Han Qian planned to have Feng Liao concurrently manage Chishan Association’s affairs, so Feng Liao moved to the side hall with Su Lie, Han Donghu, Lin Sheng, He Liufeng, Guo Xiao and others to discuss more specific matters.
Guo Rong still had to rush off to attend to school affairs.
Currently, Baiti Ridge had gathered four thousand five to six hundred people, with youths and children around ten to fifteen years old comprising roughly one quarter.
Previously, organizing them into the Youth Battalion for some basic drill training was mainly to more orderly maintain internal order within the camp, completely blocking loopholes for hostile forces to infiltrate and spy, as well as helping able-bodied laborers with tasks within their capabilities.
Now that Xuzhou supplies could be directly reinforced here, conditions on the camp side would improve considerably. A two-year primary school program providing universal literacy and basic mathematics still needed to be established first.
Guo Rong had no place to exercise his martial skills at Baiti Ridge. Finding some people with literacy and mathematics foundations from among the former Left Guangde Army members, he took over this matter.
Current conditions were still quite crude, without classrooms that could accommodate seven to eight hundred youths and children for study. Previously, when weather was clear, they taught in open areas divided into over ten groups for half the day. With the weather visibly turning cold, Guo Rong still needed to lead these youths in participating in bamboo hut construction.
True camp construction wasn’t just about building hundreds or thousands of grass sheds and having seven or eight to over ten people squeeze into one grass shed without freezing to death and calling it done.
If it were merely like that, they would be no different from refugee camps.
Feng Yi slacked off and stayed by Han Qian’s side to talk.
He saw that what was spread open on the desk before Han Qian was a map of Huainan. On the map, not only were Huaidong’s various prefectures and counties as well as Hongze Marsh, Fanliang Lake and Shaobo Lake marked out, but the terrain of the Huai River to the north, the Yangtze River to the south, as well as the various Huaixi prefectures and counties of Huo, Shou, Hao, Chu, Shou and Shu were all drawn.
Looking again at the densely packed annotations Han Qian had written on this map, it was evident that even while staying at Baiti Ridge to preside over camp construction, Han Qian constantly followed developments in the Chaozhou campaign and movements on both banks of the Huai River.
Feng Yi asked: “You seem quite worried that the situation will have unexpected changes again. But Li Zhigao is fighting as steadily as an old dog at Chaozhou—how could any unforeseen developments possibly occur?”
“Yes, Li Zhigao is also someone knowledgeable in military affairs and skilled in warfare. Moreover, he’s using the most secure battle tactics, so there shouldn’t be problems. But the Liang troops in Yingzhou have had absolutely no activity, which is somewhat worrying,” Han Qian didn’t hide his concerns about the current situation.
Speaking of which, Yang Yuanpu was still too suspicious of Xuzhou. Although the Jinyun Tower was changed to Jinyun Bureau and its authority seemed greatly strengthened, the intelligence network Han Qian had established early on in Liang State, because related personnel had all withdrawn to Chu territory, could be said to have largely wasted all previous efforts.
The Privy Council’s Bureau of Military Geography’s military intelligence gathering system for Liang State had also collapsed due to the Jinling Incident. And even though under Li Pu’s direction, the Privy Council’s Bureau of Military Geography was re-establishing military intelligence gathering on Liang State, this had nothing whatsoever to do with Han Qian or with Xuzhou.
Apart from when Han Qian served as envoy to Shu State and left some of Xuzhou’s direct personnel lurking in Shu State, and had only just decided to rebuild an intelligence network near the capital region, intelligence collection and espionage within Liang State territory was still out of the question.
On the other hand, Xuzhou’s resources weren’t yet abundant to that degree. Currently, at most with him personally at Baiti Ridge, he could dispatch a few scouts to infiltrate north of the Huai River and collect some surface-level intelligence.
Han Qian folded up the map and temporarily put aside some worrying thoughts, saying with a laugh: “Not being in that position, one doesn’t plan for that administration. If it weren’t for Chishan Association needing to establish its main hall at this location, I wouldn’t need to go looking for trouble.”
