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“Can strategists not ascend the throne?”
Chapter 326: Where’s Your Guts?
Jia Xu’s plot that led to Sun Jian’s demise, whether motivated by his predicament during Dong Zhuo’s kidnapping or not, he’s gotta take some responsibility for that.
Right now, Sun Ce’s power just keeps growing, and he even took out Huang Zu over in Yuzhang. So who knows if he’s gonna turn his sights on Jia Xu in Xuzhou after he cleans up Yangzhou?
Instead of banking on Sun Ce showing mercy to Jia Xu for Qiao Yan’s sake, it’s better to strike first!
Once he flips Yangzhou upside down, he could definitely have some help to remove Jia Xu first.
Sun Ce is definitely a heroic figure. Given how he’s in a better position than history had him in Yangzhou, his ambitious demeanor just shines more as a true warlord.
But if the grudge behind the scenes comes to light, will Sun Ce really be capable of using her?
He’s fiery and clear-cut with his grudges; even if he temporarily obeys the situation, he’s certainly not someone who can be driven like a puppet for long.
So—
Not a chance.
“You’ve truly given me a tough question, my lord,” Jia Xu mused, stroking his beard as he glanced at the letter Qiao Yan had sent to Qiao Lan and Qiao Ting.
Qiao Yan told them to relay her words, and these two were quite respectful of their teacher, delivering the letter straight into Jia Xu’s hands.
Jia Xu couldn’t help but reflect on the line “keep Zhou Yu tied up in Xuzhou.”
This crafty old fox wouldn’t miss the hint of hesitation that flickered in Qiao Yan’s mind when she wrote that last line.
But as she finished writing, the final strokes oozed a kind of chilling resolve.
She has clearly made a choice between the capable general Sun Ce and his strategist.
How to handle Sun Ce’s subordinates wasn’t something Jia Xu could guess from Qiao Yan’s letter, but one thing was clear: he could rest easy.
“What a qualified overlord…” Jia Xu remarked in a voice only he could hear.
A lord who can provide enough security for his subordinates. If not for completely clearing Xuzhou and Yangzhou, he wouldn’t do justice to her difficult choice.
It’s not like he truly came to Xuzhou to be a test subject for the students of Leping Academy…
As Jia Xu closed the letter, his mind drifted to the situation in Liangzhou.
He’d once chosen to come from Wuwei Commandery in Liangzhou to Chang’an, aiming to showcase his ambitions and gain more speaking power.
But under the rules of Eastern and Western officials, all he could manage was a position as a government clerk.
Accepting reality, the best survival tactic was clearly to keep himself safe and sound.
Through years, or rather decades, of tribulations, this had become a habit for him.
But this year, a letter from Jia Mu in Liangzhou stated that although the irrigation project wasn’t originally his interest, the more he learned, the more he felt it was the right direction for him.
When people in Liangzhou mentioned Jia Mu from Wuwei, during this dry year, they certainly saw him as a lifesaver.
Even though he initially just assisted Bi Lan in planning the irrigation ditches for the troops in Wuwei, now, through time, he had turned into a fortune for the region.
Jia Mu’s contributions and the gratitude from the people of Liangzhou served as a lifeline for Jia Xu—or rather, a safety net for the Jia family in Wuwei.
With a lord like that, even if he struck from the shadows, putting enemies in traps while putting himself in peril, what’s the harm?
Since even Qiao Yan was taking such cautious steps to secure her position, why should Jia Xu hold back?
He burnt the letter just like those Qiao sisters handled their correspondence, completely wiping out the evidence, then casually walked outside, only to run into Pang Tong.
This guy, who knows who he learned it from, is young but always carries an air of seriousness, and now he’s strolling with his hands tucked into his sleeves.
But one must admit, it looks rather composed.
Upon seeing Jia Xu, Pang Tong first greeted him and then walked ahead. From Jia Xu’s view, he headed towards the place where Lu Su was being held.
