The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 393 The Imperial Capital, Daming City
After resting for two days, Qiu Chuji led his disciples to continue their westward journey.

Looking at the Qilian Mountains that stretched endlessly in the distance, Qiu Chuji couldn't help but marvel at the grandeur of nature.

"What a magnificent mountain! With this mountain protecting it, the Hexi Corridor can be so stable, and the Qin state can take root here."

The disciples nodded in agreement, and some even took out paper and pens, wanting to draw this magnificent scene.

After traveling for several more days, the group finally arrived in Dunhuang.

But the Dunhuang before him was quite different from what Qiu Chuji had imagined.

The once-thriving Buddhist temple now bears the sign of the government and has become a government office.

The accompanying official explained, "Master, you may not know this, but after our Great Qin Dynasty recovered Dunhuang, we took over these Buddhist temples and turned them into government residences."

"The land that originally belonged to the Buddhist temple was all confiscated and returned to the public for cultivation by the people."

"Most monks have returned to secular life and gone home to farm or engage in handicrafts."

Qiu Chuji, curious, pressed on, "Are there still monks in Dunhuang today?"

“There are very few left.”

The official replied, "The government issues a very small number of ordination certificates each year. To become a monk, one must pass an examination."

"Not only must one be proficient in Buddhism, but also possess practical skills such as farming and medicine."

"Even if you get a certificate of ordination, you can't just sit back and enjoy the offerings like before. You have to be self-sufficient, work in the fields, and the government will no longer provide any support."

"Therefore, in recent years, fewer and fewer people are willing to become monks, and Buddhism in the Qin state has become smaller and smaller."

Upon hearing this, the disciples around him couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

A close disciple approached Qiu Chuji and whispered, "Master, it seems that the Qin state does have some control over our Taoism."

"Although the number of Taoist priests is also limited and the construction of Taoist temples requires reporting, it is much more lenient than Buddhism."

"Now that we are allowed to go to the Western Regions to preach, and the king's surname is Li, the same as Laozi's, perhaps in the future our Taoism can become the state religion of Qin!"

The other disciples nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Qiu Chuji gently shook his head and said calmly, "Our journey to the west to spread the teachings of Taoism is to bring the doctrines of Taoism to the people of the Western Regions."

"The position of state religion should not be coveted too much."

"Know that what is destined to be yours will be yours, and what is not, you cannot force."

"Since Your Majesty is tolerant of Taoism, we must be even more careful to abide by the rules of Taoism and do more things that benefit the people, so as not to fail Your Majesty's trust."

Upon hearing this, the disciples all lowered their heads and respectfully replied, "We understand."

Afterwards, Qiu Chuji led his disciples through Dunhuang City, wanting to gain a deeper understanding of the lives of the local people.

As he walked, he noticed a peculiar phenomenon.

In many ordinary people's homes, a portrait hangs on the wall of the main room.

The portrait depicts a young general on horseback, clad in armor, his hand resting on a scimitar, his eyes sharp, his face dignified, exuding an aura of commanding thousands of troops.

Qiu Chuji was puzzled, so he asked an old farmer who had opened his door to dry grain, "Old man, may I ask whose portrait is hanging on your wall?"

The old farmer put down his wooden rake, a look of reverence on his face, and said with a smile, "Taoist Master, this is our Qin King, King Li Xiao."

"It was the King who led the Qin army to drive away the enemy, gave us land, and enabled us to have enough to eat and live a good life."

“We common people are all grateful to the king, so we hang the king’s portrait in our homes, which can protect our homes and keep us in mind the king’s kindness.”

Qiu Chuji was greatly shocked. He had never expected that Li Xiao had such high prestige among the people of Qin.

He visited several more households and found that every household had a portrait of Li Xiao hanging on the wall. Some households would also place simple offerings in front of the portrait and worship it during festivals.

As Qiu Chuji left Dunhuang and continued westward, he gazed at the distant Gobi Desert, his heart filled with countless emotions.

Every household hangs a portrait of Li Xiao, old farmers speak of Li Xiao with reverence, and there is a simple yet devout worship.

He was amazed by the prestige of the King of Qin among his people, which had reached such a level.

