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

Chapter 346 Kongming Can Extend His Life Without the Seven-Star Lamp
Jiaozhou, Cangwu Commandery.

The summer heat was intense in the back garden of the governor's mansion.

The banana leaves are broad, blocking out the sky and the sun.

Zhuge Liang lightly waved his feather fan, leaned against the bamboo couch, and found that three wine jars in front of him were already empty.

Since arriving in Jiaozhou three months ago, he has been drinking and making merry with Wu Ju and Qu Jing every day.

At first, Qu Jing was worried that Zhuge Liang was pretending to be weak while actually being strong.

But as time went on, they gradually lowered their guard against him.

He once said in private:

"At first I thought Zhuge Kongming was called the Crouching Dragon, but now I see that he was just a pale-faced scholar."

"Why worry about someone who spends all day drunk and asleep?"

Therefore, they did not take precautions.

This day was the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.

Zhuge Liang suddenly sent out an invitation to a banquet, saying that he had obtained new wine from Chu and wanted the two of them to enjoy it together.

Wu laughed:

"This pedantic scholar actually has some good wine hidden away!"

He then donned his armor and went to the banquet with Qu Jing, accompanied by two hundred personal guards, who lined up outside the mansion.

Upon entering the hall, one sees Zhuge Liang seated in the main seat, wearing a feather fan and a turban, with a solemn expression.

There was no wine on the table, only a scroll of yellow silk imperial edict.

"Two generals."

Zhuge Liang suddenly stood up, his voice as cold as frost, "Do you recognize this object?"

Before Wu Ju could react, Qu Jing's expression changed—that was clearly an imperial edict!
Zhuge Liang suddenly shook his sleeves and loudly proclaimed:

"It is discovered that Wu Ju, the Prefect of Cangwu, and Qu Jing, the Commandant, illegally intercepted tribute and massacred displaced people."

"Colluding with the Yue tribes in the mountains, with ulterior motives."

"Now that the evidence is conclusive, Zhuge Liang, the governor of Jiaozhou, is hereby ordered to arrest and punish him immediately!"

"you--"

Both of them were shocked upon hearing this.

It turns out that during those short three months, Zhuge Liang had been secretly investigating the crimes of the two men.

However, Jiaozhou was far from the Central Plains.

Even if you get the evidence, what can you do?

Wu Ju immediately sprang to his feet, overturning the table and preparing to seize Zhuge Liang.

But then a flash of cold light appeared behind the screen, and Liao Hua and Liu Pan rushed out, each wielding a sharp blade!
Qu Jing drew his sword to block, but Liu Pan severed his wrist with a single blow, blood splattering on the painted screen.

Wu Ju roared in a hoarse voice:

"Zhuge, you fool! My personal guards are right outside the mansion, how dare you—"

Before he could finish speaking, Liao Hua's longsword had already pierced his chest.

Brother Wu!

Qu Jing roared, enduring the pain of his severed hand.

"Master Zhuge...Lord Zhuge...spare me!"

"I'll do whatever you say. Kill me, and my soldiers won't let you get away with it..."

Unexpectedly, Zhuge Liang simply waved his hand, and a sharp blade pierced through Qu Jing's back.

The top two officials of Cangwu County were killed in an instant under Zhuge Liang's swift and decisive actions.

He prepared for this Feast at Hongmen for three whole months!
However, the deaths of these two men did not mean that Zhuge Liang had won.

At that moment, he remembered a phrase that Li Yi often said—

"Only by controlling the army can one control the government."

If Zhuge Liang wanted to completely control Cangwu County, he had to obtain military power in Cangwu.

Dusk fell over the city walls of Cangwu.

Zhuge Liang stood atop the parapet, gently waving his feather fan, while two armored soldiers behind him held up long poles.

Two bloody heads hung from the pole—

Wu Ju's eyes widened in anger, while Qu Jing's face was contorted in rage.

Blood continued to drip from the severed neck, hitting the blue bricks with a dull "tap, tap".

The thousands of Cangwu defenders below the city were in turmoil.

The sounds of clashing swords and halberds, the scraping of armor plates, and whispers of surprise and anger mingled together.

