Chapter 413: Dedicated to Hidden Households...
In this incredible manifesto collection campaign, Yuan Shao, who faced the storm head-on, ended up vomiting blood and fainting. How could those noble families who were not the targets of the attack not also feel terrified?
In the past, the Yanzhou noble families were liquidated for "legitimate" reasons, but everyone knows how many of them were due to their alliance with Yuan Shao to attack Cao Cao, and how many were due to their opposition to the Emperor of Dayong.
Later, Yuan Shao, as a representative of the aristocratic family standing on the opposite side of Qiao Yan, suffered such a blow that aroused public outrage.
Both of these are killing the chicken to scare the monkey!
The only difference is that the latter, with its family background of three generations of officials, should be considered a stronger chicken.
Now, the chickens are either dead or injured, and the monkeys—
It's time to show some performance.
If they continue to hide their dissatisfaction under superficial obedience instead of taking a clear stand of support, who knows if they will be the next to suffer when Qiao Yan ends his attack on the Yecheng court and is able to free his hands?
The collection of this manifesto only brought results to Yuan Shao, but for them, they could still see the process.
They saw the simple but enthusiastic response of the people of Chang'an, the unstoppable momentum of the publication of the Leping Monthly, and the close attention paid by the people of Guanzhong to current affairs, and saw the power of a voice that seemed extremely weak when it existed alone but was expressed when it came together.
And it has only been a few years since she officially started to enlighten the people!
In just such a short period of time, the civil service forces that were loyal to her at the beginning and these gradually growing seedlings were enough to bring about such a terrible storm.
She didn't even have to care about the counterattack they might launch at this time, because the bridge in her hand that transmitted the signal was -
It has already taken root deep into the rapids without anyone noticing!
"In fact, this sign was already very obvious when she ascended the throne. She wanted to give soy sauce as a discount at the previous alcohol restriction meeting. When Zhong Changtong promoted Chang Yan, she also used the banner of self-protection and even gave the various families a chance to refute it. Until today..."
Today, she doesn't need to give a so-called explanation or a peaceful situation that would allow both parties to back down. She just wants an answer.
When they received the invitation to go to Chang'an, it was as if an invisible contract was spread out before them, waiting for them to sign and seal it after they arrived.
If they don't want to follow Yuan Shao's path, of course they can only come!
Cai Mao said with a sigh to Kuai Yue who was going to Chang'an with him. "Today, I am the fish on the chopping board."
He thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, "By the way, when was the Leping Monthly Report launched?"
Kuai Yue replied: "The first year of Guangxi, right?"
Six and a half years have passed since then.
This newspaper was originally a report on the ruling party's actions in Bingzhou and Liangzhou, which she later invaded, as well as introducing new survival skills. When it was published, no one would have thought that it would play such a big role. Moreover, with the advent of printing technology, it has become what it is today.
As long as she still holds this channel, she will have the sharpest weapon.
Until the person dies and the regime ceases to exist, no one will be given the opportunity to take advantage of it.
But the idea of this kind of opportunity is just deceiving yourself, how can it possibly be realized?
She is only twenty-three years old!
Perhaps ten years would allow some of them to still harbor hope, thinking that one day they would be able to intercept her plan to make all the people in Guizhou their talent pool, hoping that she would suddenly be persuaded by someone's resistance. Then what about twenty or thirty years?
If she had enough time to train a successor to carry out the long-term plan, their resistance would be as ridiculous as an ant trying to shake a tree.
It would be better to follow the example of the Xun family of Yingchuan and work harder on cultivating the children of the clan. This would be the best way to continue to maintain competitiveness in the new trend of the times.
When Cai Mao thought of this, he couldn't help but sighed to Kuai Yue again: "We have been isolated in Jingzhou for too long, and even our horizons have been limited a lot."
When the Leping Monthly Report was first published, no one noticed this new trick in Bingzhou, just as no one would have thought that Qiao Yan, whose plan to attack Guanzhong via Liangzhou was full of uncertainties at the time, would step by step reach this point today.
