The following day, at the third quarter of the Hour of Chen (around 8:45 a.m.).
Outside Wuyan City, atop a watchtower in the central army camp.
“Zhongde.”
Watching the law enforcement officers leave through the camp gate, Zhang Jing handed the document in his hand to Cheng Yu and said, “Yang Dao comes from a distinguished family. Even I have long heard of his father’s reputation as the ‘Governor Who Hung Up the Fish.’ I approve of appointing him to oversee the Office of Livestock.”
At this point, Yang Dao was effectively Zhang Jing’s brother-in-law.
Perhaps partly for that reason, Cheng Yu had submitted a memorial recommending Yang Dao for the position of Livestock Commissioner of Taiping Prefecture.
The Office of Livestock was far more than simply raising chickens, ducks, geese, cattle, and sheep.
It was responsible for the administration of the entire livestock industry.
Among its primary duties was the management of draft oxen and warhorses throughout the territory.
It was an important central government office.
During the Qin and Han dynasties, the highest-ranking official overseeing livestock was the Grand Coachman (Taipu), one of the Nine Ministers.
Its importance spoke for itself.
“My lord.”
Taking the document, Cheng Yu continued, “A few days ago, Commander Gao sent a memorial requesting an increase in grain rations for the Camp Crusher Army. I ask that you make the final decision.”
“How much of an increase?”
Zhang Jing frowned slightly.
It wasn’t that he was worried about consuming too much grain.
Rather, Taiping Prefecture’s long history of food shortages had left him instinctively cautious.
“According to Commander Gao’s request,” Cheng Yu replied, “Each soldier of the Camp Crusher Army should receive at least eight jin of grain per day, with twelve jin being preferable.”
The Taiping army’s standard ration was two jin of grain per man per day—roughly equivalent to one modern jin (about half a kilogram).
It was usually cooked into meat porridge, enough to keep the soldiers from going hungry.
Yet Gao Shun had come in asking for four to six times the standard ration.
Even Cheng Yu didn’t dare approve such a request on his own.
“Eight jin a day is indeed rather excessive.”
The corner of Zhang Jing’s mouth twitched before he asked, “How much grain do we currently have in the government granaries?”
He knew very well that eight jin of food a day wasn’t actually much for a large, physically active adult.
Still, he couldn’t help thinking that Gao Shun really wasn’t being modest with his request.
“We still have 1.2 million shi of grain in storage.”
After a moment’s consideration, Cheng Yu said, “The autumn harvest is already underway, so I’m not worried about running out of food. My concern is that if we approve Commander Gao’s request, the other armies…”
“Then we’ll hold on to the memorial for now.”
After pondering for a moment, Zhang Jing decided, “Send word to Gao Shun that the grain he requested will be supplied at the beginning of the seventh month.”
One million two hundred thousand shi sounded like an enormous amount.
In reality, however, it wouldn’t last very long.
That was only because Cheng Yu had been constantly purchasing grain through trade during this entire period.
After all, Taiping Prefecture governed a population of more than 3.6 million people.
Without a steady supply of newly harvested grain, those 1.2 million shi wouldn’t even sustain them for half a month.
So Zhang Jing chose the safer course.
Once the autumn harvest had been gradually collected, he would increase the grain rations for all the armies, rather than making an exception for Gao Shun alone.
“Understood, my lord.”
Cheng Yu bowed respectfully.
In truth, he also didn’t agree with granting Gao Shun special treatment by increasing his rations ahead of everyone else.
That very evening, Gao Shun received the message from headquarters.
He didn’t react much to the news.
“What? They refused?!”
Lü Bu shouted at Gao Shun.
“How can that be? I’ve obviously lost weight these past few days!”
“My lord.”
With a serious expression, Gao Shun replied, “The strategist already said that full rations will be issued at the beginning of the seventh month. If you keep complaining, tomorrow’s training will be doubled again.”
“You…”
Lü Bu’s face darkened.
Grinding his teeth, he muttered, “There’s no one else here. I’m your lord, remember?”
“This is the military camp.”
Gao Shun answered solemnly.
“Only during your days of leave are you my lord.”
“Damn it! I can’t stay here any longer. I’m leaving!”
Lü Bu’s blood pressure instantly shot through the roof.
With a dark expression, he turned and strode away.
……………..
You Province, Guangyang Commandery.
Fifteen li southeast of Ji County, on the banks of the Ju River, stood a newly built, unnamed town.
This new town served as Gongsun Zan’s military camp.
“Brother.”
Gongsun Fan hurried into the main hall, his face grim.
