Han Ji

Chapter 163 The First Cracks Appear

Chapter 163 The First Cracks Appear (Part 1)

From Mianzhu to Fuxian, and then to Luoxian, it took a month.

In just one month, he went from being a salt workers' foreman to becoming the ruler of Yizhou.

He reached out and touched the yellow flag in his arms.

The fabric is rough, but warm.

The snow outside the window is gradually lessening.

It's almost dawn.

February 8th, Chengdu.

The snow had stopped, but the sky hadn't cleared. Lead-gray clouds hung low, and the damp, chilly air was thick with the smell of smoke.

The smell of blood, along with an indescribable stench of decay, came from a corpse left unattended on a street corner, beginning to swell in the early spring weather.

The governor's mansion was transformed into an imperial palace.

In reality, it was just a matter of changing the plaque. The original "Yizhou Governor's Mansion" sign was removed, and a new wooden plaque was hung up. The vermilion lacquer hadn't fully dried yet, and it read "Dacheng Hall." The characters were written by an old gentleman from the city; the strokes were simple, but large enough.

Inside the hall, Prime Minister Ma sat in the main seat.

The chair was still the same rosewood governor's chair, but now it was covered with a tiger skin, which had been taken from Xi Jian's private treasury. The skin was already a bit bald, but the tiger's head was intact, with its eyes wide open and mouth agape.

Ma Xiang was wearing a princely robe he'd somehow acquired; it was deep purple and embroidered with cloud patterns, but there was a dark red stain on the cuff that couldn't be washed off. He wore a Jinxian crown, the tassel of which was tied rather tightly, making his temples throb.

His Highness was standing in two rows of people.

On the left were military officers, led by Wang Rao. Wang Rao was in his early forties, originally a jailer, a burly man with a fierce face. He was currently wearing a stolen captain's leather armor, with two knives at his waist. Behind him stood more than a dozen generals, including salt workers' foremen, refugee leaders, and bandits who had taken advantage of the chaos to join them, all with their heads held high and chests puffed out.

On the right were the civil officials, led by Zhao Zhi. Zhao Zhi was in his thirties, had studied for a few years, and served as an advisor to Prime Minister Ma. He wore a slightly worn, faded, but clean, deep-sleeved robe. Behind him followed several people, some minor officials who had been coerced into coming, and others local scholars hoping to gain an advantage.

The atmosphere was a bit strange.

The military officers were chattering and boasting about their military exploits. The civil officials, on the other hand, remained silent, heads bowed.

"Your Majesty," Zhao Zhi stepped forward and bowed, "Luo County and Chengdu have been pacified, and Xi Jian has been executed. However, seven of the nine commanderies of Yizhou have not yet submitted. The most urgent task is to rectify military discipline, establish tax officials, and stockpile grain and fodder to prepare for a long-term solution."

"3

Before Ma Xiang could speak, Wang Rao scoffed.

"Prime Minister Zhao," he deliberately emphasized the word "Prime Minister," "the brothers risked their lives to rebel, and we just captured Chengdu. What's wrong with enjoying a few days of leisure? Rectifying military discipline? Establishing tax officials? Are you trying to demoralize the brothers?"

Zhao Zhi frowned slightly: "General Wang, if military discipline is not upheld, soldiers will not be soldiers, and civilians will not be civilians. We currently have 30,000 men under our command, but in reality, no more than 5,000 are capable of fighting. The rest are just a rabble. If we continue to allow looting, the day we run out of food will be the day we collapse."

"Grain?" Wang Rao grinned. "Xi Jian's warehouse is overflowing with grain! Enough to feed us for a year!"

"That's just sitting around doing nothing!" Zhao Zhi raised his voice. "After this chaos in Yizhou, spring planting has been ruined, and the autumn harvest is hopeless. If we don't plan ahead, this time next year will be filled with starving corpses!"

"Then let's go rob some more!" Wang Rao patted his chest. "After robbing Shu County, we'll rob Jianwei, and after Jianwei, we'll rob Ba County."

"The world is so vast, why fear a lack of food?"

The two were at loggerheads.

The hall fell silent, and everyone looked at Ma Xiang.

Ma Xiang sat on the tiger-skin chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrests.

He understood.

