“Shen Yang has become cautious in his actions since taking office as Guangde Prefectural Governor. Besides Qin Wen being appointed as Chief Clerk to control the prefectural hall, and Zheng Tong controlling the Works Bureau, the Personnel, Rites, Military, Justice, and Revenue Bureaus, as well as the Prison Office, Courier Station, Prefectural School, Medical Officials, and State Commandant positions, along with the hundred-plus clerks filling various bureaus large and small—all were appointed according to the wishes of the Yueyang people, either selected and appointed from old clerks of the three counties, or chosen from the sons of aristocratic families from Xuan and Hu provinces. Currently Guangde appears to have no major problems, and resettlement matters can still continue, but doing things this way will inevitably cause problems sooner or later…”
During their journey, Feng Liao and the others had fast horses delivering messages, so their grasp of the situation in Jinling was even more timely and detailed than Han Qian’s after returning to Xuzhou.
The latest courier delivery reached Feng Liao’s hands. Guangde’s three counties had formally established the prefecture for a full month now, and the situation there seemed to have stabilized. However, this was mainly because everything was currently being prepared for the general assault on Jinling City, with various parties keeping their ulterior motives hidden and concealed. Even if there were some contradictions, they wouldn’t intensify for the time being.
However, Feng Liao, who understood the inside story better, was not optimistic about Guangde Prefecture’s future.
Han Qian could only shrug his shoulders at this, standing up with a relaxed attitude of unconcern. The opposition between aristocratic clans and humble families had lasted so many years. The previous dynasty had already begun implementing the imperial examination system for selecting officials, but its actual influence was extremely limited. In the middle and late periods, it became equivalent to废 due to regional warlord separatism. Moreover, how could aristocratic families and clans be made to acknowledge and accept slaves and bondservants, whose social status was even worse than commoners and equivalent to livestock?
If everything remained unchanged and history progressed along its predetermined course, over the next forty to fifty years, various heroes throughout the realm would fight ceaselessly. The aristocratic families and powerful clans would mutually slaughter and exhaust each other in intermittent warfare, their power greatly struck and weakened. Only then could a new dynasty arise that did not depend on aristocratic families and powerful clans, but selected officials from among commoners to govern the realm.
However, this dynasty would also be born with inherently weak genes, never escaping the shadow and threat of the northern barbarian tribes.
In the predetermined course of history, aristocratic families and powerful clans would no longer be obstacles to completely abolishing the old slave system, but this would be due to the strikes and weakening from forty to fifty years of unceasing warfare.
How could the gulf involved be smoothed over by his efforts of just one full year?
That he could do things this way in Xuzhou was also due to years of painstaking management. The officials and officers of Xuzhou mainly all came from the bottom of society.
Even so, Xuzhou was still subject to strong vigilance from surrounding powers.
Regarding the hidden dangers existing in Guangde Prefecture, Han Qian’s reach was too short. With his capabilities, he could only take things one step at a time, hoping in his heart that Shen Yang presiding over Guangde Prefecture could keep the lid on things a bit longer.
At present, Han Qian was more concerned with how the Yueyang forces’ offensive against Jinling was progressing.
Although the general momentum had already formed, even if Yang Zhitang, Zheng Yu, Zheng Chang, Zhang Chao, and his uncle Han Daoming and others couldn’t be counted as first-rate strategic advisors and capable officials, they were still above average in the current era. As long as they weren’t foolish enough to make fatal errors, taking Jinling should have no problems.
Predicting this was one thing, but Han Qian still hoped to grasp more detailed changes.
On the fifteenth day of the first month, the Left and Right Vermillion Bird Armies, Right Guangde Army, and Huzhou forces—over eighty thousand elite troops—formally pressed toward Jinling City, establishing military camps before the city, deploying war machinery and soldiers, and launching an offensive against Jinling City.
Jinling City was built on the foundation of the original Shengzhou Prefectural City, with the addition of outer city walls and the Imperial City and Palace City, totaling four layers of walls of varying heights and thicknesses inside and out.
The Palace City was mainly renovated from the original Shengzhou Military Commissioner’s administrative office, while the construction of the outer city walls and Imperial City were both presided over by Marquis Liyang Yang En.
The outer city walls stood along the Yangtze River, built following the lakes, hills, and mountains of the southern riverbank. Their actual height and thickness were not uniform, with a total length of over fifty li and heights ranging from two zhang to two zhang three chi.
