Chapter Ninety-One: The Astute Liu Biao (Thanks to Zhuyan Moyu for the reward; an extra chapter today)

Shen Chen’s reply to Liu Bei was not filled with instructions or advice. It was merely a brief exchange of pleasantries, assuring Liu Bei that he was well and urging him not to worry.

Alongside this letter, Shen Chen also prepared some gold, silk, and more than a dozen suits of scaled armor for Taishi Ci to deliver.

The reason was clear.

Since the invention of the steel infusion process, Huangmen Pavilion’s steel output had soared to the highest in Jingzhou. Not only could they now produce daily tools and weapons, but also armor.

During the Han Dynasty, steel was a state monopoly. Due to small-scale operations and outdated technology, mass production was impossible, resulting in extremely low annual yields. Before the Tang Dynasty’s steel infusion method, the total steel output during the Han was only a few tens of thousands of tons, less than the annual output of later Ming and Qing dynasties.

The steel infusion method, however, allowed for mass production.

To draw a comparison: the traditional steel-forging method was akin to handcrafted goods, requiring days or even weeks to produce a finished product. The infusion process was like mechanized factory production—just heat pig iron to refined iron and pour the iron into molten steel, which naturally fused, eliminating the need for laborious forging.

This revolutionary technology brought profound changes to the Han dynasty.

Huangmen Pavilion could not possibly consume all the steel it produced, yet selling it openly was problematic. Steel was a crucial strategic resource; large market influxes could not be concealed. Claiming the steel used by their own troops was purchased elsewhere was plausible, but a sudden flood of steel in the market would raise suspicions—even fools could see something was amiss.

If the various warlords discovered that a mere village like Huangmen Pavilion produced over a thousand tons of steel annually, chaos would ensue. Even Liu Biao would be covetous.

So, they processed the steel in secret.

The workshops were located in the back hills. When Cao Ren attacked, the blast furnaces, smelters, and kiln caves were destroyed and sealed, and all tools were relocated. Now, with Cao’s army gone, production resumed, and weapons and armor were manufactured in bulk.

Scaled armor, which first appeared in the Spring and Autumn period, flourished during the Song and Ming, and required vast quantities of steel, became the top choice. It was flexible and lightweight, unlike the heavy, cumbersome plate armor, and for the same weight, it offered superior defense and protective functionality.

The scaled armor produced by Huangmen Pavilion did not cover the whole body, only the chest and back, with sixteen rows and a total of 480 scales, weighing less than ten kilograms. Full-body armor would double that weight, but it was still over ten kilograms lighter than the lamellar armor popular in the Han. In other words, twenty kilograms of scaled armor provided the same protection as thirty kilograms of plate armor, a significant advantage for commanders charging into battle.

Shen Chen considered that Liu Bei would face many fierce battles in the future. Though often defeated, he would fight on. If wounded, the armor would offer some margin for error.

Taishi Ci was astonished by Shen Chen’s generosity—the gifts were valuable, but the armor was especially precious. Liu Bei had only a few suits of armor; yet Shen Chen gifted more than a dozen, prompting Taishi Ci to reevaluate Shen Chen’s wealth.

On March 6th, Taishi Ci bade Shen Chen farewell and departed. He had arrived with only a few companions and horses, but left with two horses pulling a cart loaded with a large chest of gifts, returning in grand style.

Shen Chen escorted him north past Bi Shui, in what would later be Tanghe County, before heading south to Xiangyang.

Xiangyang was only two days’ journey from Huyang; setting out by carriage in the morning, he would arrive by night. So, on the morning of March 7th, he reached the outskirts of Xiangyang.

The war in Nanyang had not caused a ripple in Jingzhou. Historically, Liu Biao never took part in this battle, so even though Cao Cao and Zhang Xiu fought bitterly, it seemed to have nothing to do with him—he remained inactive.

However, he was not idle. Besides instructing Zhang Yun, Wen Pin, and others to strengthen defenses, he sent daily scouts to Nanyang for the latest battle reports.

Upon hearing of Cao Cao’s retreat, Liu Biao finally breathed a sigh of relief and sent Deng Hong to Rangcheng to renew the alliance with Zhang Xiu.

Now Deng Hong had completed his mission, returning to Xiangyang with Shen Chen to report to Liu Biao.

The spring sun was bright; the season was late spring. Countless boats crisscrossed the Han River, and the docks north of Xiangyang were packed. In the distant eastern plains, the wheat was green tinged with yellow, swaying in the fields, soon to ripen in two months.

In the spring breeze, Deng Hong and Shen Chen’s boat docked at the riverside wharf. There were no telephones; their arrival was unknown, so no one greeted them.

No welcome was needed. Their boat was large enough to carry carriages; over twenty carriages disembarked in sequence, accompanied by thirty or forty servants, fifty guards, all carrying bundles of New Year goods—a procession even grander than the previous year.