Han Qian had long recognized that Emperor Zhu Yu of Liang was an extremely difficult opponent to deal with. But if it weren’t for such a narrow place as Shiliang County being most suitable for Chishan Association to take root and establish itself, he couldn’t be bothered whether Chu troops might suffer great losses at Liang troops’ hands.
“If you could really learn to be as carefree as me, then you truly wouldn’t have any worries,” Feng Yi said with a laugh.
Han Qian laughed heartily.
Feng Yi thought of something and said to Han Qian: “It’s also been four months since Xue Ruogu took up his post in Lishui. Recently his correspondence with Shen Yang has become frequent. I believe he should have grasped pretty much the true circumstances of the assassination case…”
“Now that we’ve colluded together with Huaidong, once news reaches Xue Ruogu’s ears, whether his thinking will change is still unknown,” Han Qian said with a sigh.
Xue Ruogu was upright by nature, but that didn’t mean he was stupid.
Xue Ruogu had previously suspected that taking up the post in Lishui was secretly orchestrated by their side. Now if news of Xuzhou colluding with Huaidong spread, would he make other associations, perhaps even be the first to detect traces of Chishan Association’s activities? It was hard to say.
Some people couldn’t be led by the nose by others. Han Qian could only arrange personnel to keep watch on this matter, but couldn’t decide anything for Xue Ruogu.
Speaking of which, the persecution suffered by former Left Guangde Army members had exceeded Han Qian’s imagination, so that initially he hadn’t been able to formulate a comprehensive plan. At this point there were somewhat disjointed aspects, but he could only grasp the major and release the minor issues, taking one step at a time.
—
Not just Cishou Palace alone—after Yao Xishui returned to Jinling aboard the Imperial Weaving Bureau procurement ship, she discovered that everywhere inside and outside Jinling city, people were discussing how Xuzhou merchant ships loaded with commercial goods were moored at Yangzhou. It was evident that the impact of this matter on Great Chu’s court and public was far greater and more far-reaching than just Xuzhou transporting two ships of commercial goods to Yangzhou for sale on the surface.
In the ninth month, on both banks of the Qiupu River, rice paddies rippled with golden waves. The farmers in the fields had joy of harvest overflowing from between their brows and eyes.
This was mainly the scene at the estates belonging to Changchun Palace and Taowu Military Prefecture. But to the south in Lishui and Jiangcheng counties, and to the northwest in Caishi, Nanling, Fanchang and other counties, affected by the Jinling Incident that had continued for over a year, the population had drastically decreased, causing large tracts of land to lie waste—a situation that even now hadn’t been fundamentally alleviated and was much worse.
Additionally, the three prefectures of Su, Run and Chang that had been quite deeply affected by the Jinling warfare, as well as Chizhou and Jiangzhou to the west, still hadn’t recovered their vitality by this time.
However, to ensure smooth advancement of military operations north of the Yangtze, there was no exemption from levied money and grain. This made the livelihoods of the people in the capital region counties and these prefectures most deeply affected by warfare increasingly difficult.
Of course, the impact of the Jinling Incident was still limited to a certain degree and hadn’t dealt a devastating blow to agricultural production in Jiangnan East Circuit.
If they could recuperate for another three to five years, the capital region counties as well as Su, Run, Chang, and Chi prefectures would also pretty much recover.
Yao Xishui, dressed as a man, rode out from Changchun Palace with her personal maid Ye Feiying. Entering Jinling city through Donghua Gate, looking like a refined young master from an aristocratic family returning from an outing with a beautiful maid, she turned from Jinhe Lane into Yongning Lane to the mansion of General-Marquis Li of Jianning.
Both Yao Xishui and Su Hongyu came from Wanhong Tower origins. Therefore, stepping into Jianning Mansion to visit Su Hongyu and express sisterly affection, even if it fell into observant eyes, there was no fear of others’ gossip. At most, people would conclude that Cishou Palace still had intentions to win over Li Zhigao.
Of course, no matter how much others gossiped behind their backs about the Empress Dowager and Emperor Yanyou’s mother-son discord, they were ultimately mother and son. In most people’s eyes, such minor subtleties wouldn’t affect the court’s overall situation.
