novelSusiti Chapter 11 Training Troops and Bribery
Chapter 11 Training Troops and Bribery
Over the next ten days or so, Liu Bei's reputation for "spending lavishly to entertain guests," "treating his subordinates with humility," and "killing the young commander of the Taiping Road" quickly spread throughout Zhuojun and even the neighboring Guangyang and Shanggu counties.
Furthermore, the prophecy of "Peach Blossom" and the rumors that the Way of Peace would rebel were secretly brewing, causing unrest among the people.
Many heroes, chivalrous men, and poor scholars who harbored ambitions and were unwilling to be buried in the countryside, or who were desperate and yearning for support, as well as some stragglers who lost their support during the retreat of the border troops, all turned their attention to this hero in the southeast of Zhuo County.
This seems to be a glimmer of hope worth betting on when chaos is imminent.
Liu Bei himself brought the charm of "magnanimity, generosity, and understanding of people to the extreme" to the extreme.
He did not simply give money; he could also call out the names of many newcomers, remember their hometowns, and ask about their strengths and weaknesses.
He discussed swordsmanship and archery with wandering knights, debated classics and military strategies with poor scholars, and explored the benefits of tools with craftsmen.
He would grant any request that was of public benefit; and he would personally visit anyone who was injured or ill and instruct them to take medicine.
Furthermore, Guan Yu was dignified and resolute, while Zhang Fei was bold and generous. Although the village had gathered people from all walks of life, they were able to quickly organize their troops, clarify rewards and punishments, and regulate their behavior.
There was none of the bullying, chaos, or looting that is common when bandits gather.
This orderly scene actually reassured many onlookers, making them more determined to invest.
In just half a month, the atmosphere inside and outside the manor changed dramatically.
The once somewhat empty training ground became incredibly crowded, with shouts and drills continuing from dawn till dusk.
Outside the manor, newly built shacks and tents sprang up like mushrooms after rain, with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys, forming a small settlement attached to the main manor.
Every day, new faces arrive, some alone with swords, covered in dust from their journey; others in groups of three or five, carrying bows and knives; still others are wandering groups of knights who were already active in the Zhuoxian, Liangxiang, and Fangcheng areas, led by their leaders, with dozens of people coming to join them, all for the sake of attaching themselves to "Liu Xuande" and plotting great things together.
Liu Bei ordered Tian Yu and Liu Deran to record in detail the names, hometowns, special skills, and whether they had families among the visitors. After initial questioning, they were assigned according to their abilities, either to be added to the fighting force or to be organized into supply trains.
Money, grain, cloth, salt, and iron flowed out of the granaries like water, in exchange for machinery, horses, and a continuous influx of people.
The number of people expanded rapidly, like a snowball rolling downhill. From the original core of over a hundred people, it surged to over three hundred! Most of them were young and strong men who dared to fight, including many desperate men with experience in life-or-death situations and veterans from the border regions.
However, the rapid expansion brought both the joy of increased strength and unprecedented pressure.
The group of over three hundred people was a mixed bag, with varying personalities. If they could not be quickly and effectively organized, rigorously trained, and given unified command, they would be nothing more than a disorganized mob that wasted money and resources.
Liu Bei had already planned for this. He entrusted internal affairs, general administration, and the management of finances and provisions to the experienced and steady Liu Deran and the resourceful Jian Yong;
He entrusted the task of external procurement and contacting heroes from all directions to the increasingly mature Tian Yu and the soon-to-return Qian Zhao.
He devoted all his energy, including the training and reorganization of these three hundred men, to Guan Yu without reservation.
"Yun Chang, organizing and training the army is the most important task at present. Whether these three hundred righteous men can form an army depends entirely on you." Liu Bei handed Guan Yu a bamboo scroll of the "Six Secret Teachings" that he had carefully annotated, full of trust and expectation.
Guan Yu solemnly accepted the gift, and proudly declared, "I, Yu, will do my utmost to repay your trust, brother! I will certainly train a fierce and invincible army for you!"
