Wait, please don't call me Emperor Zhaolie

Chapter 335: Words from an Old Friend
The patriarch and clan leader of the three Liu families in Zhuo County had experienced many ups and downs and had become experienced people. They immediately understood the deep meaning of the words of the patriarch of the Lu family.

They are the local nobles in Zhuo County. Even if they flatter the King of Han, they can still gain an advantage over others. How can outsiders compare with them?

Liu Bo immediately clapped his hands and praised him highly, saying, "Mr. Lu's words are very good!"

"What do you think about following this advice?"

The patriarch of the Changsha Dingwang lineage and the clan leader of the Guangyang Shunwang lineage looked at each other quietly and immediately praised and applauded.

Seeing this scene, the remaining powerful families such as the Zu family of Qiu County, the Li family of Fanyang, the Yuan family of Gaoyang, the Xu family, the Suga family of Liwu, the Zhao family of Gu'an, and the Huo family could only applaud and hope to receive the emperor's approval.

The various wealthy families, in accordance with the principle of being guests, flattered the Liu family of Zhuo County, because they had the King of Han behind them, so how could they dare to offend them openly?

Compared to the clan leaders who were meeting and welcoming Liu Xuande in Zhuo County, the elders and folks in the village were very excited to hear that Liu Xuande had become the King of Han and was about to return to his hometown.

Even when weeding and doing autumn ploughing, some people would take a break from time to time, sit on the edge of the field and sigh: "I heard that the King of Han also came from a humble background. It would be great if he could think of the hardships of our fellow villagers and not forget us even if he becomes rich and powerful."

Someone couldn't help laughing, pointing at him and saying, "Zhang Ling, you weren't from Zhuo County in your early years, you just fled here from Liangxiang. Even if Xuande wanted to share the wealth and honor, it wouldn't be your turn."

The person who spoke was a rough man with a soap-colored turban on his head. After he finished speaking, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and continued to plow the field.

"Mr. Liu..." Zhang Ling became interested and couldn't help but come closer and ask, "I heard that Mr. Liu knew the King of Han when he was young. Is it true?"

Then he shook his head and said unhappily, "Since the King of Han defeated Yuan Shao, everyone I met in Zhuo County said that they knew the King of Han and that they had a close relationship."

"Even if we all know each other, there are always some who are close or distant, right? Why does everyone say they are close?"

"Only someone like me who comes from a foreign land would not dare to say that I know the King of Han."

Zhang Leng had a sad face and looked quite helpless.

A road to success is right before one's eyes, but one cannot tell which family has a close relationship with the King of Han, and one cannot curry favor with them even if one wants to.

We have learned in recent days that the relatives who were once close to the King of Han either went to Pingyuan long ago or fled to seek refuge, and no one knows where they have fled to.

If the family wasn't so poor, who would want to work as a farmhand working on the fields all day?

I just want to find a way to become rich, why is it so difficult?
Zhang Leng couldn't help feeling discouraged and looked a little depressed.

He was a descendant of Liu Hou, but unfortunately his ancestor was convicted and his family became increasingly impoverished.

The rough man called Liu Jun heard Zhang Ling's sigh, but laughed and showed a look of reminiscence. He recalled with a smile: "Xuan De was an open-minded person. He liked beautiful women, good horses, and beautiful clothes. He was also quite good at martial arts. He also liked chasing and hunting. Every time he got prey, he liked to share it with everyone. He was always chivalrous, so that the knights-errant and young men in the village were willing to follow him."

Suddenly remembering something interesting, the rough man couldn't help but grin and said to Zhang Ling: "I remember that year the three elders in the village asked Xuande why he hadn't married yet."

"Xuan De said: If I want to be an official, I should be the Prefect of the Guards, and if I want to marry, I should marry Yin Lihua. Someone joked: Does Xuan De want to be like Guangwu?"

"The King of Han just smiled and said nothing. He never expected that Xuande would marry the daughter of Yin and support the Han Dynasty..."

The rough man couldn't help laughing and shaking his head when he said this. Some people say things that you think they are joking, but it turns out they really do what they say.

Halfway through his words, Liu Feng wondered why he had stopped talking. He turned around and saw Zhang Ling approaching him, less than a step away. His eyes were shining and his face was full of flattering smiles. He rushed over, grabbed his hand tightly, and even his neck was flushed with excitement. He said happily: "Mr. Liu, if you really know the King of Han, why worry about not being rich and powerful?"

"If you can become a county official, don't forget Zhang Ling. With my talent, I can become a township official."

He didn't want much more. Now that he settled in Zhuo County, he would be satisfied with his life as long as he could be a village official.

As for the wealth and honor of future generations, let them fight for it themselves. Now that the Han Dynasty is about to rise, there will be plenty of opportunities in a few decades.

Liu Feng was frightened by Zhang Ling's excitement and joy. Even if he had the opportunity to be a county official, there was no way he could let him be a treasurer.

What's more, he hasn't finished speaking yet. The King of Han is indeed kind-hearted, but when he loses his temper, he is also terrifying. If such things get to the king, even if there is friendship before, he will be in trouble.

"Get lost, I am just a commoner, how dare I agree to this."

Liu Feng immediately waved his hand to drive the other party away, his face darker than the bottom of a pot. He still wanted to curry favor with others and get a chance to meet the King of Han.

The folks in Zhuo County became increasingly excited in preparation for welcoming the King of Han.

On the other side, Liu Bei was also arranging the affairs of Zhongshan Kingdom. Even if he went to Youzhou and Zhuojun, he could not ignore the affairs of Jizhou and other places.

While suppressing the rebellious nobles in various places, the Han army obtained a large amount of corn, wheat, cloth, fine silk, as well as money and craftsmen.

In some places, officials colluded with each other and even opened the armory to take out armor and weapons to equip the powerful families and their followers, and then they occupied cities and defended them in various places.

Fortunately, the enemy's morale is not high and the soldiers are insufficiently trained, so as long as we are determined to attack, we can usually break through.

Except for the six counties of Lunu, Anxi, Hanchang, Liwu, Anguo and Wuji that had been recovered, there were seven counties of Xinshi, Shangquyang, Wangdu, Tangxian, Puyin, Beiping and Guangchang that were still in rebellion.

He also united many powerful families in Changshan State and intended to attack Lunu. While there were rebellions in various places at this moment, the Han army was dispersed to quell the rebellions. If they could defeat Liu Xuande, they would make him retreat.

Perhaps they could completely reverse the corrupt situation in Jizhou. They also found out that several counties in the south of Zhongshan State surrendered without a fight under the leadership of Wuji Zhen.

Many soldiers and servants were handed over to the army, which made the Han army mixed, and some powerful families were dissatisfied.

If we can cooperate internally and externally, it is possible to defeat the Han army.

Liu Bei also learned of this rumor, and knew that Guan Yu and Lu Bu had joined forces to attack Zhao in the north, and that Handan had surrendered voluntarily because of the Yuan family.

The remaining four counties of Zhao State, namely Yiyang, Xiangguo, Zhongqiu and Bairen, also rushed to surrender when they heard that Handan, with its high and thick city walls, had surrendered directly to the Han army.

After recovering the State of Zhao, Guan Yu and Lu Bu led their troops to attack the fifteen counties of Julu County.

Some local tyrants surrendered when they heard the news of the Han army's arrival, but immediately cut off their food supplies and rebelled after the Han army left.

Guan Yu was forced to return to his army to wipe out the powerful families' troops, leaving garrisons in every place, which reduced the number of troops on hand and gradually slowed down the offensive.

In the eyes of the powerful people who refused to give up, there was indeed an opportunity to take advantage of.

(End of this chapter)