Chapter 299: Central Plains Mutation
This gift... is indeed very valuable, but for Tian Feng, it may be a fatal gift.
"You seem to have been laughing for a long time." After seeing off the dazed Tian Feng, Qiao Yan looked at Guo Jia standing aside and shook his head.
Guo Jia waved his hand, "When it comes to gift giving, you are an expert... Only you can send a palm leaf fan with Tian Yuanhao's pseudonym engraved on it to Jizhou to commemorate his promotion."
When it comes to thoughtful gift-giving, Mi Zhu of the Mi clan in Donghai is probably the best at it.
But when it comes to the heart-wrenching nature of gift-giving and the peculiar nature of one's thinking, even if all the people under Qiao Yan were tied together and packed up, they still couldn't compare to her.
When Guo Jia thought of Tian Feng's expression of having something stuck in his throat for a moment when he saw that special gift just now, and of being unable to find a reason to refuse it, and then thought about what would happen after this thing was sent to Jizhou, he couldn't help laughing again.
Although we are facing a drought and the current situation is difficult, and even the damn two years of Prohibition have not ended yet, people still have to find something to cheer themselves up in order to maintain sufficient energy for work, right?
It's a pleasure to watch those ignorant people from the Qiao family of Yanzhou.
I thought that they had no foresight in their previous judgment of Qiao Yan, and even put themselves on the opposite side of Qiao Yan. This was the limit of what they could show.
Relying on the background of Qiao family in the territory of Yanzhou Liang State, and Yanzhou's current stance, the fact that they are not in the same camp as the prince may be a way to preserve themselves. Who knows what other tricks they might come up with.
The joint appeal from Yecheng with the Shouzhang Wang family not only failed to make Yuan Shao hinder Cao Cao, but instead forced both families to donate a lot of stored grain.
Yuan Shao was not stupid enough to cut off his own arm at this time, but the people from the Qiao family in Yanzhou thought he could do so.
Another fun thing happened in Xuzhou.
This place used by Qiao Yan to train the younger generation was divided into a north-south confrontation two years ago, and is now about to undergo new changes. I wonder if anyone can guess how events will develop in the future, and whether these younger generations that Qiao Yan is looking forward to can perform to her satisfaction.
The next incident is Yuan Shao's.
When Qiao Yan was sending the palm-leaf fan away, a hint of reluctance appeared on his face.
"Sending refined iron to someone else's territory... and iron tools that can be of great use today, there are really few people in the world as thoughtful as me."
Guo Jia replied: "But Yuan Shao probably won't thank you."
There is so much information revealed in this thing. What would Yuan Shao, who is already troubled by the disaster, think?
Anyway, people probably wouldn't really think that Qiao Yan just wanted Yuan Feng to be famous in the village and become a role model for those who went from Jizhou to Sili to work.
It must be said that Yuan Shao was actually quite dedicated in arranging a false identity for Tian Feng.
The identity of Yuanfeng is not just a simple household registration certificate, but also has a clear hometown and a series of interpersonal relationships formed around this name.
Except for the son "Yuanxi" who appeared unexpectedly due to Yuan Xi's visit to Chang'an, other information is detailed and verifiable.
Therefore, when the letter written by Tian Feng after his promotion and the palm-leaf fan and file sent to Jizhou were delivered to his hometown, there was no problem in the entire process of receiving the letter and the gift.
Even if you ask anyone here who Yuan Feng is, you will probably get the same answer:
A diligent and honest man who went to Bingzhou to try his luck in order to bring a better life to his family.
That's it.
If necessary, they can even say a few details related to "Yuanfeng".
However, the information these people needed to remember was of course arranged by Yuan Shao.
After the messenger left, someone immediately handed over all the things that had been delivered to this place to the personal guards stationed there, and then this person rode a fast horse... no, drove an express carriage at full speed to deliver them to Yecheng.
