Volume One: The Hidden Dragon in the Abyss Chapter Eighteen: The Tragic Xun Yu

In the fifth month of the second year of Zhongping, the scent of blood from the Qiang cavalry had completely dissipated from the ramparts of Gaoling, and the grim row of severed heads that had been replaced time and again upon the city gates was nowhere to be seen.

Across the lands of Zuofengyi, a different kind of vitality began to quietly sprout.

Liu Heng, a traveler from another time, knew better than anyone in this era that while blades and spears could be used to slaughter Qiang bandits or execute corrupt officials and tyrannical gentry, they could never be used to govern the world. To truly bring peace to the common people, only the hoe and the plow could ensure stability for generations.

Entrusting Du Ji with the post of "Agricultural Supervisor," with the maps and records of the tens of thousands of acres of fertile land confiscated from the gentry, was akin to holding the very pulse of Zuofengyi in his hands.

Under Du Ji’s vigorous and swift leadership, the task of surveying fields and distributing them to displaced refugees began to operate with astonishing speed. Following Liu Heng’s plan, Gaoling, Chiyang, and Wannian were chosen as pilot counties. "Agricultural Officials," recruited from among the refugees and given brief training, ventured deep into the countryside armed with land deeds issued by the commandery and brand-new farming tools.

Du Ji held court personally, laboring daily over mountains of paperwork regarding boundary disputes and irrigation rights. Adhering to Liu Heng’s ironclad rule of "fairness and efficiency," he acted decisively, indifferent to the resentment of the remaining gentry and unafraid to offend the petty officials who sought to line their pockets.

Tens of thousands of displaced persons in Zuofengyi were settled. Under Liu Heng’s iron-fisted rule, the local gentry in every county were forced to retract their claws, and Zuofengyi began to radiate with new life.

But this was only the beginning; Liu Heng’s vision was already fixed far beyond the harvest of a single season or year.

He knew that his uncle, the Emperor sitting securely in Luoyang, did not have much time left. He currently lacked the strength to face off directly against the likes of He Jin or Zhang Rang. Once the Emperor Ling passed away, some events would be beyond his power to prevent. He had to plan early, accumulating as much capital as possible before the world descended into chaos, so that he might bring this wretched, turbulent age to an end as soon as possible.

He was determined to prevent the tragedies of the two Jin dynasties. The short, repeatedly revised phrase in history books had eventually become the bland and gentle "ethnic integration." He refused to accept such "integration," which sought to bury the bloody and cruel history of those years under the guise of a glorious historical trend. He would not accept the sight of the Central Plains overrun by northern tribes, nor the forced "migration of the elite to the south" to develop the Jiangnan region. He would ensure that the northern Hu barbarians dared not move south—just as the Marquis of Champion had once blocked them at Langjuxu, forcing the Xiongnu to eventually fracture and flee westward under the whip of the Han cavalry.

***

In the rear hall of the commandery, Liu Heng held a secret meeting to determine the future of Zuofengyi with Zheng Hun, Du Ji, the newly recruited Chief of the Decision Bureau Fa Yan, and Zhang Ji, a talented man from a humble background who had been promoted to Prefect of the Household Bureau.

"Distributing land is only the first step to saving the people." Liu Heng tapped his wooden desk, his gaze sweeping over his subordinates, who possessed vastly different temperaments but were all men of practical talent. "To truly nourish the people with this land, to grow more grain and raise more troops, the old ways will not suffice."

Fa Yan, son of Fa Zhen and father of Fa Zheng—yes, the future Fa Zheng of Shu Han, though he was but a nine-year-old child now. When Liu Heng first saw the boy, he felt a strange sensation, wondering if this future pillar of Shu, nearly a decade his junior, would one day become his right-hand man.

