Three Kingdoms: Jiangdong is no longer a rat

Chapter 226 Zhou Gongjin and Liu Ziyang?

Within just a few days, news of Yan Yi's inspection of the villages and the punishment of numerous corrupt officials, criminal soldiers, and derelict bureaucrats swept through Moling like a whirlwind, reaching every street and alley. It then quickly spread to other counties, causing a stir.

Officials of all ranks across the land suddenly realized that the young ruler they served was renowned for his ruthless execution of corrupt officials, known for his ability to cut down corrupt officials as easily as mowing grass. Any corrupt official who fell into his hands would have their property confiscated at best, and beheaded at worst, until they were utterly terrified.

For a time, officials who had been corrupt or were currently corrupt were all like frightened birds, living in constant fear and anxiety. They truly experienced what it meant for each day to feel like a year.

Most of these corrupt officials were Zhou Xin's subordinates or people associated with the Sun family.

Zhou Xin's subordinates had experienced a period of decline and disgrace, but now that they had regained power, they were like hungry tigers released from their cages. Moreover, since they had not personally witnessed Yan Yi's various methods, they were unusually bold, and each of them wanted nothing more than to recoup all the profits they had lost in the past, with interest.

The people on Sun's side, relying on Yan Yi's favor towards Sun, thought they had a shield. They didn't even bother to hide their bribes, displaying a fearless attitude, as if they were certain that Yan Yi would turn a blind eye because of Sun's favor.

Yan Yi accepts all comers, regardless of whether they are surnamed Zhou or Sun; as long as they commit crimes, they will be severely punished. Those who should be arrested will be arrested, and those who should be executed will be executed.

To reduce corruption under his rule, he treated officials in various regions with exceptionally generous benefits. Their regular salaries alone were more than double those of other officials, and he frequently bestowed generous rewards under the guise of "anti-corruption funds" and "frugality allowances." He even turned a blind eye to minor acts of corruption.

But if anyone dares to use power as a tool for personal enrichment, he will show no mercy. No matter how many heads you offer, he will chop them off. Let's see if your head is harder, or his knife is sharper.

Having witnessed the stern and ruthless side of Zhou and Sun for the first time, they realized the rumors were true when a knife was held to their throats. In fear, they quickly concealed their sharpness and became as docile as dogs.

The day after Yan Yi returned to Moling, Zhou Xin and Sun Ce hurriedly wrote a letter to apologize and confess their mistakes.

Yan Yi then issued a new decree, establishing the position of County Inspector. Counties with fewer than 10,000 households were to have two Inspectors, while counties with more than 10,000 households were to have four. The County Inspectors were under the control of the Prefectural Inspectors, but possessed the power to report directly to higher authorities and to conduct immediate inspections of the surrounding areas to clean up official corruption.

The new decree quickly spread throughout Jiangdong, sparking heated discussions. Some praised it, while others criticized it. Among those who criticized it, Xu Gong's reaction was the most vehement.

When Xu Gong received the urgent message by courier, he was admiring the plum blossoms in the courtyard. Upon reading the contents of the document, he immediately turned pale with anger, and his veins bulged as he snapped the plum branch in his hand, scattering the fallen petals all over the ground.

"You scoundrel! First you arbitrarily changed the military system, then you altered the land system, and now you dare to establish an official system on your own! This scoundrel has no respect for the emperor, despises the laws of Han, and his various acts of rebellion are no different from treason!"

"Immediately issue a proclamation to all prefectures and counties! These treacherous officials and villains should be condemned by all loyal and righteous men throughout the land!"

Enraged, Xu Gong brought out his governorship again, not caring whether it would be effective or not, just to have some fun first.

As the governor's order was swiftly relayed to the counties and prefectures of Jiangdong, Yan Yi's reforms unexpectedly ignited a war of words. Pro-Xu and pro-Yan factions gradually emerged, forming two distinct camps that exchanged accusations and scathing statements. Amidst this verbal sparring, the entire Jiangdong region descended into chaos.

