Three Kingdoms: Jiangdong is no longer a rat

Chapter 77: Craftsman Supervisor

After Yuncheng was first established, Yan Yi intended to recruit scholars to teach and lecture in the city, thereby educating and warning the people. However, with so few Confucian and Legalist scholars under his command, it was difficult to implement. Passing by this small courtyard today reminded him that there were also people among the people who were well versed in the classics and laws.

These individuals either lived in seclusion in the mountains or devoted themselves to learning. Some were from humble backgrounds, inheriting family traditions, some were retired officials returning to their hometowns, and still others were monks aspiring to write books. Although unknown to the world and lacking in reputation, their virtue and learning were not necessarily inferior to those of scholars who relied on their family's fame.

If Yan Yi asked them to come out and work, they might not be willing to do so, but if he asked them to come out and teach, I believe some of them would be very interested.

Passing on the teachings of sages so that they can benefit future generations is something that scholars highly value.

When Yan Yi thought of this, he suddenly felt more confident. A worry that had troubled him for many days disappeared, and he became very interested. Before he knew it, he had walked to the vicinity of the city wall, so he led everyone to the left.

Just as his figure was about to disappear from the street corner, a young man with a haggard look but still handsome face suddenly walked out from an alley about a hundred steps behind him. He glanced at Yan Yi seemingly nonchalantly, and the moment his gaze rested on him, a trace of resentment suddenly flashed in his eyes.

This person was none other than Zhou Yu, the former Changshui commander.

After the battle of Yuncheng, Zhou Yu fell from the clouds to the mud and became a prisoner.

Although Yan Yi did not kill him, he took away all his private property and only provided him with a small courtyard to live in. The subordinates and women who once surrounded him were either dead or scattered. Now, the only ones who stayed with him were his first wife, two concubines, and two sons who were less than five years old.

The glory of the past turned into nothing, causing Zhou Yu, who had always been proud, to feel deep pain and loss in his heart.

What was even more difficult for him to accept was that his favorite sister was actually taken into Yan Yi's room!

When Zhou Yu learned that Zhou had become Yan Yi's maid, her heart was broken.

He already resented Yan Yi, and now he hated him even more. Driven by deep hatred, he secretly found Wan Bing and Fan Yi yesterday, testing their opinions and trying to persuade them to join Wu Jing.

But reality taught him a vivid lesson. He had not even expressed his intention to defect to Wu Jing. He just said a few words to complain about Yan Yi, and Wan Bing and Fan Yi immediately turned against him and drove him out of the mansion.

Thinking of all these things, Zhou Yu wanted to draw his sword immediately, rush forward and chop Yan Yi into pieces to vent his hatred. But he didn't dare. Not only did Yan Yi have many followers, but within a hundred meters, there must be many minions and assassins hiding and protecting him secretly.

When Yan Yi's figure disappeared from his sight, Zhou Yu took a deep breath, dug his nails deeply into his palms, and turned into the alley with an expressionless face.

Wan Bing and Fan Yi, these two traitors who are seeking fame and fortune, may betray him at any time. He must leave Yuncheng immediately and go to Wu Jing.

Only by relying on Wu Jing can he hope to avenge this hatred!
Just as Zhou Yu was thinking about how to escape from the city, Yan Yi was leading everyone towards the north district.

The North District is second only to the East District in area. Counties and cities, government treasuries, granaries, workshops, the Supervisor of Craftsmen, the Salt and Iron Bureau, the Weaving Bureau, and the Agricultural Bureau are all located here. It is also quite lively, especially the counties and cities not far from the East District, which are bustling with people.

Yan Yi was worried about disrupting the order of the county and city, so he did not go to the market, but took his men straight to the Craftsmen's Supervisory Office.

The Carpenters' Supervisory Office consists of more than 20 houses, covering a large area. There is also a row of walls built outside. Patrolling soldiers pass by on the road along the wall from time to time, which makes it look very guarded.