Someone shouted:

"Zhuge, you fool! You...you dare to kill our general?!"

Zhuge Liang's expression remained unchanged; he simply unfolded the imperial edict in his hand, his voice clear and resonant, piercing through the twilight:
"Soldiers of Cangwu, heed my command!"

His voice was not loud, but every word was as firm as iron, suppressing the noise.

"Wu Ju and Qu Jing, as Han officials, have committed rebellious acts!"

"To intercept tribute from the imperial court and enrich oneself is the same crime!"

"To torture and kill refugees and then claim credit for their heads is the second crime!"

"To rule a region with the intention of establishing a separatist regime and dividing the territory of our great Han Dynasty is the third crime!"

"Having committed these three crimes, the imperial court orders that I execute him on the spot!"

As soon as he finished speaking, an uproar erupted below the city.

Zhuge Liang slammed the letter shut and shouted to the defending troops below the city:
"Do you wish to collude with traitors?"

A commotion broke out among the defenders, and a few people began to lay down their weapons.

They are just ordinary people and don't have a high level of political awareness.

He was frightened by Zhuge Liang's slight intimidation, fearing that he would also be labeled as a traitor.

However, they failed to realize that they still possessed the strength to regain real power in Cangwu.

Just as before the chaos of the war, the Western Liang army was unaware that they already possessed the power to control the court and overthrow the world.

Most martial artists from remote areas are like this: short-sighted and lacking in awareness.

Upon hearing the words "imperial court" or "traitor," they would often cower in fear.

Unlike the Western Liang army, the Cangwu garrison was facing a completely new Han dynasty.

Liu Bei simply didn't want to spend too much effort developing Jiaozhou.

But that doesn't mean he could tolerate his men dying here without knowing why.

Just then, a deep, resonant sound of bronze drums suddenly came from the west of the city!
"Boom-thump-"

Everyone turned around and saw a group of Li warriors marching in formation.

The leader, clad in rhinoceros armor and adorned with pheasant feathers, was none other than Xian Lang, the chieftain of the Li tribe of Gaoliang!
"Governor Zhuge was appointed by the Emperor himself!"

Xian Lang's voice was booming, and he shouted in broken Mandarin.

"We Li people only recognize the imperial court! Anyone who wants to rebel, please get past the copper knife in my hand first!"

Behind him, three hundred Li archers drew their bows in unison, the cold glint of their arrowheads reflecting the setting sun, a sight that chilled the soul.

In the span of three months, Zhuge Liang had already won over this Li chieftain to his side.

The condition was simple: grant the Li people the autonomy to govern their own territory within the mountains.

Immediately afterwards, another uproar broke out in the south of the city.

A group of servants in blue robes escorted a bullock cart as it slowly approached, with Chen Su, a powerful figure from Cangwu, seated on the cart.

"Wu Ju cruelly oppresses the people, and I have endured it for too long!"

Chen Su's white beard trembled as he pointed to the bloody heads on the city wall.

"Today, justice has been served! Do you still dare to remain obstinate?!"

Finally, a scholar in a blue robe emerged from the shadows of the city gate; it was none other than Zhang Hong, a renowned scholar who had sought refuge in Jiaozhou.

He has lived here for nearly twenty years and is quite well-known.

"Gentlemen."

Although Zhang Hong's voice wasn't loud, it silenced everyone.

"Master Kongming is a hidden dragon of our time, sent by imperial decree to pacify and establish diplomatic relations."

"Today we will only punish the ringleaders, and leave the rest unpunished—this is to give the soldiers of Cangwu a way out."

He paused, then suddenly raised his voice:
"Are you really going to sacrifice the entire city's lives for two dead men?!"

The wind howled mournfully atop the city walls.

A military officer from Cangwu suddenly threw down his halberd with a crisp clang.

"I...I am willing to submit to the imperial court!"

This sound was like the first domino being toppled; in the blink of an eye, the sounds of weapons hitting the ground followed one after another.

Someone knelt down and shouted:

"I am willing to obey Governor Zhuge's orders!"

Zhuge Liang looked down at the city below, and seeing that the situation was settled, he put away the imperial edict and said gently:

"All soldiers, please rise."

