Wait, please don't call me Emperor Zhaolie

Chapter 179 Liu Bei: Using the Blood of the Powerful to Mend the Sky

The sky gradually darkened and the stars twinkled.

The scouts came on fast horses from the east to report: the five powerful families in Beixiang and Anshang Township were all defeated, three of them resisted stubbornly, and two of the side branches received the news and brought the villagers to surrender with their direct relatives tied up before Liu Jun's Sima and Zhang Duwei were killed.

All the powerful families near Pengcheng were shocked. Lord Xuande had only arrived today, but within a few hours he had destroyed the five clans that had been rooted for hundreds of years. This was too swift.

Although two families took the initiative to clean up their own mess and captured the traitors who were in collusion with each other, preserved their bloodline and worshipped their ancestors, they did not let the manor suffer from war.

However, the powerful fighting capacity of the Qingzhou Army undoubtedly made many powerful families and nobles who had some complaints break out in cold sweats.

Fortunately, I did not collude with them to fight against Lord Xuande, otherwise my family would probably not escape the disaster.

Think about it, they risked genocide just for a hundred acres of land and to save money by not paying taxes to keep slaves, followers and guests, but these would not be enough to defeat the elite soldiers under Liu Bei's command.

It took only a few hundred people to defeat their troops and farmhands. It was said that Liu Xuande still had thousands or tens of thousands of such soldiers in Qingzhou without using them.

If an egg fights a stone, it will only break into pieces. Then wouldn't all the accumulation of our ancestors be lost?
Many members of the Liu clan suddenly understood that Lord Xuande's words were indeed well-reasoned and justified.

The world is in imminent danger. How can the eggs remain intact when the nest is overturned? The hair will have nowhere to stay without the skin. As a relative of the Han royal family, I must do my best to save the crisis.

How could there be any selfish thoughts or concerns? It is just a matter of re-measuring the land according to the registered residence, checking the number of servants and guests, paying the missing taxes, and releasing the slaves and retainers... How can it compare to the precarious situation of the Han Dynasty?

The Liu clan leader and clan leader, who were still staying in the inn, gave them some advice using Lord Xuande's words, and they immediately felt much better.

He planned to visit Lord Xuande early tomorrow morning and emphasize that he was willing to support the land measurement policy. They were descendants of Emperor Guangwu, so how could they not obey the laws established by their ancestors? They had only made some mistakes before.

After Liu Shijun used thundering means to clear the fog for them, they saw the light of day again.

Many wealthy families asked the head of the relay station for blank bamboo slips, then placed them on the desk, and with trembling hands, they held the pen and wrote the visiting cards to be delivered.

On the other side, Liu Bei listened to the scout's report and asked him to rest for a while. He turned to Man Chong and said, "Bo Ning, the eight nobles who were imprisoned for crimes can all be sentenced according to the law. There is no need to show mercy to me."

"Yes!" Man Chong bowed.

Liu Bei thought for a moment and said, "At this moment, the Prime Minister of Pengcheng and the Gongcao have both been dismissed. You are the only Supervisor of Pengcheng County and are here to supervise all matters, big or small, under the order of the governor. If you find anyone who has committed a crime, you can bring them to justice regardless of their status."

As Zang Ba of Langya Commandery led bandits from various counties such as Chang Xi, Sun Guan, Wu Dun, and Yin Li to surrender after assessing the situation, Langya began to abolish the county soldiers and set up a military headquarters, leaving Yu Jin to lead his troops to garrison Langya, while Guan Hai led the vanguard camp to Tan County in Donghai.

The soldiers who came to Xuzhou included the Ruichong Camp, the Xuanfeng Camp, the Huben Cavalry, the newly added Xianzhen Camp, and more than 10,000 auxiliary soldiers.

The military officers recruited included Taishi Ci, Zhang Liao, Guan Hai, Yu Jin, Li Dian, Gao Shun, Liu He, Dian Wei and the dependent Zang Ba.

The two Xun clerks did not come, but there were Guo Jia, Mi Zhu, Man Chong, Chen Deng, Mao Jie, Gao Rou and the newly recruited clerks Zhuge Jin, Zhang Zhao, Chen Jiao, Lu Su, Liu Ye, Bu Zhi, Wei Jing and others.

