Chapter 285: North And South
In the 2108th year of the Xian Han calendar, August, 9 a.m., temperature 9 degrees Celsius.
On the pebble roads of Dongtu, Xuan Chong led a team carrying double-barreled hunting rifles, riding bicycles on dirt roads. In multiple outings, the number of people each time was about twenty.
This lineup was just like a beard. Xuan Chong and his group were conducting field investigations into the livelihoods of all eighty-seven towns in Dongtu. The main purpose of carrying hunting rifles was to drive away bears.
Although over these twenty years, with the island residents continuously hunting, the bear population had become fewer and fewer, there were still some.
Xuan Chong visited every century-old reclamation point (local small village) throughout Dongtu one by one, personally tasting the side dishes and meals served by the local farmers.
Dongtu’s local customs and culture were similar to his previous life’s Northeast, with various stewed dishes and dumplings.
The street loafers in the villages had louder voices than in other places, hands in pockets, straightforward personalities, daring to openly declare themselves “idiots”.
Hmm, Xuan Chong was stunned for a moment, Liu Haoxing’s memories surfaced—it seemed his predecessor was bullied in Yandu precisely because he was too “bold” and “open-hearted”. Thus, Xuan Chong couldn’t help but smile wryly, but as he smiled, he sighed, because in his previous life, he too seemed “open-hearted” as a youth, but later on, he gradually closed off.
After returning home for a month, Xuan Chong confirmed: now Dongtu’s grassroots folk customs differed from the South’s “different”. The South was family system, while Dongtu’s communal culture was too heavy.
In most coastal cities in the present Han South, the grassroots had begun transitioning to family system: young and strong men were the economic pillars of the family, and in the South, there was the term pillar of the family, because all families were supported by men.
Even in cases of a widow with children, it was temporary.
She would strive to quickly find a man to marry within a year; otherwise, the children’s living standards would rapidly downgrade.
Originally, when father was around, children had all stationery fully equipped. After only mother remained, it became a schoolbag patched together from hemp cloth strips. And the latter would have to sell newspapers on the streets or become child laborers.
In present Han, child labor was not like in Europe. Mainly under the apprentice system, the concept of “one day as master, lifetime as father” ensured that adult men as the strong would invest “emotion” and “funds” in boys as the weak, with returns.
That said, if they casually called “old fart” and after learning turned “blackened and awakened”, fleeing their original environment without looking back? Then adult strongmen would naturally squeeze child laborers to death while they could control them.
Of course, fatherless children in the South could still find “masters” to take them in; that was the South cities’ redundancy.
In Dongtu, due to more singular industrial economy, most work posts were either going out to sea netting or coolie work in oil refineries—now steel mills—with lack of light industries, extremely high physical thresholds. For children, there was no redundancy, so people here were communal from childhood.
Some children lost parents young; if good-looking, they could be raised communally; if not handsome or clever, without fosterers, they basically became servants. Xuan Chong saw in farms that some lived in cattle sheds or horse stables. As the saying goes, “children without mothers are like weeds”.
From what he learned, these “dirty and lowly” people in farms had lived here since childhood! They basically died before forty.
In Dongtu countryside, places newspaper reporters couldn’t reach, ethics would give way.
Some women, after husbands died, would take children to seek refuge with husband’s brothers.
Present Han’s “ethics” were far more important than in Xuan Chong’s previous life; internally, areas unable to uphold “ethics” were equivalent to those “plum”gonorrhea”-ridden areas in his previous life’s society that personnel investment and residence avoided.
Of course, places like Europe where the top started messing around were denounced as beasts.
…Analyzing structure, preparing to reshape…
Under kerosene lamp, Xuan Chong wrote the investigation report; the first page of the report was “traditional preservation”! (Preservation’s antonym is abandonment; “abandonment” can’t be said casually, but meaning can be conveyed by emphasizing preservation)
Yes, when Xuan Chong tried to overthrow ancestral family laws, the first step was “traditional preservation”.
When demolishing a house, first let people carry out big and small packages. To avoid conservatives clinging to key things.
Xuan Chong affirmed Dongtu’s traditions: since Yu Yao, the most important was respecting heaven and emulating ancestors. This must absolutely be preserved, but its “essence” must be determined (determine essence, the rest is non-essence).