The relationship between the Yan and Xu families quickly plummeted to a freezing point, and their former alliance vanished.

Xu Gong, constrained by Yan Yi's power and the complex situation, dared not scold Yan Yi, so he wrote a letter, venting all his resentment on Yan Baihu.

Yan Baihu was already living a leisurely retirement at home when he was suddenly subjected to a severe scolding, which made him so angry that he almost vomited blood.

The verbal sparring between the two sides quickly escalated into a small-scale military conflict, which in turn triggered frequent troop movements throughout Jiangdong, with Wang Lang's actions attracting the most attention.

After the Battle of Qiantang, Wang Jingxing, who had been licking his wounds for more than half a year, saw Yan Yi growing more and more powerful. Under Xu Gong's instigation, he finally couldn't hold back any longer and began to openly stand up and join forces with Xu Gong to suppress the Yan family.

The pressure in Qiantang and Wucheng suddenly increased, and letters urging Yan Yi to return to his post poured out like snowflakes.

In mid-December, after Yan Yi had finished dealing with all matters in Danyang, he led his troops back to Qiantang.

Half a year of fighting had rapidly expanded his sphere of influence from three cities to seventeen cities. This time, his return to the capital felt like a triumphant homecoming.

The cold wind of December howled like a knife on the official road of Yong'an, whipping up fine snowflakes that lashed against the soldiers' robes, making a soft rustling sound.

Spears and halberds stood like a forest, gleaming coldly in the bleak winter sun. Ten thousand elite Yan troops were arranged in four columns, like a black dragon winding along the snow-covered official road.

Yan Yi sat in a spacious carriage, holding a scroll of bamboo slips in his hand, reading it intently.

The bamboo slips record Sun Ce's recent movements.

When Yan Yi returned to Qiantang, he did not bring Sun Ce with him. Instead, he ordered Sun Ce to lead 12,000 troops to guard the areas of Moling and Jurong. This was both to consolidate the territory of Danyang and to pose a threat and suppress Xu Gong in the direction of Piling.

In order to control Sun Ce and gradually undermine his ambitions, Yan Yi transferred all four generals—Cheng Pu, Han Dang, Huang Gai, and Sun Ben—to Qiantang.

The people who remained by Sun Ce's side to assist him were replaced by Fan Yan, Chen Gan, Fan Yi, and the three Zhou brothers, almost all of whom were Yan Yi's confidants.

Once the transfer order was announced, Sun Ce was utterly desperate, knowing that he had no more chances and could only obediently serve Yan Yi.

Given the current situation, Yan Yi temporarily abandoned the plan to conquer Dannan and stationed 25,000 field troops in Danbei and southwest of Wujun respectively, forming a pincer attack on Xugong from the north and south.

This deployment is advantageous for offense and also solves the problem of the long and narrow territory being difficult to defend.

With his and Sun Ce's military strength, even if the Guangde region were cut off by Zu Lang and they were forced into fighting their own battles, it would still be enough to stabilize the situation in the north and south.

Yan Yi closed the bamboo slips, carefully reviewed every detail of the deployment, and, feeling that there were no loopholes, gradually relaxed and closed his eyes to doze off.

Call!
The sound of a knight reining in his horse reached my ears.

"Reporting to Young Master, the delegation led by Yuan Huan, the Chief Administrator of Yuzhou, happens to be passing by and wishes to pay their respects to Young Master."

Yan Yi opened his eyes, as if he had thought of something happy, and smiled slightly: "Have Master Cheng go and welcome him over."

Yuan Huan was one of the top three strategists under Yuan Shu, and also an envoy sent by Yuan Shu with imperial authority, so he still had to be treated with the proper etiquette.

Cheng Pu had served under Yuan Shu and was familiar with Yuan Huan. He was also highly experienced, so it was most appropriate for him to go and greet him.

Braving the wind and snow, dozens of riders galloped out of the ranks. After traveling a short distance, they saw more than a hundred riders guarding a dozen or so ceremonial carriages on one side of the official road ahead, waiting in formation.

