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

Chapter 238 Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Li Hongzhang all return to Xuzhou; something big is about to happen?

Meanwhile, Li Yi had conquered Xiangping and recovered the four prefectures of Liaodong.

The first thing to consider is naturally selecting the best person to defend Liaodong.

After careful consideration, Li Yi ultimately chose Lü Bu.

To persuade this wandering scholar, Li Yi ordered ten beautiful Hu women to be selected.

Once the order was given, those below, either to curry favor with Li Yi, all tried their best to find it.

However, a few generals secretly murmured to themselves:
"Lord Tan has always been diligent and hardworking. When did he become so fond of women?"

Someone might answer:

"What do you know? Lord Tan is also a human being."

As the saying goes, "After a hundred battles, how can one not enjoy a day of revelry?"

"Lord Tan has been fighting for two years straight, can't he enjoy himself a bit?"

No one doubted it, and they went from house to house to search.

They finally found ten stunningly beautiful Hu women and handed them over to Li Yi.

Li Yi repeatedly kept his promises and rewarded everyone handsomely.

He then asked the Hu women if they could sing and dance.

All the women answered:

“We concubines learned to dance in our childhood, not to imitate the graceful manner of the Han dynasty.”

"Our Liaodong region leaps and bounds, like snow-capped mountains collapsing from the clouds."

Li Yi was overjoyed and spent a lot of money to buy clothes and jewelry for the women, ordering them to dress up.

Then, he led them to Lü Bu.

After Lü Bu entered Xiangping, he feasted with his generals every day, temporarily forgetting the wealth of the south.

"...When Xi Buti led his halberd across the border, he thought Liaodong was a land of snow and ice, unlike the prosperous and fertile south."

"Who would have thought that the scenery of Xiangping would be even better than that of the Central Plains!"

Lu Bu drank wine from a large bowl and sighed.

All the generals said that Xiangping was the capital of Liaodong Commandery, which Gongsun Du had renovated at great expense, so it certainly couldn't be shabby.

Otherwise, who could stand this awful weather in Liaodong?
"...It's just a pity."

Lu Bu suddenly changed the subject, "I have been away from home for half a year."

"I remember the time when my wife was drawing her eyebrows by the window—"

He suddenly stroked the battered armor with his palm and said sadly:
"I've been away from home for so long, I actually miss it quite a bit."

Everyone thought, "Just now you said you were enjoying yourself here and didn't miss the Central Plains."

Why are you suddenly missing your wife again?
However, some of the generals who had followed Lü Bu for a long time quickly guessed his intentions.

He immediately tried to flatter her, saying:
"I have heard that the Hu women's whirling dance surpasses that of Zhao Yan in the Han palace."

"Why doesn't the general use a little trick to capture a few people, so that we can enjoy the exotic customs together?"

"……Hahaha."

Lu Bu, who had been feeling sentimental, suddenly perked up and straightened his back.

I've been waiting for you to say that; if you keep talking about it, I won't be sleepy anymore.

Then, Marquis Wen threw down his wine cup and laughed, cursing:

"Is Bu a lecherous man?"

"But since we are brothers, let's test the beauty of this Hu woman."

"Wait until I send my troops to take it."

Having said that, he picked up the halberd beside him, donned his armor, and prepared to mount his horse and leave the city.

Just then, Li Yi arrived and bumped into Lü Bu.

"...Where has Marquis Wen gone?"

"……this."

When Lü Bu bumped into Li Yi, he felt somewhat guilty.

He knew that Li Yi was strict, and if he found out that he went out to snatch the Hu woman, Li Yi would probably stop him.

"Now that Xiangyang is at peace, the people are still uneasy."

"Bu Zheng intended to lead his troops to patrol the city to prevent any petty criminals from taking advantage of the situation to cause trouble."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi's face showed a look of relief.

"I am greatly pleased that Marquis Wen has such a thought."

"It was not in vain that I recommended the general to the emperor."

"...Recommend me for what?"

Lu Bu was taken aback, not understanding what Li Yi meant.

"...Hehe, this is not the place to talk. Why doesn't Marquis Wen invite me inside for a chat?"

"...Oh, my apologies, my apologies, Lord Tan, please!"