In the early Tianyou years, conditions were harsh and there wasn’t enough money and grain, so the city walls were merely constructed of rammed earth. Over the subsequent ten-plus years, large quantities of city bricks were gradually fired to encase the earthen walls.
The so-called encasement was not simply covering with one layer of brick.
The inner layer against the earthen wall was first wrapped with small bricks to a thickness of three chi, then overlaid with large city bricks to a thickness of two chi.
The inner side of the city walls was built with large city bricks and white lime, over three chi thick.
The foundation at the very bottom of the original rammed earthen walls had two to three layers of foundation cornerstones. In some sections where quicksand layers were encountered and the soil was loose, multiple layers of large logs were buried beneath the foundation stones, arranged in horizontal and vertical crosshatches. The horizontal and vertical logs were nailed together with large spikes to form a solid whole.
Jinling’s outer city had seven city gates, and the inner city had eight city gates. Apart from the water gate, all had solidly built barbican tower fortifications.
Traditional city-building techniques reached a peak in Yang En’s hands, which was reflected in many of Jinling City’s construction details.
The numerous installations such as enemy platforms, watchtowers, horse paths, and city-ascending roads, as well as how the walls followed the terrain of Jinling’s outer perimeter, further demonstrated Yang En’s own extremely deep expertise in defensive warfare.
Xu Mingzhen had not crossed the river to enter Jinling City. Xu Anlan, Zhao Mingting, and other generals might still be somewhat obscure, but Wen Muqiao and Niu Gengru were both veteran generals and renowned ministers who had assisted Emperor Tianyou’s rise in Jianghuai. Moreover, Wen Bo’s performance in defending Chizhou had also been quite remarkable.
If An Ning Palace was determined to defend Jinling City, it would be no easy task for Yueyang to rely purely on military force to attack and take it.
“With Sir returning to Xuzhou ahead of time, exposing the rift between Sir and the Third Prince, and Shen Yang being squeezed out of the core—could An Ning Palace abandon defending Jinling and flee to the north bank?” Feng Liao thought of a possibility and asked Han Qian.
“Perhaps that possibility exists—who knows?” Han Qian spread his hands, standing up with a relaxed attitude of unconcern.
If there weren’t so many internal contradictions among the Yueyang people, An Ning Palace’s northern retreat would also have difficulty lingering and surviving for very long.
After all, Yueyang’s strength after integrating the prefectures and counties of Jiangnan East Circuit and Jiangnan West Circuit was too strong. If An Ning Palace retreated to defend Shouzhou, there would be no natural defenses, enemies on all sides, a population of less than one million, yet needing to support over one hundred thousand troops—how long could they hold out without collapsing?
Under these circumstances, how many loyal ministers and illegitimate sons would choose to walk the same path as An Ning Palace to the bitter end?
Now, whether An Ning Palace would defend for a period, discover the situation was too difficult, and voluntarily retreat to the north bank of the Yangtze to await changes in the situation—that truly was hard to say.
The key still lay in how An Ning Palace and the Xu clan chose.
However, given Empress Dowager Xu’s perverse temperament, even if they were to retreat, it definitely wouldn’t be at this time.
And whether Yang Yuanpu could timely divide and recruit the officers and soldiers of the Tower Ship Navy, whether he could effectively join hands with the Chuzhou Army to promptly blockade An Ning Palace’s river-crossing passage for northern retreat, as well as Crown Prince Yang Yuanwo’s physical condition and whether he would die of illness in the near term—all these were important factors determining changes in Jinling’s situation.
With so many uncertain factors, Han Qian had already jumped out of the situation. To presume at this time about An Ning Palace’s ultimate fate was still somewhat premature.
Even at this stage, there were still nearly four hundred thousand common people trapped inside Jinling City, enduring the torment of famine. Ultimately, it was still unavoidable that tens of thousands of people would starve to death, but this was already beyond what Han Qian was capable of.
He had made the effort and successfully avoided the tragedy of over one million common people being trapped in Jinling City with eighty to ninety percent ultimately becoming starved corpses. The grain famine within Jinling City had been alleviated to a certain degree. He could already face his conscience with a clear heart.
As for the Left Guangde Army and the new recruits conscripted from various prefectures and counties, being deployed to Jinling as reserve troops only to be broken up to replenish elite forces suffering battle losses—though Han Qian was powerless to change this, he still felt it was regrettable.
