The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 113 Liu Bei: I was only away for a few days, and you did something so big? (Please subscribe!)

The first time Li Yi used his army, he defeated the pirate group Xuezhou.

All the officials from Jingzhou were amazed when they saw it.

Although Chen Deng repeatedly calmed everyone down and told them that they could go back to sleep with peace of mind.

But there was a war going on outside the city, how could they sleep?

Therefore, everyone lay on the wall and witnessed a fierce battle on the river with their own eyes.

What a handsome Li Ziyu, with his heroic appearance and crane-shaped cloak and silk scarf.

While talking and laughing, the boats and oars disappeared into ashes.

In less than one night, Xue Zhou, the pirate who had roamed the rivers and seas for many years, was captured alive.

"Maybe Gongda will believe me now?"

Xu Shao said calmly.

After witnessing Li Yi's talent, he became the most emotionally stable among the crowd.

Xun You exclaimed in admiration:
"Li Ziyu is extremely courageous. There are few people in the world who can match his courage."

"If there had been even the slightest hesitation when we left the water stronghold just now, we would never have had such a great victory!"

Although Xun You maintained his usual expressionless expression, he was actually feeling aggrieved inside.

Over there, Li Yi was still reporting on everyone's achievements, and he didn't even look at the captured bandit leader Xue Zhou.

I was just admiring everyone's fearlessness and bravery.

Gan Ning was particularly outstanding. He rode alone in a boat against smoke and fire and captured the pirate Xuezhou alive.

"Xingba is brave and fierce, he can sail easily in the water, he is as light as flying, and he dances on the sail alone."

"He stood up and charged into the battlefield, and thousands of people were frightened away. He was invincible. He was truly a great general of the time."

"With the talent to become a hegemon, how can one man be the hero?"

"One day I will command thousands of ships and armies, galloping across the great rivers and crossing the vast oceans."

Corporate culture, first paint a rosy picture for new employees.

Work hard and you will achieve extraordinary success in the future.

As a corporate executive himself, Li Yi is well aware of this and his descriptions are vivid and lifelike.

"Xingba should take this as his ambition, and I will be proud of you."

Gan Ning was really pleased after hearing this, his face flushed and he was full of anticipation.

He abandoned evil and followed the right path precisely for this grand ambition.

He immediately knelt down and said:

"I am honored by your high expectations. I will always use this as a tool to motivate myself and never slack off."

Li Yi was overjoyed when he heard this: "Good!"

He immediately ordered someone to bring warm wine and poured it for Gan Ning personally.

One is to strengthen its power, the other is to show its glory.

Afterwards, everyone asked how to deal with the pirate Xuezhou?

Li Yi then faced Xue Zhou directly, his face as cold as ice, and said coldly:

"Do you know me?"

Xue Zhou replied in fear:
"I didn't know you before, but now I know your reputation."

He had heard a little about Li Yi's reputation before, but at that time he just thought it was just a topic of after-dinner talk and let it go.

It was not until today's fight that I realized the rumors were true.

I just tried it once and lost miserably.

Li Yi asked calmly:

"My army is invincible wherever we go."

"How do you compare to Cao Cao and Yuan Shu?"

Xue Zhou lowered his head and answered:
"Maybe."

He had lost his fighting spirit and only wanted to stay alive, so he did not dare to say anything to disobey Li Yi.

Moreover, when he saw Li Yi's high spirits and majestic appearance, he was even more astounded.

I secretly thought that I really shouldn't have come tonight.

The generals asked again:

"I wonder how the military advisor is going to deal with Xuezhou?"

Li Yi thought without hesitation:

"You have been tyrannical and domineering in Jianghai for many years, bringing disaster to the people. This is unkindness."

"Seeing that I am here, you still dare to attack me. This is unwise."

"When two armies meet, if they see our fire ships but dare not fight to the death, they are not brave enough."

"Today, I am defeated and captured, and I am only begging for my life. This is unjust."

