Chapter 360: The Rising Forces in Jiaozhou
Well, it seems that Zuo Ci was a bit clueless about the place called Jiaozhou.
But you can’t really blame him for being out of the loop. After all, Jiaozhou was pretty far from the southern part of Yang Province, which was already considered somewhat uncivilized.
He didn’t really have those magical powers to see far beyond—he wasn’t exactly equipped with a pair of mystical glasses to figure out what Jiaozhou was truly like.
However, when he finally arrived in Jiaozhou, his eyes were greeted by this strange and foreign land.
He thought that the rugged mountains of Yang Province were pretty barbaric, but compared to the truly wild nature of Jiaozhou, Yang Province was practically civilized.
In Jiaozhou, aside from the formal marriage rules at the county seat, everywhere else would gather in August to find partners for marriage—parents trying to stop them was like trying to hold back a flood.
It was March now, not August yet, but aside from the gathering, people were already eloping if they found someone appealing.
“The Nanhai County isn’t too bad, after all, it’s not too far from Yang Province,” said the guide hired by Yu Ji. “Go southwest from Nanhai, and you’ll hit the even more remote areas like Jiaozhi County and Jiuzhen County, where it’s normal for younger brothers to marry their elder brothers’ wives and sons to take over after their fathers die. Further south is Rinanzhou, where it’s hot all year round, and people often run around almost naked without any shame.”
Zuo Ci mumbled to himself that this place was kind of similar to the barbaric tribes outside the borders.
He had confidently told Yu Ji before that this was a land of poor mountains and bad waters that needed their help to be civilized, but now he couldn’t help but feel that if the people here were compared to insects and beasts, they’d barely be different, and it might not be easy to enlighten them after all.
But just as he initially thought, in such a place, it’s not the people’s awareness that matters most, but the officials in charge.
The harsh terrain and the poisonous atmosphere made it hard for county officials to be assessed by the court, allowing local family powers to grow stronger without oversight.
Taxes in Jiaozhou were hard to send back to the Central Plains, so the valuable goods like pearls, ivory, rhinoceros horns, and tortoise shells that people gave in tribute, along with the incomes from land, went directly to the state offices and became the officials’ private possessions.
The guide had been saved by Yu Ji before, so he felt bold enough to share a few more things.
As he led them into a carriage heading to Nanhai Panyu, he continued, “The officials in Zhuya are the most baffling. Besides collecting the coral and pearls, they’ll actually cut off the hair of local people to make wigs. You two Taoists better not go there, as those officials don’t really care about Zhang, the governor.”
“…” Zuo Ci and Yu Ji exchanged glances, both amazed.
Cutting off people’s hair just to bring it back as wigs? That definitely wouldn’t fly in the Central Plains.
What left them even more speechless was how the guide had to remind them not to go out of curiosity, or they might end up being victims themselves—clearly thinking that if they got there, they’d also become the sacrifices.
And honestly, he was right.
As Taoists, they did want to appear respectable—especially to show off their longevity skills. They sported hair that could rival youth.
So yeah, going to Zhuya was definitely off the table.
Zuo Ci thought that was the worst of it, but then the guide added, “Aside from the tough local customs, the conflicts between the locals and the officials are huge. The Jiaozhou governor killed a clerk out of frustration due to supply issues, and the locals revolted. The Jiuzhen governor killed a clerk after a drunk dance with his father-in-law; now, the clerk’s brother has shot him, and they’re deadlocked with the governor of Jiaozhi.”
“……” Zuo Ci fell silent for a moment, starting to contemplate if going back to confront Qiao Yan in Yang Province was less terrifying than staying here to experience all this chaos.
He couldn’t reach a conclusion in an instant.
Yu Ji seemed a bit more optimistic and asked, “Surely, the situation under the governor’s control should be a bit better, right?”
At least there wouldn’t be any gruesome practices happening, right?
The guide replied, “You’ll have to see for yourselves. I can only say that for you two, it might not be too bad of a place.”
In the four counties of Nanhai, Cangwu, Hepu, and Yulin in Jiaozhou, the power of the governor Zhang Jin was still quite significant, roughly equal to that of local gentries.
