Free Web NovelChapter 1218: Chapter 1200: Troop Deployment
With Zhao Hu’s help, the Ministry of Revenue quickly gathered enough grain and fodder. Most of it was raised in Yu State; Zhao Hu contacted the grain merchants and landlords there, and with him as guarantor, they were all willing to supply grain to the yamen on credit.
Indeed, even though Zhao Hanzhang enjoyed an excellent reputation among the common people and had good personal credit, in the eyes of merchants and landlords the court’s credibility was still not high—at least not high enough for them to bring out their hoarded grain.
But Zhao Hu could.
This man, Zhao Hu, did business ruthlessly, loved pleasure and bragging, yet merchants and landlords who had dealt with him all believed in his good faith. Most importantly, if he defaulted, they had ways and the ability to carve up his assets and take compensation; but as for Zhao Hanzhang...
If Zhao Hanzhang failed to repay, there was absolutely nothing they could do to her.
So the bottom line of whether they would sell or lend still came down to whether the buyer could pay and whether they were sure she could repay.
In their eyes, Zhao Hu was someone who could pay and would repay; while Zhao Hanzhang—who under heaven did not know that she was poor?
Once Zhao Hu had tallied up all the grain obtained on credit and by loan, he immediately handed the accounts to the Ministry of Revenue.
After Chang Ning ran the numbers, counting the two batches of grain he had already arranged, they could support an army of two hundred thousand fighting until the fourth month of next year.
He let out a breath of relief and immediately handed the ledger to Zhao Hanzhang.
After leafing through it, Zhao Hanzhang ordered the county governments in each region to take over the grain, and then told them to devise ways to transport it to the front.
The grain convoys were escorted by local garrisons, conscripted laborers, and hired workers. Zhao Hanzhang did not care what method they used; they had to complete the transport before the eighth day of the twelfth month.
Only then did she begin deploying troops.
The civil and military officials at court held differing opinions about this expedition, and the debate was fierce, for those in favor and those opposed were roughly evenly split.
Both sides actually had solid arguments. The opposing ministers believed that only now had the people’s strength somewhat recovered, yet there were still many refugees wandering in the wilds who had not returned; they still regarded the court with suspicion. At such a time, the primary task should still be stability—light corvée and low taxes, to draw back the refugees and bandits in the hills.
Moreover, no one knew how long this war would last. Popular sentiment was still fragile and could easily collapse. They argued that stability should come first; since Zhao Hanzhang had already sent Liu Kun to persuade King Langya, why not wait a while longer? If that failed, they could wage a diplomatic struggle, drag it out for a year, and only move once the people’s strength had recovered further.
Zhao Hanzhang felt that what they said was quite right; before the Jiangnan covert network was exposed, this was precisely her plan. Had she not knocked back Zhao Shen’s petitions for battle several times before?
But that was then, and this is now.
The Jiangnan covert network had been destroyed, and Yuan Li captured. Merely sending people to rescue him might not bring him out alive; they still had to send troops.
If they failed to act this time, Jiangnan would only grow more arrogant; they ought to strike back hard the moment the other side tested them.
The ministers who supported her campaign also believed there could be no retreat. "Morale is of the utmost importance. If we do not counterattack this time, outsiders will think we are all show and no substance, that we fear Jiangnan. Then not only will Jiangnan’s morale soar, other ill-intentioned parties will also give rise to wild ambitions."
"Better to seize this opportunity to bring Jiangnan to heel, and truly unify the realm."
Zu Ti even personally wrote to request a command.
After some thought, Zhao Hanzhang appointed Zu Ti as Southern Expedition Marshal, Zhao Shen as Vanguard, and Zhao Ju and Wang Yifeng as commanding generals of the northern and western routes respectively, all under Zu Ti’s overall command.
She drew on the forces of Jizhou, Yan State, Xuzhou, Yu State, and Jingzhou, and also transferred twenty thousand men from the Luoyang Zhao Family Army to Zhao Shen, so that in all they could muster four hundred thousand troops to march south.
"You may transfer twenty thousand troops from Luoyang to march south," Zhao Hanzhang told Zhao Shen. "Whether you can firmly hold the post of Vice Minister of the Ministry of War will depend on your achievements in this campaign."
Zhao Shen agreed with barely concealed excitement.
Once Zhao Hanzhang made her decision, the deadlock was instantly broken; even the opposing ministers could only throw themselves in wholeheartedly, to ensure the smooth progress of this southern expedition.
