Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 7: Improvement Through Morning Exercise (Please Read Further)

A group of eunuchs chuckled obsequiously from the sidelines. Zhang Rang looked at the lackeys dressed in the robes of the Three Dukes, his eyes filled with even more sarcasm.

'What high-ranking officials? In His Majesty's eyes, aren't they all just like these dogs, wagging their tails and begging for mercy?'

After playing with the dogs in the mansion for a while, Liu Hong's enthusiasm came and went quickly.

Before long, he felt the dogs were too noisy, so he waved his hand.

"Let the father..."

"Yes, Your Majesty, this old servant is here," Zhang Rang said softly, drawing out his words.

"Everyone, disperse."

"promise."

Zhang Rang turned around and waved his hand, and the group of eunuchs led their dogs away in disarray.

"Is Your Majesty enjoying yourself?" Zhang Rang humbly stepped forward, knelt down, and massaged Liu Hong's legs.

Liu Hongwei nodded: "It was quite enjoyable. However, Father, when I came here, I noticed that many of the walls in the West Garden were still missing. Why is the construction no longer underway?"

"Alas, Your Majesty," Zhang Rang said with a bitter face, "The imperial treasury has spent too much on materials and is no longer able to continue building the West Garden. This old servant has asked the treasury for materials several times, but those civil officials have rejected me. Your Majesty, it's not that this old servant doesn't want to continue building the West Garden, but that we really have no money left."

"Hmm," Liu Hong said, closing his eyes and gently shaking his head, patting his thigh lightly with his left hand.

"No money? What's so difficult about that? Father, tomorrow you will draft an edict for me to set up government offices and sell official titles to the people!"

Zhang Rang's eyes lit up, but he hesitated slightly before speaking, "This isn't quite right, Your Majesty. Those civil officials won't agree to it."

"Hmph! Why do I need their consent for my affairs? Under heaven, my words are the will of Heaven!"

"promise."

There will be a meeting the next day.

To the astonishment of the ministers and high-ranking officials, Emperor Liu Hong issued an edict to sell official positions.

Along with the official decree, a series of corresponding policies were also issued regarding the purchase of official positions.

These policies can be summarized as follows.

Purchase on credit.

Those who bought official positions were allowed to "buy on credit" and pay after taking office, but they had to pay interest that was several times higher than the original amount.

Bidding system.

Popular positions, such as governors of wealthy regions, require bidding, with the highest bidder winning.

Discount system.

Celebrities or those with established political achievements can enjoy a "half price" or "70% discount".

Such an absurd decree naturally drew opposition from the entire court.

Although Liu Hong was an absurd emperor, he was not bad at managing his subordinates. Under his willful and accommodating rule, the matter of impeaching officials gradually subsided.

With the civil officials no longer able to impeach officials, Zhang Rang and others in charge of the government offices began selling official titles and ranks.

All official ranks, from the highest-ranking officials to the lowest clerks, are clearly priced, with no deception of the young or old.

In the spring of the fifth year of the Guanghe era, rumors of selling official positions and titles spread throughout the land.
-
Changshan County, Zhending.

The next day, the Guo family mansion also awoke to the sound of roosters crowing.

In the bedroom of the front residence, Zhang Xian awoke to the sound of clashing weapons outside the window.

He opened his eyes groggily, and without even looking, he knew that the commotion outside the window was most likely caused by Zhao Yun and Xiahou Lan.

This is their morning exercise routine, both in winter and summer.

After politely declining the maid's service, he washed up briefly, dressed, picked up a ring-pommel sword, and prepared to join the battle.

A series of golden clangs rang out.

With the perfect coordination of Zhao Yun and Xiahou Lan, the two spears struck Zhang Xian, who had joined the battle, with a powerful but ineffective strike, leaving him only stunned.

A blood-red character for "vegetable" seemed to automatically appear above Zhang Xian's head.