"Lord Yuan, how have you been?"

Cheng Pu reined in his horses in front of one of the most luxurious carriages.

Two attendants bowed and lifted the curtain, revealing a refined scholar in a tall hat and wide belt, who stepped slowly down from the carriage. It was Yuan Huan. He wore a dark blue brocade robe with a jade seal sash hanging at his waist, his steps composed yet dignified. The bronze bells at the four corners of the carriage jingled softly in the wind, making him appear even more noble and extraordinary.

Yuan Huan looked up at Cheng Pu, a warm smile on his face, and cupped his hands, saying loudly, "It has been a year since we parted in Shouchun. Today, I am very pleased to see that you, Lord Cheng, are as majestic as ever."

Cheng Pu dismounted, raised his hands, and politely returned the greeting.

Although Yuan Huan and Yuan Shu shared the same surname, they were not related by blood. Yuan Huan came from the Yuan clan of Chen Commandery, and his father was Yuan Pang, the Minister of Works. Yuan Shu, on the other hand, came from the Yuan clan of Runan, and the two were not related by blood.

Therefore, Cheng Pu, who disliked Yuan Shu, did not reject Yuan Huan; on the contrary, he even admired him somewhat.

Meeting in the current situation created an awkward atmosphere between Cheng and Yuan. They hadn't seen each other for over a year, and were now serving different masters.

But what's even more awkward is yet to come.

crunch.

The sound of footsteps crunching through the thin snow rang out, and two young scholars dressed in fox fur coats and wearing Jinxian hats stepped down from a nearby carriage. Before one of them even got close, he clasped his hands together and bowed to Cheng Pu, appearing quite familiar with him.

"Gongjin." Cheng Pu recognized the person who had come, and his heart was filled with mixed feelings, his old face turning red.

A few months ago, when he and Sun Ce set off from Shucheng, they were so full of vigor, as if the entire Jiangdong region would be within their grasp once they crossed the river. Looking at them now, he wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

"Master Cheng."

When Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu's eyes met, a frustrated, bitter smile appeared on Zhou Yu's handsome face.

Ever since Yan Yi specifically ordered him to go to Guangde, he had become wary, knowing he was being watched. He thought that as long as he stayed at home, he would be fine. Who knew that the traitors were so cunning, actually using Yuan Shu to force him to go on a diplomatic mission to Jiangdong. It truly proves the saying: "It's not the thief you should fear, but the one who has his eye on you."

"Who is this?" Cheng Pu asked curiously when he saw a boy of about fifteen or sixteen years old standing calmly beside Zhou Yu. His demeanor was composed and his bearing was dignified. His charm was only slightly inferior to Zhou Yu's.

Zhou Yu glanced at the young man with a sense of shared misfortune, thinking that this was the other person who had been abducted by Yan Yi. He turned to the side and introduced him: "This is Liu Ye, Liu Ziyang, a member of the Han imperial family, a great-grandson of Emperor Guangwu, and a descendant of Liu Yan, the Prince of Fuling. He currently holds the position of Attendant."

Cheng Pu was slightly taken aback, his face showing surprise.

The phrase "Han imperial relatives" doesn't hold much value these days. This is only because the imperial family has a vast number of descendants, numbering in the tens of thousands. As the saying goes, scarcity increases value; anything becomes worthless when there's an abundance of it.

However, among the royal bloodline, there are a very few outstanding individuals, such as Liu Bei, who is about to take control of Xuzhou, and Liu Ziyang, who is standing before us.

When Liu Ye was thirteen, he obeyed his mother's dying wish and personally killed a disreputable servant who served his father. Afterwards, he was able to calmly explain the reason to his father. Few could match his courage and character.

Last year, when Xu Shao was in Yangzhou seeking refuge, he praised him, saying, "He has the talent to assist the world."

These two events combined made Liu Ye well-known in the prefectures and counties despite his young age.