"From today onwards, the military pay for Cangwu will be distributed according to the quota, and the compensation for those who died in battle will be doubled."

He then gave an order to Liao Hua, who was standing beside him:

"Go! Open the treasury."

"Withdraw all the silver stored inside and use it to reward the troops tonight!"

The cheers from below immediately resounded through the sky.

Zhuge Liang reclaimed military power in Cangwu, thanks in no small part to the support of the local powerful Li people.

Even if not, his passionate speech just now might have fooled them.

However, with their support, Zhuge Liang's chances of success would be even greater.

He was already cautious by nature, and after the Ma Su incident, he became even more cautious.

At 11:45 AM, in the Cangwu military camp.

The night wind carried the lingering stench of blood as Zhuge Liang stood on the command platform.

His fingers lightly pressed the military manual on the table, and the oil lamp beside him cast a long and cold shadow of him.

Liao Hua stood to one side with his hand on his sword, and said in a low voice:
"My lord, although we have temporarily subdued the garrison of Cangwu."

"But it was a time of transition between the old and the new, a time of great turmoil."

"We still need to be vigilant against the machinations of treacherous officials. In my humble opinion, should we disarm them first?"

No need.

Zhuge Liang lightly waved his feather fan, his brows furrowed in composure:

"This is not a long-term solution. Starting tonight, the Cangwu Army shall establish a new system."

The first thing Zhuge Liang did after receiving the army was to reorganize it.

The purpose was simple: to prevent a potential mutiny.

He divided Wu Ju's personal guard battalion into three teams.

They were respectively divided into three parts: Liu Pan, Liao Hua, and Xian Lang.

Then it was stipulated that each group of five must come from different garrisons.

His old friends are not allowed to communicate or interact with him privately.

After some reorganization, Zhuge Liang basically stabilized the Cangwu army.

The control of the army allowed him to finally gain a foothold in Cangwu and Jiaozhou.

However, no one would admit that Zhuge Liang is now the ruler of Jiaozhou.

Because when Jiaozhou is mentioned, it is always inextricably linked to one person's name.

……

Jiaozhi Commandery, Prefectural Governor's Office.

Shi Xie sat upright at the desk, holding a secret letter in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed.

The staff members below the hall stood with their heads bowed, and the hall was completely silent.

"The Cangwu Coup..."

Shi Xie spoke slowly, his voice clear and resonant.

"Wu Ju and Qu Jing were beheaded. Zhuge Liang reorganized his army overnight, and now all five thousand Cangwu soldiers are under his command."

He glanced at the crowd, his gaze beneath his white eyebrows sharp as a knife.

"Gentlemen, how do you think we scholars should conduct ourselves?"

Shi Xie left only a few hundred words in the history books.

However, it was highly regarded in Vietnamese history.

He was posthumously honored by later generations of Vietnamese as the Kind-hearted King of Gia Ying Ling Wu.

Ke Shixie was clearly a native of the Central Plains who migrated south to Jiaozhou with his family. How could he be so highly regarded by the Vietnamese?
This is because Jiaozhou, in addition to the Guangdong and Guangxi regions, also included present-day Vietnam.

Shi Xie's stronghold, Jiaozhi County, was located in what is now the Red River Plain of Vietnam.

On the eve of Shi Xie's administration of Jiaozhou, Jiaozhou's economy and culture were still very backward compared to the Central Plains.

Shi Xie was an enlightened ruler, and under his rule, Jiaozhou became a paradise on earth.

The residents are prosperous and enjoy peace and tranquility.

This led many people from the Central Plains to flee south to Jiaozhou for refuge.

Along with the people from the Central Plains, those who entered Jiaozhou also brought advanced production technologies and classical studies.

All of these have greatly contributed to the prosperity and development of Jiaozhou.

These political measures have made Shi Xie a figure of great historical importance in Vietnam.

Shi Xie is now over seventy years old, having reached the age of seventy-three.

The people of Jiaozhou also enjoyed twenty-five years of peace under his rule.

The arrival of Zhuge Liang has undoubtedly disrupted this peace.