With the official keeping the locals in check, their customs were definitely better than those in Zhuya and the like.
But still, if this official had some peculiar hobbies, that could be a different story.
Before they even reached Panyu, they saw soldiers with red scarves marching on the road—it was strikingly obvious, and they passed by chanting the Taoist text, “The Dao De Jing.”
As they finally arrived in Panyu County, the cult of Taoist texts was indeed more pronounced, with everyone donning religious attire.
But for some reason, even knowing these folks should be kindred spirits, Zuo Ci still felt a strange discomfort.
When the Jiaozhou governor Zhang Jin came into view, that feeling of awkwardness peaked.
Was he hospitable? Of course! As soon as he heard that Zuo Ci and Yu Ji were coming, he rushed out without even putting on his shoes properly.
Zuo Ci dodged quickly, but Zhang Jin already grabbed Yu Ji’s hand, sighing, “I’ve heard that the Immortal Master helps the people in Yang Province with his holy water to cure illnesses, which is nothing like Zhang Jiao’s holy water. Today, seeing the demeanor of the Immortal Master is truly beyond ordinary.”
With Zhang Jin’s warm invitation, both Yu Ji and Zuo Ci ended up at Zhang Jin’s lodging, where this rather “unfocused” governor treated them to a welcome feast to show his respect.
And soon, they encountered the same bizarre scenes that were common in other counties of Jiaozhou.
Initially, Zuo Ci wondered why Qiao Yan insisted they meet Zhang Jin. Though Zhang Jin was indeed a bit obsessed with spreading Taoism, their arrival might gradually gain them some influence here—that was one of many uncertainties.
Once he arrived in Jiaozhou, he could totally ignore any threats from Qiao Yan and just enjoy himself in this isolated place.
However, during this banquet, Zuo Ci began to realize that his and Yu Ji’s presence might not matter in terms of interfering with Zhang Jin’s decisions; for Qiao Yan, it would probably be irrelevant—what mattered was that some Taoist masters had heard about Zhang Jin’s methods in Jiaozhou and came to acknowledge him as a significant event!
The officials in Jiaozhou, even someone like Zhang Jin from the culturally prosperous Nanyang, had been corrupted by the chaotic local governance.
According to the guide, the Jiuzhen governor Dan Meng had killed a clerk just because his father-in-law was asked to dance, while the Jiaozhou governor Zhang Jin also showed his unruly side after some wine.
He shook his wine cup and said to Zuo Ci and Yu Ji, “I initially thought I’d have to cultivate my virtues for years to improve, but look at this—just a few short years in, and I have two masters visiting! The saying ‘Phoenixes rest upon parasol trees’ is indeed true.”
“With the constant chaos in the Central Plains, only our remote Jiaozhou has been accumulating assets and increasing soldiers, along with some Taoist regulations taking shape. If you two hadn’t come, I’d have planned to wait several more years before restoring order. But now, it seems I can do it sooner; let’s drink to that!”
Restoring order?
Zuo Ci’s expression didn’t change, but his mind was filled with questions.
Based on what he’d seen traveling through Jiaozhou, perhaps due to the climate, they could have two or three harvests a year, which sounded decent enough. But in terms of yield per mu, it couldn’t even compare to Yang Province after the introduction of the curved plow, not to mention places like Leping County that were published in the Leping Monthly Report.
The local products in Jiaozhou were indeed scarce compared to the Central Plains…
Color is indeed fascinating, but without trade connections with the Central Plains, these rare treasures remain just that—rare treasures—without being exchanged for equivalent grain or weapons.
And let’s not even get started on those soldiers bound by the moral constraints of the classic texts!
Perhaps in terms of physical strength, they might not be any worse than the elite soldiers of Danyang, but even Zuo Ci, that wandering Taoist from the realms of Xu, Yang, and Jingzhou, knows well that relying solely on that isn’t enough to secure victory in battle. Otherwise, the Mountain Tribes would have captured all of Yang Province by now, instead of being surrounded by Sun Ce multiple times and now choosing to surrender under Qiao Yan’s blockade.
