Chapter 74: Border Delineation
On the fifth day after the entire army crossed the river, the raised sections of the Ling River bed began to recover, and the river water continued to surge eastward, but soon it intermittently rose again, cutting off the flow once more. Each time the flow was cut off, it left bridge piers in the Ling River, and these bridge piers appeared continuously in five places in the river, meaning that in the coming months, five bridges would appear.
These bridge piers were made by stuffing large stones into bamboo baskets and placing them in the river while the water was cut off. After the river flow resumed, these piers steadily withstood the impact in the river water, and then the army felled huge logs to complete the bridge construction.
To ensure these five bridges were completed before the army withdrew, the Wu Family Army stationed here remained busy for the next month.
About forty days after the entire army crossed the river, most areas of the riverbank ferry were still only knee-deep. Armored soldiers removed their armor and turned into rope-pullers, pulling bamboo rafts to transport materials.
The Wu Family Army transported boulders down the river and piled them on both banks of these bridges. After the army’s killing intent infused the boulders, they were carved into elephant shapes.
At the end of the year, after the tamed beast carvings succeeded, elephant herd movements appeared in the jungle. The elephants, deterred by the killing intent, lingered without daring to approach, but Jia Mude sent wizards from the newly surrendered Southern Border Tribes to command the herd. Only after receiving the orders did the elephant herd dare to approach outside the camp.
And after each giant beast was successfully carved into an elephant, these elephants steadily stood in a row, exactly in the empty spaces of the army. As the army collectively performed a blessing ritual on the carved stone elephants, the elephant herd also stood solemnly in formation. Then, an old elephant tremblingly approached the stone elephant, and under the gazes of humans and elephants alike, the stone elephant and the old elephant overlapped in the light and shadow.
Although the Yao Army soldiers were astonished, they had long been warned by the military masters in the camp that this was a “deification ritual,” to be treated with the same solemnity as sacrificing to the state altars back home, so they followed ritual etiquette and showed respect.
Meanwhile, the elephants trumpeted toward the stone elephant. Unlike the previous sorrow of sending off an old elephant, they seemed to sense the echo of their kin from the stone elephant, happily communicating, and only left after a long time.
With the tamed beasts guarding them, these bridges would not be eroded by floods.
The above is the description most soldiers gave of their own firsthand experiences after crossing the river during Wu Fei’s first expedition across the Ling River.
Decades later, historians’ records were also based on such narrations from the now-aged soldiers who had crossed the river. That is, the establishment of the five elephant bridges made the north bank and south bank of the Ling River connected as if by a single thread of cloth, unifying under the Imperial Way.
And this bridge-building task was arranged by Wu Fei to keep the army from idling after crossing the river.
While the army was building bridges, Wu Fei did not wield an engineer shovel to share the hardships, but instead went deep into the jungle. —Anyone who has taken care of children knows that before leaving home for work, if you don’t assign homework to the kids at home, they might cause trouble.
In the jungle, Wu Qing rode a rhinoceros ahead to clear the path. Two teams of assimilated clawed people hunters advanced on both sides, and crow people patrolled in the sky. Wu Fei, Jia Mude, and Ang Ri were in the team. After marching for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they felt tranquility, with the noise far behind them.
Wu Fei turned back to look at the bustling vigor of the camp and nodded, saying: “When the Ling River tribes finally surrendered, they did not realize that building bridges would strengthen long-term development by linking the north and south banks.”
…Barbarians fear authority but embrace no virtue…
Time rewinds to just after crossing the river, in the central military camp, where Wu Fei and many officers and soldiers began discussing plans after crossing the river.
During this cross-river camping process, Wu Fei himself was meticulously executing the Military Strategy operation of “advancing slowly like a forest,” that is, exploring experience on how each camp maintained smooth command transmission amid the complex process of the army crossing the river. The military camp remained in a state of busy tension. The various camps only accepted surrenders from each tribe in the evening, and even so, Wu Fei showed no carelessness in handling the surrenders.
After crossing the river, Wu Fei dispatched vassal army to search for various tribes. These surviving Southern Ling River tribes, upon hearing the news, hurriedly boarded bamboo rafts, bared their bellies and chests, carried thorn branches on their backs, and advanced toward the camp.