Before taking Su Hongyu as a concubine, Li Zhigao had long since married Zhou Shi who came from a humble family. But during the Jinling Incident, when the people of Xinchang Marquis Manor and the Prince’s Manor fled Jinling city, Zhou Shi was frightened. After reaching Yueyang, she fell ill and never rose again, quickly passing away fragrantly like jade.
Although Su Hongyu was confined by her origins and couldn’t truly become the Marquis’s Lady, Li Zhigao was busy with military affairs and had never remarried. The son and daughter born to the legitimate wife Zhou Shi were both brought to Su Hongyu’s side to be raised. She was effectively the female head of Jianning Marquis Manor.
Su Hongyu’s residence within Jianning Marquis Manor was called Shuqiu Tower. In the courtyard were meandering pools and flowing water, artificial mountains surrounding pavilions. Facing south on the north side was a three-story tall wooden tower, built exquisitely and elegantly with carved beams and painted rafters, extremely magnificent.
When Yao Xishui and her maid Ye Feiying followed the manor’s servant girls up the wooden tower, Su Hongyu was standing leaning against the railing, gazing at the golden-leafed ginkgo trees in the garden.
Su Hongyu turned to see Yao Xishui ascending the tower. She had the attending maids all withdraw first, then asked: “I heard the day before yesterday that you’d just gone to Suzhou to procure silks. How did you return so quickly?”
“Going to Suzhou to procure silks was just an excuse,” Yao Xishui said. “Earlier I received news that Xuzhou had ships going to Yangzhou, and they even stayed outside Yangzhou for seven or eight days. This matter seemed suspicious, so I dragged Chun Shisanniang along to go take a look.”
“Oh, I’ve also heard people in the city discussing this matter. Quite a few don’t really believe it. Just think—during the Jinling Incident, Prince Xin was wildly ambitious, greatly intending to swallow up the Yangtze-Huai region and ascend to the throne. Yet he was thwarted by Han Qian’s hand. With Prince Xin’s arrogance, how could he possibly flirt with Xuzhou?” Su Hongyu said.
“I’m afraid this matter is true. We not only saw Yangzhou officials board the Xuzhou merchant ships, but also saw that Feng Yi is in Yangzhou at this very time,” Yao Xishui said.
“Ah, so it’s actually true…” Although many in the court believed that after recovering Chaozhou, collusion between Xuzhou and Huaidong was to be expected, Su Hongyu was still somewhat surprised and said with feeling.
However, she also knew that Feng Yi appearing in Yangzhou actually had more definite significance than two Xuzhou merchant ships entering Yangzhou. After pondering for a moment, she sighed again: “Faced with the situation, so-called arrogance ultimately amounts to nothing. But with this development, the court situation has become complicated again! I wonder what reaction His Majesty will have after confirming this matter.”
“What reaction can he have? Hasn’t he been continuously played by Han Qian all along?” Though Yao Xishui’s words seemed disdainful, her expression was quite grave as she asked: “When you crossed the river the other day to visit elder brother, did elder brother decide when to capture Chaozhou city?”
“The Chaozhou defenders are proclaiming that Liang troops will dispatch forces south at any time. Morale hasn’t completely collapsed. Zhigao is thinking of dragging it out another half month, but he’ll also capture Chaozhou city before the Huai River freezes over, right?”
Su Hongyu had crossed the river to meet briefly with Li Zhigao the other day, but she wouldn’t specifically inquire about military arrangements. At this time she was just sharing her speculation with Yao Xishui.
“It’s just that both enemy and our sides have relatively clear expectations about this. For the defenders, as long as they can grit their teeth and hold out through this period, they might be able to make Zhigao lift the siege and leave. Morale and fighting will instead have a tendency to strengthen…”
“To avoid complications from long delays, and considering the extent to which Xuzhou and Huaidong have secretly colluded is unknown, elder brother’s side should still capture Chaozhou city as soon as possible and focus main energy on managing Chao and Chu prefectures. Then there’ll be no fear of whatever tricks Xuzhou and Huaidong might play. In your letter to elder brother, you should still write a few more sentences.” Yao Xishui still felt that Li Zhigao should capture Chaozhou city as quickly as possible, then use the opportunity of confronting Shouzhou rebel forces to win over officers and soldiers and manage Chaozhou. Only then would the plan they had formulated firmly take its first step…