The imperial cause at the end of the Han Dynasty was not one of partial peace.

Chapter 97 The renowned scholar Ru Ying and the capable minister Li Yan

The southward migration of scholars from the Central Plains was not only affected by natural disasters, but also by personnel interference.

Guo Yuan cupped his hands in greeting and said excitedly, "Your Excellency is kind enough to report this. Since Inspector Tian suggested sending envoys north in June to set up tents, distribute porridge, and attract customers along the way, it has only been a little over two months, yet the results have far exceeded expectations."

"By the last day of August, Changsha had received more than 10,000 registered residents, who were then distributed to various counties. Currently, there is still a continuous stream of migrants heading south every day, from dawn till dusk."

"What is particularly gratifying is that among the refugees who have come south this time, there are many scholars and heroes from the Central Plains. Inspector Tian has set up a soup kitchen in Runan, and a special guesthouse for 'respecting the virtuous' has been established there. All those who are well-dressed and have a skill are invited into the guesthouse, provided with food and lodging, and given travel expenses, as well as convenient transportation for their journey south."

"In the past two months, the Lixian Hall alone has received no fewer than three hundred scholars, including dozens who had served as county officials and more than one hundred who were well-versed in the classics and laws. All of these people have come south and are currently staying at the Linxiang Hall, awaiting an audience with the Prefect."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei clapped his hands and laughed, exclaiming, "Yuan Hao's strategy is indeed remarkably effective! In just two months, three hundred scholars have come south—back when I was at Mount Tai, I established academies and gathered scholars, and it took me a year to gather two thousand. Now, without lifting a finger, scholars from the Central Plains are flocking here. This is truly the opportune moment!"

Guo Yuan was also filled with emotion, and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, saying, "What you say is absolutely right, Your Excellency. However, in my opinion, although the scholars from the Central Plains have come south this time due to the famine caused by the floods, they have also come because they admire Your Excellency's reputation for benevolence and righteousness."

"When Inspector Tian was treating scholars with courtesy in Runan, he encountered an interesting incident. An old scholar, along with more than ten disciples, was fleeing from famine and cold. Passing by the Hall of Honoring the Worthy, he saw a notice posted at the door that read, 'All scholars are welcome to enter and stay for food and lodging.' He couldn't believe it and repeatedly asked if he had to pay a fee."

"After the officials invited him into the hall and served him hot porridge, the old scholar held the bowl and sighed, 'In all my years, I have seen officials who are as cruel and tyrannical as tigers. They are always demanding grain or conscripting laborers. Only today do I realize that there are also prefects who help neighboring counties and comfort the people. Prefect Liu is truly a benevolent and virtuous gentleman!'"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei waved his hand, feeling a surge of emotion.

For four hundred years, the Han dynasty nurtured scholars, who should have been the pillars of the nation. Yet now they have fallen to such a state, where even a hot bowl of porridge has become a luxury.

If the hearts of scholars are lost, this empire will surely not last long.

This also demonstrates his current influence. As a renowned scholar, holding the position of Prefect of Changsha, serving in the Jingchu region, he indeed attracted the attention of scholars from all over the country. Naturally, this also drew a large number of scholars southwards to seek refuge.

After all, Liu Bei's reputation for benevolence and righteousness was already known throughout the world.

Scholars and refugees might not believe other people's proclamations, but they would never doubt Liu Bei's edict.

Once the scholars decided to head south, they would naturally be followed by a large number of refugees and displaced people.

Therefore, when people from the Central Plains migrated south, it was basically a migration of scholars and commoners together.

Guo Yuan cupped his hands and said, "My lord, I have heard the Book of Stories say: 'Within ten steps of marshland, there will surely be fragrant herbs; within ten households, there will surely be loyal men.' Today, scholars from the Central Plains are flocking south, which is precisely the opportunity for you, my lord, to find talented people."

"Recently, Yuan has been talking with these scholars who came from the south in soup kitchens and inns. He is deeply impressed by the fact that Ruying is a place where many famous scholars have emerged and the literary style is the best in the world; and that Nanyang is a place where heroes are abundant and generals are the best in the world."

