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

So fast?

Li Chang looked at Zhang Fei.

As expected, yet unexpected!

I anticipated that we wouldn't have enough prisoners, but I didn't expect it to happen so quickly!

"This time, the Xianbei prisoners, plus the bandits from before, totaled nearly five thousand! How many are left now?"

Zhang Fei scratched his head awkwardly, "I didn't calculate it, but I'd guess it's less than four thousand?"

Li Chang then noticed that the whip Zhang Fei had just been scratching his head with had been replaced with a new one!

It's clear that he's been working very hard!

He shook his head, took out a piece of paper, and handed it to Zhang Fei:

"Third Brother, don't worry, I... no, our Mr. Wenhe has already come up with a plan."

Zhang Fei picked it up and saw that a few words had been written on the paper:

From this day forward, any citizen or soldier of Yanmen who captures a Xianbei adult male alive will be exchanged for two shi of grain; any woman or child who captures a Xianbei adult male alive will be exchanged for one shi of grain.

All captured cattle, sheep, and property shall belong to the individual!

Special Note: The Xianbei are dangerous; please act according to your capabilities!

Zhang Fei's eyes lit up instantly:

"Such good news?! I'll go tell the brothers right now! I guarantee we'll bring back several thousand prisoners within a month!"

After saying that, he ran out like a gust of wind.

The moment the order was given, the entire Yanmen area erupted in excitement!

Now, during the winter off-season, some of the people in their prime pick up sickles and sticks and go in groups of three or five to the edge of the grassland to catch those Xianbei herders who are alone!

The people of Yanmen have long harbored hatred and resentment because of the frequent southward incursions of the Hu people!

The soldiers were eager to get to work and volunteered to patrol the grasslands. Whenever they had the chance, they would venture deep into the grasslands to raid small groups of Xianbei tribes.

Even the Qiang and Hu tribes that had previously submitted to the Qing dynasty joined the ranks of those capturing Hu people.

For them, capturing Xianbei people to exchange for grain was much more profitable than herding livestock themselves!

In an instant, the entire northern grasslands of Bingzhou became a hell for the Xianbei people.

Previously, it was the Xianbei people who went south to plunder the Han people, but now the situation has reversed, and the Han people are taking the initiative to go north to capture the Xianbei people!

Those small tribes of dozens or hundreds of people all moved within a few nights!

If they're lucky, they might be able to reunite in the prisoner-of-war camp in a few more days!

Larger tribes were too frightened to approach within a hundred miles of the Great Wall.

When the news reached Xihe, the Southern Xiongnu stationed there were all tempted!

If they weren't worried that the Xiongnu people would also be captured and exchanged for food like the Xianbei, they would have already taken action!

Under immense pressure, many weak Xianbei tribes, having nowhere else to turn, simply took all their belongings and headed south to surrender to Liu Bei's army.

"We are willing to be naturalized! We are willing to cut off our queues, change our surnames to Han Chinese, and learn to speak Han Chinese!"

We're willing to farm and serve General Liu! Just please, stop arresting us!

In just one month, more than 20 small Xianbei tribes, totaling more than 10,000 people, voluntarily submitted to Yanmen.

They were scattered and resettled in various villages, given land and seeds, and lived and farmed alongside the Han people.

In less than half a year, many people learned to speak Mandarin, married Han women, and completely integrated into the Han society.

He Lian was furious on the grassland, but there was nothing he could do in the dead of winter.

...

News of Yanmen's great victory over the Xianbei and the capture of Hu people in exchange for grain gradually spread throughout the thirteen prefectures of the Han Dynasty.

Inside the mansions of powerful families in Luoyang, a chorus of curses erupted.

"Liu Bei, you scoundrel! How dare you establish your own laws and arbitrarily capture Hu people to exchange for grain! This is against the will of Heaven! You have absolutely no respect for the law!"

"To allow soldiers to plunder the grasslands and force the Xianbei tribes to surrender is tantamount to raising a tiger to cause future trouble in Bingzhou!"

"And that Li Chang, he spreads heresies and misleads His Majesty! He must be impeached! They must be dismissed from their posts!"

More than a dozen impeachments were sent to the Jiade Hall of the Southern Palace.

But Liu Hong didn't even look at it and casually tossed it to Zhang Rang.

"These aristocratic families really have too much free time."

Liu Hong yawned, showing no signs of energy even in broad daylight. "Liu Bei is helping me suppress the Xianbei in the north, and he's even sending me so many warhorses and treasures. What a wonderful thing."

If they were so capable, why didn't they go and drive the Xianbei away? All they do is talk the talk.

Zhang Rang bowed and smiled, "Your Majesty is wise. Liu Bei is loyal and capable in battle. With him on the northern frontier, Your Majesty can enjoy yourself in peace. Those powerful families are merely jealous of Liu Bei's real power."

The impeachment was ignored.

The powerful families were furious, but there was nothing they could do. They could only tell their own family and friends not to go to Bingzhou.

Without sons of powerful families to go, how can Liu Bei govern Bingzhou!

At this time, another aristocratic family gathering place in Luoyang.