Clearly, this Governor Zhang, who has been living in his own little world for years, wouldn’t understand this simple truth.
With the jovial spirit from his wine and the delight of welcoming guests, he continued, “The south of Jing Province is troubled by bandits, and Liu Jingsheng can’t handle it. Since Jiaozhou has the capacity, why not take on the responsibility and pacify them? This would also enhance our Jiaozhou’s prestige. I’ve heard that Master Wu Jiao is skilled in divination; would you be willing to read a fortune for me to see when would be an auspicious time for an advance?”
Governor Zhang has looked down on Liu Biao for quite a while now.
Back when Liu Biao took the position of Governor of Jingzhou during the chaos, Zhang Jin was in Luoyang.
Even though he couldn’t possibly become the Jing Province’s magistrate due to the laws of the Han, he still submitted a rather clever proposal, thinking it wasn’t half bad. Surely, even if he couldn’t be made the Governor, he’d gain the Son of Heaven’s recognition. Perhaps His Majesty would, out of consideration for the mischief stirred up by the likes of Lingling and Guiyang, entrust him with the important task of restoring order to southern Jing Province.
Who would have thought that in the end, Liu Biao would reap the rewards?
Though he did become the Prefect of Jiaozhou at the end of the Zhongping years, which was indeed a significant power, it was just the right amount to escape the swirling storm of the royal succession in the capital. Still, that bitter experience from back then was not something Zhang Jin could easily forget.
Now that he saw his power in Jiaozhou on the rise while Liu Biao remained hampered by the resistance in Changsha County—unable to bring effective pressure to the southern Jing forces—it made perfect sense for him to take on the task himself!
Moreover, Zhang Jin’s friendship with Yuan Shao and his past ties with Grand General He Jin indicated that though he never explicitly stated his position, he was naturally aligned with the court in Ye City.
If he could seize Jing Province when everyone least expected it and make contact with Cao Cao from Yu Province, cutting off support from Chang’an to the south while handing back Xuzhou and Yang Province to the court in Ye City—then Zhang Jin would become the top hero who lay hidden for years, grasping opportunities and striking a decisive blow!
By that time, his status would be far more than just that of a Jiaozhou Prefect.
Yuan Shao in Ye City would surely award him the title of General of the Chariots and Cavalry or some high position.
Clearly, the Taoist texts didn’t cultivate any sense of tranquility and passivity in Zhang Jin; they were simply tools for him to dominate his subordinates. As for Zuo Ci and others, they were just gimmicks to bolster his military ambitions.
His thirst for power has always been fierce.
But—
He sees himself as the only smart one, while everyone else isn’t as dull as he imagines.
Zuo Ci glanced at the fine wine and delicacies before him, then towards the self-satisfied Zhang Jin at the head of the table, and suddenly came to a realization.
At the moment Zhang Jin proposed this plan to attack Jing Province, Zuo Ci completely understood why Qiao Yan had sent him and Yu Ji away from Yang Province to this place!
She didn’t want them to influence Zhang Jin’s actions, making him join her ranks.
Rather, she wanted their existence as “celestial masters” to ignite the ambition of Zhang Jin, pushing him to take another step forward, triggering the conflict between southern Jing Province and Jiaozhou!
This was a move that wasn’t just subtle but incredibly clever.
For a moment, Zuo Ci hesitated, considering whether he should help fulfill Qiao Yan’s scheme after experiencing her intimidation.
But even he had to admit, if one had to choose between Yuan Shao and Qiao Yan regarding who could bring peace to the realm, the latter would obviously never be the former.
So why must he go against the natural order?
He responded to Zhang Jin, “Governor Zhang, your reputation stretches far beyond Jiaozhou; Yang Province to the north isn’t ashamed either, and I suspect Jing Province wouldn’t be less. If you decide to march, you shall certainly gain something. If you allow me, I will seek a divine reading for you tomorrow as a token of gratitude for your hospitality.”
Zhang Jin was elated: “Then I would trouble Master Wu Jiao.”
