Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 2: At the Foot of Taihang Mountains, A Small Test of Skill Chapter 45: Declaration of Eliminating Bandits

Zhao Yun had come specifically to eliminate bandits, so how could he refuse Qiao Yan’s request?

The term “Junhou” is a respectful title for a marquis, and the character “Jun” carries significant weight, symbolizing trust and responsibility. Observing Qiao Yan’s demeanor and actions, she truly lives up to this title.

If she were merely defending her territory, she could have easily mobilized half of the able-bodied men from her ten thousand households, and Chu Yan’s forces would have been powerless against her.

If she wanted to amass wealth, her improvements in brewing techniques alone could have turned grains into wine, creating a substantial fortune.

Yet, every step she takes is steady and responsible, truly deserving the expectations of the ten thousand households in the county.

What deeply moved Zhao Yun was her resolute and decisive spirit.

Being in his mid-teens, he couldn’t help but feel inspired by Qiao Yan’s commanding presence, which was as decisive as a chess move.

Almost immediately after Qiao Yan finished speaking, he clasped his hands and replied, “I will spare no effort and not disappoint your trust, Junhou!”

This promise from Zhao Yun was undoubtedly a good start for Qiao Yan.

Even without relying on historical records, Zhao Yun’s performance over the past month was enough for Qiao Yan to judge his character.

Although Qiao Yan had temporarily appointed him as the County Captain, Zhao Yun didn’t treat it as a temporary position. Instead, he took his role seriously, patrolling day and night with strict discipline.

Moreover, being more familiar with the terrain of the Taihang Mountains than outsiders like Dian Wei, Zhao Yun was more suited to lead the bandit elimination campaign.

Seeing his determined expression, which made one momentarily forget his age, Qiao Yan knew he would give his all to this task.

“Perhaps I was wrong to say we are targeting tigers; we should be targeting swallows,” Qiao Yan said as she walked outside, addressing Zhao Yun. “You are the spear to capture tigers and the net to trap swallows. Don’t let me down.”

With her words, Zhao Yun dared not slack off.

It’s said that warriors train in the coldest winters and the hottest summers. Zhao Yun’s martial prowess at such a young age wasn’t just due to talent but also rigorous training.

Now, with Qiao Yan’s declaration that the time to eliminate bandits was near, he had to ensure he was in top form.

Without a master like Tong Yuan from the legends, Zhao Yun had to work even harder to perfect his spear techniques.

Though Qiao Yan wasn’t skilled in martial arts, she could sense that Zhao Yun’s spear techniques, though rough, had a natural, imposing aura, which was more valuable than mere technical precision.

Turning around, she noticed Dian Wei’s eager, challenging gaze toward Zhao Yun.

“Do you want to test him?” Qiao Yan raised an eyebrow.

Not only was Dian Wei eager, but Qiao Yan was also curious about who was stronger. However, considering Zhao Yun’s youth and that he hadn’t fully matured physically, she thought Dian Wei might have the upper hand.

But for a warrior, how could one perform in life-and-death battles without some combat experience? After some thought, Qiao Yan simply said, “Be careful,” and let Dian Wei proceed.

The system couldn’t help but feel that this didn’t seem like the behavior of a strategist. In its understanding, a strategist shouldn’t be able to command two top-tier warriors so effortlessly.

However, it soon saw Qiao Yan turn her gaze away from the two and, as she headed toward the county office, suddenly ask, “Do you think it’s possible for me to learn martial arts?”

System: […Aren’t you a strategist?]

“A strategist also needs to ensure personal safety,” Qiao Yan replied seriously. “There are always lords who can be wise at times but foolish at others. In such cases, one needs the ability to retreat safely. Take Yuan Shao, for example. If it were someone like Guo Jia, who hadn’t yet risen under him, leaving wouldn’t be difficult. But what about someone like Tian Feng?”

The system checked its memory and saw that Tian Feng had been imprisoned for advising Yuan Shao to adopt a protracted war strategy, accused of demoralizing the troops. After Yuan Shao’s defeat at Guandu, Tian Feng was executed because Feng Ji reported that Tian Feng had clapped and laughed in prison.

System: […]

“If I were in such a situation, wouldn’t having some martial prowess allow me to fight my way out and find another lord?” Qiao Yan continued earnestly. “Of course, that’s an extreme case. Take Pang Tong, who died in battle. If I had some combat ability, even if I couldn’t turn the tide, wouldn’t I be able to escape like Zhao Yun did at Changban Slope and live to fight another day?”

The system was momentarily speechless before weakly replying, [Your examples are quite extreme. Besides, didn’t you say you had Dian Wei for personal safety?]

