The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 402 A Land of Tigers and Wolves: The Qin Empire Through the Eyes of the Song Envoy

On the mountain path of Tiger Wolf Valley, a team is slowly moving forward.

The dull thud of horses' hooves pounded against the gravel road, occasionally punctuated by the creaking of wheels, all of which was particularly clear in the silent valley.

The front and rear flanks were occupied by cavalrymen from the Fourth Division, dressed in yellow armor with white trim. Their helmets gleamed, their scimitars hung at their waists, and the armor plates rattled softly as they moved.

The soldiers had sharp eyes, constantly glancing left and right, alert to any movement around them.

In the middle was a group of soldiers dressed in Song Dynasty attire, escorting more than a dozen carriages as they trudged along the rugged mountain road.

Inside the carriage, Zhou Bowen, the Minister of Rites of the Song Dynasty, and Wu Huan, the Vice Minister of War, were each leaning against the carriage wall, their faces haggard.

The two set off from Lin'an City and traveled westward. Although they dared not delay for the slightest, it still took them three whole months to reach Tiger Wolf Valley.

The towering mountains of Sichuan and the rugged mountain roads of Longxi made this journey arduous.

The carriages of that era had no shock absorption devices, so they were very bumpy and it was more uncomfortable to sit in them than to walk.

"Oh dear, my old bones are about to fall apart."

Zhou Bowen rubbed his aching back and couldn't help but complain, "These past three months have been exhausting. My thighs are calloused from riding horses, and the carriage rides have made my internal organs feel dislocated. It's really killing me."

"If I had known the journey would be this difficult, I would have insisted that the Prime Minister send someone else."

Wu Huan sighed and tugged at his sweat-soaked official robe: "Who can argue with that? When I was in Lin'an, I always traveled by sedan chair or boat. I've never suffered like this before."

"However, in order to persuade Qin to join forces to attack Jin, we have no choice but to endure this hardship."

Despite their complaints, the two quickly composed themselves and began discussing serious matters.

Zhou Bowen pulled out a list he had looked at countless times from his sleeve and said in a low voice, "We brought quite a few gifts this time."

"Fifty bolts of brocade, thirty South Sea pearls, twenty fine Longquan swords, and one hundred thousand taels of gold—all of these were used to bribe the powerful and influential in the Qin state."

"Who do you think we should visit first?"

"First and foremost, we must pay a visit to Her Highness the Princess."

Wu Huan immediately said, "I heard that she gave birth to a son for Prince Qin, Li Xiao, and is deeply favored. Her words should carry weight in front of the Prince Qin."

"If we can get the princess to whisper in the King of Qin's ear, emphasizing the threat that the Jin Kingdom poses to our two countries, then we'll be halfway there."

Zhou Bowen nodded: "That makes sense, but relying on the princess alone is not enough."

"Even the Queen of Qin has to pay a visit. I heard that she is in charge of the state when the King of Qin goes on a campaign, which shows that she has considerable power."

"Although she is a Khitan woman, our Song state has dealt with the Khitans for many years and has plenty of experience. As long as we are courteous and offer enough benefits, we should be able to win her over."

"And there are also the Qin royal family generals Li Dongjiang and Li Dongshan."

Wu Huan added, "These two are important members of the Qin royal family and ministers, holding military power. They should still be observing mourning in Longcheng at this time."

"The war against the Jin Kingdom in the east was mostly coordinated by them."

"We must make them understand the threat that the Jin Kingdom poses to the Qin Kingdom. If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. If we allow the Jin Kingdom to deal with our Great Song, the next one will be the Qin Kingdom."

"Joining forces with the State of Song will not only relieve the pressure on the Qin army, but also provide them with food and supplies. It will only benefit them and not harm them."

The two talked back and forth, listing several key ministers of the Qin state, discussing how to visit them in batches and how to phrase their words in a way that would show sincerity without losing face.

Just then, the carriage suddenly stopped, and the shouts of Song soldiers came from outside: "Sir, Tiger Wolf Pass is just ahead."

Zhou Bowen and Wu Huan exchanged a glance, quickly straightened their official robes, lifted the carriage curtain, and stepped down.

When they saw the pass before them, the two were instantly surprised.

There stood a majestic pass built against the mountain, its walls made of huge bluestones, more than three zhang high. Banners fluttered on the walls, and archers stood ready for battle.

The pass is flanked by steep cliffs, making it a strategically important location where "one man can hold the pass against ten thousand."

