The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 228 Arrangements for Tang Ping
The fortress of Weiyuan Pass was smaller than that of Yanmen Pass. However, Yanmen Pass had become part of the interior and was far less important than Weiyuan Pass. Moreover, the military system and economic value of Weiyuan Pass were far superior to those of Yanmen Pass.

Around noon, the weather was quite hot.

There was really nothing to see in the fortress. Wang Xin stood on the city wall, looking at the rolling hills in the distance, all of which were green. He was quite satisfied with the resources of this place.

In those days, there were no other fuels available, and people mainly used wood.

Rural areas, with their sparse population, can maintain a balance, but towns cannot. The closer you get to a town, the less vegetation there is, which is why there is a trade in selling firewood to the city, and also the charcoal seller.

Trees are native to the land, while coal is restricted by transportation and cannot be widely used in most areas.

Looking at the Great Wall stretching as far as the eye can see, with most of it built on barren hills, such a massive amount of manpower and resources could easily have been used to build a railway, stretching for 10,000 miles.

Unfortunately, it's just a thought.

Putting it into practice is no easy task. Many things are indeed correct, but they must be in line with the current level of productivity. Take, for example, the notorious spendthrift Emperor Yang Guang, whose every action was meant to benefit future generations, yet he inflicted unparalleled harm on the people of his time, and ultimately failed to accomplish anything.

This is a classic case of having high aspirations but low abilities; one's vision is indeed very high, but it exceeds reality.

Therefore, to build a railway, there must be market demand. With sufficient market demand, the birth of a railway can be a natural progression, not a burden, but rather a popular expectation.

"Greetings, General." Several shopkeepers, led by Shi Ping, came to the city wall and bowed to Wang Xin.

Wang Xin turned around and glanced at everyone.

The shopkeepers were of different ages, dressed in silk, and seemed quite at ease.

During the Ming Dynasty, merchants were prohibited from wearing silk. This prohibition also existed during the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty. However, in the early years after the reign of the retired emperor, social customs became much more open, and merchants began to wear silk.

However, the buying and selling of official positions remained limited to the elite class; ordinary officials and businessmen could not buy official positions.

One cannot judge whether a country is prosperous or not by buying and selling official positions, or by war, or even by the number of displaced people.

During the Kangxi and Qianlong reigns, there were tens of millions of refugees and starving people along the coast. Buying and selling official positions was commonplace, and corruption was rampant. There was no moral atmosphere whatsoever. In any dynasty, this would have been seen as a time of incompetence and condemnation, but it was a prosperous era.

Whether the retired emperor was a wise ruler or whether the Zhou Dynasty was a golden age, Wang Xin could not know, since these were recorded by later historians.

We couldn't just tell the troops to hold on for two more years, and that the eight-year War of Resistance would be won.

Regardless of the Emperor Emeritus's situation or the state of the Great Zhou Dynasty, if one starts with small things and does the right thing, then one's choices will not be wrong.

"What is the general looking at?"

One of the officers suddenly asked, wanting to see how the new general would treat them.

“Look at the business way.”

The shopkeeper laughed and said, "I've heard that the general has the ability to turn stones into gold."

Wang Xin's reputation soared in Datong, and many people inquired about his background. Different people focused on different aspects. Merchants, having learned about the Hexi market, were not unfamiliar with Wang Xin's cooperation with Yangzhou merchants, but they were quite satisfied with Wang Xin's attitude.

Wang Xin's ability to keep his promises is something that businessmen are willing to support.

"Compared to the art of turning stones into gold, I am better at fighting."

Upon hearing about the war, everyone paused, then, remembering the man's identity and the goods seized in the city, someone couldn't contain themselves and anxiously asked, "How long does the general intend to detain our goods?"

Upon hearing his companion speak, the young shopkeeper who had been probing earlier fell silent.

"I have no intention of seizing your goods, nor do I intend to cause any losses to your businesses," Wang Xin said frankly. Then he added, "There may be fighting outside the pass, and your goods will be unable to leave the pass."

These goods were clearly intended for trade with the nomadic tribes outside the Great Wall. However, the war between the emperor and the Xiongnu made it difficult to predict the future, so these goods could not be transported to the area outside the Great Wall.

"Of course, if any of you are planning to transport goods back to the mainland, add them to the list. I will arrange for someone to supervise the process. The goods on the list will be released and allowed to be transported away by each company."

Hearing Wang Xin's explanation, the crowd was still somewhat skeptical, but their mood improved considerably.

As for transporting them back to the mainland, the transportation costs are so high, wouldn't that be a loss? Keeping them at Weiyuan Pass wouldn't cost much; each household would just need to employ a few workers to look after them. However, some people worried, "Does the general still want to go to war with the Xiongnu?"

The expressions on everyone's faces were uncertain, each with their own worries.

Wang Xin shook his head. "I have already told the Chanyu's envoy that if the Chanyu wants to sue for peace, he must come to Weiyuan Pass to see me in person before I will believe in the Chanyu's sincerity."

