Chapter 39: News From Pengze
Just entering December, a heavy snow arrived unexpectedly, draping the banks of the middle Yangtze River in a thick layer of plain white, Chaisang City also cloaked in silver and white, turning into a world blanketed in snow.
At noon, Gan Ning sat on the soft couch in the study reading a book, the brazier burning brightly, occasionally bursting with sparks that crackled.
At that moment, the door opened, Da Qiao entered carrying a red lacquered plate, smiling brightly as she said: “General, have something to eat! There’s also hot tea.”
The Han Dynasty had a two-meal-a-day system, the Imperial Palace was the same, though well-off families could have a little food or pastry at noon.
Gan Ning put down the book and smiled: “What’s good to eat?”
“Today it’s steamed ear!”
Wheat flour steamed into food is called flatbread, rice flour steamed into food is called ear, which is today’s rice cake; even now in the Yun-Gui region, rice cake is called ear block or bowl ear cake—this is actually an ancient term.
Da Qiao set down the plate and poured Gan Ning a full cup of hot tea, her movements light and practiced.
Gan Ning took out over ten taels of silver fragments from the box beside him and handed them to Da Qiao, “Take this!”
“Why are you giving me silver?”
Da Qiao pouted her small mouth, somewhat unhappy as she said: “I’m not your maidservant.”
“If you were a maidservant, I wouldn’t give you money. The world is covered in heavy snow, you’re dressed too thinly, go buy a few fur coats.”
Da Qiao’s eyes flowed with charm, she giggled coquettishly: “I don’t want your money, but I didn’t say I don’t want clothes you give me!”
Gan Ning said apologetically: “I’m too busy, I really don’t have time to buy clothes for you. How about this: you and your younger sister go pick out what you like, buy several pieces, and get a set for your mother too, have the merchant settle directly with me.”
Gan Ning thought for a moment, took out a silver plate and gave it to her, “This is my token, all merchants in Chaisang recognize it. Remember to buy the best: fur coats, silk, cosmetics, jewelry—I can afford it, don’t let them look down on me.”
“I know!”
Da Qiao’s coquettish voice carried a sweet stickiness, she happily accepted the silver plate; compared to silver money, she preferred this way more.
“And this!”
Gan Ning took out two exquisite small boxes, “One for you and one for Xiao Qiao.”
“What is it?” Da Qiao asked curiously.
“Open it and see.”
Da Qiao opened the box, inside was actually a pearl flower, and the other box had one too.
Da Qiao said delightedly: “Such a pretty pearl flower!”
“Do you like it?”
Da Qiao nodded lightly, Gan Ning stood up with a smile: “I’ll put it on for you!”
Gan Ning took the pearl flower and inserted it into her beautiful hair, Da Qiao lowered her head, her face full of shyness, yet her eyes sparkled with joy amid the coyness.
“Go on! This one for Xiao Qiao.”
Gan Ning grinned and pinched her delicate, soft little face, Da Qiao immediately flushed deeply with shame, bit her lip, gave Gan Ning a coquettish glare, twisted her slender willow waist lightly, and left with light steps.
Gan Ning watched her slim figure depart, truly fond in his heart of this clever and gentle girl.
It was a pity Da Qiao was too young, just fourteen, only thirteen by Zhou age; Gan Ning really couldn’t bring himself to act, even though the Imperial Court encouraged early marriage to boost population, stipulating girls’ marriage age as thirteen to seventeen—seventeen Gan Ning could barely accept, but any younger he found hard to accept.
A girl too young, her body and bones not fully developed; if pregnant, it could easily lead to difficult childbirth. Later eras had cesarean section, but in the Three Kingdoms Period, difficult childbirth meant certain death.
Wait another two years! Besides, raising a pair of little beauties was a joy in itself.
Everyone knew Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao were Gan Ning’s women; even their mother Madam Yang, who had moved into Gan Ning’s Mansion and accepted five guan qian from him each month, that in itself was recognition of her daughters’ destination.
Madam Yang wasn’t a fool—why would General Gan support them mother and daughters for nothing? So when her eldest daughter took the initiative to serve her benefactor Gan Ning, she tacitly approved.
But supporting two women wasn’t that easy either; their food, clothing, housing, daily needs, plus cosmetics and jewelry far exceeded five guan qian a month.
