Tiger Owl

Chapter 39 News from Pengze
Just as December began, a heavy snowfall arrived unexpectedly, covering both banks of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River with a thick white coat. Chaisang City was also draped in silver, transforming into a snow-covered world.

Around noon, Gan Ning sat on a soft couch in his study reading a book. The brazier was burning brightly, occasionally spewing out a string of sparks with a crackling sound.

Just then, the door opened, and Da Qiao walked in carrying a red lacquered tray, smiling and saying, "General, please have something to eat! There's also hot tea."

The Han Dynasty had a two-meal-a-day system, and the imperial palace was no exception. However, well-off families could have a small snack or dessert at noon.

Gan Ning put down his book and asked with a smile, "What's good to eat?"

"Today's dish is steamed rice!"

Steamed wheat flour noodles are called "bing" (饼), while steamed rice flour noodles are called "er" (饵), which is today's rice cake. Even now, in the Yunnan and Guizhou regions, rice cake is still called "erkuai ba" (饵块粑) or "wan'er gao" (碗饵糕), which are actually ancient names.

Da Qiao put down the plate and poured Gan Ning a cup of hot tea with light and skillful movements.

Gan Ning took out a dozen or so taels of silver from a box next to him and handed it to Da Qiao, saying, "Take this!"

What do you want with the money I'm giving you?

Da Qiao pouted, somewhat displeased, and said, "I'm not your maid or servant."

“I won’t pay the maids and servants. It’s snowing heavily, and you’re dressed too lightly. Go buy some fur coats.”

Da Qiao's eyes sparkled as she giggled, "I don't want your money, but I didn't say I didn't want the clothes you gave me!"

Gan Ning said apologetically, "I'm too busy and really don't have time to buy you clothes. How about this? You and your sister can go and pick out what you like, buy a few more pieces, and also buy one for your mother. The shopkeeper can then settle the bill with me directly."

Gan Ning thought for a moment, then took out a silver token and handed it to her. "This is my token. Merchants in Chaisang all recognize it. Remember to buy the best quality items, including fur coats, silk, cosmetics, and jewelry. I can afford them. Don't let people look down on me."

"I know!"

Da Qiao accepted the silver medal with a sweet, coquettish voice; she preferred this method to accepting money.

"and this!"

Gan Ning took out two exquisite little boxes, "One for you and one for Xiao Qiao."

"What is it?" Da Qiao asked curiously.

"You'll know when you open it and take a look."

Da Qiao opened the box and found a pearl flower inside; the other box contained the same flower.

Da Qiao exclaimed in delight, "What beautiful beaded flowers!"

"Like it?"

Da Qiao nodded gently, and Gan Ning stood up and said with a smile, "I'll put it on you!"

Gan Ning took the pearl flower and placed it in her hair. Da Qiao lowered her head, her face full of shyness, but her eyes sparkled with joy amidst her bashfulness.

"Go ahead! Give this one to Xiao Qiao."

Gan Ning smiled and pinched her delicate little face. Da Qiao blushed instantly, bit her lip, gave Gan Ning a coquettish glare, and with a slight sway of her slender waist, walked away with light steps.

As Gan Ning watched her slender figure depart, he truly grew fond of this intelligent and gentle young woman.

It's a pity that Da Qiao is too young, only fourteen years old, or thirteen years old in Western calendar. Gan Ning really can't bring himself to do it. Although the court encourages early marriage in order to increase the population, and stipulates that the marriage age for women is thirteen to seventeen, Gan Ning can barely accept seventeen-year-olds, but any younger than that is unacceptable to him.

The girl was too young, her body and bones were not fully developed, and if she became pregnant, it would be very likely to cause a difficult childbirth. In later generations, there was the option of cesarean section, but in the Three Kingdoms period, a difficult childbirth meant certain death.

Let's wait two more years! Besides, raising a pair of beautiful girls is a joy in itself.

Everyone knew that Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao were Gan Ning's women. Even their mother, Lady Yang, moved into Gan Ning's mansion and received five strings of cash from Gan Ning every month, which was itself a form of recognition of her daughters' fate.

Yang wasn't stupid. How could General Gan possibly support her and her two daughters for no reason? So when her eldest daughter took the initiative to serve her benefactor Gan Ning, she acquiesced.

But supporting two women is no easy task. Their food, clothing, housing, cosmetics, and jewelry cost far more than five strings of cash per month.
Gan Ning currently has two sources of income: his salary, which includes 30 shi of grain and 10 guan of cash per month.

