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

Chapter 342 Having the Han Dynasty as a backer makes all the difference.

Jiaozhou was located at the southernmost point of the Han Dynasty.

After the death of Zhang Jin, the governor of Jiaozhou, Shi Xie and his Shi family gradually took over the area.

And this pipe has been in use for over a hundred years.

They experienced the warlords' campaign against Dong Zhuo, the fragmentation of the country by various warlords, and the tripartite balance of power.

Despite such a long time span, Jiaozhou remained completely transparent.

It left only a few words in the history books.

There are two main reasons for this phenomenon.

Firstly, it was because Shih-hsieh's own political stance was to avoid vying for power, taking sides, and causing trouble.

Naturally, he couldn't show his face while the various warlords in the Central Plains were locked in fierce battle.

Shih-hsieh himself lived a long life, exceeding ninety years.

This meant that Jiaozhou never participated in the affairs of the Central Plains.

The second reason is that the Shi Xie family was constrained by the special geographical environment of Jiaozhou.

Even if they wanted to contend for supremacy, they were powerless to do so.

Logically speaking, Jiaozhou is connected to Bashu in the west, Jingxiang in the north, and Wuyue in the east.

Within the region, there were prosperous counties like Jiaozhi Commandery, indicating that it was not entirely without the strength to contend for supremacy.

However, objective external obstacles eliminated the possibility of a struggle for supremacy in Jiaozhou.

Jiaozhou and Yizhou are separated by the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.

Jiaozhou and Jingzhou are separated by the Wuling Mountains.

Jiaozhou and Yangzhou are separated by the Minnan Hills.

It is not easy for the Central Plains to invade Jiaozhou, and it is equally difficult for Jiaozhou to invade the Central Plains.

In addition, Jiaozhou has a harsh natural environment and is an undeveloped malarial land.

Therefore, Jiaozhou was definitely not a place that the warlords at the end of the Han Dynasty would dare to challenge.

No one would give up the wealth of the Central Plains and would voluntarily apply to come to such a place.

But there was one person who abandoned the prosperity of Jingxiang and came to this remote and impoverished place.

In the second year of Zhangwu, spring arrived.

Jiaozhou, Cangwu Commandery.

Spring arrives earlier in Lingnan than in other places, and the humid air is filled with the steaming scent of plants.

Zhuge Liang and his entourage slowly made their way along the rugged mountain path.

Horse hooves pounded the muddy path, splashing up murky water.

The mountains of Jiaozhou are not as steep as those of Jingzhou, but they appear more rugged and desolate.

The dense jungle blocked out the sun, and vines entwined around it.

Occasionally, the cries of monkeys could be heard, echoing through the empty valley.

In the distance, the Yu River meanders, its waters murky.

The riverbank was overgrown with weeds, and occasionally a fisherman would row by in his small boat, startling a flock of water birds.

"...Sir, Cangwu City is just ahead."

Liao Hua pointed to the low earthen city wall in the distance and said.

Zhuge Liang did not come alone; after all, he had served as the governor of Jingzhou for several years.

He still promoted quite a few of his trusted confidants.

Although he voluntarily applied to go to Jiaozhou to avoid trouble, Liao Hua, Liu Pan and others who had previously received his favors were still there.

They also voluntarily gave up the promising development prospects and generous benefits in Jingzhou.

He resolutely chose to accompany Zhuge Liang to Jiaozhou.

A scholar will die for one who understands him. Without Zhuge Liang's promotion, Liao Hua would never have been able to distinguish himself so early.

Liu Pan was the nephew of Liu Biao, the former governor of Jingzhou.

He was exceptionally brave and had invaded Ai County and Xi'an County many times in history, making Sun Ce very wary of him.

They had no choice but to send Taishi Ci to Haihun to suppress Liu Pan.

After Liu Biao's death, Liu Pan should have gradually faded out of politics.

However, after Zhuge Liang took office, he still promoted this brave and fierce general from the previous dynasty.

Moreover, Liu Biao was Zhuge Liang's uncle, so the two families could be considered to have some connection.

