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If there were truly only one or two thousand Yellow Turban rebels, the moment the Mianchi camp mobilized its troops or reinforcements were dispatched from Luoyang, the siege of Xin'an would undoubtedly be lifted. However, doing so would take at least ten days to half a month. Wouldn't that delay the transportation of Cai Yong's books?
Moreover, time was becoming increasingly pressing. The situation in Luoyang was already tense. If Cai Yong's collection of books wasn't transported out before things deteriorated completely, any unforeseen event would force them to juggle safeguarding the books and protecting people, inevitably leading to negligence on one front.
Therefore, resolving the siege of Xin'an as soon as possible and reopening the route was, without a doubt, the best outcome for Fei Qian.
The military authority at Hangu Pass lay in the hands of Guo Pu. In addition to the original thousand Luoyang-based soldiers, there was also a thousand-strong Xiliang cavalry—all regular troops, not counting the auxiliary soldiers. Since Hangu Pass was flanked by Xin'an to the west and the ancient city to the east, transporting provisions wasn't particularly difficult, so there weren't many auxiliary troops—only about five or six hundred. Occasionally, when the supply volume was too large to handle, they could temporarily draft some regular soldiers to assist, which was usually sufficient.
This time, as the capital was being relocated westward to Chang'an, provisions were transported in stages. Otherwise, the empty-handed auxiliary troops and laborers would still consume supplies along the way, and the longer the journey, the greater the proportion of resources wasted.
Thus, Hangu Pass had ample military provisions—partly to supply the defending troops and partly to facilitate further westward transportation.
Under the guise of observation and study—well, regardless of whether such a term existed in the Han Dynasty, the intention was clear—Fei Qian made his way to the granaries in the inner city's official storehouses.
As a Left Office Assistant Secretary, if Fei Qian refrained from giving orders and merely observed quietly, the granary officer at Hangu Pass truly had no grounds to refuse him.
By the Han Dynasty, granary management had already become highly meticulous. Grain and fodder were stored separately, each overseen by specialized personnel. At the national level, the overseer was called the Grand Granary Official; at the commandery level, the Granary Clerk; and at the county level, the Granary Officer, assisted by a Granary Deputy.
Given Hangu Pass's strategic importance, its granaries were designed to be quite large, divided into multiple storage chambers. Each chamber door bore both a "seal" and a "label," ensuring thorough documentation.
The "seal" was a clay seal—fresh red clay pressed onto the door and stamped with an official mark to secure it. Any unauthorized attempt to open it would inevitably damage the seal. The "label" was an accompanying paper slip, stamped and inscribed with details such as the date, the names of those who sealed it, and the contents stored within. The combined use of "seals" and "labels" constituted the earliest anti-theft measures.
After wandering around for a while, Fei Qian encountered Guo Pu during his inspection. Inspecting the walls and key facilities twice daily—once in the morning and once at night—was part of Guo Pu's routine duties.
"Attendant Fei, what brings you here?" Guo Pu's impression of Fei Qian was relatively favorable, at least compared to scholars who spouted endless classical allusions and gave him headaches. So, upon seeing him, Guo Pu greeted him casually.
Fei Qian cupped his hands and smiled. "With the pass closed, I had nothing to do at the courier station, so I thought I'd take a look. It's a good opportunity to compare what I've read with reality."
"Oh? Books mention this kind of thing?"
"Indeed, but the texts are rather brief. Seeing it in person is far better," Fei Qian said, pointing to the nearby granary. "For example, the texts say, 'Build high walls and store fodder,' but they don't specify how high those walls should be."
Guo Pu burst into laughter, finding Fei Qian even more amusing. Most nobles he had encountered either refused to speak much with him or outright dismissed him, insisting that books held all the answers and that he, a mere military man, had no right to question them.
Someone like Fei Qian, who openly admitted that books were insufficient and that firsthand observation was necessary, was truly a first for him.
Guo Pu said, "Hah! Those bamboo scrolls give me a headache…" As he spoke, he made a round inside the granary, paying special attention to the military stores. Finding nothing amiss, he bid Fei Qian farewell and turned to leave.
Fei Qian leisurely followed him out and casually asked, "Commandant Guo, how long do you think it'll take to lift the siege at Xin'an?"
Guo Pu waved his hand dismissively, as if swatting away an annoyance. "A mere thousand or so Yellow Turbans? They're nothing! A small detachment could wipe them out easily!"
"Oh…" Fei Qian nodded, then added with apparent concern, "Still, we shouldn't underestimate them. Back at Guangzong, many in the court and military were certain of victory, yet in the end…"
Guo Pu's steps faltered. He turned, frowning at Fei Qian.
Guangzong was a stain on Dong Zhuo's military record. At the time, Lu Zhi had besieged Guangzong but was framed by eunuchs and imprisoned. Dong Zhuo took over command but was defeated by the Yellow Turbans, nearly facing punishment. Fortunately, Dong Zhuo's family had deep pockets, and a hefty bribe to the palace eunuchs spared him.
While Dong Zhuo's defeat had many contributing factors—chief among them being the sudden change in command, which devastated morale, and the fact that the besieging forces were central imperial troops and regional soldiers rather than Xiliang troops, making them less responsive to Dong Zhuo's orders—the fact remained: Dong Zhuo had lost to the Yellow Turbans, casting doubt on his earlier victories in Xiliang.
This incident was well-known among all Xiliang officers and a source of collective resentment.
Fei Qian widened his eyes, feigning innocence. "What's wrong, Commandant Guo?"
Guo Pu shook his head and muttered, "Nothing…" before continuing forward.
"Ah…" Fei Qian continued as if making idle conversation. "The real problem back then was the delay. If Lu Zhonglang had acted faster, he might have taken Zhang Jiao's head himself. Then he'd surely have been enfeoffed as a marquis and promoted to general. But because the Yellow Turbans were given time to regroup, their numbers swelled, and they became much harder to defeat…"
"Military texts all emphasize the importance of speed…" Fei Qian recited like a pedantic scholar, swaying his head as he walked. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Guo Pu before continuing, "…Crushing the Yellow Turbans is a sure path to merit. Otherwise, how else would Generals Huangfu and Zhu have earned their titles as Chariot Generals?"
"…I'm just a scholar, not a warrior like you, Commandant Guo. Otherwise, I'd have slaughtered those damned Yellow Turbans to the last man, earned a noble title, secured my descendants' future, and brought glory to my ancestors…" As he spoke, Fei Qian gestured emphatically, as if cutting down rebels were as easy as slicing melons.
Guo Pu stopped abruptly, irritation flashing across his face. "…Do you think I don't want to? But without orders, I can't move!"
"Eh?" Fei Qian blinked in confusion. "But your elder brother… isn't he at the Mianchi camp? Why hasn't he…? Oh, perhaps the road is blocked by Xin'an. Wait a few more days, and the orders should arrive…"
"By the time the orders come, Xin'an will already be relieved, and then…" Guo Pu laughed dryly, but his words trailed off. His eyes flickered, and suddenly, excitement crept into his voice. "…Attendant Fei, do you think my brother would have already sent me orders?"
"Well… he should have, right? After all, you are his brother…"
*****
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