Three Kingdoms: Jiangdong is no longer a rat

Chapter 222 I am willing to emulate the ceremony of building the platform by King Zhao of Yan.

The wind of December swept in from the north bank of the Han River, like a blunt knife, making the large Liu-character flag on the Xiangyang city wall flutter loudly.

The north wind whipped up snow, scattering it like shattered jade. The once bustling city of Xiangyang was now shrouded in white, appearing rather desolate. Only in front of the governor's mansion in the north of the city were carriages still parked, their red wheels and ornate carriages coming and going in an endless stream.

Yi Ji stepped down slowly from one of the carriages, his brows furrowed with an unyielding frost, and even his sable cloak could not conceal his deep melancholy.

"Uncle Ji, it's been many days. How have you been? The affairs of Jiangdong are numerous and demanding, and we rely entirely on you to share the burden for our lord!"

A clerk in scarlet robes approached, seemingly acquainted with Yi Ji, and greeted him with a smile.

Upon hearing the words "Jiangdong," Yi Ji's face immediately showed an unnatural smile. After exchanging greetings with the other party, they walked together toward the gate of the mansion.

On the steps in front of the mansion, four guards were stamping their feet to keep warm. When they saw the two approaching, they quickly straightened up.

The two walked without stopping, passing through the tall gate and stepping on the damp bluestone dotted with fine snow, towards the school room on the east side of the mansion gate.

As soon as I reached the eaves, I heard a few whispers amidst the crackling of the charcoal fire.

"Shuheng, what brings you here too?"

"The Lord summoned me here to inquire about the military situation at the Yiyang front."

Yi Ji paused slightly, his expression instantly turning serious.

Yiyang is located at the southernmost tip of Runan Commandery, adjacent to the northeast of Jiangxia. It was garrisoned by 10,000 Yuan troops and was a key military location for Yuan Shu to threaten eastern Jiangxia.

After the Battle of Yongping, Yuan Shao's army suffered heavy losses, and all fronts adopted a defensive posture, greatly reducing their threat. Liu Biao no longer needed to personally concern himself with defense matters. Liu Biao's acquisition of information about the Geyang army at this time clearly indicated he had ulterior motives.

The man in the academy, known as Shuheng, was someone Yi Ji recognized. He was about to enter the room to chat with him when a close attendant of the governor hurried over, looking at him expressionlessly: "Lord Yi, there's no need to wait here. The lord orders you to come to see him immediately."

Yi Ji's colleagues cast envious glances at him, but he knew his own bitterness. He gave a wry smile and followed his attendant away.

Upon arriving at the main hall in the front courtyard, he carefully tidied his clothes before cautiously entering the hall.

In the center and at each of the four corners of the main hall, there is a bronze dragon-shaped incense burner. The oak charcoal inside is burning brightly, and occasionally a few sparks will burst out and splash onto the cloud-patterned brick floor.

At the head of the main room, a refined middle-aged man, wrapped in a black fox fur coat, leaned against a low table, flipping through a scroll of bamboo slips. Hearing footsteps, the man slightly raised his head, his gentle gaze sweeping over Yi Ji before suddenly sharpening.

When Yi Ji's eyes met the man's, she quickly looked away in a flustered manner.

The fire in the stove was blazing, making the room warm as spring, but a chill ran through him.

"Your subordinate pays respects to Your Majesty." He walked lightly to the main seat, his expression solemn and respectful, and knelt down to pay his respects to the lord of Jingzhou before him.

boom!
Liu Biao picked up a scroll of bamboo slips from his desk, threw it on the steps, and looked at Yi Ji with a cold gaze: "What is your explanation?"

Yi Ji picked up the bamboo slips, unfolded them, and his face turned ashen. He reached out and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

The rumors proved true; Yan Yi did indeed cease hostilities and negotiate peace with Yuan Shu for a period of two years!
For the people of Yu and Yang prefectures, this was a great thing, but for him, it was a bad thing.

Recalling how he had eloquently praised Yan Yi in front of Liu Biao and earnestly persuaded Liu Biao to accept Yan Yi's conditions, his heart began to pound with apprehension.

"Your Excellency, there may be more to this matter than meets the eye. Please grant me some time; I will go to see Yan Yi immediately and demand an explanation."

Yi Ji looked at Liu Biao with trepidation.