"Oh?" Liu Bei's spirits lifted, and he leaned forward slightly. "Since you have something to say, Zini, please tell me in detail."

Guo Yuan cupped his hands and spoke eloquently: "Runan and Yingchuan are the two prefectures where the literary and artistic circles of the world are located. Since the restoration of the dynasty by Emperor Guangwu, the gentry of Runan and Yingchuan have held the reins of public opinion. The Xu, Chen, Xun, Zhong, and Han families have all produced officials for generations, with several members of each family holding high positions."

"His children, from a young age, recited classics and studied history; as they grew older, they traveled far and wide, offering critiques and evaluations of each other, thus forming a tradition of monthly critiques." (Xu Shao)

The Xu brothers would assess the people of the world on the first day of each month, and a single word of praise or criticism could determine a person's future. Hence the saying, "Ru and Ying are known for producing many extraordinary talents."

"Nanyang Prefecture has been a hotbed of heroes since Emperor Guangwu raised his army here. Of the twenty-eight generals of Yuntai, nine were from Nanyang: Deng Yu, Wu Han, Jia Fu, Cen Peng, Ma Cheng, Chen Jun, Du Mao, Ren Guang, and Zhu You."

"For three hundred years, the heroes of Nanyang have practiced martial arts generation after generation, and every family has soldiers. Their sons and daughters learn to draw bows and ride horses from a young age, and as they grow up, they gather guests and form communities. Hence the saying: 'Generals come from Guanzhong, prime ministers come from Guandong, and generals and prime ministers come from Nanyang.'"

At this point, Guo Yuan solemnly said, "Among the scholars who have come from the south this time, there is a famous scholar from Runan, who comes from an extraordinary background and is a descendant of Han Shao."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei's expression immediately turned solemn.

Han Shao, courtesy name Zhonghuang, was a native of Wuyang, Yingchuan, and one of the famous "Four Elders of Yingchuan" at the end of the Han Dynasty.

The so-called "Four Masters of Yingchuan" refers to four renowned scholars—Xun Shu, Zhong Hao, Chen Shi, and Han Shao—who were famous throughout the land for their virtuous conduct and moral teachings.

Han Shao was known for his integrity and was as famous as Chen Shi. Scholars throughout the land referred to them as "Han and Chen".

During his tenure as magistrate, he achieved remarkable political success and his teachings were widely implemented. After hearing of his virtue and ability, the bandits and outlaws in the surrounding mountains warned each other not to enter his territory, so refugees from many surrounding counties fled to his jurisdiction.

Han Shao then decisively opened the granaries to provide relief to the people, helping more than 10,000 households, and was therefore highly praised.

Therefore, Han Shao's son was indeed no ordinary scholar.

His prestige may even be no less than that of Liu Bei!

Liu Bei immediately asked with concern, "Who is this person?"

"This man's surname is Han, his given name is Rong, and his courtesy name is Yuanchang," Guo Yuan introduced. "The Han family has been known for its integrity and high moral character for generations. Han Rong was taught by his father from a young age, and he is well-versed in the Five Classics and laws. He is especially proficient in the three commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals. This year, the imperial court summoned fourteen people, including Han Rong, Xun Shuang, Shen Tu Pan, Chen Ji, and Zheng Xuan, to serve as Erudites, but none of them accepted the appointment."

"In July, the prefectures and kingdoms were flooded, and the Han family was also affected. They led several hundred families of their clan to flee south for refuge."

Liu Bei was overjoyed. He already knew Han Rong well: Han Rong was well-versed in the Five Classics and knowledgeable in law and order. He was a great Confucian scholar who was on par with Xun Shuang, Chen Ji, Zheng Xuan and others!

Historically, when Dong Zhuo seized power, he led his clan to seek refuge. Xun Yu advised him that the Central Plains was a place of turmoil, not a place to preserve one's lineage, and that he should flee as soon as possible.

go away.

It's highly unlikely that such renowned scholars would serve the court. After all, the imperial court just recruited fourteen of them as scholars this year, but not a single one of them was willing to serve.

