Jiang Jin once again gathered Zhou Sui and the others for a meeting.
For the intelligence gatherers they had trained over the winter months, they needed to devise different plans based on the varying situations in different commanderies and counties.
Placing hidden pieces was not just a matter of infiltrating them; they also had to send people to make contact, figure out how to pass messages, and determine how to respond to emergencies.
Xia Chanyi asked hesitantly, My Lord, are we planning to attack Zhou County next?
Jiang Jin looked up at her. Why Zhou County?
Xia Chanyi thought for a moment and replied, As long as we occupy Zhou County, we can join forces with Zea Commandery to split Feng Province in two, and then we can take Donghu Commandery.
Jiang Jin looked at the others and asked, What do you all think?
Zhou Sui shook his head. That will not work.
Yao Ji looked at the map. Indeed, it is not a good idea. If we cut off Qu Zhaos forces from the middle, separating their east and west, we will become their primary enemy.
Yun Ci nodded. Exactly. Donghu Commandery has a vast territory. It is currently the most intact commandery occupied by Qu Zhao, as well as the most stable. The salt and grain used by the Qu Zhao people are mostly provided by Donghu.
Once we occupy Zhou County and cut off the main transportation routes between the two sides, Qu Zhao will definitely do whatever it takes to take Zhou County back.
With our current military strength, we cannot handle their full-scale counterattack. Even if we could hold it, we would inevitably suffer heavy losses.
Moreover, Zhou Sui added, although Zea Commandery is guarded by the Han people, who can guarantee that they are on the same page as us?
Jiang Jin nodded in satisfaction. With her current force of five thousand soldiers, there was indeed no way she could withstand a full-scale siege by Qu Zhao.
Xia Chanyi frowned. My Lord, which city will we attack next then?
Zhou Sui and the others also looked at Jiang Jin, waiting for her decision.
Jiang Jin smiled faintly. At present, I have no intention of expanding our sphere of influence.
She looked around at the group and said, Amass grain and build high walls, this is what we should be doing right now. We only have Gefeng; we have nowhere to retreat!
Therefore, Gefeng is especially important to us. Until the new city is built, I do not plan to attack other commanderies or counties.
However, she changed the subject, we can use our advantages to consume the effective strength of the Qu Zhao army. Simply put, we will fight a guerrilla war against them.
Everyones eyes lit up. Having followed Jiang Jin for so long, they had fought many guerrilla and jungle battles.
This method of combat was absolutely perfect for a small force that possessed an elite unit like the Dragon Shadow Guards.
Jiang Jin pointed to the map and said, We now have Gefeng, so we will use Gefeng as our center. As long as the Qu Zhao army passes through the Gefeng area, we will strike whenever we can.
Zhou Sui smiled. Like the flocks of sheep and herds of horses this time?
Jiang Jin nodded. Exactly. As for these hidden pieces, once they are infiltrated, they do not need to do anything for now. They just need to lay low and gather information. We will activate them when we need them, and I believe that day will not be too far off.
Zhou County was indeed not the most suitable target to attack at the moment, but she already had a goal in mind: Chunrong County and Shanguan County to the east of Gefeng.
As long as she took these two counties, they could form a triangular encirclement with Gefeng, allowing for mutual attack and defense.
Behind Chunrong County lay the Gesi Mountains, which held abundant resources.
Shanguan County boasted fertile land that she could use for farming.
However, thinking of the current weather conditions, she sighed deeply in her heart. Time was running out.
Gefeng Academy.
Xu Chuan and Zhang Zhu sat behind a group of children, looking completely out of place.
They were extremely curious about the pinyin and simplified characters that Chen Xi had mentioned, and they couldn't wait to attend class as soon as they arrived in Gefeng.
Not only did they attend the children's classes, but they also joined the adult literacy classes. In short, they seized every opportunity to learn.
Chen Xi had no objections to this; as long as they paid the tuition for the children's class, it was fine.