The two entered the house and exchanged greetings.

Li Yi bowed to Lü Bu, revealing a harmless smile.

"...Congratulations, Marquis Wen! Congratulations, Marquis Wen!"

Lu Bu frowned and asked in a deep voice, "What is there for me to be happy about?"

Li Yi smiled slightly and clapped his hands.

A moment later, ten Hu women entered the room.

Under everyone's gaze, they all wore golden bells and jade pendants.

The Hu women prostrated themselves on the ground, and instantly the room was filled with a strange fragrance.

Those present were all warriors.

He hadn't seen a woman in a long time, let alone had the pleasure of kissing one.

In particular, the Hu women all possessed exotic charm, quite different from women from the Central Plains.

Men just crave novelty.

Therefore, the moment the women entered the room...

All the generals present stared wide-eyed and swallowed hard.

As the music changed, the ladies swayed their waists and began to dance gracefully.

The golden bells jingled to the rapid rhythm, their cold light and colorful sleeves flying together.

Indeed, the red-toothed clappers urge the swallows to fly busily, and a cloud drifts into the painted hall.

Lu Bu poured wine with one hand and held the bowl in the other.

Because he was staring blankly, the wine spilled all over the floor, soaking his clothes.

Li Yi smiled and spoke up to remind him:
"Lord Wen, don't spill the wine."

Well!
Lu Bu then came to his senses and awkwardly wiped his clothes.

However, his gaze remained fixed on the Hu woman's slender waist.

If I could just hold her hand and kiss her sweet touch, I would die happy.

Lu Bu thought to himself.

Soon, the dance ended.

Everyone, including Lü Bu, was still not satisfied.

Li Yi then asked:
"What does Marquis Wen think of these women?"

Commenting on beautiful women was Lu Bu's favorite topic, and he immediately became serious and began to analyze earnestly:

"...The Hu woman's figure was as graceful as a horse galloping across the autumn plains."

"Although she does not have the fair skin and smooth, creamy texture of women from the Central Plains."

"However, upon observing her dance posture, it is not imitating the softness of the 'slender waist bound in white' of the Han palace, but rather the momentum of 'drawing a bow to shoot an eagle'."

"As for her appearance, the Hu woman's nose was like a high snow-capped mountain peak, and her eyes were like stars in the vast sea."

"Han women have eyebrows like distant mountains and almond-shaped eyes reflecting spring water."

"Both of them are wonderful people, truly indescribably beautiful..."

"……Hahaha."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi clapped his hands and cheered.

I never expected that you, Lü Bu, would be so eloquent and witty when talking about beautiful women.

Upon seeing this, Li Yi said:
"Since Marquis Wen likes these Hu women so much, how about I give them to him?"

"...Is this really true?"

Lu Bu stood up excitedly.

He hadn't been with a woman for over six months, and he was burning with pent-up desire with nowhere to vent it.

"There's no reason not to take it seriously."

"A beautiful woman is paired with a hero. In this campaign to pacify Liaodong, Marquis Wen made outstanding military achievements."

"It is rightful for them to possess all the Hu women."

Oh dear!

Lu Bu was extremely excited and couldn't help but bow down to express his gratitude:

"My parents gave me life, but it is Marquis Li Tan who truly understands me!"

"Having drifted through half my life, I only regret that I have never met a true friend."

"I never imagined that I would only find out now that Tanhou and Bu were kindred spirits."

"If you do not abandon me, I am willing to..."

stop!
Li Yi reached out and helped Lü Bu up, saying earnestly:
"Lord Wen, please stop laughing. There is an even bigger piece of good news that I have not yet told you."

There's more good news!?
Lu Bu's appetite immediately whetted, and he grinned from ear to ear:
"I never imagined that Lord Tanhou would be such a lucky star for Bu!"

"Having relieved the desolation of Liaodong, what more could be more delightful?"

"Brother, tell me quickly!"

Li Yi then took out an official seal and placed it on the table.

"Congratulations, Marquis Wen, the imperial court has decided to appoint you as the governor of Liaodong."

Lu Bu, who had been smiling, froze instantly.

He stared blankly at Li Yi for a long time before waving his hand:

"...What kind of happy occasion is this?"

