Chapter Twenty-Three: Farewell

After finalizing the sale of the farmlands, the migration schedule advanced once more.

According to the original plan, the clan elders would first liquidate the clan’s assets, then organize and drill the clan members, and finally purchase large quantities of weaponry, provisions, salt, and other essential supplies before setting out.

As for weapons, they had already seized the ring-hilted sabers left behind by the two hundred soldiers under Cao Ren, which were enough to arm two to three hundred clan members, giving them a certain degree of combat capability. Provisions and other materials were acquired by selling the fields to Mi Zhu, thus saving intermediary costs.

Thus, only two major issues remained: training and the migration route.

Training could not be accomplished overnight; it was impossible to turn the clan members into competent fighters in such a short time. Fortunately, when Cao Ren came last, he had given them a taste of real combat. Although their combat prowess had not improved dramatically, the clan members had seen blood and witnessed the brutal reality of the battlefield, which transformed them inwardly.

As for the route, the final decision was also made by Shen Chen.

Shen Chen had considered migration routes before. Guangling was out of the question; Zuo Rong had stripped the land bare there—going to Guangling would be no different from a lamb entering a tiger’s den.

Thus, their only choice was to head south from Xiapi. After Cao Cao’s massacre, tens of thousands of square kilometers around Xiapi had become desolate wilderness, devoid of humans and livestock, with abandoned roads and no rulers to extort them along the way.

The sole concern was disease.

Cao Cao’s slaughter of hundreds of thousands had blocked the Si River, and in the sweltering heat, rotting corpses bred bacteria, turning the entire region into a hotbed of plague.

One could say that the great population decline at the end of the Han began with natural disasters and ended in man-made catastrophe.

From Emperor Huan to Emperor Ling of Han, the Little Ice Age brought frequent disasters, along with the problems of land annexation and unrest, culminating in the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

The first mass killings took place then. Huangfu Song first slaughtered the Yellow Turbans in Henan, then in Hebei, not only exterminating them but piling up their corpses as a warning to the realm.

The Yellow Turban Rebellion alone claimed over a million lives and left tens of millions displaced.

Later, Hebei recovered somewhat under Wang Fen’s governance, but Henan never did. Warlords rose and fell in quick succession; the remnants of the Yellow Turbans in Yanzhou continued to ravage, those from Qingzhou invaded, and Black Mountain bandits, Southern Xiongnu, Mount Tai bandits, and Runan Yellow Turbans all frequently plundered the region.

Cao Cao then perpetrated another massacre in Xuzhou, and the combined population of Henan, Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Huai Bei, and Xuzhou—once over ten million—dwindled to near nothing, with devastation everywhere.

Worse still, the carnage was followed by rampant disease. The epidemic spread rapidly, carried by rats, flies, mosquitoes, ticks, and even livestock, which then infected humans.

Now, in the regions of Henan and Huai Bei—Runan, Chen, Liang, Pei, and Xiapi—not only did the population fall to less than a tenth of its former numbers, but plague ran rampant.

This posed a grave threat to any migrating clan.

Shen Chen was fully aware of this, so he racked his brains over the route. After long study, he decided they would skirt the border between Pengcheng and Xiapi, crossing south over the Si and Sui Rivers into Pei, and then from Pei to the Huainan and Jiujiang regions.

Although Pengcheng had also been ravaged by Cao Cao the previous year, the main devastation was between Pengcheng and Lü County. So long as they avoided those areas, they should be safe.

Once through Pengcheng and into Pei, the situation would greatly improve. Passing through Fuli, Guyang, and Xiang County would bring them to Huainan.

Yuan Shu now commanded a strong army of a hundred thousand and had abundant grain reserves. Most importantly, his family had held high office for generations, and he still cared about his reputation—unlike Cao Cao, who would stop at nothing. Even if they passed through Huainan, Yuan Shu was unlikely to covet their modest clan property.

With the plan set, once their transaction with Mi Zhu was complete, all the people of Huangmen Pavilion packed up their belongings—those with carts rode, those without used handcarts—and made ready to depart.

By mid-June, after nearly two months of preparation, close to a thousand villagers from Huangmen Pavilion finally set out. Both Liu Bei and Mi Zhu were present to see them off.

Inside the slightly dilapidated pavilion east of Huangmen, Shen Chen, along with clan representatives Deng Mao and Shen Xian, bid farewell to Liu Bei and Mi Zhu.

In recent days, Liu Bei had often come to chat with Shen Chen at Huangmen Pavilion. Sometimes they discussed affairs of the realm; other times, everyday matters. During this period, Liu Bei came to understand what productivity meant, what was meant by labor force, and learned quite a few new terms.

When the sun had just risen, and the day was still young, the villagers, having been up since dawn, were already assembled near the pavilion.

Countless carts of all sizes crowded the road. Livestock—chickens, ducks, cattle, dogs, pigs, and sheep—were sold off if they could be; if they could not, they were slaughtered and smoked into cured meat. Except for draught animals like oxen, they tried not to bring livestock along.

Thus, the entire group remained clean and orderly. There was no stench of animal waste, and the clan members kept order well.

The elderly, the weak, women, and children rode in the central carts, with Shen Zhen and others guarding the rear, while Deng Zhao and his group scouted ahead. They had also gathered the clan’s dozen or so nags to serve as mounted escorts around the column.

