Chinese New Year

Chapter 637: Calm Sea (Part )

After leaving Duyang, we passed the Fangcheng Pass, entered the Wanye Corridor, passed Ye County and Kunyang, and arrived in Xiangcheng. It was already the sixth day of July.

As the weather got hotter, the group often set out on their journey at daybreak, took a break at noon, and then continued on their journey in the afternoon after the sun had set.

Yang Man has already said goodbye and left.

After hurrying for a while, they arrived in Xuchang and met a team transporting cattle, sheep and horses from Guangchengze, so they followed them.

On July 11, when he entered Chenliu, he met Yin Xian, who was returning to Yingchuan from Jibei and then heading north to Bianliang.

Yin Xian was originally the Prime Minister of Jibei, assisting Xun Jun in resisting Cao Yi. As the Prime Minister, he led troops into battle several times and felt overwhelmed. After all, being a counselor and actually leading troops in battle are two completely different things.

"Is this Hong Qiao's Bianliang?" Yang Man greeted from afar.

"Zu Yan?" Yin Xian, who was resting under the shade of a tree next to the ox cart, was stunned at first, then laughed and said, "It's you! What? Are you so impatient to become a minister?"

Yang Man smiled and said, "Didn't Hong Qiao also receive a duchy official position?"

"He's just the Minister of Revenue Cao, not as good as the Minister of the Court." Yin Xian said with a smile.

Cao Cao's Dukedom of Wei had five departments: the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Left, the Ministry of Five Armies, the Ministry of Guests, and the Ministry of Revenue, all of which were headed by the Secretary of State.

Shao Xun's Lianggong State had six departments: the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Left, the Ministry of Five Armies, the Ministry of Palace, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Shangshu was in charge of them. When Yin Xian returned from Jibei, he was given the position of Shangshu of Revenue.

"The Duzhi is in charge of the state's finances and grain, which is an important position." Yang Man greeted his followers and walked over to sit down.

"It's not easy to be the Minister of Finance." Yin Xian sighed, "There are so many places to spend money, and it's not enough. I have to go to places outside Liang to ask for money. By then, the words will be unpleasant to hear and the face will be embarrassing. Do you think I am willing to do it?"

Yang Man looked at his face and smiled without saying anything.

Did Liang have money? Of course it did. After so many years of recuperation, most of the household registration had been cleared. As long as the officials were in place and taxes were collected normally, it would at least be able to make up for most of the expenses, if not enough.

However, at this time, there was a huge gap in money and grain for the construction of the Liang Palace and Bianliang City.

Of course, this does not mean that Yin Xian was forced to take the position of Minister of Finance. According to Yang Man's observation, Yin Hongqiao was still very happy to take up the official position.

After all, the three dukes of the Wei Principality/Kingdom back then were directly transferred to the three dukes of Cao Wei after the abdication, and the same was true for other positions.

As time goes by, more and more people will flock to the Liang Kingdom instead of the Jin Dynasty. At the very least, they will have to squeeze into the General's Mansion.

"Hong Qiao, there are many talented people in Yingchuan. How many of them will join the company this time?" Yang Man asked.

"You can tell by looking at whether Yingchuan is peaceful or not." Yin Xian said with a smile, "After returning from Jibei, I visited relatives and friends, and everyone wanted to work for Lord Liang. Lord Liang was also generous, giving one of the three dukes, two of the six ministers, and two of the six ministers."

The State of Liang appointed the Prime Minister, the Chief Censor, and the Grand Commandant as the Three Dukes.

Among them, Yu Chen of Yingchuan was appointed as prime minister, Pan Tao of Xingyang was appointed as imperial censor, and the position of grand marshal was given to Pei Kang who was bedridden.

The six ministers were Weiwei, Dali, Taipu, Da Nong, Zhongwei and Shaofu. Among them, Weiwei was given to Chen Jing of Yingchuan, who had just retired from the military post of the imperial guards, and Shaofu was given to Yu Hua, the prefect of Gaoping.

Three out of the three dukes and six ministers were given the title, which was very considerate of the face of the scholars in Yingchuan.

Among the six ministers, Yin Xian of Yingchuan was the Minister of Revenue, and Zaosong of Yingchuan was the Minister of Zuomin Cao, which were also very respectful - the Shangshu Ling who was in charge of the six departments was Pei Miao of Hedong.

Yingchuan was just a county, but he got so many key positions. How could he not be happy? The land was peaceful, and the elders congratulated each other with smiles on their faces.