Cai Mao originally thought that Liu Biao, as a member of the Han royal family who dared to report to Emperor Ling of Han and ride alone into Jingzhou, would be able to maintain long-term wealth and honor even if he could not seize Jingzhou and dominate the area when the Han Dynasty changed.
The Cai family married a daughter of their clan to Liu Biao as his second wife, which was a sign of cooperation with him.
But even so, as a noble family in Jingzhou, they still have a unique arrogance.
This arrogance of "a strong dragon cannot defeat a local snake" made him unable to understand Liu Biao's various goodwill gestures towards Qiao Yan at the beginning. In fact, he still had some unspoken dissatisfaction with his request to demote the governor to the position of inspector. But the facts proved that Liu Biao's judgment was not wrong.
It was only shortly after he returned from Chang'an with Liu Biao's proposal of surrender to the emperor that they saw the situation in Dayong developing at such a terrifying speed.
In this case, the Cai and Kuai families in Jingzhou must of course make a trip to Chang'an.
In order to show how much they valued Qiao Yan's invitation, Cai Mao and Kuai Yue went there in person.
Fortunately, Cai Mao still had a life-saving talisman.
When he arrived in Chang'an, it was Huang Yueying who was responsible for picking him up and taking him to his destination.
"Uncle, just ask whatever you want to ask. There's no need to hide it here." Huang Yueying hurried to see Cai Mao, who had just finished his shift at the Ministry of Works. Seeing that he seemed to be hesitant to talk, she spoke.
Huang Yueying's mother was the eldest daughter of Cai Mao's father Cai Feng and Cai Mao's sister. She should be called uncle, and her relationship was slightly more solid than that of Yang Xiu and Yuan Shao, who were uncle and nephew.
Seeing that Kuai Yue had tactfully said goodbye and left first, Cai Mao asked in a low voice: "Let me ask you a question. Do you think His Majesty intends to hold us accountable again this time?"
Although they did not do anything as outrageous as the Yanzhou families, the cost of being a step slower might not be something they could afford.
Huang Yueying smiled and did not answer the question directly, but asked back: "Now is the time to make the enemy bleed, don't you think?"
So, does he want to be the enemy of His Majesty?
Since he has come here in person, it is certainly impossible for him to make such a stupid decision.
He quickly replied: "Yes, our biggest enemy right now is Yuan Shao, an unkind, unjust and shameless person. We are not willing to obey your majesty's orders."
"If I were your uncle, I would be more sensible." Huang Yueying said as she led Cai Mao to the main hall of their residence. "Jingzhou has never experienced a war of attack, and your majesty has just sent Zhong Yao and Zhong Yuanchang here. What is your intention?"
Cai Mao seemed to be thinking about something. After a moment's silence, he replied, "I will persuade Liu Jingsheng to send the spoils from the suppression of the Jingnan clan bandits to Your Majesty on the pretext of helping him to pacify the two states. The Xiangyang Cai family will also help Zhong Yuanchang gain a foothold in Jingnan."
In this way, their Jingzhou territory was divided into three parts.
At the top is Nanyang where Yuan Yao is located, at the bottom is the southern part supervised by Zhong Yao, and in the middle are Nanjun and other places controlled by Liu Biao and their Xiangyang families.
After this kind of checks and balances between the upper and lower levels, it would be impossible for the Han Dynasty to be restored under Liu Biao, a relative of the Han royal family. This would be a good thing for everyone.
"Uncle is indeed a smart man," Huang Yueying stopped and turned back to Cai Mao and said, "If you don't mind, I will stay for two more days after meeting His Majesty in Chang'an. My father is coming north with my mother and will settle in Chang'an in the future, so we can meet each other."
With these words of reminiscing about the past, Cai Mao felt much relieved.
