Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 154 Taihang
Just as Wang Lie was igniting the spark of encouragement for farmers in the fields.

Inside the county government office of Yuci County, which is less than forty miles away from Jinyang, separated only by a river.

Chen Ji, the newly appointed Chief Clerk of Taiyuan Commandery, sat in the main seat.

He was dressed in a dark blue official robe, his face was resolute, and his eyes were sharp as knives as he scanned the dozens of officials standing solemnly below the hall.

These people included clerks and officials from the existing Gongcao Office, capable clerks temporarily transferred from the Judicial Office, and several Judicial Office guards in light armor with cold eyes standing on both sides with their hands on their swords.

An invisible pressure permeated the air.

On the table, there were several thick stacks of bamboo slips and files.

The top few volumes are prominently labeled "Zhang's Bribery Ledger" and "Wang's Personal Relationships".

Beside it were the "Order for Improving Official Governance" and the "New Regulations for Examination and Selection of Officials," which Chen Ji had personally drafted over half a month.

"Gentlemen," Chen Ji's voice was not loud, but each word was clear.

"The downfall of the Zhang and Wang families is still fresh in our minds! Their crimes of exploiting the local people, bribing officials, and undermining the law are too numerous to count! What is the root cause of the fact that such giant pests have been able to run rampant for a century? It lies in the corruption of the bureaucracy! It lies in the mutual protection among officials! It lies in the fact that clerks and lower-level officials are the henchmen of the powerful!"

The people below the hall, especially the former officials, all felt a chill run down their spines and broke out in a cold sweat. Many of them had received "tribute" from the Zhang family, the Wang family, or other powerful families to varying degrees.

Chen Ji picked up a list, which was a list of key suspects compiled by secret agents based on preliminary verification and analysis of the account books.

"The autumn harvest is over. By order of the Prefect and Magistrate Xun, a comprehensive overhaul of the administration of Taiyuan Prefecture will commence immediately! This place will be the first to be investigated!"

His gaze was like lightning, shooting towards a middle-aged official in the hall who was wearing a green official robe, slightly overweight, and with a deathly pale face: "Zhou Min, Magistrate of Yuci County!"

Zhou Min trembled all over, almost collapsing to the ground. He forced himself to step forward, his voice trembling, "Your...your humble servant is here!"

"The seventh volume of the Wang family's account book of favors records the following dated September 15th of the second year of Guanghe: Zhou Min, the magistrate of Yuci County, received 300 strings of cash as 'Mid-Autumn Festival charcoal tribute' and two sable furs."

The matter is described as 'a land dispute involving the Zhao family in the east of the city, with Magistrate Zhou ruling in favor of the Wang family.' Is this true?

Chen Ji's voice was cold and devoid of any emotion.

Zhou Min was struck dumb, and he knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face: "Chen...Chen Gongcao! This official...this official was confused for a moment! It was the Wang family's power that coerced and lured me...This official knows his crime! He knows his crime!"

His last shred of hope was completely shattered.

How could he not know the methods of Zhao Shi, the judicial officer in Yangqu? He was truly ruthless and decisive in killing!
"Whether it was coercion or bribery, the judicial authorities will investigate thoroughly!" Chen Ji remained unmoved and said sternly.

"Guards! Immediately remove Zhou Min's official hat and seal and detain him for trial! All affairs of the Yuci County Government shall be temporarily taken over by personnel dispatched from the Gongcao Office! The Judicial Officer shall immediately station himself in Yuci and, together with the newly appointed acting magistrate, arrest all the clerks involved in the case according to the list! Seize all relevant files, accounts, and property! Anyone who obstructs this shall be punished for resisting the law!"

"Yes, sir!" Two fierce-looking judicial guards immediately stepped forward and dragged Zhou Min, who was limp and wailing, away.

The hall was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop. All the officials felt a chill run down their spines.

Chen Ji's gaze swept over the terrified faces of the crowd: "Zhou Min, this is just the beginning! This round of rectification will cover the entire Taiyuan Prefecture!"
Those whose names are on the ledgers, whose reputations are poor, and who are negligent or derelict in their duties will not be spared! These vacant positions are your opportunities, a path for talented individuals from humble backgrounds and valiant soldiers to serve their country!

He picked up the copy of the "New Regulations for Examination and Selection".

