Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 339: Farewell Banquet, Planning to Attack Hebei

"Today is a small banquet, please feel free to join us!"

Inside the hall, seeing the officials from Long sitting there acting reserved, Zhang Yu raised his wine jar and said, "I will be returning to Hedong soon, and the affairs of Longyou will be in your hands. I hope you will not disappoint me!"

Zhang Ze led the officials of Longyou to stand up and toast, saying: "Please rest assured, my lord, I will work with you to ensure the safety of Longyou for the court and you."

As an official of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Ze still remembered the court in his heart, but he also knew that Zhang Yu was the ruler of Longyou, so he often put the court before Zhang Yu. However, Zhang Ze's preference had no effect on Zhang Yu, and his request for Longyou now put stability first.

Moreover, Yuan Shu welcomed the Han emperor in Wancheng. If the Han Dynasty perished at the hands of Yuan Shu, it would not be Zhang Yu's fault, and Zhang could not blame Zhang Yu. And it was precisely because of Yuan Shu that Zhang Yu had recently become more bold in employing people, selecting people based on their talents and character first, and whether they were loyal to the Han Dynasty second.

"My father-in-law is a local and is appointed as the county governor. He can be said to have returned home in glory."

Zhang Yu toasted Guo Xian and said, "However, I chose you to be the governor not because you and I are related by marriage, but because you have the ability to govern a prefecture. The people of Huangzhong have complicated sentiments, with more Qiang people than Han people. Only those who are familiar with the people can be competent. From now on, you will be the governor of Xiping County, and you need to pacify Huangzhong for me."

"I will try my best and live up to your expectations!" The handsome Guo Xian stood up from the table and replied with a bow.

"good!"

Seeing that Zhang Yu got along well with his father, the pretty Guo Huang was delighted. He considerately picked up food for Zhang Yu and poured wine for him, appearing to be quite considerate.

Compared to the Han woman Guo Huang, the Qiang woman Yang Lu, who was sitting on the other side of Zhang Yu, hesitated for a while, then continued to eat with her head down. However, Yang Qianwan was very anxious, and winked at his sister Yang Lu, indicating that he should get closer to Zhang Yu. Yang Lu bit her lip, moved closer to Zhang Yu, and imitated Guo Huang in picking up food for Zhang Yu.

"My lord, my sister is shy, different from other girls. I hope you will take care of her."

After drinking a lot of wine, Yang Qianwan became more and more bold in his words, saying, "At the beginning, I believed Han Sui's words and sent troops to fight against you. From now on, the Changli Qiang will follow your lead, and I am willing to serve as your vanguard."

Yang Qianwan was not used to the transformation from an enemy to a relative, so he could only speak to make his position clear to Zhang Yu and everyone else.

Seeing her brother speaking for her in front of everyone, Yang Lu's cheeks instantly turned red with shame. She glared at her brother and didn't dare to look up to see anyone.

"Ha ha!
Zhang Yu laughed a few times, put his arms around the shy Yang Lu, and said, "If you need troops, I will send someone to inform you. After I leave Longyou, if there are rebels in Longyou, I hope they can wait for the order of the Shiyi Army."

It is often said that Hu women are unrestrained, but now Yang Lu and Guo Huang's personalities are the opposite. Guo Huang is bolder, while Yang Lu is more introverted. In addition to their personalities, the two of them need not say much about their looks. Even in Zhang Yu's backyard, they are remarkable, which makes Zhang Yu, who is aiming for a political marriage, even happier.

Yang Qianwan patted the seal on his waist and said carelessly: "I am a Han official, I will act according to the rules!"

"it is good!"

"Drink!"

Seeing Zhang Yu holding the Qiang woman Yang Lu in his arms and chatting and laughing freely with the leaders of the Qiang, Di and Hu people, which was not in accordance with the rules of etiquette, Yang Fu, who was present at the meeting, could not help but frown. He wanted to stand up and persuade him, but was held by Zhao Ang at his side.

"Your Excellency was drinking and chatting with the Qiang people, why did Yishan stand up?" Zhao Ang asked.