Wu Fei further confirmed that there was truly no resistance south of the Ling River.
Zhao Xian Zhong beside Wu Fei was quite disappointed, like someone who draws his sword and looks around with a lost heart. At this moment, he very much hoped for a “fake surrender” to satisfy his craving.
Wu Fei even discovered this “head-hunting enthusiast” cursing at the captives behind his back, punching and kicking them to provoke these tribal leaders into resisting.
But the result was the opposite: the harder these tribal leaders were kicked, the more they flattered, declaring they wanted to be dogs of Da Yao.
Therefore, after consulting the classics, Wu Fei prepared brocade robes and elegant music, and according to ritual law and system, hosted the surrender ceremony.
From a modern perspective, the ceremony Wu Fei demanded was mainly to manipulate these survivors south of the Ling River.
During the ceremony, the leaders of the Southern Border Tribes were required to line up, and jade pendants crafted from stones south of the Ling River were hung around the necks of these defeated ones.
Finally, Wu Fei, dressed in Da Yao Major General military uniform, under the escort of soldiers, loftily accepted the Southern surrender memorials, then represented the Imperial Court in granting them the qualification to till and settle on their respective lands.
This set was the standard orthodox ritual system of Da Yao. These Southern Border tribal leaders forced to role-play did not know what it was for.
But Wu Fei knew: this was putting shackles of ritual system on them. (That is, the prerequisite for building a Confucian Academy, promoting the Way of Confucius and Mencius)
Ten years later, if unrest arises here again and the army returns, pick a few who do not farm or sacrifice to the state altars, kill the chicken to warn the monkey, and exterminate their clans.
Wu Fei anticipated the effect would be: blending Imperial Way and Hegemonic Way in this manner, after each campaign against disobedient forces in the Southern Border, it would not, like before, stir up the ferocity of the Southern Border Tribes, leading them under certain ambitious figures to collectively resist the order he promoted.
Because tribal members who experienced today’s surrender ceremony would narrate: “We were beaten because we did not conform to ritual law; as long as we follow ritual law, we won’t be beaten.”
Of course, power and obligation correspond; if the many tribes south of the Ling River surrender according to ritual law, that means submission, and submission means becoming citizens. For the various strange affairs faced by citizens of the Southern Border, “pacifying the locality” becomes a responsibility the Wu Family Army must bear.
After the surrender ceremony ended, Wu Fei carefully listened to the information brought by the surrenderers. These tribal leaders prostrating before the newly acknowledged “sun” described with lingering fear the disaster of “Gu Worms eating the leaders.”
However, when Wu Fei wanted to inquire about the detailed characteristics behind these emotional words like “terrifying” and “scary to death,” these incoherent barbarians themselves could not explain clearly.
After ending the questioning, Wu Fei instructed the soldiers to escort these surrenderers away, to be properly guarded, with no mistreatment in clothing, food, or expenses.
At this point, Wu Fei already had a decision, but before making it, he needed to set a “Hongmen Banquet” table to properly deal with those in the camp who might oppose him.
…Wu Fei: Really lacking non-commissioned officers…
On the second night after crossing the river, the various camps began to quiet down, and passing orders turned to striking the wooden mallet.
In the main camp, Wu Fei looked at the military generals standing in ranks awaiting orders and began a respected-elder-style speech: “I called everyone over to discuss the current situation of our army after crossing the river and see if anyone has good ideas. Everyone, start speaking.”
As Wu Fei knocked the table to give the speaking opportunity to the generals, the tent was quite quiet.
The generals looked eagerly at Wu Fei. Clearly accustomed to following orders.
A honest general mustered courage and said to Wu Fei: “General, you know asking us rough fellows for ideas, we can only say to take the chance to kill through the south, and besides that, we can’t think of other methods. Please, Military Master, decide.”
Wu Fei said to the soldier beside him: “Record: Wu Xizhang proposes taking advantage of the chaos in the south to strike straight at the heart.”
Wu Xizhang hurriedly waved his hands: “Young Marshal, I’m a rough fellow; I really couldn’t come up with this method.”
Wu Fei knocked the table: “I’m not blaming you for the wrong idea. If you have no other ideas, shut up.”
