“Zhongde speaks correctly.”
A faint smile appeared on Zhang Jing’s face as he said:
“Since Cao Cao harbors other ambitions, he must have plans of his own. Yuan Shao alone would never dare invade Yan Province.”
“At most, there might be some probing attacks.”
As for the possibility of Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan joining forces to attack Yan Province, Zhang Jing considered it highly unlikely.
Unless Gongsun Zan had completely lost his senses.
After all, Gongsun Zan had already been deceived by Yuan Shao once before, only to be betrayed and stabbed in the back afterward.
Even if the two sides now agreed to a truce, how could the already crippled Gongsun Zan willingly seek profit from a tiger?
At most, he would put on a show out of respect for the Han court.
There was no chance he would commit any real effort.
Besides, Yan Province was hardly made of clay.
“My lord’s insight is admirable.” Upon hearing this, Cheng Yu set aside his concerns and respectfully said:
“Now that spring planting throughout our territory has concluded, five days from now is an auspicious date. I believe we may formally establish the government office on that day.”
In Cheng Yu’s view, the opening of the government office was a major event.
Not only would the military officers attend, but magistrates from every county under their rule would also come.
That was why it had been delayed until now.
“How is the Heroes’ Shrine south of the city progressing?”
Rather than making a decision immediately, Zhang Jing asked about Wang Du’s project.
“My lord.” After a moment’s thought, Cheng Yu replied:
“As far as I know, the Heroes’ Shrine south of the city was completed several days ago. The inscriptions are currently being carved. The shrine should be ready to open within three days.”
“Good.” Zhang Jing nodded slightly.
“Then let us set it for five days from now. We shall first pay tribute to the heroes and afterward proceed with the inauguration of the government office.”
“My lord is wise!” Cheng Yu fully agreed and respectfully bowed.
…………..
Ji Province, Hejian State
Outside Lecheng, on the banks of the Hutuo River.
Cao Cao was accompanying Zhao Qi on a tour of Yuan Shao’s military camp.
“Mengde.” Arriving at a watchtower and looking at the soldiers drilling in the distance, Zhao Qi’s aged face grew solemn.
“Mengde, I have heard about what happened in Yan Province. Are those Yellow Turbans truly so formidable?”
“I dare not deceive Lord Binqing.” Cao Cao replied bitterly:
“The Yellow Turbans of Yan Province originally came from Qing Province. When they arrived, they numbered only a little over three hundred thousand.”
“After entering Yan Province, they plundered everywhere and forcibly absorbed the local population. Within just a few months, their numbers had grown to over a million.”
“At the time, I was Governor of Dong Commandery.”
“When the crisis emerged, I was appointed Inspector of Yan Province. Yet even then, I could find no effective means to deal with the ever-growing Yellow Turbans.”
“I even lost my close friend, Bao Xin, Chancellor of Jibei State.”
“Originally, I believed that once winter arrived, the Yellow Turbans would run out of food and perish, even if they refused to surrender to the court.”
“But after the former Yellow Turban general Zhang Rao died…”
“Another man emerged among them—Zhang Yuheng.”
“No one knows where he learned it, but he possesses a remarkable mechanical art. His stone-throwing machines can hurl one-shi boulders over two hundred paces.”
“Wherever they strike, everything is crushed. City towers are reduced to rubble in an instant, and soldiers are overcome with terror.”
“Though I fought with all my strength, I still suffered grievous wounds and was forced to flee in defeat.”
“Of the twenty thousand men defending the city, fewer than a thousand remained when the survivors regrouped.”
“Had there not been loyal and courageous generals willing to sacrifice themselves to break through the encirclement…”
At this point, sorrow filled Cao Cao’s expression.
“I, too, would have left my life behind at Wuyan.”
“Mengde has suffered greatly.” Zhao Qi was deeply moved by the account.
Then his brow furrowed tightly.
“If the Yellow Turbans possess such weapons, and should they once again plunder the provinces, what could the court possibly do?”
“Hahaha, Lord Binqing need not worry.” Though Cao Cao seemed to be offering reassurance, there was a trace of sadness and reflection hidden within his laughter.
“The Yellow Turbans of Yan Province can no longer truly be called Yellow Turbans.”
“They should now be called the Qihuo Army.”
“As far as I know, Zhang Yuheng is not only ruthless and cunning, but also harbors grand ambitions. He possesses the qualities of a true hero of the age.”