One of the aides stepped forward first, cupped his hands in greeting to Shi Xie, and said:

"My lord, Liu Bei swept across the Central Plains, restored the Han Dynasty, and commanded a million armored soldiers."

"Zhuge Liang was also skilled in military strategy and was a disciple of Tian Shu."

“Jiaozhou is poor and its people are weak. If we resist head-on, it may not be the best course of action.”

As soon as he finished speaking, someone immediately chimed in to agree:

"Since the imperial court appointed Kongming as governor, he is nominally the ruler of Jiaozhou."

“If we openly defy this, it will be treason.”

"When that time comes, Liu Bei will indeed send his heavenly army to attack. With my small territory of Jiaozhou, it will be difficult to resist the royal army."

Shi Xie remained silent for a moment, then lightly tapped the table with his knuckles:
“I also know that the imperial court sent Zhuge Liang here to control Jiaozhou.”

"But my family has built up a business here for twenty-five years. Are we just going to hand it over to someone else for nothing?"

The chief historian stepped forward and said in a low voice:

"My lord, retreating in order to advance may not be a bad strategy."

"Oh?" Shi Xie squinted and asked, "I would like to hear the details."

The chief clerk then analyzed the situation methodically:

“Jiaozhou is remote. If the imperial court really wants to send a large army south, it will inevitably spend countless amounts of money and grain.”

"If it weren't for this, Liu Bei would never have sent Zhuge Liang alone to pacify the area instead of adding more troops."

"When Zhuge Liang first arrived, his foundation was not yet stable, and he might not have been willing to wage a major war."

"It would be better to outwardly comply, send envoys to show goodwill, and acknowledge his position as governor."

"...However, trade in the South China Sea remains in our hands."

"Many of the officials in each prefecture are also former subordinates of my family."

"If Zhuge Liang wants to implement new policies, he will ultimately have to get around us."

As mentioned before, Jiaozhou's terrain is different from Yizhou's.

Although Yizhou is known as the Shu Road is difficult, it is more difficult than ascending to heaven.

However, within the Sichuan Basin of Yizhou, there are no major mountain ranges that would further divide the region.

Therefore, the whole can also be regarded as a large plain.

Only a plain can qualify it as the land of abundance.

In contrast, Jiaozhou is fragmented and divided by mountains.

This geographical environment makes it difficult for Jiaozhou to unite as a whole.

Therefore, Jiaozhou was mainly divided into three major regions.

These are the eastern regions, led by Nanhai County, Cangwu County, and Hepu County.

Among them, Nanhai County was the most prosperous.

Zhao Tuo of Nanyue established his kingdom here, which also brought prosperity to Panyu.

Then there is the western part of Jiaozhou, led by Jiaozhi Commandery, Jiuzhen Commandery, and Rinan Commandery.

These three counties roughly correspond to the territory of present-day Vietnam.

Finally, there is Yulin County, located between the eastern and western regions.

This prefecture was also the most fragmented and backward prefecture in Jiaozhou, due to its extremely inconvenient transportation.

Three regions, three different cultures.

Even though Shi Xie ruled the area for more than 20 years, he was unable to unify it.

Therefore, the only option was to appoint local powerful families to exercise indirect rule.

At the same time, Shi Xie also sent his brothers to different regions.

His younger brother, Shi Yi, was in charge of Hepu County.

The scholar led Jiuzhen County.

Shi Wu was in charge of the South China Sea Commandery.

Shi Xie himself was stationed in the most prosperous Jiaozhi County.

This led to the formation of "Shishi Jiaozhou".

In addition, the Shi family also controlled the local Li Liao chieftains through marriage alliances.

It also monopolized trade in the South China Sea.

It is not difficult to see that the claim that the surname Shi was found in Jiaozhou is definitely not unfounded.

They wouldn't willingly hand over Jiaozhou for nothing.

Half a month later, a group of envoys from Jiaozhi (Vietnam) carried generous gifts on their way north to Cangwu.

The list of tribute items is as follows:
Ten bushels of pearls from the South China Sea.

Twenty pairs each of rhinoceros horn and ivory.

Hundreds of baskets of fresh fruits such as longan and lychee.