In the days that followed, Guan Yu displayed a commanding talent that even Liu Bei secretly admired.
He seemed born to stand beneath banners and command thousands of troops.
Although it was only his first time leading a force of several hundred men, his decisive orders, strict formation, and rigorous yet methodical training showed no signs of awkwardness or hesitation, displaying the demeanor of a renowned general.
Every day before dawn, Guan Yu would already be standing on the command platform in the training ground, his hand on his sword.
Based on the ideas provided by Liu Bei and the essentials of ancient military books, combined with his own experience of wandering the world and the border army regulations he had witnessed, he reorganized and regrouped these three hundred-plus men.
The organization was roughly based on the Han army system. Five men formed a squad, and each squad had a squad leader; two squads formed a shi, and each shi had a shi leader; five shi formed a dui, and each dui had a dui leader; two dui formed a tun, and each tun had a tun leader; two tuns formed a qu, and each qu had a junhou; two qu formed a bu, and each bu had a xiaowei or sima; two bu formed a ying (or "jun"), and each ying had a general or zhonglangjiang.
This is an idealized version of a regular army.
At this time, Liu Bei's forces were a private army, and their size was limited, so a simplified reorganization was adopted. They were set up as three garrisons, with Liu Bei personally leading the cavalry. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei each led one garrison.
Once the formation was finalized, Guan Yu acted swiftly and decisively, beginning the training.
He was a man of few words, but his orders were always carried out, and he was fair in rewarding and punishing. In addition, he was a man of exceptional martial arts skills, capable of drawing a powerful bow and fighting against dozens of men without fear. He quickly established an unassailable authority as a commander through his absolute strength and prestige.
His training of troops placed great emphasis on commands and formations. He ordered craftsmen to quickly produce several red flags and also found old drums and gongs (bronze military musical instruments, shaped like bells, which were struck to signal the end of the battle) retired from the army. Every day at the drill ground, he personally taught the soldiers to identify the signals of the gongs, drums, flags, and bells.
"Advance at the sound of the drum, halt at the sound of the gong, and proceed wherever the banners point! This is the foundation of military campaigns, life and death! Only when orders are obeyed and everyone is of one mind can we form a strong army; if orders are inconsistent and everyone fights independently, we are just a rabble that will scatter at the first charge of the enemy!" Guan Yu's voice was as loud as a bell, and his face was solemn. He would reiterate this every day before the drills began.
Those who are slow to react, laugh or slack off will be severely reprimanded for the first offense, publicly whipped for the second offense, and expelled from the team for the third offense, with their clothing, food and equipment confiscated without any leniency.
The formation drills begin with the simplest "ten-five column" and "horizontal" formations, practicing assembly, dispersal, advancing, retreating, and turning left and right.
Then they practiced basic battle formations such as the "circular formation", "square formation", and "conical formation".
Guan Yu often held a long pole, standing on the general's platform or a high place. His phoenix eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, scanning the entire field. No slight misalignment or sluggish movement of any soldier or squad could escape his notice. He would immediately correct them, being extremely strict.
"Formations should be arranged in formations, squads in squads, and units in units. Those in the front, armed with halberds and spears, should be the vanguard; those in the next rank, with bows and crossbows, should fire upwards at the enemy; those in the rear, armed with swords and shields, should prepare for close combat and provide flank protection. Marching must be done in single file, and standing must be done in a wedge formation. Long weapons should be in front, and short weapons behind, providing ranged support. Each should fulfill their role and there should be no confusion!"
Guan Yu combined his own understanding with the battle strategies discussed with Liu Bei in "Six Secret Teachings" and "Wu Zi," and compiled them into concise commands, which he incorporated into daily drills. He required each soldier not only to be able to use their hands and feet correctly, but also to understand their position and responsibilities.
