Jinting Han people

Chapter 151 Celebration (4k)

After Li Ju shot Du Gan with an arrow, the entire Liangshan stronghold fell silent. Liu Xian took advantage of this opportunity and charged in with his sword. The county soldiers behind him saw that the county lord was charging ahead, and they did not dare to delay and rushed forward in a rush.

Although the Liangshan bandits were brave and aggressive and had a favorable geographical location, they were now destitute and their morale was in disarray. Some wanted to fight, some wanted to surrender, and some wanted to flee. The result was a disorganized group that collapsed at the first sign of trouble.

As a result, at the relatively low cost of seventeen minor injuries, five serious injuries, and one death, Liu Xian successfully captured Liangshan Stronghold. He captured ninety-seven horse bandits and killed twenty-six. He also seized six hundred dan of wheat, one thousand dan of millet, one hundred gold pieces, two hundred wooden bows, one hundred and fourteen ring-handled swords, seventy-nine horses, twenty pieces of brocade, and over three hundred rolls of animal skins. He even collected a vast quantity of mountain medicinal herbs, such as Polygonatum sibiricum and Angelica sinensis...

In this way, the last group of horse thieves in Xiayang County was officially wiped out by Liu Xian.

When the county soldiers returned to the county town in a triumphant manner, carrying the spoils and prisoners, the county residents who were still in the suburbs flocked to the streets to watch.

They cheered for the county soldiers while hurling insults and beatings at the bandits. All their emotions, both sorrow and joy, were released in this moment, for they understood that from this day forward, their lives would be completely different. Not only were the past hardships behind them, but they were also filled with confidence in their future, for they had a county lord who lived up to his word.

Liu Xian was also very pleased that he was able to successfully fulfill his promise within March.

In reality, he wasn't certain of victory. However, faced with the deep-seated problems of Xiayang County and constantly wary of the Jia family's shadow, he had to cut the Gordian knot and quickly resolve the instability within the county. Failure would be the difference between beheading and lingchi, and he would inevitably be doomed.

At the moment, Liu Xian, through either comfort or beating, persuasion or deception, has finally brought the situation in Xiayang County under control, and he can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

To express his joy, upon returning home, he immediately ordered that 100 dan of the captured grain be used to hold a grand banquet in the county seat to entertain all the people. After all, Xiayang County only had about 2,000 people, and when the population was small, this kind of rallying was even more necessary.

It was called a grand banquet, but in reality it was just a bunch of steamed buns and pancakes made from coarse flour. Each person got at least three, along with a pickled meat soup with egg drops and minced meat, and unlimited cabbage (Chinese cabbage).

In Luoyang, such food would be considered poor, but in the frontier, not only could people eat their fill but they could also eat meat, which was enough to make the people smile and imagine the future.

So, at the banquet just before nightfall, the people entertained themselves with traditional music and dance. Several young women from Xiayang danced to drums around the firelight, while several elders sang a Han Dynasty folk song in unison. The song was joyful yet sad, like the reunion of old friends, or the cry of someone at the end of their rope.

Its words are:
"Born by blood, friendships are made through connection. All the world's people are brothers, so who are strangers?"

Moreover, I am like a tree, and we are one body. In the past we were mandarin ducks and ducks, and now we are two stars.

In the past we were always close, yet as far apart as the Hu and Qin. But thinking of our separation, my affection grows newer day by day.

The deer's cry and its yearning for the wild grasses can be used to describe the guests. I have a jug of wine that I want to give to a distant friend.

I hope you will take time to consider and recount this life story."

Legend has it that this poem was written by Su Wu when he was in Beihai. He was detained by the Huns and herded sheep in Beihai. He was unable to return to his hometown for 19 years. It is said that this poem was written by Su Wu when he met a Han Chinese on the grassland. He was both sad and happy, and then wrote this Yuefu poem.

Even though more than three hundred years have passed, it still moves people to tears when they listen to it today.

Upon hearing this song, Li Ju couldn't help but sigh, "Hey, County Master Liu, this is the villagers expressing their gratitude to you!"

"Su Wu wrote this poem because he met a fellow countryman in Beihai. Even though we had never met before, he treated him like a blood relative and hoped to stay with him forever. Now the villagers are singing this song to express their gratitude for your kindness. We hope you can stay in Xiayang County for a long time!"

Their table was right in the middle of the banquet hall, and the county officials sat in several rows around Liu Xian. Their food and drink were no different from those of ordinary people, except for an extra plate of pickled radish and a pot of yogurt.

Liu Xian listened attentively for a moment, then slowly shook his head at Li Ju and said with a smile, "Shihui, the villagers aren't expressing gratitude to me. They're simply making a wish, hoping to say goodbye to their past suffering and have a smooth life in the future."

"Why are you being so modest, my Lord? Xiayang has been in decline for over a decade, and it's only now recovering. Isn't this all thanks to you?"