She accompanied Zhao Shen to the gate, and only when no one was around did she lower her voice and instruct, "Do everything you can to keep Yuan Li alive. I will assign you the Imperial Physicians from the palace. Once you arrive, get in touch with Wang Yifeng; she knows Yangzhou and Wang Dun far better."
Zhao Shen agreed, though he was actually somewhat reluctant. Jokingly he said, "Some ministers at court say Yuan Li is a treacherous petty man, cruel in his methods and unfit company. If he dies at Wang Dun’s hands, that could be considered dying where he belongs."
Zhao Hanzhang replied, "If I listened to others’ words today, Cousin Shen, you would be the one who ought to be most afraid. I do not know Yuan Li as a treacherous man; I only know that he is loyal to the marrow, of great use to me, and capable of great merit for the state. I must ask Cousin Shen to help me rescue him."
Zhao Shen’s heart gave a jolt, and in an instant he understood: if today Zhao Hanzhang could allow Yuan Li to die in enemy hands simply because others called him treacherous, then one day, because of slanders spoken against the Zhao Family, she could likewise remain indifferent to their plight, even add fuel to the flames.
Zhao Shen drew a deep breath, clasped his hands, and said, "This general accepts the order, and will exert all his strength to bring General Yuan back alive."
Zhao Shen finished mustering his troops and marched south from Luoyang through Yu State, while Zu Ti led a large force south from Yan State through Xuzhou, the two ultimately rendezvousing at the junction of Xuzhou, Yu State, and Yangzhou.
Zhao Ju, Zhao Ming, Mi Ce and the others also began to move. Zhao Ming took charge of grain and logistics, while Mi Ce led the main force of Yu State south under orders.
This was also the first time Zu Ti had commanded so many men and horses and borne responsibility for such a large campaign. But Zhao Ju and Mi Ce were both veteran generals; Zhao Shen had less experience, yet he was quick-witted and clever, and his military ability was no weaker than Zhao Ju’s and Mi Ce’s. Wang Yifeng could also command operations in Jingzhou independently, making for extremely efficient cooperation.
Most importantly, Zhao Hanzhang had absolute trust in Zu Ti. She gave him ample supplies; even military equipment was provided whenever possible. The whole army was of one heart. In all these years, Zu Ti had never fought such a well-provisioned and comfortable war.
Holding back tears, he quietly said to his subordinate general Zuo Min, "I truly did not expect the Great General to trust me so deeply. If I do not take Jiangnan, I shall repay her with my life."
Zuo Min also felt that this expedition was unusually satisfying. In the past, whenever they marched out, before they even arrived, they had to brave the curses of the local people and forcibly requisition a batch of grain from them; otherwise the army could not move an inch.
Even though they fought for the state, many commoners still resented them.
But this time, they had grain and fodder sent ahead; there was no need to forcibly requisition local grain. Military discipline was strict, and the troops did not disturb the people in the slightest. Bearing the twin banners of Zhao and Zu, wherever the army passed they were greeted with cheering crowds along the road; some commoners and local gentry even voluntarily brought them grain, vegetables, meat, and eggs.
Of course, they did not take the people’s goods for free; everything they accepted was paid for.
Yes, that’s right!
The army actually had emergency funds, so that if after engagements they lacked medicinal supplies, they could replenish them locally. It was deeply moving—they actually had spare money to buy medicine and grain.
Zuo Min said, "The Great General is truly good to us. We are only on the march, and yet the troops can now eat two and a half semi-dry rations a day. I heard from the logistics officers that once real fighting starts, they can eat three full meals a day, all dry rations. That’s how the Great General calculated the grain at court, and that’s exactly the standard she prepared for."
Zuo Min could not help but whisper, "If I’d known General Zhao was so lavish, I should have joined the Zhao Family Army years ago."
"...That’s only this year. Have you forgotten how last year, fighting the Xiongnu, we were gnawing grass roots and eating tree bark?" Zu Ti said. "The Great General has suffered hardship herself; now that conditions allow, she won’t let the soldiers endure that again. Keep a close watch these days—there must be no embezzlement or skimming of rations in the ranks. If I discover it, I won’t wait for the Great General to act; I’ll deal with it under military law first!"
Zuo Min answered with a solemn face. Just as he was about to withdraw, something occurred to him; he stopped and asked, "General, where will Zhao Shi be placed?"
Zu Ti said, "Let him serve as Vanguard General of the Left Army. Since the Great General wishes to employ the Zhao Family’s sons, then they must stake their lives in battle."
Zuo Min accepted the order and went off grinning to pass it along.