What she didn't know was just how astonished Xu Chuan and his companion were when they saw that the head of the academy was actually a young, tender woman.
However, remembering that the Lord of Gefeng was also a young woman, they quickly came to terms with it.
After two days of classes, they were deeply fascinated by pinyin, completely engrossed in it, wishing they could spell out every single character they knew.
Before they knew it, class was over. They stood up with the children to thank the teacher, and only after the teacher left did the two follow the children out of the academy.
"Coming to Gefeng was definitely the right choice. Besides pinyin and simplified characters, the multiplication tables and Arabic numerals are also fascinating," Xu Chuan sighed with emotion.
Zhang Zhu, walking half a step behind him, agreed, "Indeed. It seems we need to study hard."
A few days later, Mei Sheng and Mei Ren set off in a grand procession with their slaves and guards, still accompanied by Chen Xi, who was spreading the teachings.
Meanwhile, Mei Cai returned home to prepare to bring his clansmen over. Jiang Jin also dispatched a good number of soldiers to escort him and ensure their safety.
After seeing off the Mei family, Jiang Jin was just about to go to the outer city to check on the flocks of sheep when good news arrived from the glass workshop.
She changed her route and headed straight for the glass workshop in the industrial zone.
Feng Qingzhu was very excited. "My Lord, I never imagined that glaze, uh, glass, could actually be blown like this. It's too beautiful."
Jiang Jin looked at the row of various glass vessels lined up on the shelves: cups, plates, bottles...
The transparency of this glass was incomparable to the colored glaze of this era, so it was no wonder Feng Qingzhu was so thrilled.
Jiang Jin looked at the dozen or so glass artisans standing to the side, who were equally excited. "You have all done very well."
The artisans quickly waved their hands. "We wouldn't dare take the credit; it's all because of Your Lordship's excellent teachings."
Jiang Jin smiled and asked, "Is flat glass still not working out?"
At the mention of this, the artisans looked ashamed. "We are ashamed to say that we still cannot blow large pieces of glass. We can only blow these small glass vessels."
Jiang Jin thought for a moment and said, "If large ones are hard to blow, you can try blowing smaller ones. I plan to use the flat glass for windows."
Feng Qingzhu's eyes lit up. That's right! If windows were made of transparent glass, how bright the interior of the rooms would be!
Not only would it be bright, but the glass would also block the wind and rain!
At this moment, she finally understood why Jiang Jin had left such large window openings in the houses; she had been waiting for the glass.
Jiang Jin continued, "The glass windows will be made with wooden frames and designed to open and close. The glass can be divided into several panes and inlaid into the wooden windows; it doesn't have to be one single, large sheet."
Everyone understood her meaning. This was indeed a wonderful solution.
"Glass vessels should primarily be practical, such as for holding oil, salt, and so on," Jiang Jin said, pointing at the containers on the shelf.
"Also, you can make more glass cups for drinking water and wine. I will draw a few designs for you later, and you can just follow the blueprints."
The artisans were overjoyed. "Yes, My Lord."
Remembering something, Jiang Jin offered another suggestion: "You can gather some colored stones and add them during the blowing process. That way, the glass will take on different colors."
Feng Qingzhu was amazed. "This... can it really be done like that?"
"That is a given," Jiang Jin affirmed. "But you will need to test out the specifics yourselves."
Even though they were in the midst of a war, there was no shortage of wealthy individuals. The Mei family and people like He Li, for example, were merely considered small to medium-sized merchants.
Transparent glassware was already breathtaking enough; if they could create pieces in an array of colors, she was certain those rich merchants would gladly pay a premium for them.
Jiang Jin then outlined the general production process, and the craftsmen eagerly jotted down notes as they listened.
They were all fully literate and had achieved excellent results in their studies. In fact, this had been one of the very criteria Dong Si and Feng Qingzhu used when originally selecting them for the job.
