Wait, please don't call me Emperor Zhaolie

Chapter 1 Winter is coming
July, the first year of Chuping in the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Qingzhou, Pingyuan County.

It was the busy farming season of autumn harvest. A slender young man with good manners, wearing a dark turban on his head and a black robe with hunting patterns, finished his work in the fields, closed the collection sheet and prepared to go back.

The old man who was plowing the field hastily put down his farm tools and shouted, "Please stay, Magistrate Liu!"

He picked up the grain, chased after him and said, "We are poor people, and we have rice and millet left after paying taxes. Please accept it, Magistrate Liu."

The young man supported the old man and said, "Don't do this, old man. It is my duty to encourage people to grow crops and protect the country and the people. Now that the land tax has been collected, there is no need to send food."

The old man was not happy and said stubbornly, "Since you came to Pingyuan, County Magistrate Liu has eliminated banditry and built ponds. You also lent us oxen and iron to teach us how to plant wheat in autumn. You have never taken a cent more."

"How can I not repay such a kindness? If the county magistrate doesn't want it, I won't have the face to use the farm tools anymore." After saying this, he was eager to kneel down.

Liu Bei supported him and sighed, "There is a shortage of food in Qingzhou now. Although Pingyuan has a small harvest, it is still not enough to fill our stomachs. Why did you send me off, old man?"

Then he stuffed the bag of food into the old man's hand and comforted him, "Just keep it. No one can take it away from you. Food is the most important thing for the people. The world is not peaceful right now. It's better to keep some surplus food."

The reason why I say that,

This was because the Qingzhou governor Jiao He, in order to enhance his reputation as a famous scholar, strongly supported the princes in Guandong in their fight against Dong Zhuo and forcibly requisitioned the people's stored grain everywhere. The people of Qian, who could no longer survive, rose up in rebellion under the instigation of the Yellow Turbans.

The old man thought that it would be better to give it to County Magistrate Liu, who loved his people like his own children, rather than have it taken away by the evil officials.

Liu Bei knew the right and wrong in this matter.

So he offered a guarantee to comfort his father-in-law.

The old man was stunned, tears suddenly flowed from his eyes, and he looked at Liu Bei with trembling lips.

After wiping away her tears, she still handed the food to Liu Bei.

More and more people gathered to watch the fun, and some of them imitated the old man and placed rice and millet at Liu Bei's feet.

Some even felt it was not enough and hurried home to get more.

Seeing that the situation was escalating, Liu Bei was afraid that it would not end well.

Looking at the old man's earnest eyes, he was silent for a while, then he opened the sack, took out a handful of grain, held it high in the air, turned to the crowd and said, "I accept the grain that my father-in-law gave me."

After saying this, he gently gathered the rice grains and put them into his sleeves.

Seeing the crowd refusing to leave, Liu Bei raised his arm and said with a naughty smile, "My sleeves are full. Do you want me to tear my sleeves and go back bare-armed?"

Then he pointed at the fat boy who was joining in the fun and scolded him with a smile, "Ah Rat, you child is also trying to stir up trouble. Give me all the food at home. Aren't you afraid that your flesh will starve to death?"

It made everyone laugh.

After some joking, Liu Bei said seriously: "Nowadays, there are rebellions in various counties in Qingzhou. Fortunately, the plains are close to the Yellow River and have abundant water systems, so there are fewer chaos. However, we still need to prepare more food and store drought-resistant wheat seeds. I think the weather has been unusually hot in recent years, and I am afraid that a drought will come."

In fact, even if Liu Bei had not reminded them, the old farmers who had been farming for many years had noticed the abnormal weather in recent years, but no one dared to jump to conclusions or tell the village agricultural officials.

Following the lesson that less is worse than more, I just live each day in a muddle-headed manner.

Unexpectedly, Liu Bei, the county magistrate, spoke frankly and directly, which shocked them.

The words are open.

