Chapter 242

Chapter 242

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 7: Eight Hundred Qinchuan, Occupying Guanzhong Chapter 242: Hanzhong Arrangements

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Can a Strategist Not Ascend the Throne?

Chapter 242: Hanzhong Arrangements

Liu Yan was momentarily speechless.

If we truly follow the rules of the Taishi Path, minor offenses require the offender to repair roads for a hundred steps to atone for their sins. For a major crime like rebellion, one might have to repair roads until they are fully passable.

From Chang’an to Hanzhong, there are three routes. The shortest is the Luogu Road, spanning over four hundred li. The longer ones are the Ziwu Valley and Xiegu Roads, each about six hundred li.

The valleys and rivers along these routes are relatively easy to traverse. The difficult parts are the paths over mountain ridges and the high-altitude plank roads.

In earlier years, no one had the energy to maintain these roads, leaving them in a state of disrepair. This made entering Hanzhong from Guanzhong quite challenging. However, now that the royal forces aim to control Hanzhong, they naturally cannot allow the roads to remain in such a state.

But using soldiers from Guanzhong or Hanzhong to repair these roads would be somewhat wasteful for Qiao Yan, who still aims to advance eastward and unify the Han dynasty.

If not soldiers, then who?

The people.

The followers of the Taishi Path.

Compared to sentencing them to death for rebellion, making them repair roads could even be seen as respecting their faith. This also falls under the new penal code revisions in Guanzhong as a form of “exile” punishment.

Moreover, if Qiao Yan were to speak for herself, her form of exile would at least ensure that the laborers are well-fed.

This plan is quite shrewd.

However, this raises another issue.

Liu Yan asked, “If the rice bandit Zhang Lu is a rebel against the Han dynasty, why would they still follow the Five Pecks of Rice doctrine?”

Qiao Yan smiled, “Zhang Lu is not the founder of the Taishi Path. In studying the doctrines passed down by his ancestors, misunderstandings arose due to Zhang Xiu’s temporary usurpation and alterations. Isn’t it normal? Now that he has retreated to Guanghan to reflect on his actions, enduring hardships in the treacherous Yinping Road, isn’t it fitting that his mother temporarily takes over the sect in Hanzhong to set things right?”

Some parts of the Five Pecks of Rice doctrine are useful to Qiao Yan, while others are not.

Taking advantage of the sect’s change in leadership, it’s the perfect time to extract the essence and discard the dross.

Although Zhang Lu has fled, Qiao Yan has no immediate plans to shake his position as the sect leader. However, Lady Lu could very well become a temporary overseer in Hanzhong.

There’s no need to fundamentally shake the Taishi Path beliefs of the Hanzhong populace, as the situation here is vastly different from the Yellow Turban Rebellion. If she were to do so, after reducing the garrison in Hanzhong, there might be a backlash, giving Zhang Lu or Liu Yan an opportunity.

Having a mediator in place is just right.

Her calm and far-sighted decision-making, even when spoken in such a casual manner, sobered Liu Yan considerably.

He replied, “Grand Marshal, this method is excellent… excellent.”

She truly has a sharp mind.

Liu Yan inwardly grumbled, grateful that he hadn’t made any mistakes in his gifts or been foolish enough to oppose Qiao Yan after she took Hanzhong.

After the celebratory banquet where he felt like a mere spectator, Liu Yan returned to Chengdu and immediately prepared to send personnel and supplies to Hanzhong as quickly as possible, aside from the water conservancy experts he had already sent.

He didn’t have time to recall his promise to Gan Ning about a position in Shu Commandery. Instead, he sent Gan Ning north as the escort leader for the first batch of personnel, food, and Shu brocade.

Meanwhile, Qiao Yan, after seeing off Liu Yan, began arranging affairs in Hanzhong.

She couldn’t stay in Hanzhong for long.

Chang’an, as the political and economic center for the foreseeable future, needed further development with the influx of population. She also needed to oversee land reclamation in Guanzhong, new penal regulations, and the recruitment of Guanzhong troops.

Hanzhong was newly conquered territory, and so was Chang’an.

She couldn’t let the people’s perception of Liu Yu surpass her own while he was still the nominal Son of Heaven.

