Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 2: At the Foot of Taihang Mountains, A Small Test of Skill Chapter 42: The Wine of Heroes

Book: Can a Strategist Not Ascend the Throne?

Chapter 42: The Wine of Heroes

Zhao Yun…

Although Qiao Yan had already met Cao Cao, Sun Jian, and Liu Bei during the suppression of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and knew before coming here that Leping and Changshan were only separated by the Taihang Mountains, she never expected to see Zhao Yun on her very first day in Leping.

Qiao Yan even wanted to check her character panel to see if her luck stat had changed without her knowledge. Otherwise, why would she, just moments ago, think that Dian Wei was more suited to be a bodyguard than a county captain, and then have Zhao Yun show up at her doorstep?

Yang Wenran of Shu Han once commented that General Zhao Yun of the Southern Campaign was “steadfast” and General Chen Dao of the Western Campaign was “loyal and capable.” The term “steadfast” is indeed a comprehensive evaluation of Zhao Yun’s abilities.

Whether it was the battles at Changban Slope, the campaigns in Sichuan, his tenure as the Prefect of Guiyang, his governance as the Military Supervisor of Jiangzhou, or his straightforward advice to return farmland to the people, Zhao Yun undoubtedly possessed the demeanor of a great general with a broad perspective.

Although the Zhao Yun before Qiao Yan now was far from deserving the term “steadfast,” his youthful face still carried a sharpness that leaned more towards youthful vigor rather than recklessness.

However, Qiao Yan’s desire to recruit him as the county captain was one thing, and whether he was willing to serve was another.

Qiao Yan’s thoughts only took a moment, but from Zhao Yun’s perspective, the young County Marquis simply glanced at him, an uninvited stranger, and asked, “What brings you here?”

Zhao Yun replied, “I am here for the bandits in the Taihang Mountains.”

Upon hearing Zhao Yun’s answer, Qiao Yan thought to herself, “Just as I expected.”

He was not here to offer his services.

Such good fortune was rare in this world.

But this was not surprising. Zhao Yun had an elder brother, and if not for the recommendation from Changshan County and the elders’ preference for Gongsun Zan over Yuan Shao, believing Gongsun Zan to be more benevolent, he would not have gone to join them in the second year of Chuping. Later, he returned home to mourn his brother’s death.

At this time, Zhao Yun was even less likely to be like Xu Fu, who, impressed by her actions during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, decided to serve her.

Coming to eliminate bandits was clearly more in line with Qiao Yan’s understanding of Zhao Yun.

After giving a straightforward answer, the young man added, “Chu Yan of Changshan County, after the Yellow Turban Uprising, gathered thousands of people to cause chaos. To avoid the imperial army, he retreated into the Taihang Mountains, occasionally raiding towns. I cannot bear to see my hometown suffer. Hearing that you, the Marquis, are taking over Leping, and that the bandits in the Taihang Mountains might attack Leping, I came to offer my assistance.”

Hearing that she was taking over Leping and thus coming to offer help was not an ordinary statement.

After pondering, Qiao Yan asked, “How many bandits are there in the Taihang Mountains?”

Zhao Yun, clearly prepared, answered without hesitation, “After Zhang Jiao’s death, many of Chu Yan’s followers returned home. The remaining forces number around three thousand. In Changshan County, there are two smaller groups of bandits, one led by Sun Qing and the other by Wang Dang, each with about five hundred men who have joined Chu Yan. There is also a bandit leader named Zhang Niujiao, who has raised an army of about five thousand in Zhongshan, Boye, and Liwu, and is about to reach Zhending.”

Combining Chu Yan’s forces with Zhang Niujiao’s, the total is around nine thousand—

This was not far from the information Qiao Yan had previously received.

“If, as you say, there are about ten thousand bandits in the Taihang Mountains, why come to me? I have just arrived in Leping and have few soldiers or resources. I am not as familiar with the Taihang Mountains as Chu Yan. Why do you think I have the ability to pacify these bandits?”

Hearing Qiao Yan’s question, Zhao Yun studied her expression.

On her overly youthful face, there was no tension like the lightly armored general beside her, who became nervous upon hearing the numbers of Chu Yan and Zhang Niujiao’s forces, nor was there any displeasure at being approached so abruptly.

