Chapter 100 Planning
"Zhongxiang, what have you learned during this period?"

As its territory becomes larger and larger, Jinmao seems to have returned to its original state of being short of people and eager to recruit talents.

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Ming." Yu Fan thanked him and said, "I have gained a lot."

"That's good." Jin Mao said happily, "We are short of manpower right now, is Zhong Xiang ready to go out?"

Yu Fan bowed and said, "I am always ready."

For a moment, Jin Mao felt a little uncomfortable. He stood up, looked around Yu Fan carefully, and was amazed.

Yu Fan bowed again and said, "Please speak out what you want to say. Isn't it what you hate most to talk about others behind their backs?"

Yeah!

This is the right taste!

Jin Mao happily helped Yu Fan up and said cheerfully, "Zhong Xiang, you have really grown up."

The corners of the three people present twitched, their master's despicable look did not change at all.

According to the previous Yu Fan, he would have started to argue long ago. But now, Yu Fan felt annoyed but did not show it.

Jin Mao was very pleased, feeling like an old father watching his eldest son grow up.

If the three counselors were divided into three sons according to the time they joined the curtain, the eldest son Yu Fan had been successfully reformed, the second son Xi Zhicai started to make trouble again, and the youngest son Kan Ze was the least worrying one.

However, seeing Kan Ze's increasingly dark circles under his eyes, Jin Mao was really afraid that he would die suddenly.

None of them is worry-free!
"Zhongxiang should start as a county assistant and help Derun share some of the pressure."

Happy times are always short-lived, and Jinmao had to start making arrangements: "Gong Lei will deliver food to Wushang along the Oujiang River as originally planned."

The three had no objection.

Then, Jinmao spent another two days sorting out government affairs. He was relieved to learn that rapeseed was growing well throughout Kuaiji County.

He also arranged the matters concerning the workshop and the wood press for next year. If it was only Kan Ze, Jin Mao would not dare to do it. Now that he has Yu Fan's help, he thinks the computing power of the two of them should be enough.

In addition, Jinmao also talked to the three people about the land conservation in Wushang and Taimo counties next year, and the situation is not optimistic.

Not many people in the two counties are willing to leave their homes to work, and most of them have many concerns.

Jinmao had no choice but to let these migrant workers take the lead first, while the rest would build infrastructure locally.

The temporary salary is to provide one dry meal per person per day, with the average portion not exceeding half a pound.

In other words, 100,000 people would consume more than 15,000 shi of grain a year.

"My lord, you are kind and righteous!" the three praised.

In this way, 20,000 shi of grain will have to be left in stock.

This trip to Yuzhang County could only be considered a small profit in the form of military equipment, as an additional 4,000 dan of grain was consumed after deducting the 6,000 dan.

The late rice harvest has been stored in warehouses, and the total grain reserves currently amount to about 6 shi.

In addition to the 2 shi of grain used for infrastructure construction, another 2 shi must be left for the winter. In other words, not counting debts, the maximum amount of grain that Jinmao can mobilize is only 2 shi.

Fortunately, after removing the casualties and subtracting the one thousand men of He Qi guarding Yuzhang County, Jin Mao now has less than four thousand available troops.

The army's food consumption was greatly reduced, and 2 shi was enough for two and a half months of fighting.

Things were almost arranged, Jin Mao asked Yu Fan and Kan Ze to go ahead and left Xi Zhicai alone.

"Zhicai, how long have we known each other?"

Xi Zhicai felt bitter, as he was still suspected.

"My Lord, it has been more than half a year."

"Zhicai's answers are always so ambiguous."

Jin Mao looked at Xi Zhicai and asked, "It's just you and me here. Do you really have nothing to say to me?"

Xi Zhicai looked Jin Mao in the eye and asked, "My Lord, do you doubt me?"

This was the first time that Xi Zhicai contradicted Jin Mao. Jin Mao's heart skipped a beat. Putting himself in his shoes, he realized that no one could tolerate such a thing.

I work diligently for you, and you actually doubt me?

but!

With the previous experience of Yufan, Jinmao dare not take any risk.

He met Xi Zhicai's eyes, stood up, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "I just hope you can do it within your ability."

"My lord!" Xi Zhicai bowed in shame, handed over the bamboo slips he and Gong Lei had jointly written, and told the specific details honestly.

"My lord, if the secret is not kept secret, it will be leaked! It's not that I don't trust Zhongxiang and Derun."

