“So, can a strategist not ascend the throne?”
Chapter 67: A Million Stones
Cui Lie suddenly realized the feelings of Yuan Wei, the last one Liu Hong picked on, and what it must have felt like.
They had indeed arrived at the court quite early, but in this August weather, the heat that winter had swallowed up seemed to have fully returned, making him feel a layer of sweat trickle down his back after the morning assembly dragged on long past sunrise.
He didn’t dare to say in front of His Majesty that this issue should just be explained by the Yuan Clan. He was just an outsider after all.
But saying that was obviously not an option.
This left him to frantically crank his brain.
He had to save himself…
He better clear up the negative impact of that earlier comment about “abandoning Liangzhou” too.
And it wasn’t just about that nasty reputation of his for abandoning Liangzhou.
Liu Hong thought of him as a “choice” for necessary moments, but from Cui Lie’s perspective, it was a different story.
Because his position as Minister over the Masses—
—was bought.
His grandfather was a famous scholar of the Han Dynasty, and he himself was somewhat of a success—having worked his way up to being a well-known figure from Ji Province, first as a Prefect, then as Minister of Rites.
Then he figured, since the Three Excellencies were also for sale, why not indulge a bit?
But Liu Hong’s asking price of ten million coins was a tad much, so he pulled a fast one.
Through Liu Hong’s mother, Lady Cheng, he managed to cozy up a bit and only had to cough up five million coins to snag the Minister position, getting a nice discount.
Liu Hong happily placed a “Ji Province Scholar” in the seat once occupied by Yuan Wei. Sure, he felt a little sorry about losing five million coins, but overall, it wasn’t a significant loss.
But Cui Lie ran into some trouble.
A month back, he asked his son Cui Jun—Cui Zhouping—how others were seeing him these days.
Cui Zhouping was the type of guy who would probably end up alongside Zhuge Liang, so one could imagine his temper.
No way he was cutting his old man any slack. He flat-out said, given the current state, “People criticize you for being so hung up on wealth,” which made Cui Lie so furious he almost swung his cane at his son.
That moment left quite the psychological scar.
After all, he had attained the Three Excellencies position through some not-so-savory means, and then went and made an inappropriate remark. His response at this moment was crucial.
If he played it right, he might just wash away the insults; fail, and he might as well prepare for death to save his name.
Cui Lie took a deep breath, thinking he could catch some bias in Liu Hong’s words, and answered: “I believe both parties are not guilty. The fault lies in placing them in the same location.”
Seeing Liu Hong signal him to continue, he added, “Marquis of Leping is the grandson of Qiao Gongzu. In the past, when Zhou Zhongxiang was the Governor of Yu Province, Qiao Gongzu was a small county official in Liang and still had the guts to stop the road to request the dispatch of Yang Chang, disregarding the Grand General Liang Ji’s power, escorting Yang Chang to Luo to demand punishment—he was truly a man of integrity. The Marquis of Leping has inherited his ancestor’s boldness, acting passionately is quite normal.”
Cui Lie, holding his tablet, carefully wiped away a bead of cold sweat.
If Liu Hong hadn’t blamed Zhang Yi for being “kidnapped” by Qiao Yan instead of criticizing Qiao Yan for holding the Governor hostage, Cui Lie would have really liked to say this child’s actions were inappropriate.
But with Liu Hong’s hidden suggestion in the air—
—better say she has Qiao Xuan’s legacy instead.
Not that he was wrong. When Qiao Xuan could still hold up the sky under Grand General Liang Ji’s reign, he dared to investigate Yang Chang, who he had sheltered, dragging him to Luo. He was indeed a ruthless yet stubborn character.
So really, Qiao Yan’s way of doing things wasn’t that shocking at all…
He continued, “Zhang Zitai is a man of moderation in eloquence. In his ministerial position in Chen, he prioritized moral education, which, I believe, is also what Lord Yuan wishes. His approach aided in settling the Southern Xiongnu safely in Bingzhou.”
Liu Hong hadn’t pulled out the correspondence between Yuan Shao and Zhang Yi—given his slight inclination to suppress Qiao Yan, he wouldn’t present decisive evidence either. Thus, Cui Lie assumed that Zhang Yi was just out of luck, overshadowed by Qiao Yan’s power. He thought a bit and managed to come up with a nicer version of events.