"I never imagined that the Qin state would build such a formidable pass here," Zhou Bowen murmured, his eyes filled with astonishment.

He recalled that back then, the Song Dynasty attempted to seize the Hehuang Valley and acquire high-quality warhorses, and once fought a great battle with the Western Xia in Tiger Wolf Valley, but ultimately failed and was forced to completely withdraw from the Hexi Corridor.

Now that the Western Xia has long been destroyed by the Qin state, this Tiger Wolf Valley has become a barrier for the Qin state, and such a strong pass has been built there.

Wu Huan was well-versed in military affairs. His gaze swept over the layout of the pass, and he said in a deep voice, "This pass is in an excellent location, guarding the throat of Tiger Wolf Valley. Only a small number of troops are needed to block the pass, which will cut off the flow of traffic between the east and the west."

As the two were reflecting on this, the group slowly approached the pass.

They saw that below the pass, many caravans were queuing up for inspection, and Qin tax officials were registering goods and collecting taxes in an orderly manner.

"First register the goods: ten bolts of silk, and pay five small silver coins as tax."

"For every 100 shi of grain, a tax of 10 taels shall be levied according to the law..."

It turns out that Tiger Wolf Pass was not only a military stronghold, but also the most important customs post between the eastern part of Qin and its hinterland, where merchants and travelers had to pay taxes and pass through customs.

Seeing this, Zhou Bowen and Wu Huan were even more surprised.

Many people in the State of Song believed that although the State of Qin was a military power, it was essentially a barbaric nomadic empire that only knew how to wage war and kill, but did not know how to govern a country.

But the scene before them overturned their understanding: well-managed passes and a standardized tax system—this was clearly a level of governance only found in the Central Plains dynasties.

"It seems we underestimated the Qin state before."

Zhou Bowen said in a low voice, "They are not only militarily powerful, but their internal governance is also becoming increasingly sophisticated."

"This is an even more formidable opponent than the Liao Dynasty of yesteryear. To ally with them... sigh..."

The consequences of the Song Dynasty's alliance with the Jin against the Liao are still fresh in our minds. Now, they are going to ally with the Qin against the Jin. I wonder if they will repeat the same mistake.

But what can we do?

The Jin state posed a great threat to the Song state. In recent years, it has been increasing its troops in Huainan, hoping to take back the benefits lost from the Qin state from the Song state.

Therefore, the State of Song could no longer sit idly by and wait for its demise.

As they spoke, the cavalry of the Fourth Garrison had already handed over the responsibilities to the garrison at the pass.

A Qin army centurion stepped forward, cupped his hands to Zhou Bowen and Wu Huan, and said, "Please rest for a while, envoys. Once the caravan has been inspected, we will leave the pass and continue our journey."

Although he was just a minor centurion, such a low-ranking officer would be considered a convict in the Song Dynasty and wouldn't even deserve the attention of the two men.

But this is the Qin state.

Zhou Bowen and Wu Huan quickly cupped their hands in response and politely said, "Thank you for your trouble, General."

Soon after, the carriage started again, and with the creaking of its wheels, it slowly drove into Tiger Wolf Pass.

After passing Tiger Wolf Pass, the mountain road gradually widened, and the scenery before us suddenly opened up.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled across the vast Hexi Plain, and the outline of Wuwei City in the distance gradually became clear. The group rested at the inn in the city.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, the team set off again.

As soon as they stepped onto the street, Zhou Bowen and Wu Huan were captivated by the scene before them.

Shops along the street opened one after another, and pedestrians came and went in an endless stream. Whether they were Han Chinese, Tanguts, or Uyghurs with high noses and deep-set eyes, they all looked the same at first glance.

Their clothing was rugged, mostly sheepskin coats, linen shirts, or coarse cotton robes. The styles were simple yet thick and warm, clearly designed to adapt to the cold climate of the Northwest.

It turns out that the Qin state vigorously promoted ethnic integration, regardless of ethnicity, and everyone wore clothing that was biased towards the Han people and spoke the Chinese language.

Those who insisted on maintaining their original ethnic characteristics have long since disappeared.

"The clothes these people wear are quite different from those in our Lin'an City," Zhou Bowen said to Wu Huan in a low voice, lifting the carriage curtain.

Wu Huan nodded in agreement: "In Lin'an, silk and satin are popular, and people pay attention to exquisite designs. Here, practicality is the main focus. It is true that different places nurture different people."

As the two were observing, pedestrians on the street suddenly turned their heads and focused their attention on their group.

