The Later Three Kingdoms: Slaying Deng Ai, and Reviving the Han Dynasty

"Food is the first necessity of the people." Zhang Fei, standing behind Liu Chen, looked thoughtful. He felt the weight of those words and his heart sank. He was also reminded of the dark state of the world.

The people were dressed in rags, looked pale and sickly, and were starving.

Liu Chen merely sighed, then composed himself. He shook his head, thinking to himself, "I've misspoke again."

He wanted to play an absurd character, but often spoke offhand, saying random things.

Liu Chen gathered his thoughts and turned to Zhang Fei, saying seriously, "Food preservation is of paramount importance. It must be kept dry, protected from fire and rodents. We must also guard against thieves stealing it. We cannot be careless."

Zhang Fei's heart skipped a beat. He remembered the human heads hanging in the fields. Liu Chen's prestige was like a sharp sword, hovering above his head, making him feel immense pressure.

"Yes." He took a deep breath and quickly bowed.

Liu Chen nodded slightly, then left the granary to visit the farm tools and the domesticated chickens and ducks.

They also looked at the women's looms.

The women of Sichuan are skilled with their hands and can all weave cloth. In their spare time from farming, they buy silk to make silk fabrics or Sichuan brocade. This income belongs to them.

Whether women, men, or children, everyone was dressed and looked well, fitting Liu Chen's stereotypical image.

The registered commoners were pale and ragged.

The children of wealthy families, on the contrary, lived quite well.

Liu Chen became increasingly satisfied with Zhang Fei's management skills.

After he had seen enough, Liu Chen prepared to leave.

At the entrance of the manor.

Imperial guards and eunuchs surrounded the carriage. Liu Chen stood beside it, his hand on the hilt of his sword, and turned to Zhang Fei, who was seeing him off, saying, "Study hard."

"Yes," Zhang Fei bowed in response.

Liu Chen nodded, lifted his leg onto the small stool, and then used the momentum to get into the car.

"Clatter clatter clatter!!!!" Just then, a rapid sound of horses' hooves rang out.

Liu Chen looked up and saw several riders galloping towards him, raising clouds of dust.

Although the place wasn't remote, it wasn't a main road either. It was getting late, and no one would be hunting around here. Liu Chen figured they were probably looking for him.

The imperial guards around them immediately tensed up, some holding spears, others drawing their bows, ready for battle.

Once they saw who it was, the Imperial Guards immediately lowered their guard.

He is Li Ding, the eldest son of Li Qiu.

Li Ding reined in his horse and stopped. He first bowed to Liu Chen and said, "Young Master." Then, he dismounted, took a scroll of bamboo slips from a cloth bag behind his horse, handed it to Liu Chen, and bowed, saying, "Young Master, this is a letter from Guangdu."

Liu Chen got off the small stool and reached out to take the bamboo slips.

The fourth brother gave him several thousand acres of land in Guangdu, along with many households. His uncle, Li Qiu, also gave him some households to settle down there.

He had no official office outside the palace, so he entrusted the Li family with making contacts. Now that it's autumn harvest time, Liu Chen guessed it was a chronology.

Liu Chen unfolded the bamboo slips and looked at them. He first nodded, then shook his head and frowned.

"Young master, what happened?" Li Ding asked curiously upon seeing this.

"Just as my uncle predicted. The estate isn't so easy to manage," Liu Chen said to Li Ding, rolling up a bamboo scroll.

Liu Zan and Li Qiu both said that the servants would conspire to deceive their master.

The composition of Liu Zan's several thousand acres of land was quite complex. The people who had given their land to the Prince of Xinping almost all continued to cultivate their own fields.

The people are from the same hometown and are related by blood, so they are very united and close-knit.

He placed Li Qiumeng in the household.

Some conflicts arose between the two sides.

However, there are no major problems in the overall direction. The two to three thousand mu of land in Guangdu County yields very abundant produce.

The grain in the granary was piled up like a mountain.

Zhuangzi also presented him with items such as Shu brocade, silk, dried fish, and wild game.

Liu Chen told Li Ding about the matter. Li Ding's expression turned serious, and he said to Liu Chen, "A thousand-mile dike can be breached by an ant hole. If the conflict escalates, it will be difficult to resolve. You should send someone to deal with it as soon as possible, young master."

Liu Chen nodded, thought for a moment, then turned to Zhang Fei and said, "Fei, I'm arranging for you to go to Guangdu and manage my estate there. Take the thousand or so gold coins I have on the estate with you. Use them to buy land and households, or accept donations from the people. Don't be afraid, make the estate as big as possible."

Zhang Fei was completely bewildered. How did the fire get to me? He was also very frightened. Managing a 500-acre estate was a completely different concept from managing a 2,000-3,000-acre estate.

"I dare not disobey your orders, young master. However, I have neither the ability nor the prestige. I'm afraid I cannot command you," Zhang Fei said through gritted teeth, showing a clear understanding of his own limitations.

"Don't belittle yourself. The fact that you've managed this manor so well proves you're capable. Have you forgotten? I told you to study hard, and I'll recruit you as an official in the future." Liu Chen's expression was serious, with a hint of encouragement.

Zhang Fei was taken aback, then suddenly remembered his conversation with Liu Chen. He became incredibly energetic, his face even turning red, and bowed respectfully, saying, "Yes."

Liu Chen smiled and nodded, then turned to Li Dingyi, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, and said, "Brother, I have a favor to ask of you."

"Young master, you flatter me." Li Ding quickly bowed and said.

"Brother, take some men and stay in Guangdu for two months, but don't interfere in the affairs of the estate. Let Zhang Fei take the lead," Liu Chen said.

"Yes," Li Ding readily agreed. Actually, he was a little reluctant. Chengdu was so beautiful; compared to Chengdu, Guangdu was a godforsaken place.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei felt a sense of relief and became even more grateful to Liu Chen. He knew he couldn't manage things alone in a short time. Even if he succeeded, it would have taken a tremendous amount of effort. But with Li Ding, it was different. Moreover, Liu Chen had said that Li Ding should just observe and not interfere. He was essentially entrusting everything to Fei.

This is a weighty trust.

Liu Chen was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something and asked Zhang Fei, "Fei, you know the people in this estate. Who can replace you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei thought for a moment, then clasped his hands in a respectful bow and said, "Your Excellency, Yang An is acceptable."

"Let him take your place," Liu Chen nodded, leaving Li Ding at the estate to discuss the matter with Zhang Fei.

He boarded the imperial carriage and returned to Chengdu amidst a large entourage.

After returning to the palace, the imperial guards left. Liu Chen said to the eunuch following behind him, "Go and maintain my bow, arrows, and saddle. We're going hunting tomorrow."

"Yes." The eunuch bowed and left.

We must not slacken in our archery skills.

While improving physical fitness, good riding skills also mean you can run faster in case of trouble, increasing your chances of survival.

Hunting in autumn and winter can also help pass the time.

There was still a little time before dinner. Liu Chen, having nothing to do, went to the study and sat down, picking up Han Feizi's works on "conspiracy theories" and "the making of a master of power politics" to read.

When Liu Bei was grooming Liu Shan, he compiled a list of books, including Han Feizi.

Zhuge Liang personally copied these books and passed them on to Liu Shan.

But the results are encouraging.

Liu Chen did not read books often, nor did he read them in detail; he simply skimmed the surface.

Liu Chen hadn't even settled into his seat when he heard footsteps. Feeling somewhat annoyed, he looked up towards the doorway.

I rarely read a book.