I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 457 Liu Bei Enters Yizhou

"I've had enough!" Yan Liang threw his helmet to the ground and sat down on the ground, refusing to get up.

It's already early October. In his hometown, Shanyang County, Yanzhou, every household should prepare winter clothes.

But in Nanzhong, he was wearing armor and still felt extremely hot.

After wearing it for a while, your body will feel sticky.

It's not just sweat, there's also fog between the mountains and forests here.

But they couldn't take off their armor. They had few soldiers and faced the rebels who were numerous and occupied the advantageous terrain. They needed to be on guard against hidden arrows from unknown sources.

In other words, because the south was humid, the rebels' bows and arrows had limited lethality, and the most elite Han troops were fully equipped with armor, so they did not cause too many casualties.

Moreover, the terrain in Nanzhong was rugged, and Yan Liang hadn't even experienced his favorite activity of riding a horse for a long time.

Frustrated and depressed, this is how Yan Liang felt after arriving in Nanzhong to quell the rebellion.

Unfortunately, they were limited by insufficient manpower and supplies and could not rush into Nanzhong to engage in a decisive battle with the rebels.

But after hearing Yan Liang's complaints, the soldiers following behind him were no longer surprised.

During this period, Yan Liang would always complain like this every day when he personally led them on patrol, but after each complaint, Yan Liang would still appear in the patrol team the next day.

At this time, an old soldier from Xiyuan would proudly introduce himself to the uninformed county soldiers: "A man like Yan Sima would actually lead us on patrol. You must have never encountered such a scene before, right?"

"Let me tell you, this is very common in our Xiyuan Army."

"The one who led the charge at that time was the current Central Army Captain - Captain Liu. It's no wonder you don't know Captain Liu's name... He is a well-known figure..."

Then the old soldiers in Xiyuan would praise Liu Bei, which would arouse the envy of the soldiers in the county.

And on this day, after Yan Liang had complained and vented, he picked up his helmet and shouted to the soldiers behind him, "Has rested enough? Let's continue!"

After walking for another half a minute, Yan Liang suddenly heard some noise, shouted "Enemy attack!", and then quickly raised his arms to cover his face.

Then several arrows attacked, and Yan Liang could clearly hear the sound of the rebels' arrows hitting his armor.

The arrows, whose tips were made of stone, naturally could not penetrate Yan Liang's iron armor. After shooting only a few arrows, the attackers immediately fled quickly under the cover of trees.

Yan Liang was left with angrily drawing his bow and arrow, but he could only watch the target disappear.

After cursing twice more, Yan Liang saw that none of his soldiers were injured, so he took out a map, recorded his current location on it, and then announced that he would continue his patrol.

When Yan Liang returned, he suddenly saw that the military camp was very lively.

He also saw the firemen busy slaughtering pigs and sheep, and there were soldiers helping. It seemed that there were more than a hundred pigs and sheep to be slaughtered.

"Killing so many pigs and sheep, how can we live like this?" Yan Liang, who was full of anger during the patrol, couldn't help but complain.

"Hey, you're finally back! Did you sit on the ground and act like a spoiled brat today?"

Yan Liang knew who was speaking as soon as he heard the voice, and he responded immediately: "Jinfan thief, don't try to be so good at talking. If you have the guts, wait for me to take a shower, and we'll see who will win."

After Gan Ning provoked Yan Liang for a while, he did not accept the invitation of the horse battle. He said, "Don't worry, don't worry, I have something important to do. Don't take a shower yet. Come with me!"

"What's the matter? Even if food and grass were delivered from the rear today, it wouldn't be so lively, right?" Yan Liang asked.

Gan Ning turned around and said jokingly, "They say that a fool's intuition is the most accurate. It seems that this saying is actually true. Today, food and supplies have really arrived, but it's not just supplies."

"Jinfan thief!" Yan Liang shouted loudly, and without caring about the occasion, he pounced directly towards Gan Ning.

But Gan Ning was not wearing armor. He dodged easily before waving his hand and saying, "It's really important. The new General Anxi is here."

"Or is it an old acquaintance of yours?"

Yan Liang really didn't know who General Anxi was.

We had heard earlier that the new General Anxi was coming, but even though they had not gone deep into southern China, transportation was already inconvenient, and the exchange of information depended almost entirely on the troops escorting supplies.

It was difficult for the weak messenger to deliver the message under the harassment of the rebels.

But he looked at Gan Ning who was still playing dumb at this time and asked seriously: "Tell me, who is it!"

Seeing Yan Liang's serious expression, Gan Ning stopped teasing him and replied, "It's the Captain Liu that you old soldiers in Xiyuan always talk about."

Regarding Zhuge Xuan's entry into Nanzhong, the Secretariat was ultimately unable to find a deputy candidate for Liu Bian that would satisfy him.

