Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 114: The Choice of Starting a Rebellion

Ever since Zhang Yumeng came up with the idea of establishing his own regime, he began to think about where would be a good place for him to start his own business.

Needless to say, the Central Plains was not something he could get his hands on. After careful consideration, in order to play to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses, Zhang Yu had few options and could only choose his hometown, Bingzhou.

Among the provinces of Bingzhou, Zhang Yu chose Yanmen as his starting point. He chose Yanmen as his starting point not only because Zhang Yu was stationed in Yanbei, but also because it was closely related to Yanmen itself.

Bingzhou has nine counties. Excluding the three counties of Yunzhong, Wuyuan and Shuofang which have no administrative structure, there are only six counties that still have administrative structure, namely Yanmen, Taiyuan, Dingxiang, Shangdang, Shang and Xihe.

Among the six counties, only Yanmen and Taiyuan counties had the largest populations. And among the two counties, the one with the largest registered population was, perhaps surprisingly, not the most peaceful Taiyuan County, but Yanmen County near the border, with a population of about 240,000.

In terms of registered population, it is not difficult to understand why Yanmen has more people than Taiyuan.

There were many clans in Taiyuan, and there were five big families that were worthy of the name, and their servants were countless. However, the Yanmen area was in turmoil all year round due to its proximity to the border, so it was difficult for big families to form.

Another reason is that the Shuofang counties were successively invaded by the Hu people, and a large number of people fled eastward and took refuge in Yanmen County, taking a lot of people with them.

Moreover, Yanmen is close to the border, the people are tough, and the men are good at riding. With training, they can become cavalry. There are also Huns, Wuhuan and other Hu people in the county who can serve as volunteer cavalry. They are natural horse archers, and the quality of the soldiers is naturally better than that of Taiyuan.

In addition to its population and the quality of its military forces, Yanmen County is geographically key. It borders Dai County to the east and Youzhou; it borders Dingxiang to the west and is connected to the Hetao; it is close to Taiyuan to the south and can overlook the Guanhe River; and it reaches the south of the desert to the north and is adjacent to the Xianbei.

If we can start an army from Yanmen, we can quickly annex Taiyuan if we use the right means. With Taiyuan and Yanmen, Shangdang, Xihe and Hedong are within reach. Dingxiang, needless to say, has a sparse population and is closely connected with Yanmen. Although it is a county in name, it is actually included in Yanmen County.

Therefore, in order to control Yanmen, Zhang Yu has been trying to strengthen his power in the Yanmen area. Taking control of the Lan clan and Zuonan Xiongnu is Zhang Yu's greatest achievement in recent times. The two Xiongnu tribes have more than 4,000 tents, with a population of nearly 30,000, and can produce thousands of cavalry.

With a thousand professional cavalrymen, several thousand Southern Xiongnu cavalrymen, and soldiers from Chanhewu, Zhang Yu will have the most powerful armed force in Yanmen.

It is no exaggeration to say that if Zhang Yu wanted to occupy Yanmen, Yanmen County Magistrate Wang Ze would have no way to stop him. Now Zhang Yu was actually only short of ruling Yanmen County with the title of County Magistrate.

Although Yanmen County has its advantages, it also has its disadvantages. Namely, it borders the desert to the north, and if the relationship with the Xianbei cannot be handled well, Yanmen will suffer from being plundered by the Xianbei.

In July, Zhang Yu learned that Budugen had taken over the grassland east of Zhongshan Mountain and would be completely bordering Yanmen. In order to solve the Xianbei problem outside the Great Wall, Zhang Yu ordered Yan Zhi to bring valuable gifts to visit Budugen, hoping to discuss opening border trade with Budugen.

As the successor of Kuitou, Budugen not only inherited Kuitou's position as the Chanyu, but also continued Kuitou's policies towards the Han Dynasty.

After meeting Yan Zhi, Budugen was overjoyed to learn that Zhang Yu wanted to open border trade with him. He gave Zhang Yu three hundred horses in return and asked Zhang Yu to choose a place to discuss the trade.