Among them, Man Chong was transferred to Pengcheng by Liu Bei, Mao Jie was transferred to Langya, Chen Deng was in Xia Pi, and Guo Jia had Gao Rou as his assistant in Donghai.

Land in other places could be measured step by step, and only Guangling County had not yet been fully controlled.

Liu Bei pondered the current situation in Xuzhou.

If he did not have so many elite soldiers in various counties of Xuzhou, he would not have dared to survey the fields while trying to lure Cao Mengde and Yuan Shu.

I just don't know whether Xin Pi can live up to everyone's expectations when crossing the river. After all, Cao Cao's threat is much greater than Yuan Gonglu, the dead bones in the tomb, and he must be weakened.

After the meal, Liu Bei talked with Man Chong about the land transfer in Pengcheng for a long time, and finally fell asleep in the middle of the night. The next day, just after getting up and washing up, he heard a soldier come to report: "The various clans of the Liu family have sent visiting cards, wanting to see the envoy."

Liu Bei smiled when he heard this and said to Man Chong: "It seems that after a whole night, everyone has figured it out."

As early as when he pacified the Yellow Turbans in Jinan in Qingzhou, Liu Bei discovered that he was good at persuasion. As long as he grasped the truth first and then divided and disintegrated the powerful, he could make the powerful people quickly return to the right path and repent and reform.

Liu Bei left them alone for an hour before summoning them.

When they met, everyone bowed immediately. The white-haired clan leader said with shame, "Lord Xuande, we indulged in our own selfishness and forgot the governance of the world. We forgot our country for our family and our public interests for our own. We only sought profit. Fortunately, Lord Liu patiently persuaded us and we finally came to our senses today."

"I hope Lord Xuande will rest assured that the Liu family in Pengcheng will obey the land measurement and will not dare to disobey."

Liu Bei helped the man up and asked with concern, "I was afraid of embarrassing the royal family, so I didn't say it."

"Don't be embarrassed!"

"This matter is not difficult for Lord Xuande."

The clan leaders bowed repeatedly and spoke urgently.

I thought to myself: It doesn't matter if they are in trouble, it's best not to make it difficult for Liu Shijun. What is difficult for him is not the measurement of land, but he doesn't know whether to kill more or less.

When Liu Bei heard this, he smiled with relief and pointed to the sky again, saying: "The world is facing internal and external troubles. It is indeed a troubled time. Now that the clans have helped me by sacrificing their flesh, how dare Liu Xuande not make up for the sky with his blood?"

Are we going to use our blood to mend the sky?

Some people couldn't help but complain in their hearts.

"Mr. Xuande's words are very passionate, sincere and full of meaning."

"Lord Xuande's prestige spread throughout the country and he was the greatest among the Liu family."

No matter what these clan leaders thought in their hearts, they flattered him outwardly, each one more fawning than the other.

"Don't flatter me, everyone. Since we have decided to measure the land, you should first pay the tribute to the military government, and then make the payment according to the level. As for the missing taxes, there is no need to make up for them. Just pay them in full in the future."

Liu Bei chuckled and clapped his hands, but his tone did not leave any room for negotiation.

He had considerately exempted the wealthy families from paying taxes, and if he reduced the number of his retainers, servants and maids, the taxes would be even lower.

It can be said that by lightening their burden, they will not be able to get more demands.

Many clan leaders' eyelids twitched when they heard this. Lord Xuande was really cruel. He killed all his followers and farmhands as soon as he arrived. If these people were gone, wouldn't they become cattle and sheep to be slaughtered, and he would be at his mercy in the future? !

The Liu family members looked at each other, trying to find someone to take the lead in speaking up for justice, but they found that everyone was keeping their heads down and no one dared to look up and object.

Especially the patriarch of the descendants of Liu Jiao, King of Chu, who had white hair and beard, and was still stroking his beard and nodding with that shameless old face.

One can't help but curse in the heart: "Old man, what happened to the Pengcheng Liu family's agreement to advance and retreat together?"

(End of this chapter)