It was very obvious that the wolf brush would also be excluded from formal standard weaponry.
The Mandarin Duck Formation was more suitable for controlling short-blade light troops and relatively loose and scattered battlefield spaces.
City walls, the excessively narrow alleyways within contemporary cities, and even the excessively narrow decks in naval warfare—all were disadvantageous for the deployment of specialized weapons like the wolf brush.
The Mandarin Duck Formation looked more or less somewhat unsuited to the times.
Of course, Yang Yuanpu and others decided to use this method to break up the Left Guangde Army merely because they wanted to eliminate his influence. They hadn’t thought to absorb the advantages from the Mandarin Duck Formation and make certain adjustments to make it more suitable for alley fighting and naval warfare—this was somewhat regrettable.
Since the fate of the Left Guangde Army being dismantled and broken up was already determined, the tactical advantages of the Mandarin Duck Formation could be inherited and carried forward by Xuzhou’s military camps.
The rugged and mountainous terrain of Xuzhou and its surroundings, as well as the strategy of nurturing elite troops, all destined Xuzhou’s forces to adopt tactical formations with smaller scale and more balanced coordination between short and long weapons in order to ensure their advantage.
Setting aside the matters of Jinling, Han Qian discussed with Feng Liao, Tian Cheng, Gao Shao, Xi Xunqiao, Lin Haizheng, Xi Chang, Feng Xuan, and others his subsequent plans for managing Xuzhou and new appointment adjustments.
For the newly established Quyang County, Zhao Wuji was appointed as County Magistrate.
Lin Haizheng would go to Zhijiang, adjacent to the Tian clan of Yezhou, to serve as County Magistrate.
Tian Cheng was appointed Qianyang County Magistrate, Gao Bao transferred to Langxi County Magistrate, while Zhou Chu succeeded Xi Xunqiao as Longya County Magistrate, and Zhao Qi succeeded Gao Bao as Zhongfang County Magistrate.
Based on Jiming Fortified Settlement, a new Chenzhong County was established, with Feng Liao appointed as Chenzhong County Magistrate.
At the same time, the Xuzhou prefectural seat was moved from Qianyang into Chenzhong County, with Feng Liao concurrently serving as State Chief Clerk. Xi Xunqiao was appointed Revenue Bureau Vice Commander. Gao Shao was appointed State Commandant, concurrently serving as Military Bureau Vice Commander. Xi Chang was appointed Justice Bureau Vice Commander, concurrently leading the Prison Office. Ji Xiyao was appointed Works Bureau Vice Commander. Feng Yi was appointed Rites Bureau Vice Commander, concurrently managing the Courier Station and guest reception matters.
Additionally, a General Affairs Bureau was established, with Du Yijun appointed as Vice Commander and concurrently serving as Chief Administrator of the Official Money Bureau, and Chen Jitang appointed as Chief Administrator of the Manufacturing Bureau.
Du Jiuniang was appointed Medical Official.
Until a suitable candidate could be found, Han Qian personally served concurrently as Educational Official, implementing school education across Xuzhou’s seven counties.
The main military generals Tian Cheng, Lin Haizheng, Zhao Wuji, Gao Shao, Zhou Chu, Zhao Qi and others were appointed to County Magistrate positions and Bureau Vice Commander posts—traditionally held by civilian clerks. On one hand, Han Qian’s direct subordinates lacked civilian clerks like Xue Ruogu and Li Tang. On the other hand, the state camp’s scale would not expand too greatly, and there weren’t enough senior military positions to arrange for these people.
More importantly, Tian Cheng, Lin Haizheng, Zhao Wuji, Gao Shao, Zhou Chu, and even Zhao Qi all had no problems commanding and directing operations for military forces of two to three thousand in scale. Since Xuzhou’s forces would not undergo large-scale expansion in the short term—nor were there the conditions for it—they could only be arranged to preside over a county or manage one aspect of state administrative office work. Only this way could they possibly have the space for further advancement.
Regarding military system adjustments, Han Qian mainly separated the positions of State Commandant, Military Bureau Vice Commander, and Military Commissioner. Gao Shao was appointed State Commandant concurrently serving as Military Bureau Vice Commander. Under the Military Bureau, a separate Supervision Office was established, primarily responsible for managing camp construction, recruitment, local militia and military registration, military pay and military discipline—equivalent to general logistics and general military law officer. Han Qian concurrently served as Military Commissioner, while Yang Qin and Feng Xuan were appointed Deputy Military Commissioners, primarily responsible for actual command of troops.