Then, amidst the aftershocks of the strong wind, he retreated several steps and left the field.

This is really bad. But it's also his daily routine every morning since he came to this world.

After all, you still need to practice a lot to improve your skills.

He shook his slightly numb arm and charged forward again with his knife.

Zhao Yun and Xiahou Lan exchanged a glance and each gave a helpless smile, their eyes seemingly communicating.

Xiahou Lan's eyes seemed to say as she looked at Zhao Yun, "You come?"

But Zhao Yun's gaze towards Xiahou Lan conveyed the message: "Shall I do it?"

"Then you do it." "Then I'll do it."

The two delivered a final, powerful blow, each using the force to retreat. After retreating, Xiahou Lan moved to another open space in the courtyard to practice her stance.

Zhao Yun flicked his spear tip, and the shaft shot out like a bow towards Zhang Xian's longsword.

"Brother Xian, block!"

The moves were fierce, but in Zhao Yun's hands, the spear seemed like a toy. The force of the fierce moves was reduced by nine-tenths just before they touched Xian Ge's blade.

With a clang, Zhang Xian blocked the shot by bracing his entire forearm against the spine of the blade.

The two weapons separated upon contact, and then Zhang Xian crouched down and closed in.

The blade slashed horizontally towards Zhao Yun's chest. After several days of training from Tong Yuan, Zhao Yun's use of swordsmanship was not exactly amateurish.

Faced with the deadly attack, Zhao Yun showed no panic. He quickly circled his back with his spear and brought it to his chest, then, like a long snake, he blocked the blade and snaked upwards.

"Trying to throw my knife away again! You little brat, Yun! You don't give your elder brother any face at all!"

Zhang Xian, who was almost daily subjected to Zhao Yun's trick of throwing his ring-pommel sword away, was naturally very familiar with it. He held the sword with his hand behind him, while his other hand grabbed the shaft of his spear.

“Brother Xian has improved, so I can change my tactics.”

Zhao Yun chuckled and kicked the spear shaft with the tip of his right foot. The spear tip flew into the sky in a semi-circle, simultaneously shaking off Zhang Xian's hand that was trying to grasp the shaft.

The moment the spear was held upright with its tip tilted back, Zhao Yun suddenly brought it down on Zhang Xian like a giant axe splitting the heavens and earth.

Without Zhao Yun's prompting, Zhang Xian did a somersault to the side, the front of his spear slamming onto the courtyard floor with a buzzing sound and kicking up dust. But Zhao Yun didn't stop. Almost the instant the spear landed and bounced back up, he delivered a side kick, turning the spear's slashing motion into a sweeping motion.

With a hum, the tip of the spear came to a steady stop twenty centimeters from Zhang Xian's chest, the wind from the spear carrying a slight earthy smell.

Zhang Xian's long sword fell to the ground, and he raised his hands high like a devout French soldier.

Lost again.

He was used to it; since coming into this world, he had almost never won a fight.

But thinking about it, it's understandable; he doesn't even consider who his opponents are.

Zhao Zilong of Shijiazhuang, who charged in and out of Changbanpo seven times.

There was also Xiahou Lan, who was able to serve as a colonel or even a general in Cao Cao's army.

Finally, there was the old martial arts master Tong Yuan, who taught these two.

It would be strange if we could win!

However, it felt really good to loosen up his muscles and bones so early in the morning. Zhang Xian raised his hands and then leaned back, making a series of "uh uh ah ah" sounds.

"Hehe, Brother Xian, you lost again." Zhao Yun chuckled as he sheathed his spear. "You'll have to tell a lot more stories tonight."

"Ha, you kid."

"If I ever get upset with your brother Xian, I won't say this again!"

After losing the fight, Zhang Xian viciously ruffled Zhao Yun's hair.

[Morning training completed: Strength experience +4, Combat experience +8]

【current:
Strength: 7 (70/100)

Battle 0 (99/100)

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(End of this chapter)