“This was in the eighth month of the fourth year of Zhongping.

It was also the time when Guo Jia decided to set out for Leping.

And it was in this season that Xi Zhicai could write in his letter:

‘The sweet potatoes on our mountains are ripe again, but alas, I’ve already eaten my fill today. I’ll have to make cakes tomorrow.’

Considering the nutrient loss from sweet potatoes and the new land cultivated per household in Leping over the past two years, this extension beyond the initial two-year planting plan is actually in its fourth year now.

Qiao Yan hadn’t originally planned to continue into the fourth year, but in Xi Zhicai’s writing, it had become the current situation.

She didn’t know this strategist had pulled off such a provocative move.

Apart from using his letters to Luoyang as political leverage during his house arrest in Leping, his correspondence with friends outside was personal, and she didn’t interfere.

Qiao Yan also didn’t know he was still engaged in his culinary and wine-making endeavors, and that he had indeed hooked a big fish at this time.

The network of relationships among Yingchuan scholars was indeed a curious thing.

The information they exchanged among themselves formed a kind of viral news about their lord, akin to a private recruitment, ads thrown into a friend circle.

Of course, Xi Zhicai’s diary-like musings made this recruitment seem particularly informal and deserving of a good thrashing.

But unquestionably, he was sending a signal to his Yingchuan friends: Leping is great, I’m very satisfied, interested parties should come quickly.

However, Guo Jia felt he wasn’t being lured in.

There was no need to decide his future plans based on such information.

To speak bluntly, Leping was such a small place.

Even if Qiao Yan had earned the illustrious reputation of reclaiming the prefecture and suppressing the locust plague, it was still just a county.

Having someone like Xi Zhicai stationed there was already settling for less.

Adding another person, what kind of situation was that?

Although he was still young, his judgment of the situation and his decisive strategies could already be discerned at this age.

Otherwise, Xun Yu wouldn’t have received the title ‘talent of prime minister’ from He Yong at such a young age.

Of course, he wasn’t just going to Leping for the food and drink.

Using a slightly more formal expression, he was going there for inspection.

Using a slightly more private tone, as he had told Xun Yu, ‘In this turbulent year, it’s a time for vigilance. They live a leisurely life in the countryside, which is truly strange. I’ll go and observe.’

Xun Yu had no intention of dissuading him.

Now, it hadn’t yet reached the chaotic situation after Liu Hong’s death, which would lead to regional divisions and disorder. as Liu Hong is still alive.

It had only reached the point of ‘turmoil and unrest,’ as Guo Jia said, merely going to see, and going to the place granted by the emperor as Marquis of Leping couldn’t be considered an improper choice.

In fact, Xun Yu was somewhat curious about Qiao Yan, who also received the title ‘talent of prime minister’ from He Yong.

Before Xu Yun even began his official career, Qiao Yan had already achieved tangible results in Leping, or rather in Bingzhou.

Since Guo Jia intended to go see Leping, perhaps he could learn from it and find out what kind of person this Marquis of Leping was, after hearing Xi Zhicai’s various praises and flattering words about Qiao Yan.

The turmoil of this year hadn’t affected the road from Luoyang to Leping.

If Guo Jia wanted to go, there shouldn’t be any safety issues.

If he were only making a round trip to Leping, one might as well consider it a study tour.

After watching Guo Jia depart, Xun Yu sighed as he closed his books.

Another general amnesty for the in January of the fourth year of Zhongping clearly didn’t quiet down these rebels and bandits from all directions.

In February, the incident of the bandits in Xingyang killing the Commandant of Zhongmu seemed to mark the beginning of these disturbances.

In April, the bandits from Liangzhou, previously defeated by Zhang Wen, resurged.

Despite the advice of Fu Xie, the Governor of Liangzhou, Geng Bi, insisted on leading troops into battle but was defeated by Han Sui.

At this time, Han Sui incorporated the forces of Bian Zhang and Beigong Boyu, and joined hands with Li Xiangru, the Prefect of Longxi, and Huang Yan, the Prefect of Jiuquan.

They raised troops and stationed themselves in Jincheng, amassing tens of thousands of troops.

Under pressure from the large army, Geng Bi, fleeing in exile, was killed by his charioteer.

