?” Zhang Jing frowned slightly.
After pondering for a moment, his expression relaxed.
Looking at Cheng Yu with admiration, he said, “This proposal is excellent.”
“Zhongde truly possesses talent capable of ordering Heaven and Earth.”
“To have your assistance is my great fortune— and the great fortune of the people as well.”
“My lord overpraises me.” Cheng Yu modestly bowed.
“To share my lord’s burdens is merely my duty.”
“Zhongde is too modest.” Zhang Jing looked at him sincerely and said, “Without your assistance, Zhongde, it would have been extraordinarily difficult for the Qihuo Army to reach where it is today.”
“I remember all of your contributions.”
“No matter whether we succeed or fail, I will never betray your trust.”
Zhang Jing truly cherished this grain-master strategist.
Not only was Cheng Yu exceptionally capable, his methods were ruthless when necessary, he possessed the same tireless dedication that people later attributed to Zhuge Liang, and, above all else, he always put his lord’s interests first.
Wasn’t that far better than someone like Xun Yu?
“My lord.” Deeply moved, Cheng Yu’s eyes reddened slightly as he bowed.
“There is an old saying: ‘A fine bird chooses the tree upon which it roosts; a worthy minister chooses the lord whom he serves.’”
“Yet ever since the restoration of the Han, the realm has been governed jointly by the Son of Heaven and the scholar-officials.”
“I was born into humble circumstances. I knew from a young age that only through mastering both civil and military arts could I change my family’s fate.”
“And yet, after decades of struggle, it was only after I had passed the age of fifty that I finally received an official summons from the government.”
“Had my lord not overlooked my humble origins and trusted me with such important responsibilities, I would never have achieved what I have today.”
“Now that I have heard my lord’s heartfelt words…” At this point, Cheng Yu’s expression became resolute.
Lifting his robe, he knelt and bowed deeply.
“Even if I were to die ten thousand times, I could never repay my lord’s faith and recognition.”
“Zhongde, please rise.” Zhang Jing quickly stepped forward and helped him to his feet.
Looking at the streaks of gray in Cheng Yu’s hair, he said solemnly, “There is no need for such formalities between us.”
“You understand my intentions, and I trust you completely.”
“When our great undertaking is finally accomplished, our names will surely become a celebrated tale recorded in history.”
“That would be this subordinate’s greatest honor.” Cheng Yu nodded, a trace of joy appearing on his face.
“Zhongde.” After a moment’s thought, Zhang Jing continued,
“Since we are establishing a Central Secretariat, what do you think of using the name Taiping—’Great Peace’?”
The Qihuo Army had originated from the Yellow Turbans.
And before the Yellow Turbans, there had been the Way of Great Peace.
By choosing the words Taiping (“Great Peace”), Zhang Jing intended to inherit as much of the legacy left behind by Zhang Jue as possible.
So long as he did not repeat the mistakes of Hong Xiuquan, there would be no issue.
“Taiping Prefecture… a prosperous age of Great Peace!”
After a brief moment of consideration, a sharp gleam flashed through Cheng Yu’s eyes.
“My lord is wise!”
In an era consumed by chaos and warfare, the existence of a place called Taiping would undoubtedly inspire countless common people to yearn for it.
Over time, the name itself would help win the hearts of the populace.
“Then I’ll leave the arrangements to you.” Zhang Jing said, “When the day comes to formally establish the administration, summon back the commanders of the Seven Towns and Twelve Passes.”
“This subordinate obeys.” Cheng Yu respectfully accepted the order and then departed the hall with hurried steps.
“Fifty-two years old already…”
Watching Cheng Yu’s retreating figure, Zhang Jing finally realized just how advanced in years his grain-master strategist truly was.
Fortunately, Cheng Yu was highly skilled in martial arts and possessed a strong constitution.
Most of the time, he looked like a vigorous man in his forties.
In Zhang Jing’s previous life, history recorded that Cheng Yu had enjoyed remarkable longevity, living to nearly eighty years of age.
With such a lifespan— if someone like Zhuge Liang had lived that long, perhaps Shu Han might truly have had a chance to restore the Han Dynasty.
After the establishment of the new administration, Zhang Jing had already decided to begin a second round of military downsizing.
Now that he had captured Yuan Shu’s warhorses, he would finally be able to train an elite cavalry force.
“Dian Wei!”
“Come with me. We’re leaving the residence.”
Calling for Dian Wei, Zhang Jing left the hall and headed toward the gates of the government compound.
— 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