Clearly, the Song envoy's attire was very different from the Qin army's armor, making him appear particularly "strange" on the streets of Wuwei.

Many people stopped to look around, and several children followed curiously behind the group. If it weren't for the Qin soldiers stopping them, they probably would have surrounded them and questioned them long ago.

After leaving Wuwei City, the caravan proceeded along the official road.

About half an hour later, a village appeared ahead. At the entrance of the village, a group of young people were escorting a middle-aged man out, and they happened to meet their group head-on.

Most of the young people were eighteen or nineteen years old, with tall and straight figures, excited expressions on their faces, and carrying simple luggage in their hands.

"Big brother!"

Suddenly, a young man in a coarse, earth-colored shirt in the crowd brightened up and shouted at the Qin army centurion leading the group, "Why are you back?"

Baihu also recognized the other party; it was his cousin.

He was originally a Han Chinese from the Xia state in Hedong, but was relocated to the Hexi Corridor. The village next door was where he was stationed.

The middle-aged man in the crowd was the village's shepherd commander, a retired Qin soldier.

He later joined the army and gradually rose through the ranks to become a centurion in the field army.

"Erzhu? Where are you going?" the centurion shouted, dismounting and signaling the group to stop.

Zhou Bowen and Wu Huan couldn't hear very clearly from inside the carriage. But when they peeked through the gap in the curtain, they saw the young man named Erzhu run up to the centurion and excitedly say, "Brother, I want to join the army."

"The General's Office is recruiting soldiers. I've signed up. I'll go to the city with the centurion to assemble."

Erzhu's face was full of longing: "I've wanted to join the army for a long time, just like you, big brother, to kill the enemy, earn merit, rob money, and get rewards..."

"I'll buy a few female slaves for my parents to serve them then, so they can enjoy a life of luxury too."

"Not just female slaves."

A tall, thin young man standing next to Erzhu immediately came over, his eyes sparkling.

“My cousin followed the army to fight in the Western Regions last year. When he came back, he brought back three chests of gold and silver, built a big house, and married two wives. Now, who in the office doesn’t envy him?”

"I've heard that Commander Wang in the city is even more formidable."

Another boy, dressed in coarse cloth and shorts, chimed in, his voice filled with admiration: "Back then, he was just an ordinary soldier. He followed the King to fight against the Jin Dynasty, killed an enemy general, and was promoted directly to commander of a thousand men. He was even rewarded with several young ladies from wealthy families as concubines." "Now he has over a dozen slaves..."

A group of young people started talking all at once, their words filled with longing for military achievements and anticipation for a better life.

"Once I've done something good, I'll buy my dad an ox so he won't have to plow the fields anymore."

"I want to tear down my mud-brick house and build a brick house instead..."

"Yes, following the King in battle is the right thing to do. There is no battle that our Qin army cannot win."

The young people's voices were clear and enthusiastic, like a fire burning brightly at the entrance of the village in the early morning.

The centurion stood aside, listening to their words. The smile on his face gradually faded, and his eyes became more complicated.

These teenagers only saw the gold, silver, slaves, and big houses that came with military merit, but they had never seen the horrors of severed limbs on the battlefield, never smelled the stench of corpses, and never knew how many brothers went to the battlefield and never came back.

He simply couldn't bring himself to tell these young people, whose faces were full of hope, about these cruel scenes.

"Brother, why aren't you saying anything?" Erzhu looked up at him in confusion.

Baihu snapped out of his daze, forced a smile, and patted him on the shoulder: "It's nothing, I just feel that you guys have grown up and become successful."

"Once you get to the military camp, remember to listen to your superiors, train hard, and protect yourself. That's more important than anything else."

He wanted to say, "Don't be too greedy for credit," but he swallowed the words back.

He knew that the "enthusiasm" in the eyes of these young people was the source of the Qin army's confidence in winning battles.

It is because of this yearning for a better life that soldiers are fearless and charge forward on the battlefield; it is because people believe that "joining the army can change one's destiny" that people actively send their sons to join the army.

"Don't worry, brother, I'll definitely do my job well."

Erzhu said excitedly, "When I achieve something, I'll be the first to come back and tell you the good news."

The other young men chimed in, "Commander Wang, just you wait and see. When we get to the battlefield, we'll definitely be even more formidable than you were back then."

Although Zhou Bowen and Wu Huan couldn't hear it very clearly in the carriage, they could still understand the general idea. They were surprised and looked at each other, both seeing doubt in each other's eyes.

