The Three Kingdoms: The Oath of the Peach Garden, the Rise of the Han Dynasty

When Gao Shun asked the question, the entire room fell silent.

Everyone looked at Li Chang.

Over the years, Liu Bei's soldiers have undergone a complete transformation, from a group of displaced farmers into an elite force that obeys orders without question. Everyone knows that this is thanks to Li Chang!

At this moment, Li Chang's inner thoughts were:

Finally! Finally! Someone asked in public! God knows how long I've been waiting for this moment! All those other people, how come you were all so worldly-wise, asking in private? So what if you asked in public? I'd still give it to you!

With his hands behind his back, a black crow perched on his shoulder, a gentle breeze blowing, he appeared ethereal and otherworldly, like an immortal.

He walked up to the 721 armored soldiers and pointed to their eyes:

"Gongxiao, look into their eyes."

They didn't join the army just to make a living, nor did they risk their lives for the personal favors of their generals.

They knew that they were guarding their own fields, protecting their own homes, and fighting against the Xianbei and bandit soldiers who had bullied them!

This is the true spirit of a strong military!

Then, Li Chang publicly shared the basic training methods for soldiers that he had developed by combining his knowledge from his previous life with current realities.

But as soon as he opened his mouth, everyone instinctively wanted to back away.

This thing must be a family heirloom! Is it something they can understand? They're not as clueless about social etiquette as Gao Shun!

But Li Chang stopped everyone, casually saying, "Why are you all leaving? Come and listen! And take notes so those who didn't have time to go out can see them!"

All the generals were shocked!

They're letting us listen?! And take notes?!

Did they mishear?

At this moment, Qian Zhao, one of the generals and a cultured man, was the first to bow and say, "Thank you for your kindness, Prefect. I promise that this will not be revealed to anyone outside of my Bingzhou army, including my descendants!"

The generals realized what was happening and said in unison, "We will definitely not tell anyone!"

Li Chang feigned anger: "What nonsense are you talking about? It's yours now! Do with it as you please. Of course, if it gets passed down in the future, just let them know who it came from."

"promise!"

The generals were overjoyed!

Two words: loyalty!

Li Chang started by discussing military posture, formations, and strict adherence to orders, and then moved on to the classification of military branches, such as regular cavalry, naval forces, mountain troops, and even special forces that carry out special missions.

The discussion also touched on the sources of recruits, military beliefs, logistics, and retirement support.

There are no fancy words; every sentence is basically plain and easy to understand.

When it came to temperament, Gao Shun also added his understanding of heavy armor soldiers.

Liu Bei also added a few words about swordsmanship and close combat training with short weapons.

Guan Yu arrived at the Sword-Slaying Battalion and learned how to improve through repeated battles.

Zhang Fei spoke of whipping the soldiers and taking charge of the prisoners.

Zhao Yun's light cavalry pulled them along.

Huang Zhong's archery skills and the training of the archery battalion.

Xiahou Lan's military law management.

Finally, Xiahou Lan compiled it into a book! He also signed each person's name.

When they looked at the sky and realized it was already late, they discovered that they had been talking for two whole hours!

Looking down, the Trapped Camp remained firmly in place!

Gao Shun immediately ordered a rest, and the Trapped Camp instantly collapsed to the ground.

After Xiahou Lan finished writing, Li Chang said to everyone, "This method of training soldiers, which we have jointly developed, is enough to turn an ordinary scholar into a qualified general!"

Liu Bei wholeheartedly agreed, saying, "From troop selection and basic training to the training of various troop types and troop planning, almost everything is included!"

After Xiahou Lan finished copying everything, he felt that he had become much more enlightened!

Everyone looked at the military treatise, then suddenly looked up and bowed deeply to Li Chang, expressing their heartfelt respect:

"We have learned a great deal."

Li Chang returned the salute, saying, "Chang, I've learned a lot too!"

Everyone exchanged smiles!

Li Chang then said:

"Now that the military treatise is complete, how about we establish the first military academy in China, select talents in the most rigorous way, and teach these military strategies?"

Then, you can teach military strategy like your two grandsons. Who knows, someone might carry it forward and make you famous for all time? Future generations will be using our military strategies!

"hiss!!"

The generals gasped in shock!

"promise!"

Li Chang: "Alright! Zishen, go back to Yanmen this time and make preparations!"

Xiahou Lan was overjoyed. Even with so many talented people around, the strategist still trusted him so much!

Shouting, "Yes!"

……

Meanwhile, a thousand miles away in Luoyang, a gloomy atmosphere prevailed.

The argument lasted from the beginning of the year until October of the third year of the Zhongping era.

For the past few months, all Liu Hong could hear while working at night was their noise!

Even taking drugs didn't help!

Deyang Palace.

Liu Hong sat on the dragon throne, his face frighteningly pale, coughing every now and then, clutching his chest and struggling to breathe.

