NOVPUBHaving just set foot in the Donglai Port of Qingzhou, Chen Xi had no idea such major changes had occurred in Yongzhou during the time of his departure; he was even less aware that Sima Lang, with his extraordinary affability and one of the world’s best rhetoric abilities, had completely persuaded Hann Sui and Ma Teng to cease their military activities. More ruthlessly, Ma Teng had even been convinced to enter Chang’an to personally form an alliance with Li Jue and others.
Thus, under the dual pressure of a big stick and food, the situation with the Qiang People of Xiliang stabilized, and the previously planned excavation work officially began. However, ideals are lofty and reality is harsh. Although the Qiang People were willing to dig the Zhengguo Canal and the Six Auxiliary Canals for the sake of their future lives, Li Jue simply lacked the ability to manage the mobilization of a million laborers—it was no joking matter.
Not only Li Jue, but when looking all over the world, the number of people with the capability and confidence to efficiently manage a million laborers, besides Chen Xi and Lub Su who had done and were still doing so, definitely did not exceed five.
Sima Lang could indeed be described as a prodigious talent, perfectly fit to govern a province. However, to orchestrate the mobilization of a million laborers without decades of experience was an overestimation. This task, in the end, fell to Zhong Yao just as Xun Yu had predicted.
Adhering to the belief of not troubling himself over secondary issues, Li Jue, along with Guo Si, Zhang Ji, Fan Chou, Ma Teng, and a host of others, brought a large number of Cai Yong’s scrolls to call on Zhong Yao. The grandeur of their entourage was nearly comparable to an imperial court session.
Zhong Yao accepted the gifts and heaved a sigh, indicating he would handle the matter. In truth, he was almost ready to curse Xun Yu to death. He knew Xun Yu was paving the way for him, but the project of mobilizing a million laborers—if it succeeded, needless to say, when Cao Mengde took over, he would certainly be the foremost civil official under Xun Yu. But what if it failed? If it failed, it would be surprising if he wasn’t buried in that pit.
"Boyan, why have you come again?" Zhong Yao gave a wry smile looking at Sima Lang, "Xun Wenruo really has the gall to give me such a daunting challenge. With the arrow on the bowstring, I have no choice but to release it. I must take on this task no matter what. Ah, what a Xun Wenruo, having calculated everything that could be calculated."
"Minister Zhong, the Imperial Secretary asked me to hand you this letter, saying that you would understand everything once you read it." While speaking, Sima Lang bowed his head, extracted a letter from his sleeve, and handed it to Zhong Yao, then bowed his head and said no more, focusing only on his own thoughts.
To be honest, ever since he arrived in the Sili, Sima Lang confidently observed the Xiliang Soldiers, and having surpassed the expectations of Li Jue’s task, Li Jue naturally trusted him a lot and let him be involved with quite a few military affairs of the Xiliang Army. Precisely because of this, Sima Lang was exceedingly nervous about Cao Cao’s plan to annex, or in Xun Yu’s words, to receive Xiliang, because it was too strong.
On the surface, the real Xiliang Iron Cavalry amounted to no more than fifty thousand, but after Sima Lang became acquainted with the military system of the Xiliang Soldiers, all his confidence turned to bitterness.
The so-called death of Dong Zhuo and the dispersion of his retinue was merely a joke. Indeed, after Dong Zhuo’s death, the tens of thousands of the Qiang Cavalry vanished, and the strength of the Xiliang Army significantly diminished. However, only after Sima Lang came to know the real truth did he realize that these Qiang Cavalry were not mercenary soldiers like those of the retinue or Danyang Troops, but auxiliary soldiers, similar to the laborers on the Central Plains battlefield, only of a higher status, comparable to second-rate soldiers…
That is to say, if the Zhengguo Canal were reopened and the Xiliang Soldiers had grain, they could at any time restore the former might of the Xiliang Army—with nearly three hundred thousand cavalry at their disposal, would you not be afraid!
When Sima Lang learned of these matters, he completely lost faith in Xun Yu’s plan. Any strategy required strength to guarantee success, and with three hundred thousand cavalry, though the Qiang cavalry accounted for over eighty percent, their combat power was not to be underestimated.
Although Sima Lang felt desperate, he still carried out the tasks Xun Yu had entrusted to him. After all, he wanted to see just how Xun Wenruo would execute such seemingly impossible plans.
By the time he looked up again, Zhong Yao had finished reading the entire letter. He twisted his body to burn the letter with the oil lamp and then, with an air of composure, said to Sima Lang, "Boda, from now on, just follow the orders of Li Zhiran. The fruit of Yongzhou will not fall into Xiliang’s hands. Xun Wenruo truly thinks three steps ahead. Go back and inform the Cavalry General that I need a large number of civil officials to manage things."
"Understood!" Sima Lang’s eyes flashed with shock. Even though he didn’t know the content of the letter from Xun Yu, Zhong Yao’s words suggested that Xun Wenruo had almost finished laying out his plans for Yongzhou.
After Sima Lang left, Zhong Yao sighed, "Xun Wenruo, Xun Wenruo, you are indeed formidable. All these people will become your pawns. I just don’t know what role I play in your scheme."
After finishing his words, Zhong Yao silently gazed towards the east and sighed again, "But that is what makes it interesting. In this world, there are people beyond your expectations, Xun Wenruo, who can push you to this extent. It’s fun to see which of you will ultimately outsmart the other. It’s no longer about taking risks; it’s about steady and careful advance!"
"It’s a pity for the Yang Family, with its tradition of Three Dukes of Five Generations. After this, they may struggle to turn the tides. Pawns, such pawns. Yang Dezhu, it’s such a waste. If you could have stepped out of this situation, there might have been a chance. But now, I’m afraid you will be left struggling to respond. I hope you won’t die—I still admire you," Zhong Yao looked back towards the Yang Family’s residence with a touch of sarcasm, then regained his demeanor of a pedantic scholar.
Chen Xi, who had just disembarked from the ship, naturally didn’t know about these matters. Even if he did, with such a distance, he couldn’t intervene. Moreover, considering the situation with the Zhengguo Canal, which had become the will of millions of people in the Three Prefectures under the Yongliang Commandery, it was already widely known due to the influence of the Xiliang Soldiers and Ma Teng. At this stage, the canal had to be repaired regardless.
The common people of the Late Han only wished for a mouthful of food. Why did the Yellow Turbans rebel if not for that simple need? And when Li Jue and others deliberately spread the word that reopening the Zhengguo Canal would ensure the surrounding common people had food, the canal had to be dug—anything else would block the people’s path to survival!
The so-called overwhelming trend, some things remain unattended if no one speaks of them, but once they’re brought up, they become inescapable duties. Li Jue didn’t realize that by planning to dig and dredge the Zhengguo Canal, it meant that this initiative must have a conclusion—and now, the one holding their lifeline was Zhong Yao...
"Kongming, Boyan has left. Have a look at how Donglai has been built. We may be average in other affairs, but I have great confidence in construction; at least until now, I haven’t seen anyone who does it better than me," Chen Xi said with a laugh, patting Zhuge Liang and Lu Xun on the back as he looked at the bustling crowd around them.
When Chen Xi had left before, this place was nothing but a wasteland, but to his surprise, during the time it took for his return, the port had not only been built but had also started to show signs of life. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote and give monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