Heaven worship annually, ancestor worship every ten years.
For example: during industrial production, “science” and “lighting incense”, must be emphasized formally at all times.
But complex personnel relations should be simplified as much as possible; rural wasteful comparisons would bind people’s production enthusiasm to clan relations.
Start from worship: one, reduce clan influence; two, elevate future work commune influence.
Ancestor worship every ten years; in between, no worship unless great merit.
Without doing something to honor ancestors, don’t keep ancestors on your lips; this principle is like a man without achievements not returning to village.
In work communes, weekly worker collective morning exercises; end of each month, “workmate study sessions”.
After simplifying worship, next was a series of interpersonal relation simplifications; Xuan Chong began compiling Dongtu’s “reform plan”; steel artisan district’s work commune process began.
Work communization aimed to detach Dongtu’s youths from old clan relations.
Uniform clothing, strictly forbid any master-servant address; upon verification, immediately make related chief and upper-lower responsible groups self-criticize. In daily equal address, use “workmate” to replace “this lord” etc., use “hello” to replace “may you be auspicious” “magpie passed over the branch” etc. clan polite speech.
As for industrial district daily life, uniformly use “surname” plus “workmate” for address; when needing clear superior-subordinate in production work, use “surname” plus “director” “section chief” etc. positions, e.g., “Wang Section Chief” “Liu Director”. In same artisan section with same “surname”, use prefix of artisan section function name, e.g., “rolling mill workshop Liu Section Chief”.
For same workshop same surname, by seniority: “old Zhang comrade” “big X (name take one character) comrade” “little Zhang comrade”.
Any workshop, same surname not exceed three, strictly check departmental same clan, not just to prevent workplace clannization.
Also for safety, prevent whole group wiped in accidents, to the point old home can’t withstand.
In Dongtu, same surname people basically had blood ties a hundred years ago; even without, Dongtu clan culture made same surname easier to swear brotherhood.
Xuan Chong submitted this “cultural” plan; the plan actually had strong military color, i.e., standardization and regularization of modern army military rank system. This was Prussia’s modernization system; notably, before modernization, Prussia compared to Maozi and Poland was central kingdom system; compared to East Asia, Prussia was quite serf system.
When modern armies appeared, knight families following lords’ old armies entered the trash heap. (Dongtu’s one tun was actually German knight manor.)
Similarly, factory this “new culture” was also progress to adapt to the era.
Liu Dangzhen saw Xuan Chong’s report, smirked playfully, said to Xuan Chong: “Comrade Little Liu, you’ve done well.”
Xuan Chong dazed for a moment, then without embarrassment: “Thanks Factory Director Liu for the praise, I will redouble my efforts.”
…Perspective to international situation…
Three months ago, May 4th. As present Han and Eastern Shu representatives both gathered on the 40,000-ton Guangwu Emperor battleship moored in Dongzhu to sign the treaty.
Present Han’s battleships over 20,000 tons were all named after emperors of the great unified dynasty.
Super battleships over 30,000 tons were named after historically famous emperors. And now, present Han towing out Guangwu Emperor had profound meaning.
For even larger tonnage battleships, there were, e.g., Han Wu Emperor, a 60,000-ton giant ship.
If for war outside Dragon State, the final “victory settlement ceremony” might be here. And Guangwu Emperor title should be proclaiming legitimacy restoration to Dian Continent forces.
Present Han thought so; various newspapers also began promoting “four seas unified” topic in reports.
Seemed~ hoping Eastern Shu’s populace would wisely lean in.
But! Present Han overestimated its cultural radiation influence.
When present Han newspapers threw flirtatious looks at Eastern Shu across the air, claiming “legitimacy”.
Eastern Shu’s 400 years “nurturing scholars” bred independent mindset: “Must be irreconcilable with those A Lu boys?”
…Anxiety in defeated nation…
Right after treaty signing, rebellion occurred in Eastern Shu southeast; rebels were Eastern Shu’s Pengzhou military faction. Gunfire rang on streets, amplification horns notified “all return home, do not linger on streets”.