Pang Tong took a page out of Qiao Yan’s book regarding Li Ru; he didn’t tie up Lu Su but gave him a separate courtyard even allowing him to water plants there.
Unfortunately… unlike Li Ru, who couldn’t escape due to Dong Zhuo fleeing to Chang’an, Lu Su’s situation wasn’t nearly as favorable.
He was still within Xuzhou, and abiding by hometown solidarity, his treatment as a prisoner was quite lenient.
Liu Bei was almost right around the corner, ready to swoop in and rescue him at any moment.
This resulted in—
“So, is Lu Zijing still not planning to listen to you?” Jia Xu said, amused, observing Pang Tong’s expression.
Pang Tong seemed calm and collected but had a hint of youthful defiance peeking through his eyes.
Pang Tong replied, “This was somewhat expected. Those classmates of mine had the bad luck of being forced to stay in Xuzhou, and on top of that, stir up trouble in Liaodong. I don’t even know who blabbed to Lu Zijing about this, resulting in him saying we planted a ‘nail’ in Xuzhou two years back, likely prepared some moves in the northern part of Xuzhou, so why bother negotiating?”
“Anyway, we have the strength to resist Liaodong, so there’s no need to persuade him to surrender.”
In short, it was all about being as stubborn as a mule.
But Lu Su’s unwillingness to cooperate was clearly bad news.
Yangzhou is a shield for the southern part of Xuzhou, but the internal conflicts are plentiful, and Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, and the others will hardly give Xuzhou their full support.
If they find the Huai River frontline is untenable, they would certainly choose to save their own manpower and withdraw.
Put simply, while the southern part of Xuzhou seems affiliated with the Chang’an court, it’s still in a precarious position.
If they can’t secure local scholars’ backing, it’s undoubtedly dangerous and unsustainable.
“So how do you plan to handle this?” Jia Xu asked.
Pang Tong didn’t seem defeated by his classmates landing positions in Liaodong or anxious due to Lu Su’s resistance. He replied to Jia Xu, “If one hasn’t seen the frontlines of this world, they indeed might act like this. I’ve shown my courtesy, now it’s time to take up arms.”
Pang Tong’s gaze revealed just a touch of arrogance, making it clear that even though he looked mature, he was still brimming with confidence as a top-tier student of Leping Academy, explaining why he could debate with Zhuge Liang back in Hongwen Hall.
Remembering how Lu Lingju had previously warned Pang Tong not to let Zhou Yu, who often visited Xuzhou, outmaneuver him, Pang Tong now had heightened awareness of the looming risks.
But hey, that makes things more interesting.
Jia Xu replied, “Alright then, I’ll be watching.”
Let’s see what this ‘Phoenix Chicks’ has to offer without even heading to Liaodong to live up to Qiao Yan’s praise!
Amidst the turbulent undercurrents between Xuzhou and Yangzhou, Bingzhou appeared particularly harmonious.
Qiao Yan returned to Bingzhou, not just to finalize the cotton deal with Cao Cao but also to ensure that during her absence, the locals wouldn’t forget who was responsible for their current conditions.
“They say that a state’s deputy is given a separate carriage for special status during inspections, but frankly, riding in your carriage is way comfier.”
Xi Zhicai leaned against the carriage, clutching a bag of ice to chase off the lingering heat.
Across from him, Qiao Yan browsed through the official documents from the past two years handled by Xi Zhicai during their inspection trip through Bingzhou, shooting him a glance as she replied, “I heard there’s a tree overseas called the rubber tree, which produces latex for making protective layers for wheels, making the ride feel even smoother.”
Xi Zhicai responded, “…My lord, I don’t think that’s what I meant.”
He was merely expressing how nice it is to have someone above him to handle some duties since during Qiao Yan’s absence, aside from matters requiring her decision, everything had been left to Xi Zhicai.
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“It’s uncertain if I can even guarantee a five-day work week.”
Since Qiao Yan returned, she decided to just kick back to show she has no intention of snatching the position of Bingzhou Governor.
