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

Chapter 364 The truly sophisticated form of international strategy is spending money to bleed others dry.
In the autumn of the sixth year of Zhangwu, in Yizhou Prefecture.

The night was as dark as ink, and the chirping of insects in the mountains and forests gradually subsided.

Meng Yan squatted in front of his burned-down mulberry field, his rough fingers picking up a clump of scorched earth, his eyes reflecting the still-burning embers.

This ancestral woodland, which was lush and green just three days ago, is now nothing but a gray and black expanse.

“Mengtou, three more Han Chinese have arrived.”

A young Yi warrior named Amu emerged from the forest, his short sword at his waist glistening with dew.

“They brought official documents from Jin Guan, saying they wanted to take over the hunting grounds to the east.”

Meng Yan slowly stood up, the copper bell at his waist ringing softly.

He was about forty years old, with tribal totems tattooed on his face, and half of his left ear missing—a remnant from a battle with the Sichuan army ten years ago.

At that time, Liu Zhang was still in charge of Yizhou.

"Documents?"

He sneered, "Trading bamboo slips for our mountains and forests, is this the Han people's rule?"

“Zhao Jinguan said…this is an order from Grand Commandant Sima.”

Amu kicked at a pebble with his head down, saying, "If you don't comply, you will be punished for disobeying the imperial decree."

"Sima Yi? Hmph."

“This fellow specifically targets us, the smaller Yi people, to bully, while allowing the Han people to encroach on our ancestral land.”

"Are these the scholars from the Central Plains, who pride themselves on being a land of propriety?"

Meng Yan let out a disdainful snort.

The sound of logging could be heard in the distance; Han Chinese farmers were felling the last ancient trees.

Meng Yan squinted and saw several Yi boys, bound by ropes, being driven by Han people to move timber.

One of them was only twelve or thirteen years old. He stumbled and fell, and was immediately whipped.

"That's a child from the Aru family!"

Amu gripped the knife hilt tightly. "They went fishing by the stream yesterday and never came back..."

Sima Yi led the national Shu brocade industry, which received strong support from the state.

This meant that the people of Shu could no longer be satisfied in the central region, so they began to develop in the prefectures and counties further south.

The majority of people in the southern region are Yi people, which inevitably leads to intensified conflicts between the Han and Yi peoples.

In response, Sima Yi chose to take sides and blindly support the Han people.

He believed that the local inhabitants were hindering his development of the Shu brocade industry, which in turn prevented the country from making money.

To hinder the country from making money is to oppose the country and Sima Yi!
With Sima Yi's support, the officials and Han people of Yizhou began to exploit the local people even more recklessly.

They not only seized forest land and farmland.

Even worse, some forcibly abducted local people as slaves and forced them to work for them.

However, the scope of labor service has expanded beyond mulberry planting and silkworm rearing, which goes against the original intention.

But Sima Yi chose to turn a blind eye to this.

Because all he cares about are grades and results.

He only cared about the development of the Shu brocade industry in Yizhou County; he didn't care about the process.

This is why local counties and prefectures are often able to submit a satisfactory report.

This led to a surge in the production of Shu brocade, bringing a great deal of wealth to the Shu region.

Therefore, Sima Yi became even less involved in matters concerning the south.

But he couldn't have imagined that...

The explosion of Shu brocade was built on the blood of the local barbarians.

In the long run, there will inevitably be a price to pay for this.

Meng Yan pressed down on Amu's wrist and said in a deep voice:
"Come with me to see Zhao Xian."

Zhao Xian was a local official named Jin Guan.

The Jin Guan Office of Yizhou Prefecture was built next to the newly built Shu brocade workshop, with a plaque above the gate that read "Promoting Benefits and Benefiting the People".

In the square in front of the government office, a dozen or so foreign slaves were tamping the earth, their shackles worn raw and bloody.

"The headman Meng has arrived just in time."

Zhao Xian, an official from Chengdu, was leaning against a folding chair, enjoying freshly picked tangerines.

This was imported from Wu Kingdom; it's very fresh and sweet.

He was in his early forties, with a fair complexion and a light beard, and the tips of his deerskin boots peeked out from under his brocade robe.

Due to the mass production of Shu brocade, he too wore brocade robes and fine clothes.

"The mulberry seedlings in the hunting grounds to the east need to be planted tomorrow. As the local headman..."

Meng Yan cut straight to the point, interrupting sharply:

"Release our children."

