Han Ji

Chapter 118 Summer Service Turmoil

"Does Prefect Su know?" Chen Lun asked.

"It hasn't been reported yet." Zhao Lu stood up. "We need to report it quickly."

The back hall of the prefectural governor's residence.

After hearing Zhao Lü's report, Su Gu remained silent for a long time.

He twirled the teacup in his hand, making it circle and circle again.

"Liu Bei must have received the letter." He finally spoke. "The reason he didn't make it public is because he was waiting for my reaction."

"Prefect, what should we do?" Zhao Lu asked, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Where is Wang Chun?"

"In the village, they were being watched by Liu Bei's soldiers."

Su Gu put down his teacup and got up to pace around.

The cicadas were chirping outside the window, their calls piercing.

"Liu Bei..." he said slowly, "is more formidable than I thought. He's not in a hurry, he's patient, he pushes you step by step."

He turned to look at Zhao Lu: "What about the salt well?"

"Zhang Fei controls it, producing sixty shi (a unit of dry measure) daily, all through official salt channels." Zhao Lu lowered his head. "Our smuggled salt... is cut off."

Su Gu sneered.

The profits from salt production amounted to at least ten million coins a year. He took 50%, with Zhao Lü, Chen Lun, Wang Chun, and others sharing the remainder. Now that the business has been shut down, it's not just a matter of money, but also a blow to his authority.

"Prefect, how about..." Zhao Lu made a cutting gesture.

"Kill Liu Bei?" Su Gu shook his head. "If he dies, we're finished. The struggle within the county can only be kept within the county. Liu Bei doesn't open the letter because he's afraid I'll fight to the death, and in that case, we'll both be severely injured, and he won't come out unscathed either."

"Then could it be..."

"Wait." Su Gu sat back in his chair. "Xi Jian will be here soon. The governor is on his way. I've given him so much money over the years; Xi Jian will deal with him."

Zhao Lu's eyes lit up: "The Prefect means..."

Su Gu squinted. "As long as Xi Jian stands on our side, Liu Bei's letters won't cause any trouble."

"But what if Liu Bei also sends gifts..."

"I've been sending gifts for so many years, how much could a mere border commander possibly send?" Su Gu sneered.

Zhao Lu nodded, then worried, "But what if Xi Jian accepts the gift but doesn't do anything..."

"Then let's raise the stakes." A ruthless glint flashed in Su Gu's eyes. "In Hanzhong, there can only be one person who speaks."

On the same day, at the military camp in the west of the city.

Liu Bei summoned his core members for a meeting.

Guan Yu, Zhang Fei (who had already returned from Mianyang), Jian Yong, Qian Zhao, Zhang Wu, and Xun Cai were all present.

Liu Bei analyzed the situation and concluded, "Xi Jian is coming to Hanzhong. Su Gu dares not make a move now, waiting for Xi Jian to arrive. If Xi Jian sides with Su Gu, we will be at a disadvantage."

"Brother, let's give gifts," Zhang Fei said. "I refuse to believe that money can't pave the way."

"Send them, but send them skillfully." Liu Bei looked at Jian Yong. "Xianhe, how many can we use?"

Jian Yong mentally calculated: "We currently have about 15 million in cash and silk, but after deducting expenses for maintaining the army, purchasing weapons, and providing relief, we need to keep at least 10 million in reserve. The most we can actually use... is 5 million at most."

"Is five hundred gold coins enough?" Liu Bei asked.

"Not enough," Xun Cai suddenly said.

Everyone looked at her.

Xun Cai got up, walked to the wooden box inside the tent, opened it, and took out a scroll of silk.

The silk book was old, with yellowed edges, but it was well preserved. She carefully unfolded it and laid it on the table.

The characters are in the clerical script, with vigorous strokes, and the content is a passage of scripture.

"This is..." Jian Yong leaned closer to examine it, then gasped, "A rubbing of Cai Zhonglang's 'Xiping Stone Classics'?"

"Yes," Xun Cai said softly. "My father was on good terms with Cai Gong back then, and Cai Gong gifted me this rubbing. I brought it from Luoyang last month, intending to keep it... but now it might come in handy."

Liu Bei looked at the rubbing.

Cai Yong's calligraphy was renowned throughout the land. The Xiping Stone Classics were erected at the Imperial Academy, admired by scholars from all over the country. Although this is only a rubbing, it was personally presented by Cai Yong, making it exceptionally significant.