There was also a huge iron block weighing a thousand pounds, and no matter how skilled the horse was, it would not be able to carry it directly to Yecheng.
When Yuan Shao saw this thing, he was stunned for a moment.
Several people worked together to carefully lift the heavy palm-leaf fan file in front of him, and displayed the words "Donated by Yuanfeng to the village for digging wells" engraved on it in front of him.
Except for the time when Yuan Xi sent back the news, most of the letters that Tian Feng sent back were ordinary family letters to prevent Qiao Yan from doubting his identity. Yuan Shao also read a few of them and felt that Tian Feng had really tried his best to make the family letters sound authentic.
Later, because he had to assist the Hongwenguan in setting questions, he was even strictly controlled. Yuan Shao did not think that he could get a response from Tian Feng in a short period of time.
In addition to the natural disaster, Yuan Shao almost forgot that the selection had been completed, so when he suddenly received such a thing at this time, he was really a little overwhelmed.
But perhaps, even if he had known that Tian Feng was going to give him something, he would never have thought that it would be this.
Not to mention, there’s the promotion mentioned in the letter!
His brows raised and then lowered, and he hesitated for a long time before asking Xu You: "What is this called? Returning home in glory?"
Yuan Shao recognized the identity of the cattail leaf fan the moment he saw it.
He had several copies of this year's Leping Monthly in his hand. After all, even Jizhou and Qingzhou had taken many measures to prevent locusts based on the information recorded in the monthly report.
He would also not miss the idea of increasing groundwater use to alleviate the impact of drought.
The design of the new impact drilling vehicle was exactly as it appeared in the April issue of the monthly report. The palm-leaf fan file, which was the core part, was also included in it, and it looked exactly the same as it did in front of him.
In fact, just before this file appeared in Yuan Shao's hand, he had initiated a round of strategies among his subordinates on whether to dig deep wells on a large scale and implement the method of well irrigation and canal construction.
Two distinct positions emerged among his subordinates.
A group of people, represented by Ju Shou, believed that this deep well could be dug.
Since Qiao Yan judged that this drought might become a more lasting disaster, it was necessary to make more thorough preparations.
However, some people, represented by Guo Tu, believed that if they continued to be led by Qiao Yan like this, whose court would the court of Yecheng belong to?
A considerable amount of manpower and resources have been used to study new things in Chang'an. Now the measures proposed by the other side are accompanied by a large consumption of iron ore, but the results brought may not be worth the expenditure. Yuan Shao must not continue to follow this trend.
Yuan Shao was also quite troubled by this matter.
If the resources consumed in digging deep wells were invested in manufacturing weapons, the benefits would be obvious.
Let’s get back to digging the well... If the number of files is not enough, and we try to arrange them around Yecheng first, we will definitely end up with a situation where the problem is not the shortage but the imbalance.
In fact, Yuan Shao was inclined not to follow Chang'an at this time, but because Ju Shou's reputation in the court and in the army was far superior to Guo Tu, and he had never made any wrong decisions so far, most people still believed in Ju Shou's judgment, which made Yuan Shao hesitate to express his suggestions.
Now this physical palm-leaf fan file made it even more difficult for him.
Seeing Yuan Shao looking at the iron file in deep thought, Xu You knew it was not the right time for him to speak yet, so he did not interrupt Yuan Shao's thoughts.
Sure enough, after a while, Xu You heard Yuan Shao ask in a somewhat uncertain tone: "Ziyuan, it's been almost three years. Do you think that a smart person like Qiao Yeshu hasn't discovered that Yuan Hao is working under her?"
Although I have been in office for a long time and have not done anything to expose my identity, it is time for a fixed impression to be formed, and the probability of being discovered will definitely decrease.
However, at such a critical moment, the iron file in front of him was like a hammer hitting Yuan Shao directly on the head.
Maybe... maybe there is a slight probability that this thing can be understood as remembering the well digger when drinking water, setting a benchmark.