If anything, Qiao Yan had previously mentioned that she wanted to build enough reputation to find a suitable lord for a decisive strike.

In such a scenario, it would be unusual to end up like Yuan Shao and Tian Feng.

But the system was momentarily confused by Qiao Yan’s sophistry and didn’t recall this.

It then heard Qiao Yan ask, “I’m just illustrating the worst-case scenario, emphasizing the necessity. Even if I were to learn martial arts, I wouldn’t be able to dedicate as much effort as a warrior. At most, it would be for some self-defense capabilities.”

The system felt it could foresee the future. Previously, Qiao Yan had only been improving her physical condition to outlast other strategists. Now, following her logic—

Would it ever see her invest in intelligence points?

What left the system even more speechless was Qiao Yan’s follow-up question: “By the way, I remember you once told me something—you said you’re not the ‘Holy Mother System’ next door. So—

“Do you have a ‘Martial Arts System’ next door?”

[…????]

The system filled the screen with question marks, clearly baffled by the sudden question.

“I’m not asking for any secret martial arts manuals. I just want to know if there’s a way to exchange for some systematic combat techniques, like spear techniques.”

In ancient battlefields, weapons followed the rule that shorter weapons were more dangerous. Although Qiao Yan had used a side sword while serving as a strategist in the Yellow Turban Army, she never considered the sword as her primary weapon.

A spear seemed much more suitable.

However, while tasks like drawing maps, building terrain, debating strategies, and arranging troops could be adapted to by a modern person, using weapons, especially something as demanding as a spear, was a different matter.

Qiao Yan had considered asking Zhao Yun for guidance, but such a master-disciple relationship, even without formal recognition, would inevitably complicate their existing superior-subordinate dynamic, affecting her ability to command him.

This wasn’t a situation she wanted.

If the system could facilitate this through some exchange, it would be much more appropriate.

[I’ll ask, but don’t get your hopes up. And any transaction would require some form of compensation.]

For some reason, the system felt a strange sense of satisfaction from Qiao Yan’s request.

Perhaps it was because its host was so capable and full of ideas that it now felt it could serve a purpose beyond being an alarm clock or a map, finally feeling like a proper support system.

However, connecting to the neighboring system would take some time. At least until the system got a response, Qiao Yan’s chosen granary had been quickly organized, and the grain convoy from Jinyang had arrived in Leping.

As Qiao Yan had instructed Wang Yang, the grain convoy had set out from Jinyang at night and arrived in Leping just as the villagers were heading out for their morning farm work.

The long line of carts, each loaded with sacks of grain, was undoubtedly a spectacle for the local villagers.

As for how they knew it was grain—

One of the sacks had torn, spilling some millet, which a farmer picked up. “This is finely processed millet…”

The villagers’ eyes immediately lit up with interest.

Processed millet meant the grain was much more refined than the usual measures of “one dan” or “two dan.”

This was an astonishing amount of stored grain.

Although every household had land to farm, last year’s drought and the fact that this year’s harvest wasn’t yet in meant that most families’ granaries were half-empty. Only by pooling the grain from every household in the county could they match the amount they were seeing now.

Qiao Yan met with the representative from the Wang family of Jinyang who had brought the grain and, looking at the convoy, was somewhat surprised.

She had some idea of how much 15,000 dan of grain would be, having previously “looted” the strongholds of wealthy families with Liang Zhongning. However, the amount being paraded here clearly exceeded that.

Yet, Wang Yang, as the head of the Wang family of Jinyang, wouldn’t make such a foolish mistake in conveying orders. The only possibility was that he had instructed his subordinates to increase the amount.

Qiao Yan asked, “Did your lord have any additional instructions?”

The Wang family retainer replied, “The lord has a message.”

Qiao Yan unfolded the letter and read Wang Yang’s words. He mentioned that after receiving the new fermentation technique, he had discussed the plan to trade with the Southern Xiongnu with Wang Rou, the Protector-General of the Southern Xiongnu.

Unlike Wang Yang, Wang Rou was more aware of the growing dissatisfaction among the Southern Xiongnu tribes in Xihe Commandery toward their chieftain, Qiang Qu, over the past two years. Wang Rou had also been considering mediation rather than outright military suppression.

Wang Yang’s news was like a timely snow in winter, offering a potential solution.








He immediately replied to Wang Yang, saying, “If this matter can be accomplished, it will surely be a great achievement of our time. How dare I only offer 5,000 stones as a reward?”

With that said, Wang Yang began to calculate the increase in the thank-you gift, thinking that there would still be opportunities for exchanges between Jinyang and Leping in the future. For now, he would just double the amount to avoid overthinking the matter.