Zhuge Liang's father-in-law, Huang Chengyan, was related to Liu Biao by marriage; both married Cai Feng's daughter.

Therefore, in terms of seniority, Zhuge Liang should indeed call Liu Biao his uncle.

Moreover, Zhuge Liang, an outsider from Xuzhou, was able to become a famous scholar in Jingzhou.

How could you possibly make it to the "trending topics" and become a famous figure in Jingxiang if you didn't get on good terms with the local top official?

"Everyone must be tired from the journey. Let's stop and rest for a bit."

Zhuge Liang was very grateful to the friends who had followed him to Jiaozhou.

Although there weren't many, only a dozen or so people.

But the fact that they were willing to come to a place like Jiaozhou is enough to prove their sincerity.

It is important to know that Jiaozhou was formerly the Nanyue Kingdom.

Since Emperor Wu of Han conquered Nanyue, Jiaozhou had nominally belonged to the Han Dynasty long ago.

However, Jiaozhou had been under the control of the Han Dynasty for four hundred years until the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Yet this place is still regarded as a "place of exile".

Let alone the Han Dynasty,

Even in the Tang and Song dynasties, an era when productivity was already quite advanced.

The rulers still had the habit of banishing disgraced officials to desolate places like Lingnan.

For example, Han Yu of the Tang Dynasty and Su Shi of the Song Dynasty were both demoted to Lingnan.

In ancient times, exile was the second most serious form of punishment after execution.

Their intention was to hope that you would die in exile.

If this was the case in the Tang and Song dynasties, it goes without saying that it was during the Han dynasty, a period when the country was not yet fully developed.

Currently, there is only one road leading to Jiaozhou.

That means traveling by water from Lingling in Jingzhou, and only by water.

Apart from this, there is no other road leading to Jiaozhou.

Of course, if you don't mind dying on the way.

You can also try taking the land route.

That's why everyone says the roads to Shu are difficult, but getting into Jiaozhou is actually even more difficult.

Faced with this "random execution" style of avoiding disaster, Zhuge Liang also made preparations for a long time.

I stayed in Lingling for nearly a year, during which time I asked many locals and read many books.

Only after making thorough preparations did he dare to officially go to Jiaozhou.

Fortunately, the journey was relatively smooth, and Zhuge Liang and his party all arrived safely in Jiaozhou.

Upon arriving in Jiaozhou, the first place they would visit was Cangwu County.

This is the closest prefecture-level city to the Central Plains.

Before the Battle of Red Cliffs in history, Liu Bei had a meeting with Lu Su.

He once said that he had been defeated in battle and planned to flee to Cangwu County to seek refuge with Prefect Wu Ju.

Lu Su immediately realized that Liu Bei was talking nonsense and that Liu Bei was testing him.

Therefore, he took the initiative to suggest that Liu Bei form an alliance with Eastern Wu to resist Cao Cao.

This demonstrates Liu Bei's political wisdom, as he had just been defeated by Cao Cao at the time.

If he were to proactively propose an alliance with Eastern Wu, he would be in a very disadvantageous position.

So they tried to get Lu Su to take the initiative to say that it was Eastern Wu that sought an alliance with Liu Bei.

Lu Su's reaction makes it easy to see the attitude people had towards Jiaozhou at that time.

If they leave, it means they're exiting the stage of history.

What Zhuge Liang was about to challenge was precisely such a hellish level of dungeon.

"Now that everyone has rested enough, let's continue our journey."

Zhuge Liang took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Entering Jiaozhou is difficult, but traveling within Jiaozhou is even more difficult.

Because Jiaozhou is today's Guangdong and Guangxi.

Among them, the Shiwan Mountains in Guangxi are the most famous.

Everywhere you look there are towering mountains and steep, dangerous roads.

Zhuge Liang, leaning on a cane, struggled forward.

The local villages are sparse, and the thatched houses are low.

The people were dressed in rags and worked barefoot in the fields.

The water in the rice paddies was tinged with a greenish-yellow hue, clearly due to the extensive farming practices, which were far less refined than those in the Jingxiang region.

