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

The wind and frost were like knives, and the bitter cold was biting. The stewards trembled at Liu Chen's posture, words, and tone, and became even more fearful.

Zhao Jun calmed down. This estate was still an imperial estate, and he was an official of the emperor, not Liu Chen's subordinate.

Moreover, he had long heard of Prince Chen's great reputation; one could say he had "long admired him." He was not surprised by Liu Chen's statement.

Even if we take a step back and assume he becomes Liu Chen's subordinate in the future, as long as he works diligently, that will suffice.

Serving the emperor is really no different from serving a powerful family. If you have a generous and overly indulgent master, you'll get a little more. It's alright.

If you have a strict owner, take less, or don't take anything at all.

The emperor was lenient, but Prince Chen was strict.

He just needs to change his work attitude.

"Yes." Zhao Jun became even more composed and bowed.

A glint flashed in Liu Chen's eyes as he realized Zhao Jun was a cunning and shrewd old official. However, he said nothing more, stood up from the carriage, his hand on his sword, and said, "Let's begin."

"Yes." Zhao Jun bowed again in response, then turned and gave a few instructions to the two stewards behind him. He then went to welcome Liu Chen into the manor—no, to the main hall.

The manor remained almost untouched, befitting the status of a feudal lord, and appeared extremely shabby.

But this grand hall alone is magnificent and can at least save face.

"Not bad..." Liu Chen stood in front of the main hall and looked around, a satisfied expression on his face.

After entering the hall, Liu Chen sat down in the main seat. Zhao Jun had a maid bring tea.

There was nothing to say to the cunning old official Zhao Jun. Liu Chen had the eunuch bring out the bamboo slips to look at, leaving Zhao Jun standing aside.

Zhao Jun had something to say to Liu Chen, but seeing this, he had to put it aside for the time being.

Shortly afterward, someone came in to report that everything was ready.

Liu Chen told Zhao Jun to go out first, and then led the eunuch to the room next door.

The eunuchs had prepared everything. They opened the box and took out cloth clothes and ordinary shoes.

The imperial court no longer has strict restrictions on clothing. Therefore, wealthy merchants can wear Shu brocade products.

Merchants can do it, and ordinary people certainly can too. It's just that ordinary people are short of money and usually wear clothes made of hemp or kudzu cloth.

The material of Liu Chen's clothes is kudzu cloth. It's higher quality than linen but lower quality than silk.

After Liu Chen finished dressing, he left the room surrounded by eunuchs and arrived at the palace gate.

In front of the palace gate.

The guards, some clad in armor and armed with weapons, others carrying bows and arrows, stood taut, their eyes alert, ready for battle.

A large crowd of people, both men and women, numbered over a thousand. These were the hundred households from the village.

In other words, they are the "citizens" of the future Northern King.

As residents of the imperial estates, these people were exempt from corvée labor and military service, and their lives were better than those of ordinary Liu Han people, but only to a limited extent; it was obvious at a glance that they were living in poverty.

The young men kept their heads down, not daring to look at Young Master Chen, and were more or less nervous and uneasy.

Liu Chen's gaze swept over Meng Hu from left to right. He felt both sympathy and excitement.

Let me borrow the word "compassion".

Everyone says Liu Shan was kind and a good person. Liu Chen acknowledged this. But there's nothing particularly praiseworthy about it.

First of all, Liu Shan was the emperor.

The law has its leniency and leniency.

If officials are too lenient, they will become lax, and powerful clans will become unscrupulous.

Too narrow a space can easily lead to unrest.

Whether to widen or narrow needs to be adjusted according to the circumstances at the time.

During the Qin Dynasty, the laws were too harsh, cruel, and tyrannical. Therefore, the people of the land rebelled against the Qin Dynasty. Liu Bang pacified the Three Qin regions, temporarily abolished all Qin laws, and made a three-point agreement with the people. The people of Qin then joyfully welcomed Liu Bang.

Late Han Dynasty. The laws were too lenient.

This is especially true in Sichuan.

Zhuge Liang employed strict laws and punishments to restrain officials and suppress powerful clans.

The people benefited greatly, so much so that even decades after Zhuge Liang's death, they did not forget him.

This is what true compassion and sainthood are all about.

Liu Shan was kind and benevolent, but what benefit did this bring to the country? What benefit did it bring to the people?

Therefore, the Han dynasty of Liu Han perished, ending the four-hundred-year reign of the Han dynasty.

"Let's begin here." Liu Chen took a deep breath and withdrew his gaze. Then, with a calm expression, he said, "As you know and see, I will be tilling the fields today."

"I love wealth. As for the yield of the farmland, that is up to you. If you cultivate the land well, you will be rewarded for a good harvest. If you do not cultivate the land well and the autumn harvest is poor, you will either have to sell the produce or be fined."

"If Heaven is unkind, and there is a drought or flood, I will not hold you accountable. Instead, I will provide you with food and relief."

After hearing Liu Chen's words, some of the villagers were at a loss, while others seemed to be deep in thought, but they all knew to respond.

"Yes."

"Hmm." Liu Chen nodded, then led the people to a field that had been prepared in advance.

Liu Chen allowed the people to gather around and had an old farmer assist him. He then took off his shoes and went down to plow the field.

It wasn't actually farming; it was just a symbolic gesture.

To demonstrate their emphasis on agriculture.

The most important things in the world are agriculture and sericulture.

After the field was cultivated, Liu Chen summoned Zhao Jun and dismissed the people to return to farming.

Zhao Jun led the stewards to disperse the people in accordance with Liu Chen's orders.

The people, however, became restless and did not leave.

Zhao Jun frowned immediately, preparing to get angry.

Liu Chen raised an eyebrow but remained silent. The guards and eunuchs around him, as if facing a formidable enemy, immediately stepped forward to protect him.

The crowd dispersed, and a dozen or so elderly people with white hair came out, saying they wanted to see Liu Chen.

The guards hesitated upon seeing the dense crowd.

Liu Chen smiled and said, "This is my first time here. I have no favors to repay, nor have I wronged anyone. We have no grudges against each other, so they don't want to kill me. Besides, if they wanted to kill me, they wouldn't let these white-haired elders do it. Let them in."

He then turned to Zhao Jun, whose face was somewhat pale, and said, "Jun, you may take the stewards and leave."

Liu Chen felt that this matter was related to Zhao Jun, so he first sent the cunning old official away.

"Yes." Zhao Jun wanted to stay, but dared not say so. He could only take a deep breath, bow, and then turn and leave with the stewards.

Liu Chen then ordered the guards to disperse and the people to move further away.

This freed up space for him to be alone with a dozen or so old men.

If he could, Liu Chen would like to treat scholars with respect. But to maintain his public image, he could only grip his sword and ask in a slightly cold tone, "What is it?"

Gongzi Chen is renowned, and now he's acting like this.

It was truly awe-inspiring.

The dozen or so old men looked at each other for a while, and then the oldest one stepped forward shakily and bowed, saying, "We beg you, young master, not to punish the man who sells his goods."

As he spoke, the old man knelt down.

Everyone else knelt down as well.

Kneeling is no longer fashionable in this era; kneeling as a form of worship is considered very serious.

Making a dozen or so old men kneel down is a way to shorten their lifespan.

Liu Chen maintained his persona and didn't tell them to get up. He frowned and asked, "Why do you all think I would betray Meng Hu?"

He found it very strange.

He planned to rely on his estates to support a large population, and then lead his warriors to kill Deng Ai.

How could he have sold out Moe-ho for no reason?

Who spread the rumors? Who made the gossip?