Chapter 416 Cao Caos Bargain (1/2)
Chapter 416 – Cao Cao's Bargain
While Tong was enjoying his peaceful period of domestic improvement policies, Cao Cao and Sun Fang's forces had trouble with their internal management.
Sun Fang completed the tasks that Zhou Yu had assigned to him. Currently, he was protecting Guangling Commandery from Cao Cao, who had occupied Shouchun and Lujiang.
Guangling located north of the Yangtze River and north of Jianye Commandery, which served as a foothold toward the central plain. As long as the Sun Clan had this region under their control, they could use this area as a pivot to strike Xiapi, Langye, or Shouchun.
However, their newly conquered regions had not fully supported the Sun Clan's management since the emperor did not give them the authority. As a result, all locals viewed Sun Fang and Sun Ce as rebels.
Zhou Yu predicted this, so he sent Zhang Hong and Zhang Shao to appease the locals. As for himself and Sun Ce, they would begin their campaign to seize Yuzheng, Chaisang, and Jianan Commandery. Once these regions were under Sun Ce's control, they would blackmail Tong for an official title later, which would solve the trust issue.
After the unification, they would require at least three to five years to develop these territories, just like what Tong had done. While they were at it, Zhou Yu would reevaluate their future action against Tong, depending on the emperor's stance.
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April 14th, 192 AD.
Sun Fang collected enough lifespans and bought the cultivation technique for Sun Ce.
Now, Sun Ce also gained his alternate world's memory. He recalled the experience of his fight in Jiangdong and his death.
Sun Ce looked at Zhou Yu with a smile, ”You knew about this, didn't you?”
Zhou Yu chuckled, ”Damn right, I did. Let's do it again.”
”We're in trouble in this world, though. We have stronger foes and that Sun Fang is not supposed to be one of us.”
”We'll get rid of him once he serves his purpose. For now, let's get stronger. I already have two wings, and I'll get them to four this year.”
”Say, what about Zhang Tong? Should we surrender to him?”
”Depends. We have to develop our military strength ASAP, or Cao Cao will kill us before that happens.”
”Okay. By the way, which year that Qiao Xuan will bring them to us? Do you remember?”
”Probably in three years or so. They should still be around 14-15 this year. What? The first thing you want after you get your memory back is your wife?”
”Hahaha! I just miss them. I feel bad, you know. I died without leaving a descendant.”
Zhou Yu had a wry smile on his face. He missed his wife, Xiao Qiao. Sun Ce also wanted to reunite with his lover, Da Qiao.
”Pfft, you just want someone to hug at night.”
”Hahahaha! That's right!”
Zhou Yu sighed, ”Forget those silly thoughts for now. Focus on our tasks. We have only one and a half till the deadline with Zhang Tong. Do you want to lose your father again?”
”…”
Sun Ce's face turned solemn. He returned to his men, preparing his troops.
Two days later, he and Zhou Yu mobilized out of Jianye with 10,000 men. Their next goal was Yuzheng.
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Meanwhile, Cao Cao gathered his forces in Shouchun.
Cao Cao deemed Guangling Commandery as a threat toward his kingdom. Without any ceremony or political accusation, he planned to attack Sun Fang Army right away.
Since Sun Ce and Sun Fang did not have a position in the court, Cao Cao could claim that these people were rebels after he killed them.
Unfortunately, Cao Cao also suffered what Tong had experienced, the maintenance issues. His taxes and provision were not enough to upkeep his army, subordinates, and his expanded territories.
The public order under Cao Cao's control was poor. As he did not have the backup food or gold to recruit more militias or train new garrison forces, Cao Cao had to stop his expansion, adjusting the new regions into his system and developing their domestic finance and agriculture.
Although peace temporary returned to the southeast area of the country, civilians in the regions migrated to Liu Biao's territory. The people were not stupid enough to ignore the troop movements between borders. Furthermore, merchants had loud mouths, which spread an exaggerated rumor about Cao Cao and Sun Fang's armies.
In the end, more than half of Guangling and Shouchun's population moved to other regions.
Chain-reaction occurred afterward. Without population, Cao Cao and Sun Fang could not get their harvest taxes or household taxes, which sabotaged their finance and supplies. Both forces had to disband some of their men to lower their maintenance cost, which created more unemployed people. Some of the jobless men turned themselves into thieves or bandits later, which reduced the public order. As the public order became almost non-existence, more people migrated to other provinces.
This never-ending circle was the headache that Cao Cao and Sun Fang faced.
Zhou Yu managed to stop this trend by using the connection with Zhang Hong and Zhang Shao to contact the local nobles and gangsters, but Cao Cao had another idea.
Cao Cao turned to Tong, so he could borrow his gold and supplies to develop his territories.
April 15th, 192 AD.
Cao Cao visited Ye City himself, so he could negotiate the terms with Tong.
Seeing this warlord again, Tong gave him a mocking smirk, ”Need a hand, Mengde?”
Cao Cao decided to be frank, ”Your majesty, I need to borrow your gold and provision. Can you help this servant?”
All officials in the throne room got mad. Since their master-servant relationship was just a façade, they had no obligation to help Cao Cao.
Moreover, Cao Cao was still occupying Xu Province, where Tong had bestowed to Sun Jian.
And lastly, Cao Cao once crowned Diaochan as a false empress. From every officials' perspective, Cao Cao was an untrustworthy rebel.
Sun Jian and his subordinates were attending the meeting in the throne room as well when they heard that Cao Cao had sought an audience. They wanted to see what this cunning fox was trying to do.
”Nothing is free in this world. You may use the word [Borrow], but we know that you won't be able to return to borrowed funds. What's the collateral?” Tong snorted.
Cao Cao paused and pondered. He frowned in silence for two minutes.
”How much will you give me if I give you Luoyang?”
All officers murmured. They understood that Cao Cao was selling one of his commanderies.
”If you're selling a commandery, I want Jibei and Puyang.”
”Jibei and Puyang are developed territories. I'll sell it for a million gold coins and 500,000 tons of food.”
”Isn't that kind of overprice? From my reports, Jibei and Puyang produce about 100,000 gold of household tax and 100,000 tons of harvest tax a year, not including the maintenance upkeep. I would have to wait ten years before I get back what I have invested. Heck, I can always send a decree to make you give up those commanderies. Why should I pay you?”
Tong abused his authority and threatened Cao Cao, which caused the latter to click his tongue in anger.