Several children hid behind a tree, timidly watching the group of unfamiliar northerners, their eyes filled with both curiosity and fear.

"The people living here are in such dire straits."

Liu Pan frowned.

Zhuge Liang sighed softly:
“Jiaozhou is far from the Central Plains, and it is rife with miasma.”

"Furthermore, the area is inhabited by both Han and non-Han peoples and has historically been neglected by the imperial court."

Just then, a commotion arose from ahead.

A group of bare-chested barbarians emerged from the forest carrying their prey, short knives hanging from their waists, their eyes fixed on them warily.

Liao Hua instinctively pressed down on the hilt of his sword, but Zhuge Liang raised his hand to stop him, stepped forward, and bowed, saying:

"Gentlemen, we come from Jingzhou and have no ill intentions."

The leading barbarian sized him up and asked in broken Mandarin:

"Are you Han officials?"

Zhuge Liang nodded, "Exactly."

The barbarian snorted coldly, "When Han officials come to Jiaozhou, they either levy taxes or arrest people."

Zhuge Liang shook his head, "We only wish to temporarily avoid the chaos of war, and have no other intentions."

The barbarian was skeptical, but eventually waved his hand and left with his companions.

Liu Pan said in a low voice:
"Sir, the people here are fierce and unruly; it may not be easy for you to stay here."

Zhuge Liang gazed at the distant city of Cangwu and said calmly:

"That's precisely why someone is needed to govern it."

Subsequently, the group arrived at Cangwu City.

The city walls of Cangwu were low and the rammed earth was mottled. Only a few lazy soldiers guarded the city gate.

The arrival of Zhuge Liang and his entourage clearly alarmed the city.

"Has Governor Zhuge of Jingzhou come to visit?"

Upon hearing the news, Wu Ju, the prefect of Cangwu, frowned.

Jingzhou is adjacent to Cangwu, and when Zhuge Liang pacified Jingnan, he was a formidable force in Lingnan.

Wu Ju had certainly heard of his reputation.

Moreover, his former superior was Liu Biao, and he was nominally a subordinate of the Governor of Jingzhou.

Now that Zhuge Liang has arrived, he is naturally his superior.

But Wu Ju lived a carefree life in Cangwu, a remote and impoverished place, far removed from the world.

How could they possibly accept the leadership of the central government?

Zhuge Liang was certainly not here for sightseeing. Knowing that the visitor had ill intentions, Wu Ju quickly summoned his trusted confidants, Qu Jing, to discuss the matter.

"Zhuge Liang? Wasn't he in Jingzhou? How did he end up in Jiaozhou?"

Qu Jing asked in confusion.

Wu Ju stroked his long beard and pondered:

"I heard that Zhuge Liang made a mistake in choosing his subordinates and almost lost Jingzhou."

"So he resigned to take responsibility, but unexpectedly the court sent him to Jiaozhou."

"Then... how should we deal with this?"

Wu Ju pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice:

"Liu Bei is very powerful; we cannot openly offend him."

"Why not welcome him into the city first and test the waters?"

Once the agreement was reached, he instructed his subordinates to make proper preparations.

Then the two of them went to greet them together.

The city gate slowly opened, and Wu Ju personally came out to greet him, his face beaming with smiles:

"Mr. Zhuge, you have come from afar; I have failed to greet you properly!"

"A capital offense, a capital offense."

Zhuge Liang smiled slightly and returned the greeting with clasped hands:

"Prefect Wu, you're too kind."

After entering the city, the streets were narrow and the shops were sparse.

The pedestrians were simply dressed, clearly indicating that this place was far less prosperous than Jingzhou.

Wu Ju invited Zhuge Liang into the government office and hosted a banquet in his honor.

After several rounds of drinks, Zhuge Liang slowly took out a scroll from his sleeve and handed it over.

"This is……?"

Wu Ju took it with a puzzled look, unfolded it, and his expression immediately changed.

—An imperial edict appointed Zhuge Liang as the governor of Jiaozhou, in charge of the military and political affairs of the seven counties of Jiaozhou.

That's right, Zhuge Liang stayed in Lingling for nearly a year.

