Chapter 431: An'an is Not Starved to Death

ps: The previous chapter has been slightly modified, with Yellow Chang serving as the Governor of Jizhou, and Pi Tong becoming the Minister of Wei Cheng.
……
During the Spring and Autumn period of the Zhou Dynasty, not only were noble titles inherited through generations, but even the positions within the country were also passed down from generation to generation. The most typical example is the state of Jin, where the Zhao clan held the position of the Minister. The successive heads of the clan all served as ministers. The six ministers divided the three armies and six appointed positions, and according to seniority, only when the previous person died or retired, could the next person take office.
这是卿族自己定的规矩，身为君主的晋侯想打算安插亲信掺沙子？若真做了，恐怕就就要被六卿群起攻之，废黜换一个国君了，这就叫世卿世职。
Until the Warring States period, a new appointment system of "recognizing achievements and considering ranks" was established, and although different states implemented varying degrees of reforms, they all fundamentally adhered to the principle of "rewarding achievements with ranks and bestowing official positions based on abilities."
In the strictest days of the Qin Dynasty, noble titles were granted based on achievements. The higher the achievement, the higher the noble title. It was rigid and inflexible. Even the seasoned general Wang Jian, who had conquered several nations, complained that it was very difficult to become a duke under the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.
Duties are different, as long as the monarch believes you have the ability, it is common to rise through several levels and surpass others. Many foreign envoys and commoners have jumped ranks and been appointed officials. However, when the king no longer needs you, regardless of your contributions, you will be dismissed and should not have a word of complaint.
After several hundred years of centralization, when it comes to the Fifth Wheel, it is impossible to even change the positions of the ministers. There is no point in competing for the world anymore. It's better to hang oneself early.
Therefore, there are cases like Jingdan resigning as Imperial Censor and going to Youzhou to serve as the governor.
"Although it appears that Sun Qing has been demoted, he still holds the position of former general, which gives him control over the military and politics of the ten prefectures in Youzhou. After all, most of these prefectures are only nominally under the central government's rule, while in reality, they are still controlled by semi-independent prefectural governors. Furthermore, there are also disturbances caused by the Xiongnu, Wuhuan, and Goguryeo along the border, so the power in Youzhou needs to be centralized."
这是对景丹极大的信任，而在冀州则略为不同，第五伦要让权力稍有所划分。
邳彤调到北京邺城做魏成尹，升了半级，可以发挥他的治郡之能，又不用因为信都大族的身份，过度偏袒河北豪强乡党。
Although Prime Minister Geng Chun and General Huang Chang have also been balancing military and civilian affairs to expedite the recovery of this devastated province, the power of supervision falls under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Jizhou.
Rising from a humble background, Huang Chang has a decent record on paper. If we were to consider seniority, he was one of the earliest Wei scholars who joined forces with Lord Cao. He assisted Ma Yuan in breaking through Henei and made some minor achievements, which eventually helped him rise to the rank of a count. Since taking up the position of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, he has carried out intelligence surveillance work satisfactorily, similar to the governor's duties. The only shortcoming is...
"Short!"
In the Han Dynasty, apart from abilities and background, the appearance was also important for officials. Those who were lame could not be appointed, and Huang Chang, who was only slightly over six feet tall, was considered a third-grade disabled person.
But Di Wu Lun chose to appoint him for this task because he needed Huang Chang to do something important for him!
After returning to Ye City, Diwu Lun summoned Huang Changwen to ask him.
"In the past, Emperor Wu of Han appointed governors with little income but great power. This was suitable for both small and large matters. However, our dynasty is different. The whole world is in turmoil, especially in the provinces of Bing, You, and Ji. Many of the 2,000 shi officials in the counties and prefectures have rebelled or surrendered recently. If a governor does not hold a high position and wield significant power, they will not be able to suppress the situation."
第五伦道：“卿当知身为刺史，需要监察何事？”
黄长对魏王提拔自己感激涕零，这么多年劳苦总算没有白费，应道：“刺史有六条问事！”
"First, officials with a rank of two thousand shi or below who do not follow decrees, abuse their power for personal gain, oppress the common people, and engage in corrupt practices shall be investigated!"
This regulation targets individuals who directly exploit their power to embezzle wealth from the people. In newly acquired territories like Jizhou, where there is a lack of established laws, these wrongdoings often occur openly and deserve severe punishment.
"Secondly, without investigating doubtful cases, the wind is harsh and kills, anger leads to arbitrary punishment, joy leads to excessive rewards, and the people are troubled and oppressed. Investigate those who are detested by the public!"
When Jizhou was initially stabilizing, it was prone to civil unrest, and the cruel officials should show some restraint.
“其三，选署不平，阿附所爱，敝贤宠玩。其四，子弟恃怙荣势，请任所监，查问之！”
这两条针对任人唯亲，但在冀州，忠于魏王的官吏不足，根本管不了那么细，顶多遇上子弟仗势欺人，为害乡里太过分时加以遏制。
"Fifth, violate public comparisons, collude with the powerful, engage in bribery, cut government orders, and investigate them!"
