Chapter 100: Negotiations On The Mountain
The Wan County County Magistrate was temporarily taken by Xu Shu. After being busy for two days, Wan County gradually settled down. That morning, Xu Shu led a caravan to Qianshan. The dozens of carts contained not only grain but also other supplies, such as salt, cured meat, tents, cloth, and so on. Of course, the grain was not three thousand stone; Xu Shu only brought five hundred stone.
Zhao Yun’s asking price was too high, completely asking for an exorbitant price. Moreover, Xu Shu hoped Zhao Yun could become a member of Yuzhang Commandery, so there was no need for that much grain.
Xu Shu also had a guide named Yan Ping, who had visited Zhao Yun’s camp multiple times.
Xu Shu had the carts wait below. He brought two attendants and followed Yan Ping up the mountain. After walking about two li, Xu Shu saw the stronghold gate. The gate was very crude, just wooden logs casually tied into the shape of two large doors, without any flag.
Xu Shu had an idea in his mind: Zhao Yun had no real intention of becoming a bandit; he was just temporarily residing there, so he had not deliberately developed the mountain stronghold.
The mountain stronghold was located in a valley halfway up the mountain. The valley was very wide, with wooden houses, stone-stacked flat houses, and quite a few tents.
At this time, a scholar came out to greet them, cupping his fists and smiling: “I am Tian Yu. I have neglected Strategist Xu!”
Tian Yu had seen Xu Shu’s calling card, which indicated he was General Gan’s Deputy Strategist. He truly did not dare to neglect him, so he invited Xu Shu to the main tent. The two sat as guest and host, and Tian Yu smiled: “Coming from Youzhou, it’s really a bit hard to adapt to the southern climate. It’s too humid.”
Xu Shu smiled faintly: “The south is a bit humid, but not as serious as Mr. Tian says. I think the main issue is that Mr. Tian is living in the wrong place. This is the mountains, with fog that doesn’t disperse year-round. How could it not be humid?”
Tian Yu sighed: “When we first arrived, we lived in the county town, but it wouldn’t accommodate us, so we were forced to go up the mountain.”
“Why?” Xu Shu asked.
Tian Yu sighed: “We have over three hundred people in total and did not want to separate. We hoped to be arranged in one county. The county magistrate agreed, but the condition was two guan qian per person, which is over six hundred guan qian. All our possessions were only thirty-some guan qian, so we angrily went up the mountain.”
Xu Shu nodded: “The county magistrate you encountered was appointed by Sun Ben. Now the Wan County County Magistrate is concurrently held by me. If you are willing to come down the mountain, I can arrange all of you in Wan County.”
Tian Yu smiled: “Is Strategist Xu trying to recruit us down the mountain?”
Xu Shu shook his head. “Actually, I came to invite Mr. Tian and General Zhao to join Yuzhang Commandery and together pursue the great cause.”
Tian Yu chuckled. “If I joined Yuzhang Commandery, what position would General Gan give me?”
“If Mr. Tian is willing to join, I am willing to cede the Deputy Strategist position to Mr. Tian.”
Tian Yu was stunned. “Strategist Xu is joking!”
Xu Shu shook his head. “I am just a pale-faced scholar who has read a few military books, with no actual combat experience. Yet General Gan heavily employs me as Deputy Strategist. Mr. Tian was an important strategist under Gongsun Zan, far superior to me. General Gan advocates promoting only talent regardless of scholars or commoners. If Mr. Tian is willing to join us, I will definitely recommend to General Gan that you replace me.”
After a long while, Tian Yu said: “You know me?”
Xu Shu nodded. “I have long heard of the name of Mr. Guoruo!”
In fact, Xu Shu had done his homework beforehand. He knew Zhao Yun had a Tian Yu under him and only then learned that Tian Yu was one of Gongsun Zan’s most important advisors.
Although it was homework done in advance, it still moved Tian Yu greatly.
“Strategist Xu thinks too highly of me. I do not have such great ability. It was precisely our inadequacy that led to Gongsun Zan’s downfall. We are ministers of a lost country.”
