Originally, Bai Xiaowen also thought about using gentle means to communicate with the Gongsun family and use their power to trace the clues to the dragon-patterned golden box.
However, Bai Xiaowen himself rejected this idea because it was still too much of a hindrance to the Gongsun family. Their natural defensiveness against the Yuan family could easily hinder Bai Xiaowen's plan.
After understanding the situation, it was found that Gongsun Du did not have a deep foundation in Liaodong at this time. Bai Xiaowen took advantage of the Hongmen Banquet to kill the leader Gongsun Du in one fell swoop, and then used the Yuan family's tiger skin. The Gongsun family, which did not have a deep foundation, naturally
Just fall apart.
Asking Gongsun to help him investigate the clues, even if he has the identity of the governor of Youzhou, it is equivalent to scratching the surface.
How can it be compared to now, when Bai Xiaowen's decree is carried out unimpeded in Xiangping City, and it is more convenient and faster to directly mobilize the power of the government to investigate.
Wang Lie's suggestions were humbly accepted by Bai Xiaowen. This old and frustrated elder had a soaring impression of Bai Xiaowen and regarded him as a wise master who could be entrusted to him.
Bai Xiaowen then ordered Wang Lie to write a recruitment list and send it to each city in the four counties of Liaodong to hang it up.
Wang Lie even personally recommended a famous person: "Sir, I have a friend named Bing Yuan, who is from Beihai County and is famous for his integrity. Later, the Yellow Turban bandits brought trouble to the Central Plains, and Bing Yuan moved his family to Liaodong for refuge.
Woe. Master, why don’t you recruit this person?”
There was no imperial examination in the Three Kingdoms era, and the nine-rank Zhongzheng system had not yet been born. The "chaju" system passed down from the Han Dynasty was used to select and appoint officials.
Recommendation is almost the most basic way to appoint talents. For example, Xun Yu recommended Xi Zhicai to Cao Cao, and later recommended Guo Jia, both of which were reused.
Therefore, scholars in the Three Kingdoms era paid special attention to their reputation, and most of them regarded filial piety and righteousness as more important than their lives.
Needless to say, filial piety, for the sake of friendship, famous people in the Three Kingdoms could spend a lot of money or even abandon their homes and careers, which became a good talk.
At this time, Wang Lie gained the attention of "Ming Zhu" and recommending his friends was a basic operation.
Bai Xiaowen said: "I have heard of Bing Yuan's name for a long time, and I can't wait to see him." He immediately issued a warrant and sent people with gold and silk gifts to recruit Bing Yuan.
"Wang Changshi is talented and virtuous, but being a Changshi is too humiliating. I will report to my father and ask you to serve as the governor of Xiangping. Before the appointment is made, you can temporarily manage the affairs of Xiangping. What do you think?"
Bai Xiaowen asked.
Wang Lie did not refuse, bowed and said: "I will live up to the trust of the young master."
After appointing Wang Lie, Bai Xiaowen took Yan Rou to inspect the Xiangping treasury.
Gongsun Du's hoard of gold, silver, grain and cloth amounted to about thirty thousand guan.
With the generous financial support from his cheap uncle Zhen Yan, Bai Xiaowen was a little disappointed with the harvest from the Xiangping treasury. In his opinion, as the Marquis of Liaodong, Gongsun Du should have more than this amount of savings, right?
But that was the fact, and Bai Xiaowen had no choice but to face the fact that the four counties in Liaodong were barren, and Gongsundu only occupied it for a short period of time. It was already good to have 30,000 guan of money and food.
"General Yan."
Bai Xiaowen pulled Yan Rou over and whispered: "Next, the soldiers and horses from Youzhou Headquarters are coming."
"Yes." Yan Rou was a little confused and could only nod.
This is an obvious thing. Since Gongsun Du is dead, the four counties in Liaodong will become the territory of the Yuan family. As the governor of Youzhou, Bai Xiaowen is bound to mobilize the 20,000 people from Youzhou, such as Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan, to occupy the four counties.