But just listen to what the lord is saying!
While there are still issues within the territory, she’s already dreaming about manufacturing tires overseas!
The subtext in her words is clear: she still needs to hustle to make sure her carriage rides comfortably. If she slacks off, how will she ever extract rubber from overseas?
“Let’s change the topic. What kind of chips should we ask for in the deal mentioned by Cao Zixiu?”
Even though she returned to Bingzhou to negotiate this deal, that doesn’t mean she has to be eager in responding to Cao Ang and Cao Hong.
She recently had a spat over turf with Cao Cao in Yu Province. Even if they acted chummy and offered a ten-mile radius, they are still on opposite sides.
And cotton is her exclusive item, giving her complete market monopoly.
So, it’s really not hard to understand why she’s putting these guys on hold.
There’s nothing to criticize in this strategy.
During the autumn harvest, it’s essential for a provincial governor to inspect various places and ensure the populace won’t face hardships during winter after a drought. If food supplies are low, the province needs to adjust further.
Therefore, it’s best for Cao Ang and Cao Hong to make a trip to Leping and meet with Cao Pi, who is studying there. They can bond as brothers and uncles. Once Qiao Yan returns to Taiyuan, they can discuss the transaction.
Moreover, before the “Yuan Feng” orders were sent to the borders to announce the promotion, there hadn’t been time to assess the cotton yield in the region.
If there’s a decrease in production due to the disaster, the amount available for trading will inevitably drop.
This is unavoidable.
However, the cotton output from the expanding cotton fields in recent years has piled up sufficiently in the storerooms, more than enough to satisfy the figures Cao Ang reported upon arrival in Bingzhou.
But then again, in business, revealing all your cards upfront isn’t the way to go.
When Qiao Yan asked this, Xi Zhicai replied, “If we refer to the grain exchange chips you mentioned trading in Yanzhou back in the day, that approach is definitely unworkable. Cao Mengde just acquired Chen County and Runan in Yu Province, and with the current disaster year, he’s facing food shortages. He won’t put himself in a tight spot over winter supplies.”
Qiao Yan nodded, “That’s true.”
“There’s nothing of significant value from Yanzhou’s specialties to offer you. If it were truly a trade like that, it would be a waste of good cotton…” Xi Zhicai pondered for a moment and said, “Actually, I had an idea earlier, but I didn’t know if it was feasible.”
“Do tell,” she urged.
Xi Zhicai said, “You are currently promoting the art of printing in Chang’an, and just recently launched the urgent text as your number one printed version. The first batch was received well in Luoyang. It seems now is a good time to take the next step.”
“What do you think about promoting it to the closest regions of Yanzhou and Yu Province?”
Qiao Yan pondered, “The scholars in Yanzhou and Yu Province are quite well-educated, and the common folks have been exposed to a bit of knowledge, especially in Yingchuan and Runan. Long before the chaos in the world, those areas were already hotbeds for scholars. Compared to Luoyang, they may even exceed it or at least be very close. They are indeed suitable targets. What’s your point?”
Xi Zhicai replied, “If the cost of purchasing cotton falls solely on Cao Mengde, the folks in Yu Province, who’ve just endured chaos, will surely be grateful to him. Although you still hold Yingchuan as a stepping stone, you may find it challenging to advance into Runan quickly. This will only fortify Cao Mengde’s influence there, which I doubt is what you want to see.”
“Then why not look at it differently? Say that Bingzhou can sell cotton to Yanzhou and Yu Province, but considering the ongoing release of new books, the people can buy the books and receive cotton as a gift, sewing their own cotton clothes.”
Qiao Yan chuckled at this, “Mr. Zhicai, that’s a truly vicious strategy.”
Not to mention that selling books to those two provinces could amount to a cultural invasion; when it comes down to individual sales, as long as the price doesn’t exceed that of winter clothing, no one will care whether the cotton is a gift or the book is.