But even Cao Cao couldn't support so many women on his salary alone. As a lord, he had another source of income.

At the beginning of his uprising, Gan Ning reached an agreement with his chief secretary Lu Su on the principles of property distribution.

All grain and supplies from the spoils of war were to be deposited into the official treasury, as were all taxes collected.

The money from the spoils of war was distributed as a reward to all the soldiers.

If it is the private wealth of the opposing lord, then it belongs to Gan Ning.

Therefore, the private wealth of Zhang Ying, Zuo Rong, and Liu Xun all went to Gan Ning, including tens of thousands of strings of cash worth of gold, silver, and jewels, which was more than enough to support Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao.

In addition to supporting two concubines, Gan Ning also had to pay subsidies for fifty personal guards.

After finishing his steamed rice cake and drinking hot tea, Gan Ning got up and went out.

Just as they arrived at the door, the personal guard Han Gui reported, "Reporting to the lord, Xiao Man says she has something important to report!"

"I see!"

Gan Ning mounted his horse, and then suddenly remembered something. He smiled and said, "The two Miss Qiaos may be going out to buy clothes. You and Zhao Chu are responsible for protecting them and making sure no one bullies them."

Han Gui and Zhao Chu were both veterans who had followed Gan Ning for a long time. Both were extremely loyal. Han Gui was honest and kind, while Zhao Chu was quick-witted.

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Gan Ning then led several of his men to the military camp outside the city.

...........
The military camp covered a large area, with ten rows of over a thousand rooms, as well as warehouses and training grounds. Ten thousand soldiers lived in the camp.
Gan Ning was appointed as a separate commander by Cao Cao, which gave him the power to lead troops. However, the position of separate commander was very flexible. He could command tens of thousands of troops or only have a few hundred subordinates. Sun Jian was appointed as a separate commander, which enabled him to rise to power.

Gan Ning arrived at his military camp office, and Wang Xiaoman immediately rushed over to report.

"Reporting to our lord, we have received confirmation that Yu Jin is not currently in Pengze County; he has already returned to Xuchang."

Gan Ning was overjoyed, "When did you leave?"

"He left ten days ago, and it's said he won't be back until after spring."

With Yu Jin gone, the opportunity to seize Pengze County has arrived.

"Who is in command of the army now?" Gan Ning pressed on.

"Chen Lan and Lei Bo each command six thousand men."

Gan Ning pondered for a moment and said, "Keep a close watch on Chen Lan and Lei Bo, and gather all their intelligence."

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Wang Xiaoman gave a military salute and left in a hurry.

Gan Ning thought for a moment, then ordered his personal guards, "Quickly go and invite Chief Clerk Lu here. Tell him I have something important to discuss with him!"

Lu Su happened to be in the military camp and soon arrived at Gan Ning's official residence.

Gan Ning invited him to sit down and said, "I just received news that Yu Jin is not in Pengze, but has returned to Xuchang. This is our opportunity to take Pengze County. What do you think, sir?"

Lu Su pondered for a moment and said, "Our lord is not afraid of Yu Jin, which is why he is not taking Pengze County. Rather, it is to maintain the cooperative relationship with Cao Cao. If we take Pengze, will Cao Cao have an excuse to stop supporting our lord?"

Gan Ning shook his head and smiled, "In fact, I did endure because Yu Jin was in Pengze. Yu Jin was strict in disciplining his troops, and there would inevitably be a bloody battle to capture Pengze County. Even if we won, it would be a Pyrrhic victory, and we might even lose. But Chen Lan and Lei Bo are different. These two are far inferior to Yu Jin."

At this point, Gan Ning smiled and continued, "I am not worried at all about Cao Cao turning against me. Cao Cao did not support me because I presented him with the imperial seal, but because I am useful and can help him restrain Jiangdong and Jingzhou, which is why he supports me."

Cao Cao's initial test for me was to capture Yuzhang Commandery. If I couldn't even take Yuzhang Commandery, he would only look down on me more. Conversely, if I captured Yuzhang Commandery and became a major power in the south, I believe he would only support us more.

Lu Su felt somewhat ashamed. "My lord is right. The victor is king. I was too simplistic in my view. Yu Jin's absence from Pengze is indeed a good opportunity for us to seize Pengze."

(End of this chapter)