A thousand bolts of fine-textured linen cloth.

The messenger prostrated himself and presented Shi Xie's handwritten letter:
"Xie was old and senile and failed to welcome the angel sooner."

"I am delighted to hear of Your Excellency's friendship with us, and I would like to offer this small gift in the hope that you will accept it."

“All the counties of Jiaozhi and Jiuzhen are willing to await orders.”

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, scrutinizing the tribute from Jiaozhi. After calmly sweeping over these treasures, his gaze finally settled on the Jiaozhi envoy kneeling before him.

"Shi Gong guarded Jiaozhou for decades, pacifying the barbarians and ensuring the smooth flow of sea routes. He was truly a pillar of the court."

Zhuge Liang said gently, "Today you have presented such a generous gift, which shows your loyalty."

"Go back and convey my regards to Shi Gong, and tell him that Liang deeply admires his virtue and is willing to work together to bring peace to Lingnan."

Upon hearing this, the messenger touched his forehead to the ground and repeatedly said yes.

Zhuge Liang then ordered his men:
"Give the envoy ten bolts of brocade and fifty taels of gold as a generous reward."

After the envoy left, expressing his gratitude profusely, only Zhuge Liang and Zhang Hong remained in the hall.

“Master Zigang,” Zhuge Liang said, flicking his sleeve and raising his eyes, “you have been in Jiaozhou for many years. What do you think of the foundation of the Shi family?”

Zhang Hong pondered for a moment, then slowly said:

“If Shi Xie wishes to become king, no one in Jiaozhou can stop him.”

“If Shi Xie wants to destroy the local chieftains, none of the chieftains can withstand his attack.”

"Oh?"

Zhuge Liang paused slightly with his feather fan and smiled, "It seems that the Shi family has considerable influence in this area."

Zhang Hong stroked his white beard, frowned, and pondered:

"The Shi family controls trade in the South China Sea and enjoys the benefits of pearls, rhinoceroses, and elephants."

"Half of the fertile fields of Jiuzhen and Rinan have been incorporated into their clan."

"The chieftains of the Li people often married into the Li tribe."

“Jiaozhou is truly the land of scholars.”

"So..." Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan and said softly, "If Shi Xie rebels, Jiaozhou will change hands in an instant?"

Zhang Hong nodded: "Exactly."

Zhuge Liang was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled:
"But he has not yet declared himself king."

Zhang Hong was taken aback.

“Jiaozhou is remote. If Shi Xie were to establish himself, the imperial court might not be able to launch a campaign against him immediately.”

Zhuge Liang lightly tapped the map on the table with his feather fan, "But he still chose to submit to the court and pay tribute—this was not cowardice, but wisdom."

"Because even if Shi Xie becomes king, he will only be the next Zhao Tuo."

"He still had to pay tribute to the court and bear the name of a traitor."

"As things stand now, even without the title of king, Jiaozhou still belongs to the Shi family."

"This is no different from becoming a king."

He looked up, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes:
"Such a person may not necessarily be unusable for my purposes."

"How does Your Excellency intend to proceed?" Zhang Hong asked.

Zhuge Liang took out a scroll of bamboo slips from his sleeve and slowly unrolled it:

"Shi Xie was fond of classical studies, especially the Spring and Autumn Annals."

“I intend to invite him to co-edit the ‘Jiaozhou Gazetteer’ to record the customs and products of Lingnan.”

Zhang Hong's eyes flashed:
"Brilliant idea! Compiling local chronicles requires accessing the household registration, land records, and commercial tax data of each prefecture..."

"Exactly." Zhuge Liang smiled. "At that time, the true strength and weakness of Jiaozhou will be fully revealed."

Will Shih-hsieh cooperate?

“Shi Xie is a smart man, and Liang thought he would cooperate.”

Zhuge Liang got up and walked to the window, looking towards the direction of Jiaozhi.

"As for trade in the South China Sea—"

"Hasn't Prime Minister Li always been very interested in trade routes?"

"Trade in the South China Sea extends far overseas."

"After Liang has figured out the ins and outs here, he will report to the cabinet."

