Three Kingdoms: Jiangdong is no longer a rat

Chapter 237 Bu Lianshi's Advice
In terms of talent recruitment, Yan Yi has both obvious strengths and weaknesses.

His strengths lay in his unstoppable military might, his robust development momentum, and the prestige he had built among the people. His weaknesses were his humble origins and the fact that his connections with the aristocracy and his territory were inferior to those of Xu Gong and others.

Regardless of their merits or demerits, we must make every effort to recruit talent before the great battle, and we must not allow them to be used by Xu Gong and his ilk.

As the saying goes, "One person can make a nation prosper, and one word can destroy a nation." The influence of talent on the outcome of a war is truly immense. Throughout history, there are countless examples of wars being turned upside down by the efforts of a single individual.

For example, Han Xin, and Shang Yang.

Although Yan Yi has recruited many core talents from Jiangdong, he dares not be careless in the slightest. This is because there are far more talented people hidden among the common people than those who have made their mark on history. The reason these people haven't become famous is not because they lack ability, but simply because they lack an opportunity or platform.

Therefore, Yan Yi kept a close eye on talent, fearing that someone might suddenly emerge from Xu Gong's ranks to turn the tide.

For the next period of time, he entrusted all military affairs to his generals, while he devoted himself to recruiting talent.

But the result was not ideal.

Real talent isn't like cabbage; you can't just buy it with your eyes closed.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye, and the weather grew colder and colder. Even the cypress tree in the backyard of the official temple, which took two people to hug, had a layer of crystal frost on its leaves.

Yan Yi personally met with several newly recruited scholars in the morning, but after examining them, he was greatly disappointed. Feeling rather depressed, he paced backyard.

After walking for a while, he stopped and his gaze lingered on the cypress tree in the center of the courtyard, lost in thought.

The ancient cypress trees have gnarled and intertwined branches, some extending horizontally and others bending towards the sky. The thicker branches are several feet in diameter, while the thinner ones are only an inch or so.

A sudden thought flashed through Yan Yi's mind, and he slapped his forehead, realizing that he had overlooked a talented person.

This person is somewhat special; although he doesn't understand military and political affairs, he is quite capable in certain areas.

"Bring Quan Rou's banquet invitation," Yan Yi ordered loudly.

A servant hurriedly entered the main room and brought out a scroll of exquisitely carved bamboo slips.

Yan Yi unfolded the bamboo slips, glanced at them a few times, and casually tossed them into the air: "Go and inform Quan Rou that I am attending a banquet today."

The attendant nimbly caught the bamboo slips in mid-air, put them back inside the house, and hurriedly left the mansion.

The special talent that Yan Yi planned to recruit was Bu Lianshi, whom Quan Rou had recently been enthusiastically 'recommending' to him.

Historically, Bu Lianshi was deeply favored by Sun Quan, and the phrase "the most favored woman in the harem" is not an exaggeration. This woman was not only skilled in managing the inner court, but also free from jealousy. She was tolerant, kind, and virtuous, deeply respected by the palace women.

Yan Yi now has numerous concubines, and the number continues to grow. Among these women, jealousy, scheming, and infighting frequently occur, causing him considerable annoyance. He desperately needs a woman skilled in managing the inner palace, and Bu Lianshi is undoubtedly a suitable candidate.

It's just a pity for Sun Quan; he was destined to never be with Lady Bu in this life.

In the late afternoon, after finishing several urgent matters, Yan Yi drove to Quanfu.

The entire mansion, inside and out, had been thoroughly cleaned and was spotless. Colorful banners hung high above the vermilion gates, with ten handsome maids standing on each side. Bells and drums were set in the central courtyard, and cushions and mats were laid out in the inner rooms; everything was meticulously arranged.

Quan Rou led Quan Cong and several relatives, standing solemnly at the foot of the gate, frequently raising their heads to look towards the direction of the official temple.