Then Wu Fei turned to the crowd: “Our army here has already gained absolute advantage. At this time, we are not afraid of stupid ‘methods,’ but of having no method! If the method is stupid, we hit a wall doing it, then discuss and revise. Now our Great Undertaking is big, we can afford stumbles. If we follow Xizhang’s method, the worst result is burning and killing through the south; our Southern Route Army at most loses a bit of popular support south of the Ling River for these ten years. If we exit closed-door cultivation a few more times later, it just consumes some military strength (increasingly sarcastic), personally capture some slaves. The barbarians here fear authority but embrace no virtue; our virtue has already been displayed north of the Ling River. We can give it to the south or not. Now, to them, we are heaven; our every action, whether thunder or rain, is all heavenly grace.”
Clearly a reprimand, yet the officers and soldiers in the tent grinned and laughed heartily; even Wu Xizhang, who had just called himself a rough fellow, now held his head high.
Of course, another clansman hurriedly tugged Wu Xizhang, who was stunned and asked his younger clansman behind: “What are you doing?”
Clan brother: “Others can laugh, but why are you laughing? Yours is a rotten idea. The general had to hold his nose to critique your method. You’re just a pile of shit-brained.”
And on the stage, Wu Fei: “Everyone speak up. Don’t fear bad ideas; fear indecision. No one will be worse than Wu Xizhang, right.”
Under Wu Fei’s encouragement, the brigadier generals then each voiced their insights one by one. Speaking freely, Wu Fei had the scribe beside him record everyone’s speeches on the sand table, then use bamboo slips to concisely note the key points.
The brigadier generals then each voiced their insights one by one.
Some brigadier generals thought they should have the Southern Border Tribes send hostages.
Some thought they should build fortresses on the North Bank of Ling River facing across the river, with the fortresses pre-leaving about a hundred men.
Of course, there were also conflicting views, with some thinking the other’s suggestion was foolish talk, nearly starting a quarrel.
Wu Fei immediately maintained the record, letting everyone speak in timed and limited turns, with opposing views narrated in the discussion phase.
And finally, Wu Fei summarized according to meeting discipline.
As a large number of useful suggestions were integrated, Wu Fei sighed in his heart: Three stinky brigadier generals really top a Zhuge Liang.
…Notebook divider…
Xuan Chong made notes in the system: The difference between feudal army and modern troops is the subjective initiative of grassroots non-commissioned officers.
In feudal troops, the non-commissioned officer stratum, that is, the camp team, follows the fierce general series, only blood courage, not thoughtful divine courage. Fierce generals lead charges but do not systematically handle tactical issues.
When the feudal army command center fails, most grassroots centurions are like headless flies, only a few exceptional talents stand out. These exceptional talents are the so-called “fierce generals from the ranks.” And in the ranks, most “non-exceptional” mid-level generals wait for orders from superiors before acting.
But modern non-commissioned officers are different. The earliest modern army versus feudal army in Earth war history was the Napoleon period. Napoleon proudly claimed every platoon leader under him could do the job of the opposing general.
…Doing homework…
Wu Fei had already realized that to further enhance his army’s combat power now. Not just compiling the infantry drill manual, but also systematically building a “non-commissioned officer system.”
The non-commissioned officer system means having lower-level army commanders participate in military discussions, and mandating tasks for them to speak. Then generals maintain meeting order, collect the most useful suggestions, and make deployments.
Previously, Wu Fei micromanaged the entire military camp, which was superhuman, but with the physical test instrument giving body stress data, and later an illness, Wu Fei realized he had been drilling into a dead end.
Even the strongest person has limits.
The military strategist system goes further—not putting all pressure on himself, but making these brains work too.
Erzhu Rong’s historical situation shows that an excellent feudal army lacks no talent below, only channels to release that talent’s ability.
Wu Fei is no “demon-suppressing tower,” but a black-hearted boss: anyone with ability, no matter the monster, must work overtime for me.
At the meeting’s end, Wu Fei encouraged all attending squad leaders: “Good, good, you all have high caliber.”
The squad leaders collectively cupped hands: “Thanks to the general’s guidance.”
Wu Fei nodded, then dropped a bombshell: “Hold such meetings regularly from now on. Even if I’m occasionally absent, still hold them. I don’t want, if I suddenly fall severely ill and bedridden for days, to see you all just crowding my bedside begging for strategies, sitting and waiting for the situation to collapse.”
