Chapter 137 Recruitment

Chapter 137 Recruitment
In December of the winter, heavy snow had already fallen outside Jingu Garden.

This winter was quite cold.

Fan Long tightened his fur coat and ordered the car to stop.

After his car stopped, more than ten cars in a row stopped one after another. The drivers and guards, breathing out hot air, began to get busy - mainly taking care of the draft animals.

Fan Long stood in the snow, looking at the smoke curling up in the distance, a little absent-minded.

When was the last time he passed by Jingu Garden? He couldn't quite remember, probably more than a decade ago, when Jingu Garden was still at its peak. The small village in the distance and the surrounding land seemed to be where Shi Chong raised his horses.

It is said that the world changes dramatically. In just over a decade, there have been such great changes.

Dozens of families live densely together, surrounded by farmland planted with winter wheat. Now there are green wheat seedlings, blooming with vitality under the heavy snow.

"Huh..." He let out a breath.

Over the past decade, the powerful people in Luoyang have come and gone, rising and falling. In the end, the most famous Jingu Garden fell into the hands of a murderous warrior.

Chang'an and Luoyang, Zhang Fang in the west and Shao Xun in the east, quite interesting.

After Zhang Fang became successful, he was collectively ostracized by the scholars in the Yongfu.

After Shao Xun became successful, would he be marginalized by the scholars of Yuefu?

It's quite possible.

Fan Long shook his head. There were not many people who could appreciate and control a warrior without any family background. He needed to find a wise leader.

Zhang Fang didn't find the right person. After so many years, his relationship with the people in the Yong Mansion became worse and worse. He also gave up on himself and acted recklessly. His death was approaching, but he didn't know it. It was pitiful.

Shao Xun has only been successful for a short time, and has also been suppressed for a short time, and he has not even suffered any real pain. He may still want to work for the Yue government, but it will take some thought to figure out how to recruit him.

An attendant had already come forward and knocked on the door.

After Jingu Garden fell into the hands of Shao Xun, the main gate seemed to have been moved to the hillside.

The followers climbed up the stone steps one by one, but were soon stopped.

Fan Long looked intently, and saw that seven or eight soldiers suddenly emerged from the pine woods on both sides, holding spears and standing solemnly by the side.

He listened carefully, but the wind was too loud and he could hear nothing.

How come Jingu Garden, a beautiful and elegant place, has been turned into a military camp? Isn't this just a waste of time?

After a while, the attendant came back and reported, "Grand Herald, someone has gone in to report."

"Shao Xun is in the mansion?" Fan Long asked.

"I don't know." The attendant said, "Both the servants and the soldiers are keeping their mouths shut."

Fan Long nodded and asked, "How about this soldier?"

The attendant thought for a moment and said, "Judging from his expression and posture, he is not very good. He is even worse than the soldiers of Ye Prefecture."

"This must be a private army." Fan Long said.

"Yes." replied the attendant.

The waiting time was quite long, and the snow was strong. Fan Long was not young anymore, and he felt the coldness seeping into his bones. He could not help pacing on the ground.

The followers and guards were young and strong, and they were all born and raised in the north, so they could endure the wind and snow, which was nothing.

Since he was free anyway, Fan Long asked, "What do you think of the news I heard in the horse market this morning, is true or false?"

"I'm afraid it's true." An attendant said, "It's easier to invite a god than to send him away. If the Xianbei were so easy to deal with, Wang Jun wouldn't have such a headache."

"Sima Yue will certainly open the treasury to take money and give out rewards to appease the people." Another follower said: "But this may not necessarily satisfy the Xianbei people."

To be honest, compared to the Xianbei, asking the Huns to fight is the lowest cost.

They pay less and are more obedient. Sometimes, when the money they get is different from what was promised in advance, they accept it.

But the Xianbei people are not so easy to talk to.

In addition to money, they also like to rob and play with women.