But what he did not expect was that Liu Biao had come up with the plan of "riding alone into Jingzhou" and maliciously bid out those who intended to obtain the position of Jingzhou Governor from Emperor Ling of Han. Today, he, Liu Biao's right-hand man, has to face such a bidding situation.
The first person to do this was Yang Xiu!
The last time Yang Xiu served as Qiao Yan's envoy, he visited all the families that participated in the wine discussion and made deals. On the pretext that Qiao Yan needed manpower to brew strong liquor, he poached many of those who were nominally hidden households.
After that experience, Yang Xiu knew exactly how many people were still in these families and had not been released.
Therefore, in the reunion of the aristocratic families from Sili, Jingzhou and Yuzhou, he directly proposed a report on the grounds that the Hongnong Yang family had taken the lead as an example of rectification.
He would clear out a number of hidden households from the clan and send them to the nearest government office for registration.
As Yang Xiu had not yet officially become the leader of the Hongnong Yang family, the hiding of this hidden household was possible, and it was most likely done by his elders. So now, relying on the high status raised by Qiao Yan's ascension to the throne, he first attacked his own family.
When Yang Xiu's clear eyes scanned the surroundings, even though Cai Mao had no previous relationship with him, he couldn't help but feel that there seemed to be a hidden signal in it -
He has made a start, and you should not fall behind.
Since he knows the strength of each of your families, Your Majesty should also know it.
Cai Mao's eyelids couldn't help but twitch.
He might have to bleed a little extra.
Today's invitation meeting was not held in the suburbs of Chang'an like the wine discussion party back then, but was held in the reception area of Hongwenguan. Because of the arrival of the emperor, the surrounding area was guarded like an iron barrel by the Jinwu Guards.
The lights in the hall around her cast Qiao Yan's figure, who was sitting with a cup in hand, into a bright shadow. For a moment, it was difficult to discern her expression, but one could intuitively tell that she did not look friendly.
If the existence of those Jinwu Guards was not to protect Qiao Yan's safety, but to kill them with swords and axes, it would not be unreasonable.
After all, this emperor was someone who could break out of the Forbidden Palace with just a gun and a horse, so there was no need for her to worry about these people threatening her.
To donate population or not?
It was not difficult for everyone present to come up with an answer at this moment, or rather, they had no other choice.
You can only pay!
Not only do you have to make friends, but you have to make friends willingly.
The resistance of the Yanzhou noble families caused those who were not sentenced to death to be exiled to Rinan County in Jiaozhou. If they were to follow in their footsteps, it would be more painful for them than killing them.
The level of uncivilized people in Rinnan County could be compared to that of barbarians. To the well-read aristocratic families, it was a barren land like a nightmare.
Since you can live a peaceful life in the Central Plains, why should you let yourself be thrown into such a situation?
Someone immediately followed Yang Xiu's words and said, "The Hongnong Yang family has a good reputation for generations. Yang Wenxian was trapped in Yecheng, but his son knew right from wrong and could make decisions. This was a blessing in disguise. Since the Yang family has set such an example, we, the Dai family of Qiao County, are willing to follow suit."
The man said what he wanted to say. The next moment when Cai Mao had already calculated how many people the Xiangyang Cai family needed to give up according to their status, he heard him say, "Your Majesty had already established the Leping Academy when you were the Grand Marshal. Now that you are the emperor, you should rebuild the Imperial College in Chang'an. The Dai family is not talented, but we have some family wealth and are willing to help Your Majesty to enlighten the people. In addition, my family has the Shishi Yi, which was passed down to our ancestors by Liu Huan Gong during the reign of Emperor Xiaoping of the Former Han Dynasty. I would like to donate it to the academy for storage. I sincerely ask Your Majesty to approve it."
In Leping Academy there was a famous scholar like Zheng Xuan who was an in-depth expert on Yixue, and there were also disciples of Xun Shuang who studied the same discipline. Sending another commentary on Yixue into the academy for the purpose of correcting errors could really be considered a smart gift.
