knife

Chapter 434 Map
(This is quite a hassle, the work pressure is immense, and I have a headache!)

Since disembarking at Xuanwuzhou Wharf, Quanxin and Zhang Quanyi had been looking around like curious children. An official from Zhiqiu Academy, who was arranging their itinerary, kept talking and explaining things to them.

In their imaginations, the area beyond the Great Wall was naturally a place that was extremely remote and impoverished, consisting of either deep mountains and marshes or vast deserts and wastelands.

However, as soon as the ship arrived at the shore, the prosperity of Xuanwu City shocked the two of them.

A port capable of accommodating more than ten large ocean-going ships at once is comparable in size to the largest wharves of a maritime trading nation like the State of Chu.

Upon stepping ashore, one discovers that the port's infrastructure far surpasses that of the State of Chu.

The wide roads, towering warehouses, rows of shops, and a constant stream of merchants speaking different languages ​​and with different appearances left the two speechless with amazement.

The two of them were heading to the Beiting Protectorate outside the Great Wall. Traveling by land would naturally involve many passes and obstacles, and it would be even more difficult with their families in tow. Therefore, Zhi Qiu Yuan arranged for them to travel by water.

They had been adrift at sea for more than half a month. Quanxin and Zhang Quanyi were fine, but their families suffered greatly. These people were used to being pampered and had never experienced such hardships before.

The initial excitement of going out to sea quickly turned into fear after the first storm.

For those at sea, it's just a minor incident, but for them, it's like going through hell.

After finally disembarking, it seemed that these people could not continue traveling no matter what. They could only rest in Xuanwu City for a while and then head to Baoping City after they had fully recovered.

It would take more than ten days to travel from Xuanwu Prefecture to Baoping City by fast horse, and it wouldn't be unusual for a carriage to take a month.

After all, the land roads are only being repaired intermittently, and goods to places like Bao Ping Zhou still rely more on water transport.

However, Quanxin and Zhang Quanyi's family absolutely refused to take the boat again.

If there hadn't been a rush, it wouldn't have mattered if they had rested in Xuanwu Prefecture for a while before taking a leisurely overland journey. However, before they had even settled in the local official post station for a day, news of the Beiting Protectorate's full-scale mobilization had already reached Xuanwu Prefecture via express courier.

Xuanwu Cai Ming also knew the identities of these two men and knew that with their status and position, they would be given important positions sooner or later. Therefore, he did not hide the news from them, but informed Quanxin and Zhang Quanyi.

At this point, how could the two of them possibly sit still?

A full-scale mobilization means launching a final offensive against the Northern Yuan.

Although they didn't know the specifics, since the two sides had started fighting, they naturally wanted to get involved.

Only by participating can you earn credit, and only with credit can you establish yourself here.

This is extremely important for them, who have traveled thousands of miles away from their homeland to start anew.

Opportunities are always limited.

If you cannot make contributions and gain trust in this battle, how can you expect others to trust you in the subsequent battle to enter the pass?

Therefore, Quanxin and Zhang Quanyi both decided to let their families rest and recuperate in Xuanwu, while they only took their personal guards and rode at full speed towards Baoping Prefecture.

At their speed, they should be able to arrive in no more than ten days.

“Generals, it looks like it’s about to rain, and it’s getting dark. We need to find a place to take shelter.” Han Si, the official from the Zhi Qiu Academy who was leading the way, unfolded a map on horseback, glanced at it a few times, and said, “Take the left path at the small hill ahead. Go for five li, and there’s a market town there. A captain lives there and is in charge of the military affairs of dozens of surrounding villages!” Zhang Quanyi looked at Han Si and reached out his hand, saying, “May I see your map?”

"Why not?" Han Si smiled and handed the map to Zhang Quanyi.

The new one on the side also peeked over.

After glancing at the picture, the two looked up, exchanged glances, and stared at each other in bewilderment.

There's no other reason than that this diagram is just too detailed.

Even the location of a small stream is clearly marked.

Both of them were military commanders, so they naturally understood the importance of such a detailed map.

"Are there many such detailed drawings?" Zhang Quanyi asked.

Quanxin, who was standing to one side, also looked up at Han Si.

"There are many!" Han Si laughed. "The maps outside the pass are basically complete now, and they are all like this. To be honest, we have been drawing similar maps for the Northern Yuan and the area inside the pass. Wherever our people or caravans appear, there will definitely be several skilled cartographers there."

"They're also inside the pass?" The two looked at each other in shock.

"Yes, but not many!" Han Si said. "After all, our focus used to be on the Northern Yuan, and we invested less manpower in the interior. But since three years ago, we have been investing more and more manpower each year, and we have accumulated quite a few maps. Moreover, we have a priority when drawing maps. If you two generals lead your troops into the interior in the future, you will definitely get the most detailed maps."

The two unfolded the map again, examining it greedily, as if a man who had been holding back for decades had finally seen a mature and beautiful woman.

"How much manpower and financial resources must have been invested?" Quan Yi sighed. "Li Duhu's success was no accident!"

"Generals," Han Si said with a smile, "our Zhi Qiu Courtyard has a dedicated department for map surveying, which has been doing for over a decade!" He continued, "It has indeed consumed a great deal of manpower and resources. At first, we were somewhat skeptical, but it was only through your insistence, young master, that we were able to keep going. Later, we realized just how important an accurate and detailed map is! Come on, generals, it's about to rain!"

Han Si said with immense pride.

Upon hearing Han Si's words, Quanxin and Zhang Quanyi immediately realized that he must be one of Li Dachui's old cronies. Along the way, they had encountered many people from the Beiting Protectorate, but those who addressed him as "Protector Li Dachui" were newcomers, while those who called him "Young Master Li Dachui" were his old cronies, deeply trusted and generally wielding considerable power. Han Si hadn't revealed his position in the Zhi Qiu Academy, but seeing his familiarity with map surveying, it was highly likely that he did something similar.

Considering that this guy met up with them from within the territory of Chu, it became self-evident what he had been doing in Chu before.

Li Dachui has already begun drawing a map of the State of Chu.

One who does not plan for the long term cannot plan for the short term; one who does not plan for the whole cannot plan for a part.

Seeing the autumn in a single leaf, Zhang Quanyi finally understood that his failures and others' successes were not simply a matter of fate or luck. He had never thought of doing the kind of hard work that he had accumulated little by little over time.

Fortunately, I will be joining this group myself in the future.

When one's own abilities are insufficient, joining the strongest party is naturally the key to success.

(End of this chapter)