Chapter 69

While Xun was running to consult Cheng Li, Cao Cao and Cao De were drinking and discussing matters. Cao Cao asked, "Brother, you specifically asked for Shi Hongfu. It's not just because his job is easy, right? What is your true intention?"

Cao De smiled slightly and countered, "What does Brother think of Shi Hongfu? What are his shortcomings?"

Cao Cao recounted the words he had spoken to Xun Yu and Xiahou Dun to his brother, and then said, "Shi Hongfu is just past twenty, lacking practical experience, which is his shortcoming—could it be that you want him to go to the counties to gain some experience?"

Cao De shook his head, "I believe that Shi Hongfu will surely bring surprises. He is a remarkable man of his time, and what he lacks is not practical experience, but confidence."

Cao Cao was puzzled, "Xun once spoke eloquently in my tent. You didn't see it, but I believe he lacks something. To say he lacks confidence, could someone without confidence persuade me so successfully?"

Cao De leaned in closer and lowered his voice, "Brother, do you think all of Shi Hongfu's insights come from Chen Deng and Cao Hong? But if I tell you that the strategy of the alliance between Xu and Yanzhou originally came from Shi Hongfu, and that Chen Yu and Cao Zhonghui were merely his pawns, would you believe it?"

Cao Cao was startled and quickly asked, "How did you come to this conclusion?" Cao De explained, "This is something Shi Hongfu once told me. He knew that Xu Province could not be defended, so he persuaded Chen Deng and Cao Hong to offer Xu Province to you or to Liu Xuande of Pingyuan. Based on my observations and analysis, he was not lying. This person not only understands the situation in Xu and Yanzhou but also has a clear view of the entire nation. But why did you misunderstand him, thinking he was just a mouthpiece for Chen Deng and others? It's because he lacks confidence. When he was entrusted with important tasks, he had to speak boldly, but once he joined your staff, he became hesitant to speak, fearing that a wrong word would make you look down on him."

"Brother, don't confuse cause and effect. Think about the root. The alliance between Xu and Yanzhou, and even the offering of Xu Province to you, would Chen Yu entrust such a grand plan to someone who only talks? Our family has always been at odds with the Zong family. How could being the son-in-law of Cao Bao help in persuading you? Moreover, regarding the policy of land reclamation, if it wasn't Shi Hongfu's plan but Chen Yu's, why didn't Xu Province implement it first, given that it already had displaced people and resources?"

Cao Cao pondered for a long time before speaking, "So you want Shi Hongfu to do some practical work, not just organize documents, to boost his confidence? Alright, I'll wait and see what surprises he brings us."

Three days later, Shi Xun left Juancheng with the official letter from the Governor of Jiyin, Cao De, to begin his journey to the counties. Jiyin Prefecture had a total of eleven counties, with the northernmost Juancheng and Linqiu directly under the jurisdiction of the Inspector Cao Cao. Dingtao, the seat of the prefecture, could be ignored. The remaining eight counties were Lihou, Chengyang, Gouyang, Chengshi, Yuanju, Chengwu, Danfu, and Yishi. Shi Xun planned to go straight south to Chengyang first.

He followed Cheng Li's "Second Method of County Inspection," traveling light and in disguise. Besides the accountant Lu Hong recommended by Cheng Li, he only brought two household slaves and a young book boy. This book boy was fifteen but looked like he was twelve, with a clear and handsome face, a bold spirit, a long sword at his waist, and a powerful horse, looking like a little Nezha!

Indeed, this book boy's name was Guan, with a single character "Si"...

Shi Xun was going to inspect the counties, and Guan Si insisted on following, saying, "Husband, you are so weak, what if you encounter bandits on the road? I must protect you, so you don't become a widow." Shi Xun said, "I can ask your father or Bai Laowu to be my bodyguard." As soon as he said this, Guan Si rushed out to beg her father Guan Hai and then kicked Bai Laowu until he was bruised. Guan Hai had lost his wife ten years ago and lived with his daughter, so he doted on her. He told Shi Xun, "I'm busy with farming and sowing, I can't leave now. Besides, if I leave Juancheng with you, would Cao Cao trust me?"

Shi Xun had no choice but to let Guan Si dress as a small book boy and travel with him. But less than two miles from their estate, he stopped his horse and pointed at Guan Si, "You, get off the horse."

