novelSusiti Chapter 62: Recommending Filial and Incorrupt Officials for Relief of Orphans and Widows and Plannin
Chapter 62: Recommending Filial and Incorrupt Officials for Relief of Orphans and Widows and Plannin
Chapter 69: Recommending Filial and Incorrupt Officials for Relief of Orphans and Widows and Planning Against Cai Yong
The residence of the Yang family, a prominent clan in Taishan, in Nancheng County.
After several days of heavy snow, a rare sunny day arrived, and the sunlight slanted into the courtyard. Madam Hu, Yang Xu's wife, brought out a folding chair and sat in front of the courtyard, gazing absently at the few withered branches in the courtyard.
At this moment, the eldest son, Yang Mi, was serving his mother while supervising his younger brother, Yang Che, who was silently reciting bamboo slips beside him.
Although they were a family with a staggering income of 2,000 shi (a unit of grain), the family was quite poor because the father was an honest official who did not accumulate wealth.
As a result, the family still used her mother's dowry for living expenses, but over the years, her mother's dowry has long been exhausted.
Yang Mi was even considering whether she should take up farming in the countryside to support her younger brother's continued education. The tradition of combining farming with scholarship was established by their father.
After a long moment of contemplation, Madam Hu suddenly turned to Yang Mi and asked, "Ziyun, is it time to recommend candidates for the civil service again?"
Yang Mi tensed up, immediately guessing what his mother was going to ask. But being a filial son, he still braced himself and replied, "Mother, according to the Han system, every winter month, the prefectural governor would travel to the counties to examine the talents in the prefecture and see if they were of high moral character and pure integrity."
"Should one study the common path of meditation and become a scholar of scriptures?"
"Whether the laws are clear and sufficient to resolve doubts;"
"In the end, whether one is resolute and resourceful, and remains unperturbed in the face of adversity, will be considered a candidate for the position of filial and incorruptible official."
Sure enough, upon hearing this, his mother looked up at him, her gaze filled with an expectation heavier than a thousand words: "Ziyun, you have been exceptionally intelligent since childhood. You could read at three, recite the Book of Poetry at five, and debate the meaning of classics with your father at seven. When your father was at home, he often said that among all my sons, only Mi resembled me the most."
"Over the years, you have served your mother with utmost filial piety and taught your younger brother with diligence, earning praise from everyone in the village. In terms of your lofty virtue, pure integrity, and profound learning, you are truly a dragon among men."
At this point, Madam Hu straightened her chest, her eyes filled with hope, and asked, "Do you think Liu Bei will recommend you as a candidate for the civil service examination?"
"Our Yang family has not produced a scholar who has passed the imperial examinations for decades."
Meeting his mother's hopeful gaze, Yang Mi forced a smile and advised, "Mother, how can we force someone to be recommended for the civil service? Otherwise, wouldn't we just be seen as someone seeking fame and fortune?"
Hu's straight body instantly hunched over again, and the hopeful light in her eyes gradually dimmed.
How could she not understand her eldest son? If there were hope and certainty, why would he hide it from his mother? He would definitely tell her to make her happy.
He said this to comfort her.
She clenched the hem of her dress tightly and asked, "Why? Because of your father?"
Yang Mi quickly shook his head, his voice still gentle, and said, "According to the Han system, a prefecture or kingdom with a population of 200,000 or more recommends one person as a filial and incorrupt official every year, and one with a population of 400,000 or more recommends two people every year. If the population is less than 200,000, one person is recommended every two years."
"Taishan Commandery was once a large commandery, capable of recommending two people annually. Now, the commandery is in ruins, with a population of less than 200,000, and can only recommend one person every two years. Lord Liu will surely consider this matter with extra care."
"The selection of whom to appoint as a filial and incorruptible official likely requires much deliberation. How can we blame the father?"
"Besides, even if we are not recommended, it is not necessarily a bad thing for my child to continue the family tradition of farming and studying."
"Passing down the family tradition of farming and studying?" Madam Hu's voice suddenly rose, becoming agitated: "Ziyun, you don't need to comfort me with these words! I also come from a prominent family, how could I not understand the ins and outs of recommending people for official positions based on filial piety and integrity?"
