diymy Chapter 9 It's Not Worth It to Replace the Clan Chief
Chapter 9 It's Not Worth It to Replace the Clan Chief
With this matter settled, the chances of persuading the Yang family were quite high, so Hou Chong said, "Xuande, what other plans do you have? Please continue!"
Liu Bei continued, "The third step is to use the money and grain provided by the Yang family to repair the forts and beacon towers along the route, and to organize the fortified villagers and local militia."
"The prefectural government will provide weapons and train them into an army, which will not only protect the fortresses, but also provide early warning and protection for the Yang family's caravans and estates."
"If the barbarian cavalry comes again, we will first be alerted by beacon fires, then intercepted by local militia, and the prefectural government will be able to send troops to our aid in time!"
"In this way, the Yang family's assets will not be plundered at will, which is a long-term solution for stability."
The military equipment in western Liaoning is not nonexistent, but it is extremely scarce!
According to the regulations of the imperial court, border counties could have two to three thousand soldiers. Liaoxi, being a border region, naturally had three thousand soldiers.
However, Liaoxi Commandery runs across the Yanshan Mountains. For example, Lingzhi County is located on the west side of the Yanshan Mountains, adjacent to the Youzhou Plain, and is the exit into Youzhou.
We need to deploy a large force to defend it!
Eight hundred people isn't too much to ask!
Looking at Linyu, it borders the Bohai Sea to the east and there are small paths leading into the pass. Moreover, it is mountainous and its people are fierce, so it should be defended!
Eight hundred people isn't too much to ask!
The rest, Feiru and Haiyang, should also be defended, each with about three hundred men!
How much is left?
Eight hundred left!
As far as Liu Bei knew, Yangcheng, as the administrative center, was garrisoned by two hundred people year-round.
The remaining six hundred men were under the command of Yan Gang, the Commandant of Liaoxi, and were stationed in the main camp east of the city.
This was the force of one prefecture, with only six hundred men in the mobile unit.
As soon as Liu Bei finished speaking, Hou Chong paced back and forth in his study, pondering the pros and cons.
"What a win-win situation! Excellent!"
"Xuande, your move has truly revealed the Yang family's intentions!"
"What they want is never a peaceful life, but the legitimacy of their business, the prestige of their family, and the long-term stability of their enterprise!"
"These three things you gave me hit their weak points perfectly!"
"Exactly!"
Liu Bei bowed and said, "We can repair the beacon towers, provide relief to the people, and strengthen the border defenses without spending a single penny of the treasury."
"The Yang family can exchange a sum of money for a legitimate monopoly, imperial praise, and long-term property security. The Yang family must be able to understand this calculation."
"I am willing to volunteer to go to the Yang residence, meet with Yang Kui, and facilitate this matter."
"Alright! I'll leave this entirely to you!" Hou Chong immediately made the decision, then called over someone and introduced him.
"Shi Chang, this is Liu Bei, courtesy name Xuande, a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan and a great-grandson of Emperor Jing of Han. He possesses the talent to govern the world!"
"Xuande, this is Shan Jing, courtesy name Shichang, Prefect of Liaoxi Commandery..."
Liu Bei's pupils contracted slightly; he could no longer hear what Hou Chong was saying, and Shan Jing's resume flashed through his mind.
Shan Jing, whose birth and death dates are unknown, was an important general under Gongsun Zan in his previous life, ranking among the top three.
During the Chuping era, Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao vied for control of Hebei. Gongsun Zan appointed himself governor of three provinces and appointed Jing as governor of Yan Province to oppose Cao Cao, who was appointed by Yuan Shao.
In the third year of the Chuping era (192 AD), he led his troops to garrison Pingyuan, and joined forces with Yuan Shu and Tao Qian to contain Yuan Shao. In the end, he was defeated by the combined forces of Yuan Shao and Cao Cao.
Liu Bei's eyes lit up. Although this man's abilities were unknown, the fact that he had become Gongsun Zan's confidant suggested that he was not an incompetent man.
It turns out this person was Hou Chong's subordinate, and it seems he was later left to Gongsun Zan, so he will belong to Liu Bei from now on.
That night, Liu Bei visited Shan Jing. The two men, one eager to make friends and the other thirsting for talent, naturally became close friends and regretted not having met sooner.
The next morning, Liu Bei changed into a neat official's robe and went to Shan Jing's residence to invite him to go to the Yang family's residence together.