At this juncture, Cui Lie carefully glanced in Liu Hong’s direction and noticed he held no dissatisfaction toward these words, letting out a relieved breath.
He concluded, “The Marquis of Leping is a person of volatile temperament, while Zhang Zitai operates with order; one exists beyond order, and the other within, thus they are bound to clash. Today’s events are merely a result of their temperaments.”
“The Marquis of Leping acts for the state and its people, and Zhang Zitai has committed no wrongdoing; with the locust plague in Bingzhou now resolved, Your Majesty needn’t be angry over these matters.”
Cui Lie felt that his statement, slightly leaning toward Qiao Yan, should meet Liu Hong’s expectations.
Clearly, he hadn’t offended either party.
Speaking of, Liu Hong’s preferences were easy to explain.
Bingzhou had not been back in shape for a long time, and during this locust disaster, exhausting manpower hadn’t nudged the Emperor to change his mind about recalling the troops; he was utterly determined against abandoning Liangzhou. One could see that since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, His Majesty particularly favored this kind of straightforward and assertive individuals.
Because once things changed in the world, such people could immediately step up as military supervisors.
So, preserving the Marquis of Leping was necessary.
Yet her actions this time crossed the line even more than what Qiao Xuan did. His Majesty probably had to apply a gentle squeeze to keep things in check.
So Liu Hong’s cold voice cut through the air, “According to Minister Cui, a province’s Governor who does not fulfill his duties can be considered as merely advocating moral education, while a county Marquis who disrespects laws and powers, seizing the Governor, can be called a show of strength?”
Cui Lie quickly replied, “I do not mean to imply that. Punishment must be rendered; however, the Marquis of Leping, being concerned for the people and a talent for quelling disturbances, should she truly be tried and imprisoned, it would damage the people’s trust in Bingzhou. Zhang Zitai is merely passive and not without virtue; if removed from his post, it might alienate scholars from supporting Your Majesty. Hence, any punishment must be approached with caution.”
As soon as he finished, Yuan Ji promptly added, “I too believe so.”
With Yuan Ji’s support, Cui Lie’s courage grew a bit, and he puffed out his chest slightly.
However, from the observing Grand Commandant Zhang Yan’s perspective, he saw a difference in emphasis between the two.
Cui Lie aimed to follow the Emperor’s intent and pull Qiao Yan out of the kidnapping charge, whereas Yuan Ji was driven by the thoughts of the Yuan clan’s young members to pull Zhang Yi out.
Zhang Yan remained silent and continued to be a spectator while sizing up Liu Hong’s expression, feeling that this Emperor was becoming increasingly adept at political balancing.
But he couldn’t shake the notion that this didn’t seem like a lasting approach.
Unfortunately, such matters weren’t for him to voice. Perhaps the next time a calamity strikes, he might end up being a scapegoat, unseated from his position.
At present, the balance in the court wasn’t something he should meddle in.
He listened to Liu Hong ask, “In the opinion of both esteemed ministers, how should I deal with these two?”
Upon hearing Liu Hong’s words, Yuan Ji replied first, “The actions of the Marquis of Leping in kidnapping the Governor are not something to be imitated, but she is still young and deserves some leniency in punishment.”
As soon as Yuan Ji spoke, he noticed Cui Lie throw him a grateful glance, clearly thanking him for being the first to answer this question.
But could Yuan Ji really choose to respond first?
Ultimately, when Liu Hong consulted Cui Lie, it was merely to show him a tendency.
Zhang Yi belonged to the Yuan clan’s circle, and now that he had messed up, offering an exculpatory explanation for Qiao Yan also maintained the Yuan clan’s dignity.
Had anyone else in the court answered, they would likely reprimand Qiao Yan for her reckless behavior.
But that was something anyone could say—except for Yuan Ji.
Even if he thought this whole mess was instigated by Yuan Shao, he had to think along the lines of the noble family and clear it up.
He continued, “In my humble opinion, it would be best to put the Marquis of Leping under house arrest for a couple of years, assign a teacher of etiquette and law to guide her, so she can learn to conduct herself properly from now on. The Marquis of Leping has extraordinary talent; even in the face of a locust disaster, she can still save the situation. She is truly a pillar of the Han, so careful teaching is necessary.”