But it wouldn't be a problem for them to set up schools in the Jingchu region like Sima Hui and Cai Yong, and teach their children.

If Liu Bei can't recruit them, he can recruit their disciples.

He immediately asked, "Where is Han Wonjang-geum?"

Guo Yuan cupped his hands in greeting and replied, "After Lord Han brought several hundred families of his clan south, he did not wish to reside in the city's guesthouses. Instead, he chose a secluded place called 'Cangshui Township' in the northwest of Yiyang County and built a hut to live there."

"This place is located on the banks of the Zi River, backed by Mount Fuqiu. It is a beautiful and tranquil place. Because the floods in the Central Plains had not yet been quelled, he set up a school here to teach students."

"The Han family is a renowned family in Ruying. Their family learning is based on the three commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals and the Han Poetry, and they are also well-versed in law. Within ten months of Han Rong opening his school, it attracted scholars from Yiyang and surrounding counties, and dozens of his disciples followed him south from Nanyang and Runan. Currently, there are no fewer than three hundred students in the school."

"When Yuan was previously ordered to inspect the soup kitchens in the northern border, he made a detour to visit Lord Han in Cangshui Township. The thatched hut was simple and drafty, yet the sound of music and singing never ceased from within. Lord Han held a scroll of bamboo slips and was lecturing the students on the *Spring and Autumn Annals*. When he reached the section about 'Duke Zhuang of Zheng defeating Duan at Yan,' his voice was clear and melodious, and the students listened intently, holding their breath. Yuan stood outside the door for half an hour, not wanting to disturb him."

Liu Bei listened with a sense of longing and sighed, "In these chaotic times, it is truly rare to still hear such music and singing."

Guoyuan continued, "I asked the three elders in the village and learned that after Master Han set up the school there, not only did the Han family's children receive education, but also many farm children from neighboring villages came with their own provisions to study. Master Han accepted all who came, regardless of their wealth."

"The villagers were grateful for his kindness and spontaneously repaired Han Gong's thatched cottage and provided him with rice and vegetables. Now, there are nearly 500 students in Cangshui Township, and the sound of their daily reading can be heard in the fields."

Liu Bei clapped his hands in praise: "Excellent! Excellent! In the past, Confucius, even when he was in distress between Chen and Cai, still continued to play his zither and sing; today, Han Yuanchang, even when he is in distress in Jingnan, also sets up a school to teach. Such virtuous scholars are the pillars of education in Changsha. Should such scholars be given proper treatment and accommodation?"

Guo Yuan looked slightly troubled and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Excellency, please allow me this. I intended to allocate land, money, and cloth to Lord Han in the name of the prefecture to help him settle down. However, Lord Han firmly declined, saying only: 'The Central Plains are suffering from floods and the people are starving. The prefecture's money and grain should be used to relieve the disaster victims. How can we waste public funds for the sake of one person like Rong?'"

He said that once the floods in the Central Plains had passed, he would lead his clan back to their ancestral home and would not stay in Changsha for long, so he could not accept the land from the prefecture.

Despite our repeated attempts to persuade him, Lord Han only accepted two bushels of millet and a bolt of coarse cloth each month, saying it was just enough to provide the students with porridge; he refused to take a single penny more.

"This is precisely the spirit of our predecessors, which commands our utmost respect. Yuan had no choice but to comply with his wishes, and every month the Yiyang County granary allocated two bushels of millet and one bolt of coarse cloth. He also ordered the county's official in charge of public works to send some bamboo slips, writing brushes, and ink for his teaching purposes. Han Gong did not refuse these gifts and gladly accepted them."

Liu Bei nodded. From Guo Yuan's words, he could sense that this situation was all too familiar—wasn't Cai Yong's attitude exactly the same when he first arrived at Mount Tai?

These learned scholars, having endured much hardship, were long accustomed to a life of wandering and disregarded official positions and meager land.

What they cared about was nothing more than passing on knowledge and skills, continuing the teachings of the sages, and leaving behind a legacy of civilization in this chaotic world.

This is indeed the consensus of all the famous scholars from the Central Plains who resided in Jingchu.

