My father Liu Xuande

Chapter 649 Clear rewards and punishments
Although Sima Yi's treacherous scheme succeeded largely due to Liu Feng's indulgence, the current situation is definitely more beneficial than harmful to the Left Guard Army and Liu Feng.

It can be said that although Liu Feng suffered losses, his gains far outweighed his losses.

Even so, Liu Feng was still quite angry when he saw the current state of Chengdu.

The reason is simple: it was just too tragic.

The hungry people in the city had long expected this. Leaving aside the fact that most of the able-bodied men had been taken away, what was truly infuriating was that a large amount of low-value, high-volume supplies were left behind, and that more than half of the Shaocheng warehouse area had been burned.

This not only destroyed a large amount of supplies and goods, but also significantly impacted the subsequent transportation of supplies.

Besides, Chengdu is a large city, and it would take at least ten thousand soldiers to barely protect it.

This would further reduce Liu Feng's field army's share, making it difficult for him to continue pursuing the retreating allied forces in the short term.

With the three or four thousand Shu soldiers who have surrendered in the city, plus the more than a thousand troops under Zhang Song and others, even if some more manpower is mobilized from other powerful families, the number of usable troops in Chengdu will be at most seven or eight thousand. Moreover, half of them are newly surrendered Shu soldiers, whose morale is not yet stable and will need to be digested for a while.

Therefore, the most urgent task is to transfer the supplies as soon as possible.

Things would become much easier if the supplies in Guangdu could be transferred to Chengdu.

At that time, not only could Gan Ning, Lü Dai, and Cuan Yang's troops be directly transferred to Chengdu, but Liao Hua's troops temporarily stationed in Wuyang and Xi Zhen's troops temporarily stationed in Jiangyuan could also be gathered in Chengdu.

In this way, although Jiangyuan was left undefended and the defense of Wuyang was entrusted to the troops of Yizhou and Jianwei, there was no need to worry about safety at all.

If Cao Cao's army dared to bypass the Yangtze River, descend to Jiangyuan, and attack Wuyang at this time, Liu Feng would not only not be alarmed, but would be quite delighted.

From Guandi to Wuyang, it would take at least two hundred li. Although the Yangtze River provided support for this distance, with Chengdu already occupied by the Left Army, Gan Ning's naval advantage would be maximized.

The Allied forces could no longer rely on the major tributaries of the Chengdu Plain for water transport operations, and maintaining a 200-mile-long land supply line was simply a pipe dream for them at this point.

Moreover, even if the allied forces succeed in their surprise attack and capture Wuyang in one battle, seemingly cutting off the Zuo Mu army's supply lines, in reality, it would be the allied forces that would be driven into the cage.

The Zuo Mu army's grain reserves in Guangdu were enough to support the entire Zuo Mu army and the people of Chengdu for three to four months. During this period, the Zuo Mu army, equipped with counterweight catapults, was able to conquer Wuyang three to five times.

Therefore, Liu Feng no longer needs to divide his troops to defend Wuyang and shield Jiangyuan, because for the allied forces, this would be a deadly path full of traps.

In this way, Liu Feng will be able to gather a large number of troops in Chengdu again. At that time, he only needs to entrust Chengdu to Zhang Song and others, leave some elite troops as the core, and the remaining main force of the Left Army will be able to break free from its confinement and continue to march north to pursue the allied forces.

Given the massive amount of supplies the allied forces are currently carrying and their difficult situation of relying solely on land routes, catching up with the enemy is by no means difficult. Even now, they can still use Luocheng to harass the allied forces and slow down their transport speed.

After adjusting the defenses, Liu Feng began to focus on internal affairs, and naturally, he needed to handle the affairs of Chengdu, which meant he couldn't do without Zhang Song and others.

By this time, Zhang Song and the others had been waiting in the outer hall for quite some time.

However, Zhang Song himself was not surprised by this treatment.

Liu Feng is now the de facto governor of five provinces. There are only thirteen provinces in the whole country, and the strength of Liu Feng's family alone can be said to be the strongest in the world, not to mention his father's management in Xu, Yan and Yu provinces.