In the State of Song, the people always avoided military service like the plague, and the government often had to forcibly conscript soldiers. However, the young people of Qin actually volunteered to join the army and were full of expectations for fighting, which was beyond their comprehension.

Wu Huan couldn't resist lifting the carriage curtain to get a better look, but was stopped by a Qin soldier beside him: "You two envoys, the general has ordered that you not have contact with the people of Qin. Please return to your carriage."

Zhou Bowen felt somewhat annoyed, but there was nothing he could do about it.

Although they were high-ranking officials in the State of Song, in the territory of the State of Qin, even a lowly centurion could "control" them, and they could only obediently stay in the carriage.

"What exactly is going on with the Qin state?"

Zhou Bowen asked in a low voice, "Our people in the Song Kingdom are trying to avoid military service, but the young people here are voluntarily going to join the army. Aren't they afraid of dying in battle?"

Wu Huan shook his head slightly and could only guess, "I'm afraid it's because Qin's military merit system is different from our Song's."

With the order to establish the Eighth Garrison issued, large-scale conscription has begun within the Qin territory. At least 20,000 new soldiers are needed this time, with Guanzhong, Hexi Lingzhou, and Mobei being the main conscription areas.

Thanks to the prestige accumulated by the Qin army through years of victories and the generous rewards for military merit, the people were extremely enthusiastic about joining the army, and many villages even saw scenes of "fathers and sons going on the expedition together" and "brothers going together".

The Qin army had been virtually invincible in recent years, capturing vast amounts of wealth in each battle. Soldiers not only received spoils of war but could also be promoted and gain social status based on their merits.

For these people, farming could provide enough food, but joining the army offered the chance to rise above others and even change the fate of their families, so they were naturally willing to go.

The two wanted to understand why young people in Qin were so eager to join the army and to grasp the essence behind this social phenomenon, but they were closely watched by Qin soldiers and not allowed to move around freely.

I had no choice but to give up.

The team started again shortly afterward.

Zhou Bowen and Wu Huan watched through the carriage curtain as those young figures gradually disappeared into the distance, their hearts filled with countless emotions.

They originally thought this mission was just a simple alliance negotiation, but along the way, Qin's actions were constantly overturning their understanding.

The imposing and perilous Tiger Wolf Pass, the bustling city of Wuwei, and the enthusiasm of the people to join the army all made them realize that the Qin state before them was no longer the "barbaric nomadic empire" they had imagined.

Rather, it is a powerful empire with a vibrant ecosystem and well-established systems.

The strength of the Qin state lay not only in the military prowess of its army, but also in its ability to inspire its people to serve the country willingly—a cohesion that the Song state could not match.

……

Meanwhile, on the grasslands and Gobi Desert within the territory of the desert prefecture, a golden torrent is rolling forward.

Over a thousand Wuwei Army cavalrymen, clad in armor and wielding spears and crossbows, slowly advanced southward.

The clatter of hooves shook the ground slightly and carried far across the vast Gobi Desert.

Li Xiao's purpose in leaving Longcheng was to inspect the new capital planned by the Qin Kingdom, Daming City, which could also be called Daming Prefecture.

Many experts said the original name, Kunlunjing, was not good, as the place had no connection to Kunlun Mountain. Therefore, we adopted their suggestion and named it Damingfu.

Among his entourage, besides the elite Wuwei Army cavalry, was his eldest son, Jin Dao.

Jin Dao is just ten years old this year, and his eyes and brows already show the heroic spirit of Li Xiao. He is Li Xiao's most valued child and the best successor to his future business.

Li Xiao firmly believes that "reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles." He brought Jin Dao along this time so that Jin Dao could see the territory and construction of the Qin state with his own eyes, broaden his horizons, and gain experience in advance.

In addition, there was Princess Zhao Yue of the Song Kingdom and her two-year-old son, Li Shichang.

The reason for bringing the mother and child along was that the Song delegation was about to arrive, and Li Xiao planned to meet the envoy in Gaochang City, and also let Zhao Yue, who had been away from her homeland for a long time, meet the Song officials to alleviate her homesickness.

Soon after, the group arrived outside Daming City.

From afar, the outline of a massive city has already taken shape on the Gobi Desert.

The foundation of the city wall has long been solidified, and in some sections, walls several meters high have been built. Countless figures are busy on the construction site, like a dense swarm of ants.

"Father, is this the Great Ming City?"

Jin Dao exclaimed in amazement, "It's really big, much bigger than Dragon City."

Li Xiao nodded: "Construction started two years ago, and now it's almost halfway complete."

