Chapter 68 – Claiming Julu
January 8th.
Tong, his family and his troops arrived in front of Julu City eastern main gate.
This Julu City might be a medium size city worthy to invest in to form up an independent force, but it was currently surrounded by many potential enemies. At the same time, opportunities could be found here if Tong played his cards right.
Julu County and Julu City, located in the northern part of China within Ji Province, was surrounded by many medium size cities and other provinces.
On the east of Julu, Nan Pi City of Yuan family were there.
On the north, Zhongzhan City of Ji Province were sandwiched in between Julu City and Ji City of You Province. The Ji City governor was none other than Liu Yan while Zhongzhan City did not have any powerhouse which had taken control of it yet.
Jin Yang City of Bing Province, which Ding Yuan and Lu Bu was in charge of, served as a border and a buffer zone between China and the Xiang Nu tribes on the mountains far west of Julu.
Ji Province Capital, Imperial City of Ye, which was controlled by Han Fu, was situated south of Julu.
Ganling City was also on the southeast of Julu. It was currently under control of Zhang Yan, who had betrayed Tong and his family during the last battle.
These were the only medium and large size cities that Tong had to be cautious of. The rest of the counties, such as Ningjin County or Anping County, did not have any proper city with protection brick walls, so no local nobles with sane mind would utilize them as a home base. However, Tong still thought of utilizing these territories as his military bases, strategic places for fortification or other facilities, such as steel factories or secret granaries in the future.
Tong thought about all that while he was gazing at the 5 meters height brick walls that protected the Julu City in the shape of square in four direction.
The flags with the character "Guo" was still there as no one had changed it yet.
…
Zhang Jiao rode his horse in front of the 12,000 men in formation. From the onlooker perspective from inside the city, it was as if Zhang Jiao was about to lay siege on Julu.
A messenger of Zhang Jiao rode his horse forward and read out the edict of the emperor that Zhang Jiao had received from the eunuch. After he had read it out loud, the messenger ordered the soldiers inside to open the gate and welcome the new governor, or they would be declared as rebels.
The city gate opened and officials rushed out to greet the incoming troops in frantic. They were Guo Dian's former subordinates.
"G-Greetings, my lord. We did not expect that a new governor would be appointed soon. Please forgive us for our late welcome. P-Please, please come inside."
The officials invited Zhang Jiao inside and bootlicked him along the way. Tong, Zhou Cang, Hua Shi and their 7,000 men entered the city while the rest settled down the army camps outside.
While they were entering the city, Tong whispered to Hua Shi.
"Can you do the accounting?"
"Eh? If it's only basic tables and sorting, I can. Why?"
"I need your help screening the official accounts. I'm going to purge a few useless crooks."
"Okay! But I want one more night-ticket."
Black lines appeared on Tong's face. She had not used her previous ticket yet, but she asked for more. Were every girls who was named after the days of the week perverted?
"Fine, but only use it when it's your safe day. I'm not ready for a baby yet."
"Hehe. Don't worry. You can always use my upper mouth any day if you want. Your fluid is delicious!"
Tong facepalmed himself. It was a bad idea trying to have a conversation with under-belly-button topics with Hua Shi.
Tong ignored Hua Shi and whispered to his father.
"Let's get every officials in the hall and have a meeting. We have to purge some useless leeches first."
Zhang Jiao glanced at Tong and slightly nodded.
"My lord, we are thinking of holding a welcoming banquet for you tonight. Would you give us the honor?" The bootlicking official still tried to please Zhang Jiao, who still had indifferent expression on his face.
"No. For now, can you gather every personal to the main government hall? I want to know everybody first."
"Of course, of course. Such admirable enthusiasm! Our city will surely prosper if Lord Zhang govern us!"
Both Zhang Jiao and Tong shook their head as they gave up trying to stop these people from butt-kissing.
…
The seven thousands soldiers, with Zhou Cang as its deputy general and Tong as the grand commander, had replaced the city garrison guards and all remaining militias. The former soldiers were either released from their services, or sent to the camp outside of the city to retrain by Zhang Bao or Zhang Liang.