After consultation between the two parties, the location of the mutual alliance was chosen to be north of Chanhebi.

On the third day of August, with the approval of the imperial court, Zhang Yu led more than a hundred cavalrymen northward, accompanied by Yang Zan, the mayor of Pingcheng.

Zhang Yu walked holding the reins, looking at the yellow wheat fields on both sides of the road, and was in a very good mood.

"The roads are in good repair, much better than when Yu took office last year."

Zhang Yu pointed at the wheat field with his whip and said with a smile: "I still remember that when I first arrived in Pingcheng, there were many wastelands outside the city. But this year, the wastelands have been cultivated by the people. It is unimaginable. Your achievements are remarkable!"

Yang Zan rode along, smiling, "Pingcheng can be as prosperous as it is today, all thanks to your majesty. If you hadn't disciplined the evil Hu people and cleared up the Yanbei area, wouldn't the people of Pingcheng be in danger with the Hu people's rampant behavior? How could they concentrate on farming?"

After a pause, Yang Zan said, "Not only that, but also because Yanbei has eliminated the evil Hu people, Pingcheng has returned to peace, and the refugees have gradually returned home, we have the current scene."

"How many people are there in Pingcheng now?" Zhang Yu asked casually.

Yang Zan smiled and said, "There are about 2,100 households and the population is about 13,000 people, which is more than 1,000 more than when I first took office."

Zhang Yu nodded slightly. Pingcheng has a smaller population. If there is an opportunity in the future, some people can be relocated from the turbulent Hebei region. After all, the land around Pingcheng is fertile and the fields are vast. There are still a lot of fields that have not been developed.

Squinting his eyes, Zhang Yu asked, "Laien, which fields do you own?"

Ke Bi pointed to the fields and said, "The fields I am working on are in the front. Because the people in the tribe don't know how to farm, the fields are in a mess."

"You have been using bows and spears since you were young, and you are good at sickles and hoes?"

Zhang Yu smiled and asked, "I wonder how the people in Lai En's army are doing?"

Kobe said modestly, "My people are grateful to you for giving us land and pastures. However, since we have just moved to the frontier, we have not been comfortable living there."

"If the people of Lai'en have any difficulties, they can go to see County Magistrate Yang on weekdays." Zhang Yu said.

In his words, Zhang Yu clearly regarded himself as the lord of Pingcheng, and Yang Zan as his subordinate.

"Thank you, Lord!"

Zhang Yu turned to look at Yang Zan and asked, "You have done a great job in governing Pingcheng, and your achievements are outstanding. I wonder if you will be transferred to another position?"

Yang Zan was delighted and said, "Whether I will be promoted or not, I don't know yet. But if we can form an alliance with Budugen this time, I will be credited with great merit, and it will be easy to be promoted in the future!"

"I have made outstanding achievements in politics, and I am fortunate to have been supported by you. Even if I get promoted in the future, I will never forget your kindness!"

When Yang Zan first took office in Pingcheng, he thought it was a bad place and he would not be able to achieve any political achievements. If Zhang Yu had not led his troops to Yanbei to station troops and intimidate the Xiongnu and Wuhuan, Yang Zan estimated that he would have been killed by the Hu people or resigned early.

Now it is impossible for Yang Zan not to be grateful to Zhang Yu. Yang Zan no longer interacts with Zhang Yu with the mentality of a classmate. Instead, he purely treats Zhang Yu with the attitude of a subordinate to his superior, obeying orders and following his lead.

Zhang Yu pondered for a moment and said, "Now that the market with Budugen is about to open, if Gong Tan is promoted, wouldn't it be a waste of merit for his successor? In Yu's opinion, Gong Tan should govern Pingcheng for a few more years. When Pingcheng is well governed, Han merchants will gather and the people will be happy. Maybe he can be promoted to county governor in one step."

After finally convincing Yang Zan and getting along well with him, Zhang Yu was reluctant to let Yang Zan leave. After all, he didn't know the next Pingcheng leader's temper, character, and talents. It would be troublesome if he met someone who was not on good terms with him.