Xu Shu shook his head. “If whenever a vassal lord is eliminated, his subordinates become ministers of a lost country, then there would be too many such ministers in the world. Gongsun Zan’s defeat was not your responsibility; it was that Gongsun Zan’s strength was inferior to Yuan Shao’s. Even the most capable woman cannot cook without rice. No matter how capable you were, you could not conjure double the troop strength out of thin air. Mr. Tian need not blame himself. My lord General Gan heard your news and is hastening to Lujiang. He has come to earnestly request you to join.”
Tian Yu nodded. “Thank you for Strategist Xu’s sincerity. Let us consider it!”
Xu Shu smiled: “I did not come today for Sun He. We have no interest in him at all. We brought some supplies—not much, but a token of our sincerity. Please accept them.”
Xu Shu took his leave and left. At this time, Zhao Yun came out from behind the tent. He had been listening to the two’s conversation the whole time.
“What does Mr. think?” Zhao Yun asked with a smile.
Tian Yu sighed: “If everyone under Gan Ning is like Xu Shu, then it would truly not be a mistake. I was not convinced by his words but moved by his sincerity. He said he would cede the Deputy Strategist position to me; I feel he was not deliberately posturing but very sincere.”
Zhao Yun nodded. “Taishi Ci is a very proud man and one who does not easily change. He switched from loyalty to Sun Ce to loyalty to Gan Ning; I think Gan Ning must have extraordinary qualities worth his loyalty.”
“What is General’s intention?”
Zhao Yun thought for a moment: “Let’s watch and learn more. We followed the wrong Gongsun Zan once and do not want to be wrong a second time.”
West of Wan County city, Zhao Yun and Tian Yu disguised as two merchants arrived at the county town. The city inside had restored calm, and everything was orderly. The two went up to a restaurant and sat at a window spot on the second floor.
Soon, the waiter served them wine and dishes. Zhao Yun filled a cup for Tian Yu and smiled: “What can we see coming to the county town?”
Tian Yu smiled faintly: “One leaf can reveal the autumn. From many details, we can discern Gan Ning’s future prospects, such as the expressions of the citizens in the city, or the shop doors. From these, we can know the performance of Gan Ning’s army after entering the city.”
“I understand the citizens’ expressions. What does looking at shop doors mean?” Zhao Yun was puzzled.
Tian Yu smiled faintly: “When Gan Ning’s army attacked the city, I believe all shops closed their doors. The army has only one way to plunder shops: smashing open the shop doors. So as long as we observe the shop doors, we can know if the army has looted the shops.”
Zhao Yun had a realization and hurriedly carefully observed the colored silk shop across the way. The large door was somewhat old but intact, with no signs of being smashed.
“I see. It seems Gan Ning’s army did not plunder shops!”
At this time, the waiter served them hot dishes. Zhao Yun pointed to the colored silk shop across and smiled: “When the Yuzhang Army entered the city, how did that shop remain unscathed?”
The waiter smiled: “General Gan never robs the citizens’ things. If we knew it was General Gan’s army arriving, we would have opened the city gate to welcome them long ago.”
Zhao Yun nodded. “I see. General Gan is a benevolent lord!”
“That goes without saying: one thirtieth tax, no head tax. Who in the world can achieve that?”
At this moment, someone outside suddenly shouted: “The mule is spooked! The mule is spooked! Get out of the way!”
Everyone hurriedly stood and looked out the window, only to see a mule pulling a cart galloping down the street. On the cart, an elderly couple tightly held two young children, all terrified. Behind, a man and a woman were shouting and chasing the mule cart.
The waiter’s face changed greatly. “Oh no, someone is going to die!”
Suddenly, Zhao Yun beside him leaped up and jumped down from the window, landing precisely on the mule’s back. He grabbed the mane at the mule’s nape and swung his fist as big as a rice bowl, smashing two heavy punches onto the mule’s head.
The mule wailed and instantly became docile, stopping. The mule no longer galloped wildly, and the citizens around burst into applause. “Brave man, great martial arts!”
The mule-driving couple ran up and took the reins. The two were still shaken. When they looked for their savior, the benefactor was already gone.
