ATPnovel Chapter 77 Thinking of Talent
Chapter 77 Thinking of Talent
Wang Lie stood up, holding the household registration book, and explained it to everyone in a clear voice: "Generals, our lord's plan is a grand strategy for the next three years."
"Previously, there were more than 80,000 Han people in western Liaoning. Later, more than 50,000 refugees poured in. In addition, 60,000 Xianbei people were subdued and settled in the border region this time. The total population of the prefecture is now close to 200,000."
"Our lord has set a ratio of soldiers to civilians of one to twenty, with the entire prefecture supporting 12,000 soldiers."
"Compared to the extreme of one to ten for the people's livelihood, which leads to exhaustion and militarism, this system is ten times more lenient and does not harm the people's strength."
"Compared to the 1:50 system during the peaceful times of the Han Dynasty, it is several times stricter, sufficient to prepare for border troubles."
"Why plan for three years? It is to avoid disrupting agricultural seasons, to avoid exhausting the people's strength, and to simultaneously promote both the enrichment of the people and the strengthening of the army. This is the way to ensure long-term stability and security in western Liaoning!"
His words revealed the core issue, and everyone in the room understood.
Liu Bei nodded slightly and continued, "The Liaoxi region is harsh and barren. In the past, it relied on the imperial court to transport grain and fodder, and was subject to control everywhere."
"From this day forward, Liaoxi will not only be self-sufficient, but will also be developed into a crucial grain storage area for Youzhou!"
"The Xianbei people who surrendered combined farming and animal husbandry, while Han people and refugees reclaimed wasteland and settled in the fields, turning both banks of the Liao River into fertile land."
"The land of water and grass is where cattle and sheep graze."
"Within three years, the government's grain reserves must be sufficient to support an army of 30,000 for three years; this is the top priority!"
The generals were all greatly encouraged. If the Xianbei were not destroyed, how could the war be stopped!
As soon as he finished speaking, he changed the subject and started talking about trade routes and goods, glancing at Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping, who were standing to the side below.
These two men are wealthy merchants from Youzhou, skilled in the horse market and the trade of gold and iron. They have long been friends with Liu Bei and wholeheartedly submitted to him. Now they are in charge of the Gold and Market Offices of Liaoxi Prefecture, respectively, and oversee the entire prefecture's trade routes.
"Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping, you two will take charge of the trade routes and go all out to do it."
"The warhorses, cattle, sheep, and furs obtained from the campaigns beyond the Great Wall, except for those used for military purposes, were all put into circulation in the market."
"Fine Xianbei horses are hard to find anywhere in the world. They are sold at high prices to various prefectures and counties in Ji, Yan, and Qing provinces, thus opening up trade routes between the north and south."
"With the salt and iron monopoly, the Lingzhi Iron Mine and the Linyu Saltworks were put into full production. Commerce supported the army, and wealth enriched the people, making the Liaoxi Treasury overflow with riches every day!"
Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping bowed and accepted the order, their eyes gleaming.
With Liu Bei's support, the Liaoxi cavalry as a shield, and Xianbei warhorses as goods, this trade route will surely become a gold mine and silver sea for Liaoxi's rise.
With a strong military, ample grain reserves, and open trade, the blueprint for the rise of western Liaoning is already clearly visible.
Liu Bei knew that a tall building rises from the ground, and all grand plans begin with the people's livelihood and spring plowing.
It is early spring, and spring plowing is imminent.
This is the first farming season after 60,000 Xianbei surrendered and tens of thousands of refugees settled down, and it is of paramount importance for consolidating the foundation and strengthening the nation in western Liaoning.
He rose from his seat, looked around at the generals, and spoke in a solemn tone, his murderous aura gone, replaced by a more benevolent air of a shepherd.
"Gentlemen, from this day forward, you are no longer just fierce generals on the battlefield, but also the magistrates of a county."
"In Linyu, Lingzhi, and Yangle, you must personally oversee and ensure the implementation of every matter concerning the resettlement of displaced people, the assimilation of Xianbei people, the allocation of land, the distribution of agricultural tools, and the distribution of seeds."
"The newly incorporated people, without constant property, will have no constant mind."
"Give them land to cultivate, pasture to graze, food to eat, and clothes to wear, and the people will feel at ease, and western Liaoning will be secure."
"Military discipline can be strict, but governing the people must be lenient; laws can be clear, but education must be gentle."