And once the cotton clothes are self-sewn by the people, the costs will actually be lower, allowing many reluctant to buy new clothes to still purchase them. They can just sew it into their old garments.
This increased market would be enough to cover Cao Cao’s entire domain.
Moreover, is this really just Cao Cao’s domain?
The news of Cao Ang and Cao Hong coming to Bingzhou surely reached Yuan Shao, who probably learned that once this deal is struck, they’ll be sending some cotton clothes his way.
Now with this new trading method emerging, how will Yuan Shao respond?
This really puts him in a bind after the change in ownership of Youzhou.
“However, it is a good idea. Will Cao Zixiu agree, or rather, will his father agree?” Qiao Yan asked.
Xi Zhicai shook his head, “That’s never been something they could decide. The deal between you and them can easily be delayed until autumn or winter. This thin-margin, high-volume trade doesn’t impact your income; after all, the benefits and military power gained from the new territories far outweigh this.”
“If winter turns out to be as harsh as the sixth year of Guanghe, with water freezing several feet deep, and people’s lives becoming precarious, we won’t be throwing stones down the well and say there was a transaction that could have been made. That would already be considering the friendship between you and Cao Mengde. After all—”
Xi Zhicai firmly stated, “We can bide our time; they can’t afford to.”
This is the confidence they have in Bingzhou!
And it’s the confidence bestowed upon them by the lord over the ten years of management!
So, who cares if the conditions they propose feel like a knife to the neck?
Qiao Yan replied, “As you say, I have a plan in mind regarding how to finalize this transaction.”
She seemed unfazed by the possibility that Cao Ang might have received news from Cao Pi, who’d been in Leping for years, as she leisurely completed her inspection of the various districts in Bingzhou, even reaching the far northwest of Bingzhou, the often overlooked Shuofang County, then swinging by the temporarily unmanned Suiyuan City.
Even though Lü Bu had been managing things here steadily over the years, and his reputation established a certain workflow, someone had even carved a message left over from Saiyin Mountain Ridge into this area.
Too bad Lü Bu wasn’t around to confirm it.
Once she’d wrapped up her rounds, she finally strolled back to the provincial office.
Cao Ang and Cao Hong were already waiting there.
Cao Hong had quite a temper. After Cao Cao’s earlier baffling musings, he felt his authority undermined and, having been kept waiting in Bingzhou, would’ve clashed with Dian Wei if he hadn’t recalled Cao Cao’s instructions before leaving Yanzhou and the need to follow Cao Ang’s orders.
Yet instead of the go-ahead for the transaction, they received her odd proposal.
What was this nonsense about letting the public buy books and get cotton as a gift? And buy different types of books to get more? Plus the idea that people sewing their cotton clothes would be cheaper than buying finished products? In this time of widespread asset scarcity, how did that even make sense—
Cao Hong prided himself on not being one for politics, he didn’t get the convoluted stuff, and he felt every bit of it tipped the scale in favor of Qiao Yan, as if Cao Cao’s territory was her own.
Yet Qiao Yan seemed oblivious to the fury flickering across his face as she sipped her tea and casually stated, “Grain prices are inconsistent across regions, and I’m guessing you both didn’t save any grain for trading this year. I’m fixing the book price to match that of cotton, making it affordable for everyone. On one hand, it’s to help the people, and on the other, to maintain a good rapport with the court in Chang’an.”
This Grand Marshal’s dealings would surely be held to past standards if she planned to trade with Cao Cao, the Yecheng Governor—she would face repercussions.
“Zixiu,” she continued to Cao Ang, “I once told your father that if you came to study at Leping Academy, it would serve as your overdue meeting gift. It’s a pity you sent Zihuan, but now that this transaction falls under your responsibility, consider the benefits a similar gift. How does that sound?”
Cao Ang: “…”
No wonder she holds the position of Grand Marshal!
This ability to spin lies right to someone’s face, turning her own profit into a gesture of generosity—how does she pull it off so brazenly?