In this day and age, the methods of training soldiers inherit from the military strategies of the pre-Qin period, placing great emphasis on battle formations and commands. The *Wei Liao Zi* (尉缭子) states in its chapter on military orders: "The victory of an army lies in the selection of its soldiers, its courage in its system (systems and discipline), its skill in its formation (battle formation), its advantage in its credibility (honest rewards and punishments), and its virtue in its principles (education and acceptance)."
There is also the "Wu Zi: Governing the Army" which states: "The method of using troops is to first instruct and admonish; to make them round and square, to make them sit and stand, to make them walk and stop, to make them move left and right, to make them move forward and backward, to make them separate and unite, to make them bind and unbind. They must practice each change before they are given weapons."
At Liu Bei's request, Guan Yu also read these military books. His methods of training troops were in line with the essential principles of ancient times, and he certainly had the potential to become a famous general.
Liu Bei watched from the sidelines, marveling at the sight, but could only attribute it to "the potential of a great general".
Historically, Guan Yu was able to "shake the heart of China" and even made Cao Cao "consider moving the capital to Xuchang to avoid his sharp edge," so his ability as a commander is beyond doubt.
Perhaps some people are born with the ability to forge scattered soldiers into an iron army.
Otherwise, it is really hard to explain why a general from the north was able to train a navy in Jingzhou and use it to dominate the Yangtze and Han Rivers.
As for the idea of learning some drill training from later generations and then building an iron army at the end of the Han Dynasty, that's simply wishful thinking.
The training of Guan Yu, which strictly followed the military strategies of the Qin and Han dynasties, involved a great deal of complexity, including the selection of soldiers, institutional norms, fair rewards and punishments, moral education, battlefield situation analysis, and formation changes.
In addition to overall formation and command, individual martial arts skills and squad coordination were equally emphasized. Zhang Fei was responsible for supervising the thrusting and parrying of long weapons (spears, halberds, and lances) and the squad's coordinated attacks.
Wang Tong and Li Zheng trained the archers in standing shooting, kneeling shooting, and even basic mounted archery skills; Wang Kai and others led the training in sword and shield coordination, close combat, and night watch.
Liu Bei himself often participated in archery training, and his archery skills improved day by day. Hitting a willow leaf from a hundred paces was no longer difficult for him. He often competed with his soldiers during breaks in training. He was happy to win and encouraged them even if they lost, which won him the hearts of the people.
To distinguish the troops and facilitate command, Liu Bei adopted Tian Yu's suggestion to have different colored strips of cloth wrapped around the left arm or sewn onto the shoulder of the uniform as identification.
Liu Bei's troops wore red, Guan Yu's troops wore blue, and Zhang Fei's troops wore black. Squad leaders and platoon leaders wore special markings on their headbands or at their waists.
They also commissioned craftsmen to create simple red flags with the characters "Liu" and "Han" on them, which were then placed on the parade ground and the gate tower to bolster their morale.
The fire in the manor burns day and night. The newly hired arrow maker, Jiao Ping, along with his apprentices and other skilled craftsmen in the manor, has begun mass-producing arrows and is trying to teach the techniques of selecting materials, heating the shafts, and attaching feathers.
Under Guo Rong's supervision, the blacksmith shop was filled with the clanging of metal, mainly repairing and polishing the purchased weapons, and trying to make more spearheads and arrowheads.
In front of the granaries managed by Liu Deran and Tian Yu, long lines of people lined up every day to collect grain, salt, cloth, and repair clothes. The two were so busy that their feet barely touched the ground, yet they kept the accounts clear and the expenditures were well-managed.
Such a hard-working and well-trained army, even if it only numbered a few hundred, was absolutely not something that the rabble of the Yellow Turban Army could withstand.
Just as Liu Bei was busily expanding his army and preparing for war within his manor, with the situation improving day by day, outside the manor, the turmoil in Zhuo County and even the prefecture was, just as Liu Bei had predicted, slowly spreading along the inherent and sluggish path of the late Han Dynasty bureaucratic system.
