Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 434 Xinxiang
"Is the situation in Xia Kingdom still unstable?"

When He Bo handed over the things he had prepared for Su Guang's next journey east, he casually chatted with him about the situation in the distance.

Upon hearing this, Su Guang let out a soft sigh.

He was about to leave his hometown to open up new territories for the Xia people, yet the Xia state was still embroiled in internal strife.

This made Su Guang, who was reminded of the special status of "Xinxia," unable to help but let his thoughts wander:
If that God who controls everything and sets the fate for all living beings truly has his own thoughts...

He must be a god with a wicked sense of humor!

"It's much better than before."

"It's just that the soil and water there are problematic; anyone who goes there will become outrageous..." He Bo said, shaking his head.

Under the overwhelming force of the Han Dynasty's heavenly army,
After a long period of chaos and turmoil, the Western Xia finally saw a glimmer of hope called "stability".

The Yuezhi people and that feudal lord from Qin,
Facing the might of the Han Dynasty's Champion Marquis, they suffered repeated defeats.

With the blessing of the Heavenly Army, the Beggars' Army finally made up for its "lack of military prowess," and its momentum greatly increased, reminiscent of the peak of the Taiping Dao in the past.

Therefore, the two hostile guests who had been wantonly harassing the Xia people had to restrain themselves, and their eyes gradually became clear.

I just don't know what the other person has been thinking lately.

They actually secretly conspired to establish a "United Xia Kingdom".

They probably felt the external pressure was too heavy, and because the route to escape westward from Yangguan was blocked by the Han army, they had no choice but to band together for warmth.

First, establish a name to reduce the Xia people's rejection of him, and then proceed with other plans gradually.

after all,

We can't just let the Beggar Army's forces continue to erode the hearts and minds of the people in Western Xia, plunging them into an even more difficult situation, can we?
"But this way, Xia Kingdom can also compete for the legitimacy of Rome in the future!"

The Holy Xia Empire has appeared.

All that's missing is an inland sea that's geographically limited and could never be obtained.

"Why should our nation of Xia fight for the legitimacy of a barbarian?"

Su Guang heard He Bo muttering and asked him in confusion.

Knowing the other person's identity and extraordinary abilities, he believed there must be a deeper meaning in their words, and couldn't help but speculate in his mind:
Is it because the Xia state will also migrate westward like the Qin state?

But the Xia people originally migrated from the Central Plains!
If we keep moving...
Isn't that just like some of the barbarians who were despised and slaughtered repeatedly in the Qin state?
And if such a thing were actually done,
The Xia people must have become so wicked that they turned into barbarians!

Thinking about it more deeply,
Su Guang then recalled the descendants of the Qi people in Yinzhou, far from their ancestral homeland in the Central Plains, who were gradually assimilated by the local population.

He felt that his guess was not unfounded, but something that was completely impossible in the future.

Fortunately, He Bo interrupted him in time.

"You should sort out the things I gave you!"

Why do you think so much?
Even the Roman envoy from Xia Kingdom wasn't worried, but Su Guang, an outsider, was already anxious for him.

Su Guang said "Oh" and lowered his head to get down to work.

Is this a pea?

"Yes."

"But it's a little different from what I saw in Qin!"

Su Guang picked at the beans in his hand, observing their wrinkled or round shapes.

He Bo told him, "This is a cold- and drought-resistant variety that I specially cultivated; it took a lot of time!"

That must have been very difficult!

Su Guang had heard He Bo mention the arduous process of cultivating cabbage.

The new vegetables, which produce large, refreshing, and cold-resistant produce that can be stored and grown in all four seasons, are so important that even illiterate people can recognize their value.

It is conceivable that

In the not-too-distant future,

This new variety, originating from the turnip, will become a staple vegetable in countless households, much like beans, which have been developed into various uses by the people today. In times of hardship, it will sustain countless lives. Based on the principle of "equal pay for equal work,"

Su Guang felt that cultivating a new crop that would be more beneficial for the people to cultivate and satisfy their hunger was an extremely difficult task.

"It's alright!" He Bo replied with a hint of pride, his hands behind his back.

"Is it because you're a ghost or a god?" Su Guang laughed.

"No, it was mainly a friend surnamed Meng who helped me a lot in this matter."

Although Mencius, a mere old man who devoted his life to scholarship and achieved little in agriculture, also couldn't understand why the spirits specifically summoned him to their side when planting peas, rather than favoring these dead ghosts skilled in farming.
But whenever asked, He Bo would always respond with a mysterious smile, offering no clear explanation, so he couldn't be bothered to ask any further.

"Just know that it was Meng Shizi who plunged the Pea Family into chaos!"

Su Guang was completely confused, but he didn't ask any questions. He simply checked and put the items away.

Then he said to He Bo:
"My body is still very healthy thanks to your grace."

"While sailing, I can also benefit from your blessings... It seems that I can travel between Yinzhou and the Central Plains a few more times."

"Is there anything you want? Perhaps I can bring it back for you from Yinzhou."

He Bo thought for a moment and then said, "If you have the energy and can ensure your own safety, you can go and take a look at Nan Yinzhou."

He pointed to the peas in Su Guang's hand and laughed, "You know, I really like beans and enjoy messing around with them."

"I will do my best!"

Worried that he might try things recklessly, He Bo reminded him, "Never rush to eat something you've never seen before!"

"You shouldn't try to emulate a sage like Shennong."

Before undergoing a long process of selective breeding,

Those crops that originated in Yinzhou, I wonder what they look like, what they taste like, and what the consequences of eating them would be.

He Bo didn't want Su Guang, the great navigator who could withstand the storms of the ocean and travel between the two ends, to fall on the land of Yinzhou because of some trivial matter.

"The future of all the Xia peoples in Yinzhou rests on my shoulders. How dare I act recklessly!"

Su Guang said solemnly:
"The Emperor has bestowed upon me the title of Marquis of Xinxiang, placing high hopes on me, and I will swear to fulfill this duty to the death!"

After learning about Su Guang's aspirations,

After bestowing upon him much wealth and assisting Su Guang in building a large ship to cross the sea, the Emperor of Han issued an edict before Su Guang's departure, granting him the title of "Xinxiang".

He pointed to the distant east and said to Su Guang:
"I hope you can educate and transform that place into a new homeland for all Chinese people."

Then, he fed Su Guang some cakes:
"If you can return successfully next time, then I will bestow upon you the title of Prince of Xinxiang!"

"Don't think that just because you are a subject of Qi, you shouldn't have the same title as your lord and refuse it!"

"Your achievements for the Chinese people deserve a royal title!"

Su Guang was deeply moved at the time, and even now, thinking back on it, he still feels a surge of pride because of the emperor's words.

He boarded the boat and waved to He Bo in the sea breeze:
"I'm leaving!"

He Bo also said to him, "Go ahead!"

"When you're running around aimlessly, be careful not to get captured by the Yin people and used as a sacrifice!"

Su Guang didn't reply, but just burst into laughter.

His laughter faded into the distance along with the billowing sails.

On the large ship,

Those who were recruited at great expense as attendants,
There were also the cattle, sheep, horses, and other livestock that Su Guang had specially brought along.
Accompanied by the salty scent of the sea breeze, I felt a mix of uncertainty and anticipation about my life in Xinxiang.

Would that be a good home?

Will they conquer that place and develop it into a land of plenty?
No matter how you think about it,
The boat left the shore.
There's no going back for them.

(End of this chapter)