Although the Central Plains were in chaos, it was hard to leave one's homeland. Their southward journey to Jingchu was merely a temporary refuge from the brunt of the conflict; once the floods receded and the chaos subsided, they would eventually return.

Even though they are forced to leave their hometowns now, their eyes always hold the hope of returning home.

Liu Bei smiled inwardly. The line, "The northern horse longs for the north wind, the southern bird nests on the southern branch," perfectly described this situation. The northern horse, born in the north, yearns for the north wind; the southern bird, nesting on the southern branch, is attached to the southern branch. If even birds and beasts are like this, how much more so are humans?

The longing for one's hometown is an age-old sentiment. These scholars were merely fleeing south to escape persecution; who truly intended to reside permanently in Jiangnan?

But I'm afraid it's no longer up to them.

It is now August of the fifth year of the Zhongping era, and only a few months remain before the emperor's death. Once the flood recedes, Dong Zhuo will seize power, the Guandong uprising will begin, and the Central Plains will be plunged into chaos. By then, these scholars will want to return, but they will be unable to.

He composed himself and said to Guo Yuan, "The Book of Rites says: 'In establishing a state and governing the people, education is the first priority.' Since Lord Han refuses to accept land, the prefecture government should fund the construction of a school for him in Cangshui Township. It need not be luxurious, but it must be spacious and sturdy, capable of accommodating several hundred people."

People listened to the lecture.

"In addition, twenty bushels of millet and five thousand coins will be allocated each month to provide porridge for the students. It need not be said that it is a gift to Lord Han, but that the prefectural government is establishing schools and has entrusted Lord Han to oversee them."

"It's not just Lord Han. All the scholars from the Central Plains who have come south this time, if they have a skill, should be treated with courtesy by the local government. Those who wish to serve in government should be employed according to their talents; those who wish to establish schools should be funded to build houses; those who wish to write should be provided with paper and ink; and those who wish to teach should be helped to take on students. There is no need to force them to stay in Changsha—it is enough that they teach students for at least a year and leave a few seeds of learning in Changsha."

Guo Yuan agreed wholeheartedly. He immediately bowed and agreed: "Your Excellency's plan is truly a long-term strategy for cultivating talent. I will discuss it with Cui Hucao and Mi Jincao, draft the regulations, and implement them as soon as possible."

Liu Bei nodded slightly, then asked, "Are there any other scholars?"

Guo Yuan continued, "There are still some. Among the scholars who have come from the south this time, there are several young talents. Although they are not as famous as Han Gong, they are rising stars with extraordinary talent. Among them, Yi Ji and Chen Zhen are the most outstanding."

Liu Bei raised an eyebrow slightly. He naturally knew the names Yi Ji and Chen Zhen. Historically, Yi Ji was an important civil official after Liu Bei entered Shu, and together with Zhuge Liang, Fa Zheng, Liu Ba, and Li Yan, he created the "Shu Code," becoming one of the founders of the Shu Han's institutional system.

After Liu Bei's death, Chen Zhen was sent as an envoy to Wu. He was known for his "talent for specializing in debates" and later rose to the position of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat.

Both were outstanding scholars.

Guo Yuan continued, "Yi Ji, courtesy name Jibo, was a native of Shanyang. He was known for his eloquence from a young age, and was well-versed in the Book of Poetry and the Book of Documents, especially excelling in them."

The Zuo Zhuan. Chen Zhen, courtesy name Xiaoqi, was a native of Nanyang. He was quiet and composed, possessed great character, and was well-versed in law. The two men were originally studying in Runan when they came south due to the flood. They were supposed to visit the prefect, but his tone carried a hint of relief: "After arriving in Linxiang, they heard that Cai Bojie was lecturing on the Book of Documents at the prefectural school. So they didn't even go to their lodgings, but went straight to the school with their books. Now they have been studying under Cai Gong for more than ten days, debating the meaning of the classics with the students every day, and are so happy that they forget to go home."