It is a consensus among discerning people that Liu Bei and his son possessed the true qualities of dragons, while Zhang Song was merely a minor official in a remote prefecture who had come to join them in desperation. What qualifications did he have to boast about himself?
Zhang Song, Qin Mi, Yang Hong, Fa Zheng, Meng Da, and even Ma Qiu sat comfortably in the hall, with tea and snacks laid out on the table for them to take as they pleased.

These people had clearly not eaten or drunk anything all night, yet not a single one of them cared about the tea and snacks.

Zhang Song and the others sat at the table, exchanging glances from time to time, but no one spoke. Although they tried their best to appear calm, their slightly open eyes and tight lips betrayed their tense and solemn inner feelings.

Just as Zhang Song and the others were waiting patiently, a large number of footsteps suddenly sounded in the outer corridor.

Zhang Song and the others were all invigorated and stood up at the same time.

Sure enough, the next moment, a young man with sword-like eyebrows that slanted upwards into his temples walked in from outside, bathed in the morning light. The person who came was Liu Feng.

Zhang Song and the others couldn't help but secretly observe Liu Feng. They saw that he was full of heroic spirit, and his every move was agile, giving people a strong sense of confidence. However, when he smiled, a shallow dimple appeared on his cheek, which neutralized the somewhat dazzling heroic spirit and gave people a sense of friendliness instead.

"Gentlemen, please do not speak first, let me guess."

Liu Feng entered, and before the others could bow, he raised his hand to stop them. He then slowly walked to Zhang Song, took his hand, and examined him closely, saying, "Your eyes are bright and clear. Although your figure is not particularly tall, you stand tall and upright, with an extraordinary air. If I am not mistaken—you are perhaps Zhang Song, Zhang Ziqiao?"

When Liu Feng grabbed Zhang Song's hand and heard Liu Feng's words of praise, Zhang Song was struck dumb, feeling as if he were floating on clouds.

Fortunately, he still had a sliver of clarity in his mind, and quickly replied, "General, your insight is truly remarkable. I am indeed Zhang Song."

Liu Feng smiled and nodded, then moved to stand in front of Qin Mi. After studying him intently for a moment, he clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Sir, you have clear and bright eyes, a broad forehead and a square face, and a subtle literary talent. You must have great knowledge and ability. If I am not mistaken, you are undoubtedly Mr. Qin Zichi."

Qin Mi was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and felt a touch of emotion. He then bowed respectfully and replied calmly, "General, you are wise. I am indeed Qin Mi."

Liu Fengfu walked towards Yang Hong, observing his kind appearance and resolute gaze, and couldn't help but laugh loudly: "Your demeanor is composed and your bearing is as steady as Mount Tai, quite like a capable minister in times of peace. Could you be Yang Jixiu?"

Yang Hong bowed respectfully and replied, "General, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise."

Liu Feng then greeted Fa Zheng and Meng Da one by one.

Fa Zheng and Meng Da could hardly hide their excitement, but they forced themselves to remain calm, clenching their fists and bowing respectfully to Liu Feng.

After the ceremony, everyone took their seats as hosts and guests.

Liu Feng composed himself and looked around at everyone, saying, "Although Chengdu has fallen, the people's hearts are not yet won over, the granaries are empty, and cries of sorrow can still be heard in the streets and alleys. You gentlemen are all outstanding talents from Sichuan, and you are well aware of the current situation. May I ask what strategy you should take to pacify the people, consolidate the foundation, and quickly win their hearts?"

Zhang Song was the first to bow and reply: "General, you are wise. The most urgent matters are: first, to provide relief to the starving people by opening the granaries and distributing grain so that the elderly and weak can be cared for; second, to post notices to reassure the people, clearly ordering soldiers not to loot, with violators to be executed without exception; and third, to quickly dispatch capable officials to patrol the markets, resolve grievances, adjudicate cases, and gather the defeated soldiers to restore order. Although the treasury is currently empty, many large families still have considerable grain reserves. I am unworthy to do so for you, General."

Liu Feng was overjoyed, not only for the grain, but also for Zhang Song's attitude.

Zhang Song's willingness to step forward and take on the role of the villain at this critical moment demonstrates his loyalty and integrity, which is truly commendable. Liu Feng immediately nodded and smiled, giving Zhang Song a nod.

