I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 394 Blessings
Bao Xin said: "There have been frequent wars in recent years. Take the battle in Liangzhou for example. How was our Northern Army inferior to the Western Garden Army? But what I am worried about is that if we allow the Western Garden Army to recruit warriors from all over the world, I am afraid that the future will be uncertain."

"Although we are not like the soldiers in the Northern Army who have served in the army for generations, we are still officials. How can we let the Northern Army decline in our hands?"

Bao Xin's worries were not without reason. Since the development of the five battalions of the Northern Army, the Northern Army has often appeared whenever there have been changes in the imperial court, and there are also many outdated customs and practices.

There is no doubt that after the abolition of the reserve system for knights, the children of the Northern Army who have been in the army for generations are undoubtedly more professional than civilians. However, in contrast, the complex relationships between soldiers in the army and the restrictions on the number of soldiers have raised the lower limit of the Northern Army while also lowering its upper limit.

If it were in normal times, this would be a safe method. But there is always a comparison in everything. Isn't there a Xiyuan Army here?

Seeing Wang Kuang deep in thought, Bao Xin added, "When the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, I was ordered to return to my hometown to gather people to resist. At that time, there was an old subordinate who was very much to my liking, named Yu Jin Yu Wen Ze."

"Later, I was appointed as a lieutenant of the Northern Army. Since I could not bring him into the Northern Army, I had to keep him as a garrison commander in the Taishan County Army."

"When the Xiyuan Army was first established, the general sent me back to my hometown, Mount Tai, to recruit soldiers for the Xiyuan Army. At that time, I saw that Yu Wenze had already served as a Qujun officer and was highly regarded by the prefect, so I did not think of recruiting him to Xiyuan. Who would have thought that after all these years, I corresponded with him a while ago and found out that he was still a Qujun officer because the prefect who originally valued him had resigned."

At this point, Bao Xin sighed and said, "It has been ten years since the Yellow Turban Rebellion. How many decades do a real man have... What a pity! If there is no other way, I will have to go to the West Garden for him."

Who among Wang Kuang and Guanqiu Yi did not understand Bao Xin's worries? Which of them did not have some relatives and friends around them? Of course, not all of them were good-for-nothings.

However, the special nature of the Northern Army determined that it was impossible for them to insert their own people into it. In this regard, the Xiyuan Army was relatively flexible because of its short history.

Wang Kuang thought about it, slapped his thigh and said, "Since both of you have this intention, the three of us will go to Du Zhonghou to discuss and ask His Majesty to expand the army."

"Let's go together!"

"Let's go together!"

The current commander of the Northern Army is Du Kai, a famous scholar from Jingzhao.

Du Kai is not very famous in history, but his cousin Du Ji is more famous. He also has a grandson who is the famous official of the Western Jin Dynasty, Du Yu, and two famous descendants - Du Fu and Du Mu.

In Jingzhao, Du Ji, the Jingzhao Yin Gongcao, was unable to continue his job at this time.

The so-called Gongcaoyuan was the head of all the Caoyuans, in charge of rewards, punishments, appointments and dismissals of county officials, and also assisted the prefect.

Under the rule of an incompetent Erqianshi, Gongcao could be regarded as a deputy Erqianshi because of his power to reward, punish, appoint and dismiss.

But Tao Qian was obviously not the Jingzhao Yin who could be manipulated by Gongcao. He held all the powers of reward, punishment and appointment in his own hands, and Du Ji became the only one who played by the bystander.

After another earthquake in Jingzhao, Du Ji went to Tao Qian again, ready to make a final persuasion.

Du Ji had a lot of complaints about Tao Qian.

He is thirty-one years old this year. As early as when he was twenty years old, he had served as Gongcao of Jingzhao Yin. At that time, the world was in chaos when Zhang Jiao was plotting a rebellion. In addition to serving as Gongcao, Du Ji also served as acting magistrate of Zheng County under the jurisdiction of Jingzhao Yin. He managed Zheng County in an orderly manner, and his talent was obvious.

Later, he was selected as a filial and incorrupt official and entered the Three Offices, and was promoted to the position of Zhongfu Cheng. Then, in order to mourn his stepmother, he resigned and returned to his hometown. After the funeral, he was recruited by Tao Qian as Gongcao.

Logically, Du Ji should be grateful to Tao Qian, but when he thought about Tao Qian's current actions, he just couldn't feel grateful. "My Lord, Cao Hong and his men must be dismissed. You must not condone Cao Hong just because he is your fellow villager!"

Tao Qian ignored Du Ji's persuasion and comforted him, "Don't worry, Lord Bo... You know, there is an earthquake in Jingzhao now, and it is a good time to recruit people. If we dismiss Cao Hong and others now, who will arrange food, clothing and shelter for the victims?"

"Don't be anxious, Lord Bo. Just wait until this matter is over, and I will definitely give you an explanation. How do you think?"

How could Du Ji not be anxious? The last time he tried to persuade Tao Qian in this way, Tao Qian also used a similar tone to make excuses.

He bowed deeply to Tao Qian and continued to advise: "My Lord, although Cao Hong and his men have not made any serious mistakes, a thousand-mile dam is destroyed by an ant hole. If the leader does something wrong, the people below will follow suit. My Lord must be on guard!"

When Tao Qian saw Du Ji's insistence, he immediately became annoyed.

I thought to myself - if I don't use a few villagers to check local powerful families like you, then this Jingzhao Yin, as well as the results of my years of farming with Mr. Huangfu, will probably be swallowed up by powerful families like yours, the Du family, in no time!
Tao Qian certainly knew that there were some problems with Cao Hong and his companions, but in his mind, Cao Hong and his fellow villagers were at most greedy for a little money and would definitely not dare to make a big mistake, but the same could not be said for the Jingzhao nobles.

Thinking of this, Tao Qian's attitude changed, and he said to Du Ji: "Bo Hou, the government is busy right now, and I have to go see Minister Cao later, so I don't have time to argue with you here. I still say that, after we finish this matter, we can discuss Cao Hong's matter again!"

Du Ji did not back down, but bowed to Tao Qian again and said, "My Lord, if you do not punish Cao Hong and others, my position as Gongcao will be in name only. I am willing to go to the countryside to help the people affected by the disaster for a bushel of rice!"

Upon hearing this, Tao Qian stared at Du Ji.

But Du Ji's eyes were firm and he did not give in.

"Okay! Decide on your own destination! Just consider this as your last official job as Gongcao," Tao Qian left angrily.

He knew that once the disaster here was over, Du Ji would never come back.

On the other hand, Cao Hong, the focus of the conflict between the two sides, was unaware of this.

Faced with another earthquake, his first thought was excitement.

Cao Hong said to the people around him without hiding his feelings: "When the earthquake happened in October, I was still holding back. I didn't dare to do anything too much, for fear of angering the Lord of the Mansion."

"But now it seems that the Lord of the Mansion doesn't care at all."

"That's right. We, the old Danyang people of the mansion, have followed the mansion master for so many years. Now that the mansion master has achieved success and fame, it's time for us to enjoy the blessings under the mansion master's protection."

After hearing this, several people around him echoed it.

Only one person hesitated and said hesitantly: "Although we hid some property last time, it did not affect the food and shelter of the victims. If we take too much this time..."

"How can a man be so cowardly?" Cao Hong raised his head. "The last time I went back to my hometown, I met Zuo Rong. This guy believed in Buddhism and his speech was different from before. But he said something that made sense. We can have what we have today because of the hard work we have done in the past! Why worry?"

(End of this chapter)