When the government colludes with the powerful, there is often a situation of "I would rather offend a high-ranking official than offend a powerful family." Although the prominent families in Jizhou have suffered some losses in the war, they are still deeply rooted. Fifth Lun doesn't believe that Geng Chun and Pi Tong, who come from large clans, can be ruthless, so he needs Huang Chang to share the burden for the ruler.
"Apart from the five provisions for supervising officials, there is one more, which is to beware of powerful local gentry."
Speaking of this, the fifth member countered, "In the past two hundred years, who has been the most influential local gentry in Jizhou? Who has exceeded the limits of their land and properties, bullied the weak with their strength, and oppressed the few with their numbers?"
黄长一个激灵，知道魏王的意思了。
他抬起头，言语中带着兴奋和杀意：“诸刘！”
……
数日后，冀州刺史的第一道政令从邺城发往各郡，令驻军和二千石们立刻执行！
"In the Book of Documents, 'On Completing the Assignment,' it states: 'By pacifying the stubborn people of Yin, they were relocated to the city of Luoyi, where they were closely associated with the royal family and received proper education and guidance.'"
"When Duke Zhou carried out his eastern expedition, only the stubborn people of Yin refused to submit. Fearing their potential rebellion, they were moved to the Eastern Capital, where they remained in close proximity to the royal family and were subjected to teachings for their transformation and improvement."
“去岁，铜马寇乱冀土，以至元元肝脑涂地，死亡无数。幸有魏王圣德灵威，攘除祸乱，诛灭无道，河北大定。”
“刘子舆、刘杨、刘林，譬如三监之乱，河北诸刘，犹殷顽民，故余痛定思痛，欲使刘氏八族，迁于并州，置于郡县。”
所谓八个宗族，便是冀州曾经建立的八个王国：赵国、中山国、常山国、真定国、河间国、广川国、平干国、广平国。而它们之下又有许多子孙支系，分封了王子侯国足足三十五个，如今总共分出五十余家，涉及到数万人口。看来魏王是打算将王莽都没做的事完成，将他们连根拔起啊！
光看字面含义，就是向周朝迁殷顽民看齐，有理有据。
但这只是第一层，有看到第二层的“聪明人”嘀咕开了：“魏王恐怕是在报当初刘邦迁田氏子孙的故仇啊！“
200 years ago, in order to guard against the Qidi Zhutian, Liu Bang relocated all the clans of the Tianheng family, thus creating the first to eighth families of Changling.
Now, the fifth generation is also dividing the Zhulius of Hebei into eight families for relocation, it seems like it's retaliatory behavior!
某个学过公羊春秋的儒生兴奋地算了算：“从汉高到刘子舆，刚好第九世，这不是应了孔子那句话？”
“九世之仇犹可报乎？孔子曰：王道复古，尊王攘夷。十世之仇，犹可报也！”
王道、攘夷、报仇，句句符合魏王的做派，这种说法遂广为流传，尽管也有人认为魏王小心眼，但百姓却以赞许居多。
第五伦在邺城得知后，不怒反喜。
“果然如此，就是要让人觉得，余是在搞族姓复仇！”
这一波，第五伦在第五层：让狭隘的族仇报复表象，遮掩打土豪的实质。
可不能让人人都明白，他针对河北诸刘的原因，纯粹是因为看中了土地！
在铜马之乱中，因为胳膊肘往外拐的刘子舆，诸刘不乏破家者，但大多数财富和土地，仍集中在他们手中。
第五伦思考过河北的流寇问题，这冀州地狭人众，大族颇多，土地兼并问题也颇为尖锐。除了最初的铜马多是从渤海等黄河泛滥地区逃难而出，其余人等，多是在各郡裹挟加入的失地贫民佃农。
铜马号称百万，听上去不可思议，但将流动作战的二十万男丁和他们背后的家庭加起来，或许还真有这个数。
第五伦这几个月在冀州，走过许多地方，跨过一度肥沃、如今变成荒芜不毛之地的乡野，所到之处无不感到触目惊心。
魏王与刘子舆争战的同时，在许多失去秩序的郡县，粮食已经快绝收一年了，严酷的寒冬中，每天都有无数人饿死。
第五伦常见到有人向西逃难到了巨鹿附近，挂在他身上的皮肉打着皱折，可以一清二楚地看到每一根骨头，眼光茫然无神，即使是个二十岁的青年，行动起来也象个干瘪的老头，一步一迈，走不动路，在烈日下摇摇晃晃，伸出佝偻的手向路过的人讨口吃的。
而听马援、张鱼说，没有走到西边来的流民更多，类似的场景已经持续好几年了。
被逼到这份上，难道还问一句“何不食肉糜”“何不作安安饿殍，效尤奋臂螳螂？”
The refugees join forces and form a group of bandits, attacking those lords and aristocrats who impose heavy taxes on them but fail to feed them, seize their lands but fail to repair irrigation canals. They storm into the cities, plundering those who buy their wives and daughters, those who continue to host lavish feasts while honest people suffer from hunger and poverty.