"On the second day of the second month of next year, the Jinyang Prefectural School will hold a public examination! The examination will focus on three subjects: law, mathematics, and policy essays! Only those with talent will be selected, regardless of their background! The Office of Registrar of State Affairs shall post a notice immediately to inform the entire prefecture of this new regulation! Anyone who is determined to improve the administration and serve the local people may take the examination!"

This sudden news was like throwing a boulder into a still lake!
Those low-level clerks and poor scholars who had been trembling with fear and thought they had no hope suddenly had a terrifying light bursting from their eyes!

Open selection? Regardless of background? Merit-based selection? This is the ladder to heaven they've been dreaming of!
"Chen Gongcao is wise!"

"The governor's new policies have benefited the poor and needy!"

Someone shouted first, and immediately a chorus of excited echoes rose from below the hall.

Chen Ji felt a little comforted as he looked into those eyes that had been ignited with hope.

Only by destroying the old order and establishing a new one can we pave the way for talented people from humble backgrounds to rise to the top and inject fresh blood into the new policies.

After the intense pain of curing corruption in government, there will be a vibrant new growth.

Led by Lü Yan, the stern judge appointed by Zhao Shi, the capable clerks of the Judicial Office, armed with lists and arrest warrants stamped with the official seal of the Judicial Office, rushed straight to the Yuci County Government and the residences of the Zhou family and other powerful families involved in the case.

Arrests, seizures, interrogations... the actions were swift and decisive, without any hesitation.

When Zhou Min was imprisoned, his close associates and cronies were all rounded up, and the officialdom of Yuci was cleaned up.

The newly appointed acting magistrate is temporarily replaced by a well-regarded veteran official from the Gongcao Office, awaiting the selection of a new person to take over.

At the same time, the notice of the "New Regulations for Examination and Selection" spread like wildfire, quickly covering the city gates, markets, and village pavilions of Taiyuan Prefecture.

Jinyang, Yangqu, Qixian, Mengxian... Countless impoverished scholars who had studied diligently for years but had no way to serve the country, good families who had farmed for generations but were literate, and even some soldiers in the army who had some basic literacy and longed to change their fate, all felt their hearts pound violently when they saw the notice!

"The Ministry of Justice? I've been a hanger-on in the county government for years, and I know all the laws and regulations by heart!"

"Mathematics? Measuring fields and calculating taxes are exactly my forte!"

"Strategies? On governing the people and securing peace? Although I come from a farming family, my experiences and observations over the years, having traveled all over the country, are no less than those of scions of noble families!"

"Let's go! To Jinyang! Let's make a name for ourselves!"
-
months ago.

Taihang Mountains

The name "Tiebizhan" is no exaggeration.

When Zhang Xian and his party led their unsaddled warhorses, which were puffing out thick white smoke, onto the plank road hanging on the precipice, they truly understood the weight of the words "monkey's sorrow."

The walkway is only a little over three feet wide, with thick logs driven into the rock wall as crossbeams, and unevenly thick wooden planks laid on top.

The erosion of time and the weathering of wind and rain have caused many of the wooden planks to rot and crack, revealing a chilling void beneath.

Beyond the outer edge lies an unobstructed, bottomless valley. The mountain wind, like an invisible giant hand, violently tears at the bodies of travelers, whipping up pebbles and ice shards that sting the face.

The inside of the plank road is a slippery, cold cliff covered with wet moss.

Every step he took was on the edge of life and death.

The warhorse snorted in terror, its hooves trembling, refusing to move forward.

The guards could only hold the reins tightly, almost dragging and carrying the animal, moving it very carefully.

Zhang Xian walked at the front, refusing the guards' help.

He gripped the protruding edges or embedded thick iron rings on the inner rock wall with one hand, and held onto the cold rock wall with the other, keeping his body as close to the inner side as possible, and steadily testing the weight-bearing capacity of each wooden plank under his feet.

His gaze was sharp as an eagle's as he carefully surveyed the structure of the plank road, the texture of the rock walls, and the terrain of the abyss beyond.

"My lord, be careful!" Wu Shan whispered from behind. A seemingly intact wooden plank in front of Zhang Xian suddenly cracked with a sickening "crack" the moment he stepped on it. Several fragments tumbled and fell into the abyss, remaining silent for a long time!
Zhang Xian swayed slightly, then pushed off with his feet to regain his balance. At the same time, he grabbed a protruding rock above him with lightning speed, pressing himself tightly against the rock face.

Gravel and shards of rotten wood brushed against his robes as they fell.

The guards' hearts jumped into their throats.