He began following Liu Biao before he even came of age, and he felt both admiration and a touch of fear for this powerful ruler who single-handedly conquered Jingzhou.

Liu Biao ignored his explanation and continued to ask in a low voice, "What is your explanation for the matter in the South Seas?"

Three or four months passed, and he had invested a total of 6,400 gold coins, but there was still no progress on his anticipated maritime trade with the South Seas. This made him vaguely suspicious; could he have encountered a swindler?

Observing Liu Biao's expression, Yi Ji dared not shirk responsibility any longer. He gritted his teeth and replied, "Please rest assured, my lord, the matter in the South Seas is progressing steadily, and I believe good news will arrive soon. I will go and inquire with Yan Yi about the specific progress and will certainly give you a satisfactory answer."

Liu Biao nodded slightly, his face expressionless, making it difficult to discern his emotions: "I'm supporting Yan Yi so that he can deal with Yuan Shu, not so that he can live next to Yuan Shu. Go see Yan Yi and tell him that next spring I intend to mobilize all the troops in Jingzhou and Xiangyang to attack Yuan Shu. Ask him to join me in raising an army and see how he responds."

Upon hearing this, Yi Ji was deeply shaken, as if a thunderbolt had struck his chest. After a moment of disorientation, he hurriedly straightened his clothes and bowed deeply, saying, "I obey Your Majesty's orders and will set off immediately."

Liu Biao flicked his sleeves and closed his eyes slightly.

He withdrew without saying a word.

After he walked away, the mica screen behind Liu Biao rustled softly, and a figure walked out with slow, deliberate steps.

The newcomer was over eight feet tall, wearing a black sable cloak over a dark green straight-hemmed robe embroidered with coiled dragon patterns in gold thread. His eyebrows were like broken halberds, and his deep-set eyes held a pair of eagle-like eyes that looked at people with three parts scrutiny and seven parts arrogance.

"De Gui, what do you think of this matter?" Liu Biao opened his eyes slightly and asked softly.

The De Gui he mentioned was Cai Mao, the head of the prominent Cai clan in Jingzhou. He was from Caizhou in Xiangyang and had served as the governor of Jiangxia, Nanjun, and Zhangling prefectures. He was currently the military advisor of Jingzhou.

When Liu Biao pacified Jingzhou, Cai Mao made significant contributions and was highly trusted by Liu Biao. His position in Jingzhou was second only to Liu Biao, and above thousands of others.

“Yi Jibo is usually prudent, but Yan Yi is cunning. If Jibo were to deal with him, I fear he would not gain the upper hand. Let’s observe the results of his mission before making further decisions.” Cai Mao sat down beside Liu Biao, his fingertips lightly touching the jade pendant at his waist, and said slowly, “I observe that Yan Yi has the eyes of an eagle and the gaze of a wolf, and he has the ambition to swallow up Jiangdong. Your Majesty wishes to conquer Yuzhang, and this young man may become a thorn in your side. If he is difficult to control, it would be better to abandon him as soon as possible and choose a better steed.”

Liu Biao was conflicted and sighed softly, "How could I not know what De Gui said? But looking all over Jiangdong, it is hard to find a more suitable candidate. If he is willing to continue to fight against Yuan Shu, I will let bygones be bygones. But if he puts his mind on Jiangdong, then he can't blame me."

Seeing that he already had a plan, Cai Mao said no more.

Liu Biao shifted his posture and asked about another matter: "Has Zhuge Xuan agreed to my appointment as the Prefect of Yuzhang?"

Cai Mao's expression darkened, and he said in a deep voice, "Zhuge Xuan had already agreed to this matter, but recently there has been frequent warfare in Jiangdong, and the competition among various forces has become increasingly fierce, which has made him somewhat hesitant. He is still considering it."

Upon hearing this, Liu Biao's brows furrowed slightly involuntarily, but he quickly regained his composure. Zhuge Xuan was another chess piece he had in mind, whose importance was in no way inferior to Yan Yi.

This man was highly regarded and trusted by Yuan Shu, and Yuan Shu fully supported his appointment as the Prefect of Yuzhang. However, what Yuan Shu did not know was that Zhuge Xuan had already secretly pledged allegiance to him, and Yuan Gonglu was merely doing the work for someone else's benefit.

