The Three Kingdoms: The Cold Gate World

Chapter 93
In fact, the truth that Cai Yan told Guo Jia is also the same in future generations. Many young people with great ambitions and vows to do something, before stepping out of the ivory tower, most of them are looking forward to a bright future, a pillar of the country, opening up the future, and building a home. , Once they become famous, they will live forever, but the gap between reality and dreams has wiped out their ambitions, and they have to bow to the power, and their blood and talents are only used in the pursuit of fame and fortune.

Although many of the sons of the gentry are flying eagles and lackeys and domineering people, there are always people who are full of poetry and books and full of talents. These people will not be born to live for the benefit of the family. The words of the sages let them It is also based on the principle of self-cultivation, family governance, state governance and world peace. Who doesn't want to be a national scholar who benefits the country and the people?
As long as Guo Jia can make the nobles who have real talents and high aspirations useful, not only can they set an example for the nobles in the world, but also can divide the inner divisions of the nobles. It's just that this beautiful blueprint is implemented, I'm afraid I have to think twice, rashly no.

In the early morning of the next day, Guo Jia summoned his counselors to discuss matters in the mansion. When he was about to discuss with the counselors the countermeasures to suppress the gentry, Zhen Yan, who had arrived late, stepped into the hall with a frown, and after paying a salute to Guo Jia, First report the latest news.

"My lord, after Dong Zhuo moved his capital to Chang'an, he announced to the world that he ordered the eighteen princes to attack Yizhou."

All the counselors in the hall lowered their heads and smiled secretly, without the slightest sign of panic. Guo Jia sat on the main seat shaking his head and chuckling.

In fact, Dong Zhuo's recruitment envoy had already come half a month ago, but was rejected by Guo Jia.

Dong Zhuo wanted to join forces with Guo Jia to resist the Kwantung Allied Forces, so after entering Chang'an, he recruited Guo Jia first, but he failed. Now he was desperate and ordered the [-]th princes to attack Yizhou.

"Grand Master Dong's edict in the name of the emperor must have been issued without any discussion with his staff. It seems that Grand Master Dong hates me so much that he has lost his mind."

Guo Jia stood up from the main seat and laughed heartily, pacing back and forth among the counselors, the laughter couldn't be stopped.

The counselors all smiled tacitly, and Guo Xiu opened his hands and said with a smile: "I think Grand Master Dong must have calmed down, and he must be too regretful. The Kwantung Allied Army fought fiercely with Grand Master Dong for half a year. Long ago, the lord took Yizhou, and the princes clapped their hands and applauded, because they had more reason to return to the territory to strengthen themselves in order to suppress the thieves and quell the chaos. However, Grand Master Dong ordered the princes to attack Yizhou. If you follow, you must use this as an excuse to pass through Guanzhong. If Dong Taishi does not let go, it is tantamount to going back on your word. If Dong Taishi borrowed the words from the Guandong princes, hehe, the first one to be wiped out is Dong Taishi himself. This is really lifting a stone to shoot yourself in the foot."

Originally, Guo Jia still had some concerns, but he didn't expect Dong Zhuo to help him a lot.

"I would like to thank Dong Zhuo. Facing this edict in the name of the Son of Heaven, if the princes of the Kanto region obey, it means that Dong Zhuo's stealing of the Dragon Court is enough to command the world. If the princes of the Kanto region do not obey, they will naturally not come to Yizhou. Ten The princes of the Eight Routes claim that there are hundreds of thousands of people, the vehicles and horses are exhausted, and the supply of food and grass is the top priority. Now even if the princes of the Guandong really want to crusade against Yizhou, they are powerless."

There was laughter in the hall, Xi Zhicai shook his head and said: "This grand master Dong is really ridiculous. One after another, he first made himself a prime minister, then called himself a grand master, and now he started to build Heiwu in the west of Chang'an. It is said that He wants to move his family to it, hoard food and grass and countless treasures for decades, and even say that if he can't rule the world, he will spend his life in Meiwu. Isn't this, this, this is digging his own grave? ?”

Everyone laughed out loud. It was ridiculous for a hero to go to this point and do such a stupid thing.

Guo Jia gradually put away his smile, put on an indifferent look, looked out the door with his hands behind his back, and asked, "Yuanzhi, in your opinion, am I now living in Yizhou?"

Xu Shu came out with his back to Guo Jia, and said in a loud voice: "There is Dong Zhuo in the north of Yizhou. Since Grand Master Dong has already started digging a tomb for himself, he will naturally not go south to attack Yizhou. Before Dong Zhuo's defeat, the north of Yizhou will be safe and sound. Worry. To the east of Yizhou, Jingzhou is still in chaos. Although Yuan Shu is occupying Nanyang, he is still recruiting troops. Soldiers and horses sit in Hanzhong, forming horns with the two counties of Badong and Fuling. If there is a big enemy coming, you can attack and retreat. The Kanto Alliance is about to be disbanded. The powerful princes are all in the north, and Yizhou has no big borders. However, Yizhou has internal troubles, and if the gentry and powerful families do not take precautions early, troubles will inevitably arise sooner or later."

Guo Jia's complexion remained unchanged, and he continued to ask: "Then how can I prevent it from happening? Or stop this trouble?"