Yang Fu whispered, "The difference between men and women is a national principle. Your Excellency is the king, but you are being intimate with a concubine during this grand banquet. This is not in accordance with etiquette!" Zhao Ang frowned and said, "Since your Excellency entered Ji County, you have been treating people with respect. Although there have been some minor indecencies, it has never been impolite. This is the etiquette of the Han family. Now, if you are having fun with the Qiang people and are bound by the etiquette of the Han family, wouldn't it make the Qiang people uncomfortable? Moreover, your Excellency can be intimate with a Qiang girl, which shows that he is not different from the Han and Qiang. Between etiquette and righteousness, righteousness should be put first, and etiquette should be put second."

After Zhao Ang's persuasion, Yang Fu shook his head and sighed, and no longer had the intention of standing up to persuade him.

Zhang Yu boasted that he could win the hearts of both the Hu and Han people, but the actual situation was that there had been many conflicts of ideas between the Han and Hu people since they got along with each other, and they even found it difficult to regard Zhang Yu as one of their own.

Among the Han aristocratic families, if it were not for the endorsement of the Wang family of Taiyuan and the Cai family of Chenliu by marriage, many Han aristocratic families would probably look down on Zhang Yu. A typical example is Yuan Shu's use of the metaphor of "herding sheep and horses" to mock Zhang Yu's background.

In the Hu tribe, Zhang Yu knew the Hu customs and could speak the Hu language, but he was essentially a foreigner. If Zhang Yu had not subdued them and taken women from his tribe as concubines, using marriage to win over everyone, it would have been difficult for them to concentrate on working for Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu knew the contradictions, so he simply divided the Han and Hu tribes, and tried to use Han people who were familiar with Hu customs or Hu people who were loyal to him to govern Qiang and Hu tribes, so as to ease the contradictions between Han and Hu tribes under his rule. It was because of the contradictions between Han and Hu tribes that Zhang Yu planned to use the Sultan's personal soldiers, establish the Zhongtiao Army, and use Hanized Hu people to govern the Hu tribe.

In a multi-ethnic regime, it is necessary to establish the dominant ethnic group, but how to make the dominant ethnic group firmly rule the minority ethnic groups and how to make the minority ethnic groups feel at ease with being ruled by a foreign ethnic group is a great test of the leader's prestige and political means. This requires Zhang Yu to switch roles between the two and be impartial.

As time passed, the banquet came to an end and everyone left in order. Only Man Chong stayed in the hall because Zhang Yu had informed him.

"Bo Ning, come forward!"

"Servant is here!"

Zhang Yu asked Guo Huang and Yang Lu to go back to the house first, while he invited Man Chong to sit opposite him.

"I ordered you to be the governor of Wudu County in the past, in order to intimidate Longyou in the south and cut off the road between Bashu and Longyou. Since you took office, you have eliminated the nobles, fortified the city and cut off the road, which is a merit for the security of the border. When you went to Longyou, you led the troops to lift the siege of Ji County, and then fought against the bandits in Longxi, helping me to pacify Longyou. You have the ambition to be a marquis."

Zhang Yu pondered and said, "Now that Longyou has surrendered and Hanzhong has sent envoys to make peace, Wudu will be safe. If Bo Ning is allowed to be the governor of Wudu again, I am afraid that his talent will be wasted. So I wonder what position Bo Ning wants to take. Is he willing to be transferred to Guanzhong?"

The reason why Zhang Yu asked Man Chong about his intention was purely because he took into account that Man Chong had a high prestige in Wudu County and that the Wudu army was established by Man Chong himself. Now, whether it was to better utilize Man Chong's talents or to prevent Man Chong from becoming too powerful, Zhang Yu had to transfer Man Chong's official position in a timely manner.

Man Chong said solemnly: "Whether I am appointed as the governor of Wudu County or I lead troops to station in Guanzhong, I am willing to be at your disposal!"

"it is good!"

Zhang Yu pondered for a moment and said, "If Bo Ning stays in Wudu, he will have no place to use his military power. I have been planning to attack Hebei for a long time. We will have to fight Yuan Shao in the next two years. So Bo Ning might as well lead his troops to Hongnong to station troops, and Yan Xing will be the deputy general. What do you think?"

Man Chong said without hesitation: "Your Excellency wants to attack Hebei, and I am willing to serve you. But I don't know when you need to go to Hongnong?"

Zhang Yu said: "Bo Ning should return to Wudu first, and arrive in Hongnong in February next year. And before you leave, you will concurrently serve as the governor of Wudu."

"As ordered!"

ps: The fever has resurfaced, so I can only update in 4k today.

(End of this chapter)