I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 219 Three Rules for the Covenant, Sworn by the Luo River
Liu Miao swore that before he went to sleep, only Madam Cai was in his bed.

As for how Zou ended up between the two, only God knows!

However, since things had come to this point, Liu Miao could do little more than instruct Zhou Tai to keep a close eye on Zhang Xiu and make sure he didn't lose his weapons.

"Ziyi will stay in Nanyang, while the rest of us will return to Xiangyang with me."

Liu Miao has already decided to do something big!
"I wish to host a banquet for all the elderly people in Jingzhou who are over sixty years old!"

"If people from Jingnan and other places are too far away to come here, they may send their sons or nephews!"

The news caused an uproar in Jingzhou!
Who would have thought that the first thing Liu Miao did after pacifying Jingzhou would be so inexplicable?

This matter is irrelevant to most people, so these people are just speculating about Liu Miao's intentions.

"Are you suggesting we gather all those people together and kill them all?"

"Wouldn't General Liu Biaoqi do such a thing?"

"Didn't Liu Biao use this method to kill more than fifty powerful warlords and clansmen before?"

"..."

Everyone thought that Liu Miao was about to kill someone!

Even the elderly who were going to the banquet were crying as they made their last wishes to their families, as if this were the last meal they would ever eat.

The banquet was not held in a secluded place as some had speculated. As soon as the banquet began, Liu Miao gave an order, and axemen rushed over and cut the old men to the ground.

in contrast.

The banquet was held at the foot of Mount Xian, in an open-air space beside the Han River.

There wasn't even a large tent for cover; they simply built a high platform and decorated it with silk, as if they didn't care about the surrounding people at all.

This caused widespread panic: "Is Liu Biaoji going to kill everyone in front of us as a warning?"

Unfortunately, Liu Miao only mentioned hosting a banquet for the old man and then there was no further news, which only made people more panicked.

"Kongming, what do you think of this matter? Does Liu Miao really intend to execute these old men in front of everyone?"

This matter attracted the attention of everyone in Jingzhou, and even some self-proclaimed hermits and hermits gathered to talk about it.

Xu Shu, Cui Jun, Shi Tao, and Meng Jian surrounded a young man, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of stars surrounding the moon.

Upon hearing Cui Jun's question, Xu Shu was the first to burst into laughter: "Zhouping, why would someone like Liu Miao make things so complicated?"

"He's not like Liu Biao back then. He had no troops, so he thought of using trickery to lure those people in and kill them."

"If Liu Miao wanted to kill someone now, he could just send soldiers to do it. Why go through all this trouble?"

"Besides, why would Liu Miao kill these old men? Just to earn a reputation for being 'cruel'? Don't just parrot what others say and believe everything you hear!"

Shi Tao agreed with Xu Shu's point of view.

"Now that Liu Miao has obtained Jingzhou and captured Kuai Liang and others, he shouldn't need to use these three elders to establish his authority."

Meng Jian countered, "When Dong Zhuo held absolute power, he was returning to Mei Wu to enjoy himself. The officials and ministers came to see him off outside the Hengmen Gate of Chang'an. Dong Zhuo hosted a banquet for everyone, but during the banquet, he brutally murdered hundreds of rebel soldiers from Beidi Commandery who had surrendered. He first cut off their tongues, then cut off their hands and feet, then gouged out their eyes, and boiled them in a cauldron. Before they could die, they lay on the table, swirling around, to intimidate the officials and ministers of the court."

"Now that Liu Miao has obtained Jingzhou, he will probably return to Jiangdong soon. He may also want to emulate Dong Zhuo in establishing his authority!"

The group started arguing amongst themselves, and soon their faces were flushed red.

It was the handsome young man in the middle who spoke up: "Why argue about this? Anyway, the banquet is being held in a hurry, why don't you go and see for yourselves?"

Xu Shu slapped his forehead: "Kongming was right! What are we guessing for? Let's go and see for ourselves!"

"Kongming, are you going too?"