But that was Qiao Yan!
"Would she really believe so easily that a person with no background could step by step reach this position, take on the responsibility of preparing examination papers, and even enter the Shangshutai?"
If Qiao Yan had done such a thoughtless thing, Yuan Shao felt that one of the links supporting the establishment of the Chang'an court would have collapsed long ago, and it would have been impossible for the situation to develop to the point where it is today, causing him such a headache.
Yuan Shao stared at the text for a long time, then asked again: "Is it possible that she already knew who Tian Feng was, and that's why she put him in this position, and even told me this news today by taking advantage of his promotion?"
Xu You took a deep breath and replied, "Yes, it is very likely. But can you afford the consequences of this judgment?"
If Qiao Yan already knew Tian Feng's identity, then the information brought back by Yuan Xi was most likely screened.
All their previous efforts may have been in vain.
Compared with the influence that Yuan Shao tried to create on Qiao Yan through public opinion, it was obviously the result of the true and false information provided by Qiao Yan, which caused much greater harm to Yuan Shao.
If this matter were to be exposed, it would shake the morale of the army!
Xu You asked again: "Even so, what can you do? Will you label Tian Yuanhao a traitor?"
Regardless of whether Tian Feng himself knew about this, the fact that Tian Feng belonged to the Hebei scholar camp and the reputation he had accumulated in his early years meant that if Yuan Shao made such a choice, he would inevitably be counterattacked by the Hebei gentry.
Unless Yuan Shao can truly dominate several states and have absolute voice.
What's more, there was only a well-drilling tool placed in front of Yuan Shao, and there was no hard evidence to prove that Tian Feng had indeed defected.
During Yuan Shao's silence, Xu You continued, "Rather than wasting time worrying about whether Tian Yuanhao had betrayed you, it would be better to try and see if this well-drilling vehicle has the capabilities shown in the Leping Monthly Report."
A moment of hesitation flashed across Yuan Shao's face.
In this way, the palm-leaf fan file sent by Qiao Yan seemed to force him to decide whether to dig a deep well directly based on actual results, rather than allowing his advisers from all sides to argue with each other in front of him. However, since they had little experience in controlling drought in a state, no one could convince each other.
Xu You's next words directly strengthened Yuan Shao's determination. "Whether you are being led by the person in Chang'an, you can make it sound better in your external statements. But if you fail to deal with the disaster properly, won't Cao Mengde and Yuan Gonglu laugh at you?"
The many years of friendship between Xu You and Yuan Shao made him fully aware of how to advise Yuan Shao at this time.
However, this decision based on facts has been made, and Yuan Shao can temporarily tolerate Tian Feng's promotion in Chang'an. The only problem left is that there is still one problem.
Yuan Shao tried his best to move his eyes away from the words "for digging wells" written on the palm leaf fan. His facial muscles twitched for a moment, and he asked, "Tian Yuanhao mentioned in his letter that Qiao Yeshu asked him to send his family to Yecheng after he was promoted. How should we respond?"
He did still have some hope that Tian Feng still supported him, so sending his family there was probably not Qiao Yan's intention to take the hostages away from Yuan Shao, but Tian Feng wanted someone to have a stable connection with him so that he would not have to fight alone in Chang'an.
If Yuan Shao wanted, he could also send the news that Qiao Yan might have discovered Tian Feng's identity to the other party, and find a way to rescue Tian Feng from the "devil's cave".
But if you think about what he was thinking when he sent Yuan Xi to Chang'an two years ago, you will know that he would rather believe that Chang'an has become a complete trap.
To send or not to send, this is really a suffocating question.
But compared with Yuan Shu in Yuzhou, Yuan Shao's situation was relatively good.
After all, Yuan Shao had the advantage of having the emperor by his side and had a relatively complete court system.
While his advisers were each working on their own issues, many of the suggestions they made were insightful and he could hear them.
