RPAGF Chapter 20 Recruitment Order
Chapter 20 Recruitment Order
The order to recruit talents caused a stir in the plains and in the Qinghai-Hebei region.
Everyone was shocked by Liu Bei's actions.
The news spread like wildfire throughout the surrounding counties and prefectures.
For those impoverished students who have suffered from war and possess great talent but have no way to serve their country, this is undoubtedly an opportunity!
In just half a month, more than a thousand scholars came to Pingyuan to take the imperial examinations.
The town of Pingyuan was overcrowded, the inns were fully booked, and even the empty rooms in the homes of ordinary people were rented out.
Everywhere on the streets, you could see scholars wearing patched long gowns, chatting in small groups about the upcoming exams, each of them radiating a light of hope.
Li Zhao named this examination "Autumn Examination" and personally served as the chief examiner.
Liu Bei served as the deputy chief examiner, responsible for specific matters.
In order to cope with this unprecedented event, the county temple had to temporarily requisition several of the largest vacant houses in the city as examination venues.
The exam is divided into three sessions and lasts for three days.
The first exam tested candidates' knowledge of classics and laws; the second tested their arithmetic and policy essays; and the third was an interview in which Li Zhao personally assessed the candidates' eloquence, insight, and adaptability.
The martial arts examinations were held at the training ground outside the city.
This martial arts examination was presided over by Zhao Yun, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei.
After all, the three of them were top-notch in both their judgment and martial arts skills, making them the perfect candidates to be the examiners for the first time.
This grand autumn imperial examination not only selected more than two hundred officials and dozens of grassroots military officers for the six counties of Pingyuan, but more importantly, it sent a signal to the people of the world:
Under the rule of Prefect Li of Pingyuan, no one was judged by their social background, only by their talent.
Here, as long as you have the ability, we dare to give you an official position.
In this era, it takes immense courage to do something like this.
This greatly united the people and attracted more talent to the plains.
At the same time, Li Zhao also carried out a series of reforms in domestic affairs.
He used the unlimited food provided by the system as a source of confidence to fully implement "work relief" in six counties.
Water conservancy projects, road repairs, land reclamation, and city defense reinforcements...
As long as you're willing to work, you'll have enough to eat.
For a time, the plains were filled with bustling scenes of labor.
The once barren land has been transformed into fertile fields, and the silted-up ditches are now flowing with clear water again.
To improve farming efficiency, Li Zhao also used his memories from his previous life to guide craftsmen in improving agricultural tools.
A new type of plow called the "curved plow" was developed.
Compared to the traditional straight-shaft plow, it is lighter and more flexible, easier to turn, and can plow more deeply.
The widespread adoption of the curved plow greatly liberated manpower.
What used to require two oxen and three people to work can now be done with just one ox and one person, more than doubling the efficiency.
The manpower saved was invested by Li Zhao in army building and workshop production.
In Pingyuan County, blacksmith shops and carpentry workshops are filled with glowing furnaces day and night.
New weapons and armor were forged and equipped to the ever-expanding army.
In just three months, Li Zhao's regular army had expanded to 10,000 men.
The infantry numbered eight thousand, while the cavalry, including the White Horse Cavalry, numbered only about two thousand.
In addition, each county has established a comprehensive militia reserve system. They train during the off-season and can be quickly converted into combat power in wartime.
The plains are rising at an astonishing pace.
……
Jizhou, Yecheng.
Inside the General's mansion, Yuan Shao sat in the main seat, toying with an exquisite jade cup in his hand, but his face showed no joy whatsoever.
Although the Battle of Jieqiao was won, that old scoundrel Gongsun Zan was still lingering in Ji County, like an unkillable cockroach, constantly harassing him and causing him endless annoyance.
What bothered him even more was the news coming from the south.
"Plain Li Zhao..."
Yuan Shao muttered the name, a shadow passing over his eyes.
He initially thought this was just a greedy and opportunistic person who could be appeased by offering him a little something.
Unexpectedly, while he was fighting to the death with Gongsun Zan, this fellow quietly annexed six counties on the border of Qing and Ji!
