novelSusiti Chapter 26 Huge Gains: The White Horse Cavalry and the Wuhuan Rifles!
Chapter 26 Huge Gains: The White Horse Cavalry and the Wuhuan Rifles!
Liu Bei's reputation soared, and what he gained was not just empty fame; the benefits it brought were unparalleled.
Because at the end of the Han Dynasty, reputation was everything; it was the stepping stone to officialdom, the banner for recruiting talented people, and even the key to one's future and destiny.
To understand this, one must mention the prevailing trend of public criticism at the end of the Han Dynasty.
The so-called "pure opinion" was a unique form of public opinion formed by the intertwining of the Han Dynasty's official selection system and the culture of the literati.
Since Emperor Wu of Han established Confucianism as the sole state ideology and appointed scholars of the Five Classics, the imperial court has gradually placed greater emphasis on classical learning and moral character in selecting officials. Local prefectures and kingdoms recommend filial and incorruptible individuals and outstanding talents to the central government every year, based on the public opinion of the villagers regarding the character and talent of the scholars.
This kind of public opinion was the prototype of public discourse.
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Guangwu placed great importance on reputation and integrity, and Emperors Ming and Zhang followed suit, leading to a flourishing of the literary world's appreciation and evaluation of individuals.
During the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling, eunuchs seized power, and the government deteriorated daily. Students of the Imperial Academy and other prominent figures in the countryside used public criticism as a weapon to judge people and criticize the current political situation. The trend of "reclusive scholars speaking freely" spread throughout the country.
In this climate, a person's reputation not only determined whether they could be recommended as a filial and incorruptible official or a distinguished scholar, but also directly determined whether they could be accepted by the literati, attract guests and heroes, and establish themselves in their hometown.
Those who are famous can command a large following, while those who are unknown can hardly move an inch.
The weight of a famous person's comments is so great that a single word can determine their future—Xu Shao commented on Cao Cao as "a capable minister in times of peace, and a treacherous hero in times of chaos," which made Cao Cao famous.
Li Ying praised Xun Yu as "a man of great talent and ability to assist a king," and Xun Yu subsequently became highly regarded throughout the land.
Conversely, if one's future is ruined by a single word from a famous scholar, one's talent and learning will be difficult to utilize.
So much so that Cheng Du, the inspector of Zhuo County, became jealous upon hearing this and said to the prefect Liu He, "Your Excellency, Liu Xuande is now using the name of the prefecture to gain widespread fame in the state and county. The people of the northern border only know Liu Bei and not Your Excellency."
"The officials of Guangyang and Yuyang counties always refer to Lord Xuande, rarely mentioning the prefectural government. If this continues, I fear they will become too powerful to control!"
For the ruler, it is the greatest taboo that the world only knows his subjects and not his ruler.
Cheng and Du's words were undeniably venomous.
But Liu He flew into a rage upon hearing this, slamming his fist on the table and shouting, "Shut up! Xuande is loyal, kind, and magnanimous, tolerant of others, sincere to his lord, and wholeheartedly devoted to my cause!"
"Under their planning and efforts, our prefecture was able to advance with complete success and retreat without blame. In the eyes of the court, it was our prefecture that planned ahead and anticipated the enemy's moves. We first sent our clan members to pacify the bandits in Zhuojun when they suddenly rose up, and then sent the prefecture's troops and righteous followers north to attack the main force of the Yellow Turbans in Youzhou at Guangyang. We defeated the Yellow Turban leader in one fell swoop and won the first merit in pacifying Youzhou."
"His generosity and fortitude, his willingness to brave arrows and stones, his unwavering loyalty and courage, and his dedication to his lord—how could he possibly be the despicable villain you speak of!"
Having said that, he flicked his sleeve and glared angrily at Cheng and Du: "As Mencius said: 'If a ruler regards his ministers as his hands and feet, then the ministers will regard their ruler as their heart and soul; if a ruler regards his ministers as dogs and horses, then the ministers will regard their ruler as a stranger; if a ruler regards his ministers as dirt and weeds, then the ministers will regard their ruler as an enemy.'"
"Xuande has repaid me with the loyalty of a national hero, and has devoted himself to helping me. How could I possibly betray him? How could I allow a petty person like you to sow discord between us, the loyalty between ruler and subject, and the affection between host and guest?"
"Guards! Drag this troublemaker who sows discord and alienates loyal officials out of the hall! Strip him of his post as Inspector and immediately hand him over to the authorities for fifty strokes of the cane, as a warning to others!"