"How can a person like you have the face to see me?"

"My army is in need of a lucky gift for the flag, and I would like to borrow your head."

As soon as he finished speaking, he ordered the warriors to take him out and behead him.

The warriors came forward and escorted Xuezhou to the riverside, preparing to behead him.

Xue Zhou hurriedly shouted:
"Please spare my life, Mr. Li. I am willing to atone for my crime with my merits!"

Li Yi immediately ordered the warriors to stop and escort him back.

"How do you atone for your sins?"

Li Yi asked calmly.

Xue Zhoufang had just returned from a near-death experience and was so frightened that he dared not hide anything anymore.

"...I am willing to...I am willing to hand over all the money and food that I have looted over the years."

Xuezhou has been a pirate for so many years and has accumulated a lot of wealth.

"Where are you now?" Li Yi asked.

Xue Zhou's face turned pale and he confessed truthfully:
"I hid it in Sheyang, Jiangcheng, and other islands overseas."

"I'd like to take you there, sir."

Li Yi immediately ordered someone to fetch the map and handed it to Xue Zhou, saying:

"Mark the location on the map and I'll send someone to get it."

Xuezhou had no choice but to obey.

Xun You watched Li Yi's method of judging Xue Zhou from the side and secretly admired him.

He had no intention of killing Xue Zhou from the beginning.

I deliberately ignore him at first to make him feel humble.

Then they threatened to behead him to scare him out of his wits.

In one fell swoop, he captured the Pirate King who had been riding the pirates for many years.

Intimidated by Li Yi, Xuezhou dared not hide anything and handed over all the wealth he had accumulated over the years.

"If you hand over the money truthfully, I can atone for your crime and spare your life."

"But you have been causing harm to the rivers and seas for many years. We cannot let you go like this. I am afraid that you will bring more harm to the people."

"I want to imprison you in Guangling for life."

"Do you have any objections?"

Li Yi asked again.

Xue Zhou was shocked when he heard this. He had been a pirate for many years and was used to the freedom.

How could one bear life imprisonment?

This was more painful than killing him.

"I, I am willing to submit to Liu Xuzhou!"

"Please take her in, sir!"

Xuezhou knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly.

Ask Li Yi to accept him.

Li Yi's mouth curled up slightly, and he suppressed his smile, still scolding:
"What are you capable of, and what can you do for Xuzhou?"

When Xuezhou heard Li Yi say this, he knew that things were turning around.

I knew I had to seize this opportunity and not anger him.

So he gathered his emotions, organized his words secretly, and then said:

"I know Liu Xuzhou is training the navy in Guangling."

"I have gathered more than 10,000 people under my command, all of whom are good at swimming."

"As long as I give the order, they will come to me."

"By the way, we can also train boatmen and sailors for Liu Xuzhou."

It was naturally impossible for Xuezhou to bring all of his men with him when he went out to sea. At most he would only bring one-third of his men each time.

Seeing this, Gan Ning whispered in Li Yi's ear:
"Military Advisor, the people under Xuezhou are indeed good at water sports."

"Xuzhou is in need of people right now, you see..."

Gan Ning was a man of great righteousness and was willing to plead with Li Yi for the sake of the overall situation of Xuzhou.

Li Yi did not rush to make a decision, but instead looked like he was in deep thought.

Still considering it.

Xuezhou saw this and continued:
"Liu Xuzhou purchased warships in Jingzhou. I guess Xuzhou is short of ships."

"I have been sailing on rivers and seas for many years, and I have accumulated quite a few warships."

"There are all kinds of ships, including tower ships, warships, fighting ships, red horses, and rhinoceros ships."

"I would like to dedicate all of it to Liu Xuzhou!"

Well……

There is actually one!

Father, like son.

Now, not to mention Xun You, even the surrounding generals could see Li Yi's intention.

He was frantically digging into Xuezhou's past to see how much money he could squeeze out.