Liu Bei had already sent the document, appointing Zhuge Liang as the governor of Jiaozhou.

After all, none of his men were willing to go to a place like Jiaozhou.

Now that Zhuge Liang has taken the initiative to go to such a remote and impoverished place, Liu Bei is naturally willing to go with the flow and directly appoint him as the governor of Jiaozhou.

However, this title of Governor of Jiaozhou was merely nominal.

After all, Jiaozhou was only nominally under the control of the imperial court, but real power was in the hands of local natives and powerful Han Chinese clans.

Even though Zhuge Liang was the governor of Jiaozhou, he still had to fight for the territory of Jiaozhou himself.

In this regard,
Aside from giving Zhuge Liang a declaration, Liu Bei couldn't offer him much more support.

Because nobody really wants to go.

Therefore,
What Zhuge Liang seemed to have received was the script of Liu Biao's cavalry invasion of Jingzhou.

But in reality, Zhuge Liang's scenario was far more difficult than Liu Biao's.

Although Liu Biao went to Jingzhou to take up his post alone on horseback.

However, Jingzhou was not a place beyond the reach of civilization; the local population was predominantly Han Chinese, and their hearts were generally inclined towards the Han.

So Liu Biao won over several local powerful clans, held several treacherous banquets, and killed several traitors.

This essentially solidified his dominant position in Jingzhou.

But Jiaozhou was different. Jiaozhou was far from the Central Plains court and was definitely a barbarian land.

In order to assimilate the Nanyue people, Emperor Wu of Han relocated a large number of Han people to Jiaozhou.

Even after four hundred years, the Han Chinese still make up a smaller proportion of the local population than the indigenous people.

Moreover, the few Han Chinese who had been sent there had already become local powerful clans and would not pay any attention to the people sent by the imperial court.

Cultural and linguistic differences were just one of the problems that Zhuge Liang had to deal with.

Even more serious is the terrain and environment of Jiaozhou.

Jiaozhou, which is now the Guangdong and Guangxi region, is a typical example of karst landforms.

The terrain is extremely fragmented, creating numerous peaks and valleys.

This meant that the seat of government of a prefecture or county was often hundreds of miles apart by treacherous mountain roads.

How severe is the breakage?

Just say so,
Even in Guangxi today, there is still the phenomenon of different languages ​​spoken in different villages.

Not to mention ancient times more than two thousand years ago.

This geographical barrier leads to extremely low administrative efficiency.

Therefore, although Jiaozhou appears to be a single prefecture, the seven counties are actually completely unfamiliar with each other.

Although Shi Xie is said to be the boss, do you think Wu Ju is afraid of him?
If you're not happy, send your troops over and wipe me out.

I'm afraid that if you send 10,000 soldiers, you'll end up with only 1,000 or 2,000 left.

It was practically a marching execution.

Qu Jing, who was peeking from the side, was secretly alarmed, but he forced himself to remain calm and smiled:
"So it turns out that Mr. Zhuge has become the new governor. Congratulations!"

Wu Ju also came to his senses and quickly stood up to bow:

"This humble official pays his respects to the Prefect!"

Zhuge Liang helped him up and said gently:

"Prefect Wu, there's no need for such formalities. I'm new to Jiaozhou and will need your help."

Wu Ju and Qu Jing exchanged a glance, each making their own plans.

Since Zhuge Liang was sent down by the imperial court, the two men dared not offend him.

After all, if the imperial court really wanted to send troops to attack Jiaozhou, Cangwu would definitely not be able to stop it.

Cangwu was already considered a relatively developed prefecture in Jiaozhou.

But Wu Ju could only muster five thousand soldiers, which shows the disparity in military strength.

Therefore, even though Zhuge Liang did not bring his army, Wu Ju did not dare to offend him openly.

Finally, Wu Ju smiled and said:

"Rest assured, Governor, the people of Cangwu will do their utmost to cooperate!"

Zhuge Liang smiled and nodded, but his gaze was as deep as a still pool.

He could tell that the two men were just putting on an act.

