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“Can’t strategists ascend the throne?”
Chapter 103
So, regardless of how many heroic deeds came to mind upon hearing the name Lü Bu, I had to meet him first before jumping to any conclusions.
It’s not easy to find brave generals or famous commanders, that’s just a universal truth.
Sure, Qiao Yan has Dian Wei and Zhao Yun, plus Zhang Liao and Xu Huang under her command, but she still has to contend with the Southern Xiongnu and cut off communications between the Northern and Southern Xiongnu. Plus, she’s got to be ready for incursions from the Xianbei while securing the vital routes in Taihang and properly build Bingzhou’s defenses. It’s not like she has as many personnel as she’d hoped for.
In fact, what she may really need right now aren’t the historically famous top-tier generals. Even second-rate generals capable of defending the borders would suffice; she could train them up until they’re ready to throw down in battle when necessary.
Of course, she needed to meet Lü Bu. If he could be tamed and put to use, all the better!
She wasn’t one to shy away from potential opportunities just because things were still in the air!
Thus, Qiao Yan hesitated only for a moment, before striding outside. Even Xu Fu, the closest to her, thought she was simply pausing to greet Guo Jia.
As she stepped outside, she found Lü Bu had already been brought in to the outer courtyard of the provincial mansion.
Her immediate thought upon seeing Lü Bu was—
What a fierce warrior!
His stature, reach, and the taut muscles were enough to assess a general’s qualifications at first glance. Qiao Yan, being someone who practiced martial arts herself, could tell just by his stance that the power in his wrists, arms, waist, and legs was connected and solid.
If first impressions meant anything, he was indeed a prime candidate for a mounted archer!
Not to mention Lü Bu’s physique and looks; he could easily be a figurehead for Bingzhou.
He was in his twenties, fully grown, and had he entered empty-handed instead of with a Fangtian Huaji, one would assume he was there to cause trouble, not for a request!
Qiao Yan clapped her hands, “What’s this? Were you two about to throw down if I didn’t come out?”
At her voice, both men visibly relaxed and stepped back.
Lü Bu’s tense demeanor was largely due to the presence of Dian Wei before him.
The moment he walked in, it felt like they were rivals sizing each other up.
If it weren’t for the fact that he remembered this was the residence of the new Bingzhou Governor—not a venue for a casual duel—he might have actually felt the urge to challenge Dian Wei right there.
No, that wouldn’t do; not right now, at least.
He was here on his own recommendation; he couldn’t just stroll in and punch the top bodyguard of the renowned Marquis of Leping.
Plus, Qiao Yan wasn’t just the Marquis anymore; she was the Governor of Bingzhou.
Her title outclassed that of a prefect, as there were only four in the entire realm.
When Qiao Yan led her troops to victory beyond the borders as the Marquis, her radiance had already attracted Lü Bu, enough that he had even given up his petty official title to come here. Not to mention now—
It was hard for Lü Bu to comprehend how Qiao Yan had transformed into the Governor just by a whiff of the Luoyang city life, but that didn’t diminish his view of her with an added layer of intimidating mystery. He felt all his impatience from waiting two months evaporate.
At this moment, with Qiao Yan breaking the silence, Dian Wei stepped back, allowing Lü Bu to finally gaze on Qiao Yan as she strode out.
Clad in dark robes, Lü Bu’s eyes were naturally drawn to her waist.
Such gazing wasn’t disrespectful, not in the least.
In this era, many had multiple symbols of status; it hadn’t yet progressed to a systematic ranking of attire by color, so the seal was the most visible mark of authority.
The highest-ranking official Lü Bu had ever seen wore a silver seal and blue silk, but Qiao Yan was different.
As a Marquis, she bore a golden seal with purple silk, radiating wealth and nobility!
He had to force himself to look away from that sight, shifting his gaze to her face instead.
Given the Governor wielded both civil and military power and had personally led troops in battle, it was hard to determine where she stood in terms of civil or military titles. So, she plainly tied her long hair up without worrying much about following the norms of “civilian attire” or “military attire.”
Thus, though her face flaunted youth, she emanated a warrior’s spirit.
What a young Governor!
Just like Lü Bu had once discussed with his compatriots, just as Qu Yi had said to Han Fu; in militaristic places like Liangzhou and Bingzhou, Qiao Yan’s actions only earned admiration rather than underestimation.
After all, Lü Bu had previously seen her gallop by in Wuyuan, and now seeing her up close only reinforced this impression.
