Chapter 64

Chapter 64

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 2: At the Foot of Taihang Mountains, A Small Test of Skill Chapter 64: Acting with Authority

Zhang Yi felt that his previously pale face, which had turned white from fear, was now about to turn red again due to a surge of anger.

After the locust plague is quelled, should he then apologize to the Son of Heaven?

Whether the Son of Heaven would blame Qiao Yan for her rash actions is one thing, but as the Governor, he would definitely face severe punishment.

Not only did he fail to adopt the far-sighted suggestions from the counties below, but he was also subjected to a sudden power grab by the Marquis of Leping. This is an act that would surely be nailed to the pillar of shame.

In the martial virtue of the Han Dynasty, where “from the Son of Heaven down, none do not carry a sword,” Qiao Yan’s actions should indeed be praised, embodying a righteous and heroic spirit.

Zhang Yi couldn’t help but wonder, even if she were to be punished, how severe would the punishment be?

Previously relying on the protection of the Yuan Clan from Runan, Zhang Yi had somewhat followed the lead of Lord Yuan. Now, he finally started to use his own brain.

If she truly managed to suppress the negative effects of the locust plague within Bingzhou during this power grab, then at least she could balance her merits and faults.

He then thought of an even more terrifying fact—

Qiao Yan mentioned that the Dragon Bone Waterwheel was to complete the irrigation of dry fields early, preventing them from becoming breeding grounds for locusts during the plague, which undoubtedly shows she had estimated the disaster.

And her daring to leave Leping at this time suggests that the preparations there were almost complete.

Otherwise, what basis would she have to seek forgiveness!

If Qiao Yan knew what Zhang Yi was thinking, she might want to ask him, if he had such a thinking brain a few months ago, how could today’s situation have arisen.

For the current Zhang Yi, perhaps the only comfort is that after being tied up and “confined” in the prefecture, he immediately welcomed a neighbor, the Prefect of Taiyuan Commandery.

According to Qiao Yan’s logic, since the commandery’s administration is also in Jinyang, too close to the prefecture where Zhang Yi is located, her act of kicking in the door was not concealed at all. If the Prefect quickly gathered troops to pose a threat, it would be better for her to strike first and tie up the Prefect as well.

After all, tying up one is the same as tying up two.

Having already taken down the prefecture’s chief, dealing with the next level of Prefect is just adding more to the debt.

“I always knew she acted recklessly… always knew!” The Prefect of Taiyuan trembled with anger.

Before the Prefect of Shangdang cooperated with Qiao Yan, wasn’t he also reminded of the previous extortion when he saw her? The same goes for the Prefect of Taiyuan.

He thought it best not to see her unless necessary, but who knew this “meeting” wasn’t a formal one, but being kidnapped.

Having been in Bingzhou longer than Zhang Yi, or more experienced in local affairs, he could tell, even without recognizing Chu Yan as the leader of the Black Mountain Bandits, that most of these people had bandit and wandering knight qualities.

This made him even more upset.

It’s obvious that these people could not possibly be county officials from Leping.

This also effectively separates Leping County itself in a “believe it or not, but that’s the way it is” manner.

But what could these two unfortunate brothers say?

If they hoped for her to make mistakes in managing the locust plague, it would seem like wishing ill on Bingzhou. If such a wish got out, it would surely add to the charge of lacking leadership heart for Bingzhou on top of being overpowered.

In the end, they could only scold her as “outrageous.”

But so what if she’s outrageous?

At least she has, as promised to the Prefect of Shangdang, prepared to issue the order allowing the killing of locusts.

If she stamps this order with the seal taken from Zhang Yi, it represents the approval of the highest authority in the prefecture.

Qiao Yan had Xi Zhicai help write a letter of apology, while she herself could carefully consider the wording for the locust extermination.

This document is for the other commandery prefects as well as the people of Bingzhou.

Thus, it must not be too obscure to avoid misunderstandings, and she needs to use straightforward language to dispel the people’s concerns about killing locusts.

After all, other parts of Bingzhou are not Leping.

So the first sentence she penned was: [The crops in the fields are the lifeline of the people; once they are gone, the year will not end.]

In more colloquial terms, no fields, no food, and you won’t make it through the year—you decide.

She then wrote:

Locusts are indeed the kings of insects, arriving in swarms that blot out the sky, yet the many locust god temples in the prefecture have not reduced their devastation or made them bypass Bingzhou.

Before coming to Bingzhou, she even saw the locust god temple in the Central Plains with all vegetation destroyed, showing that locusts do not heed human hearts, and even as gods, they must be malevolent. Therefore—

Grain and crops are the foundation of people’s livelihood, and even the locust god above cannot shake this.