In New Bianliang, after coup leaders controlled situation, coup leader stated (forced palace) to Eastern Shu emperor: “Your Majesty, we absolutely cannot abandon Dongzhu; Reverse Han has cut off our dynasty’s Ziwei. Absolutely cannot agree!”
Explanation here: Dongzhu was Eastern Shu’s only territory in north hemisphere; crossing north hemisphere means no North Star, i.e., Ziwei Star visible. Without facing Ziwei Star, many important worships couldn’t follow ancient rites.
Additionally notable, “Dian Continent” term was neutral centuries ago, but today for Eastern Shu people it’s “inappropriate” wording.
Reference “Shina” semantic shift to see “Dian Continent”‘s derogatory; moreover, in Guangzhou-centered South Central Sea cultural circle, “Dian Lao” term still exists.
Of course, another factor was Eastern Shu people’s despair toward south hemisphere.
Three hundred years ago, Eastern Shu people entrenched in Southeast Asia for centuries first decided to develop south hemisphere, with quite “Chu not submitting to Zhou” spirit. Especially “both see future” ability first inherited in Eastern Shu Qin clan. And this “ability” then summoned a future big iron ship, opening Eastern Shu merchant state era. Since then, Eastern Shu elites landing this inverted seasons south hemisphere believed with this other half heaven-earth resources, no need to look north.
But reality was, entering Age of Discovery, global forces not only looked at homeland size, but external communication smoothness. Smooth ocean trade, industrial products sell smoothly, materials come in smoothly, then first-rate industrial districts born.
South hemisphere either ocean or penguin ice plains. Dian Continent indeed big, but true land’s end, vast land big prison. Capital can’t have penguins consume, right?
Finally, after fumbling south hemisphere fully two hundred years, Eastern Shu invested massive resources. While present Han solidified North, entered Southeast Asia, organized fleet to open India shipping lane, conveniently seized rich former Eastern Shu sphere, Luzon.
As said before, present Han not only military action, but economically catching up, even culturally suppressing with legitimacy.
And in this period, Eastern Shu people accustomed to leading present Han by half-step via “industry and commerce” “technology” internally split on “who I belong to”.
…Folk budding…
Eastern Shu west coast, a Shu army began “downward usurpation”; this Shu army convoy passing a town, youths lay on walls watching, rows of iron armor war chariots transported on railway.
“Mom, that’s Brave Tiger war chariot!” said fifteen-year-old boy Zhong Hengfei. Adult frying with spatula behind: “Got it, got it!”
“Teacher in national language class said we must ride war chariots to conquer southern under heaven’s various islands, be southern under heaven’s masters!” Boy’s words halfway.
Mom: “What southern under heaven, study well, go abroad by ship do business well, outside claim to be South Han.”
Boy: “But we clearly are southern under heaven people.”
Mom knocked iron pot with spatula: “Those masters want to be southern under heaven big officials; you claim southern under heaven person, they send you to islands feed crocodiles. Our family can afford iron pot, wealthy household, not camp rice rotten soldier.”
…Attacking hearts…
Eastern Shu nationals couldn’t pinpoint what people they were. Now one group self-identified as “southern under heaven masters”, another as “Zhou rites faction”.
About two hundred years ago, “southern under heaven master” identity once dominated populace. Because Eastern Shu controlled vast Southeast Asia islands, fleet controlled “six armor strait”, blocking east-west sea passage, Eastern land people quite majestic.
But these two hundred years, “Zhou rites faction” disliked “southern under heaven master” slogan.
Because truly abandoning Zhuxia identity in worship rites would really join barbarians.
“Zhou rites faction representative”: southern under heaven master only self-recognized; when military strong, could force Southeast Asia islands recognize. But now! Military declining, economy weakening, who in Southeast Asia islands still enshrines you as “master”? All Southeast Asia big surnames want as Zhuxia millennia distant kin.
Like Xuan Chong’s previous life, phrase breaking Giaochi defense: “you are Southeast X people”.
Notably, “southern under heaven” faction spent fortunes researching anthropology, classified whole south ocean as “south drift archipelago ethnicity”, trying to make this circle little brothers on theory.
But unwittingly, worldwide clans with heritage all obsessed with their “seed”; as for “seedless”, that’s curse.