Zhang Xian remained unfazed, looking down at the broken wooden plank beneath his feet, then looking up at the steep rock face above the plank road.

“This is the plank road.” His voice was calm, yet still clear in the mountain breeze.

"With its foundation rotten and its outer edges exposed to severe wind erosion, if left uncorrected, it will eventually lead to great disaster!"

He pointed to a relatively flat, seemingly exceptionally solid rock ridge about ten feet below the outer edge of the plank road: "Old Wu! Look there! If we move the entire plank road down, using that natural rock ridge as a base, embedding stone pillars and iron posts into the mountain, and widening it outwards to five feet! Carve grooves in the inner rock wall for drainage, and add wooden railings to the outer side! Would that be feasible?"

Wu Shan squinted, carefully examining the location Zhang Xian pointed to. He then instructed the others to suspend themselves on ropes around their waists and slide down to the ridge using their combined strength. He tapped the nearby rocks with his steel pickaxe, producing a dull thud.

"Move forward!" he shouted from below.

The guards on the plank road laid out cowhide along the edge to prevent the ropes from getting worn out, and carefully moved forward.

A few quarters of an hour later, Wu Shan's voice rang out again from below: "Pull me up!"

With everyone working together, they pulled the rope up again.

"My lord has keen insight! That rock ridge is made of solid rock! If we carefully excavate a foundation trench, embed stone pillars and iron posts as a base, and then reinforce it with sloping pillars to support the sturdy planks... it's feasible! Absolutely feasible! The width can be expanded to at least six feet! Two packhorses can then ride side by side without any problem! Moreover, it avoids the windy area above, making it a hundred times more stable!"

The patrolman's voice was filled with excitement.

"Good!" Zhang Xian's eyes flashed, and he gave the order to the guard who was in charge of recording.

"Mark this location! Use this plan for future construction!"

"Yes, sir!" The guard in charge of recording quickly wrote down the details.

Zhang Xian continued forward, each step extremely steady, his gaze like the most precise ruler, measuring every inch of the plank road's flaws and contemplating every detail of its modification.

Where reinforcement and support are needed, where sheltered caves can be dug, where platforms need to be added for safety... one after another, renovation plans quickly took shape in his mind, enhanced by his on-site surveys and his [knowledge] bonus.

When they finally made it through the "cliffside path," which was only a few hundred steps but felt like half a lifetime's journey, and stepped back onto the relatively solid mountain path, everyone breathed a long sigh of relief, their backs soaked with cold sweat.

After crossing several mountain ridges, an even more despairing scene appeared before us—the Eighteen Bends!

This can hardly be called a road! It's more like a huge wound lashed against a steep mountainside! The extremely steep slope makes the neck of anyone looking up at it ache.

The so-called "winding path" is a narrow, zigzag staircase carved out of or utilizing naturally formed steps on a steep rock face, spiraling upwards.

The steps are steep, slippery, and uneven, with many places covered with gravel and loose shale.

The winding zigzag path became even narrower and more cramped, barely allowing one person to turn around carefully. Cargo-laden animals could easily slip and tumble down here. A few pale rays of sunlight struggled to penetrate the towering mountains and fell on the winding path, illuminating the figures of the guards who had gone ahead, looking as small as ants as they struggled to climb.

Heavy breathing, the scraping of hooves on the gravel, and the restless neighing of warhorses echoed through the valley.

“My lord, this... this steep path is really difficult for the animals to traverse, perhaps..." The captain of the guard couldn't help but speak up as he looked at the dizzyingly steep slope.

“Continue! Each of you will be rewarded with a hundred strings of cash upon our return to Jinyang!” Zhang Xian interrupted him, his voice leaving no room for argument.

"We are no ordinary merchants! If we cannot even cross, how can we expect refugees to help the old and young climb up? Hold onto your horses and follow me!"

He dismounted first, but instead of handing the horse over to the guards, he personally took the reins of his magnificent black horse, patted its neck, and said, "Moying, let's go!"

Mo Ying was the name Zhang Xian gave to this black warhorse. He had been riding it for almost half a year and had come to recognize its abilities, so he named it.

It is completely black, and when it runs at full speed, it can only be seen as a dark shadow, hence its name.

Mo Ying, with an extremely intelligent sense of perception, snorted loudly and, without the slightest fear, stepped onto the steep winding path.

However, each step was extremely difficult. The horse's hooves kept slipping on the wet rocks, and Zhang Xian and his guards had to pull the reins with all their might while bracing the horse's belly with their bodies to prevent it from slipping and rolling off.