At his command, everyone in the hall cheered!
Li Fu, the chief clerk, was most aware of the extraordinary merits Liu Bei had bestowed, as well as the numerous contributions he had made, which led to the distribution of spoils among the people of the prefecture due to his loyalty and kindness.
Seeing Cheng and Du being reprimanded and flogged, he immediately spoke up for justice: "Xuande is tolerant and magnanimous, loyal and benevolent, and has the demeanor of a national hero. Your Excellency treats him as a national hero, how can he not repay him as a national hero?"
"Such a virtuous and renowned man has been slandered by these petty villains out of personal jealousy. It is truly hateful! Your Excellency, you must not mishandle this matter and disappoint the righteous man."
Liu He stroked his beard and nodded, his face full of righteousness, and said, "The clerk is a prudent strategist. Such a loyal and upright man deserves to be commended for his achievements and to promote the spirit of patriots."
"Then you shall fully compile a report on their achievements and submit it to the imperial court. Also, take a hundred cartloads of cattle and wine to the prefecture to reward the troops."
"In the past, the border prefectures of Youzhou were burdened with enormous military expenses. Since the Jianwu era, we have been constantly dependent on taxes and levies from Qing and Ji provinces, with annual transport of money and grain costing hundreds of millions. Now that the border troops are unreliable, our safety depends on Xuande's might in the frontier, and his righteous army to defend our homeland!"
"You shall then take one million coins and ten thousand bushels of grain from the taxes and levies of Qing and Ji provinces to fund Xuande's army!"
Li Fu was overjoyed and immediately cupped his hands, saying, "Xuan De's troops are well-equipped, disciplined, and never commit any offenses against the people. They are truly a benevolent and righteous army. Now, with the Prefect's assistance, they are like tigers with wings. How can we not remember the kindness of the elders of Zhuojun and protect our homeland?"
Liu Bei's fame spread far beyond Zhuojun and Guangyang.
His power and prestige shook Youzhou, and his name was known even in Liaodong and beyond the Great Wall.
When the news reached the Liaodong vassal state, Gongsun Zan was in charge of suppressing the Yellow Turban rebels in the border areas. He joined forces with the Yellow Turban rebels, recruited deserters and rebelled, and became a bandit.
Gongsun Zan led over a thousand cavalrymen from the Liaodong vassal state, fought several battles against them, beheaded over a thousand, and the remaining troops were routed, thus bringing some peace to the region.
Upon hearing that Liu Bei had led his troops to sweep through Dafang in Youzhou, beheading over ten thousand and shaking the region with his might, he immediately burst into laughter and said to his cousin Gongsun Fan beside him, "Back when we were both studying under Lu Shi in Zhuojun, Xuande was taciturn and unassuming. I said then that he would remain silent for three years, and then astound everyone with his talent!"
"Now the Yellow Turban Rebellion has suddenly broken out, and within a month, it has won one battle after another. With a mere two thousand righteous soldiers, it has utterly defeated tens of thousands of Yellow Turban rebels. This is not a matter of luck, but rather the result of long-term preparation and a sudden burst of vigor."
Gongsun Zan was known for his strong and unyielding character and his boldness. When he saw his classmate achieve fame and success, his joy was palpable.
He clapped his hands and laughed, "My brother Xuande, your might now shakes Youzhou! I shall congratulate you! Issue my order—select one hundred fine white horses from the army, fifty brave and valiant followers, along with one hundred horn bows and five thousand arrows, as a gift, and send them to Xuande's camp in Guangyang!"
Gongsun Fan was taken aback upon hearing this.
These followers were all the elder brother's private troops, the elite of the army. Because they often rode white horses and selected several dozen men as their left and right wings, they were called the White Horse Righteous Guards. The Xianbei people would warn each other to avoid the White Horse Guards.
In the past, the loss of one of his sworn brothers was a great loss to his elder brother, who was deeply saddened and heartbroken.
Now, fifty brave and valiant followers, along with a hundred white horses, are to be sent to Liu Bei.
Gongsun Fan had no choice but to ask, "Why is my brother so generous to Liu Bei?"
Gongsun Zan stroked his beard and scolded, "What do you know? Xuande is my sworn brother. Now he has finally made a name for himself and his fame has spread far and wide. As his elder brother, I should naturally congratulate him with generous gifts!"
