I have to say that what those five or six years of hard work in Luoyang brought to Liu Bei was very precious and important.
Back then, he worked hard and gained many titles such as Master of Classical Debate and Poet of the Han Dynasty. He also left behind a legend of honesty and trustworthiness, making his character a golden signature.
Once something called reputation is successfully established, it is not easy to destroy it without concrete measures.
Yuan Wei and He Jin saw that they could not completely destroy the reputation left by Liu Bei no matter what, and they were so angry that they gritted their teeth and collapsed.
But there is no way. Some things cannot be destroyed unless Liu Bei commits suicide.
And Liu Bei is not a person seeking death.
He began to lead his troops in early February of the sixth year of Zhongping and marched in an orderly manner. If there was nothing important, he would not stop his progress.
But it should be said that there are still some important things.
For example, on the way forward, those families who want to meet Liu Bei's three assistants.
Basically, they all accepted Liu Bei's conditions, and the interest community families involved in Liangzhou's fine salt sales business all belong to the kind of people who are bright-eyed.
They cooperated and tied up with Liu Bei economically. In addition to accepting the benefits of selling salt from Liu Bei, they also helped Liu Bei sell other products belonging to Liangzhou, such as ironware and peach wine.
The market in Sanfu Land was gradually swept by Liangzhou products. The original low-quality salt and ironware were gradually squeezed out of the market. High-quality and low-price Liangzhou products gradually gained a foothold in Sanfu Land.
Farmers liked the high-quality and low-priced iron farm tools produced in Liangzhou, and the wealthy class really liked the rare peach wine sold at a reduced price by Liu Bei.
Liangzhou made a lot of money, and the wise family forces in these three auxiliary places also enjoyed it very much. After the running-in period, the cooperation between the two parties became very pleasant.
Then the news came that Liu Bei was going to establish a government in Luoyang as a hussar general, and they collectively became agitated, even more agitated than when they were about to manage the salt industry.
Unlike before, Liu Bei could only affect their future to a considerable extent.
But this time, Liu Bei's words and thoughts can determine their future and their lives.
Because they had learned in advance that Liu Bei was going to lead his army through the area, they were led by Meng Tuo, who had been waiting for a long time. Starting from You Fufeng, they gathered together to hold a banquet, treat Liu Bei who was passing by to a meal, and bring it to Liu Bei. Some supplies to reward the army.
Because they heard that Liu Bei didn't like gold, silver, pearls, and jade, nor did he like musicians and dancers. He only liked supplies that could be used by the army, such as grain, meat, fruits and vegetables, and cloth for military uniforms.
Meng Tuo revealed that General Liu is a pragmatist. If you want to come, come and be practical. Don't be fooled by those who are vain. You can't eat gold, silver, pearls and jade. During the march of the army, you can best please General Liu by giving him valuables to help the army. .
So they "did what they liked" and prepared large cars and small cars with large boxes and small boxes for Liu Bei to use practical materials that could be used by the army. As expected, Liu Bei was very happy and expressed his gratitude to them. He accepted these things with a wave of his hand. , delivered to the logistics department in the army for use.
Tell everyone, let’s have stew tonight!
Liu Bei smiled and ate with these local families who wanted to please him, and had a few drinks. Then the army that followed him all the way also had a lot of big customers, and they could eat a few bowls of meat steadily during the march. Not victorious.
Most of the reasons for these local families to please Liu Bei are relatively simple, they just want to maintain their relationship with Liu Bei.
They know that Liu Bei holds the key leadership in the fine salt industry. Even if it is to maintain the status quo, they hope to please Liu Bei and avoid being overtaken by latecomers.
So he gave all kinds of gifts, all kinds of flattery, and all kinds of help to the army with logistics work, hoping to express his sincerity to Liu Bei.
Under the current situation, the land of Liangzhou and Sanfu has been integrated by Liu Bei, Liu Hong and the eunuch group. Liangzhou fine salt has been poured into this land and made a high profit.
As for the Land of Three Rivers, the war destroyed Hedong County and spread to Hanoi County. Currently, it is mainly spread in Yin, Henan, and a small amount in Hanoi County.
This is where Liu Hong and the eunuchs can make the decision.
The only special place in Kansai is Hongnong County.
There lived a behemoth called the Yang family, which basically controlled every bit of Hongnong County. Liu Bei had always heard about this county.
The fine salt business avoided Hongnong County and did not spread in Hongnong County, thus avoiding a direct conflict with the Yang family. This was a place that the eunuchs did not want to touch.
But it doesn't matter. The Yang family was originally the existence that Liu Bei wanted to eliminate. They were the same as the Yuan family, they were insects.
So this time when he led his troops to Luoyang, Liu Bei deliberately chose a place where he could pass by the Yang family's hometown, and then personally led a battalion of troops to visit the Yang family's old home, hoping to meet Yang Biao, who was honoring his father's filial piety. Then I paid my respects to Yang Ci.
When Liu Bei heard about the cause of Yang Ci's death, he was happy to die.