He had been eagerly awaiting Yan Yi's arrival, and finally he did. In another half month, he would be going to Moling to take up his post, and he was extremely anxious, fearing that his plan to "hide a rare commodity" would be ruined.

辚辚
Under the expectant gaze of the entire Johor, over a hundred elite cavalrymen escorted a security vehicle from North Street.

Quan Rou hurriedly straightened her clothes, pulled her son forward a couple of steps, and after Yan Yi stepped down from the carriage, she bowed and said, "I am overjoyed that Your Excellency has graced my humble abode with your presence!"

Yan Yi's civil and military officials were becoming increasingly powerful, and he had inevitably become somewhat distant from Quan Cong lately. Wanting to appease him, Yan Yi smiled and said, "Ziyuan, there's no need for such formalities. Just address me as you always have." He then affectionately patted Quan Cong's head, saying, "Good lad! You've grown so fast!"

Seeing that his attitude was the same as before, Quan Rou smiled and stepped aside to welcome him into the mansion.

The two arrived at the guest hall in the backyard. Outside the hall, four maids stood respectfully to one side, holding spittoons, dusters, and other utensils. Inside the hall, the charcoal fire in the brazier burned brightly, and the rich aroma of styrax wafted out.

Not long after Yan Yi sat down on the couch, his wife, Bu, came to pay her respects.

After paying their respects, Bu led Quan Cong away.

Yan Yi and Quan Rou talked for a while, and dusk fell. One by one, the lights in the room were lit, illuminating the surroundings in every detail.

One by one, maids carried food trays into the room, knelt gracefully beside the table, carefully took out the exquisite meats and vegetables and the fine wine from the trays, gently placed them on the table, and then slowly backed away and quietly retreated.

Quan Rou was hosting a private banquet today, and no one was there to accompany him. Besides him and Yan Yi, there were only a few maids in the room.

After a few rounds of drinks, he said softly, "My lord, my humble abode has several dancers who are quite skilled in the art of graceful movements. Would you mind summoning them to join us in our refined pursuits?"

Yan Yi readily agreed.

Quan Rou raised her hands and clapped them lightly, producing a crisp clapping sound.

Several maids moved gracefully, each walking towards a bronze lamp holder, and blew out half of the candles. The bright light in the room immediately dimmed, yet the surrounding scenery was still clearly visible.

At the door, five graceful women filed in. The first woman wore a red ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a hem embroidered with phoenix patterns in gold thread, a tasseled sash around her waist, and her hair styled in a "jinghong" bun, with a golden phoenix hairpin holding a pearl dangling from her hair. The other four women all wore green skirts.

The woman in the red dress walked slowly towards the zither in front of the screen, knelt gracefully on the couch, and played the zither in anticipation of the music.

Four women in green dresses walked down to the hall and began to dance.

铮.
As a clear, melodious zither tune drifted out, four dancers in green skirts began to dance gracefully. As their emerald sleeves fluttered, a delicate bamboo curtain with fine patterns slowly descended from the beam, adding a touch of hazy elegance, like a woman holding a pipa, half-concealing her face.

Yan Yi and Quan Rou drank wine while enjoying the qin dance. Qin dance was one of the entertainment programs of the "refined merchants' gatherings" in this era. There were usually four to eight dancers, and sometimes chime stones were added to enhance the enjoyment.

During the banquet of the Seven Scholars of Jian'an, there was a saying that "the zither and dance were in harmony, and they forgot to go home all night." When Zhou Yu watched the dance, he liked to play the zither himself. It is said that when he listened to the music, "if the zither missed a beat, the dance would stop three times."

Since his transmigration, Yan Yi has frequently attended various banquets. Although he is not skilled in playing the zither or dancing, his appreciation level has risen rapidly through exposure to the world around him. He can now distinguish between high and low quality.

He listened attentively to the piece and found the music beautiful, like moonlight pouring down, giving one a feeling of ethereal bliss. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Where did Ziyuan find this musician? After this piece, I'm afraid all the music in the world will seem mundane."