As soon as they reached the prison gate, they heard the sound of iron hitting and sawing wood creaking from behind the door.
Ten soldiers armed with swords and spears were standing on the steps of the prison gate. When they saw Yan Yi coming, one of the soldiers quickly pushed open the closed prison gate.

Cao Qiu and others were wondering when the security at the Craftsmen's Supervisory Office had become so strict?

When I walked into the prison gate, my first feeling was mess. The yard, which was dozens of steps long and wide, was filled with all kinds of miscellaneous items. On the left was a bellows and a mold table, and on the right was a mileage drum cart under construction. Axes, adzes, chisels, saws, drills, files, ink fountains, squares and other items could be seen everywhere on the ground.

The mileage drum cart was manufactured at Yan Yi's request and was used for measuring road mileage and farmland. The mold table was used to make various molds, including stone, ceramic, copper, and iron molds.

When Yan Yi walked into the prison gate, the craftsmen in the courtyard put down their work and saluted hurriedly.

A tall, honest-looking craftsman hurried over from the opposite side of the courtyard. It was Wang Quan, the Right School Assistant Officer who had made the sand table for Yan Yi that day, and was in charge of carpentry. However, he had now been promoted and was now a Junior Carpenter.

After capturing Yuncheng, Yan Yi transferred a number of craftsmen from Wucheng. Since Baihu City was nearing completion and Yuncheng was in the midst of a massive project, Yan Baihu sent these craftsmen over one after another.

"Greetings, Young Master!" Wang Quan bowed and saluted respectfully.

Yan Yi walked around the yard and asked Wang Quan a few questions from time to time. The latter's answers were rigorous and clear, which made him quite satisfied.

After looking for a while, he told Cao Qiu and others to wait there, and took only Yin Li and Wang Quan with him and walked towards the room deep inside the prison.

We passed several intersections in a row, each guarded by soldiers.

Finally, they arrived at a house on the northernmost side. The house was tall and large, and was converted from a granary. Four soldiers with solemn expressions were also standing in front of the door.

The room was spacious and empty, several dozen steps long and wide. There was nothing in every corner except a pile of utensils and wood in the middle of the room. There was still a unique smell of grain in the air. It seemed that this place used to be a granary.

Seeing Yan Yi's figure, the four men who were talking in the middle of the house hurried over.

The four of them were all wearing the blue official robes of the Supervisor of Craftsmen. The first one had the seal of a two thousand stone official, was about forty years old, had thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a very neatly trimmed beard under his chin. His surname was Xu and his name was Ran. He held the position of Chief Craftsman and was the leader of the Supervisor of Craftsmen.

Xu Ran could not be said to be proficient in craftsmanship, he was just average at it. He was able to take on the position of master craftsman because of his identity as Xu Ying's cousin.

Not only the position of chief craftsman, but also important positions such as county magistrate, county lieutenant, and Gongcao, Yan Yi selected them from Xu Ying's confidants.

The reason was simple: he had considered over and over again, and considered everyone around him, but he still couldn't find a suitable person to take on these positions.

Fan Yan, Xu Sheng, Chen Gan and others are all generals, and he will take them with him to fight. Although Cao Qiu has followed him for a while, his merits and qualifications are not enough to be a county magistrate. For the time being, he can only serve as a clerk in the household department. Whether he will be promoted further remains to be seen for some time.

With no one around to help, he could only temporarily hand over these positions to Xu Ying.

"Greetings, Young Master!"

Xu Ran led the three people behind him and bowed.

Judging from the seals on the waists of these three people, they are all high-ranking officials in the Supervisor of Craftsmen, one with a rank of 1,000 dan, and the other two with a rank of 600 dan.

Including Wang Quan, the five most powerful people in the Master of Craftsmen gathered in this empty house!
Yan Yi helped Xu Ran up and asked with a hint of anticipation in his tone, "How is the development of the new plow going?"

The new plow refers to the curved plow!

(End of this chapter)