"That's just today's achievement." Liu Xian took a sip of his milk and told Li Ju about his understanding of being an official. "The people's view of the government actually changes every day. If you do well today, they will praise you. If you do badly tomorrow, they will scold you. They can say good things about you and bad things about you at the same time. There is no contradiction."

"If I think I can sit back and relax in the future because I did a good job today, and then rely on my achievements to collect a salary without doing anything, then the villagers will want me to leave as soon as possible. This is also normal."

"Only when you understand this will you realize that they were actually making a wish, not expressing gratitude to me."

Li Ju was dumbfounded when he heard this. He hadn't expected such an angle to be seen. He said, "Aren't you underestimating the common people too much?"

Liu Xian laughed and said, "How can this be called mercenary? This means not to treat the people as fools, thinking that they can only see your good and not your bad."

He paused, then directed the county officials seated nearby, "You too must remember my words and never slack off."

Xue Xing and others did not dare to neglect and immediately responded loudly.

Li Ju also felt that there was a great truth in these words. He bowed his head and said, "Thank you for your teachings, my Lord."

"Don't talk about teaching or not teaching." Liu Xian patted his knee and said with emotion, "I'm only nineteen this year and twenty next year. I'm still young! You make me look a generation old for nothing."

Then he smiled at Li Ju and said, "We were able to defeat Du Gan this time thanks to Shi Hui's archery skills. It's truly amazing! Among the people I know, apart from Meng Guan, the Duke of Shanggu in Luoyang, and a good friend of mine, I'm afraid no one can compare to you. And you're so young, a few years younger than me!"

After Li Ju had said a few humble words, Liu Xian said, "Shihui, my place has just been cleared of disasters and is in need of reconstruction. This is the time when we need talented people. You are so young and talented in both civil and military matters. Are you interested in coming to my place? I can make you my Gongcao."

Liu Xian spoke these words sincerely. He usually thought highly of himself and the people he looked up to were all outstanding people. Even in Luoyang, many sons of dukes and marquises were not in his eyes.

But the Li Ju before him made him very happy. Although he came from a poor family, he had mastered archery skills that were unmatched by others. He was also very intelligent, sharp and thoughtful. Not only did he see through his plan at a glance, but what was even more rare was that he had the heart and was willing to do something for his country and his people.

Although Liu Xian had only been with him for a short time, he already felt that this was a rare talent, so he wanted to recruit him.

But after hearing Liu Xian's invitation, Li Ju only thought for a moment before replying, "Thank you for your kindness, Lord Liu, but I am from Pingyang and have an elderly mother to support at home. If the court or the Western Expedition Army Headquarters do not summon me for important matters, I am afraid it would be inconvenient for me to travel so far."

This was actually a polite refusal, meaning that Xia Yang was too poor. Unless he was directly recommended to the court or had connections with the Western Expedition Army, he would not change his status and would rather be a minor county official in Pingyang County.

After all, Pingyang was one of the largest counties in China. In comparison, Xiayang, with a population of only 2,000, was nothing. Most of the people present understood what was going on and their faces turned grim. Zhang Gu's face turned cold, and he wanted to reprimand Li Ju.

But Liu Xian glanced around and suppressed all the dissatisfaction with his eyes.

He turned around and sighed, then said to Li Ju, "That's such a pity. A prodigy like Shihui is like a needle in a pouch; he would have made a name for himself anywhere. I wanted to take advantage of Shihui's talent, but it seems I don't have the chance anymore."

"However, Shihui's visit to Xiayang this time did help me a lot. When County Lord Zhang recovers and sets off again, I will write a letter to the Western Expedition Army Headquarters, stating Shihui's contributions. If you meet His Royal Highness Prince Liang, give it to him, and he will definitely promote him."

Li Ju had initially been rather uneasy after rejecting Liu Xian's offer. He truly didn't want to stay in Xiayang; it was far too impoverished and far inferior to Pingyang. But at the same time, he greatly admired the Xiayang County Lord. His conversation, which combined the boldness and boldness of a warrior with a gentle elegance and ease, truly endeared him. Rather than becoming his subordinate, Li Ju preferred a simple friendship.

Hearing Liu Xian's considerate words, he was deeply moved and declined, saying, "It's just a small contribution, not worth mentioning."

Liu Xian insisted, "One is one, two is two. Didn't I say it before? Merits and demerits cannot be offset. If you don't record your achievements today, no one will ever remember them. You've only just entered the officialdom, so don't be modest in this regard."

Li Ju was even more moved by these words. After that, Liu Xian stopped talking about official business and only chatted with Li Ju about the customs and people of Luoyang, and then asked about the local news in Pingyang.

In fact, when it comes to historical origins, Pingyang and Xiayang have a real connection. Xiayang was a fiefdom of the Kingdom of Han during the Spring and Autumn Period, while Pingyang was the capital of Han after the Three Kingdoms divided the Jin Dynasty. However, Pingyang is located on the banks of the Fen River, forming a large plain between the Luliang and Taihang Mountains, making it a naturally wealthy county. Even at the peak of Xiayang's prosperity during the Former Han Dynasty, its population was about 10,000 less than Pingyang's.