Now they're even issuing some kind of "recruitment order".
They made a big show of it, as if they were about to carve out a territory.
"My lord."
Strategist Guo Tu stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:
"According to the reports from our spies, Li Zhao is implementing new policies in Pingyuan, recruiting soldiers and amassing wealth and provisions. His ambitions are not small. He now controls six counties and commands more than ten thousand soldiers. If we allow him to continue developing, he will surely become a major threat to our lord."
Another strategist, Feng Ji, echoed this sentiment:
"What Guo Gong said is absolutely right. Li Zhao, in the Battle of Jieqiao, ostensibly assisted in the battle, but in reality he gathered up Gongsun Zan's defeated troops, picked up their weapons, and strengthened his own forces. Such a two-faced person must not be allowed to live."
Yuan Shao snorted coldly and slammed the jade cup in his hand heavily onto the table.
"How could I not know? It's just that Gongsun Zan has not yet been defeated, and the Black Mountain bandit Zhang Yan is causing trouble in the Taihang Mountains. Our main force is tied down and we really can't spare any resources to deal with him."
He looked at Xu You, who had remained silent.
"Ziyuan, what are your thoughts?"
Xu You stroked his beard and said slowly and deliberately:
"My lord, do not worry. Although Li Zhao is powerful, his foundation is still shallow. His so-called 'recruitment order' may seem impressive, but in reality, it has offended all the powerful families in the land. In the counties under his jurisdiction, the local magnates and landlords are only outwardly compliant but inwardly resentful of him."
"In my opinion, there is no need to go to great lengths to deal with Li Zhao."
A sly glint flashed in Xu You's eyes.
"My lord may petition the court to appoint Li Zhao as the Prefect of Pingyuan, in charge of the military and political affairs of the northern counties of Qingzhou."
Yuan Shao was taken aback: "Give him an official position? Wouldn't that just embolden him?"
"My lord, you are mistaken. This is called 'praise to death'."
Xu You smiled and said:
"Li Zhao is currently just a county magistrate, whose position is not legitimate. Since our lord has given him a title, he should be indebted to our lord. If our lord needs to summon him to serve in the army in the future, he will not be able to refuse."
"Secondly, Qingzhou is now in complete chaos. Remnants of the Yellow Turban Rebellion are running rampant, and Kong Rong, the Chancellor of Beihai, has been besieged for a long time and is preoccupied with his own affairs. Furthermore, the Governor Tian Kai is a man of Gongsun Zan."
"When our lord appointed Li Zhao as the Chancellor of Pingyuan, he was essentially throwing this hot potato at him."
"If he wants to secure this position, he must contend and fight with the Yellow Turban Army and Tian Kai. Then, let them fight like dogs, and our lord can reap the benefits. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands and laughed.
"Brilliant! Brilliant plan! Ziyuan is truly my Zhang Liang!"
He immediately ordered someone to draft a memorial to the court, recommending Li Zhao as the chancellor of Pingyuan.
In Yuan Shao's view, this was a plan to kill two birds with one stone.
This would both temporarily stabilize Li Zhao and allow him to disrupt the situation in Qingzhou, paving the way for his future conquest of Qingzhou.
As for whether Li Zhao will truly submit?
Yuan Shao never had any hope of it.
Once he has a free hand, the first thing he'll eliminate is this disobedient pawn.
……
Half a month later, the imperial edict arrived in Pingyuan County.
Li Zhaosheng was appointed Chancellor of Pingyuan State, with a salary of 2,000 shi (a unit of grain), and was in charge of the entire territory of Pingyuan Commandery.
Although it was only a nominal promotion, for Li Zhao it meant that he finally had a legitimate identity and could rightfully govern Qingzhou.
In the main hall of the county temple, Li Zhao, dressed in his brand-new official robes as prime minister, received congratulations from his subordinates.
Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and others were all beaming with joy.
My lord has been promoted.
Those of them who were subordinates naturally rose in rank as well.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty... oh no, you should now be called the Chancellor of the State," Liu Bei said with a cupped-hands gesture and a smile.