“As for Zhang Zitai—”
Yuan Ji contemplated a bit before replying, “Bingzhou is a territory full of dangers, and with his literary talent, it’s not appropriate for him to remain here. Perhaps he could be reassigned to a position as Prefect in a region of the Central Plains for further development.”
Previously, the Yuan clan had aided him; now returning him to his original position seemed to fit the Emperor’s wishes quite nicely.
After hearing Liu Hong ponder for a moment and respond with a “reasonable” word, Yuan Ji realized he’d gotten it right.
This was something only the Yuan Clan could articulate; it ensured that this power struggle between the county Marquis and the Prefect wouldn’t cause larger ripples.
But it was also likely to ensure that Liu Hong’s anger stemming from Zhang Yi’s incompetence wouldn’t spill over onto the Yuan Clan.
With this opening, subsequent arrangements would be much easier to determine.
However, there was still one lingering trouble with the matter.
Liu Hong scanned the room and asked, “Given that Bingzhou is currently suffering from a locust disaster, we cannot afford to be without a Governor overseeing things. In your honed opinions, who is fit to be the Governor of Bingzhou?”
If Zhang Yi was to be removed from his post and reassigned somewhere calm to play the Prefect, who would replace him?
Talent like Huang Wan was rare, and those with the right qualifications and age mostly occupied their original positions; carelessly changing them wouldn’t be advisable.
But someone had to step up with an answer; they couldn’t just stand in silence.
Cui Lie thought for a moment and decided to speak.
While the previous question had left him flustered, this one about who should be the Governor of Bingzhou seemed relatively easier to tackle.
And this was also a good opportunity to redeem himself.
He firmly stated, “I have something to say.”
Once Liu Hong granted permission, he continued, “Previously, Madame Fu Nanrong mentioned Liangzhou must not be abandoned, and hearing it was jolting. We now recognize how misguided it would be to let the Han Dynasty cut off a limb. Therefore, I must stress, Liangzhou must not be abandoned, and neither can Bingzhou be forsaken; this is our top priority.”
Though this was a blatant self-justification and would inevitably invite mockery, it was still better than saying nothing.
Finding some internal comfort, Cui Lie commented, “Therefore, the next Governor of Bingzhou must possess a commanding heart for battle, a valor to contend with the Xiongnu.”
Listen to him, sounding like a man with guts!
Cui Lie felt pleased with his grand display of rhetoric and added, “As the initial suggestion from Lord Yuan Taipu pointed out, the Marquis of Leping requires the guidance of a virtuous scholar to correct her conduct. If someone is sent only for that, it would hardly be appropriate for such a small area as Leping. It would be preferable to have the Governor of Bingzhou double as this educator.”
“In my opinion, the chosen Governor of Bingzhou should encompass both responsibilities.”
However, what Cui Lie never expected was to hear Liu Hong say, “Then it shall be entrusted to you, Minister.”
“…?” Cui Lie slowly raised his head.
He felt even more bewildered than when Liu Hong had singled him out to voice an opinion before.
Seeing his expression, Liu Hong asked lightly, “Are you not a person of virtue and education?”
Cui Lie couldn’t outright deny it.
His most criticized point was buying his position, and yet it was Liu Hong who orchestrated the whole thing; if he claimed it was inappropriate, he would be indirectly accusing the Emperor of poor decision-making.
With his family’s learned background, added to his son Cui Jun’s recent nomination as a filial worthy, he also couldn’t dismiss this point.
“Are you not one who vowed to resist the Xiongnu?” Liu Hong pressed.
Cui Lie couldn’t deny that either.
He wanted to slap himself, regretting why he’d spoken hastily. Now he had gone and echoed Fu Xie’s sentiments, and claiming later that he didn’t have the guts to face the Xiongnu would be tantamount to treason.
Since he couldn’t refute either point, he defaulted, thus aligning with his earlier suggestions.
With that said, Liu Hong considered him capable of being the Governor of Bingzhou, which wasn’t just idle words.
But this Governor position…
From Minister over the Masses to Governor was a step down!
Cui Lie felt frustrated but couldn’t help remembering what his good son said while he was ready to smack him with his cane.
