In May of the fourth year of Jian 'an, Liu Bei sent Zhao Yun to re-establish the White Horse Righteous Follower in memory of Gongsun Zan. - Book of Eastern Han
Xu Du, Cao Cao's residence, Man Chong was introducing the military situation to Cao Cao. He said,"Now that Yuan Shao has obtained Zan's army, his momentum is very strong. However, Yuan Shu was arrogant and extravagant in Huainan, and did not sympathize with the army and the people. Everyone rebelled. Lei Bo Chen Lan betrayed Yuan Shu and fled to Mount Song. Yuan Shu sent people to return the title of emperor to Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao wanted to take the jade seal, Yuan Shu agreed to personally send it to him, now abandoned Huainan want to return to Hebei. If the two of them work together, it will be difficult to recover. I beg the Prime Minister to make an urgent plan."
"Yuan Shu wants to go to Hopei," Guo Jia said."He must pass through Xuzhou. Now Xuzhou is owned by Liu Bei. How can we let it go? It is better to carry out Mao's plan and urge Liu Bei's grandson Sun Ce to march into Huainan to suppress Yuan Shu to prevent future troubles. He also ordered the two men to fight for Huainan, killing two birds with one stone.”Cao Cao laughed and said,"Very good."”
"Cao Cao sent a letter ordering me to march into Huainan. What do you think?”Liu Bei asked as he held the letter. "Now is the time when the summer grain is ripe. After the wheat is harvested, it won't be too late to enter the army.”Mi Zhu hurriedly replied.
Ever since Chen Deng released the Guangling prefect, he was in charge of Liu Bei's logistics and was very diligent and conscientious. Moreover, when he married his sister to Liu Bei, the tenants had given him 3,000 households. One could imagine how much land his family had. However, Yang Lei did not encroach on the land that was given to the families of the soldiers or the disabled soldiers according to the soldier's pension regulations. Therefore, although Yang Lei knew the disadvantages of such land annexation, he did not speak to Liu Bei.
This was also the trend of the current era. Which of the various tyrants did not occupy a large amount of land? Now that Liu Bei only occupied a province, there were many enemies surrounding him. Yang Lei did not have any thoughts of reforming this aspect for the time being to avoid internal instability. He had to unite all the forces that could be united. In war, it was necessary to defeat a portion of people, and then the other portion would stand up. As for the path that these new people would take, they naturally had to plan it out.
Liu Bei saw Mi Zhu say so, and saw that no one had any objections, so he agreed. Just then, a soldier came to report that General Mi Fang had arrived. Everyone was curious when they heard that. Mi Fang and Xu Dan lived a comfortable life in Donghai. The salt used in Xuzhou was produced there, and some of it was transferred to Yanzhou and Yongsi.
Salt tax was the biggest tax in Xuzhou. The other taxes could not be compared to it. Although movable type printing had been created and caused a sensation, there was a lack of suitable paper. Although the paper-making craftsmen were constantly improving, the production was still only used by the government. Of course, some of them were sold at a high price.
The cement was quickly promoted, but it was used in too many places. Paving roads, repairing bridges, repairing city walls, building houses, it was used everywhere, so there was really not much to sell. As for liquor, in an era where food was considered a strategic resource, it was also considered a luxury item. Of course, it was also Zhang Fei's favorite.
As for furniture, it was very popular. Of course, it did not require much technology, so the various prefectures of the Great Han Dynasty copied it quickly. However, Xu Prefecture's furniture was often famous for its novelty and comfort.
As for these technical things, Yang Lei didn't have any secrets. It wasn't that he didn't understand the importance of confidentiality, but he felt that people living in this era were already miserable enough. Moreover, no matter how secretive you were, it wouldn't prevent those profit-seeking businessmen from selling these things to the various vassals. It was better to make these things related to the people's livelihood public. Perhaps a few more people could live. At least on the streets of Xuzhou, Yang Lei had seen a few stalls selling small stools. As for Cao Cao's deep cultivation and Sun Ce's salt drying, Yang Lei had heard of them and was quite pleased. At least, in this era, he could do other things besides killing people.
Just as he was wandering outside the room, Mi Fang had already arrived. Unlike her older brother, Mi Zhu, who had a scholarly air, Mi Fang was a little fat, especially her little belly that was gradually gaining weight. It swayed under the brocade robe, making everyone laugh. Mi Fang entered the hall and hurriedly bowed."Mi Fang greets my lord." "Zifang, why are you here instead of guarding Donghai City and managing the matters of drying salt?”Liu Bei was curious. "My lord," said Mi Fang,"I have heard that you want to attack Yuan Shu, and have come to ask for battle.”
"I'm glad that Zifang wants to fight, but the East Sea is an important place for my salt production, so I can't leave Zifang to guard it.”Liu Bei looked at Mi Fang's belly and hurriedly replied. He thought to himself,'Although my brother-in-law has a general's belly, his martial arts skills are really not that good. If he goes into battle and something happens to him, wouldn't Madam Mo find trouble with me every day?'
Mi Fang saw that Liu Bei did not agree and turned her eyes to Mi Zhu. However, he saw that Mei Zhu's eyes were closed, as if he did not see him. He could only look at Liu Bei and said,""My lord, Fang Yili requested to fight. I hope my lord will grant her wish.”Liu Bei saw that he was persistent and was a little surprised. He asked,"Why did Zifang request to fight?" Mei Fang raised her head and glanced at Yang Lei, then fell silent.
However, his actions were seen by everyone and they couldn't help but look at Yang Lei. Yang Lei was also very curious. What did I do to make you so busy asking for a battle? You have to know that your martial arts are not that good. Seeing this, Liu Bei felt a little unhappy. He snorted and said,"Zifang, just tell me the reason. There's no need to be like this.”
