The Duke of Shu Han began guarding Jingzhou in place of Guan Yu.

Chapter 78 Guan Yu's son-in-law, acting commander

Old Liu is so confused!
Second Master is so foolish!
Mi Wei was contemplating whether or not to speak frankly and offer his advice.

Liu Bei turned and stroked Guan Yu's magnificent beard, laughing:
"Is someone with a salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain) worthy of being the son-in-law of the Bearded Gentleman?"

Guan Yu laughed heartily:

"Any talented man chosen by the King is worthy of being a match for my daughter, even if he is a commoner!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room burst into laughter.

They all congratulated Guan Yu on finding a good son-in-law.

He also congratulated Ma Liang and Mi Wei, the two newly appointed officials with salaries of two thousand piculs of grain.

But at this moment, Mi Wei's mind was in complete disarray, and he had no idea what year it was.

Am I going to become Guan Yu's son-in-law?
Marry Guan Ping and Guan Xing's tall, leggy "Fourth Sister" as his wife?

Will Guan Yinping's true fans in later generations smear my reputation...?

It feels a little unreal...

At that moment, an image inexplicably popped into Mi Wei's mind:
Centuries later, people flocked to the Guandi Temple to pray for wealth and peace.

The first thing that catches the eye is Guan Yu with a red face.

On the right is Guan Ping, depicted as a military general with a black face.

On the left is a white-faced deer-like figure dressed as a civil official.

Below are countless devout men and women offering incense, candles, and sacrificial animals.

There was so much incense that three large incense burners couldn't hold it all, so they had to hire people to clean it regularly.

Next to the statue of the elk, there were also various red ribbons and love locks hanging everywhere, all for those seeking marriage...

Doesn't that sound pretty exciting?
……

……

In the second month of spring, orioles sing in the meadows.

But Miwei had no time to appreciate the misty spring rain.

After receiving the seal of the Western Commandant of Jiangxia, he led his troops to take up his post on the northern bank of the Han River.

He didn't even have time to be affectionate with his fiancée or chat about his little quirks that he wouldn't tell outsiders.

Liu Bei gave him a one-year trial period, not so that he could go off and have a romantic relationship.

Soon, Miwei was so busy he was dizzy, wishing he could have ten clones.

Actually, it wasn't just him.

The entire Liu territory belonged to Jingzhou, comprising the three commanderies of Nanjun, Wuling, and Lingling.

This includes Yidu County, which was separated from Nanjun.

There is also the newly established Jiangxia Commandery (the territory occupied by Liu Bei).

The scene was one of bustling activity, even chaotic activity.
This busyness can be divided into two levels.

First, in February of the twenty-fifth year of Jian'an, the news of Cao Cao's death finally became known to the world.

It is said that Luoyang is already discussing the posthumous title and will choose a date for the burial.

This legendary figure dominated the north for over a decade and almost unified the entire country.

He's finally dead.

In an instant, the heroes of the land, who had once been suffocated by Cao Cao, began to stir again.

There is no need for any wise prophecy.

Everyone realized that a major North-South war was inevitable sooner or later.

Secondly, although a major battle is inevitable sooner or later, things cannot be accomplished overnight.

After all, Yizhou had just ended the battle for Hanzhong last year.

Jingzhou was completely ravaged by war from north to south.

Whether it's the military, governance, or people's livelihood, every aspect needs to be re-examined, and everything is in need of rebuilding.

On top of this, there is also the busy farming season after the start of spring.

Localities were simultaneously addressing internal issues and hastily preparing for spring planting.

Yes, although the Liu and Sun families had already decided on a joint northern expedition as early as the spring.

But the first step in the Northern Expedition was to go to the fields to turn the soil, sow seeds, and plant mulberry trees.

The millennia-old system of agriculture and warfare is laid out here.

What use is it to have 100,000 soldiers if you have nothing to eat or wear?

Building high walls and storing plenty of grain is always the right approach.

Whoever underestimates you will suffer a great loss.

Even in the industrial age two thousand years from now.

Therefore, after the beginning of spring, Liu Bei did not rush back to Shu, but stayed in Jiangling to supervise the spring plowing work in various counties.

While they were at it, they took the opportunity to transplant the alcohol ban that had been in place in Yizhou for several years to Jingzhou.

Prohibition does not mean prohibiting drinking alcohol.

Instead, the private brewing of alcohol was prohibited. This was because if brewing were allowed, merchants would profit from it, inevitably leading to a decrease in the amount of grain stored by the people.

In the event of a famine and insufficient food reserves, unrest could ensue.