Therefore, the Pingyang County Magistrates of all generations basically did not need to worry about anything. As long as they accumulated experience step by step, they could basically produce a good resume and then be promoted to county governor.

Li Ju couldn't help but complain recently. He said, "Recently, our county has had a new governor named Song, and he's been causing controversy. There's talk of this one having bad posture, that one adoring alcohol, and still another's appearance being unsightly. In short, he's been firing people for all sorts of reasons, essentially eliminating dissidents and replacing them with his own relatives..."

Liu Xian was moved when he heard this and asked, "Why did he do this? Isn't he afraid of offending people in the county?"

Li Ju frowned and said, "Of course they have offended us severely. Apart from the Queen's family, half of the noble families in the county are complaining."

"Our county lord was very dissatisfied and had a quarrel with him. She said she would report to the Inspector of the Imperial Guards and have him dismissed. But our prefect said that he had connections in the palace and that the man behind him was named Dong. No one could bring him down!"

"That was a truly terrifying statement. I didn't even know who that Dong was, but our county lord was so frightened that he immediately ran to Chang'an, ready to seek out another solution from His Majesty, Prince Liang."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xian immediately guessed that this prefect surnamed Song must have relied on the connections of Wu'an Marquis Dong Meng, which was equivalent to borrowing the power of Empress Jia. No wonder he was so arrogant.

This made him shake his head and said to Li Ju, "I'm afraid that Zhang Jun will not be of much use in Chang'an."

"why?"

"His Royal Highness Prince Liang will not be in Chang'an for long. I'm afraid the leadership of the Western Expedition Army will be replaced by someone else by the end of this year or the beginning of next year."

Upon hearing the news, Li Ju was shocked and confused, and worried about the future of this trip to Chang'an.

Liu Xian was also in a bad mood. He felt unhappy from the bottom of his heart when he thought that Jia Mi and others were openly playing power games, excluding wise men and promoting treacherous people.

Logically, Liu Xian should have been happy. By doing so, they were destroying the foundation of the Jin Dynasty and courting their own destruction. Only in this way could he have a chance at revenge. However, watching these people slaughter the people and undermine the sense of justice in their hearts, Liu Xian still found it difficult to tolerate.

At this time, he couldn't help but think of a new problem. After King Liang left office, there would definitely be someone in the new Western Expedition Army who would find fault with him. What kind of person would that be, and how should he deal with it?
Thinking of this, Liu Xian felt somewhat helpless. After all, he was only a county magistrate. No matter how he dealt with it, he could only passively defend, not actively attack. If he made a mistake, he would be doomed.

At this moment, Liu Xian suddenly missed his family, A Luo, his teacher Chen Shou, his family, and friends like Zu Ti and Lu Ji. If only they were there, no matter what difficulties he encountered, he would not feel lonely or afraid.

While he was pondering, a county clerk suddenly ran over and said to him breathlessly, "My Lord, my Lord..."

Seeing that he was a little anxious, Liu Xian smiled and said, "Is there something urgent? It's okay if you speak slowly."

The county sergeant, catching his breath, replied, "Sir, someone wants to see you."

Someone wants to see him? Liu Xian was a little amused. He said, "I'm right here, right? Can't you just bring him here?"

The county sergeant said, "That person said that it was inconvenient for them to meet in public, and asked the county lady to go see her."

"Inconvenience? What inconvenience?"

The county clerk handed Liu Xian something and said, "She said that if I give you this hairpin, you will understand."

Liu Xian took the hairpin from the county clerk and took a closer look. His drowsy spirit was suddenly stimulated and awakened a little. The reason was simple: he had seen this hairpin before, and only once, on one person's head. It was a silver hairpin with a phoenix pattern and nine pearls.

He immediately stood up and told everyone to continue the banquet while he said to the county sergeant, "Where is she? Take me there."

The visitor was at the south gate of Xiayang County, sitting leisurely on an ox cart. She wore a hood and a fur coat, which was common for travelers in cold places, and her face was covered with a cloth, but her figure was graceful and it was obvious at a glance that she was a woman.

When Liu Xian came over with a torch, although he already knew who the visitor was, he was filled with mixed emotions, a mixture of joy and confusion. He waved his hand, letting the county guard beside him go, and then asked, "How did you get here?"

The woman slowly raised her hand and took off the cloth on her face, revealing a stunning face that was unparalleled in the world. She smiled gently, and it seemed that winter had disappeared and spring had come early.

It was Lu Zhu that Liu Xian sent to Bashu three years ago.

Their eyes met, and she whispered, "Sir, how are you?"

Liu Xian looked at her and suddenly recalled the countless years of his youth in Luoyang. Those stories that he thought were over and forgotten suddenly appeared before his eyes again.

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(End of this chapter)