Volume 1: Kyoto Wind and Cloud Chapter 28: The Officials of Youzhou Surrender

  Watching the hundred cavalrymen approaching from a distance, Liu Zhang's face sank like water. He knew that no matter how much Liu Yan scolded and cursed, the defenders of Jicheng City would not open the city gate. The governor could be as powerful as he wanted, but once dead, what use was it?

  "Shua!" Liu Zhang ordered: "Take down all the horses from the carriages, surround the supplies with a circle of carriages, put the family members in the middle, you take people to hide behind the carriages and prepare to resist the enemy!"

  "Yes!" Shi Ah looked at Liu Zhang's confident expression and hurriedly followed his orders. Madame Liu sat down among the crowd with the support of her maid, looking lovingly at her young son.

  "Father!" Liu Zhang saw that Liu Yan was still outside the circle and hastily called out: "Don't bother with them for now, we'll settle accounts later. Hurry up and come in!"

  Liu Yan saw that the enemy cavalry was getting closer and closer, knowing that he could only fight one battle. He also didn't pretend to be polite, immediately entering the car array set up by Shi A.

  When Liu Yan advanced into the formation, Liu Zhang shouted loudly: "Han Sheng, encircle from the left, Yan Yan, encircle from the right, Shi A, block the enemy army!"

  "Yes!" Huang Zhong, Yan Yan and Shi E led the way, while Liu Yan stared at Liu Zhang's heart, thinking: "This command is decisive, just like a general, it's my son!" For a moment, Liu Yan forgot about the impending war, his heart filled with joy. Every parent hopes to see their child succeed, now his eight-year-old son has such demeanor and courage, what more could Liu Yan ask for!

  The Wuhuan cavalry stopped five hundred meters in front of Liu Zhang's chariot array. One of the hundred officials stepped forward and said, "Han people! Hand over your wealth and let us go, and we will spare your lives!" In the eyes of these Wuhuan people, the Han people were weak. Even if they had a strong army, they were still no match for the Wuhuan cavalry!

  "Who will spare whom is not certain yet!" Liu Zhang looked at these arrogant Wuhuan people with a cold smile and said: "Huang Zhong, Yan Yan! Not one left! Kill!"

  "Yes!" Huang Zhong and Yan Yan, holding their large knives, charged towards the Wuman cavalry with a fierce smile. The Wuman people were not afraid at all, but after just one clash, a large number of Wuman soldiers fell down, while not a single soldier from Huang Zhong and Yan Yan's troops fell off their horses!

  "This...this is impossible!" The hundred-year-old man exclaimed in shock; "What kind of people are you?"

  Liu Zhang shouted loudly: "The Governor of Youzhou, Liu Yan, is here! How dare you be so presumptuous?! Dismount and surrender, I will spare your life!"

  "You are the Governor of Youzhou?" Bairen Chang suddenly burst out laughing: "I am a Wuhuan, I only have death in battle, no surrender! Since you are the Governor of Youzhou, then come and take my life!" After finishing speaking, Bairen Chang ordered everyone to attack, but one small Wuhuan soldier dressed as a scout, secretly retreated to the back and fled on horseback.

  "Want to send a message?" Huang Zhong sneered, drawing his bow and nocking an arrow. The specially crafted iron bow was a divine weapon from who-knows-what era. At a distance of three hundred paces, it arrived in the blink of an eye. A blood-curdling scream was heard, and the messenger soldier fell off his horse.

  Seeing Huang Zhong making achievements, Yan Yan couldn't bear to fall behind. If his martial arts weren't comparable, and even leading troops in battle wasn't comparable, wouldn't that be a joke? Yan Yan led two hundred imperial guards to charge at the enemy, and the hundred-man commander knew he had no way out, yet he suddenly had the heart to fight to the death. But Yan Yan's martial arts were not something he could withstand! In a short while, more than a hundred Uban cavalrymen were killed by Huang Zhong and Yan Yan, and Shi Ah didn't even manage to kill one person!

  "Isn't the door open yet?" Although the enemy had been repelled, Liu Yan was still seething with anger. On his first day in office, he almost got killed, which wouldn't make anyone happy.