In Liu Bei's view, a person who is happy to die is lucky.
He was happy until the last moment of his life and had no regrets in his career. Although it may be just his own delusion, Liu Bei believed that this was something that was elusive for many people with lofty ideals throughout the ages.
Throughout the ages, how many people have been able to die happily?
Either suffer from illness, or be killed, full of fear and despair, or even starve to death, which is the cruelest thing.
Yang Ci was actually happy to die. In a sense, his life was considered complete.
For such a perfect person in life, Liu Bei wanted to pay homage to him.
By the way, he went to meet the senior who once admired him very much - Yang Biao.
When Liu Bei arrived in Huayin County as a hussar general with a battalion of 3,000 soldiers, the magistrate of Huayin County was so frightened that he crawled out of the city for thirty miles to greet Liu Bei, bowing and fawning. He looked around and asked Liu Bei what he needed for his visit so that he could prepare it for Liu Bei.
Liu Bei smiled.
"I am a general of the Han Dynasty, and I am not a robber or bandit. Why would I ask you for anything? I lack nothing and need nothing. I came here just to pay homage to Duke Yang and to give gifts to Duke Yang's father. Make a stick of incense and worship."
The Huayin County Magistrate looked confused.
"Ah? This...this..."
"Okay, stop talking nonsense, don't waste my time, I have to go to Luoyang after the worship!"
Liu Bei rode past impatiently and ignored the magistrate.
The three thousand battalion soldiers, riding tall horses and carrying weapons and equipment, followed Liu Bei all the way. They were in good order, neatly lined up, and very solemn. This sight gave the Huayin County Magistrate goosebumps all over his body.
This is a powerful army in the world that can expedition to the northern grasslands and wipe out more than 200,000 Xianbei people in one battle. If Liu Bei wants to do something here, he has no ability to resist.
There is an irreconcilable conflict between the Yang family and Liu Bei between the Modern Literature School and the Ancient Literature School. They are sworn enemies. Coupled with the strange situation in Luoyang now, if the two sides get into trouble, he, the county magistrate, is afraid. It’s not that you want to die without a burial place!
Oops, why am I so unlucky?
The magistrate of Huayin lamented his misfortune.
However, Liu Bei had no intention of doing anything to Huayin County and the Yang family. He really just wanted to offer incense to Yang Ci. After all, Yang Ci was overjoyed to hear the news about him. Zhuxiang, telling Yang Ci that he lived well can be regarded as "comforting the ancestors".
Isn't it?
Liu Bei raised his lips and approached Huayin County step by step.
No one dared to stop him.
When he arrived outside the county seat, he saw that the gate of the county seat was wide open, the soldiers at the gate looked like they had before reincarnation, and the city looked like "Thousands of birds flying across the mountains and thousands of people wiping out all traces of people", Liu Bei was a little a little agitated. sigh.
The reputation of the Han army is really bad.
So he ordered the army to rest for a while outside the city and maintain discipline. He came back as he went, and then rode into the city with a guard.
The city also looked like it was completely deserted. Not a single living person could be seen on the streets, not even a dog could be seen. The doors of every house were closed, and those who didn't know thought that there was silence in the whole area.
However, Liu Bei, who was very sensitive, could feel the wary and fearful eyes staring at him through the doors and windows, which made him somewhat uncomfortable.
After the Luoyang incident is over, he needs to spend a lot of energy and money to reshape the country's army. At least, it cannot make it difficult for the country's army to fight away from home even when fighting in the region.
Yang's mansion is still very luxurious and elegant, much better than where he lives, and it doesn't even feel worse than his state pastor's mansion.
At this moment, Yang Biao, the head of the Yang family, was standing at the door in plain clothes with a solemn face. There were not many people accompanying him, including a young man also wearing plain clothes and an old servant. Apart from that, there was no fourth person. .
Liu Bei rode his horse to the door of Yang's Mansion and dismounted some distance away. He asked the guards to watch the horse for him and not to get close. He took off his saber and walked to the door of Yang's Mansion wearing only ordinary clothes. When he raised his head, he saw Yang Biao.
He smiled.
"Mr. Yang, long time no see."
"Liu Xuande, long time no see."
Liu Bei turned his attention to the young man standing next to Yang Biao who glared at him.
"Who is this? Mr. Yang?"
Yang Biao nodded.
"My son, Yang Xiu, Xiu, why don't you pay your respects to General Liu?"
"Yang Xiu, meet General Liu."
The young man Yang Xiu saluted Liu Bei, then straightened up and continued to glare at Liu Bei angrily.
Liu Bei didn't care.
"I came here this time to pay homage to the late Commander-in-Chief Yang Wenlie. I wonder if Duke Yang would welcome him?"
"please."
Yang Biao stepped aside and invited Liu Bei to enter the house.
Liu Bei nodded, climbed up the steps, and followed Yang Biao's guidance to the house where Yang Ci was enshrined in the mansion.
(End of chapter)