The prefecture does not wish to see Bingzhou, surrounded by wolves, also suffer from famine, hence orders all commanderies to immediately kill locusts without delay.

[If offending the locust god incurs any fault, it lies with the prefecture alone, not the common people below.]

Dian Wei, having followed Qiao Yan for over a year, although his literacy skills are nowhere near Xu Fu’s prodigious talent and he himself is somewhat averse to studying, had no trouble reading the edict Qiao Yan wrote.

He couldn’t help but ask: “When the Marquis wrote that the fault lies with the prefecture alone, the prefecture still refers to that scoundrel Zhang Yi, right?”

Isn’t this just, even though you didn’t do it, you’re still the top official of Bingzhou, so the retribution for offending the locust god falls on you?

He looked at Qiao Yan with newfound respect, deeply impressed by the scholarly art of passing the buck.

“Why say so much? Go and deliver the orders quickly,” Qiao Yan lifted her eyelids and decisively sent Dian Wei off.

Her subordinates are generally good, if anything, they just like to speak the blunt truth too much.

Cai Zhaoji is one, Dian Wei is another.

But how can this be called shifting the karmic retribution onto Zhang Yi? At most, it’s Zhang Yi taking on the due responsibility for not preparing adequately for the locust plague.

However, Dian Wei had only just left for a moment before returning with the notice, saying to Qiao Yan: “Wang Yang requests an audience with the Marquis.”

Qiao Yan didn’t bring Dian Wei the second time she came to Jinyang, but she did bring him the first time when she came to sell wine, so Dian Wei naturally still had some impression of Wang Yang.

To Dian Wei, the old man seemed deeply worried when he arrived, and upon seeing him, he looked as if he was about to faint, hardly the image of a dignified family head.

Seeing Dian Wei’s expression, Wang Yang could somewhat guess his thoughts, straightened his face, and only after receiving Qiao Yan’s permission did he step into the room.

He really couldn’t help but react this way.

Upon receiving the news earlier that Qiao Yan had led people into the Governor’s prefecture, he had the illusion that his ears were deceiving him.

With no news coming out of the prefecture afterward, he had some guesses about who was gaining the upper hand.

If the prefecture had the upper hand, Qiao Yan, given her status, would only have been temporarily asked to leave, not directly taken down.

Seeing Dian Wei, alive and kicking and holding the notice, confirmed his guess.

But guessing earlier was one thing, feeling almost blacked out now was another.

This is usurpation!

Even if the prefecture is not the royal family, this can still be called usurpation!








In the heart of this anxious elder, who pondered whether coming here was a misstep that had led him into a pit, he found a sudden calm when he stood before Qiao Yan, the current usurper.

Qiao Yan’s composure was infectious.

Earlier, she had sent Dian Wei to post decrees only within Jinyang City, naturally requiring new ones for other prefectures. Thus, Wang Yang saw Qiao Yan rewriting a proclamation she had already memorized.

Seated in what should have been Zhang Yi’s position, her brush flew across the paper until the final character was set, and she calmly stamped the document with her seal.

This act showed no trace of the haste or panic typical of a usurper, instead giving Wang Yang the illusion—

That she rightfully belonged in the position of a provincial governor.

So much so that when he saw Qiao Yan set down the seal and look towards him, he instinctively straightened up, feeling the tension of facing a superior’s inspection.

But he quickly reminded himself that he shouldn’t behave this way.

As a member of the Jinyang noble family, knowing of this, he should have opposed such overreaching actions.

Yet before he could voice his questions, he heard Qiao Yan ask in a calm tone, “Does the elder not wish to expel the Yuan clan from Runan out of Bingzhou territory?”

“…” Wang Yang’s words were stuck in his throat.

This was too blunt!

But as the head of a local Bingzhou noble family, he certainly didn’t want Zhang Yi, a vanguard of the Yuan clan from Runan, extending his claws into Bingzhou.

Unfortunately, in the months since Qiao Yan had revealed Zhang Yi’s identity, most of Zhang Yi’s actions had been external arrangements, leaving Wang Yang no room to intervene.

Although he knew that success would bring Zhang Yi fame, Wang Yang also knew that no matter the internal strife, he must not act foolishly or drag his feet when dealing with the northern barbarians.

Of course, this was also the consensus of the majority within the Han Dynasty.

However, what he didn’t expect was that before Zhang Yi could achieve anything, a locust plague disrupted his plans and allowed Qiao Yan, whom he had considered further wooing to sideline Zhang Yi, to stage a shocking coup at an astonishing speed.

After a long hesitation, he finally asked, “Does the Marquis know that this is walking on thin ice and may not end well?”