Then, Qin Mi straightened his body and added, "Ziqiao's words are very good. However, I believe that in addition to addressing the immediate crisis, we should make good use of the reputation of the elders and local worthies in Shu. For example, we should ask famous scholars such as Du Wei and Zhou Qun to come forward to comfort the people and promote the general's benevolence. We can also follow the example of Emperor Gaozu of Han's Three Laws, and completely eliminate the harshness and complexity of Liu Zhang's old policies, so as to show the intention of simplifying the government and easing the burden on the people."

Yang Hong also advised, “The people’s hearts are concerned with nothing more than food, clothing and safety. Although the granaries are damaged, we can quickly transport grain and fodder from Guangdu, Jiangzhou and other places into the city to set up soup kitchens to solve the immediate crisis. Once the people’s livelihood is somewhat stable, we can check the household registers, reduce taxes and levies, and let the people know the benefits of submitting.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Feng showed approval and sighed, "Your words are all wise and insightful discussions on governing the country. I have learned a great deal. I will proceed with this plan immediately and assign tasks accordingly: Zi Qiao will oversee the issuance of proclamations to reassure the people and the rectification of officialdom; Zi Chi will contact renowned scholars in Shu to stabilize public sentiment; Ji Xiu will coordinate the transportation of grain and relief efforts; Xiao Zhi will stay by my side and advise me on planning; and Zi Du will lead his troops to maintain city patrols, reorganize the Shu army, and suppress lawlessness."

Everyone rose to receive the order.

Liu Feng then said gently, "Chengdu has just been pacified, and everything needs to be rebuilt. We all need your concerted efforts."

After speaking, he ordered someone to present him with a silk map and discussed with everyone in detail the specific matters such as the opening of the grain route and the reorganization of household registration.

Zhang Song and the others breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that Liu Feng had made preparations in advance and that a large amount of grain and fodder would soon be transported to Chengdu.

The group discussed various matters, putting public interests before private ones, until dusk.

That evening, Liu Feng hosted a simple banquet at the prefectural government office to entertain Zhang Song and others.

**
After the banquet, Liu Feng left Zhang Song alone in the study. In the flickering candlelight, Liu Feng personally poured tea for Zhang Song and said slowly, "Ziqiao, do you know that I originally intended to submit a memorial to the court recommending you as the governor of major prefectures such as Runan and Jiangling, to reward you for your outstanding contribution?"

Zhang Song was taken aback by Liu Feng's words, his teacup trembling slightly, his heart filled with confusion. He felt both joy at Liu Feng's offer to recommend him as the governor of a major prefecture and disappointment at the unspoken meaning in Liu Feng's words.

Before Zhang Song could respond, Liu Feng sighed and said, “However, judging from the current situation in Shu, the people are not at peace and their hearts are not with us. If we send pillars of society to other places, it will not only be detrimental to governing Shu, but I am also afraid that the people of Shu will develop a distrust of us.”

At this point, Liu Feng looked intently at Zhang Song: "Therefore, after much deliberation, I wish to ask Ziqiao to temporarily remain in Shu. I will petition the court to appoint you as General Who Pacifies the South, concurrently serving as the Chief of the Left General's Office, and in charge of all military affairs in Chengdu. Although it is a temporary concession, it is truly a crucial strategy for stabilizing Shu. I hope you will be lenient with me."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Song was greatly shocked, and the teacup in his hand fell to the table. He hurriedly stood up and bowed, saying, "General, you mustn't! Although I was the initiator, I joined the cause too late. Moreover, when Sima Yi burned the city, I almost became a criminal... I am already extremely fortunate to have been taken in today. How could I dare to hope for such a high position? Even being the Prefect of Guanghan is already a great favor to me!"

Liu Feng stepped forward to help him up, and said solemnly, "Ziqiao is too modest. If it weren't for your risky initiative and secret plan that day, how could our army have entered Chengdu smoothly? Moreover, today you have volunteered to collect grain from powerful families for the people of Chengdu. Such a responsibility can only be undertaken by a loyal and virtuous person."

After speaking, Liu Feng took his hand and said, "Sichuan has just been pacified, and the people's hearts are not yet with us. We need to rely on Ziqiao's talent and virtue to win their hearts. I hope you will not refuse."