The generals below exchanged glances, not knowing what Wu Fei meant by this.
Finally, Wu Fei made the summary.
Wu Fei: “The Southern Border situation changed suddenly. If known beforehand that many Southern Border Tribes would collapse their ruling system after my army marches out, the troops I brought this time would absolutely not be ten thousand. Now we can’t suppress the Southern Region long-term with troop strength alone. But we can’t abandon this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So in conciliating and comforting the Southern Border hundred tribes, we must also firmly grasp some principle issues.
And having the Southern Border hundred tribes send hostages is a good method! But we want not just hostages, but also to intervene in their power succession system.”
Wu Fei: “I order the various tusi north of the river, starting this year, to pay me blood tax, conscripting people for Southern Border development projects and military garrison. Next, use barbarians from the North Bank of Ling River to manage barbarians on the Southern Ling River. Once Southern Ling River people surrender, Southern Border’s Southern and Northern Ling River need mutual checks; we have few people and need allies to buffer.
On this point, later you all discuss personnel selections, Wu Qing!”—Wu Fei called out.
The Snake Woman paused slightly, immediately standing out, but Wu Fei said: “You don’t need to be selected.” The directly eliminated Snake Woman’s eyes were full of disappointment.
Wu Fei pondered inwardly: This Snake Woman holds the direct lineage of that Li Huo Sect in her hands; the two recently have offspring. Though Li Huo Sect is dead, a centipede dies but doesn’t stiffen. The cards in Wu Qing’s hand make certain things too easy.
Wu Fei trusts Wu Qing’s loyalty but won’t test that loyalty. Chai Rong trusted Zhao Kuangyin’s loyalty and tested Black-Faced Zhao’s loyalty.
Wu Fei coldly believes the future Southern Border will definitely have renewed rebellion, so rationally considers where the new “rebellion source” will be.
…Meeting continues…
Wu Fei continued: “We still know very little about the various tribes south of Ling River. What’s further south in the Southern Border? Any tougher enemies? If we blindly accept surrenders and inexplicably take on a bigger burden, that would be a joke.”
Now the native Da Yao tribe’s soldiers and generals, fighting to Ling River, have reached the current projection limit.
Wu Fei’s mental plan: South of Ling River must maintain a certain degree of autonomy. Such autonomy will be influenced by peripheral independent forces, leading to secession.
So Wu Fei expounded his core idea to everyone in the meeting: “South of Ling River must have a boundary, this boundary is Da Yao’s boundary; all within this boundary must follow Da Yao’s imperial way, and if disloyal thoughts arise, we Wu Family as Da Yao ministers will inevitably send troops to punish. But beyond this boundary, if they eat raw meat and drink blood as savages, it has nothing to do with Da Yao; authorize local tusi to counterattack border provocations, and tacitly allow tusi under Da Yao border generals’ organization to cross borders for revenge.”
Wu Fei walked before these officers, saying in a confident and oppressive tone: “Now this line only I can draw.”
The many officers raised their heads; some smart ones finally understood why Wu Fei gathered everyone for the meeting.
Seemingly to let everyone speak, but actually to expose subordinates’ talents, precisely weighing everyone’s worth.
That is, ultimately clearly telling everyone “the next step of advancing deep into Southern Border to promote imperial way, none of you can do it.”
In the future, there will definitely be those not submitting to imperial way, requiring conquest. Not conquer? Then barbarian tribes will repeatedly rebel, all the way to under Yongji Pass; barbarians are easy to fight, but if any remote place rebels, it requires distant expedition, Wu Family Army can’t afford that bill.
So how far to draw the line to ensure “Hegemonic Way” deterrence and “Imperial Way” grace? This is the “big picture account book” every page of accounts that only Wu Fei can calculate clearly.
…Meeting dispersed after evening…
With no generals opposing, Wu Fei finalized his Southern Ling River boundary survey trip planning.
And Wu Fei selected Gongshu Wang and Ang Ri, Jia Mude’s collaboration.
In another military tent, San Gu watched Wu Fei from afar as he advanced, while behind her, over ten thousand men in the large camp did not know that their General had gone south and were busy building a bridge.
