Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 347: Help Zhang, or Help Yuan
"The Master said, 'If a ruler loves propriety, then the people will not dare to be disrespectful. If a ruler loves righteousness, then the people will not dare to be disobedient. If a ruler loves trustworthiness, then the people will not dare to be disloyal. If this is the case, then people from all corners of the country will come with their children in their arms, so why would they need to farm?' You can just register the land to encourage hard work, but why do you have to go outside the city every day to cultivate the land?"

Seeing Zhang Yu returning covered in mud, Wang Ji was a little dissatisfied and said, "To abandon the big things and focus on the small things now, I am afraid this is not what a superior should do."

Zhang Yu took off his dirty robe and said, "We have been fighting for years and the army has no food for a month. If we don't store food this year, how can we support the army next year? Without food, how can we defeat Yuan Shao?"

Wang Ji said in a slightly slower tone, "My husband, if you cultivate one acre, you can get a few shi at most. Now it is better to be diligent in governing and persuade the people to cultivate one more acre. This can get tens of thousands of shi."

"Madam, what you said makes sense, but if the superiors don't do it, how can the subordinates be convinced?"

Zhang Yu, with the help of his maid, soaked himself in the tub, enjoying the hot water and saying, "This year I ordered the troops to take over the land and cultivate it. All the troops were dissatisfied. However, because I personally took the lead in cultivating the land, the troops dared not complain."

In order to raise food for the army next year, Zhang Yu asked each army to receive one mu of land per person for military settlement. For 1.5 people, mu of land was used, and for an army of people, mu of land was used. After deducting the cost, each mu had to pay dan of land. In a year, mu could generate about dan of land. Although dan was only enough for soldiers to eat for one month, it at least helped to share some of the food for the next year.

As for why the various tribes were dissatisfied with military settlements, the reason is not difficult to understand.

The soldiers of various departments joined the army to eat, not to farm. After all, if they wanted to farm, wouldn't it be better to farm at home, where all the income would belong to themselves, while the output of farming in the army would belong to the general's mansion.

Hearing this, Wang Ji fell silent. She didn't expect that Zhang Yu took the lead in cultivating the fields in order to appease the dissatisfaction of the soldiers.

"My husband's insights are profound, I'm sorry I can't comprehend them!"

Wang Ji asked the maid to step aside, and she rubbed Zhang Yu's shoulders herself, saying, "I heard that Youzhou is interested in forming an alliance with you, husband. What do you think?"

Zhang Yu closed his eyes and enjoyed the bath, saying: "Youzhou and Bingzhou have been friends for many years, and Liu He is the descendant of Liu, the King of Donghai, and the blood of Emperor Taizu. If Luo'er can marry him now, not only will Youzhou surrender to me, but it will also be beneficial for the Liu clan to return to their hearts."

Wang Ji gently pinched Zhang Yu's well-proportioned muscles and asked, "But if Luo'er succeeds your husband, will Liu be able to convince you?"

Zhang Yu said calmly, "Wenhe advised me with the story of Emperor Wen, saying that if Liu Shi is virtuous, she can assist Emperor Wen, and if she is not virtuous, she can be dismissed. If Luo Er is the heir, it would be fine to treat Liu Shi as such."

Perhaps because they were both women, Wang Ji suddenly felt depressed. She massaged Zhang Yu for a while and asked, "If I were Liu, how would my husband treat me?"

Zhang Yu opened his eyes and looked back at Wang Ji, smiling and saying, "Madam is very virtuous. We should keep her as our successor and rule the world with me."

As he spoke, Zhang Yu stretched out his wet hand, lifted Wang Ji's chin, and said in a flirtatious manner: "Beauty, would you like to sleep with me tonight?"

Compared to the immaturity ten years ago, Wang Ji can now be described as charming and her voluptuous figure makes Zhang Yu love her very much.

Wang Ji rolled his eyes at Zhang Yu and said, "Since you want to use Luo'er for marriage, then you should treat Donghai Liu well and don't make things difficult for Luo'er in the future."

With that, Wang Ji stood up and left, saying to the maid, "Help the prince take a good bath!"

"promise!"

Seeing that Wang Ji wanted to leave, Zhang Yu was not one to indulge a woman. While she was not paying attention, he grabbed Wang Ji with one hand and held her in his arms.

"what!"

Wang Ji suddenly felt his body lose balance and screamed subconsciously, but then he found himself being rubbed wetly in Zhang Yu's arms. He immediately hugged him and said angrily, "Let go quickly. There are people here now. How can this be a disgrace."

The maids were very perceptive and when they saw that the prince was trying to play tricks, they quietly retreated.

"No one's here today!"

"Husband, please wash up and come back to the house later, okay?"

"No!"

"Don't mess with my new gauze skirt!"

"Sigh~"

Soon the bathing room was filled with spring scenery. The maids stood guard outside the door, listening to the noise with red faces.

……

While Zhang Yu was farming in Anyi, Lu Bu, who was far away in Yanzhou, was worried about the situation.

Changyi, the county seat.

In the hall, Lu Bu paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, looking worried for some unknown reason.

Looking in the direction of the voice, he saw Chen Gong already at the door. Lu Bu stepped forward and said, "Gongtai, I received a letter from Xuzhou today. I don't know what to do. Please help me with some advice."

"I wonder what Tao Xuzhou talked about in the letter?" Chen Gong asked.

Lu Bu handed the letter to Chen Gong and said, "Gao Gan and Cao Cao are marching towards Xia Pi, Tao Shang has asked for help from our army, but I don't know whether to send troops to ask for help from Xuzhou."