But at this moment, he didn't point it out, because angering the two of them would also be detrimental to him.

Therefore, Zhuge Liang simply smiled faintly:
"With Prefect Wu's words, I am relieved."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Wu Ju arranged a special office for Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang thanked him and left with his men.

That night, in a secret room in Wu Ju's mansion.

"This Zhuge Liang is clearly here to seize power!"

Qu Jing gritted his teeth.

Wu Ju sneered:

"No rush. Although Liu Bei is strong, Jiaozhou is far from the emperor's reach."

"What trouble can Zhuge Liang stir up all by himself here alone?"

"Then... how should we deal with this?"

"Pretend to comply first, and then make a plan after you have figured out his background."

"If Zhuge Liang were willing to obediently become a clay puppet and not compete with us for power."

"Then what's wrong with me appointing him as the governor of Jiaozhou?"

"But if Zhuge Liang is restless, then we can only let him 'die of illness' in Jiaozhou."

Wu Juyin gave a sinister smile.

He did not want to kill officials appointed by the imperial court unless absolutely necessary.

But when it comes to the point of killing, Wu Ju is not without a way out.

After all, it's not uncommon for people from other places to die unexpectedly in Lingnan. Even if you wanted to investigate, it would be very difficult to find out the truth.

However, once or twice is fine.

If you always manage to give the court officials an "accident".

That definitely won't work either.

Therefore,
Regarding whether or not to kill Zhuge Liang, Wu Ju did not want to waste his resurrection ability.

He also wanted to see if Zhuge Liang was willing to cooperate.

If he really cooperates as a mascot, Wu Ju would definitely be happy to see it happen.

It's better to avoid the situation where someone dies and the court replaces him with someone with an even tougher stance.

On the other side, Zhuge Liang stood by the window of the post station.

He gazed at the night view of Cangwu City with a solemn expression.

Liao Hua said in a low voice:

"Sir, I observed these two men during the day to be outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant."

"I fear that the two men may have ulterior motives and are not truly loyal to the court."

Zhuge Liang nodded slightly:
"Liang knows."

"Then why not strike first?"

"The time has not come yet."

Zhuge Liang said calmly, "The situation in Jiaozhou is complicated. Taking action rashly will only alert the enemy."

He turned around, his gaze resolute.

"Since we are new here, we should first establish a firm foothold before making any further plans."

Liao Hua and Liu Pan bowed and accepted the order.

The next day, the morning mist had not yet dissipated.

Wu Ju's invitation was then delivered to the post station.

Wu Ju wanted to host a banquet for Zhuge Liang.

Firstly, to fulfill the hospitality of the host, and secondly, to congratulate the new official on taking office.

"Sir, this banquet may be a trap."

Liu Pan spoke up to remind him.

"This is no good banquet; it may well be a trap."

Liao Hua gripped the hilt of his sword and said in a deep voice, "This subordinate is willing to accompany you as a bodyguard."

Zhuge Liang shook his head slightly and closed the invitation.

"No need."

“If Wu Ju really intends to harm me, even if you come with us, we will not escape this calamity.”

His gaze was calm and collected as he analyzed the situation with composure.

"His hosting this banquet today is nothing more than an attempt to test my strength and weakness."

"If I am too vigilant, it will only make him wary."

Liao Hua frowned, "But sir, you're going to the banquet alone. What if you encounter danger..."

Zhuge Liang smiled slightly, "Precisely because he is alone, he dares not act rashly."

"If I die, Wu Ju will truly be unable to defend himself."

If Wu Ju really wanted to kill Zhuge Liang, he would definitely have captured them all, leaving no survivors.

Otherwise, wait until Liao Hua and the others escape back.

Does that mean Wu Ju is doomed?

Liu Pan was still uneasy:
"Even so, we must still be on guard."

"How about we have our subordinates lie in ambush outside the mansion, just in case?"

"No need," Zhuge Liang shook his head. "You have other important matters to attend to."

Liao Hua and Liu Pan exchanged a glance, then asked in unison, "What is it?"