The convoy entered the city. At the gate, soldiers saw the badge of the Inspector’s Deputy and dared not block them, letting them pass straight into the city.

Passing through the central avenue, Deng Hong parted from his wife, sending her ahead with their son and household to the residence, while he and Shen Chen went directly to the Inspector’s mansion to report to Liu Biao.

Grandfather and grandson parted from the Cai family in the street, while servants drove the carriages to the Inspector’s mansion.

They soon arrived at Liu Biao’s residence.

Upon hearing Deng Hong had returned, Liu Biao summoned them immediately. The two were led to a side hall in the rear courtyard, where only Liu Biao sat at the chief seat, reading bamboo slips.

“Master.”

“Governor.”

Deng Hong and Shen Chen addressed Liu Biao differently. Deng Hong, being Liu Biao’s recruited subordinate, called him “Master,” while Shen Chen, not directly under Liu Biao, used a respectful title.

“Youshuo and Young Shen have returned?” Liu Biao smiled at them, saying, “You’re back much later than usual this year.”

Deng Hong replied helplessly, “The Cao army attacked Huangmen Pavilion; I had no choice.”

“No matter, no matter. I do not blame you.” Liu Biao put down the bamboo slip and asked, “How did Zhang Xiu respond?”

Deng Hong answered, “Everything has been settled.”

“Good, that’s well.” Liu Biao nodded. “With the Cao army attacking this year, Nanyang must have suffered much damage?”

Deng Hong said, “Indeed, considerable damage. Around Wancheng, west of Dabie Mountains, people from every county were displaced. I was just about to mention this to you.”

“How is the local administration?” Liu Biao showed some concern—not out of real care for the people, but for his own property.

In recent years, following Shen Chen’s strategy, Liu Biao had used refugees from Guanzhong and captured Yellow Turbans from Runan and Nanyang for land reclamation.

The areas for these land settlements lay east and west of Nanyang: Guanzhong refugees were placed west near Wuguan—Dan Shui, Shunyang, Nanxiang, Li Guo, Champion, Wudang, etc.; Runan and Nanyang Yellow Turbans mostly settled east, west of the Dabie Mountains—Duyang, Wuyin, Biyang, Ping Shi, Xinye, Huyang, and so forth.

Most crops harvested from these settlements were owed to Liu Biao. With Cao’s invasion, he naturally wanted to know if his assets had suffered.

Deng Hong’s expression was troubled. “I fear things are not as hoped.”

“Why?” Liu Biao frowned; since he started land reclamation two years ago, he had gained millions of bushels of grain each year.

Historically, when Cao Cao merely captured over a hundred thousand Yellow Turbans from Runan, he gained over a million bushels in just one year of settlement.

Liu Biao had thirty thousand people—Yellow Turbans plus Guanzhong refugees—so he gained even more than Cao Cao.

With such wealth at stake, he was naturally attentive.

Deng Hong said, “When Cao Cao came, the people fled in panic, all county officials abandoned their posts, and the fields went unattended for nearly a month. There will be a significant reduction in yield.”

“That Cao Cao…” Liu Biao rubbed his temples, feeling vexed. He thought: If you want to subdue Zhang Xiu, do so, but why terrify my reclamation settlers?

His harvest this year would certainly be much reduced.

Deng Hong smiled bitterly, “There was nothing to be done. But now, with Cao Cao gone, most of the refugees and officials have returned. After resuming cultivation, there should still be some harvest.”

“Nearly a month of neglected fields—how much will be left when the wheat ripens?” Liu Biao waved his hand, troubled. “Let this year’s harvest be forgone; let the settlers keep it. Hopefully, we won’t have to ship grain from the treasury to Nanyang.”

Deng Hong and Shen Chen exchanged glances, and bowed. “Master (Governor), you are benevolent.”

“Mm.” Liu Biao acknowledged, then recalled something and asked, “I heard all county magistrates surrendered when they heard Cao Cao was coming?”

“Er…” Deng Hong hesitated. “Yes, but my colleagues had no other choice.”

Liu Biao sneered, “A bunch of fickle turncoats.”

Historically, when Cao Cao came, many officials in Nanyang surrendered to him. When Cao left, they quickly returned to Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao.

Such opportunists cost Liu Biao his tax revenues this year.

Previously, Liu Biao considered Nanyang Basin indefensible. Unwilling to fight Cao Cao, he concentrated his forces near Xiangyang. Now, however, with vast land settlements in Nanyang yielding millions of bushels annually, he depended on it.

At the time, one bushel equaled one shi; in peacetime, one shi of millet cost 220 five-zhu coins; during war, prices soared above 1,000 coins.

In some places, prices reached 5,000, even 10,000 coins. When Guanzhong suffered severe drought years ago, fifty thousand coins bought only one shi—prices skyrocketed.

