The Three Great Han Dynasties: Awaken Liu Bei with a scolding; you weave mats and sell sandals.

"In a year of great disaster, countless people died or were injured, yet no one from the surrounding counties came to their aid?"

Looking at the devastation near the official road, Cui Yan asked in bewilderment.

Liu Hong did not answer, but instead asked in return, "Why?"

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Cui Yan let out a loud, bitter laugh, as if in disappointment, "The affairs of several dynasties are all matters of their own families and households, and are of no concern to the people and the nation."

"They only care about the snow falling on their own doorstep, ignoring the frost on others' roofs."

"The common people, the hundred surnames, what does it matter if a few surnames are missing?"

"The common people, the common people, are blessed by all families. How magnificent!"

This was Liu Hong's answer, and it was something he had been practicing since the Liu family started out.

"Yuanzhi, Xuande, Yunchang, Yide."

Liu Hong called to the young men in the carriage behind him, "Lead the wandering knights to distribute food. Do not bring any sharp weapons. If anyone causes trouble, you may kill them."

Although Liu Hong possessed a compassionate heart, he also had awe-inspiring methods of repression.

Otherwise, blind kindness is nothing but foolishness.

Upon Liu Hong's command, Liu Bei and his men, who had been eager to act, immediately obeyed and carried out the order.

"Understood, Father."

Liu Bei shouted loudly and leaped down onto the cold stone path of the official road.

He waved his hand, and the wandering knights beside him followed him, all of them taking the lead.

At this time, Liu Bei had just broken free from the wing of his father, Liu Hong. In no time, he displayed the demeanor of a powerful ruler, the son of Liu Gong of Zhuo County and the heir of the Liu family.

As the de facto crown prince on the emperor's screen, although he has not been officially appointed, his every move, coupled with his corresponding destiny, shows that Liu Bei is no longer the Han imperial relative's collateral descendant who only knew how to be law-abiding and make a living in history.

His every move exuded an air of nobility.

In addition, his status as a member of the Han imperial family and his own good fortune further attested to his nobility.

"The wandering knights from the north and south are responsible for distributing the grain, while the wandering knights from the east and west are responsible for maintaining order."

Liu Bei's gaze sharpened slightly, and he made arrangements for the night without changing his expression.

"Yes, young master."

All the wandering knights bowed and replied.

Afterwards, armed with short weapons, they took the food from the wagon's baggage train, carefully carried it to where the wagon was parked, and began distributing the food.

"The Liu family of Zhuoxian is distributing grain! Today, in gratitude for Lord Liu's kindness, hurry up and collect your grain!"

"Distribute the goods according to the number of people. Anyone who fights over them shall be killed."

When a chivalrous knight distributes grain, he first demonstrates benevolence and then reveals his might.

Dozens of short weapons were raised high, gleaming with cold light under the blinding golden glow. In just a moment, they completely suppressed the restless hearts of the nearby refugees.

Seeing this, Cui Yan slowly withdrew his gaze, and smiled gently with satisfaction: "Lord Liu's popularity is probably already deeply rooted in Zhuo County and even the entire Zhuo Prefecture."

"With the people's hearts turning to him, and the news of Liu Gong being enfeoffed as the Marquis of Guannei and the Marquis of Weining gradually spreading, and with him holding real power in Zhuo County, this gain of popular support was naturally well-deserved and not a fabrication."

"This is the weight that the people place on their shoulders."

Liu Hong did not avoid Cui Yan's scrutiny; instead, he went straight up to him and spoke frankly and openly.

His aim was to win over the hearts and minds of the people, specifically those in Zhuo County and throughout Youzhou. Wasn't this exactly the answer Cui Yan, standing before him, also desired?

"What's wrong with Liu Hong speaking his mind today?"

Among all the states and regions of the Han Dynasty, the one with the highest reputation and the most outstanding among the Han imperial relatives was Liu Yu, the governor of Youzhou.