Lu Bu was greatly puzzled. He was doing well in Runan, so why would the court suddenly want to keep him in Liaodong?

"Isn't it a joyous occasion to be transferred from Runan to Liaodong?"

"...I was previously the Prefect of Runan, and now I am the Prefect of Liaodong."

"After the war against Liaodong, I didn't get promoted at all; I only got a lateral transfer."

"Is this considered a happy occasion?"

Lü Bu tried his best to argue.

"...Lord Wen, please don't be impatient. Let me explain it to you slowly."

Li Yi cleared his throat and methodically analyzed the situation for Lü Bu:

“Runan is just one prefecture in Yuzhou, while Liaodong has four prefectures.”

"Xuantu County, Zhongliao County, Lelang County, and Daifang County."

"Originally, Marquis Wen only had one territory, but now it has become four territories."

"Lord Wen should understand this matter better than I do."

Well……

Lu Bu pondered for a moment, and upon reflection, it seemed that this was indeed the case.

Although he wasn't very good at governing a region, he was quite clear about fighting and territorial disputes.

Liaodong is indeed much larger than Runan, with three more prefectures!

So, does that mean I, Lü Bu, really came out ahead?
Seeing that Lü Bu was about to be fooled, Hou Cheng quickly whispered a reminder from the side:

"Lord Wen, Liaodong is bitterly cold and not as prosperous as Runan."

“You just said you were sick and couldn’t stand the wind and snow.”

"So that the imperial court will transfer you back to the Central Plains."

Upon hearing this, Lü Bu was momentarily unsure which side was right and whether he should use this excuse.

Li Yi noticed Lü Bu's hesitation and continued to persuade him:

"...That's right, Liaodong is not as warm as the Central Plains."

"But Gongsun Du exhausted the resources of three prefectures and spent a huge sum of money to repair this fortified city."

"Is the prosperity of Xiangping inferior to that of Runan?"

"Moreover, Liaodong has a population of one million. The women of Goguryeo are slender and beautiful, the maids of Buyeo are skilled in singing and dancing, and the beauties of Okju have skin as smooth as cream—"

Li Yi used his ultimate move, approaching Lü Bu and whispering in his ear:

"The beauties of the Central Plains are all the same as those of the Han people."

"The flowers beyond the Great Wall are truly a hundred delicacies."

"With a general's extraordinary talent, how could he be content to be confined to the cooking of a single pot?"

Li Yi never imagined that one day he would say such things to someone from the upper class.

In the Central Plains, you can only have sex with one woman; in Liaodong, each ethnic group takes turns with another every day.

If it weren't for the fact that he was trying to manipulate people, Li Yi would have been somewhat ashamed to say such things in public.

This is hardly something a mature politician would say.

But unfortunately, Lü Bu was a ruthless man who, even when his body was completely drained, only abstained from alcohol but not from lust.

Li Yi could only strike at the heart of the problem, digging up the tree by digging up its roots.

But one thing to say,

Even after being corrupted by wine and women, Lü Bu was still able to fight Zhang Fei to a draw, which shows he was indeed quite skilled.

"...Marquis Wen."

Hou Cheng, Wei Xu, and other generals wanted to persuade him again.

Lu Bu waved his hand, interrupting him:

"No need to say more!"

His expression turned serious, and he said with righteous indignation:
"It is truly a fortunate thing for us to defend the borders for the imperial court."

"Kuang Bu rose from the borderlands and often fought fierce battles with the Xiongnu."

“I knew from a young age that ‘how can I have a home when the Xiongnu have not been destroyed’.”

"Now that I have been appointed to Liaodong, it is merely a matter of moving this painted halberd from Yinshan to Qianshan."

"In the past, Wei Qing and Huo Qubing ventured three thousand miles beyond the Great Wall; why should we, with our mere seven feet tall, begrudge our lives?"

"To serve the country and the court, even death would be without regret!"

In that instant, Lü Bu's nine-foot-long body grew another foot.

This foot represents standing on the moral high ground.

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.

Since Lü Bu has put it this way, who dares to say they won't leave Liaodong?

otherwise,
You are unpatriotic, you are disobeying the imperial court's orders, and you are afraid of death.