"The Cabinet will certainly take this seriously."

"With the support of the cabinet, developing Jiaozhou will not be difficult."

"At that time, goods from the Central Plains will be continuously transported into Jiaozhou."

"If the Shi family is willing to open a trade route, the two families can share the profits, which would be a win-win situation."

A night breeze blew by, and the candlelight flickered.

Zhang Hong seemed to see an invisible net slowly enveloping Jiaozhou.

"Mr. Kongming..."

Zhang Hong couldn't help but speak, his voice carrying a hint of inquiry.

"With your talent, even if you were in the Central Plains, you would be a prime minister."

"Why...why..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear—why was he demoted to such a remote place as Jiaozhou?
Zhuge Liang paused slightly in his cup, causing ripples to spread across the surface of the tea.

After a long pause, he sighed softly:
"The failure of the public security is my fault."

"Ma Su..."

Zhang Hong suddenly realized that Jingzhou was close to Jiaozhou, and he had heard about these things to some extent.

However, I'm not entirely clear on the specifics.

At the time, I was just wondering which unlucky person would suffer.

Unexpectedly, it was Mr. Zhuge.

A moment later, Zhuge Liang raised his eyes and smiled:
But what seems like a misfortune may actually be a blessing in disguise.

"Although Jiaozhou is remote, it is a place to temper one's will."

"A year of experience here is worth more than ten years in the Central Plains."

He gently waved his feather fan, his tone suddenly turning somber:

"Besides -"

"Liang will not be trapped here forever."

The candlelight popped and sparked, illuminating a glint of light in his eyes.

"By the way, is Mr. Zigang from Xuzhou?"

Zhuge Liang suddenly changed the subject.

Zhang Hong nodded and replied:

"I am from an old family in Pengcheng, and later moved to Guangling."

He gave a bitter laugh, "In the fourth year of the Chuping era, Cao Cao attacked Xuzhou, and the blood flowed like rivers..."

"I see."

Zhuge Liang sighed softly, "I was originally from Langya in Xuzhou, but due to Cao Cao's army marching south, I followed my uncle to Jingzhou to avoid disaster."

The two exchanged a glance and simultaneously recalled the tragic state of Xuzhou back then.

The Si River stopped flowing because of this.

The roads were blocked by starving corpses, and people even exchanged their own children to eat.

Neither of them expected to meet a fellow villager in such a remote place as Jiaozhou.

When the fellow sees the fellow, tears well up.

Zhang Hong closed his eyes:

"Later, Chen Yuanlong entered Guangling and fought a major battle with Yuan Shu."

"I fled south again and finally settled in Jiaozhou."

He stroked the teacup on the table. "This pause has lasted for twenty years."

Chen Deng's subsequent entry into Guangling, threatening Yuan Shu's flank, was entirely a chain reaction following Li Yi's arrival.

This resulted in the fact that this talented man, one of the two Zhangs of Jiangdong and as famous as Zhang Zhao, was not employed by Eastern Wu.

"Sir, have you ever thought about returning to the Central Plains?" Zhuge Liang asked.

Zhang Hong shook his head and sighed:

"My old home has long since turned to ashes, and my family business is now located in Jiaozhou."

"Your children have also settled down and started families here. How can you bear to leave?"

"But sir—"

He looked up and said, "I heard that Prime Minister Li has rebuilt Xuzhou, and a million refugees have returned home."

"Since you are a native of Xuzhou, are you perhaps...?"

"Li Xiang..."

Zhuge Liang pondered the title for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"He is indeed an outstanding person."

"Without his assistance, Your Majesty would hardly have had the opportunity to revive the Han Dynasty."

He got up and went to the window, looking up at the northern starry sky:

"But precisely because of this, Liang needs to make a difference in the state."

The night wind carried away his whispers:
"Someone has to... guard this gateway to the South China Sea for the imperial court."

"By the way, how old are you this year, sir?"

On a whim, Zhuge Liang asked a question that he had been curious about for a long time but had never had the chance to ask before.

How old is Zhang Hong?

"I am now sixty years old."

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang raised an eyebrow slightly:
"Sir, you've reached the age of sixty?"