Especially the women in the Central Plains, who are much more beautiful than those on the grasslands. How could the Xianbei people resist them?

It was a bit difficult for Sima Yue to get rid of them by spending some money.

"We must allow the Xianbei people to plunder." said another follower.

Can the same amount of money be the same if it is obtained by looting or by opening the treasury?

If you were a Xianbei, you would certainly prefer looting, because looting can vent your animal desires, killing people wantonly, and raping women, which are all means that can bring people great pleasure.

There are not so many benefits just from taking the reward.

"In this way, Sima Yue's reputation will be damaged." Fan Long said with a smile.

The Xianbei people could not break through the fortresses, and the state capitals, county towns and county towns were very empty. If they broke a few of them, burned, killed and looted, the scholars in Yuzhou would surely suffer, and their impression of Sima Yue would become worse.

I heard that Sima Yue will also march westward to Guanzhong, and he will most likely use these Xianbei cavalry at that time, which will be another catastrophe.

Are all the heroes in the Central Plains of this kind?

Fan Long sighed.

Back then, he, Zhu Ji and the King of Han (Liu Yuan) studied together under Cui You of Shangdang. In his spare time, he often traveled around the country and made friends with scholars. From time to time, he would meet talented people who were both civil and military, or experts with special skills, and he would become attached to them and admire them very much.

Only forty years have passed, and the Central Plains has become like this.

The most famous prince was unable to lead the army and quell the rebellion, but had to rely on outsiders to fall into such a state. It is pitiful and lamentable.

The main gate suddenly opened wide and someone came down the mountain.

Fan Long and others ended the conversation and waited quietly.

******
Shao Xun was entertaining guests in his mansion: a group of remaining staff led by Cao Fu.

Jingu Garden is so famous that even Mr. Cao couldn't help but come and take a look. Especially after the snowfall in winter, the view from the tower is breathtaking.

At this time, drinking a few bottles of wine, taking some medicine, finding a few beautiful girls, and having fun together is simply the ultimate happiness on earth.

Unfortunately, there is nothing here, which is quite regrettable.

After Shao Xun received the news that the envoy from the "old friend who gave him the bow" was visiting, he apologized to Cao Fu and left.

This group of people now seem to be sticking together for warmth.

Maybe Cao Fu still had some weight in Sima Yue's eyes, but the others were not. When they occasionally got together, they were full of complaints and negative energy.

There is no doubt that their overall status in Yuefu has declined significantly and is far inferior to that of the new nobles in Xuzhou.

Shao Xun had nothing to talk about with these people. The only reason he attended the meeting was to find out more information, such as when Sima Yue would enter the capital and what he would do next.

After some communication, it seemed that Sima Yue would not be able to come before the first month of next year, and it was unknown when the Western Expedition would begin.

Shao Xun was not very interested in going to Guanzhong to fight for his life.

Sima Yue asked him to go, so he went.

If Sima Yue didn't mention it, he would never take the initiative to go.

Since you won't get anything if you go there, how can you guard Guanzhong? Don't make a fuss, that is probably for the Sima clan princes, not for outsiders.

After the prince took office, the official positions were not enough for his own people to share. The local scholars also took a large part of it, leaving no room for you. Going there would just be a waste of time, which was meaningless.

After passing through a long corridor, Shao Xun met Fan Long who came to visit him.

"It is really surprising that Mr. Fan came to visit us." Shao Xun extended his hand to signal the guest to take a seat.

Being neither lukewarm nor hot seems to indicate a certain attitude.

Fan Long didn't take it seriously. He looked at the table and bed in front of him with a look of surprise, and then he sat down calmly.

"How is the King of Han?" Shao Xun clapped his hands, asked his personal soldiers to bring tea, poured a bowl for Fan Long himself, and asked.

"He fought in many battles, and was full of vigor. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of war, he always told us about the young general in golden armor on the banks of the Qili River." Fan Long said with a smile after thanking us.