Fortunately, deciding who would stay in Hanzhong wasn’t difficult.

Back when she sent Xu Shu to Wudu Commandery, she had already expressed her hopes for him to assist in southern operations.

With Hanzhong now under control, Xu Shu no longer needed to assist Zhao Yun in guarding the passes from Hanzhong to Chang’an. Instead, he could directly become Qiao Yan’s overseer in Hanzhong, allowing Zhao Yun to shift from defense to training troops for future needs.

“I intend to request the Son of Heaven to appoint you as the Prefect of Hanzhong,” Qiao Yan told Xu Shu.

A prefect in his twenties is indeed young, but these are extraordinary times.

Having previously discussed the matter of trusted aides with Qiao Yan, Xu Shu knew better than to claim he was too young for such a responsibility.

He only needed to ensure that all tasks Qiao Yan required of him in Hanzhong were properly executed.

Qiao Yan then joked that while Cheng Yu, his mentor, was responsible for Guanzhong, Xu Shu, as the disciple, would handle Hanzhong, creating a mutual support system.

Xu Shu then asked, “Who does the Marquis plan to leave here for defense?”

Zhao Yun was to return with Qiao Yan. Chu Yan and Yao Chang, however, could stay.

Yao Chang, the Qiang leader, was there to liaise with the southern barbarian tribes.

As for Chu Yan, he was to manage relations between Hanzhong and its neighboring regions.

Additionally…

“I plan to transfer Ma Chao here as well.”

Using Ma Chao merely as a messenger for Lü Bu was a waste of his talents, at best a way to temper his character.

Hanzhong and the southern Bashu region, though mountainous, still needed a cavalry commander.

With Zhao Yun in Guanzhong, Lü Bu and Zhang Yang in Bingzhou, and Zhang Liao in Youzhou, Hanzhong was more suitable for Ma Chao.

As for Liangzhou… it was better to temporarily sever ties between Ma Chao’s family and that region.

Qiao Yan also considered that this assignment of generals to Hanzhong could be an opportunity to request official titles for them from the court.

And if Hanzhong’s positions were secured, those with greater military achievements shouldn’t be left out.

Moreover, placing Ma Chao and Chu Yan in Hanzhong served another purpose.

Although she currently had no opportunities for naval battles or the construction of shipping routes, with someone like Gan Ning, capable of leading a navy, appearing before her, it was wise to keep an eye on him.

Given Gan Ning’s temperament, directly recruiting him without a clear role would be inappropriate, and having Liu Yan offer him as part of the reward negotiations would likely offend him.

It was better to have Ma Chao and Chu Yan befriend Gan Ning, gradually building a connection.

These were the defensive arrangements. As for other matters in Hanzhong…

Agricultural affairs were straightforward. Xu Shu had been with Qiao Yan for a while, and with his mother managing agriculture under Qiao Yan and his own experience in small-scale land reclamation in Wudu Commandery, adapting to Hanzhong wouldn’t be difficult.

The only concern was that Hanzhong’s climate was milder than Guanzhong’s, let alone Liangzhou and Bingzhou, requiring adjustments in farming schedules and techniques.

Xu Shu should be well aware of this.

“There are three important tasks you need to undertake,” Qiao Yan said, her expression turning serious.

“First, as I mentioned to Liu Yan at the celebratory banquet, the followers of the Taishi Path are to be used in Hanzhong’s civil construction. Balancing their faith with their trust in you, the future Prefect of Hanzhong, is crucial. If you’re unsure, immediately write to me in Guanzhong for advice.”

Religion, still in its infancy, was something even Cheng Yu and others had no experience handling.

While Qiao Yan had provided a general guideline, the specific challenges in implementation were unpredictable.

Qiao Yan continued, “Although I intend for them to participate in road repair as atonement, they are not mere convicts. We must not overburden them just to quickly connect Luogu Road and other routes to Guanzhong.”

Fortunately, Xu Shu’s humble origins meant he had more empathy for the common folk than the aristocratic class.








A lot was produced, which gave Qiao Yan more confidence in the effects of appointing him here.

“Secondly, it’s the bamboo and wood resources I requested from Liu Yan.”

