Han family achievements

Chapter 554 Yu Liang
The first year of Jian'an, winter.

There was a snowfall in Jizhou, almost covering the entire state, with silver and white hair everywhere.

Xun Yu walked on the snow, inspected the salt field, looked at the frozen salt lakes, smiled and said to the many officials behind him: "Your Majesty likes snow very much, likes to walk in the snow, holding an umbrella, walking aimlessly. Occasionally, he will enjoy the snow under the eaves, cook hot pot, and talk with us while eating..."

Behind him were Jizhou Mu Ying Shao, Jizhou's political advisor, the Salt Inspector, Julu's prefect, Jizhou's Lieutenant General Zhao Yun, and Liu Biao, who was dressed in white.

Everyone agreed with the words of the current prime minister with a smile, stepping on the thick snow step by step without interrupting.

The current prime minister came to Jizhou in the cold winter, especially when the New Year is approaching, obviously not to enjoy the snow.

Xun Yu seemed to be in a very good mood. He looked at everything without paying any attention. He said nonchalantly, "Once, Your Majesty and I were inspecting the imperial mausoleum. When we passed by Lu Gong's tomb, I was deeply moved and wrote two lines of poetry: You are buried in the mud and your bones are melted, while I live in the world with snow on my head. Lu Gong sacrificed himself for the public all his life and was a great righteousness in the world. Your Majesty is always deeply moved when he thinks about it."

Ying Shao raised his eyelids calmly, and his body involuntarily bent further.

The others were also terrified as the topic finally came to the point.

As they walked, Xun Yu came to a high ground, looked at the frozen lake below, turned his head to look at Ying Shao and others, and said: "Your Majesty is introverted by nature, low-key, and never shows off. It's like this talent, but people in the court and the public only get a glimpse of it, and few people know about it."

Liu Biao quickly responded, "What the Prime Minister said is true. I am ashamed that I have been discussing Confucian classics all day long. Although I have no intention of boasting, I have done nothing but superficial things. I am far inferior to your Majesty in terms of my broad-mindedness."

Everyone glanced at him out of the corner of their eyes, feeling puzzled.

What is the intention of these two people singing the same tune?
Xun Yu's mature face was full of frost. He turned around and said to Ying Shao and the others, "Before I came here, Your Majesty was admiring the snow in Fanglin Garden and told me that when the situation was difficult, Ying Shao went to Jizhou alone on horseback. Over the years, despite all the ups and downs and rebellions, he still stood firm and never complained. He was not afraid of small mistakes, but was as righteous as a mountain. He is an extraordinary person."

Ying Shao's expression changed slightly, and he raised his hand and said, "I am ashamed to receive your praise, Your Majesty."

Xun Yu put his hands behind his back and praised softly, "Envoy Ying, there is no need to be modest. Everyone has seen what happened back then. Your Majesty and the court have seen what has happened in Jizhou in recent years. Apart from anything else, Zilong is your Majesty's trusted general. He has never been stationed in a local area in recent years. Sending him to Envoy Ying is enough to show your Majesty's trust in you."

Ying Shao was ashamed, raised his hands high, knelt down towards Luoyang, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I have disappointed you, and I deserve to die!"

Xun Yu hurried forward, helped him up, and said with a smile: "Why did Envoy Ying do this? Before I came here, His Majesty saw me out of the city gate, held my hand, and told me that the situation in Jizhou is not optimistic, Ying Shao is under a lot of pressure, and I should encourage him more and not dwell on the details. In a chaotic world, loyal ministers are hard to come by, so don't hurt his feelings. To be honest with Envoy Ying, I arrived a few days earlier and saw a lot. Envoy Ying, I have not let His Majesty down, so don't blame yourself."

Ying Shao knelt on the ground and refused to get up. He said in a deep voice, "Your humble servant, I am willing to donate all my family property to the court to repay your majesty's grace and to atone for my previous sins!"

"I am willing to donate all my wealth to repay your majesty's grace and atone for my previous sins!"

Except for Zhao Yun and Liu Biao, everyone else knelt down and said in unison.

Xun Yu hurriedly supported him and said, "Get up, get up, everyone. I've said that I'm not here to punish you, but to reward you. Come on, everyone, get up..."

After Xun Yu's consolation, Ying Shao and the others slowly stood up. Some of them were even wiping tears, with shame written all over their faces.

Liu Biao watched coldly from the side, feeling very confused.

Since he came to the capital, he was given a nominal position of "Assistant Prime Minister" and was thrown aside with no one to take care of him. Unexpectedly, Prime Minister Xun Yu took him with him on his inspection tour of Jizhou this time.

After Xun Yu appeased Ying Shao and the others, he continued to walk slowly in the salt field, and gradually began to talk, saying: "Your Majesty is very concerned about the officials in Jizhou. Your Majesty is completely relieved about the affairs of Jizhou. In recent years, Envoy Ying and the officials have done a very good job. As for the salt administration, this is the accumulated bad policies over the years, which has nothing to do with you. This rectification is the determination of the court to eliminate bad policies, not against the officials in Jizhou. After many discussions, the Shangshutai and the six ministries decided that Liu Gong will be transferred to Youzhou Mu, and Youzhou Mu Zhu Jianping will be promoted to the position of Assistant Minister of State Affairs and Salt Administration, in charge of salt affairs..."

