Chapter Ninety-Three: Those Who Know How to Choose a Side

Yelü Min and Yelü Huan were both Khitan, but at the very least neither of them would lie with a straight face, and compared with the others they were downright honest. In the future, if Zhao Yu wanted to secure a foothold in Youzhou, it would be impossible for all of his men to be Han Chinese generals. What ethnicity they were did not matter; they could be slowly assimilated.

During this period, Wusong and Lin Chong had been living in the barracks almost entirely, and since both of them had risen from Zhao Yu’s personal guard, they also had quarters in Zhao Yu’s estate.

After drinking and eating their fill, Yelü Min and Yelü Huan took their leave, but Wusong and Lin Chong stayed behind.

Youzhou had originally possessed twenty thousand troops, but most of them were Han Chinese and Mongols, because the Khitan elite had all been transferred north to serve as cannon fodder.

Once the decree abolishing slavery had been issued, especially after Xiao Keyeda had been killed to set an example, many slaves were freed. During Zhao Yu’s absence, more than ten thousand soldiers had been recruited in succession.

Lin Chong’s and Wusong’s main task now was to train these men, but command authority still rested in the hands of Yelü Min and Yelü Huan. So if Zhao Yu wanted these troops to obey him completely, it was simply impossible in the short term.

Zhao Yu knew this was not something to rush. Otherwise, it would very likely arouse Yelü Min and the others’ suspicion.

After hearing the two men’s report, Zhao Yu pondered for a moment and said, “It would not be proper for me to appear in person on this matter. Tomorrow, after we return to the barracks, you can take the chance of training the troops to suggest to Yelü Min that a full-army martial contest be held. Select some especially capable soldiers or low-ranking officers and train them intensively, turn them into your students, and then fill them into the various units.”

At the wine table just now, Yelü Min and Yelü Huan had both spoken very highly of Wusong and Lin Chong. Moreover, when Zhao Yu mentioned the Jurchens, they also understood that a war with the Jurchens would come sooner or later, and thus knew that forging a strong army was imperative.

With that premise in place, Zhao Yu believed Yelü Min would agree to Wusong’s and Lin Chong’s proposal.

Of course, controlling the army by such means was only one part of the matter; logistics and provisions were the other.

Before the end of the year, when Zhao Yu had not yet left Youzhou, he had already discussed this issue with Yang Xu. Now that Zhao Yu was back, the first thing he needed to do was to bring that matter into effect.

In every dynasty, the north’s supplies largely came from the Central Plains, so the first thing Zhao Yu had to do was invigorate Youzhou’s economy. Once the economy improved, the army’s various logistical guarantees would be able to keep pace.

Before Zhao Yu left Shangjing, he had already sent word to Yang Xu. Yang Xu spent most of his time in Taiyuan now, and by reckoning the days, he should be arriving soon.

Military affairs and economic affairs both now had a direction, but Zhao Yu knew that he was still very far from his goal. First of all, he simply had too few usable men. There were too few military officers, and as for civil officials, there was no need to speak of them at all.

Again, this was not something to rush. It could only be done little by little.

The next morning, a guard came to report that a merchant surnamed Fu was asking for an audience at the gate.

A merchant surnamed Fu?

After a slight start, Zhao Yu immediately thought of someone, but he still found it hard to believe. After some hesitation, he simply followed the guard to the front gate.

Outside the mansion gate, a fat man wearing a cotton robe and a rabbit-fur cap was standing respectfully at the foot of the steps.

“Shopkeeper Fu, so it really is you! Hahaha... I knew I had not mistaken the man. Quickly, come in.”

After Zhao Yu made out the man’s face, he leapt down the steps in a single stride, then took the fat man by the arm and led him inside, not even giving him the chance to bow or speak.

It turned out that this fat Shopkeeper Fu was none other than Fu Gui, the head of the Canal Gang’s intelligence network in Jiangnan, the very man Zhao Yu had left in place when he had gone down to the south of the Yangtze.