“Oh?” Zhao Qi was visibly surprised by such an evaluation.
“What makes you say that?”
“Because after taking control of the entirety of Yan Province’s commanderies,” Cao Cao replied seriously, “he did not become arrogant or intoxicated by success.”
“Instead, he exercised extreme restraint. He relocated the populations of the four southwestern commanderies into the four northeastern commanderies and abandoned the fertile lands of the southwest as though they were worthless.”
“How many men in the world possess such resolve?”
“A fool, armed with his siege weapons and massive army, would have immediately plundered neighboring provinces such as Yu Province and Xu Province.”
“Yet Zhang Yuheng chose the opposite path.”
“Mengde’s reasoning is sound.” A chill ran through Zhao Qi’s heart.
Only now did he realize that he might have underestimated the Yellow Turbans of Yan Province.
“Lord Binqing.” Cao Cao looked at Zhao Qi and asked:
“Do you know what great undertaking Zhang Yuheng accomplished after securing the four commanderies of Yan Province?”
“A great undertaking?” Zhao Qi frowned.
“Are you referring to his defeat of General of the Left, Yuan Shu?”
“No.” Cao Cao shook his head solemnly.
“That is not it.”
“Then I ask Mengde to enlighten me.”
Living far away in Chang’an, Zhao Qi only possessed a limited understanding of events in the Central Plains.
“The undertaking can be summarized in sixteen characters.”
Taking a deep breath, Cao Cao declared:
“Integrating the poll tax into the land tax; unifying land and head taxes; abolishing all miscellaneous taxes; returning tax surpluses to the public treasury.”
“He reformed the tax system?” After hearing this, Zhao Qi revealed a look of surprise.
Although he felt that it sounded impressive, he did not fully grasp its significance.
In his view, what taxes could a mob of rebels possibly collect?
Simply governing them would already be a daunting challenge.
“Forget it.” Seeing that Zhao Qi was not particularly astonished, Cao Cao understood the reason—Zhao Qi simply knew too little about the situation.
So he said: “Then allow me to explain it properly to Lord Binqing. Once you’ve heard everything, you’ll understand just how troublesome the Qihuo Army truly is.”
“Let us begin with the governance of the four commanderies.”
“Zhang Yuheng raised the butcher’s knife against the powerful clans and aristocratic families of Yan Province. Those who remained were all brought into his service.”
“As a result, Yan Province does not lack officials capable of governing the people.”
“Furthermore…”
Over the course of half an hour, Cao Cao relayed everything he had learned, along with all of his own analyses, holding nothing back.
After hearing it all, Zhao Qi fell completely silent.
In Zhao Qi’s eyes, the strength of the Qihuo Army now seemed to have quietly surpassed that of Yuan Shao.
That was a terrifying realization.
Yet the imperial court, as things stood, appeared to have no effective solution.
“Mengde.” With a solemn expression, Zhao Qi said:
“If I am willing to put aside my pride and reputation, I may be able to persuade Benchu and Gongsun Zan to launch a joint campaign against Yan Province. I am also confident that I can convince Liu of You Province.”
In Zhao Qi’s eyes, the threat posed by the Qihuo Army was simply too great.
According to Cao Cao’s analysis, once they made it through this year’s autumn harvest, the Qihuo Army would be virtually impossible to defeat.
“Lord Binqing’s loyalty and sincerity are worthy of the utmost admiration.” Cao Cao slowly shook his head.
“But if we unite our forces and attack Yan Province now, the four provinces of Hebei will inevitably descend into chaos.”
“Because once war begins, every warlord will have his own agenda.”
“Just look at the coalition against Dong Zhuo. More than a dozen lords gathered together, creating overwhelming momentum, yet those who truly contributed were only myself, Sun Jian, and a handful of others.”
“If we now form another coalition against Yan Province— Gongsun Zan and Liu Yu are at odds. Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan are hostile to one another.”
“How could such an alliance be anything more than a rabble?”
“Lord Binqing.” At this point, Cao Cao looked directly at Zhao Qi and cautioned him:
“You must remember that Zhang Yuheng commands no fewer than two hundred thousand armored troops.”
“Moreover, he enjoys the strategic advantages of Yan Province, and its cities have been fortified to an extraordinary degree.”
“Given these circumstances, how much chance of victory do you believe we truly have in such a campaign?”
— The end of the Chapter–
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