Quan Rou smiled slightly: "This woman's dancing is even more exquisite than her zither playing. Your Excellency may wish to observe her closely."

Yan Yi had already guessed the identity of the woman in the red dress and said with a smile, "In that case, I will wait and see."

The music resumed, but this time it was played by a different musician.

The woman in the red dress rose gracefully from her seat and walked down to the hall. Four dancers in green dresses, each holding a fan, stood in four directions like stars surrounding the moon.

As her wide sleeves gently cascaded down, the woman in the red dress lightly touched the soft carpet with her toes, twirling three times to the rapid rhythm of the Yue Opera. Her gold-embellished ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) intertwined and danced with her loose black hair, making her appear like a celestial being, leaving one wondering whether she was chasing the tassels or the light was chasing her garments.

Yan Yi's hand holding the wine cup froze in mid-air, the hairs on his body stood on end, a tingling sensation instantly spread throughout his body, and his eyes revealed a deep look of amazement.

After a moment, he realized his lapse in composure and slowly placed the wine cup back on the table, but his gaze remained fixed on that graceful red figure, as if he wanted to imprint it into his heart.

Yan Yi had lived most of his life and had never seen such breathtaking dance moves. The intense visual impact seemed to penetrate his soul and seize every cell in his body.

Quan Rou was also staring intently at the woman in the red dress, knowing full well that she would rarely see such a dance again in her lifetime.

When he first met Bu Lianshi, he was even more flustered than Yan Yi. If Bu Lianshi hadn't been Bu's niece, and if the future of the Quan family hadn't been so closely tied to her, he would have loved to keep her here forever.

Boo.
As the piece ended, the melody shifted abruptly, the clear and melodious tune gradually softening.

Four dancers in green dresses gracefully retreated, leaving only the woman in the red dress to dance alone.

For a moment, the hall was filled with red shadows, with no other colors remaining.
After several dances, the bamboo curtain slowly rose.

The woman in the red dress walked gracefully to the front of the hall, her slender waist slightly bent, her delicate hands clasped together, and she performed an extremely elegant bow: "This humble servant greets Your Majesty."

Her face was as white as fresh snow reflecting the sunset, her skin as smooth as mutton fat glistening with dew, her eyebrows as dark as distant mountains, naturally green without makeup, and her eyes as shimmering as autumn water when they moved, revealing a beauty that could topple kingdoms with every glance.

Especially since she had just finished dancing and was still a little breathless, her full breasts rose and fell gently with her breath, and the unintentional allure she exuded was more captivating than a thousand words.

Yan Yi gazed at her beauty and figure, which surpassed even Zhou Mi's, and his mind went blank for the second time today. After a slight daze, he came back to his senses and softly recited: "Clouds remind me of her clothes, flowers of her face; the spring breeze caresses the balustrade, the dew is heavy. If not seen on the Jade Mountain, she would be met under the moon on the Jade Terrace."

Quan Rou and the woman in the red dress listened attentively. Quan Rou was moved and said, "What a fine poem! This style is even better than Qu Yuan's 'fragrant herbs and beautiful women.' Master Lian, since the Marquis praises you so highly, you should quickly thank him!"

A strange light shone in Bu Lianshi's beautiful eyes, and a touch of rouge quietly appeared on her earlobe. She seemed to be still lost in the beautiful imagery of the poem and forgot to respond for a moment.

It's no wonder she was momentarily distracted; Li Shixian's poem is a deadly weapon for any woman in the world.

After a moment, Bu Lianshi said softly, "Your Excellency's seven-character poem is the most beautiful poem I have ever heard. I thank Your Excellency for your kindness."

Yan Yi couldn't control his tongue and, for the first time ever, plagiarized a line of poetry from a later era, immediately regretting it. Chao Bu Lianshi nodded slightly in response, then turned her gaze to Quan Rou.