However, the Secretariat took a different approach and recommended a new candidate for General Anxi to Liu Bian, so that Zhuge Xuan became his assistant.

There was only one Captain Liu in the Xiyuan Army. Yan Liang was delighted when he heard this name.

His style of leading by example, as the veterans said, was learned from Liu Bei. The pigs and sheep being cooked and slaughtered also seemed reasonable to him.

Apart from anything else, with Liu Bei around, their living conditions should be better.

Gan Ning continued, "You don't know. I thought these old soldiers were lying, but today when I met Captain Liu... No, it was these pigs and sheep that General Liu brought, I realized that what the old soldiers said was true."

"General Liu also said that every time he transports food and supplies, he will also bring at least a hundred pigs and sheep. He is truly not an ordinary person!"

After hearing Gan Ning's praise, although it was not praise for himself, Yan Liang still felt honored.

Not long after, Gan Ning and Yan Liang arrived at the central army tent, where Liu Bei was having a pleasant conversation with Zhao Jin.

Yan Liang noticed that there was a scholar sitting next to Liu Bei. Even though the soldiers were not wearing armor, their clothes were different from those of the scholars. It was obvious that this person was not a soldier.

As they were all from the Xiyuan Army, Liu Bei naturally did not need to introduce them in detail. However, Liu Bei introduced the scholar to Yan Liang very solemnly, saying, "This is Lord Zhuge of Langya... Lord Zhuge has come here under orders to help us pacify the barbarians in the south."

Yan Liang noticed that Zhao Jin and the others did not feel experienced, and it was obvious that this was not the first time Liu Bei had introduced him in this way.

In this way, when they met for the first time, Zhuge Xuan, with the help of Liu Bei, left a very deep impression on Yan Liang.

Afterwards, although Liu Bei had just arrived, Zhao Jin and others were all his acquaintances, so he naturally integrated into the group and asked about matters related to the campaign in Nanzhong.

By the time the pigs and sheep were cooked by the cooks, the topic became more diverse.

During the banquet, Zhao Jin asked, "Xuan De, the food and fodder transported this time are extra large, but as far as I know, the Bashu area has been exhausted due to the rebellion suppressed in the middle of the year. Where did all this food and fodder, pigs and sheep come from?"

Liu Bei laughed and said, "Isn't there still a Hanzhong?"

"But the journey from Hanzhong to here is long and the road is inconvenient!" Zhao Jin asked.

Liu Bei replied, "That is not the case. I used Hanzhong's grain, grass, pigs and sheep to supplement Ba County, and used Ba County's produce to supplement Qianwei County. What we used was actually from Qianwei County." Seeing that Zhao Jin was still confused, he asked, "When you led your troops through Hanzhong, you knew that there was a Five Pecks of Rice Sect in Hanzhong?"

Zhao Jin nodded and said, "It's just that I was busy marching at the time and didn't know much about it."

Liu Bei said, "The Five Pecks of Rice Sect was rampant in Hanzhong in the past. Last year, its teacher Zhang Lu was summoned to Luoyang by Your Majesty. I thought the Five Pecks of Rice Sect in Hanzhong would be more stable. But when I passed by Hanzhong, I found out that when we were killing locusts this year, Zhang Wei, the brother of Zhang Lu who is now in charge of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect in Hanzhong, took the opportunity to threaten the governor and expand the sect."

"Then what?" Zhao Jin asked curiously.

"Then, we have the extra food, fodder, cattle and sheep." Liu Bei said with a smile, "After all, Zhang Wei is still somewhat filial and doesn't want his mother in Luoyang to suffer."

When Yan Liang heard Liu Bei's words, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

He said: "Actually, I have heard some things about Zhang Lu."

"Liu Fan, the eldest son of Zong Zhengqing, is the county magistrate in my hometown. I once heard from the villagers in Luoyang that at the end of last year, Liu Fan came to Luoyang, but on New Year's Day he actually left the house and lived separately, and did not spend the New Year with his father. I heard that it was because of Zhang Lu's mother!"

Life in the army was boring, so Yan Liang's words were full of color: "So, who knows how happy Zhang Wei's mother is in Luoyang!"

After saying this, Zhuge Xuan frowned secretly, but Gan Ning on the side burst into laughter immediately.

Liu Bei didn't take Yan Liang's words seriously. He was already used to such remarks.

Although the Xiyuan Army has strict military discipline, Yan Liang and his men can only satisfy their desire to talk big.

After chuckling twice, Liu Bei continued to use his knife to cut a piece of mutton and started eating.

However, although Liu Bei spoke lightly, Zhuge Xuan, who had followed Liu Bei all the way, knew that the Five Pecks of Rice Sect had many followers in Hanzhong, and Liu Bei took a big risk when he got so much grain, pigs and sheep from Zhang Wei, who seemed to have a tough personality.

In fact, if Zhang Wei had not been timid and voluntarily retreated, the soldiers of Hanzhong County would have fought with the core believers of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect.