Han Sui then allied with Wang Guo from Hanyang and marched to besiege Hanyang.

The Prefect of Hanyang in Liangzhou was none other than Fu Xie, a former general under Huangfu Song, who was determined not to abandon Liangzhou.

Fu Xie defended the city with his lone forces, but how could he possibly be a match for the combined Liangzhou bandits?

At that time, several thousand Xiongnu cavalry from Beidi County were also among Han Sui’s forces.

Grateful for Fu Xie’s integrity, they pleaded with him to surrender and return him to his hometown, but Fu Xie refused with the words ‘loyalty and duty.’

Later, Fu Xie died in battle at Jixian, Hanyang, and his son Fu Gan was taken away by the Chief Clerk Yang Hui during a breakout, disappearing without a trace.

Thus, the Great Han Dynasty lost another brave general.

In June, Zhang Chun and Zhang Ju from Yuyang rose up in rebellion.

The Governors of Right Beiping and Liaodong, as well as the Protector-General of the Wuhuan, all perished.

Zhang Ju even proclaimed himself Emperor and invaded Youzhou and Jizhou.

The court struggled to maneuver troops effectively, mobilizing the Southern Xiongnu from the Northern Commandery to aid in the war in Jizhou.

Amidst frequent battles in the various provinces of Beidi, Perhaps due to the sheltering mountains surrounding it, could still be counted.. peaceful, for now.

But no one knows how long this peace can be maintained.

Xun Yu sighed at this thought.

Currently, the flames of war have reached the borders of Sān Fǔ, but they haven’t yet spread to the territory of Yingchuan.

However, as Guo Jia mentioned, this is indeed an autumn full of troubles.

Even sitting quietly at home reading books makes it difficult to truly calm one’s mind.

So, can Xi Zhicai really live as peacefully as he described in his letters in this place called Leping?

It was with this question in mind that Guo Jia embarked on his journey northward.

From Yǐngchuan, heading north, he first went to Luoyang.

Xi Zhicai is a cunning fox, and Guo Jia is not an ordinary character either.

It’s hard to say whether these two are harming each other or sharpening their literary skills in their exchange of letters.

Regardless, Guo Jia thought about the letter Xi Zhicai had previously sent him, and while in Luoyang, he picked out a gift for him.”

After spending two days as He Yong’s temporary companion in Luoyang, Guo Jia fell silent as He Yong scrutinized the gift he had chosen.

“Are you really taking this to see Xi Zhicai?” He Yong pointed at the chicken feather in Guo Jia’s hand, looking puzzled.

“In the Book of Rites, it says, ‘When scholars meet, they bring live pheasants in winter and preserved ones in summer,'” Guo Jia explained, shrugging confidently.

The Book of Rites dictates that scholars, especially close friends, exchange live chickens in winter and preserved ones in summer.

But Guo Jia would reach Leping in autumn. What should he do?

He pondered this.

The transition from winter to summer represented by this gift was symbolized by the chicken feather.

Guo Jia strictly adhered to scholarly etiquette, even traveling to Luoyang specifically to purchase this seemingly insignificant yet meaningful gift.

Reflecting on the proverb “Give me a guava and I should repay you with a jade pot,” Guo Jia brought the chicken feather according to scholarly customs.

Xi Zhicai would have to treat him well with good food and drink.

As Guo Jia packed the chicken feathers from the capital, he joined a caravan heading north from Luoyang to Bingzhou.

But as he departed Luoyang, he glanced back at North Guo with a hint of contemplation on his youthful face.

The urgent battles at Sanfu Kouguan seemed to have created a deceptive peace in Luoyang, stemming from the strict defenses during the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

He left Luoyang in early September, just as Liu Hong issued a widely circulated decree.

This decree, not uncommon, ordered “all prisoners whose crimes are not yet judged to be released upon payment.”

The decree allowed those currently in prison with pending cases to buy their freedom with silk.

At another time, such a gesture might showcase the emperor’s benevolence, but at this moment, it seemed somewhat delicate.

Facing uprisings in regions like Liangzhou, Jizhou, Youzhou, and Yuzhou, where the enemy had not been defeated, issuing a pardon for prisoners first only made it seem like the central government doesn’t care at all.