He even thought it was commendable how Qiao Yan welcomed someone offering allegiance so quickly, considering her achievements against the black mountain dangers and the various Hu tribes.
He quickly composed himself and bowed, boldly declaring, “Lü Bu from Wuyuan, Lü Fengxian greets you, my Lord!”
Lü Bu was the Lü Bu; Qiao Yan was not Ding Yuan.
She stepped forward, clearly making her presence known, and stated, “Warriors always strive ahead; it’s the norm. I must say, your name is impressive, but—”
“I’ve heard you’re here on your own recommendation. Recommendations alone won’t cut it—you need to show some real skills.”
Upon hearing her words, Lü Bu puffed out his chest.
Be it power or marksmanship, he considered himself top-notch; he was confident about his skills.
“Bu…”
“Hold on, let me ask you something first,” Qiao Yan interrupted him, raising her hand.
“Ask away, my Lord.”
As he responded, he felt as if her piercing gaze was assessing him from head to toe.
Under that scrutiny, even though Lü Bu towered over Qiao Yan, he found it challenging to notice the difference.
Then she said, “Your abilities must align with your status—that’s how it’s always been here. If Fengxian only wants a petty official’s position, he can simply lift the stone lock by the door. But if he wishes to serve in a military role to oversee battles, that involves another level of assessment. So, may I ask, what is it you seek?”
What does he seek?
Her direct question caught Lü Bu off guard for a moment.
This seemed too straightforward compared to every other self-recommendation he’d heard before.
Curiously enough, perhaps due to Qiao Yan’s fearless demeanor and the impression she made on him as she rode past, he instinctively felt this was not something to be answered with unnecessary modesty.
So what did he truly want?
During his twenty years in Wuyuan, especially during the current Emperor’s reign, he’d faced numerous incursions, personally taking part in seven border defense battles. So of course, he wanted a military post!
Ideally, he would emulate the generals of old like Wei and Huo and achieve victorious glory!
But announcing to Qiao Yan that he wished to become a general might be aiming a bit too high, plus a Governor wouldn’t simply grant generalship.
After thinking it over, he replied, “I wish to campaign against the Northern border for you, as a Military Officer!”
There aren’t many military titles, but only one that goes by the name “Wumeng!”
Lü Bu noticed Qiao Yan’s golden seal and instantly set his sights on the impressive title that accompanied it.
Wumeng—wasn’t that a perfect representation of him?
Qiao Yan observed Lü Bu’s expression and couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly, feeling that his thoughts were written all over his face. She simply commanded, “Go fetch Wen Yuan.”
News about the governorship replacing the inspector had reached the border before the entourage even got to Jinyang, so Zhang Liao had been summoned back early and was waiting for Qiao Yan’s orders.
Thinking about how he could rise through Zhang Yi’s ranks due to Qiao Yan’s support, he was prepared—if Qiao Yan had other plans for the military position, he wouldn’t complain, as he had gained a lot in these past two and a half years and produced solid achievements in dealing with incursions.
However, he didn’t anticipate hearing Qiao Yan declare to Lü Bu, “This here is the Military Officer I have in mind; if you want this position, you’ll have to prove you’re stronger than him.”
Lü Bu’s eyes lit up at once; he immediately turned to Zhang Liao.
To him, Qiao Yan was truly straightforward and matched Bingzhou’s candid style.
Want the position? Then just show you’re better than the one holding it!
And in Lü Bu’s view, Zhang Liao was merely a kid not even twenty, while he himself could shoot a heavy three-stone bow—how much strength could this little brat possibly have?
This looked like an easy win!
But then he heard Qiao Yan continue, “However, to be a Military Officer, you can’t just be strong; you must also lead troops effectively, know how to camp, and track the movements of the Hu. Before I entrust you with soldiers, I must ensure it’s not irresponsible to their lives. So here’s the deal—I’ll give you both five hundred White Wave bandits, and in three days, you will compete at the training ground.”
“These thousand men are those who didn’t get to claim any Hu heads during the last battle; this time they’ll fight with wooden sticks, and the first team to lose a hundred men will be declared the losers.”
“Lü Fengxian,” upon hearing her call his name, he snapped out of his surprise at this unexpected means of proving oneself.
Qiao Yan added, “Don’t worry; there won’t be any unfairness. The winning side will enjoy the same treatment as those who previously lost their chance at glory, so they won’t slack off. Plus, they are unfamiliar with Wen Yuan.”
This plan felt particularly fitting, a practical application for the knowledge she had gained after just returning from Luoyang.