If Zhuge Xuan had agreed to take up the post of Prefect of Yuzhang, he would have instantly gained the support of both the Yuan and Liu families, enough to establish a foothold in Yuzhang. But in the end, it would have been Liu Jing who reaped the benefits, which is truly gratifying.

"Try to get Zhuge Xuan to agree to this matter as soon as possible. If he has any conditions, he can make them, and I will do my best to meet them." Liu Biao glanced at Cai Mao.

Cai Mao shared his interests in this matter and nodded solemnly.

"I'm tired, so I won't accompany you to see Shao Jie. At this hour, she's probably admiring the plum blossoms in Langgan Garden. De Gui, you can go by yourself." Liu Biao straightened his clothes, picked up a scroll of bamboo slips from the table, and squinted as he read it.

Cai Mao had not seen his younger sister for many days and had a lot to say. He stood up, bowed to her, and turned to leave.

Three days later, Yi arrived in Moling, weary from his journey.

As soon as he disembarked, he couldn't wait to ask Yan Yi where he was.

The attendant who came to greet him said with a smile, "Your Excellency has come at the right time. The young lord is inspecting the ferry crossing ahead, which is less than three miles from here."

Yi Ji was overjoyed. Despite the fatigue of the journey, he immediately mounted his horse and, led by the attendant, went to find Yan Yi.

On his way to Moling, he couldn't sleep all night, carefully recalling his encounter with Yan Yi, and the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became. He vaguely realized that he had probably been fooled by Yan Yi.

However, thanks to his relentless lobbying, Liu Biao had already provided Yan Yi with substantial financial assistance, and the die was cast.

Yan Yi now holds the upper hand, and I can only hope that he will keep his promise.

Yi Ji secretly regretted his initial greed in accepting Yan Yi's bribe. Anxious and impatient, he lashed his whip even harder, and the three-mile journey was completed in the blink of an eye.

Before us stretched a vast, zigzagging river, hundreds of meters wide, which curved here, embracing the largest ferry crossing in Moling. The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and more than twenty warships were already moored at the dock, the moss below the waterline appearing and disappearing intermittently.

A familiar, tall figure, surrounded by more than ten people, was standing on the dock gazing at the river, occasionally turning his head to talk to the people beside him.

Hearing the crisp sound of horses' hooves, the tall figure turned around, a warm smile spreading across his handsome face, and called out, "Uncle Ji! It has been so long since we last met, I have missed you dearly."

Yi Ji had unknowingly developed feelings for him, and under normal circumstances, she would have responded with a loud laugh. However, thinking of the recent troubles, the smile that was about to appear on her lips suddenly froze. She silently dismounted, her brows furrowed with solemnity.

"Young Master, I have heard that you have signed a two-year peace agreement with Yuan Gonglu. Is this true?"

Yan Yi held his arm but did not answer. Instead, he led him to the dock, pointed to the magnificent river, and said loudly, "Uncle Ji, I intend to build the most magnificent fortress on the left bank of the Yangtze River here. At that time, you, my lord, will control the middle of the river, and I will control the lower reaches. The entire river will be under our control. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Hearing that the man's words were full of intention to cooperate with Liu Biao, Yi Ji breathed a slight sigh of relief and a smile appeared on his face: "Young lord's ambition and aspirations are truly admirable! I wholeheartedly agree."

Yan Yi surveyed the winding surface of the Yulong River with a look of rapture, and sighed, "The mighty river flows on and on, eternally. Its ceaseless flow is like the spirit of heroes! Ji Bo's arrival is truly the will of Heaven. This future mighty ford of Jiangzuo should be named by you. Do not refuse!"

Yi Ji was so moved by what he said that he forgot for a moment the purpose of his visit. After declining a few times, he pondered and said, "With the river as a moat and the Huai River as a ravine, this port is situated at the natural barrier of the Yangtze River. It is named after the mountain, so why not give it the name Jinling?"

Yan Yi was slightly taken aback, wondering if it was fate. He then smiled and said, "Master Ji is very insightful! Let's name this port Jinling."

He immediately summoned the scribe and ordered, "Immediately order someone to inscribe this on a stone: In the winter of the first year of Xingping of the Great Han Dynasty, Ji Bo of Yiji named it Jinling Port, to inform future generations!"