The most important thing is that Yuan Shao is obviously more executive and courageous than Yuan Shu.
Of course, if we have to say it, Yuan Shu is not without courage, otherwise he would not have earned the reputation of being a fierce ghost on the road.
On the day of Emperor Ling of Han's death, it was Yuan Shu who first proposed the idea of burning down the Nan Palace and forcing the eunuchs out.
However, this kind of execution power is obviously not focused on improving the people's livelihood in Yuzhou.
Yuan Huan was extremely disappointed with Yuan Shu's behavior of giving up directly after failing to deal with the trouble.
Their achievement of joining hands with Zhou Yu to kill Wen Chou on their own initiative did not seem to be the beginning of reversing the situation in Yuzhou. Instead, it made Yuan Shu feel that when faced with an unsolvable problem, the answer would naturally appear before him.
This is not the worst case scenario.
If Yuan Shu could realize his own lack of ability and simply delegate power to his subordinates and put the right people in the right positions, this might be considered a way of governing the provinces and counties.
It is euphemistically called the policy of governing by doing nothing.
But ever since Ju Shou and Gao Shun's surprise attack on Runan almost caused a major geographical relocation of the Yuan family of Runan, Yuan Shu felt a little less secure after his foot injury was healed by Fan A sent by Qiao Yan. He then firmly controlled all the troops under his command and managed his city like an iron barrel.
"How can we just focus on defense when there is drought?" Yuan Huan's dissuasion was futile. After leaving Yuan Shu, he could not help but curse in a low voice.
This miserly behavior can indeed ensure that Yuan Shu will not be disturbed by anyone while he is drinking iced honey water today, and can also allow him to sleep peacefully tonight.
As long as the city walls are strong, his legs and feet will not suffer a second disaster.
But did Yuan Shu hear the voices of the people who were trying to seek help because of the natural disaster?
There are also quite a lot of common people's children serving under Yuan Shu, forming what he calls a solid fortress!
Perhaps the drought will not be alleviated immediately. After all, even if the emperor personally prays for rain, it may not fall immediately.
Perhaps locusts cannot be prevented from hatching simply because of human obstruction. After all, even the strictly guarded Guanzhong area failed to do so.
He should at least show an attitude that he is trying to turn the situation around, instead of thinking that the disaster will gradually disappear through its own development from summer to autumn and from autumn to winter, allowing Runan and Yingchuan to return to the state of outstanding people and beautiful scenery in the early years.
Rather than relying on this, you might as well hope that the sun rises from the west!
Even though the Yuan family of Runan and the Yuan family of Chenjun are of the same blood, Yuan Huan is a little reluctant to do it.
The current stability may not necessarily be truly stable.
If food prices continue to rise as the disaster worsens, and the people's worries turn into riots, how will Yuan Shu stop his subordinates from panicking, and how will he ensure that these now solid defenses do not collapse overnight?
Yuan Huan looked at the Leping Monthly Report that came from Guanzhong in his hand, and felt more and more sad.
If there had not been such a long road separating Yuzhou from Guanzhong, he had no doubt that the people of Yuzhou would choose to migrate there.
For someone who can't read, this Leping Monthly News also conveys an indescribable sense of security.
"Master Yuan!" Yuan Huan had just thought of this when he suddenly saw a soldier running towards him. The panic on his face was enough for Yuan Huan to see clearly in the instant of contact, which also interrupted his contemplation and indignation at the moment.
The soldier shouted before he even ran up to him: "Yingchuan...Yingchuan locusts are gathering and causing a disaster!"
Yuan Huan's expression changed.
A locust plague?
Yes, it’s already May!
The first batch of hatched locusts have already grown into adults that can fly into the air. Since the protective measures taken in Ruying are far inferior to those in Guanzhong, it is just as what Qiao Yan had people publish in the Leping Monthly:
The number of locusts that can be produced in an area of ten feet squared due to drought is counted in the hundreds.