However, this gift-giving, which was made in response to Yang Xiu's words, really screwed the other parties present.
Should the one who spoke last continue to report the number of people as Yang Xiu said, or should he take out his own family's inherited books when this Dai family member added the weight? Or should we add more things to make this already opened offer of peace more genuine?
How could they bear to do that!
Their status as aristocratic families over the years has allowed them to enjoy treatment far superior to that of ordinary people. Even though some of them only served as officials in the Western Han Dynasty, they have still become a force that cannot be ignored in the local area.
Except for the times during the Factions and Factions Persecution when they had to restrain their edge for the sake of survival, like the Yin family of Changping, who were led by the then Counselor Yin Feng, and abandoned their official positions and fled to Qu'a with their families, in most cases they did not need to humble themselves with such flattering acts.
But when they thought that they were facing an emperor with sufficient means and courage today, and that they were seeking a way for their family to survive, and that there was no place in the world for them to hide, those who had figured out the account had already stood up.
Just as Cai Mao was about to speak, he saw that the person who stood up before him was Kuai Yue.
The fact that Kuai chose to send Kuai Yue instead of Kuai Liang was not without consideration.
Kuai Yue's act of luring and killing the leader of the clan bandits after Liu Biao arrived in Jingzhou fully demonstrated the resolute and resolute side of his character.
Although he was not like Cai Mao, who could get Qiao Yan's attitude from Huang Yueying in advance, he could guess roughly by looking at Yang Xiu's performance.
This gift might not necessarily bring them corresponding benefits like the wine party at that time, because Qiao Yan, as the Emperor of Dayong, no longer needs to bow his head to anyone, but it will definitely wipe out their mistakes of being slow to react.
Under such circumstances, if they cannot fight for a future for themselves, how can they have the confidence to say that they are a family of great renown for generations?
It's just people, books and money.
In the face of the rapid rise of the Yong Dynasty, keeping people in their hands would only be a burden and hidden danger to them, and keeping books in their hands would probably only become obsolete things. If money could buy life, it would not be a loss at all!
He bowed to Qiao Yan and said, "The Kuai family is not as rich as the Hongnong Yang family. We are willing to pay half of our share to the emperor. The Kuai family is the hope of Jingnan and is willing to help your majesty collect the classics of Jingxiang and compile them for the imperial academy."
"Since the Factional Persecution until now, Jingzhou has rarely encountered wars, and countless people have fled south to escape the disaster. The Kuai family is also willing to provide funds to help them return to their homeland."
Qiao Yan raised his glass towards him from a distance, "Then I would like to thank Mr. Yidu for his generosity."
The two words "thank you" immediately shattered the last bit of doubt among the people present.
Cai Mao seemed to be afraid that someone else might get ahead of him, so he immediately continued what Kuai Yue said.
Since we came here together, there's no need to talk in two parts!
…
Dian Wei, who was Qiao Yan's follower, had never seen these people from famous and aristocratic families giving away things in a tone as if they were selling them at a low price. He was afraid that if he gave too little, he would fall behind others. He turned to look at Qiao Yan, and was shocked to see that her face was still calm and unperturbed.
From this perspective, there is actually not much difference between these people and those who work hard.
Although I don't know whether this gift-giving is an expression of emotion and whether he will regret it later, at least at this moment, the purpose of His Majesty's invitation to the meeting can be considered to have been completely achieved.
Only after this "loss" can there be the "gain" later.
However, what Dian Wei didn't know was that although Qiao Yan seemed calm, he actually didn't have a clear control over everything.
When the representatives of the noble families left under the guidance of the attendants, Qiao Yan looked at the empty seat in front of him and suddenly asked Yang Xiu, "I asked you to take up an official position in the court of Dayong before, instead of continuing to serve as an official in the Grand Marshal's Mansion, but you refused and insisted on temporarily occupying the empty seat. Is this what you did today?"
