People in the Three Kingdoms: Starting from Preaching

Chapter 216 Plan
"The Baiqi have worked hard over the years." During the march, Xu Chen and Zhang Baiqi rode side by side on horseback and started a conversation.

Zhang Baiqi's heart warmed, and he said, "It's not about hardship or not, it's more of a responsibility. It's enough to take care of these 200,000 elderly, weak, women and children. Although life is a bit hard, we finally waited for the leader."

Xu Chen smiled and said, "In the previous battle, our army has already repelled the enemy. Zhongshan and Changshan are already in Xuanxia's hands. I plan to merge the two counties into one, Changshan County, and appoint you as the governor of Changshan. Do you have the confidence to take on the task?"

Zhang Baiqi's face brightened up, she felt that she had finally become a mother-in-law. She, who used to live in the mountains, had now become a local official.

To be honest, he was a little nervous, but when he thought about the fact that Huang Long was now guarding Liaodong, there was nothing he couldn't do. He had studied hard over the years and had a lot of experience, so he should have some ability after all.

"Fortunately, the leader trusts me. Even if I die, I will definitely take good care of Changshan!" Zhang Baiqi immediately responded loudly.

Xu Chen looked at him with a smile: "Then do you know what you have to do after becoming the governor of Changshan?"

Zhang Baiqi was stunned for a moment after hearing this. After being asked this question, he pondered for a moment, and then said: "For me, the natural way, the first priority is naturally to reform the people under my rule. Now that Xuanxia has a ready-made model, Changshan only needs to follow it and lead the people to live a good life."

Xu Chen nodded, but then shook his head: "Governing the people's livelihood is indeed the first priority, but this alone is not enough."

Before Zhang Baiqi could answer, Ju Shou, who was following on horseback, took the initiative to explain for Xu Chen.

"After taking office, Zhang Taishou has given priority to military affairs besides people's livelihood. Yuan Shao of Jizhou will certainly not be willing to lose Zhongshan and Changshan, and will surely launch a counterattack, and Changshan will be the first to bear the brunt.

Even if Xuan Xia deploys troops here, Changshan itself should have sufficient military capabilities to at least be able to hold on to its territory, so that Xuan Xia will not have to bear the brunt of the war if it really happens."

Zhang Baiqi came to his senses after hearing this and quickly said to Xu Chen: "I understand. I will not interfere with military and civilian affairs!"

Xu Chen added: "Xuan Xia is plotting to take over Jizhou, and Zhang Yan of the Black Mountain Army is also a threat. You have been fighting against them for many years. Do you have any idea on how to deal with them?"

Speaking of Zhang Yan, Zhang Baiqi snorted coldly: "Zhang Yan may seem to have a huge force, but in fact, everyone is fighting for themselves. For example, although Sui Gu and Bai Rao obey Zhang Yan on the surface, they are not under his control. To deal with them, we only need to divide and win them over. In the past, it was because my subordinates were not strong enough. Now that Changshan has been occupied, there is absolutely no reason for them to suffer losses. I will leave this beast to my subordinates. I will definitely defeat the Black Mountain Army!"

Zhang Baiqi was no easy man to deal with in the beginning because he was able to become a leader of a group. This kind of struggle was just a piece of cake for him.

For most of the unknown people of this era, they lack resources and stages more. Otherwise, under the same conditions, the so-called heroes of the Three Kingdoms may not be much stronger than them. After all, people are all the same, with only one nose and two eyes.

“Bring out all the brothers and sisters in the mountains. After we have cleared out the powerful people in Changshan, we will start to divide the land equally. If Changshan cannot accommodate them, Youzhou also has enough idle land to ensure that every family will have a farm.

The Xuanxia court will allocate money and grain to build orphanages to take care of the widowed, lonely, disabled, and sick. Those who are still able to work will be taught skills so that they can return to their normal lives in the future."

Listening to Xu Chen's explanation word by word, Zhang Baiqi's heart gradually settled down. These livelihood affairs all showed Xuan Xia's attitude towards the people. The more he listened, the more satisfied and relieved Zhang Baiqi felt. The Natural Religion was still the Natural Religion. Now that the country had been established, it had not abandoned its ideals. The people finally had someone who could make decisions for them.

Isn’t it for today that I follow the leader and the Natural Church?
After explaining many issues concerning people's livelihood to Zhang Baiqi one by one, Xu Chen changed the subject and began to talk about the resettlement of the many Yellow Turbans.

"Except for the core members, all the Yellow Turban brothers in Changzhou were released to the civilian population and given land to farm. They will either become ordinary civilians or join the military reserve. If they want to formally join the sect and become Yellow Turbans, they will need to study and take exams again."

At this point, Xu Chen paused and said, "I know this will surely cause resentment among many brothers, but if our team wants to succeed and realize its ideals, we must have sufficient qualities and strict discipline. If we cannot train all the brothers to be qualified, it will only corrupt the entire team in the end."

Zhang Baiqi was silent for a while. He knew that this would be difficult for his brothers to accept. After all, they were originally Yellow Turbans, and now they had to study and test again to restore their identities.

But he also knew that the Yellow Turban brothers in Youzhou had already completed their learning and training on the road to struggle, and many of them had been eliminated from the team, so there was nothing unfair in this arrangement. He could only try his best to let the brothers below understand and sympathize.

Fortunately, most of those who defected to the Yellow Turbans simply couldn't make a living. If they were given land to live a good life, they wouldn't have too much resentment.

Although Changshan had not been completely conquered yet, they talked with each other on horseback along the way and gradually discussed the follow-up work in detail. This way, Zhang Baiqi, the prefect of Changshan, would not be blind after taking office.

In terms of people's livelihood, Changshan County is more likely to copy Xuanxia's model.

In terms of military, Changshan County also relies on the assistance of the central court. Whether it is weapons and equipment or backbone officers, they all need to be supplied by the Xuanxia court.

Xu Chen’s requirement was that Changshan should be able to protect its own safety to a certain extent, so that once a war broke out, the imperial court could take other actions without any worries.

While they were discussing important matters at the top, the Yellow Turbans below were methodically reforming the officers and soldiers captured. Whenever they stopped to rest or station, the guards would gather the prisoners and begin to preach the Yellow Turbans' doctrines and practices.

After all, soldiers are different from civilians. Before they can be released, they must undergo transformation and finally be released back to the civilian population. If some of the outstanding soldiers are qualified and willing to join the army, they can also stay in the army to fight like Taishi Ci.

"The people who oppress you are all powerful nobles like Yuan Shao, so why do you still work for them?

We, the Yellow Turbans, came to Jizhou and Changshan, not to destroy or plunder this place, but to build and rescue this place. You are not the enemy of the Yellow Turbans, because you are poor people like us, and we should unite.

Then who are our enemies? The nobles and powerful families are our enemies. We have to beat them away and take back our own wealth. This is what we have to do!"

Zhao Yun, whose face was slightly pale, frowned unconsciously as he listened to the confident voice of the guard in the distance.

(End of this chapter)