When Cheng Pu accompanied Sun Ce to attack Lujiang County, he heard of Liu Ye's name and knew that this boy was a fledgling eagle about to spread his wings and fly high. Therefore, he did not look down on him because of his young age.

He was about to offer some praise when Liu Ye preemptively bowed respectfully to him, saying, "Greetings, Lord Cheng! Your reputation for pacifying the Yellow Turbans, defeating Dong Zhuo, and conquering Lujiang is renowned throughout the land. I have long admired you, and to meet you today is truly an honor."

Cheng Pu felt a sense of goodwill towards him because of his respectful manners and sincere words.

Liu Ye's respect for Cheng Pu was by no means empty formality. Although he had achieved early success, he was still just a young man who had not yet come of age and had never traveled far. Apart from his old acquaintance Zhou Yu, he rarely associated with contemporary celebrities, so when he met a veteran general like Cheng Pu who had made outstanding military achievements, he naturally felt respect.

His state of mind on this mission was completely opposite to Zhou Yu's. While Zhou Yu was frustrated and helpless, he was secretly delighted, feeling a sense of satisfaction that he could finally go out and see the world.

His heart was filled with excitement and anticipation at the thought of soon meeting Yan Yi, who was famous throughout Jiangdong.

Although Liu Ye wasn't exactly a die-hard fan of Yan Yi, he wasn't far off.

"Young Master has arrived. Lord Yuan, please follow me." Cheng Pu led the horses to the side of the official road to allow the army to pass.

沓沓
The sound of thunderous footsteps grew louder as a formidable force slowly marched past them, exuding a chilling aura.

Yuan Huan, Zhou Yu, and Liu Ye watched intently, their eyes filled with amazement.

The marching column began to tilt to the left. A two-horse carriage slowly came to a stop on the right side of the official road. Before the curtain was even lifted, two squads of burly soldiers carrying halberds, swords, and shields were already solemnly dispersed around, ready for battle.

The two charioteers each held a corner of the curtain and lifted it in unison.

Yan Yi stepped out of the carriage, stretched on the bench, and calmly stepped down onto a stool. His scrutinizing gaze swept over Yuan Huan and the other two, finally settling on Zhou Yu and Liu Ye. A smile unconsciously crept onto his lips, like a hunter spotting his prey.

Zhou Yu shrank back, while Liu Ye's eyes widened.

Yuan Huan straightened his clothes carefully, stepped forward, bowed and said, "Yuan Huan, the Chief Administrator of Yuzhou, has come to pay my respects to the young lord and sign the peace treaty on the orders of General of the Left, Governor of Yuzhou, and Marquis of Yangdi, Yuan Gongjun."

Yan Yi returned the greeting and said with a smile, "I should have greeted you in Qiantang, but I never expected to meet you here. It is truly the will of Heaven. As for the documents, we will sign them when we return to Qiantang."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Huan breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed.

This peace treaty was of paramount importance to Yuan Shu. Rumors circulated that Liu Biao was preparing his troops for an attack on Huainan. If Yan Yi seized the opportunity to join forces with Liu Biao, Yuan Shu would be outnumbered and his demise would be imminent.

Although Yan Yi suggested that Zhou Yu and Liu Ye go to Qiantang to sign the peace agreement, Yuan Shu was not at ease, so he sent Yuan Huan along as well.

In retrospect, Yan Yi was indeed a man of his word, managing to withstand Liu Biao's pressure and keep his promise, which is truly remarkable.

Yuan Huan's impression of Yan Yi changed drastically. Just as he was about to offer some compliments, he saw Yan Yi turn his gaze to Zhou Yu and Liu Ye, his gentle smile seemingly capable of melting winter snow: "Your Excellency has an extraordinary bearing; you must be Zhou Yu of Shucheng, right? And this young talent must be Liu Ziyang. I have long admired you two; to meet you today is a great honor."

Yuan Huan paused, then swallowed the words that were about to come out of his throat.

Why does it seem like Yan Yi values ​​Zhou and Liu even more than the contract? Am I seeing things?
(End of this chapter)