Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 435 Return

After Huan Shisui was killed, Liu Yiwu led his army, following the trail of the routed soldiers, into Sima Guofan's lair and wiped out the entire rebel army.

After reading the battle report, Liu Daogui was not particularly surprised.

The main reason why Xu Kuizhi, Shen Yuanzi, and Wang Yunzhi were defeated was that they did not know the details of the rebel army, and also because the Northern Army under their command was not a true elite force.

The Tiger Guard Army led by Liu Yiwu consisted of battle-hardened elites. In a head-on battle, even if the number of enemy infantry were doubled, they would still be no match for them.

Of course, although his plan to lure the enemy was somewhat clumsy, it was exactly the right remedy.

Sima Guofan and Huan Shisui may not lack money, but their soldiers must be so poor they're practically starving.

Liu Daogui was most worried that Liu Yiwu was brave but reckless, but this battle showed that he was not a rash person.

The bloodline of the Liu family is usually quite good.

The only problem was that Liu Yiwu was too bloodthirsty; he didn't leave a single prisoner, and even the Tongbai Mountains were stained red with blood...

However, in this era, a strong sense of killing is not a flaw.

The Hu people only recognize the sword; without killing, they cannot establish their authority.

As long as the blade isn't pointed at our own people in the future, it's fine.

"Report! Wang Zhen'e led his army to break through seven fortified villages, capturing more than 6,000 people, and seizing 110,000 shi of grain and 23,000 head of livestock!" Meng Ganzhi excitedly reported.

Liu Daogui looked astonished, "There are so many..."

Yin Zhongwen laughed and said, "Since the Yongjia Rebellion, these powerful families have lived in settlements, absorbed refugees, and seized fertile land. The government dared not interfere. Over the past eighty or ninety years, their wealth has piled up like mountains."

According to him, there should be more than just this much seized.

When Wang Zhen'e captured Wuchang, he allowed his soldiers to burn, kill, and loot, and he also took a lot for himself. Although it was a scheme to tarnish his reputation, he was indeed greedy. He even scraped the gilded decorations off the pillars in Liu Yi's mansion.

However, for Liu Daogui, such people are actually easier to manage.

A general who is not greedy for money, not lustful, has a good reputation, and is invincible in battle is actually less reassuring.

The key is that Wang Zhen'e was not alone; his clan was prosperous, with nine brothers who were skilled in both literature and martial arts.

"South of the Huai River and along both banks of the Yangtze River, no fortified villages may be built without the permission of the government. Existing fortified villages shall be redeemed by the government." After pondering for a while, Liu Daogui issued a decree.

"The general is wise!"

These days, those who can build fortified villages are no ordinary people.

The fortified villages in the north also had to resist the invasion of the nomadic tribes, while the fortified villages in the south were strongholds for powerful local families to resist the government.

After Emperor Guangwu unified the Central Plains, he also ordered the destruction of fortified villages.

Liu Daogui did not take a blanket approach; he only targeted the Jianghuai region and redeemed it from the powerful local families, which was considered giving them ample face.

Because of the actions of Liu Yiwu and Wang Zhen'e, the powerful families of Jingjiang, Yuyang and other regions became more compliant than ever before.

The redemption price was lower than Liu Daogui had imagined. Many powerful families even offered to sell at half price, while some offered to the government directly.

Of course, there are also some stubborn individuals who want to continue occupying the fortified village.

Liu Daogui was not polite either. The local government could easily find out all sorts of their misdeeds by simply flipping through old records.

Liu Yiwu led the Tiger Guard to their door, and the whole family was exiled to the south. Their manor, residence, and land were directly distributed to the local poor.

Several powerful families were preparing to rebel, but they could not get the support of the people. As soon as the Tiger Guard cavalry arrived, they all vanished.

Relocating the capital was merely a means to an end; the ultimate goal was to suppress powerful clans and sever the foundation of aristocratic families.

Liu Daogui showed no mercy.

After dealing with these disobedient powerful clans, he ordered the wealthy households of Jiankang and the powerful families of Jiangzuo to relocate to Guanzhong. The port of Stone City was crowded with large and small cargo ships and merchant ships.

