Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

Cao Rui sighed softly, pointed at the shipbuilders and half-built ships in front of him, and said slowly: "According to Jiang Qing's words, it is not a big deal to increase the number of soldiers by 10,000, but the cost of shipbuilding will increase a lot."

"It means that these soldiers and craftsmen will have to work harder."

Jiang Ji replied calmly: "If this can be done, it should be done quickly. Although it will take two years of hard work in Yangzhou and Yuzhou, once we cross the river and defeat Wu, the people here will no longer suffer from the border counties and will be able to recuperate, grow and prosper once and for all."

Cao Rui's eyes met Jiang Ji's. Jiang Ji's face was firm and he did not give in at all. After a moment, Cao Rui finally laughed and said, "In this case, Jiang Qing will take the lead in discussing this matter for me and plan it carefully. I allow you, the governor of Yangzhou, to coordinate with Chen Situ and the Privy Council and the Shangshutai to discuss it together!"

"This is a military and national issue. The first step to defeating the Wu bandits is the navy. Mr. Jiang, on behalf of Yangzhou, please bring me a plan that includes levies, taxes, labor, ships, and troops. I will give you two months. Can you do this for me?"

Jiang Ji bowed deeply and said: "I will not disgrace your command!"

Cao Rui nodded slowly, and then continued to walk forward with Ma Jun.

It was not until Jiang Ji came to his senses and followed the emperor with the four attendants that his heart began to beat violently, becoming more and more rapid, with inexplicable excitement.

Your Majesty was the first to talk to me about the expedition against Wu, and now you have asked me to make plans for the 50,000-man navy. Such an important burden is placed on me. Could it be that...

It's not impossible!

There are so many heroes in the world. Who can stand out depends on fate, luck, and the emperor's favor. It is not the one who is in a high position and has great power who will have the last laugh!

Jiang Ji suppressed the burning desire for power in his heart, but his face turned slightly red. No one paid attention to him, and he continued to follow the emperor.

As Ma Jun continued to introduce, Cao Rui also asked: "Are there any Wu soldiers captured in the first year of Taihe working here?"

"Yes, but not many." Ma Jun explained: "Envoy Jiang only recruited 3,000 people, and the rest are still working in the farmland."

"Take me to see someone randomly." Cao Rui replied.

Ma Jun hesitated for a moment, then responded and grabbed a blue-clothed clerk beside him and gave him a few instructions. Not long after, a short man with a dark face and ordinary short clothes followed the clerk and came over. They shouted "Long live the emperor" and knelt down to pay their respects.

"Stand up." Cao Rui said, "Pei Qing, come and interrogate me. I'll ask about your background and experience."

"As ordered." Pei Qian stepped forward and asked, "I am the emperor's interrogator. Answer whatever you are asked. Do not hide anything. You will be rewarded later. If you do not answer truthfully, you will be punished. Do you understand?"

"I know." The middle-aged man with a dark face bowed deeply.

Pei Qian had spent most of his life in the officialdom, and he could tell at a glance that this man was not from an ordinary family. Not to mention the standard of his salute, even the tone of his voice was almost identical to the Yangzhou accent.

Of course Cao Rui also saw it, but he didn't say much. He just watched Pei Qian ask questions quietly.

"What is your name? What job do you do here now? Which unit are you in? What position did you hold in the rebel army before?"

"My name is Zhong Ajiu. I came here from the military governor of Xiquyang. I was ordered by the commander to repair the boats. I am leading 20 people to level the wood. I was a commander of 100 men in the enemy army before."

"A general of a hundred men? No wonder you speak so fluently." Pei Qian continued to ask, "Where are you from? Which unit of the rebel army did you belong to before?"

"My lord, I am originally from Panyu, Nanhai Prefecture. In the 20th year of Jian'an, I joined the army of Bu Hou. I was initially a sergeant. In the first year of Huangchu, I followed Bu Hou to Changsha and gradually became a member of Bu Hou's army. In the first year of Taihe, I was captured by the heavenly soldiers during the battle of Wancheng."

"It should be General Bu Zhi of Wu." Jiang Ji reminded Cao Rui carefully beside him.

Cao Rui did not respond, but continued to ask Pei Qian questions. This man was indeed Lingnan-looking, so he was not wrong in his guess. Pei Qian asked again, "Now the court is building a large number of ships here, do you know what they are preparing for?"