  "Open the gate! Open the gate quickly!" The general guarding the city hastily opened the city gate and invited Liu Yan to enter the city.

  "Hmph!" Liu Yan walked past the guarding general and coldly snorted: "Go and summon everyone in the city, tell them I have a meeting to discuss!"

  "Yes!" The guard looked at Liu Yan, who was covered in cold sweat and trembling all over, but he didn't think that Liu Yan wouldn't pursue his responsibility, and after giving the order, he left. After all, under the circumstances at the time, the guard hadn't done anything wrong.

  Yōshū Cìshǐ Fǔ -> Youzhou Governor's Office

  Liu Yan had just sat down when a gatekeeper came to report that the officials of the Youzhou Governor's Office, big and small, had arrived.

  "Let them in!" Liu Yan's face was calm, while Liu Zhang sat beside him, with Huang Zhong, Yan Yan and Shi E standing behind.

  "See the master!" The leader was a middle-aged official, estimated to be over 30 years old, looking refined and elegant, should be a noble son.

  "Everyone take your official seats!" Liu Yan showed neither joy nor anger, leaving those minor officials who were trying to read his expression unable to guess what he was thinking.

  "Wei You at your service, currently serving as the Deputy Governor of Youzhou!" The leading man bowed and took a seat in the first position on the left.

  "Humble servant..."

  "Finally..."

  As Wei You took the lead, more than a dozen officials of various sizes sat down one after another, and they consciously divided into two sides. Liu Zhang, who was sitting aside listening to them report their names, shook his head repeatedly. Among these people, only Wei You was someone he had heard of before, and the others were all unknown to him!

  "Why hasn't the military officer come?" Liu Yan couldn't help but feel some anger. During wartime, the military officer was actually slacking off.

  "Report to the historian, the military advisor has already died in battle!" Wei You smiled and said: "Nowadays, there is no military advisor in Youzhou!"

  "What about the Judicial Officer?" Liu Yan heard that the Military Officer was killed in battle, so he didn't mind anymore. But this Judicial Officer, couldn't have been killed in battle too, could he?

  "Report to Your Excellency!" Wei You bowed again and said: "After the former governor was dismissed, the position of judicial officer has not been established. Therefore, there is no judicial officer in Youzhou!"

  Liu Yan asked one by one, and the result almost made him vomit blood. Unexpectedly, from the military officer to the legal officer and then to the governor, none of these deputy governors were present. Liu Yan couldn't help but admire his predecessor, wondering how he managed such a mess! However, it turned out that his predecessor didn't manage anything, no matter what he wanted to do, the first and only thing was to pay tribute!

  "Wei Bie Jia!" Liu Yan knew the cause and effect, so he didn't get angry anymore. He smiled and said: "Now there is a shortage of officials in Youzhou, do you have anyone to recommend?"

  "Reporting to Your Excellency! Youzhou originally had few talents, and even fewer people who can take on important tasks. In the previous term, there were still a few capable people, but..." Wei Qiao sighed: "Please let Your Excellency make the decision!"

  "Very well!" Liu Yan thought for a moment and said: "My son, can I borrow Huang Zhong, Yan Yan, and Shi E from you?"

  "Father, you're too greedy! You want to take away all the guards in my hands at once!" Liu Zhang smiled and said: "Yan Yan can be lent to you as a soldier, but Shi Ah and Huang Zhong are not. They are military officers, I plan to let Huang Zhong lead troops to attack Wuhuan, and Shi Ah will continue to guard me! People can be lent to you, but I have one condition!"

  Liu Yan had originally wanted to borrow Yan Yan and Huang Zhong. Earlier, outside the city, the heroic bearing of these two men had left a deep impression on him. As for Shi E, he was an imperial guard left by the emperor for Liu Zhang. Moreover, since Liu Zhang could use the sword that beheaded the snake, he would naturally have extraordinary achievements later on. Based on this alone, Liu Yan couldn't transfer all of his personal guards away either.

  Liu Zhang said there were conditions, and Liu Yan smiled: "My son, speak your mind, as long as you don't go against..."