Zhao Xian raised an eyebrow. "What child?"

“The three sons of the Aru family, and the five teenagers of Black Stone Village.”

Meng Yan took out a bamboo scroll from his bosom. "This is the 'Barbarian-Han Boundary Agreement' issued by the Prefect's Office last year, which clearly stipulates that barbarians shall not be forcibly conscripted for labor."

Zhao Xian took the bamboo slip and casually tossed it into the charcoal stove for brewing tea.

"The newly issued 'Decree on Promoting the Development of Shu Brocade' by Grand Commandant Sima stipulates that anyone who obstructs the affairs of Shu brocade, regardless of whether they are Han or barbarian, may be conscripted for labor."

He leaned closer to Meng Yan, the scent of citrus mingling with the smell of alcohol wafting over him, and said with a hint of sarcasm:

“You barbarians spend your days hunting and do not engage in production.”

"The Grand Commandant said, this is called... turning barbarians into good people."

The young barbarians behind Meng Yan immediately began to stir.

Amu gritted his teeth and said:
"You have destroyed our hunting grounds and altars!"

"Now they're even robbing people?"

"Rob?"

Zhao Xian suddenly changed his expression, slammed his hand on the table, and shouted angrily:
“There is no place in the world other than the royal land!”

"What do you barbarians know?"

"A single bolt of Shu brocade is worth a thousand pieces of gold. Transporting it to Luoyang, Chang'an, Xiangyang, Jianye, Yecheng, or even the Western Regions would be an incredibly profitable business!"

"It can bring ten times the amount of grain and provisions to our Great Wei."

"The Grand Commandant wants to train troops and prepare for war, raise an army to attack the false Han, and support the Han Emperor. That is a long-term plan."

"Otherwise, where will the money come from? Are you just going to rely on hunting a few pheasants?"

Suddenly, a cry came from outside the building.

The crowd turned their heads and saw several Han Chinese merchants dragging in a barbarian girl.

The girl's clothes were torn, and blood was seeping from the corner of her mouth.

"Zhao Jingguan, this vile maid has stolen the brocade!"

The vendor grabbed the girl by the hair and snarled, "According to the law, she should be executed!"

Meng Yan recognized her as the daughter of the Black Stone Village priest and said sternly:

"Let her go!"

Zhao Xian clapped his hands and laughed:
"Alright! Today is the perfect day to make an example of them!"

After speaking, he turned to Meng Yan and said coldly:
"Chief Meng, either clear out the eastern hunting grounds within three days, or..."

He glanced at the Yi girl and said, "According to the 'Law on Protecting the Trade of Shu Brocade,' thieves will be killed without mercy."

That night, the leaders of the various Yi villages gathered in Mengyan's cave.

Torches illuminated the ancient hunting murals on the rock face, but now their hunting grounds were being swallowed up by mulberry groves.

"The mulberry trees of the Han people are more ferocious than locusts."

The old priest of Black Stone Village pounded the ground and wept bitterly, "My daughter is still imprisoned in the Jin Guan dungeon..."

The young leaders drew their swords one after another:

"Let's rebel! Like we did against Liu Zhang back then!"

Liu Zhang was considered to be of a relatively kind and generous nature, but as a true Han Dynasty person...

That deep-seated self-confidence still left him with a significant sense of Sinocentric thinking.

There's no way around it; to paraphrase the opening line of "The Emperor Wu of Han," it's just like this—

He established a nation with unprecedented dignity, he gave a people the confidence to stand tall for millennia, and his nation's name became the eternal name of a great people.

Even at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, when warlords were vying for power, local lords could easily subdue foreign tribes in the border regions.

So how can you expect Han Chinese to respect barbarians?

"Everyone calm down."

Meng Yan calmed the restless young man and analyzed the situation calmly:

"Although Cao Cao is dead, the Wei army still exists."

"That old fox Yong Kai has been secretly spying all along..."

Before the words were finished, a loud laugh came from outside the cave:
"Meng Tou Ren is indeed wise!"

Everyone was startled and saw a middle-aged Han Chinese man in brocade robes stroll in, followed by eight guards with swords.

This man had a face like jade and a long beard; he was none other than Yong Kai, a powerful figure from Yizhou County.

The Yong family is a prominent local clan.

It is said that Yong Kai was a descendant of Yong Chi, the Marquis of Shifang in the Western Han Dynasty.

The Yong family was very powerful in the local area, and they were usually unruly and arrogant.

