Chapter Twenty-Five: Twenty Acres of Fertile Land
“Bring forth the item in the envoy’s hands,” Sun Jian commanded his attendants. The soldiers took the box from Kuai Liang, who bowed respectfully, setting the wooden case before Sun Jian. Sun Jian slowly opened it; inside was Huang Zu’s severed head. He glanced at his assembled generals, laughing heartily, “Ha! Excellent! It truly is Huang Zu’s head.”
Stepping down from the command platform, Sun Jian reached out to help Kuai Liang to his feet. “Since you have sincerely surrendered to me, you must have a request. Speak.”
“I ask the general to spare the common people, to treat them with benevolence, and to show kindness to the family of my former lord, Liu Biao.”
“All the people of this land are subjects of the Son of Heaven. As the emperor’s appointed Grand General, I will naturally treat them with virtue.”
“Sun Ce, Sun Jing, hear my command. Inform the entire army to break camp and advance immediately, marching swiftly into Fan City.”
“We obey!”
The army set out. Sun Jian, mounted on his warhorse, turned to Jiang Wen beside him. “Libationer, you have rendered such extraordinary service. What reward do you think I should grant you?”
“I am not a man of material desires. The grain you have bestowed upon me is enough for my needs. I ask only for a good plot of land to till.”
“Land, eh…” Sun Jian shook his head. “Jingzhou is vast and fertile, with countless fields for you to farm. Such a request hardly counts as a reward. Think it over—after we reach Xiangyang, you may ask me again.”
“I thank the general for his great kindness!” Jiang Wen replied. “General, I would speak a word.”
“Libationer Jiang, do not forget that you may address me directly without seeking permission.”
Jiang Wen said, “The soldiers under Liu Biao are mostly former bandits. Though their numbers are many, their fighting ability is poor. I believe they are unfit for battle.”
Sun Jian hesitated a moment. “Libationer Jiang, that’s a force of a hundred thousand soldiers!”
Jiang Wen answered, “Grand General, these troops, born of bandits, are inferior even to Dong Zhuo’s Xiliang army—undisciplined and resistant to command.”
Sun Jian shook his head, smiling, “You worry too much. I have my own methods for military discipline.”
Jiang Wen sighed and said no more.
Cao Cao had three hundred thousand Qingzhou troops, yet in the crucial battle of Guandu, he chose not to use them. Was it simply unwillingness? When fighting Lü Bu, Cao Cao did deploy the Qingzhou army, but merely upon hearing Lü Bu’s name, the troops scattered, fleeing while looting the populace.
After their defeat at Wancheng, the Qingzhou soldiers again plundered the people’s wealth along their retreat. If not for Yu Jin’s wrath and armed intervention, chaos would have reigned. One would hardly believe that Cao Cao, a man of such talent, lacked the ability to discipline his army, yet even he could not control the bandit troops.
Such thoughts Jiang Wen kept to himself, choosing silence.
The walls of Fan City gleamed dark and sturdy, like a fortress of gold and stone. The gates stood wide open, and outside, Cai Mao and Kuai Yue, unarmored, awaited Sun Jian’s army at the entrance.
The troops slowed their pace, Jiang Wen and the other officers carefully surveying the gates and surrounding defenses. Only after confirming all was safe did they dismount.
“Kuai Yue and Cai Mao, greet the Son of Heaven and the Grand General!” Kuai Yue and Cai Mao knelt in welcome. Sun Jian, escorting the emperor, stepped down from the carriage. Liu Xie glanced at Fan City and said to Sun Jian, “Sun, have you already taken Jingzhou?”
Sun Jian replied, “It is thanks to Your Majesty’s mighty virtue. Our forces met no resistance and swiftly conquered Jingzhou!”
Liu Xie nodded. “Rise, gentlemen.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Kuai Yue and Cai Mao stood. “Grand General, one hundred thousand soldiers have surrendered and await your reorganization. Please follow us into Fan City.”
In the third year of the Early Han, April of 192.