“News has come from Ji Province. Yuan Shao has sent an envoy bearing lavish gifts into the Taihang Mountains to visit Zhang Yan. I’m afraid this may prove disadvantageous to us.”
“What?”
Gongsun Zan’s expression changed.
“Has something like this really happened?”
Gongsun Zan was momentarily stunned.
His face then darkened as he said, “It’s all that pedantic scholar Liu Yu’s fault! If that old Confucian hadn’t repeatedly withheld my grain supplies, Yuan Shao would have been dead by my hand long ago. How could I have ended up in such a miserable situation?”
“There’s no point saying that now.”
Gongsun Fan’s expression was grave.
“Yuan Shao now dominates Ji Province, while Liu Yu has no fighting spirit whatsoever. Every day he busies himself entertaining envoys from the various tribes. If Zhang Yan of the Heishan Army reaches an understanding with Yuan Shao, I’m afraid we’ll have no chance of turning things around.”
“Then let’s kill Liu Yu!”
A vicious look flashed across Gongsun Zan’s face.
“I’ve disliked him for a long time.”
“Brother, you absolutely must not!”
Gongsun Fan was so startled that he hurriedly tried to dissuade him.
“Although Liu Bo’an is merely a pedantic Confucian scholar, he is a member of the imperial Liu clan. Throughout the realm he enjoys tremendous prestige. If you kill Liu Yu, it would be no different from cutting yourself off from the entire empire!”
Neither of them liked Liu Yu.
But they had always exercised restraint.
It wasn’t that they didn’t want to act against him— They simply didn’t dare.
“Enough. I was only venting my anger.”
Gongsun Zan waved his hand, his expression still ugly.
“I’ll submit a memorial to the Imperial Court. Hopefully they’ll have Liu Yu transferred out of You Province. The frontier isn’t a place for a pedantic scholar like him.”
“Wise as always, Brother.”
Gongsun Fan let out a sigh of relief.
As long as his elder brother didn’t act rashly, there was still hope.
“You may go.”
Gongsun Zan said in a deep voice, “Continue expanding the army and drilling the troops. Prepare to retake Ji Province and avenge our fallen brothers.”
In Gongsun Zan’s eyes, Half of Ji Province had originally been his.
After the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition dissolved, Yuan Shao had conspired with him over Ji Province and made him that promise.
Unexpectedly, Yuan Shao seized Ji Province without shedding blood.
Afterward, he refused to share it with Gongsun Zan.
That was how the feud between the two men began, and their hatred for one another only deepened with time.
“Yes, sir!”
Gongsun Fan cupped his fists respectfully before taking his leave.
…………….
Late June, Sili Province.
Jingzhao Commandery, residence of the Minister of Ceremonies.
Huangfu Song received Cao Cao, who had come to pay him a visit.
Although Cao Cao had been associating with Guo Si and the others, Huangfu Song—an old statesman—naturally did not regard him as a traitorous minister.
That was because Zhao Qi had already spoken with Huangfu Song beforehand, making him understand Cao Cao’s true intentions.
In Huangfu Song’s opinion, Cao Cao truly deserved to be called a loyal minister.
“Mengde.”
A trace of melancholy appeared on Huangfu Song’s face as he sighed.
“The empire today is no longer what it was during the late Emperor’s reign. Even I can no longer make sense of it. From now on, the burden will have to fall upon you.”
“Why do you say such a thing, Lord Zhenyi?”
Cao Cao quickly replied with complete sincerity, “You have faithfully served two emperors, rendered immense service to the state, and achieved illustrious military accomplishments. Though advanced in years, you are still vigorous in spirit.”
“Now the state stands on the brink of collapse, and His Majesty is still young.”
“We, the younger generation—and His Majesty himself—cannot do without your guidance…”
“Father! Disaster has struck!”
Before Cao Cao could finish speaking, a middle-aged man rushed into the hall clutching a letter.
His face was filled with panic.
“Father! Disaster has struck! The remains of all our ancestral forefathers have been dug up by the Yellow Turban bandits! It’s a catastrophe!”
“What?!”
Huangfu Song’s complexion changed drastically.
His breathing became rapid, and the look he cast toward his son, Huangfu Li, was filled with anxiety and dread.
“It’s… it’s truly a disaster!”
Huangfu Li’s face was deathly pale.
Looking completely at a loss, he stared at Huangfu Song and said, “The Yellow Turban bandits sent a letter saying that a month ago, they exhumed the remains of all our ancestors… and… and they…”
“And they what?! Speak!”
Huangfu Song roared, his eyes bloodshot.
“What have they done to my ancestors?! Tell me!”
— The end of the Chapter–
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