After news of Cao Cao's death in Chengdu reached the capital, Yong Kai became even more arrogant and unruly.

He felt his opportunity had come and began to have rebellious thoughts.

However, no concrete action has been taken.

"What brings you here so late at night, Master Yong?"

Meng Yan calmed the restless clansmen and asked in a deep voice.

Yong Kai gently waved his palm-leaf fan and said calmly:

"I have come specifically to save your lives."

He suddenly lowered his voice, "Sima Yi has secretly ordered the Jin Guan Bureau to conscript 500 able-bodied barbarians in three days and take them to Chengdu as slaves."

As soon as the sound faded, an uproar erupted inside the cave.

Amu drew his sword and roared:

"Fight them!"

"spell?"

Yong Kai sneered, "You don't even have many hoes, how are you going to fight?"

"Sima Yi killed people without blinking an eye."

"Moreover, apart from suffering losses against the Han army, the Wei army is almost invincible."

"How could you lowly commoners possibly stand against them?"

"Have you not seen the Jingguan (a mound of corpses) in Qi County?"

Everyone was stunned and looked at each other blankly.

Although the brutality of the Wei army was abhorrent, it did have a strong deterrent effect.

Although they had never been to Qi County, they were horrified just from hearing about it from people.

Although everyone talks a big game, how many of them are truly fearless?

Seeing that everyone remained silent, Yong Kai took out a scroll of silk painting from his sleeve.

"But what if someone provides knives and arrows?"

Meng Yan unfolded the silk map, which turned out to be a detailed map of the defense deployment of the Jin Guan Bureau.

His pupils constricted sharply, and he said in surprise:
"The Yong family has been officials of the Han dynasty for generations, why do you..."

"The traitor Cao Cao defies the will of Heaven and is ignorant of the times."

"The Emperor is in Luoyang today, which is the Mandate of Heaven."

"Liu Xuande was a descendant of Emperor Gaozu and the legitimate successor of the Han dynasty."

Yong Kai suddenly spoke with great passion, "My Yong clan was enfeoffed by Emperor Gaozu, how can we stoop to serve a traitor?"

He then changed the subject, "What's more, that scoundrel Zhao Xian forcibly seized thirty acres of my ancestral land to plant mulberry trees."

"This thief has gone too far; I have long wanted to get rid of him."

"However, I hate that the power of one person is limited, and I dare not speak out."

The old priest suddenly coughed:
"I heard... Sima Yi granted Lord Yong a monopoly on the sale of Shu brocade?"

Yong Kai's smile faltered for a moment, then he burst into laughter:

"The old priest is wise."

"but……"

He changed the subject, looked around at everyone, and said, "There's a saying among the Han people: 'Each takes what they need.'"

"You want land, I want money, why don't we join forces?"

Meng Yan remained silent for a long time, then suddenly thrust his short sword into the location of the Jin Guan Bureau on the map, and said in a deep voice:
"Tell me your plan."

……

Three days later, on a dark and windy night.

Zhao Xian is checking the newly woven Shu brocade in the warehouse.

These colorful silks will be transported to Chengdu tomorrow to be presented to Grand Commandant Sima Yi as a birthday gift.

"Zhao Jinguan, this batch of brocade is worth a thousand gold pieces!"

The petty official flattered.

Zhao Xian stroked the exquisite Vermilion Bird pattern on the brocade:

"If the Grand Commandant is in a good mood, he might transfer me to Chengdu..."

He suddenly frowned. "What was that sound?"

Screams came from outside the warehouse.

When the gate was kicked open, Zhao Xian saw guards covered in blood tumble in, followed by barbarians carrying torches.

The leader was Meng Yan.

His face was painted with ochre paint, making him look like a demon.

"You...you people are planning a rebellion?"

Zhao Xian staggered backward, knocking over the oil lamp.

Flames leaped onto the brocade, instantly igniting the entire bolt of silk.

Meng Yan stepped on Zhao Xian's brocade robe. He asked sharply:

Where are our children?

"In...in the mine behind the mountain..."

Zhao Xian sneered, "But they should all be dead by now!"

"The Grand Commandant has ordered that barbarian slaves... Ah!"

Amu's knife pierced Zhao Xian's knee.

The barbarian warriors rushed into the warehouse and dragged bolts of Shu brocade into the courtyard to burn them.

Flames shot into the sky, illuminating half of Yizhou County.

"Hang it up!"