Guan Si looked at him suspiciously, "Why?" Shi Xun said, "Do you see a book boy riding a tall horse, looking more impressive than his master? Get off and ride Lu Hong's donkey, let Lu Hong ride the horse." Guan Si refused, but Shi Xun mustered his courage and glared at her, "I'm traveling incognito. With your appearance, anyone can tell something is wrong. If you don't switch, I'll go back, change into my official clothes, and travel by carriage, extorting and oppressing the people. Then you can kill me—after all, you and your father have killed many corrupt officials, one more won't matter!"

He stuck out his neck, "Come on, for the sake of our engagement, give me a quick death."

Guan Si pouted, "Fine, I'll cut you, who's afraid of who? Extend your arm, I'll cut it first!" But she couldn't really do it, so she pouted and reluctantly switched to the donkey.

Shi Xun wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and, while still in a state of tension, said, "Your sword is too conspicuous, don't hang it on your waist, hide it next to the donkey. Also, don't speak without my permission. If you ruin my incognito mission, your husband's future will be ruined."

After setting these rules, they finally set off. They traveled along the main road for half a day and spent the night at a local household. The next morning, they saw a vast expanse of water ahead, the sunlight reflecting off it.

Shi Xun asked Lu Hong, who told him, "This is the famous Leize, also known as Leixiaze or Longze. According to legend, Huaxu once stepped on a giant's footprint by the lake and gave birth to the sage king Fuxi. Later, Emperor Shun plowed the land at Lishan and fished at Leize—this is the place. Leize is about twenty miles wide and fifteen miles long. After circling it, you can reach Chengyang County."

Shi Xun said, "That's a long detour. I wonder if there are any boats to cross?" Guan Si, who had been fighting alongside her father since she was ten, pointed far away, "There's a boat, and it's a big one."

Shi Xun shaded his eyes and looked in the direction she pointed. Indeed, about fifty meters from the shore, a painted boat was floating on the calm water—about the size of a stone boat in the Summer Palace, but not double-decked. He couldn't help but sneer, thinking, "This little girl has such a narrow view, calling this a big boat?"

But in this era, everyone seemed like country bumpkins to him in terms of transportation. He imagined that even if he saw the warships of Eastern Wu in the future, he would think, "Pfft, just a bit bigger than a bumper car."

Lu Hong rode to the shore and waved, calling out. Soon, the curtain of the boat lifted, and a scholar, about forty years old, with a tall hat and a broad belt, a white face, and a long beard, looked at them and replied, "This is not a ferry, but a pleasure boat. I don't take passengers."

Shi Xun immediately bowed deeply and said loudly, "The weather is pleasant, the water calm, and your refined interest deeply moves me. We are traveling from afar to Chengyang County and, seeing your boat, dare to ask if there are any ferries on this lake?"

The scholar, impressed by his manners and eloquence, hurriedly returned the bow and asked, "May I ask where you are from and your name?" Shi Xun improvised, "I am from Qingzhou, my surname is Yang..." He was about to say Yang Guo, but seeing the half-exposed scabbard on Guan Si's saddle, he shuddered, thinking the name was inauspicious, and quickly changed it to "Yang Xiu, courtesy name Dezu."

The scholar frowned, "I have not heard of a Yang family in Qingzhou." He saw the man on the shore riding a tall horse, dressed modestly but with a refined demeanor, and accompanied by several people, including a book boy riding a donkey, and thought he didn't look like a commoner but rather a young nobleman on a scholarly journey. But was there a Yang family of nobility in Qingzhou?

Since Shi Xun had taken the name Yang Xiu, he decided to go all the way, "My ancestral home is in Hongnong Huayin. I went to Qingzhou to seek Mr. Zheng Kangcheng but did not find him, and am now returning."

The Hongnong Yang family was a well-known clan, with four generations of high officials, from Yang Zhen to Yang Xiu's father Yang Biao (who was actually the highest-ranking official as Weiwei, and only became Grand Commandant after Emperor Xian fled Chang'an). So when the scholar heard that this young nobleman was from the Hongnong Yang family, his attitude immediately became warm, and he said, "I am Li Quan of Chengyang, it is an honor to meet you. There are no ferries on Leize, but please board my boat, and I