Before Qiao Yan ascended the throne, Yang Xiu was the chief clerk in her Grand Sima Mansion. However, when the position of Grand Sima no longer existed, the chief clerk in the Grand Sima Mansion was in name only.
So if we talk about official position, Yang Xiu did not hold any.
If he held an official position, this act of offering up the hidden households of the aristocratic family would be more or less mixed with some special meanings, such as bribing the monarch.
It was precisely this act of taking advantage of a loophole that made it particularly natural for him to initiate this matter.
Hearing Qiao Yan's question, Yang Xiu replied, "Cut off your tail to survive. Even geckos and mountain rats have such wisdom. Don't humans have it, too?"
Yang Xiu was extremely smart, so he would definitely know that the damage his action brought to the Hongnong Yang family in the short term would be far greater than the possible benefits. Even those noble families who had to do the same thing because of his words might even blame him for the losses.
But the family——
With the rise and fall of the old and the new during the change of dynasties, as Qiao Yan intends to bring about greater changes, there is never a shortage of sacrifices to serve as the foundation!
It seems that he is slashing at the interest groups he represents, but in fact he is trying his best to point out a more essential way for them to survive.
In the two events of Ma Jun and Huang Yueying dividing the Ministry of Works and the Hongnongguan assessment and selection which would begin in half a month, Yang Xiu not only saw Qiao Yan's promotion of people in an unconventional way, but also saw a shadow of the intention to make changes to the official system.
So instead of letting these noble families remain ambitious because of the hidden people in their hands and become the ones to be beheaded in the next wave of changes, it is better to pursue the way of survival and move forward according to Qiao Yan's wishes.
Qiao Yan looked at the other person's face, and did not respond to any thoughts about Yang Xiu's possible little calculations. He just said, "Now that people from all sides have been sent here, you can't spend your idle days like this. Go to the Shangshutai to take the position of Shangshu Pushe."
Yang Xiu cupped his hands and said, "As your majesty commands."
Shangshu Pushe was a subordinate official of Shangshu Ling. Although he was only an official with an official salary of 600 stones, his low rank and great power were fully reflected in this position.
Since the position of Shangshu Ling is still vacant, the position of Shangshu Pushe can handle the affairs of the Shangshu Tai. The performance evaluations of officials from all parties are summarized here. It can be said that he is an important official in the current inner court.
As to whether this was because Yang Xiu's qualifications warranted his placement in such a position, or because his performance today was highly recognized by Qiao Yan and he was therefore rewarded, that was left for those present to guess.
In short, the heavy blood loss and sacrifice of this group of people were not in vain in a sense.
After Yang Xiu took office, he immediately began to urge all parties to contribute manpower and resources. Between April and June, not only did the population of the three states grow to a considerable number, but even Bingzhou, Liangzhou, and Yizhou, which were close to him, also actively cooperated with his actions.
So much so that when the June issue of Leping Monthly arrived in Yecheng faster than the news sent by the spies, Guo Tu, who took the newspaper, saw that it said that the aristocratic families in various states formed a sharp contrast with Yuan Shao and made important contributions to the military farming and grain storage in various places.
This positive energy propaganda was like a sudden sharp knife to the Yecheng court, which had been under great pressure!
It seemed that Yuan Shao's body was completely damaged by the vomiting of blood. He was in a recurring state during the past three months. If it were not for the fact that the weather had turned from spring to summer and Yecheng was not a place where it was easy to get sick, Guo Tu would often worry that he would be in a state of no cure because of an additional minor illness.
Even though he had quietly chosen Yuan Shang from Yuan Shao's next generation as the person he would support, because he valued Yuan Shang's easy-to-control temperament and ability, when he truly saw that Yuan Shao's health was declining and he had even vaguely lost his fighting spirit, Guo Tu could not help but empathize with the panic of facing the pressing situation in Chang'an.
And now this news, after being released through channels such as the Leping Monthly Report, means that they have once again been cut off from potential support.