Chen Xun, the county magistrate of Zhuo County who was "patrolling the border," hid outside for seven or eight days in fear and anxiety. He sent scouts to repeatedly confirm that the county town was peaceful and that Taiping Dao had not attacked immediately. Only then did he put on a "travel-worn and thorough patrol" appearance and return to the county temple.
Upon returning, he heard a report from the patrolman Chen An, saying that Liu Bei not only openly admitted to killing people, but also accused the Taiping Dao of rebellion and demanded that the county magistrate personally go to the manor to confront him.
Upon hearing this, Chen Xun was furious, feeling utterly humiliated that a hero in white dared to so blatantly defy the government.
But soon, more detailed news came: Liu Bei had gathered more than 300 brave men in his manor, well-armored and armed, and the two generals Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were as fierce as wolves and tigers, and heroes from all directions were still coming to join him.
Chen Xun's raging anger was instantly extinguished by a bucket of ice water.
"Do you want me to personally arrest them?" He paced back and forth in the signing room, his expression shifting.
Don't make Chen Gong laugh!
If he had that kind of courage, would he have fled at the mere sound of the alarm?
He dared not go, nor did he have the ability to mobilize enough forces to force his way through. So, Chen Xun naturally wrote a detailed report to the county magistrate, which included this hot potato, along with his "hard work" and "observations" during his "border patrols." The report was written with earnest words, highlighting the critical situation and the impending banditry.
The text describes Liu Bei as "arrogant and lawless, gathering a large following," but it also mentions the Taiping Dao's "seemingly unusual activities," "hiding armor and crossbows," and the potential for "major upheaval."
The magistrate was overwhelmed when he received the document. He dared not provoke Liu Bei, who had already gained considerable power, nor did he dare to incite a popular uprising in Taiping Dao.
After all, the Taiping Dao spanned multiple prefectures and counties, with a population of over a million. Which local official was unaware of its harmful influence? They would never dare to force it into rebellion under their own control.
The county magistrate and his assistants, including the county lieutenant and the county assistant, discussed the matter behind closed doors for several days. On the one hand, they secretly sent more people to continue to investigate the movements of Liu Bei's manor and Taiping Road. On the other hand, they passed the buck to each other and delayed making a decision.
Until the spies sent out brought back more definite and more unsettling news: the number of people at Liu Bei's manor had steadily exceeded three hundred, and they were extremely well-trained, with strict orders, and had already taken on the appearance of a military force;
Meanwhile, in other counties of Zhuojun, and even in neighboring Guangyang and Shanggu counties, there were increasing reports of Taiping Dao believers secretly gathering, spreading talismanic water, and even occasional friction and conflict with local powerful families.
The key point is that the "Peach Blossom" nursery rhyme has spread even more widely, reaching the entire Youzhou.
The county magistrate finally couldn't sit still any longer, and cold sweat poured down his back. He knew all too well that this matter concerning Liu Bei was no longer something that a single county could handle on its own.
If he were to forcefully suppress the rebellion, the outcome would be uncertain. If it were to incite a popular uprising, or if the Taiping Dao leader were to take advantage of the situation and cause chaos while he was unprepared, he would be unable to escape the blame for "ineffective governance" and "inciting local unrest." Losing his official position would be the least of his worries.
The safest approach right now is to pass on all the responsibilities and problems to your superiors and let them worry about them.
The urgent official document, jointly signed by the magistrate and the lieutenant of Zhuo County, was delivered to the prefectural government. The prefectural clerk dared not delay and immediately presented it to the prefect.
At this time, the prefect of Zhuojun was named Liu He, courtesy name Wengui. He was nearly fifty years old and had a thin face. He came from the lineage of Liu Kai, the Prince of Hejian, and was a legitimate member of the imperial clan with a clear genealogy. He was not comparable to those "descendants of Prince Jing of Zhongshan" who had long since fallen into obscurity and whose lineage was difficult to trace.
His family was quite famous in the Hejian area, and he himself was known for his "prudence and prudence" and "devotion to classical studies". Relying on his status as a member of the imperial family and his local reputation, he was able to serve as the governor of Zhuojun, with a salary of two thousand shi.