Meng Yan threw out a blood-stained cloth bag.

When Amu untied it, he saw that it was Zhao Xian's head, his eyes still wide open in terror.

At dawn, ten horse-drawn carriages loaded with Shu brocade slowly drove towards Chengdu.

Each vehicle had the head of a Jin Guan Shu official hanging in front of it.

A wooden sign was erected behind the convoy, which read:

“If the Han people come again, they will have such skulls.”

Yong Kai stood atop the city wall, gazing into the distance, and smiled at his trusted confidant:
"Go and inform Grand Commandant Sima that the barbarians have rebelled and killed an official of the court."

He stroked the newly acquired Shu brocade sample, "Oh right, remember to say... it was Zhuge Liang's spy who instigated it."

……

Chengdu, the Palace of the King of Wei.

When news of the barbarians burning Shu brocade and killing the brocade official reached Chengdu, the entire court was shocked.

No one expected that the local indigenous people would be so audacious.

They not only burned the nation's brocade, but also cut off the head of the official in charge of brocade and sent it to Chengdu.

This is simply provocative.

A naked provocation!

"How dare these barbarians do such a thing!"

Cao Pi slammed the bamboo slips heavily onto the table, startling the servants in the hall who all knelt down.

The bamboo slip was stained with blood; it was an urgent report sent from Yizhou Prefecture.

The head of Zhao Xian, the official in charge of transporting brocade, was hung on the brocade-carrying cart, along with twelve other officials' heads.

"Your Majesty, calm down."

The veteran minister Cheng Yu stepped forward shakily, saying, "This matter is strange. Although the barbarians are uncivilized, I'm afraid they have other reasons."

"Barbarians killed my high-ranking official and burned my Shu brocade. What other mystery could there be?"

Cao Pi slammed his hand on the table and stood up, the jade pendant at his waist jingling.

He was only thirty years old, in the prime of his life.

This was the first time since he ascended the throne of Wei that anyone had dared to challenge his royal authority in this way.

Qin Mi, a former official of Shu, strode forward, his wide sleeves billowing in the wind, and proclaimed in a loud voice:

"Your Majesty, I request that we send 20,000 troops to raze the barbarian strongholds of Yizhou County to the ground!"

He turned to the assembled officials and said, "When the late king was alive, even the barbarians dared not look Han officials in the eye."

"They dare to behead people as a show of force; if they are not severely punished, how can we establish our authority?"

"Doctor Qin is absolutely right!"

Peng Yang echoed loudly. He was originally a subordinate of Liu Zhang and was now the Agricultural Commandant of the Wei Kingdom.

“Your subject is well aware of the customs of the Yi people in Yizhou. These barbarians fear power but do not appreciate virtue.”

“When Liu Jiyu was in power, the local people often defied his control.”

"The fact that this scoundrel has openly killed our officials shows that he is beyond redemption."

Many officials in the hall agreed, and the chorus of voices grew louder.

Cao Pi's expression softened slightly, and he was about to speak when he suddenly saw Sima Yi cough lightly and slowly walk out from the ranks of civil officials.

"What brilliant idea does the Grand Commandant have?"

Cao Pi raised his hand to stop the ministers from discussing.

Although Sima Yi had followed the Cao family for many years.

But he never entered the true inner circle of power within the Cao family.

Fortunately, he made the right bet and placed his bet on Cao Pi.

Having rendered meritorious service in supporting the emperor, he is now ranked among the Three Dukes, and no one dares to underestimate him anymore.

Sima Yi adjusted the silver seal and blue ribbon at his waist, his voice neither hurried nor slow:
"In my opinion, there are still three doubts about this matter."

What are the three doubts?

Cao Pi asked.

Sima Yi extended a long, slender finger and analyzed methodically:
"Firstly, the barbarians have always lived in scattered places, so how could they gather and break through the Jin Guan Mansion in one night?"

"Their organization was so well-organized that it was unlike that of barbarians."

Extend the second finger:
"Secondly, the method of hanging Zhao Xian's head is an old practice of the Han army in dealing with traitorous generals. Where did the barbarians learn this from?"

As he extended his third finger, his gaze swept over Qin Mi and the others:

"Thirdly, the messenger claimed to have seen a banner with the character 'Yong,' yet said it was the work of Zhuge Liang's spies. Isn't that a contradiction?" The hall fell silent instantly.

Cao Pi squinted his eyes:

"The Grand Commandant means..."

