Chapter 77 Half-year Results In these crazy six months, the results have been extremely remarkable. Tian Ze built the four counties of Liaodong into an iron barrel. Through a combination of kindness and force, the people were won over and the management system was improved and perfected again. Taking advantage of the excellent opportunity when there were refugees everywhere, Tian Ze attracted nearly one million refugees, although this kept the warehouse reserves in Liaodong and his own internal spiritual energy at a low level. However, after completely digesting these newly acquired territories and populations, the power controlled by Tian Ze has become terrifyingly strong. In the prefectural mansion in Xiangping City, according to Tian Ze's request, all the civil and military officials had been forced to rest for two whole days, and now they all gathered together in high spirits. As the sun rose, golden sunlight filtered through the window lattices into the house, illuminating the huge strategic room with brightness and warmth. This strategic room, which covers an area of three acres, was carefully planned and specially built by Tian Ze. Although it is slightly smaller than the administrative room opposite, which covers an area of ten acres, it is more important. Because those who can step in here are all core figures under Tian Ze. In the strategic room, huge sand tables are arranged in an orderly manner, and the walls are covered with various maps of various sizes and types. With Tian Ze calmly taking his seat at the huge conference table, this significant meeting officially began.
After Tian Ze gave a brief summary and encouragement, the first person to report was naturally Chen Gong, the chief steward of Liaodong. "My lord, Liaodong is currently divided into three counties. The original Liaodong vassal state was directly assigned to Liaodong County. There are a total of 115 million people, including 71 in Liaodong County, 11 in Xuantu County, and 33 in Lelang County." "Another 537 million people are hiding in the Liaodong Mountains and the Lelang Mountains, totaling 652 million people..." Listening to Chen Gong's detailed report, everyone's eyes were extremely hot. The population size of Liaodong today is almost comparable to that of Yuzhou and Jizhou before the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and is comparable to that of a state. It is truly shocking. Although Liaodong has a vast territory and its area is not smaller than these two states, there is a world of difference between the two sides in terms of development history, geographical location, topography, etc. After Chen Gong finished his report, Tian Ze couldn't help feeling relieved and proud. The hard work of the past six months has finally paid off, and the results are remarkable. Now he finally has the confidence to compete with Yuan Shao in the future. Tian Ze, who was well aware of the future evolution of the situation, set Yuan Shao as his imaginary enemy from the very beginning, and he deeply understood Yuan Shao's strength. Among all the princes at the end of the Han Dynasty, the one Tian Ze was most reluctant to face in his heart was Yuan Shao. Even Cao Cao and Liu Bei, in his opinion, were easier to deal with than Yuan Shao. Although Yuan Shao was portrayed as a fool and incompetent in the novel that has been passed down through the ages, in fact, Yuan Shao was an extremely powerful character. In the turbulent struggle for supremacy among the princes in the early and middle period of the late Han Dynasty, Yuan Shao firmly occupied the throne of the strongest for a long time. Relying on the profound foundation of four generations of three officials, plus the full support of the aristocratic families in Hebei, if he had not died young, even if he was defeated by Cao Cao in the Battle of Guandu, Cao Cao would have been unable to do anything to him. Yuan Shao had all the capital to make a comeback. It is not an exaggeration to say that Yuan Shao's rich family background was enough to support him to lose many more times, but Cao Cao could not afford to lose. Tian Ze felt extremely pressured as he had to face the strongest opponent right from the start. But he had no choice but to start his career in Youzhou. In order to compete for the position of overlord of Hebei, conflict with Yuan Shao became inevitable. Tian Ze has never liked taking risks. If he wants to ensure that he can defeat Yuan Shao, he must accumulate sufficient strength and foundation. He must not pin his hopes on uncertain factors such as Yuan Shao's own stupidity and early death. After reporting the results, Chen Gong started to pour cold water on the situation at the right time: "Although Liaodong has successfully absorbed millions of refugees in the past six months, the governance results are obvious to all, and the food and grass reserves are relatively sufficient, there are still some thorny problems." "First, there is not enough money. There are only tens of millions of copper coins left in the treasury. The amount of money borrowed from the Mi family, including the interest, has now accumulated to nearly 10 million coins, which has not yet been paid."
