Chapter 203: The Locust Tree Mountains And Rivers: Peaceful Nursery
The next day at noon, in Yao Calculation, the sky was dry and windy at this time. Xuan Chong mobilized all troops, including the eight thousand army that had just arrived from Ling River Four Commanderies this morning, with three War Kui leading the way, preparing for a decisive battle on this frontline.
When the army approached a patch of withered yellow hedge, the hedge slowly opened; and Xuan Chong dispatched a team of cavalry to meet it. Immediately after, the dispatched men reported back: “A messenger has come from the Sea of Trees side.”
Right beside Xuan Chong, “Messenger?” Wu Zhantie: “Do those wooden lumps have such a thing?” — However, Xuan Chong ignored this ignorant guy, and Wu Zhantie awkwardly scratched his head, turning to seek confirmation from others.
Beside him, Ang Ri prompted: “My lord, look at that, it’s that Feathered Person. Her hair is golden, and she wears a green gemstone pendant on her chest; this messenger holds a high status within the Feather Tribe.”
Through Ang Ri’s introduction, after confirming she was royalty of the Forest Feather People, Xuan Chong nodded: “Talk. Oh, but be careful what to discuss. Changing allegiance, we welcome; as for asking us to withdraw, no way.”
Then Xuan Chong gave Wu Zhantie a meaningful glance, and said solemnly to Ang Ri: “Remember to demand some pretty attendants; the young men below are pent up and probably won’t be picky.”
After being stared at by Xuan Chong’s gaze, Wu Zhantie hurriedly waved his hands: “I, I, I’m not.”
Xuan Chong looked at him: “Hehe.”
A few minutes later, the herald sent by Ang Ri responded: “Boss, they represent the Tree People coming to sue for peace.”
Xuan Chong was slightly taken aback, teasing: “Sue for peace?”
…Defeat and humiliation…
The Forest Feather Tribe’s Queen, facing the heavily armed welcome, overcame her fear of the dark army in her heart and tried to maintain queenly etiquette as she said to Ang Ri: “I am the messenger of Thorn Sea of Trees; I wish to meet the highest military commander in the Xi People army.”
However, Ang Ri politely replied: “That’s impossible; your side’s highest will has not stepped forward, and our army lord has no intention of talking with you.”
The Forest Queen hesitated and raised the green gemstone on her chest, indicating she was the queen of this forest’s Feather Tribe.
Ang Ri paused slightly, his tone softening: “Honored Feather Tribe Queen, I will report for you.”
In the position, Xuan Chong pondered for a moment, “Hehe, so what if she’s a queen; it’s still the Tree People who call the shots.”
Ang Ri nodded: “I’ll go reply right now.”
Xuan Chong waved his hand: “Bring her to see me. By the way, have her change into a silk outfit, and also remove that gemstone from her chest for me.”
Emperor Shu’s set of security measures, Xuan Chong felt it was very worth emulating.
After Ang Ri went to arrange, Xuan Chong turned to scan the nearby officers and soldiers. These officers and soldiers gaped in stunned silence at Xuan Chong, meaning: “No fighting?”
Xuan Chong then issued orders to Shen Wanqing: “With War Kui leading, burn the forest on the east side.” The warriors below immediately perked up, all shouting in agreement.
…Negotiate while fighting…
The Queen was brought into the military formation; after changing clothes, she discovered the formation had moved, and the army was advancing toward the hedge. She hurriedly came out to question Ang Ri why the attack was launched.
Ang Ri’s side was also very surprised; since the commander wanted him to bring the Feather Tribe Queen, it was obviously to talk, so why launch an attack?
However, Ang Ri did not dare question Xuan Chong, brought the Forest Queen to Xuan Chong; thus the Forest Queen came aggressively, ready to question.
Here, Xuan Chong stood on the high platform, with the Great Peacock beside him. Xuan Chong pointed at this Forest Queen, like a phoenix gazing at a sparrow, accompanying him to watch “flames and silver flowers.” The Queen was awed by the peacock’s terrifying presence; she recognized this big bird, after all, the peacock had come to the south from time to time over these hundreds of years to catch a few Feather Tribe members to eat, just like birds catching moths. These were all recorded on the Feather Tribe’s stone tablets, but now this divine beast was the “Northern Ruler’s” mount.