If Zhao Yun were to trust his intuition, it seemed she was genuinely asking a simple question.

Yes, why come to her?

The main force of the Yellow Turbans in Ji Province had been suppressed, and those with actual crimes among Zhang Jiao’s followers had been sent to the Wuhuan Colonel and the Du Liao camp. In this situation, part of the imperial army had already withdrawn from Ji Province.

That said, there were still some of Huangfu Song’s forces lingering in Ji Province, and their deterrence against the Yellow Turbans could also be used to suppress bandits.

Moreover, there were other officials in Changshan County, and it was logical for the county’s militia to take on the responsibility of eliminating bandits.

Why cross the Taihang Mountains to come to this small Leping County, seeking a County Marquis who had not yet faced an attack from the Black Mountain Bandits?

Zhao Yun obviously did not think that saving Xu Fu and his mother would earn him any favor with Qiao Yan.

Fortunately, he had considered this question before. Seeing Qiao Yan’s current attitude, he replied, “I am not familiar with Zhang Niujiao, but I know Chu Yan as a fellow townsman. He is known for his agility, earning him the nickname ‘Flying Swallow,’ and his leadership style is similarly swift.”

“With Chu Yan’s style of leadership, even if we seek the imperial army or the officials of Changshan County, even if we can defeat them, it will only force them back into the mountains, retreating from Changshan today, reaching Changzhi tomorrow, and returning to Ji Province the day after, causing havoc in multiple places.”

“The more they plunder, the bolder they become, gathering more refugees, possibly exceeding their current numbers. What I wish to see is not the Black Mountain Bandits retreating from Changshan to cause trouble elsewhere, but their complete eradication, bringing peace to the surrounding areas. This cannot be done without a strategist.”

This statement was very much in line with Zhao Yun’s character.

Chu Yan, known as the “Flying Swallow,” had a leadership style as agile as a swallow.

This was not something that could be eradicated through ordinary bandit suppression methods.

Coupled with the unique geographical environment of the Taihang Mountains, with its eight passes connecting east and west, forming special corridors within the mountains, if Chu Yan were to play hide-and-seek with the suppression forces, it would indeed be troublesome.

One place might be temporarily spared, but as they moved around, they would become a disaster elsewhere. These bandits would quickly accumulate enough resources to attract more people looking for shortcuts in these troubled times.

Once their power was fully formed, it would be even harder to eradicate.

Zhao Yun’s words made Qiao Yan think even more highly of him.

Although he was still young, he clearly did not focus solely on the safety of one place.

Qiao Yan smiled, “In your opinion, am I that strategist?”

Zhao Yun’s answer was decisive, “Within the two provinces, no one but you, the Marquis, fits the bill.”

This was undoubtedly high praise for Qiao Yan.

Qiao Yan studied his expression and saw that the young man before her truly believed this.

Zhao Yun, being from Changshan County, knew that while Changshan and Qinghe County were not as heavily occupied by the Yellow Turbans as Julu County, the Yellow Turban Rebellion had started in Ji Province, and countless people from all over Ji Province had joined the cause.

Zhao Yun was not entirely without thoughts on the chaos at that time, but with the manpower he could gather, he could only protect his hometown.

Fortunately, the Yellow Turban Rebellion rose and fell quickly, lasting only three months from February of the seventh year of Guanghe to May when Zhang Jiao was killed.

However, what he did not realize was that Zhang Jiao’s death did not quell the remaining Yellow Turban forces in Ji Province. In fact, not all Yellow Turbans had rebelled because they believed in the Way of Great Peace preached by Zhang Jiao. These remnants, now in Changshan, retained their destructive power and had learned to fight flexibly using the terrain.

Zhao Yun, having practiced martial arts since childhood, was still just a commoner in Changshan County. He understood why Zhang Yan and others had rebelled.

But he also clearly saw that as the Black Mountain Bandits grew in power, just as Bu Ji had emerged among the Yellow Turbans in Yanzhou, some among the Black Mountain Bandits had tasted the sweetness of plunder and turned their original goal of survival into what it was today.

Therefore, he had to find the right person to try to pacify this situation.

But such a person was not easy to find.

