Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 23 Unifying the world is the way to become the ruler of the state!
After defeating Yan Baihu, Yuan Shu rewarded and punished his generals fairly to solidify the twenty-level military merit system.

Regarding the people's livelihood, Yuan Shu strictly prohibited his soldiers from looting or harming civilians, establishing three laws: [Those who kill will be put to death; those who injure or steal will be punished!]

He reduced taxes and levies, punished notorious landlords and powerful figures who oppressed the people, confiscated their property, and obtained countless amounts of money and grain. He also personally rented the land he had acquired to the local people for cultivation at low rents.

Although taxes were reduced, the confiscation of land from landlords and powerful families meant that their accumulated wealth over centuries far exceeded the amount of money they received.

These landlords and powerful families still wanted to seek the protection of the aristocratic families, but the top aristocratic families in Jiangdong had already made their money to their heart's content when they distributed the spoils with Yuan Shu at the banquet in Qu'a. Who would care about these middle and lower-level powerful families?
This is what a prestigious family is like.

They recruit some and punish others. When the collective interests of powerful families are harmed, they will unite like never before, but as long as their own interests are protected, they will stand by and watch coldly.

Moreover, the Yuan family was also a prominent family.

With the arrival of a top-tier aristocratic family that had held high office for four generations in Jiangdong, someone had to make way for the Yuan family, right? The powerful families of Jiangdong were unwilling to concede, so naturally, it was a case of "better to die than to die."

Seizing land from other families, re-measuring the fields, and then redistributing them to the people would have made Yuan Shu an enemy of the powerful families of the Han Dynasty. Yet, Yuan Shu chose to rent the land to the people.

This is equivalent to the Yuan family annexing the lands of other landlords and powerful families, and turning the local people into Yuan family tenants. This is in line with the political correctness of aristocratic families.

We can't criticize Yuan Shu just because he annexed a little more land, collected less rent, and didn't exploit the tenant farmers, can we? Saying that would be unreasonable and contrary to the political correctness of aristocratic families.

What left the Jiangdong aristocratic families speechless was that they suddenly realized that the land now belonged to the Yuan family, the people had become the Yuan family's tenants, and the Yuan family, Yuan Shu, was still the most powerful warlord on both sides of the Yangtze and Huai Rivers!

How can they then consolidate land and population?

If Yuan Shu were to take the initiative and annex the Yuan family, who had held high office for four generations, it would be in line with the political correctness of aristocratic families if Yuan Shu were to retaliate and annex them in return.

As for Yuan Shu, as long as I annex first, you can't annex again. I, Yuan Gonglu, am determined to make the Yuan family the largest annexation family in the world!

To conquer the world is to become the ruler of the state!

What? Gentlemen, you wouldn't be violating the rules of our aristocratic family, would you?
Then my family's reputation as high-ranking officials for four generations will surely inspire all the noble families in the land to punish the disloyal.

With control of numerous counties and the imperial seal in hand, Yuan Shu looked down upon Jiangdong.

He chuckled softly.

"Do not move! If you do, you will become an enemy of the noble families!"

Within a few months, with the assistance of renowned Jiangdong officials such as Zhou Yu, Gu Yong, Bu Zhi, Zhang Zhao, and Zhang Hong, Yuan Shu's series of military, political, and livelihood policies were implemented in a way that better suited the current situation.

He also united the surrendered soldiers from Guangling, Wujun, Qu'a, Danyang and other places, and organized and prepared them, and his troops now numbered nearly 100,000.

His prestige in Jiangdong also reached its peak during this period, like the sun at its zenith!

The people praised his virtuous governance and sang his praises. Even the distant prefectures and counties that had not yet returned were drawn by his sentiments, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Yuan's army and willing to welcome the royal army with food and drink.

"Now that Liu Yao has been defeated and the prefectures are at peace, the army is eager to march south, and the people are no longer thinking of the Han dynasty?"

It was July. Yuan Shu summoned his ministers, looked south, and said:

"Since leaving Shouchun, we have been invincible. All the counties and prefectures along the way have surrendered without a fight. At present, there are still two counties in Jiangdong that have not yet been brought under our rule."

The first is Wang Lang of Kuaiji, and the second is Hua Xin of Yuzhang. I, in the name of the Left General of the Great Han, have come to punish this disloyalty on behalf of the Emperor. May I ask you gentlemen, what should be done next?