Fa Yan, a man of upright character well-versed in law, happened to have an interest in agriculture. He said in a deep voice, "My Lord, in the Guanzhong region, the people follow the old, extensive crop rotation methods that easily exhaust the soil. I have heard that during the reign of Emperor Wu, there was the 'Substitute Field Method,' using ditch and ridge rotation to preserve soil fertility. If we could promote this in government-owned and newly distributed fields, select sturdy seeds, and supplement them with fertilizer, the yield per acre might increase by thirty percent!"

Zhang Ji, who was meticulous, added immediately, "Promotion requires method. We can select a few government plots as 'model fields,' guided by skilled craftsmen. At the autumn harvest, we can summon the village elders and representatives to witness the results, proving it through hard facts. Furthermore, we must strictly order village leaders to urge farmers to select the largest, fullest grains for seeds, and the commandery can establish a 'Quality Seed Granary' to provide for households that cannot afford to save their own."

Approval flashed in Liu Heng’s eyes. "Good! Fa Yan, you oversee the promotion of the Substitute Field Method and seed selection. Zhang Ji, you are meticulous; take charge of the promotion regulations, supervise the model fields, and manage the seed granaries. As for irrigation..."

He stood and walked to the map, his finger tracing the Jing, Wei, and Luo rivers and their tributaries. "Zuofengyi is currently in ruins; large-scale canals are likely impossible, but small ponds and irrigation ditches can bloom everywhere! Furthermore, under the banner of 'protecting the borders and providing water for the people,' we shall conscript labor—relief through work! Those who participate will be exempt from certain corvée duties or compensated with grain. The funds will come from the confiscated assets! Du Ji, you shall coordinate this. Ensure the water reaches the newly cultivated fields!"

Du Ji accepted the order solemnly. "I shall do my utmost! However, my Lord, due to the rebellion of Bian Zhang and Han Sui in Youfufeng, many refugees have fled to Zuofengyi. Settling them is a massive expense. These three initiatives together are not a long-term solution; we need a stable source of revenue."

Liu Heng smiled. "Confiscated assets can only quench our thirst for a moment. The long-term solution lies in 'Tuntian'—military agricultural colonies! Chen Shuzhi!"

Chen Shuzhi, who had been standing by, stepped forward. "I am here!"

"Take your troops to the north of Gaoling, on the west bank of the Luo River. Choose a location with easy access to water and flat terrain to build the 'Anmin Fortress'! Recruit the young and able from the refugees and organize them into Tuntian military households. They shall be half-soldier, half-farmer—trained in leisure, soldiers in war! The land they cultivate will be tax-free for the first year, and from the second year on, they shall pay thirty percent, keeping the rest! The commandery will provide oxen, seeds, and iron tools! This is the foundation of our military colonies!"

"I obey!" A sharp light flashed in Chen Shuzhi’s eyes; he knew the weight of this task.

***

"Wengong, you are responsible for drafting the regulations for the agricultural colonies and coordinating with Shuzhi!"

"Understood!"

Reforming the civil service was another priority. Fa Yan, as Chief of the Decision Bureau, was well-versed in law and possessed a stern disposition. He accepted all complaints regarding long-standing cases and instances where the gentry colluded with officials to oppress the innocent. Any illegal activities by the smaller clans attached to the Geng and Wei families were unearthed by Fa Yan and punished strictly according to the law, without a hint of mercy.

For a time, the line of people seeking justice at the commandery office was endless, and Fa Yan’s reputation for impartiality and fearlessness of the powerful spread rapidly.

The remaining petty officials and gentry in the commandery trembled before this "cold-faced judge" who recognized only the law.

Liu Heng remained in the background, offering absolute support for Fa Yan’s integrity. Any who dared to obstruct, plead for leniency, or threaten the process were met with the swift response of Xu Huang’s heavy axe. The atmosphere of the officialdom in Zuofengyi was swept clean by the dual forces of iron-fisted discipline and the rule of law.

At the same time, "protecting the borders and the people" became the perfect cover for Liu Heng to build his armed forces.

Although the Qiang rebellion had temporarily subsided, it was followed by small bands of marauders and mountain bandits who rose during the chaos. After years of occupation, some of these groups had become a major local threat.