"I won't go. I'm still observing mourning for my uncle and can't have any entertainment."

"Tch, boring!"

The four stopped arguing and agreed to go to Xiangyang together to see what Liu Miao was up to.

The seventh day of the ninth month in the second year of Jian'an.

The breeze on the Han River had already carried a slight chill, but it still couldn't quell the intense heat of Xiangyang at this moment.

Elderly people arrived one after another for the banquet, but there was not a trace of a smile on their faces.

The family members who brought them here couldn't help but cry, as if they wanted to turn the Han River into saltwater, carrying their sorrow into the Yangtze River never to return.

Liu Miao, watching this scene from the high platform, was somewhat annoyed: "I'm clearly organizing a joyous occasion, but it feels like the people of Jingzhou are attending a funeral?"

Beside Liu Miao was an elderly man who was almost fifty years old.

Of course, it would be somewhat inappropriate to call him an old man at this time.

Because the banquet was full of people over sixty years old, fifty years old is actually quite young compared to them!
"Wenhe, look at them. Don't they think that fifty is the perfect time to start striving?"

This elderly man, who was over fifty years old, was none other than Jia Xu.

Upon hearing Liu Miao's words, Jia Xu couldn't help but chuckle: "Is Liu Miao always this amusing?"

"What's so interesting about that? This is clearly the truth! Jiang Ziya didn't conquer the world until he was seventy, so why are you so lethargic at fifty?"

On the day Liu Miao left Nanyang, he met Jia Xu.

At first, Liu Miao thought he had mistaken someone for someone else, guessing that it was someone with the same name as that poison master.

Because Jia Xu looked too kind and benevolent, like the kind of old man who might give candy to a child who ran up to him.

Only after confirming repeatedly did Liu Miao believe that the other party was indeed Jia Xu, the man who had been both eloquent and ruthless.

Without further ado, Liu Miao took Jia Xu with him.

It doesn't matter whether I use his strategies or not; the most important thing is not to let others use his strategies!

However, Liu Miao soon discovered that Jia Xu was not the kind of ruthless person who would readily exterminate someone's entire family or add their grandmother to the list.

On the contrary, Jia Xu was always very quiet. As long as Liu Miao didn't speak, Jia Xu was like a stone, completely unnoticed.

"Wenhe, I always have a feeling that my capture of Jingzhou is closely related to you."

"You can't possibly have it all down to such a coincidence."

Liu Miao tilted his head and looked at Jia Xu.

"Liu Pan asked Zhang Xiu for warhorses before, but Zhang Xiu said he didn't have any; however, when Zijing returned, Zhang Xiu offered to give him some, which caused me to have a grudge against Liu Pan for no reason."

"Otherwise, Liu Pan probably wouldn't have bypassed Huang Zu and led his troops directly to E County, right?"

"After that, the troops in Jingzhou were inexplicably all transferred to Nanyang. Even generals like Wen Ping went to Nanyang to resist Cao Cao. It was really strange."

"Do you think it's possible that someone is secretly plotting this behind the scenes? Their goal is to find a good place for Zhang Xiu, and at the same time, to find a good place for someone else to live a life of seclusion in the city?"

Jia Xu nodded: "General Liu might be feeling uneasy lately and thinking too much."

"If there really is someone who plots for Liu Biaoqi, shouldn't he come out and demand a hefty reward from Liu Biaoqi?"

Liu Miao looked at Jia Xu: "What if this kind of person doesn't want a big reward and just wants to live a quiet and unremarkable life?"

Jia Xu: “…”

Liu Miao: "..."

After a moment of silence, Liu Miao finally burst into laughter: "Forget it! Perhaps Wenhe is right, and I've been overthinking things!"

"I just hope that if I ever encounter difficulties in the future, there will really be someone like that to stand up and offer me advice! Wenhe, do you think this is possible?"

Jia Xu: "Liu Biaoji is following the general trend and will not encounter any difficulties."

"If that day ever comes, surely there will be people of ambition to help General Liu?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Miao smiled knowingly: "Then I'll accept Wenhe's auspicious words!"

