Chapter 291: Build High Walls, Stockpile Provisions
The mountain peak was shrouded in mist and rain, with a hat of scattered clouds, and the first sunbeams hung like bronze bells on the treetops.
This was the scene Huang Rong saw after she regained consciousness.
The lingering warmth of the campfire still filled the air. Huang Rong stretched lazily. Although she had slept in the Mountain God Temple, she had slept very soundly last night.
Huang Yaoshi was not in the temple.
Huang Rong got up and went outside, where she saw her father, his feet treading the Bagua and walking the Liuhe, leisurely practicing a set of Falling Ying Divine Sword Palm.
“Father, your injuries haven’t recovered yet?” Huang Rong pouted in dissatisfaction as she watched Huang Yaoshi practice.
Huang Yaoshi’s movements didn’t stop as he replied, “Perfect enlightenment and wisdom, cultivating both body and function, moving yet still, disturbed yet peaceful. To recover from injuries as quickly as possible, one cannot just rely on regulating internal force; the body must also be active.”
“Father, you never taught Rong’er this method before,” Huang Rong said, surprised.
Huang Yaoshi smiled slightly. What he was talking about was actually the “Healing Chapter” from the Nine Yin Manual.
“Does Rong’er want to learn?”
Huang Rong giggled, “Let Rong’er finish perfecting her hidden weapons skills first.”
“Alright.”
Huang Rong found silver needles dropped by Yuan Foshou, the Cult Leader of the Five Venoms Sect, in Hundred Herbs Valley. She liked their shape and asked a craftsman to make some, and had Huang Yaoshi teach her a hidden weapons skill.
While traveling north, they found a skilled craftsman in Jingzhou to forge silver needles with carved patterns, and Huang Yaoshi taught Huang Rong the “Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers” hidden weapons technique.
“Where is Head Escort Zhou?”
“He left the Mountain God Temple while I was regulating my breath.”
“Is that so?” Huang Rong nodded. The forest was damp, and the broad leaves of the ferns were filled with clear, pure rainwater. Huang Rong found some medicinal herbs and wrapped them around a willow branch to brush her teeth and rinse her mouth, then began practicing her hidden weapons technique. Huang Rong thought of Ouyang Feng’s treachery against her father and decided that on their way back, she would visit Snake Valley again and have her father catch some large poisonous snakes to extract their venom and smear it on the silver needles. An eye for an eye; even if she couldn’t scheme against Ouyang Feng, she would make Ouyang Ke suffer greatly.
As she was thinking this, Huang Yaoshi suddenly asked, “Hasn’t Rong’er ever thought that Head Escort Zhou might leave without saying goodbye?”
Huang Rong giggled, “He wouldn’t do that. He’s a person of principle, with his own sense of right and wrong.”
“Does Rong’er know Head Escort Zhou very well?”
“Of course! Besides Father, he’s the person I interact with the most, and he even saved my life.”
Huang Yaoshi nodded thoughtfully.
The father and daughter continued their respective practices, one cultivating, the other practicing hidden weapons techniques.
After about the time it takes to eat a meal, Zhou Yan returned with two cleaned mountain chickens and one wild rabbit.
Huang Rong was delighted. She ran over, took the prey from Zhou Yan’s hands, and led him back to the Mountain God Temple to roast them.
Huang Yaoshi arrived at the Mountain God Temple during this time and said to Zhou Yan, “This old man is fine now, Head Escort. Don’t worry, I won’t delay your affairs.”
When Zhou Yan returned, he saw the other person practicing and knew that he was using the “Healing Chapter” of the Nine Yin Manual to recover his cultivation. He had no need to worry about his subsequent recovery. He nodded and said, “Good.”
After eating their fill, Zhou Yan bid farewell to Huang Yaoshi and his daughter and rode away on his horse.
Huang Rong murmured to herself, “Father, I suddenly miss Little Leopard a little.”
“Then let’s go see him.”
Huang Rong was overjoyed, “Are you coming too, Father?”
“After my injuries heal, I still need to go to the Valley of Unfeeling.” Huang Yaoshi was still thinking about transplanting a love flower tree to Peach Blossom Island.
Huang Rong took Huang Yaoshi’s hand, “Then Rong’er will wait for Father to heal, and after going to the Valley of Unfeeling, we’ll go to Snake Valley to catch large poisonous snakes for their venom, and then go to Kaifeng Prefecture to see Little Leopard.”