Even without considering famine years, sufficient reserves among the people would help the government maintain stable rule, accumulate tax revenue, and thus preserve war potential.

This is the agricultural ideology that best suits the current conditions of productivity.

Thus, the idea of ​​improving distilled spirits and making a fortune through trade was never even mentioned in Mi Wei's mind and died in the womb.

Even he, a "captain" who should have focused on military affairs.

While recruiting and training soldiers, they also helped to combat thieves and capture idle vagrants to establish military settlements.

Everything was geared towards growing grain and weaving cloth.

The only place where he could slightly demonstrate the superiority of a time traveler.

It's just that the management model is more humane and the accounting method is more standardized.

To reduce unnecessary casualties and internal friction.

In short, after being busy from February to March, he can finally take a breather.

Because Liu Bei's newly appointed governor of Jiangxia has arrived.

……

On this day, Mi Wei welcomed the prefect and his entourage at a place called Shicheng in northern Mian.

The magistrates or heads of the four counties of Jiangxia stood behind him in order of rank and age.

Before long, an official boat sailed onto the Han River.

At this moment, Mi Wei noticed that the Jingling magistrate's gaze was fixed on him.

I was immediately puzzled: "Was there something I did wrong in terms of manners? Please point it out!"

Upon hearing this, the magistrate of Jingling shook his head slightly, glanced at the official boats anchored at the shore, and then said in a low voice:
"I heard that the new prefect's administrative center is to be moved to Shicheng?"

"That is indeed true." Mi Wei nodded.

“The old county seat of Jingling was the ancient city of the State of Yun during the pre-Qin period. It was small and dilapidated and had long been unusable.”

"Moreover, the old city is located in the waters of Miannan, while the stone city behind us is in a strategic location in Mianbei."

"If we consider the strategic importance of guarding the Han River and resisting the northern enemy, then Shicheng is definitely the better choice."

“That makes sense,” the magistrate of Jingling replied.

"However, Shicheng has never served as the seat of Jiangxia Prefecture before, and the city lacks government offices."

"Isn't it inconvenient for two officials of two thousand shi (a unit of grain) to live in the same city now?"

Oh, so it was about housing allocation.

Mi Wei was immediately relieved and chuckled, "It's alright."

“Before I took up my post, the King and the Lord told me that I was only temporarily stationing troops in Shicheng.”

"Once the governor of Jiangxia appointed by the king arrives, I will move to the mountains north of the city to build a garrison fortress, and use that place as my administrative center. There will be no conflict."

Upon hearing this, the magistrate of Jingling sighed deeply, his face filled with pity for the lack of ambition, and said:

"Commander Mi, let me speak frankly!"

"The victory in the four counties of Mianbei is entirely due to the efforts of the Commandant and all the generals!"

"If the Commandant governs this city, we will have no objections!"

"But why does Deng Bomiao have the right to seize the official residence in the city as soon as he arrives? And send the Commandant to brave the wind and rain in the mountains? We are not satisfied!"

Mi Wei was speechless as he looked at the four county magistrates and county heads, who all seemed to share a common hatred for the enemy.

It's one thing for Liu Bei and Guan Yu to overestimate me, but why are you all joining in the fun too?

Why ask why?
The new prefect of Jiangxia, whose courtesy name is Bo Miao, is named Deng Zhi!

If Deng Zhi doesn't come to Shicheng to settle down, how can I, Mi Wei, cling to her coattails?
Do you really expect me to deal with Cao Zhen, Xiahou Shang, Zhang He, Xu Huang, and other powerful men from Cao Wei?

However, Miwei was somewhat aware of what everyone was thinking.

The problem lies with Deng Zhi herself.

Now, Deng Zhi was from Xinye, Nanyang, a true native of Jingzhou.

It is said that he was a descendant of Deng Yu, the leader of the Twenty-Eight Generals of Yuntai.

However, in his early years, he was virtually unknown within scholarly circles.

It wasn't until he went to Sichuan and was promoted by a nobleman that he gained some fame.

He was eventually discovered by Liu Bei.

Therefore, although Deng Zhi was a native of Jingzhou, his qualifications were more like those of a "famous scholar from Yizhou".

The local scholars of Jingzhou who had once looked down on him would naturally instinctively reject this governor who had returned from studying in another province.

But Mi Wei was too lazy to engage in their petty squabbles.

How stupid would I have to be not to fawn over a future general who is supposed to be a general?
So he smiled and shook his head, ignoring it.

Soon, people disembarked from the ship.

(End of this chapter)