What is this called? According to later generations, this is a share of dividends and a sharing of the benefits brought by the company's development.

The people of Yingchuan have contributed troops and food many times, and even married off five daughters at once. They have worked hard in the court, so shouldn’t they get any feedback?
Seeing Yin Xian's happy expression, Yang Man didn't want to say anything.

He had just heard that many of Mr. Liang's students over the past decade or so had climbed to the positions of governors of ten counties.

In a few years, there will be more prefects, because Lord Liang will definitely take care of and promote them.

After becoming a prefect, he had the qualifications and fame, so it was only natural for him to move up the ladder.

Why is Yin Xian so happy?

This person is very different from Cao Mengde, and their determination is different from the beginning.

"Well, we've rested enough, we have to get on the road quickly." After drinking some water, Yin Xian enthusiastically invited Yang Man to ride in the ox cart together.

"Fangzhou Pavilion is finished, and Yu Yuangui is building Huangnu Palace and Guanfeng Hall. Oh, and the Ancestral Temple of the Land and Grain." When getting on the car, Yin Xian was still chattering: "The money and food are not enough, I have to hurry over, spend less, and don't delay the construction of the Ancestral Temple."

Yang Man nodded with a smile and got into the car with Yin Xian.

The ancestral temple of Duke Liang consisted of five temples built according to the ritual system of the princes, and worshipping them was indeed more important.

The last time he heard something, it said that Wang Yan found a few people to compile the deeds of Liang Gong's ancestors.

This was told as a joke at a gathering of scholars. The implication was that your family has been military slaves for generations, so what deeds can you make up?

As for scholars, out of jealousy and resentment, they always try to find some sense of superiority in these places. They dare not say it in front of Mr. Liang, so they can only ridicule it in private gatherings.

But then again, the country and ancestral temple are indeed important. No wonder Yin Xian cares so much about it.

In his heart, he must have looked down on Lord Liang, but his physical actions showed such fawning behavior. From the fact that his niece Yin was Lord Chen's concubine, it was simply amazing.

The rise of Lord Liang has caused mental problems among many scholars...

But it was good this way, at least they would not cause chaos. It was not easy for the world to be in the current situation. The Taishan Yang family, who had been repeatedly invaded by Wang Mi, Cao Yi, Zhao Gu and the Xiongnu, did not want the world to fall apart again.

******
The boat quietly docked at the shore.

A group of strong men and women came over to help unload the goods.

Yuan Xi became very nervous and immediately led his troops off the boat, standing seven or eight steps away to prevent anyone from barging in.

"Where are they from?" Liu asked in surprise after getting off the boat.

"I heard that they are family members of soldiers in the government office. They come here to carry goods and earn some money and food in their free time." Liu's nephew Liu Yi replied.

"Why are the family members of the soldiers in the palace so desperate?" Liu was a little puzzled: "They speak Luoyang dialect..." "Aunt is right." Liu Yi smiled and said, "In the Xin'an War, a large number of Henan men were recruited, and more than half of them were killed or injured. Lord Liang ordered to select 1,200 people from the remaining soldiers and move them to the west of Bianliang to set up the Bajiao Longxiang Palace. These people are here. They came late, and the harvest this year is gone. With nothing to do, they came out to work to supplement the family income."

"I see." Liu looked at him for a while and asked, "Are the soldiers grateful to him?"

Liu Yi glanced at his aunt and said, "Once you become a palace soldier, you can take your family out of the fortress manor and grant them land. Although the land belongs to the court, as long as your children and nephews can continue to serve as palace soldiers, the land will not be taken away. This is a change of fate against the will of heaven, and I am naturally grateful."

Liu nodded, and thought to herself that from Nanyang State to the north, all the way through Nanyang, Xiangcheng, Yingchuan, Chenliu to Bianliang, there was almost no disturbance in the counties and prefectures, the people were living and working in peace, the scholars were farming and gathering, and there was almost no change, which was almost the same as usual.

The reason for this should be the suppression by the government soldiers.

He can indeed be relied upon.

After leaving Hepu, several carriages were waiting for us not far away.

"Greetings, Toffee Dowager." An old man with a kind face stood by the roadside and saluted with a smile.

"You are an elder, so please don't be too polite." Liu hurriedly returned the greeting.

Liu Yi took the opportunity to introduce that this was the newly appointed Minister of the Liang State, Yuan Chong of Yangxia, who was ordered by Duke Liang to prepare carriages and horses to welcome him.