With the central government's influence gradually increasing, no one can afford to wear these hats.

After a passionate speech, Lü Bu, relying on his long-standing prestige in the army, forcefully subdued his subordinates who were unwilling to stay in Liaodong.

Li Yi then seized this opportunity to appease all of Lü Bu's generals.

This includes, but is not limited to,

Wei Xu was appointed Prefect of Xuantu, Hou Cheng was appointed Prefect of Lelang, and Cheng Lian was appointed Prefect of Daifang.

Those with slightly less influence also received corresponding rewards.

Once the pancake was spread evenly, the complaints naturally stopped.

After everything was settled, Lü Bu privately sought out Li Yi again to express his gratitude.
"If it weren't for the Marquis of Tan's patronage and support, how could Bu have landed such a lucrative position?"

"...Brother, rest assured, as long as there is still breath in my throat, I will make sure that Hu Chen will never cross the Central Plains even half a step."

"As for what you mentioned, brother, regarding the annual shipment of warhorse leather to Youzhou, we will definitely deliver it on time according to the prescribed quota."

"...If such good things happen again in the future, I hope Lord Tan will take good care of me."

Li Yi replied, "I will definitely do it next time, Marquis Wen, please don't worry."

Lu Bu thanked him again, and then happily led the ten Hu women back to his room.

Not to be discussed.

……

The next day, early in the morning.

The first rays of morning sunlight shone on the city wall of Xiangping.

Although Li Yi had temporarily arranged the work in Liaodong, he couldn't just pack up and leave.

After all, the Liaodong he left to Lü Bu was a Liaodong scarred and severely damaged in terms of productivity.

Li Yi had to do some cleanup work.

Considering Lü Bu's intelligence, Li Yi bypassed him, the "Prefect of Liaodong," and discussed the matter with Liu Ye, Xu Shu, and others.

"Although we have recovered Liaodong, there are still a large number of starving and displaced people in Liaodong."

"Although Liaodong has been recovered, the roads are still full of starving people and displaced people are blocking the way."

"We are now faced with only two options."

"Firstly, the relocation of people would humiliate the Central Plains. They were divided and resettled in Zhangwu, Bohai, Youbeiping and other places, and were required to transport cattle and grain to cultivate the land."

"Secondly, the registered households and people were allowed to remain in Liaodong."

"Now that we have recovered Liaodong, if we relocate the population, it will surely allow foreign tribes to raid this place." "Therefore, I think we should adopt the second strategy."

"But this has created a new problem."

At this point, everyone understood what Li Yi meant.

If we were to resettle the displaced people of Liaodong, how exactly should we do so?

Perhaps the government could temporarily incorporate them and lend them land and seeds to cultivate.

However, given the unpredictable climate in Liaodong, if they wait until after May and miss the best time for farming, they might miss the opportunity.

But new refugees are still arriving; how should we settle them?

We can't keep letting the government support us, can we?
It should be understood that Liaodong was a government that needed to rely on the money and grain from Qing and Ji prefectures to make up for its expenses.

Where can more food be allocated to settle the starving and displaced people?
Just when everyone was at a loss, Li Yi offered his solution:

“If you gentlemen have no good plan, I do have a method called ‘work relief’.”

Work relief instead of work relief?

Everyone was taken aback; it was the first time they had ever heard this term.

Although when it comes to work relief, Roosevelt is the first person that comes to mind.

However, as early as the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the ancients already had the idea of ​​using work as a form of relief.

However, its application is not widespread.

It was not until the Song Dynasty, when industry and commerce and handicrafts were relatively developed, that the work-for-relief program was frequently used.

Because the Han Dynasty emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce, the concept of "relief through work" was actually very unfamiliar to people at that time.

Even so, this concept is actually incomprehensible.

Li Yi summarized it simply for everyone:

"Since the disaster struck Liaodong, refugees have been flocking to the area."

"Yi believes that the strongest and most capable of the refugees should be selected to fill the ranks."

"Use military pay instead of relief funds to nip unrest in the bud."

“Those who are weak and frail are employed by the government to build city walls and dredge rivers, and are paid grain according to the work done.”