“This is my niece, surnamed Bu, named Lian Shi. She has always admired your benevolent character, and upon hearing of your arrival at my humble abode, she has dared to offer this clumsy dance as a token of her respect.” Quan Rou, adopting the demeanor of an elder, instructed Bu Lian Shi, “Today, you have fulfilled your lifelong wish to see your lord. Since you have presented him with this precious gift, you should offer him three cups of wine to express your gratitude.”

Bu Lianshi, her red dress trailing on the ground, gracefully sat down beside Yan Yi. In an instant, a delicate fragrance quietly wafted into his nostrils, stirring his heart.

Holding a silver spoon, she slowly poured the wine into the cup, then presented it to Yan Yi with both hands: "I, the Master, offer you this cup, wishing you soaring success and boundless freedom."

Yan Yi drank it all in one gulp.

Bu Lianshi gently raised her hand, refilled the empty cup with wine, and said softly, "My second wish is that the common people under Your Majesty's rule may enjoy the benevolent breeze as if they were in the spring sunshine."

Yan Yi drank his second glass of wine.

"I wish that you, my lord, would lead a righteous army and pacify Wu and Kuai in one battle."

"Thanks to Master Lian's kind words, my trip has not been in vain." Yan Yi finished his third cup of wine and put it down: "Master Lian, are you also aware of the Wu-Hui battle?"

"The people of Qiantang are all discussing this matter, and I often hear people mention it," said Master Bu, feeling somewhat flustered under his intense gaze, and replied with her head bowed.

Yan Yi thought of the scholars who had followed her to Qiantang and asked, "What do the scholars think of this matter?"

Bu Lianshi unconsciously stroked the embroidery on her skirt with her fingertips, and said in a low voice, "Among the scholars I know, thirty percent believe that Kuaiji's population is the largest in Jiangdong, and Wu County's wealth is the largest in Jiangdong. With Xu Gong and Wang Lang joining forces, it is not something you, my lord, can easily take. Another thirty percent believe that you, my lord, are skilled in military affairs, and that your armor and soldiers are excellent, and your provisions are plentiful, so you can easily conquer the two counties. The remaining forty percent believe that the war will become a stalemate, and it will be difficult to see the outcome for several years."

Yan Yi seemed to be deep in thought upon hearing this. Judging from this, it was clear that among the scholars, only about a third truly admired him.

People of that era were often blinded by their own involvement, and few could see the bigger picture. Later generations, familiar with history and judging heroes by success or failure, naturally viewed figures like Xu Gong and Wang Lang as worthless. But many in their time did not see it that way. In their eyes, Xu Gong and Wang Lang were powerful rulers who dominated their regions, possessing a clear advantage in both prestige among the gentry and in terms of population resources.

Yan Yi immediately understood why his efforts to recruit talent had been slow. He had previously tried to understand the thoughts of the scholars privately. However, those he consulted were either close to him or his enemies, and the information they conveyed was biased. Even those who appeared neutral were afraid of his power and inevitably spoke insincerely.

It was through Bu Lianshi that he learned the scholars' true attitudes. After all, when men are in front of women they like, they have no external pressure and are eager to show off, so they often reveal their true thoughts.

Yan Yi pondered to himself: 'Master Bu knows these scholars quite well. As the saying goes, an outsider's perspective is clearer. Perhaps he can offer some advice.' He immediately asked, 'If I want to recruit those scholars who are inclined towards Xu Gong and those who are neutral, does Master Bu have any good suggestions?'

After thinking for a while, Bu Lianshi said, "In my opinion, Your Majesty has done a good enough job by treating scholars with respect and appointing them based solely on their talents. However, there is still one shortcoming. Although Your Majesty has taken various measures to seek out talented people, you have had very little contact with them. Many of them, even if they acknowledge Your Majesty, find it difficult to feel close to you. If you, Young Master, interact with them more, word will spread, and naturally, many wise men will gather around you."

This was a great suggestion. Yan Yi couldn't help but look at her with new respect and understood that she meant for him to start with his emotions.

(End of this chapter)