"Yong Kai is a thief crying 'Stop thief!'"

Sima Yi took out a scroll of bamboo slips from his sleeve.

"This is the land register of Yizhou County for the past three years."

“The Yong family originally owned a thousand acres of land, but after the development of Shu brocade, their land increased by three thousand acres.”

"And the land lost by the barbarians all fell into the hands of the Yong family."

Peng Yang sneered from the side:
"Is the Grand Commandant trying to exonerate the barbarians?"

"No."

Sima Yi's gaze was sharp as a knife. "Yong Kai, when the late king was alive, was described as having the voice of a jackal and the gaze of a wolf, and would surely become a future threat."

"Now, by using the Shu brocade incident to incite chaos among the barbarians, they are actually trying to establish their own independent regime."

Cao Pi suddenly stood up, causing the teacup on the table to overturn and the brown tea to spread across the bamboo slips.

"What a fine Yong Kai!"

He gritted his teeth, "The late king's body is barely cold, how dare he..."

He suddenly coughed halfway through his sentence, and the servant quickly served him honey water.

Sima Yi stepped closer and whispered:
"Your Majesty, although I am angry about this matter, it is only a minor ailment."

"With the state recently grieving, if we were to wage a major war, the State of Qi might take advantage of the situation and invade."

Cao Pi swallowed the honey water, his expression shifting between light and dark.

He was well aware of Wei's predicament.

The Qiang people in the north were wavering, while Ma Chao in Guanzhong was eyeing them covetously.

Zhuge Liang in Jiaozhou gradually gained power and became a major threat.

But the majesty of royal power...

"Send the order! muster the troops! I will personally lead the army..."

"Your Majesty, please wait!"

Sima Yi suddenly raised his voice and reiterated his advice:

"Yong Kai's move is precisely to lure us into sending troops!"

"In order to disrupt the situation in the south, he would profit from it."

"How about this..."

Sima Yi strode forward and whispered a few words in Cao Pi's ear.

Cao Pi's brows gradually relaxed, and he finally snorted coldly before returning to his seat.

The following day at court, Cao Pi issued an edict:
"The chaos and unrest in Yizhou were all due to the harshness and tyranny of the officials."

"Dismiss the eighteen officials below the rank of Prefect of Yizhou and appoint Zheng Ang as Prefect of Yizhou, to take up his post immediately and pacify the region."

"Allow another 500,000 to ransom the captured barbarians."

Qin Mi and the others were dumbfounded.

Is Your Majesty planning to pardon the local barbarians?
"Your Majesty!"

Peng Yang advised, "Such a show of weakness will only invite ridicule from the people of Qi and Wu."

Cao Pi coldly interrupted:

"Since Minister Peng advocates war so much, why don't you go with Zheng Ang?"

Peng Yang was speechless and unable to utter a word.

After the court session, Sima Yi remained alone in the palace.

Cao Pi had changed out of his court robes and was practicing calligraphy in a side hall, his brushstrokes for the character "忍" (ren, meaning to endure) penetrating the paper.

He endured his whole life before finally ascending to the throne of King Wei.

I never expected that I would have to continue to endure this.

"Zhongda, are you sure this plan will work?"

Cao Pi didn't even raise his head, saying, "The whole court is saying that I'm a coward."

Sima Yi smiled slightly:
"In the past, Han Xin endured the humiliation of crawling between someone's legs, and eventually achieved great things."

"Yong Kai is nothing but a clown; why bother mobilizing so many people?"

"Now that the nation has suffered a great loss, we cannot act rashly."

Sima Yi also possessed political acumen.

Although he oppressed the Yi people in the south, his strategy of division made it difficult for them to form a large-scale force to fight back against the Chengdu court.

The organized and powerful rebellion of the Yi people today is clearly being instigated and guided by someone behind the scenes.

Organizing a large army to conquer it would greatly deplete the nation's resources.

As a politician, Sima Yi certainly did not want Cao Pi to do this.

His efforts to develop the Shu brocade industry were actually aimed at accumulating capital for the country to destroy the Han dynasty.

If we can save some of our strength, we should.

Zheng Ang received the order and immediately began to deal with the conflict between the Han and the Yi people after arriving in Yizhou County.

He first ordered the release of the barbarians who had been forcibly enslaved.

He also announced a pardon for Meng Yan and other Yi leaders who participated in burning the Shu brocade.

They also pledged to redefine the land boundaries between Han and Yi peoples and to prohibit powerful Han peoples from encroaching on the ancestral lands of the Yi peoples.