"Now, the Cai Gong Academy has gathered more than two thousand disciples. Among them are old disciples who followed all the way from Mount Tai, as well as new students who came along the way after hearing about it. In addition, scholars from the Central Plains who have come south this time have sent their children to the academy to study."

"The Minglun Hall was always packed with students, and the corridors, courtyards, and even the orange groves outside the academy were filled with scholars reading aloud. The sound of their reading could be heard for miles along the Xiang River."

Liu Bei couldn't help but smile. This situation was just like when he was at Mount Tai, when students from all directions heard of Cai Yong's name and came with their books, filling the streets.

He clapped his hands and exclaimed with a smile, "Excellent! The flourishing of culture and education is the foundation of a nation. The name of Lord Cai is far more useful than mine as prefect!"

After laughing, he became serious and said, "Let these young scholars study in the academy for now. When they have completed their studies next year, I will personally recruit them and entrust them with important responsibilities."

He was already planning in his mind that next year would be the sixth year of the Zhongping era, the emperor would die, Dong Zhuo would seize power, and the world would descend into a chaotic era of warlords vying for supremacy. At that time, he needed to expand his army, march north, and contend for supremacy. He needed not only fierce generals and elite soldiers, but also a large number of capable civil officials who could govern counties, manage taxes, draft documents, and serve as envoys to various lords. These two thousand academy disciples were his...

The most reliable talent pool.

Having said this, Liu Bei suddenly changed the subject, his gaze falling on Guo Yuan, and asked, "Zini just said that Guanzhong produces generals, Guandong produces prime ministers, and Nanyang produces both generals and prime ministers. I have personally witnessed the many extraordinary men of Ru and Ying. But why is Nanyang known for its many heroes?"

Among the people from Nanyang who have come south this time, are there any talented generals worth recommending?

Guo Yuan replied, "Indeed, I recently saw several heroes from Nanyang at the soup kitchen who intend to serve you, Lord.

Liu Bei's spirits lifted. Nanyang was a hotbed of heroes from all over the land.

Since Emperor Guangwu raised his army here, for three hundred years, heroes of Nanyang have practiced martial arts generation after generation, and every family has hidden soldiers. Of the twenty-eight generals of Yuntai, nine are from Nanyang, which is by no means a coincidence.

Guo Yuan said, "Your Excellency should know that Nanyang Prefecture is the hometown of the Emperor. Emperor Guangwu rose to power in Chunling. The people there are fierce and chivalrous, and heroes have emerged in great numbers. There are more than a thousand families of manors and guests there. They go out together on horseback and go home to practice swordsmanship, considering themselves heroes. In the past hundred years, countless heroes from Nanyang have joined the army, and their reputation for being good at fighting has spread throughout the world."

"Nanyang suffered the most from this flood. Fertile fields were submerged, manors were submerged, and many powerful families' estates were destroyed. Among them, a group of heroes from Nanyang, unwilling to be trapped in the marshland, led their guests and fellow villagers south to serve the Prefect. Yuan has already settled them in the camp east of the city, awaiting the Prefect's audience."

"Among them are several brave and resourceful men. One of them is named Fu Tong, courtesy name Gongyuan, a native of Yiyang, Nanyang. He is just over twenty years old, eight feet tall, with extraordinary strength, skilled in riding and archery, and can draw a two-stone bow. He led more than three hundred strong men from his hometown south, escorting refugees along the way and repeatedly repelling bandits who took advantage of the chaos to plunder. When they arrived in Linxiang, all three hundred men were still there, plus more than a hundred young men they had gathered along the way. They are now temporarily residing in the camp east of the city, training their troops on the drill ground every day, waiting for the prefect to summon them."

"There was another man named Li Yan, courtesy name Zhengfang, from Rang County, Nanyang. He was only twenty years old and was renowned in the prefecture for his talent and learning from a young age, especially for his expertise in arithmetic and law. He could calculate millions of numbers without confusion. He was originally an official in Nanyang Prefecture. After the flood, the prefecture was devastated, so he led more than a hundred members of his clan and fellow villagers south. This man was not only literate but also skilled in military strategy. On the way, he once ambushed a group of fleeing soldiers who were taking advantage of the disaster and beheaded more than ten of them."

