ATPnovel Chapter 113 No Feast is Good
Chapter 113 No Feast is Good
The victory celebration banquet was held in the back garden of the prefect's mansion.
The pavilion overlooks the water, with brocade curtains hanging to the ground. On the table are roasted venison, steamed fish, and chive and egg soup. The wine is warmed sake, served in lacquered cups.
Su Gu sat in the main seat, with officials from the prefecture to his left, and the head seat to his right reserved for Liu Bei. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Qian Zhao, and Zhang Wu sat to Liu Bei's left, while Jian Yong sat at the very end.
"Lieutenant Liu," Su Gu raised his cup, "the Battle of Bashan has brought glory to our army. I toast you."
Liu Bei raised his cup: "It's all thanks to the bravery of my soldiers."
After a few rounds of drinks, Zhao Lu spoke up: "I heard that the Commandant has achieved considerable success in this battle? Eight million in cash and silk alone?"
After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.
Liu Bei put down his wine cup and looked at Zhao Lü: "Zhao Gongcao is well-informed."
"The prefectural government always keeps accounts," Zhao Lu laughed. "According to regulations, spoils should be deposited into the treasury..."
"It's already in storage," Liu Bei interrupted. "Eighty-seven were killed in action, and fifty-three were seriously wounded. The compensation, medical care, and coffins cost four million. Of the remaining four million, three were sold to the prefectural governments, and the rest was kept as military funds."
Zhao Lu frowned: "These accounts..."
"The accounts are here." Jian Yong took out bamboo slips from his bosom, stood up and presented them to Su Gu, "Please take a look, Prefect."
Su Gu took it and glanced at it.
The bamboo slips clearly list: the amount of compensation for a soldier who died in battle on a certain day; the amount of money spent on medicine for a wounded soldier; and the amount of money spent on repairing weapons and replenishing arrows.
The numbers fit together perfectly.
Su Gu handed the bamboo slips to Zhao Lü and said with a smile, "The Commandant has acted prudently. However... I heard that Black Wind Stronghold also has a hundred sets of leather armor and two hundred crossbows?"
"Yes," Liu Bei nodded, "but the armor is damaged and the bows and crossbows are old and need major repairs. I have already handed them over to the blacksmiths in the camp to handle, and I will report to the prefectural government for record after they are repaired."
Zhang Fei grunted and took a big gulp of wine from the bowl beside him.
Chen Lun interjected, "Can the blacksmiths in the Commandant's camp repair two hundred crossbows?"
"It can be repaired, albeit barely." Liu Bei looked at him. "If Prefect Chen has any skilled craftsmen, you can recommend them to help."
Chen Lun choked.
Su Gu waved his hand: "Alright, let's celebrate today and not talk about such trivial matters. Commandant, try this roasted venison, a rare delicacy from the Bashan Mountains."
The waiter cut the venison and served it.
Guan Yu didn't touch his chopsticks, his hands resting on his knees, his gaze lowered. Zhang Fei ate his meat heartily, but his eyes darted around the people at the table.
When the wine was flowing freely, Su Gu suddenly said, "The Commandant has been in Hanzhong for three months, suppressing bandits and bringing peace to the people. His achievements are remarkable. I intend to recommend him to the Governor and request that he be awarded a higher rank."
Liu Bei put down his chopsticks: "Prefect, your kindness is too great for me to accept."
"Indeed," Su Gu stroked his beard. "However... the military and political affairs of Hanzhong are integrated. If the Commandant's Office and the Prefectural Government continue to operate separately, it may lead to conflicting orders. Why not take this opportunity to have them jointly managed? What does the Commandant think?"
Again.
Liu Bei looked up at Su Gu: "Merging offices is certainly a good thing. However, most of my troops are from the north and are not familiar with the climate and water of the south. Recently, many of them have fallen ill. If we hastily merge offices, I fear the illness will spread to our colleagues in the prefecture. It would be better to wait two more months until the soldiers have adapted before discussing it further."
"Two months..." Su Gu's smile faded. "Very well, the Commandant has considered everything carefully."
The banquet lasted another half hour, during which they chatted about local customs and scenery.
When the banquet ended, Su Gu personally escorted Liu Bei to the gate of his residence.
"Commander," he said softly, taking Liu Bei's hand, "Hanzhong is a remote place, and many things... don't need to be taken too seriously. Suppressing bandits and pacifying the people is a meritorious deed, but if the suppression is too harsh and cuts off some people's livelihood, it will only cause trouble. Commander, you are young and have a bright future ahead of you, so don't lose sight of the bigger picture for the sake of small gains."