As present Han dug out “Liangzhu” ruins, set a clan temple there, determining as “south drift archipelago ethnicity” ancestors; those millenniums ago drifting ocean with mainland pigs and dogs ethnicities all excitedly returned to recognize ancestors. (Austronesian migration, pigs such livestock drifted with people)
Most Eastern Shu people knew: their “seed” no issue.
Rather this was Eastern Shu ruling class fear! Northern big brother step by step tightening.
…Chain reaction…
After June, coup-leading Pengzhou faction didn’t convince Eastern Shu emperor. Meanwhile, Qin Shen led corps return, corps upon entering city immediately controlled situation.
Thus, coup-hit Victory City began military curfew; on white cement roads, armored cars and soldiers began patrolling.
And one ship swiftly crossed ocean, coup backstage chief envoy fled, back to Pengzhou continent.
In Pengzhou coastal city, an elder in long gown saw Qin Shao’s expression rushing back to report, knew result. Sighed: “He (Shu Emperor) unwilling to yield?”
Qin Shao nodded. Then: “But we left our people by Rui King (Shu Emperor son now four years old).”
Old man sighed with emotion: “You think with present Han current national power, when you reach my age, does our country have chance?”
Qin Shao raised head, wanted to speak, but couldn’t guarantee.
Old man: “Southern under heaven and northern under heaven incomparable.” Saying this, old man’s eyes flashed wolfish gleam: “Then let this under heaven change.”
…Five days later…
Jeep convoy (black technology) traversed great swamp (Amazon jungle) jungle, arrived place originally submerged by jungle, but this jungle central, like mysterious crop circle, leveled into vast open space. All trees cleared; in this open space center, a Maya pyramid.
Unlike Pengzhou’s many weathered stone pyramids, this pyramid brand new. Surface not even rock cracks, no scratches, like new mobile phone screen; pyramid surroundings wave-shaped melted cooled molten rock blocks.
Yes, this pyramid emerged from underground a year ago; before emerging, whole ground flat rainforest.
After emerging, ground like molten, turned stone waves receded aside. After century weathering, these stone waves maybe like other pyramid surroundings’ loose stones.
Qin Shao after dismount, opened car door for elder. Then looked at this brand new pyramid, and on it lines like “taotie pattern”.
Qin Shao: “This is?”
Other side, welcoming elder scientist said: “This is interstellar launcher, can send information to outer space.”
Qin Shao feigned joke: “Oh, this thing can summon aliens?”
Who knew this scientist nodded: “Yes, can summon interstellar mysterious power.”
Qin Shao expression stiffened, probed: “Then have we contacted? Can ask aliens for some technology.”
Nearby elder: “We already acquired quite some related technology. Next, don’t be surprised.”
…Exam question about to appear…
In slides, played these three hundred years situation. Turns out these two hundred plus years, Eastern Shu always sought suspected pyramid sites on Pengzhou plateau for activation; now opened sixteen. Among discovered some intelligent beings, initially plant form, but after devouring flesh rapidly fruited, then simulated upright human form.
Ancient South Yin (South America natives) through worship various beings, acquired such “war monsters”.
Eastern Shu discovered these alien green-skinned big-toothed monsters, though belligerent savage, had wondrous tool assembly ability, not limited to stone tools, unlimited. Give them wrench ordinary ironware, could assemble cleavers; give steel pipes and files, could use methane gas excreted from their anuses as fuel, manufacture firearms.
Later Eastern Shu gave this alien species higher damaged technology, found they always prophetically found successful repair methods.
Qin Zhao looking at slide’s full-fanged monster, hard to imagine this thing could make advanced machines.
Qin Shao: “We, we, want to use this for what?——His tone hesitant.”
Elder: “These are Taotie clan. According to local Bulun clan (Inca) records carved on stone rock architecture here, very ancient times when under heaven still various giant dragons era (over 60 million years ago Cretaceous), they descended once, ate all then-Earth large creatures, buried these worship platforms underground then vanished.
And now, since northern under heaven’s present Han invincible under heaven, then let enemies come from heaven.”
Base seventy-meter rock ground pyramid began hovering, and slowly rotating, faster and faster.