"Xi Jian loves fame, but he loves calligraphy even more," Xun Cai said. "He's used to collecting five hundred taels of gold. But he might not have any of Cai Gong's calligraphy."

Liu Bei looked up: "Cai'er, this is too precious."

"No matter how valuable it is, it's still an inanimate object." Xun Cai looked at him. "If it can help my husband break through the current situation, it's worth it."

Silence fell inside the tent.

Zhang Fei scratched his head: "This thing... is it more effective than gold?"

"It will work," Jian Yong said. "If Xi Jian gets this, he will treasure it. He likes to show off his refined tastes, and he will definitely flaunt it after getting Cai Gong's calligraphy. If he then openly favors Su Gu, he will be slapping himself in the face."

Liu Bei pondered for a moment.

"Very well," he said. "Let this rubbing be the main gift, along with one hundred taels of gold and twenty bolts of Shu brocade. Xianhe, you prepare these yourself, and make sure the box is elegant."

"clear."

"Also," Liu Bei said, looking at Xun Cai, "Cai'er, write a letter to Lady Xi Jian in the name of Xun's daughter, and enclose a set of new jewelry from Luoyang. Be gentle in your words, and the gift should be light, but substantial."

Xun Cai nodded: "I understand."

Zhang Fei scratched his head: "Brother, this roundabout way is not as straightforward as just giving them money directly."

"Yide," Liu Bei patted him on the shoulder, "some roads can't be taken straight; you have to go around them."

Once the plan was decided, everyone went their separate ways to prepare.

Liu Bei left Guan Yu behind.

"Yun Chang, after Xi Jian arrives, Su Gu will surely try to sow discord. Keep a close eye on the movements of the county troops for me. If there are any unusual actions, execute them first and report later."

"Yes."

After Guan Yu withdrew, Liu Bei went outside the tent.

As the sun sets, the camp is bathed in golden light.

In the distance, the city wall of Nanzheng stands majestically, and the flags on the gate tower flutter in the wind.

In the city, the lights of the prefectural governor's mansion gradually came on.

A banquet is being planned.

On the third day of the seventh lunar month, conscription began.

The prefectural clerks, accompanied by their constables, went to the countryside, beating gongs and calling out names. Of the males aged sixteen to fifty, one in three and two in five were to be conscripted. Those who refused to go were fined five thousand coins and imprisoned in cangues for three days.

The office was located ten miles south of the city, near a tributary of the Mian River. A shack was erected on an open space, with a reed mat roof, letting in drafts from all sides. Two large pots were set up in front of the shack, cooking thin porridge, so thick that one could see their reflection in them.

Three thousand laborers, bare-chested, carried soil, their chants weary and labored. The sun was scorching, and the ground steamed with heat; some men would stumble and fall as they walked, and the supervising officials would immediately lash them with their whips.

"Get up! Stop pretending to be dead!"

The whip lashed across his back, leaving bloody welts. The fallen laborer was an old man, so thin his ribs were clearly visible, curled up and trembling.

"Liu San, are you really done for?" A man nearby threw down his carrying pole and went to help the old man.

The clerk turned his whip towards the man: "Wang Wu! Who told you to stop?!"

Wang Wu looked up, his eyes bloodshot: "Li Jianli, Liu San hasn't had a proper meal in three days, and you still beat him?!"

"Food?" Supervisor Li scoffed. "If the canal isn't repaired, nobody will eat!"

The laborers gradually gathered around.

Wang Wu helped Liu San up and roared at the crowd, "Brothers! We've been working on this ditch for half a month, eating only two bowls of thin porridge a day, and it's still moldy! We haven't seen a single penny of pay! Those who died from exhaustion or illness are just thrown into the ditch and buried! Is this any kind of work for humans?!"

The crowd stirred.

Supervisor Li took half a step back and brandished his whip, shouting, "Have you rebelled?! The prefectural government's conscription is a matter of course! If you cause any more trouble, you'll all be thrown into jail!"

"Arrest them!" Wang Wu puffed out his chest. "I'd rather go to jail than work myself to death here!"

The laborers joined in, shouting, "We quit! We quit!"

Supervisor Li panicked and shouted to the soldiers behind him, "What are you standing there for? Arrest them!"

Twenty soldiers from various prefectures drew their swords and stepped forward.

The laborers picked up carrying poles and shovels and confronted each other.

Just as blood was about to flow, a rider galloped in.

A young county official immediately shouted, "Stop! Commandant Liu is here!"

The sound of hooves thundered as a hundred riders arrived, kicking up dust.