Many people were worried for a while, saying at once: "The weather is indeed abnormally fluctuating, and the water level of the Yellow River has dropped a lot..."

"No way. I remember that there has been no drought in Qingzhou for many years. It will be fine after a few heavy rains in a while."

"We still need to make more preparations and build more ponds. Otherwise, there will be drought and who knows how many more people will die..."

Once a drought occurs, the people are the ones who suffer the most, and of course they are more afraid than anyone else.

Everyone was undecided, and finally they all looked at the silent Liu Bei and said, "Please tell us what we should do, magistrate?"

Liu Bei said: "Build canals, grow wheat, and catch more fish."

The old man said helplessly: "The county magistrate doesn't know. We can repair canals and grow wheat, but we know nothing about fishing. We are not familiar with the water and cannot catch fish."

Everyone knows that there are fish in the river, but the fish swim too fast and they are not very good at swimming. Every year, many people who want to catch fish drown in the river, and everyone can only stare at them from the shore.

Liu Bei smiled and waved his hand, saying, "It's okay. In a few days, you will know why I said that."

Liu Bei had a smile on his face, and he didn't intend to reveal it first, but instead kept it a secret.

Seeing that Liu Bei was not arrogant, someone asked, "County magistrate, I am not worried about the drought that has not yet occurred, but I am more worried about the Yellow Turban bandits coming. I heard from the villagers that the bandits are everywhere, burning, killing, looting, and doing everything they can."

"What should we do then?"

Liu Bei understood their concerns, knowing that historically, droughts in Beihai and Donglai counties had left the people with no harvest.

The Yellow Turban Army took the opportunity to sweep everywhere, raising millions of people.

Whenever there is drought, locusts will appear. In the next two or three years, countless people will starve to death. This is a hell on earth.

Liu Bei couldn't help but curse the corrupt officials in Qingzhou in his heart.

Many people were already suffering from hunger and cold, yet they were still subjected to heavy taxes and levies.

He has a condescending attitude and is unaware of the suffering of those at the bottom.

Liu Bei said: "Don't worry, everyone. It's hard to say what will happen elsewhere, but here in the plains, as long as we are prepared, there is no need to be afraid."

"After the busy autumn season, we will continue with military training. Only when the soldiers are strong and skilled in weapons can they protect their homes, fields and wives and children." Hearing this, everyone felt a little more at ease and were no longer afraid.

He thought to himself that they had the famous county magistrate Liu in Qingzhou. The bandits in Gaotang and Pingyuan had been wiped out long ago, and they even went to other counties to suppress the bandits, so that the bandits dared not stay within a radius of hundreds of miles.

Moreover, he treats people with sincerity and is admired by all the knights in the counties and villages.

They all praised him for inheriting the legacy of Zhu Jia and Ju Meng, and even knights from other states and counties came to make friends with him.

The three elders from the village who came over nodded and said, "We dare not obey the county magistrate's orders."

Hundreds of people responded with their hands clasped, and their cheers shook the sky.

Liu Bei bowed in greeting.

He put his hand down only after the crowd gradually dispersed and went about their business.

A scholar with a square face and black clothes, who had witnessed all of Liu Bei's words and deeds, came over with a gleam in his eyes and joked: "Xuan De can command a hundred responses, whether it is the knights-errant or the common people, he can drive them all, it's really amazing."

"Are you raising assassins in Ruyin to accomplish great things?

Liu Bei laughed and said bluntly: "I want to put an end to the chaos and make Zijing the general to sweep away the Xiongnu, drive out the Xianbei, take back the Hetao area, reopen the Western Regions, appoint the General of Anxi, and eliminate the two hundred years of abuses of the Later Han Dynasty. Is this what I want?"

Qian Zhao was suddenly speechless.

I've seen people who brag, but I've never seen anyone who brags as well as he does.

He smiled again and said, "Xuan De, if you can really do this, you will be a hero of the world!"

Liu Bei smiled but said nothing. He was tired of such compliments.