Apart from that saying about small sticks yielding, while big sticks get you outta here, Cui Jun had also said that previously, he was often referred to as having the talent of a Three Excellencies, but after choosing to buy that position, public perception shifted to what they termed “Disappointment.”
If he were to return as Governor of Bingzhou now and achieve some success, wouldn’t he be proving his worth all over again?
Cui Lie’s mind raced, and ultimately, he bowed to Liu Hong saying, “This minister obeys the command.”
But as the court dispersed, Cui Lie couldn’t help but sigh in his heart—
Those five million coins!
Spent a full five million coins only to be tossed from the Three Excellencies position not even half a year in; what was this madness!
What’s more, being Governor of Bingzhou was genuinely no easy task.
He would first have to deal with those Hu people, and then as Yuan Ji suggested, he’d have to teach that rebellious Qiao Yan.
How could he find himself in a position to beat down that one who dared imprison the Governor, monopolizing power, and even earned Xu Zijiang’s praise of “Chirp of the Young Phoenix?”
Cui Lie felt lingering doubts and struggled to push the matter out of his mind for now.
All these headaches could wait until he reached Bingzhou.
Compared to Cui Lie’s immense frustration, Liu Hong was undoubtedly feeling much more relaxed.
From his perspective, assigning Cui Lie to the role of Governor of Bingzhou was both a warning to Qiao Yan and a way to let her off the hook.
What was the warning?
The Cui family from Boling had a prestigious history, and Cui Lie was a notable figure from Ji Province. With this in mind, Qiao Yan, who took a less conventional approach, could easily take action against Zhang Yi, but she could never use the same tactics against Cui Lie.
Moreover, as Cui Lie had the responsibility of overseeing the Marquis of Leping, he held enough status to keep Qiao Yan in check. Even if it didn’t reach the point of having her bow to him, he could certainly restrict her words and actions.
And what about the leniency?
Cui Lie, unlike Cai Yong, could be seen as a scholar but not as a prominent official. The former lacked capability, and the latter faced conflicts with colleagues. Ultimately, Cui Lie wasn’t suitable for the position of Minister over the Masses, nor as the Governor of Bingzhou!
So let him see how far this solitary official, who sought redemption through apologies and new titles, could go!
But this whole plan didn’t need to be shared with anyone.
When he heard Zhang Rang cautiously asking why Cui Lie was assigned to take over the Governor position, wondering about the Emperor’s intentions, Liu Hong, while observing the scene where palace maids pretended to be townsfolk, replied, “The Three Dukes are worth ten million coins, while Cui Wei only pays five million. It’s just a matter of time.”
Even though Zhang Rang already knew Liu Hong’s thoughts could be unusual, he was still momentarily stunned by this response.
Indeed, most of the individuals in the Three Dukes position rarely lasted a year before being removed or swapped out. By this logic, since Cui Lie only paid half the fee, spending half the time in the role seemed justified.
Besides, this would leave the position of Minister over the Masses open for sale again.
Zhang Rang had heard that Cao Song, the adopted son of Cao Teng—who also happened to be Cao Cao’s father—was interested in purchasing a position among the Three Dukes.
He certainly had the financial means for it.
Even though it seemed like he favored the Grand Commandant’s position more, having a Minister over the Masses could also be a good deal for him; he would be happy to do so.
For Liu Hong, this meant another lucrative income.
Understanding this, Zhang Rang almost gasped.
But before he could comment on Liu Hong’s meticulous calculations, the Emperor, who had earlier donned merchant’s clothes, swaggered into the makeshift market with his hunting dog crowned on his head, clearly not wanting to deal with court affairs anymore.
After all, he had wrapped up his plans for the court; it was time for him to enjoy himself.
This was where Liu Hong’s thoughts lay.
The dog with the crown seemed to share its master’s demeanor, strutting around prouder than the government officials themselves.
Liu Hong was delighted by this, then turned to see two young attendants having a brawl, reenacting a scene where townspeople and merchants clashed over prices.
He chuckled loudly, tossing a jade pendant at one of the stalls, claiming the wine jug in return.
As for those locust issues, he’d deal with them later after he got drunk!
Qiao Yan had no way of knowing about Liu Hong’s antics at this moment.
Yet, this ignorance didn’t mean she needed to lose her composure.
Having sent the report on Bingzhou’s locust situation and the apology letter, she had already completed her tasks, leaving her with little to worry about.