"Those who return to their roots and voluntarily migrate to Guanzhong can be promoted to good households and allocated superior paddy fields!"

"The General has decreed that anyone who enters Guanzhong, regardless of their background or social status, can enter the military and become an official or general after passing the imperial examination!"

A group of clerks shouted loudly in the crowd.

At first, the crowd was in a state of deep sorrow, but when they heard that "after passing the imperial examination, one can enter officialdom and join the army, becoming an official or a general," their eyes lit up.

Water flows to lower place, man goes to higher position.

Everyone in every social class wants to climb up. As the saying goes, "When a whale falls, all things are born." After those aristocratic families were purged, a lot of resources were freed up, making the upward mobility channels for each social class wider.

As long as there are benefits, there's no shortage of people willing to try it.

"Good households" means sons from good families, and they are given priority when it comes to entering officialdom or joining the army. This attraction is simply too great.

The Wang, Xie, Huan, Yin, and Yu families were once just second-rate aristocratic clans that were not even worth mentioning. It was only after the southward migration of the elite that they grew and prospered. Now that the capital has been moved to Chang'an, it is equivalent to a reshuffling of the ranks.

Those with discerning eyes will naturally understand the meaning behind it.

"Long live the General!"

"Long live the General!"

The previously somber atmosphere suddenly became lively.

Liu Daogui smiled bitterly. People are indeed driven by self-interest. If it benefits them, they will risk everything, even mountains of knives and seas of fire.

Besides these wealthy households, many people in Jiankang City were also willing to go north. Most of them were family members and relatives of the Northern Army. Since the Northern Army had all moved to Guanzhong, there was no point in them staying.

If you follow the past, you can also eat meat and drink soup.

Liu Daogui welcomed all who came, and the more Jin people migrated to Guanzhong, the more stable his foundation became, enabling him to assimilate the Qiang, Di, Xiongnu, and Xianbei tribes through his population advantage.

Ships continued to sail north in an endless stream, and the city of Jiankang, bathed in the setting sun, remained majestic and imposing.

Yin Zhongwen said in a low voice, "Jiankang is a place of strategic importance, with the aura of a king. When Qin Shi Huang unified the six kingdoms, he toured south to this place and excavated the dragon vein of Jingkou. The general moved the capital to Chang'an. Jiankang must not fall into the hands of outsiders."

"The so-called imperial aura is nothing but the hearts of the people. Throughout history, which family has ever established its capital here? From now on, the garrison of Jiankang will be stationed in Guangling."

Liu Daogui preferred Guangling and Xiangyang.

Guangling is situated by the river and near the sea. If it develops, it can weaken the "royal aura" of Jiankang. Its location north of the river is advantageous for the northern army to station there.

Xiangyang is located on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, serving as the throat and gateway to the left bank of the river, and is closer to Guanzhong Plain.

As long as we firmly hold these two places in our hands, we have no fear of Jiankang slipping out of our control.

"The General's magnanimity is rare throughout history, but Jiankang is the former capital of the previous dynasty, and the people look to it with hope. We can change its name and remove its influence." Yin Zhongwen seemed to harbor some hostility towards Jiankang.

He was from Xifu, so he naturally disliked Jiankang. Even after the change of dynasties, the resentment in his heart remained.

"No need. The migration of the elite south has allowed China to rise again here, a great achievement indeed. We must not forget the past when we move the capital to Guanzhong. The name of Jiankang should remind future generations not to forget the humiliation of Yongjia!"

Liu Daogui didn't have the energy to waste on these trivial matters.

Changing place names isn't something that can be done on a whim; it requires rewriting classic texts, official documents, and issuing proclamations throughout the land, a process that costs a considerable amount of money and resources.

Since we are emulating the Han Dynasty, we should also inherit the Han Dynasty's policy of non-interference and allowing the people to rest and recuperate.

Once Guanzhong is restored, the Northern Wei, Northern Yan, Xia Qin, and Liang will all be mere scraps.

The ability to govern is more important than to conquer. Murong Huang, Fu Jian, and Murong Chui were all powerful for a time, but they were destroyed in the blink of an eye. Liu Daogui personally believes that the problems all stemmed from internal issues.

(End of this chapter)