Tiger Owl

Chapter 333 News from Nanjun
A vibrant harvest scene unfolded across the southern Western Chu region. This year marked the first year of large-scale promotion in Jiaozhi. The sufficient rice seeds accumulated in the previous two years allowed all the paddy fields to be planted with this high-yield rice. Amid the enthusiastic harvesting efforts of farmers and soldiers, the seedling beds were already lush and green, with the seedlings growing perfectly.

The rice paddies, which had just been harvested, were immediately filled with water again. Water buffaloes were plowing the fields anew, and farmers were spreading fertilizer. In many of the already plowed rice paddies, farmers were busy transplanting rice seedlings. This is the rush to harvest and plant; only by transplanting the seedlings in time can a new round of harvest be achieved in the golden autumn of October.

Although this is the busiest and most arduous time of the year, every farmer's face is beaming with a happy smile.

The South has abundant water and heat and almost no disasters. The only shortcoming in agricultural development is population. Historically, the largest grain-producing area has always been the North China Plain, until three major migrations of people to the south: the southward migration at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the southward migration during the Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties, and the southward migration during the An Lushan Rebellion.

It wasn't until the mid-to-late Tang Dynasty, after the An Lushan Rebellion, that Jiangnan became the top grain-producing region in the country for the first time. This pattern continued into later generations and never changed.

This is the first major migration of people from the north. Originally, the grain production in the south was not as good as that in the north, but due to the promotion of Jiaozhi rice, the grain production in the south has increased threefold this year. In addition, the grain production in the north has decreased due to the sharp decline in the population, so it is a foregone conclusion that the grain production in the south will surpass that in the north for the first time. Although it is only the middle of the year, if nothing unexpected happens, the outcome is already decided.

Although harvesting and planting were in full swing everywhere, Gan Ning did not appear in the farmland outside the city. He was in his official residence listening to Lu Su report an important intelligence to him: Liu Bei had sent Liu Qing to lead an army of 50,000 men and was quietly advancing towards Nanjun along the Three Gorges.

Now is indeed a good opportunity to seize Nan Commandery. Due to Xiahou Dun's unsuccessful attack on Hanzhong, Cao Cao urgently transferred 50,000 troops from Nan Commandery to support Hanzhong. Now there are only 30,000 troops stationed in Nan Commandery, which are led by the newly appointed governor of Nan Commandery, Cao Hong.

Zhuge Liang was indeed brilliant; he immediately recognized the opportunity and decisively dispatched troops.

Gan Ning also saw this opportunity, but due to the ceasefire agreement, it was inconvenient for him to send troops.

Inside the official residence, Gan Ning and four military advisors were discussing the opportunity in Nanjun.

At this moment, Pang Tong laughed and said, "It is indeed inconvenient for us to seize Nan Commandery from Cao Cao, but what if we seize it from Liu Bei? Wouldn't that avoid the ceasefire agreement?"

Pang Tong's words immediately broadened the scope of the discussion, and everyone's eyes lit up.

Lü Fan immediately added with a smile, "We can even use the excuse of being allies to help Liu Bei's army occupy the southern part of Nan Commandery. When Liu Bei's army launches a northern expedition against Xiangyang, we can send troops to seize Jiangling. The situation will then become delicate, and Cao Cao might even join forces with us."

Gan Ning paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. Of course, he had been keeping a close eye on Nanjun. Nanjun was the left arm of his two-arm plan, while Hefei was the right arm. In his plan, he wanted to take Jiangling County first, drive a wedge into Nanjun, then seize Jiangdong to consolidate his rear, and then turn around and take the entire Nanjun from Jiangling as his base.

Now the opportunity has arrived, although it is somewhat vague, it is definitely a rare and excellent chance.

After pondering for a long time, Gan Ning slowly said, "Jiangling City is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Once Liu Bei's army takes Jiangling City, we will have no chance. Therefore, we need to strike first and deploy a hidden force in Jiangling City."