Currently Gan Ning’s income came from two sources: one was his salary, thirty shi of grain and ten guan qian per month.
But relying only on salary, even Cao Cao couldn’t support so many women.
As lord, there was another source of income.
From the start of raising troops, Gan Ning had agreed with Chief Clerk Lu Su on principles for distributing wealth.
Grain and supplies from spoils of war all went to the official treasury, collected taxes fully to the official treasury.
Money from spoils of war was rewarded to all officers and soldiers.
If it was the enemy lord’s private wealth, it went to Gan Ning.
So Zhang Ying, Ze Rong, and Liu Xun’s private wealth all went to Gan Ning; gold, silver, jewels and such amounted to tens of thousands of guan qian already—more than enough to support Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao.
Besides supporting two young ladies, Gan Ning also had to pay subsidies to fifty personal guards.
Gan Ning finished the steamed ear, drank the hot tea, and went out.
Just at the door, personal guard Han Gui reported: “Reporting to the lord, Wang Xiaoman says he has important matters to report!”
“I know!”
Gan Ning mounted his horse; he suddenly remembered something and smiled: “The two Qiao misses might go shopping for clothes—you and Zhao Chu be responsible for protecting them, don’t let anyone bully them.”
Han Gui and Zhao Chu were both veteran soldiers who had followed Gan Ning for a long time, both utterly loyal; Han Gui was honest and steadfast, Zhao Chu quick-witted.
“This subordinate obeys the order!”
Gan Ning then led a few subordinates rushing to the barracks outside the city.
……..
The barracks covered a large area, with ten rows of over a thousand housings built, plus warehouses and drill grounds; ten thousand soldiers lived in the barracks.
Gan Ning was appointed by Cao Cao as Commander of a Detached Unit, thus gaining military power, but the position of Commander of a Detached Unit was very flexible—it could command tens of thousands of troops or just a few hundred subordinates; back then Sun Jian was appointed Commander of a Detached Unit, which allowed him to rise.
Gan Ning arrived at his official residence in the barracks, Wang Xiaoman immediately came to report.
“Reporting to the lord, we have confirmed intelligence: Yu Jin is no longer in Pengze County, he has returned to Xuchang.”
Gan Ning was overjoyed, “When did he leave?”
“Left ten days ago, said to return only after spring.”
With Yu Jin gone, the chance to capture Pengze County had come.
“Who commands the army now?” Gan Ning pursued.
“Chen Lan and Lei Bo, each leading six thousand.”
Gan Ning pondered briefly and said: “Closely surveil Chen Lan and Lei Bo, collect all their intelligence.”
“This subordinate obeys the order!”
Wang Xiaoman gave a military salute and hurried off.
Gan Ning thought and then ordered a personal guard: “Quickly go invite Chief Clerk Lu, say I have important matters to discuss with him!”
Lu Su happened to be in the barracks too and soon arrived at Gan Ning’s official residence.
Gan Ning invited him to sit and said: “Just got news, Yu Jin is not in Pengze, returned to Xuchang—this is our chance to take Pengze County. What does sir think?”
Lu Su pondered and said: “The lord isn’t afraid of Yu Jin to avoid taking Pengze County, but to maintain the cooperation with Cao Cao. If we capture Pengze, might Cao Cao use it as an excuse to stop supporting the lord.”
Gan Ning shook his head with a smile: “In fact, I did hold back because Yu Jin was in Pengze. Yu Jin trains troops strictly; capturing Pengze County would mean a bloody battle—we’d win a pyrrhic victory at best, or even lose. But Chen Lan and Lei Bo are different; these two are far inferior to Yu Jin.”
At this point, Gan Ning smiled and continued: “I’m not worried at all about Cao Cao turning hostile. Cao Cao absolutely isn’t supporting me because I offered him the Imperial Seal, but because I’m useful, can tie down Jiangdong and Jingzhou for him—that’s why he supports me.
Back then Cao Cao’s test for me was to capture Yuzhang Commandery. If I can’t even take Yuzhang Commandery, he’ll only look down on me more; conversely, if I take Yuzhang Commandery and become a major power in the South, I believe he’ll support us even more.”
Lu Su felt somewhat ashamed, “The lord is right—victors are kings, I was too shallow. With Yu Jin not in Pengze, it truly is a good chance for us to capture Pengze.”
