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If possible, Fei Qian truly wished he could raise a grand "Call for Talent" banner and have talents flock to him like a rushing stream, filling his ranks effortlessly.
But while the thought was appealing, putting it into practice was clearly unrealistic.
Historically, Cao Cao wasn't the only one to raise the banner of recruiting talent, but why was he the one who left a bold mark in history? The so-called "multitudes flocking to him" was undoubtedly an exaggeration. The simple truth was that Cao Cao won.
It was that straightforward.
Take Jia Qu, for example. He was indeed working diligently for Fei Qian, managing the logistics of the entire army. But if Fei Qian failed to achieve significant success within three years or gain control of Shangjun, Jia Qu would likely bid him farewell.
For Ma Yan, reclaiming Shangjun was his dream. As long as their goals aligned, Ma Yan would give his all. But if Fei Qian were to say, "Let's set Shangjun aside for now and seize Henei instead," Ma Yan would likely walk away without hesitation.
Thus, Shangjun was the foundation. Only by securing it could they talk about anything else.
Doing and saying were two different things.
One could do without saying or say without doing.
But once the banner of reclaiming Shangjun was raised, it had to be followed through, and done thoroughly. Otherwise, it would become a laughingstock.
In this sense, raising the banner was an invisible pressure, a binding commitment.
Fei Qian glanced at Huang Xu on his left. The young man was clever but still inexperienced in such matters, scratching his head in frustration.
Huang Cheng, on the other hand, seemed to grasp something. Catching Fei Qian's glance, he gave a simple smile and subtly shifted his gaze to the other side.
Fei Qian nodded slightly, then turned his attention to Jia Qu and Ma Yan on his right.
These two were the focus of his proposal.
Huang Cheng, Huang Xu, and the entire Huang family were reliable, at least until Fei Qian completely lost his standing and honor. Their loyalty was secure because Fei Qian and the Jingxiang Huang clan were intertwined, like two sides of the same coin. Fei Qian didn't need to worry about their allegiance, and they didn't need to fear being sidelined by others. Fei Qian's only concern was whether he could provide enough opportunities for the Huang family to thrive, while their concern was whether they had the ability to seize those opportunities.
This stable partnership would likely hold until Fei Qian had an heir…
In contrast, Jia Qu and Ma Yan's ties to Fei Qian were weaker.
There was no doubt that Ma Yan was determined to return to Shangjun. But a fleeting impulse was not the same as a steadfast belief. Fei Qian didn't question Ma Yan's personal longing for Shangjun, but what about the rest of his clan?
Conflicts of ideology and choice between older and younger generations were common. Moreover, Ma Yan's only heir had died in Shangjun, leaving him without a successor. What did it mean for a clan leader to have no heir?
Previously, there were no conflicts because the Ma family had neither official positions nor wealth. A few mud houses weren't worth fighting over.
But what about the future?
Fei Qian had now reappointed Ma Yan as the duwei (commandant) of Shangjun, restoring him to officialdom. If they successfully reclaimed Shangjun, significant benefits would follow. At that point, how long could Ma Yan and his wife, without an heir, maintain leadership of the Ma clan?
Fortunately, the Ma clan was small, making it easier to unify their mindset or arrange an adoption. But if they waited until greater interests were at stake, the task would become far more difficult.
Resolving potential conflicts now, before they arose, was the only way to ensure the Ma clan's stability. After all, if they were to campaign, aside from Huang Cheng, Ma Yan was the only other viable commander. While reclaiming Shangjun, Fei Qian couldn't avoid allowing Ma Yan to build his own forces and lead his own units. If something unexpected happened and the Ma clan's troops lost their central figure…
In a time of peace, a ruler might prefer subordinates without heirs. But in this struggle to rise, the last thing Fei Qian wanted was internal chaos before facing the enemy.
If Ma Yan hadn't realized this issue, Fei Qian needed to help him establish a central pillar for the Ma clan.
A warrior's horse, without reins, might lead its rider to unknown destinations.
Similarly, Fei Qian wanted to impose a framework on Jia Qu.
Chen Gong initially believed Cao Cao was the chosen one, yet he later allied with Lü Bu. While serving Lü Bu, he flirted with Yuan Shu. Though there was no proof he was involved in Hao Meng's rebellion, he was at least aware of it.
The problem was that Chen Gong never thought he was wrong. Even after Lü Bu's defeat, he boldly criticized Lü Bu for not following his strategies, never reflecting on why Lü Bu stopped trusting him.
Chen Gong always believed he was right—and only he was right.
Jia Qu had agreed to follow Fei Qian for three years, with Shangjun as the stake. So far, he showed no issues and was genuinely offering strategies for Fei Qian's benefit.
It wasn't that Fei Qian distrusted Jia Qu; rather, he understood that human desires change. When starving, any food would do. But once full, one might crave something richer, like braised pork.
Jia Qu was only sixteen. If not for his family's circumstances, he might not even be thinking of serving yet.
Once Jia Qu's brilliance drew attention and the stakes on the table grew higher, would his inner balance tip?
A strategist's mind, without boundaries, might wander to unpredictable places.
By raising the banner of reclaiming Shangjun, Fei Qian aimed to attract more support, at least from the Han people of Shangjun, while aligning his actions with society's mainstream values. On another level, it drew a clear line, setting an explicit goal for everyone, including himself.
And…
Because they declared it.
They had to achieve it.
Because they declared it together.
They had to stay united until it was done.
Jia Qu pondered for a long time, then broke into a smile. "If we're going to do it, why not go big? I agree!"
Ma Yan, on the other side, nodded slowly, perhaps grasping the deeper meaning of Fei Qian's proposal. "Where my lord's banner points, the Ma clan will follow!"