After massive flames ignited a corner of the trees, cannon fire boomed, toppling a swath of forest. The bombardment created a firebreak, causing the Tree People’s side flames to burn out a patch and then disappear, but this made the Tree People feel fear! Then Xuan Chong had Shen Wanqing go shout.
Shen Wanqing: “Heaven has benevolence toward life; our army can now annihilate your side completely; that was just a warning; if you persist in delusion, we will surely make your side scatter to ashes.”
Rustling leaf sounds came from the Forest Sea of Trees; this was the forest’s whisper. They felt aggrieved; sending the Forest Feather Tribe Queen to negotiate was to establish an “alliance oath contract” according to the Yao People’s Way of Heaven system; why burn the forest at the slightest disagreement.
…Renaming…
Xuan Chong turned around, calmly and mildly asking the Forest Feather Tribe Queen: “Do you have any specialties here?”
In the Forest Queen’s eyes, this dark army commander was intimidating to demand war reparations, so she narrated: “We have gemstones, as well as gold and silver decorations.”
Xuan Chong waved his hand: “Those are things carefree people care about; I mean pine resin, mountain honey, things ordinary people can eat and use.”
The Forest Queen was stunned; she coexisted with tree spirits and did not know these things.
Xuan Chong: “What’s your name.”
Forest Queen: “I am Alison Baiyue Kalant…”
Xuan Chong stopped her incantation: “What does Alison mean?”
After some translation, it could be rendered as “noble truth.”
Xuan Chong pondered: Originally planned to give her a name by sense translation, but “noble truth”? This name is too arrogant.
Xuan Chong: Calling her that would be singing her praises, too cheap for her.
Xuan Chong looked up and said to her: “I name you Ying Zhao; from now on, you stay and serve me.”
Forest Feather Tribe Queen, oh, now called Ying Zhao, she accepted this name, barely understood “serve,” and thus went to the side, obediently kneeling and sitting.
Because on the forest side, the powerful ancient trees had already submitted, willing to surrender to this Xi People king and conclude a contract.
Xuan Chong took out a piece of jade, carved the name on it with a knife, then used his own blood to burn it, completed the naming, and handed this white jade tablet to her.
Beside him, Ang Ri was stunned; while over there the huge Tree People knelt waiting for Xuan Chong’s forgiveness, Xuan Chong casually granted a jade tablet to his servant (Forest Feather Tribe Queen), now called Ying Zhao.
While Ang Ri was dazed, Xuan Chong beckoned him over and asked: “Ang Ri, do you want a wife? If you want a wife, just say the word, and I’ll arrange it for you right away.”
Ang Ri was stunned, then looked at “Ying Zhao” kneeling on the ground and hurriedly said: “General, she is your maidservant.”
Xuan Chong corrected: “My attendant. In charge of the flat garden for my Huai Jiang Shan. Cough cough, that is, helping me manage the garden gardener in Thorn Region.”
Ang Ri nodded upon hearing this: “My lord is wise.”
Xuan Chong: “Don’t dodge; do you want a wife!” — Though asking, his hand gripped Ang Ri’s shoulder, not allowing refusal.
Beside him, Wu Zhantie fidgeted: “Marshal, I can.”
Xuan Chong turned and glanced at him, saying: “Why are you still here? Didn’t I just punish you to run laps in the back?”
Then Xuan Chong called his personal soldiers: “Chase this embarrassing thing out for me.”
After dealing with his own disgrace, Xuan Chong turned back to press Ang Ri: “No reproductive isolation between Crow People and Feather Tribe, right?”
Ang Ri: “This?” Under Xuan Chong’s stare: “None.”
Xuan Chong: “Her bloodline isn’t noble?”
Ang Ri: “Me?”
Xuan Chong: “Then it’s settled! Ying Zhao, get up; this is the man you’ll serve from now on. Your offspring will be lords on this land, directly obeying me and my direct bloodline descendants.”
Ying Zhao was stunned; she originally thought defeat meant serving as maidservant to this great lord, but now she was handed over to the Northern Feather Tribe master who led her here.
