Three Kingdoms: Fusion of Entries, Change of Destiny

Chapter 54: The Yanzhou Gentry’s Show of Strength
Cao Yan took Zao Zhi, Man Chong, Yu Jin and others on a long tour around the area. Along the way, he discussed many farming techniques and experiences with Zao Zhi.

Although Cao Yan didn't really know much about farming, he was finally convinced by some modern agricultural knowledge he had and the various farming processes he had seen in the countryside when he was a child.

Not only did he succeed in fooling people, but he also amazed Zao Zhi and even made him become much more respectful towards Cao Yan.

At this time, Cao Yan asked Zao Zhi, "Brother Zao, you have come all this way. I think you didn't just want to discuss farming with me, right?"

Zao Zhi devoted all his attention to professional research. People like him don't like beating around the bush.

Zao Zhi immediately responded, "I came here to see with my own eyes Cao Zhonglang's strategy of farming.

Secondly, I heard that Meng De was benevolent and righteous, and treated refugees, Yellow Turbans and the people under his rule equally.

Unlike that fellow Yuan Benchu, who had no mercy, slaughtered the Yellow Turban refugees, and oppressed the people of Jizhou... We are all the people of the Han Dynasty, why would we do this? Therefore, I have come to seek refuge with Meng De."

Hearing that Zao Zhi had indeed come to seek refuge with Boss Cao, Cao Yan smiled and said, "That couldn't be better!"

The Book of Wei records that when Yuan Shao was in Hebei, his soldiers relied on mulberries for food. When Yuan Shu was in Jiang and Huai, he used cattails as a means of supply, causing the people to eat each other and the state to become desolate.

Only during Cao Cao's reign, because Zao Zhi implemented the policy of military and civilian settlements, he harvested one million hu of grain in just one year.

From then on, Cao Cao conquered all directions without worrying about food shortages.

Zao Zhi’s contribution to military farming is truly enormous!

With Zao Zhi joining us and the bonus of his entry abilities, this year's autumn harvest will be enough to feed everyone!
Speaking of Zao Zhi, Cao Yan thought of a person who implemented the military farming policy with him.

He thought to himself: "I remember that person's name seemed to be Ren Jun?

He must have followed Cao when he started the rebellion.

Why not ask someone to find out where this brother is currently working."

Seeing Cao Yan's genuine joy, Zao Zhi couldn't help but like him even more.

[Zao Zhi's favorability towards you has changed. Current favorability: 25%]

"It's only increased so much?" Cao Yan curled his lips secretly, thinking: "It seems that it's not easy to deal with famous people..."

"Brother Zao, please forgive me. My eldest brother is still fighting the Yellow Turban Army and has not returned yet. I also have important matters to attend to. Why don't you have the guards take you to the government office to rest first, and then ask Xun Wenruo to entertain you well."

Cao Yan naturally did not dare to make any decisions on his own regarding the placement of such a famous scholar as Zao Zhi. Even Xun Yu had to act with caution when facing him.

In this era where status and reputation are extremely important, if the matter is handled improperly and given a pretext, Cao Yan and even Cao Cao might be severely criticized.

Zao Zhi was a man who didn't even give face to Yuan Shao, so Cao Yan naturally didn't want to test him rashly.

As long as Cao can arrange for Zao Zhi to take over the farming business, everything will be fine.

After all, Zao Zhi is proficient in farming, and the military farming affairs may be better improved in his hands.

Zao Zhi had no objection to Cao Yan's proposal.

It's not that he looks down on Cao Yan, but although Cao Yan is now a little famous, compared to himself who has been famous for a long time, he can only be considered a junior after all.

"In that case, I would like to thank Captain Cao first!" Zao Zhi nodded in response.

Cao Yan turned to Dian Wei beside him and said, "You escort Brother Zao to see Wen Ruo."

"Yes!" Dian Wei clasped his fists and accepted the order, then led Zao Zhi towards the county magistrate's mansion.

But after taking just a few steps, Zao Zhi suddenly turned back to Cao Yan and said, "Captain Cao, I've traveled a lot in Dongjun and met many local noble families and gentry. They seem to have many complaints against Lord Cao, so you must be on guard."

Li Qian had mentioned similar warnings in his letters many times, so Cao Yan naturally knew about it.

"Thank you, Brother Zao, for the reminder!" Cao Yan bowed in thanks.

Zao Zhi returned the greeting, then turned around and followed Dian Wei away.

Man Chong and Yu Jin had just arrived, so it was inconvenient to ask too many questions.

But they all knew in their hearts that the dissatisfaction of the nobles and gentry with Cao Cao was caused by Cao Cao and Cao Yan's reforms of the household registration and land system, as well as their accommodation of the Yellow Turbans who were wreaking havoc in Yanzhou.