"I know." Zhong Ajiu replied, "The commander said that we are going to attack the Wu bandits. The Wu bandits are on the south bank of the Yangtze River, and the heavenly soldiers cannot cross the river, so we need to build a large ship."

"If the imperial court attacks the Wu bandits, Zhong Ajiu, are you afraid? Are you willing or unwilling?" Pei Qian continued to ask.

Jiang Ji took a deep breath and wanted to stop Pei Qian from asking questions, but he still restrained himself. This man was just a surrendered soldier of the Wu army. He should be asked about the farming situation and his daily work. Would he understand such important matters of the court? He was totally unprepared. If this man really said something rebellious in front of Your Majesty, how would it end?
Zhong Ajiu bowed and saluted again: "Sir, my family has lived in Nanhai County for generations, and Bu Hou only came to Nanhai 20 years ago, but I and my clan have been in Wei for six years. It doesn't matter where the heavenly soldiers go to fight the Wu people, as long as they don't kill my fellow villagers, I am willing! As long as I can go home!"

"Do you really want to go home?" Pei Qian asked again, his tone slightly raised. Cao Rui looked at him from behind and laughed. Pei Qian's questioning style was just like those of ordinary petty officials.

"I want to go home, I want to go home!" Zhong Ajiu knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly: "If the heavenly soldiers can reach the South China Sea sooner, I can go home sooner. The officers of the Tuntian Duwei Office told me so!"

"Your Majesty," Pei Qian turned back and regained his normal expression, "I have finished my questions. This person is fortunate to see the emperor today. Please reward him a little."

"Okay, Pei Qingding." Cao Rui nodded slightly, did not stop, and continued to move forward.

Pei Qian was stunned for a moment, then promised a reward of one tael of silver and asked Ma Jun beside him to follow him later. Having just got off the boat, the attendants behind him should not have brought any money.

After the visit, Cao Rui instructed Liu Xia, the Privy Councilor of the Naval Affairs Department who was with him, to watch a warship demonstration in Chaohu Lake three days later, and then returned to the Dragon Boat Tower.

There are indeed places worth visiting nearby, such as Dongxing Erwu, where Chaohu Lake flows into the outlet of Rushu River, or Jingnan East Wu and Jingnan West Wu, which can be reached by going south along the Rushu River.

However, Cao Rui planned to stay here for more than ten days, so there was no rush for these things.

After sunset, Bai Ri brought the minor official who came to see the emperor, Zhong Ajiu, a native of Nanhai, Jiaozhou. He received a reward of one string of silver from Ma Jun, and went to the simple thatched house where Zhong Ajiu lived and handed the reward to him.

"Thank you for the reward, thank you for the reward!" Zhong Ajiu bowed repeatedly, stood up and was about to reach out to take it, but he pulled it but failed to move.

Zhong Ajiu was not an ignorant person, and he quickly said, "I am disrespectful. My fellow villagers and I have nowhere to spend money. Please accept this banknote."

The blue-clothed official chuckled, reached for the whip on his waist with his left hand, and clapped his hands: "Who dares to steal the reward money given by the emperor? But I have come all this way, don't you know how to be grateful?"

Zhong Ajiu bowed and saluted: "Please wait a moment, sir!"

The blue-clothed official was not annoyed, and just stood there holding the string of money. It was not until Zhong Ajiu ran to eight or nine barracks that he borrowed a thousand five-zhu coins from the villagers of Jiaozhou, and then he ran back with the money in his clothes.

According to the court rules, the prisoners of war were given a penny a day for their labor. They had been here for five months, and although they were only paid twice, they still managed to collect a penny.

"Sir, I have borrowed a coin from someone, and I am giving it to you now."

The blue-clothed clerk chuckled and threw out a sack: "Put it in. You're sensible."

Zhong Ajiu naturally had nothing to say. He had been farming for many years and had experienced countless sad things than this. He quickly packed the money and handed it to the blue-clothed clerk.

The blue-robed clerk stroked the whip at his waist and watched Zhong Ajiu's reaction carefully. Seeing that he was always respectful and not unwilling at all, he smiled and said, "Count out two hundred coins from it. I'll let you go because you are lucky today."

After that, he handed the reward money to Zhong Ajiu and said, "Pengcheng minted new money last year, and it is very heavy. Although we heard about this last year, we, the supervisors, didn't get any. It's a good deal for you, a southerner."

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!" Now even the fellow villagers around Zhong Ajiu started to express their gratitude. (End of this chapter)