Chapter 31: Merit Officer Zhang Su

"Junqiao, please."

"Governor, please."

As night fell, Liu Zhang hosted a private banquet for Zhang Su at the Governor's office. The imperial edict had not yet been formally read; Zhang Su had only just arrived in Chengdu and needed time to recover from his journey. The reading would be deferred until the following day, when the civil and military officials of Yizhou could be assembled.

"You have seen and heard much in Chang'an, Junqiao. Tell me of it," Liu Zhang requested. He wanted news of the current imperial court, while simultaneously gauging whether Zhang Su was a capable envoy.

Zhang Su set down his wine cup, paused to organize his thoughts, and began to recount his observations from his mission to Chang'an. "Reporting to the Governor, the current imperial court is controlled by the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Li Jue, and the General of the Rear, Guo Si. Both state affairs and the civil administration of Guanzhong are entirely in the hands of these two scoundrels."

"The arrogance of these two villains, Li and Guo, far surpasses that of the past minister Liang Ji. His Majesty is now reduced to nothing more than a figurehead who merely nods and affixes his seal."

Having summarized the current situation, he offered his assessment of their future: "From what I have observed of these bandits from Liangzhou, they lack any long-term ambition. They are merely living day to day, indulging in the pleasures of the present."

"They demand excessive military provisions, and when the local taxes are insufficient to supply them, they plunder the people of Guanzhong. This has caused the populace to scatter, until not even the sound of a rooster or a dog can be heard in the once-populated regions."

"If this continues, I believe that even without an external force to punish them, these Liangzhou bandits will inevitably turn on one another and fall."

Liu Zhang nodded. Zhang Su was a clever man who clearly understood the situation in the Chang'an court. History would confirm that Li Jue and Guo Si would indeed turn against each other and meet their ends in Guanzhong.

"What you say, Junqiao, aligns perfectly with my own thoughts. These bandits do not engage in production; they know only how to pillage. How could such a path be sustainable?"

"It is only a pity that the people of Guanzhong have suffered so under their hands. Even if the bandits are defeated, I fear the region will remain desolate and devoid of travelers." Liu Zhang felt a pang of genuine compassion.

Historically, while Li Jue and Guo Si were indeed eventually killed, the vast region of Guanzhong had been so ravaged that less than one in ten of its people remained. It was for this reason that Liu Zhang made them his primary targets; he was determined to liberate the people of Guanzhong from their tyrannical rule and provide justice for the elders of the region.

"The Governor is truly benevolent," Zhang Su praised respectfully. It was precisely because of Liu Zhang’s kindness and benevolence that Wang Shang, the leader of the Yizhou literati, had decided to support Liu Zhang as the successor to the governorship of Yizhou. Having heard on his return journey how Liu Zhang had restrained the Dongzhou soldiers, Zhang Su, a native of Shu Commandery, held Liu Zhang in high regard.

With the matters of Chang'an addressed, Liu Zhang commended him: "You have traveled ten thousand miles, Junqiao, entering a den of tigers without regard for your own safety."

"I wish to appoint you to the position of Merit Officer. I wonder if you would be interested?"

Liu Zhang offered the position of Merit Officer to Zhang Su, who came from a prominent Yizhou family. The Merit Officer was responsible for official documentation and assisted the Regional Inspector, holding a salary of one hundred shi, a copper seal, and a yellow ribbon. Though the salary and rank were modest, the role was exceptionally important because it involved the power to oversee the promotion and dismissal of personnel.

Furthermore, the current Regional Inspector of Yizhou was Wang Shang, the most respected figure in the region. As the official in charge of selecting local officials and the chief of all subordinates, Wang Shang was a man of great influence. Zhang Su, coming from a powerful local family, would surely not refuse to serve under a man of Wang Shang’s stature.

As Liu Zhang had anticipated, Zhang Su did not refuse. He bowed low and replied, "Thank you, Governor. I shall exert my utmost loyalty and serve you with all my strength."

Speaking of the Merit Officer position, he recalled Yan Pu, the Merit Officer of Hanzhong, and said, "Governor, on my return journey, I passed through Hanzhong and sensed that there were unusual developments there."

"Please, speak plainly, Junqiao," Liu Zhang said, encouraging him to continue.

"As I traveled through Hanzhong bearing the imperial staff, Zhang Lu, the Commandant of Righteousness, did not come to greet me. He sent only a Merit Officer named Yan Pu to deal with me, and his attitude was remarkably arrogant." Zhang Su’s tone carried his dissatisfaction; the 'Rice Bandit' had dared to look down upon an envoy from a prominent Yizhou family.

