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

"Gentlemen, stop daydreaming! All these predictions and methods are just empty talk."

At this moment, Li Chang didn't know how to explain, and he also didn't want to explain.

After all... I was secretly a little pleased!

"Cough cough..."

Jia Xu coughed and reminded him, "Grand Commander, could you please tuck your lips in a little?"

Even though it's just the three of us, we don't need to pretend anything, but we shouldn't be completely unpretentious either.

Li Changmiao immediately switched to a serious expression!

Cheng Yu nodded and analyzed:

"Grand Commander, we clearly have the advantage. As long as we wait for the harvest of grain in Ji and Qing provinces this year, we can take advantage of the momentum and march south to Yan, Xu and even Yu provinces to defeat the usurper Yuan Shu."

Why is the Grand Commander still waiting?

Cheng Yu shook his head:

"I don't understand. If I don't understand, then there must be something that no one can foresee, yet the Grand Commander can 'foresee' it!"

As for what it was, Cheng Yu and Jia Xu exchanged a glance, and it was unnecessary to explain further.

"Alright." Li Chang shook his head and explained, "It's just a real difficulty, right here."

He changed the subject, stood up, walked to the map, and pointed to the six provinces:

"Now we possess six provinces: Bing, You, Liang, Si, Ji, and Qing, and the people of Yan Province have voluntarily submitted to us. Our population is more than twice that of when we had only four provinces!"

But civil affairs, finances, military supplies, water conservancy, engineering projects—there are countless other things to deal with, and the number of tasks is even greater!

Mr. Sima is quite old; I almost didn't recognize him when he came back last time!

The Ministry of Personnel had a whole host of administrative affairs on his shoulders, and he was so busy that he wanted to get up at the crack of dawn and go to bed at the crack of dusk every day. He worked non-stop for several years.

I'm genuinely afraid he won't be able to hold on and will suddenly die in office!

Li Chang continued:

"Most of the people who can take the lead in administration and coordinate logistics right now come from prominent families."

They are talented and capable, but they are also scheming and have family interests involved, so they cannot be completely trusted.

If we were to start a full-scale war now, logistics and administration would be thrown into chaos first, which would only make things worse. It would be better to stabilize the situation for a year or two, streamline domestic affairs, fill the granaries, and reform the bureaucracy.

He sighed, a hint of helplessness creeping in.

"To put it bluntly, we still lack people. There are too few top-notch talents in governance and logistics who come from humble backgrounds!"

Children from prominent families have inherited family traditions and learn from their elders from a young age, managing affairs, accounting, and governing the people. Through this exposure, they can often quickly learn to take on responsibilities.

Even if a child from a poor family is exceptionally talented, without the right environment to hone their skills, it will be difficult for them to immediately take charge if they are suddenly promoted.

For ordinary people, it's even more difficult!

After listening, Jia Xu and Cheng Yu both fell silent.

Cheng Yu pondered for a long time before slowly nodding: "What the Grand Commander said is true."

Let alone Sima Gong, even if you two were to take over the position of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, we could manage for a year or two, but after that, we would be overwhelmed.

The myriad tasks of money, grain, household registration, and engineering projects may seem mundane, but they are the most time-consuming and exhausting.

This was only possible because the Three Departments and Six Ministries had established regulations, and officials at all levels could act according to the rules. In the past, when prefectures and counties governed independently, the situation would have been far more chaotic.

Jia Xu also sighed, "The aristocratic families have monopolized scholarship and controlled officialdom for hundreds of years, and this cannot be changed overnight."

The imperial examination system was the right thing to do, but the poor students selected through it had to start as county clerks or prefectural assistants, enduring ten or eight years of hardship to accumulate experience before they could take on important positions.

"Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst."

"That's why we need to be cautious." Li Chang turned around, his gaze falling on the two of them:

"After three to five years of stability, the people who came through the imperial examinations will gradually grow up, the officials in each prefecture will govern smoothly, the granaries will be full, and the soldiers will be well-trained."

"Taking action at the right time is the true way to accumulate strength and unleash its power."

The three of them discussed for another half an hour in the duty room, but the important matters of land reclamation, water conservancy, and the construction of additional granaries were all irrelevant to them!