"Second, there is a shortage of war horses, cattle and sheep. The population under his rule is large, and the demand for oxen is extremely urgent. The army has also been expanded, and the reserve of war horses is far from enough, and it is difficult to supply enough meat for the time being." "Even if we increase the purchase of cattle and sheep from various places and grasslands, it is still a bit stretched." "Third, there is a shortage of management staff. Although the staffing of counties and villages seems to be complete, most of them are temporary promotions. Most of them were appointed without adequate training and are in urgent need of further education and replacement." "Fourth, there is a shortage of manpower for infrastructure construction. The newly acquired land and newly built villages require the construction of a large number of roads, water conservancy and other infrastructure, but the existing manpower is far from meeting the actual needs." Tian Ze frowned slightly, thought for a moment and said, "These are not difficult to solve. As for the money issue, the new grain has been harvested and stored. Our grain reserves are extremely sufficient. Now the grain price in the Central Plains has risen to ten thousand coins per stone. Now is the perfect time to make a move." "We can also take this opportunity to recruit more refugees from the Central Plains and use the food to offset the related expenses." You know, in the Central Plains today, grain has become the most valuable hard currency. One stone of grain can almost be exchanged for a slave, and the supply is still in short supply. After all, only a very small number of people are capable of doing such extreme things as cannibalism. By selling themselves, one can not only get life-saving food in exchange, but the person being sold can also survive. For these refugees who have nowhere to go, if there is a way out, they would even want to sell themselves at their own expense. Living a miserable life of gnawing on tree bark and eating grass roots every day, the pain is something that only those who have experienced it will understand, and it is really worse than death. "As for the problem of war horses and oxen, we can start preparing to establish a border trade station and expand trade with the Xianbei. The location is Wangping County." "The situation in Liang Province is turbulent right now, with rebellions everywhere. The imperial court is already overwhelmed and unable to take care of the situation in Liaodong. As long as we act a little more cautiously and secretly, there shouldn't be too many problems." "In terms of management personnel, Liaodong Academy has already reserved a lot of staff in the past six months, enough to fully staff the current shortage of staff." "As for the issue of manpower for infrastructure construction, we will talk about it later. Next, we will mobilize troops against the alien races, and we can naturally use them as manpower then." After Chen Gong finished his report, Jia Xu stepped forward steadily. "My lord, in the past six months, there have been quite a few changes in the political situation and the court." "First, regarding the situation in the country, following the Yellow Turban Rebellion last year, food prices have been rising, plagues have been rampant, and the people have suffered heavy casualties." "Therefore, the Yellow Turbans have risen again in various places. There are Huang Long, Zuo Xiao, Yu Digen, Zhang Baiqi and others. Many of them are mountain bandits who are just flying the banner of the Yellow Turbans." "Most of these forces are no more than 10,000 people, but their numbers are so large that they total more than a million." Having said that, Tian Ze couldn't help but cast his gaze towards the two people sitting at the last seat, Zhang Ji and Zhang Niu. Zhang Ji is Zhang Zhongjing, who was later revered as the "Medical Saint" and wrote "Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases". Unlike Hua Tuo, who traveled around and had no intention of pursuing a career in officialdom, Zhang Ji had already been recommended as a filial and incorrupt official at this time. Although he himself hated officialdom, he had no choice but to enter the official career because his father was an official in the court and he came from a noble family. After Tian Ze sincerely extended an olive branch and patiently persuaded him, Zhang Ji quickly agreed to come. In Liaodong, he not only held a high position, but also was able to concentrate on medical research and writing medical books. At the same time, he was able to teach and train some good doctors and military doctors, and manage medical clinics in various places, thus fully realizing his own value. And Zhang Niu is the original Zhang Niujiao. During these six months, Zhang Niujiao witnessed with his own eyes how Tian Ze properly resettled and meticulously managed the Yellow Turban captives and refugees. He was completely convinced and devoted to Tian Ze. In his heart, Tian Ze was like the great and virtuous teacher Zhang Jue. The Yellow Turban Army no longer needed a new general to lead it, so he resolutely changed his name to Zhang Niu, with the courtesy name Hutian, and devoted himself to assisting Tian Ze. (End of this chapter)