"Furthermore, I observed that Hanzhong is under strict military alert, as if preparing for war. In the Governor's mansion, I saw barbarians constantly coming and going. This scoundrel Zhang Lu appears to have ulterior motives."

'Zhang Su is a very capable envoy,' Liu Zhang thought to himself. An envoy must not only complete his mission but also observe the customs of the lands he passes through and collect intelligence—acting, in effect, as a secret agent. Zhang Su had not only fulfilled his mission but had also provided valuable information; he was an excellent envoy indeed.

Beyond his competence, Zhang Su was also loyal; history would show that when he discovered his younger brother, Zhang Song, was conspiring with Liu Bei to usurp Liu Zhang's province, he had reported him to Liu Zhang.

Liu Zhang smiled, mollifying the indignant Zhang Su: "The matter has yet to unfold. Keep this confidential for now, Junqiao. Let me consider how to handle it; I will not allow Zhang Lu to act recklessly."

"Understood," Zhang Su replied.

***

"Magistrate Sheng, please."

"Assistant Prefect, please."

Everything was going smoothly—so smoothly that even the composed Liu He could not hide the smile on his face.

Upon entering the Shu region, he had used the prestige of Liu Biao to visit the prominent Xie, Yang, and Bai families of Ba Commandery, as well as over a dozen smaller clans and numerous officials. As the Assistant Prefect of Jingzhou, he was well-received by the scholars of the Ba region, which left him feeling quite triumphant.

The man sitting across from him was Sheng Dao, the Magistrate of Liangping County in Ba Commandery.

"Where is your ancestral home, Magistrate Sheng?" Liu He asked cordially.

Sheng Dao set down his wine cup, not daring to act presumptuously before the Assistant Prefect of Jingzhou, and bowed. "If I may inform you, Assistant Prefect, I am from Zizhong County in Jianwei Commandery."

"Oh," Liu He nodded, feigning the look of a kindred spirit. His tone shifted, becoming sympathetic. "Given your talent, Magistrate Sheng, I see no reason why you could not serve as a Commandery Governor or an Inspector at the provincial seat. It is truly regrettable that Liu Yan has seen fit to appoint you to a mere county magistracy."

Hearing these empathetic words, Sheng Dao felt his eyes grow moist. Emboldened by the wine, he cursed, "That old man Liu Yan cannot bring himself to trust us men of Shu. It is already no small feat that I have obtained a county magistracy."

"Look at others, such as Wang Xian, the former Governor of Ba Commandery, or the powerful Li Quan; they were slaughtered by Liu Yan, leaving not a single member of their families behind. It is truly tragic."

Having vented his frustration, Sheng Dao said to Liu He with genuine emotion, "For the elders of Ba and Shu, your arrival, Assistant Prefect, is like the long-awaited rain after a drought."

"I only hope that you can save the scholars of Ba and Shu from this fire and water."

"Rest assured, Brother Sheng. To purge the corrupt and uphold the pure, to clarify the situation in Ba and Shu, is the long-held wish of Governor Liu of Jingzhou and myself. We will not let you down." Liu He patted his chest, making a promise while borrowing the authority of Liu Biao, the Governor of Jingzhou.

At that moment, a warrior came to request an audience. Liu He waved him in.

He recognized the man as a member of the powerful Yang clan, someone who traveled the roads to relay information. "Is there news?" Liu He asked.

The man bowed with both hands and reported, "My master has asked me to inform you that of the two bandit chiefs we sought to recruit, Shen Mi has gone on a journey and his whereabouts are unknown. The other, Lou Fa, who is currently managing Shen Mi's troops, has agreed to our call to arms."

"Excellent." A surge of joy spread across Liu He's face. He had heard from the head of the Yang family about these two chiefs: Shen Mi was a master of formation warfare, his troops were strictly disciplined, and they were undefeated in battle. Lou Fa was skilled in archery; he could hear the wind and distinguish sounds, capable of shooting a willow branch from a hundred paces—a talent reminiscent of the legendary Yang Youji.

Although they had failed to recruit Shen Mi, his troops remained, and they had successfully won over Lou Fa. It was a true stroke of fortune.

Liu He was jubilant. Most of the heroes and powerful clans of the Ba region were now in his grasp. Once he had established contact with the powerful clans of Jiangzhou, there would be no more surprises in Ba Commandery. It was like a ripened fruit, ready to fall into his hands.

He waved for the man to withdraw, then raised his wine cup toward Sheng Dao. "Brother Sheng, this is a matter worth a grand toast."