Taiheiki

Chapter 156 Self-Reliance
Most importantly, he developed various industries such as salt production, fishing, shipbuilding, mining, and metallurgy, making Panyu and Wuzhou even more prosperous. More and more boats appeared on the river, busy people began to smile, and ostentatious signs for taverns began to appear at bridges, ferry crossings, and other places with convenient transportation. People coming and going there began to drink and talk loudly.

He heard that Wei Cong even planned to mint new types of gold and silver coins to facilitate trade with overseas merchants, as copper coins were too heavy and inconvenient for large-scale trade. To be honest, Yuan Tian didn't like these strangely-looking fellows, but he also knew they could bring all sorts of rare and exotic treasures from afar and purchase Han Dynasty silk, utensils, and medicines at high prices—all of which would bring in a fortune. With money, Wei Cong could build more workshops, cultivate more land, and hire more artisans and soldiers. Yuan Tian sometimes felt that his leader was better at managing money than commanding an army; perhaps this was the real difference between Lingnan and Yuzhang?
"It's almost time!" Yang Zheng said. "The lake isn't very safe right now, so be careful on your journey!"

"Yes!" Yuan Tian nodded and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Yang Zheng: "You must also be careful. If the Moth Bandits really want to attack this place, given the disparity in numbers, don't try to fight them head-on!"

"That's what Lord Wei said back then!" Yang Zheng laughed. "Don't worry, if that really happens, at most I'll take the craftsmen and soldiers with me, destroy the camp's workshops and iron smelting furnaces, and retreat south. In short, I won't leave them to those bandits!"

"That's good!" Yuan Tian laughed. "You'll know when you go to Lingnan. It's much better there than here in Yuzhang. People say there's a lot of miasma there, and those who get it die. But I think that's just hearsay. It's much warmer and more comfortable there than here in Yuzhang!"

"I've got it!" Yang Zheng said. "If I have the chance, I'll go check it out over there!"

Yuan Tian nodded, turned around, and boarded the boat.

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Xijuan County, Rinan Commandery (the seat of the Rinan Commandery Prefect, now Dong Ha City, Quang Tri Province, Vietnam).

Thick smoke from burning villages in the distance shrouded the morning sky in gray.

"What a tragedy!" Prefect Yu Xin sighed, his voice filled with exhaustion and weariness.

"Brother!" Yu Wen, standing to the side, asked with a face full of indignation, "This must be an attack by bandits, why don't you send troops to pursue them!"

"Pursue?" Yu Xin sighed, looking at her younger brother's energetic face: "Do you know how many soldiers are still available in the city? What bandits like to do most is to attack villages first and set them on fire. If the prefecture sends troops to rescue them, they will be ambushed."

“We can’t just sit idly by, can we? If this continues, the people’s hearts will inevitably turn away, and how can we defend the city?” Yu Wen said anxiously, “I am willing to lead the troops there. If we are careful and on guard, I am not afraid even if there is an ambush!”

“You still don’t understand!” Yu Xin shook her head: “It’s not that the ambush set by the bandits is unbreakable. You have to understand, Rinan County is now isolated. The only force I have is the soldiers in the county town. Every one who dies is one less, and there will definitely be no more. But the bandits can lose a hundred times, and they can still have a hundred and one more. How can we fight a battle like this?”

"Why do you say that, brother? Thieves are human too, and so are we. Why can thieves lose a hundred and one times, while we can't even afford to lose once?"

"Little brother, look this way, what do you see?" Yu Xin suddenly asked.

Yu Wen looked in the direction his brother was pointing and saw endless mountain ranges, like a giant city wall stretching between heaven and earth; "Mountains!"

“Yes, it’s a mountain!” Yu Xin nodded, then turned her hand in another direction: “What about this side?”

Yu Wen looked in the direction his brother was pointing and saw an endless sea: "It's the sea!"

"What about here?"

Yu Xin pointed northeast with his right hand, towards the Red River Delta where Jiaozhi is located. There is only a narrow isthmus, nestled between mountains and the sea, and from a distance it looks as if it might be cut off at any moment.

“Very good!” Yu Xin sighed. “Our enemies are either in the mountains or coming from across the sea, while our reinforcements can only come through that narrow road. That’s why the bandits can lose a hundred times, but we can’t afford to lose even once. As the Prefect of Rinan, all I can do is try my best to hold out until the rainy season arrives, then the fighting will subside. Until the next dry season begins, I hope the imperial reinforcements will arrive then. They are the ones who can turn the tide!”