If Yang Zan was left in Pingcheng, he would not be promoted when the Central Plains was in chaos. When he raised his own army, Yang Zan would have no choice but to join him. And considering Yang Zan's ability, it should not be difficult for him to be qualified for the post of county governor.

Yang Zan hesitated for a long time and said, "Your Excellency's words make sense, and I agree with them. If I continue to govern Pingcheng in the future, I'll trouble you to take good care of me."

"Of course!" Zhang Yu said with a smile.

It is not difficult to understand why Yang Zan agreed to Zhang Yu's suggestion. If Yang Zan wanted to move up, in peacetime, he would most likely be transferred to a county with more registered households. If he was lucky, he could be appointed as a county magistrate. From the perspective of official salary, there might be an improvement, but the overall change would not be significant. If he stayed in Pingcheng, the court would reward Yang Zan for his merits and appoint him as the county magistrate of Pingcheng with the salary of a county magistrate. And when Yang Zan made new achievements and there was a vacant position for the county governor, Yang Zan would be able to skip the level and be promoted to county governor.

The tedious and complicated process of political promotion is completely different from military merit. At that time, Zhang Yuruo was still the magistrate of Zheng County, and it is estimated that he is still the magistrate of Zheng County today. If he wants to be promoted to the position of county governor, in addition to having a strong background, he must rely on seniority and political achievements.

On August 5, Zhang Yu was the first to go to Chanhebi to inspect the salt pond, and Budugen would arrive two days later.

Zhang Yu climbed to a high place and looked over the Chanhe Pond. He could see fields everywhere along the bank of the lake, and the fields were filled with salt water.

"What is the current situation in Yanchi?" Zhang Yu asked.

Li Song pointed to the connected fields and said, "Song hired a salt craftsman from Hedong with a large sum of money and taught him the methods of cultivating the fields, watering and drying the salt. The salt production increased greatly, and we can get more than 700 dan per year, which is 10% more than before."

"How does it compare with the Hedong Salt Lake?" Zhang Yu asked ignorantly.

"Sir, the Hedong Salt Lake produces more than 400,000 stones of salt annually. The amount of salt produced by Chanhe Pond is not enough to compare with it!" Li Song looked at Zhang Yu strangely and asked.

Zhang Yu sighed and calculated the profit of Hedong salt in his mind. Based on the price of salt of 900 coins per stone, he could earn more than 360 million coins a year. After deducting various costs, 300 million a year could be considered conservative. The head tax of the Han Dynasty was 4 billion. The comparison between the two shows the horror of Hedong salt profit. No wonder Hedong was a prosperous place in both the Han and Tang dynasties.

Compared with the Chanhe Pond that he controlled, there was a huge difference between them and the two. If he could conquer Hedong in the future, the first thing he would do would be to build a salt pond to raise soldiers. If a large clan was dissatisfied, he would not mind using the bow and spear in his hand to speak.

Now, the Xiachanhe Salt Pond can produce more than 200 stones. Taking advantage of the turmoil in Youzhou and the monopoly on the grassland, the income from the salt pond he operates will increase greatly.

For example, Yan Rou had previously asked for 400,000 coins to buy the Youzhou franchise, but Zhang Yu generously waived the offer. Yan Rou felt that Zhang Yu was trustworthy, so he proposed a split sales, deducting the selling price of 800 coins per stone, and splitting the profit 28. So now Yan Rou sold a stone of salt for 2,500 coins per stone, and Zhang Yu could get 1,140 coins.

Once the trade with Budugen is established, Zhang Yu can use the salt to exchange for precious furs on the grassland, and then sell them to the Han people to make a lot of money. The money accumulated can be used to privately raise troops and horses, and to subsidize the troops under his command and other operations.

While waiting for Budugen at Chanhebi, Zhang Yu met Hu Yanhe and Liu Meng.

Hu Yanhe, the cheap father-in-law, was very happy to collect the profits from the salt pond. Now that he knew that Zhang Yu would trade with Budugen, he wanted to profit from it. Liu Meng was forcibly relocated to Chanhebi. Although he felt resentful, he dared not say much when he saw Zhang Yu and could only bow his head in submission.