As Zhao Yun had mentioned earlier, knowing Chu Yan’s leadership style, he had considered the remaining imperial forces in Ji Province and the strength of Changshan’s own garrison and decided against choosing either.

As news of the results and rewards from the Yellow Turban Rebellion spread across the provinces, Zhao Yun turned his attention to Leping, just across the mountains.

The County Marquis of Leping, Qiao Yan, had avenged her parents by dismantling the Yellow Turbans in two provinces and had publicly debated Zhang Jiao, using her wit to dismantle the teachings of the Way of Great Peace. She was undoubtedly a capable person skilled at achieving much with little.

In Zhao Yun’s comparison and judgment of the Black Mountain Bandits’ tactics, he was particularly convinced that only someone with Qiao Yan’s talent and strategy could possibly use special methods to capture the Black Mountain Bandits and prevent them from continuing to cause havoc.

And when he encountered Xu Fu and his mother in the mountains north of Changzhi, he became even more convinced of this.

From his brief interaction with the two, he could easily see that Xu Fu was a man of great loyalty and had the potential for strategy.

When he arrived in Leping, he told Qiao Yan that he had almost been killed by bandits, but in Zhao Yun’s view, even without his intervention, Xu Fu could have handled the situation.

After all, traveling with just two people was much more flexible than Qiao Yan’s convoy.

And Xu Fu’s mother, Lady Qin, was not a weak woman.

Xu Fu had said that the carriage behind was not for his mother to sit in, but for her to drive herself!

She was truly a heroic woman who did not panic even when surrounded by bandits.

Such a mother and son could have lived peacefully in Yingchuan after the chaos was quelled. In Zhao Yun’s view, Yingchuan was undoubtedly a holy land for learning, with its many famous scholars and their elegance, which could not be summarized in a few words.

Yet they had decisively chosen to come and serve Qiao Yan, and in Xu Fu’s words, they had great respect and support for the newly appointed County Marquis.

This undoubtedly strengthened Zhao Yun’s conviction.

To gain the recognition of such people, Qiao Yan must have real ability!

Now, seeing Qiao Yan in person, this ten-year-old Marquis who had been a pillar in quelling the rebellion, Zhao Yun could not help but feel that, although he had not yet seen her in action, the demeanor she displayed in these few questions was already far from ordinary.

Perhaps his decision was not wrong.

And the reply he received from Qiao Yan next reassured him.

Qiao Yan said, “I have the heart to eliminate bandits, but my weapons are not sharp, the people’s hearts are not with me, and the timing is not right. It is not yet time to act.”

There was a hint of killing intent in her words.

Zhao Yun and Qiao Yan locked eyes for a long time, and he became even more certain that her answer was not just a perfunctory one.

I have the heart to eliminate bandits, but my blade is not sharp.

He replied, “In that case, Zhao Yun can be your sharp blade.”

But before becoming that sharp blade, he would first have to temporarily take on the role of county captain.

Of course, this did not mean he would be officially appointed by the court.

Rather, as Qiao Yan had said, he would temporarily take on this position to see if her desire to eliminate bandits and protect Leping was not just empty talk.

If he felt Qiao Yan did not have the ability to eliminate bandits, he could leave at any time, as there was no binding relationship.

Moreover, if Zhao Yun truly believed he could be a sharp blade, he would naturally need to familiarize himself with the other weapons first.

Zhao Yun clearly did not realize that Qiao Yan’s determination to eliminate the Black Mountain Bandits was not just because they were a threat to her, but also had other motives. He agreed immediately.

Qiao Yan then said that they would spend a month reorganizing internal affairs and arming themselves, which was completely understandable.

And what he saw after taking on the role of temporary county captain was the young Marquis and Cheng Li, the Chancellor of Leping, checking the population and resources of the county based on the previous magistrate’s records, clearly in the preparatory stage of reorganization.

His initial doubts were dispelled.

Moreover, in his view, Qiao Yan was far more responsible than the previous magistrate.

When Zhao Yun mentioned the Black Mountain Bandits, the one who reacted most strongly was not Bao Hong.

Although he felt he had borne too much on this escort mission, now having to stay because Qiao Xuan’s ancestral temple was not yet completed and bandits could attack at any time, and because the people from the Hongnong Yang family coming to find Yang Xiu had not yet arrived, thus having to ensure the safety of the Grand Commandant’s grandson, he had risen through the ranks from military campaigns to become a Colonel of the Northern Army in Luoyang, and would not freeze at the mention of the Black Mountain Bandits.

