Chapter 95: Qianshan’s Famous General
On the tenth day of the first lunar month, the main street in Wan County began to liven up. After the migration of over 100,000 disaster victims, Wan County, which had been somewhat desolate, prospered once again.
Especially during the New Year period, Wan County was exceptionally bustling, with all restaurants and taverns doing very good business.
In the east of Wan County town, there was a tavern and an inn right next to each other, one called Jiangnan Inn, the other called Jiangnan Restaurant. It was obvious at a glance that they were investments by the same owner, with the same name.
This was an old shop of at least thirty years. The owner was called Duan Jiangnan, a local of Wan County, but his son Duan Ren was a commandant general in Gan Ning’s army, a subordinate of Taishi Ci.
It was precisely because of this connection that the restaurant and inn became a temporary intelligence point for the Yuzhang Army. Two scouts were deployed here. Before, when Huang Zu attacked Lujiang Commandery, it was they who timely notified Lujiang Commandery Prefect Xu Qiu, allowing Xu Qiu and the officials to withdraw in time.
The two scouts were one called Wei Kan and one called Xi Ping. Among them, Wei Kan was a battalion commander. Their mission was to gather intelligence on the equipment and troop strength of the enemy army in Wan County.
The first task was very simple: just look at the equipment of the soldiers patrolling the streets every day.
But intelligence on troop numbers was not easy to obtain, because it was always changing. The normal garrison was 10,000 men, but at the beginning of the year, it increased by 5,000, and these past few days, it was actually reinforcing troops by another 3,000.
This morning, Xi Ping hurried back and said, “Battalion Commander, there are two pieces of latest intelligence.”
“What intelligence?”
“There were two soldiers eating at the restaurant who boasted that they were fire oil soldiers, numbering 3,000, with better treatment than other soldiers.”
Wei Kan hurriedly asked, “Did you see them take out anything to show off?”
“They weren’t carrying any, but according to their boasting, they shatter on impact, creating a sea of fire. I estimate they’re similar to our fire oil bottles; they should be imitations of ours.”
This intelligence was very important and had to be sent out immediately.
Wei Kan asked again, “What other important intelligence?”
“The other intelligence is that Sun He’s grain caravan was raided by Qianshan bandits again, losing over a hundred carts of grain.”
Wei Kan was truly a bit shocked. “This Qianshan bandit is really formidable; this is already the third time attacking Xu Qian’s logistics caravan.”
Qianshan belonged to the eastern extension of the Dabie Mountains, which was later Tianzhu Mountain. There were originally no bandits here, but after this large migration to Lujiang Commandery, a band of bandits appeared on Qianshan. They flew the banner of acting on behalf of heaven, robbing the rich to help the poor, attacked the official treasury in Wan County, and stole several thousand stone of grain, attracting many poor people with their families to join them. It was said they had already taken in over a thousand households, with over a thousand men in troop strength under them.
Wei Kan hesitated a bit. This intelligence wasn’t actually very important, but he still wrote it down!
Wei Kan immediately wrote a carrier pigeon letter with the intelligence, sealed it in a letter tube, hurried to the backyard, tied the letter tube to the pigeon’s leg, and forcefully tossed the carrier pigeon into the air. The carrier pigeon flapped its wings and flew into the sky, circled twice in the sky, then flew toward Xunyang County.
Qianshan was today’s Tianzhu Mountain, with majestic yet spiritually elegant terrain. The south side had many boulders and strange peaks, while the north side was densely wooded with babbling streams, and mountain springs and waterfalls could be seen everywhere. Especially with the crisscrossing ravines in the mountains, it was very easy to hide people.
After Pei Yuanshao and the others arrived in Lujiang Commandery, they were dissatisfied with the government office’s arrangements. The resettlement officials insisted on splitting their over 300 men among the various counties of Lujiang Commandery, or demanding heavy bribes. Unable to pay, they simply went up the mountain again.
Pei Yuanshao’s eldest brother was none other than Zhao Yun who had come south from Youzhou. He was not alone, but brought two civil officials and over a dozen long-time subordinates, plus their families, totaling 38 people. The families were mostly parents, wives, and children, and the journey south was extremely arduous.
Just when their grain was about to run out, they happened to encounter Pei Yuanshao. Zhao Yun simply seized Pei Yuanshao’s mountain stronghold. Pei Yuanshao lost convincingly and willingly gave up the eldest brother position to him, becoming the second brother himself.