Zhuge Liang then lowered his voice and said:

"Although Wu Ju was the governor, the real power in Cangwu lay with the local Han Chinese gentry and indigenous leaders."

"Take some men and secretly make contact to find out their attitude."

Liao Hua and Liu Pan exchanged a glance, and finally clasped their hands in a fist salute:

"Here!"

After the two left, Zhuge Liang turned and walked into the inner room.

Huang Yueying was packing her things when she saw him come in. She looked up and asked:
"Is my husband going to a banquet?"

Zhuge Liang nodded, "Wu Ju is hosting a banquet; we have no choice but to attend."

He paused, then said, "Madam, I have another request."

Huang Yueying blinked and said seriously:
"Husband, what are you saying? We are husband and wife."

"How can we talk about seeking each other?"

Zhuge Liang smiled and said in a low voice:

When Liang first arrived in Jiaozhou, he found that the people's livelihood was impoverished and agriculture was extensive.

"Handicrafts and textiles are even rarer to see."

"Therefore, Liang wants to ask his wife to secretly visit and investigate the true situation of this place, and see if there is any way to improve it."

Huang Yueying smiled slightly:
"Don't worry, my husband, you can leave this to me."

Zhuge Liang grasped her hand, a hint of guilt flashing in his eyes.

“I’ve made my wife suffer in this desolate place.”

Liang felt really bad about it.

Huang Yueying shook her head and said softly:

"Husband and wife are one; wherever you go, I will go."

"Whether it's Xuzhou, Jingzhou, or even this pestilential land of Jiaozhou, nothing can separate us."

After saying this, Huang Yueying began to tidy up Zhuge Liang's clothes.

During this time, I noticed that he still had a gloomy look between his brows, and I knew that he was still upset about the wrong decision to appoint Ma Su.

Yes, her husband is such a proud and confident man.
He often compared himself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi.

Now, however, he is frustrated and unsuccessful, and has been "demoted" to the wild and desolate place of Jiaozhou.

Although Zhuge Liang appeared optimistic on the surface, he must have been very distressed inside.

Thinking of this, Huang Yueying gently comforted her:

"My lord, do not worry too much about the matter of Jingzhou."

"You are only thirty years old, and you have a long future ahead of you."

Zhuge Liang tightened the sash around his waist, paused for a moment upon hearing this, then chuckled:

"I appreciate your comfort, Madam."

"But people say that 'being exiled to Jiaozhou ruined his career.'"

He suddenly turned around, his eyes gleaming.

"Liang is determined to make a name for himself in this pestilent land!"

Huang Yueying handed him the feather fan, smiling slightly.
"This is the Zhuge Liang I know."

"Go, I believe you can do it."

"Let those mediocre officials in the court see that my husband is absolutely no less than any of them!"

lady!

Zhuge Liang embraced Huang Yueying, deeply moved by her words.

It's true that true love is revealed in times of hardship between husband and wife!

"...Pfft."

Huang Yueying chuckled softly and pushed Zhuge Liang away.

"Alright, my husband, you still have a banquet to attend."

"Before that, how about I play and sing you a song?"

Zhuge Liang nodded and bowed, saying:
"Then I'll trouble you, Madam."

Huang Yueying then took out a zither, plucked the strings, and sang—

Phoenix, oh phoenix, longing to soar high!
In times of chaos and peril, I have long pondered.

Half a lifetime to meet a soulmate
The hibernating person is deeply moved.

Ming Dynasty, carrying sword, followed the emperor.
With a feather fan and silk turban, he went to war.

O dragon, oh dragon, the winds and clouds gather!
He let out a long roar, expressing his feelings.

Returning home, returning home, is my long-cherished wish.
In my remaining years, I will continue to work as a farmer.

A gentle breeze and a bright moon embrace me.
The apes and cranes listen as I play the zither again.

……

That night, the moon was bright and the wind was gentle.

The hall was brightly lit with candles, and Wu Ju raised a glass in welcome.

"Your Excellency has come from afar with great difficulty! Jiaozhou is a humble place, unlike the beautiful and prosperous land of Jingzhou."

Zhuge Liang shook his head with a wry smile:
"Lord Wu is joking."