Looking at the clamoring civil and military officials below, he felt a splitting headache.

Since the rebellion in Bingzhou, the imperial court has never been quiet for a single day.

He's already been appointed two prefects, completely nailed to the pillar of shame, and these people still won't stop!

Among the ministers, Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun also looked much paler.

They are the absolute leaders among the scholars currently in court, and also the main force behind the infighting in the court.

Letting them be defeated by eunuchs is even more painful than killing them!

"His Majesty!"

Yuan Wei stepped forward, tears streaming down his face:

"The remnants of the Yellow Turban Rebellion have not yet been quelled, the rebellion in Liangzhou is recurring, the Xianbei, Xiongnu, and Wuhuan are eyeing us covetously, and the Black Mountain bandits are plundering prefectures and counties. The people of the world are suffering terribly!"

But the imperial court had no soldiers to use and no generals to send!

Your Majesty, I humbly request that each prefecture and county be allowed to raise its own troops and recruit local militia to suppress rebels and protect the borders and the people!

If this is delayed any longer, the world will likely descend into chaos, and the nation will be in grave danger!

"We second that proposal!"

In an instant, dozens of officials from powerful families knelt down.

They changed their mindset; since the Taiyuan and Shangdang families were temporarily gone, they accepted it.

Putting that aside for now, is there some kind of conspiracy?

But no aristocratic families are safe, that's for sure!

If even powerful families are not safe, then shouldn't ordinary people also be unsafe?

Does that mean we can increase the scale of privately recruiting local militia?

Looking at them, Liu Hong was so angry that he felt like he was going to come back to life!

He cursed inwardly:

Protecting the territory and ensuring the safety of the people?

I'm afraid it's just to protect your aristocratic families' territory and ensure the safety of your people! Once the power to recruit soldiers is completely relinquished, will this world still belong to the Liu family?

He was about to retort when he saw He Jin also step forward:

"Your Majesty, what Grand Tutor Yuan said is absolutely right. The central army is now almost completely exhausted and is truly powerless to conquer all directions."

It would be better to temporarily allow the various prefectures and counties to recruit soldiers, and then reclaim military power after the rebellion is quelled.

Liu Hong's heart sank.

He Jin!!! What are you saying?!

Did the test station go to the Shijia area?

His initial support for He Jin was intended to allow the maternal relatives to check and balance the powerful families.

But now, in order to consolidate his position, He Jin has actually colluded with the powerful families.

A feeling of powerlessness swept over Liu Hong, and his cough worsened.

He covered his mouth, feeling a metallic taste in his throat.

How could this body be failing so quickly? It was perfectly fine at the beginning of this year!

Now there are two princes, one is young, and the other is both young and weak.

After his death, what will become of the Han Dynasty?

At this moment, Liu Yan, the Imperial Clan Minister who had been silent all along, suddenly stepped forward and knelt down:

"Your Majesty, I have a plan that can resolve our current predicament!"

"Oh? Tell me then." Liu Hong's spirits lifted.

Liu Yan raised his head, showing no ill intentions whatsoever.

"Nowadays, the governors have little power and are often corrupt, so they are unable to pacify the local areas."

Your Majesty, I humbly request that you abolish the system of governors and instead appoint governors of provinces.

They selected high-ranking officials from the imperial clan to serve as governors of various prefectures, giving them supreme military and political power over their respective prefectures.

In this way, the rebellion could be suppressed, and the imperial clan could protect the central government and prevent the rebels from growing too powerful!

"Removing the historian and installing a governor will bring stability to the region!"

After he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent.

Yuan Wei and the others' expressions changed slightly, not expecting Liu Yan to pull such a move.

The governor of a prefecture held supreme military and political power, more than ten times greater than the governor.

If the imperial family were to truly control the various states, the aristocratic families would face a difficult time.

No, that's not right, this is also their opportunity!

But Liu Hong's eyes lit up.

Yup!

Rather than handing power over to those ambitious and treacherous families, it's better to entrust it to members of our own Liu family!

We are all descendants of Emperor Gaozu, surely we wouldn't just stand by and watch the Han Dynasty perish?

Liu Hong coughed twice. Even if something unexpected happens in the future, there's always someone who can come back and fight back, right?

The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.

Especially considering that her health is deteriorating and her two children are still young.

With these members of the imperial clan serving as governors outside the capital, even if something happens in the capital, there will be people who can raise troops to defend the emperor.

"Good! What a useless Shi Limu!"

Liu Hong slapped the dragon throne and shouted:

"I grant your request! Effective immediately, the position of Prefect is abolished, and the position of Governor of Provinces is established instead!"

Yuan Wei and his men put up only a symbolic resistance, and ultimately suffered a regrettable defeat!

Oh! What a pity, it was so close!

I almost burst out laughing!