"Those who do not serve will not eat, and those who do not labor will not reap rewards."

"In this way, the problem of laziness can be completely eliminated."

"Secondly, it can comfort the people who work hard in the fields, and thirdly, it can deter those who take chances."

Li Yi patiently explained the benefits of the work-for-relief program to everyone in a simple and easy-to-understand way.

Liu Ye, Xu Shu, Xun You, and others were all wise men, and they quickly understood the subtlety of it.

"...Good, good, very good!"

“If we use Tanhou’s method, we can indeed fully mobilize the people of Liaodong.”

Li Yi smiled and said:

"Since everyone has no objections, please draft a specific implementation plan."

"I will make my decision and implement it immediately."

This is why Li Yi wanted to discuss this with everyone.

It's not that Li Yi needs Liu Ye and others' consent, but rather that the implementation of a plan cannot be achieved simply by talking.

The specific implementation steps and personnel deployment all require the support and assistance of subordinates.

At the same time, it is necessary to adapt to local conditions and conduct specific analyses based on the specific circumstances of Liaodong.

Only by pooling our wisdom can we effectively manage the land and its people.

So everyone gathered in a room and spent the whole night figuring out the specific implementation plan for "work relief".

After a night of hard work, a preliminary draft was finally completed.

The document is titled "Pacifying the People of Liaodong," also known as "Three Chapters on Public Works and Relief."

The specific plan is as follows:
First, construct water conservancy projects.

Five thousand refugees were evacuated, the old course of the Liao River was dredged, and three liters of millet were provided daily.

On the day the river was completed, 100 hectares of farmland were divided along its banks, with the canal serving as the boundary, and it was called the "Farmers' Relief Canal".

Second, the reform of military settlements.

The selection of healthy women from starving people was compiled into "Repair Songs".

They sent strong women up a thousand mountains to collect pine wood for bows and crossbows, which were then made and fed to the soldiers on garrison duty.

Those who participate in the repair of city defenses will have their families given priority to be included in the military settlement system and enjoy the benefits of military dependents.

Third, government-run workshops absorbed unemployed laborers.

The Liaodong government funded the establishment of state-run workshops for iron smelting, salt production, and weaving.

Fourth, to assimilate the Hu people into the Han people.

Liaodong was inhabited by a large number of Wuhuan, Goguryeo, Wuju, Buyeo, and Han people.

Han Chinese people stepped forward to teach, instructing other ethnic groups in the Chinese language, farming, weaving, and handicrafts.

They were allowed to be registered in the household register, which gradually eliminated the distinction between the civilized and the barbarian.

They recruited displaced people to engage in production.

Wages were paid according to the work done, and the wages were paid in grain, cloth or five-zhu coins.

These plans were all formulated based on the specific circumstances in Liaodong at present.

Now that it has been finalized, it shall be promulgated and implemented immediately.

……

The Book of the Later Han Dynasty records that "Lord Li established the Three Chapters of Public Works and Relief, so that the hungry received food, the able-bodied received employment, and the remnants of Gongsun's faction were no longer coerced."

"Thus, the people of Liaodong were not exhausted, the national treasury was not depleted, and border troubles did not arise. It can be said that three good things were achieved!"

There was a children's rhyme that went, "Li Hou Canal, saves ten thousand men; Xiangping bricks, ensure peace."

……

Finally, after dealing with all the affairs in Liaodong, Li Yi was able to return to Jizhou in triumph.

When Liu Bei learned of the good news that Liaodong had been pacified and all four commanderies had been recovered, he was overjoyed.

He then submitted a memorial to the emperor requesting that Li Yi and his entourage be rewarded for their meritorious service in the campaign against Liaodong.

In the blink of an eye, dusk turns to dawn.

The people of Jizhou heard that Li Yi had returned in triumph.

They all brought food and drink, lining the road to welcome us.

Li Yi was dressed in a crimson robe and brocade fur, riding a jade horse and holding a golden whip.

The long sword at his waist was as cold as water, and his stance was as firm as a pine tree uprooted from bamboo.

The people along the road recognized Li Yi and were overjoyed.

Cheers and military music filled the air, drowning out the howling wind.

It all turned into a surge of enthusiasm.