"All this talk of lofty virtue and pure integrity, of learned scholars and Confucian masters, is just polite rhetoric written in imperial edicts! This recommendation system for filial piety and incorruptibility, in the end, is nothing more than a transaction!"
"This year you recommend my family's sons, next year my family will recommend your students. We recommend each other, and we are like ruler and subject to each other. This is the true nature of the system of recommending people for official positions based on filial piety and integrity."
"But what kind of person is your father? He's an honest official, a righteous minister. 'If the water is too clear, there will be no fish'—your father doesn't understand this principle, but which of those prefects, governors, and high-ranking officials doesn't understand it?"
"Liu Bei was also the governor of a prefecture. When he recommended you as a candidate for the civil service examination, did he not consider how he would repay the favor? If he recommended you as a candidate, what would he get from your father? Would your father be grateful?"
She became more and more agitated as she spoke, and tears welled up in her eyes as she began her long-standing ramblings.
"I just don't understand. When others become officials, they bring glory to their families and their wives and children are granted titles and privileges. But what have I gained after marrying your father? Only chaff and wild vegetables to eat and constant fear!"
"When he was young, thanks to his father's influence and the fact that he was a descendant of a loyal minister, he was directly appointed as a court official and recruited by General Dou Wu as a clerk in his office. But before his good days could begin, Dou Wu staged a coup and was executed, and your father was dismissed from his post."
"We had just managed to catch our breath from this terrifying coup when the calamity of the partisan purge struck again. Your father was implicated and imprisoned for ten years."
"It wasn't until the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out that the emperor, fearing that the partisans would join forces with the Yellow Turbans, lifted the ban and appointed your father as the governor of Lujiang."
"I thought our days of poverty were finally over. But your father, for the sake of his reputation, completely disregarded the family business."
"Both of them were suppressing rebellions, so why was Liu Bei able to not only dominate the Hebei region but also reward his subordinates? Both of them were governing prefectures, but Liu Bei was able to make the prefectures rich and powerful, with abundant rice harvests and full granaries."
"I have heard that this year, Prefect Liu has provided relief to orphans and widows. For each orphan or widow in the prefecture who cannot support themselves, each household will be given ten bushels of millet, five catties of dried meat, three jars of fat, and two bolts of cloth. In addition, those who are disabled or seriously infirm and unable to feed themselves will be given an additional five jie of millet, so that the villagers can support each other and no one will be left to freeze or starve."
"Furthermore, the prefecture will bestow upon the elderly aged sixty and above five hundred coins, three jars of fat, two catties of dried meat, and one bolt of silk. Those aged seventy and above will be given an additional five bushels of millet. Those aged eighty and above will be given an additional ten catties of meat and two bolts of silk. Those aged ninety and above will be sent by officials from the prefecture to their door to deliver sheep and wine, which will be done annually."
"How come when you went to your father's house, you were so poor that you only had a tattered quilt and a worn-out mat?"
"Your second brother is of school age and ready to get married, yet you can't even afford his tuition and betrothal gifts for next year! Are you really willing to watch him end up toiling in the fields, reduced to a poor peasant?"
Yang Mi waited until his mother finished her accusations before gently patting her back. He knew that his mother had been holding back resentment for managing the family business and needed to vent.
But he also knew that his father's situation was different from Liu Bei's.
Liu Bei was truly a genius of the world!
By levying taxes based on acreage, he managed to uncover and compile a complete inventory of the hidden lands of powerful clans!
Even though the land tax was only one-thirtieth, he still managed to collect more than 200,000 bushels of grain.
That is why he was able to carry out this heroic act of providing relief to the orphans and widows of the entire prefecture.
He heard that when King Wen governed Qi, he implemented benevolent policies and always prioritized the widowed, orphaned, and lonely.
Mencius said: "If the elderly wear silk and eat meat, and the common people are neither hungry nor cold, yet there is no king, there has never been one."
In just a few months, Liu Bei, following the wishes of the ancient sages, ensured that in the entire prefecture of Mount Tai, the elderly were provided for until their end, the able-bodied were employed, the young were nurtured, and the widowed, orphaned, lonely, and disabled were all cared for.
Truly astonishing and admirable! This is what it means to be a peerless genius!
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but fall into the same doubt as his mother: why couldn't his father follow Liu Bei's example and implement the same benevolent policies, so as to benefit the people of the whole county and his parents, wife and children?