Moreover, since the third month of the second year of Zhongping, Han Sui and his cohorts had led tens of thousands of cavalry into the Sili region under the banner of executing the eunuchs, turning Youfufeng into a battlefield.

Although the Emperor had sent Left General of Chariots and Cavalry Huangfu Song and General of the Middle Lang Dong Zhuo to suppress them, both had returned without success. This allowed the forces of Bian Zhang and Han Sui to expand, claiming a strength of one hundred thousand, throwing the world into turmoil.

In his memories, Han Sui and his group had not reached Zuofengyi, but with Liu Heng’s arrival, history had already begun to deviate. He had to prepare for the worst!

Liu Heng entrusted Xu Huang with a major task: to recruit and train a truly elite force under the name of the commandery guards, with the tacit consent—and even partial financial support—of the Geng, Wei, and Du families.

The training ground was set in the Jing River valley, far from the city, to prevent prying eyes. The training was extremely rigorous, far exceeding that of ordinary commandery soldiers or Chen Shuzhi’s agricultural troops.

Simultaneously, Liu Heng turned his gaze toward the remnants of the Yellow Turbans scattered along the borders of Sili and Bingzhou.

Once the Tuntian affairs were settled, a force operating under the banner of the "General of the Middle Lang for Breaking the Qiang" (a nominal title Liu Heng had requested from the imperial court after the rebellion) quietly moved north, led by Chen Shuzhi, while Zheng Hun took over the coordination of the agricultural colonies.

As they marched, they cleared out marauders and bandits, pushing northward. Upon reaching the northern border of Zuofengyi, they avoided decisive battles with large Yellow Turban forces, instead seeking out smaller, struggling groups whose leaders remained somewhat rational.

They annihilated the stubborn and incorporated those willing to surrender. After screening, the elite among the surrendering forces were absorbed into Xu Huang’s secret new army, while the majority were integrated into the agricultural households of the Anmin Fortress.

Chen Shuzhi’s methods were sophisticated, combining grace with might. Within a few months, the major Yellow Turban forces on the northern border were either destroyed or absorbed, and local order improved significantly.

Under Liu Heng’s command, a core armed force, tempered by several battles and possessing higher loyalty, grew silently.

In the blink of an eye, the second year of Zhongping came to an end.

As spring arrived in the third year of Zhongping, the counties of Zuofengyi began their spring plowing under the leadership of Zheng Hun and others. Meanwhile, Xu Huang led his long-trained troops under the banner of the commandery guards to begin the final clearing of marauders and bandits within Zuofengyi—a test of both training and combat readiness.

***

In the fourth month, Zuofengyi welcomed a traveler, dusty from his journey yet unable to mask his elegant air—Xun Yu, Xun Wenruo.

This man of world-renowned talent, a descendant of the Xun family of Yingchuan, had received a personal letter from Liu Heng in the sixth month of the second year of Zhongping. He had traveled west, witnessing the decay and chaos in other commanderies of Sili compared to the burgeoning vitality of Zuofengyi. Having heard countless rumors about Liu Heng, he could no longer suppress his curiosity and excitement, and finally arrived at the city of Gaoling.

Upon receiving the news, Liu Heng went out of the city to welcome him in person. The moment he saw Xun Yu, Liu Heng felt a daze. This loyal subject of the Han, whom Cao Cao once likened to his own "Zhang Liang," had eventually broken with Cao Cao over his promotion to Duke of Wei.

Looking back at Xun Yu’s life, he had been raised on Confucian ideals of loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country. After witnessing the collapse of the Han, he had sought to prop up the falling structure. Loyal to the Han but not necessarily to the person of the Emperor, he had met the ambitious Mengde (Cao Cao), believing he could restore the world by "using the Emperor to command the disloyal."

Until Cao Cao was promoted to King of Wei, all of Xun Yu’s illusions were shattered. He realized his "Ming Gong" (Honorable Lord) was no longer the same man, and he met his end by suicide.