His words were genuinely heartfelt, as people with Qiao Yan’s boldness were indeed rare, and even Wang Yang couldn’t help but admire her.

At this moment, he understood more deeply than ever why Qiao Yan had risen rapidly during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, carving out a future amidst chaos.

Qiao Yan simply replied, “What is a good outcome? Observing the suffering of the people and alleviating the locust plague, even if the crime is great, merits offsetting the faults. Moreover, Qiao Yan does not seek to replace a provincial governor, as the central authorities would never allow it. Since I only seek peace and prosperity for the people, why worry about not having a good outcome?”

Her words seemed grand, but Wang Yang detected an underlying message.

As she said, receiving the title of Marquis of Leping was the pinnacle, and further advancement was unlikely. Even her governance of Leping had to follow procedures, first establishing a Leping minister to issue decrees in accordance with Han regulations.

Although Liu Hong had appointed Ma Lun as the Grand Historian in Luoyang, the position was not one of real power, and a position like Governor of Bingzhou would never be given to Qiao Yan.

Therefore, she might as well leave this position for the Bingzhou noble families to balance.

Even though the Three Mutual Laws prevented a direct appointment from the Bingzhou noble families, they had many clients and close associates who could be promoted.

And could she benefit from this? Yes!

Firstly, the praise and gratitude of the Bingzhou people.

This would undoubtedly transform her from a Marquis of Leping, inexplicably appointed by the court, into a County Marquis recognized by more people in Bingzhou. Even without revealing her involvement in making mulberry bark clothing, her reputation would ensure her smooth travels within Bingzhou.

Secondly, the support and friendship of the Bingzhou noble families, which was particularly important in the current deeply entrenched power dynamics.

Moreover, she indeed had some friction with the Yuan clan from Runan.

Wang Yang had confirmed this in his previous investigations.

This meant that expelling Zhang Yi from Bingzhou was also what Qiao Yan desired.

His breathing quickened. If it were as Qiao Yan said, this was like the Hero’s Wine, a win-win deal.

This time, their roles were slightly reversed, with Qiao Yan leading the charge and the Wang clan supporting from the side.

After understanding this, a light smile appeared on his face, perhaps with a hint of ambition.

He then cupped his hands and replied, “Marquis Qiao’s noble intentions, if the locust plague can be quelled, would be a great fortune for Bingzhou. The Wang clan is willing to follow Marquis Qiao’s commands and serve diligently.”

Qiao Yan smiled knowingly and replied, “Then I shall trouble you.”

With the Wang clan’s support, Qiao Yan’s campaign to exterminate locusts and prevent their reproduction proceeded more smoothly.

A clear example was the leading role.

After the locust extermination notices were posted, Qiao Yan stated that without crops, there was only death, so it was better to kill locusts.

However, convincing the people, who had revered locusts as deities for decades, that change was possible still faced resistance.

But with many Taiyuan noble families, led by the Wang clan of Jinyang, responding to the governor’s “self-incriminating” notice, those who had been hesitant quickly followed.

The second directive from the provincial government further mobilized them.

Qiao Yan decisively implemented the policy of exchanging locusts and eggs for grain across Bingzhou.

Locusts from the Three Auxiliary Regions of the Capital laid eggs in dry fields, hatching in just twenty to thirty days.

If these newly hatched locusts further expanded the plague, it would spell disaster for Bingzhou.

Ambitious Xiongnu tribes and the northern leaders Quidou and Budugen would not miss this opportunity to invade.

At this point, building Dragon Bone Waterwheels for irrigation was too late; exterminating eggs and adult locusts was the priority.

Fortunately, the granaries in Jinyang were well-stocked.

The fifty thousand dan of grain previously sent to Leping accounted for less than ten percent of the total.

Exchanging grain for eggs was more than sufficient.

Counties with insufficient grain could also coordinate to ensure granaries were full.

The subsequent burial and burning operations plunged Bingzhou into a fervent state.

Under the comprehensive policy of exterminating locusts, the people, initially panicked by the sight of locusts in their fields, now had only one thought—

They needed to catch more locusts to exchange for enough grain to compensate for their losses.

Qiao Yan looked up at the sky.

As locusts could fly at altitudes of a thousand meters during mass migrations, black dots still occasionally passed over Jinyang, but if they landed, they would likely fall into fish nets or pits.

The renowned martial prowess of the Bingzhou people, now directed towards locust extermination, pleasantly surprised Qiao Yan.

Recalling the scene she witnessed outside Jinyang yesterday, she couldn’t help but smile.

The system, initially startled by her boldness, now felt quite pleased for her.

But before it could rejoice for long, it heard Qiao Yan ask, “Since I am helping the Son of Heaven eliminate local pests, does that count as being a strategist?”