Chapter 44

For Lu Yao, it seemed like just a moment of daze, but when he came to his senses, the real theme of the banquet had already begun. The laughter and conversation of the guests enjoying the food in the waterside pavilion had quieted down, and the servants who had been bustling about had all withdrawn outside the pavilion.

Liu Kun seemed to enjoy discussing official business amidst the luxury of the banquet. He played with the exquisite wine cup in his hand and laughed heartily, "Gentlemen, I have always been fond of luxury, enjoying fine clothes, delicious food, wine, and wealth. However, since entering Bingzhou, the supply of military provisions has been quite strained. The wine and dishes today have already drained my resources! If this continues for another three to five days, I, Liu Yuanshi, will have to invite all of you to eat bran and swallow vegetables. At that time, I hope you will understand and not blame me..."

All the generals could not help but laugh bitterly, "Lord, please do not say such things; your words truly make us feel ashamed."

Liu Kun laughed a few more times and then said seriously, "Advancing to Jinyang to threaten the rear of the Xiongnu is a strategy that has been determined long ago. Only by doing so can we effectively curb the rampant arrogance of the barbarians. Of course, the devastation of Jinyang is indeed beyond imagination. With no provisions for the 8,000 troops, the morale of the army has been shaken, and all of you are anxious about this, which I fully understand."

He scanned the crowd with a sharp gaze and continued, "Regarding this situation, Taizhen has already devised a plan after touring the various regions of Taiyuan. Please let Taizhen explain it to all of you."

Wen Qiao responded and slowly stepped into the hall, first pulling out a large piece of silk from his sleeve and spreading it on the ground. The silk was adorned with various colored drawings, and Lu Yao, with his keen eyesight, immediately recognized it as a very detailed map covering the entire northern part of Bingzhou.

"Gentlemen, during the Yuan Kang period, Pei Xiu, also known as Pei Jiyuan, drew the 'Yugong Geographic Map' in eighteen volumes, detailing the distances of the regions, the dangers of the mountains and rivers, and the routes of the expeditions. This map is a replica based on Jiyuan's original. Today, I will use this map to explain the situation and offer some humble suggestions."

Wen Qiao pointed to the map and began to explain, "Bingzhou has ten commanderies, with Taiyuan being the most important. Taiyuan has Jinyang as its administrative center and also governs twelve counties: Zhongdu, Yangqu, Qi, Meng, and Jingling. During the Tai Kang period, the state had 13,640 households and 68,293 people, the highest number of households and population in Bingzhou. The land in Taiyuan is fertile, suitable for both agriculture and animal husbandry. Since the Han Dynasty, salt and iron officials have been established, making the region rich in resources. Our dynasty has also built four constant granaries, storing countless grains, grass, gold, and silk, truly making it a well-known famous city and commandery."

"What is the current state of Taiyuan under our control? Most of Jinyang's city walls have been destroyed, the government treasuries are empty, and only 1,100 households and 3,000 people remain... You have all seen the dire situation. The conditions in the other counties are equally tragic: In Yangqu County, all the people have fled, leaving only 22 households and 70 people in the county. In Zhongdu County, within a fifty-mile radius, seven out of ten people have fled, with fewer than 500 households remaining. As for Qi County, well, the county town no longer exists..."

As Wen Qiao spoke, the current state of Taiyuan, with its numerous scars, was presented one by one: "I have toured the thirteen counties of Taiyuan, gathering a total of 2,560 households and 6,850 people, along with 37 horses and mules. Additionally, I led people to excavate several abandoned warehouses, obtaining over 300 hu of grain, 20 bolts of silk, and 200 pieces of broken iron. This is all the population and resources we can currently control in the vast Taiyuan."

Wen Qiao pointed to a circle on the map, "Gentlemen, compared to the lack of provisions, this is the true major problem we face. With only 2,560 households, we cannot just collect provisions and supplies; we also cannot replenish the losses of our troops, produce the military equipment needed for combat, establish a self-sufficient government, or establish a foundation to resist the barbarians!"

Xu Run's face turned pale, and he subconsciously tugged at his beard, "Taizhen, what can we do?"

Wen Qiao smiled, "Xu Zhonglang, do not worry. As the Lord said, the current situation seems dangerous but is actually safe. We are indeed facing a very severe situation, but it is not without a solution. Taiyuan originally had 13,640 households, but now only 2,260 households are verified, with a difference of 11,000 households. Deducting those lost in the war, those who fled to other places, and those captured by the barbarians, the remaining part is all here!" He tapped the map, which was dotted with numerous red marks, "If we take appropriate measures, we can even gain more..."

Xu Run looked at the map with suspicion, "What are these? Fortified settlements?"

"Exactly. These marks represent the 43 fortified settlements belonging to the 15 major families in Taiyuan. They are the source of our future military provisions."