After hearing this, Liu bowed again.

"No need for that." Yuan Chong waved his hand and said, "I didn't have to come in person, but Lord Liang was uneasy, so I came in person. Please get in the car, Concubine Dowager."

After saying this, he glanced intentionally or unintentionally at Fu Bao who was standing obediently behind his mother.

The convoy set off quickly and soon arrived at Fangzhou Pavilion in the northwest of Bianliang.

Shao Xun was inspecting the sand sea with the generals and Liang officials to determine the location for building flood control dams. After receiving the news, he asked Prime Minister Yu Chen to lead the group to continue the survey, while he quietly slipped away.

"Grandpa!" Fu Bao jumped off the carriage and ran over happily.

It's over! Liu's mind went blank.

All the warnings and instructions were useless in the end. The daughter still remembered the time when her father played with her. She missed him so much that she rushed to him as soon as she got out of the car, forgetting everything else.

Grand Coachman Yuan Chong and his subordinates all turned around and looked at each other in silence.

At the embankment farther away, someone seemed to be looking around, but quickly turned back.

Shao Xun was also a little caught off guard. After a moment of hesitation, he walked forward without hesitation, opened his arms, and lifted his daughter up high.

Liu trembled, but saw Shao Xun walking towards her with a smile, stretching out a hand and holding her firmly.

Liu's face was so red that it couldn't get any redder, and tears were flowing from the corners of her eyes.

The man was very strong, and she was shy and resisted at first. But after walking for a while, she looked at the man, raised her head, and let him lead her.

Fu Bao lay on Shao Xun's shoulder, looking around with her round eyes. When she saw that the roadside was full of assistants, clerks, and warriors, she felt a little embarrassed and buried her face in her father's arms.

I am so happy! I can play with my father again.

After walking along a newly built path, Shao Xun and others passed by the iconic pavilion and then came to a small courtyard hidden among flowers and trees.

The personal guards inside and outside the courtyard saluted one after another.

Fu Bao looked at them and felt that it was no different from his own home. No, this small courtyard was also his home.

She twisted and turned in Shao Xun's arms, trying to get down.

Shao Xun put her on the ground.

Fu Bao looked left and right, humming a tune that was seriously out of tune, her legs spinning like a wind-fire wheel, running back and forth. In the end, she held her father's left hand and smiled at her mother.

Liu looked at her daughter tenderly, then glanced at Shao Xun and subconsciously clasped his right hand.

"Meet my grandparents tonight." Shao Xun said.

Liu turned her face away, and the blush that had just faded back onto her pretty face, and said, "I'll change into some casual clothes."

Although it was a hot day, she was still wearing a formal dress decorated with a 翟鸟 pattern. It was gorgeous and solemn, and also had a bit of majesty and nobility, which was not suitable for meeting a man's parents.

"Okay." Shao Xun nodded, took Liu to a bedroom, and then carried his daughter who was running around out.

"I've heard about what happened in Qinzhou." Before leaving, Shao Xun said, "The Xiongnu are hoarding food and supplies for the soldiers at Lantian Pass. I'm afraid we won't be able to get through."

Liu's face looked gloomy.

"I will send a human to Qinzhou." Shao Xun added, "We'll see whether it succeeds or not. It's a pity that Zhang Xiping has passed away, otherwise things would be much easier. Nanyang Kingdom, do you still want to go back?"

Liu shook her head without even thinking about it.

"Okay." Shao Xun nodded and said, "Let's do it this way."

Of course, Nanyang State will continue to exist. This shell is still very useful. It can gather refugees and check and balance Wancheng. He will not discard it easily.

As for communicating with Qinzhou, that is indeed difficult.

One can only hope that Sima Bao can hold on a little longer, exert his eight hundred kilograms of strength, and create more trouble for Liu Can in the rear.

Liangzhou probably cannot provide any substantial assistance.

Zhang Gui had passed away, and his son Zhang Shi succeeded him, and his control over the local area was declining. Moreover, although Zhang Shi was loyal, he was not loyal to the King of Nanyang.

Sima Bao had the title of controlling the Guanxi states, so how could Zhang Shi not be vigilant?
At best, we can send some reinforcements based on the principle of mutual dependence. Most likely, they won't be many, and they won't be elite troops that can fight, so don't hold too much hope.

The situation in the west was just like that. They had to withstand Liu Can's offensive by themselves.

(End of this chapter)