In a daze, he recalled the religions of the Western Regions that he had heard of, and how the followers of Allah also revered their founder, Muhammad.

The founder first united believers with his doctrines, then led them to conquer a new world, and made more and more people believe in him.

In this light, Li Xiao and Muhammad seem to share a similar standing in the hearts of their people.

But upon further reflection, Qiu Chuji shook his head, for the two were ultimately different.

Muhammad used his teachings to unite people's hearts, while Li Xiao never used his prestige to spread any religious ideas, nor did he deceive the people or use vague rhetoric to bewitch them. Instead, he genuinely worked to bring benefits to the people.

Land was distributed to ensure people had food to eat, livestock farming was promoted to ensure people had meat to eat, and the construction of post stations and irrigation canals made life better and better.

"I see……"

Qiu Chuji murmured softly, shaking his head helplessly: "Taoism can never become the state religion of Qin."

"The state religion of Qin has always been the King of Qin himself."

This realization brought him a sense of relief, and the disciples' previous expectations for the "state religion" no longer seemed important.

The group continued westward and arrived at Yumen Pass several days later.

Despite the erosion of time, this ancient pass remains magnificent, with the three large characters "Yumen Pass" on the city gate written in a powerful and vigorous style.

The accompanying official explained, "Taoist priest, once you pass through the Jade Gate Pass, you will have truly entered the heart of the Qin Kingdom."

"This used to be the boundary between the Central Plains and the Western Regions, but now it is an important pass within the territory of our Qin State, and all caravans must have their documents checked here."

Qiu Chuji stood before the pass, gazing at the boundless Gobi Desert beyond, his heart filled with emotion.
Once upon a time, this place was the frontier of the Central Plains dynasties, but now it has become part of the heartland of the Qin state. The changes of the times are truly lamentable.

After traveling for more than ten days, the group finally arrived at Yizhou City, which was formerly known as Hamili.

Upon entering the city, Qiu Chuji immediately sensed an atmosphere completely different from that of Guanzhong and Gansu.

In addition to Han Chinese, the streets were filled with many people of other ethnicities with high noses, deep-set eyes, curly hair, and blue eyes.

Yet they all live in harmony with the Han people, and occasionally you can see people of both ethnicities having a warm conversation.

The person in charge of receiving them was a Han Chinese official and a Uyghur official.

When Qiu Chuji struck up a conversation with him, he discovered that the Uyghur official could speak fluent Chinese.

“It’s not just me; throughout the entire Xizhou region, there are many Uyghurs who can speak Chinese and have adopted Chinese names.”

"After the Qin Dynasty recovered Gaochang, many Han people moved here. Now, in Yizhou City, there are mostly Han people, but also quite a few Uyghurs. They farm and do business together, and there are often intermarriages between the two ethnic groups!"

Upon hearing this, Qiu Chuji was quite pleased: "It is truly rare for people of all ethnic groups to live in harmony."

"This is all thanks to Your Majesty."

The Uyghur official said, "His Majesty said that whether they are Han Chinese or foreigners, as long as they are registered in the Qin state, they are all subjects of Qin and will be treated equally."

"The government also encouraged us to learn Chinese and use Chinese characters, and allowed Han people to learn our crafts, so life was naturally harmonious."

Afterwards, officials from Illinois led them on a stroll through the market.

The market was far more bustling than he had imagined, with shops lining both sides of the street and vendors hawking their wares in a cacophony of voices. Silk, tea, furs, spices, pottery...

The stalls were filled with a dazzling array of goods, and the crowds of people coming and going were shoulder to shoulder.

Qiu Chuji sighed inwardly, "The commerce of Qin is so prosperous, even more bustling than that of Jin. It is probably about to catch up with the wealthy Song state in the south."

When we reached the market in the north of the city, the noise was even louder.

This is Illinois' livestock market, where horses, cattle, sheep, and camels are all available. Vendors lead their animals around, calling out their wares, while buyers carefully examine the animals, and the sounds of bargaining fill the air.

However, in the northwest corner of the market, another group of people had gathered.

There stood hundreds of young women, dressed in various exotic costumes, all bound together with ropes, their faces filled with fear and unease.

The vendors beside him were shouting, "Young and beautiful female slaves, only five silver coins! Don't miss out today, or you'll never get such a cheap deal again!"