At that time, Zhuge Xuan asked Liu Bei what to do if Zhang Wei was forced to rebel while Nanzhong was still not pacified and Hanzhong was in chaos again.

Liu Bei only replied: "Just kill the leader of the bandits. Zhang Wei may look tough, but he is actually a weak person who cannot stand being intimidated!"

The facts were exactly as Liu Bei said.

After this incident, Zhuge Xuan also knew whose support he should cling to when doing things in Nanzhong.

As Zhuge Xuan was reminiscing about the past, he suddenly heard Liu Bei, who was sitting above him, whisper: "Life in the army is boring, and the warriors will say some vulgar words to comfort themselves, so don't take it to heart."

Hearing this concern, Zhuge Xuan felt warm in his heart and responded, "Don't worry, General. I understand."

……

After eating and drinking, Liu Bei had a basic understanding of the war situation in Nanzhong.

Generally speaking - the Han army did not dare to attack, and the rebels did not dare to attack out, and the two sides were in a stalemate, but the initiative was in the hands of the rebels who had more people.

However, in order to prevent the rebels from affecting Bashu in the rear, the Han army could not retreat.

When Liu Bei came, he brought a new solution - to advance step by step and teach the barbarians how to farm.

"At present, not all the barbarians in southern China have participated in the rebellion. However, even if most of them did not participate, they would not help either side, and they would even secretly provide assistance to the rebellious Wa people."

"This is also an important reason why soldiers are often attacked when patrolling the surrounding areas."

"But they are afraid of our army and dare not rebel. This is our chance to win their hearts! To win their hearts, we must first teach them how to farm."

"This matter is presided over by Lord Zhuge, and we must all provide our best assistance!"

In the original state, not to mention Yan Liang, even the main general Zhao Jin could hardly bear it anymore.

Now, after hearing the new plan brought by Liu Bei, everyone from Zhao Jin down was willing to give it a try, without Liu Bei's much persuasion.

So, under the leadership of Liu Bei, Zhuge Xuan, with a small number of experienced clerks and more talented people recruited from Bashu and Nanzhong, started the Han version of the poverty alleviation plan in the Nanzhong region from north to south, bringing advanced farming techniques and the most commonly used rice seeds among the people to the barbarians in Nanzhong.

Although the planting season has been missed and there is still a long time before rice can be planted or harvested next year, the barbarians are not fools and they can still tell whether the farming techniques taught by the Han people are fake or not.

In November, Zhuge Xuan was in the Zhu tribe of the Wa people. He was planning the location of farmland canals for the Wa people, just in preparation for the next year's farming.

He stressed: "You must level the land as soon as possible. Don't use your original slash-and-burn farming method anymore. In two days, I will take you to plow the land."

Zhu Huo, the chieftain of the Zhu tribe in front of him, nodded repeatedly. He spoke Chinese quite well and assured, "Just tell me what you want me to do. If any of the people below don't obey, I will teach them a lesson for you!"

"Look at the time. It's almost time for dinner. Why don't you go back and eat first?"

Zhuge Xuan said, "No need, it won't take long to finish reading it, and it won't be too late to go back and eat then."

As they were talking, Zhuge Xuan suddenly noticed that there were a few ladies and children carrying things and coming towards this side not far away. He knew that they were here to deliver food.

Soon, a heroic-looking little girl came to Zhuge Xuan holding a bowl of rice.

This little girl is Zhu Huo's daughter.

Zhuge Xuan took it with a smile, and did not forget to praise the girl for being well-behaved and sensible.

Zhu Huo said at this time: "You are a learned gentleman. My daughter has grown up with only a nickname, not a real name. Why don't you give her a real name?"

Zhuge Xuan would not refuse. After thinking for a while, he said, "Now, in the eyes of outsiders, although we are divided into Chinese and barbarians, in my opinion, we are the same, just that we do not live together."

"In my opinion, we will definitely merge with each other in the future, so why not just give it a single name with a combined character?"

"As the saying goes, cooperation is beneficial to both sides. How about that?"

"Congratulations?" Zhu Huo muttered, feeling extremely satisfied.

Then, Zhuge Xuan prepared to eat, but just as he was about to take the first bite, he realized something was wrong.

What they ate today was actually rice. As far as he knew, the Zhu tribe had no rice. The only rice was the rice seeds for next year's planting that he had distributed to the Zhu tribe in advance yesterday to show his sincerity.

Zhuge Xuan was a little overwhelmed.

Zhu Huo thought Zhuge Xuan was not satisfied and asked, "Is it not tasty? Is it because of the wrong cooking method?"

It was only then that Zhuge Xuan noticed that Zhu Huo and the others were still eating the meal that was originally difficult to swallow.

Zhuge Xuan took a deep breath and promised: "Don't worry, I will make sure everyone here can eat rice!"

(End of this chapter)