  "Enough!" Liu Zhang interrupted Liu Yan's words, saying: "Father! Why are you and I speaking in official tones? My condition is that the secretary will be appointed by me!"

  Gong Cao from the matter, one of the high-ranking assistant officials of the governor, is responsible for selecting and evaluating the master's affairs. Liu Zhang actually wants this position, which makes Liu Yan very puzzled. It should be known that the selection of officials can be decided by the governor with just one word, and the selection evaluation is just a formality.

  "My son, why not let you take charge of Zhongzhou? Since Liu Zhang wants to be an official, Liu Yan doesn't want to be stingy either. Besides, now Youzhou is unmanned, and although Liu Zhang is only eight years old, he has been taught by Cai Yong for three years, and his ability is not comparable to ordinary people. Liu Yan believes that even if he lets Liu Zhang serve as the governor of Zhongzhou, he may not do a bad job!"

  "It's still not working!" Liu Zhang smiled and said: "Father, don't you see that Wei is almost unable to sit still?"

  Liu Zhang said this, and Liu Yan indeed found that Wei You's face was alternately pale and red, his mouth opening and closing as if he wanted to say something. This is not surprising for Wei You, an eight-year-old child serving as a Gong Cao was already very frustrating, even though the Gong Cao was just a nominal idle official. However, this Zhongzheng Congshi was one of the high-ranking assistant officials under the Governor, in charge of managing documents and affairs, hence the name Zhongzheng. If an eight-year-old child were to take on this role, thinking about having an eight-year-old superior or subordinate every day would be unbearable for Wei You, let alone the other officials below him.

  "Hmph!" Liu Yan coldly snorted: "Now that the Wuhuan people are becoming increasingly arrogant, I was just about to borrow your strength to deal with the Wuhuan people. If someone opposes my opinion, then I'll have them go and drive back the Wuhuan instead!"

  Liu Yan's words made everyone present shudder. If they could defeat Wuhuan, would Liu Yan still need to be the governor of Youzhou? Except for Wei You, all the minor officials were busy agreeing with him, fearing that Liu Yan would send them to their deaths.

  "Father, I only want to be a Gong Cao Cong Shi!" Liu Zhang saw Wei You's face turn red and couldn't help but laugh: "I want to be a Gong Cao Cong Shi just to discover talented people in the army. Father knows that many talented generals from humble backgrounds have been overlooked! As for the Zhong Zheng Cong Shi, it's an important position among civil officials. My child is only eight years old, and at this age, he should be studying and playing. Why not let Wei Bian Jia take on the role instead?"

  Wei You's eyes widened in shock, staring at Liu Zhang in disbelief. He really couldn't believe that an eight-year-old child could have such a demeanor and temperament. Wei You couldn't help but exclaim: "Liu sir has given birth to a unicorn!"

  "Wei Biao is indeed a great talent! I'm just learning a bit more from my master. Actually, I've long heard of Wei Biao's great name and know your talents. With you assisting my father, Henan will surely prosper. If I hadn't already taken a master, I wouldn't have let you go. However, in the future, please continue to guide me, Wei Biao!" Liu Zhang finished with a bow, his flattery almost knocking Wei You out cold.

  "How dare I, how dare I!" Wei You, as the deputy governor, was the second-in-command to the governor. Seeing that the governor's son was so knowledgeable about etiquette and propriety, he didn't want to be too hypocritical. Liu Zhang's demeanor and courage also made him want to take him on as a disciple. In Wei You's opinion, Liu Zhang had exceptional talent, but if his master's reputation wasn't prominent, it would be better for him to choose another mentor. If he could have the governor's son as a disciple, it would be a great help to Wei You. So, Wei You asked: "May I ask who your master is?"

  "House teacher Cai Yong Cai Bo Ji!" Wei You almost spat out blood, compared to Cai Yong, it was truly the difference between a crow and a phoenix. However, Cai Yong was a great Confucian scholar in the country, and his disciples would also be highly regarded. Originally, Liu Yan was already a member of the Han imperial clan, and now he had a connection with Cai Yong, so those Youzhou officials who had wanted to teach Liu Yan a lesson all put away their malicious thoughts!