That Zhao Yu had personally come out to meet him clearly exceeded Fu Gui’s expectations. A trace of emotion welled up in his eyes, and he could not help feeling that this trip to Youzhou had been the right one.

As Zhao Yu led Fu Gui inside, he turned to Yan Qing beside him and said, “See that Shopkeeper Fu’s attendants are properly looked after. Also tell the gatekeeper that I have important guests today, and I am seeing no one.”

Fu Gui heard this, and his feelings deepened further. It was said that Prince Yi was righteous and benevolent, but now it seemed those assessments of the young prince were still too narrow. This was a man who could truly accomplish great things...

After ordering a banquet to be prepared, Zhao Yu first invited Fu Gui to the study.

As soon as he entered, Fu Gui ignored Zhao Yu’s attempts to stop him and performed a solemn kowtow. By his own account, although the prince was gracious and humble toward men of talent, ritual could not be neglected.

After they were seated again, Fu Gui spoke directly. “Although Big Brother Jiang has already issued orders to sever all ties with Your Highness, this humble one knows that Your Highness was harmed by treacherous men. So no matter what, I am willing to follow Your Highness to the death, and I beg that Your Highness not cast me aside.”

Jiangnan had already descended into utter chaos. The court had failed in its efforts to quell the rebellion, Zhao Yu had been pushed to the center of the storm, and Jiang Laoda and the others had defected at the critical moment. It seemed as if Zhao Yu no longer had any chance of turning things around.

Fu Gui had only met Zhao Yu once, but after witnessing all that this prince had done in Jiangnan, he had come to feel that this young prince was the one truly worthy of trust.

Many people succeeded not because they possessed extraordinary ability, but because they had vision and knew which side to choose.

Fu Gui was unquestionably such a person.

After listening to Fu Gui, Zhao Yu’s expression turned grave. He rose and clasped his hands in a deep bow to Fu Gui. “Today’s kindness from Shopkeeper Fu, I will surely repay one day.”

He was the sort of man who trusted his people and did not suspect them without cause. Moreover, if Fu Gui truly intended to play both sides, he would only die even more miserably; Fu Gui himself surely understood that.

Fu Gui quickly returned the salute and continued, “As instructed by Your Highness before, I have already moved my men underground, and at the same time severed all contact with the Bianliang side. What should we do next? I beg Your Highness to make it clear.”

Zhao Yu thought for a moment before saying, “Fang La will not last long. Jiangnan will remain in turmoil for some time yet. What you need to do now is preserve your strength. In addition, supplies are scarce here in Youzhou, so you must also find a way to bring in some of the goods that are urgently needed on this side.”

The Song and Liao had never truly been on good terms. In the past there had been border markets, but the range of goods that could be traded was limited. Especially after the Great Song prepared for another northern campaign, all the border markets were shut down entirely, which only made life in the Yanyun region that much harder.

Food was one thing, but supplies such as salt, iron, medicines, cotton, hemp, and the like were all desperately lacking in the Yanyun region.

Fu Gui nodded. “This humble one understands Your Highness’s difficulties. It is only that while the goods may be easy enough to obtain, getting them across the frontier is likely to be difficult.”

Almost all Song border generals engaged in smuggling, but it was always small-scale and carried out with great secrecy. Outsiders like Fu Gui had no way of finding a proper channel.

But just because Fu Gui lacked such a channel did not mean Zhao Yu did as well. Yang Xu had not been staying in Taiyuan all this time for nothing.

“These matters shall be handled by me, and I certainly will not let you lose money on the deal. Later, I will send a specialist to make arrangements with you.”

Fu Gui nodded, then suddenly slapped his forehead. “Look at me, nearly forgetting such an important matter.”

“I have a clan cousin serving as an official in Youzhou. I had originally planned to go seek refuge with him if I failed to see Your Highness.”

“Oh? What is your clan cousin called? And what post does he currently hold?”

This was truly an unexpected delight. Zhao Yu had been worrying that he had no one available for administrative matters, and yet someone like this had appeared right before his eyes...