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

A middle-aged man with a sallow complexion dismounted from his horse, carrying a five- or six-year-old child.

"Please inform Governor Liu that Huang Zhong of Nanyang requests an audience."

The guards dared not delay and immediately went into the city to report.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Liu Bei and Li Chang personally came out to greet them.

Seeing Huang Zhong's tired yet still bright eyes, Liu Bei was overjoyed.

This is the Huang Zhong that Li Chang was talking about, a skilled archer!

"Brother Hansheng! I've long admired your name!" Liu Bei strode forward, grasped Huang Zhong's hand, and acted as if he were no high-ranking official.

I've been eagerly awaiting your arrival, like waiting for the stars and the moon!

Huang Zhong was surprised that Liu Bei would personally come out to greet him, and his heart warmed. He never expected that this general with a salary of several thousand shi would value him so much!

"Huang Zhong, also known as Huang Hansheng of Nanyang, has met with Governor Liu."

"Hansheng! What beautiful calligraphy! With Hansheng's help, the Han Dynasty will surely prosper! Please come in!"

Liu Bei pulled Huang Zhong inside, using the passive skill "Walking Arm in Arm"!

"I've heard that your son is in poor health. My fourth brother is planning to gather renowned doctors from across the land to establish the first medical academy, hoping that all the people of the Han Dynasty can receive medical treatment!"

Huang Zhong shuddered, and his eyes reddened.

He had traveled to so many places and met countless officials. But none of them were like Liu Bei!

"General Liu..." Huang Zhong choked up.

"Brother Hansheng, there's no need for further words." Liu Bei patted his shoulder. "I've long heard of your abilities. With your help, Yanmen will be safe."

That night, the two slept side by side!

The next day, Liu Bei, having fully grasped Huang Zhong's abilities, appointed him as a military commander to lead the training of archers!

Several days later, more people arrived.

Qian Zhao was Liu Bei's sworn brother from his youth when he was a wandering knight-errant.

He insisted on bringing his teacher, Yue Yin, and a dozen or so fellow disciples with him, and they rushed to the Yin Pavilion in a dusty state.

Liu Bei was overjoyed and immediately appointed Qian Zhao as the military commander of the agricultural settlements, in charge of both civil and military affairs; he also honored Yue Yin as the chief administrator, in charge of education and culture.

Xun Chen, Jian Yong, and Xiahou Lan were incredibly enthusiastic when they met Yue Yin and his disciples!

They were so frightened they thought they had wandered into some place they shouldn't have gone!

The arrival of Yue Yin elevated Yanmen's civil administration to a new level.

Many children from poor families and non-Han people came to study at the temporary academy.

Although no other noble families came to join him, with these few people, Liu Bei's forces were beginning to take shape.

In September, Yanmen welcomes the autumn harvest.

Because Liu Bei arrived late, most of the wasteland was only reclaimed in the summer, and the few months he spent in Yanmen were not enough to grow anything of value.

Even so, it's still much better than in previous years.

The lives of ordinary people are completely different from the past. They may not know the emperor, but they certainly know Liu Bei and Li Chang!

The Wang family, who used to hoard grain and distrust the government, have all changed!

In the barren wasteland at the east end of the village, which no one wanted, the displaced people worked together to dig a canal to bring water, and the prisoners of war volunteered to cultivate and turn the soil.

In previous years, by this time, each family would have already emptied their grain reserves, borrowed money from all sides, and still had to collect the head tax.

This year, we only paid 50% of the land rent, and there were no more exorbitant taxes and levies. The grain stored in our house filled half a room!

Wang Er no longer worries about not being able to find a wife, and spends his days tending the fertile fields.

Old Wang told everyone he met, "I've lived for fifty-six years, and this is the first time I've ever known that farming can produce surplus grain. Governor Liu and Prefect Li have come to save us."

The Liu family, mother and son who had fled famine, had also changed.

My son was enrolled in a temporary school where he could learn to read and write for free.

The mother and her two children have land to cultivate. As long as they work hard, they can eat beans and rice, go to school, and sleep soundly at night!

The entire Yanmen area has changed!

In previous years, every village fled famine, every household hid grain, the roads were littered with starving corpses, and bandits roamed freely. Now, the roads are open, merchants are gradually returning, refugees are settling down, and everyone is reclaiming wasteland.

People no longer thought about fleeing; instead, every household took the initiative to reclaim wasteland and repair their houses.

Everyone understood: this time, the government did not exploit the people, seize their grain, or impose heavy taxes; they were simply trying to ensure that the people could survive and live a good life.

Now, they only have two things to worry about: one is that Liu Bei and Li Chang might be transferred away, and the other is that the Hu people might invade from the south!

Just as the people were celebrating the harvest, the envoy from Luoyang arrived.

The messenger brought an imperial edict, and Li Chang had bribed the emperor and eunuchs to get there.

The imperial edict stated that, in recognition of Liu Bei's meritorious service in pacifying Liangzhou and his hard work in guarding Yanmen, all taxes for Yanmen County this year are hereby exempted!

Liu Hong used the imperial treasury to do favors and pocketed the money in his own private coffers!

Liu Bei was overjoyed.

"Excellent! Fourth Brother, you have done a great service!" Liu Bei exclaimed excitedly. "This year, we don't need to hand over a single grain of grain. I think we should distribute it all to the people so they can have a good New Year."

"No," Li Chang shook his head.

Liu Bei was taken aback: "Why? The people have worked hard all year, so they should get more benefits."

"Brother, now is not the time to distribute grain," Li Chang said, pointing to the north on the map. "The Xianbei have already gathered on the border. After the autumn harvest this year, they will definitely march south to plunder!"

"We only have 10,000 troops, which is far from enough to defend the border stretching for thousands of miles. We must stockpile all our grain as military provisions."

At the same time, you must also ensure that all other counties and troops in Bingzhou are prepared and ready to obey your orders!

"If we distribute the grain now, and the Xianbei attack, how can we fight without supplies? The grain that the people have worked so hard to grow will still be taken away by the Xianbei."

Liu Bei frowned. He knew Li Chang was right, but looking at the expectant eyes of the people, he couldn't bear it.

"Brother," Li Chang said, pausing, "being kind to the people now is a small favor. Only by driving back the Xianbei and protecting their land and food can we achieve true great kindness and virtue."

"Once we defeat the Xianbei, and next year's harvest is good, we can reduce the land rent, and the people will be even more grateful to us!"

Liu Bei remained silent for a long time before finally nodding.

"Alright, do as you say. Store all the grain in the granaries as military reserves. Issue the order to put the entire army on high alert and guard against the Xianbei's southward advance."

"promise!"

Just then, a messenger arrived from the direction of Heisei, where Xu Rong was stationed:

"General, Prefect, something terrible has happened! The Xianbei in the north are making unusual movements! Commandant Xu suspects that the Xianbei are about to invade the south!"

Liu Bei frowned. The autumn harvest had just begun, and the Hu people were already coming!

"Order the troops to assemble at the governor's mansion!"