Zhang Fei and Li Yi rode side by side, excitedly rubbing their hands together in anticipation.

"This management is finally over. I wonder if you have arranged a celebration banquet in advance?"

"The craving for alcohol in my belly has been itching to come for a long time."

Li Yi nodded slightly and smiled at Zhang Fei:

"Don't worry, Yide. The reason you won't be allowed to drink alcohol during the war is to temper your character."

"Now that the war is over, I'll let you drink to your heart's content!"

Zhang Fei was overjoyed and repeatedly said:

"Sir, you truly understand my heart."

"Since I've come all the way to Jizhou, I must drink for three days and three nights and get so drunk that I'll sleep forever!"

Li Yi raised his eyebrows, then changed the subject:
"I'm afraid that won't work after this victory celebration banquet."

"Yide, you must return to Xuzhou immediately!"

what?
Upon hearing this order, Zhang Fei could not hide his disappointment.

"Now that the war is over, why is the strategist in such a hurry to send me away?"

"Could it be that you can't bear to part with those few jars of wine?"

"...Yide!"

Guan Yu rode up and rebuked Zhang Fei:
"One must not be rude to a gentleman!"

Zhang Fei scratched his head. "I spoke carelessly, sir. Please forgive me."

Li Yi, of course, wouldn't blame him; he simply said to Zhang Fei with a serious expression:
"This is an order, and this matter will have to be put on the agenda sooner or later."

"Yide, no matter how much you drink tonight, even if you get completely drunk, I will send someone to take you back to Xuzhou in a carriage."

Zhang Fei was about to ask what was going on when he noticed the solemnity.

Li Yi then turned to Guan Yu and solemnly gave his instructions:
"General Yun Chang, after the banquet tonight..."

"Please don't rush back to Qingzhou. Just come back to Xuzhou with Yide."

Guan Yu realized that something serious was happening, so he frowned and asked Li Yi with a serious expression:

"...What exactly is the matter, sir?"

Li Yi then took out a memorial from his bosom and handed it to Guan Yu.

"This is a memorial I wrote after the pacification of Liaodong ended."

"I originally intended to take it out later, but since Yunchang asked, I'll let you two take a look first."

Guan Yu's eyes scanned the area quickly, and his expression immediately turned solemn.

"...What...what does this say?"

Zhang Fei, unable to contain his impatience, also stepped forward to investigate.

This one look had a profound effect; even the usually carefree Zhang Fei became serious and unsmiling.

"...Sir...Strategist...whose idea was this?"

“...It was my own idea,” Li Yi replied.

After a slight pause, Li Yi added another sentence.

"To be precise, it was the result of discussions between me and Mr. Xun and the others."

"I think most of the officials in Xuzhou would not object."

hiss……

Zhang Fei gasped, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes.

"Very well, since this is a unanimous decision by all of you gentlemen."

"I, Old Zhang, have no reason to object."

"When the time comes, just tell us what you need us to do."

Guan Yu quickly added from the side:
"However, this matter is of great importance, so we must not let the news leak out before we return to Xuzhou."

"...I understand."

Zhang Fei understood immediately and nodded repeatedly.

Li Yi pursed his lips, his gaze drifting to the horizon, and sighed:

"...Alright, this matter isn't as serious as you two think."

“I have my own plans, so please, my two generals… no, my two brothers, do not doubt me.”

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei bowed in unison and shouted from the bottom of their hearts:
“Thank you, sir!!”

Although Li Yi had worked with the Guan and Zhang brothers for almost ten years, this was the first time he had heard them both thank him together.

Especially with such solemnity and sincerity.

Upon seeing this, Li Yi was deeply moved, and his eyes even became slightly moist.

"...Alright, let's not talk about this anymore."

"Today is our victory celebration banquet for the Liao campaign, let's return to the prefecture first and hold a banquet to celebrate!"

Afterwards, everyone returned to the capital of Bohai County.

That night, a grand banquet was held for the soldiers.

Li Yi personally attended the banquet and sat at the main table.

The table displays the Four Treasures of Liaodong:

Gongsun Du's gold seal, Goguryeo tribute sword, Buyeo deer antler helmet, and Okju white-haired falcon.

