Chapter 129: Dramatic Changes In Hebei
This morning, the army passed through Baling Town, and Gan Ning ordered the army to rest for one day.
Historically, it was not until the twentieth year of Jian’an that Sun Quan built Baqiu City, which is later known as Yueyang City.
Currently, there is only a small fishing town here, Baling Town, which belongs to Xajuan County.
Half a month ago, Gan Ning ordered the recruitment of 100,000 laborers to build Baqiu County. Of course, it could not be completed immediately and would take one to two years, mainly utilizing the winter agricultural slack time for construction.
At present, Ding Feng is leading 15,000 troops from the Second Army to build houses and cultivate land near Baling Town.
A very important reason why Gan Ning wanted to build Baqiu County was to resettle the families of surrendered soldiers from Nan Commandery.
This was an agreement reached between him and Liu Biao, stating that if the surrendered soldiers’ families wanted to go south to Changsha Commandery, Liu Biao was not to obstruct them.
Some surrendered soldiers’ families have already begun to go south. Over 10,000 people have gathered in Jiayu County, and Zhuge Jin is responsible for their resettlement. Then, several thousand people came to Baling Town. As the small town could not accommodate them, Gan Ning ordered Prefect Cui Jun to temporarily settle these thousands of people in Luo County.
The fleet was anchored and resting in the water fortress of the Second Army. Gan Ning, accompanied by Ding Feng, came to the vicinity to inspect the soldiers cultivating the wasteland.
The soldiers drove cattle and held curved shaft plows as they walked through the fields. Large tracts of fertile land were plowed open. The land here is adjacent to the lake, which is the best. The soil is soft, with good moisture content, and has few stones and hard soil, making it relatively easy to cultivate.
The only trouble was weeding. Several soldiers had to follow behind, pulling out the weeds from the overturned soil.
Weeds are the nemesis of good farmland. After ordinary land is allocated to military households, most of the year is spent weeding the fields. If weeding is neglected for a few days, large areas of wild grass will grow in the fields.
Most land needs to be continuously cultivated for many years before it can truly become cultivated land and good farmland.
Gan Ning said slowly, “In another month, construction will begin on the county town. Soldiers will not be needed for construction, but they will need to supervise. You must cooperate well with Prefect Cui.”
“Please rest assured, my lord. I will certainly cooperate well with Prefect Cui.”
Gan Ning pondered for a moment and then said, “There is another important mission that needs you to undertake!”
“Please instruct me, my lord!”
Gan Ning nodded. “West of Jiangling City is a water fortress with about four to five hundred large ships. I will give you one year to burn all these warships of the Jingzhou Army.”
“Your subordinate obeys!”
Gan Ning exhorted him, “Be patient, thoroughly investigate the intelligence, preferably with someone infiltrated. Once successful, burning these ships will cripple Liu Biao.”
Ding Feng nodded. He indeed needed to consider this carefully.
The next day, before dawn, the main fleet set sail again, heading majestically towards Yuzhang Commandery.
…
In the blink of an eye, it was early October. Significant news came from the north: Yuan Shao, who had been lingering on his sickbed for over a year, finally passed away. A generation of warlords ended, and the era of Cao Cao began.
Yuan Shao passed his throne to his youngest son Yuan Shang, which infuriated his elder brother Yuan Tan. Before Yuan Shao’s body had even grown cold, Yuan Tan led his army to attack Yecheng. Yuan Shang also dispatched a large army to meet the challenge, and the brothers fought fiercely in Wei Commandery.
In November, Cao Cao took the opportunity to march north, capturing Neihuang County and harvesting the wheat around Yecheng.
Upon hearing of Cao Cao’s northward march, the Yuan brothers stopped fighting and instead formed an alliance to deal with Cao Cao. A fierce battle broke out east of Yecheng.
At this time, Gao Gan of Bingzhou and the Xiongnu army of the Southern region formed an alliance to attack Guangzhong. Zhong Yao, stationed in Chang’an, led troops to meet the enemy with the assistance of the warlords in Guangzhong.
Wars broke out successively in North China and the Northwest.
…
In Xiangyang, the eldest son Liu Qi presented a letter to his father.
Ever since losing Changsha Commandery, Liu Biao had been in low spirits for the past few months. In the battle of Dongting Lake, 70% of Liu Biao’s warship reserves were lost, and 40% of his money and grain accumulated over more than a decade were gone, making it impossible for Liu Biao to be happy.
“Whose letter is it?” Liu Biao asked, looking at the envelope.
“Reporting to Father, it is a letter from Liu Huangshu to Father.”
Liu Biao opened the letter and read it carefully, his brow slowly furrowing.
