Chapter 245: Bu Zhi Reports For Duty
Bu Zhi led the army back in triumph, and Gan Ning organized citizens for the first time to sing and dance outside the city to welcome the southern campaign army returning north.
Bu Zhi also handed over military power and resigned from his temporary post, continuing to serve as Sima.
In the meeting hall, Gan Ning held a temporary military and political affairs meeting, where Bu Zhi reported for duty on the Jiaozhou campaign.
Gan Ning and the seven meeting hall members all attended the report for duty, and even Xu Shu, who had just rushed back from Queyue City an hour ago, participated.
Bu Zhi gave Gan Ning and the others a general account of the Jiaozhou campaign. He had previously written a detailed report on the combat process, which everyone had read, so the process could be brief, with the focus on reporting post-war arrangements.
“May I ask Sima Bu, is there any news of Shi Xie and his family?” Lu Su asked.
This was a concern for everyone. Shi Xie’s family had too much influence in the Three Commanderies of Jiaozhi, and their escape made everyone worried—could Shi Xie make a comeback?
Bu Zhi slightly bowed and said: “I have roughly grasped the whereabouts of Shi Xie’s family. Our garrison army discovered three large sea ships missing while collecting ships in Jiaozhi Commandery. Later investigation and questioning confirmed that over a hundred people from Shi Xie’s family boarded the ships in the middle of the night, and the three large ships headed east.”
Gan Ning nodded and said: “So Sima Bu’s speculation in the report that Shi Xie’s family fled to Lin Yi Kingdom was not accurate.”
Bu Zhi nodded, “Indeed not accurate. This subordinate’s speculation was wrong!”
Gan Ning pondered for a moment and said: “Then where will Shi Xie’s family flee to?”
Jiang Wan smiled and said: “This subordinate believes that Shi Xie’s family should have fled to Yecheng to seek refuge with Cao Cao. He knows well that with just his family, they cannot make a comeback in Jiaozhi Commandery. They will surely seek aid, and their only option is to turn to Cao Cao. Their family’s sole value lies in their great influence in Jiaozhi or Jiaozhou. Cao Cao will keep them and use Shi Xie to stabilize Jiaozhou after the Cao Army recaptures it.”
Jiang Wan’s analysis made sense, and everyone agreed. Gan Ning thought for a moment and asked Bu Zhi: “To take a step back, if Shi Xie is still hiding in Jiaozhi Commandery, can he still make a comeback?”
Bu Zhi smiled and shook his head, “The possibility is slim now, and we must also thank Shi Xie for doing many things for us. To recruit an army, Shi Xie confiscated all civilian weapons and armor. This subordinate’s final condition for releasing prisoners of war was to confiscate all armor and weapons, so there are no weapons left among the civilians in Jiaozhi Commandery. If Shi Xie wants to make a comeback, he can only fight us with bamboo knives and vine armor, with no chance of resurgence.”
Bu Zhi’s explanation relieved everyone. Lu Su asked again: “How to handle Jiaozhou’s surrendered army?”
“This subordinate left all of Jiaozhi Commandery’s surrendered soldiers there, but all levels of generals are our people, totaling six thousand soldiers. Additionally, for Jiaozhou’s over thirty thousand surrendered soldiers, this subordinate implemented the three-three system: releasing three-tenths of the elderly and weak soldiers to go home, keeping three-tenths, or ten thousand surrendered soldiers, under Zhang Xi to garrison Cangwu Commandery, and bringing back the other three-tenths, also ten thousand elite army, to Chaisang.”
Jiang Wan asked again: “May I ask Sima Bu, have the scholars stranded in Jiaozhou all returned?”
“Most were willing to return, but some talented individuals who had grown accustomed to Jiaozhou were appointed by this subordinate to serve as officials there.”
Gan Ning nodded to Jiang Wan and said: “We withdrew from north of the river, leaving many officials in need of placement, but we must arrange them as properly as possible, especially caring for their livelihood and properly addressing their concerns.”
