My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 288 Winning over
February 18th.

As Gao Yu led the Xuanjia Army on their journey, the scenes they encountered along the way were completely different.

The closer you get to Qinghe County, the more vibrant and beautiful the scenery becomes. Everywhere you look, you can see fields of lush green wheat that have already sprouted. In a few months, the wheat planted last winter will be ready for harvest.

It's the same as before near Ye City.

However, places a little further from the city walls are like the hellish scenes described in the poems and writings of Cao Cao.

The bones are exposed in the wild, and there is no cock crowing for thousands of miles.

Hebei has been in chaos for the past few years.

At first, Ge Rong might have thought of winning over powerful families and gaining popular support. After ascending the throne, he would have strictly enforced military discipline and restrained his subordinates.

But when he discovered that the powerful families were refusing to cooperate with him, he couldn't care less.

They trampled on the fields where seeds had been sown and wantonly destroyed the ditches that had been painstakingly dug, using such methods to force the powerful families to bow down.

Those who couldn't attach themselves to powerful families or fortified villages were long ago captured and forced into cannon fodder.

It will take several years for Hebei, currently the economic center of China, to recover to its former glory. However, for prominent families like the Cui family of Qinghe, it will have an impact, but it won't be crippling.

They were able to immediately organize the farmers and retainers who depended on them to resume production as soon as the war ended.

It's no wonder that the 'manor economy,' led by aristocratic families, was the mainstream of this era.

With rebellions breaking out here and there at the drop of a hat, how can the self-sufficient farmers survive?
Without enough self-cultivating farmers, the imperial court would not have household registrations and would not be able to collect sufficient taxes, thus falling into a vicious cycle of not having money!

During this period, land consolidation was not the biggest problem; the biggest problem was that self-sufficient farmers could not survive, so powerful families absorbed too many people.

We need to compete with powerful families for population.

However, these things cannot be rushed; we can only proceed gradually.

"Hey, these farmers have some guts."

Peng Le sneered and pointed to the farmers in the distance who were staring at them menacingly, holding wooden sticks and hoes.

Gao Yu glanced at it.

It must have been the people in the nearby fortified villages who, upon seeing the army approaching, feared the soldiers would destroy the farmland.

"In Hebei, there has been constant warfare in recent years. Who among those who have survived doesn't have a few lives on their hands?"

The difference between someone who has killed someone and someone who hasn't is too great.

"If we can recruit them and train them a little, they could be useful."

The intensely competitive atmosphere within the Xuanjia Army has led to its members having high self-esteem and high expectations.

These farmers would be considered rare and 'valiant' individuals in the hands of others, but in Peng Le's eyes, they would only be barely usable after rigorous training.

The Xuanjia Army's claim that it was "barely usable" meant that it was only good enough for two armies to clash, where they could charge in and wear down the enemy's stamina and provide cannon fodder for their arrows.

"Pass on my military order: anyone who destroys farmland or harasses civilians will be dealt with according to military law!"

Gao Yu repeatedly issued strict orders.

He needs to compete with powerful families for population, so he can't afford to ruin his reputation. If he does, the people won't trust him anymore.

While we can't say it's like Emperor Zhaolie of Han, who led his people across the river, it shouldn't be too far off.

A long time passed.

After a long and arduous journey, Gao Yu finally saw the tall city walls of Qinghe County. Although they were not as majestic as those of Luoyang, they were still a formidable city.

Gao Yu had already sent someone to deliver the message, so it did not cause any panic.

The Xuanjia Army soldiers were ordered to set up camp outside the city.

Gao Yu led his men into the city to pay a visit.

As soon as I arrived at the city gate, I saw a group of people waiting there, and I could spot them from a distance.

Cui Xian was very excited and, without thinking much, rode his horse to meet him.

"Brother Shimin! Brother Shimin!!"

Cui Xian ran up to him with a big laugh and gave him a warm hug. "It's been years since we last met. Brother Shimin, you're still as dashing as ever. The young hero who was famous in Luoyang back then is now a hero renowned throughout the land!"

Gao Yu was quite helpless. He shook his head, both amused and exasperated. "Brother Ji Lun... my courtesy name is not Shimin."

Although using 'Shimin' as his courtesy name could maximize his ability to win over the Cui family of Qinghe and bind them to him, after all, it was the courtesy name given to him by Cui Guang.

But Gao Yu did not intend to do so.

However, the matter of the courtesy name really needs to be resolved as soon as possible.

Cui Xian was taken aback. "It was I who was reckless."

The people behind him were all somewhat surprised. Even Mulan and Peng Le did not know that Gao Yu had such a close relationship with the Cui family. No wonder he made a special trip to visit them.

"We'll catch up later. I've come here specifically to pay my respects to Lord Cui."

"Come on, let me introduce you to the first two points."

Actually, there's no need for any introduction.