Thus, it became what Qiao Yan saw today.

For these noble families, political interests and reputation were undoubtedly harder to obtain than such material goods. However, for Qiao Yan, who had already secured the position of County Marquis and received high praise from several renowned scholars, giving money and grain was indeed a very satisfying thank-you gift.

If she weren’t the master of a county, it would be difficult for her not to show excessive enthusiasm when facing visitors from the Wang family.

But she didn’t hesitate to smile and said, “I merely lent a helping hand, yet I received such a heavy reward. The Wang family’s ability to stand firm in Jinyang and serve as a model for noble families is truly deserved. When you return, please convey my gratitude to your master.”

“Of course,” the other party nodded to Qiao Yan and then gradually withdrew. The grain bags transported here were sent into the granary by Bao Hong and his men.

The sight of 30,000 stones of grain neatly stacked in the warehouse couldn’t help but give Qiao Yan a sense of accomplishment.

Although it was far less than what she had confiscated in the fortress before, it was important to know that the previous stockpile came from the plunder of rebel uprisings, while this batch was entirely obtained through her legitimate means.

This was also her first “harvest” since acquiring the fief of Leping.

At the same time, it was also a guarantee for her to obtain a second income.

When she closed the warehouse door, Qiao Yan almost instinctively turned her gaze towards the Taihang Mountains.

She wondered if Chu Yan on the mountain had also received this news.

Chu Yan alone had a gathering of 4,000 people. Even if they originally had grain reserves and could rely on the mountains for food, it was not a long-term solution.

The Taihang Mountains’ natural defenses and the迂回作战 of the mountain paths were indeed their advantages, but the inability to farm on flat land was clearly their disadvantage.

Zhang Niujiao, who was supposed to rise in the second year of Zhongping, had advanced the time of his uprising by a year and had already joined forces with Chu Yan.

The addition of this larger group not only caused friction over leadership but also made the food supply in the mountains more紧张.

Chu Yan was a man of vision, as seen in his choice to quickly lead his people into the mountains to avoid the search and capture by the Ji Province royal forces. Another move was to let Zhang Niujiao take the title of “General” after his arrival.

His reason was that Zhang Niujiao brought more people.

However, Zhang Niujiao was well aware that many of his followers were just充数的拖家带口, and in terms of actual combat strength, they were certainly不如 Chu Yan’s able-bodied followers.

Therefore, after obtaining the title of General, he didn’t really think he could command Chu Yan’s men.

With Chu Yan taking a step back first, the two sides achieved a cooperative development environment.

However, the issue of food shortage was obviously not something that could be solved by天上掉馅饼 in a harmonious win-win situation.

Wait, actually, Zhang Niujiao really felt like天上掉馅饼 now.

With 9,000 people distributed across a vast mountain range, it didn’t seem like they occupied much space, but it was enough for the预留出的岗哨 to appear in key locations in the mountains and to patrol the county cities on both sides of the mountain range. Thus, one of the探查的队伍恰好见到了那浩荡而来的送粮队伍.

When the news reached Zhang Niujiao, his eyes immediately lit up.

The fact that this was the grain of a County Marquis made him feel that there was room for maneuver.

The ill-gotten wealth accumulated by these nobles should rightly便宜他们才对!

Letting it gather dust in warehouses was不如让他们这些个黑山军填饱肚子.

“Brother, what do you think…” Zhang Niujiao asked Chu Yan.

Chu Yan was only around twenty years old, which was why he had such a strong号召力 in召集同乡青壮. Zhang Niujiao’s age was more than enough to be his father.

But perhaps because this young man always had his own ideas and displayed an extraordinary leadership style, Zhang Niujiao could only treat him as an equal.

Chu Yan remained silent for a moment.

Leping…

To be honest, this wasn’t a place he wanted to touch.

From a立场上来看, Qiao Yan was completely站在对立面的 with him, but Chu Yan had his own set of logic in judging matters. He敏锐地意识到了 that apart from those who truly died at Qiao Yan’s hands, such as Bu Ji, Zhang Bo, and Bo Cai, the majority of the Yellow Turbans even relied on her actions for survival. She wasn’t a非黑即白立场的人物.

Although he was in Ji Province and the山中消息不通, he didn’t know about Qiao Yan’s performance in Luoyang, but he直觉 that a person who could讨得县侯封赏 from the Emperor and稳坐这个位置到平安上任 was绝非易与之辈.

Such a person, it was best to avoid her if possible.

Even though this tempting grain was明晃晃摆在眼前, there was no guarantee that there wasn’t some trap involved.