The contradictory psychology of being loyal to the Han but not the Emperor, and assisting Cao while not supporting his rise, determined his tragic ending.

Liu Heng remembered his first time reading *The Romance of the Three Kingdoms* and the lingering regret he felt at Xun Yu’s death. If only he had been as broad-minded as his nephew Xun You, would he have lived? If only he hadn't wavered between the Han court and Cao Cao’s camp from the start, would he have survived?

History, however, has no "ifs." If it did, would the tragic Xun Yu still be so captivating?

At this moment, Liu Heng had only one thought: In this life, you must follow me. I, Liu Heng, am a member of the Han imperial clan!

"Xun Yu of Yingchuan, long admiring the virtue of the Marquis of Yangwu, has come without invitation to pay my respects."

Xun Yu bowed, his clear voice pulling Liu Heng back to reality.

Liu Heng bowed solemnly in return, then stepped forward to grasp Xun Yu’s arm, his eyes filled with irrepressible surprise and sincerity. "I have long heard of your name, Wenruo. It has been my regret not to have met you sooner. To see you today is the greatest honor of my life! Please, enter the city!"

Xun Yu, facing this famous Marquis of Yangwu, was equally moved.

He first heard of Liu Heng when he beat the drum to petition the Emperor in Luoyang and offered strategies to combat the plague. His friends had called the young Marquis upright and clever. Later, he heard of how he slaughtered the gentry in Zuofengyi after repelling the Qiang. Most scholars in Yingchuan said the boy was inherently violent and too rigid, destined to fail.

Then, he received a sincere personal letter from Liu Heng, inviting him to Zuofengyi.

At first, Xun Yu had no intention of coming, but having nothing else to do in Yingchuan, he decided to travel through Guanzhong and stop by Zuofengyi. He had expected to see only the same desolation and refugees he had seen along the way.

But upon entering the borders of Zuofengyi, he was met with a sudden, vibrant vitality. Chatting with the commoners, he heard only heartfelt gratitude and support for the Marquis. In their eyes, the new official of Zuofengyi was a humble gentleman who cared deeply for his people.

What shocked Xun Yu even more was that in the counties under Zuofengyi, he saw no instances of officials or gentry oppressing the people.

This piqued Xun Yu’s interest immensely. He wanted to know what kind of man this royal clansman, who governed a region at only eighteen, really was. Was he a fierce youth who had gained success too early, or a humble gentleman who cared for the people?

And now, Xun Yu felt Liu Heng’s unfeigned modesty and an inexplicable... joy?

Logically, given Liu Heng’s hardline stance against the powerful families of Guanzhong, he should have been wary of the Yingchuan Xun family behind him. Yet, here he was, a man of no official rank, receiving such honor. The only explanation was that Liu Heng was truly thirsty for talent. This man truly had great ambitions!

In the commandery office, Liu Heng had prepared a banquet. As they drank, Xun Yu’s elegant conversation, filled with classical references and wide-ranging knowledge, quickly won the respect of Zheng Hun and the others.

After the banquet, everyone departed in high spirits.

In the following days, at Liu Heng’s earnest invitation, Xun Yu stayed at the commandery, and Liu Heng took him to tour Gaoling personally every day.

With Liu Heng’s tacit approval, Xun Yu began to offer useful suggestions on the affairs of Zuofengyi, earning even greater recognition for his talents from Du Ji and the others.

One day, as Liu Heng and Xun Yu sat opposite each other in the rear garden, Xun Yu bowed deeply, his voice clear and firm. "From Yingchuan to Zuofengyi, everywhere I looked, I saw corrupt officials and displaced people. Only here, under your governance, is there peace and order. This is entirely due to your virtue, Marquis. I am deeply impressed and wish to offer my humble service to assist you in restoring the Han and bringing peace to the world!"

Liu Heng hurriedly helped Xun Yu up, his eyes filled with unconcealable joy. "Wenruo, please, rise! To have your assistance is my great fortune, and even more, the great fortune of the people of Zuofengyi!"