Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 119 Two-hundred-year-old ginseng (Bonus chapter for votes! 4k views)

boom--!
Plates clattered to the ground on the table.

Exquisite porcelain shattered to the side.

"You bastard! You bastard!"

"How could such a mere boy be given this position! To be appointed as the General of the Xiongnu! Has the court gone mad?! Such an overstepping promotion sets no precedent!"

"A promotion from 600 shi to 2000 shi! Absurd! Utterly absurd!"

In Jinyang, inside the prefectural government office, Wang Ze cursed loudly. Just a few months ago, he was only a minor county magistrate, but now his official rank was comparable to Wang Ze's!

They were all officials of the imperial court with salaries equivalent to two thousand shi (a unit of grain), how could he accept this!

The aide standing to the side twitched his lips a few times.

They all followed the path of the Ten Attendants. Duke, don't even mention any precedent. I told you long ago not to give him a military post, but you were confident. You were certain that Zhang Xian couldn't wipe out the Hu cavalry, and you even promoted it yourself. Now that he has seized the opportunity to climb the ranks of the Ten Attendants like the Wang family, and has real merits, it's not hard to understand why he has been granted a high-ranking official position.

Why are you acting so crazy?

The staff calmly ate their meal. Things had already come to this point; they should eat first.

"Damn it!"
-
Yin Guan.

The news that Zhang Xian had been appointed as the General of the Xiongnu also reached Ding Yuan's ears.

His face looked somewhat stiff.

Just over a month ago, he was still a superior official. He never expected that after a month apart, the small county magistrate in his eyes would now become the General of the Xiongnu who could command him!
How could this happen?

He had only been appointed governor, with an annual salary of six hundred shi (a unit of grain), while others were promoted to high-ranking officials with a monthly salary of two thousand shi.

Although the two departments are directly under different jurisdictions, in reality, they do have the right to supervise and regulate their own affairs.

The governor of a prefecture was subordinate to the Censorate and subject to the control of the Three Dukes.

The General of the Xiongnu was directly under the Emperor and was placed under the jurisdiction of the Protectorate of the Xiongnu.

The position of governor was unique to the Han Dynasty, representing a position where a lower-ranking official could govern a higher-ranking one.

However, due to its unique nature, there have been instances where official positions have fluctuated in size.

When they were young, they could only impeach officials; when they were powerful, they controlled a province. Because of this, the emergence of the provincial governorship at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty was a natural consequence.

"Ugh, I got a terrible job."

Ding Yuan sighed and called out, "Someone come here!"

"My lord!"

"Send 200 fine horses to Luqi, saying that this is a gift to congratulate General Zhang on his promotion!"

"promise!"

The official clasped his hands in a fist salute and left.

At the horse ranch, officials were arranging for people to prepare the horses. Lu Bu, who was riding a horse, saw this and approached to ask.

Why have these fine horses gathered?

The minor official respectfully replied, "The governor has ordered the dispatch of 200 fine horses to Luqi to congratulate General Zhang on his promotion."

"General Zhang? Which General Zhang?"

Lu Bu was puzzled.

The minor official added, "I heard that the magistrate of Luqi County was promoted to General of the Xiongnu because of his military achievements!"

"General Zhonglang!"

Lu Bu was startled. Recently, his adoptive father had taken away most of his military power, leaving him with only a hundred or so personal guards to study and learn to read. He never expected that in less than a month, Zhang Xian would reach a position that was beyond his reach.

"Who did Godfather send to deliver it?"

"Reporting to Registrar Lü, this humble official is unaware."

Nodding, Lü Bu rode back to the governor's mansion, heading straight into the main hall.

"Father!"

"Oh, my son Fengxian is here. You little rascal, I told you to study and learn to read and write, but you've gone off to ride horses instead. You're now in charge of the clerk position, how can you be so reckless?"

Ding Yuan chuckled.

Lu Bu blushed and lowered his head slightly: "I'm sorry to disappoint my godfather, but those words are like stars in the sky, they're making my eyes dizzy."