Why can't Liu Hong replace him?

"The benefits for the common people can all be utilized. Only then can we compete with the powerful clans and the imperial court in the future."

Liu Hong spoke again, making no attempt to conceal the fact that he had exploited the people.

Such behavior made Cui Yan feel dazed, as if he saw the figure of Emperor Gaozu of Han in this member of the Han imperial family.

When his power surpasses that of others, he can command the world; when he is down on his luck, he can still joke and play with children on the street.

This ability to be flexible and adaptable is the reason why Cui Yan has always followed him.

"Lord Liu, don't let me down."

Cui Yan thought to himself.

……

"After the grain is distributed, we will eat the grain from the Liu family and naturally remember the kindness they have shown us."

"For the next three days, there was grain available. Each day when receiving the grain, one had to shout three times, 'The Liu family of Zhuo County, the Liu family of Zhuo Commandery, the Marquis of Weining is distributing grain!' This was to spread the name of benevolence throughout Youzhou."

Liu Bei spoke solemnly, his eyes gleaming, and shouted loudly to each of the refugees who came to collect their grain.

Although he was kind-hearted, he was not ashamed of seeking personal gain.

This is the result of Liu Hong's many years of teaching.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei on either side also used large bowls to scoop up grain and hand it to the refugees.

At first, the two of them felt some psychological barriers.

But when they saw the refugees get the food, light a fire on the spot, cook, and make the food into edible food, they all regained their strength, and their lives were saved. The two seemed to suddenly understand.

What's wrong with these slogans that benefit the Liu family? What's wrong with them?

So the two of them followed suit, shouting loudly into the street: "Today we are receiving grain from the Liu family of Zhuo County, grain from the Liu family, relatives of the Han imperial family. In the future, it will surely spread throughout Youzhou, and the name of Lord Liu's benevolence will be widely praised."

Some of the grateful refugees immediately shouted loudly, repeatedly calling out in the crowd: "Lord Liu is benevolent. It is a blessing for the people of Zhuo County to have Lord Liu."

"Lord Liu, this old man kowtows to you."

"I had long heard of Lord Liu's name, and the people of Zhuo County all revered him. Only after meeting him today do I realize that his words were not unfounded."

In the blink of an eye, the crowd of disaster victims was almost entirely filled with praise.

However, Liu Hong and the entire Liu family made no attempt to conceal this fact.

All he wanted was for the name of Liu Gong to spread far and wide, and for the four characters "a member of the Han imperial family" to be displayed along the streets.

Although it may have been intended to win over the hearts of the people of a prefecture or state, its primary purpose was the greater good of the Han Dynasty.

Therefore, even if such behavior were to reach the imperial court in Luoyang, or even the ears of the Three Dukes, Nine Ministers, or the current emperor, the emperor would not be angry; on the contrary, he would rely on it even more.

As members of the Han imperial family, they should naturally shoulder the responsibility for the Liu family and the Han dynasty.

During that period, the imperial family had always supported and relied on the Han imperial relatives; otherwise, there would not have been a famous governor like Liu Yu of Youzhou, nor would there have been the prestige of Liu Biao of Jingzhou later on.

So what they can do, why can't Liu Hong do it today?

This is the greatest advantage of being a member of the Han imperial family in the great Han dynasty: the Liu family has no scruples about things that other noble families dare not openly proclaim.

It just gradually.

Among the crowd of disaster victims, figures wearing yellow headscarves and yellow clothes appeared.

They were slightly stronger than the average refugees, and now they had come from afar, doing something similar to what the Liu family was doing.

However, they dared not openly announce the distribution of grain.

Since he was neither a member of the Han imperial family nor affiliated with the imperial court, he used the guise of "curing diseases with talismanic water" to save people.

Only in this way could the local government, county magistrate, and soldiers turn a blind eye and tacitly allow their existence.

The so-called talisman water is actually not much different from rice water.