I have to say that Mr. Li does have some means.

Xuezhou was squeezed dry, not a drop left.

Especially, Xuezhou actually has tower ships.

This type of warship is almost the largest ship that the Han Dynasty could produce.

The displacement can reach over a thousand tons and can carry up to three thousand soldiers.

This kind of ship is hard to come by.

Because the workload is huge.

There are only two places in the entire Han Dynasty where production can take place.

One is Wuhu County of Danyang, and the other is Congyang County of Lujiang.

Because these two places were shipbuilding offices set up by the imperial court and were large in scale.

It is the only place where tower ships can be produced.

Even though Li Yi recruited shipbuilders and set up a shipbuilding company in Guangling, the industrial system was not yet formed.

Only small and medium-sized ships can be produced, and top-level large ships such as tower ships cannot be produced.

Xuezhou has been a pirate for so many years, and these ships were probably robbed by him.

The only drawback of this ship is that it is not suitable for long-distance sailing and cannot go out to sea.

But it can roam across rivers and is definitely a giant in the water.

"How many ships do you have?" Li Yi asked this key question.

"Five!"

Xuezhou responded quickly.

These were all looted from the government, and now they are returned to the government.

The five tower ships could carry up to 15,000 soldiers.

"I have set up a shipbuilding department in Guangling, and I am in need of an official to supervise it."

"Are you willing to take on this task?"

Li Yi asked again. Xue Zhou was stunned at first, then he was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes!"

"My brothers and I are willing to submit to Liu Xuzhou!"

"Through fire and water, no matter what!"

Combining kindness and severity, a good tactic!

Xun You witnessed Li Yi's ability to control people throughout the whole process, and secretly sighed that with such a man to help Liu Bei, there was no need to worry about not achieving his great cause.
Let’s not worry about whether he is loyal to Liu Bei.

But if he goes to join other princes in the future, it means that he will become an enemy of Li Yi.

Such an opponent is truly terrifying.

Think about Xu Shao’s evaluation of him: a genius beyond the times, a man not of this era.

Xun You felt that he was not as talented as Li Yi, let alone being his opponent.

Li Yi continued:
"I have discussed this with Yuanlong before. Guangling is not suitable for large-scale training of naval forces."

"On the contrary, Jiangdu Port, with the Yangtze River at its back, is a very suitable place."

"So Yuanlong and I decided to bring Guangling's shipbuilding company to Jiangdu Port."

"You can go to Jiangdu to take up your post later!"

Xuezhou kowtowed repeatedly to express his gratitude.

When everyone returned to Guangling, Chen Deng had already prepared a banquet to celebrate their success.

Li Yi told Chen Deng about his decision to move the shipyard to Jiangdu.

Chen Dengdao:
"At first, we said that Jiangdu was vulnerable to invasion by pirates."

"Now the biggest bandit leader on the river has surrendered, and he will be the guarantor on the river."

"I think Jiangdu is safe."

Li Yi knew that Chen Deng was bragging about him, so he cupped his hands and said:

"It's all thanks to Yuan Longhu's might."

Chen Deng smiled with curved lips:
"I will guard the city walls while you fight on the river."

"Why do you say that I am relying on your power?"

Li Yi answered truthfully:

"Yuanlong is in Guangling, judging rewards and punishments, and his prestige is known."

"Within a year, the work was accomplished and the people feared and loved him."

"It is very popular among the people of Jiang and Huai."

"If not for this, how could Xuezhou be willing to surrender so easily?"

Speaking of which, the Xuezhou in history was indeed Chen Deng who voluntarily surrendered.

At that time, Chen Deng managed Guangling in an orderly manner and made great efforts to eliminate the pirates.

In order to protect himself, Xue Zhou took the initiative to lead more than 10,000 of his men to join Chen Deng.

As a result, Chen Deng’s strength in Guangling increased greatly.

The history books say: "Deng said: This can be used. Then he had the ambition to swallow up the south of the Yangtze River."