"In addition, there are several others, such as Fu Kuang and Hao Pu, all of whom are heroes of Nanyang, some brave and some wise, each with their own talents."

Liu Bei was overjoyed and asked, "Where are these people now?"

"Fu Tong is maintaining order at the soup kitchen in Luo County, while Li Yan is assisting officials in resettling disaster victims in the refugee camps north of Linxiang," Guo Yuan replied. "Neither of them has reported to the prefectural government, only saying that they are leading their clans to seek refuge and do not seek official positions. However, judging from their words and deeds, they are both men of ambition. If Your Excellency could personally summon them, you would surely be able to win their hearts."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei immediately stood up and said with great emotion, "Such heroes should not be allowed to remain in lowly positions! Issue my order that I personally go to the northern border tomorrow to summon these two men one by one. If they are truly talented, then appoint them to military posts and make them my henchmen!"

The next day, Liu Bei traveled lightly and with a small entourage to the northern border.

At the soup kitchen in Luo County, he met Fu Tong. This young man was eight feet tall, with a face like jade and bright, piercing eyes. Although he was dressed in coarse clothes and ate simple food in the refugee camp, he was always wearing armor and carrying a sword. His three hundred followers were lined up in a forest, with strict discipline.

When Liu Bei discussed military strategy with him, Fu Tong answered fluently and had unique insights into horsemanship, archery, and warfare. What was even more remarkable was his loyalty and righteousness. When he spoke of the chaos in the world and the suffering of the common people, he even shed tears of emotion.

Liu Bei was overjoyed and immediately appointed him as a military commander, assigning him 500 soldiers to his command, placing him under the command of Zhang Fei along with Huo Du, Feng Xi, and others.

In a refugee camp north of Linxiang, Liu Bei met Li Yan again. This young man was barely twenty, yet he was calm and composed, with a refined air about him that set him apart from ordinary warriors.

Liu Bei talked with him for half a day, covering everything from classics and laws to military strategy and divination, from the general trend of the world to the governance of prefectures and counties. Li Yan was able to quote classics and speak eloquently.

He was particularly skilled in arithmetic and had unique insights into Changsha's tax collection, granary management, and corvée labor. He frankly stated that although Changsha's industrial and commercial tax system had taken initial shape, there were still loopholes in the salt and wine monopoly system, and the city government's auditing system needed to be improved.

Liu Bei agreed wholeheartedly and immediately took off a jade pendant with a green ribbon from his waist and personally gave it to him, appointing him as the Registrar of Households, below Cui Yan, to assist him in governing the people and ensuring peace.

Cui Yan greatly admired this young subordinate. After Li Yan took office, the first thing he did was to go through the pile of messy registration documents in the refugee camp one by one. It took him three days and three nights to classify and register the names, hometowns, ages and skills of more than 10,000 refugee households.

He then advised Cui Yan: Among the refugees, the able-bodied can be conscripted into corvée labor, and the old and weak can be settled to reclaim wasteland. However, if all those with a skill are conscripted into corvée labor or reclaimed wasteland, it would be a waste of their talents.

He suggested registering artisans, weavers, kiln workers, doctors, and scribes among the refugees separately, and having government-run workshops select the best candidates to recruit them. This would not only relieve the workshops' manpower shortage but also ensure that the refugees could find suitable employment.

Cui Yan presented this strategy to Liu Bei, who read it and applauded its excellence. He immediately appointed Li Yan to take full charge of the matter.

After receiving his orders, Li Yan worked tirelessly day and night.

He personally oversaw the refugee camp, ordering officials to post notices at the camp gates, informing all directions: "Any refugee with a skill, such as blacksmith, weaver, kiln worker, carpenter, papermaker, doctor, or clerk, may register at the camp. Those who pass the examination will be given priority for recruitment by the prefectural government, and will be paid a monthly salary and provided with food and clothing."

The announcement caused an uproar in the refugee camp. Those who had thought they could only cultivate land and farm flocked to the registration office, eager to register their skills.

