Liu Lu had only just left when another man entered the hall.
The newcomer was Jiao Bo, who looked somewhat conflicted.
As soon as he entered, he bowed deeply to Cao Mao.
"Your Majesty, I truly do not wish to leave you. I only wish to remain by your side."
After recovering Jiangbei, Cao Wei had decided to adopt a temporary system of governance, as its territory was incomplete and its administrative divisions consequently remained unclear.
The imperial court had established a commandery-level administration centered on Jiangling. In private, people called it Jiangling, but official documents had to refer to it as Nan Commandery.
Cao Mao had also established Nanping Commandery in Xiling and the surrounding areas. Centered on Xiling, it included places such as Lexiang, in preparation for capturing them.
Cao Mao had appointed Wang Xun Governor of Nan Commandery and was preparing to appoint Jiao Bo Governor of Nanping.
These detailed divisions were also preparations for taking the commanderies south of the river next.
Although Xiling bordered the Shu Kingdom and stood on Wei's battlefront, it was unquestionably a good posting.
Though Jingzhou lay in the south, Jiangbei had a favorable climate and favorable conditions in other respects, and the Shu Kingdom was almost certain not to launch an attack from there. It would be enough for them if Cao Wei did not attack them.
The Shu Kingdom's garrison at Yongan numbered fewer than twenty thousand. Besides, Xiling might have carried some unpleasant memories for the Shu people.
After all, it had once been called Yiling.
Moreover, the court's establishment of Nanping Commandery was enough to show that Great Wei's next objective was to capture Jingnan. Judging by Wang Zhennan's speed at cultivating the land, Jingnan's fall was not far off. This was military merit delivered straight to