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

Li Chang went on to point out three key points:

"The first step is to eliminate the bandits in Yanmen County."

"The second step is to gather the refugees and fully implement the domestic policies I mentioned earlier."

"The third step is to strengthen the city's defenses, train soldiers, and accumulate money, provisions, and warhorses."

"Only if we accomplish these three things will we have the resources to wage war against the Hu people."

He pointed heavily at Yanmen County:

"Now, within the territory of Yanmen, due to the repeated invasions of the Hu people to the south, the local people are fierce and valiant. They may be an aid during the invasions, but when they are not invading, they are a source of chaos!"

"Let's wipe out these bandits first, capturing as many alive as possible. This will not only win over the hearts of the people, increase our population and fighting strength, but we might also seize a large number of horses and provisions. At the same time, it will give the Xiliang soldiers some practice."

"Great!" Zhang Fei slapped his thigh. "I love this! Fighting bandits is easy! Brother, give me this mission! I guarantee I'll wipe out all the bandits in Yanmen within a month!"

"No," Li Chang shook his head. "You're too impatient; you're easily ambushed. The task of clearing out the bandits should be given to Zilong, Lingming, and Gongming. They're both meticulous and best suited for this kind of guerrilla warfare."

"What about me?" Zhang Fei asked anxiously. "What am I supposed to do? I can't just stay in the city!"

"You have a more important task," Li Changdao said. "Third Brother, you're in charge of training the prisoners they send over!"

Zhang Fei patted his chest, "Don't worry, leave it to me. I'll give them a good beating!"

Li Chang then looked at Xu Rong:

"Take three thousand men and garrison Pingcheng and Baideng, making them the first line of defense in the north of Yanmen! Patch up all the gaps and guard against the southward invasion of the Hu people!"

Xu Rong: "Yes, sir!"

Seeing everyone performing their duties, Liu Bei felt much more relaxed.

Although Yanmen is now extremely poor, it has a group of loyal brothers, including a resourceful fourth brother who is devoted to the Han Dynasty!

Before long, this desolate land will surely become prosperous and harmonious!

The decision-making process was almost entirely based on two levels, with Li Chang as the primary decision-maker and others providing appropriate supplementary information, resulting in extremely high efficiency.

Xu Rong was immediately appointed as the Commandant of Yanmen Commandery, and Xun Chen became the Chief Clerk of Yanmen.

Zhang Shiping completely shed his merchant identity and became the Registrar of Households in Yanmen County. Su Shuang was appointed as the Granary Clerk and Market Clerk.

Jia Xu was appointed as Liu Bei's chief clerk.

For a time, there was an abundance of talent. The middle and lower ranks had a group of people brought from Liangzhou, which was barely enough. If it really wasn't enough, then we could just make things difficult for Xun Chen and Jian Yong!

Just as everyone finished receiving their tasks and was about to set off, Li Chang raised his hand to stop them.

There's something else, just as important as taxes! I wanted to do it back in Taoyuan.

"There is one more rule that must be implemented immediately."

Everyone stopped and looked at him.

"All soldiers must learn basic literacy!"

The tent suddenly became noisy.

Zhang Fei was the first to speak up: "Literate? Could we have a great scholar or a renowned teacher instruct us?"

Li Chang: "..."

He thought Zhang Fei was going to refuse!

He looked at Liu Bei and said, "Then it depends on you, elder brother! In the Han Dynasty today, it's rumored that two great scholars were dragged down because of you, elder brother, and their lives are now tarnished!"

Liu Bei smiled awkwardly; he really couldn't be blamed for this!

Li Chang changed the subject and explained seriously:

"An army without brains can only fight small battles and cannot defend Bingzhou."

After saying that, he immediately set out strict rewards and punishments.

"From now on, in the military, those who cannot recognize at least fifty basic characters will not be allowed to be promoted to positions above platoon leader, no matter how many battle merits they have. One hundredth rank, one hundredth rank! And so on!"

Those at the level of Commander of a separate division or above were also required to be able to write battle reports, analyze enemy situations, and so on!

"Those who complete their daily literacy lessons will receive an extra half-dou of military rations; those who excel in monthly assessments will be rewarded with copper coins and cloth; those who learn to read the fastest will be given priority for promotion to junior military positions."