It was a counter-measure just in case someone played a trick, or tried to kill everyone while they were inside the city. All former troops had to be disbanded and replaced with Zhang family private army.
Inside the hall, there was a small wooden stage which were painted in red and red wooden stairs in front of it. A luxurious wax-coated black table was place on the stage and a fluffy cushion was place behind it. The stage was not there for anyone to perform on, but it was the main seat of the governor.
Beside the stage, a round cauldron human-size with decorated art was emitting out fragrant incense smoke.
Round red marble pillars made of marbles lined up in orderly fashion in the hall. The red marble ground were sparkling clean, even though every officials came here with dirty shoes on every day.
The walls were almost non-existence because there were holes and windows everywhere in the walls. The walls were not in deteriorating status, but it was sculptured into many ancient folklore beasts. It entire place looked like an art museum rather than a government hall.
The wind blew in from the east without stopping, which made the air ventilation smooth and contained plenty of oxygen.
Zhang Jiao sat in the main government hall with Hua Shi standing behind him, acting as if she was his advisor or an aide. Meanwhile, Tong, who was still wearing full iron armor, stood on the lower stair. He was in the position of being second in command and a spoke person.
The officials hurried themselves and lined up on the sides, leaving the main path to the front gate opened.
Seeing that all officers were present, the representative of the officials stepped forward to the center of the hall. He bowed to Zhang Jiao and gave out a report.
"My lord, all 543 of your servants are accounted for. We are awaiting for your instruction."
Zhang Jiao nodded and looked at Tong. Afterwards, Tong spoke out.
"My name is Zhang Tong. I will be our lord spokesman from now on. The first thing that our lord wants to do, is the check our status of this city and its people. Please bring out the city treasury reports, annual budget reports, financial reports of every noble families within this city and all bills that the former governor had passed in these recent years!"
The crowd of the officials murmured. The topic of their financial status was an unspoken-forbidden topic that they all knew. Because of their past embezzlement, exploitation and corruption, none of them wanted to bring out any of their report.
"Our lord will give you half a day to get your reports prepared. Tomorrow morning we will hold a council again! If there is anyone that are present here missing tomorrow, that person and their families will be charged with treason and have their 3 generation executed!"
The officials panicked. The leader of the officials stepped up to appease Tong.
"Lord Zhang, please reconsider your order. The financial report is a sensitive topic. We …"
"BULLSHIT!! The treasury and finance reports are just simple numbers and facts! Why do you call it a sensitive topic!? How are we going to work without knowing the status of our treasury and our financial power! How can we govern and protect the lives of over 100,000 civilians! Guards! Drag this retard away and put him in a dungeon! Send 500 men to search his family residents and bring out all of his past career records and all of his treasures! I want to know why he said it was a sensitive topic!"
The crowd was in uproar. More than half of them lost the color of their faces while the remaining honest officials smirked at their troubled colleagues.
…
"Finally, a capable governor has arrived."
"Indeed. This is a godsend."
"I can't wait to see these bastards dead. They did it upon themselves."
The few elder scholars in the back gossiped among themselves while they were watching the show.
"How do you like it, teacher Lu? Do you think your decision about paying here a visit is worth it?" An elder scholar asked another man beside him.
"Hmm, at least Zhang Tong is better than Guo Dian for sure. I did not waste my time coming here in vain."
"Do you think he is worthy of your teaching?"
Lu Zhi paused as he gazed at Hua Shi, Tong and his father. The pupil in his eyes were sharp as if they could see through the skins of the three.
"Zhang Jiao is merely a puppet and he was even older than me, so he can't be taught. The girl on the back is somewhat unpredictable judging from the past records. Women cannot hold any official rank in the court anyway, so it's not worth wasting my time trying to test the water. But Zhang Tong is an interesting young fellow. I hope he can fare better than Gongsun Zan and Liu Bei. Those two are a disappointment."
