Chapter 21: The Yellow Turbans Uprising (Part One)
Seeing Xu Shu's anxious appearance, Wang Xu smiled and slowly spoke out his plan in mind.
"Now that we've decided to join the war, of course we have to make a name for ourselves! Moreover, by contributing our own strength to help the imperial court quickly quell the Yellow Turbans, we can also reduce the harm this war brings to various regions. After all, although the Yellow Turbans are a peasant uprising, their rebellion was doomed from the start, especially since its nature gradually changed and it became no different from bandits, plundering and pillaging. The ones who suffer in the end are still the ordinary common people."
"So, next February with the Yellow Turbans, we will first assist Governor Yuan Yi to pacify the small groups of Yellow Turbans within Shanyang County. This Yuan Yi, styled Boye, is one of the eighteen warlords who would later join forces against Dong Zhuo, although official history only records thirteen routes, but that's not what we're concerned with now."
Here is the translation:
"Up to this point, Wang Xu paused for a moment, recalling historical classics, before continuing: "Yuan Yi was Yuan Shao's cousin. In history, Cao Cao once said 'Among those who grew up and were able to study diligently, only I and Yuan Boye have achieved it!' It can be seen that this Yuan Yi still has some talent, but on the grand stage of the Three Kingdoms, he didn't amount to much. However, eliminating small groups of Yellow Turbans was more than enough for him. The turning point of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the Battle of Changsha, occurred in April of next year. Therefore, before the fire burns Changsha, we must hurry to Huangfu Song's army!"
Wang Xu said so much, but Xushu replied with some disinterest: "Actually, whether the Yellow Turban Rebellion succeeds or not, the outcome is still the same for us. What I want to know is what we do after the rebellion? Is it just relying on our military achievements to curry favor with the eunuchs and offer them some money, and then send some to that greedy Emperor Ling of Han as well, and use that to buy a position as a governor or provincial inspector?"
"No! After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, those 3,000 soldiers who were willing to stay on continued to serve as our family's guards. As for those who dragged their wives and children along, or were only sons or didn't want to fight anymore, apart from their salary and rewards given according to their merits, we'll give them some extra money to disperse." Wang Xu quickly shook his head, bluntly rejecting Xu Shu's proposal.
"Really?"
Apparently unexpected for Wang Xu's idea, Xu Shu immediately asked in confusion: "Why?"
Wang Xu smiled and pointed to Xushu's nose, explaining seriously: "You think it's too easy. After the Yellow Turban Rebellion until Emperor Ling of Han died, eunuchs were in power, and the court still had actual power, if you're not careful, you'll invite disaster!"
"Isn't that easy? As long as you curry favor with the Emperor and the eunuchs, isn't it okay?" Apparently Xu Shu couldn't grasp the key point, and at this moment, he was full of confusion.
"No! There are two reasons why this won't work. Firstly, if you fawn on the eunuchs now, your reputation will stink, which is extremely disadvantageous for recruiting talent in the future. Am I supposed to conquer the world alone without any talented people? Secondly, if you really do this, you'll inevitably win the emperor's favor. With Lingdi's favor, it's highly likely that you'll be transferred to the capital to become a high-ranking official, and not necessarily stay where you want to be. That would be disastrous! Thirdly, during this period, officials are frequently shuffled around, so even if you gain their favor, there's still a good chance they'll transfer you back and forth until you end up with nothing."
"After explaining the three reasons in one breath, Wang Xu thought for a moment and continued: 'So, doing this is completely not worth it, there's no need to gamble on this. The real place to find peace should be before or after the vassals discuss Dong, only what you get at that time is truly yours.'"
"Oh! So that's how it is. Then why did you disband those 3,000 soldiers again? Wouldn't it be better to keep them as a future reserve?"
Upon hearing such a naive question, Wang Xu couldn't help but pat Xu Shu's cheek and sneer: "Little fool, what's going on in that head of yours? These soldiers are now all in their 20s and 30s, in the prime of life. It's normal to take them to battle. But after training them for years, you're still making them fight. Do you think they're machines? Now it's only AD 184, not to mention that many of them will start getting older in the future. Moreover, such a long military service period will also make them extremely war-weary. Who wouldn't want to go home and get married or reunite with their families after receiving so much pay? If you keep them by force, they won't be an elite team, but rather the legendary old, weak, and disabled soldiers. What's the use of that?"
Upon hearing Wang Xu's explanation, Xú Shū suddenly realized. "Ah! We are indeed recruited soldiers and not like the imperial court which is conscripted."
"Who told you that the imperial court's soldiers are just recruited?" Wang Xu looked at Xu Shu with a slanted gaze and explained reluctantly: "In the early Western Han Dynasty, it was indeed the case that the conscription system was implemented. However, by the time of Emperor Wen of Han, normal conscription could no longer meet the needs of defending the borders. Therefore, Emperor Wen accepted the suggestion of his minister Chao Cuo - to recruit civilians to defend the borders. That is, the residents of the border counties were recruited and combined with the soldiers of the border counties, so the situation of recruiting soldiers first appeared in the Han Dynasty."
During the Han Wu Di period, land annexation became more severe, and a large number of small farmers went bankrupt and fled, making it impossible to determine their household registration. The powerful families with aristocratic surnames also had many privileges exempting them from military service. However, the country's wars were frequent, and the demand for soldiers was high, so the previously effective conscription system could not be carried out normally and could not meet the needs of war, therefore, they began to implement a recruitment system in parallel. At that time, convict soldiers, slave soldiers, and ethnic minority soldiers were also widely used. By the Eastern Han period, the recruitment system had become the main way of gathering troops, especially during the late Eastern Han period when the world was in chaos, making it impossible to implement a systematic conscription system. Of course, the conscription system did not cease!
Xu Shu, who was left speechless by Wang Xu's words, blinked her eyes and didn't get angry. Instead, she laughed in extreme surprise: "How come I never noticed that you had so many things in your brain before?"
Wang Xu didn't want to go pick her up, if he did, he would definitely be taken advantage of. Wang Xu knew Xu Shu very well, she was a person who never suffered losses!
"Never mind that. I'm asking you, are you really planning to go into battle with me next year?" As he spoke, Wang Xu also re-stacked the maps on the table and put them away.
"Of course! I said I would never leave you!"
Wang Xu hesitated for a moment, then advised: "My past and future wife, you're only 14 years old next year! Isn't it a bit early to go to the battlefield? I think we should wait a few more years! Besides, this Yellow Turban Rebellion isn't that serious, there's not much danger!"
"No way! Don't forget, we were born on the same day. Besides, I'm even taller than you now, why shouldn't I go?" Xu Shu said, still glaring at Wang Xu with great dissatisfaction.
Upon hearing this, Wang Xu immediately shook his head with a bitter smile and sighed: "It's not about who's better or worse, I'm worried about you too. Besides, you can't even beat me!"
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