Given Liu Bei's status and position, it was not enough for him to agree to the three strategies proposed by Hou Chong, so Hou Chong arranged for Shan Jing to accompany him.
The Yang family mansion is located in the southeast corner of Yangle City. It has high walls, a grand vermilion gate, and strict guards at the entrance, making it seem like a completely different world from the desolate and dilapidated Yangle City.
Liu Bei stepped forward, bowed to the guards, and said in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant: "I am here to inform you that I am Liu Bei, the Assistant Prefect of Liaoxi Commandery and the Military Clerk of the Commandery."
Seeing his calm demeanor and knowing he was associated with the prefect's office, the guards dared not neglect him and quickly went inside to report.
Before long, the guards came out and led Liu Bei and his companion inside.
After passing through several courtyards, we arrived at the main hall called "Jingsi Hall". An elderly man of about fifty years old, dressed in a brocade robe, with a refined demeanor yet an air of authority, was sitting behind the desk. He was Yang Kui, the current patriarch of the Yang clan.
Yang Kui feigned a flustered rise and said warmly, "Oh dear, I had no idea Magistrate Shan was coming. I am so sorry for not welcoming you sooner!"
Yang Kui put on a good show, yet it was obvious to everyone that he was only putting on a show.
They completely ignored Liu Bei, as if he didn't exist.
Liu Bei was not angry. This was nothing. In the past, when the feudal lords formed an alliance, he could calmly talk about weaving mats and selling shoes. Why should he take it seriously with a small clan today?
Shan Jing, however, had little patience and said in a businesslike manner, "Clan Chief Yang, I am merely accompanying you today; Liu Bingcao is the one in charge!"
After saying that, he sat down to the side without paying any attention to Yang Kui, who was frozen in place.
Yang Kui, being a shrewd man, immediately switched to a smiling face: "Oh dear, it's Liu Bingcao! I've been so rude!"
"I've long heard of the outstanding young military officer newly appointed to Liaoxi Commandery, a man of exceptional talent and ability to govern. Meeting him today, I can see he is indeed extraordinary!"
"I have been busy and have not had the chance to pay you a visit. Please forgive me..."
Liu Bei was no novice, and he handled the situation with ease. After a brief exchange, the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had passed.
This surprised Shan Jing, who was standing to the side, and he began to pay even more attention to this young man whom the prefect valued.
A person's ability to navigate social situations is a form of literature. In officialdom, it's never about fighting and killing, but about understanding human relationships and worldly wisdom!
Yang Kui was also secretly groaning in despair; this young man was slippery and cunning, even more like an old fox than he was.
Yang Kui said helplessly, "I wonder what brings you two officials here today? What are your orders, Lord Prefect?"
Liu Bei straightened up, looked calmly at Yang Kui, and went straight to the point: "May I ask, clan leader, in the past three years, how many times have the Yang clan's caravans traveling between Bingzhou and the Xianbei been robbed by the barbarian cavalry?"
"How much money and goods were lost?"
"How many more times have the barbarian cavalry raided the surrounding farms and destroyed their crops? How many houses have they burned down?"
Yang Kui's composure vanished instantly, and his brows furrowed slightly: "You're investigating the Yang family's businesses?"
In previous years, the people from the prefectural government came to solicit donations, borrow grain, and impose levies; they were all there to fleece the Yang family.
What exactly are these two people up to today?
Liu Bei sighed softly, his tone calm, yet every word pierced Yang Kui's heart.
"Chief, please be wise. The day before yesterday, I personally went to Xiping Fort and what I saw was truly shocking."
"The fortress walls have collapsed, most of the beacon towers are abandoned, and only the old and weak remain in the fortress, while the able-bodied have all fled."
"The nomadic cavalry came and went as if entering an empty land, plundering people, seizing grain, and burning fields, which became almost a regular occurrence."
He paused briefly, looked at Yang Kui, and his tone suddenly turned serious:
"We carefully observed the route. Thirty li west of Xiping Fort lies the clan chief's seven estates, two salt fields, and the strategic pass on the trade route to Bingzhou and Xianbei."
"Once Xiping Fort is breached, the next target of the Hu cavalry will be the Yang family's estates and caravans."
"How much money and grain will be lost this year? Five years, ten years, and so on? How much will it amount to in the long run?"
"Bei, I feel sorry for the clan leader!"