"Sigh, you still need to temper your temperament more. In the end, one must have knowledge to be able to serve in the imperial court. Otherwise, you will not achieve anything great if you are only a military general."

"Tell me, my son, you certainly didn't come back to the manor at this hour to read books, did you?"

Lu Bu blushed again, feeling rather embarrassed by what he was being said, but he still cupped his hands and asked directly, "Father, I heard that Zhang Xian has become a General of the Household?"

Ding Yuan's expression darkened for a moment, but he quickly put on a smile again and nodded, "Yes, General Zhang is truly a hero; it is only natural that he is appointed as a Lieutenant General."

"Godfather is also sending 200 fine horses over?"

"Haha, Herier, it's just a promotion ceremony, why are you asking about this, Fengxian?"

Lu Bu clasped his hands in a fist salute again: "I lost last time and would like to seek your guidance again. Father, why don't you allow me to go to Luqi to deliver a gift?"

"You go?"

Ding Yuan's eyes darted around, and he hesitated for a moment before saying, "But... my son, you two had a falling out last time, and now Zhang Xian has been promoted to Lieutenant General. If you offend him again, I'm worried that things won't end well."

"Don't worry, Godfather, I'm only here to learn from you, and I will certainly be humble."

"Very well, if you want to go, then go."

Ding Yuan thought about it for a while and thought it was a good idea. After all, they were martial artists, and they might develop a mutual respect after a few matches.

"promise!"

Lü Bu was delighted and quickly bowed again before leaving the governor's mansion.

Watching Lü Bu's retreating figure, Ding Yuan stroked his beard and sighed, "Fengxian, don't blame your father, but this military power is the foundation of my life, and I really can't entrust it to someone else."

Lu Bu rode swiftly from the governor's mansion to the training ground, where he stopped in front of his personal guards' camp.

"Gao Shun, Wei Xu, Song Xian!"

"exist!"

Three personal guard commanders stepped out of the main tent and knelt in salute.

"Gather your personal guards and come with me to Lüchi!"

"promise!"
-
Lü Si.

The mansion's treasury was already overflowing.

As news of Zhang Xian's appointment as General of the Xiongnu spread, powerful families from various counties in Taiyuan Prefecture personally or by sending messengers to deliver congratulatory gifts.

Some families donated hundreds of kilograms of fine iron, while others donated hundreds of bolts of Shu brocade. The amount of each item was considerable, not to mention the sheer number of powerful families in the entire Taiyuan Prefecture.

These past few days, Zhang Shi and her three maids in the mansion have been exhausted, unable to finish moving everything.

Left with no other option, Zhang Xian could only summon yamen runners to help store all the congratulatory gifts in the treasury.

It is worth mentioning that even the Wang family of Taiyuan sent 600 shi of grain. As for why it was 600 shi, it is unclear. Perhaps it was to mock Zhang Xian, who was only a county magistrate with 600 shi of grain before.

But go ahead and mock me. If the grain doesn't grow, I'll just admit defeat. Six hundred bushels of grain is enough to feed dozens of people.

After spending several days exchanging pleasantries with all the powerful figures, Zhang Xian also had time to prepare a venue to receive the imperial edicts that would follow.

The three riders explained to him that the eunuchs under the Ten Attendants found traveling day and night too tiring, so they let them go ahead, while they themselves came over slowly and leisurely.

Zhang Xian expressed his understanding. "Eunuchs, they've made so much money through their own abilities. If they're still struggling and rushing around without enjoying life, then all that money is wasted! People should understand each other. Look how reliable they are. They gave him a generalship without hesitation. Although this completely emptied his wealth accumulated in Taoyuan, it was worth it."

The rank of General of the Central Army is not low. Look at Lu Zhi, when he fought the Yellow Turbans, he was only a General of the Central Army.

So we still have to give face to these eunuchs, we have to pay attention to them, and we have to give them money, otherwise they might go back and say a few words, and we'll have spent the money and end up being dismissed from office.