Cui Guang's four sons.

He had met Cui Mian, Cui Xu, Cui Li, and Cui Jie once, especially Cui Jie. Cui Jie was in the army when they escorted the Rouran king back to the Rouran court.

Gao Yu bowed to each of them with his hands clasped, his attitude very friendly.

"This Gao Lang is already a General of the Heavenly Strategy, a powerful regional official, yet he has no airs at all. He is quite a remarkable person."

"Uncle Zheng, how dare you be rude!"

"Hey, I was just saying it offhand. This man looks like a ruler. No wonder my brother was so eager to come and meet him."

Cui Jishu smiled and said, "Serving him is not a bad idea, but I don't know what position he will offer us."

Helpless, Cui Xian scolded, "Gao Lang has so many capable people around him. Do you see that young man? He is Yang Yin of the Hongnong Yang Clan. He has been known for his virtue since childhood. How dare you dream of holding a high position?"

Throughout history, there have been countless child prodigies. Being able to read the classics does not mean one can handle government affairs.

Cui Jishu was quite unconvinced.

He and Yang Yin were about the same age, and neither of them came from a prominent family.
Who hasn't read the classics since childhood?

After some pleasantries.

Cui Li then took Gao Yu to the Cui family ancestral graves to pay respects to Cui Guang.

Cui Guang may have acted on a whim back then, but it was indeed because of the act of taking a courtesy name that Gao Yu was connected with the Cui family, which was equivalent to indirectly helping Gao Yu.

Gao Yu, with a solemn expression, bowed and paid his respects at the grave.

Cui Jie couldn't help but sigh, "Back then, my father repeatedly told me that Gao Lang would surely be of immeasurable nobility in the future. Now that Gao Lang is a General of the Heavenly Strategy Army, if my father knew this in the afterlife, he would surely be very pleased."

It carried a hint of ingratiation.

Although the Cui family is prominent, there are currently no members of the Cui family in the Luoyang court. They need Gao Yu's help to regain their high positions.

What is a prestigious family?

A family can only prosper if someone holds a high position in every generation.

For example, the Li family of Longxi of Chenliu Gong.

They were just a prominent local family at the beginning.

The reason why it can stand alongside the four major surnames of Cui, Lu, Zheng and Wang today is because its members have held high positions for several generations.
If a family cannot hold an important position in the court for a long time, its power will also decline.

It's simply because the Cui family has a strong financial foundation.

On the way back, Gao Yu took the opportunity to ask, "Uncles, I have come here for two reasons: first, to pay my respects to Lord Cui, and second, to ask you for a favor."

"General, please speak frankly."

"His Majesty has sent me to Shandong to govern the three provinces of Yan, Xu, and Qing. I am skilled in warfare, but I have no experience in handling government affairs. I wonder if there are any talented young men in the Cui clan who would be willing to accompany me to Shandong to assist me in handling government affairs?"

Cui Jie and the others exchanged glances.

Gao Yu's request was not unexpected.

If the Yang family of Hongnong knew about this, how could the Cui family of Qinghe not know?
Gao Yu was exceptionally brave and skilled in martial arts, but he had no experience in handling government affairs or governing the people.

"Since the general has spoken, we will naturally do our utmost to assist him..."

After exchanging glances with his brothers, Cui Li said, "Our Wushui branch is currently without anyone. Why don't we let Yanxuan accompany the general to Shandong?"

The Cui family is divided into six branches: the Qinghe branch, the Qinghe branch, the Qinghe Qingzhou branch, the Xuzhou Yanling branch, the Zhengzhou Cui family, and the Nanzu Cui family.

Wushuifang is actually a branch of the Cui clan of the Southern Ancestor.

Such flourishing branches and leaves indicate a prosperous family.

Therefore, they are the foremost family in the North.

Yanxuan was Cui Jie's courtesy name.

Before the Hebei Incident.

Cui Jie had already risen to the position of Vice Minister of the Secretariat, a powerful official post within the Secretariat, and his governing ability was beyond doubt.

This also shows.

At least this branch of the Cui clan from Wushuifang has placed their bets on Gao Yu.

Gao Yu was taken aback and said, flattered.

"This...this, I am truly honored."

“My Cui family has been favored by the Emperor for generations. Now that the Emperor values ​​you, General, assisting you in governing Shandong is equivalent to governing Shandong on behalf of the Emperor. My Cui family has an inescapable responsibility.”

People from prestigious families always have a pleasant way of speaking.

Gao Yu didn't dwell on it and instead nodded, saying, "If Uncle is willing to go, then I will be extremely grateful!"

"Hahaha, it is an honor for me and my Cui family to be able to assist the world-renowned General Tian Ce."

Cui Jie bowed respectfully to Gao Yu, saying, "Greetings, General!"

P.S.: I'm determined to finish the third chapter today!

(End of this chapter)