But he quickly replied, "Mother, Father's incorruptibility as an official is not his fault. His refusal to compromise his integrity is what I respect most about him. As for the recommendation for the title of 'filial and incorruptible official,' if I am fortunate enough to be recommended, it will be my good fortune; if I am not recommended, I will not blame Heaven or others. Cultivating the land and studying, and living an honest life, may not be a bad path."
"Moreover, Liu Bei is a renowned scholar in the country. After entering the prefecture for several months, he brought peace and tranquility to the prefecture, and a refreshing atmosphere filled the area."
At this point, Yang Mi, his face full of admiration and praise, said, "When he governed the local officials, he did not flatter the powerful and wealthy. He collected taxes by the acreage, investigated and dealt with any concealment, and the powerful and cunning in the twelve counties were brought to their knees. He spared no effort in caring for the common people. He provided relief to more than 1,300 households of orphans and widows, and supported nearly 2,000 people over the age of sixty, ensuring that the elderly had a place to end their days, the young had a place to grow up, and the widowed, orphaned, and lonely were all cared for."
"How could his selection of virtuous and talented individuals be confined to a single category? The Book of Documents says, 'Officials should be appointed based on their virtue and talent, and those around them should be chosen according to their character.' How could someone as extraordinary as Liu Bei possibly stoop to the level of the common people?"
"His selection process is fair and impartial. Even if no one is recommended this year, when the population increases next year and Mount Tai becomes a major prefecture again, why should my brothers and I worry about not having a chance to rise in society?"
"As for my second brother, Mother need not worry. Master Cai will be arriving at our Yang family soon, and my second brother will become his student. He will surely achieve great things."
Hearing what Yang Mi said, Madam Hu finally calmed down a bit and asked, "Is Master Cai arriving soon?"
Yang Mi nodded quickly and said, "Master Cai sent a letter at the end of summer saying that he would be coming from Wu and Kuaiji. Judging from the time, he should arrive at Mount Tai in a few days."
Madam Hu calculated the time and looked up to ask, "So you set off northwards when you learned that Liu Bei was going to take up his post at Mount Tai?"
Yang Mi nodded and smiled, "Liu Xuande is loyal, righteous, and has inviolable principles. He would never submit to nobles, which is why Master Cai could come with peace of mind. Under these circumstances, Master Cai's arrival this time may last for several years."
The so-called Master Cai is none other than Cai Yong, the renowned scholar and mentor of Yang Mi!
As for his talent, there is no need for further introduction; he was praised by the entire court as a genius of unparalleled talent.
However, once a person has extraordinary talent, they are prone to becoming arrogant and conceited.
He had previously been at odds with the Grand Commandant, and his uncle was also at odds with the Commandant of the Capital Region. The Commandant of the Capital Region was, in turn, the son-in-law of the Palace Attendant Cheng Huang.
As a result, they were both falsely accused by high-ranking officials and eunuchs, thrown into a death row, and were about to be executed.
However, the emperor later took pity on his talent and only killed his uncle, while pardoning Cai Yong's death sentence and exiling him to Wuyuan.
Then, through a general amnesty, he was pardoned.
But when he was about to set off to return to his prefecture, Wang Zhi, the prefect of Wuyuan, saw him off. In the midst of their drinking and revelry, Wang Zhi danced to persuade Cai Yong, but Cai Yong ignored him.
Wang Zhi was the younger brother of Wang Fu, a high-ranking official. Originally arrogant, he lost face and was ridiculed by guests. He then cursed Cai Yong, saying, "How dare a mere criminal despise and insult me!"
Cai Yong shook his clothes and left.
As a result, Wang Zhi also harbored resentment and secretly informed Cai Yong that he was blaming the court.
The eunuchs favored by Emperor Ling all harbored hatred towards Cai Yong and framed him one after another.
Therefore, Cai Yong had no choice but to flee to the Jianghai region and hide in the Wu and Yue areas, relying on the Yang family of Mount Tai for nearly ten years.
Upon hearing this, Yang was overjoyed. He put down the bamboo slip in his hand, his eyes filled with anticipation: "Master Cai last visited my Yang family three years ago. At that time, I was still young. Master Cai taught me to play the zither and said that my fingering was acceptable, but unfortunately, my breath was insufficient."