Within the grand hall of Xiangyang, the palace was resplendent—not a celestial palace, but with red towers and green tiles, the result of Liu Biao’s efforts in establishing Xiangyang as the seat of the province.
Liu Xie sat upon the throne, Sun Jian armored and sword at his side, standing beside the emperor. All other officials knelt, proclaiming in unison, “We wish Your Majesty ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”
Liu Xie rose, waving his hand, “Rise, gentlemen. Sun, read the imperial decree.”
Sun Jian, holding the edict, declared, “From this day forward, Grand General Sun Jian is appointed Chancellor and Governor of Jingzhou, overseeing all matters of water and soil throughout the realm and commanding the military forces of Jingzhou.”
“We congratulate the Chancellor!”
Jiang Wen had not expected that in this campaign he would encounter Gan Ning, the formidable Gan Xingba. Yet it was not surprising; Gan Ning had served as a general under Liu Biao, though he had not been heavily employed. Jiang Wen recommended Gan Xingba to Sun Jian, whose martial prowess brought Sun Jian much delight.
Han Xuan and Jin Xuan fled, and soon these two would likely seize Changsha and Wuling in rebellion.
Watching the smiling emperor nearby, Jiang Wen sighed. Surveying the court, he saw it filled with Sun Jian’s officials—save Sun Jian himself, none were Han ministers.
Well, for now he is still a child; in time, he will understand.
Jiang Wen bowed and said, “Reporting to the Chancellor, your strategist and libationer Jiang Wen has a proposal to submit!”
Sun Jian nodded, “Please speak, Minister.”
“In days past, Emperor Gao controlled the east, and Emperor Guangwu held the river’s heart, securing their bases to command the empire—ready to advance or retreat as needed. Now, General, you hold Wancheng, Xiangyang, Jiangling, Jiangxia, and Lujiang, with countless counties beneath your banner and eighty thousand troops. In all the realm, only Yuan Shao in Jizhou, Lü Bu in Chang’an, Cao Cao in Yanzhou, and Liu Yan in Yizhou can compare. Your might resounds throughout the land!”
“But to the people of these five cities, their respect lies with the former governor, Liu Biao, not with the Chancellor. The Chancellor should employ benevolence to win the hearts of the masses—reduce labor levies, suppress bandits, open markets. This is what the Chancellor must pursue now, not expansion.”
“When the people are truly content and their loyalty secured, the Chancellor may march south to claim Jiangdong, thus accomplishing his great enterprise!”
The civil ministers silently admired these words.
Zhou Yu, holding his tablet, nodded inwardly. “This man is worthy of deep friendship!”
Jiang Wen bowed again and said, “I also have a proposal for land reclamation. The Chancellor has recovered one hundred thousand troops; they may be divided among the five cities, twenty thousand each, to cultivate the land. Establish a command for these reclamation troops to oversee farming. Jingzhou is mostly plains, with fertile soil—if we use this for cultivation, our army’s provisions will never be lacking!”
“Libationer, you truly possess the talent to aid a king!” Sun Jian, although already aware of Jiang Wen’s exceptional insight, was continually amazed by each proposal, growing ever more fond of him.
Sun Jian nodded, looking at his gathered officials, pondering, “But who should be entrusted with this task…”
“Your strategist and general, Zhou Yu, has a recommendation. In Dongcheng, Linhuai Commandery, there is a man named Lu Su—learned and wise, charitable and beloved by the people. When I was in difficulty, he aided me, and we became friends. If the Chancellor agrees, I can bring him into your service!”
“Excellent, let the strategist general handle this!”
“…Strategist and libationer!”
Jiang Wen stepped forward. “I am here!”
Sun Jian said, “I have had a grand residence built for you in Xiangyang, covering sixty acres, and I grant you twenty acres of fine farmland. Thus, your reward is settled!”
Jiang Wen stumbled, raising an eyebrow as he knelt in thanks, “I… I have lost my composure. I thank the Chancellor!”