Mi Fang saw that Liu Bei was a little angry and hurriedly said,""It's nothing else. I've been stationed in the East Sea for a long time. According to the rotation regulations, it's time for me to come to Xu Prefecture to listen to you, so I'm here to request for battle.”When everyone heard this, they knew that it was because of Yang Lei's rotation system. However, they had already rotated once before, and they were all generals, so they let it go. Now that they saw Mi Fang come to request for battle, they were all tempted. Staying in Donghai meant supervising the production of salt. This was not only related to the people's livelihood, but also a major matter related to taxation.
When Liu Bei heard this, he knew what was going on. However, he still had to think carefully about the garrison in Donghai. At this thought, Liu Bei said,"You can leave now. I'll think about it and then make a decision."”Hearing this, Mi Fang retreated, but everyone remained calm.
That night, Yang Lei was detained by Liu Bei. When he entered the back hall, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were there. Zhao Yun was training outside and had not returned. When Liu Bei saw Yang Lei, he said,"Fifth Brother, please sit down." He called Fifth Brother over today to discuss the rotation of generals.”
"Oh?" Although Yang Lei had some guesses, he did not expect Liu Bei to be so direct. He was slightly stunned and continued,"What does big brother think?"
Liu Bei pondered for a moment and said,""Although Donghai has no worries about being invaded by foreign enemies, how can we change people so easily in Haiyan?”
"Does big brother mean to let Mi Zi Fang continue to guard the East Sea?”Yang Lei asked.
"Exactly." Liu Bei was quite straightforward. After all, everyone in the room was his sworn brother, so there was nothing to hide.
"In this way, the rotation system of generals will only exist in name.”Yang Lei frowned.
"Yuting, to be honest, I, Old Zhang, don't really like your rotation system. If there is no war, they will be rotated once a year. In this way, won't the general not know the army, and the army not know the general?”Zhang Fei seemed careless, but he asked a very shrewd question.
Yang Lei was at a loss for words. This system was created to prevent the generals from becoming too powerful, but there was indeed such a flaw. However, Yang Lei had always believed that the one who truly controlled the army should not be a general, but the countless station commanders and marquises in the army. They were the true backbone, the true executors and messengers of orders. This was also the reason why he was determined to open a literacy class and select meritorious soldiers and their children to enter the Yun Long Academy. This way, the army would be loyal to Liu Bei and not one of his generals. Soldiers were not consumables. They were the foundation of a country.
However, although his actions had won Liu Bei the loyalty of the soldiers and stabilized their morale, it had also attracted the dissatisfaction of the generals. After all, as a general, everyone wanted to have an army that truly belonged to them. Although they all had their own personal guards, none of them were like Lu Bu, who had 500 Bingzhou cavalry and Gao Shun's Breaking Ranks. Although it was a special case, it was hard to guarantee that the generals would not be envious. Fortunately, these troops were stationed in the barracks outside the city. Otherwise, some generals would have already secretly informed Lu Bu that he had the intention to rebel again.
Yang Lei thought for a long time and felt that he could not find a good solution. He said,"The original intention of lightning is to prevent everyone from having private weapons. After all, people's hearts were unpredictable. If a general guarded a place for a long time and used both kindness and power, it was inevitable that the soldiers would only know the general and not their big brother.”
When Liu Bei heard this, he immediately said,"Fifth Brother, you are all thinking for me. However, Liu Bei is now building a foundation. How can he doubt everyone? As the saying goes, if you doubt someone, don't use him, and if you use someone, don't doubt him. Since Liu Bei has appointed him as a general, he must be on guard. He must not be so suspicious.”
"Big brother, don't you see that the current situation of the warlords splitting up is also because the vassals are supporting their armies and disobeying the orders of the Imperial Court?”Yang Lei was a little impatient. A talented person could not rebel in ten years. If the army rebelled, the country would basically be finished.
When Liu Bei heard this, he was slightly taken aback. He then said,""I know your heart very well. However, such a method was not benevolent.”Without waiting for Yang Lei to persuade him, he immediately said,"Fifth brother, you don't have to say much. I've made up my mind and will inform everyone tomorrow.”Hearing this, Yang Lei sighed in his heart and was about to leave. Liu Bei did not want him to stay.
Zhang Fei accompanied Yang Lei back to the residence. On the way, seeing that Yang Lei seemed unhappy, Zhang Fei smiled and said,"Yuting, it's not like you don't know that big brother has always treated people with benevolence and righteousness. If you didn't say that the human heart is unpredictable, this method would have worked. Once he said it, it would be abandoned by his big brother.”
Hearing this, Yang Lei suddenly understood. No wonder Liu Bei seemed so unhappy just now. It seemed that he had unintentionally violated a taboo. He shook his head and smiled bitterly."I was too anxious, but I was too eager for quick success.”
" Sigh, Third Brother thinks you're right." Zhang Fei's eyes flashed with a thoughtful light." The heart is unpredictable. It's indeed difficult to predict." Apart from the fact that the soldiers are unfamiliar with this method, it's a good idea. It was just that Big Brother treated people with faith and was definitely unwilling to do this. Yuting, if there is such a meaning next time, tell me first. I will discuss it with my second brother Zilong. Don't tell big brother. Otherwise, he'll be unhappy again." Then, he laughed out loud.
Yang Lei also found it funny and said,""What if big brother can react?”"Naturally, it's just that the mastermind suffered some grievances. Big brother won't really blame you.”Looking at Yang Lei's somewhat depressed appearance, Zhang Fei's heart instinctively felt happy. He could not help but laugh again.
Yang Lei shook his head helplessly. Then, he thought of something and said,"Third brother, don't you think we should find a strategist?”
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