Meng Yan and his men were prepared to fight to the death against the imperial army, but they did not expect that Chengdu would not only not send troops to suppress them, but would also take the initiative to make concessions.

The Yi tribes were abuzz with discussion, with some suspecting it was a delaying tactic by the imperial court.

But after much deliberation, Meng Yan finally decided to accept the reassurance.

"Since the court is not going to pursue this matter, there is no need for us to make a fuss any further."

Meng Yan said to his clansmen, "If the Han people are willing to back down, then we should each take a step back and live our lives peacefully."

As a result, the situation in Yizhou Commandery gradually stabilized.

Cao Pi was a very petty person, but Sima Yi told him that retribution was inevitable, it was just a matter of time.

Once we strengthen our control over the south, we'll have plenty of opportunities to deal with these barbarians.

That's why Cao Pi chose to temporarily put the matter aside.

As the situation in Yizhou County became more and more stable, Yong Kai was extremely anxious.

He paced back and forth inside the mansion, his face grim.

He originally planned to use the barbarians to instigate a rebellion, forcing Cao Pi to send troops to suppress it.

He then used the pretext of "protecting the territory and ensuring the safety of the people" to call on the powerful clans in the south to rebel against the Wei state and establish their own independent regimes.

Unexpectedly, the imperial court sent Zheng Ang to appease the barbarians, easily resolving the crisis.

"Damn it!" Yong Kai slammed his fist on the table. "That old fox Sima Yi didn't take the bait!"

Zheng Ang was extremely shrewd; he not only appeased the Yi people but also secretly won over the powerful Han Chinese clans of Yizhou Prefecture.

This is subtly weakening Yong Kai's influence.

Now that the various ethnic groups in the south are gradually settling down, Yong Kai's ambitions are about to fall through.

Just then, a servant respectfully presented a finely crafted food box.

"Master, this is a newly arrived delicacy. Please enjoy it."

Yong Kai impatiently lifted the lid, only to find it filled with crystal-clear white sugar.

The particles are fine and shimmer faintly in the candlelight.

He had never seen such pure sugar before, and was taken aback. He picked up a small pinch and put it in his mouth.

"So sweet!" he exclaimed in surprise. "What is this?"

The servant answered respectfully:
"This product is called 'frost sugar,' and it is said to have been created by Zhuge Liang, the governor of Jiaozhou."

"Now that the Shu region has been almost completely sold out, the caravans have begun transporting goods to the southern regions."

Zhuge Liang...

Yong Kai's mind raced, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and he immediately pressed for an answer:
Who is in charge of selling this candy?

The servant shook his head and said:
"I don't know, I only heard that he is a merchant from Jiaozhou."

Yong Kai pondered for a moment, then suddenly let out a cold laugh and said to those around him:
"Investigate! We must find this candy seller!"

Those around him, not understanding his meaning, asked one after another:
"Why does the head of the family care so much about a mere merchant?"

Yong Kai narrowed his eyes and slowly said:

"This person is no ordinary merchant, capable of dumping sugar products into Sichuan and even penetrating into southern China in a short period of time."

"There must be government support behind this!"

"Then the government that supports him is naturally Zhuge Liang, the inventor of this frosting sugar."

"The person who could be entrusted by Zhuge Liang to be in charge of such important trade must be one of his confidants!"

He stood up, his eyes gleaming with ambition:
"If we find him, we can get in touch with Zhuge Liang!"

Several days later, Yong Kai's men finally found Zhang Hong, the Jiaozhou envoy in charge of the sugar trade.

Zhang Hong, courtesy name Zigang.

He now serves as an official in Jiaozhou under Zhuge Liang, specifically responsible for commerce and diplomacy.

He was ordered by Zhuge Liang to use a caravan as cover to dump sugar products.

In addition, it was specifically mentioned that, if possible, one should try to secretly contact the anti-Wei forces in Shu and Nanzhong.

When Yong Kai's envoy found him, Zhang Hong did not avoid him, but accepted the invitation readily.

"The Yong family is a prominent clan in the south. If we can obtain their assistance, it will greatly benefit your great cause."

Zhang Hong pondered this in his heart, then straightened his clothes and went to the Yong residence to keep the appointment.

Yong Kai personally greeted them outside the mansion gate, his face beaming with smiles.
"I have long admired Mr. Zhang's name, and it is truly an honor to meet him today!"