With the help of Yuan Shao, Gao Gan used political means to gain the support of the generals of Mount Tai, and now led his troops to march towards Xiapi. Tao Shang knew that he was not talented enough, so after using Cao Bao to lead the troops, he hurriedly asked for help from Lu Bu and Yuan Shu, hoping that the two could send troops to help him out.

After reading the letter for a while, Chen Gong asked, "Why are you worried, sir?"

Lu Bu sat on the couch, looking worried, and said, "I am now close to Zhang Yu and Yuan Shu, and I have a deep hatred for Yuan Shao. If I let Yuan Shao take Xuzhou, he will definitely not tolerate me. Therefore, according to the saying that lips and teeth are cold, our army should rescue Xuzhou. However, my troops are few, and if we rescue Xuzhou, I am afraid we are no match for Gao Gan and Cao Cao."

Chen Gong hesitated for a moment and said, "Xuzhou still has tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, so it is more than enough to hold on. Gao Gan is brave but not wise, and Cao Cao is not interested in Xuzhou, so if you go to Xuzhou to rescue it, it may not be impossible. Moreover, Yuan Shu has ambitions in the Central Plains. Now that he sees Yuan Shao eyeing Xuzhou from the south, he must be angry. Maybe you can ask Yuan Shu for troops and go with him to rescue it."

Lu Bu said, "In that case, then I will agree to Tao Shang's request and say that I will lead troops to support him. And Lao Gongtai will send an envoy to Yuan Shu to ask him to send generals and troops to attack Gao Gan's troops together."

"good!"

Chen Gong was worried and asked hesitantly, "May I ask you, sir? If Zhang Yu and Yuan Shu turn against each other, will you support Zhang or Yuan?"

"Why does Gongtai say this?"

Lu Bu frowned and said, "Zhang Yu and Yuan Shu are friends now, and they are working together to resist Yuan Shao. How can there be talk of them turning against each other?"

Seeing Lü Bu's shallow eyes, Chen Gong sighed and said, "Zhang Yu and Yuan Shao are fighting for the battle of Hebei. If Zhang Yu loses, you will certainly help Yuan Shu. However, if Zhang Yu wins, Yuan Shu will see that Zhang Yu is powerful and will definitely help Yuan Shao with all his strength. I wonder if you can stay out of trouble at that time?"

"What does Gongtai think?" asked Lu Bu.

Chen Gong shook his head and said, "I'm sorry that I can't make a definite conclusion. Zhang Yu and Yuan Shu both have their strengths. Since you and I rely on Yuan Shu, there is no need to worry about helping Yuan Shu. However, Zhang Yu's military tactics are similar to those of Bai and Han. If he can defeat Yuan Shao, he may be able to rule the world."

After a pause, Chen Gong said worriedly, "But Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu are brothers. If the two join forces, I'm afraid Zhang Yu will not be a match for the Yuan family."

Chen Gong knew Yuan Shu's terrifying war potential. If Yuan Shao was defeated by Zhang Yu, the situation would be critical. Yuan Shu might take the opportunity to go north for the sake of the Yuan family. The most dangerous situation at that time would be that the two Yuans joined forces to resist Zhang Yu. In this process, if Lu Bu stood on Zhang Yu's side, he would bear the brunt.

Lü Bu looked uncertain and asked, "According to Gongtai's words, are you trying to persuade me to surrender to Yuan Shu?"

Chen Gong observed Lü Bu's expression and said, "The world is in great turmoil. A virtuous person will eventually unify the world. Yuan Shu holds the emperor's throne and has three states under his control. He is marching west to Bashu. Our army was able to survive because of Yuan Shu's support. Therefore, it may be beneficial for you to ally with Yuan Shu."

The relationship between Lu Bu and Chen Gong was more like an alliance than a monarch-subject relationship. The only difference was that Lu Bu had more soldiers and was the governor of Yanzhou appointed by the imperial court, so he was the one who made the decision for the alliance.

Because Yuan Shu provided a lot of military supplies to Lu Bu, many of Lu Bu's civil and military officials were greatly influenced by Yuan Shu. For example, Yuan Shu admired Chen Gong very much and often sent envoys to appease him, so Chen Gong was biased towards Yuan Shu.

Lu Bu stood up and said in a deep voice, "Zhang Yu and I have a deep friendship. When I was in trouble, Zhang Yu sent people to help me many times. I can't bear to betray Zhang Yu and choose Yuan!"

Chen Gong asked in return: "Can the envoy betray Yuan Shu for Zhang Yu?"

Lu Bu glanced at Chen Gong and fell silent again.

After a while, Lu Bu said, "Zhang Yu and Yuan Shu are still on good terms, so let's not discuss this matter for now. Let's save Xuzhou first. If we can save Xuzhou, then you and I will not be alone!"

"Sir, please lead the troops to Xuzhou, and I am willing to lead the old and weak to defend the city." Chen Gong suggested.

After what happened just now, Lu Bu was afraid of Chen Gong and said, "Gongtai is good at military strategy. I am fighting with Gao Gan and Cao Cao, and I cannot leave you. Please accompany me. The defense of the city can be entrusted to Wei Xu."

"it is good!"

Chen Gong did not doubt Lu Bu's intention and said, "In this case, I will send an envoy to Wancheng first and ask Chenliu for food and soldiers."

"Thank you for your help, public platform!"

After chatting for a few words, Lu Bu looked at Chen Gong's departing back, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he thought of Zhang Yu's letter a few days ago.

In order to win over Lü Bu, Zhang Yu recalled their friendship in the letter and said that people from Guandong could not be trusted, only the villagers could be trusted. Zhang Yu warned Lü Bu that Cao Cao treated Chen Gong well, but Chen Gong still betrayed Cao Cao, which made Lü Bu dare not trust Chen Gong.

(End of this chapter)