Chapter 57: Yuanlong Recommends a Comprehensive Memorial

Either of these two strategies is quite brilliant, and when combined, their power is multiplied exponentially.

The more Chen Deng listened, the more alarmed he became. Even with his own intellect, he could not come up with any superior countermeasure. At best, he could issue strict bans on grain sales and use military force to drive away the purchasing parties.

Yet even this approach was akin to quenching thirst with poisoned wine—sacrificing future development for temporary relief.

While chasing away the merchant caravans was easy, inviting them back later would be infinitely more difficult. Without caravans transporting goods, leaving aside regional development and commercial taxes, the various daily necessities required by local scholars and commoners would gradually run short. Over time, public resentment would inevitably boil over.

Against this, Zang Ba was completely devoid of a response. Besides, even to realize it was like drinking poisoned wine, Zang Ba would first have to see through the grand strategy.

Chen Deng surmised that although Zang Ba possessed some military cunning, he would most likely be blind to Liu Feng's web of schemes. Even if Zang Ba failed to see through the plot, he would undoubtedly sense that something was deeply amiss, leaving him to agonize over it for a long while. He would only wake up to reality when catastrophe was already upon him—a truly wretched fate indeed.

While Chen Deng was observing Liu Feng, Liu Feng was likewise observing Chen Deng. He wanted to seize this opportunity to test Chen Deng's stance.

Finally, after Liu Feng laid out the entire plan, Liu Liu inquired for Chen Deng's opinion: "Yuanlong, do you deem this strategy viable?"

Chen Deng answered decisively: "This plan is exceptionally sound! I earnestly request the Governor to put it into action swiftly. In three months at the earliest, or half a year at the latest, we will surely subdue Zang Ba and bring Langya under the direct governance of the provincial administration."

Liu Bei was overjoyed. He held absolute trust in Chen Deng, and since even Chen Deng deemed the plan feasible, Liu Bei no longer had any lingering concerns.

Just as the lord and his minister were in perfect harmony, Liu Feng unseasonantly chimed in to interrupt: "Father, Chief Clerk, Zang Ba is blind to the mandate of heaven and refuses to submit to the provincial government. Though merely a local strongman, he harbors ambitions of regional division; he deserves nothing less than utter defeat. However, after Zang Ba is eradicated, this child has a few immature thoughts that I wish to present for the reference of Father and the Chief Clerk."

Both Liu Bei and Chen Deng were drawn in by Liu Feng's words and listened attentively.

Cautiously, Liu Feng unfolded his plan: "As I previously mentioned to Father, after eliminating Zang Ba, we can proceed directly to Ju County, force Xiao Jian to surrender, and recover the entirety of Langya Commandery. Yet Langya features treacherous terrain, is plagued by bandits, and its northern borders are perpetually harassed by remnants of the Yellow Turbans. Therefore, this child wonders if it might be wise to divide Langya Commandery into three parts?"

The southern part, with the commandery seat of Kaiyang remaining as the capital, would continue to be called Langya Commandery, governing the four counties of Kaiyang, Linyi, Jiqiu, and Zengguo.

The northwestern side, with Dongguan as the capital, would carve out the four counties of Dongguan, Dong'an, Yangdu, and Gumu to form Dongguan Commandery.

The northeastern side, with Ju County as the capital, would carve out the five counties of Ju, Zhu, Dongwu, Haiqu, and Langya to form Jucheng Commandery.

In truth, this divide-and-conquer strategy originated from Cao Cao. When Cao Cao implemented this measure, it was during the Jian'an third year, AD 198. That year, Cao Cao held the office of Minister of Works, not yet Grand General, let alone the future Prince of Wei. Logically speaking, if Cao Cao had the authority to alter commanderies and states, Liu Bei had every reason to do the same. It was merely a matter of one officially memorializing the imperial court while the other enacted it by self-declaration.

This did not touch upon any fundamental bottom line of the imperial court, nor would it provoke fierce opposition from the local gentry and powerful clans. Therefore, as long as Chen Deng took the lead in showing support, and provided Liu Bei successfully subdued Zang Ba and Xiao Jian, this undertaking would not be difficult to achieve.