"My family is not high-ranking and my reputation is not well-known. I didn't expect that the King of Han still remembered me." Shao Xun said with a smile.

"The Han people do not value family background. Talented people can hold high positions," said Fan Long.

Shao Xun smiled but said nothing.

In fact, the Han Dynasty did not neglect family background, it was just that no one was willing to submit.

After Liu Yuan founded the country, he appointed Cui You of Shangdang as the Imperial Censor, but the old man refused.

At the age of 93, he really did not want to serve as an official for the Xiongnu at the end of his life. Cui You refused, because he was Liu Yuan's teacher and could not be forced, so he had to give up in the end.

The Fan Long in front of him was Liu Yuan’s classmate, from Yanmen.

When Liu Yuanhai founded the country and took power, the Huns were naturally happy to serve as officials, but few Jin people were willing to serve him.

Considering Liu Yuan's experience of studying and serving as an official in the Central Plains for half his life, he may have looked down on the Xiongnu nobles. He felt that although they had learned Chinese and a few of them were even fluent in classics and history, they were deeply influenced by the Hu culture and were ultimately different. He was obsessed with recruiting scholars from the Central Plains to fill official positions in his country.

But at this juncture, who would go?

The Jin Dynasty at least maintained its appearance and was the orthodox dynasty in the world. Although the Han Kingdom had a good momentum and had conquered cities and territories one after another, it was still a small country, and it was also a country established by the Hu slaves. If they surrendered to it, they would probably be laughed at and their reputation would be ruined.

To put it bluntly, Liu Yuan needs to show his fists, demonstrate his strength, capture more territory, and even set his sights on Luoyang, before he can attract more talents to join him.

Now he hasn't had time to do these things, so naturally he can't recruit anyone, so he has come to Shao Xun to test the waters - as the Grand Herald of the Han Dynasty, Fan Long has definitely visited more than just Shao Xun, but after this round, he probably didn't gain anything.

It turns out that Liu Yuan had such a hard time getting started.

"If you are willing to travel north, the King of Han will be delighted." Fan Long added, "My country values ​​bravery the most. A brave general that the King of Han values ​​and a high-ranking general are within our reach. It is not impossible for you to lead a large army, fight in battles, make great achievements, and become one of the Three Dukes."

"I appreciate the King of Han's kindness." Shao Xun said, "I don't have great ambitions. The only things I love are fine wine and women. I have failed the King of Han."

Fan Long laughed loudly and said, "Our country's Huyan clan has a beautiful woman. If you go north and show off your skills, the nobles will see you and marry their daughter to you. It will be a piece of cake."

He is right.

The Xiongnu customs do not have so many prejudices based on family background. You are capable and are valued by the King of Han. It is normal for you to marry a daughter of Huyan or Liu. You don't need to think too much about it.

Shao Xun shook his head and laughed, saying, "Mr. Fan, please wait. I have no intention of going north. You can report the truth when you return."

Fan Long sighed and said, "In that case, I will leave."

"Mr. Fan." Shao Xun called out as he watched Fan Long leaving.

Fan Long turned around in confusion.

"If there is turmoil in the Han Kingdom and you can no longer stay here, there is a place for you in the Jingu Garden," Shao Xun said.

This time it was Fan Long's turn to laugh.

He shook his head and disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Shao Xun played with the teacup, thinking silently.

Plant a seed for Fan Long first.

If I don't develop in the future, then naturally there's nothing to talk about.

If it develops, then this is another path for him.

Fan Long was the Grand Herald and a classmate of Liu Yuan. He had a high status in the Han Dynasty and knew many Xiongnu nobles and members of the Liu Han royal family.

Liu Yuan was old. Would the country still be stable after his death? How could it be possible?

Internal slaughter and struggle for power are the traditions of the grassland.

He doesn't mind taking in some of the losers in political struggles, which is beneficial.

(End of this chapter)