As Lü Bu considered, Qiao Yan’s proposal genuinely seemed fair.
It was winter, after all—not ideal for campaigning against the northern Hu. They could primarily focus on defense during this unpredictable season.
Fighting the White Wave bandits and having laid out stakes for the winner felt much more reasonable.
He thought, since these were mountain bandits, they should be reasonable enough to be persuaded with fists; if anyone among them resisted commands, that would only work to his advantage.
Though Lü Bu felt somewhat annoyed, mountain fights generally suited foot soldiers; he preferred the mounted combat he excelled at.
No matter! First, he’d win against that brat Zhang Liao, then he would gallop majestically as Wumeng without hesitation!
Seeing Qiao Yan assign someone to take him away for arrangements, Lü Bu bowed to her.
Despite his rebellious nature, it was wise to show respect to this extraordinarily competent superior.
Qiao Yan felt justified in her judgment; before leaving, Lü Bu stole another glance at her golden seal, longing evident in his gaze. This reminded her to be cautious with such a character, particularly not to loosen the reins holding him in check.
So, she had to give this guy a lesson.
As Lü Bu’s figure vanished from sight, she suddenly heard Guo Jia beside her ask, “If others come to recommend themselves like him, should the Marquis evaluate them all in the same way? If so, we might not have enough White Wave bandits!”
“From Fengxiao’s view, does everyone harbor Lü Bu’s courage and… straightforwardness?” Qiao Yan turned to look at him.
That pause before the word “straightforward” nearly made Guo Jia burst out laughing.
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“What you said makes a lot of sense, Qiao Hou.”
Qiao Yan continued, “But you’re right, if we let people participate in such contests too easily and replace the current officials, while it might motivate competition and be a fair selection method, if it becomes the norm, it would really hamper the efficiency of the local government—”
Her gaze shifted to the two stone locks mentioned while talking to Lü Bu at the door, and she added, “Make those stone locks heavier. Unless someone can lift them, don’t expect to enjoy the privileges of this challenge.”
Moreover, they still needed to quickly appoint someone for the position of the Grand Administrator, as leaving this key position vacant meant those who self-recommended would have to come to her.
But everybody under her command had their own tasks, and she had no idea where to find a suitable candidate for the Grand Administrator.
As Qiao Yan pondered this without coming to a conclusion, she set it aside for now and waved to Guo Jia, “You come along with me first.”
Originally, it should have been Qin Yu’s turn to have a chat, but since Guo Jia showed up, she decided to settle things with him first.
Not that he needed much lecturing; on the way back from Luoyang to Bingzhou, Guo Jia had already guessed what responsibilities he might be assigned, and now they were just making it official.
Even though he was still young and had a rather carefree attitude, he couldn’t help but show a serious expression when accepting the appointment document from Qiao Yan.
He couldn’t help but glance again and again at the words “Yunzhong Commandery” and “Xihe Commandery.”
In terms of calligraphy skills, Qiao Yan’s handwriting was decent, but it couldn’t compare with those famous calligraphers, especially with Cai Yong being such a big deal nearby.
But the trust conveyed in those few short words made Guo Jia feel elated.
Confronting the Black Mountain Bandits, perfecting the merit system, and subtlety maneuvering in Luoyang had already shown Guo Jia her abilities and potential, but in terms of utilising her powers effectively, he was truly witnessing a capable leader.
He tucked the document into his sleeve and bowed slightly to Qiao Yan.
With his character, he couldn’t really express his willingness to dedicate himself to Qiao Hou like, “I’ll risk it all for you,” but this act could still count as his promise.
Having just gotten serious, he then asked, “May I ask Qiao Hou, will you arrange a good horse for my two trips?”
Qiao Yan raised an eyebrow, “There are plenty of good horses in Xihe Commandery. With your abilities, Guo Fengxiao, do you really think you can’t get one?”
She had already told him to go handle that matter concerning the Southern Xiongnu and, while doing so, to also fetch some war horses back; Guo Jia was smart enough to figure that out.
In response to Qiao Yan’s casual pushing of her subordinates’ initiative, Guo Jia… he wasn’t against it.
Thinking about the territory where he could flex his muscles, the young Guo Jia, still unaware of the woes of being a corporate slave, happily took to his new post.
He felt pleased but soon thought about Xi Zhicai’s previous maneuvers, wanting to replicate them.
Sadly, imitation couldn’t be reckless.
At this moment, Qiao Yan’s ambitions and actions in Bingzhou seemed a bit overreaching, and she had notably offended some people over the issue of being in charge of Bingzhou. With competition ahead, some of the letters seemed somewhat inappropriate.