Here comes the topic!

The 'Liu Gong' here obviously refers to Liu Biao.

Liu Biao finally understood why Xun Yu brought him to Jizhou.

His expression was tense and he bowed to act serious, but Liu Biao's heart was in turmoil and filled with doubt and panic.

He was a "rebel" and was forced to go to Beijing to plead guilty.

However, the emperor in the palace and the court did not punish him and just left him alone, allowing him to give lectures in Luoyang and discuss classics and Confucianism.

Unexpectedly, the imperial court would appoint him as the governor of Youzhou!

A rebel, transferred from the governor of Jingzhou to the governor of Youzhou!
Liu Biao bent his body, his eyes flickering, and he felt even more uneasy. He was so nervous that he even forgot to answer.

However, Ying Shao and the others reacted very quickly, raising their hands and saying, "We understand."

The salt fields had been turned upside down after the bloodbath in the Imperial City.

It was obvious that Xun Yu's trip was to appease the officials in Jizhou and to completely bring all power over the salt field back to the court.

Xun felt his feet were wet and cold, but he kept walking forward, talking from time to time.

But I was confused. It was so uncomfortable to walk in the snow, so why did His Majesty like it so much?

With Xun Yu's comfort, everyone including Ying Shao gradually relaxed and were no longer as nervous and worried as before.

Ever since Lin Zheng of the Imperial City led his troops to kill people in the salt field, Tian Feng has been looming in Jizhou, especially when Ying Shao led his troops to approach, but after receiving Xun Yu's letter and having to retreat, the whole Jizhou has been living in fear.

I don't know how many people committed suicide because they couldn't bear the fear, and how many people fled in panic. Even those who managed to remain calm made frequent mistakes. The whole Jizhou was in chaos.

When everyone left the salt field and returned to Julu, the imperial edict 'happened' to arrive.

The intention was very simple, which was to praise Ying Shao and others for their hard work and great contributions, and to reward them generously.

It was not until the issuance of this decree that Ying Shao and others finally breathed a sigh of relief and showed unprecedented enthusiasm for Xun Yu.

Ying Shao took Xun Yu with him and traveled around Jizhou, showing the results of his "New Deal" over the years.

East of Julu.

Ying Shao stood at the edge of a field, pointing at a relatively barren field, and said worriedly: "Prime Minister, this is what I reclaimed last year with the city defense soldiers. We originally planned to recruit 20,000 refugees, but in the end we only got 5,000. In addition, there were problems with grain, farming tools, water sources, etc., so most of the land is still barren. Even if we plant it, I'm afraid the harvest next year will not be even half of that of an ordinary field..."

Xun Yu carried him on his back and looked out from afar. Even though the fields were covered with snow, he could still see how sparsely populated the fields were. He pondered and said, "The court's policy is to exempt taxes for three years, but it seems that this is still too little."

Liu Biao stood on the other side of Xun Yu and shook his head in his heart.

Everyone says Jizhou is prosperous, but it is far inferior to Jingzhou which he previously governed.

Compared to Jizhou, which was plagued by frequent battles and wars, Jingzhou was much more stable and did not suffer much damage.

"Youzhou, it won't be worse than here, right?" Liu Biao then raised his head and looked north, feeling a little worried.

Youzhou is a desolate place with vast territory, sparse population, many mountains and ridges. It is also located in the northern frontier. Over the years, there have been constant wars, and the people have been displaced and have rarely had a peaceful day.

Ying Shao stood next to Xun Yu and said, "Prime Minister, three years is already a long time. It's just that it will take time for the people to settle down completely and farm with peace of mind." The Han Dynasty had been in war for decades, and the people had fled everywhere. Even though things seem stable now and the court has given them land, the people cannot feel completely at ease. They will flee with their families at the slightest sign of trouble.

Xun Yu knew this situation, nodded silently, and said, "No more fighting."

If we continue to fight, we won’t be able to hold on.

Of the thirteen states of the Han Dynasty, the imperial court controlled nine of them. As the business grew bigger, it needed sufficient support. It might collapse if not handled with care. Once it fell, it would not be as easy to support it as before.

When Ying Shao heard Xun Yu say "let's stop fighting", he was hesitant to speak.

In his opinion, the imperial court should make a concerted effort to destroy Yuan Shao and recover Jiaozhi, instead of retreating at the height of the storm and keeping the troops in place.

"What do you think of Cao Ren?" Xun Yu did not continue the conversation, but turned to look towards the north and asked lightly.

After this sentence was spoken, Ying Shao and Liu Biao fell silent, looked at each other, and no one responded.

Cao Ren, the General of the Central Army of Youzhou, was Cao Cao's cousin and his most trusted person.

The year before last, Cao Cao led his army to conquer Wuhuan. His Majesty in the palace gave Cao Cao a "reward" and appointed him as the General of the Youzhou Army.

After Cao Cao defeated the Wuhuan, he left Cao Ren in Youzhou.