General Lu's experience serves as a cautionary tale.

In Lüchi County, everyone is preparing for spring planting, and seeds, farm tools, and oxen are being distributed from village to village.

The previous system of transferring village chiefs and the system of adding thief-catching officials under the pavilion chiefs demonstrated its advantages.

Since the village chiefs in each area had no kinship with the local clans, the situation of them colluding with clans to deceive their superiors and subordinates was greatly reduced.

Some potential risks were also eliminated by officials who, under the guise of cracking down on thieves, were actually supervising village chiefs and clans.

These days, Han Ji has been working hard again, traveling around the county government office every day to visit various clans.

Clans are different from powerful clans. Clans are only the prototype of powerful clans, but their main body is still the grassroots peasants sticking together for warmth. Therefore, Han Ji could not make a quick decision, but could only explain slowly word by word, which took a lot of thought.

Oxen, farm tools, and seeds are of utmost importance for spring planting, so he basically emptied the entire treasury of Luqi County, and even contributed some of his own money to make up for it.

However, using these things isn't entirely pointless.

Farmers could keep their own grain seeds and use the government's, and they could also rent farm tools and oxen. However, at the autumn harvest, the 50/50 share of the land would be changed to a 70/30 share.

Zhang Xianqi, three farmers.

Moreover, as long as you choose this method, Zhang Xian will also cover your land tax. That is to say, for every 100 catties of land produced, you will keep 30 catties; for every 200 catties, you will keep 60 catties. It sounds like a small amount, but the farmers don't have to worry about anything and can just focus on planting.

In the past, under the heavy taxes and levies, less than 10% of the output from an acre of land actually reached the hands of ordinary people.

Han Ji's main purpose was to explain this to these farmers.

Of course, the choice is still up to you. You can choose to divide the land 50/50 and pay the taxes yourself, and Zhang Xian will not stop you.

However, judging from the public opinions collected by Han Ji in the past few days, 70% of the farmers still chose a 70/30 split.

These people were mostly former hidden slaves in powerful families, and they knew some of the key points.

This can be considered one of the few good things that powerful people have done.

A few more days.

In the early morning mist, a procession of carriages slowly approached the gate of Luqi City.

Four pure white steeds pulled the gilded carriage, their wheels churning over the bluestone slabs with a dull thud. The bronze bells hanging from the carriage shafts jingled with each bump, their clear notes ringing out crisply in the still morning mist.

On either side of the carriage, twelve elite cavalrymen, clad in armor and wielding halberds, stood guard.

"The Imperial Attendant has arrived!"

Compared to the panic of the garrison soldiers when the courier urgently sent the message more than ten days ago, they were much calmer this time.

As the horn sounded, the heavy city gates slowly opened. On both sides of the street, county yamen runners, who had already received the news, stood holding jujube wood sticks, using them to block the curious people from entering.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a pale, slender hand emerged, its nails neatly trimmed and smooth, the fingertips stained with a faint balsam juice.

Zhang Gong, the eunuch who previously served as the official in charge of the three county offices for Zhang Xian and the other two, came in person.

His original surname was Sang and his given name was Gong, but after entering the palace and recognizing Zhang Rang as his father, he changed his surname to Zhang.

The carriages and horses arrived at the county government office.

Zhang Gong slowly stepped out of the carriage, wearing a crimson brocade robe, a jade belt with a silver fish pouch hanging from his waist, and a scholar's cap on his head.

"Zhang Zhonglang, how have you been?" Zhang Gong squinted, his voice high-pitched and languid, bearing a resemblance to Zhang Rang.

Zhang Xian had already led his men to wait respectfully at the county government office. Upon seeing this, he stepped forward with a warm smile and cupped his hands, saying, "This humble official respectfully welcomes the imperial envoy's arrival."

He secretly slipped a string of gold beads into Zhang Gong's hand.

Zhang Gong chuckled, patted Zhang Xian's hand, and his eyes became even more amiable.

