“Can strategists not ascend to the throne?”
Chapter 246, titled “You All Are Useless,” begins with Qiao Yan thinking that while titles like “Annan” and “Pingbei” reflect her stance towards various factions, she’s not ready to jump into battle with Yuan Shao just yet.
Instead of a declaration of war, it’s more of a big pie chart for the Chang’an court and her subordinates.
Having just conquered Hanzhong, if she claimed she wanted to campaigns in the east, it would sound a lot more believable and feasible than before. To achieve her goal of unifying the world, the officials in the court would have no choice but to comply with her demands for rebuilding Chang’an.
This is what holds real significance for Qiao Yan.
Although she’d keep an eye on the conflict between Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, there’s no way she would personally engage in the fighting.
On a side note, some of the appointments probably wouldn’t reach Yuan Shao’s ears, because it didn’t seem all that important for the people of Chang’an. Some individuals currently shouldn’t even be referred to as Qiao Yan’s subordinates.
For instance, it’s not just three people being assigned to the prefect positions under her. No, there are actually five!
Aside from Zhang Liao, who’s out front facing Gongsun Zan, and Xu Shu overseeing Hanzhong, plus Zhao Yun conducting military exercises in Guanzhong, two prefect positions were also filled in this promotion wave.
First up, Xu Rong takes the post of Dunhuang Prefect.
Next is Ma Teng, who becomes the Zhangye Prefect.
As the Four Commanderies of Hexi stabilize, it’s a no-brainer that they need to develop further.
Both positions could easily be managed in terms of personnel allocation and regional considerations.
Xu Rong hails from Liaodong, while Ma Teng, if you trace back to his ancestry, probably comes from Guanzhong. Now, with them running the Four Commanderies of Hexi, they could exploit supplies from the Kushan Empire through military recruitment along the Silk Road. This timing couldn’t be better!
However, to prevent Ma Teng and his troops from becoming a rogue unit north of Wuqiangling, Qiao Yan made sure to keep at least four checks on him.
Huang Yan remains the Jiuquan Prefect, and the Huang clan represents the local power base.
This family could be considered a ‘tumor’ in the Four Commanderies of Hexi, but their presence prevents Ma Teng from amassing enough power to go rogue.
That’s one reason.
Secondly, compared to Ma Teng, Xu Rong arrived under Qiao Yan’s command from Dong Zhuo’s faction much earlier, making it easier for him to become one of her trusted aides.
Qiao Yan also transferred Jiang Jiao back to Xu Rong’s team as his personnel officer, with the eager-to-rebound Jiang clan from Hanyang supporting Xu Rong. Plus, with Yan Xing as Xu Rong’s deputy commander, they can form a force in Dunhuang that rivals local tyrants.
Third, Lu Yuan has been transferred from the Bingzhou functionary role to the separate deputy governor of Liangzhou.
The title of “Deputy Governor” means taking the reins when the provincial governor is too busy to manage the counties, allowing Lu Yuan to represent authority on behalf of Qiao Yan.
With the stability of the Qiang, Tian Tun, and local aristocracies in Liangzhou, it’s crucial to have someone oversee developments in Guanzhong and Hanzhong, and Lu Yuan fits that bill perfectly.
After some deliberation, Qiao Yan also transferred Zhao Ang from the Hanyang Zhao clan to Lu Yuan’s office as a subordinate.
But what Qiao Yan actually cares about more than Zhao Ang is his wife, Wang Yi.
Last year, when she was questioning the four prominent families of Hanyang, Wang Yi was already pregnant and gave birth to a girl named Zhao Yue this year. Currently, she’s recovering, so promoting her would be premature. Better to wait a few months.
Fourth, Ma Teng’s two sons, Ma Xiu and Ma Tie, are both studying in Bingzhou. His eldest son, Ma Chao, has been assigned by Qiao Yan to Hanzhong to serve under Chu Yan as the Annan Commander.
No matter how free-flowing familial bonds may be in Liangzhou, with nothing left for him in terms of allies, Ma Teng has reason to be cautious.
But from Ma Teng’s perspective, as someone who had once teamed up with Han Sui to carve out territory in Xiliang, he not only avoided the death penalty like Han Sui but still holds onto his prefect position. His role as one of the Silk Road’s overseers has also provided him with a solid foundation.
The Silk Road’s significance is clear, what with the returns of rare horses and cotton seeds from Dawan, and there will definitely be more opportunities to ratchet up accomplishments ahead.
Ma Teng initially wanted to find a leisurely post in the court, but now he figures being the Zhangye Prefect may actually be a more comfortable gig.
As long as he doesn’t plot against Qiao Yan, this position suits him well for a stable future.
Apart from the Four Commanderies of Hexi, two decrees issued to foreign tribes also didn’t reach Yuan Shao immediately.
In the battle at Yuyang, where Ke Biner from the Xianbei contingent fell to Zhang Liao’s hands, Qian Man successfully escaped but wouldn’t dare to conceive thoughts of opposing Qiao Yan.