Chen Deng pondered for a moment. His thoughts aligned precisely with Liu Feng's prediction; he felt this did not cross any forbidden lines, and it would additionally create two vacant commandery governor posts out of thin air for Xuzhou. He found himself leaning toward approval.

"Governor, although the young master's proposal is somewhat abrupt, it is certainly worth considering. Langya Commandery is fraught with internal issues and has long defied the orders of the provincial administration. If it is divided and governed separately, it just might be a brilliant strategy."

Hearing Chen Deng's agreement, Liu Bei's mind began to spin. Instead of immediately giving his consent, he asked Chen Deng: "With such a division, do you have any recommendations for the governors of these two newly formed commanderies, Yuanlong?"

Liu Feng felt a heavy thud in his chest. What on earth was his father doing? At least let him finish speaking first! If Chen Yuanlong scooped up all the fruits of victory here, what would be left for him? Not to mention his original intention of probing the situation.

Liu Feng had already planned to recommend Chen Qun for the post of Governor of Dongguan or Jucheng. In terms of seniority, Chen Changwen, who had previously served as the Assistant Officer of Yanzhou, was more than qualified. Furthermore, since these two commanderies were carved out of Langya and governed only four to five counties each, the scale was just right. At the same time, this would test the attitude of the Xuzhou local gentry—led by Chen Deng—toward Yanzhou scholars entering official posts in Xuzhou.

Liu Feng was well aware that Chen Deng held great admiration for Chen Qun and the Chen clan behind him. If even such an admiring attitude could not avoid fierce resistance, then the plan to introduce Yanzhou scholars would encounter major hurdles, severely impacting and altering Liu Feng's subsequent sequence of plans.

Chen Deng was a seasoned fox. Seeing the flash of anxiety on Liu Feng's face, he immediately grasped a part of Liu Feng's intent.

With a beaming smile, he spoke: "This is a matter of paramount importance to the province; a subordinate official has no business speaking out of turn. Yet, favored by the Governor's regard, how could Deng dare offer anything less than utter sincerity?"

Liu Feng cursed inwardly, feeling utterly helpless. If he were to rudely interrupt now, it would not only breach etiquette but also expose his petty calculations far too thoroughly. Should he provoke the disgust of both Liu Bei and Chen Deng, the loss would truly outweigh the gain.

Better to exercise patience, listen to what Chen Yuanlong had to say, and see if there was any room for redemption. Even if he lost everything in the end, it would serve as a valuable lesson, far better than suffering an even heavier defeat.

As Liu Feng calculated in silence, Chen Deng cast a faint smile his way and continued: "Jucheng Commandery has the Yellow Turbans only to its north, the sea to its east, and our own provincial territories to its southwest. Therefore, we need only dispatch a capable and experienced administrator. Within two or three years, he will surely return a prosperous land to my lord. Looking across all the talents within the province, in Deng's view, Chen Qun, Chen Changwen, is fully capable of shouldering this heavy responsibility."

Liu Feng was taken aback. He had never expected Chen Deng to actively recommend Chen Qun; it was a complete surprise.

While Liu Feng was stunned, Liu Bei was equally caught off guard by Chen Deng's move. In truth, upon hearing Liu Feng's proposal earlier, Liu Bei's very first reaction had also been to secure a commandery governorship for Chen Qun.

Back in Yanzhou, Chen Qun had earnestly urged Liu Bei not to accept the appointment in Xuzhou, advice that Liu Bei had ignored, leaving him with a lingering sense of guilt. Moreover, after his advice was rejected, Chen Qun had not thrown a tantrum or fled; instead, he had diligently followed Liu Bei from their homeland to Xuzhou, even seeing his status drop from Assistant Officer to a regular clerk.

It was not that Liu Bei mistreated Chen Qun. Given Liu Bei's character, upon arriving in Xuzhou, he had wanted to assign the vacant post of Chief Secretary to Chen Qun, only for the latter to firmly decline and instead advise Liu Bei to select someone from among the local gentry of Xuzhou.