Chapter 21: Young Master Shi, I Wish to Speak with Your Father

Fancheng.

Just as Zhao Shaojie and his companions were taking Yulin Commandery without a fight, Liu Bei encountered a troublesome matter.

The Ma family, the Pang family, and other prominent clans were gathering commoners and moving them south. This caught the attention of the Cai and Kuai families, who naturally lodged complaints with Liu Biao, stirring his own concerns.

What was going on? Everyone was fleeing south. Was he, Liu Biao, already dead? Did they believe he could not defend Northern Jing? And what about you, Liu Bei? Were you planning to relocate all the people of Jing Province to Jiao Province?

Zhuge Liang remarked, "My lord, since you are unwilling to seize Jing Province, it is difficult to expand the army further, nor is it easy to continue mobilizing the populace to move south."

Currently, Liu Bei had expanded his forces to over thirty thousand men, ten thousand of whom were under the command of Liu Qi. Even so, the cost of feeding the troops and horses was immense. If he were the Governor of Jing Province, he could naturally afford it, but he was currently confined to Fancheng. The military supplies were almost entirely provided by the Ma, Pang, and other families.

Liu Bei nodded and said, "Then let us stop conscripting. A force's strength lies in quality, not quantity. As for the migration of the populace, let it come to an end here." He then asked, "Have the families of our men been settled?"

Zhuge Liang smiled. "Some have gone to Xiakou, others to Southern Jing."

Liu Bei remembered the history Zhao Shaojie had told him—how Xu Shu had been forced to leave because his mother was captured, and how he himself had lost his two daughters and others to captivity, all because they were caught unprepared and could not escape in time.

This time, he would not make the same mistake. The families and relatives were being sent away in advance.

"That is excellent!" Liu Bei said, a rare smile appearing on his face. He added softly, "Kongming, let us win a great victory this year so that Mengde will never dare to look south again!"

Zhuge Liang looked thoughtful. Though he did not know where Liu Bei’s confidence came from, he knew that ever since Zhao Shaojie arrived, Liu Bei’s resolve had been firmer than ever. He, too, hoped for a great victory, though he did not yet know how it would be achieved.

***

Bushan County.

Xu Shu said with a laugh, "Civil affairs in Yulin Commandery will continue to be administered by Governor Gu. However, given the cruelty of the Cao rebels, the troops in the commandery must be reorganized and drilled to resist them. The Governor of Jiao Province has appointed Shi Ren as the Commandant of Yulin and Hao Pu as the Commandant of Southern Yulin. What does Governor Gu think?"

The Commandant oversaw the military affairs of the commandery. The implication was clear: Gu Zhao would no longer have authority over the troops. Since Yulin bordered Jiaozhi and Hepu to the south, Hao Pu was specifically appointed as the Southern Commandant as a precaution.

Gu Zhao had feared he would lose his position as Governor entirely, so he was relieved to find he remained in office. He quickly replied, "The Governor of Jiao Province is truly a benevolent lord!"

Xu Shu smiled. After seeing Gu Zhao off, the remaining men held a meeting.

"Shi Ren, Hao Pu, you two must reorganize and drill the troops well. In half a year, there should be an army of ten thousand marching out from Hepu. Do you hear me?" Mi Fang commanded.

"Understood!" Shi Ren and Hao Pu complied.

Zhao Shaojie added, "One more thing: do not forget the campaign to clear out bandits and criminals. While you reorganize and train, you must not neglect actual combat. Of course, I do not mean for you to attack regions with standing armies like Jiaozhi, but rather to thoroughly clear out the bandit strongholds and the barbarian tribes within Yulin Commandery that refuse to submit to the rule of law."

"Training through combat—such low-intensity battles are excellent for honing men. Who knows, you might even produce a great general from your ranks!"

Shi Ren and Hao Pu laughed heartily. Seeing they were dismissive, Zhao Shaojie raised his voice: "Peerless generals are always forged in the ranks. Didn't Bai Qi rise from a common soldier to a great general? You must remember, only soldiers who have experienced battle are true soldiers capable of becoming generals. Constant drilling is nothing more than 'talking on paper'!"

The statement was sound, but Ma Su bristled at the words. "Zhao Shaojie, are you insulting me again?" he said with hatred.

Zhao Shaojie sighed, "You are too sensitive!"

"You are insulting me!" Ma Su retorted, turning to Mi Fang. "General Mi, I wish to lead a unit to remain in Yulin and assist Shi Ren and Hao Pu in pacifying this region!"

Mi Fang considered that Shi Ren and Hao Pu were primarily men of war, while Ma Su was well-versed in military classics and could assist them. He agreed, "Very well!"

Ma Su turned to Zhao Shaojie. "You must also stay in Yulin and watch how I pacify this land!"

Zhao Shaojie laughed. "Not I. I have more important matters to attend to."

"You must stay!" Ma Su insisted.

***

A few days later, Mi Fang and his men prepared to return to Guangxin. During their stay, they had not only reorganized the commandery troops of Bushan County but also the reinforcements that had arrived from various other counties. Hao Pu also departed to take up his post in Linchen, a more southern county.

Zhao Shaojie, however, did not stay. His heart was set on Panyu—the future Guangzhou, a great international metropolis in later generations. Yet Panyu was in the hands of the Shi family. It was not a good time to fight them; not only were they powerful, but even if they were defeated, the Battle of Red Cliffs would likely be over, and they would need to head north to fight for Jing Province. They had no time to waste in Jiao Province, and the Shi family would not surrender easily.

"Everyone, hold a moment. Shi Xi, the son of General Anyuan Shi Xie, has come to pay a visit," Gu Zhao said, hurrying over to the group as they were preparing to depart.

The group was surprised; they had not sought out Shi Xie, yet here he was, coming to them. "We must see him!" they concluded unanimously.

Upon arriving at the Governor's mansion, a young man dressed in rich, elegant robes bowed. "Shi Xi greets you all!"

Mi Fang and the others returned the gesture. After Gu Zhao made the introductions, Mi Fang asked, "May I ask the purpose of your visit, Young Master Shi?"

Shi Xi was frustrated. He had arrived a bit late. He was supposed to have prevented Mi Fang and the others from settling in Yulin, but the matter was already set, and he was powerless to change it.

"General Anyuan asked me to tell you that Jiao Province is the only place in the Great Han far from the flames of war. I ask that you do not let the fires of war spread to Jiao Province!" Shi Xi said.

At these words, the expressions of Mi Fang and the others darkened.

Zhao Shaojie, who actually admired Shi Xie for protecting the peace of Jiao Province—a man also renowned in Vietnamese history—spoke up with a smile: "Young Master Shi's words are very true!"

The others looked at Zhao Shaojie. Whose side was he on? Shi Xi was also taken aback, wondering why this man had such short hair.

Seeing Shi Xi looking at him, Zhao Shaojie continued, "The only way to keep Jiao Province far from the flames of war is to confront Cao Cao in advance. Only by blocking Cao Cao in Jing Province can Jiao Province remain safe. Is that not so?"

Shi Xi was stunned; he had not expected this line of reasoning. He argued, "Lord Cao is a pillar of the Imperial Court. Why must he be blocked?"

Zhao Shaojie replied coldly, "In this world, where has there ever been a subject who threatens his sovereign and father? May I ask, is Jiao Province the land of the Great Han, or the land of Cao Cao?"

Shi Xi fell into the same trap as Gu Zhao. He could hardly admit that it was right for Cao Cao to bully Liu Xie.

Just as Shi Xi was struggling for an answer, Zhao Shaojie suddenly said, "Young Master Shi, I would like to have a word with your father..."