Qiu Chuji was startled and quickly asked an old man who was watching nearby, "Sir, where is this...?"

"Is this your first time visiting the Western Regions, Daoist Master?"

The old man glanced curiously at Qiu Chuji's attire, then at the officials following him.

He said softly, "This is a market that specializes in selling slaves. It has always been very prosperous. Many people like to come here to join in the fun."

"Especially after the westward expedition, many foreign female slaves came, and they were all very beautiful."

As they were talking, a young man next to him said excitedly, "In the past, a female slave who could bear children would cost at least eight silver coins, while a young and beautiful one could sell for ten or twenty. Some nobles were even willing to spend a hundred coins to buy a stunning beauty."

"But look now, with so many young women, no one's even fighting over five silver coins."

Qiu Chuji remained expressionless and asked softly, "Why has the price dropped so drastically? Where did these female slaves come from?"

The old man pointed to the sign in the vendor's hand and said, "It says on the sign that these are prisoners of war that the King brought back from the Kingdom of Ghurid, the Western Karakhanid Khanate, and Khwarazm during his western expedition."

"Your Majesty brought back too many slaves on this western expedition. The markets in Guanzhong, Gansu, and the Western Regions can't hold them all, so prices have naturally dropped."

“Look over there, there are some female slaves who can weave and play the zither. They used to be very expensive, but now they are only eight silver coins.”

Qiu Chuji looked in the direction the old man pointed and indeed saw several women being forced to demonstrate their skills, their faces full of fear.

He felt a mix of emotions. On one hand, he sympathized with the plight of these female slaves. Taoism has always advocated that "life has no inherent value," and seeing this situation made it hard for him to bear it.

On the other hand, he also understood that this was an inevitable result of the war. The Qin state expanded its territory and acquired resources through westward expeditions, and slaves were only one part of that.

"Alas, they are pitiful people." Qiu Chuji sighed softly, then turned to his disciples and said, "Although we cannot change their fate, we can advise people to treat those around them kindly, to have less conflict and more harmony when we pass on the Dharma."

The disciples nodded.

Afterwards, Qiu Chuji led his group away from the slave market and continued their journey through Yizhou City.

As the sun set, its afterglow bathed this city where many ethnic groups coexisted. The bustling markets, the harmonious people, and even the pitiful slaves in the corners all gave Qiu Chuji a more genuine understanding of the Western Regions.

But this is only the beginning.

After leaving Yizhou City, Qiu Chuji led his disciples westward and arrived at Gaochang City several days later.

This city, once the capital of the Gaochang Uyghur Kingdom, is now an important stronghold of the Qin State in the Western Regions. The city walls are well-maintained and the market is bustling.

Not long after entering the city, Qiu Chuji saw a large army gathering at the city gate.

The group consisted mostly of young and strong men, each carrying a simple bag. Although their faces showed some fatigue, they could not hide the anticipation in their eyes.

Those who were old and frail had already fallen on the long journey and did not make it this far.

Curious, Qiu Chuji stepped forward and asked a man who was packing his bags, "Young man, I am Qiu Chuji. I see you are all ready to depart. May I ask where you are headed?"

The man put down his bundle, wiped the sweat from his brow, and replied with a smile, "Greetings, Daoist Master."

“We are going to settle down in Suyab. I came from Guanzhong, and some of my brothers fled from the disaster area in Hedong. We managed to make a living in Qin. Now the government is organizing us to go to the Western Regions to reclaim wasteland.”

"Settle down in Suyab?"

Qiu Chuji pressed further, "Is there any arrangement over there?"

"Yes, the government has made all the arrangements."

The man's eyes lit up, and he said excitedly, "When we get to Suyab, they not only give us land, but also women."

"They are all women from different ethnic groups in the Western Regions. I heard they are much, much prettier than Liu the widow who is the most beautiful woman in my village."

"The government told us that once we got married, we could build big houses, raise cattle and sheep, and live a good life."

“I’ve been a tenant farmer in Guanzhong my whole life. I never dared to dream of having my own land or my own home. Now there is finally hope.”

Another man nearby chimed in, "That's right!"