Not long after going up Qianshan, many migrants similarly dissatisfied with the government office’s arrangements gathered around them one after another. In just over a month, their population exceeded a thousand households, with a total population of four to five thousand and troop strength of over 1,000.
Feeding so many people became a big problem. With no other choice, Zhao Yun raided an official granary of Wan County at the dock outside the city, obtaining over a thousand stone of grain. He then successively robbed Sun Ben’s logistics supply teams three times. With grain secured, armor acquired, and essential supplies like tents and salt obtained.
This allowed Zhao Yun to breathe a slight sigh of relief. He began organizing soldiers to reclaim land, sow wheat, raise chickens and ducks, plant vegetables, and gradually established their own foundation.
Among Zhao Yun’s subordinates besides Pei Yuanshao, there were two scholars. One was called Tian Yu, originally a retainer of Gongsun Zan; the other was called Fan Fang, the grain officer under Gongsun Zan in charge of grain and supplies. After Gongsun Zan’s defeat and fall, the two were unwilling to surrender to Yuan Shao, so they brought their wives and children to follow Zhao Yun south to join a new lord.
Inside a large tent, Tian Yu smiled and said to Zhao Yun, “It’s very clear that Sun Ben is going to attack Xunyang County. Gan Ning occupies thirty percent of Lujiang Commandery’s land, which Sun Ben definitely cannot tolerate. Similarly, Gan Ning wants to capture Lujiang. At the latest next month, a great battle will erupt.”
Zhao Yun asked, “Who will win between these two?”
Tian Yu shook his head. “In naval battle, Gan Ning definitely has the upper hand, but in land warfare, I’m not sure. However, I hope Gan Ning wins.”
“Why?”
“Just ask Wen Kai; he just returned from Xunyang County.”
Beside them, Fan Fang stroked his beard and said, “Xunyang County’s land tax is one-thirtieth, Wan County’s land tax is one-fifteenth. Xunyang County only collects poll tax, exempting head tax. It’s said that Gan Ning has exempted head tax since Chaisang and promised never to increase taxes in his base, so he is very popular in Yuzhang Commandery.”
Poll tax and head tax are head taxes. Those over fifteen pay poll tax, 120 cash per year, as set by the Imperial Court. Those from five to fourteen pay head tax, 20 cash per year.
Pei Yuanshao chuckled, “We’re still the freest; no taxes to pay at all!”
Tian Yu glared at him fiercely. Proud of being mountain bandits? Pei Yuanshao was so scared he didn’t dare laugh anymore.
Zhao Yun pondered and said, “In that case, everyone hopes Gan Ning wins! Who is the commander in Xunyang County?”
Fan Fang said, “Called Taishi Ci. Has the general heard of him?”
Zhao Yun thought for a moment. “I seem to have heard this name before!”
Fan Fang smiled slightly. “Taishi Ci is a famous general! Back then, he broke out alone on horseback to seek aid from Liu Bei for Kong Rong. Later, he went south to join Liu Yao, but Liu Yao didn’t use him. He was subdued by Sun Ce. After Sun Ce’s death, he was unwelcome in Jiangdong. Gan Ning invited him and gave him heavy responsibility, as one of Gan Ning’s five army colonels, with 15,000 men under him.”
Zhao Yun said thoughtfully, “Is Imperial Uncle Liu still in Jingzhou?”
Tian Yu nodded. “He is garrisoned in Xinye County, Nanyang Commandery, depending on others’ roof. Liu Biao will sooner or later not tolerate him. Sometimes, too much fame can also drag one down.”
Zhao Yun originally wanted to join Liu Bei, but Tian Yu firmly opposed it. Tian Yu was earliest under Liu Bei and knew him well: indecisive, lacking boldness, with ambitions to contend for the Central Plains but without the strength, simply overestimating himself.
Back then, Tian Yu advised Liu Bei to scheme for Bingzhou and build a foundation, but Liu Bei didn’t listen and insisted on accepting the position of Yuzhang Governor from Tao Qian. Tian Yu then resigned citing returning home to care for his aged mother.
Zhao Yun, hearing of Liu Bei’s downfall, felt saddened. Tian Yu smiled and said, “This battle between Gan Ning and Sun Ben is also our opportunity. We can take advantage of the chaos to obtain grain and supplies and recruit scattered soldiers.”
Zhao Yun nodded. “We need to send out more scouts. Only by grasping the situation can we seize the opportunity!”