Zhang Hong smiled slightly, cupped his hands, and said:
"You're too kind, Lord Yong. I'm just a merchant; how could I possibly deserve such hospitality?"

Yong Kai laughed loudly:

"Why be modest, sir? To be entrusted with such an important task by Lord Zhuge, you are no ordinary person."

Because of Zhuge Liang's outstanding achievements in governing Jiaozhou, his reputation gradually spread.

Yong Kai, who was in southern Sichuan, had naturally heard a little about it.

Subsequently, Yong Kai invited Zhang Hong to his residence.

Inside the mansion, candlelight flickered.

Zhang Hong sat upright at the table, savoring the unique bitter tea from the south, his expression serene.

Yong Kai, with a broad smile, personally poured him a cup of mead and said:
"Sir, you have come from afar, and I have no way to express my respect."

"Only a cup of wine can express my feelings."

Zhang Hong smiled slightly, raised his cup and took a sip, and said:

"I am deeply grateful for Lord Yong's kindness."

Yong Kai's eyes flickered, and he tentatively asked:
"I've heard that you were a renowned scholar from Xuzhou. How did you end up in Jiaozhou?"

Zhang Hong put down his wine cup, a trace of sorrow flashing in his eyes, and slowly said:
“In the past, Cao Cao’s troops invaded Xuzhou and slaughtered the people.”

"Without a choice, Hong moved his whole family south, leaving their hometown."

Upon hearing this, Yong Kai was secretly delighted.

He then feigned indignation and slammed his fist on the table, saying:
"The traitor Cao is brutal, and the whole world is outraged!"

"The sir and the Cao family are sworn enemies!"

Zhang Hong nodded and sighed:

"Exactly."

Yong Kai was overjoyed and quickly said:

"To be honest, my ancestor was Yong Chi, the Marquis of Shifang during the Han Dynasty."

"Having received the Han's favor and enjoyed the Han's bounty for generations, if one does not think of repaying the country, how is one different from a beast?"

"Cao Pi will usurp the Han throne sooner or later, so how could I possibly help the traitor Cao to usurp the throne?"

"Therefore, Kai has long harbored the desire to serve the Han Dynasty, but he regrets that his strength is insufficient!"

Zhang Hong sneered inwardly. Yong Kai was ambitious and clearly wanted to use the name of the Han Dynasty to establish his own independent regime.

But he remained outwardly calm, feigning emotion, and cupped his hands in greeting, saying:

"Loyalty and righteousness of Duke Yong are truly admirable!"

Seeing that Zhang Hong believed him, Yong Kai was secretly pleased and continued:
"I originally intended to use the barbarians to incite chaos in Yizhou, and then raise an army to respond to the Han Dynasty."

"However, Sima Yi was cunning and treacherous, and he actually sent Zheng Ang to pacify the barbarians, which caused my plan to fail."

Zhang Hong smiled faintly and said:
"Although the barbarians are brave, they lack strategy. How can they possibly defeat Sima Yi?"

"If Duke Yong expects them to succeed, he is being far too naive."

Yong Kai frowned and asked in a deep voice:

"Then, in your opinion, what should I do?"

Zhang Hong's gaze was deep as he slowly said:

"What the barbarians need is a wise ruler."

"Only by being able to command them can we unleash their true power."

Yong Kai was taken aback, then pointed to himself and said:

"Sir, are you referring to...so-and-so?"

Zhang Hong nodded and said, "That's right."

Yong Kai was silent for a moment, then sighed:

"Although I have this intention, the time is not yet right."

Zhang Hong sneered and said:
"A true man should not be indecisive."

"If you, Lord Yong, are so timid and hesitant, you might as well surrender to Cao Wei as soon as possible and live a peaceful life as a good citizen!"

Provoked by this, Yong Kai's face flushed red, and he slammed his hand on the table, saying:

"Sir, you are mistaken! How could I be a coward who fears death?"

Zhang Hong said calmly, "Then what is Lord Yong waiting for?"

Yong Kai gritted his teeth, pondered for a long time, and finally made up his mind, saying in a low voice:

"Sir, what are my chances of winning if I were to raise an army?"

Zhang Hong smiled slightly and said:
"With the power of Duke Yong in Yizhou Commandery, killing the governor and raising the banner of rebellion would be as easy as turning his hand."

“The barbarians have been oppressed by the Wei officials for a long time. Once Duke Yong raises his arm and calls for help, they will surely be met with a great number of people.”

