pappabearbooks Chapter 71 Stabilizing Morale
Chapter 71 Stabilizing Morale
With the matter settled, Liu Bei had no intention of staying any longer, and after a brief exchange of pleasantries...
After bidding farewell to Qiao Xuan, Han Dang, filled with anger, and Tian Yu, whose face was pale, left.
Han Dang was burning with anger, his brows furrowing repeatedly as he walked. Finally, he couldn't help but speak, his tone full of resentment.
"My lord, that treacherous Xia Yu has stolen all our army's merits, yet Lord Qiao advises us to endure and back down. It's truly infuriating!"
"We fought tooth and nail to sweep away the Xianbei, beheading Queji and scaring away Tanshihuai. Such a monumental achievement has been given to him so easily! I cannot swallow this insult!"
Tian Yu also sighed softly, his brows furrowed: "My lord, we understand the reasoning, but our soldiers are fighting bravely and risking their lives on the frontier."
"In the end, his military achievements were stripped away, and he only received a meager reward. This will likely dampen the morale of the troops."
Liu Bei reined in his horse, turned to look at the two men, his expression calm yet his gaze firm, his tone steady and reassuring.
"Yi Gong, Guo Rang, how could I not know that you are indignant?"
"How could I not resent Xia Yu for stealing credit?"
"But this is the current situation in the Han court. The emperor wants to save face, the eunuchs control the government, and we are all alone without a powerful backer."
"A head-on confrontation will only backfire. Not only will we fail to preserve our military achievements, but we will also be accused of overstepping our authority to send troops and disobeying our superiors."
"Even the future of all my brothers will be completely ruined."
He paused, then said slowly, "That's just how things are; one person can't easily change them."
"Instead of acting impulsively, we should cultivate ourselves, strengthen our foundation, firmly grasp military power, and stabilize western Liaoning."
"When the time is right, we will have our day to hold our heads high. Let's put aside these empty titles for now."
Upon hearing this, Han Dang, though still filled with resentment, suppressed his anger upon seeing Liu Bei's calm expression, nodded emphatically, and said no more.
Tian Yu nodded in understanding, and the knot in his heart loosened a bit.
The three rode their horses at full speed and soon returned to the camp.
At this time, generals such as Cheng Pu, Xu Rong, Yan Gang, Zou Dan, and Gongsun Zan were already waiting in front of the camp gate.
Upon seeing Liu Bei's return, they all rushed forward to greet him. Seeing that the three of them looked unwell, they all understood that something must have happened in the court.
Liu Bei entered the central command tent, and after all the generals were seated, he looked around at everyone and first bowed deeply.
With a look of deep remorse, he said, "I have called you all here today to inform you of something."
"Xia Yu, the Protector of the Wuhuan, has claimed credit for our victory in the northern expedition against the Xianbei as the merit of his command."
"I feel ashamed. With your merits in this bloody battle, even if you cannot be ennobled or appointed as generals, you should be promoted three ranks and receive a generous reward from the court."
"But now..."
"It is my incompetence that I failed to secure the rewards you all deserve. I am sorry, brothers!"
After he finished speaking, the tent fell silent. The generals were all stunned, and then a sense of indignation welled up inside them.
Seeing Liu Bei's guilty expression, no one dared to complain.
Han Dangdang immediately stood up and loudly proclaimed to the generals in the tent, "My lord, you must not say such a thing!"
"Xia Yu's actions are an attempt to seize the credit that belongs to our lord. Even if we are dissatisfied, it is only to speak out for our lord!"
"This northern expedition was entirely orchestrated by our lord from beginning to end. He led us out of the encirclement in dire straits, launched a surprise attack on King Tanshihuai's camp, and made unparalleled contributions. If we are to rank the greatest credit, it should belong to our lord!"
"Our lord was willing to give up his immense achievements and endure humiliation to protect us, thus securing this future for us."
"If we still have complaints, wouldn't we be heartless and ungrateful?"
"General Han is absolutely right!"
Cheng Pu immediately stood up and echoed in a deep voice, "Our lord's kindness to us is as heavy as a mountain. Without our lord, we would have long been buried on the grasslands beyond the Great Wall, let alone be rewarded."
"We will leave everything to our lord's arrangements; we will have no complaints whatsoever!"
"We are willing to follow our lord's arrangements without any objection!"
Xu Rong, Yan Gang, Zou Dan, Gongsun Zan, and others also stood up and echoed in unison, their eyes filled with respect for Liu Bei.
The slight dissatisfaction that had arisen from the unfair distribution of rewards vanished instantly.
Yes!
Everyone realized that Xia Yu's actions had actually deprived Liu Bei of the most credit!
Looking at his generals, Liu Bei felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He gestured for them to sit down and then slowly began to explain his plan.