Cao Ren has 20,000 elite soldiers stationed outside Xiaoxian County. He is the most important military force to guard Youzhou. At the same time, he forms a three-way balance of power with Liaodong and Youbeiping. This is secretly restraining Liaodong Prefect Gongsun Du.

"There are no outsiders here, so just speak." Xun Yu said with his hands behind his back.

Ying Shao heard this with a solemn expression, and said, "Prime Minister, as far as I know, when the Grand Marshal was escorting His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to Luoyang with his troops, Cao Ren's troops also made movements."

Xun Yu remained calm and said, "At that time, there were many bandits in Xiaopingjin, and Cao Ren was ordered to lead troops to support them. There was no problem. What I want to ask you is, should Cao Ren stay in Youzhou?"

Ying Shao stopped talking and glanced at Liu Biao.

This person is the new governor of Youzhou who is about to take office.

Liu Biao had not figured out why the court would appoint him as the governor of Youzhou. He pretended to be thoughtful and said, "Prime Minister, I have heard that Cao Ren is a steady person, loyal to Your Majesty, the Grand Marshal, and the court. I think we should not make any move for now."

After all, Cao Ren was Cao Cao's confidant, and the court would not act rashly without sufficient reason.

Moreover, in Liu Biao's view, replacing someone else might not necessarily be easier to deal with.

Xun Yu looked back at Liu Biao and said, "Right Sima recommended Zhang Ji. What do you think, Lord Liu?"

"I don't think it's appropriate." Liu said calmly on the surface, but he was actually worried in his heart.

Since arriving in Luoyang, he seemed to be devoted to learning and ignored the affairs of state, but in fact, he still made a lot of small moves in secret.

For example, he had secret contacts with Liu Bei, who was also a member of the royal family.

Xun Yu only glanced at Liu Biao, then withdrew his gaze from his face and said, "The Grand Marshal thinks so too. Although Guo Si, Li Jue and others have been annihilated, and Zhang Ji did not participate in the rebellion against the Imperial Guards, he was a traitor after all and cannot be reused. However, his nephew Zhang Xiu is quite good and currently serves under the Right Marshal and is quite capable."

Liu Biao felt his scalp tingling and dared not look up.

Was this Xun Yu's remark unintentional or was he giving him a reminder?
However, Ying Shao, who was standing next to him, gradually saw things more clearly.

As Guan Yu killed Zuo Rong in the midst of thousands of troops in Xuzhou, he became famous. Then Liu Bei recaptured Jingzhou without bloodshed. For a time, Liu Bei became famous and was regarded as the most dazzling "general" in the Han Dynasty after Cao Cao.

Cao Cao was the Grand Marshal and Liu Bei was the Right Marshal, and the two of them became two opposing forces!
In particular, many people saw Guan Yu as the General of the Central Army of Jingzhou, in order to check and balance Cao Cao!
"Let's go to Mount Tai and have a look."

Xun Yu seemed to be speaking casually and walked eastward.

Ying Shao was startled, and hurriedly followed, saying, "Prime Minister, is your Majesty going to perform a Fengshan ceremony?"

"no,"

Xun Yu directly denied it and said, "I want to meet Cui Jun of Qingzhou."

Ying Shao understood and didn't ask any more questions.

Qingzhou has been unstable recently, with the Yellow Turban Rebellion rising and falling one after another. The saying "Why would someone who controls the world use a golden sword?" has been circulating around Mount Tai and has never stopped.

Liu Biao restrained his thoughts and didn't dare to say anything more.

He knew the rumor and even its source.

But this sentence is an extremely taboo word. It is kept secret in Luoyang City and no one dares to say more.

……

In the seventh month of the second year of Jian'an, Wujun.

The weather is getting hotter, but at the seaside, the cool breeze and the blue sea and sky are very comfortable.

Sun Quan, Marquis of Wucheng, Zhang Liao, General of the Central Army of Xuzhou, Gu Yong, Prefect of Wujun, Zhou Yu, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, and others were standing on the shore, watching the constantly moving naval ships.

The deputy admiral of the navy, Cai Mao, jumped down from a warship, came closer, raised his hand and said, "Report to the admiral, Marquis Wucheng, at present, the twenty-three warships have been organized, the soldiers have lined up, and the food, grass, and fresh water are ready."

Upon hearing this, Gu Yong, Zhang Liao, Sun Quan and others all looked at Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu was wearing armor, and his handsome face was full of sternness. He looked up at the sky and said, "Drop anchor and rest!"

"Yes, sir!" Cai Mao responded loudly, turned around and left to pass on the order.

Zhou Yu turned around and looked at Zhang Liao, Sun Quan and others, and said, "The navy is ready. When will Your Majesty arrive?"

Sun Quan and Gu Yong did not speak, but looked at Zhang Liao.

Here, only Zhang Liao was the emperor's confidant and was the first to receive the news.

Zhang Liao said, "He will arrive a day later. His Majesty said in his letter that he wants to meet someone in Nanyang."

Everyone was immediately puzzled. Who was it that His Majesty wanted to meet in person and would take a whole day?
(End of this chapter)