The recent news about her title as Marquis and the clash with Liu Hong over the discourse on feudalism was enough for her to ascertain what kind of person Liu Hong truly was.
His unwavering commitment to balance and control might not bode well for the established noble families or those leading literati, but for someone like Qiao Yan, who floated on the fringes—
—it was precisely the best bargaining chip she could have.
After the rain in Bingzhou, she had lingered in Jinyang City for another week, before heading back to Leping with Dian Wei, even as Zhang Yi and the Governor of Taiyuan remained under some restrictions.
August in the north meant harvest season.
As she crossed into Leping County, which she hadn’t seen in over a month, despite having viewed the golden wheat fields around Jinyang, seeing the familiar landscape of Leping sparked a feeling of accomplishment within her.
This was her territory.
This year, the rural farmland looked even more promising than her first year arriving in Leping.
Though the locusts had left some evidence of their visit, their swift eradication had spared the crops from suffering any severe consequences.
Qiao Yan gently led her horse along the furrows, watching the county folk bustle about their chores.
At this time, the wheat yield wouldn’t exceed a hundred pounds per acre, far from the robust stalks one might see in later generations, but when an average of fifty acres per household stretched as far as the eye could see, the layered autumn colors were quite a sight to behold.
What stood out was a thatched cottage that had appeared after some distance.
To prevent fire from spreading to the fields, the area around the cottage was kept empty, but after the rain, some birds must have dropped seeds, giving rise to stubborn weeds.
Qiao Yan found it amusing as she gazed at those spots.
Without needing fire to attract the surrounding locusts, the grateful county folk added fabric from their homes to decorate the cottage, creating a rather flashy appearance from afar.
In a way, one could consider this a “patchwork” of sorts.
Qiao Yan couldn’t help but smile at this thought, just then, a little girl, no more than five or six, popped out from the nearby wheat field. As she climbed the ridge, she suddenly locked eyes with Qiao Yan.
The child showed no shyness at all. After glancing at Qiao Yan and her horse, as well as the imposing Dian Wei behind her, she suddenly shouted, “The Marquis is back!”
Before Qiao Yan could tell her to lower her voice and avoid sounding like a welcoming soldier, she heard—
Thanks to the child’s shout, the message of “The Marquis has returned!” echoed over the vast wheat fields, spreading towards the county city one voice after another.
This was quite a peculiar resonance.
It sounded like a wave rolling forward, mingled with the rustling of the wheat, creating a unique rhythmic sound of rising and falling.
Until it faded into a few indistinguishable calls in Qiao Yan’s ears.
Even though it was merely five words, she felt a twinge of emotion in her eyes.
This felt like a far too grand welcome ceremony.
Logically, Qiao Yan understood this behavior.
To the common folk of this era, anyone who could fill their stomachs would undoubtedly be seen as a wise ruler.
Unfortunately, most of the time, this remarkably simple goal proved difficult to achieve.
Thus, what Qiao Yan had done in Leping truly saved many lives.
Yet, as she personally experienced such sincere and simple gratitude, her mind drifted to other thoughts.
She had previously told Xu Fu that having compassion for the weak stems from being a strong individual, and at that time, she hadn’t qualified.
Could she consider herself one now?
Qiao Yan wasn’t sure.
Lost in thought, she absentmindedly looked down, and the brave little girl—having yelled the first shout—was now lost in the wheat field, sprinting away out of sight.
This made Qiao Yan wish she could grab the “culprit” and ask about the harvest.
But perhaps she didn’t even need to catch anyone.
As the message spread like a wave towards the county city, she continued walking, only to spot several familiar faces riding towards her from both the county office and the distant mountain fields.
Fortunately, there was a bit of quality variation among the horses they rode, preventing any reckless collisions on the narrow paths.
Those who arrived earlier dismounted first and stood aside while subsequent arrivals slowed down.
But once they all got off their horses, Qiao Yan couldn’t help but notice how this scene appeared even more comical than the decorated thatched cottage.
“What’s this situation? Waiting for my inspection?” Qiao Yan raised an eyebrow. “No need to display such a look of longing like we haven’t seen each other for years.”