When Chen Deng was in Guangling, he adopted a high-pressure policy towards Sun Wu and dealt a heavy blow to the invading Wu bandits several times.

This severely restricted Sun Wu's development in the south of the Yangtze River.

Unfortunately, I met a bad teammate, Boss Cao.

At that time, Yuan and Cao broke up, and Cao Cao felt that Chen Deng and Yuan Shao had ambiguous attitudes.

So he took the initiative to transfer him away from Guangling.

As a result, as soon as Chen Deng left, Sun Wu broke free from the shackles and no one could hold him down.

Later, Cao Cao regretted his decision so much that the history books said:

——"Sun Quan then controlled the area beyond the Yangtze River. Taizu sighed every time he looked out over the river, wishing he had adopted Chen Yuanlong's plan earlier and ordered Feng Zhu to raise his minions."

Cao Cao regretted not adopting Chen Deng's policy of suppressing Sun Wu, which allowed the big pig Sun Quan to grow sharp teeth.

Therefore, although Li Yi was meritorious in capturing Xuezhou alive, Chen Deng's contribution in Guangling also had a significant impact.

Afterwards, he opened the Guangling treasury and rewarded the officers who had gone into battle.

Gan Ning captured the bandit leader alive this time and was credited with the first merit. He was also rewarded with an additional 50,000 coins, 100 pieces of silk, and 50 kilograms of gold and silver.

Of course, Li Yi’s biggest gain this time was the wealth of Xuezhou.

Although a lot of wealth is hidden in overseas islands, it takes time to retrieve it.

But Li Yi can wait, and Xuzhou can wait even longer.

Li Yi first asked Xuezhou to write down the amount of overseas property and then hand it over.

Verification will be carried out only after the money and goods are retrieved.

According to statistics,

The wealth accumulated by Xuezhou over the years is as high as hundreds of millions of dollars.

The most important thing was grain, which amounted to 800,000 hu.

Even if we deduct the losses on the road, we can at least get 500,000 to 600,000 hu.

This is what can truly strengthen Xuzhou.

Compared to Cao Cao's making money by tomb robbing, Li Yi's making money by suppressing bandits is much more respectable.

After settling everyone down, everyone went back to their rooms to rest.

The next day, Chen Deng bid farewell to the officials of Jingzhou and returned to Jingzhou.

A few days later, Liu Bei returned from inspecting the navy at Sheyang Lake.

During this period, he and Li Yi naturally exchanged letters.

He also knew what happened in Guangling during the time he was away.

The first thing he did when he returned to Guangling was to meet Xun You.

Xun You hurriedly met with Liu Bei to express his gratitude for his intention to recruit him.

Liu Bei held his hand and said sincerely:

"I have heard of Gongda's high reputation for a long time, and it is like thunder in my ears."

"I only regret that Yunshan is so far away that I cannot listen to your teachings."

"I heard that Gongda had come to Guangling, so I came back to see him."

"If you don't mind, I can take you to a deserted state to rest for a while."

"It is a great blessing to be able to narrate your longing thoughts."

Xun Youwan had never expected Liu Bei to be so sincere, and he hurriedly paid his respects:

"I didn't expect Fang Bo to treat me so well. I really feel unworthy of it."

Liu Bei hurriedly supported him and lifted him up.

"I am naturally dull and clumsy, and I have few plans. I only seek guidance and instruction from the wise."

"I apologize for the intrusion, sir. I hope you will forgive me."

Xun You saw that Liu Bei was sincere and there seemed to be an indescribable magic in his words.

It can make people trust him inexplicably.

"The prefect is so respectful to the wise and humble. I think the best people in the world will come from thousands of miles away to join him."

Liu Bei was overjoyed and immediately ordered people to prepare a banquet to entertain Xun You.

Li Yi then recommended Gan Ning to Liu Bei and told him about his achievement in capturing Xuezhou alive.

