I run a training class in Shu Han

Chapter 103 Farming

Meng Huo visited Chengdu several times during Liu Zhang's reign.

Liu Yan and his son Liu Zhang were originally from Jiangxia and were outsiders. They established their authority by killing more than ten scholars from Yizhou, including Wang Xian and Li Quan, which aroused the dissatisfaction of the local powerful families in Yizhou.

At that time, Ren Qi, the governor of Jianwei in Yizhou, and Jia Long, the colonel, raised troops in opposition, but were suppressed by the Dongzhou troops under Liu Yan.

The so-called Dongzhou soldiers were composed of tens of thousands of refugees from Nanyang, Sanfu and other places who came to Yizhou.

It was only by relying on these Dongzhou soldiers that Liu Yan was able to quell the rebellion of Ren Qi and others and barely maintain order.

But what will be the cost?

Those soldiers from Dongzhou, relying on their military merits, acted arrogantly and disregarded the law in Yizhou.

They seize grain, demand more taxes, and the local people dare not speak out against it.

Liu Yan needed the Eastern Continent troops to maintain the stability of his regime, and he turned a blind eye to this.

After Liu Zhang took control of Yizhou, although he killed some officials who opposed him, the overall situation improved.

Liu Zhang implemented benevolent policies of "leniency in governance" and "resisting enemies to ensure the safety of the people." In addition, Yizhou had natural defenses that attracted a large number of refugees from the Central Plains to migrate there, resulting in a large population. The population of Yizhou and the seven counties of Nanzhong alone exceeded several million.

But this is just a glamorous facade beneath the surface of population prosperity.

Liu Zhang's "benevolence and weakness" led to the rise of powerful local magnates, fierce internal factional struggles, and a widening gap between the rich and the poor.

The people may appear to live in peace and contentment, but in reality, they are struggling to survive under the oppression of the two factions.

This created a situation in Yizhou that was different from other regimes.

A weak sovereign sat in the city, surrounded by local gentry who looked down on him.

Outside the city, in the various prefectures and counties, military and political power was mostly in the hands of the generals and officers of Dongzhou, who were at odds with the local people.

With internal problems unresolved, the arrival of Zhang Lu, an outsider from Hanzhong, posed a significant threat to Liu Zhang's rule.

Under pressure from both internal and external forces, Liu Zhang invited Liu Bei to Sichuan.

Originally, it was thought that Liu Bei would be the next Dongzhou soldier, but unexpectedly, Liu Bei played the emotional card of being of the same clan and wanted to occupy Yizhou and make it his base.

Meanwhile, the local powerful clans and gentry in Chengdu had long been dissatisfied with Liu Zhang's rule. With ample troops and supplies in Chengdu, they forced Liu Zhang to open the city gates and surrender to Liu Bei.

From that point on, Meng Huo never came to Chengdu again.

When he entered Chengdu, the wide streets and bustling markets were still so familiar.

The only difference was that the eyes of the city's residents no longer reflected the helplessness of being oppressed by life, but were filled with hope.

Guards patrolled the streets frequently, but they never harmed the people or asked for anything, which would have been impossible in the past.

Upon entering the city, everyone had to dismount and walk, even generals like Guan Xing and Zhang Bao were not exempt.

The same applies to carriages; the coachman can only lead the horse slowly.

The scenes of local powerful figures or Dongzhou soldiers riding horses or driving cars recklessly through the streets have all vanished.

After walking for a while, Meng Huo discovered that the streets were exceptionally clean and tidy, with outhouses every two hundred paces.

What he saw and heard on the way from the city gate to the palace deeply shocked him.

Once outside the palace, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao handed the man over to Huo Yi, thus completing their mission.

"Shaoxian, I'm entrusting this man to you. Don't let him get away. This guy is incredibly strong."

Meng Huo was not bound, but Zhang Bao was afraid that he might escape or take the opportunity to cause trouble, so he reminded him.

Although Huo Yi was an attendant to Liu Shan, he also came from a family of military generals and was quite skilled in martial arts.

"Xingguo and Anguo, you've had a long and arduous journey. Now that the people are in my hands, there's absolutely no chance of anything going wrong."

Huo Yi smiled, exuding a calm confidence.

After the handover was completed, Huo Yi led four guards and Meng Huo to the side hall.

Liu Shan was sitting at the head of the table, holding a scroll in his hand.

"Your Majesty, Meng Huo of the Meng clan from Jianning County has arrived."

Meng Huo was from a prominent family in the south, but he did not hold any official position in the imperial court.

Previously, Li Hui and others referred to him as "General" because Meng Huo was highly respected in the area, and they used this title out of respect.

Liu Shan put down the book in his hand and said calmly, "Ah, the barbarian king has arrived."

"Someone, bring some tea!"

Meng Huo stood still, turned his head to the side, and looked aloof.

"How dare you be so presumptuous before His Majesty!" Huo Yi shouted.

Meng Huo glared at him before looking at Liu Shan, his eyes filled with anger.

"So you're the young emperor now?"

Liu Shan was not angry. Instead, he nodded and said, "I ascended the throne at the age of seventeen, and it has been less than a year since then. I am indeed a young emperor."

Meng Huo sneered, "Everyone says that Zhuge Liang is now in charge of the Han Dynasty. I thought I was going to meet him."

Huo Yi was furious again after hearing this.

"presumptuous!"

"Kill me if you want! I, Meng Huo, wouldn't be a hero if I even flinched!"

When Meng Huo mentioned Zhuge Liang at this time, he meant to say that Liu Shan was a young and insecure ruler, and that the power of the court was in the hands of the powerful minister Zhuge Liang, thus taking the opportunity to stir up discord between the emperor and his minister.

But Liu Shan did not buy it.

"Who said I was going to kill you?" Liu Shan laughed. "If I were going to kill you, I would have beheaded you along with Gao Ding and Zhu Bao the first time Generals Guan Xing and Zhang Bao captured you."

When Liu Shan mentioned his capture and emphasized that it was "the first time," Yong Kai knew that the Han emperor was deliberately trying to humiliate him, and he felt extremely ashamed and indignant.

Liu Shan picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"I have had it investigated. After Yong Kai's death, you took in his former subordinates not because you wanted to rebel, but to save their lives. You secretly contacted various tribes in the south not to oppose the court, but to protect the interests of your Meng clan in the south."

Meng Huo was stunned.

He did not expect that Liu Shan would not only not be angry, but would also have guessed what he was thinking.

"You did nothing wrong. If it were me, I would have done the same."

Meng Huo opened his mouth, but could not utter a word.

"But you shouldn't get involved with Gao Ding and Zhu Bao."

A fierce glint suddenly flashed in Liu Shan's eyes.

"Those two people are truly plotting a rebellion. If you are indeed in league with them, I will certainly kill you."

"Instead of inviting you to Chengdu for tea!"

Meng Huo remained silent for a long time.

"You...you're not going to kill me?"

"We won't kill them, but we won't release them either."

Liu Shan tilted his body and propped his cheek up with his hand.

"I let you go back, but you're not happy about it. You'll rebel again in a few days, and I'll have to come and fight again. In the end, it's the people of the south who die. So I came up with a plan."

"What method?" Meng Huo asked warily.

"Farming!"

Liu Shan smiled and said, "I want you to go to the fields and farm with the students from the agricultural science class and the common people."

"I will let you go back whenever you figure things out."

Meng Huo's eyes widened, and he stammered, "You want me... to farm?"

"Yes." Liu Shan nodded. "Aren't you worried that the people of Nanzhong won't be able to survive? Then learn how to help them survive."