Yuan Shao, holding his wine cup, listened to the report and, subconsciously placing himself in a superior position, commented:

"This Liu Bei is quite good. In less than half a year, he has managed to manage Yanmen quite well. He has also repelled the Xianbei people, which has certainly shown the might of our great Han Dynasty."

Yuan Shu sneered from the side, "A mere mat weaver and sandal seller, a distant relative of the imperial family? He's just a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan. He's lucky, on the contrary, to have received help from quite a few capable people."

Only Cao Cao stood in the courtyard, gazing at the northern sky, remaining silent for a long time.

After a long silence, he sighed and said to the two people beside him:

"I never imagined that Xuande would make such a name for himself in Bingzhou. We've fallen behind him!"

Seeing that the two still didn't care, he added, "Benchu, Gonglu, you underestimate Xuande too much."

I worked with Xuande for a period of time. He seemed kind and benevolent, but in reality, he had great ambitions and was extremely good at using people!

His comrades, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, were both men of unparalleled bravery! And Li Chang was equally resourceful!

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu frowned slightly, but did not take it to heart.

In their view, Liu Bei was just a distant relative of the imperial clan and had no powerful family support. No matter how much he developed, he could never compare to the Yuan family, which had held high office for four generations!

Barring unforeseen circumstances, the emperor would never allow a member of the imperial clan to become one of the Three Dukes! Nor would he allow a member of the imperial clan to command a large military force!

At this time, it was Taiyuan County in Bingzhou.

In a certain courtyard, Ding Yuan slammed his hand on the table, his face turning ashen.

"Liu Bei! Liu Bei!"

He gritted his teeth, filled with resentment and anger!

"I almost became the Governor of Bing Province! But because of you, Liu Bei, who interfered, I'm now only a Western Commandant!"

Ding Yuan grew angrier the more he thought about it!

I increasingly feel that Liu Bei's achievements should have been his own!

Now it should be Ding Yuan who occupies the four prefectures of Yanmen, Dingxiang, Wuyuan and Yunzhong, and has tens of thousands of troops in his hands. He has even driven away the Xianbei!

Standing behind him was a young military general, holding a halberd, with a handsome face and bright eyes; this was none other than Lü Bu.

Lü Bu clasped his hands and said, "Father, please calm your anger. If you disapprove of Liu Bei, I am willing to lead three thousand cavalry to raze Yinguan to the ground!"

"Absolutely not!" Ding Yuan hurriedly waved his hand. "To send troops out without authorization is treason, an act of insubordination!"

At this time, the governors of Taiyuan and Shangdang also gathered together.

Liu Bei's prestige and reputation have begun to suppress their power!

Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the power of governors and prefects has become increasingly blurred. A powerful governor may have multiple titles, and may even be able to exercise some of the power of a provincial governor in his capacity as governor!

……

Amidst these undercurrents, the year 12 of the second year of the Zhongping era arrived.

The north wind whipped up heavy snow, covering the entire Yanmen Pass.

Outside the south gate of Yinguan City, a long line of people slowly approached, braving the wind and snow.

The leader was a pale-faced, beardless eunuch, and he was none other than Zuo Feng!

Behind him followed hundreds of imperial guards, escorting what were theoretically over 50,000 ragged refugees and prisoners.

Heading north, the weather was freezing cold, and people lacked food and clothing. Of the more than 50,000 people, only more than 23,000 survived to reach Yanmen Pass.

After Zuo Feng announced the imperial decree bestowing honors, Zuo Feng and Li Chang took the initiative to walk to the other side.

"Prefect Li, His Majesty, mindful of your hard work guarding the northern frontier, has specially exiled these refugees and prisoners to Yanmen Pass. But these past few months have been incredibly tiring for us!"

When he saw people, it was like seeing old friends!

"His Majesty said these people are now in your hands. You can do whatever you want with them!"

Li Chang smiled, cupped his hands, and expertly stuffed money into the purse: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I appreciate Your Majesty's kindness."

To the imperial court, these people were a burden.

For Li Chang, these people are the most valuable human resource!

After seeing Huang Men off, Zhang Fei looked at the dark mass of people in front of him and couldn't stop smiling.

"Great! Fourth brother! Now we have enough men!"

More than 20,000 people! That's enough to not only build a fortress, but could level the entire Yinshan Mountains!

After saying that, he picked up his whip and went to assign tasks to the prisoners.

"Wait a minute," Li Chang stopped him. "Among these people, there are refugees, prisoners, and perhaps quite a few literate scholars."

First, we'll screen them. The elderly, women, and children will be assigned to farmland; the able-bodied will be sent to build fortifications and mines; those who are literate or have a skill will be selected separately and hired based on their abilities.

"Alright!" Zhang Fei ran off excitedly.

The arrival of more than 20,000 people made the already vibrant Yanmen even more lively.

Wasteland was reclaimed piece by piece, fortresses rose one after another, and iron and coal mines were put into operation one after another.

Just then, the three people arrived at the Yin Palace one after another.

A middle-aged man and a young man were holding recruitment orders, while a teenager, holding a large knife, volunteered to serve.