For the past three years I have practiced every day without daring to slack off. I wonder if my playing now, if it could still please Master Cai?
"I wonder how well Sister Zhenji and Sister Zhaoji are doing in their studies now. Sister Zhenji should have reached marriageable age by now? Last time we played 'Deer Cry' together, and we were on par. Now she has probably far surpassed me."
After hearing this, Mrs. Hu finally showed her first smile. Now that both of them were of marriageable age, and since they were childhood sweethearts, they might be able to make a good match.
However, the thought of the dowry required for the wedding still troubled her, and she said, "We still need to recommend him for official positions. Only if Ziyun can also become an official can our Yang family prosper."
Just as she was thinking this, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard. The old servant scrambled into the inner courtyard, his voice trembling with excitement: "Madam! Eldest Young Master! Liu—Liu Xuande! The Prefect himself has arrived! The Prefect's carriage has reached the inner gate!"
Hu suddenly stood up from the couch, swaying and almost falling. Yang Mi quickly stepped forward to support her.
Madam Hu asked in a trembling voice, "Really? Did you see clearly? Was it really Lord Liu himself who came?"
"Absolutely true!" The old servant's voice trembled with tears. "The procession was accompanied by a red canopy, a four-horse carriage, an official carrying the imperial insignia, and officials from various departments of the prefecture following behind. Cheng Pu, the magistrate of the southern city, has already arrived at the gate, saying—saying he has come to pay a visit to my Yang family!"
Hu quickly wiped away her tears and, supported by Yang Mi, walked shakily toward the main gate.
The gate was pushed open, and outside, a red banner was hung over the hill, and a four-horse carriage was being drawn by Liu Bei, the newly appointed governor of Mount Tai.
Liu Bei, dressed in a crimson robe with a blue sash and silver seal at his waist, stepped down from his carriage and personally visited the Yang family's somewhat dilapidated residence. A smile appeared on his lips.
This year, he actually had several candidates for the "filial piety and incorruptibility" recommendation, but his first choice was naturally Zang Ba.
At this time, Zang Ba was in Donghai County, Xuzhou. Liu Bei had already sent some of the refugees who had surrendered to him as envoys to make contact with him.
Zang Ba was born in Fei County, Taishan Commandery. His father, Zang Jie, was a prison clerk in the county. Because he upheld the law, he refused to obey the prefect's order to kill prisoners out of personal desire.
The prefect was furious and ordered him to be arrested and sent to the prefectural government for punishment.
When Zang Ba was eighteen years old, he learned that his father had been imprisoned. He led dozens of his followers to a strategic pass in the western mountains of Fei County and rescued his father. At that time, there were more than a hundred guards escorting him. They were all afraid of Zang Ba’s strength and dared not move. They all fled.
After that, Zang Ba fled to the East China Sea with his father. Because of this incident, Zang Ba became famous in his hometown for his filial piety, bravery, and strength.
Among the refugees from the East China Sea who had previously beheaded their chieftain and returned, some knew Zang Ba.
Liu Bei then prepared generous gifts and gave him money, instructing him to go and contact Zang Ba.
Liu Bei originally intended to use Zang Ba's filial piety and valor to recommend him as a candidate for the civil service examination, thereby attracting him back to the prefecture.
Ju Shou believed that this was the first time Liu Bei had recommended candidates for the civil service after becoming governor, and the scholars of the world were watching and waiting.
Although Zang Ba was filial, brave, and strong, his father was still a criminal and he himself had been on the run for many years. If the first person to be chosen was such a controversial figure, it would likely provoke public criticism.
It would be better to first recommend a member of the prestigious Yang family, who is known for his integrity and upright character, to demonstrate that the Prefect is fair in his selection of officials and does not favor any particular faction.
If Zang Ba is brought up again next year, no one will be able to object.
Liu Bei readily accepted this advice; after all, this was the Yang clan of Mount Tai.
Even today, they are a very prominent family.
Yang Xu's grandfather, Yang Qin, served as the Commandant of the Capital Region during the reign of Emperor An of Han.
Yang Xu's father, Yang Ru, served as Grand Master of Ceremonies during the reign of Emperor Huan of Han.