Edited: 5/2/2019
Wrong information about Ye City of LinZhang County.
Deleted the wrong info.
Chapter 69 – Purging the Crooks
January 8th, 182 A.D. Late Afternoon.
Tong ordered Zhou Cang to form checkpointห at all gates around the city because he had a hunch that the crook officials should make a move tonight.
Zhou Cang immediately complied with the order. Within two hours, all gates were locked down and an announcement were made.
"Order from the governor Zhang Jiao! Today and tomorrow, all gates will be closed until the purge is completed! All those who wish to get into the city should enter within today. But those that wish to exit will have to wait!"
This announcement caused an uproar among the merchants and the peasants. Though they were used to the sudden announcement for shutting down the gate, they were attracted to the keyword "The purge".
Rumors about the new governor started to spread. Within an hour, a gossip bomb was dropped by an eavesdropping palace guard that had heard Tong's order from the council meeting.
"Zhang Jiao wants to get rid of the crook officials! One of them was already got their houses ransacked and arrested!"
Light appeared in the eyes of peasants and merchants. As commoners, they loved gossiping about the nobles and the politics as there were no other entertainment in this era. Therefore, any information about the government movement, even if it was a trivial one, was always welcome.
News was spread like wide fire throughout the city within a day, which caused several taverns to boom in business as many peasants came in to chat and drink.
"Zhang Jiao is an honest official?"
"He's also a physician?"
"His son is the undying immortal?"
"Zhang Tong killed Guo Dian, and his father took over the city?"
"Goddess of Death is here, too?"
"Will they kill all the officials?"
Several backgrounds of Zhang family members were dug up and spread among the citizens. Majority of them were positive feedback from the good achievements and reputation, which Tong and his family members had piled up all these years.
Because of many good rumors about Zhang Jiao and Tong, the peasants in the city were delighted. Their eyes were filled with hope, and lively cheering resounded throughout the city. As a result, all businesses and sales were increased in every industries as everyone celebrated for the good governor.
Although the civilians were easy to be manipulated by the officials, but they still could compare Guo Dian and Zhang Jiao in terms of reputation.
When Guo Dian had held the power, the peasants were abused by the noble families and the soldiers. Yet after Zhang Jiao arrived here for half a day, one of the crook official got arrested and had his properties confiscated. All soldiers that used to abuse the honest citizens were replaced with the disciplined stern soldiers. Then the news about the purge appeared. Even a child could tell that a good change had come into this city, and everything might get even better.
That night, every taverns buzzed with celebrations and cheers. Morals of the citizens were at its peak.
…
…
January 9th. Morning.
Zhang Jiao held a council meeting again in the government main hall today. However, only 70% of the officials attended the meeting because the remaining 30% of them were either hid themselves with in their resident behind their private soldiers, or tried to escape from the Julu City.
All attempts to get away from the city were stopped by the 7,000 garrison soldiers within the city. Meanwhile, six thousand men under Zhang Bao, Zhang Liang and Bo Cai still stationed outside, which intimidated all crook nobles.
"Arrest everyone that hasn't attended today's council! If anyone resists, slaughter their entire family and hang their heads in front of the wall!"
Zhang Jiao made the announcement himself as he hated corrupted government to the extreme.
Tong and Zhou Cang complied with the order. They separated into groups and raided the official residents that had not attended the meeting.
From morning till evening, the sounds of battle and killing resounded within the city. Blood filled the entire high class residents around the government palace. The neighbors of the ransacked residents shivered in fear as the sounds of killing was terrifying. However, the commoners from the outer area kept celebrating each time they heard about the killing.
Meanwhile, Hua Shi took the duty as a clerk, and sorted all the financial reports from the attending officers. She double-checked all accounts of every noble families and the treasury reports.
She rubbed her temple as the numbers of the embezzlement and the disappeared funds were massive. Of the 380 officials that were presented here, only 250 people were clean while the rest had their accounting tampered.
…
Late Afternoon.