Liu Bei immediately rewarded Gan Ning handsomely.

Gan Ning saw that Liu Bei was moderate in rewards and punishments and was lenient towards others.

I no longer have any worries in my mind and can finally relax.

When Li Yi surrendered Xuezhou, he told Liu Bei about the arrangement for him to be in charge of the shipbuilding department.

Liu Bei nodded and said:

"When I go to Sheyang Lake, I will leave the affairs of Guangling to you and Yuanlong."

"You two have the right to act at your own discretion."

"Since Ziyu has already made the arrangements, I have no objection."

Afterwards, Liu Bei invited all the senior officials of Guangling to a banquet.

Gan Ning, Xun You, Xu Shao and others were also invited.

The cook began to serve the dishes, the main courses included stewed meat, steamed eggs, steamed fish, etc.

The wine has been half drunk and the dishes have five flavors.

After everyone had their fill of food and drink, Li Yi found Liu Bei to talk alone.

"Now that Xuezhou, Gan Ning and others have surrendered, and Zijing has bought warships from Jingzhou."

"Building a navy is just a matter of time."

"There is a big matter that still needs to be dealt with."

"My lord, do you know what this is?"

Li Yi patiently asked Liu Bei.

Liu Bei nodded and stroked his beard as he thought.

Now, facing the outside world, the situation in Qingzhou, Yanzhou and Yuzhou is still relatively stable for the time being.

Yuan Shu's troops were also driven back and did not dare to attack again for the time being.

As for the internal situation, the construction of the navy has been put on the agenda.

Taishi Ci has also gone to Liaodong to purchase war horses and make friends with Gongsun Du, making full preparations for building a cavalry unit in the future.

With the surrender of Xuezhou and others, their accumulated wealth was deposited into the Xuzhou treasury like a dowry.

These things have greatly enhanced Xuzhou's hard power.

These are certainly good things.

However, all these good things seem to have exacerbated a problem.

It just increases the food burden.

Xuzhou has refined salt trade and there is plenty of money.

There are only so many fields, and a limited amount of food can be produced each year.

As for the food captured in the war, it is, after all, an unorthodox method and cannot be considered a long-term solution.

Taishi Ci bought war horses, and raising them on a large scale required a lot of food.

The surrender of Xuezhou and others and the increase in population also required food.

Even fighting wars and exporting food abroad would consume a large amount of food.

After several wars, the grain stored in Xuzhou last year is almost running out.

After all, a lot of money and food was spent just on rewarding the soldiers.

If it weren't for the presence of Yuan Shao and Yuan Tan, father and son, the family assets seized from Xuezhou would have been recovered.

Who can be as troublesome as Liu Bei?
However, whenever Xuzhou was short of money and grain, Li Yi could always find a way to cover for Lao Liu.

This made Lao Liu very happy.

Now as food pressure became increasingly greater, Li Yi began to seriously discuss the issue of military farming with Liu Bei.

Xuzhou has many plains, which is very suitable for military farming.

When Tao Qian was in office, he had already proved that Xuzhou's productivity was definitely capable of supporting a large population and even a large number of war horses.

We started a wave of farming last year and have seen initial results.

Li Yi believes that the political situation is basically stable now and it is time to promote it throughout the state and county.

This will also help restore Xuzhou's productivity and fill the gap opened by Lao Cao.

"Where else should we focus on cultivating land besides Xia Pi?"

Liu Bei asked this key question.

Since Xia Pi is the seat of Xuzhou, it is natural that resources will be allocated to it.

As for cultivating land in other places in Xuzhou, they naturally had to choose a suitable place and allocate resources.

What we need to consider here is not only whether the soil is fertile, but also the local political environment, whether the population is sufficient, whether the natural environment is suitable, and so on.

"Of course it's Guangling."

Li Yi was the first to promote the mausoleum.

This place itself is a plain with many rivers and lakes, which is very suitable for farming.

(End of this chapter)