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Li Ru let out a soft "oh," his expression unchanging. He did not immediately press Fei Qian for details about the proposed strategy but instead asked, "Did Liu Jingsheng send you here?"
Although Liu Biao had not publicly declared any clear political stance, it was inevitable that he had some covert connections with the gentry families east of Hangu Pass. Li Ru didn't even need to investigate to imagine this—otherwise, how could Yuan Shu of Nanyang have taken Wancheng so easily?
Thus, Li Ru's implication was clear: if Fei Qian had been sent by Liu Biao to carry out a mission in Luoyang, then there was no need to say anything further. Li Ru would handle the matter strictly by the book.
So Fei Qian explained his resignation and said, "This visit is not for my own sake, but for the sake of the Chief Clerk."
Fei Qian had also resigned?
This was rather interesting. Li Ru nodded and said, "I would like to hear the details."
The resignations of lower-ranking officials in Luoyang were orchestrated by the Yang and Yuan families behind the scenes. Fei Qian, however, had been far away in Jingxiang, originally removed from the dangers of Luoyang, yet he too had resigned from his post and now stepped into the vortex of the capital...
Li Ru did not believe Fei Qian was a fool. Since Fei Qian was not representing Liu Biao, he was willing to hear what Fei Qian had to say.
Fei Qian said, "I resigned and left, yet Governor Liu did not obstruct me, and his decrees continued unimpeded. But now, in the city, there are those who have also resigned, yet their resignations have caused stagnation and obstruction. Why is that?"
Without waiting for Li Ru to answer, Fei Qian continued, "A single peck of grain may be enough to feed a family of three for a day, or it may barely suffice for one person's unsatisfying meal—why is that? When a clan migrates, though they may suffer hardships, most arrive together as a whole. Yet when different clans migrate together, many fall to infighting and fail to complete the journey—why is that? Under the same general's command, troops rarely collapse during an advance. But during a retreat, the slightest disturbance can trigger widespread rout—why is that?"
Li Ru was momentarily stunned.
These were not phenomena he had never seen or considered before, but he had never juxtaposed them as Fei Qian had, presenting them as interconnected issues...
The last point, in particular, made Li Ru's heart skip a beat. It was all too common for retreating armies to collapse due to inexplicable reasons halfway through their withdrawal.
Though Li Ru had considered this issue, human psychology was strange—when one thought about something alone, they might believe they could handle even the worst-case scenario. But when someone else laid it bare, even if they were confident, they would inevitably re-examine the matter from every angle...
Moreover, the problems Fei Qian raised were precisely what Li Ru currently faced and needed to resolve. While each issue seemed independent, they were all interconnected. The reduction of lower-ranking officials led to logistical and distribution problems. Unstable food distribution made people fear that each meal might be their last, leading to panic-driven overconsumption of supplies. Such panic spread especially quickly among different clans. Even if individual clans managed to hoard small amounts of food, they would become targets for others. The chaos among the populace would further destabilize the soldiers' morale. Even temporary massacres could not restore order or calm minds, ultimately leading to an irreparable human tragedy—
Soldiers would abandon the civilians, descending into indiscriminate slaughter like beasts, while the people, desperate to survive, might resort to exchanging children for food—no longer just a story told about others.
Li Ru straightened and asked solemnly, "May I ask what advice Ziyuan has to offer?" After all, Li Ru wanted the population of Luoyang to strengthen the Guanzhong region, not purely for the sake of slaughter.
The wealth and population of Henei, if moved to Guanzhong, would bring vitality to the region. This would greatly benefit the Dong Zhuo faction's consolidation of power and their future resistance against the eastern gentry clans.
Thus, Li Ru felt no shame in seeking Fei Qian's counsel. Until now, he had been the sole thinker and decision-maker behind these matters. Though he had exhausted his abilities, there were inevitably details he had overlooked. Perhaps Fei Qian's words could provide new perspectives or solutions...
In truth, the mass resignation of lower-ranking officials might not seem like a major issue to Fei Qian. It was simply that Li Ru had momentarily failed to see a way around it.
As the saying goes, "All under heaven strive for profit." The mindset of the lowest commoners was far simpler than that of the elite. To them, a full stomach, warm clothes, occasional offerings to ancestors, and perhaps a few household items—or even watching a ritual dance—were the pinnacle of happiness, the dream they had always pursued.
If these people were given even a glimpse of such a dream, they would gather of their own accord...
As for the lower-ranking officials from local powerful families, their interests were fundamentally irreconcilable with Li Ru's plans. Even if they had not resigned, they would have obstructed the plan overtly or covertly in the future. Thus, their resignations might not be entirely a bad thing.
"Let me ask you, Chief Clerk," Fei Qian raised two fingers, "what do you possess that others do not? First, soldiers. Second..."
He pointed north, toward the imperial palace.
Li Ru nodded, deep in thought.
In his past life, Fei Qian's most important task in the office had been resource allocation—whether in human resources training or procurement, all to ensure the company's smooth operation and collective benefit.
Thus, Li Ru's current advantages were twofold: first, the formidable army composed of Xiliang, Bingzhou, and Luoyang forces; second, control of the emperor.
Fei Qian clasped his hands and said, "For the Chief Clerk to rely on Sili officials for the relocation of the capital is no different than handing one's weapon to the enemy! The solution now is to replace them with military clerks..."
Li Ru's eyes lit up. Indeed, the military also handled grain, funds, and equipment transfers, so they had their own clerks. While these clerks might not understand local governance—tax collection, irrigation projects, or cultural education—they were perfectly capable of inventorying and managing supplies!
Moreover, the biggest challenge during the migration was the transfer of resources. Issues like taxation would only arise after reaching Chang'an. Thus, this approach would completely free them from the constraints imposed by the Yang and Yuan families. Additionally, the Xiliang military clerks were all loyalists, ensuring unimpeded implementation of orders!
Li Ru rose to his feet and bowed solemnly to Fei Qian. "Ziyuan's words are like parting the clouds to reveal the sun! If you have further strategies, I beg you not to withhold them. Should you ever face difficulties, I will do all within my power to assist you!"