To keep Leping isolated, she had not brought along any vassals belonging to the Marquis of Leping to Jinyang; even the speculations of Xi Zhicai and Cheng Li reflected this intent to prevent anyone else from entering Leping.
Besides the small group that traveled with her, the only one who had come was Xi Zhicai, who was not bound by any official position yet received a salary determined by Qiao Yan, and had no household registration due to the timing.
Upon hearing her speak, even Qin Yu, who was usually steady in Qiao Yan’s eyes, couldn’t help but redden, saying, “Why take such risks, Marquis?”
Others had similar questions.
Though they knew Dian Wei and Chu Yan were accompanying her and the smooth communication from various districts reflected Qiao Yan’s successful actions, not seeing her in person still felt quite different.
Perhaps it was due to her busy days with provincial affairs that had left her face a bit gaunt.
Even so, this only made her eyes shine with an impressive vitality, exuding an air of capability and sharpness that revealed a sense of excessive toil to those from Leping who had witnessed her “rise.”
“Risky or not, if it saves a province, it might as well be worth it.” Qiao Yan replied, “You all don’t need to fret so much, things aren’t as bad as you think.”
As she continued walking towards the county city, she added, “Besides, I didn’t come back just to find you all standing around like logs, I came to check on the yam harvest. If any of you are planning to find excuses because I’ve returned…”
Glancing at them, seeing the mixed emotions in their eyes, she softened her tone, “Then… let’s just plant it again next year.”
Cai Zhaoji, who was brought on horseback by Lu Yuan, laughed aloud, “Marquis, you can be at ease. Even without you saying it, a few were camped by the yam fields since the rain, fearing water accumulation would affect the harvest.”
Those casually mentioned, Zhao Yun and Xu Fu, looked away awkwardly.
Qiao Yan glanced at the two, deciding to give them some face, “Alright then, let’s go have a look.”
The yam harvest period roughly spans from August to October.
Most harvesting occurs in October.
Though Qiao Yan felt confident that Liu Hong wouldn’t strip her of her title of County Marquis for her actions seizing control of the provincial government, she thought it was best to avoid waiting for the messenger from Luoyang before collecting the harvest.
Fortunately, the yams from mid-August had already ripened, minimizing losses to merely texture differences.
Throughout this month, as the yam vines climbed along the trellises, the hills were lush and green.
At one glance, Qiao Yan felt that the harvest would be plentiful.
After giving the order for harvest, the Black Mountain Army responsible for yam farming moved carefully across the hills, gathering yams from the fields and placing them into woven baskets nearby.
Perhaps because of the soil’s fertility from being left fallow before, Qiao Yan observed the yams being harvested and thought they didn’t seem too different from what she knew.
Though slightly thinner, they certainly looked much sturdier than her previous sample from the mountains.
Perhaps these would exceed her initial expectations…
As she contemplated, she kept an eye on the movements of those about to settle in Leping.
After a year of hard work, seeing the harvest now, even the roughest of workers became particularly careful, knowing the value of their painstaking cultivation during this crucial time.
To Zhang Niujiao, glancing around, they seemed akin to midwives dealing with delicate births.
Yet, after witnessing the careful but swift actions of these individuals, he was swept up in thoughts of—
Qiao Hou had returned! It was still August, wasn’t it? This was precisely when the final hit on the census would occur!
Alright! Now’s the time for the final harvest!
Zhang Niujiao was ready to give his all, to dive straight into harvesting every last yam.
However, he couldn’t overlook the fact that there were sixty thousand acres of fields, and they had only a few thousand men.
This task of digging up yams required a bit of patience…
When he finally finished his portion of the harvest, he rubbed his waist, feeling it was starting to protest.
But as the yams piled up from sixty thousand acres, it truly formed a stunning sight.
Their curved shapes made it difficult to estimate quantities just by size alone, so before storing them away, the freshly dried yams were weighed in batches for record-keeping.
As the recorded yam quantities increased, the onlookers, both county folk and Black Mountain Army, couldn’t help but gasp in amazement.
But as the final batch of yams was weighed, the site fell silent.
Until a voice suddenly broke the quiet.
“Marquis!”
Charging in, Zhang Niujiao had forgotten all about the census issue, showing excitement on his somewhat darkened face, a flush creeping in.
“One hundred thousand piculs! We harvested a full one hundred thousand piculs!”
