Chapter 212

Chapter 212

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 7: Eight Hundred Qin Rivers, Occupying Guanzhong Chapter 212: Cotton Harvest

This return to Bingzhou no longer requires passing through Liangzhou to reach the territory.

Chu Yan could reach the vicinity of Guanzhong via the Qin Straight Road from Shangjun, then take a mountain path to attack Gaoling. Qiao Yan naturally could also return to Bingzhou via the same route.

Guo Jia and Xun You, who accompanied the army on the expedition, were temporarily left in Chang’an. Accompanying her back to Bingzhou this time was Jia Xu.

Bringing Jia Xu back to Bingzhou also had an external justification.

As a subordinate official of Liu Xie, Jia Xu could not act without a suitable position before Liu Xie was found.

But leaving him in Chang’an would inevitably cause conflicts.

Liu Yu, known for his leniency, might reinstate Jia Xu due to some good deeds he did in Chang’an.

It would be better to send him to accompany Li Ru, the strategist captured by Dong Zhuo two years ago.

Placing him in Bingzhou under Qiao Yan’s direct supervision, nominally reuniting him with his wife, was clearly a win-win solution.

However, Jia Xu was not treated as a prisoner. On the carriage back to Bingzhou, he was summoned for questioning and transferred to Qiao Yan’s carriage.

What others thought was an interrogation was actually just a casual game of chess between the two.

Qiao Yan asked while placing a piece, “Have you thought about what position you will take in Bingzhou upon your return?”

At the mention of position, a crack appeared on Jia Xu’s calm expression.

The expression conveyed—how could work start so soon?

According to Jia Xu’s plan, this trip to Chang’an, maneuvering between Dong Zhuo, Li Jue, and the court elders, had exhausted him. Now that the credit was recorded under Qiao Yan, and with a suitable reason for a temporary rest, he should rest for a year or so.

But it seemed Qiao Yan had no intention of letting him rest.

Thinking of Cheng Yu, who had already started military farming around Chang’an, planning when to advance into the other half of Sili; Xun You, who had directly taken over Xun Shuang’s duties from military advisor; Xi Zhicai, who had taken over Cheng Yu’s work in Bingzhou, handling numerous state affairs; and Guo Jia, who was planning arrangements for the Qiang people in Liangzhou and the Xiongnu and Xianbei in Bingzhou, while also keeping an eye on the situation in Jingzhou from Chang’an…

Jia Xu suddenly felt his treatment wasn’t so bad.

At least, under the current circumstances, Qiao Yan couldn’t directly assign him as the military advisor for Youzhou.

People, after comparison, can feel happiness.

He fiddled with the chess piece in his hand and asked, “What position does Your Excellency plan to assign me?”

Qiao Yan replied, “Accompanying Li Ru, living in seclusion in the Leping mountains, or being exiled to Shangjun. Which one do you choose?”

At first glance, these three options sounded like punishments for a traitor.

But in reality?

Accompanying Li Ru implied persuading Li Ru to serve Qiao Yan.

Living in seclusion in the Leping mountains meant temporarily managing the fortress’s various tasks.

Jia Xu couldn’t help but suspect that Qiao Yan wanted him to teach the children at Leping Academy, especially the Qiao sisters, who were intended to take over the intelligence organization and needed his cunning skills.

As for being exiled to Shangjun… perhaps two years ago, it could be considered exile, but with the Xianbei raids on Bingzhou no longer existing, Shangjun was no longer a remote wasteland but Qiao Yan’s cotton plantation base and a communication channel between Liangzhou and Bingzhou.

With Qiao Yan taking half of Sili, Qin Yu’s work would inevitably shift towards coordinating agricultural affairs across the three provinces. Placing Jia Xu here satisfied his temporary “retirement” needs while entrusting him with an important position.

In the short term, expanding cotton cultivation and maintaining secrecy were Bingzhou’s top priorities.

Further facilitating communication between Liangzhou and Bingzhou, due to the existence of Ziwuling, was also a matter that needed planning.

Jia Xu, being a sufficiently intelligent subordinate, naturally understood the implications behind Qiao Yan’s arrangements.

After pondering the comparisons between dealing with equally intelligent people, teaching future pillars, and being a supervisor, he unhesitatingly chose the third option.

But what this seasoned strategist didn’t expect was that on the second day after arriving in Shangjun, he found himself with a new neighbor—none other than Li Ru.

“…” Jia Xu and Li Ru silently looked at each other for a moment before Li Ru spoke.

Li Ru: “Governor Qiao said I should change my farming environment.”

And so, he ended up here.

He should probably thank Qiao Yan for not insisting on renaming him Li Meng, as she had suggested before the expedition to Liangzhou, to completely sever ties with Dong Zhuo.