At this point, Guan Yu was the first to stand up and agree, because he knew what it meant to do what was best for the lower-ranking soldiers!

The first military officer agreed, and the others followed suit.

Li Chang then turned to look at Xun Chen, Jian Yong, and the other civil officials.

"Secondly, this should be implemented simultaneously throughout Yanmen. There are too few people in the county who can read and write. There is a shortage of manpower everywhere, including household registration, land rent, bandit suppression, and resettlement of displaced people."

"All literate officials and soldiers who had completed their studies in the army were assigned specific time to teach others, with those who knew teaching those who did not, and the teaching progressing down the ranks. Officials went to the countryside to teach the young and strong, while literate veterans in the army taught new recruits."

We must gather enough literate clerks at the grassroots level before we recover the lost territory!

Xun Chen frowned.

Born into a prestigious family, he knew best that the foundation of such families lay in their monopoly of knowledge and writing!

It is easier to control the common people and soldiers if they are illiterate, so that power can remain in the hands of the aristocratic families. However, Li Chang's policy of making a large number of people from the lower classes literate directly undermines the foundation of the aristocratic families.

But could a dilapidated Bingzhou do that?

His lips moved, as if he wanted to offer some advice, to say that commoners should not be literate, that it violated custom, and that it was a waste of manpower.

But when he looked up at Li Chang, he remembered the mess in Yanmen where officials had fled and government orders could not be passed on. Then he thought of Li Chang's vision of abolishing the poll tax and planning for the long-term development of Bingzhou. He swallowed his words.

Since we're already here, let's make the best of it.

Li Chang also saw through Xun Chen's concerns, and from him, one could also discern the attitude of the aristocratic families.

Perhaps I've moved too fast, but if I don't take this step now, won't I become the next Jin Dynasty?

"Brother Youruo, teaching people to read and write also requires instruction, and what is taught largely depends on the teacher's abilities!"

Li Chang walked up and patted him on the shoulder. "You Ruo, do you want to speak up for the Han Dynasty, for my elder brother, for your Xun family, and educate the people? To recreate the great achievements of Confucius, teaching without discrimination?"

May the Xun family's writings spread throughout Bingzhou, and may their students flourish all over the world!

How about becoming the Zigan Gong, Bojie Gong, or even the Little Confucius of the entire Bingzhou, and reliving the glory of your ancestor Xunzi?

I also want to establish a Jixia Academy in Bingzhou, to gather all the wise people in the world to speak freely and work together on important matters, but unfortunately I lack manpower and the right atmosphere!

"If only there were a family with that kind of heritage!"

Xun Chen swallowed hard. He had to admit, he was tempted!

Even though I know this is most likely an unrealistic fantasy, it seems more and more possible the more it seems!

If I could really be the first to do it...

Damn it... To hell with those aristocratic families! I want to be the next Xunzi!

He suppressed his personal desires and was about to accept the order when...

Jia Xu stepped forward: "Alas, if my friend is unwilling, then I, Jia Xu, will reluctantly preside over the ceremony..."

"Shut up!" Provoked, the young Xun Chen jumped up. "My Xun family has the legacy of our ancestor Xunzi! Who else but me should do this!"

He bowed to Li Changyi and said, "I will make arrangements immediately. First, I will divide the schools in each county and coordinate the civil officials to teach in rotation."

When the time is right, we will establish the Jixia Academy and undertake great undertakings!

In a moment of impulsiveness, he was also led astray!

The power of the aristocratic families is not yet fully formed, nor has it reached the peak of the Nine-Rank System, nor has it completely fallen into decline.

These scholars from prominent families, their integrity, and their backbone!

Jian Yong, Zhang Shiping, and Su Shuangyi all agreed.

Jia Xu, sitting in the corner, kept exclaiming, "What a pity! What a pity!"

He genuinely wanted to do this promising and safe thing. More importantly, if he didn't do it, that little fox Li Chang would definitely arrange some underhanded and immoral things for him!

Looking at Li Chang, who was in complete control of the situation, Liu Bei felt increasingly reassured!

While others were focused on fighting and seizing territory, my fourth brother was training soldiers, caring for the people, and educating the young.

It's so good to have my fourth brother around!