The one who reacted most strongly was the previous magistrate.

He already knew Chu Yan was nearby and could threaten Leping at any time. Hearing about Zhang Niujiao’s forces made him even more uneasy.

His haste to hand over to Qiao Yan was also due to this concern.

Fortunately, the new Marquis of Leping, though delayed in Luoyang, arrived quickly, sparing him from losing his life to the Black Mountain Bandits.

On the second day of Qiao Yan’s arrival, he packed up and left for his new post without delay.

Qiao Yan could not help but laugh.

The magistrate truly did not want any bandit attacks to tarnish his record, hence his swift departure.

But seeking advantage and avoiding harm is human nature, and Qiao Yan understood this well, so there was no need to blame him.

Moreover, his haste undoubtedly benefited Qiao Yan.

Zhao Yun, witnessing the contrast in attitudes towards bandits during the handover, became even more convinced that only Qiao Yan, with her fearless leadership, could defeat the enemy.

But as Qiao Yan had said, to eliminate bandits, preliminary preparations were essential.

The ten thousand households in Leping were not as simple as scattering rice in a mountain basin on a three-dimensional map. Those living in the county town and those distributed in villages in the mountains were almost evenly split in population.

Perhaps for her…





The only good news is that Leping is a small county with no powerful local forces, so there’s no hidden population to worry about.

If there’s any notable family, it’s just a branch of the Wang clan from Taiyuan, Bingzhou, living in the county city. Unlike the powerful families in Yanzhou who build fortresses to live independently, this family in Leping is more like a wealthy household. Given their elderly patriarch, who only seeks to maintain his current status rather than expand his influence, Qiao Yan sees him more as a local elder, even earning the title of “Lord Wang” from the surrounding community.

With little resistance from powerful families, Qiao Yan’s population verification proceeds smoothly.

Previously, Liu Hong personally approved that Leping would not need to send tribute to Luoyang for five years, greatly easing the county’s financial burden.

After discussing with Cheng Li, Qiao Yan decided to inform the commoners within Leping County State that the first year of establishing the county state would exempt them from land and poll taxes, with agricultural taxes set at one-thirtieth of the harvest thereafter.

During the Han dynasty, agricultural taxes were typically set at one-fifteenth or one-thirtieth of the harvest, a tradition established in the early Western Han period that persisted even during the reigns of Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling.

However, if one dared to think of ways to extract more wealth from the people, there were always other methods.

Starting from Emperor Huan’s reign, a new land tax was added on top of the existing “straw tax,” charging an extra 10 coins per mu of land to squeeze more money from the populace.

Originally, the people of Leping County had to pay a basic agricultural tax of one-fifteenth, amounting to six liters per mu, along with various other taxes like land tax, poll tax, and straw tax.

Over time, the once manageable one-fifteenth tax became just a small portion of the total tax burden.

In the future, under Cao Cao’s rule, he consolidated the numerous taxes of the Eastern Han into a fixed rate of four liters of grain per mu, with poll taxes calculated per household to encourage population growth. However, Qiao Yan’s situation was vastly different from Cao Cao’s.

While governing a county state gave her considerable autonomy, and Liu Hong’s favor exempted her from tribute for five years, it didn’t mean she could immediately implement sweeping reforms.

Especially when surrounding areas still levied taxes as before, any radical changes on her part would be seen as challenging Liu Hong and could easily incite rebellion among the people.

A ruler could never allow such a situation to occur.

However, as a newly arrived County Marquis, seeing the aftermath of last year’s natural disasters, it was entirely feasible to temporarily reduce certain taxes within her jurisdiction for one to two years.

After all, historically, Huangfu Song had done something similar.

This was also a move that Liu Hong had acknowledged.

“Exempting poll and land taxes while retaining other levies, and setting the agricultural tax at one-thirtieth, each household in Leping would pay around two to three hundred liters,” Qiao Yan calculated as she discussed with Cheng Li, who nodded in agreement.

“Although Leping has more mountains than farmland, this tax method should suffice for a year,” she continued.