The banquet began as the waiter struck the drum three times.

Dark cloud-patterned curtains hung around the high platform, and bronze cranes holding lamps stood on either side of the nine-tiered sandalwood steps. In the center of the platform, according to the Zhou Dynasty rites, thirty low tables lacquered in red were arranged in a U-shape, with a reed mat and a rattan mat behind each table. The elderly people wore black-edged robes and knelt on lacquered stools, their hair adorned with jade dove hairpins symbolizing longevity.

If you ignore the heroic, death-defying look on the faces of these elderly people, at least the banquet was quite harmonious!

Three painted ceramic cups were placed in front of each person: one for warm millet wine, one for mulberry juice, and one for spring water.

A gilded bronze tripod with bear-shaped feet holds carved wild rice, while lacquered wooden trays hold dates, chestnuts, and hazelnuts. A bronze dagger and chopstick holder holds ebony chopsticks inlaid with silver.

The central five-tiered pavilion, adorned with gilded cloud patterns, displays the shared food. Roasted venison is served in a bronze stove, its steam carrying the aroma of Sichuan peppercorns. Pheasant soup simmers in a painted ceramic tripod, topped with tender sunflower seeds, while fish jerky served in a lacquered wooden ladle is accompanied by chive blossom sauce.

Meanwhile, below the high platform and across the Han River, the people of Jingzhou were crowded with onlookers.

"Oh no! It seems General Liu isn't planning to kill anyone?"

"how do you know?"

"Nonsense! Even if you can't see it, you should be able to smell it! Why would you serve such a delicacy to a dying person?"

Xu Shu, Shi Tao, and the others were also completely baffled: "What exactly does Liu Miao want to do?"

"Just look at it!"

……

At this moment, the musicians played the "Deer Cry" sheng and qing, and Liu Miao, who was sitting on the high platform, finally raised his bronze wine cup.

Upon seeing Liu Miao make a move, the group of elders quickly raised their cups in welcome.

Among these people were the three elders of the prefecture and the three elders of the village.

There were great scholars and famous figures, as well as ordinary people and laborers.

Because the Han Dynasty governed the country with loyalty and filial piety, these elders not only maintained a dignified appearance, but were also among the most respected people in Jingzhou.

These people looked at Liu Miao with trepidation, at this man who could decide their lives with a single word...

"Everyone."

Liu Miao's voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear.

Amidst everyone's watchful eyes, Liu Miao suddenly rose from his seat, raised his right arm, and pointed to the Han River outside, pointing to the very foundation of the great Han Empire.

“Before I, Liu Miao, arrived, there were probably all sorts of rumors circulating.”

"Even now, some people probably still think that I, Liu Miao, am a man who kills indiscriminately."

Before the people on the stage could whisper among themselves, Liu Miao said loudly, "In that case, I will follow the example of Emperor Gaozu who made a three-point agreement with the elders of Guanzhong, and I will also follow the example of Emperor Shizu who once swore an oath by pointing to the Luo River, and I will make an oath with you elders of Jingzhou on the Han River."

"When I enter Jingzhou, I will ensure that farmers have land, laborers have income, and the elderly have support!"

"Apart from that, everything else is the same as when Liu Biao was alive!"

Before the elders of Jingzhou, Liu Miao finally uttered this slogan that had been practiced for so long, but no one had ever summarized it—

Land should belong to the tiller! This will allow the poor to live and thrive.

Those who labor will be rewarded! This will ensure that those with ambition can achieve their goals.

The elderly are cared for, allowing the very old to live in peace.

The landless common people, the capable scholars, and the elderly who cannot farm.

These are the people Liu Miao intends to unite with, while also completely separating them from those who "own vast fields" and those who "reap without sowing"!
Liu Miao looked at the stunned crowd and nodded in satisfaction.

In fact, the so-called "three chapters" can be summarized in just two words—

fair!

fair!

That's fucking fair!!!
(End of this chapter)