“On one hand, it’s indeed for the construction of water conservancy projects. I want you to recruit people in Hanzhong to make bamboo strips from part of the bamboo Liu Yan sent, and then send them to Chang’an. On the other hand…”

“You should remember that when we made mulberry bark paper in Leping, we also tested other plants. Bamboo is no worse than mulberry bark, even better, but the growth rate of bamboo in the north is far inferior to that in the south, and the varieties are somewhat different.”

“So I will transfer some people from Leping to assist you. You will use the other half of the bamboo here to make paper and send the finished paper to Guanzhong. But this matter must not be known to Liu Yan.”

Otherwise, wouldn’t Liu Yan, who has the largest source of materials, become prosperous?

Qiao Yan doesn’t like to do such losing business.

Xu Shu agreed and then heard her mention the third matter, “Now that the Hanzhong Plain is in our hands, wait for the Emperor’s edict to reach Hanzhong, and you will take control of the several counties east of Hanzhong. To the east of Hanzhong is Xiangyang in Jing Province, and our current location in Nanzheng can even connect with Xiangyang through the Han River. Be sure to pay attention to this place. I will allocate some manpower from the Jiangdong trade to you. I want you to set up a shipyard here for emergencies.”

Seeing Xu Shu’s expression change suddenly upon hearing this, Qiao Yan smiled and said, “Don’t be nervous. Liu Biao, a relative of the Han royal family, is still very sensible now. He has sent his eldest son to Chang’an, so at least in the short term, there is no possibility of a falling out with us. It’s just a precaution. We also need to give these people a place to maintain their skills.”

These skilled shipbuilders, some were placed by Qiao Yan in the Yellow River basin, and some in the Han River basin. To be honest, it’s a bit of a waste of talent, but there are no seaports yet, so we have to make do with this, which is better than leaving them completely idle.

After giving instructions to Xu Shu, Qiao Yan also talked to Lady Lu.

She was able to cooperate with Zhang Lu earlier and get along well with Liu Yan, so she has a good mind.

This kind of mind at least allows her to recognize her position in the current situation.

With Qiao Yan holding the Emperor’s righteousness and having already driven Zhang Lu away, it is not that Qiao Yan needs the Taishi Path to support her rule in Hanzhong. On the contrary, it is the Taishi Path that needs to rely on Qiao Yan to survive.

However, when she heard Qiao Yan ask her to step forward to spread the revised doctrine, Lady Lu was still stunned.

Qiao Yan, however, didn’t care about her confusion and spoke confidently, “After your husband’s death, the Taishi Path became a front for Zhang Xiu, the ghost master, to respond to Zhang Jiao’s Yellow Turban Rebellion. You allowed him to tamper with the doctrine to protect your children. Today, you must speak out to prevent the Taishi Path from being lost. Isn’t that reasonable?”

Lady Lu: “…”

It is reasonable, but how did Qiao Yan manage to say it so naturally and skillfully?

She asked, “What if the Marquis still wants to modify the doctrine?”

Qiao Yan replied confidently, “It’s simple. Just say that after thirteen years, some of your memories have become blurred. As long as it aligns with the Hanzhong Prefect’s measures to lead the people to prosperity, making appropriate adjustments is fine.”

It’s all explainable.

Lady Lu has realized that in this way, the Taishi Path will inevitably become a tool in Qiao Yan’s hands.

But the situation is stronger than the person. Compared to Zhang Lu, who has fled to Guanghan, Qiao Yan is probably more reliable.

Having figured this out, she has nothing to say about Qiao Yan’s actions.

Moreover, compared to the Taishi Path, Liu Yan’s losses are even greater, so Lady Lu’s heart is balanced.

The military rations sent by Gan Ning to Hanzhong as a reward for the army amounted to as much as 800,000 dan.

In addition to silk fabrics and textile workers, it formed a team stretching for several miles.

“Don’t show off wealth…” Xun You heard Qiao Yan mutter, “I know he has grain, but giving it like this makes people want to rob him even more.”

Unfortunately, although she thought so, Qiao Yan clearly understood the principle of not draining the pond to catch all the fish.

Keeping Liu Yan in the south is also beneficial for further weakening the power of the local gentry in Yizhou.

In this situation where Liu Yan has already suffered a big loss, don’t add more pressure to him.

