I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 502 Liu Bei's Response

After hearing Liu Bei's question, Yong Xiang finally reacted and kept silent.

However, Liu Bei still held on to the "just in case" thought and ordered his men to lead troops to where Yong was.

When Yan Liang, Gan Ning, Yan Yan and others arrived, Liu Bei explained the situation. Yan Liang, who was a little angry, couldn't help but curse: "General, you were very kind when you spared their lives. I never thought that they would repay kindness with hatred!"

After Yan Liang and the others digested the news, Liu Bei said, "I have sent people to arrest the Yong clan members, but since Yong Xiang dared to come so blatantly, I think his clan members must have fled."

"I think the reason why he was willing to join the bandits was probably because he was afraid of being implicated in the Yongguan incident, so he took the risk."

"This is also where I haven't done well enough, but this is absolutely not a reason to rebel!"

After reflecting on himself in front of Yong Xiang, Liu Bei ordered his men to take Yong Xiang out and behead him without hesitation.

Then he continued, "There is a turmoil in Hanzhong now. As the General of Anxi, I cannot ignore it."

"But the people in the south are divided. If there is no army to guard it, I am afraid that as soon as I leave, the uncivilized barbarians will cause chaos."

No matter what kind of reform, even if it is to help the Wa people in Nanzhong improve their farming techniques, it is bound to harm the interests of some people. In this case, the deterrence of the army led by Liu Bei is extremely critical.

"Therefore, I intend to send troops to Hanzhong to quell the rebellion."

Upon hearing that Liu Bei did not intend to lead the troops personally, all the generals present straightened their chests and asked Liu Bei to fight.

Especially Yan Liang. After Liu Bei quelled the rebellion in Nanzhong, his superior Zhao Jin returned to Luoyang to report, but Yan Liang and his Xiyuan Army remained under Liu Bei's command.

In Yan Liang's mind, this was not the suppression of a rebellion, but their military achievement!

They are just a bunch of rioters, not worth mentioning!
"Yan Liang, listen to my orders!"

Yan Liang was delighted when he heard this, for he knew that General Liu would definitely take into account the friendship between the two parties who had left the West Garden together.

"I wonder if there are still people like the Yong clan lurking in the south who have ulterior motives. I order you to stay in Yizhou County!"

Although Yan Liang felt unhappy, he had to obey the military order as it was difficult to disobey.

Later, Gan Ning was also sent by Liu Bei to garrison Zangke County, which was also part of Nanzhong.

All that was left was Yan Yan's enviable task of suppressing the rebellion.

Liu Bei explained: "The rebellion in Hanzhong this time was mostly caused by the ignorance of the people and their instigation by the thieves."

"So the best thing to do here is to suppress the rebellion and attack the heart."

"The reason why I chose Yan Xibo to go and quell the rebellion is because he is the most strict in disciplining the army, well versed in the classics, and able to stop the killing."

Hearing that he suffered from his lack of education, Yan Liang sighed.

In fact, his ancestors can be related to Yan Hui, but it's a pity that he has loved swords instead of books since he was a child.

Gan Ning also sighed. He was educated, but he was a latecomer. He could not compare with Yan Yan, who had received classical education since childhood.

Although they sighed, they were both convinced by the reasons Liu Bei gave for selecting people.

……

After the tasks were assigned, Liu Bei finally had time to think deeply.

He called his fellow villager Jian Yong, who had always been with him, and told him everything about Yong Xiang.

Later he said: "Nanzhong is located in a remote area, how can it know about Luoyang? If I was given this important task only because of the recommendation of my mentor, I am afraid that I will be suspicious just as the people behind Yong Xiang hope."

Jian Yong had originally drunk a little wine, but after listening to what Liu Bei said, he sobered up instantly.

He asked, "Does Xuande suspect that the matter behind Yong Xiang is not so simple? Or even that there might be someone behind the scenes colluding?"

Thinking of this scene, Jian Yong couldn't help but shudder. Conspiring behind the scenes to rebel?

If someone really did this, no, how could anyone really dare to do this!

The more people know, the greater the risk. If there is a mistake in any link, it will be a crime leading to the extermination of the entire clan!

Liu Bei nodded and said, "I have some doubts, but there may be more than one person like Yong Xiang. What if someone succeeds..."

"No, I must write to His Majesty immediately and remind Him to be extremely careful."

However, Jian Yong felt that Liu Bei was worrying too much.

Before the Yellow Turban Rebellion of Zhang Jiao broke out, there were many officials who submitted memorials to the emperor's memorials regarding this matter, but the emperor at the time did not pay any attention to it.

He said: "Just like Yong Xiang thought that Xuande was promoted because of Lord Lu, but he didn't know that Xuande was promoted because of the emperor."

"I guess he only knows Xuande's resume, but not the inside story."

After Liu Bei thought about it carefully, he felt that what Jian Yong said made sense.

Jian Yong added: "It is all right for Xuande to remind Your Majesty."

"But in my personal opinion, it is not appropriate to speculate too much. The world is in turmoil because of the land measurement issue, but this is only temporary. If the emperor becomes suspicious of his subjects because of Xuande's letter, and some utilitarian officials take the opportunity to create an unjust case for the sake of merit, wouldn't that be a crime?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei agreed with Jian Yong's point of view, but still planned to write down the facts of the incident in the memorial.

As for his speculation...Liu Bei believed that the emperor and the wise men around him would be able to come up with a countermeasure.

After he finished writing the memorial, he suddenly sneered.

Jian Yong, who was accompanying him, asked, "What is Xuande laughing at?"

Liu Bei replied: "I laugh at Yong Xiang's lack of strategy and the lack of wisdom of the people behind him, who actually tried to alienate Your Majesty from me!"

"Don't you think this is ridiculous?"

Upon hearing this, Jian Yong burst into laughter and said, "It's really ridiculous!"

"For what Xuande just said, I should drink a jar of wine today!"

"That won't do," Liu Bei said as he handed some official documents to Jian Yong. "Xianhe, we have a lot of work to do today!"

Jian Yong sighed, but he also knew that important matters were important, so he helped Liu Bei deal with the miscellaneous matters in Nanzhong.

After a while, Liu Bei asked, "Xianhe, when you taught the sons of the chieftains from various tribes, did you find any talents that could be cultivated?"

"There is indeed such a person, his name is Meng Huo."

"Although this person is still young and looks rough, he is actually very meticulous and can learn to read and write very quickly."

Liu Bei said, "Okay, when you're done with this, bring him over to me so I can take a look."

"In the past, the chieftains and leaders of various tribes had almost fixed views on us Han people. Even if they changed temporarily, they still had the original ideas in their hearts. Once there was unrest, it would be easy for chaos to occur."

"Most of these chieftains' sons are their next leaders. If we can teach them to be loyal to the Han Dynasty, then Nanzhong can be stable."

Jian Yong replied: "Don't worry, Xuande. Although I like to drink, I will never delay such an important matter concerning the long-term plan!"

Liu Bei smiled and said, "I trust Xianhe, otherwise why would I give you this important task?"

The next day, Yan Yan set out with a selected part of the troops, and they would be reinforced by county soldiers from Bashu on the way.

Some nearby tribes who heard that they were about to go on an expedition actually saw them off on the roadside, and some even presented them with rice and eggs.

(End of this chapter)