"If Liang had the talent to govern a prefecture, how could he have ended up like this... Alas..."

He pointed south, "To this extent?"

Qu Jing seized the opportunity to probe, "I've heard that when you were in Jingzhou, even the Eastern Wu were wary of you..."

Don't underestimate the Eastern Wu just because it was weaker than Cao Cao and Liu Bei; that only applies when compared to Cao Cao and Liu Bei.

Compared to Jiaozhou, it was a terrifyingly large entity.

"It's just a false name."

Zhuge Liang poured himself a cup, "If it weren't for Ma Youchang losing Gong'an... alas."

"Let's not talk about it anymore, let's not talk about it anymore!"

After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank it all, leaving the wine stains on his sleeves untouched.

Wu Ju and Qu Jing exchanged glances and then diligently served the dishes.

"What are your plans for the future, Your Excellency? If there is anything I can do to help you, I will certainly do my best."

Zhuge Liang, his eyes glazed with drunkenness, waved his hand and said, "It's all thanks to Your Excellency's care! I only wish to stay here to recuperate and study."

"State affairs... cough cough, we'll have to rely on you two a lot."

As he spoke, he coughed and hurriedly covered his face with his sleeve.

Wu Ju and Qu Jing exchanged a glance and both fell into deep thought.

After the banquet ended, Wu Ju and Qu Jing sat facing each other to discuss matters, the wine cups on the table still warm.

"how?"

Wu Ju stroked his beard and smiled.

"In my opinion, Zhuge Liang was nothing more than a scholar who had fallen out of favor."

"He has no ambition and spends his days drinking and lamenting; he is not worth worrying about."

Qu Jing frowned slightly:

“My lord, this man was once the governor of Jingzhou, and his teacher was from Tian Shu.”

"How could he be so mediocre? Could it be that he's deliberately putting on an act, just to impress us?"

After all, he's someone who can become the top leader at the provincial level.

He certainly can't be a mediocre person.

Wu Ju chuckled, "Brother Jing, you're overthinking it."

"If Zhuge Liang truly possessed extraordinary talent, how could he have lost Jingzhou and been demoted to this desolate place?"

"How much Liu Bei valued talent! Yet he exiled Zhuge Liang to Jiaozhou."

"Even Liu Bei abandoned him, which shows that this person has no real talent or learning."

"Like Ma Su and his ilk, they are all just armchair strategists, all talk and no action, and all exaggeration."

Qu Jing is still worried:

"But what if?"

"Nothing unexpected!"

Wu Ju waved his hand to interrupt, "You saw him at the banquet tonight; he was dejected and behaved inappropriately."

"He doesn't even care about wine stains on his sleeves; where is the slightest bit of the demeanor of a scholar?"

Qu Jing pondered for a moment, then finally nodded.

"...What the Prefect says makes sense."

"However, just in case, we should still do some testing."

Wu Ju smiled, narrowing his eyes: "I already have a plan."

“Tomorrow we will select a few beautiful singing girls and send them to the post station to serve us.”

"Then have the city officials take turns hosting banquets and inviting him to them—"

He lowered his voice and said, "Let them each bring their beautiful concubines and urge them to drink more during the banquet. Let's see if he is really as decadent as he appears."

A glint of light flashed in Qu Jing's eyes.

"Brilliant plan! If he indulges in wine and women, he will be truly ruined."

If he refuses.

"That's just an act, with ulterior motives!" Wu Ju sneered. "We can get rid of him then."

Wonderful, wonderful!

After they finalized their plan, the two looked at each other and burst into laughter.

The night was deep, and the candlelight flickered inside the inn.

Zhuge Liang sat upright before his desk, while Liao Hua and Liu Pan stood solemnly below the steps, quietly reporting the findings of their secret investigation that day.

Liao Hua clasped his hands and said:

"Sir, I have secretly visited Cangwu today."

"This Chen family head, Chen Su, is from a prominent clan in Cangwu."

"Generations have been engaged in the salt and iron business, controlling the Yushui River waterway."

