Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 80 Joining the Army
In the first month, Zhang Yu and Guo Tu presented the Ten Thousand People Umbrella to ask Emperor Liu Hong of Han to pardon Wang Yun. Because Zhang Yu went to the capital without an imperial edict to save Wang Yun, he was detained in the imperial prison.

Liu Hong summoned Wang Yun to consult him about matters in Yuzhou. Wang Yun gave him meaningful answers and offered five suggestions for governing the country, which greatly pleased Liu Hong.

Upon hearing the news, He Jin and Yuan Wei jointly submitted a memorial to the emperor, again reporting on Wang Yun's benevolent policies since he took office and listing his achievements in detail.

Liu Hong issued an edict, ordering the Supreme Court to release Wang Yun and allowing Wang Yun to resume his original post as the Governor of Yuzhou.

That afternoon, Liu Hong used the reason that Zhang Yan of the Black Mountain Army had repeatedly invaded Henei, so Wang Yun was transferred from the Governor of Yuzhou to the Governor of Henei in order to appease the Black Mountain Army.

After going to prison, Wang Yun was promoted from the Governor of Yuzhou to the Prefect of Henei in the capital area, which was really a good deal.

Not only that, Wang Yun gained a lot of fame because of the Yuzhou people's umbrella, which was widely praised by the people. This was in sharp contrast to the historical situation in which he fled to the rivers and lakes after being released from prison.

At this time, Zhang Yu was staying in the cold imperial prison. It must be said that the imperial prison was very cold.

However, Wang Yun reversed his roles, from a prisoner to a senior official with a salary of 2,000 stones, and went to visit Zhang Yu with Guo Tu, Cheng Pu and Wang Chen.

"Ji'an has been running around for me for a long time, but now he is in prison. I am really ashamed!"

Wang Yun said with a hint of gratitude in his tone, "If it weren't for Ji'an's offering of the Ten Thousand People's Umbrella, I would probably still be in the imperial prison."

As the person involved, Wang Yun knew very well that he had offended Zhang Rang and the situation was very unfavorable to him. If Zhang Yu had not met His Majesty through Madam Cheng and presented the Umbrella of the People, Liu Hong would probably have had no impression of Wang Yun, let alone summoned him personally and promoted him to be the governor of Henei.

However, because he is the elder and his identity is stuck, there are many things Wang Yun cannot say directly and can only mention them briefly.

Fortunately, Zhang Yu heard the gratitude in Wang Yun's tone and said with a smile: "Your Excellency is not only my elder, but also my old master. Now that your Excellency is in trouble, how dare I sit idly by? Moreover, your imprisonment is not your fault, but it is the law. If local officials are not punished without the imperial edict, the law will not exist!"

Wang Yun sighed deeply, thinking that he and his brother had not misjudged Zhang Yu. It was a blessing for the Wang family to accept such a good man as a son-in-law.

At first, I felt that Zhang Yu was trying to climb above his station, but now it seems that Zhang Yu's own talents are worthy of many nobles. Even if I hadn't promoted him, Zhang Yu would definitely not be mediocre.

"Don't worry, Ji'an. I have submitted a petition with other ministers, tracing Ji'an's achievements and requesting Your Majesty to release Ji'an from prison in order to promote Confucianism." Wang Yun assured.

"Thank you so much, envoy!"

"Just call me uncle!" Wang Yun said lovingly.

Zhang Yu was not too worried about being released from prison. His behavior was in line with the current social morality, and what he had violated was actually a conflict between reason and law.

Running around to save his former master and breaking the law is a topical behavior that will excite many people. In order to maintain social values, they will naturally advocate that Zhang Yu is not guilty.

After Wang Yun was released, with Wang Yun's support, he would not stay in prison for a long time. Not to mention that he was famous, Yuan Shu and Madam Cheng would most likely help him out of investment needs.

Why would the two of them do that?

In fact, it is not difficult to understand that Zhang Yu would go to jail for Wang Yun, so how could he bite back at someone who had done him a favor?
From the perspective of interests, repaying kindness is actually an investment behavior. After all, no one will help an ungrateful person.

For example, before Liu Bei entered Yizhou, he changed many superiors, but his reputation was still very good. The reason was that Liu Bei knew how to repay his superiors and never betrayed them. Even when he stabbed Cao Cao in the back, Liu Bei still had a legitimate reason.

Therefore, before going to prison, Zhang Yu considered the pros and cons. In order to make further progress, it was necessary to temporarily endure the unbearable environment of the imperial prison.

Zhang Yu hesitated for a moment and advised, "Uncle, Zhang Rang is favored by His Majesty and his influence is widespread throughout the court and the country. If it weren't for your past merits in governing Yuzhou, even with the support of the Ten Thousand People, it would be difficult to get your uncle out of prison."

As he spoke, Zhang Yu leaned close to Wang Yun's ear and whispered, "According to the Henan Yin, the general is planning to covet the eunuchs. Uncle should keep him useful and not act too hastily. If we alert the enemy now, or even hurt your uncle, wouldn't that be a pity?"

Yuan Shu recently revealed the news of He Jin's plot to become a eunuch to Zhang Yu. In order to prevent Wang Yun from continuing to oppose Zhang Rang, Zhang Yu had to say this.

Wang Yun nodded slightly and said, "Zhang Rang is favored by your majesty. Impeachment in the memorial is not enough to bring him to justice. Therefore, this matter needs to be considered carefully. Now that we have the general in charge, we can take our time!"

