[Lightscreen]
[For over two thousand years of the feudal era, land annexation followed the same dull, repetitive script.
Crushing taxes and miscellaneous levies were always aimed at ordinary people, while large landowners were notoriously hard to tax. Bankrupted smallholders were absorbed by landlords, and as this cycle repeated itself, the state grew poorer while the landowning class grew ever richer. By the time the common people had nothing left to squeeze, the empire itself was reduced to an empty frame. Burdened by these entrenched elites, it collapsed with a deafening crash. Dynasties changed, yet landlords remained landlords, peasants remained peasants, and the cycle repeated generation after generation.
Before Emperor Huizong of Song introduced his New Policies, the Yue family in Tangyin barely managed to stay fed. Once the reforms were implemented, however, the Yue household quickly slid down the social ladder and became tenant farmers under the Han family of Xiangzhou. One by one, four sons starved to death. Only the child known as Fifth Lad, Yue Fei, survived, clinging to life through sheer physical toughness and an extraordinary constitution.
The weight of the entire family soon fell squarely on Yue Fei's shoulders. A few years later, his eldest son was born, and at just sixteen, Yue Fei found himself trapped between caring for the elderly above him and the young below him.
Under such circumstances, Yue Fei should have spent his entire life bent over farmland, slowly worn down by responsibility. Yet, as mentioned before, while Emperor Huizong was deeply flawed, his efforts in promoting education did have redeeming qualities. County-level state schools were established, and students of eligible age were allowed to study free of charge.
By the late Northern Song, popular storytelling had already taken shape among the common people. At the time, such performances were called "storytelling" or "zhugongdiao." Among all these early narrative forms, stories of the Three Kingdoms were always crowd favorites.
According to family records passed down through Yue Fei's descendants, the future Lord Wu of Yue adored Three Kingdoms stories in his youth. He was especially fond of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei as praised by the storytellers, admiring their ability to face ten thousand enemies alone, their loyalty, their sense of justice, and their fierce heroic spirit.
Perhaps influenced by his "idol" Guan Yu, the young Yue Fei developed an interest in the Spring and Autumn Annals. Relying on his strong physique to finish farm work quickly, he often lingered at the free state schools. Once he had taught himself basic literacy, the books he read only grew more numerous.
According to Li Tinggui, a former official of the Bureau of Astronomy and later a subordinate of Yue Fei, once Yue Fei shed illiteracy, he became remarkably approachable. Whenever he heard that someone had learning, he would find a way to seek them out and ask for guidance. Shaped by the spirit of his age, he soon developed a keen interest in military strategy.
This was precisely why, after reaching adulthood and joining the army, Yue Fei could quote Du Mu of the late Tang, who wrote, "Hebei views the realm as its jewels, while the realm views Hebei as its four limbs." Such sharp insight earned him the appreciation of Zhang Suo.
We do not know what the impoverished young Yue Fei truly thought as he read amid hardship. Perhaps he was drawn to the chivalrous ideals revealed in Three Kingdoms tales and resolved to rescue the fallen and uphold justice. Or perhaps, influenced by Guan Yu, after reading the Spring and Autumn Annals and the Zuo Commentary, he yearned for the ancient heroic spirit of pre-Qin times.
But regardless, once grown, when Yue Fei faced a Northern Song dynasty as fragile as a stack of eggs, he showed no intention of retreat or evasion. Instead, he spoke with unwavering resolve, leaving words that would echo through history:
"I wish that future generations, when they read their books, will know the name Yue Fei, and that my achievements may stand on par with those of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei."]
Laughter suddenly erupted inside the General's Residence at Chang'an.
Zhang Fei leaned forward and back, laughing uproariously as he slapped Ma Chao on the shoulder.
"Tell me, Mengqi," he said, "what do you think of this Yue Fei's ambition?"
Although Ma Chao was not Ma Teng's legitimate son, he had been raised from childhood to balance both martial and literary training. That said, in practice he usually preferred solving problems through straightforward violence.
From the letters Liu Bei had sent him while still in Jingzhou, to the scattered hints dropped by Pang Tong, Ma Chao had long harbored suspicions. Later, after entering Chang'an and seeing the heavenly screen for himself, Liu Bei privately hosted a small banquet and spent an entire afternoon laying out Ma Chao's not-so-complicated fate in full.