Zhao Zhi is right; we need to think long-term. But Wang Rao is also right. What did the brothers gain from following him in rebellion? Wasn't it just to get a meal and have some fun? Now that they've just captured Chengdu, setting rules and putting away their weapons will indeed be disheartening.

"Alright," he finally spoke. "Prime Minister Zhao is right, and General Wang is right too. In this way, military discipline must be enforced, but we can't rush it. Let the brothers rest for ten days first, and then we'll discuss the reorganization."

Zhao Zhi wanted to say something more, but Ma Xiang waved his hand.

"As for the tax officials... Prime Minister Zhao, select a few people to try collecting taxes first. Don't overcharge them, maybe 40%."

"Your Majesty," Zhao Zhi said urgently, "Thirty percent is too little! Maintaining an army consumes a huge amount of grain; at least sixty percent is needed!"

"Then fifty percent it will be," Ma Xiang conceded. "No more than that."

Zhao Zhi gritted his teeth, but did not argue further.

Wang Rao glanced at him smugly.

"And there are rewards." Ma Xiang picked up a bamboo scroll from the table, which contained a list drafted by Zhao Zhi: "Wang Rao, appointed General of the Vanguard, leading 10,000 troops. Zhao Zhi, appointed Chancellor, in charge of all government affairs. Wu Si, appointed Commandant of the Guards, in charge of the Imperial Guards..."

"

He recited eighteen generals and thirty-six prefects in one breath.

After the reading was finished, a chorus of thanks echoed through the hall. The loud voices of the rough men shook the beams, causing dust to fall from them.

Zhao Zhi lowered his eyes and remained silent.

He knew this would happen when he drafted the list; Prime Minister Ma was handing out official titles like cabbages in an effort to win people over. General of the Vanguard and Commandant of the Guards were prestigious titles in the court, but now even a jailer or saltworker foreman could easily obtain them.

absurd.

But he didn't say anything.

It's useless to say it now.

After the court session ended, Zhao Zhi did not return to his own Prime Minister's residence, which was actually just a small courtyard next to the Governor's residence. Instead, he went up to the city wall alone, stood by the crenellations, and looked at the scene inside the city.

Chengdu is in chaos.

Soldiers roamed the streets, kicking down doors, looting, and dragging women. Cries, curses, and laughter mingled together like a pot of boiling porridge. Several houses were on fire, thick black smoke billowing into the sky, mingling with the dark clouds.

In the distance, a grand banquet was being held at Wang Rao's general's mansion. The faint sounds of string and wind instruments drifted over, mixed with shouts of people playing drinking games.

Zhao Zhi closed his eyes.

He recalled a month earlier, in a dilapidated temple in Mianzhu, when Ma Xiang held up that yellow flag and said, "Brothers, let's change our way of life!"

Has it been changed?

It's been changed.

They went from being oppressed salt workers to becoming the oppressive government troops of Dacheng.

But is this really what they want?

"Prime Minister."

A voice came from behind me.

Zhao Zhi turned around and saw Wu Si.

Wu Si changed into a new set of clothes, made of silk, but they looked awkward on him. His imperial seal, the insignia of the Commandant of the Guards, hung from his waist, gleaming gold.

"Wu Weiwei," Zhao Zhi said, bowing.

Wu Si walked over and stood beside him, also looking towards the city.

"It's a mess," he sighed. "Wang Rao and his gang are just outrageous."

Zhao Zhi did not respond.

Wu Si turned to look at him: "Prime Minister, I know you look down on us roughnecks. But... Master Ma has it tough. So many people need to eat and survive, he has to appease them."

"How long will you keep fooling us?" Zhao Zhi finally spoke. "Until we run out of food, until the Han army attacks, until everyone dies together?"

Wu Si choked.

After a long silence, he said in a low voice, "Then tell me, what should we do?"

"Establish rules." Zhao Zhi turned around and stared at him. "You are the Commandant of the Guards, in charge of the Imperial Guards. Start with the Imperial Guards. No looting, no indiscriminate killing. Anyone who disobeys will be executed. Once the Imperial Guards are in order, then organize the other camps."

"Execute?" Wu Si smiled bitterly. "Prime Minister, who would listen if we said 'execute' now? Wang Rao would be the first to jump out."

"Then kill Wang Rao."

Zhao Zhi's voice was cold.