Li Yan then personally interviewed each craftsman. Since he was unfamiliar with iron smelting, he asked Guo Rong to send several experienced craftsmen to assist in the assessment.

He did not know how to weave brocade, so he asked the Zhen family to send an experienced brocade weaver to supervise him.

He meticulously recorded the skill levels of each craftsman, categorizing them into three grades: superior, medium, and inferior. The superior craftsmen were assigned to government-run workshops, the medium-grade to workshops run by powerful families, and the inferior craftsmen were incorporated into land reclamation teams as reserves.

Within a month, he identified more than two thousand craftsmen of various kinds, including blacksmiths, weavers, kiln workers, carpenters, papermakers, doctors, and scribes, and compiled a register of them, which was then distributed to various workshops.

Among them, the Zhen family's brocade weaving workshop benefited the most. Li Yan identified more than 300 skilled weavers from among the refugees, most of whom were from Nanyang.

The weavers of Runan lost their homes due to floods and fled south with their families.

These weavers have been weaving for generations and are highly skilled. Some of the older weavers can even weave intricate patterns for Xiangyi brocade.

Zhen Yao was overjoyed and personally went to the refugee camp to bring these weavers to the Brocade Bureau, set up their homes, and provide them with looms.

What is particularly precious among them are dozens of young girls in their late teens and early twenties who have been learning brocade weaving from their mothers since childhood. Their nimble fingers and delicate skin are perfect for brocade weaving.

Their arrival finally brought those hundred-odd idle looms to work day and night.

The ironworks at the foot of Tongguan Mountain also received hundreds of blacksmiths sent by Li Yan. Guo Rong divided these new craftsmen into three groups: one group learned the art of bellows forging from the old craftsmen, another group specialized in casting iron molds and plowshares, and the third group specialized in forging the tips of swords and spears.

As a result, the output of the ironworks increased significantly. Originally, it could only produce more than a thousand swords, halberds, spears, and daggers and more than four hundred sets of armor per month. By October, the monthly output had increased to more than two thousand swords, halberds, spears, and daggers and more than six hundred sets of armor.

The celadon kilns of Tongguan Kiln also attracted dozens of potters who came south from Runan.

These potters, who had been making Runan pottery for generations and were skilled in controlling the kiln fire, learned from the Zhen family kiln masters after arriving at Tongguanshan. They even managed to blend the delicate glaze of Runan pottery with the porcelain clay of Tongguanshan, and produced a batch of new porcelain with a bright green glaze and a dense body.

Zhen Yao was overjoyed and personally brought this batch of new porcelain to the prefectural government to present it to Liu Bei, saying that this was the prototype of Changsha celadon.

In addition, there were over a hundred doctors and dozens of clerks, all of whom were eagerly recruited by various places. The doctors went to soup kitchens in various counties to treat the disaster victims and prevent the spread of the epidemic; the clerks were assigned to various departments of the prefecture and government to fill the previous shortage of officials.

By the end of December, Li Yan had presented Cui Yan with a thick volume of compiled documents.

The document records that from July to the end of the year, Changsha Prefecture received more than 23,000 households of refugees from the Central Plains, totaling more than 114,000 people.

Among them, there were more than 78,000 young and middle-aged men and women, and more than 36,000 elderly and children. More than 12,000 people had been enlisted for corvée labor and water conservancy construction.

More than 43,000 people were allocated land in various counties for reclamation.

More than 3,000 people were incorporated into various workshops as craftsmen.

More than 10,000 others were recruited as tenants by powerful families' estates.

The influx of over 114,000 people—almost equivalent to the population of a large county—in just a few months. The addition of over 3,000 artisans further boosted Changsha's brocade weaving, iron smelting, and porcelain-making industries.

On the last day of the year, Liu Bei held court and reviewed the document presented by Li Yan. He was full of praise and said, "Zhengfang is only a young man in his early twenties. He has only been in Changsha for a few months, yet he has managed to settle more than 100,000 refugees in an orderly manner, keeping the looms of the brocade weaving bureau running non-stop, the fires of the iron smelting furnaces burning continuously, and the smoke from the celadon kilns never ceasing. This is truly the talent of an upright official."