"Although it was hard to leave my homeland, there were years of famine in Hedong, and it was impossible to survive, so I had no choice but to leave."

"Now that I can go to Suyab to get land and marry a wife, it's all worth it, no matter how hard or tiring it is. In the future, when we have children, we can settle down in the Western Regions and never go hungry again."

Qiu Chuji then asked, "How many people like you are going to Suyab?"

The man scratched his head and laughed, "I don't know the specifics, but our group alone has over a thousand people. I've heard there are many other teams that have set off from other places, so the total number should be tens of thousands."

Upon hearing "tens of thousands of people," Qiu Chuji immediately understood.

The Qin state was implementing an immigration policy, relocating Han Chinese from Guanzhong and Hedong to the newly conquered territories in the Western Regions.

Allowing young Han Chinese to marry women of other ethnicities and have children would not only enable Han Chinese to settle down in the Western Regions, but also promote ethnic integration, thereby better stabilizing the newly conquered territories.

Such foresight and strategic thinking made Qiu Chuji once again marvel at Li Xiao's wisdom in governance.

Subsequently, Qiu Chuji decided to travel with this immigrant group, so that he could observe the customs and culture of the Western Regions along the way and continue to pass on Taoist teachings to the immigrants.

After leaving Gaochang City, the group traveled northwest for about half a day when Qiu Chuji suddenly smelled a pungent sulfurous odor in the air.

Alchemy was a specialty of Taoists. Although the Quanzhen School was not good at alchemy, but instead focused on cultivating the 'inner elixir', Qiu Chuji was still extremely sensitive to the smell of sulfur.

Sulfur is scarce in the Central Plains region, and the sulfur needed for alchemy often has to be purchased at great expense. It is really abnormal to smell such a strong sulfur smell in this Western Region.

Qiu Chuji was curious, so he followed the scent and soon saw a mine heavily guarded by soldiers.

Tall fences were erected around the mine, with signs that read "Military Restricted Area, No Entry." Soldiers carrying spears patrolled back and forth, looking vigilant.

As soon as Qiu Chuji approached, he was sternly stopped by a soldier: "Halt! This is a military restricted area. Do not approach."

Qiu Chuji quickly cupped his hands and explained, "I am Qiu Chuji. I was invited by Your Majesty to go to Longcheng. I was just curious because I smelled sulfur. I did not mean to offend you."

But the soldiers remained unmoved and continued to sternly drive them away: "No matter who you are, this is a restricted area. If you go any further, don't blame us for being impolite."

Helpless, Qiu Chuji could only retreat. Looking into the distance, he saw many ragged people being escorted in and out of the mine by soldiers. They were all pale and had numb eyes.

The accompanying official quietly told him, "Taoist priest, those are all death row inmates, imprisoned here to mine. They'll never get out until they die from exhaustion."

Qiu Chuji also vaguely guessed that this was the place where the Qin state mined sulfur.

He had long heard that the Qin army possessed a terrifying weapon that, when unleashed, roared like thunder and cracked the earth, possessing immense power.

Gunpowder was a byproduct of Taoist alchemy and had the same effect.

However, the sulfur gunpowder used by Taoists was far less powerful than the legendary Qin army's "divine cannon." How did the Qin people manage to increase the power of gunpowder to such an extent?

This question lingered in Qiu Chuji's mind, but it was destined to remain unanswered.

Gunpowder was a top secret of the Qin state, concerning the army's combat power. Even if he was a distinguished guest invited by Li Xiao, and even if he became the Qin state's national advisor in the future, he would never know its secrets.

Qiu Chuji could only suppress his doubts and continue westward with the immigrant caravan.

Gaochang City was an important hub in the Western Regions. After passing through Gaochang City, the team headed northwest and passed through a wide Tianshan Pass (which is now Urumqi). The scenery before them suddenly opened up.

A vast plain appeared before us, with fertile fields and the sounds of chickens and dogs, like a paradise on earth.

In the distance, you can still see a few scattered houses belonging to ordinary people.

The accompanying official pointed ahead and said, "Daoist, this is the northern frontier, the true core region of our Qin Kingdom. The King's Dragon City is located deep within the northern frontier."

"There are grasslands everywhere, and cattle and horses everywhere. You can easily raise tens of thousands of cavalrymen."