Liu Bei informed him in the letter that Yuan Shao had died, Cao Cao was personally leading 80,000 troops north, Ma Teng was attacking Guangzhong, and Cao Cao had also sent 30,000 reinforcements to Chang’an. Xuchang was sparsely populated, presenting a prime opportunity to launch an attack. Liu Bei had already marched north with 10,000 troops and hoped Liu Biao would send troops as agreed.
After Liu Biao was persuaded by Liu Bei last time, they met several more times, and finally finalized a plan for a joint Northern Expedition. Once Xuchang was empty, Liu Biao would dispatch 20,000 troops, and Liu Bei would dispatch 10,000. Liu Biao’s troops would be drawn from Nanyang Commandery, and the combined 30,000 troops would be uniformly led by Liu Bei.
Liu Biao had considered a Northern Expedition at the time, but after the loss of Changsha Commandery, his desire for a Northern Expedition gradually cooled. He had no intention of launching a Northern Expedition at all.
“Liu Bei is truly out of touch with the times, actually asking me to launch a Northern Expedition with him.”
Liu Qi quickly whispered, “Father, Cao Cao is fighting on two fronts. Now is indeed a good opportunity for a Northern Expedition. We should seize this opportunity!”
Liu Biao glared fiercely at his eldest son. “If you want to go on a Northern Expedition, go ahead. I won’t stop you. You are permitted to recruit your own army and resolve your own grain and fodder and armor.”
Seeing his father’s anger, Liu Qi dared not speak.
Liu Biao snorted coldly. “I haven’t forgotten how Liu Bei killed Che Zhou and captured Cao Cao’s army. If my army goes on a Northern Expedition with him, the truly dangerous person is not Cao Cao, but Liu Bei. He wants to take advantage of Cao Cao’s preoccupation in the north to seize my army and occupy Nanyang Commandery. Does he think I don’t understand his intentions?”
Liu Qi, however, was dismissive. Liu Huangshu’s benevolence and righteousness were known throughout the world. His father was perhaps a bit petty.
“Father doesn’t need to give the military tally to Liu Bei. Without the military tally, Liu Bei cannot seize the army.”
“That won’t do either. He has a history of killing generals and seizing armies. The risk is too great, and everyone opposes it. I must consider everyone’s opinion.”
Liu Biao walked back and forth with his hands behind his back, then said, “Issue an order to Wen Pin to give Liu Bei 10,000 shi of grain and 20,000 dan of fodder. Do not send a single soldier or even a corporal. If he wants to go on a Northern Expedition, let him.”
Liu Qi sighed inwardly. His father was completely led by the nose by the Jingxiang noble families and had lost his own judgment. At this moment, Liu Qi secretly resolved that even if his father disagreed, he had to do some things himself. This was to compete for the inheritance that rightfully belonged to him. He needed Liu Biao as external support.
Liu Bei led 10,000 troops and departed from Xinye. A few days later, they arrived at Wancheng. According to the consensus reached between Liu Bei and Liu Biao, they would jointly attack Xuchang and capture the Son of Heaven while Cao Cao was on his Northern Expedition.
That afternoon, the commander of the Nanyang Commandery garrison, Wen Pin, arrived at Liu Bei’s barracks with a convoy of carts. Upon hearing the news, Liu Bei personally came out to greet him.
“This is a small token of support from my lord to Liu Huangshu, totaling 10,000 shi of grain and 20,000 dan of fodder. I wish Liu Huangshu victory and a safe return.”
Liu Bei was taken aback. “General Wen, are you not accompanying me north?”
Wen Pin shook his head apologetically. “Our Jingzhou Army suffered a crushing defeat at Dongting Lake, losing tens of thousands of men. Gan Ning’s army may invade north at any time, so we cannot spare troops to go north. We can only apologize!”
Wen Pin’s words were like a bolt from the blue. Liu Bei almost fainted. He understood perfectly that this was an excuse. The losses at Dongting Lake were to the navy. Liu Biao still had over 100,000 land troops. How could he not spare 20,000 to accompany him on a Northern Expedition?
Moreover, Gan Ning had already returned to Yuzhang Commandery and had no intention of attacking Nan Commandery. This was clearly Liu Biao’s last-minute retreat.
Wen Pin also felt regretful, but his lord’s orders were here, so he did not explain further. He bowed and left, presenting the carts to Liu Bei.
Guan Yu quietly asked, “Big Brother, if Liu Biao doesn’t come, will we still go on the Northern Expedition?”
Liu Bei gritted his teeth. “Of course, we will go on the Northern Expedition. The more tragic, the better. Let the world know that I, Liu Xuande, am not just paying lip service to supporting the Han Dynasty.”
Just then, a soldier came to report, “Reporting to my lord, Mr. Shui Jing requests an audience!”
Shui Jing is Sima Hui, one of Liu Bei’s good friends in Jingxiang.
Liu Bei quickly said, “Where is the esteemed sir? I will go to welcome him.”