Yi Ji, eager to hear this, couldn't stop smiling. He accompanied Yan Yi for a walk along the riverbank before remembering his purpose and hurriedly asked, "Young Master, have you really signed a contract with Yuan Shu?"

Yan Yi pointed at him and laughed loudly, "I never thought that even a wise man like Ji Bo would be misled by rumors! To be honest, this is a strategy of underestimating the enemy, to make Yuan Gonglu complacent and unprepared. When he is full of arrogance and his defenses are relaxed, I will lead my troops north and take Shouchun directly!"

Yi Ji breathed a sigh of relief, his tense nerves relaxing, and smiled, "How could I not know? But I cannot disobey my lord's command, so I had to come and inquire. Before I left, my lord specifically instructed me to convey that next spring, I wish to raise the banner of righteousness with you and hunt together on the Huai River. I wonder what your opinion is?"

Yan Yi remained calm and composed, and readily replied, "Since you, my lord, have invited me, I shall comply."

Yi Ji was overjoyed that the task he had thought would be so difficult had been accomplished so easily. He asked excitedly, "Our lord attaches great importance to trade in the South Seas. He often says that 'the number of ships that have crossed the seas is countless.' I wonder how many countries our fleet has reached so far? And how much have we acquired?"

Without hesitation, Yan Yi replied, “The fleet on its maiden voyage has already concluded trade agreements with the four states of Lin Yi, Funan, Langya Xiu, and Sanfoqi. In another half month, the fleet will set sail for the return journey. If you have any goods to sell in Southeast Asia, you can prepare them this winter and send them to Qiantang. At the latest, by March of next year, we will deliver the goods to Southeast Asia for you.”

"Someone, go and fetch a copy of 'A Brief Account of the Trade in the South Seas' for Yi Jun to take back." He looked at Yi Ji and suggested in a warm tone: "In my opinion, brocade and lacquerware are most favored by the King of Lin Yi, while the noble chieftains of Funan value celadon. Ji Bo may suggest that Your Majesty focus on preparing these types of goods."

Seeing that he spoke with such conviction, Yi Ji believed him without a doubt and bowed to express his gratitude: "The progress of the affairs in the South Seas is so rapid, all thanks to your efforts, young lord. When I return to Xiangyang, I will certainly speak well of you before you, my lord."

It's a pity that Yijibo, before he could climb out of the previous pit, fell into a new one. It's hard to tell whether it's because he's inherently kind and easily deceived, or because Yan Yi's acting skills have reached a level of perfection that makes it difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood.

Yan Yi quickly swallowed the thousand words Yi Ji had prepared when he arrived, and asked seriously, "I am eager to build more ships to increase cargo capacity. I wonder if Your Excellency's third installment of funding could be delivered six months earlier?"

Yi Ji dared not make a decision on his own and said apologetically, "I will discuss it with my lord after I return to Xiangyang."

Yan Yi had little hope for the third donation. After nodding slightly, he changed the subject and asked, "The war has gone smoothly this year, and we've captured several more ferry crossings. The two hundred shipwrights you sent earlier are no longer enough. Could you send another two hundred?"

Yi Ji was startled and immediately had the urge to run away.

The two hundred shipwrights previously sent to Qiantang, through some unknown means by Yan Yi, are now all unwilling to return to Xiangyang. He has been keeping this a secret from Liu Biao; how could he possibly agree to such a perilous mission?
But considering how readily Yan Yi had agreed to send troops, he found it difficult to refuse and said hesitantly, "Two hundred men are too many. How about fifty?"

"Fifty people are too few, let's have a hundred." Yan Yi looked at him with a solicitous expression.

After a moment's hesitation, Yi Ji gritted his teeth and agreed.

Yan Yi felt a pang of guilt as he thought about his future situation. He pulled him to a secluded spot and said sincerely, "I will never forget Ji Bo's help. If one day you are not able to serve under my command, I am willing to emulate the ceremony of King Zhao of Yan building a platform and offer you a seat. Although my place is small, I will serve you with a prominent position."

Yi Ji was taken aback upon hearing this and was about to refuse on his own, but then he suddenly remembered the scene of being terrified in front of Liu Biao two days ago. He immediately closed his mouth and nodded as if possessed.

(Something came up at home today, so I didn't get home until tonight. I'm just writing this in a hurry. I hope you guys have a relaxing and fun holiday.)
(End of this chapter)