Until being exploited by Liu Zi Yu, he became a cannon fodder in the struggle for power.
Two-thirds of the population disappeared during the three years of chaos, but the chaos did not end with the death of Liu Zi Yu.
As long as the people continue to flee, the copper horse will continue to emerge. If the copper horse is eradicated, there will be iron horses and tin horses, and eventually it will return to a major problem from a minor one.
After all, it is all about land and food.
第五伦只暗道：“奋臂螳螂们受限于自身，无法做到的事情，就由我来罢。”
此番击灭刘子舆，主要靠河内、魏郡之兵，拢共七八万人，第五伦得将这批人的名田宅解决了。真定王、赵王在各郡的家产庄园田亩悉数收缴，得数万顷，足以让士兵分田。
但还不够，一一厘清各郡荒地，让流民归田是一项极其艰难的任务，根本没有足够的官吏去执行，全部完成，今年都过去了。而河内、魏地的粮食也捉襟见肘，无法满足对河北的赈济。
但流民问题当急不当缓，第五伦遂拆东墙补西墙，将河北诸刘统统打了，没收其囤积的粮食，冀州官府手里才能有足够的米赈济。而收归公田的十多万顷现成土地，则可令十余万铜马军俘虏、数十万流民春日里就近屯田，让他们有活下去的希望，就此绑定在土地上，重新变成编户齐民。
这个决策，连电车难题都算不上：让已经享受富贵两百多年的几万人离开这片土地，刘姓的宗庙之牺，将变为畎亩之勤。
而数十倍于他们人口的饥民却能因此活下来，不必在走投无路之下，将希望寄托在死而复生的假王郎身上。
而只要铜马渠帅或兵卒愿意从良来做佃农混口饭吃，朝廷也随时欢迎。
如此一来，诸刘跌倒，第五吃饱，足够让河北慢慢安定，恢复生产，在统一战争里为魏王出力，至于其余土豪，日后再慢慢收拾。
安排完这些事，第五伦就要离开邺城了，回望苦难深重的冀州土地，他对耿纯、黄长、邳彤叮嘱道：
"Remember."
“若是肉食者真的英明神武，使得国泰民安，谁愿意当流民？”
“流寇有多少数量，不是由假王郎、上淮况、城头子路决定的。”
“而是由余，由汝等决定！”
……
冀州各郡尚有驻军，挟大胜之威，正值诸刘削弱之时，过去与之联姻绑定的河北豪强也不愿意袒护，诏令推行得无比顺利。
绝大多数人，就像两百年前的诸田一样，自认倒霉地耷拉着脑袋，乖乖交出粮仓、田宅，带着哭哭啼啼的家眷，离开祖辈生活的封国，跟着回师太原的军队离开，不知未来会被安置到何处。
也有部分有血性的刘姓宗室，则起兵反抗，被镇压后，逃到了冀州东部，在黄河边的芦苇荡里聚集。
这些刘姓男儿聚集在一起，你一言我一语，吐诉家族破灭，妻离子散的痛苦，他们义愤填膺，觉得自己没有做错任何事，却被剥夺了财富，第五伦这是公然的抢掠！
“早知如此，当初就该随嗣兴皇帝死战！”他们都后悔不已，一个月前，就不该听了第五伦的招降而放弃抵抗，现在再拾起兵刃也为时已晚。
They were a little confused and could only look towards the leader of the crowd. Liu Zhi, who lost an eye in the Battle of Quyang but luckily escaped death, asked him.
"Xin Duwang, it is said that the Emperor Sizheng is still alive. The one in Shanghuai in the west claims to have the Emperor, and the one on the eastern city wall, Zilu, also says the same. Where is the Emperor really? We want to go and seek refuge."
但刘植没法骗自己、骗众人，沉重地告诉他们实话：“嗣兴皇帝已在下曲阳驾崩了。”
刘植对流寇并不信任，上淮况和城头子路，不过是在利用嗣兴皇帝的名声罢了，乃欺君之罪，这两人名为汉臣，实为汉贼！根本不值得效力。
眼看诸刘再度陷入绝望，刘植却又赫然道：“诸君，嗣兴皇帝虽逝，但大汉并没有亡！”
他看不起卢芳，西汉、绿汉名存实亡，不足道哉。但关东还有两位刘姓中的佼佼者，若他们能够联手，何愁汉家不复？
“在兖州梁地，有建世皇帝。”
“在江东淮南，还有吴王秀！”
刘植站起身来：“我要南下，前往睢阳，拜谒建世皇帝，请他与吴王联兵，共击国敌第五伦，打回河北来！”
刘植坚信，大汉，没有亡。
只要有汉旗飞舞的地方，就有熊熊烈火在燃烧！
然而刘植并不知道，此时此刻，他一心指望“联手”的两位刘姓佼佼者，刘永与刘秀。
已经在淮河边上，兵戎相见了！
……
ps：第二章在23:00。