Unfolding the official document, Liu He's gaze lingered between the lines.
When he saw the words "descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan", "gathered hundreds of people", "killed villagers without permission", and "resisted the law", he couldn't help but frown and feel a surge of displeasure and disgust.
Such local tyrants becoming too powerful, unruly, and arbitrary in their villages are what prefects like him, who take it upon themselves to "protect the land and keep the people safe" and "clean up the local area," fear and find most annoying.
If this trend continues, what will become of the prefectural government's authority? How will government orders be effectively implemented?
However, when he saw the contents such as "claiming to have killed Taiping Dao members", "the rumors of 'Tao Yao' circulating among the people", and "Taiping Dao seems to be making strange moves", his expression became complicated.
As the prefect of Taiping Dao, he naturally knew more about the inside story than the county magistrate or county lieutenant.
In recent years, the imperial court has been rife with rumors, and various prefectures and counties have also submitted secret reports, alleging that he "uses talismans and incantations to cure diseases," "deceives the people," and "has an ever-growing number of followers who are forming alliances with other prefectures and counties."
There was discussion about this in the central government, the three highest officials' offices, and even in the palace. Although no official order to launch a campaign was issued due to various concerns, vigilance and fear were evident.
He himself was deeply influenced by the classics of poetry, history, rites, and change. He abhorred the Taiping Dao and other "heretical" religions that "deceived the masses," "boasted the common people," and "used gods and monsters" from the bottom of his heart. He regarded them as a scourge that corrupted customs, disturbed the people's minds, and shook the foundation of the regime. He considered them close to "licentious worship" and believed they should be banned.
If what Liu Bei said is true, although his killing of Deng and Li was "unauthorized killing," his motives, in Liu He's view, may not be entirely unreasonable, and could even be seen as "hating evil as if it were an enemy" and "upholding the moral order."
Upon closer examination, his claim of "restoring the Han dynasty" does not seem to be entirely empty talk.
"But..." Liu He put down the official document, stroked his beard and pondered, "The Way of Peace is powerful, with hundreds of thousands of followers, spanning across provinces and counties. Its leaders, the Zhang brothers, are famous throughout the region and have grand ambitions."
"If he remains dormant or the court takes other actions, Liu Bei's crime of 'unauthorized killing' will be irrefutable evidence, and his act of 'gathering people to train troops' will further reveal his sinister intentions. If I deal with him now, I may either reward him for 'slaying demons' and encourage the arrogance of powerful figures, or punish him for 'unauthorized killing' and chill the hearts of the loyal and righteous. Both are inappropriate."
He was torn by conflicting emotions. Emotionally, as a fellow member of the Liu clan, he held a faint admiration for Liu Bei, this "courageous and responsible" younger member of the clan, and even felt that his actions had a touch of the ancient "chivalrous" spirit. He was unwilling to personally kill him and bear the infamy of harming his clan.
From a self-interest perspective, he is weak-willed and most afraid of provoking a major upheaval.
If we were to forcibly send troops to attack Liu Bei, who had already gained considerable power, the outcome would be uncertain. If the war were to drag on, or if Liu Bei were to be forced to join forces with the Taiping Dao, it would be a catastrophic disaster.
If left unattended, their power may continue to expand and become uncontrollable. When the governor investigates and the court questions them, they too will be guilty of "failure to manage properly" and "nurturing a festering sore."
After much deliberation, this prefect, who was more inclined to maintain the status quo than to make decisive decisions, made a decision that best reflected his character and bureaucratic wisdom: to pass the buck to the state government.
He picked up his pen and added a few lines of comments to the original text from Zhuo County. These comments were nothing more than "This matter involves relatives and is of great importance, so I dare not make a decision on my own" and "The rumors of heretics are spreading throughout the prefectures and counties. We should investigate them carefully to prevent them from escalating." He then stamped the silver seal of the Prefect of Zhuo County and ordered the chief clerk of the prefecture to forward it to Guo Xun, the governor of Youzhou, via express courier service, requesting "Your Excellency to make a decision."