Cheng Li, having been in Dong’e, understood the burden taxes placed on the people. Qiao Yan, now in charge of Leping, naturally had to reduce them; otherwise, with the Black Mountain Bandits causing trouble, it wouldn’t be surprising if families started relocating.

He only asked, “Why just one year?”

Qiao Yan replied, “We’re new here and need to test any measures. After a year, if the Black Mountain Bandits are eliminated and more farmland is cultivated, the system will naturally differ from now. Moreover, while light taxes are good policy—evidenced by the prosperity during Emperor Wen and Jing’s reigns and Empress Hexi’s rule—back then it was due to natural disasters. Now, with the need for military action, completely abolishing taxes would leave soldiers underfed, and we might have to reinstate the poll tax next year. It’s a necessary compromise.”

Another reason Qiao Yan considered but didn’t voice to Cheng Li was the risk of ingratitude. If she reduced taxes for multiple years upfront, even normal taxation later might seem unreasonable. But a one-year reduction upon her arrival was justifiable, leaving room for future policy adjustments.

Hearing Qiao Yan’s explanation, Cheng Li couldn’t help but admire her.

She had a clear understanding of the current situation. While recognizing the flaws in the tax system, she didn’t fall into the idealistic thinking typical of her age or inexperienced youths. Instead, she planned the reduction categories and duration, leaving herself some flexibility.

This was particularly commendable.

However, with Qiao Yan handling all the calculations, Cheng Li felt somewhat underutilized as the Leping Chancellor.

But the next day, when it came to announcing the tax reform policies, Qiao Yan delegated the detailed distribution to the county clerks, leaving Cheng Li to manage the specifics while she stepped back.

Cheng Li, now pressed into service, enlisted Xu Fu as his assistant.

He had already seen potential in this young wandering knight, and now was the perfect opportunity for him to learn through practice.

Well, Xu Fu wasn’t exactly a wandering knight anymore. With Qiao Yan’s appointment, he was now the County Marquis’s “Shuzi,” a position akin to a retainer or officer in the marquis’s household, similar to how Ying Yang of the Seven Scholars of Jian’an once served as the Shuzi of Pingyuan Marquis.

Above Shuzi was the “Jiacheng,” equivalent to a county chancellor and the marquis’s steward. This position was currently vacant, and when Cheng Li discussed future goals with Xu Fu, he mentioned it.

“Madam Lu also wants this position, but Marquis Qiao seems to prefer her as an envoy due to her eloquence, which far surpasses mine. Marquis Qiao believes she could handle the county state’s diplomatic affairs,” Xu Fu explained.

This was also about presenting the county state’s image to the outside world.

Normally, given Lu Yuan’s reluctance to reveal her background, she shouldn’t have been given such a position. But Qiao Yan felt that since Lu Yuan chose to follow her after the trip to Luoyang, her past didn’t matter as much—she was a capable individual.

Someone as well-read and articulate as Lu Yuan would be wasted if not used as a diplomat.

“But the most interesting position is the ‘Zhishu,'” Xu Fu chuckled.

Cheng Li hadn’t seen it, but the scene at the marquis’s residence where Qiao Yan asked Cai Yan, who was temporarily staying there, if she wanted to try for this position was quite amusing.

A ten-year-old asking a seven-year-old if she wanted to be her document officer—if it were anyone else, it would seem like child’s play. But with these two, it was a serious matter.

Cai Yan wasn’t making a casual decision either. Despite her young age, she was remarkably mature, and her experiences of displacement had shaped her judgment.

Her father’s recent missteps in Luoyang might have sown seeds of trouble, and past enemies might not have forgotten their grudges. This wasn’t something his calligraphy and scholarly achievements could erase.

When her sister married into the Yang family of Taishan, it seemed like a good match, but in reality, her sister was a second wife. Last year, when her sister’s son and the first wife’s son both fell ill, her sister chose to save the first wife’s son for the sake of reputation, leaving Cai Yan with many questions.

She couldn’t understand why this was celebrated as a virtuous act, nor could she imagine her own future if she were to marry.

Seeing Qiao Yan in Luoyang, even in mourning clothes, exuding confidence and authority, Cai Yan saw another possibility.