Zhang Song's eyes were slightly red, and he said in a trembling voice, "The general has treated me so kindly, I... I could give my life to repay even a fraction of his kindness!"

He then bowed again to receive the order.

That night, the two talked late into the night, planning the future of Sichuan by candlelight, their regret at not having met sooner was palpable.

The following day, Liu Feng ordered Gu Shao to read out the rewards and honors:

"Zhang Song was appointed General Who Pacifies the South, concurrently serving as Chief of Staff of the Left General's Office, and in charge of military affairs in Chengdu. He was bestowed with 100 bolts of Shu brocade, 1,000 bolts of silk, two fine horses from the Western Regions, a pair of jade ruyi, a pair of ivory and rhinoceros horn, two sets of cotton clothing, 10 shi of sugar, 10 shi of sesame oil, 50 shi of snow salt, 10 hu of pearls, 500,000 five-zhu coins, and 100 jin each of gold and silver."

"He appointed Qin Mi as the governor of Shu Commandery, and bestowed upon him twenty bolts of Shu brocade, one hundred bolts of silk, two shi each of sugar and sesame oil, ten shi of salt, one hundred thousand five-zhu coins, and twenty jin each of gold and silver."

"Yang Hong was appointed as the Prefect of Guanghan, and was granted the same number of gifts as Qin Mi, and was also given a copy of the Collected Commentaries on the Book of Documents."

"Zheng Fazheng was appointed as an official in the Left General's staff. He was bestowed with five bolts of Shu brocade, twenty bolts of silk, one shi each of frosted sugar and sesame oil, five shi of snow salt, fifty thousand wuzhu coins, and ten jin each of gold and silver."

"Zheng Mengda was appointed as a military officer in the Left General's office, and was granted the same rank as Fa Zheng, plus a set of Mingguang armor, a fine horse, and a precious bow."

"Ma Qiu, the former commander of Qujun, was promoted to the rank of Dingrong Colonel, and was granted the same rank as Fa Zheng. He was also given a set of Mingguang armor and a fine horse."

"The rest of the meritorious individuals will be generously rewarded according to the merit book."

The reward decree was issued, and the entire city was shaken.

Zhang Song was the first to go to the prefectural capital to express his gratitude: "I am but a defeated official, yet I have been fortunate enough to be entrusted with an important task and rewarded handsomely by the general... Even if I were to give my life, I could not repay even a fraction of his kindness!"

He burst into tears as he finished speaking, and collapsed to the ground, unable to rise.

Qin Mi, Yang Hong, Fa Zheng, Meng Da, and others also came to express their gratitude.

Qin Mi said, "This humble scholar is so honored by the General's kindness. I dare not fail to do my utmost to bring peace to the land of Shu!"

Yang Hong then said, "I will make Guanghan a place of political harmony and social stability, which will become a solid foundation for the general."

Although Fa Zheng was proud and self-possessed, his eyes were filled with tears as he solemnly bowed his head: "Having wandered for half my life, I have finally met a wise ruler. From this day forward, I am willing to serve the general with utmost loyalty, even if it means dying nine times!"

Although Meng Da felt that his official position was a bit low, he did not complain. Moreover, the position of military commander in the shogunate was held by a trusted general, and he was quite satisfied with it.

Liu Feng personally descended the steps and helped each of them up, saying gently, "Gentlemen, you are all men of national talent. Today's reward is merely a token of my appreciation. I hope you will not forget the oath you made today, and work together to save the world."

Afterwards, Liu Feng hosted a banquet and drank with everyone. The atmosphere was lively, and the guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely.

They didn't leave until the moon and stars had faded.

Zhang Song stood before the steps, showing no signs of drunkenness, his eyes burning with fervor as he looked up to the sky and swore, "General, your kindness is truly an honor. If I were to betray this kindness, may Heaven and Earth not forgive me!"

The others were also inspired and each swore to be loyal.

The night in Chengdu was destined to be different because of this simple banquet.

Liu Feng not only gained a city, but also truly won the hearts of the core figures in the upper echelons of Chengdu. At the same time, he set a series of examples for the powerful clans and magnates in Chengdu.

(End of this chapter)