"Please rest assured, my arrangement is not a mere concession, but rather a result of other considerations."
"Now, the Eastern Xianbei have suffered heavy losses from our attacks. Queji was killed, and Mijia was defeated. Their strength has been greatly diminished, and only Huaitou and Suli tribes remain."
"Next year, I intend to send troops again, aiming my sword at Huaitou!"
"If Yan Gang can be appointed as the governor of Liaodong, he can contain Xian Huaitou from the flank."
Upon hearing this, Yan Gang was invigorated and quickly exchanged a glance with Zou Dan.
They both saw relief in each other's eyes, realizing that their initial choice was the right one.
Without Liu Bei, let alone prefects, whether they could even hold the position of commandant for long would depend on Hou Chong's opportunity.
For Yan Gang, who came from a humble background, becoming a prefect was a significant leap, a leap from the rank of two thousand shi (a unit of grain measure).
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he brought glory to his ancestors!
Where would there be any dissatisfaction!
As Han Dang said, even if there was dissatisfaction, it was out of pity for Liu Bei.
If this merit is realized, it wouldn't be unreasonable for Liu Bei to be directly promoted to governor and given the title of marquis!
Yan Gang bowed deeply and respectfully said, "I humbly submit to Your Excellency's decision!"
If Liu Bei hadn't been of a lower rank than him, he would have called him "Lord" directly!
"If Zou Danru can be appointed as the Commandant of Shanggu and guard the border of Shanggu, he can make advance preparations for dealing with the Suli tribe in the future."
Zou Dan thought the same way and had no objection to the arrangement.
At this moment, he could only feel regret, feeling sorry for Shan Jing, who had missed this battle!
"As for the rest of you, if you can be appointed as county magistrates or county lieutenants..."
"Although his official rank may not seem high, he has already transitioned from a clerk to an official and has fully embarked on his official career."
"With a solid foundation, you'll have no shortage of opportunities to achieve great things in future battles!"
When Cheng Pu, Xu Rong, and the others heard that Liu Bei had already decided on a grand plan for a northern expedition against the Xianbei, their eyes lit up and their spirits instantly lifted.
All military achievements are earned through battle. As long as there are battles to fight and a lord to lead you, why worry about not being able to gain fame and fortune, and to secure a position for your wife and children in the future?
The frustration and resentment he felt from having his war merits stripped away vanished in an instant.
The morale inside the tent was high, and all the generals were in high spirits, showing no signs of dejection. They all expressed their willingness to follow Liu Bei and wait for the right opportunity to conquer the grasslands again.
Gongsun Zan's expression was complicated, and it was unclear what he was thinking!
Inside the main tent, the emperor and his ministers were of one mind, and the guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely.
Everything is done!
Liu Bei did not want to stay any longer, and the next morning he led his army to break camp.
Starting from Jicheng, the people along the way, upon hearing that it was Prefect Liu, who was treating the epidemic and saving the people, rushed to both sides of the official road, supporting the old and bringing the young.
Elderly men and women with white hair held out hot wheat porridge, village women brought out millet rations, and children held out wild fruits. They knelt along the roadside in a dense crowd, bowing in unison in gratitude.
Last year, when a major epidemic raged, it was Liu Bei who personally went into the affected area to distribute medicine and pacify the people, saving countless lives. The border people will never forget this kindness.
Liu Bei quickly dismounted and personally helped the old man up. He gently urged everyone to get up, but the people insisted on giving the food to the soldiers and refused to take it back.
Along the way, people knelt and bowed to see them off in an endless stream, their voices of gratitude ringing out.
Halfway there, news spread through the crowd: Lord Liu's northern expedition had decisively defeated the Xianbei, killed a Hu general in battle, and even forced Tan Shihuai to retreat.
The surrounding area trembled violently.
For generations, Youzhou had suffered from the plundering of the Xianbei, and the imperial court was powerless to protect it, leaving the people in a state of constant fear and unease.
Now that they know that the envoy who saved their lives can also sweep away the barbarian cavalry, their awe and respect for him have only grown stronger.
The people's gaze toward Liu Bei shifted from gratitude to reverence, and they began to regard him as the pillar of Youzhou's northern frontier and the support of the people of Youzhou.
"My lord is mighty! Protect my Youzhou!"
"With Governor Liu here, the barbarian barbarians dare not invade!"
Cheers resounded across the plains, and the people prostrated themselves on the ground, remaining there for a long time.
Liu Bei reined in his horse and looked around at the people scattered across the land, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
Tian Yu sighed softly from the side, "Our lord has won the hearts of the people so much; his foundation is already solid."
With banners fluttering slightly and horses' hooves pounding lightly, the army gradually drew nearer and receded into the distance amidst the reverence and adoration of the masses.