The locusts that have escaped from the ground can no longer be eaten by ducks raised on the ground, nor can they be easily caught by fishing nets, so the only options are to initiate the actions required to deal with a real locust plague.
Yuan Huan had no time to complain about Yuan Shu's irresponsible behavior. He told Yan Xiang to take charge of the locust plague in Runan County, and led his men to Yingchuan County.
When leaving Pingyu, Runan, Yuan Huan couldn't help but look back, hoping to get an answer that would indicate Yuan Shu had changed his mind.
But to his disappointment, what he saw was only a faint sense of unrest on the seemingly solid city walls, on a land that was far less vibrant than last year.
The sound brought by the wind vaguely sounded like the word "go home".
"Master Yuan?" The soldier who reported the news was a little puzzled by Yuan Huan's pause at this moment.
Yuan Huan gritted his teeth and decided to resolve the biggest trouble at hand first before discussing whether Yuan Shu's actions were inappropriate.
But what he didn't know was that when the locust plague had not yet broken out everywhere, not everyone's attention was limited to their own little piece of land.
For example, Qiao Yan, together with Guo Jia and Xun Yu, went out on horseback for the first time in a long time. They left Chang'an City and went straight to Tongguan, heading straight for Hongnong County which was about to be used to receive refugees, intending to change the situation where they only occupied the territory within the central pass of Sili.
It also draws attention to the cross-sea battle in the direction of Xuzhou.
For example, Cao Cao knew very well that no matter what decision he would make next, he could no longer be limited to his current situation and must make some changes.
This drought is a trouble for some people, but it may very well be an opportunity for him!
With the assistance of Zao Zhi and Man Chong, the locust plague in Yanzhou was still under control, although reports of disasters were received from various places.
He looked at the Cao and Xiahou clansmen gathered in the hall, and Xu Chu and Li Gan who had pledged their allegiance to him, then turned to his strategist Chen Gong who was sitting in his most trusted position, and nodded at him.
Now that we have decided to go to war, let’s attack quickly!
Just hope for a quick victory!
Hongnong County is located between Tongguan and Hanguguan. In modern times, there is a very famous city called Sanmenxia, but now it is still called Shan County, which is quite close to the county seat of Hongnong County.
Xun Yu had just told Qiao Yan that the area to accommodate the refugees would be set up between the Yellow River and the Luo River, when he suddenly saw Qiao Yan change his attitude of listening to him intently and look up into the sky.
The next moment, she raised her arm and shot a crossbow arrow into the air without hesitation.
The sharp arrow from the powerful bow did not miss the target, but hit a bird flying through the air.
But at the moment the bird fell from the sky, Xun Yu suddenly realized that it was not an ordinary sparrow that was taken as prey, but a pigeon that originally represented a good omen.
No, it's more than that.
The pigeon that was originally going to fly towards Guanzhong was quickly carried in front of Qiao Yan by her subordinates. It was at this moment that Xun Yu suddenly saw that there was a small bamboo tube tied to the pigeon's ankle.
Is this a... pigeon used to deliver messages?
Qiao Yan took down the bamboo tube, opened it and pulled out a rolled-up piece of paper.
When the paper was spread out to reveal its contents, Xun Yu saw her face suddenly darken.
When Qiao Yan discovered a carrier pigeon flying by with her keen observation skills, she was too lazy to wait for it to fly to the carrier pigeon base in Meiwu and then be delivered to her by a special person, but directly shot the secret letter down.
The double-sided line situation did not allow her any extra time to negotiate. Any unexpected event that was unfavorable to her might make her previous plan fail. In this case, the loss of a carrier pigeon was nothing.
She had a hunch that the news sent to Chang'an at this time was extraordinary!
She was not wrong!
The following was written on this secret letter using the code she had specified:
Cao Cao led his troops to launch a surprise attack on Runan County.
Yuan Shu's army mutinied and Yuan Yuzhou died in the army.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