"Go ahead and make a fuss. That's when we can deal with you!" Cao Yan muttered softly, causing Yu Jin and Man Chong to feel a chill in their hearts.

……

I heard that many people have come to seek refuge recently, especially the famous scholar Zao Zhi.

In addition, the overall situation of the Yellow Turbans in Yanzhou has been determined.

Cao Cao then handed over the command of the army to Xiahou Dun, ordering him to follow Xi Zhicai's arrangements and continue to "clear out" the remaining Yellow Turbans.

He himself hurried back to Dongwuyang. That day, the hall of the county governor's mansion was crowded with people.

Cao Cao was already hurrying on his journey, but it would still take him until noon to arrive.

But early in the morning,

The famous people in Yanzhou and the heads of major clans and wealthy families heard the news and gathered in the hall.

Cao Cao did not invite them; they made an appointment on their own and came together.

These nobles and gentry had already heard about Cao Cao's various actions in Dongjun.

In addition, Cao Cao actually accepted the Yellow Turban refugees when he was clearing out the Yellow Turbans, which finally made them unable to sit still.

When it came to incorporating the Yellow Turban refugees, the primary concern was naturally food.

Cao Cao had already asked them for food before, and there was no guarantee that he would not ask for it again in the future.

Secondly, the Yellow Turbans had previously burned, killed, and looted in Yanzhou, killing many Yanzhou officials and harming many local nobles and gentry.

Even the former Yanzhou governor Liu Dai and Rencheng prime minister Zheng Sui died tragically at their hands.

Can such a deep hatred really be resolved easily?
Third, although the Yellow Turbans were originally farmers, they had rebelled after all, and people were extremely sensitive about this.

After all, once a rebellion has occurred, there is no guarantee that there won't be a second or third time.

If they have second thoughts, they are very likely to turn against us in the future and become a hidden danger for Yanzhou!

Besides, the clans and celebrities of Yanzhou have a very high opinion of themselves, so how could they be willing to live in the same place with these traitors and rebels?
Each of these cases concerns the vital interests of the Yanzhou clans and celebrities.

Therefore, they came here spontaneously to express their attitude to Cao Cao:

First, to prevent Cao Cao from implementing various systems of Dongjun throughout Yanzhou;
The second was to dissuade Cao Cao from continuing to accept the Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou.

At this moment, everyone in the hall was talking about it.

Basically, all the aristocratic families and celebrities reached a consensus in advance to work together to pull Cao Cao back from the "cliff".

Cao Yan was also in the lobby. He sat at the head of the table with Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Zao Zhi, Cheng Yu, Mao Jie and others.

The people below were chatting happily.

Mao Jie took this opportunity to introduce the various families and celebrities in the hall to Cao Yan, Xun Yu and others.

"Cao Zhonglang, Xun Juncheng, please wait and see..."

Following the direction Mao Jie pointed, Cao Yan looked up and saw a young man of about fifteen or sixteen years old sitting in the crowd, looking quite lonely and helpless.

Cao Yan frowned slightly and thought to himself, "He looks familiar, but I can't remember who he is."

At this time, Mao Jie's voice came: "His name is Wei Zhen, and his father Wei Zi once helped the lord to start an army..."

"So he is Wei Zi's son!" Cao Yan suddenly realized.

In the sixth year of Zhongping, Cao Cao failed in his assassination attempt on Dong Zhuo and met Wei Zi for the first time when he fled to Chenliu.

When they first met, Wei Zi declared, "The one who will bring peace to the world must be this man."

He believed that Cao Cao was the hero who could save the world in troubled times, so he spent all his family wealth to help Cao Cao form an army of 5,000 people, which became the original capital for Cao Cao to compete for the Central Plains.

In the first year of Chuping, Wei Zi led 3,000 soldiers and horses to follow Cao Cao in the west to attack Dong Zhuo. In the Battle of Bianshui in Xingyang, he and Cao Cao jointly fought against Xu Rong's ambush.

Cao Cao was defeated in this battle, and Wei Zi died fighting to save Cao Cao.

His sacrifice also became one of the greatest losses in Cao Cao's early military career.

As a result, Cao Cao wandered for a while, and finally had no choice but to go north to rely on Yuan Shao and temporarily live in Henei.

The young Wei Zhen was only sixteen years old, but he inherited his father's family business early.

His father Wei Zi once refused the invitation of the Three Dukes, but unfortunately he died in Xingyang, otherwise the Wei family would have become even more prominent.

Cao Cao once mentioned this to Cao Yan and wanted to go there in person to apologize.

But because I was always busy, I was never able to go.

Now that Wei Zhen has arrived, Cao Cao will surely make use of him to repay Wei Zi's kindness in the past.

(End of this chapter)