Chapter 680 Guan Yu’s Concern
Hedong, Wenxi.

When Guan Yu passed by on his way to the court, he offered sacrifices to his ancestors here and rebuilt their tomb.

After staying for more than ten days, they started to follow the road to Pubanjin.

A group of more than thirty riders squeezed onto a steam transport ship and headed towards Chencang.

In the past two years, the Grand Marshal has been staying in Chencang, effectively intimidating Liangzhou and Yizhou, for fear of attracting a second attack.

Although he was in Chencang, the strategic level was similar to his inspection tour of Liangzhou and Yizhou.

Even if there are occasional rebellions by powerful people during the administration of the county, they can be quickly suppressed by the county.

The powerful and wealthy families in the county were also afraid that the rebellion would continue and attract the shogunate’s army to invade further, and no one would be able to escape then.

During these two years, order in Yizhou counties was very good and the authority of counties was established.

The two tasks of taxation and asset inventory were carried out in an orderly manner. Every year, a group of wealthy people with assets of tens of millions, powerful people and wealthy people were recruited to move to Guanzhong to enrich the three auxiliary areas.

After a few more times, this migration will slow down. Although there is fierce competition in Sizhou, it is convenient to become an official and there are generous treatments.

Even so, some local emperors who were used to being wild did not like the prosperity of the Three Prefectures and looked down on the opportunity to serve as an official.

Killing county officials at will to demonstrate was considered rebellion.

From the killing of county officials last year to the delay in relocation and disobeying the imperial edict this year, all were classified as rebellion.

After the county soldiers were mobilized, it was no longer a matter of taking assets and servants to the unfamiliar Guanzhong to fight again, but rather exile to Shuofang and Hexi.

In this way, Guan Yu listened to the officials on the ship talking about their experiences in various places and arrived in Chencang in late May.

When the boat stopped, Guan Yu couldn’t wait to get off. Only when his feet stepped on the ground did he feel safe.

It’s not that he is not used to boats, but that he cannot adapt to sailing at high speed against the current at night.

During the break, the attendants led the horses to the dock and followed the instructions of the dock officials to wash the horses first.

Not only did the horses have to be washed with wood ash water, but people like Guan Yu who came from afar also had to bathe and change clothes before they could meet the Grand Marshal.

Compared with these trivial matters, what attracted Guan Yu the most was the airship that had taken two years to build and was too huge.

From seven or eight miles away, he could see the huge bamboo and wooden scaffolding outside the Chencang Shipyard, which looked like a city wall and a hill.

Such a large airship, what if it accidentally falls down after it is built and is fully loaded with nobles…

It’s not just Guan Yu who is worried. Anyone who doesn’t want to experience chaos again has this concern.

Now Da Sima has been staying in Chencang for almost two years. This kind of reaction of living in one place for a long time is abnormal. It also shows Da Sima’s obsession and love for airships.

If the airship is really built, who can persuade Sima Da?

With this worry in mind, Guan Yu took a bath as usual and came to the shipyard early the next morning.

It was not until noon that Black Bear squeezed out time to meet Guan Yu.

Guan Yu was somewhat resistant to this meeting, as the last time they cooperated was in the suburbs of Xu Du, when he killed Cao Hong and cut off Cao Cao’s arm.

Guan Yu rescued Du Shi, but looking back now, Du Shi was just a nobody.

The most regrettable thing was that they failed to capture Xu Du and rescue the emperor.

Black Bear downplayed the incident and did not publicize the attack on Xu Du; no one from Liu Bei’s side would talk about it either.

Otherwise, both Black Bear and Guan Yu are responsible. No one has investigated Da Sima deeply, so do they still not dare to blame Guan Yu?
Today we are entertaining Guan Yu, so the lunch is relatively rich, with four dishes and one soup.

Guan Yu sat down and sighed: “I haven’t seen the Grand Marshal for several years. I never thought that the Grand Marshal was so rich and simple as before.” “I usually only have two dishes and one soup. Today, because of Lord Yunchang, I have two more dishes.”

Black Bear picked up the food with chopsticks and asked, “I heard that Lord Xuande took in Tian Yu and others and arranged for them to go to sea. Have they already gone to Xiying Island?”

“Yes, they have been driven overseas.”