Some people understand.

The young shopkeeper who spoke first laughed and said, "General Wang doesn't trust the Chanyu tribe. The Chanyu took the initiative to see you, General. No matter what you talked about, Ou Yanhu will doubt the Chanyu, and the alliance between the two will be affected. You are truly brilliant, General!"

The young shopkeeper gave a thumbs up, and everyone suddenly realized what he meant.

Wang Xin did not refute, and his silence was tacit agreement. Everyone guessed Wang Xin's thoughts. It seemed that peace would soon arrive. As long as it did not affect everyone's business, it didn't matter who was in charge of Weiyuan Pass.

The main problem is that Feng Di is too useless; even if everyone wanted to help, it was too late.

Having worked with Feng Di for a long time, they had reached a tacit understanding and did not want to easily change their partners. Even if it was Wang Xin, they were not afraid. Wang Xin said that Feng Di was rebelling, but whether or not he rebelled was not up to Wang Xin.

Unfortunately, Feng Di was easily frightened, or perhaps Wang Xin had some leverage over Feng Di?
Unable to understand, the group decided to stop thinking about it. Now that they had met Wang Xin, who seemed relatively easy to talk to, they felt a little more at ease and could only wait and see what happened.

After the merchants left, Tang Ping, who was standing next to Wang Xin, said coldly, "These people have a lot of power. I have investigated and found that the garrison at Weiyuan Pass is actually working for various families."

Apart from a few night scouts, most of the garrison at Weiyuan Pass consisted of cheap militia.

The cost of bringing caravans from the inland to the border was too high, while using these cheap militia was much cheaper. The two sides hit it off immediately, needed each other, and quickly became one.

They were called militia, but they were more like laborers working for caravans.

Wang Xin disagreed, saying instead, "It wasn't just Weiyuan Pass; Zheng Hao also tried to sound me out."

"Him?" Tang Ping looked surprised, and anger rose in his heart. He had considered Zheng Hao a comrade-in-arms. He said angrily, "I didn't expect him to be a traitor."

"Not really."

Wang Xin shook his head; not everyone can be so loyal to him.

The army is a semi-closed environment, and people like Tang Ping and Liu Tong have simple backgrounds and come from the lower classes, which is why they can be so loyal to me. Zheng Hao, on the other hand, is a scholar, quick-witted, and a prominent local figure who prioritizes his family. How could he possibly be so loyal to me?

He needed to unite more people. Although Zheng Hao wasn't entirely loyal to him, where could he find so many loyal people? It was just a matter of choosing the best among the worst.

The reason he told Tang Ping this was to give Tang Ping a clearer understanding of the situation at Weiyuan Pass. "Once the Xiongnu chieftain is dealt with, you should leave Hexi Camp."

"why?"

Tang Ping was not in a hurry. He knew that the general must have his reasons for making arrangements for him, and he had no doubts whatsoever.

"I plan to arrange for you to go to Weiyuan Pass."

Wang Xin revealed his purpose.

Tang Ping was one of the earliest followers of his, and his loyalty to him was beyond doubt. He was one of the people he trusted the most. Moreover, Tang Ping was audacious and dared to propose rebellion several times, which showed how lawless he was.

In his plan, Weiyuan Pass would be the core. To safeguard this core, Tang Ping was the most suitable candidate.

"I see," Tang Ping said with no doubt, and smiled, "I'll do whatever the general says."

At this time, Zhai Wen from Tuanshankou arrived at Weiyuan Pass, and news also came from Yanmen Pass that Xue Yan had arrived at Yanmen Pass, bringing with him several artillery craftsmen invited from Haojing.

Oyster Mirror is Macau, because its bay is shaped like an oyster shell with a smooth, mirror-like surface.

Today, the Portuguese do business on the island, building not only shipyards for repairing ships but also cannon factories to manufacture cannons, mainly for mounting on ships.

Whether it was the shipyard or the gun factory, the Portuguese kept it as secret as possible.

Due to limited manpower, the Portuguese had fewer people than the Spanish and had to rely heavily on locals, making it difficult to keep secrets. Many craftsmen in Guangdong and Fujian were skilled in manufacturing cannons and repairing ships.

"Tell Zhao Yong to treat Xue Yan well." Wang Xin sent someone back to Yanmen Pass.

Zhao Yong remained the one guarding Yanmen Pass. He had also undergone several tests. No matter how Zhang Wenjin tried to bribe or suppress him, Zhao Yong remained unmoved. In fact, even without Zhang Wenjin's involvement, Wang Xin would not have doubted Zhao Yong.

that side.

When Zhai Wen arrived at Weiyuan Pass, he learned that Feng Di had committed suicide. He was deeply shocked and could not describe his feelings. Wang Xin did this. Wasn't he afraid of being investigated by the imperial court?