"Han and Hu peoples are treated as one, without distinction; all are subjects of Liaoxi!"
Cheng Pu stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said firmly, "Rest assured, my lord!"
"Although I am a soldier, I know that the people's livelihood is the foundation."
"In Linyu County, I will personally oversee land reclamation, military farming, and the well-being of the people, and I will never fail the trust placed in me by my lord!"
Han Dang, Tian Yu, and Xu Rong followed closely behind, swearing in unison: "We will certainly fulfill our duties, stabilize the region, enrich the people and strengthen the army, and live up to the expectations of Liaoxi and our lord!"
Wang Lie stroked his beard and smiled, feeling deeply gratified.
Our lord is wise and capable in governing, trade routes are prosperous, agriculture and animal husbandry enrich the people, the army is strong and disciplined, and the people are well-governed.
This corner of western Liaoning in northern China is no longer a desolate frontier, but a place where a dragon, lurking in the abyss, is about to rise.
As the sun set, its afterglow bathed the main hall of the Commandant's Mansion, making Liu Bei's figure appear as tall and straight as a pine tree.
After seeing the others off, Liu Bei looked at the empty hall and felt once again that there was a lack of talent.
Sitting upright in the main hall of the mansion, holding a military tally in his hand, his face was calm, but his heart was churning with thoughts that could not be contained by a single city or region.
From his time as an official in Liaoxi to his appointment as the Commandant of Liaoxi, in charge of the troops of a prefecture, he finally established a legitimate foothold in the northern frontier.
There is an urgent need for a large number of talented individuals.
First, what blocked his path was the imperial court in Luoyang, thousands of miles away.
The current emperor is incompetent, eunuchs hold power, and the Ten Attendants are all-powerful. The merits of border generals in bloody battles may be swallowed up and erased by powerful figures in the court in the blink of an eye.
He was far away on the frontier, out of touch with the outside world, and the political climate in the court was constantly shifting. Although he had loyal and trustworthy men like Cheng Pu and Han Dang under his command, he was still far from being able to get around.
They were skilled in military affairs, yet they were all upright gentlemen who disdained scheming and knew nothing about how to navigate the corrupt officialdom, how to deal with eunuchs, or how to ensure that genuine merits on the frontier were firmly recorded in the imperial edicts.
If there is someone by your side who is willing to set aside their pride and disregard their reputation, and who is dedicated to smoothing things over and bribing people.
Pave the way for him in the court, and report his merits truthfully. Why worry about his achievements being embezzled? Why worry about no one speaking up for him in the court?
Liu Bei tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, closed his eyes and concentrated, rummaging through the depths of his memory for those who were capable of handling such "dirty work" and who could serve as the black gloves.
In chaotic times, power struggles cannot rely solely on benevolent and righteous gentlemen; there must be ruthless, insidious, and unscrupulous individuals to carry out clandestine tasks and bear the blame for the disgrace.
The first person that popped into his mind was Li Ru.
This person is cunning and ruthless, with vicious schemes and flawless plans. He is completely devoid of any moral constraints, and if he can achieve his goals, he will not hesitate to kill emperors, depose emperors, frame or slaughter others.
If Li Ru were to operate within the court, not only could he smooth things over with the eunuchs, but he could also easily manipulate events and reverse the course of the dynasty.
However, Liu Bei also knew that Li Ru was too cold-hearted, too ambitious, disregarded reputation, and used excessively cruel methods.
Once used, it is like wielding a sharp blade, which can easily backfire on oneself. It is definitely not something that can be controlled when one's foundation is not yet stable.
Moreover, this person is far away in Xiliang, and it is not easy to summon him!
After considering Li Ru, the next person to think about him was Jia Xu.
Jia Xu possessed profound wisdom and insight into human nature, making him a master at preserving himself amidst chaos.
Their schemes are deadly at every step, and they are extremely adept at instigating conflict between various forces to reap the benefits.
If such a person exists, he will be able to maintain impeccable relationships with eunuchs, navigate powerful figures, and navigate the surrounding prefectures with ease.
Jia Xu, however, only cared about self-preservation throughout his life and had no loyalty to the death. He used only schemes for his own benefit and could hardly be entrusted with anything by his confidants.
They would not be willing to work hard and risk their lives for him; they could only observe from afar and not use him.
More importantly, this person is far away in Xiliang, so there's no opportunity to recruit him!
Although these two are top-notch strategists, neither of them are people we can recruit or use right now.