The food served at the banquet varied depending on the military achievements of the expedition to Liaodong.

Those awarded the First-Class Merit Citation will receive roasted bear paw and deer antler.

Those awarded the Second Class Merit will be treated to sashimi of perch and sea cucumber.

Those who receive a third-class merit award will be given Chen Hu Bing (a type of flatbread) and dog soup.

In the midst of the revelry, Li Yi, as the commander-in-chief, still went through the motions as usual.

He stood up and offered a toast to everyone.

"Gentlemen—"

Li Yi raised his wine cup high.

"This first cup is dedicated to the fallen soldiers."

After speaking, he poured the wine on the ground.

"We are able to feast and make merry today because of our comrades who fought and bled."

"The wind and snow of Liaodong buried loyal bones, but we shall remember their heroic souls!"

After speaking, he looked around at the generals.

"This second cup is a toast to the soldiers of our army!"

"The victory at Xiangping, the capture of Gongsun, and the pacification of the four barbarian tribes—these achievements were not solely due to Yi's efforts, but truly the result of the bravery and sacrifice of all the generals and soldiers!"

“All those wounded in battle will be given silk, cloth, money and food, and the families of those who die in battle will be given compensation.”

The soldiers at the table shouted in unison.

"This third cup—"

Li Yi's expression suddenly turned serious, and he spoke to the crowd, each word deliberate and forceful:

"Respect the territory of my great Han Dynasty!"

"Although Liaodong is now pacified, the warlords have not yet submitted, and the ambitious heroes are still hesitant!"

"Since I left the mountain, I have promised to help my lord to pacify the world as soon as possible and restore the Han Dynasty."

"Today, we have acquired five of the nine provinces of the world."

(Note: Although the Han Dynasty had thirteen provinces, it often used the term "nine provinces" to emphasize ancient traditions and political culture.)

(The thirteen provinces were a strict administrative division, so the warlords at the end of the Han Dynasty generally did not emphasize the thirteen provinces.)
"From now on, I hope you will always sharpen your skills and never lose your lofty aspirations."

After saying this, Li Yi bowed solemnly to everyone.

Everyone was filled with righteous indignation and stood up to return the greeting to Li Yi.

After several rounds of drinks, Li Yi saw off each of the generals.

Upon returning home, he saw his wife, whom he had not seen for a long time.

"Tonight is a rare and beautiful night. Please come with me to my room, ladies."

Li Yi got straight to the point.

Ling Mizhen and Yuan Ying were completely unexpected.

Although it had been a long time since they had been intimate with Li Yi, they felt a little nostalgic.

However, in their impression, Li Yi had always been rather indifferent to this matter and not very interested.

Each time they acted, it was as if they were performing official duties or paying taxes.

Why are you being so proactive this time?
Li Yinai explained:

"...I'm going to Xuzhou tomorrow."

what?
Both women were startled and quickly asked:
“My husband just returned from Liaodong, why doesn’t he want to stay even a day longer?”

"Are you leaving again?"

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.

Li Yi embraced the two women and comforted them, saying:

"Please don't be offended, Madam, I was simply preoccupied with official business."

"Moreover, this matter is of great importance, and I must go in person."

Yuan Ying hummed softly:

"The war in Liaodong is over, what major event could there be?"

"...Ah, I have already ordered Yun Chang and Yi De to return to Xuzhou under cover of night."

"In addition, Zhao Zilong, Tian Guorang, and Chen Shuzhi also received orders to prepare to return to Xuzhou."

Well……

Both women held their breath.

Although Li Yi did not specify what it was about.

But summoning so many important officials back to Xuzhou must have been a very significant event.

Mi Zhen also keenly noticed that Li Yi had summoned the ministers from Xuzhou back this time.

They were all Liu Bei's original core group, his staunch brothers.

The fact that they specifically called these old buddies back means that something really big is about to happen.

"...Then...then let's hurry up and not waste any more time."

Mi Zhen blushed and said shyly.

Li Yinai led the two ladies back to their room.

Although Mi Zhen and Yuan Ying hadn't been investigated for a long time, this investigation revealed all their tax evasion practices.

……

(End of this chapter)