Guo Tu subconsciously clenched his back teeth, trying his best to suppress the panic on his face, and then walked into the general's mansion.
When he saw Yuan Shao, who was still in poor spirits, in the garden of his mansion, he was sitting on the wheelchair sent from Chang'an.
Two months ago, the Ministry of Works in Chang'an launched a series of equipment for wounded soldiers on the battlefield, including this wheelchair. It was obviously Qiao Yan's intention to send one of them to Yuan Shao.
What surprised Guo Tu a little was that Yuan Shao did not get angry about this. Instead, he had the gift put away and even put it to use because it was difficult to keep it for a long time.
After hearing from the Leping Monthly Report that the number of people who infiltrated Jizhou in April was still counted in tens of thousands, he immediately suspended the conscription of troops in various counties to prevent the people in the remaining two states from defecting.
When he heard Guo Tu's suggestion to Liu Bian that the three sons should share power, he did not make any objection.
It seemed that all of a sudden, Yuan Shao became calmer than ever before.
But it would be fine if this kind of calmness could be matched with a body that can ride a horse and carry a gun to fight. If not, it would obviously only make him more tormented.
It has been about four months since Qiao Yan ascended the throne, and Yuan Shao, who seemed to be in his prime, now has almost gray hair. It is hard to believe that he is only in his forties.
Hearing the sound of Guo Tu approaching, Yuan Shao did not take his eyes away from the plant in front of him, but just asked: "Apart from the north, is there any news of other attacks?"
If we were to say who Yuan Shao hates the most right now, the first one would be without exception, but the second one would definitely be Lu Bu.
He was almost treating the attack on Jizhou as something he had to do every half a month.
At first he would be intercepted by Gao Shun, but later, based on reports from their spies in Zhuo County, Sima Yi and Tian Feng took turns planning attack routes for Lu Bu, so that he could penetrate deeper into Jizhou next time.
But even so, whenever there were casualties in a battle between him and the Jizhou soldiers, or when he realized that something unpredictable would happen if he didn't retreat, he would withdraw his troops at a rapid speed.
Ordinarily, this wouldn't be a big problem, but Yuan Shao issued orders to all the people in charge on all four sides, requiring them to be informed of any military intelligence, no matter how big or small, which made him hate Lu Bu even more.
Every time, he was prepared to hear the news of Qiao Yan's large-scale invasion and waited for the military report, but what he received was only the news that Lu Bu came and left. Who could bear it?
So when he heard that Xuzhou had transferred Ma Chao to the front line, Yuan Shao gave orders to Yuan Tan without hesitation, ordering him to kill Ma Chao at all costs if he saw him leading his troops to attack, otherwise the reports of attacks from both sides would definitely drive him crazy.
So this time he learned his lesson and directly excluded Lu Bu from the question.
Guo Tu hesitated for a moment, wondering whether he should inform Yuan Shao of the news newly published in the monthly report, but finally he said it in the most reserved tone possible.
Seeing Yuan Shao's grim expression, he added, "Although this news is bad, it is better than the other side launching a formal attack. On the one hand, the three sons of the general are in different places, and they have the opportunity to hone their skills and make careful preparations, so they may have a chance to turn the tables. On the other hand... she is hesitant to act, which may be because she ascended the throne too hastily and was hindered by other internal conflicts."
But before Guo Tu could finish, Yuan Shao interrupted him, "If you really think so, you might as well resign as soon as possible. You are underestimating Qiao Yeshu."
"What do you mean by being tied up by other matters? They are clearly boiling the frog in warm water, waiting for us to surrender under the pressure!"
But Yuan Shao did not want to fulfill her wish and let the process of crushing the last vestiges of the Han Dynasty evolve peacefully.
He had to try again!
"Send a message to Xiansi, and ask him to temporarily hand over the command of Qingzhou to Xin Zhongzhi, and return to Yecheng immediately. I have some arrangements I want to entrust to him!"
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