Qian Zhao originally wanted to find out what he was thinking, but he didn't expect Liu Bei to tell him the truth, which confused him instead.

Not long ago, Dong Zhuo burned Luoyang, destroyed the emperor's tomb, and intended to retreat to Chang'an.

The Thirteen Princes' campaign against Dong Zhuo was not going smoothly and was at a stalemate, and the world seemed peaceful.

In fact, the undercurrent was surging. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the decline of the Han Dynasty was inevitable, and what would follow was the trend of warlords dividing the country.

The sons of the aristocratic families also began to choose their masters to serve. Most of them went to the thirteen famous princes, among whom the leader Yuan Shao was the most popular.

Qian Zhao didn't think of looking for another place to live. To be honest, Liu Bei gave him a big surprise.

In his eyes, his playmate since childhood has changed a lot in recent years, his fame has been growing, and everything he does has a deep meaning.

Even half a year ago, he was invited to serve as the magistrate of Gaotang County.

Qian Zhao sighed, "Xuan De, I don't understand you any more."

Liu Bei first pointed at the tree, then at himself, and said to him with a smile: "I have walked around the tree three times, but which branch can I rely on? Zijing, I will lead you and we will achieve great things."

Qian Zhao also said with a smile: "Xuan De, I will follow you then. Whether I will be a marquis or a general depends on you. Don't let me waste my time until I am old."

Liu Bei smiled again and said, "Zi Jing, you can wait and see."

He did not pay much attention to the princes' campaign against Dong Zhuo, but instead focused his attention on various places in Qingzhou.

Because before long, greedy and incompetent officials would cause Qingzhou to become a million-strong Yellow Turban Army, which would soon sweep across the four states of Qing, You, Yan, and Xu.

Liu Dai, the governor of Yanzhou, and Jiao He, the governor of Qingzhou, died in the war, and countless people suffered.

Since it is impossible to stop it, we will just pull it out from under the tiger's mouth. We will accumulate strength in Gaotang and Pingyuan, first take Pingyuan County, then take Qingzhou as our base, and dominate Hebei.

After chatting with Qian Zhao and giving him some instructions, Qian Zhao prepared to return to Gaotang. He came to see Liu Bei because of the important autumn affairs. Now that the important business was done, he said goodbye and returned to the county early.

Liu Bei mounted his horse and gripped the reins tightly, looking at the farmers busy in the fields and the children playing, feeling proud.

He was a slave in the company and worked diligently for several years after graduation. Unfortunately, he chose the wrong career and had to start from scratch. Eventually, he fell asleep while working overtime at night.

When he opened his eyes again, he had become Liu Xuande, the Whipping Inspector.

With the help of others, he donated money to become a county magistrate.

After becoming the county magistrate, he was quite effective in eliminating bandits and pacifying the people. He had previously defeated some bandits in Gaotang. Later, Pingyuan was harassed by bandits again, so the Qingzhou provincial government transferred him to Pingyuan.

It cost him a million dollars to promote a county from a small one, which he paid to the imperial court.

Ever since Emperor Ling of Han started selling official positions and titles, not only did officials bid for the sale, but they also had to pay money for promotion, which made Liu Hong earn a lot of money. Unfortunately, it ended up benefiting Dong Zhuo.

How many people bought their way into office and made their money back by enclosing land and selling the people as slaves.

This shows what kind of people are in the officialdom.

In the temple, rotten wood are officials, and between the steps of the palace, beasts eat food. This is absolutely true.

It would be unjust if the Eastern Han Dynasty did not perish.

Just in Qingzhou alone, the air was filled with smoke and foul smells.

Seeing the hemp cloth and white banners on the slope ahead and the sound of people crying out in pain, Liu Bei angrily cursed, "What a damn world this is."

Seeing that the road was getting wider, he whipped the horse again and squeezed his horse's belly: "Gee!" He whipped the horse and galloped away.

More than ten riders behind him then rode their horses to catch up.

(End of this chapter)