Huang Yaoshi recalled the scene of Huang Rong leaving Peach Blossom Island in the past after being scolded by him. Looking at his daughter, who was now radiant and concerned about his injuries, he felt a pang of emotion, suddenly having the feeling of “my daughter has grown up.”
…
Zhou Yan rode the Night-Shining Jade Lion forward. By dusk, he reached Snake Valley. He gathered his internal force and called out to the Great Eagle. Within a hundred breaths, the Great Eagle’s burly form appeared on the mountain ridge bathed in the setting sun.
The Great Eagle let out a long cry and ran very fast.
Zhou Yan leaped up, hugged the Great Eagle’s neck, and showed it great affection.
Before the sun set, he and the Divine Condor went to Snake Valley and captured over ten Golden Pusi Snakes. That evening, he and the Divine Condor camped in the mountain forest outside Snake Valley.
The Divine Condor was intelligent. Zhou Yan briefly explained the recent events in Xiangyang and the Valley of Unfeeling, and instructed the Great Eagle to know how to avoid misfortune and seek good fortune.
The Divine Condor responded with a powerful cry.
As the night deepened, the Great Eagle lay beside Zhou Yan, who consumed a snake gallbladder.
The effect of one purple snake gallbladder was not as immediate as before. After consuming five, the snake gallbladders nourished his qi and blood, making it thick and substantial. The qi and blood, guided by the pulse qi, surged like waves in a great river. Zhou Yan cultivated for half the night using the method of moving qi and blood to stimulate internal force, gaining about ten days’ worth of cultivation.
In the morning, Zhou Yan, full of energy, skillfully practiced the four-way Qi Guiding Method of the Finger Flicking Divine Skill.
After bidding farewell to the Divine Condor, and traveling from Xiangyang to Funiu Mountain, Zhou Yan had already mastered this peerless skill from Peach Blossom Island. He could flick stones from seven or eight zhang away with unerring accuracy, easily taking the lives of ordinary martial artists.
…
Traveling north from Xiangyang to Nanyang, Zhou Yan’s most direct observation was the increase in merchant and escort teams. This was clearly due to the eradication of the remnants of the Great Qi in Funiu Mountain and Tongbai Mountain.
In early autumn, the mountains and fields did not yet show much sign of decay. Zhou Yan arrived at Funiu Mountain.
From a distance, he saw an escort team resting in a grove by the side of the main road.
Before he even got close, a joyful voice rang out, “It’s Lord Zhou.”
Liang Xiaowu leaped forward.
“Xiaowu.”
“The escort team reached Jingzhou, and Head Escort Hu and Head Escort Wang are escorting the goods. They are going up the mountain to visit Leader Yang,” Liang Xiaowu said while stroking the Night-Shining Jade Lion.
“What a coincidence,” Zhou Yan said with a smile, “Are they still using mule and horse? Merchant Lu?”
“Yes.”
“When did they go up the mountain?”
“Not long ago.”
Zhou Yan patted Liang Xiaowu’s shoulder, “I’ll go up the mountain to take a look. When you return to Zhongdu, we’ll go to Songhe Tower for drinks together.”
“Alright.”
As they moved forward, familiar faces greeted them one after another. Zhou Yan responded with a smile, exchanged brief pleasantries, and rode straight towards the stronghold. Along the way, he encountered minor leaders patrolling the mountain stronghold, who sent out carrier pigeons. By the time he reached the outer area of the Funiu Mountain stronghold, Yang Miaozhen, Li Mochou, Huyan Lei, Yanbo Diaosou, and others were already waiting outside. Zhou Botong was not present.
…
The bright autumn sunlight spilled onto the courtyard of the mountain stronghold, casting a golden glow on the ginkgo trees within.
Several tables were pushed together and arranged in the courtyard.
Zhou Yan, Wang Kui, Yang Miaozhen, Huyan Lei, Liu Qingzhou, and others sat around the tables.
A minor leader refilled their cups and poured soup, and everyone clinked glasses.
Yanbo Diaosou said, “A thousand mountains with bird paths, ten miles into ape cries. The plants and trees exude a unique fragrance, and the clouds and mist guide one’s steps lightly. These Funiu Mountains and Tongbai Mountains are crisscrossed by streams, with high waterfalls and misty, vast expanses of water. Truly a place of spiritual energy.”
“Senior Diaosou, how long have you been fishing this time? There are hundreds of lakes and thousands of streams in these two mountains.”
“I can fish often.”
“Fishing often is not as good as fishing long-term,” Huyan Lei laughed heartily.