Guan Yu added: “When I was in charge of Xuantu County, I also went out to sea by boat. The barren land to the north of Xiying Island is far inferior to the Three Kingdoms of Korea and the Eastern Barbarians. All the officials and soldiers who accompanied me were impressed and felt that they were happy to be born in China rather than overseas.”

“I know what Lord Yunchang is thinking. I don’t understand how Lord Xuande could be tired of building a homeland overseas, expanding territory, and becoming a king when it is so satisfying.”

Black Bear was puzzled. Liu Bei gave him the impression of being a tireless entrepreneur, unwilling to be inferior to others, and having an ambition to stand out and stand at the highest position.

Guan Yu patiently explained, “We followed Lord Xuande to eliminate the bandits and restore peace to the world. Now, under the rule of the Grand Marshal, the government is in good order, the people are harmonious, and all industries are thriving. It is truly a land of peace and happiness. Why should we seek something far away? We would rather stay in China and help the Grand Marshal create peace, which is better than drifting overseas like a rootless driftwood.”

Hearing this, Black Bear shook his head and said, “I prefer to be on good terms with Lord Xuande. In my current position, it is hard for me to hear harsh words of truth. Even harsh words of truth often have other purposes. Lord Xuande’s establishment of a country overseas as a barrier to the country has many benefits in my opinion.”

After a pause, Black Bear continued, “Whether it is the exclusive Confucianism or the current Huang-Lao school, in my opinion, neither is as good as the time when a hundred schools of thought contended. Lord Xuande established vassal states overseas, and Cao Cao and his ilk were able to continue their rule, all for the sake of the existence of many countries and the enlightenment of the people. I will not discuss this matter for the time being. I will talk to Lord Xuande in person after he comes to Guanzhong.”

Guan Yu had some guesses, and he always had doubts about the black bear’s bloodline.

Hearing this, he asked: “Does the Grand Marshal want to enlighten the people? Does he want everyone to study the classics and become a doctor?”

“Not necessarily. Within a hundred years, men in this country should be able to finish middle school, and women should be able to finish elementary school. Even slaves should know 300 characters.”

Black Bear made expected estimates and tried not to use the big move of falling meteorites to avoid being squeezed out.

If I live another 70 years, I will ensure that primary and secondary schools continue to be taught.

Overseas vassal states are of paramount importance, and only overseas benefits can stimulate marine fishing.

Steamships and steam cars allowed seafood to flow back to the North, minimizing population losses caused by natural disasters.

After listening to Black Bear’s cultural plans, Guan Yu no longer had any doubts.

He asked, “Then what Grand Marshal Zheng Guan and Xu Yuanzhi did when they came to the court was Hebei?”

“Well, Yuan Shang is still too slow to act. I will give him another three years. If he refuses to leave, Lord Xuande and I will work together to drive him out and take all of Hebei. From now on, the two families will have smooth sailing on the Bohai Sea, which will also make it easier for Xuande to open up the Western Ying Island.”

Black Bear raised his glass and drank it all. “If you miss your homeland, just relocate more people from your hometown. Even if it’s here, Lord Yunchang, I can release a thousand rebellious nobles to relieve Lord Yunchang’s homesickness.”

“Da Sima is joking.”

Guan Yu took a sip of the wine. He didn’t think he was worth a thousand households.

These are actually one thousand elite households. Even if they are slaves, they are still elite population.

This is different from the thousand households on the books. With these thousand households, the powerful people who have been demoted to slaves can create wealth that is no less than a county with ten thousand households.

After a glass of wine, perhaps moved by the proposal of the thousand households, Guan Yu said: “I see the majestic airship, but I wonder how the people inside can save themselves if it crashes after flying into the sky?”

“Lord Yunchang, you are worrying too much. Anyone riding on an airship must be rich or noble. Why would they start a fire and burn themselves?”

Black Bear asked back with a smile, his eyes full of laughter and he looked very confident.

Seeing this, Guan Yu stopped trying to persuade him, poured himself some wine, and raised his glass: “I am worrying too much.”

It was considered a punishment for himself, and Black Bear just smiled.

He turned his head to look at the airship. His own airship would naturally not crash, but it was hard to say about others.

(End of this chapter)