Jiangling County is still under Cao Cao's control, so it's not convenient for him to take it directly. He can wait for Liu Bei's army to take it, and after the two sides change hands, he can launch an attack and cooperate with the hidden troops in the city to take Jiangling City in one fell swoop.

However, too few hidden troops are not enough; at least five hundred men must be deployed. This requires assistance from people inside the city to avoid being discovered by Cao Cao's or Liu Bei's army.

Gan Ning looked at Pang Tong and asked, "Military Advisor Pang, can you persuade the Kuai family?"

The Kuai family is one of the four major families in Nanjun. Its roots are in Jiangling County, and it is also the largest powerful family in Jiangling. The five hundred hidden soldiers must get the help of the Kuai family to lie in ambush and remain undetected.

Pang Tong nodded, "I can give it a try!"

The Kuai family had previously surrendered to Cao Cao along with Liu Cong. Cao Cao outwardly valued the powerful families of Nan Commandery, but in reality, he had been suppressing them in secret. Cai Mao was killed by Cao Cao under the pretext that his warships had been burned, while Kuai Yue was appointed as the Grand Master of Ceremonies of the Imperial Court. However, the Imperial Court had long been undermined, and Kuai Yue's position as Grand Master of Ceremonies was merely a nominal one.

Kuai Liang saw through Cao Cao's intentions, so he used the excuse of poor health and the need to recuperate to refuse Cao Cao's offer of an official position. He remained in Jiangling City without taking up a post. Three days later, Pang Tong arrived in Jiangling City by boat and went directly to Kuai Liang's residence.

Pang Tong was actually a little worried, fearing that the Kuai family had secretly surrendered to Liu Bei. After all, Zhuge Liang's eldest sister was married to Kuai Liang's nephew, Kuai Qi. With this relationship, Zhuge Liang could easily win over the Kuai family.

However, Pang Tong also felt that there was something subtle going on. Zhuge Liang's second sister married Pang Shanmin, who was Pang Tong's cousin. But Pang Tong knew that the Pang family had not pledged allegiance to Liu Bei and had chosen to remain neutral. So the Kuai family was also very likely to agree to remain neutral.

Pang Tong presented his calling card, and shortly after, Kuai Liang's son, Kuai Jun, strode out.

"Brother, what brings you here?" Kuai Jun asked with a surprised smile.

Kuai Jun was about thirty years old, two years older than Pang Tong, and they had always had a good relationship.

Pang Tong was also a little surprised, "Isn't my brother an official in Nanyang County? How come he's in Jiangling?"

Kuai Jun, the magistrate of Nanyang County, smiled and said, "I came back to visit my family and just arrived yesterday."

The two entered the Kuai residence, and Pang Tong asked, "How is Uncle's health? I came here specifically to see him."

A sudden realization flashed in Kuai Jun's eyes. Pang Tong was Gan Ning's deputy strategist, and his visit to his father was likely not without reason.

“My father is in good health, actually he has always been like that. Please sit for a moment, I will go and inform my father.”

Kuai Jun invited Pang Tong to sit down in the guest hall, and he hurriedly went to report to his father.

At this moment, Kuai Liang was reading in his room. When he saw his son rushing over, he asked with a smile, "Why are you in such a hurry? Is there something important?"

"Father, Pang Shiyuan has arrived."

Kuai Liang was taken aback. Why was Pang Tong here? He hesitated for a moment and asked, "Did he say why he came?"

"He said he was just coming to visit Father, but he didn't even go to his own Pang family home. Father, I'm afraid he's up to no good!"

Kuai Liang waved his hand, "Don't say that. Our Kuai family has not done anything to harm Xi Chu, and they have no ill intentions towards the Kuai family."

"Should the child first assess his background?"

Kuai Liang pondered for a moment and said, "No need, just invite him to my study."

Kuai Liang was not confused at all. He intuitively felt that Pang Tong's visit to Jiangling this time was actually to ask him for a favor, or more accurately, Gan Ning's favor.

(End of this chapter)