Chapter 30: I Already Have a Broad Plan for Developing Panyu

Wu Ju and Qu Jing remained silent. It was true that after the struggle between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, Liu Bang had emerged victorious, establishing the Han Dynasty. However, there was a critical difference: although Liu Bang had suffered countless defeats at the hands of Xiang Yu, his foundation in Guanzhong had always remained intact. Unlike him, the current Liu Bei had no foothold whatsoever. If someone were to claim that he intended to use Jiaozhou as a base to contend for the empire—especially at a time when the rest of the world was already unified—they would surely be laughed at. Given such a precarious situation, it was no wonder the two men were worried.

Zhao Shaojie continued, "I know what you are worried about, but look at me. I have come all the way from the north; why?"

"Because I have always firmly believed that the man who will ultimately rule the empire is Lord Xuande!"

"Most importantly, Lord Xuande will never set foot in Jiaozhou. By the end of this year at the latest, you will hear the news that Lord Xuande has defeated Cao Cao in Jingzhou!"

In truth, Zhao Shaojie did not know the exact date of the Battle of Red Cliffs, but he recalled from television that it took place in the winter, so it must be near the end of the year. Wu Ju and Qu Jing were stunned, looking at Zhao Shaojie with disbelief. They acknowledged his loyalty, courage, and strategy, but his assertion that Cao Cao would be defeated by the end of the year was simply impossible for them to believe. Yet, seeing such conviction in a young man, Wu Ju was deeply moved. As a close friend of Liu Bei, he had always admired him; there was no reason he should be outdone by a newcomer. He immediately shouted, "Fine! I, too, am full of confidence in Lord Xuande!"

"Come, let us drink a full cup and swear to fight the rebel Cao to the end!"

Qu Jing, also a man of bold nature, shared a similar temperament with Wu Ju. Though his loyalty to the Han might not have been absolute, he was swept up in the emotion. He raised his cup and declared, "The battle has not yet been fought; the outcome is still uncertain!" Yuan Lin and Wei Yan, both die-hard loyalists of Liu Bei, were delighted to see Wu Ju and Qu Jing take such a stance. They feasted through the night, the host and guests enjoying themselves as if Liu Bei’s power had already grown immense.

...

The next day, Zhao Shaojie bade farewell to Guangxin and continued on toward Panyu. After receiving their message, Mi Fang, Xu Shu, Lai Gong, Huang Zhong, and the others hurried to occupy Panyu, fearing that any delay would give their opponents a chance to react.

Just as Zhao Shaojie was traveling toward the Panyu he had longed for, Liu Bei received a telegram from Jiaozhou.

"Oh? Yulin Commandery taken in a single stroke?" Liu Bei was pleasantly surprised. Although he knew Jiaozhou was remote and militarily weak, it was still a province, and he had not expected to receive news of victory so quickly.

"Heaven protects the Lord!" Zhuge Liang and the others exclaimed with emotion.

A smile appeared on Liu Bei's face as he continued to read, but suddenly, his brows furrowed, his expression shifted drastically, and he stood up abruptly, roaring, "Mi Fang, Xu Shu! What is the meaning of this?"

Everyone was accustomed to Liu Bei, who rarely let his emotions show on his face. Seeing him suddenly so enraged, they were all astonished and asked, "My Lord, what has happened?"

Liu Bei gritted his teeth and said, "Mi Zifang and Xu Yuanzhi actually allowed Zhao Shaojie to go and meet Shi Xie alone! I had repeatedly warned them in private not to let Zhao Shaojie act recklessly. He is still young and not yet our..." He nearly let the secret slip. "If any harm comes to Zhao Shaojie, what use would it be even if we possessed all of Jiaozhou?"

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, Guan Yu, and the others were completely stunned. Was Zhao Shaojie actually more important than an entire province? Liu Bei’s brow remained tightly knitted. He already believed that Zhao Shaojie was a man from the future. How vital was a man from the future who knew history to him? Sitting down immediately, Liu Bei began to write orders himself. He had to have Mi Fang and Xu Shu bring Zhao Shaojie back, even if it meant abandoning Jiaozhou and retreating to Jingzhou!

...

While Liu Bei was consumed with worry for Zhao Shaojie’s safety, Zhao Shaojie had traveled happily all the way and finally arrived at Panyu.

"Is this Panyu?" Zhao Shaojie gazed at the city, imagining the future international metropolis of Guangzhou.

Wei Yan frowned and said, "I don't know what is so good about this Panyu. You have been talking about it the whole way, but I don't see anything special."

Zhao Shaojie laughed. "That is only natural. If you knew, that would be truly extraordinary!" With that, he stepped ashore and headed forward.

At the city gate, Mi Fang, Xu Shu, and the others were already waiting. Seeing such a grand reception, Zhao Shaojie was taken aback and laughed, "Do you miss me that much?" Mi Fang, Xu Shu, and the others smiled.

"Missing Shaojie is true, but more importantly, if not for Shaojie, how could we have entered Panyu so easily?" Xu Shu said with a smile.

Mi Fang agreed, "Exactly."

Lai Gong looked at an elder beside him and said, "This is Governor Er Xiaode. He has always been loyal to the Han Dynasty and has long been dissatisfied with the Shi family for occupying the commanderies of Jiaozhou! He is very welcoming of our arrival!"

Zhao Shaojie greeted the man and said, "Governor, your righteousness is commendable."

Er Xiaode smiled, "Jiaozhou is the territory of the Han. How can it be dominated by the Shi family? Returning the administration to the imperial court is the duty of a Han official!"

As for Shi Xie, the great tyrant who occupied Jiaozhou, not only were Zhao Shaojie and the others wary of him, but Er Xiaode also feared and detested him. Therefore, when he heard that Lai Gong and the others planned to move the provincial capital here, he had agreed without hesitation.

Xu Shu and Mi Fang had found it hard to believe that Shi Xie would simply give up Nanhai Commandery. After all, of the entire Jiaozhou, the only truly prosperous commanderies were Jiaozhi, held by Shi Xie, and Nanhai. Cangwu was passable, but Yulin was purely inferior. Letting Yulin go was understandable, but giving up Nanhai was truly hard to believe. They had feared that Zhao Shaojie had somehow learned of the death of Shi Wu and, having secretly informed them, had urged them to enter Nanhai before Shi Xie could appoint a new governor. In that case, Zhao Shaojie would have been in grave danger while at Shi Xie's court. They had been preparing for an attack by Shi Xie while trying to figure out how to rescue Zhao Shaojie from Jiaozhi. Now that Zhao Shaojie had returned safely, both of them were overjoyed.

Hearing their concerns, Zhao Shaojie laughed, "Don't worry, I would never put myself in danger. I value my life very much!" He then turned to Lai Gong and Er Xiaode, changing the subject: "Governor Lai, Governor Er, I already have a general plan for the development of Panyu!"

"I aim to build Panyu into an economic center for the Great Han as soon as possible!"

"This will require your full support!"

Lai Gong and Er Xiaode were both dumbfounded. While they generally understood his meaning, they felt this young man who had just stormed the Shi family's den was perhaps being whimsical. Making Panyu an economic center for the Han?

"Papermaking, solar salt production, iron smelting..." Zhao Shaojie counted off on his fingers. He remembered that Foshan had iron mines; he had often read about them in online novels set in the Ming and Qing eras. In times of war, food and iron were equally important. There were also papermaking and solar salt production, which he felt were sure to succeed—these were excellent ways to build wealth.

As he spoke, Zhao Shaojie’s expression suddenly froze. He seemed to have been so excited that he had forgotten something!