"Getting the fortified settlements to contribute is not difficult; a single document from the provincial governor's office would suffice. However..." Xu Run hesitated, "The cities have been completely looted by the barbarians. What could be left in these fortified settlements? Besides, these fortified settlements are just larger villages; their total grain is not enough to support an army. If we rely on these fortified settlements as the foundation of our army, it is... cough... it is..."

Wen Qiao shook his head, about to speak.

Liu Kun suddenly interjected, "Lu Yao, what do you think?"

Lu Yao, having been reminded of many memories by the soup and also thinking about how to handle himself after Liu Kun discovered his identity, was somewhat dazed. When Liu Kun suddenly asked him a question, it made Lu Yao startle.

Fortunately, he was familiar with the situation in Bingzhou and immediately stood up to report, "Lord, for centuries, Bingzhou has been the front line in the struggle against the barbarians, and the people are accustomed to living in clans to protect their homes. After the Tai Kang period, the powerful families in Bingzhou began to shelter slaves, tenants, and retainers, and to accommodate their subordinates and officials. Therefore, the number of people not registered in the imperial household registry is quite large. When the Xiongnu invaded, due to their limited military strength, they could only capture the cities, and the numerous fortified settlements were beyond their reach, so many people sought refuge in the fortified settlements to avoid the war. Each fortified settlement has deep moats and high walls, and various industries inside, making each one a self-sufficient small city."

Lu Yao slightly bowed to Wen Qiao and then turned to Liu Kun, "Lord, I respectfully agree with what Secretary Wen said. The money, grain, and population we need can be obtained from the fortified settlements."

"How do you think we can obtain the money, grain, and population? And how can we effectively manage the powerful families and their fortified settlements after obtaining them?" Liu Kun said calmly, "The vast Taiyuan cannot be emptied by the Xiongnu in one or two invasions. The money, grain, and population not belonging to the counties are naturally in the hands of the powerful families. This is a very clear and simple truth, and there is no need for much discussion. I want a practical and effective plan, not vague talk."

This statement hit the core of the problem. Clearly, Liu Kun's thinking was straightforward and practical, unlike the so-called scholars in the court who only spouted empty words.

But this question was not difficult for Lu Yao. After organizing his thoughts, he answered, "In my humble opinion, the court's policies in recent years have not been perfect, leading to the estrangement of the people. After the Xiongnu uprising, many powerful families actively sought to ally with the Xiongnu. Since the Lord's army entered Bingzhou, few local powerful families have actively joined us, clearly showing their indecisive attitude. The official system of Taiyuan has already been destroyed, and the provincial governor's authority has not been established. Attempting to obtain provisions and supplies from these powerful families who are guarding their fortified settlements and waiting to see the outcome by a single document is merely inviting humiliation."

He was refuting Xu Run's opinion point by point. Xu Run's face changed slightly, and he was about to gather his words to counter, but seeing that Liu Kun was listening intently to Lu Yao, he held back.

Wen Qiao could not help but sigh. What Lu Yao said was also what he had deeply felt in recent days. Even the powerful families in the border regions did not respect the imperial authority, indicating that the world was about to be in great turmoil.

Lu Yao continued, "Han Feizi said: The wise ruler guides and controls his ministers with two handles. These two handles are punishment and reward. The methods to deal with these powerful families are also no more than these two. One is to bind them with kindness and rewards: For those powerful families who are loyal to the court, we should encourage them to contribute provisions and supplies to our army and require hostages as guarantees. Based on the strength and loyalty of the powerful families, we can grant them the authority to supervise their clans, allowing them to recruit troops and labor for us. Additionally, we can confer appropriate official titles to incorporate them into the court's governance system in Bingzhou. The other is to warn them with punishment: For those who are indecisive or even allied with the barbarians, we must swiftly eliminate them. Capturing their leaders and executing them according to the law can serve as a warning to others. Furthermore, confiscating their wealth and the people they shelter can alleviate our urgent need for supplies."

Lu Yao made a gesture as if grasping something, "These two methods of punishment and reward are like two hands. I have heard from the elders of my hometown that: 'We must grasp both hands, and both must be strong!' Effectively implementing these methods will be sufficient to control the 43 fortified settlements marked by Secretary Wen. The provisions will be sufficient for our army to establish a foothold."

"Lu Yao indeed understands the situation in Bingzhou well, and his words are very much to my liking." Liu Kun nodded slightly, "Please step back, and we will discuss this in detail after the banquet."

"Yes!" Under the envious gazes of many, Lu Yao returned to his original position.

******

Dear readers, I humbly report: The Qingming Festival is approaching, and I will take my child to Nanjing tomorrow to visit the Massacre Memorial for patriotic education. I will entrust a friend to post the chapters, and there will be one update per day for the next few days.

The book review area has become slightly more active recently, and I thank all the readers for their support. However, the number of favorites is still very low... Therefore, I sincerely request more favorites, red tickets, and clicks. Thank you all.

Additionally, I thank fyou1024, Shichushuchong, and Wuchengtieshou for their support.

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