It turned out that Yu Fan and Kan Ze only thought of the first level, and Xi Zhicai was at the second level.

Gong Lei also knew about this and agreed to it, but the people who actually carried out the plan were not Gong Lei's 300 men, but the 300 new soldiers that Gong Lei had trained in his personal capacity during this period.

Given that Jinmao was able to accept Gong Lei’s former subordinates in Yuzhang County, many people knew that as long as they were valued by Gong Lei, they would have the possibility of entering the system.

Therefore, it was very easy for Gong Lei to recruit soldiers, and these soldiers came for the military benefits.

Xi Zhicai's plan was very detailed. In addition to the people, even the food was fake. He would also secretly let Wujun know when the team set out.

"If we can use these three hundred people to exchange for a legitimate name," Xi Zhicai said with a smile, "it's all worth it!"

The most outrageous thing is that when Xi Zhicai was recruiting, he made it clear to the internal staff that this recruitment was in his and Gong Lei's personal name and had nothing to do with Jinmao.

It was announced to the outside world that these 300 people were civilian laborers, specializing in transporting grain.

At this moment, Jin Mao was very glad that he had not said anything stupid just now, and at the same time he was shocked at Xi Zhicai's meticulous thinking.

Jin Mao was moved and held Xi Zhicai's arms and said, "You actually tarnished your reputation for me. I... I really don't know how to thank you."

Xi Zhicai smiled carefreely: "You are my recognized lord, and this is what we should do as subjects."

"If you really want to thank me, why not treat me to a drink?"

Jin Mao said proudly: "It's just a good meal and wine. After this battle, I will treat you to a glass of sake!"

“One glass and you’re done!?” Xi Zhicai widened his eyes.

In fact, there were already several kinds of wine in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Wushang County was too remote to have many varieties, but Yingchuan in Luoyang had a complete range of wines, and the quality was not low.

The white wine in the Eastern Han Dynasty was called Qingjiu, which had a lower alcohol content, not much higher than yellow wine. The sorghum liquor of later generations had not yet appeared.

"My lord, you must keep your word!"

Jin Mao laughed and said, "Don't worry, I will make the wine myself when the time comes."

...

Wujun, the prefectural government office.

Sheng Xian has not yet come out of the shadow of his son's death.

Xu Gong's self-satisfied tricks were like child's play in Sheng Xian's eyes.

"Jin Mao kid!"

In the study, Sheng Xian's eyes were bloodshot, and he said viciously: "Xu Gong must die! You can't have an easy life either!"

During these days, Sheng Xian changed completely. He locked himself in the study, planning to get rid of the two culprits who killed his son.

Now, the plan is complete, just waiting for the right opportunity.

That day, his subordinates came to report.

"Tang Mao, the governor of Kuaiji, sent me a letter asking me to take good care of the pirates near Wujun. Otherwise, he will report me again?"

In the lobby of the county magistrate's mansion, Sheng Xian paced with his hands behind his back, looking thoughtful.

"Explore again!"

"Pay more attention to the movements on the other side of the river."

Two days later.

Sheng Xian learned that county soldiers were gathering at the Juzhang County dock, apparently waiting for some important supplies.

His subordinates also reported a phenomenon that Xu Gong, the commander of Wujun, was mobilizing troops to rush to Haiyan.

Suddenly, Sheng Xian understood that Xu Gong must have received some news, so he was no longer in a hurry.

Sure enough, that afternoon, Xu Gong sent someone to inform Sheng Xian that Jin Mao was going to mobilize a large amount of grain and fodder to store them in Juzhang County.

Xu Gong believed that Jin Mao was preparing to take action against Wu Jun, and he wanted to join forces with Sheng Xian to fight against him.

In Xu Gong's eyes, his plan to kill Sheng Kuang and frame him was flawless, and Sheng Xian would definitely agree to join forces.

Sheng Xian felt a little strange, as this was not like Jinmao's style, but the opportunity had already appeared and Sheng Xian didn't want to wait any longer.

"Somebody come!"

"These letters were sent to Luoyang, Shanyin, and Wushang respectively."

Sheng Xian handed the bamboo slips that he had prepared long ago to the messenger. The three letters were sent to Kong Rong, Tang Mao and Jin Mao respectively.

Sheng Xian had a sinister expression, his mind full of revenge.

"Fight! The harder the better!"

"It would be best if they all died!"

(End of this chapter)