Chapter Seven: Setting Things in Motion

In the backyard, Luo Ang strolled into the pavilion and gazed up at the sky. A wave of homesickness washed over him as he thought of his family in the 21st century, tears welling in his eyes. He had been in the Eastern Han Dynasty for several days now.

Early the next morning, Luo Ang set to work on developing the economy of Ji County and You Province.

Guan Yu cupped his hands and said, "My Lord, most of the soldiers in You Province are cavalry, with infantry as secondary. However, none of us know how to train cavalry, let alone how to lead them in battle!"

Hearing this, Luo Ang recalled that the troops of You Province were indeed cavalry-focused; Gongsun Zan's "White Horse Volunteers" were a prime example. He told Guan Yu, "Yunchang, you focus on training the infantry; leave the cavalry to me. I will appoint generals who understand cavalry tactics to train them."

"Understood," Guan Yu replied.

Luo Ang turned to Xi Zhicai and asked, "Zhicai, how is the recruitment of talent going?"

Xi Zhicai bowed and said, "No one has come to offer their services yet."

Luo Ang sighed, "Talent is truly hard to come by!"

Chen Qun stepped forward and said, "My Lord, do not worry. Talent cannot be recruited in a single day. Even Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, did not acquire his talented subordinates overnight."

Reassured by Chen Qun's words, Luo Ang felt his anxiety subside. Just then, a soldier ran in and reported, "My Lord, two men have arrived to see you!"

Luo Ang’s eyes lit up. "Let them in!"

Soon, two men entered and bowed. "Zhang He and Liao Hua pay their respects to the Lord."

Luo Ang was delighted to recognize the names. Liao Hua had once served as a registrar under General Guan Yu. After Guan Yu's defeat and death, he served under Sun Wu, later faking his own death to return to Shu Han, where Liu Bei appointed him Governor of Yidu. After Liu Bei's passing, he became a military advisor to the Chancellor and eventually rose to the rank of General of the Right Cavalry. Zhang He, meanwhile, had participated in suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion in his youth, later serving under Yuan Shao before surrendering to Cao Cao at the Battle of Guandu.

After Cao Pi ascended the throne, Zhang He was promoted to General of the Left and made Marquis of Mo. He served with distinction, notably defeating Ma Su at the Battle of Jieting, forcing Zhuge Liang to retreat.

Luo Ang greeted them warmly. "Generals, please, no need for such formalities. I am delighted that you have come to join me."

Liao Hua replied, "My Lord is too kind. We came because of your reputation for brilliant military strategy."

Luo Ang nodded happily. "Zhang He, I appoint you General Pacifying the West. You shall train the cavalry to guard against invasions from the Wuhuan, Xiongnu, and Xianbei. Liao Hua, I appoint you General Pacifying the West. Take some of the infantry trained by Yunchang and clear the province of bandits."

"As you command," they replied.

Luo Ang then turned to Chen Qun. "Changwen, draft some proclamations and have the soldiers distribute them throughout the commanderies of You Province. Announce that there will be no taxes or grain levies for the next three years. Any governor who defies this order will be dealt with by military law."

"It shall be done," Chen Qun replied.

Luo Ang began to reform the deep-seated flaws of You Province, transforming it from a resource-depleted region into a formidable power that struck fear into its enemies.

A month later, Liao Hua had successfully wiped out the bandits. The people enjoyed newfound peace, and grain reserves grew to over a hundred thousand piculs. The provincial army expanded from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers, including a cavalry force of 150,000.

Luo Ang was pleased with the reports but felt that further reform was necessary to sustain this economic growth. He instructed Chen Jiao to draft a proclamation: families of soldiers would be exempt from forced labor, and all children, including those from poor families, would receive nine years of free education.

Chen Jiao expressed concern: "My Lord, is this wise?"

Luo Ang smiled. "Jibiao, do not worry. You Province is better than before, but compared to the Central Plains, it is still impoverished. We must take these steps."

"But will this not alienate the local gentry?" Chen Jiao asked.

Luo Ang laughed. "I have already sent Zhicai and Changwen to persuade them. They understand that educating the masses will bring prosperity to the entire region, which in turn benefits the gentry."

When Xi Zhicai and Chen Qun returned, they confirmed that the gentry had agreed, impressed by the rapid turnaround of the province and the wealth recovered from the bandit strongholds.

In Luoyang, Emperor Ling of Han and his court were stunned to hear that the backwater of You Province had become more prosperous than the capital.

He Jin stepped forward. "Your Majesty, since You Province has flourished under Luo Ang's governance, we should grant him a title to keep him loyal and prevent any rebellion."

Emperor Ling consulted Zhang Rang, who suggested, "Your Majesty, grant him the title of Marquis of Yan. Charge him with defending the borders against the Xiongnu, Xianbei, Wuhuan, and Qiang."

The Emperor agreed, and the edict was sent.