Even at the peacetime rate of 220 coins, Liu Biao could gain about three million shi annually from Nanyang—nearly seven hundred million coins.

Many believed Jingzhou was rich, but it was not so. Southern Jingzhou—future Hunan—was still wild, with only Changsha being somewhat developed. Northern Jingzhou’s Jiangxia was mostly marshland with few towns. Thus, the wealthiest areas under Liu Biao’s control were only Nanyang and Nan County.

If he lost Nanyang, his strength would be greatly diminished, especially given his current reliance on the Nanyang Basin.

Reports from the front told him that, apart from cities in the western part of Nanyang, including those under Zhang Xiu, most county seats surrendered to Cao Cao when he arrived.

These counties, mostly west of the Dabie Mountains—future Nanyang’s eastern region: Biyang, Sheqi, Tanghe, etc.—were cities under Liu Biao’s jurisdiction, staffed by his officials.

When Cao Cao arrived, they all surrendered. These places also contained many land reclamation fields—his private property. How could Liu Biao not feel humiliated?

After some thought, Liu Biao turned to Shen Chen, “Young Shen, what should be done with these fickle officials? How can Nanyang be brought fully under my control?”

Shen Chen knew Liu Biao was seeking his counsel. He could not feign ignorance; Liu Biao was no fool. If Shen Chen tried to mislead him, Liu Biao would be displeased—and if he were displeased, the family would have trouble in Jingzhou.

So, after a moment’s contemplation, Shen Chen replied, “Governor, since ancient times, people seek fortune and avoid disaster. With no military defense in Nanyang, officials fled at the sight of Cao’s formidable army—understandable. But surrendering to Cao Cao is another matter.”

“What do you mean?” Liu Biao asked.

Shen Chen said, “People like to attach themselves to the strong. They didn’t abandon their posts, but surrendered to Cao Cao. This means, in their eyes, Governor is weaker than Cao Cao and he is likely to occupy Nanyang. Isn’t this a grave problem?”

“Indeed.” Liu Biao’s expression soured; his own appointees saw him as weaker than Cao Cao? Who would be pleased?

Shen Chen continued, “This is because Governor is overly merciful. Nanyang is the gateway to the Central Plains, with fertile fields and many people—how could it be lost? You should expel these incompetent officials, replace them with capable ones, and station troops north in Ye County. Only then can Nanyang be secured.”

“Is that so?” Liu Biao pondered.

He weighed the feasibility of the plan.

Replacing officials was not difficult, but garrisoning Ye County was key.

Ye County was the rear of Xuchang, the gateway to Nanyang. Troops dispatched from Ye could threaten Yingchuan. Cao Cao would not allow Liu Biao to station forces there.

Zhang Xiu garrisoned Wancheng, and Cao Cao was uneasy; how much more so with Ye County?

If Liu Biao dared to send troops, Cao Cao would surely launch another campaign.

Young Shen’s motives were questionable.

Liu Biao narrowed his eyes at Shen Chen—he was trying to pull Liu Biao into war with Cao Cao.

But Liu Biao was not angry. First, his relationship with Cao Cao was already adversarial, and conflict was inevitable—he simply wished to avoid direct, large-scale confrontation. Second, the Deng and Shen families of Huangmen Pavilion bore blood grudges against Cao Cao. Though Cao Cao had lost many men, these families would gladly see him destroyed.

So, wanting to leverage Liu Biao’s strength against Cao Cao was understandable.

Yet this conflicted with Liu Biao’s current strategy. Whether it was Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue, or Liu Biao himself, all believed that before Cao Cao and Yuan Shao’s decisive battle, it was unwise to provoke the north.

After some reflection, Liu Biao smiled at Shen Chen, “Young Shen, you’ve made quite a name for yourself in Nanyang. Even in Xiangyang, I heard you defeated Cao Cao’s fierce generals, Cao Ren and Yue Jin. Though young, you are a heroic youth. Would you consider entering official service?”

Shen Chen’s heart skipped; he replied quickly, “I am still lacking in virtue and experience, unfit to serve you yet. Please allow me a few more years to learn. When I come of age, I will obey your summons without fail.”

“Very well.” Liu Biao nodded. “A scholar must cultivate his reputation. You are still young; being too outstanding is not always good. As for garrisoning Ye County, let’s set that aside. I will transfer Gan Ning to Wuyin. Deng Mao performed admirably—he did not surrender, but helped repel Cao’s army. Let him be the Nanyang Commandant. Wang Yi will be Nanyang Prefect; for other counties, I have my own arrangements.”

“Master (Governor), you are wise,” Deng Hong and Shen Chen exchanged glances and bowed.

Liu Biao was shrewd; persuading him to tie himself to their chariot was no easy feat.

(End of chapter.)