"Once it's fully completed, it will be more than ten times larger than Dragon City."

Longcheng was established relatively early and could only accommodate more than 20,000 people. In the Central Plains, it was only a slightly larger city and could no longer meet the needs of the Qin state's rule.

Furthermore, due to geographical constraints, there was no need for further expansion, so Li Xiao established the new capital of the Qin state, Daming City, at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains in the south.

This place is well-connected and nourished by snowmelt from the Tianshan Mountains. The land is fertile and more than four million mu of farmland have been cultivated, which is more than the Guanzhong Plain at that time.

It is sufficient to support a population of ten million, making it the most suitable foundation for establishing a capital city.

Moreover, after Li Xiao's westward expedition to the Western Regions, he brought back nearly 100,000 prisoners of war and slaves, all of whom were put into the construction of Daming City, which greatly accelerated the progress of the project.

These slaves were prisoners of war, and cost Li Xiao nothing, so he could "use them to the death." Their only mission was to build cities.

When Emperor Wen of Sui built Daxing City, he conscripted a million laborers and completed the main buildings in less than a year.

The construction of Daming City involved not only artisans but also hundreds of thousands of slaves, so the construction was carried out very quickly.

As for the issue of feeding so many slaves, the memorial submitted to him by the Bureau of Works also stated that they would definitely not feed the slaves precious grains, but rather a substitute.

Li Xiao's trip was also to check the results.

He did not approach the construction site, but instead led everyone to observe from a distant high ground.

After all, in a place where 100,000 slaves gathered, filth and disorder were the norm, and what was even more terrifying was the spread of disease.

Even though he repeatedly emphasized hygiene and disease prevention, slaves had no human rights, and the managers, in order to meet deadlines, would not strictly enforce hygiene requirements. Getting close would only increase the risk of infection.

Li Xiao wasn't there to seek justice for the slaves, but rather to check on the progress of the project.

"Your Majesty, Military Advisor Qian and Master Li have arrived," a guard reported.

Soon, two figures walked over quickly. The one in front was burly and dark-skinned; he was Qian Dahu, the military advisor in charge of the construction of Daming City.

The man behind him was dressed in a gray cloth craftsman's uniform, his hands were covered in calluses, but his eyes were sharp. He was Li Laobian, a ninth-level master craftsman from the Craftsman's Bureau.

Qian Dahu was born in Feiyingbao, Jinzhou. Also known as Qian San, he was among the first Han Chinese to follow Li Xiao and rose to the rank of deputy commander of ten thousand households through his military achievements.

Later, because he had worked as a bricklayer in his early years, he was appointed as the Military Advisor of the Bureau of Works after changing careers, which was equivalent to the Minister of Works in the Central Plains Dynasty, a position with great power and influence.

However, after years of fighting on the battlefield, his bricklaying skills have long been outdated. Now he is mainly responsible for the overall coordination of projects, which is a management job.

Li Laobian was a Han Chinese from Husiwoerduo. When Li Xiao followed Xiao Simo on his first western expedition and conquered Husiwoerduo, he captured Han Chinese artisans, including Li Laobian.

Because of his superb carpentry skills, he was given an important position when Li Xiao was building Longcheng.

The Qin state has always valued craftsmen. Li Xiao not only established the Craftsman's Bureau and classified craftsmen into levels (from level one to level nine), but also granted them corresponding official titles.

However, these official positions were mostly honorary titles, because in Qin, real power in official positions had to be earned through military merit.

Those without military merit could only receive the corresponding level of treatment, but had no real power.

As a ninth-level master craftsman, the highest rank in the Imperial Workshop, Li Laobian received the same treatment as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, but he was only responsible for technical guidance and managing craftsmen, and was not involved in military or political affairs.

"This humble general, Mr. Qian, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

"Your subordinate, Li Laobian, greets Your Majesty!" The two men bowed, placing their hands on their chests.

Li Xiao gently raised his hand: "Tell me about the progress of the project."

The wealthy man, Mr. Qian, quickly stood up, took out the blueprints from his pocket, pointed to the markings on them, and reported: "Your Majesty, the foundation of the city wall has been completed. The east, west, and north walls have been built to a height of two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), and the south wall is half completed."

"The main roads in the city have been planned and some sections have been paved with bricks and stones."

"The foundation of the palace area has been compacted, and it is expected that the construction of beams and columns can begin in half a month."

"At the current pace, the main project will be completed in another year and a half."

(End of this chapter)