Looking at his elder brother's serious and haggard face, Yu Wen suddenly wanted to shout, "The imperial court is currently fighting against the Wuling barbarians, the E'ze bandits, the Qiang people, and the Xianbei people. Jiaozhou has also fallen into the hands of Wei Cong. Reinforcements will not come, never again!" But the words that came out were, "Brother is right!"

Back at his lodgings, Yu Wen was quite dejected. He had always revered his elder brother as a god since childhood, but this time he painfully discovered that he was standing on the opposite side of his brother. According to his brother's logic, the fall of Rinan County, Bu, Jiuzhen, and Jiaozhi was only a matter of time. These counties had in common that they were far from the Central Plains, the roads were treacherous, and they were surrounded by barbarians like a vast sea. Once the Central Plains was unable to spare the strength to protect them, the fall of these counties was only a matter of time.

Before leaving Panyu, Wei Cong had said something that resonated with him even more: Jiaozhou was a fertile land with numerous rivers, convenient transportation, and abundant mineral resources. With the benefits of fish and salt production, it only needed a wise ruler to manage it, and it would be the foundation of a powerful and hegemonic state. It wouldn't need the protection of the imperial court; its own strength alone would be enough to subdue the barbarian tribes, just as Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin were to the Zhou emperor, becoming regional governors of the royal family. Wei Cong's actions in Panyu and other places proved the truth of his words. In a short time after defeating Zhang Xu, he pacified the five prefectures of Lingnan and, through fishing, salt production, shipbuilding, shipping, mining, and smelting, quickly restored Panyu's prosperity. Given time, it would surely become the foundation of a powerful and hegemonic state.

However, his confidence was met with a cold reception in Jiaozhi. After receiving him and Wei Cong's envoys, Zhang Pan, the governor of Jiaozhou, coldly dismissed them. The strange looks he received from all sides in Jiaozhi made him feel extremely resentful. In a fit of anger, he took Wei Cong's envoys by boat to Rinan County, where his brother was located. Unexpectedly, he received the same treatment, only this time from his brother.

"Brother Yu, you're back?" Wang Ge said with a smile.

"You're back!" Yu Wen's smile was somewhat forced. He had heard some rumors about this unassuming envoy—although the man's talent was mediocre, he was one of the earliest followers of Duke Wei, and Duke Wei, being a sentimental person, had always kept him by his side. His accompanying him on this trip to Jiaozhi clearly indicated an important mission.

"Sit down and have a bowl of cool soup!" Wang Ge smiled and pointed to the earthenware bowl on the table. "I thought Panyu was hot enough, but I didn't expect Rinan County to be even hotter. It's only March, and it's already like this. It's truly unbearable!" "Thank you!" Yu Wen took the earthenware bowl, took a big gulp, and the slightly bitter soup went down his throat, extinguishing most of the fire in his chest. "Envoy Wang, I just mentioned it to my brother, but judging from his expression, it seems it still won't work!" At this point, Yu Wen gave a bitter smile. "I'm truly sorry that you suffered so much on the journey, and things didn't go as planned!"

"These things don't come so easily!" Wang Ge laughed. "Actually, my lord said before we parted that this trip was just to make friends and open a channel, and we'll deal with the rest later!"

"Let's be friends? Let's establish connections?"

“Yes, if I remember correctly, that’s exactly what my lord said to me!” Wang Ge’s face still had that same expression: “I remember he also said that forced relationships are never sweet, and things should be left to their own devices. We are all subjects of the Han emperor, and no matter how big the rift between us is, we can always talk it out, as long as we don’t let the barbarians take advantage of us.”

"Lord Wei's magnanimity is indeed broad!" Yu Wen sighed. After thinking for a moment, he said, "How about this, I will risk my life tomorrow to make sure my brother sees you. Lord Wei is right. We are all subjects of the Han emperor. We cannot let the barbarians take advantage of us because of our own family feuds."

Under Yu Wen's earnest persuasion, Yu Xin finally relented. The following evening, he met with Wang Ge at his private residence. Upon meeting him, he went straight to the point and said, "My brother and his family were spared thanks to the kindness of Lord Wei. However, since I receive a salary from the court, I belong to the Emperor and cannot use public office for private gain. Please convey my reasons to Lord Wei!"