After discussing their schemes and plots, they dispersed.

From then on, the general principle of "nurturing the people and consolidating the foundation" was established for the six provinces under Liu Bei's rule.

Externally, it strictly guarded the borders and strengthened the military; internally, it reduced taxes and levies, and encouraged agriculture and education.

Li Chang gradually shifted his focus from military affairs to domestic affairs and education.

During the day, he would spend most of his time at the Jixia Academy, either lecturing on mathematics and engineering in the Calculation Academy, or discussing the meaning of classics and governance with other scholars in the Discussion Hall, personally instructing young students.

Or perhaps he would be studying at a military academy known to very few, leading figures like Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi, Fa Zheng, Xu Shu, and a host of second-generation elites.

Upon returning to the manor that evening, he and Princess Wannian managed household affairs together, working tirelessly to revitalize the Han Dynasty!

Occasionally, I also handle urgent official documents that are delivered overnight.

They dedicate themselves to teaching and nurturing students day and night!

……

With the two prefectures of Ji and Qing secured, talented individuals from all over the land have flocked to the area.

A few days later, Liu Ye came to join him from Huainan.

He was a descendant of the Prince of Fuling, son of Emperor Guangwu, and a legitimate member of the Liu clan. He also possessed the talent to assist the world, but he drifted aimlessly in the chaotic times, moving between Huainan and Yangzhou.

After much deliberation, between Cao Cao and Liu Bei, he ultimately chose Liu Bei.

At least, Liu Bei was the legitimate heir of the Han dynasty, while Cao Cao was merely using the King of Chu to control Jingzhou.

Upon arriving in Luoyang, Liu Ye first paid homage to Liu Yu, the Minister of the Imperial Clan, and recounted the family genealogy. Liu Yu was overjoyed and immediately led him to meet Liu Bei.

The two had a long talk, covering everything from military and political affairs to finances and supplies, from weaponry to strategies. Liu Ye answered all their questions, and his answers were always accurate.

Liu Bei clapped his hands in approval and immediately issued an order: appointing Liu Ye as the Director of the Ministry of Works, in charge of military equipment improvement and weapon manufacturing, and stationing him permanently in the Hundred Crafts Workshops to jointly research offensive and defensive weapons.

When the news reached Li Chang, he specially set aside half a day to go straight to the Hundred Crafts Workshop.

Upon meeting Liu Ye, he skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point:

"Brother Ziyang, you are in charge of military equipment and often have some ideas. Brother Ziyang, please consider them."

Li Changpu drew a simple pattern on a piece of draft paper:

"Mr. Ziyang, do you think this catapult can be modified?"

Modern heavy catapults can only throw huge rocks; they are cumbersome, difficult to move, and have poor accuracy.

If we were to produce two versions, a heavy one for siege warfare and a light one for troop transport, and then modify the gun carriage pivot and adjust the launching angle, could we achieve a greater range and accuracy?

Liu Ye stared at the sketch; it was indeed sloppy!

But I can roughly understand what Li Chang meant.

Just as he was about to speak, Li Chang added:

"There is one more thing. The black gunpowder used by Taoists to refine elixirs, which can burn and explode."

If we seal a clay pot tightly, mix it with iron nails and gravel, light the fuse, and launch it with a catapult, causing it to explode upon landing, could we inflict widespread casualties on the enemy?

Upon hearing this, Liu Ye froze on the spot, his scalp tingling!

He was knowledgeable about mechanics and had vaguely heard about the Taoist priest exploding the furnace, but he never thought of turning the contents of the alchemy room into weapons and throwing them out to blow people up.

If this really works, what use will ordinary armor, shields, and city walls be?

What will happen to his reputation?

At this moment, Liu Ye actually felt a little regretful!

For some reason, he thought of Cao Cao, what if he had joined Cao Cao's forces back then...

hiss!

Liu Ye shook his head inwardly. He, Liu Ye, was a member of the Han imperial family and was loyal to the Han Dynasty. How could he possibly defect to Cao Cao?

Even if Liu Bei and Cao Cao switched places and Liu Ye controlled the entire north, Liu Ye would never give Cao Cao a second glance!