It was only during Yang Xu's generation that the family declined for a little over a decade, forcing them to rely on farming and scholarship as their family tradition. However, two years ago, Yang Xu was able to revive the family fortunes.
However, the most well-known members of their family are the children of the sheep.
His son, Yang Hu, was a famous general of the Western Jin Dynasty and one of the Seventy-Two Generals of the Temple of Martial Arts. He devised a complete strategy to destroy Wu.
His daughter, Yang Huiyu, married Sima Shi and was honored as Empress Jingxian.
The reason why the sheep was able to give birth to such outstanding children is naturally because he married a virtuous and capable wife!
She was Cai Zhenji, the daughter of Cai Yong.
Chae Jeong-hee also had a younger sister, Chae So-hee.
Cai Zhaoji may be little known by name, but she also had another courtesy name, which she later changed to Wenji to avoid the taboo of Sima Zhao's name.
It was none other than the renowned talented woman Cai Wenji!
Liu Bei felt it was essential to protect Zhao Ji and Wen Ji to prevent them from suffering the tragic fate of being stranded among the Xiongnu.
This is definitely not lust!
This is a responsibility to the country and its people!
He can't have another son like Liu Shan.
His wife must be a woman of exceptional talent and virtue, a wise and virtuous empress throughout history.
For example, he had a child with Zhen Bi named Liu Rui, and a child with Cai Zhenji named Liu Hu.
That would absolutely guarantee the longevity of the Han Dynasty after his three restorations.
Just as he was thinking this, Madam Hu led her three sons out of the door, bowed to Liu Bei, and said, "We were unaware of your presence at my humble abode and have failed to greet you properly. We hope you will forgive us."
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Lady Hu, Liu Bei solemnly said, "I have come here today with two important matters on my mind."
"Firstly, the recommendation letter has been personally signed by the Prefect—this year, one person from Mount Tai was recommended as a filial and incorruptible official, namely Yang Mi, the eldest son of the Yang family in Nancheng. The recommendation letter will soon reach the Ministry of Personnel."
"Lord Yang's integrity is admired by all. His wife is skilled in educating her son, and the son has inherited his father's virtues, being diligent in his studies and practicing what he preaches. This act is not to curry favor, but to recommend virtuous men for the sake of the nation."
Madam Hu covered her face and wept. Yang Mi stepped forward, bowed deeply, and thanked him, saying, "I will never forget your great kindness, Your Excellency."
Liu Bei helped Yang Mi up and said gently, "Ziyun, there's no need for this. I hope that when you enter officialdom in the future, you will uphold the family tradition and live up to your father's name."
.
As he spoke, he turned to look at the sheep standing to the side and said with a smile, "As for the second matter, I have heard that Lord Cai Bojie will be arriving at Mount Tai soon. I have long admired Lord Cai, and I hope that you gentlemen will introduce me to him when the time comes."
Liu Bei intended to use this favor of recommending Yang Shi to obtain a request that Yang Shi could not refuse.
With Yang's introduction, Liu Bei will be able to establish a connection with Cai Yong, a renowned scholar.
It should be noted that Cai Yong was a genius of his time, possessing a collection of tens of thousands of books, and was famous for his calligraphy style known as the "flying white" style.
This was extremely beneficial for Liu Bei in promoting education and moral guidance.
It should be noted that people in that era still used bamboo slips, not because there was anything wrong with papermaking.
It's mostly due to habit.
Even if we start counting from the second year of Zhongping this year, to the time when paper became expensive in Luoyang, and then to Huan Xuan's decree to replace bamboo slips with paper, it was only a little over a hundred years in between.
Therefore, if Liu Bei wanted to promote education, the difficulty was not in making paper, but in getting more people to accept paper instead of bamboo slips.
Historically, Huan Xuan relied on administrative decrees. As for later claims that the unification of the Wei and Jin dynasties and social stability led to paper replacing bamboo slips, that's a different story.
Liu Bei almost laughed, wondering which brilliant person had come up with this conclusion.
Was the Wei-Jin period a time of national unification and social stability? That must be a fake Wei-Jin period! At least not the Wei-Jin period that Liu Bei knew.
Liu Bei could, of course, also forcefully push through the paperwork by issuing administrative orders.