But for Jia Xu, this didn’t seem like good news.

Could it be that Qiao Yan wanted Li Ru to exchange farming experiences with him?

Jia Xu soon discovered another tragic fact.

The children at Leping Academy, whom Qiao Yan had identified as potential second-generation confidants, were required to periodically work in the cotton fields in Shangjun. This meant he might still have to take on the second option of the three choices.

Qiao Yan said he could choose, but he ended up with a three-in-one.

When he met Qiao Yan, Jia Xu couldn’t help but smile wryly: “Your Excellency, you really…”

Are too good at assigning work.

Qiao Yan candidly continued: “I am truly short-handed and can only hope that you, being capable, can take on more. Besides, interacting with our own people doesn’t require constant vigilance, which should be a leisurely rest for you.”

Whether Jia Xu could get any rest was uncertain, but he certainly had something to say about the lack of personnel.

“There are some people Your Excellency could use; it might not be as short-handed as you say.”

As they walked towards the cotton fields in Shangjun, he continued: “For example, Zhuge Xuan, a former subordinate of Liu Biao. I heard he resigned to care for his deceased brother’s children and came to Leping for the educational environment of Zhuge Liang and Zhuge Jin, seemingly intending to return to Jingzhou. But since Liu Biao has already sent his eldest son towards Chang’an, it shouldn’t be difficult for Your Excellency to keep him.”

“Even in Bingzhou, there are still overlooked talents, not to mention in the three capitals. Several members of the Ma family in Fufeng have already been employed by Your Excellency, but among the three luminaries of Liangzhou, Zhang Ranming, who changed his registered residence from Dunhuang to Guanzhong for promotion, was demoted and returned to his hometown due to the Dou Grand General case, teaching and writing. His sons, Zhang Zhi, Zhang Chang, and Zhang Meng, excel in calligraphy, literary theory, or military strategy, making them useful talents.”

“Your Excellency must avoid taboos and uphold righteousness, hence appointing Liu Yu as the new Son of Heaven. But selecting talents from Chang’an must not be delegated to others.”

Otherwise, Liu Yu, the new Son of Heaven, might turn the act into reality.

Qiao Yan nodded: “I am aware of this.”

She could employ more than just Zhuge Xuan and Zhang Huan’s three sons. With Liu Yu as a lure, talents from Yingchuan, Nanyang, Hanzhong, and other areas near Sili would surely flock to her.

But once in Sili, whether these people followed Liu Yu’s arrangements or became her subordinates would be her decision.

She had the confidence to make people distinguish between her and Liu Yu!

However, all this would have to wait until she returned to Guanzhong and Liu Yu was persuaded by Huang Wan to enter Guanzhong.





Before this, let’s take a look at these growing cotton plants.

When Qiao Yan last left Bingzhou, they were still in the seedling stage.

But now, as the harvest season in October approaches, the fields are filled with white cotton.

This is also a scene rarely seen by the Han people today.

The cotton, originally grown in foreign lands, has finally bloomed and borne fruit on the soil of the Han Dynasty after careful cultivation, creating a spectacular sight.

Jia Xu couldn’t help but stop by the field, his face showing a hint of awe.

When he was taken to Chang’an by Yan Xing, it was the transition between summer and autumn last year, but Xu Rong and Ma Teng returned from the Silk Road only at the beginning of this year.

Regarding the gains from the Silk Road, the most direct thing he saw was the cavalry led by Lü Bu, and the stark contrast between the Ferghana horses they rode and the warhorses of the Central Plains was significant.

But upon seeing this cotton field nearing harvest, he could truly understand why Qiao Yan valued cotton far more than fine horses.

People must first survive before they can consider more.

Warhorses can be developed slowly, but life is only once.

With the existence of cotton, reducing casualties during winter has become possible.

Even though it’s only the first year of this endeavor, the potential is already evident.

As the cotton plants mature at different times, some cotton has already been hand-picked and sent to a nearby workshop.

When Qiao Yan led Jia Xu there, the cotton had already undergone the first stage of processing by machines separating the seeds.

Now, it’s being sent for the next step of fluffing.

The few boxes of cotton brought back by Xu Rong not only assisted in the formation of these processing machines but also made the operators familiar with the two processing steps, and the subsequent making of cotton clothes and quilts is proceeding in an orderly manner.

It wasn’t until a cotton garment was presented to Qiao Yan that the two were interrupted from their immersive observation.

Jia Xu took the cotton garment handed over by Qiao Yan, felt its thickness, and asked, “May I ask, my lord, considering the cost of cotton cultivation, what should be the price of this cotton garment?”

Although Jia Xu only came to Bingzhou after Qiao Yan assumed the position of Governor, it doesn’t mean he knows nothing about her past.

Having reached the point of understanding the lord’s ambitions, he knows most of what he should know.