Hence, Qiao Yan suggested to Liu Yu to grant Budugen the titles of Xianbei Chanyu and Yanshan Marquis, though this title is different from the ones chosen by the Xianbei themselves—it’s a conferred title by the Han as the central ruler.
At the same time, the Southern Xiongnu’s Chanyu Qiang Qu abdicated, and his son Yufuluo took over, similarly receiving titles of Chanyu and Marquis.
For Qiao Yan, these are leaders from foreign tribes she can utilize further in the future if necessary, but she needs to keep a watchful eye on their ambitions.
Furthermore, Qiao Yan’s Grand Marshal’s office also received a few supplementary subordinate roles.
Guo Jia took the role of Chief Clerk, Xun You became a military advisor, and Yang Xiu transitioned from Bingzhou’s main scribe to Chief Scribe in the Grand Marshal’s office, brought back by Qiao Yan from Baidao Chuan.
Cai Zhaoji is now in charge of expanding the Leping Monthly Report, taking a position as an officer in the Grand Marshal’s office.
As for someone like Tai Shici, who just joined Qiao Yan’s side and hasn’t made his mark yet, he continues to form the Divine Bow Camp as a sub-official.
All in all, this batch of promotions is incredibly beneficial for Qiao Yan.
Let’s not hear any naysayers claiming some follow her just to fill their bellies; whether civil or military officials, if they can carve out a career under their lord while earning positions worthy of their exploits, it’s undoubtedly a positive feedback loop for their loyalty.
The only one who had a slight issue with this appointment is probably Dian Wei.
Though you might not even call it an issue.
Dian Wei asked, “Milord, why am I the Gatekeeper General?”
“It’s actually the Gatekeeper General,” Qiao Yan corrected sincerely.
Since Dian Wei has been with Qiao Yan the longest, she arranged for him to hold this mixed-role general position.
What’s a Gatekeeper, you ask?
It’s the flag used by the commander at the military camp to mark the military gate during their encampment.
Though a mixed-role position, the Gatekeeper General signifies a close relationship with the commander, often protecting the commander’s flanks.
For example, after the Battle of Changban, Zhao Yun held that role.
Dian Wei’s current position, if categorized under Bingzhou’s system, would be a Camp Supervisor, but within military camp terms, it’s a Gatekeeper role, so renaming it to Gatekeeper General isn’t inaccurate.
But it’s understandable that Dian Wei finds this position a bit off.
After this year’s coronation ceremony in Chang’an, where Dian Wei was in charge of escorting a few kids from Leping to witness the event, he met Qiao Yan’s son, Dian Man.
It turned out when Dian Man saw Qiao Yan, he ran off and had to be caught back.
When asked why he ran, he opened his mouth and revealed his missing front tooth.
He said he didn’t want to talk in front of the lord because one of his teeth was missing!
“Greetings.”
These days, there’s no such thing as “front teeth”; they simply refer to them as “teeth.” It was Qiao Yan who informed Dian Man about the term “front teeth.”
While dealing with these children, she playfully asked them which of her generals they felt the safest with. She joked that she’d grant that general the title of “Front Teeth General” to ensure those kids’ front teeth grew in quickly.
Dian Wei, who was just there for some entertainment, turned to see everyone pointing at him.
Dian Wei: “……”
He was totally uninterested in being called the Front Teeth General. Even the title of “Gatekeeper General” sounded way more impressive.
So, when he received the commission from Qiao Yan, he simply thought “Tooth Gate General” was really “Front Teeth General.”
Turns out, even with vertical text, how the words are arranged doesn’t really affect readability that much.
Thanks to Qiao Yan’s explanation, Dian Wei finally understood the mix-up he had gotten himself into.
According to Qiao Yan, since the Tooth Gate General is always with the commander, they often need to play a role in giving advice on military strategies.
Although Qiao Yan didn’t expect much from that role, it still signified that the Tooth Gate General needed to be well-rounded in both martial and civil affairs; otherwise, they wouldn’t have the capability to guard the Tooth Gate.
Dian Wei had no objections at this point.
This appointment was a significant show of trust for a military officer.
Recalling that he had been captured by Qiao Yan and forced into this position back in the day, Dian Wei scratched his head.
Qiao Yan found his reaction amusing and shook her head, asking, “If you really are the Front Teeth General, would you refuse it? Plenty of people would want that title.”
After all, a general is still a general, no matter how insignificant the title sounds.
Even though, like Dian Wei, he was merely fulfilling the role of Qiao Yan’s guard and had no real power to command an army, the title was still a badge of honor and a great privilege.
This commissioning not only drew envy from others under Qiao Yan’s command but made Dian Wei realize how lucky he had been to align himself with the right person.
The ones who envied him the most were probably the Qiao family of Yanzhou.