He carefully observed Zhang Hong's face and thought, "Judging from his bright eyes and healthy body, he seems to be of advanced age."

This was the problem that troubled Zhuge Liang.

Zhang Hong's hair and beard are all white, so he should be quite old.

But his mental state was excellent, not at all like someone who was already over sixty years old.

Zhang Hong stroked his beard and smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out like chrysanthemums:
"Perhaps it's the environment and climate of Jiaozhou that nurture people..."

"The fisherman of Hepu, even at eighty, can still brave the waves."

"The old woodcutter of Yulin, even at seventy, can still climb cliffs."

"This place produces Alpinia oxyphylla and Morinda officinalis, which are casually picked by rural farmers."

"They are said to be good medicines for prolonging life."

Zhuge Liang lightly waved his feather fan and said self-deprecatingly:

"In that case, when I retire from office, I will come to Jiaozhou and build a thatched cottage."

"Drinking coconut juice and eating longan every day, perhaps one can steal the eight hundred years of life of Peng Zu?"

Zhang Hong died at the age of fifty-nine in history.

But now he has not only lived to be sixty years old, but he is also getting more and more energetic and does not look old at all.

This is indeed related to his arrival in Jiaozhou.

Mentioning Jiaozhou always brings to mind Zhao Tuo, the Martial Emperor of Nanyue.

It wasn't because Lao Deng took advantage of the Chu-Han Contention to establish the Nanyue Kingdom.

Instead, he, as the founding emperor, actually lived to the age of 104 before passing away.

The ruler of Jiaozhou, Shi Xie, the governor of Lingnan, lived to be ninety years old.

Then there was Lady Xian from the Northern and Southern Dynasties, who also lived to be around ninety years old.

It's important to know that in ancient times, living to the age of seventy was considered a national treasure.

Jiaozhou region, on the other hand, is like a wholesale market, producing a large number of long-lived people.

Ordinary people are one thing, but rulers like Shi Xie and Zhao Tuo are another.

Despite their daily busyness with government affairs, they still managed to live to be over ninety or even a hundred years old.

This is absolutely an incredible thing.

Isn't it said that the climate in the Lingnan region was very uninhabitable at that time?
Why were these rulers able to live so long?
Could it be that there are some unique Lingnan health preservation secrets?
There are two reasons,
First, Jiaozhou's terrain was isolated, and it was largely unaffected by the wars in the Central Plains.

People within Jiaozhou also generally dislike internal strife.

People who live peacefully and harmoniously tend to have a good mindset and live longer.

Of course, Jiaozhou's unique topography also meant that the locals did not have the conditions for a civil war.

After all, fighting a war requires crossing numerous mountains, which is not worth it for everyone.

The fact that the people of Jiaozhou were rarely affected by war alone is enough to contribute to their longevity.

But the most crucial point is the second one—

The reason why people in Lingnan live long lives is because the mountain roads here are rugged.

If the road is difficult, you have to walk more.

As people age, their legs are the first to show signs of aging.

Take Hong Kong, which ranks among the top three in the world in terms of average life expectancy, as an example.

It is undeniable that this region is quite developed, but there is another important condition:

The area has many districts, but the distances are short, so you can go anywhere on foot.

There are no elevators outside the subway station; you have to climb the stairs on foot.

This results in local residents having strong legs and feet, and even those in their seventies and eighties can still walk briskly.

In Hong Kong, you'll see people wearing sneakers, running shoes, or walking shoes, and carrying a backpack.

They are almost certainly locals.

The same principle applies to ancient Lingnan; to survive there, one had to walk every day.

The more you walk, the more energetic you become.

People also live longer as a result.

Of course, this is on the premise that you first adapt to the climate here.

"Hearing Mr. Kongming's words reminds me of what is recorded in the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic—"

"The body exerts itself without becoming weary, and the breath flows smoothly."

Zhang Hong pointed to the folded mountains on the map:

"This place is protected by mountains, which prevented the Five Ridges from causing war and kept the people from suffering the ravages of war."

"Mountain roads force people to trek, making walking a substitute for vehicles, thus ensuring the smooth flow of qi and blood throughout the year."