The remaining 130 corrupted officials were all arrested and had all of their properties confiscated. Their family members would also be expelled from the city as they were the accomplices.
The value of the confiscated treasures and properties were astonishing. If all of them were liquidized into gold, it would be converted into over 300,000 gold! These people had been eating the taxes of the civilians for years!
Hua Shi accidentally blurted out the numbers, which caught ears of the eavesdropping soldiers. Another rumor spread and shocked the entire city. More praises and more celebrations took places at several taverns and inn again, which made the workers complained that they were about to die working.
…
Evening.
Zhang Jiao, Hua Shi and Tong stayed in the government hall, having dinner together after they had completed their tiring jobs. All officials already returned home. Zhou Cang excused himself and wanted to return to his men. But before he left, Tong gave him 100 gold as a tip and told him.
"From now on, your monthly wage will be a hundred gold instead of 3 gold. Go and have fun with your subordinates."
Zhou Cang was delighted. He cupped his fist and left in joyous mood as he wondered which redlight district brothel he should be visiting today. With 100 gold, he could sleep every night in the high-class brothels with any prostitute for an entire month.
Seeing Zhou Cang lecherous eyes and face, Tong shook his head.
"I hope he won't get STD before he becomes a good general. Sunday, can you create any med for STD?"
Hua Shi paused her chopsticks and stared into Tong's eyes in solemn.
"You've got herpes?"
"…"
Tong facepalmed.
"Fool! I'm immune to all disease. If I'm infected, you'll be the first to know!"
"Ah, you're right. But who's infected?"
"Just asking. Zhou Cang is probably at risk. There is no condom here in this era."
Hua Shi stopped talking as she asked the system in her mind. Then she gave Tong a slight nod.
"I can. But he has to be infected first."
"That's gonna be painful to him."
"Don't worry. He'll learn from his mistake. When I was still a nurse, most my patients with STD never came back to the hospital with the same disease again."
"But they came back with different diseases?"
"... Just a few of them."
Zhang Jiao was listening on the side. Although he did not understand what both of them were talking about, he still smiled after he saw how close the two were. Then he was reminded something.
"Right, Tong'er, Shi'er. How old are you now?"
"17. Why did you ask?"
"Since we are nobles now. I think it's about time we call Shi'er parents to live here with us. And I'm thinking about getting you two married."
"…"
Tong could not find the right word to reply because he still felt guilty about Friday. But his expression was the same as Zhang He's poker face.
"Oh, it's that time already, huh?" Hua Shi said in monotone.
Zhang Jiao was shocked by the two reactions. He thought that both of them might be flustered in embarrassment as they were still young. It seemed that both of them had gone all the way through already.
"You two seem to have crossed that line. Be careful not to get Shi'er pregnant before the wedding. I don't want any bad rumor going around."
'Dad, it's not up to me. It's up to her!'
Tong wanted to retort. But after seeing his father's happy smile, he swallowed his words back.
"Don't worry, father-in-law. I'll be sure to give you a healthy grandson and a granddaughter each!"
Tong almost slammed his face into his rice bowl. This girl was too shameless!
Zhang Jiao could not help but laugh out loud in happiness. His world after his wife had passed on became black-and-white for years, now it had become colorful again with the younger generations around him.
He was glad he followed through with Tong's plan and did not rebel directly. The only thing he felt pity was that his younger brothers were still outside with their troops. He wished they could enjoy their meal together as a big family again once more.
In the middle of their merry mood, a soldier rushed in and knelt down to report.
"Report to Lord Zhang, the Imperial Inspector Lu Zhi would like to make an appointment to you and young master Zhang tomorrow morning. Because you were busy today, Lord Lu Zhi could not find a chance to talk to you. He has begged you for your forgiveness on this inconvenient timing."
Zhang Jiao nodded and agreed for the appointment while Tong stared at the messenger soldier in shock.
'Lu Zhi? That Lu Zhi!? The teacher of Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan!? What the heck is he doing here?'
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