Nowadays, the system of prefects is very different from that when Emperor Xiaowu first established it.
The governor was originally an inspector with a salary of 600 shi (a unit of grain), which was lower than that of the prefect with a salary of 2,000 shi, but he could supervise the prefect.
However, by the end of the Han Dynasty, governors were often given additional titles such as "holding the imperial staff" and "supervising the army," and their powers continued to expand. They gradually became local military and political officials who were above the prefects of counties, and evolved into "provincial governors."
One of its most important duties was to "pacify" the "thieves" and "bandits" within its jurisdiction.
Youzhou was a border region, frequently disturbed by the Xianbei and Wuhuan. The troops of the prefectures and kingdoms within its borders were relatively stronger than those in the interior, and the governor had the right to mobilize the troops when necessary.
Guo Xun, the governor of Youzhou, was at this time stationed in the prefecture's capital, Ji County of Guangyang Commandery.
Unlike Liu He, the magnanimous and conservative governor of Zhuojun, Guo Xun was a different kind of person.
He did not rise to a high position based on his Confucian scholarship, moral character, or outstanding political achievements. Instead, he used the connections of Zhang Zhaozhong, a eunuch, and spent a huge sum of money to secure the position of Governor of Youzhou.
What they were after was the lucrative military affairs on the border, the "mutual trade" and "rewards" with the Xianbei and Wuhuan, and even the taxes paid by the prefectures and kingdoms, the purchase of military provisions and equipment. They could make money everywhere, making it a place with unlimited potential.
He is greedy and shrewd. Since taking office, all he has thought about is to recoup his investment as quickly as possible and make a huge profit.
When it comes to local government affairs and border defense, they often do a perfunctory job as long as it does not endanger their own power and position. However, they are skilled at accumulating wealth, soliciting bribes, installing cronies, and suppressing dissidents.
It was half a month later when the official document forwarded by Zhuojun was received. Nowadays, although there is a postal system for official document delivery, the long distances, mountain barriers, and the layers of bureaucratic processes mean that it is normal for it to take half a month.
Guo Xun casually opened the official documents and began to read them. At first, he was quite impatient when he saw words such as "gathering crowds," "unauthorized killing," and "resisting the law." He felt that it was just another case of local tyrants causing trouble, which would only lead to more problems and affect his "tax collection."
But when he saw the phrases "descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan", "execution of Taiping Dao henchmen", "gathering hundreds of people for rigorous training", and "Tao Yao's seditious words", his calculating eyes gradually lit up.
Greedy people often see "opportunities" in trouble.
"Brilliant!" Guo Xun clapped his hands, a smile spreading across his face. "I was just worried about the lack of 'tribute' from various places lately, and the harvest was bad, but now a fat sheep has been delivered to our door."
"Liu Bei has gathered several hundred men, so he must have some wealth. Liu He of Zhuojun is a cowardly old man from the imperial clan. It's a good opportunity to take him down as well. When the army moves, money and silk will amount to millions. We can use the pretext of rewarding the troops to get that old man Liu He to offer up a large amount of money, grain, and cloth."
He did not believe for a second that the Way of Peace would immediately rebel. In his view, it was nothing more than a superstitious trick of the ignorant masses, at most a small disturbance that would not amount to anything. He thought it was a good opportunity to exaggerate the situation to make it easier for him to act.
Therefore, Guo Xun did not hesitate any longer and immediately ordered: to send his subordinate Colonel Zou Jing with 500 soldiers from Ji County (soldiers from prefectures and counties directly under the governor's jurisdiction) to Zhuo County to investigate Liu Bei's unauthorized killing and gathering of people.
If they are found to have committed any illegal acts, they shall be suppressed and ordered to disband their followers and await further punishment.
Even if there are extenuating circumstances, it is still necessary to uphold the law and discipline, and not to act recklessly.
The most important thing, of course, was to take the opportunity to solicit bribes and obtain gold and silver.