But he also had to admit that if it was true as the探查的队伍 said, that there were over 30,000 stones of Qiao Yan’s private grain stored in Leping, even if it was just unhusked millet, it would be enough for them to eat for half a year.

After all, among their current people, there were quite a few非壮劳力.

This was indeed a big deal that could allow them to rest for a while after one job.

Moreover, it was still summer, but they had to prepare for winter in advance.

As he looked up, he saw that everyone in the营帐议事的诸人 was greatly moved by this wealth.

This included Sun Qing and Wang Dang, who had arrived before Zhang Niujiao and were mentioned in the information Zhao Yun provided to Qiao Yan.

In such a situation, if he were to阻拦, it might not make them realize that his decision was出于警惕的心态, but反而会引起内部的龃龉摩擦.

Therefore, when he spoke, he said, “If the General wants to obtain this grain, I have two suggestions.”

This wasn’t a否决的意思了.

Zhang Niujiao immediately said, “Brother, please speak freely.”

“First, we must thoroughly investigate the environment of the grain storage location, whether there might be埋伏 set up around it, and especially have someone想办法先行潜入那粮仓之中 to ensure that it is indeed grain and not something to诱骗我等上当.”

“Second, if we are really going to take action, please divide us into two teams, one to夺粮 and one to负责接应, and our行动必须要快.”

Zhang Niujiao said, “I will listen to you, brother.”

With Chu Yan’s support, the possibility of successfully夺粮 was much higher.

Seeing Zhang Niujiao excitedly通知手下行动, and Sun Qing and Wang Dang also preparing, Chu Yan sat alone in the营帐, still feeling uneasy.

He极力说服自己 that Qiao Yan had only been in Leping for a month, so she probably hadn’t yet reached a point of seamless cooperation with the local县民.

This难以让对方为自己效全力的状态 would必定会影响到她缉拿贼寇的行动.

Thus, he未必就要对她这般戒备.

But what he didn’t know was that when Qiao Yan唆使田氏和薛氏替她往长社送信, she knew to画个青史留名的馅饼来让对方效死. In this critical moment of dealing with the Black Mountain Bandits, how could she forget this?

Moreover, everyone in the county city now knew that she held such a considerable amount of grain. In the face of a饥荒一度过境, it was hard not to生出什么仇富的想法.

This would无疑会让她此前做出的减税和分发良种的举措带来的积极效应被削减.

She wouldn’t do such a亏本买卖!

So on the third day after the 30,000 stones of grain were sent into the库房, Qiao Yan set up a platform in front of the县衙 to show that she had something to say.

The young girl standing on the platform wore the County Marquis seal at her waist, signifying her unique身份 in Leping County.

But perhaps, even without the seal, her与众不同的气度 was enough to show her君侯之象.

As the news spread from one to ten to a hundred, a considerable number of县民 quickly gathered in front of the县衙.

When enough people had arrived, Qiao Yan finally said, “You must be wondering why I called you here today.”

Some零碎声响 of conversation rose from below.

She seemed not to hear the意外和满不在乎 in the议论 and continued loudly, “Since I arrived in Leping, I have verified the population and household registrations, inspected the田地, reduced亩税, temporarily exempted口税, and distributed良种, all because someone once told me that授人以鱼不如授人以渔. You are all hardworking people, and with these conditions, you should be able to安居乐业.”

“However, in recent years, there have been continuous droughts, severe winters,蝗灾叠起, and widespread epidemics. Leping may not be乐平. To give this county a chance to turn around, I purchased a batch of grain from Jinyang and stored it here. If a灾年 comes, this will be the续命之本 of Leping County. Today, I promise in front of the县衙 that I will never go back on my word.”

“If these 30,000 stones are not enough to sustain the county’s livelihood, I will另图他法.”

As soon as she said this, the台下当即沸腾了起来.

Declaring the 30,000 stones as the county’s储备粮 for大灾 meant that this grain was not Qiao Yan’s私产 but等同于 the county’s公有存粮.

They all heard Qiao Yan’s words clearly, and there was naturally no room for her to后悔.

This County Marquis was truly a仁善之人!

But before they could rejoice for long, Qiao Yan continued, “However, now that bandits are横行 in the Taihang Mountains, this grain will必遭觊觎. Yet, the县衙官吏 and北军士卒 are limited, and I fear we may not be able to defend it.”

“Therefore, I恳请诸位 to help me除贼! To protect Leping!”

The people present then saw a布告 posted in front of the县衙, stamped with the seals of the County Marquis and the乐平相,承诺 the ownership of these 30,000 stones of grain.