"His patriarch, Chen Suyan, said that since Wu Ju took office, he has been forcibly collecting salt taxes."

"They also allowed their cronies to seize fertile land, and two of the Chen family's three salt fields have already been forcibly taken away."

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, "Is he willing to help?"

"Chen Su said that if you could help him regain control of the salt fields and reduce the salt tax."

“He is not only willing to provide us with money and food, but will also speak up for us when necessary.”

Liao Hua lowered his voice and continued.

"But he has one more condition—"

"If Jiaozhou is pacified in the future, you must allow the sons of the Chen family to enter officialdom."

Zhuge Liang lightly waved his feather fan and said calmly:
"Chen Su's conditions are not difficult to meet."

After saying this, he instructed Liao Hua:

"Keep in touch with them!"

"As ordered!"

Next, Zhuge Liang asked Liu Pan about the results of his investigation.

Today, Liu Pan met a Li people leader.

The man claimed to be a descendant of the King of Nanyue.

"This humble general infiltrated the Li village and met Xian Lang, the leader of the Xian clan."

"This man was fluent in Chinese and said that his tribe had been repeatedly plundered by Wu Ju's troops."

"Women were abducted and enslaved, and men were forcibly conscripted for labor."

"The Li people are known for their fierceness; how could they possibly swallow their anger?"

Zhuge Liang raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Xian Lang said that last year they had gathered a crowd to rebel, but were attacked from both sides by Wu Ju and the Wuhu barbarians, resulting in the loss of 300 warriors."

Liu Pan gripped the hilt of his knife tightly and said in a deep voice:

"The Li people and Wu Ju have a blood feud."

"Therefore, Xian Lang expressed his willingness to send troops to help, but he asks for your promise—"

"After the matter is accomplished, the mountains and forests south of Cangwu will be governed by the Li people, and Han officials will not be allowed to enter them without permission."

Zhuge Liang then said:
“Jiaozhou is a local area where ethnic groups live together.”

“I never intended for the Han people to seize the territory of the barbarians.”

"If the two tribes can live in harmony, that would be a great thing."

So, the next question was whether there was any left?
Liao Hua thought for a moment, then continued:

"By the way, sir! The Zhang family from the south of the city fled here to escape the chaos of war."

"The head of the family denounced Wu Ju for being ignorant of literature and education and for governing the Han people with barbaric methods."

“The Zhang family has been rooted in the local area for nearly 20 years and has considerable influence.”

"Perhaps it will be useful to us too."

Zhuge Liang nodded and then asked:

Who is the head of the Zhang family?

Liao Hua thought for a moment, then said:
"If I remember correctly, his name should be Zhang Hong."

Zhang Hong?

Zhuge Liang was no stranger to this name.

Zhang Hong was from a prominent family in Xuzhou.

Due to the war, the whole family moved to Jiangnan.

When Li Yi first recommended talents to Liu Bei, he recommended Zhang Hong.

Unfortunately, they couldn't find anyone else.

As one of the two Zhangs of Jiangdong

Unlike in history, Zhang Hong was not recruited by Eastern Wu along with Zhang Zhao.

The main reason is the shift in historical timelines, which accelerated the conflict in Huainan, Jiangdong, and Xuzhou.

The crisis has escalated to a full extent.

This made the Zhang family feel unsafe staying in Jiangdong, so they moved the whole family to Cangwu.

That stay lasted for twenty years.

After all, once you move, you basically settle down.

There is no possibility that they will move back.

Because of the relocation during the late Han Dynasty, the mortality rate was also very high.

The sound of a drumbeat came from outside the window, and Zhuge Liang got up and pushed open the wooden window.

In the night fog, the campfires of the barbarian village could be vaguely seen, standing in stark contrast to the scattered lights in the city.

"Han people seek official positions, Li people seek autonomy, and gentry seek civil administration..."

He murmured to himself, "Wu Ju, however, makes them yearn for it but cannot obtain it."

"Moral support from many, scant support."

"Heaven has bestowed these three men upon Liang to assist him."

Zhuge Liang's lips curled up slightly, revealing a smile.

……

(End of this chapter)