Liu Bei cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you for your guidance, Prefect."
Stepping out of the mansion, a night breeze blew, and the effects of the wine dissipated somewhat.
Zhang Fei couldn't hold back any longer: "Brother, that old bastard's every word is barbed!"
"Go back to camp and tell them."
The three mounted their horses and rode back to the western camp under the moonlight.
During the journey, Guan Yu suddenly asked, "Brother, is Su Gu warning us?"
"Yes." Liu Bei looked into the darkness ahead. "He was afraid that if I wiped out the bandits, it would ruin his private business."
Jian Yong rode alongside his horse, saying, "Salt wells, black markets, illegal mining... most of the profits in Hanzhong come from those shady places. By suppressing the bandits, we're cutting off their source of wealth."
"So what if it's broken?" Zhang Fei spat. "Are we afraid of him?"
"I'm not afraid," Liu Bei said, reining in his horse and looking towards the camp. "But we have to make him think that we're just being reckless, and that we're not going after him."
The camp gate was brightly lit by torches.
Xun Cai and the others were outside the tent. When they saw Liu Bei return, they went to greet him.
"Has my husband been drinking?"
"A little," Liu Bei dismounted. "Any unusual activity?"
"Li Hui came by half an hour ago and left a scroll of silk, saying it was the prefectural government's tax accounts for the past three months," Xun Cai said in a low voice. "I looked at it, and the output of the Mianyang salt wells decreased by 40% last month."
Liu Bei's eyes narrowed.
salt.
After returning to his tent, he unfolded the silk scroll.
Under the candlelight, the numbers were clear: Mianyang Salt Wells produced 5,000 shi of salt per month in the first year of Zhongping, but this year it dropped to 4,000 in March, 3,000 in April, and only 1,800 shi in May.
The accompanying small print reads: "The salt workers claimed to be harassed by bandits, but in reality, it was the supervising officials who condoned the bandits, forcing them to reduce production in order to raise the price of smuggled salt. Su Gu owns 50% of the smuggled salt shares."
Liu Bei closed the silk scroll.
"Salt well..." he murmured.
Jian Yong leaned closer to look and gasped: "The profits from salt are ten times greater than those from grain. Su Gu is trying to use the decline in salt well production as an excuse to delay our military pay."
"It must be. Li Hui's message was indeed meaningful." Liu Bei stood up and walked to the map in the tent. "Yide."
"exist!"
"Gather three hundred soldiers and march to Mianyang tomorrow." Liu Bei pointed to Mianyang County on the map. "The official pretext is to protect the salt industry and suppress bandits according to the law, but in reality... give me control of the salt wells."
"Understood!" Zhang Fei grinned.
"Remember," Liu Bei turned to look at him, "when we get there, be ruthless in suppressing the bandits and steady in controlling the wells. If the salt workers cause trouble, arrest the ringleaders. If the supervisors obstruct... tie them up and send them to the prefectural government, saying they are colluding with the bandits."
"clear!"
Guan Yu spoke up: "Brother, Su Gu will definitely retaliate."
"Let him rebel." Liu Bei walked back to the table. "We are fighting bandits and protecting official salt, and we are on the side of righteousness. If he openly obstructs us, it means he admits to being involved with the bandits."
The sound of a wooden clapper came from outside the tent.
It's past midnight.
Liu Bei dismissed everyone, leaving only Jian Yong behind.
"Xianhe, how much money do we have left?"
Jian Yong mentally calculated: "The spoils plus the original amount is about thirteen million coins. But if we maintain the army and purchase weapons in the long term, it can last for a year."
"A year is enough." Liu Bei looked out at the night sky. "Within a year, I will control Hanzhong."
Jian Yong paused for a moment, then lowered his head: "Yes."
That night, in the back hall of the prefectural governor's mansion.
Su Gu was not asleep; he sat under the lamp looking at the account books.
Zhao Lü, Chen Lun, and Wang Mo stood with their hands at their sides below the hall.
"Liu Bei has once again refused to cooperate today." Su Gu closed the ledger. "He has only handed over 30% of the spoils."
Zhao Lu said, "Prefect, why don't we withhold his military pay? No matter how much money he has, he can't last long."
"Cut." Su Gu nodded. "Starting next month, the prefectural government will not allocate a single grain of rice or a single coin. Let's see how long they can hold out."
Chen Lun cautiously asked, "About the salt wells..."
"Keep the trouble at the salt wells," Su Gu sneered. "Until the salt workers stop working and the government's salt supply is cut off. At that time, the people will be full of complaints, and I will step in again and say that the Commandant has failed in his bandit suppression efforts and will stop his military pay."