Thinking of how Zuo Ci had toyed with Liu Biao before, and how he was currently complying with Zhang Jin, this seemed like another auspicious sign.
The next day, Zuo Ci’s response soothed Zhang Jin’s heart immensely.
Zuo Ci revealed through divination that in April, there would be celestial punishments against the bandits, fitting for launching an expedition. The celestial punishment relates to fire, beneficial during the heated Han season, marking the opportune moment for Zhang Jin to establish his merits.
April!
He wouldn’t even have to wait a month!
Zhang Jin felt that if he delayed any longer, watching Qiao Yan’s rapid advances into Xuzhou and Yang Province—he wouldn’t be surprised if she aimed at Yu Province subsequently, severing his connections to the court in the north entirely.
If that happened, he’d be powerless to turn the tide!
It was time to take action.
In April, Qiao Yan and Liu Biao would surely have shifted their focus from the south, gradually setting their sights on the confrontation in the north, and it was precisely during this moment he could strike out!
With this thought, Zhang Jin hastily mobilized all elite troops he could reach across four counties, engaging them in pre-battle training activities to ensure they could strike decisively in the upcoming northern campaign.
In modern terms, this could be thought of as a unique kind of military cultural development.
However, while this troop mobilization would certainly be obscured from Liu Biao due to the difficulty of information transmission from Jiaozhou to the Central Plains, it would definitely not escape the eyes of the local residents.
Especially the Shi family.
Shi Xie, the leader, was still busy dealing with the mess left by the Taishou of Jiuzhen while handling the local rebellious forces.
But at that moment, the Taishou of Nanhai was Shi Xie’s brother Shi Wu, and the Taishou of Hepu was another brother, Shi Yi. The troops from these two commanderies were exactly the ones Zhang Jin was mobilizing the most!
Normally, Zhang Jin’s previous troop exercises had never been as large scaled as this one.
This obvious action raised alarms for the Shi brothers, and they quickly reported the news to their elder brother.
“What does Zhang Ziyun mean by this?” Shi Xie’s face instantly fell upon receiving the news.
If Zhang Jin was to play the role of a calm and decent Jiaozhou Prefect, engaging in some civil affairs and education, they could coexist peacefully. After all, Zhang Jin’s abilities were not enough to undermine the Shi family’s standing in Jiaozhou.
But his current actions were clearly ulterior motives.
Xu Jing, who was residing with Shi Xie after fleeing from Yang Province years before, having seen Liu Ba off, was still there to advise Shi Xie. Upon hearing Shi Xie’s question, he replied, “Zhang Ziyun likely hasn’t gotten stupid enough to muster troops to attack local nobility. The only plausible scenario is he’s moving north to Jing Province.”
“North to… Jing Province?” Shi Xie pondered, thinking of Zhang Jin’s behavior, weighing this possibility; it seemed quite likely.
If Zhang Jin dared to reach for their heads after a few years in Jiaozhou, that would be impossible!
But this northern move towards Jing Province, while not aimed at disrupting the internal structure of Jiaozhou, would still have significant impacts on it.
He dropped the letter in his hand, thought for a while, then suddenly said to Xu Jing, “Last year, when Liu Zichu moved north, I asked you a question: How would that Grand Marshal, who cares for Zichu entering court, fare in the future? You told me—if there’s no turmoil in Guanzhong before the autumn harvest, the Grand Marshal’s future would be limitless. Now it’s already the next spring, and we’ve seen clearly the various changes that have occurred over the past year in Jiaozhou…”
“So let me ask you this: if Zhang Ziyun truly moves north to Jing Province, shall we take advantage and poison him behind his back, as a gesture of allegiance to Chang’an, perhaps ensuring our Shi family’s future?”
If Zhang Jin was intent on marching north to Jing Province, it would mean war against Qiao Yan.
Originally, Shi Xie thought the battle between the court in Chang’an and Ye City had nothing to do with him, but now he had to remain vigilant.
No matter if the war in Jing Province rolled back into Jiaozhou or not, he would never allow Zhang Jin to ruin his peaceful days!