That sickly child back then had not only climbed to the high position of Grand Marshal through her military achievements amidst the crumbling Han dynasty but now was throwing a “one person rises and all chickens and dogs follow” party, making the Qiao family members in Chang’an green with envy.
But this good fortune of advancement had nothing to do with them.
Even if they had known “Qiao Yan” for a longer time and had blood ties with her, it didn’t change the fact that they were now excluded.
After Qiao Yan’s triumphant return from Hanzhong, before she could even explain the beginnings and follow-ups of the battle to the court and while Liu Yu was considering a change in positions, Guo Jia had already reported his arrangements for the Qiao family to Qiao Yan.
Despite wanting to ignore them emotionally and having already set a lonely path with Cheng Yu, she felt it was important to acknowledge them since they were right in front of her.
At the very least, she needed to clarify her stance.
So, after completing all the official appointments, Qiao Yan finally remembered to summon her “relatives.”
Ironically, these Qiao family members brought into the Grand Marshal’s residence immediately launched a triple whine towards Guo Jia, showing no sign of introspection at all.
From their perspective, they felt they had really suffered.
Not only had they failed to meet Qiao Yan, but they had also not enjoyed even a moment of being treated as esteemed guests in the Grand Marshal’s residence, ending up being sent by Guo Jia to a military farm as laborers.
What kind of situation was this!
Even during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and even after Qiao Zhao’s death when the Qiao family lost the protection of a prefect in Dong Commandery, they had never endured any agony necessitating them to toil in the fields.
And this certainly wasn’t just for the Qiao family of Yanzhou; for most powerful families, doing agricultural work was absolutely out of the question.
Qiao Yan looked at these faces before her, noting how their expressions had grown haggard from the hardships they’d endured recently, and felt no sympathy whatsoever.
She said flatly, “What Feng did was indeed wrong; I’ve already punished him.”
Their eyes turned to Guo Jia, who looked worn out, and their spirits perked up a bit.
They thought, “One Qiao cannot write out two ‘Qiao’ characters!”
While Qiao Yan had reached heights of power that mere mortals could not touch, the presence of her family members undoubtably served as her support; she could never completely abandon them.
So, it wasn’t too late for them to seek her protection.
However, right after that, they heard Qiao Yan say, “I’ve punished him with three months of no drinking as a form of penalty.”
The smug looks on their faces froze instantly.
No drinking? What kind of punishment was that?
To them, it sounded almost ridiculous.
And yet, Qiao Yan didn’t appear to be joking at all; she stated seriously, “After all, I had warned them before we headed to Hanzhong that no outsiders should approach the military areas to prevent any leaks of military intelligence. He actually showed hesitation, fearing that I would prioritize personal connections over duty, so he needed to be punished, but not due to his actions towards you.”
“How can we be considered outsiders?” one person quickly countered.
They were her relatives!
But in Qiao Yan’s eyes, the distinction between closeness and distance was glaringly clear.
They were distant; subordinates like Guo Jia were the close ones.
She continued, “The former emperor entrusted me with the duty of guarding against bandits. Now, the current emperor has given me the heavy responsibility of Grand Marshal; I dare not neglect for even a moment. The Qiao family of Yanzhou may have been my kin, but for three years after the former emperor passed, they’ve been under the jurisdiction of Ye City, away from power; how can they still count as family?”
That was quite a harsh statement.
According to her logic, only those within the court were considered kin, while those outside were enemies.
With such a distinction, she truly didn’t consider the Qiao family of Yanzhou as part of her inner circle.
In the astonishment of the group at her choice, she added, “Besides, the premise for avoiding preferential treatment for relatives is that the relatives are distinguished in talent—”
“What use are you guys?”
It was unclear whether she was disappointed in their swiftness to pledge allegiance or genuinely doubted their capabilities. As she scrutinized them with a piercing gaze, when her emotions came to a standstill, she waved her hand and sighed, “You all should leave; Chang’an does not need useless people.”
“My lord, we are not useless…”
Qiao Yan interrupted, “If your abilities were displayed in Liang, that might be different. But do you believe that if I randomly grabbed someone in Chang’an, they would be far more useful than you?”
She turned to Guo Jia and gave a few commands. In just the time it took to burn an incense stick, he brought someone to Qiao Yan.
Dian Feng, the one Guo Jia brought forward, had no idea what was going on.
But seeing the tense situation, he sensed it wasn’t good news.
At least, not good news for him.
Sure enough, the next second, he saw Qiao Yan point at him, saying, “This person before you has been unearthed from a position making farming tools, promoted all the way to an essential assistant in Hongwen Hall, and is guided under the tutelage of Chen Yuanfang; I foresee he will surely become a member of the Chang’an court.”
“There are countless talents like him who have emerged from obscurity in Chang’an. They know where their prospects lie and strive to get ahead.”
“What about you? What have you been doing?”
They had been waiting for a chance to ascend by relying on family ties!
Qiao Yan sneered, “I told you, you are useless people in Chang’an. What part of that is unfair to you?”
