Chapter 393 Smooth Escape (1/2)
Chapter 393 – Smooth Escape
Kong Rong watched them from the top of the wall while he requested advice from Tong's strategists.
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Kong Rong: ”Cao Ren has arrived. He doesn't form a battle formation.”
Jia Xu: ”Plan A. We allow them to reenter the city.”
Kong Rong: ”We're not fighting them? Not the plan B?”
Jia Xu: ”Wrong. We can derive our next moves depending on their response. Plan A-1, we'll retreat everyone to Beihai with Sun Jian if Cao Ren doesn't cause a scene. Plan A-2, we'll assassinate Cao Ren and his aides if he shows a sign of resistance or retaliation. Plan A-3, wage war with them inside the city if they managed to kill Wei You and Sun Jian.”
Jia Xu and other strategists had concluded their ploys to deal with Cao Ren's return. As Tong and other civil officers still required more time to improve their economic stability, all advisors agreed that they would continue putting on a politic mask and be friendly with Cao Cao.
Kong Rong: ”What about the Chen Family? They seem useful in domestic affairs.”
During these days, Kong Rong had monitored the works of Chen Gui and Chen Deng. Both of them were elites in domestic affairs. They had already developed Langye to a peak level, which could self-sustain in both taxes and harvest while supplying an army of 20,000 men. The order of this city was also high even though the management teams changed sides frequently.
Jia Xu: ”Is that your evaluation?”
Kong Rong: ”Yes. Their methods of handling civil management are efficient. They don't embezzle, and they are cultured. I think this family has a good upbringing.”
Tong: ”Bring them to Beihai with us. Force their family to move to any of our cities. You could promise them that I'll appoint them a governor position and give them another city if they agreed to join us.”
Jia Xu: ”Are you sure? They surrendered their city without much thought. Are they trustworthy?”
Tong: ”Just don't let them govern a city that connects with our enemy's border. We can give them the developed Nanpi and move all Nanpi's elites to the border cities.”
Xun You: ”Your majesty, I'm against this move. Those men are looking forward to their promotion and career advancement. The elites will misunderstand that they are demoted instead of getting a promotion.”
Xun You was a cousin of Xun Yu. At the moment, he was instated as the head strategist of Zhang He's Ghost Legion. As a new strategist in Tong's ranks, he did not have many chances to display his abilities among other veterans like Jia Xu, Xun Yu, Ju Shou, or Li Feihong.
Tong: ”This is where I'm different from other warlords, Xun You. Talented people deserve more chances to display their abilities in rural counties instead of getting stuck inside a developed city without anything to do. Although their position and noble tier don't increase, I can always increase their wages.”
Xun You: ”I still disagree with this. They might suffer psychological damage from parting with their hard work. Your majesty, please imagine that you have built a castle with your own hands, but then someone appears and claims it as his own. What will you think of this person? Your action is comparable to an achievement thief right now. Please reconsider this plan.”
Tong: ”Indeed, you have a point. How about this, we will ask craftsmen to sculpture all civil officers that helped to develop Nanpi. We'll place these statues along with their achievements and their name on the government hall's courtyard. All latter generation officers will have to worship their predecessors that it was because of them that they get to enjoy that peaceful city.”
Xun You and other members in the clan chat were in awe.
Ju Shou: ”Great idea!”
Li Feihong: ”Noice.”
Tong: ”Any objection, Xun You?”
Xun You: ”… No objection, your majesty. Please forgive me for my ignorant.”
Tong: ”Alright. Then, this matter passed. By the way, Mr. President. How is our finance doing?”
Te Langpu: ”What do you want to know? Overall performance, results, or our problems?”
Tong: ”Give me the overall results.”
Te Langpu: ”I'll make it short for newbies. Gold income, plus 50,000 a month average. Provision, minus 40,000 tons a month.”
Tong: ”Our food is not in the surplus yet? Are we still relying on Feihong and Diaochan's magic?”
Te Langpu: ”Yes. We need more time to develop farmlands and impart agriculture knowledge to the local people. It takes years to develop. Pingyuan, Ganling, Ji, and Xiangping are still relying on the capital's supplies. Also, our military expansion to Xiongnu's territories increases our consumption rates. I suggest that we should slow down the conscription quotas for a few months to cut the cost.”
Tong: ”Can we increase our workers' wage then?”
Te Langpu: ”Yes, but our tax income will get cut down by half if you're talking about increasing the wage of Nanpi elite officers.”
Tong: ”Just do it. Prepare for our worker allocation again, please.”
Te Langpu: ”Will do.”
Tong: ”There you have it, Xun You, Kong Rong. Get Chen Family here and promise him a position of Nanpi Governor.”
Kong Rong: ”Understood, your majesty.”
Xun You: ”I understand, your majesty.”
Kong Rong closed the clan chat. Although Tong and others had not finished talking about their allocation plan, it did not involve Kong Rong and his matter anymore.
Kong Rong turned to Taishi Ci, ”Open the gate and allow them to enter. Do not fight them.”
.
Cao Ren met with Kong Rong for the first time in front of the gate. Although he wanted to kill Tong's officers right away, he swallowed his anger and pretended to be friendly.
”Thank you for allowing us to get back in. We promise to cooperate with your business here. By the way, you didn't inform us why you visit our city.”
Kong Rong grinned, ”We're merely here to inspect the Xu Province. Since Sir Cao Cao has just defeated the traitor Yuan Shao, we wish to help the local people. Please don't mind us during our stay.”
Cao Ren retorted in his mind, 'Inspection my foot! Had we retreated in panic, you would have claimed the city as your own!'
Yue Jin noticed how frustrated Cao Ren was. He inserted, ”Thank you for your hard work. Do you mind if we return to our post?”
Yue Jin hinted if they could get their position back and regain the city control.
Kong Rong raised his eyebrows, amused.
”Yes, of course. However, we have to escort a few officers and their families back to our territories. I hope you don't mind.”
Cao Ren's face twitched, ”Who are you bringing back?”
”The Chen Family and their servants.”