Two days later, Budugen led his cavalry to Chanhebi and met with Zhang Yu in the north of the pond to discuss the opening of border trade.

On that day, the Han and Hu armies each had several hundred cavalrymen. When they were three miles apart, Zhang Yu led two cavalrymen out, placed a chair between the two armies, and waited for Budugen to arrive.

After a while, Budugen rode up quickly, dismounted, and asked in Xianbei: "Is this Zhang Yu, General Zhang?"

Without waiting for the interpreter to translate, Zhang Yu bowed with a smile and said in fluent Hu language: "Zhang Yu greets the Chanyu!"

"You are fluent in the Xianbei language?" Budugen asked in surprise.

Zhang Yu invited Budugen to sit down and said with a smile: "I am from Yunzhong. I have had many interactions with the Xianbei since I was young, so I know a little about the Hu language."

Budugen said with emotion: "If I had not known in advance that you are a Han Chinese, I would have thought that you are a Xianbei!"

As he spoke, Budugen expressed his gratitude and said, "Thank you for your help when I was fighting with Qianman. You led your troops to harass Qianman's tribe to divide Qianman's heart."

"Don't dare!"

Zhang Yu smiled and said, "The Chanyu is young and capable. Even without my troops, he can still defeat Qian Man."

Budugen sat upright on the chair and said, "Since you know my Hu language, you should know my Hu customs. I am willing to pay tribute and trade with the Han Dynasty. I wonder what your dynasty wants?"

Zhang Yu pondered for a moment and said, "If you pay tribute to the court, we will definitely confer you the title of Chanyu, and the only place for trade is Pingcheng. Apart from Pingcheng, caravans or tribes can go to Chanhe Pond to exchange salt."

"Can!"

Budugen thought for a long time and asked, "I wonder if there are any restrictions on goods?"

Zhang Yu said: "When trading in Pingcheng, goods were brought in according to Han laws, and ironware was subject to restrictions."

After a pause, Zhang Yu remembered what he wanted and said, "Can Lao Chanyu find two things from the Western Regions for me?"

"What?"

"Tutu and white cotton!"

Budugen frowned and thought, and said, "As for Tuocao, my tribe has several of them. But what is white cotton? I have never heard of it."

Zhang Yu described the appearance of cotton and said, "Cotton is as white as snow, as white as silk, and pure and untainted by dirt. When Lao Shanyu is trading with the Western Regions, please pay attention to the seeds of white cotton and those who know how to grow white cotton. I will give you a generous reward!"

Why did Zhang Yu want the camel and cotton?
There is no need to explain the reason for introducing cotton. If cotton becomes popular and can be used for textiles, it will help improve people's ability to keep out the cold and will be more helpful for the army to fight in cold areas.

As for the popularization of camels, it was out of consideration of replacing cattle and horses.

Camels are easier to keep than horses and can live for decades. When Zhang Yu traveled to the northwest, he accidentally learned that camels can not only carry goods, but also be used for farming.

If camels could be introduced into Bingzhou on a large scale, they would be able to provide better transportation than horses due to the complex and difficult terrain of Bingzhou. Moreover, if there were not enough oxen, camels could be used as a substitute.

"to make!"

Budugen nodded and said, "I have a grudge against Qianman, and the Eastern Xianbei are not doing well. My tribe is in urgent need of ironware, and I would like to ask you to help me with some. As for the two things you mentioned, I don't need to say much about the camels. If the Western Regions have white cotton, I will do my best to send people to get it."

Zhang Yu hesitated for a long time, and in order to make friends with Budugen, he said, "In the future, Chanhebi will sell some ironware. Chanyu can order people to keep an eye on it."

"Thank you, Mr. Zhang!" Budugen said happily.

Zhang Yu already had an idea. The trading point of Chanhebi could only be controlled by his family. In addition to keeping the wealth within the family, he also wanted to control the iron tools to prevent Budugen's troops from becoming too powerful.

ps: The 8k update is late, I didn’t make up for yesterday’s 2k

(End of this chapter)