However, she originally considered using Hanzhong as a grain transfer station, but now seeing such a quantity, she felt it would be better to take some away. At least this way, the returning team would look much better.

800,000 dan of grain, in Yizhou, is about the harvest of three to four thousand households in a year. For Liu Yan, it’s not a crippling number, but when this batch of grain passes through Guanzhong, it is a stabilizing factor for the court, which has just changed its era name to Jian’an.

Take it away!

Also take away part from the government storehouses of various counties in Hanzhong to make up a round number after deducting the consumption on the way.

Since it has been decided to send the grain back this way, the Luogu Road is not suitable for the return journey. It’s better to take the Xiegu Road.

It just so happens that they are now in Nanzheng, so they can go directly north.

This road leads to Guanzhong and reaches near Maiwu, which is the Wuzhangyuan that Qiao Yan saw from a distance when attacking Maiwu.

Upon receiving Qiao Yan’s order, Zhao Yun immediately began mobilizing personnel.

The losses in this advance into Hanzhong were not significant, but the specific number of people to be left here and how many to return need to be recorded.

Zhao Yun has always left a reliable impression on Qiao Yan, and now is no exception.

They not only need to guard against the Taishi Path believers in Hanzhong rioting but also prevent the newly recruited soldiers from Chang’an, who have not yet formed a sense of belonging, from developing any resentment due to being forcibly left in Hanzhong.

In this regard, the benefits of Zhao Yun’s frequent visits to the soldiers are evident.

The process of assigning personnel was completed within two days, including the assignment of personnel in various counties of the Hanzhong Plain. When the team led by Ma Chao arrives in Hanzhong, the final personnel gap can be filled.

Finally, the 4,000 people who followed Qiao Yan back to Chang’an entered Jigu with over a million dan of grain and returned to Chang’an.

Xun You looked back at the people seeing them off and, seeing Yao Chang at the front, said to Qiao Yan, “In the past, the Marquis used the Xianbei, Southern Xiongnu, and Qiang people to balance each other and gain assistance. Now it seems that you are going to use the same trick, using the Qiang people to deal with the southern barbarians.”

Qiao Yan replied, “If I remember correctly, among the so-called southern barbarians in the southwest, there are actually some who should be called Qiang people. The Canlang Qiang and Baima Qiang in Liangzhou are also distributed in Yizhou, but there are also the Qingyi Qiang and other Di-Qiang tribes closer to the south. Some of it can still be called using the Qiang to govern the Qiang.”

As for those Miao and Yao people among the Wuxi barbarians who are not Qiang, they are still far from Hanzhong.

Let’s not rush.

First, let’s wait for the impact of her rapid capture of the city in Hanzhong to subside.

This sudden change affected not only the four counties of the Hanzhong Plain.

Even though the appointment edict from Chang’an will only be issued after Qiao Yan returns, places like Xicheng and Shangyong on the east side of the Hanzhong Plain have already received the news and have seen the attitude of the Yizhou Governor from Liu Yan’s gift-giving and apology actions.

Even those living in the mountains cannot be completely isolated from this news.

Liu Xie went to Zhuxi in the morning, picked up half a basket of firewood along the stream, and then cut a few bamboo shoots he saw along the way with a machete, placing them on top of the bamboo basket before heading home.

No, he shouldn’t be called Liu Xie now.

Since he pretended to have amnesia and was adopted by the couple who saved him, he has taken the alias Wang An and even learned how to chop wood and pick bamboo shoots, which he would never have learned a few years ago.

When he returned home, he saw his mother drying herbs picked from the mountains, and the aroma of porridge wafted from the house.

But he looked around and didn’t see his father, so he asked.

His mother replied, “Hanzhong has changed hands. Your father is afraid of military disasters and has gone to inquire about the situation.”

Upon hearing “Hanzhong has changed hands,” Liu Xie was suddenly startled, and the machete in his hand fell to the ground due to his subconscious release.

“Look at you, child, why panic?” The woman smiled gently at him, “The new Marquis of Leping who took Hanzhong is not some ferocious beast. Your father is just checking if there is any conscription.”

“Since he went to the market today, he will surely buy some food. Shall I add an egg to your porridge?”

Liu Xie was stunned for a long time before replying, “Okay.”