Ying Zhao hurriedly said: “Great Sovereign, but what about the Forest Lord?”
Xuan Chong looked at her coldly, also saying it for Ang Ri beside him to hear: “You are the Feather People lord; I summoned you to decide the Feather Tribe’s future; as for the forest Tree People side! You’re not their sovereign, no qualification to make demands on their behalf to me.”
Ang Ri beside him suddenly understood. This was the reason for “agreeing to meet Ying Zhao, yet mercilessly using cannon fodder to greet the Tree People.”
Xuan Chong: “Negotiate with whoever can decide, and talk about what they can decide. After military conquest, no matter which forces, I only talk with the deciding party about what they can decide.”
So Xuan Chong had basically forced Ang Ri to take Ying Zhao, the purpose being to peel the Forest Feather Tribe away from the Forest Tree People.
Xuan Chong: “Accepting a negotiation document submitted by Tree People dispatched vassals, and putting the Feather Tribe aside for the Tree People to negotiate directly themselves, are different. The former is the Tree People bringing the Feather Tribe to surrender, but the Feather Tribe still vassals; the latter lets the Tree People represent themselves, and the Feather Tribe becomes our army’s spoils of war.
Although the Feather Tribe is still influenced by the Forest Tree People, essentially they must accept enfeoffment from Southern Border General’s Mansion. Even if the Feather Tribe is enslaved by the forest in the future, this prepares justification for the next war.”
Thorn Region’s local resources cannot be fully obtained through one war; it requires multiple wars.
Of course, for Ang Ri, this was a very good outcome; his Crow People tribe was thoroughly integrated into a great clan.
…Red Emperor’s majesty…
On the other side, after one Tree Person after another bitterly waited several hours, Xuan Chong rode the peacock onto the scene.
The powerful oppressive force from the divine beast made these thousand-year-old tree spirits feel uncomfortable. Eighteenth Duke twisted his rough bark face: “Great King, we are extremely grateful for sparing our lives.”
Xuan Chong looked at the jade cong it held; he had learned of this thing’s use from Jia Mude, it was for alliance oaths.
Jia Mude said this ritual implement had powerful contractual force — regarding karma and retribution, Xuan Chong did not believe, but this Tree Person’s attitude pleased him greatly.
Thus he handed over a treaty to him.
First article: Construct three roads through Thorn Ridge; Yongji Pass General’s Mansion owns control of the land within twenty kilometers on both sides of the roads.
Second article: Xi People have the right to build castles on this land; and both sides shall sign a treaty determining trade amounts for “Grass Returning Pill” and jungle specialties.
Third article: Forest Feather Tribe under Wu Family Army military protection; Forest Tree People shall not slaughter or drive away Forest Feather People for unjust reasons.
After fifteen or so articles in total, the Tree People commanders signed this treaty that shattered their tranquility.
…Victory fruits…
After the treaty was signed, Xuan Chong had Wu Qing bring “Grass Returning Pill” along this trade route back to Lingnan.
And three months later, in the second year of Tong Zheng Calendar, at the auction hosted by the Wu Family inside Da Yao, this batch totaling three hundred kilograms of Herb Restoration Liquid sold for a high price of twenty thousand silver leaves amid hype.
One hundred kilograms of Grass Returning Pill can help two hundred people open martial qi meridians. And in chaotic times, this can directly elevate a batch of battle-hardened old soldiers from laborer origins into super first-rate elite troops.
However, this was just the first batch, sparking frenzy among various families for the south. In Zhenzhou’s thatched cottage, those noble families originally concerned with the world’s grand situation shifted topics to the south.
Scholar 1: I originally thought the south was all savage lands, with deep miasma; unexpectedly there are so many spiritual herbs.
Scholar 2: What, changing your view again? — In recent days, under Xuan Chong’s rule, scholars thought “world’s deer contest, Wu Yuanchang cornered one side” would ultimately be eliminated by the tide.
Scholar 1: In the past I was shallow, but now it seems Chong Land need not enter this world chaos prematurely; with more time, internally cultivate clear politics, diligently organize armor, it is not impossible.