In the county seat, Gongsun Du's original men and horses were replaced and reorganized.
"Chief Zhao Rong must know about my capture of Liaodong," Bai Xiaowen continued.
"Yes." Yan Rou nodded again, still confused as to what he meant. Isn't this all basic operations? Why did the second young master explain it solemnly?
Bai Xiaowen coughed and started to talk about the key points:
"This money and grain will be delivered to the Youzhou treasury."
"Yes." Yan Rou was excited, clasped her fists and said, "Master, please rest assured, Rou will live up to your trust and escort the 30,000 yuan of money and food to Youzhou Treasury every cent!"
"..."
Bai Xiaowen was a little speechless. Why are you so anxious to express your opinion?
After coughing heavily, Bai Xiaowen said: "Liaodong is barren, and the government's money and food cannot make ends meet. How can there be a surplus of 30,000 guan? It is obvious that there is only 10,000 guan. General Yan, don't talk nonsense!"
Yan Rou was startled, and then looked at Bai Xiaowen with disbelief. He had somewhat figured out the way.
Do you think Second Young Master Yuan wants to keep the extra 20,000 yuan for himself?
No! Second Young Master Yuan wants to use the money to train his own troops!
Yan Rou thought of Bai Xiaowen's selection of six hundred warriors from his subordinates, and her heart suddenly brightened.
However, after thinking about it, Yan Rou was even more shocked.
Second Young Master Yuan wants to train his own troops. What does this mean?
Do you think the troops in Youzhou headquarters are not easy to use?
Want a army of your own that only listens to your own orders?
Seeing Bai Xiaowen's half-smiling expression, Yan Rou quickly came to her senses.
[The second young master is probably preparing to seize the throne...]
With Yan Rou's vision, she was already very smart to think of seizing the legitimate son. He didn't know that Bai Xiaowen's "ambition" was much greater than what he imagined to seize the legitimate son.
The problem before Yan Rou now is two words: take sides.
He must make a choice now.
To help the Second Young Master keep secrets, including embezzling 20,000 yuan of money and food for military training, Yan Rou needs to stand in the Second Young Master's camp and become his confidant!
Just when Yan Rou was hesitant, Bai Xiaowen said with a smile: "General Yan has worked hard in this battle. I can give you two thousand guan as a reward for the soldiers... How about it? How do you think about it?"
Yan Rou quickly made up her mind.
[The courage and strength shown by the Second Young Master in this battle, as well as the subsequent methods of appeasing the officials, sending letters to the four counties, etc., fully meet the standards of the Ming Lord in my mind.]
【These two thousand strings are just to recruit me!】
[The second young master has the intention to recruit. This is a rare opportunity. Otherwise, when will I, an old member of Liu Yu, be able to make a name for himself? 】
[If you reject the second young master...think about what will happen to Gongsun Du? 】
After Yan Rou's crazy self-attack in his heart, he felt that he had figured it out, and he immediately knelt down and prostrated:
"From now on, Mr. Xi will be my Yan Rou's lord. I will do my best for my lord, go through fire and water, no matter what!"
【What is this operation?】
Bai Xiaowen was slightly stunned. He just wanted Yan Rou to help cover up the amount of money and food so that he could line his own pocket, so he did not hesitate to give Yan Rou a hush money.
What the hell is Yan Rou taking refuge in?
No matter how smart Bai Xiaowen is, he never thought that Yan Rou would attack herself. He fell into deep thought.
[Could it be that I have awakened some extraordinary attributes, and from then on, when my tiger body shook, and when I became domineering, my subordinates bowed to me? This is something only Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and a handful of other camp leaders deserve to possess.
Such treatment.]
However, Bai Xiaowen's reaction was very quick. After thinking for 0.1 seconds, he put on a happy face and helped Yan Rou up.
"Okay, great! Yuan Xi defeated the three armies with General Yan alone!"