Both had participated in the battle between the two strongholds and were familiar with each other. Yanbo Diaosou said, “If Brother Zhou settles in Funiu Mountain and Tongbai Mountain, this old man will fish often.”
Yang Miaozhen had already tested Zhou Yan at Cuya Mountain, but was politely refused. She changed her approach and said to Zhou Yan, “Miss Qiu has agreed to stay and is now in charge of the Tongbai Mountain stronghold, while I am in Funiu Mountain.”
“I toast Miss Qiu.”
Qiu Qianchi’s heart was completely at ease. She raised her wine bowl and said heartily, “Thank you, Head Escort Zhou. If it weren’t for you, I would have gone down the wrong path. From now on, I will do my best to manage the stronghold.”
“Brother Zhou, do you have any suggestions for business?” Yang Miaozhen asked.
“How many people are in the two strongholds now?” Zhou Yan asked.
“There are over eight thousand people with some basic martial arts skills. Most of the villagers have stayed, totaling over ten thousand. However, the grain reserves of the two strongholds are enough to last for a whole year.”
“Brother Liu, during the peak of the Hengshan Sect, there were also several hundred people, right?” Zhou Yan asked.
“Nearly a thousand people, inside and out.” Liu Qingzhou understood immediately and said, “The Hengshan Sect does not have as much incense money as the Qingcheng Sect, nor do they have land like Shaolin, in addition to incense.”
“Then how do they support over a thousand people?” Yang Miaozhen asked.
“The inner disciples focus on cultivation, while the outer disciples manage various affairs, overseeing several wharves, escort agencies, and martial arts schools. Supporting over a thousand people is not difficult.”
Zhou Yan then said, “Combining the models of the Hengshan Sect and Shaoshi Mountain, the two strongholds can actually support more people. I read in ancient texts that Funiu Mountain is eight hundred li from north to south. Now that the Jin Dynasty and Mongolia are at war, many areas are sparsely populated, with no people for dozens of li. Since there are villagers, it is not difficult to reclaim some land. Living off the mountains and waters, Funiu Mountain and Tongbai Mountain have plenty of mountain goods. By selecting capable personnel, one can establish trading companies in Kaifeng Prefecture, Luoyang, Nanyang, Xiangyang, Jingzhou, and Zhongdu. This can not only earn money but also facilitate the gathering of information. If some personnel are allocated to manage an escort agency, it is also possible. The Changfeng Escort Agency alone supports over two hundred escorts and runners.”
Huyan Lei interjected, “More than that. Eighty percent of households rely on escorts and runners employed by escort agencies for their livelihood. Calculated this way, it supports nearly a thousand mouths.”
“Excellent idea,” Yang Miaozhen clapped her hands, “Forming an escort agency, the stronghold is not short of manpower. If necessary, we can also sell some horses that the stronghold needs.”
Zhou Yan smiled, “The five hundred sets of armor and weapons for the Iron Hawks were delivered by the Fu’an Escort Agency using their escort carts. Therefore, there is more to an escort cart than meets the eye.”
Yang Miaozhen suddenly understood, “Little sister understands. You truly are my good elder brother.”
Zhou Yan raised his wine bowl and drank heartily. With the training of the two strongholds and the Wumu’s Military Writings, there was no need to worry about military strength. Business was a problem, but by steadfastly implementing this plan and utilizing the conflict between the Jin Dynasty and Mongolia, building high walls and accumulating vast stores of grain, it would be easy to raise a strong army. The stronghold currently lacked someone to oversee the overall situation. Huang Yaoshi was out of the question; he could only assist when necessary. Zhang Wangyue was the most suitable candidate. They still needed a catalyst for their rise, and this catalyst lay with the Golden Saber Consort Guo Jing.
Zhou Yan’s thoughts drifted.
Due to the conflict between the Beggars’ Sect and the Ming Cult, Zhou Yan dared not delay further. He could only postpone his intention to cultivate in Funiu Mountain for a period and integrate the Eight Techniques of the Dog Beating Stick Method and the sword qi technique he comprehended from the Azure Sea Tide Sound into his learned swordplay.
He stayed at the Funiu Mountain stronghold for one day and then left the mountain with Li Mochou.
Li Mochou’s appearance was a significant variable. Yanbo Diaosou and Liu Qingzhou did not accompany Zhou Yan to Zhongdu, but stayed with the Hundred Herbs Immortal enjoying the free and easy life in Funiu Mountain.
Zhou Yan and Li Mochou traveled north from Nanyang.