"I have remembered what Prefect Yu said!" Wang Ge bowed and took out a letter from his bosom, presenting it with both hands: "This is what Lord Wei asked me to bring you. Please open it now!"

"Take it apart now?" Yu Xin frowned.

“That’s right, that’s exactly what my lord said!” Wang Ge laughed. “I’m right here. Once you’ve read it, you can immediately give me a message to take back. It’s convenient for you, and it’s convenient for my lord too!”

“Very well!” Yu Xin hesitated for a moment, then nodded. In his view, Wei Cong wanted his confidant to bring back his first reaction after reading the letter, but there was no point in hiding it. He opened the letter and was immediately attracted by the elegant and beautiful handwriting. He couldn't help but sigh softly. After reading it, he pondered for a moment: “Lord Wei is magnanimous, which I cannot match. Let me consider it for half a day!”

"Then I'll take my leave!" Wang Ge bowed and rose to take his leave. After seeing Wang Ge off, Yu Wen hurriedly asked, "Brother, what did this letter say?"

"Look at this! This man surnamed Wei is truly remarkable; he's a real talent!"

Yu Wen received the letter, which, after a few words of greeting, offered a suggestion: if Rinan Commandery was unwilling to have any direct political contact with him, that was fine. Wei Cong's side could build a dock near the sea in Xijuan County, which would serve as a berth for merchant ships under normal circumstances. In case of crisis, it would be convenient to send a fleet to evacuate officials and civilians or to send troops for support. Of course, the location, size, and number of personnel stationed at the dock would all be subject to Yu Wen's prior approval. To gain Yu Xin's trust, Wei Cong suggested at the end of the letter that Yu Wen handle this matter.

"He asked me to do this?"

"Yes!" Yu Xin sighed, "He probably thought I would refuse because he was worried that he had set a trap, so he simply handed the whole thing over to you to dispel my concerns. This man's magnanimity is truly remarkable!"

"Then, brother—"

"They've already put it this way, how could I refuse? Wouldn't that mean I'd rather give up Rinan County to the barbarians than let Wei Mengde get involved? Of course, I wouldn't do something so foolish!"

"Thank you, brother!" Yu Wen was both surprised and delighted, and quickly bowed to Yu Xin.

"Why are you thanking me!" Yu Xin laughed. "But if you're going to do it, you should do it well! Actually, the dock is ready-made. I think the letter means that he wants a place where his ships can dock safely. Go and choose a good spot, and build a small fort next to the dock. It doesn't need to be too big, just enough to accommodate thirty or fifty people. That way, Wei Cong's ships can dock with peace of mind!"

“Brother, you—” Yu Wen looked at his brother in surprise, his brother’s sudden change in attitude surprised him.

"I only said I wouldn't let personal matters interfere with public duty, but that doesn't mean I don't know how to leave a way out for the tens of thousands of people in Rinan County!" As he said this, a shadow of gloom returned to his face: "You saw what happened on the city wall during the day. If Wei Cong is really willing to send troops to fight the barbarians and protect the peace of the county, how could I be stingy with my own gains and losses?"

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Chaisang County, Yuzhang Commandery.

The hills rise gently, their long, rocky slopes resembling claws. Trees—pines, hawthorns, and mulberry trees—grow at the lower slopes, but the higher slopes are unvegetated, their peaks rising abruptly against the cloudy sky.

Nie Sheng flicked the reins, and his mount nimbly traversed the slope, galloping upwards. At first, it was a leisurely stroll, but then it quickened its pace, climbing higher and higher. The slope receded beneath the horse's long, strong hooves, and birds scattered from the overhead branches as he passed, flapping their claws and wings as they fled into the air. He deftly drew his horn bow from its quiver, three arrows tucked between his other hand, his body rising and falling with the mount, as if becoming one with it.

Gravel flew under his horse's hooves as he climbed the last few feet, standing atop the hill. The sun hung high above the pine trees, large and vibrant, and a kite circled in the sky like a dark shadow against a pink background. Below and to his left, a hundred or so men were advancing eastward along the edge of the hill. The closest man to Nie Sheng was less than thirty paces away. He stared in astonishment at Nie Sheng's sudden appearance on the hilltop, opening his mouth to shout. An arrow pierced his throat, choking his cry.

(End of this chapter)