If Zhang Yu had said this before, Wang Yun might have remained indifferent. But Wang Yun had suffered enough in the imperial prison and was still in fear. And with He Jin as the general leading the way, Wang Yun naturally listened to him.

After a pause, Wang Yun smiled and said, "The general has heard of Ji'an's reputation and now intends to recruit Ji'an as an official in the general's office."

Zhang Yu thought for a moment and said, "To be honest with you, uncle, I have no intention of being a general's staff member. Now the country is in danger, and I am willing to join the army to serve the country." Although Zhang Yu was only about 20 years old, he was famous in Luoyang for his imprisonment for his former master. At the same time, Wang Yun was promoted to the governor of Henei by Liu Hong because of the people of Yuzhou who presented the Wanmin Umbrella to him. He had become a famous person in the country.

It is not difficult to understand why He Jin planned to recruit Zhang Yu in order to win over Wang Yun. However, Zhang Yu had no intention of joining He Jin's shogunate. After all, if he joined the shogunate, his development in the future would be restricted.

As for devoting himself to something, it was a development path that Zhang Yu came up with after deep thought.

He is now a county magistrate. According to his salary, he can be promoted to a prefect, governor, minister, prime minister, etc. However, with his current qualifications and talents, he is not qualified to hold such positions.

In order to get promoted as quickly as possible, he undoubtedly switched from being a county magistrate to a military officer, and the only way to get promoted quickly was through military merit.

In the Eastern Han Dynasty, it was very slow to enter the government with military merit, but if an official could make military achievements, he could be promoted quickly. Take Zhu Jun as an example. He came from a poor family and it was obviously a pipe dream for him to become a senior official. However, Zhu Jun rose strongly with his military achievements.

When he was the magistrate of Lanling County, a serious rebellion broke out in Jiaozhou. Zhu Jun was appointed as the governor of Jiaozhou and led 5,000 soldiers to quell the rebellion in Jiaozhou. Zhu Jun was then summoned to the court to serve as a counselor, and it was after that that he led his troops to suppress the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

Zhu Jun's example gave Zhang Yu a direction to emulate. If he could lead the troops in battle this time, Zhang Yu, who had returned to a familiar environment, might be able to be quickly promoted with his military merits. He should try his best to be prepared before the chaotic times begin.

Wang Yun nodded and said, "There are many famous people in the general's mansion. Ji'an is young and can learn from the sages, but it will be difficult for him to make a name for himself. Ji'an has strategy and is good at archery and horse riding. If he joins the army, he may be able to make achievements."

As he spoke, Wang Yun remembered something and said, "Ji'an, according to the military report, the Xianbei went south to plunder You and Bing."

Zhang Yu frowned and said, "Han and Xianbei have been trading with each other for two years, and there has never been a war on the border. Why are they suddenly going south to plunder?"

"I don't know the details yet. Governor Bi is sending people to the border to ask why the Xianbei Chanyu suddenly went south to plunder." Wang Yun said, "If there is any news from Chanhewu, I will inform Ji'an!"

"Thank you uncle!"

The sudden news really disturbed Zhang Yu's mind and made him quite worried. But since he was far away in Luoyang, he could only hope that his family was okay.

Zhang Yu was also particularly puzzled as to why the Xianbei suddenly tore up the trade treaty and marched south to plunder.

Seeing Zhang Yu's worry, Cheng Pu, Wang Chen and Guo Tu said soothing words.

Because they had stayed in the prison for too long, Wang Yun was urged by the jailer to take his men out of the prison.

Before leaving, Zhang Yu thought about the Xianbei's southward plundering, and suddenly an idea came to him. He shouted, "Uncle, wait a moment!"

"What's the matter?"

Zhang Yu hesitated for a moment and said, "Now the Xianbei are raiding the border in the south. I would like to return to Bingzhou to serve in the army. I wonder if my uncle can..."

"Can!"

Wang Yun nodded and said, "Ji'an has written a letter of voluntary petition, which I will present to Your Majesty to see if you can allow Ji'an to return to Bingzhou to take up his post."

"Thank you uncle!"

Zhang Yu waved his hand and said, "Brother, come here!"

Wang Chen put his ear closer, Zhang Yu muttered a few words, told Wang Chen to go find Mrs. Cheng, and then let Wang Chen go.

The war in the northwest is intense now, and Zhang Yu should have gone to the northwest to take up a post. Why is he returning to Bingzhou to take up a post now?
In fact, the reason is very simple. The Han army led by Zhang Wen suffered repeated defeats in front of the Northwest Rebel Army. Now that he has joined the Northwest Army, Zhang Yu may not have room to display his talents.

According to the current intelligence, the rebels retreated due to lack of food and grass, and the Han army divided its troops to pursue them. As a result, except for Dong Zhuo, all the troops were killed. Therefore, according to the situation, the Han army cannot recover the counties occupied by the rebels for the time being.

Since the situation on the northwest battlefield is unfavorable and war has broken out in Bingzhou, it is impossible for Zhang Yu to abandon Bingzhou and go to the northwest.

After all, returning to his hometown to take up a post, Zhang Yu was familiar with the border environment, had a solid foundation, and had the help of the Wang family. Moreover, it had been nearly two years since he left his hometown, so he could marry Wang Ji when he returned.

At the same time, if he serves in Bingzhou and makes military achievements, he can give back to Chanhewu and strengthen his foundation.

(End of this chapter)