Besides, some things are not secrets.

In the past, when Qiao Yan was still in Leping, she accumulated her first bucket of gold by selling mulberry bark clothing.

Since mulberry bark clothing is made from tree bark, primarily for windproof and warmth effects, its low pricing is completely understandable, but cotton garments seem to be in a different category.

In Bingzhou, hemp clothing costs a hundred coins, and mulberry bark clothing costs twenty coins, a price set when Qiao Yan first started selling it, and it hasn’t changed since.

Although there are now others engaged in this trade, due to the presence of Governor Qiao Yan, they dare not raise prices, at most adding some decorative patterns for additional charges.

So, how much should a cotton garment be priced?

Qiao Yan replied, “Discussing cost pricing alone isn’t very meaningful. The first batch of cotton garments is too small, with most to be supplied to soldiers engaged in military defense in Liangzhou and Bingzhou, especially in Yanmen, Dingxiang, Yunzhong, and the Four Commanderies of Hexi, where the winter cold is deadly, so they should get the cotton garments first.”

“Additionally, I have an idea: soldiers with beheading merits can purchase cotton garments for their families at a hundred coins each, up to three garments. What do you think, sir?”

Jia Xu pondered and replied, “If so, not many of these cotton garments will be left.”

Judging from Qiao Yan’s demeanor, a price of a hundred coins per garment shouldn’t make her lose money, and the seeds obtained from this harvest are plentiful. With more familiarity in the planting process next year, cultivation and production can be further expanded.

This year, prioritizing the supply to her soldiers and their families is undoubtedly a move to win hearts.

However…

“My lord, you might not be able to prevent someone from using soldiers’ purchase quotas to collect a batch of cotton garments for resale.”

Qiao Yan shook her head: “I might not need to prevent these things, but can actually facilitate them. Those in urgent need of winter clothing won’t sell their hope for survival for a hundred coins, and those who sell them can have a good New Year with the money. As for those who buy the cotton garments at high prices, they will have to clarify the source when reselling, which is essentially advertising for us.”

Advertising that serving under the Governor of Bingzhou is a good place with benefits to receive.

With the expansion of territory and increase in food, the number of soldiers she can support will naturally increase, and it’s also the necessary time for subtle propaganda.

Qiao Yan added: “Perhaps some merchants will send cotton garments outside Bingzhou, such as neighboring Ji Province.”

Those who get this first must have spare money, and the part flowing out alone cannot satisfy their appetite, but by next year, when the number of cotton garments can cover more of the population within Bingzhou, she plans to implement a real-name purchase system based on household registration.

By then, besides soldiers, she will also need people.

People taken from her neighbors!

She instructed Jia Xu: “I know you’ve been wanting to rest recently, but cotton is related to the livelihood of Bingzhou, so please pay more attention to the subsequent operations.”

This is not just simple planting, production, and sales, but also involves psychological games, which is why she feels most assured leaving it to the temporarily idle Jia Xu.

As for the small amount of cotton cloth made from cotton yarn, Qiao Yan handed it over to Princess Yang’an.

She has been in Bingzhou for two years, and it’s time for her to play her role.

While Qiao Yan was busy with various matters after the cotton harvest, Bingzhou also welcomed a special guest.

This person is Tian Feng.

After the autumn harvest and planting in Ji Province, Yuan Shao, unable to cooperate with Qiao Yan, sent Tian Feng to Bingzhou as planned to investigate and learn secretly.

So now he has arrived in Shangdang County from Wei County.

The special geographical location of Shangdang makes its border screening particularly strict. Fortunately, Tian Feng looks like an unremarkable middle-aged man, and Yuan Shao had prepared a fake household registration and travel permit for him. According to the name on the household registration, he should be called Yuan Feng, showing no connection to Tian Feng, much more thoughtful than Xi Zhicai’s alias back then.

Upon entering Bingzhou, he realized that Shen Pei’s statement in the meeting about the differences in the farmland situation in Bingzhou compared to other places was not an exaggeration.

It has been two years since Shen Pei last visited Bingzhou, and the differences between the two places separated by a mountain have become even more apparent.

What’s more terrifying is that Wei County, east of Taihang, is under the feet of the Son of Heaven, while where he is now, west of Taihang, is still just a mountain village.

This couldn’t help but shock Tian Feng, though he didn’t show it on his face.

As he looked around, he saw farmers moving between the ridges with peaceful smiles that gave him a sense of temporal dislocation, further startling him.

It was at this moment that two children ran past him.

With the wind brought by their running, a sentence reached his ears: “Hurry up, if we’re late, we won’t get the front row to listen to Mr. Chang’s monthly report!”

Tian Feng keenly caught a word and instinctively stopped.

Monthly report?

What is this thing?