I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 489 Tian Feng Quells the Rebellion
A mature 2,000-koku can solve problems on his own.

This was Cheng Yu's idea. He didn't want to trouble the emperor unless it was necessary. This was his duty as a prefect of a county to govern the area for the emperor.

Qubei was a knife in his hand. If the emperor was willing to use it, Qubei could also become another knife for the Han Dynasty in dealing with the Southern Xiongnu issue.

And there are more than one people who have the same idea as Cheng Yu!
Runan Prefect Tian Feng is taking action.

Runan has a vast territory and a large population, surpassing other counties and kingdoms in Yuzhou.

There are many powerful families here. They appear respectful on the surface, but in fact they often disobey Tian Feng's policies.

It just so happened that Runan was a place where scholars gathered. They were well versed in the bureaucratic system and could always make it impossible for Tian Feng to find any loopholes.

——What? The Lord ordered us to work on the field with all our strength?
That's no problem. All the petty officials devoted themselves to measuring the land and ignored matters such as maintaining public security and trying cases.

The officials are busy, and the common people have no good things to do.

Since the fields had to be measured, everyone had to go out to the fields and wait, and no one was allowed to stay in the house... What? The officials were not checking that fast, and many people had to wait in the cold wind for several days?

Isn't this for better farming?

——What? The Lord ordered us not to overwork the people and not to neglect our duties?
That's fine, but the officials are already very busy, and a lot of cases have been squeezed in during this period, so the progress of land measurement is inevitably slow...

This is what is meant by holding up the banner of "caring about the people and serving the people wholeheartedly", but actually doing things for personal gain.

Tian Feng was of upright character. Although he was unwilling to punish people without teaching, he was definitely not a pedantic scholar who had read too much and become stupid.

In the past, county officials were always able to get things done under his supervision.

As the saying goes, every country has its own laws, and scholars and officials should also have their own cultivation.

This time, Tian Feng felt that the local tycoons and powerful people were too rude to allow thieves to wreak havoc in the village.

Ruyang County Magistrate Liu He looked at Tian Feng who suddenly came to his house and felt a little surprised.

Ruyang is the base of the Yuan family of Runan. After establishing a relationship with Yuan Shao, Liu He was like a fish in water during his tenure as a county magistrate.

In other words, it was because Liu He kept in mind the earnest teachings of his old father Liu Yu and behaved uprightly that he was able to maintain his true nature and not be assimilated.

Even though Yuan Shao had left, the wealthy and powerful families in Ruyang were willing to give Liu He some respect. Since the land measurement, the data of Ruyang County was second only to Pingyu County, the county seat where the prefect Tian Feng was located.

Therefore, Liu He felt that if Tian Feng wanted to inspect the counties, he should not come to Ruyang.

Tian Feng also sensed Liu He's doubts, and soon after they met, he explained: "I am trusted by the emperor and entrusted with an important task. Now that bandits are entrenched in the country, how can I sit back and do nothing?"

But after these words were spoken, Liu He became even more confused.

He didn't understand. Ruyang County was under the influence of the Yuan family and there was no trace of thieves at all!

But Tian Feng was his superior after all, and he was well-known. Liu He only wanted to make friends with Tian Feng, so he responded: "The bandits are entrenched, and I hate them deeply. I wonder how I can help you?"

Upon hearing this, Tian Feng immediately said, "Of course there is. It can be said that you are the only one who can quell the rebellion of bandits in Runan."

"Me?" Liu He was a little shocked after hearing what Tian Feng said.

Like his father Liu Yu, he was very self-aware and knew that he was not suited to leading troops in battle. He had already confirmed this when Yuan Shao had asked him to temporarily lead troops.

Even if the people to be defeated are just a group of thieves who can be called a mob.

Because the county soldiers are also very lame!
In Liu He's view, asking him to quell the rebellion was like asking him to immediately go to Jiujiang County in the south to quell the Wu Fang Rebellion - I can't do it!
Liu He quickly explained, "Did you find the wrong person? I really don't know anything about military affairs! When the Yellow Turbans in Runan rebelled again, I once led the troops on behalf of Yuan Benchu ​​for a period of time, but at that time, the rebels were ready to surrender, and all matters were handled by the generals..."

Listening to Liu He's explanation, Tian Feng comforted him, "Don't worry, I'm not asking you to lead the army to fight, but I want to ask you something."

Liu He heaved a sigh of relief, but Tian Feng continued, "If you are asked to lead the army to quell the rebellion, I will also arrange for brave generals to help you command the army."

Liu He was in a bad mood again.

After seeing Liu He's reaction, Tian Feng felt that Liu He could be trusted more and more.

The reason why he came to Liu He was because words can deceive people, but the re-measured fields cannot deceive people.

After the final test, Tian Feng finally told Liu He what he was going to do - "I heard that after Yuan Benchu ​​left, the one who is in charge of the Yuan family in Runan is Yuan Xu. I wonder what his character is like?"

"I intend to use it to lead the army to quell the rebellion."

"Whether he should or shouldn't, he has to be involved!"

No matter how innocent the Yuan family appeared throughout the incident, in Tian Feng's heart, without the Yuan family's tacit approval, most, if not all, of the wealthy families in Runan would not dare to allow the thieves to wreak havoc.

Liu He looked at Tian Feng's resolute attitude and knew that the other party had made up his mind.

After thinking for a while, he said, "As far as I know, when the Grand Commandant Huangfu Gong was clearing out the troops in Yanzhou, Yuan Benchu ​​had suggested that the big families disperse the farmhands to avoid disasters."

"Is your decision too arbitrary?"

Tian Feng looked at Liu He deeply, and suddenly sighed and said, "I thought you had the same love for the people as Liu Youzhou, but I didn't expect... Let me ask you, what does land surveying have to do with ordinary people? When the land was surveyed, there were so many thieves, where could they come from? Do you really not know?"

"Or are you worried that helping me will cause you to fall out with the Yuan family? Don't forget that Yuan Benchu ​​and Yuan Gonglu are both in charge of the land transfer!"

Seeing Tian Feng's gaze becoming increasingly fierce, Liu He hurriedly said, "That's not the case. I just think this move is unrighteous..."

As soon as he said this, Liu He knew he had said something wrong. This was like scolding a bald monk in front of a monk. Just as he was about to make amends, he heard Tian Feng say, "No, this is called giving someone a taste of their own medicine."

"Why would a gentleman be deceived by a villain?"

"In the past, I didn't bother with them because they always got things done and didn't break the law, even though they pretended to obey me. But now they've gone too far!"

Under Tian Feng's murderous gaze, Liu He finally made up his mind and sent people to invite Yuan Ji and Yuan Shao's cousin Yuan Xu to meet him.

After Yuan Xu and several other members of the Yuan family, including Yuan Tan, were taken away by Tian Feng, Liu He took the letters and servants left by Yuan Xu and others to explain to their families that they were invited by the governor to make achievements. Due to the urgency of the matter, they set out overnight and were unable to say goodbye.

Because Liu He and the Yuan family had always had a harmonious relationship and Liu He had always been an honest man, faced with layers of doubts, the Yuan family members did not suspect anything for a while.

(End of this chapter)