Liu Bei, seeing this orderly migration—free of unnecessary burdens, designed purely for efficiency—marveled, “Young sir, even in migration you have done exceptionally well.”

“Thank you for your praise, Lord Xuande. In these troubled times, there is no kingly way to follow. I have no choice but to do this. When I reach Jingzhou, I will study hard and learn the art of war,” Shen Chen replied with a smile. He was keenly aware of his shortcomings. The historic memories his transmigration had granted him were helpful, but history was history; if events changed, he would be powerless.

Warfare—especially in the age of cold steel—would not grant him any advantage simply for being a transmigrant. If anything, it made him understand his own ignorance all the more.

This migration was not just about avoiding disaster; Shen Chen was also pondering many things. He needed to learn military strategy, drill troops, farm—everything, in fact. Only by learning voraciously could he hope to carve out a place for himself in such chaotic times.

Liu Bei praised him, “It is precisely your love of learning that has made you so precocious. Sadly, I disliked study in my youth. I once studied under the great Confucian Master Lu, but wasted my days. How I wish I had worked harder then.”

Shen Chen smiled, “I once heard a saying: ‘Aspiration is not bound by age; without it, a hundred years are wasted.’ Ambition and the will to learn are what matter in life. One can learn at any age—learning knows no bounds.”

“What a splendid saying—‘Aspiration is not bound by age; without it, a hundred years are wasted.’” Liu Bei was delighted; he was indeed a man of aspiration, and the words resonated with him.

Shen Chen continued, “My lord, though you are trapped in Xuzhou, it is not without hope. Please govern it well; perhaps you may yet become master of the Central Plain. Lord Tao is aged, unable to command—he needs you to spread your wings.”

“I understand.” Liu Bei nodded. Lately, Tao Qian had again offered to cede Xuzhou to him, with the support of Chen Deng, Mi Zhu, and others. But Liu Bei still refused; he could not take advantage of Tao Qian’s illness.

Moreover, his conversations with Shen Chen had made him aware of Xuzhou’s predicament. Even if he became its governor, he had no confidence that he could manage it well.

Still, Shen Chen had pointed out a path: first, address internal issues—restore the people’s livelihoods, open up Langya, ally with Kong Rong of Beihai, and resolve internal strife before contending with external threats.

Of course, Liu Bei could not have known that, while the plan was sound, Yuan Shu would leave him no time. Shen Chen had indeed taught him the method, but could not tell him that Yuan Shu would invade Xuzhou by year’s end.

Shen Chen added, “I heard that when you rescued Beihai, a brave warrior fought his way alone through the Yellow Turban encirclement to seek reinforcements from Pingyuan. Why not ask Lord Wenju to send him here? He would be a great help.”

“Zi Yi is indeed valiant. I’ll write to Lord Wenju and see if he’ll send him,” Liu Bei replied.

“That would be ideal. In the future, my lord, take care in Xuzhou,” Shen Chen said.

“Don’t worry, I will.”

The two chatted a while longer. By the third quarter after sunrise, the migration was ready. Deng Hong, in charge of the migration, came to call everyone to depart.

A servant brought a few cups of wine.

Deng Mao and Shen Xian raised their cups to Liu Bei and Mi Zhu. “Lord Xuande, Lord Zijun, the elders of Huangmen Pavilion bid you farewell. Please, take care.”

“May your journey be smooth,” the two replied, raising their cups in return before draining them.

Shen Chen was too young for wine, so he simply watched as they exchanged farewells.

When the cups were set down, Shen Chen turned to Liu Bei and Mi Zhu. “Lord Xuande, Lord Zijun, Xuzhou is a place of turmoil. If ill fortune should befall you, remember this:”

“What is it?” Liu Bei asked curiously.

Shen Chen said, “If you keep the people but lose the land, both can be regained; if you keep the land but lose the people, both are lost. Whatever happens, remember that your life comes first. And Lord Zijun, you should dispose of your properties in Qu County soon. These days, grain is more valuable than land.”

“If you keep the people but lose the land, both can be regained; if you keep the land but lose the people, both are lost?” Liu Bei pondered the words. Each conversation with Shen Chen brought new insights—truly, the younger generation is to be admired.

They left the pavilion. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun were waiting outside.

Deng Hong beckoned to them, Deng Mao and Shen Xian saluted Liu Bei and his companions, and each took their places on the carts.

Shen Chen greeted Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun, then climbed aboard his family’s cart. Seeing Liu Bei and the others still watching from the roadside, he stood and bowed, saying, “Though we part by a thousand miles, I hope we’ll meet again. When we do, I’ll drink with you all!”

“Why, you little rascal, what do you know of wine!” Zhang Fei laughed heartily, waving his hand.

The carts began to roll, and the column moved south. Shen Chen called out cheerfully, “Uncle Yide, I’ll have wine ready for you next time—if you can handle it!”

“Don’t worry, not even ten of you could drink me under the table!” Zhang Fei replied.

“Lord Xuande, Uncle Yun Chang, Uncle Yide, Uncle Zilong—farewell!” Shen Chen called.

“Farewell!” the four replied, waving their hands.

The rising sun shone over the official road as the column moved slowly southward.

None of them knew that this farewell would last six long years.