Scholar 3 urgently retorted: Diligently organize armor!? Wu Family heading south seems aggressive, actually short-sighted! The world changes several times a day, yet Wu Family’s tens of thousands army trapped in south border, can be called militaristic and aggressive. Internally cultivate clear politics? Chong Lord does not recruit the wise, this world’s heroes surpassing him far exceed the fingers on two hands! Where comes the clarity?
Soon the scholars diverged on the world’s grand situation.
The scholars under Xuan Chong’s rule were very frustrated. On one hand, Xuan Chong was indeed a “capable monarch.” But on the other, he was “distant” from them and “close” to commoners.
These disciples of the noble family system were accustomed to their “recommendation system.”
And now, Lingnan’s “recommendation system” has been ruined, purely recommending whoever donates the most money to the government office as filial and incorrupt.
As for the latest imperial examination system? These scholars were unwilling to bow and sit with those from poor families to answer questions. They preferred direct selection, after all, under Zhao Cheng and other vassal lords, talent selection was like that.
…Troop type upgrade…
Returning to Fen Xing City, Xuan Chong looked at rows of clinical trial equipment.
In this exclusive medical room, it was filled with rubber tubes, glass bottles, metal needles; if not for the bedding still being hemp cloth, and the warriors on beds with Yao People’s traditional hair buns, Xuan Chong almost thought he was in a hospital from the early twentieth century.
One hundred kilograms for two hundred people opening qi, that’s other families’ method; on Chong Shui side, with rubber tubes for infusion, can condition six hundred at once.
Of course, the Wu Family side would not use all this Herb Restoration Liquid resource on military; the artisan team also shares merit, so opened qi for them too.
Even the laborers holding iron chisels to build roads, Xuan Chong set up a “redemption mechanism” for them to open qi.
In Southern Border savage lands, between Zhenzhou and Lingnan in rarely visited areas, traditionally recruiting laborers from countryside to build roads is impossible.
In Xuan Chong’s practical summary: In feudal dynasties building such cross-province mega projects, without exception end up with a “tyrannical” title.
Reason none other, these places too far from laborers’ homes; under deficient organizational ability, laborers die en masse from lack of grain, exhaustion, illness.
Speaking of, with feudal era productivity, big projects must exhaust tens of thousands to death? Then Great Yu flood control would consume the entire tribe to death? Obviously not.
Great Yu was tribal leader, his mobilization authority high, could levy supplies from other tribes along the way. In feudal dynasties, the clerks managing laborers have low authority and responsibility; laborers passing great households get no supplies.
Laborers’ grain easily deducted, and officials utterly uncaring about work quotas, issue harsh targets. Upon failure, punishment harsh, clerks kill chicken to scare monkeys, whip without asking reasons. No wonder big projects kill many?
Even say, when imperial court, prefecture offices, those big shots sitting idly in carved courtyards absentmindedly deduct supply lines, that’s thousands of lives.
Xuan Chong this southern expedition has always strengthened control, preventing obtained benefits from accumulating to local strongmen, turning into “hoarding land and servants” poison to the state.
Southward gains of pearls, gemstones, spirit wood etc. hard currency, definitely invest in “workshop reproduction,” so past bearers of “ditch digging, highway building” laborers, Xuan Chong necessarily systemically elevate their status, and prioritize resource allocation.
Wu Family Army subordinate laborer team, also called earthworks brigade, now a quasi-militarized organization numbering nearly two hundred thousand, internally with stable rank promotion paths, specially with finance department periodically going to various prefectures and counties, providing “military pay redemption” operations for their family members.
Xuan Chong this ten-thousand-li expedition, soldiers need not worry about carrying pay silver back, directly deposit in accompanying merchant guild. Then under merchant guild and army confirmation, each soldier signs on the form, finally stamps seal, one bill thus sent back.
On Xuan Chong’s territory, military families go to ticket office anywhere to see accounts credited. This service system also covers “laborers” this similarly away group. To the point women staying home need not worry about man away, pulling family economy alone. Liberates cross-region labor mobilization issue.
“Laborer” is Xuan Chong’s now massive iceberg force hidden underwater.
Past Xuan Chong envied Zhao Cheng’s “drive merchants to war,” but now he has similar means, future will use “laborers” as army.