Xi Zhicai clearly knew this too, so after he reeled him in, he never sent another letter, perfectly illustrating what it meant to be a schemer.
Guo Jia contemplated for a bit. Since Qiao Yan was just starting to expand the situation in Leping into the commanderies, he thought it best not to stir the pot.
If he was going to get his frustrations back, he’d find it with the Xiongnu.
What was the name of that Southern Xiongnu noble who was reportedly scared by Qiao Yan before?
First things first, he’d discuss things with the Protector-General of the Southern Xiongnu and find a good opportunity to supervise whether he was keeping a certain “wine cup” safe!
The Left Guli Wang of the Southern Xiongnu—
He had already tossed the head of that Restorative King aside!
The moment he saw that unblinking face, he couldn’t help but recall their failed plot, along with the scene of Qiao Yan pointing a long spear at him. How could he keep this around as a reminder? He never expected that in just three months’ time, he would have to face a new task executor with a twisted sense of humor.
What worried him more was the food supply for the winter.
The Southern Xiongnu had settled in Meiji City and gradually learned to farm, which was their main source of rice.
But Meiji City was more suited for grazing than planting, much like how in modern terms it would be Guo’erqi’s Nalin Town.
After sending off that batch, there hadn’t been much loss on the command led by the Han, but the food stock of the left side was clearly insufficient unless they were willing to exchange it for fine horse hides.
Left Guli Wang had thought about raiding for a quick fix, but the sight of Qiao Yan’s troops stacking three thousand heads of the Restorative Bandits in the square left a fresh impression, making him think twice before acting recklessly.
Especially after he learned that Qiao Yan, after going up to the capital to apologize, enjoyed a brief time of pride before being greeted by the news disseminated by the Protector-General of the Southern Xiongnu. That guy didn’t just come out unscathed; he even became the Governor of Bingzhou, with his troops on the verge of expanding.
What was he to do about his food? Left Guli Wang felt vexed.
But truth be told, Qiao Yan was also worried about food supplies.
When she assigned the position of the Accountant Officer to Qin Yu, she specifically reminded her to thoroughly inspect the inventory of goods in all commanderies, ensuring no slackness was allowed.
Others might not know, but how could she not know that once any unrest happened in Luoyang, whether the course of history changed because of her presence or who inherited the throne, be it Liu Bian or Liu Xie—
Just the sheer prospect of the Han Dynasty crumbling and chaos ensuing was almost inevitable, which would mean Bingzhou would inevitably be in a state of war readiness within two years.
By that time, all the food supplies in each commandery would have to be consolidated to the center for distribution, so she had to ensure accurate and meticulous records from now on.
Qin Yu naturally understood the importance of this and replied, “Rest assured, Qiao Hou, I grasp this crucial matter. Previously, when you assigned me the agricultural affairs in Leping, including the registration of hillside farming, I already gathered a team for the statistics, so there won’t be any errors. With the abacus you brought back from Luoyang, I’ve tried it out and found it very handy.”
“I believe there’s no need to only check the grain stock; we can also send out the deputy officials to inspect the tax and financial expenditures across all commanderies.”
Her energetic and decisive words made Qiao Yan admire her even more. Observing her actions and words, there was nothing to suggest she felt uneasy about being promoted to a high position.
Perhaps it was thanks to her leadership that her subordinates felt emboldened enough to show their talents in front of others.
Qiao Yan thought for a moment and suddenly chuckled, “If we send the deputies out as you suggested, that makes it a family affair for you two.”
This in itself could be a nice story within the realm of Bingzhou.
And with this batch of officials going out, it might just set a trend.
Seeing Qiao Yan propping her chin and smiling with a hint of relaxation in her expression, Qin Yu can’t help but return a knowing smile.
After she left, Qiao Yan proceeded to appoint the officials for Yanmen Commandery and positions like the Gatekeeper and the Under-Officer. After all, Cui Lie had mentioned needing to pack, and establishing these appointments wouldn’t impede his plans.
Dian Wei was quite pleased that his promotion still required him to safeguard Qiao Yan, but more than anything, Chu Yan was happier with his position.
Being the Gatekeeper may not seem as impressive as being the Military Officer or Commandery Lieutenant, but it was precisely the position that could best showcase his advantages.
What delighted Chu Yan even more was that Qiao Yan clearly didn’t mind his newfound geographical advantage and the official status that allowed him to recruit subordinates, which likely meant he would build a force unique to him in the mountains.