Xu Shu returned to the column without saying a word, Zhen Yao came out expressionlessly, and said in a deep voice: "My lord, there are two choices in the current situation, rule or attack. The first rule is to uproot the foundation of the gentry, so as to avoid future troubles. The first attack is the hand." Hold the soldiers, horses, money and food, make false claims with the gentry, and wait for the world to be pacified before carrying out great governance."

Everyone knew the choice before them, but not everyone dared to speak up and offer advice. If they were not careful, it would be counterproductive, and Guo Jia's hard-won capital might be wiped out.

"Government first or attack first, what are the pros and cons?" Guo Jia closed his eyes and asked again in a deep voice.

Zhen Yao held his head high, and continued to reply indifferently: "Governing first, you can completely control Yizhou in your hands, and there will be no hidden dangers in the territory, but it will make enemies of the world, which is not good for the Lord to enter the world. First, the Lord can ease the conflict with the nobles. There is less resistance to attacking outwards, but there is the worry of being attacked by the enemy. It is difficult to weigh the pros and cons of the two, and it all depends on how the lord makes a decision."

This is a very embarrassing situation, the lesser of two evils, but which one of the two is the least harmful?Can't balance it.

This is also the reason why the counselors dare not rashly offer advice.

Guo Jia, whose voice was a little cold, asked softly, "Guys, who can tell me what I, Guo Jia, can do to make the gentry sincerely serve me?"

Everyone hesitated to speak, but it turned into a sigh.

They wanted to say that they should delegate power to the gentry and give them enough benefits. This is a pragmatic statement, but after thinking about it, everyone fell silent, because facing Guo Jia, the gentry would never have a day of sincerely serving them. Do.

In the silent meeting hall, Guo Jia suddenly smiled self-deprecatingly, turned around and looked around at the counselors, and walked slowly towards the main seat, talking while walking.

"In their eyes, I, Guo Jia, am a traitor with a humble background and a low status. Even if I hand over the entire Yizhou to the gentry to govern, let them have high positions, let them use power for personal gain, and let them do whatever they want, they still won't appreciate it. I will still find ways to get rid of me. No matter whether the nobles are long-term or near-term worries, internal troubles or foreign enemies, they will never submit to me after all."

This is the difference in status. If it is Cao Cao or Yuan Shao, or even Yuan Shu, Tao Qian and other princes, if they hand over their privileges to the gentry, I am afraid that the gentry will support them happily. If Guo Jia implements the same method, the gentry will also be ecstatic. But he will still try his best to get rid of Guo Jia, and will never support him.

Everyone was silent, and they all understood Guo Jia's decision. The conflict between Guo Jia, who had become the ruler, and the ruled gentry class was irreconcilable, and a game of life and death would inevitably erupt between the two.

Xi Zhicai bowed his head and said indifferently: "My lord wants to suppress the gentry, the first thing is to deal with the aftermath. After all, the local government affairs in Yizhou are governed by the gentry. We must first make preparations to stabilize the local government affairs, and then consider what method to use. Suppress the gentry."

This is what a counselor should do.

To make a plan, start with the result, and after accurately grasping the trend of the situation, come up with a perfect plan to ensure that the final result is beneficial to the lord. As for the means of suppression, that is not important.

On the other hand, many princes acted. When facing the enemy, the first thing they thought about was how to attack the opponent. There were endless methods and unpredictable tricks, but in the end they were in a hurry and didn't know how to end.

"Yuan Zhi, have all the children of the folks come to Chengdu?"

Guo Jia suddenly asked such a thing.

Xu Shu understood, guessed what Guo Jia meant, and replied, "It has been connected to Chengdu from various counties, and Guo Ping has settled it properly in the city."

Turning his attention to the unremarkable Guo Ping, Guo Jia then asked: "Guo Ping, among the children of the folks, how many people are there who have achieved little success in martial arts or literature?"

Guo Ping, with a calm face, came out and said calmly: "There are more than 170 people."

Ten years ago, Guo Jia only took in a few refugees and taught only a hundred poor children. After ten years of good deeds, more than 170 people stand out, which is rare. A scholar of filial piety and honesty must have superb literary talents and good morals.

Guo Jia was still thinking about it, and Guo Ping continued: "My lord, the Zhen family has also taught some poor children for several years. They secretly moved to Yizhou during the two years planned by the lord. If the lord needs them, they will be settled within a month. All of them can be recruited into Chengdu."

Surprise flashed by, and Guo Jia remembered that Zhen Jiang had told him to follow him and teach poor children to read and understand, and with the strength of the Zhen family, they would definitely be able to teach more talents.

"The lord wants to select talented people from these poor children to succeed the Yizhou gentry to govern the region?"

Zhen Yan asked with a frown.

Guo Jia nodded without concealing it, and said, "I do have this idea, but the crux of the problem is not to remove the gentry officials in Yizhou today, but how to cut off the way of survival of the gentry."

If you treat the symptoms but not the root cause, it is like scratching the itch, the gentry will always die and come back.

All the counselors in the hall suddenly raised their heads and looked at Guo Jia in shock, knowing the meaning of Guo Jia's words from the bottom of their hearts.

Is it necessary to abolish the official selection system of Ju Xiaolian?

(End of this chapter)