So when he saw that later generations claimed Yue Fei had set his aspirations after Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, it was impossible not to feel a twinge of envy.
But seeing Zhang Fei laugh so openly now, Ma Chao had no intention of admitting it. He simply changed tack, cupped his hands toward Liu Bei at the head of the hall, and said,
"With Lord Xuande's permission, I have read the Memorial on the Northern Campaign. Truly, it can be called stirring."
"This Yue Fei rose from poverty yet harbored great ambition. Even while campaigning north, he still modeled his writing after the Memorial to steel his resolve. He was both brave and strategic, a man of righteous passion."
As he spoke, Ma Chao also cupped his hands toward Zhuge Liang, carefully keeping his gaze straight ahead and pointedly ignoring Zhang Fei altogether.
Zhang Fei immediately exploded.
"Ma Mengqi! You did that on purpose, didn't you?!"
Though his martial prowess was usually a notch below Zhang Fei's, Ma Chao had always been stubborn and fearless. He merely turned his head slightly and snorted.
"Zhuge Kongming's name was honored even by Tang emperors in later ages. His resolve aligns with Yue Fei's. How could I not mention him?"
At that point, Zhang Fei let the matter drop, though everyone present could clearly tell that, with just a few exchanges, the two had already scheduled a future meeting at the training grounds.
Zhuge Liang smiled faintly and turned to Liu Bei with a quiet sigh.
"Four sons starved to death out of five," he said. "Such misery is painful to even contemplate."
"Later generations criticize the Northern Song's rulers and ministers as having lofty ambitions but insufficient ability. I find the judgment fair."
"They also fault the reformers of the Northern Song for excessive compromise and retreat. That, too, is not wrong."
"Harsh taxes that cut down the people while sparing the powerful are no different from aiding a tiger in its cruelty. This is something we must take as a warning."
Liu Bei did not look at his sworn brother. Instead, he nodded solemnly toward his strategist, signaling his understanding.
In truth, such discussions had already taken place privately between them many times since their days in Chengdu, even extending to attempts at finding practical solutions.
Now, seeing how the extension of state schools to county towns allowed children from impoverished families to learn propriety and nurture great ambitions, Liu Bei once again felt the weight of education's importance. He sighed softly and said,
"It seems just as the Strategist said. If one wishes to curb annexation, taxes must be unified and made transparent, so the people can understand them without confusion. Only then will neither the powerful nor the poor suffer undue loss."
The words sounded like both a sigh and a question, but Zhuge Liang heard within them a note of resolve. He could not help but smile, quietly reassured.
Inside Ganlu Hall, Li Shimin and the others had not initially paid much attention to Yue Fei's humble origins. But upon hearing mentions of the "late Tang" and "Du Mu," their ears immediately perked up.
After a brief moment of thought, Li Shimin decided to pose the question directly.
"The phrase about Hebei being jewels and limbs—how should it be understood?"
The devastation of the An Lushan Rebellion had already given the officials of the Zhenguan era a painfully clear understanding of Hebei's importance.
After all, the consequences of neglect were still hanging in the hall itself, embodied in the blood-soaked verses of The Lament of the Qin Woman.
Changsun Wuji was the first to speak.
"The realm and Hebei cannot exist independently."
"When Hebei is strong, the realm is secure. When Hebei is lost, the realm knows no peace and grows short of breath—just as with the Song."
Li Shimin nodded, though inwardly he found Changsun Wuji's casual "just as with the Song" remark faintly amusing.
Fang Xuanling recorded the statement with his brush, then tapped the bamboo slip lightly and added,
"Hebei possesses strong soldiers, fine horses, and terrain where mountains and rivers interlock. The realm may rely on it for prosperity and stability across the four directions—hence it is as precious as jewels."
"But if Hebei is lost, barbarians harass the borders. To maintain peace without natural defenses, one must drain the wealth of the entire realm. Without it, the state cannot endure."
"Comparing it to the human body: lose the jewels and life becomes difficult; lose the four limbs and the foundation itself is gone, leaving one vulnerable to humiliation by outsiders."
"Our Tang scholar was truly a man of great talent. His words, spoken from a lofty vantage, were later proven true by the Song."