In addition, the area is nourished by the sea; fish, shrimp, clams, and mussels are plentiful, so there is no worry about famine.

"I think this is the reason why the people here live so long."

After listening, Zhuge Liang felt he had benefited greatly and clapped his hands, laughing:
The Huainanzi says: "The crane lives for a thousand years, so that it may travel to its fullest extent."

"Only today do I realize that the way to longevity is the ultimate truth of heaven and earth."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Hong raised his eyebrows and asked:

"Oh? Why do you say that, my lord?"

"I just thought about it carefully..."

Zhuge Liang dipped his chopsticks in tea and drew a mountain shape on the table.

"Although Jiaozhou is located in the remote southern wilderness, the Five Ridges serve as a screen and the miasma as a barrier, which has made it a blessed land for health preservation."

He pointed to his shoes and said, "After walking all over the Cangwu Mountain trails for the past half month, my legs are even stronger than when I was in Jiangling."

Rainwater slid off the banana leaves outside the window and pattered onto the stone steps.

Zhang Hong gazed at the candlelight casting shadows on Zhuge Liang's brow and said in a deep voice:
"Shih Wei-Yan is celebrating his seventieth birthday this year."

"Over seventy?"

Zhuge Liang paused slightly with his feather fan, and said meaningfully:
“Liang Fang is already thirty years old. Even if we wait for the hour to pass, we can still wait until we see his coffin being carried out for the funeral.”

Zhang Hong stroked his beard and smiled gently:

"...Hehe, yeah."

"Governor is so young, Shi Xie still has influence in this area."

"We cannot outlast the governor. If time goes on, Jiaozhou will eventually fall completely under his control."

"By then, the governor will have served his full term and Jiaozhou will be ready to be handed over to the court."

"By then, returning to the Central Plains and being promoted to the cabinet will be a piece of cake."

At this moment, Zhang Hong finally understood why Zhuge Liang had chosen a relatively mild attitude towards the Shi Xie family.

It wasn't just because Zhuge Liang was kind-hearted and couldn't bear to cause more bloodshed in Jiaozhou.

Besides, Shi Xie had done a very good job in Jiaozhou, so Zhuge Liang had no reason to punish him.

With the imperial court as his backing, he could "force" Shi Xie to cooperate with him.

In time, the power over Jiaozhou would eventually fall into Zhuge Liang's hands.

This also includes trade in the South China Sea.

After all, Zhuge Liang was still very young.

After figuring out the key points, Zhuge Liang was in a great mood.

Clap your hands to summon the attendant:

"Go to the kitchen and get that black-boned chicken, and stew it with the cardamom that was presented as tribute from Jiaozhi."

He then winked at Zhang Hong and smiled:

“From this day forward, Liang will eat one chicken every day.”

"I must live as long as possible!"

"Would Zigang be willing to share a meal with Liang?"

Zhang Hong laughed loudly upon hearing this:

"This black-boned chicken is a highly nutritious food. Just hearing its name makes my mouth water."

"Since the magistrate has taken the initiative to invite me, how could I possibly refuse?"

"I'm really in for a treat today."

A moment later, a servant brought over a vermilion lacquered food box.

When the lid was opened, steam rose up, and the black-boned chicken inside had been stewed until the bones were soft and the meat was tender.

A dozen or so bright red goji berries floated on the surface, along with a few slices of Solomon's seal rhizome bobbing up and down in the soup.

Zhuge Liang personally ladled a bowl and offered it to Zhang Hong:

"Sir, do you know that black-boned chicken is the best for replenishing vital energy?"

He pointed to a piece of meat from the chicken breast, saying, "People in Lingnan call it 'Dragon Wearing Phoenix,' saying it can prolong life."

"...Hehe, very well! Please, my lord!"

"...Hehe, Mr. Zigang, please."

An old man and a young man raised their glasses in celebration, enjoying the black-boned chicken together.

"May Mr. Zigang live to be a hundred years old..."

"Ah, I also wish Mr. Kongming a long life."

The two laughed at the same time, even in such a remote place as Jiaozhou.

They found a different kind of happiness.

……

(End of this chapter)