Jiuzhen and Hepu Commanderies were stripped clean of troops, horses, money, and grain, leaving only empty shells to return under Jiao Province's jurisdiction. The Shi Clan believed that after Lan Tian took them over, he would need a long time to set things in order. They hoped to stall for time until Sun Quan sent troops into Jiao Province to "besiege Wei to rescue Zhao."
Lan Tian saw through Shi Xie's scheme. He accepted everything as it came and countered each move in turn. Jiao Province's advanced political system showed its advantages there.
With the support of the young officials long prepared by the Rites Bureau, Li Yi's Navy at Danzhou Military Port, and Shamoke's Wuxi Barbarians in Rinan, the security situation in the two commanderies quickly began to stabilize.
The desperately scarce supplies of the two commanderies were also eased through the unified allocation of the Household Bureau. The people in both places gradually resumed production, and there were no incidents of popular uprisings or collapsing public order at all.
Just as the Shi Clan was left dazzled and overwhelmed, Sun Quan of Jiangdong finally brought them news. Shi Xun, the eldest legitimate son who had been held hostage in Eastern Wu, had returned to Jiao Province and was temporarily staying in Shi Zhi's Hepu Commandery.
Shi Xun's purpose was perfectly clear. Sun Quan's envoy, Sun Bu, had brought him back to inherit the position. Shi Xie was now old and sickly, unable to manage affairs, and Sun Quan had designated a successor for the Shi Clan. After all, Shi Xun had been "trained" in Jiangdong for many years. Only his succession would serve Sun Quan's interests, and only then would Jiangdong be willing to send troops to aid the Shi Clan.
Sun Quan's arrangements disrupted Shi Xie's plans.