Just like she wasn’t bothered back then when he took the hard-to-store yams to the Central Plains for food, then brought back the refugees to Leping.
Even though he had been doing things in Leping for three years and had developed a sense of belonging to this place, this trust still felt a bit heavy.
This meant he had to guard this gateway for Qiao Hou and make sure no one had a chance to cross the line without approval!
But speaking of it, not just Chu Yan was feeling that Qiao Yan’s lax staffing was careless; Xu Huang felt the same.
Chu Yan had been a bandit, and so had Xu Huang, but what about now?
The Black Mountain Bandits had completely merged into the forces under Qiao Yan, while the White Wave Bandits still had quite a few members burdened with the title of captives but wouldn’t be wearing that label for much longer; Xu Huang was even the first to take a post and earn a salary from the court.
Thinking back to just four months ago when he was still a patrol leader in the mountains, Xu Huang felt a deep sense of dissonance.
He heard Qiao Yan ask, “Are you adjusting well down the mountain?”
It didn’t sound like she was inquiring about defeated bandits, but rather checking in on a friend.
Xu Huang quickly responded, “Of course, I’m adapting well. Thank you for your care, Qiao Hou.”
Qiao Yan said, “That’s good. After you get used to things, I’ll assign a team to you. Your skills at building defenses in the White Wave Valley are top-notch, so—”
“Do you dare to fortify the Outer Great Wall on Yanshan as your base?”
Xu Huang’s eyes brightened.
For many years, as the Han Dynasty had little capacity to deploy forces for border defense, the Outer Great Wall’s defenses had practically become a formality; even the Inner Great Wall faced regular attacks from the Hu people, which had left him without the slightest expectation of hearing such ambitious words from Qiao Yan.
But how inspiring these words were!
Being a leader in the mountains wasn’t the same as being a bandit on the Taihang Mountains or defending at the Yanshan—completely different worlds.
With sufficient supplies and troops, and with Guanglu Pass as a settling point, at least from Xu Huang’s perspective, this would be nothing short of a fantastic opportunity.
Suppressing his bubbling excitement, he asked, “But if what Qiao Hou says is true, wouldn’t that place excessive pressure on Bingzhou’s border defense?”
Qiao Yan waved her hand, “That’s exactly the result I want.”
At least, it was the most suitable outcome for others to know at the moment.
She spoke so confidently that Xu Huang figured she must have her own plans in mind, so he didn’t press further.
When he saw her stand up from the couch, it was clear their conversation was coming to an end, and noticing her intent to leave, Xu Huang handed her the cloak that had been laid aside.
Qiao Yan took it, saying, “Let’s go. Now that you’re my sub-official, you should ensure my safety first.”
Xu Huang asked, “Where are we heading, Qiao Hou?”
Qiao Yan replied, “Back to Leping to see someone.”
Cui Lie had suggested she return for a couple of days, but in reality, the lodging within the commandery was good enough for her, but she was taking the opportunity to avoid the initial rush of visits due to the duel between Lü Bu and Zhang Liao set to begin in three days’s time. Waiting for Lu Yuan to bring her some regulations before she welcomed them seemed like a better plan, so it was indeed more appropriate to leave now.
And the person she meant to see wasn’t Cai Yong, but someone else.
As she left Jinyang for Leping, it started snowing halfway.
Perhaps it was because her horsemanship had improved a bit, or maybe since she had taken this path more than once, the slightly slippery mountain road wasn’t a hassle as she trotted along at a leisurely pace. With an umbrella raised, she gazed at the hazy, snow-laden mountains, finding a peculiar charm in it.
Once she crossed the Northern Mountains and entered Leping, she slowed her horse down a bit, taking in the sight of the surrounding fields where the winter wheat had already sprouted, right on cue for tillering.
Fortunately, this year’s winter wasn’t as harsh as in previous years, significantly boosting the survival rate of the wheat.
Confirming everything was fine, she picked up her pace.
At this point, Dian Wei, who was following, had already guessed her destination.
Sure enough, she didn’t head into the city but directly to the shrine of Qiao Xuan.
When she was still a distance away from the shrine, she dismounted, adjusted her cloak, and strode forward.
Once Dian Wei tied up the horse and caught up, he saw Qiao Yan standing outside the shrine, not entering but staring at the monument in silence, slowly reaching out to brush off some snow resting on it.
Where her fingertip touched revealed the inscriptions below, stating—
“Guo Qi ahead, who doesn’t recognize?”