A guerrilla general, though very capable, only has two or three thousand men. It's true that he has connections in the court, but who doesn't have connections in the court? Feng Yong, who is behind Feng Di, has been promoted to the capital. He is not dead. Feng Yong will definitely make his move in the capital.

Upon learning that he had hanged himself under the watchful eyes of the garrison at Weiyuan Pass, Zhai Wen breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately.

Wang Xin wasn't acting recklessly. Whether the court believed him or not was one thing, but as long as there were witnesses and physical evidence, he wasn't afraid of the lawsuit. After all, Feng Yong was just a commander without any real power. As long as he didn't find any fault with Wang Xin, he couldn't do anything to him.

Upon seeing Wang Xin, Zhai Wen asked impatiently, "What exactly do you want to do? Magistrate Zhang is watching you in Datong."

Initially, Zhai Wen set off with Wang Xin to patrol the border, but did not have much interaction with Wang Xin. Later, after experiencing various events, Zhai Wen greatly admired Wang Xin and did not want Wang Xin to fall.

Zhang Wenjin was more than happy to see Wang Xin do this.

If things go well, it's Zhang Wenjin's credit; if things go wrong, Wang Xin takes the blame.

Wang Xin was a smart man, but Zhai Wen couldn't understand what Wang Xin was up to. He was full of curiosity.
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"How unfair Heaven has been to me."

Chanyu Dardai gazed at the setting sun and sighed with deep emotion.

Wang Xin attacked his tribe. Ever since this man came to Datong, he had never had a good time. Years of forbearance had repeatedly led to his downfall at this man's hands. Could this man be his nemesis?

"Brother, why don't we fight him?"

Aldai offered his opinion and explained, "This time, Wang Xin has angered the masses."

The tribes outside the Great Wall could not establish a stable political system because of their lifestyle and environment. They were more like alliances, where whoever was the strongest was the king of the grasslands. In essence, the one with the strongest army and the most powerful horses should be king.

Although Dardai was the Chanyu, he could not enforce his commands to the various tribes.

During wars, it is mostly up to each tribe to decide whether to join, how many people to send, or how hard they fight. This time, Wang Xin's sweep of Tu Mao Chuan has angered many tribes.

Aldai believed that as long as his elder brother gave the order, many tribes would join in, and many people would fight hard when attacking Wang Xin.

Gathering the able-bodied men of the tribes throughout the Shanyu region, and assembling nearly ten thousand cavalry, Aldai believed that Wang Xin was an iron man, and that they could wear him down.

Dardai shook his head.

If the cost of killing Wang Xin is too high, then it would be a loss. I don't want to die with Wang Xin, so I need to think things through carefully. If I could divert this man's attention to Ou Yanhu, that would be great.

Wang Xin knew Ou Yanhu, so he should be well aware of the danger Ou Yanhu posed.

If Ou Yanhu is allowed to grow up, the harm he causes will be far greater than what I can do. I believe that with his insight, he will know what is more important and what is less important. In order to deal with Ou Yanhu, he must win me over.

Wasn't Feng Yong the same way back then? In order to deal with the powerful Mo Bisheng, he chose to support himself.

Unfortunately, although he had correctly assessed the situation and endured for so many years, at the last moment, when the Great Zhou court was finally about to take action against Feng Yong, he encountered Wang Xin and lost too many men.

If I am not severely weakened or lose much of my prestige, then while the Great Zhou court is dealing with Feng Yong and Datong is too preoccupied to attend to me, I will contact Ou Yanhu to kill Mo Bisheng and take his place, instead of Ou Yanhu taking his place.

The people on the grasslands will no longer be called Khans, but Chanyus. How I long for the day when people will call me the Great Chanyu.

The Yuan Dynasty was destroyed by the Ming Dynasty, and the Zhou Dynasty then launched a northern expedition into the Gobi Desert. Unlike those tribes called Hu people, Ou Yanhu considered himself a Xiongnu, a Xiongnu who could become a rival to the Han and Tang Dynasties.

"Brother, neither of us can wait any longer."

Aldai knew what his elder brother was thinking and spoke up to remind him.

Wang Xin is only a few years old. If he can establish himself in Datong, the Shanyu tribe will never have a chance to rise again. At least, the two brothers won't live to see that day.

“We can’t go down together, that would be acting out of spite,” Dardai refused his brother.

“Ou Yanhu has already planned an expedition against the various tribes of the Shenghu and has begun to gather troops. He doesn’t trust me. This time, Wang Xin’s surprise attack on Tu Mao Chuan should put his mind at ease. I plan to go see Wang Xin.”

"It's dangerous for my elder brother to go see Wang Xin."

"will not."

Dardai said confidently, "Killing me would be tantamount to handing the Shanyu tribe over to Ouyanhu. Ouyanhu would gain the Shanyu tribe for free, which would only strengthen his power and provide him with an opportunity to unify the desert as soon as possible."

(End of this chapter)