The steep slope made one's calf muscles feel like they were on fire, and put enormous pressure on the heart and lungs.

At the narrow zigzag bend, people and horses were almost crammed together, carefully moving and turning, for the slightest carelessness could lead to a fall off the cliff.

Zhang Xian, however, seemed tireless.

As he struggled to control his horse and climb, he carefully observed the course of the winding road and the structure of the mountains on both sides.

Sweat streamed down his resolute face, dripping onto the cold rocks.

He stopped when he reached a "throat" place with a gentler slope but an unusually narrow passage, squeezed by the mountain walls on both sides, forming a natural bottleneck.

"Is this the place where merchants and travelers are most likely to get stuck and ambushed?" Zhang Xian wiped his sweat and pointed to the narrow pass that could barely allow one vehicle to pass through.

With towering mountain walls and jagged rocks on both sides, and the view above blocked, it was indeed an excellent ambush point.

“It is here, the Eighteen Bends, that is truly treacherous!” Wu Shan replied, panting heavily.

“In previous years, bandits loved to set up roadblocks here to extort money, or push rocks down here…”

Zhang Xian's eyes flashed like lightning as he scanned the mountain walls on both sides and the terrain above.

He pointed to a huge, protruding rock on the left side of the mountain wall, its roots already showing signs of loosening: "If we break that boulder apart, wouldn't the rubble be just enough to fill the deep pit below?"

He then pointed to a relatively broken, gently sloping hillside on the right.

“Here, a parallel auxiliary road, three zhang wide, was carved out by hand! The main road is for vehicles and horses to pass quickly, while the auxiliary road is for pedestrians to give way and rest! Wouldn't that completely remove the bottleneck here?”

As he spoke, he quickly sketched a draft of the renovation plan on a relatively flat rock face using the charcoal pencil he carried with him.

Widening, lowering the slope, diverting the flow, reinforcing dangerous rocks, removing obstacles... a blueprint to turn a natural barrier into a thoroughfare became increasingly clear and feasible under the verification of his on-site investigation.

When Zhang Xian and his group finally reached the top of the Eighteen Bends and looked back at the treacherous path that wound upwards like a huge scar, despite their exhaustion, each of them had a conqueror's light burning in their eyes.

Standing at the highest point, the mountain wind billowed his robes as he looked down at the road he had come from, silently calculating the widening plan, the amount of work, and the time required.

'Manual excavation might be too slow.'

What he was thinking.
-
The outline of Jinyang City finally became clear on the horizon, and the afterglow of the setting sun gilded the ancient city walls with a tired golden-red hue.

As Zhang Xian and his entourage passed through the majestic North Gate, even the magnificent steed Mo Ying beneath him couldn't help but snort heavily, its mane covered in dust and grass clippings brought from the depths of the Taihang Mountains.

After a full month of trekking, traversing cliffside walkways and climbing steep mountain paths, enduring wind and rain, surveying, measuring, and contemplating... both body and mind were stretched to the limit.

Stepping onto the flat streets of Jinyang and feeling the solid rammed earth beneath his feet, Zhang Xian felt an overwhelming weariness wash over him.

His back remained as straight as a javelin, but the weariness between his brows was hard to conceal, like the dampness of a mountain stream, weighing heavily on him.

"My lord, shall we go straight back to the manor?" The captain of the guards asked with concern, his voice hoarse.

"Hmm," Zhang Xian replied with only one word, his voice low.

What he needs most right now is a bed where he can completely relax his tense nerves, a bowl of hot food, and a moment of undisturbed peace.

Returning to the mansion that was converted from the Wang family's old residence and now serves as the headquarters of the General of the Central Army, Zhang Xian almost dismissed all the servants who came to greet him and went straight to his bedroom in the backyard.

The warm, moist air dispelled the chill of the mountains and carried away the dust and fatigue clinging to the skin.

He submerged himself in a huge wooden tub filled with hot water, the warm water enveloping every inch of his aching muscles, and his tense nerves finally began to relax.

He slept soundly for a long time.

When I woke up, it was already the afternoon of the second day.

Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting warm dappled patterns on the floor.

The physical fatigue has subsided considerably, but the mental dullness from the long journey remains.

Zhang Xian did not get up immediately, but lay quietly, letting his thoughts drift in the void for a moment.

However, this rare respite did not last long.