"Is the incense table ready? We're about to read out the imperial edict."

“It’s all ready,” Zhang Xian said, bowing respectfully. “At your service!”

"promise!"

The incense table was carried out, and wisps of smoke rose from it.

Zhang Gongchao gestured to the back of the head, and several eunuchs respectfully presented a bronze box.

He opened it and took out a scroll of imperial edict made of gold silk.

He cleared his throat and read it out in a shrill voice.

"The imperial edict reads: I have heard that Zhang Xian, the magistrate of Lüsi County, is loyal, brave, and resolute, and has quelled the barbarian cavalry, a feat of great merit to the state. Therefore, I hereby bestow upon him the title of General of the Envoys to the Xiongnu, with a rank equivalent to that of a 2,000-stone official, holding the imperial insignia, establishing his own government, and supervising the border affairs of Bingzhou.

"Your subject accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude."

Zhang Xian bowed, his hands touching his toes. After a dozen or so breaths, he straightened up and accepted the imperial edict from Zhang Gong.

"This is the imperial staff; Zhang Zhonglang, please accept it."

With a smile, Zhang Gong handed a section to Zhang Xian.

Holding the staff.

With this, Zhang Xian gained the power to execute officials below the rank of two thousand shi (a unit of grain measure) first and report later. No wonder that while other things could be delivered by courier first, this Yellow Gate Attendant had to be handed to him personally.

After the imperial edict was read, the people who had come to watch the ceremony looked at each other in bewilderment.

So this county magistrate is now a Lieutenant General?
Although many people are still unclear about what Zhonglangjiang actually represents, that doesn't stop them from imagining it for themselves.

It must be a very high-ranking official position, otherwise there wouldn't have been a eunuch from Luoyang personally coming to read it aloud, and so many powerful figures would have come to offer gifts just a few days ago.

Zhang Xian carefully put away the imperial edict and the imperial insignia, and with a smile, led Zhang Gong and the others into the main hall of the county government.

The usual office space has been turned into a banquet venue.

The whole roasted lamb sizzles in a copper pan, while wine from the Western Regions is served in a finely carved crystal glass.

Zhang Gong, with his delicate fingers, slowly tore off a piece of mutton and chewed it: "Does Zhang Zhonglang know that this job should have been done by Wang Changshi's adopted son? I know about your grudge with the Wang family of Taiyuan, so I specially asked my father to give it to me."

"Thank you for your help, angels. It is truly my blessing to have your assistance."

Zhang Xian stood up, personally went to Zhang Gong, poured him a cup of wine, and then secretly stuffed a bulging cloth bag into his hand.

Zhang Gong weighed the matter for a moment, then a satisfied smile appeared on his face: "Zhonglang, you are very kind. I also think that you are a true hero of the world. Even your father knows your name now. Zhonglang, it is only a matter of time before you rise to prominence."

"It's all thanks to the angel's kind words. By the way, the angel mentioned Zhang Changshi. I do have something I'd like the angel to take back and present to Zhang Changshi."

"Oh? What is it?"

Zhang Gong also became more interested.

Zhang Xian clapped his hands, and a maidservant respectfully approached, presenting a golden box. Zhang Xian opened it, and a ginseng with long, plump roots emitted a rich medicinal fragrance.

"This is a two-hundred-year-old ginseng that I went to great lengths to obtain. Ginseng from Shangdang is the most nourishing. I hope the envoy will take it back to Luoyang and present it to Attendant Zhang. Attendant Zhang has worked hard for the country, so you must take good care of your health."

He closed the ginseng box and pushed it in front of Zhang Gong.

At this moment, Zhang Gong also had his mouth slightly open.

The way she looked at Zhang Xian was completely different from before.

He no longer spoke in a pretentious tone, but straightened his posture and said: "Zhang Zhonglang, when you are ennobled and appointed prime minister in the future, never forget the kindness we have shown you today."

Zhang Xian chuckled and cupped his hands in greeting: "Of course!"

(End of this chapter)