"Xuande is a kind and benevolent man with lofty aspirations. If I generously congratulate him now, he will surely repay me a hundredfold! You must not say anything more, and quickly go and do as I command!"
Gongsun Zan's loyalty, generosity, and heroic spirit were exactly what Liu Bei longed for.
Just as he was overjoyed, he was completely unaware that Liu Bei had secretly eliminated a major enemy for him, preventing him from suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of Xianyu Fu and losing more than ten thousand heads.
Although Liu Bei's reputation had already spread far and wide among the officials and magistrates of the prefectures and counties, the real significance of his power in Youzhou was not among the officials and magistrates, but among the Wuhuan people beyond the Great Wall!
Since the reign of Emperor Guangwu, the various Wuhuan tribes have submitted to the Han Chinese and are scattered across the five commanderies of Liaodong, Liaoxi, Youbeiping, Yuyang, and Shanggu beyond the Great Wall. They are skilled in riding and archery, and they raise livestock according to the availability of water and pasture. They live in yurts and eat meat and dairy products.
The Han dynasty established the Protectorate of the Wuhuan Commandant to oversee them, providing them with money, grain, cloth, and silk annually, and ordering them to guard the borders and serve as scouts for the Han.
However, during the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling, the court deteriorated daily, and rebellions were frequent. The Han court repeatedly sent Wuhuan cavalry to assist in the wars. But the local officials were corrupt and often withheld their wages and provisions, so that Wuhuan soldiers who volunteered for the wars were often detained and denied rewards. Resentment was widespread among the various tribes, and rebellions were frequently brewing.
In particular, those tribes that resented the Han's frequent conscription and lack of rewards had begun to conspire to rebel.
With the Yellow Turban Rebellion raging, the Wuhuan people are also paying close attention. Whether to continue assisting the Han in quelling the rebellion or to take advantage of the situation to plunder is a matter of debate among the various tribes.
In Shanggu County, west of the Wuhuan royal court, there is a campsite nestled against the mountains and beside the water, with yurts stretching as far as the eye can see and cattle and sheep grazing in the fields.
This tribe was a minor king named Wuyanbi from the Eastern Wuhuan Alliance. It had over a thousand households and more than four hundred archers.
At this point, a fierce debate arose within the tribe regarding how to conduct themselves.
Especially after Liu Bei's power shook Youzhou, the tribes became even more terrified and unable to devise a plan.
The quarrels raged inside the tent day and night. Wu Yanbi, his face dark with anger, stared at the fire in the tent, feeling extremely troubled.
Just then, the tent flap was lifted, and a young tribesman rushed in.
Wu Yanbi recognized him. Although he was wearing a Hu-style robe with the left side overlapping the right and his head was shaved and tied in a braid, he had a heroic air about him.
His name was Yan Rou. He was captured by the Wuhuan people when he was young and was trapped by the Hu people for many years. However, because of his outstanding talent and heroic spirit, he was highly respected by the Wuhuan and Xianbei people. Wu Yanbi also allowed him to participate in important discussions.
As soon as Yan Rou entered the main tent, his expression turned solemn. He cupped his hands and said, "What doubts does Your Majesty have now?"
"What I said the other day—that you lead your warriors to join Liu Bei—is a plan that would bring peace to the tribes and benefit the people. If Your Majesty cannot heed this advice, do you truly intend to rebel against the Han and plunder?"
This was precisely the matter that the various chieftains of Wuyanbi's tribe were arguing about endlessly.
One of the chieftains inside the tent couldn't help but shout, "The Han people have a saying: those who are not of our race will surely have different hearts."
"Now that the Yellow Turbans are causing chaos, and the Han dynasty is being executed, why should we be conscripted to fight for them? Wouldn't it be better to plunder the local areas?"
"You have repeatedly requested to ally with the Han people. Whether this is for the benefit of your tribe or for your own benefit, your true intentions remain unknown!"
Yan Rou glared back angrily and rebuked, "What you all think is nothing more than taking advantage of the Han Dynasty's collapse to let your troops plunder and seek wealth to alleviate the hardships of nomadic life."
"However, Liu Bei was skilled in military strategy, and his victories were comparable to those of Sun Tzu and Wu Qi. Within a month, he won one battle after another, greatly defeating the Yellow Turbans and beheading more than 10,000 people, thus making him a formidable figure in Youzhou."
"Your mere few hundred archers are no match for thirty thousand Yellow Turbans!"
Wu Yanbi, who was about to drink the mare's milk, paused, stopped, and looked up at Yan Rou.