As evening approached, Zhang Xian finished his late lunch and was about to take a walk in the courtyard to stretch his muscles when Xun Yu appeared outside the moon gate.

He was still dressed in a neat dark blue official robe, his steps steady, but his brows showed the marks of days of hard work.

"My lord," Xun Yu bowed respectfully, his voice gentle.

"Things in Jinyang are generally stable, but there are a few important documents that still need to be reviewed and decided by the lord."

Zhang Xian looked at the stack of documents in Xun Yu's hand, which wasn't too thick but was clearly quite heavy, and the slight sense of ease that had just arisen in his heart instantly vanished.

He sighed silently, but his face showed no sign of refusal. He simply nodded and turned to walk towards the study: "Wenruo has also worked hard."

The study was filled with a pleasant fragrance.

On the desk, the documents that had piled up before he left had been neatly arranged by Xun Yu, sorted into categories.

But at this moment, several more copies were added, which Xun Yu solemnly placed on top.

Zhang Xian sat down behind the desk, and without any further pleasantries, picked up the top document.

It was the final tally of autumn grain stored in Luqi. When he saw the staggering number of "ten thousand shi" (a unit of dry measure), the fatigue of the past few days seemed to be instantly dispelled by an invisible force!

As my fingers traced the entries representing millet, wheat, melons, and beans on the paper, I could almost feel the heavy weight of those mountains of grain.

A satisfied smile involuntarily curved his lips. This bountiful harvest was the foundation of Lü Si's success and the source of confidence for all his plans!

"It must have been difficult for you to manage all these matters all by yourself! The autumn harvest is truly encouraging." Zhang Xian's voice was filled with genuine joy as he handed the document to Xun Yu.

"Immediately draft a document to inform the public that all matters should continue to be carried out according to the established strategy, and that the newly reclaimed land must complete the water conservancy repairs before winter."

Furthermore, winter clothing and rewards for the Jiaqi Battalion will be allocated according to the highest standards, with funds and provisions to be provided from the Jiaqi granary!

"Yes!" Xun Yu replied, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

Setting aside the joyous news of victory, the somber atmosphere of the next official document looms large.

It was Chen Ji's report on the first round of the rectification of officialdom in Taiyuan Prefecture—details of the arrest of Zhou Min, the magistrate of Yuci County, and a group of corrupt officials involved in the case, as well as the official document of the "New Regulations for Examination and Selection" that shocked the entire prefecture.

Zhang Xian carefully reviewed the list of those involved, the key points of the interrogation, and the specific clauses of the new regulations. In particular, when he saw the copy of the notice that read "Only the talented are appointed, regardless of their background," a hint of expectation flashed in his eyes.

Now that Taiyuan is pacified, he needs a large number of clerical and administrative staff, and it remains to be seen how many surprises this "recruitment order" will bring.

"Chen Yuanfang acts decisively, very good." Zhang Xian picked up his pen and wrote a red annotation on Chen Ji's report.

"The officials involved in the case shall be severely punished according to the law, and their family property shall be confiscated as a warning to others! The selection process shall be carried out with utmost care and caution."

The most important factor is the character of the recruits; background checks must be conducted beforehand. The Ministry of Revenue and the Prison Administration are to oversee this matter with their full force. The prefectural government will provide full support in terms of funds, provisions, and facilities.

After dealing with Chen Ji's documents, the third one came from Ding Yuan, the governor of Bingzhou.

The wording seemed to be a polite inquiry about autumn prevention, but a subtle hint of probing and unease was hidden between the lines.

When Zhang Xian was in the Taihang Mountains, the news of the huge harvest in Luqi and the good governance of Taiyuan Prefecture had clearly reached Yanmen and even made Ding Yuan somewhat uneasy.

Zhang Xian looked at the official document.

After a moment's thought, he picked up his pen and replied, his tone neither humble nor arrogant: "Thank you for your concern, Your Excellency. The autumn defenses of the northern frontier are fully prepared. If the Xiongnu cavalry dare to venture south, they will be ensured their demise."

The writing was subtle yet incisive, demonstrating both strength and preventing Ding Yuan from taking advantage of the situation.

After writing it, he showed it to Xun Yu. Although his writing had been practiced, it still seemed somewhat immature in the eyes of some people who were well-versed in the ways of officialdom.

Xun Yu took the document, examined it, and with a slight smile, picked up his pen, changed some sentence structures, and handed it back to Zhang Xian.

"My lord, these places should be arranged as follows."

(End of this chapter)