Yang Qin, as Deputy Military Commissioner, concurrently led the Xuzhou Navy Commandant position, temporarily organizing two navy battalions with Lin Jinzong and Feng Zhang as battalion commanders. One navy battalion continued to garrison Qianyang, while one navy battalion garrisoned Chenzhong.
Feng Xuan, as Deputy Military Commissioner, concurrently served as Xuzhou Cavalry and Infantry Commandant, temporarily organizing one cavalry battalion with Kong Xirong as commander. The cavalry battalion simultaneously handled guard duties. Five infantry battalions were organized with Xiao Dahu, Dou Rong, Wei Chang, Xi Fa’er, Guo Que and others as commanders.
Because Xuzhou’s surroundings were either Great Chu’s directly administered prefectures and counties or tributary prefectures and counties that had submitted to Great Chu, as long as Xuzhou remained subordinate to Great Chu for a day, there was no openly usable pretext to invade surrounding prefectures and counties. Moreover, the power of surrounding prefectures and counties wasn’t as weak as imagined. Therefore, in the short term, apart from further intensive cultivation in each county, the focus would mainly be concentrated on the development and construction of the two newly established counties of Quyang and Chenzhong.
With Han Qian moving the state administrative seat to Chenzhong, resources in all aspects would naturally and logically tilt toward Chenzhong County. There would also immediately be new construction of the state administrative office, the Six Bureau offices, academy, state prison, medical care facility, navy and cavalry-infantry garrison camps, and a series of other buildings. The five to six thousand people from this westward migration would also mainly be resettled to Chenzhong County.
For the newly established Quyang County, besides developing and constructing the valleys and river valleys of the middle and upper reaches of the Qu River, it would also inevitably be necessary to civilize the wild tribesmen in over one hundred tribal settlements on both banks of the Qu River. Han Qian specially ordered Guo Que to lead one infantry battalion to garrison Nanliao Fortified Settlement with Zhao Wuji. In arranging Quyang County’s Assistant Magistrate, County Lieutenant, and various office administrators and clerks, Zhao Wuji was also given priority in selecting elite soldiers and capable officials.
As for intensive cultivation in each county, Han Qian formally established between ten to fifteen townships below each county. This was mainly thanks to Han Qian having large numbers of grassroots backbone personnel available—on one hand cultivated over a long time from household troop sons and Left Bureau sons, and on the other hand promoted from junior military officers and elite veteran soldiers. They could be assigned to these positions and must be assigned to these positions.
Only this way could Han Qian ensure his reach could extend to every mountain and every stream and river in Xuzhou…
Of course, the establishment of the three-level structure of township, county, and state, the salary support for over seven hundred clerks, plus after abolishing corvée labor, all public construction work required hiring workers for pay, plus the expenses for building roads and opening new fields—the state administrative office’s annual routine expenses were estimated to reach as high as two hundred thousand strings of cash. This was already a level that even prosperous major states in the current era would find difficult to bear.
Moreover, after abolishing corvée labor, maintaining the state camp’s recruitment force of three thousand people, with camp construction, repair of weapons, armor, and warships, plus military pay expenditures, and annual settlement pay for retired veterans issued at twenty to fifty percent of active duty rates—even with the utmost frugality, there would be annual expenses of at least over one hundred thousand strings of cash.
To economize on expenses, after adjustment, each navy, cavalry, and infantry battalion was controlled at under four hundred people in establishment, with the total controlled at under three thousand people—quite a reduction compared to the current era’s standard five hundred people per cavalry-infantry battalion.
Junior military officers and clerks were mainly allocated certain ration fields, but in very limited quantities, even less than Xuzhou’s per capita cultivated land. This was mainly to ensure their families had fields to cultivate. Besides their salaries, their families could still have a basic income.
Mid and high-level officers and officials were rewarded with capital shares in the Manufacturing Bureau and Official Money Bureau, suppressing their impulse to annex land. The dividend income from capital shares ensured they had a considerable standard of living and could employ small numbers of hired servants or personal attendants to share the burden of heavy labor.
Han Qian personally still controlled over half the capital shares of the Manufacturing Bureau and Official Money Bureau, but Han Qian’s inner household only employed a dozen-plus workers. Guard duties were undertaken by the cavalry battalion. The surplus dividend income was mainly used to subsidize the construction and operation of schools and medical care facilities.