Yan Rou then said sternly, "Now their reputation has soared, and the prefectures and counties rely on them as their bulwark. Their troops are more formidable in armor and weaponry than any other army. If they march south to plunder, they will surely lead their forces to attack us. How can we possibly withstand them?"
"Moreover, plundering places is merely for the sake of wealth. Now, Liu Bei is kind and benevolent, humbles himself before the common people, treats his soldiers generously, and rewards them handsomely. Ordinary soldiers receive three hundred coins a month and one and a half bushels of millet. Among them, the elite Jing Sai Army receives more than nine hundred coins a month, and their millet, silk, and annual stipends are twice that of other armies."
"To fight for them, to earn rewards through strength, and to secure resources to support one's wife and children—is this not far better than plundering the people and incurring the wrath of the Han dynasty?"
Inside the tent, the leaders and officials looked around and whispered amongst themselves. Their discussions ranged from a mixture of fear of Liu Bei's formidable power in Youzhou to a desire for generous rewards from his troops.
Jingse Army, in particular, was a place that the Wuhuan cavalry had long yearned for and were deeply moved by.
The Wuhuan cavalry were most proud of their horsemanship, archery, and bravery. In their eyes, the Jingse Army was set up specifically for them, and even the Xianbei and Han people could not match them.
The generous rewards were enough to make the nomadic youths, suffering from harsh conditions, extremely envious.
If one can truly serve them and receive such a generous salary, it will naturally be enough to send them back to the tribe and support their wife and children.
However, Wu Yanbi still harbored doubts, saying, "Now that Liu Bei is a commoner, can he truly last long?"
Yan Rou immediately said, "Your Majesty, the Han court has been long-lasting, but when we are conscripted to quell the rebellion, the military funds are all embezzled by the state and county officials."
"If Your Majesty does not send your troops to join Liu Bei today, they will surely be sent by the court tomorrow."
"He was forcibly summoned by the imperial court, yet received not a penny of pay or provisions; he recruited soldiers and raised troops for Liu Bei, yet he rewarded both Han and non-Han peoples without reservation."
"Your Majesty should consider which is more important and make a decision as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, Wu Yanbi finally made his decision and said, "Very well, then you shall be my envoy to recruit the warriors of the Wuhuan tribes whom I have befriended, to serve Liu Bei and lead the vanguard!"
Yan Rou was overjoyed and touched his forehead to the ground, saying, "I will certainly not fail in your trust and will convey to Lord Liu the King's intention to form an alliance."
With the support of Wuyanbi, warriors from several Wuhuan tribes met on the grasslands, and Yan Rou successfully recruited more than 300 brave cavalrymen from the five-tribe alliance.
These three hundred-odd men were considered among the most valiant and courageous warriors in the Wuhuan tribe, all of whom were skilled in archery on horseback and could shoot arrows with incredible speed.
Yan Rou led these cavalrymen and arrived in Guangyang directly from Shanggu in just four days, heading to join Liu Bei.
However, at this time, Liu Bei was unaware of the enormous surprise Yan Rou had brought him, along with more than three hundred of the most valiant Wuhuan cavalrymen in the land.
At that time, he was a prominent figure in the state government.
Because of his great reputation, his reputation for being humble, generous and righteous spread far and wide, attracting a large number of powerful figures and brave warriors to join him.
From dawn till dusk every day, he received and entertained scholars, and even late at night, there were still those in the courtyard who had not yet been received.
For example, Shi Ren, courtesy name Junyi, was a powerful figure in Guangyang County.
This refers to the Jingzhou general who, along with Mi Fang, surrendered to Lü Meng, leading to Guan Yu's defeat at Maicheng.
Liu Bei originally did not want to accept such a disloyal person, but the man led more than two hundred of his followers to join him and even gave him his entire fortune, showing how eager he was to help him.
At this time, Liu Bei was eager to recruit talented people. If he refused Shi Ren, he feared that it would discourage the heroes of Youzhou. Therefore, he could only reluctantly accept him for the time being.
As for how to arrange things in the future, that needs to be discussed further.
Besides ordinary powerful figures like Shi Ren, news spread that after Liu Bei returned to the state capital, he was ambitious and wanted to lead his troops south to attack Zhang Jiao. This attracted a large number of heroes and officials from Youzhou to abandon their posts and homelands to join him, hoping to gain military merit and work together for the greater cause.
When this letter spread, it stirred the emotions of one man in the prefectural office, moving him to his core.