C87. Military Camp Competition.
Prince Chen was another individual worth seeking refuge with.
However, Xiang Hongyun quickly discarded the idea of joining Prince Chen.
Firstly, Prince Chen was already advanced in age, and with four sons vying for power, his court was a chaotic mess. Secondly, Prince Chen was a landlubber who detested water, while the Jian Dong region was crisscrossed with rivers and canals.
After careful consideration, Xiang Hongyun narrowed his options down to two individuals: Wu Shanshi, the Governor of Yizhou, and Yuan Li, the Governor of Youzhou.
However, Xiang Hongyun soon ruled out Yuan Li.
His interest in Yuan Li was merely one of curiosity. At the tender age of nineteen, Yuan Li had ascended to the position of Governor of a state. Upon hearing the news, half the world scoffed at the Chu family's foolishness, deeming it absurd. They subjected Yuan Li to intense scrutiny and resentment.
Xiang Hongyun himself was also young and had faced numerous doubts and hardships due to his age. He empathized with Yuan Li to some extent.
In reality, Xiang Hongyun was a rather arrogant man who scorned those commoners who harbored prejudices against talented individuals solely based on their age. Nevertheless, even with his empathy, Yuan Li had yet to reach a level that could attract Xiang Hongyun.
After pondering for a while, he decided to head north to seek refuge with Wu Shanshi in Yizhou.
After diligently writing a letter to Qin Meng on behalf of Qin Pei, Xiang Hongyun left a letter behind, packed his belongings, and embarked on his journey northward.
However, when passing through Yanzhou, he encountered the great Confucian scholar Zhang Liangdong, who was fleeing from Luoyang.
Encountering a great scholar, it was natural to pay a visit. After visiting Zhang Liangdong, Xiang Hongyun learned that Zhang Liangdong was heading to Youzhou.
Xiang Hongyun had doubts in his mind and asked, "Sir, your academic reputation is renowned throughout the world. Wherever you go, you will be well received by the local rulers. Your students are also quite prosperous in places like Qingzhou and Yangzhou. Why then, would you rush to Youzhou so far away?"
It was already midsummer, the heat was unbearable, and Zhang Liangdong sat in the carriage wiping away sweat, his beard soaked with sweat. He chuckled and said, "I have been in correspondence with Ouyang Ting and Yuan Li. I have some understanding of the situation in the world. Although my students are filial, they are not rulers of a region. I don't want to cause trouble for them. Although Youzhou is remote, it has been well governed by Yuan Li, and it is a time of prosperity. When I was at home before, he had invited me to visit Youzhou multiple times. Although I hesitated, now my wish has been fulfilled..."
Perhaps because Yuan Li was a disciple Zhang Liangdong had missed in the past, Zhang Liangdong had always remembered him. Whenever Yuan Li was mentioned, Zhang Liangdong couldn't help but praise him highly: "Yuan Lejun is someone I know well, I know what kind of person he is. This child has a sincere heart, treats people with sincerity and warmth, cares for the people of the world, and his talents are commendable. Despite his young age, he has achieved great things. I am taking my family to seek refuge with him, my mind is at ease."
Xiang Hongyun nodded thoughtfully.
He had initially thought that Zhang Liangdong's constant praise of Yuan Li in the capital was a political maneuver to enhance Yuan Li's reputation in the central government. But now, it seemed like Zhang Liangdong was genuinely praising Yuan Li.
Zhang Liangdong also had to pass through Yizhou, so the two of them traveled together. After a few days of being together, Zhang Liangdong grew to admire Xiang Hongyun and invited him to stay in Youzhou. After some contemplation, Xiang Hongyun accepted the invitation.
Over the next half month, the two got along quite well, and Zhang Liangdong grew to like Xiang Hongyun more and more. Eventually, he took Xiang Hongyun as his disciple.
*
Youzhou.
Yuan Li could finally breathe a sigh of relief temporarily.
From April to July, it took them three full months to conduct a thorough investigation of spies and assassins within Youzhou.
The more they investigated, the more shocking it was. They discovered many people with questionable identities, as well as some Hu people who were oppressing the people of Youzhou.
Yuan Li and Chu Hechao dealt decisively with these individuals, opting to eliminate them rather than show mercy.
After conducting an internal investigation, the border garrisons in Youzhou also strengthened their forces.
With the Emperor of Jianyuan dead and Li Li'an acting lawlessly, various states and counties began to stir. Without any reservations, under Yuan Li's swift and decisive methods, Youzhou had quietly formed a solid defense line, isolating itself from the chaos outside.
Despite the turmoil outside and refugees fleeing everywhere, the people of Youzhou continued to live in peace. Taking advantage of the summer agricultural downtime, they learned how to compost and make fertilizer under the guidance of the governor.
In January of this year, Yuan Li had built public toilets in Jixian, and had people regularly clean them to make fertilizer. At first, the people of Jixian were not accustomed to using the toilets, but gradually, they realized the benefits of convenience in public toilets.