“Please rest assured, Marquis of Chu, this subordinate will personally handle this matter!”
Bu Zhi’s report for duty lasted over an hour. After it ended, Gan Ning met with Bu Zhi privately.
Gan Ning invited Bu Zhi to sit and smiled: “Actually, everything that needed to be said was covered in the report for duty. I want to ask about the situation in Jiaozhi. I know it’s a vast plain formed by red river sediment, so the agricultural conditions should be quite good!”
Bu Zhi nodded, “Indeed very good. It is the largest plain this subordinate saw in Jiaozhou, with fertile land, ample water and heat—simply the best place for growing rice. Using our agricultural techniques, it can yield three crops a year. If we fully utilize it, this plain can support one hundred thousand army.”
“How much rice seed was brought back?” Gan Ning asked again.
“Two thousand stone of rice seed, all of very high quality, with yields of seven to eight hundred jin per mu. We can sow in spring, harvest in June, then rush-plant a late rice crop, increasing our grain production by forty percent.”
Jiaozhi Rice is exactly the same as Zhan Cheng Rice. Introducing this high-quality rice seed to achieve two rice crops per year can indeed greatly increase grain production.
“Anything else?”
Gan Ning smiled again: “Any other high-quality crops?”
“There are also oils. Jiaozhou produces a high output of tung oil. Transporting Jiaozhou’s abundant tung oil here would completely solve our fire oil source.”
At this point, Bu Zhi suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked: “May I ask Marquis of Chu, have the salt officials returned?”
Gan Ning nodded, “They all returned. We did not choose Hepu Commandery for the site and instead selected Nanhai Commandery for boiling salt. We finally have a stable salt source by the sea.”
“Yes! Hepu Commandery has good seawater, but transportation is inconvenient, and the population is too small, making it hard to recruit laborers. It really is not suitable.”
Gan Ning stood up and smiled: “Sima Bu, go back and rest well for a few days. When you return, I will entrust the rice seed matter to you. Personally handle this major task.”
“This subordinate understands!”
Bu Zhi bowed and left.
After resting for a moment, Gan Ning instructed: “Please ask Strategist Xu to see me!”
Soon, Xu Shu hurried in. He had just arrived in Chaisang and came to report to Gan Ning on the Queyue City situation.
“This subordinate pays respects to Marquis of Wu!”
“Strategist, please sit!”
Gan Ning smiled warmly, invited Xu Shu to sit, and asked: “How is the situation in Queyue City now?”
“Reporting to Marquis of Chu, the moat has been dug complete, thirty zhang wide, and one hundred fifty giant trebuchets have been installed. The city gate, drawbridge, and water city gate have all been replaced. Next is training the army, preferably through actual combat methods.”
“How specifically to train through actual combat?” Gan Ning asked with a smile.
Xu Shu smiled: “Old General Huang placed fifty small catapults on the east bank of the moat to night-attack Queyue City, organizing soldiers to train in firefighting. Additionally, we arranged giant trebuchets for counter-attacks. This actual combat training is extremely effective. Old General Huang is indeed formidable.”
Gan Ning nodded, “Any other needs?”
“Yes!”
Xu Shu took out a folder and handed it to Gan Ning, “This lists the various supplies we lack. I hope they can be replenished as soon as possible!”
Gan Ning carefully reviewed the various supply needs. The Chaisang warehouse had them all. He said to Xu Shu: “The supply warehouse has everything. I will order them transported overnight, departing at dawn tomorrow. The situation is urgent, so the strategist may need to depart with them tomorrow.”
“No problem, this subordinate departs tomorrow.”
Xu Shu hesitated a moment and added: “Also military prostitutes!”
“Already arranged, departing together tomorrow.”
Military prostitutes were very common in the Three Kingdoms Period, not forcing good women into it. It was actually a profession or survival method. War caused too many men to die in battle, leaving many widows. Many women without support took up the military prostitute profession, gaining food and shelter on one hand, and earning money for old age on the other.
Xu Shu stood, bowed, and took his leave.
