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In truth, Fei Qian did not immediately produce the iron tokens because he was gradually testing the waters before making his final decision. If used correctly, these tokens could indeed yield significant results...
During his discussions with Li Ru while offering strategies, Fei Qian noticed that Li Ru genuinely wanted the relocation to proceed smoothly rather than resorting to pure destruction. This realization made Fei Qian more willing to lend Li Ru a helping hand. Although historical records depict Dong Zhuo's forces as committing every imaginable atrocity during the capital relocation, it must be remembered that Dong Zhuo was already a defeated man by then. How much glory or righteousness could one expect to be written about a failed warlord?
Moreover, historically, Dong Zhuo's Liang Province soldiers had an inherent weakness—they were severely lacking in administrative and political expertise. Relying solely on Li Ru was insufficient, and without the support and cooperation of the gentry clans in the He-Luo and Guandong regions, they ultimately resorted to the most direct and violent means to enforce the relocation.
Fei Qian's step-by-step strategy served two purposes: first, it subtly reinforced the impression that he stood with the common people and Dong Zhuo's faction; second, it allowed him to observe whether Li Ru—the only politically astute figure in Dong Zhuo's camp—preferred a gentler approach or brute force to carry out the relocation.
Only after confirming that Li Ru was willing to adopt his suggestions, revealing an inclination toward preserving as much of the He-Luo population as possible, did Fei Qian produce those iron tokens. Though he had already secured the travel pass, if there was a chance not only to save Cai Yong and the imperial library but also to rescue more people, Fei Qian felt compelled to try.
This was a classic win-win tool.
On one hand, it leveraged the lingering credibility of the Han court to facilitate Li Ru's relocation efforts, gaining support from the peasant class. On the other hand...
Li Ru turned the iron token over in his hands, scrutinizing it while mentally calculating the implications. Combined with Fei Qian's earlier suggestion of replacing local clerks with military scribes, this measure would drastically reduce the workload!
This would buy them precious time!
Under normal circumstances, the process would involve local clerks compiling household registries, organizing the population for relocation, recording various documents, verifying records upon arrival in Yong Province, and finally issuing new household registrations and land allocations based on the documents...
This standard procedure was extremely time-consuming.
Originally, Li Ru had prepared for the worst-case scenario: using the military to forcibly herd the populace toward Chang'an. Such an approach would inevitably result in heavy casualties and utterly tarnish Dong Zhuo's reputation, making future governance of the relocated population far more difficult...
Thus, such violent methods would only be employed as a last resort.
Now, with Fei Qian's iron tokens and the Han dynasty's centuries-old prestige among the common folk, it was as though Emperor Xian himself had endorsed these tokens. For illiterate peasants, this carried immense credibility...
Li Ru could already envision the overwhelming appeal these tokens would have for tenant farmers who owned no land and were bound to rural magnates.
These tenants might not understand written decrees, but the symbols on the iron tokens would be unmistakable!
Without these tenant farmers, how could the rural magnates in the He-Luo region resist Dong Zhuo's forces? What means would they have to obstruct the relocation?
This was nothing short of cutting the ground from under their feet!
Fei Qian's plan was a masterstroke.
Li Ru suddenly felt the weight on his shoulders lighten. After a moment of contemplation, he said to Fei Qian, "Ziyuan, your compassion for the people and contributions to the state are commendable. I intend to have your mentor recommend you for the position of Left Office Assistant Secretary. I hope you will not decline."
In Li Ru's eyes, given the effectiveness of Fei Qian's strategies and his administrative acumen, he was more than qualified for the role.
Left Office Assistant Secretary?
Fei Qian was momentarily stunned.
In the Han dynasty, the Left Office Assistant Secretary was a subordinate official under the Left Imperial Guard Commander, who in turn answered to the Imperial Household Grandee. The Imperial Household Grandee oversaw three Imperial Guard Commanders: the Central, Left, and Right Commanders.
The Left Office Assistant Secretary that Li Ru proposed for Fei Qian would place him under Cai Yong, the Left Imperial Guard Commander. The Left Commander's subordinates were divided into three ranks: Left Office Attendant (600 dan rank), Left Office Assistant Secretary (400 dan), and Left Office Gentleman (300 dan).
Noticing Fei Qian's hesitation, Li Ru added, "Your mentor currently serves as the Left Imperial Guard Commander. Would it not be fitting for you to work under him in service of the court?"
Li Ru emphasized the word "court," making it clear that while Fei Qian had previously declined a position as an aide in Dong Zhuo's provincial government, this appointment would be made through his mentor's recommendation for an imperial post—something far harder to refuse.
Furthermore, the Left Office Assistant Secretary was half a rank higher than a provincial aide, and serving under his mentor would surely be more convenient.
Li Ru's words carried an implicit warning: if Fei Qian rejected this appointment, how would that reflect on his mentor, who already held an imperial position?
Fei Qian lowered his head, silent for a moment, then rose and bowed in gratitude—especially for Li Ru's arrangement of having Cai Yong recommend him rather than doing so himself.
If Li Ru had submitted the recommendation, it would have tied Fei Qian to Dong Zhuo's faction. But having Cai Yong, a respected scholar-official, make the request preserved Fei Qian's and Cai Yong's neutral standing...
It was possible that Li Ru still remembered the kindness of Fei Qian's father, or perhaps Fei Qian's strategies had been of such great help that Li Ru chose to reciprocate with this carefully arranged position. Either way, it was a considerate gesture.
After leaving Li Ru, Fei Qian reflected with mixed emotions. In the blink of an eye, he had become an imperial official. Though the Left Office Assistant Secretary was not a high-ranking post, being directly under Cai Yong's command was convenient. Yet...
Alas!
Fei Qian sighed inwardly. While his strategies—especially the iron tokens—had aided Li Ru's relocation plans, they had also planted seeds of future trouble for Dong Zhuo's governance in Yong Province.
Similarly, Li Ru's appointment of Fei Qian as Left Office Assistant Secretary, while seemingly a promotion and an opportunity to showcase his talents, also brought hidden risks...
Such was the nature of cause and effect. For now, he could only take one step at a time...