The concept of public toilets spread from Jixian to the countryside, and other magistrates and county officials slowly began to follow suit, spreading to other parts of Youzhou.
During the spring planting season, Yuan Li intended to teach the people how to compost and use fertilizer. He deliberately selected experimental fields in various locations to plant grains using the fertilizer.
By the end of May, the seedlings had grown, but the impact of the fertilizer was not yet apparent. By June, the crops were already a handsbreadth higher than the neighboring fields. People were puzzled at that time, and by July, the difference in the crops was even more evident.
The grains in Yuan Li's experimental fields were two heads taller and exceptionally lush compared to the others.
The people whispered in private, attributing the success to the Governor's kindness and care for the people, believing that the god of land favored the Governor's fields because of it.
Upon hearing these rumors, Yuan Li couldn't help but laugh. Before the rumors became more outrageous, he instructed his men to spread the word that it was the result of the fertilizer.
The so-called fertilizer was the product of composted manure.
Yuan Li also sent wounded soldiers who had learned about composting to explain to the villagers in various villages what fertilizer was and how to use it.
After the people learned that their crops grew so well because of their own manure, they were half-believing and half-doubting, but soon began to notice that the manure from the toilets was being stolen from time to time.
Yuan Li didn't know how many people were stealing the manure to compost, but he noticed that even when venturing into the countryside in recent days, he couldn't see any filth along the roads, and the air within a hundred miles was noticeably cleaner.
Every time Liu Jixin and others inspected the crops in the fields, they couldn't help but marvel and felt that the countryside of Youzhou was now even cleaner than the city of Luoyang.
Aside from fertilizing the land, Yuan Li's new recruits were also showing some progress in training.
He trained the soldiers according to modern scientific methods, not solely pushing them to their limits but also providing regular rest periods. He would spend time chatting and singing with them, allowing those with special skills to showcase their talents.
This approach not only relieved the soldiers' strained spirits but also fostered harmony and unity within the army, promoting a positive atmosphere.
On rest days, soldiers could wash their clothes and sun their blankets. After completing each rest day, their visibly refreshed spirits were a testament to the effectiveness of this approach.
Guo Zhihuai silently observed the changes in the soldiers.
The longer he stayed in Yuan Li's military camp, the more he remained silent. However, he observed and learned a great deal as time went on.
For instance, when he first heard about giving soldiers rest and engaging in recreational activities, he was initially hesitant, considering it trivial and detrimental to discipline. However, after witnessing the results, he was left speechless.
Yuan Li's unique methods of training soldiers, previously unseen and unheard of, seemed eccentric and peculiar to Guan Zhihuai. However, they proved to be remarkably effective, to the point where Guan Zhihuai began to doubt the effectiveness of his own previous methods of training soldiers.
In addition to rest and recreation, Yuan Li also organized a competition among the new recruits to test what they had learned in the past two months and to identify talented individuals.
Competitions within the army were essential for stimulating the soldiers' competitiveness and potential, as well as fostering a healthy competitive environment.
To motivate the soldiers to give their all, Yuan Li established a set of reward rules.
Those ranking in the top fifty in the competition would become Yuan Li's personal guards. The top three would receive additional rewards, with the first-place winner getting five catties of gold, the second-place winner receiving three catties, and the third-place winner one catty.
Participation in the competition was open to all soldiers regardless of background, age, or reputation; it was solely based on their abilities.
While these rules may not be unusual in later times, they were groundbreaking in an era where social status heavily dictated one's opportunities. The chance for advancement based solely on individual ability was a powerful and revolutionary concept, stirring excitement among the new recruits.
Initially in disbelief and skeptical of the rumors, the soldiers were ecstatic upon realizing that the opportunity was real.
The cheers in the camp threatened to bring down the tents, with even many impoverished soldiers, who diligently practiced daily despite hardships, finding themselves choking back tears of excitement by their bedside.
Among the one hundred thousand soldiers were many with potential and aspirations who had joined the army due to the lack of other opportunities. They understood that this was a rare chance for advancement.
The emotional impact was profound, leaving some restless, breathing heavily, and exhilarated.
The prospect of becoming the governor's personal guard, regardless of background, stirred those with ambitions more than gold itself. Some soldiers were determined to compete for a spot in the top fifty.
Becoming the governor's personal guard would signify a significant leap in status. By demonstrating exceptional performance and strength, there was a possibility of catching the governor's attention, leading to recognition, battlefield success, and potentially being rewarded with an official position.
This opportunity could change their fate.
Even those soldiers without grand ambitions or a full understanding of the competition's significance were excited.
Gold, whether five catties or one catty, was a fortune that ordinary people would never earn in a lifetime. The mere sight of gold was a rarity for most individuals.
Now, the prospect of obtaining gold was within reach, spurring them to put in their best effort.
Due to the large number of soldiers, Yuan Li initially had each squad compete to select one representative. The squad leaders did not participate in the internal competition but vied for positions with the other squad leaders.