Qiu Chuji stood at the Tianshan Pass, gazing at the northern frontier before him, his heart filled with emotion.

From Guanzhong to Gansu, from Dunhuang to Yizhou, and now to the northern frontier, he has witnessed the prosperity and strength of the Qin state, as well as the cruelty of war and the suffering of the people.

The journey to spread Buddhism to the west was already halfway complete, and there might still be many unknowns ahead, but Qiu Chuji's resolve only grew stronger.

He wanted to spread the light of Taoism across this vast land.

The group continued westward along the northern Xinjiang grasslands, and two days later, a scene far more breathtaking than what they had seen before suddenly appeared before them.

On the vast and boundless wilderness, a wide river flows from south to north, carrying the melting snow from the Tianshan Mountains, nourishing the land along its banks and making it lush and green.

This river is called Han River, which is also known as the Manas River by people from the Western Regions in the past.

Its flow rate is comparable to that of the Longgu River in Jinzhou, only because the Qin state designated this desert region north of the Tianshan Mountains as Hanzhou.

It is also the largest river in Hanzhou, so the local people named it Hanshui (Han River).

Qiu Chuji's gaze was firmly drawn to the scenery along the Han River.

Tens of thousands of people gathered there, working in dense crowds on the open ground by the river, a scene so vast it seemed to stretch to the horizon.

Among the crowd, Qin soldiers, clad in armor, wielding spears and bows, and riding warhorses, patrolled back and forth, their sharp eyes watching over the laborers.

There were also craftsmen dressed in short shirts, pointing at the ground from time to time, seemingly planning something.

More often, however, were foreign slaves, dressed in rags and shackled, digging in the dirt and carrying huge stones, working diligently amidst the soldiers' shouts.

Any slight delay will result in being whipped.

"What...what are you doing?"

Qiu Chuji's voice trembled slightly; he had never seen such a large-scale labor scene before.

Tens of thousands of laborers, stretching as far as the eye can see, as if they filled the entire land.

The accompanying officials also looked more solemn and said in a low voice, "Daoist, you may not know this, but His Majesty plans to build a new city on the banks of the Han River."

“Look over there, those leveled plots of land and the low walls built with stones are the foundation of the new city.”

"This city is extremely large, and it is said that once completed, it will become the new capital of our Qin state."

"A new capital?"

Qiu Chuji's eyes widened suddenly, his face full of surprise: "But I've heard that the capital of Qin is Longcheng, isn't it?"

“Longcheng is indeed the current capital, but it is located deep in the northern frontier. It takes seven or eight days to travel north from here. The location is too remote and the transportation is very inconvenient.”

The official patiently explained, "This place is located on the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains, nourished by the snowmelt of the Han River. The land is fertile and can be cultivated into millions of acres of good fields, enough to support a large population."

"Most importantly, this place is located at a vital east-west crossroads: heading west leads to Ili and Suyab; heading north leads to Longcheng and Yinshan; heading east leads to Tingzhou and the northern desert; and heading south leads directly to Gaochang and the Hexi Corridor. It is truly a place with convenient access in all directions."

"In addition, besides its location in the north, Longcheng's scale has long been unable to keep up with the development needs of the Qin state, so Your Majesty decided to build a new capital here."

"It is expected to be able to accommodate a million people after completion, becoming the true center of our Qin state."

Qiu Chuji pondered the official's words and gradually understood that this site selection did indeed take into account agriculture, transportation, and strategy, demonstrating Li Xiao's long-term vision.

The strength of the Qin state stemmed not only from Li Xiao's foresight and policies that benefited the people, but also from his iron-fisted methods.

His journey to spread Buddhism in the west not only involved facing different cultures and beliefs, but also confronting the harsh realities brought about by war and rule.

Qiu Chuji's gaze fell once again on the nascent foundation. The outline drawn in white and gray stretched out in a winding manner, and the walls built of huge stones exuded a sense of weight. It was not hard to imagine how magnificent it would be after completion.

But thinking of the blood and sweat of tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of slaves behind this grandeur, he was still filled with mixed emotions. After a moment of silence, he asked the official, "Does this future new capital have a name yet?"

"Daming City!"

(End of this chapter)