Perhaps, compared to her often tactless father, starting from an official position, she could become her sister’s support and control her own destiny.

Cai Yan didn’t know the answer, but when offered this opportunity, her swirling thoughts found an outlet.

Why not try? Youth wasn’t a limitation—she still had time to learn.

“Cai Zhaoji has a photographic memory and far surpasses you in literary skills. It’s only natural she gets this position,” Cheng Li said, judging purely on talent, unbound by gender biases.

Seeing Xu Fu not realizing Qiao Yan’s appointment of Cai Zhaoji was serious and not just picking a likable companion, Cheng Li added, “If you think that way, I’m afraid your path from Shuzi to Jiacheng won’t be easy. I think Marquis Qiao might want your mother to try for this position.”

“…?” Xu Fu looked at Cheng Li in confusion, realizing he wasn’t joking.

While he knew Qiao Yan held his mother in high regard, even visiting her once, the idea of her taking such a position had never crossed his mind.

“Want to bet on it?” Cheng Li teased, amused by the boy’s expression.

“No need,” Xu Fu shook his head. “This is about merit. Since Marquis Qiao selects based on ability, I’ll naturally prove myself.”

What kind of bet?

Xu Fu had only recently started his journey as a scholar, and when Cheng Li suggested a bet, his mind still went to the wagers of street knights.

But was he supposed to bet that if he didn’t get the Jiacheng position, he’d change his name to Xu Shu because he remained the Leping Marquis’s Shuzi?

That was just silly.

Still, if Cai Zhaoji could hold a position under Qiao Yan, perhaps his mother could also find a role.

He owed his current standing to his mother’s care and would be happy to see her gain respect under Qiao Yan’s patronage.

With these arrangements, Qiao Yan’s subordinates were now well-organized, and the foundational work in Leping County proceeded smoothly.

Over the month, Zhao Yun observed Qiao Yan’s focus on improving military equipment, as did Northern Army Colonel Bao Hong.

However, they sometimes found Qiao Yan a bit distracted—like when she was brewing wine.

Han dynasty wine was fermented, akin to modern huangjiu, and unlike distilled spirits, it was cloudy and required heating before drinking, hence the phrase “boiling wine to discuss heroes.”

But Qiao Yan wasn’t aiming to develop the filtration techniques that emerged in the Tang and Song dynasties. She just needed to perfect the nine-step supplementary fermentation method for trade purposes.

The ten ceramic wine vessels Yang Xiu procured had been cleaned and placed in the county office’s backyard.

Qiao Yan planned to use five for traditional huangjiu and the other five for her supplementary fermentation method.

To the two hired workers from other wineries, this seemed odd—adding rice nine times during fermentation without opening the vessels? But they were paid to follow orders and signed non-disclosure agreements, so they could only offer a word of caution.

Meanwhile, the freeloading wine enthusiast Yang Xiu recruited silently helped steam rice and divide yeast.

Yeast had become a specialized trade, and after learning the process from the workers, Yang Xiu sourced the best yeast from Jinyang to avoid delays in Qiao Yan’s brewing experiments.

This was a clear case of spending on quality ingredients while skimping on labor costs.

When Qiao Yan saw Yang Xiu, he was already involved in the first round of fermentation, manually stirring and pressing, effectively becoming a cheap laborer with room and board.

If Grand Commandant Yang were here, he’d hardly recognize his grandson in this state.

But a little hardship was good for a young man like him, and Qiao Yan had no qualms about having him handle the subsequent heating and dividing of the wine.

While Qiao Yan was merely overseeing the process, Bao Hong couldn’t help but feel she was neglecting her duties, especially when she dropped everything to attend to the wine additions before returning to her tasks.

Qiao Yan knew she was playing the long game, but Bao Hong didn’t.

So when Qiao Yan invited him to taste the new wine, Bao Hong felt it was somewhat inappropriate.

This County Marquis… had an unconventional way of doing things.

But after sipping the warm new wine, all his previous thoughts vanished.

This wine was exquisite!

He had seen the ingredients, yeast, and brewing environment, but never expected such a rich flavor from such crude conditions.

As the sweet aftertaste lingered, Qiao Yan asked, “In your opinion, General Bao, does this wine deserve to be called ‘Hero’s Wine’?”

What… what wine?