Once each squad selected a representative, a competition was held within larger groups, starting from tens, hundreds, thousands, and up to ten thousand soldiers, ultimately selecting one hundred elite soldiers.
Unit leaders, company commanders, and battalion commanders did not compete for positions alongside ordinary soldiers but worked together to earn their spots.
In order to ensure fairness and impartiality in selecting soldiers, squad leaders, unit leaders, and other military officials would be randomly reassigned to supervise each other. For example, a squad leader would be assigned to oversee the five soldiers under another squad leader to ensure maximum fairness.
Additionally, Yuan Li made secondary arrangements by having someone present at the scene every day. If any soldier felt that there was unfair treatment, they could report it to this individual.
With this setup, the ten thousand new recruits began eagerly preparing for the selection process, with all soldiers gearing up to participate in the competition ten days later.
Upon hearing about Yuan Li's initiative, Yang Zhongfa specifically went to Yuan Li and gave him a thumbs up, showing admiration and respect. He exclaimed, "Impressive, truly impressive. Lord Yuan, you are truly skilled."
He then eagerly requested Yuan Li to include him in the audience for the competition.
Yuan Li smiled and replied, "Sir Yang, you are welcome to join."
After receiving approval, Yang Zhongfa was overjoyed. His companion, He Lang, also cheekily asked, "Lord Yuan, can I..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Yuan Li nodded in agreement.
Subsequently, Yuan Li noticed that not only Chu Hechao and his subordinates were interested in the competition, but also his diligently busy subordinates were extremely interested in it, much like typical hardworking individuals.
Therefore, Yuan Li decided to bring everyone to watch the military camp competition together in ten days.
During the evening in the kitchen, while cutting vegetables with Yuan Li, Chu Hechao lowered his voice and asked, "How did you come up with this idea?"
Yuan Li replied, "Because I am naturally talented."
Chu Hechao chuckled and retorted, "Hmm, I didn't see that coming."
Yuan Li rolled his eyes discreetly.
Chu Hechao felt like he was going crazy and found even Yuan Li rolling his eyes adorable. His expression became slightly strange as he stared at Yuan Li's eyes as if under a spell.
Feeling a chill down his back, Yuan Li couldn't help but ask, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Unable to express, "I like it when you roll your eyes," Chu Hechao pretended to be annoyed and turned his face away, blurting out, "You haven't cleaned the sleep from your eyes."
Yuan Li: "..."
He touched his eyes but found nothing. Taking a deep breath, Yuan Li contained his frustration. He then boldly kicked Chu Hechao's perky rear as he ran out.
Chu Hechao's temple bulged with veins as he shouted, "Yuan Lejun!"
*
As they conducted their official duties, Liu Jixin and others engaged in lively discussions about the upcoming military competition.
Guo Mao took a sip of his tea and sighed, "Our Lord is indeed benevolent."
Hailing from a humble background, where even learning to read and write required marriage into the county magistrate's family, Guo Mao possessed a deep understanding of the significance of this competition. He clearly recognized the opportunity their Lord was presenting to the soldiers.
This realization evoked a complex mix of emotions within Guo Mao, even stirring envy and admiration towards the fifty soldiers who would ultimately become their Lord's personal guards.
He wondered, "Why was I not given such an opportunity?"
He had painstakingly climbed the ladder, enduring countless humiliations and ridicule, to reach his current position. Compared to him, these soldiers were remarkably fortunate.
But Guo Mao quickly regained his composure and renewed his determination. He was now under Lord Yuan's tutelage, a fortunate turn of events in itself. Moreover, Guo Mao harbored an ambition that he couldn't reveal to others.
With a sidelong glance, he surveyed the men in the council hall, particularly Liu Jixin.
To put it bluntly, Guo Mao aspired to be the most favored among Lord Yuan's subordinates. Even if not the most favored, he aimed to be the most considerate, the most thoughtful, and the most eloquent in his words.
However, out of respect for his colleagues' camaraderie, Guo Mao would never voice this ambition.
Upon hearing his sigh, Liu Jixin and Zheng Rong nodded in understanding, both empathizing with the pain of being hindered by a humble background.
But after a moment of contemplation, Zheng Rong couldn't help but remark, "The soldiers themselves are not fortunate; their fortune lies in having encountered our Lord. Brother Guo, you have no idea how rigorous the training is for the soldiers in the camp."
Guo Mao burst into laughter, "Well said, Brother Zheng. It seems you have firsthand experience."
Zheng Rong grimaced in pain.
Despite his busy workload, Wang Er never neglected Zheng Rong's training. After months of relentless drills, Zheng Rong now appeared far more robust than when he first arrived in Youzhou.
His once pale skin had also tanned considerably, making him stand out like a general amidst the mostly sun-deprived scholars in the council hall.
After their lighthearted exchange, the men returned to their official duties, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the competition day.
Time flew by, and soon, the much-awaited day of the military competition arrived.