However, he felt that a two-pronged approach could be taken, with one being to implement the matter through an executive order.
On the other hand, it also made the use of paper a cultural trend, which people from all over the world actively sought after.
Cai Yong could be of great help to Liu Bei in this matter, since he would not write anything without Zuo Bo's paper.
Although Hu Shi and Yang Mi did not know where Liu Bei got the information, given Liu Bei's reputation, they had no doubt that he would harm Cai Dajia.
Yang Mi immediately cupped his hands and said, "Master Cai is a great Confucian scholar of our time. Your Excellency's respect for him, given your status as a renowned scholar, will surely become a celebrated story among scholars. Once Master Cai arrives in Nancheng, I will personally introduce him to you without any hesitation."
So Liu Bei smiled and chatted with Yang Mi for a few more minutes, then asked Yang Xu about his current situation.
Yang Mi was extremely proud of her father, and was very enthusiastic about it.
Now Yang Xu is the prefect of Lujiang. This year, the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out in Yangzhou, and he gathered a crowd to attack Shuxian, burning down the city.
Yang Xu then ordered all men over twenty years old in the county to take up arms and stand guard, while the younger and weaker men were made to carry water to extinguish the fire.
After gathering tens of thousands of men and fighting with all their might, they decisively defeated the Yellow Turbans, and the region was pacified.
Later, when Dai Feng and other bandits rebelled in Anfeng, Yang Xu defeated them again, beheading more than 3,000 and capturing their leader alive. The remaining members of the rebels were all pardoned and given land and tools to cultivate the land.
His actions were quite similar to those of Liu Bei.
Moreover, the two are now in very similar situations.
As the world descended into chaos, those prefects who were skilled in warfare were always given special consideration and promotion.
When Yang Xu became famous as the Prefect of Xuanyu, he was serving as the Prefect of Nanyang.
This indicates that he will not stay in Lujiang for long before being transferred to Nanyang.
This prefecture was actually the place Liu Bei most wanted to serve in, with a population of over two million!
If Liu Bei had a large county with one or two million inhabitants as his base during a time of great chaos and warlordism, then the world would have been easily conquered!
After serving as the governor of Nanyang for several years, Yang Xu's reputation grew greatly. The emperor wanted to appoint Liu Yu as Grand Commandant, but Liu Yu humbly declined the position to Yang Xu.
However, to assume the position of Grand Commandant, Yang Xu needed to pay the emperor ten million coins. Since Yang Xu could not come up with the money, the emperor gave up and instead appointed Liu Yu as Grand Commandant.
If we take Yang Xu as an example, Liu Bei anticipated that he would then be appointed to a large prefecture with a population of one million, such as the governor of Bohai or the governor of Changsha. Then he could assume the positions of Grand Commandant and Governor.
In truth, a salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain) is already a pillar of the Han Dynasty, a candidate for high-ranking officials, and only one step away from becoming one of the Three Dukes.
It would be difficult for him to become one of the Three Dukes, but if he were to take a step back, becoming a governor would be quite easy.
For Liu Bei, the position of governor was clearly better than the position of one of the Three Dukes.
Therefore, Liu Bei urgently needs to further enhance his reputation. If a renowned scholar like Cai Yong is willing to lend him a helping hand, he can use this opportunity to further improve his reputation.
This matter did not require him to wait long.
In the twelfth lunar month, the prefectural government was filled with joy as everyone prepared to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new. Then, news arrived.
Yang Mi and Yang Congnan welcomed Cai Yong's carriage back from the border of Nancheng County.
Cai Yong traveled lightly, bringing only his two daughters and a few disciples with him. He deliberately avoided counties and cities, taking only country roads, clearly still intending to avoid trouble.
Although this was the busiest time for the prefect, with his duties of attracting refugees, providing relief to the orphans and widows, and other miscellaneous matters keeping Liu Bei busy almost day and night.
But Liu Bei made time to set aside three days just to personally visit this renowned scholar.
At the same time, we plan to invite him to the prefectural government for a short stay, so that he can celebrate the New Year's Day festival there.
Only in this way could he possibly see the sisters, Chae Jeong-hee and Chae So-hee, whom he had longed to see for so long.
So, three days after Cai Yong arrived, when his travel fatigue had eased, Liu Bei personally visited him with gifts.