Chapter 25: Lord Liu and the Strategy of Hegemony

Upon returning home from the Yizhou Governor’s office, Zhao Wei had barely sat down in his study when his only son, Zhao Xi, hurried in.

"Father, I have found out about Gan Ning’s background."

"Impulsive as always." Zhao Wei eyed his son, who was covered in the dust of travel, wondering when he would ever learn to be steady. He asked, "Where is Gan Ning from, and what is his background?"

Zhao Xi gave a mysterious smile and countered, "Father, have you ever heard of the Brocade-Sail Bandits of Ba Commandery?"

"Brocade-Sail Bandits?" Zhao Wei pondered the term. After a long moment, he shook his head. As a son of a prominent aristocratic family, he had spent his early years at the Imperial Academy in Luoyang and later served in the imperial court, rising to the rank of Prefect of the Grand Granary. Had it not been for the chaos engulfing the empire, he would have remained in the capital and likely never returned to Yizhou. He had neither dealings with nor interest in the bandits of Ba Commandery, so he knew little of them.

Seeing this, Zhao Xi offered a hint: "They are a group of reckless youths. They roam about in bands, carrying bows and arrows, with bird feathers in their hair and bells dangling from their waists. They drift through Ba Commandery without a care."

"Whenever these rogues appear, they love to show off. On land, they display a grand procession of carriages and cavalry; on the water, they lash their light boats together. Even their servants are draped in fine silks. Wherever they go, they radiate ostentation. When they stop, they use silk ribbons to moor their boats; when they leave, they cut the silk and cast it away, just to flaunt their wealth and extravagance."

"That is why people call them the 'Brocade-Sail Bandits'."

Following this vivid description, a memory stirred in Zhao Wei. He recalled hearing rumors of a group of extravagant bandits in Ba Commandery. It was said that they frequented cities, and if local officials or acquaintances received them with great ceremony, the bandits would offer their absolute loyalty, willing to endure any hardship for them. However, if the proper etiquette was not observed, they would plunder property and even kill. These bandits acted on their own whims, a true blight upon the region. As an aristocrat, Zhao Wei could not help but show his disdain.

"What does the Brocade-Sail Bandits have to do with Gan Ning? Don't tell me he was one of them?" Zhao Wei asked. Ever since he heard that Liu Zhang had appointed Gan Ning—the Assistant Administrator of Shu Commandery—as a Colonel, he had tasked his son with investigating the man. To know one's enemy is to be invincible. Besides, it gave his son something to do; otherwise, the young man would just drift aimlessly around the mansion, wasting his life.

Zhao Xi smiled with the pleasure of revealing a secret: "Gan Ning isn't just one of them; he was their leader. He is from Linjiang, far from our ancestral home in Anhan, so it took some time to find out."

"Father, isn't it laughable? Liu Zhang actually appointed such a brigand as a Colonel. If this gets out, people will laugh until their teeth fall out."

Zhao Wei did not share his son’s amusement. He frowned, stroking his goatee as he thought. He sensed that things were not so simple. For a man like Gan Ning to be appointed Colonel immediately upon meeting the timid Liu Zhang suggested he was no ordinary character. Timid people generally feared contact with strangers; usually, it took years of acquaintance for someone to earn Liu Zhang’s trust. Even Zhang Lu, who acted as a loyal dog for Liu Yan, was now being viewed with suspicion by Liu Zhang.

Zhang Lu’s mother and younger brother were still being held hostage in Chengdu, yet in his meeting with Zhao Wei today, Liu Zhang had hinted at replacing Zhang Lu. It was pitiful that Zhang Lu, who had borne the infamy of being a "Rice Bandit" for the sake of Liu Yan, was still treated with distrust.

Zhao Wei felt he needed to know more about Gan Ning. This situation was not simple, and neither was the man. It made him feel uneasy.

***

On a tower ship drifting along the Dangqu River in Ba Commandery:

"Governor Liu possesses a magnificent presence and the strategic vision of a king."

Gan Ning described Liu Zhang with infectious enthusiasm. Opposite him, Shen Mi and Lou Fa exchanged glances, their expressions full of doubt. Since his mother had urged him to settle down, their friend Gan Ning had studied hard and risen from a minor clerk to become the Assistant Administrator of Shu Commandery during his visit to Chengdu.

They had assumed Gan Ning left Chengdu because he could no longer tolerate the bullying of the Easterners, or because the new Governor of Yizhou, Liu Zhang, was a weakling with no future. But from Gan Ning’s tone, it was clear he didn't intend to stay in Ba Commandery. He planned to gather his old followers and go to Chengdu to make his mark—under that very same "weak" Liu Zhang.

When speaking of Liu Zhang, Gan Ning’s eyes shone with reverence. He seemed completely won over. He even praised Liu Zhang’s character as possessing the "strategic vision of a king."

If anyone else had said this, Shen Mi and Lou Fa would have walked away on the spot. Liu Zhang’s reputation for being kind but weak was known throughout all of Ba and Shu. But coming from Gan Ning, who was known to be bright, bold, and shrewd, they could not help but wonder. Gan Ning looked down on those he considered inferior, so his words carried weight.

The cautious Shen Mi spoke up: "Is there proof?" He needed to confirm if Gan Ning’s claims were credible.

Gan Ning looked confident. "Wenyuan, do you know what military rank Governor Liu bestowed upon me?"

Shen Mi pondered. Low-level positions like platoon leader or company commander were out of the question. He ventured a guess: "A Commandant?"

Gan Ning smiled and shook his head, teasing, "Wenyuan, why do you underestimate me so?"

Shen Mi touched his chin. If Commandant was an underestimate, then it had to be Colonel. But that seemed impossible. He considered another possibility: an adjutant to a Colonel. "Could it be a Major?"

Gan Ning burst into laughter, tears welling in his eyes. When he finally calmed down, he shook his head mysteriously.

"Colonel," said the soft-spoken Lou Fa. It was the only option left.

Gan Ning straightened up, affirming, "Indeed, Colonel. Brother Zichu truly has a keen eye."

"Colonel? How is that possible?" Shen Mi gasped, utterly astonished. "What kind of love potion did you feed the Governor to get that?"

Gan Ning grinned, revealing his white teeth. "Actually, Wenyuan, you were right about the Major rank—but it wasn't for me." He signaled to Gan Jiu, who was standing to the side. Gan Jiu bowed to Shen Mi and Lou Fa and said, "Thanks to the Governor's favor, I have been appointed as a Major."

Even Lou Fa, who had remained calm until now, looked surprised. He could accept Gan Ning as a Colonel, as he was already an Assistant Administrator, but Gan Jiu was a commoner from a lowly background—his mother was a bondservant, and he didn't even have a courtesy name.

Shen Mi and Lou Fa exchanged another look, falling into deep thought. It appeared this new Governor of Yizhou was broad-minded, ignoring social status to the point of promoting a servant’s son to the rank of Major.

Gan Ning watched them, letting them ponder while he sipped his wine. *The wine of Ba Commandery is better than Chengdu’s; the taste of home is superior.*

He finished the cup in one gulp, feeling a sense of camaraderie. *The people of Ba are also excellent. Shen Mi and Lou Fa are rare military talents.*

Shen Mi was rigorous and well-versed in strategy; the formations he set were flawless. Lou Fa was a master archer who could split a willow branch from a hundred paces, a feat rivaling the legendary Yang Youji. As their close friend, Gan Ning wanted to guide them to a bright future.

When one attains wealth and honor, one must not forget one's friends.