Yang Hong bowed deeply and said, “Our army is now powerful and the people are loyal to us. However, Jiangdong is in turmoil, the people are in a state of panic, the army has no will to fight, and the soldiers have no fighting spirit.”

People like Wang Lang and Hua Xin have no great ambitions and would certainly not dare to confront our army.

If our lord were to press in with a large army, and then send a mere envoy to explain the advantages and disadvantages, Wang Lang and Hua Xin would surrender without a fight, and Jiangdong could be pacified, allowing our great cause to begin.”

The members of the Jiangdong aristocratic families, who had previously received rewards from Yuan Shu at the banquet in Qu'a, now had a close relationship due to their shared interests. Upon hearing of this matter, a member of the Yu family immediately stepped forward to recommend them.

“Lord Yuan! I have a family member named Yu Fan, courtesy name Zhongxiang, who is currently serving as a clerk under Wang Lang. I can write him a letter and ask him to persuade Wang Lang, and then this matter will surely be accomplished.”

Yuan Shu agreed.

In Kuaiji City, upon hearing that Yuan Shu was leading his army towards them, everyone was filled with fear. Wang Lang consulted his ministers, saying:

"Yuan Shu's army is like that of tigers and wolves! They marched into Jiangdong and were invincible in every attack and battle. Now they are coming to invade again. What should we do?"

Seeing that the time was right, Yu Fan stepped forward to offer his advice.

"I have heard that you and Liu Yao, the former governor of Yangzhou, are both highly regarded in the Central Plains and respected throughout the country. However, in your own opinion, who is better between you and Liu Yao?"
How do the provisions, weapons, and bravery of the people of Kuaiji compare to those of Qu'a?
Even someone as high-ranking as Liu Yao, with a large army like Qu'a, was defeated by Yuan Shao's army in a single night, as you have witnessed.

Yuan Jun marched out of Shouchun, captured Guangling, pacified Wu County, broke through Qu'a, and secured Danyang. His advance was unstoppable, and he had not encountered an opponent. You have also heard of this.

Now you are trapped in an isolated city, lacking food and prepared. If you do not surrender to a wise ruler and Yuan Shao as soon as possible, it will be too late to regret it.

Upon hearing this, Wang Lang's expression changed drastically!
“My family has been paid by the Han dynasty for generations and has received imperial favor for generations. I was entrusted by the emperor to serve as the governor of Kuaiji.”

Now Yuan Shu has overstepped his bounds and defied the emperor, using the emperor's name to issue false edicts, attacking prefectures and counties, and seizing territory. His disloyal intentions are as clear as day!

A gentleman should take loyalty and righteousness as his foundation and disobedience as his shame! However, with a traitor in front of me, I cannot eliminate the traitor for the country. Instead, because the enemy is strong, I want to surrender the city without even fighting a single battle.

Such actions! How will the world view me? How can I face the Emperor and the people?
"Say that again! I am not one to surrender easily. I will certainly submit a memorial to the Emperor, impeaching Yuan Shu, and this time I vow to fight Yuan's army to the death!"

When Yuan Shu heard this exchange relayed by the Yu family outside the city, he couldn't help but sneer, "Wang Lang? I don't remember you being such a loyal and upright minister of the Han Dynasty."

"A famous person who is obsessed with saving face."

He rose and left the tent, waving his sleeve to give the order.

"When the three armies attack the city, give them a way out."

Just as Yuan Shu was attacking Kuaiji, Wang Lang, preoccupied with the emperor, had no time to heed his impeachment memorial. In distant Chang'an, a momentous event that would shake the world was about to unfold.

Not long ago, Liu Yao was sent to Chang'an. He secretly laughed at Yuan Shu's lack of wisdom and had already made up his mind. He was about to take advantage of the time of questioning to denounce the traitor Yuan Shu in front of the emperor in the Weiyang Palace, explain the advantages and disadvantages, and ask the court to send troops to conquer Huainan.

then
Then, as soon as he arrived in Chang'an, he heard that the emperor had been kidnapped by Li Jue!
what?
Liu Yao couldn't believe it!

Before he could react, he, along with all the civil and military officials, was abducted by Guo Si!

Liu Yao: ? ? ?
Traitor to the nation! How dare you do this!!!
　Thank you "Eat Well and Sleep on Time" for the 9 monthly tickets, that's amazing!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)