"The terrain in the south is treacherous, and the Wei army cannot hold out for long."

"If Duke Yong establishes his own power base here and responds to the Han dynasty, wouldn't that be an easy victory?"

Upon hearing this, Yong Kai's eyes blazed with ambition. He gripped Zhang Hong's hand tightly and exclaimed excitedly:

"Sir, your words have truly enlightened me, like the clouds parting to reveal the sun, and have cleared my mind!"

"I am willing to follow your advice, sir!"

Zhang Hong nodded with a smile and said:

"Lord Yong is loyal and righteous; the court will certainly not betray him."

"I will immediately write to Lord Zhuge, requesting him to provide Duke Yong with provisions and military equipment."

"As for matters of righteousness and legitimacy, this is not something that Lord Zhuge can decide."

"The answer will only be known after the report is submitted to the imperial court."

"However, Lord Yong, rest assured that the imperial court will surely issue an edict to legitimize your name."

The implication is that Zhang Hong would not only write to Zhuge Liang asking him to provide Yong Kai with money and provisions.

They would also submit a memorial to the imperial court in Luoyang, requesting that Yong Kai be given a formal title.

Yong Kai was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly.

Zhang Hong added, "During this period, I will stay here temporarily to assist Lord Yong in his plans."

Upon hearing this, Yong Kai was overjoyed and immediately took Zhang Hong's hand, saying:

"Sir, you are truly my soulmate! From this day forward, I will share meals and lodging with you, and work together to accomplish great things!"

If Zhang Hong was previously suspected of instigating others...

But when he agreed to stay and help him, Yong Kai dispelled all his doubts.

He was convinced that Zhang Hong genuinely wanted to help him "rebel," which was a stroke of good luck!

From then on, Yong Kai and Zhang Hong were inseparable.

They traveled together, ate together, and slept together, like a pair of friends despite their age difference.

Meanwhile, Zhang Hong had secretly sent a trusted confidant back to Jiaozhou, awaiting Zhuge Liang's reply.

……

Cangwu County is unbearably hot and humid at night.

The governor's mansion was brightly lit with candles.

Zhuge Liang held a feather fan, and spread out Zhang Hong's secret letter on his desk, showing no sign of fatigue.

"What a fine Yong Kai."

He chuckled softly, tapping the letter with his feather fan. "She does know how to leverage opportunities."

Jiang Wan, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but say:

"My lord, this man is a wolf in sheep's clothing. He only wants to use the name of our great Han Dynasty to carry out his separatist regime."

"Gongyan."

Zhuge Liang raised his eyes, the tip of his fan lightly touching his chin. "Do you know the terrain of the South?"

Jiang Wan was taken aback, then replied:

"Surrounded by mountains and shrouded in miasma, the Han army found it difficult to enter."

"good."

Zhuge Liang rose and walked toward the hanging map. "If Yong Kai rebels, Cao Wei will surely send troops to suppress him."

“The south is treacherous. Every day the Wei army stays there, it depletes the nation’s strength.”

The feather fan drew an arc on the map.

"Sima Yi went to great lengths to develop in Shu and increase the country's strength."

"If the South China Sea becomes a bleeding wound for him, do you think this is beneficial or harmful to our country?"

Jiang Wan's eyes lit up, and he bowed slightly, saying, "This humble official understands."

How much profit did Jiaozhou white sugar make this month?

Zhuge Liang then changed the subject and asked a question.

"Equivalent to approximately 30,000 bushels of grain and provisions."

Zhuge Liang nodded and lightly tapped his feather fan:

"Give Yong Kai two hundred bushels of white sugar, along with one hundred sets of armor, fifty warhorses, and sixty live pigs."

Seeing the puzzled look on Jiang Wan's face, he explained:

"White sugar can be used for military trade, and live pigs can meet the meat needs of the barbarians—"

"We must let all the ethnic groups in the south know that following Yong Kai will bring them meat."

The attendant took the order and left.

Zhuge Liang spread out a silk scroll, picked up a brush, and dipped it in ink:
"This matter must be reported to His Majesty."

Zhuge Liang strongly urged Liu Bei to issue an edict supporting Yong Kai's rebellion in the south.

The truly sophisticated form of international power struggle is actually about spending money to bleed others dry.

The southern barbarians were incredibly fierce and brave, coupled with the harsh climate there.

That's enough to give the Wei army a hard time!
……

(End of this chapter)