Wei School's Three Good Students

Chapter 207 Feathered Clan City-State
When a military group from a civilized region reaches the border of another power's territory, the level of civilization they exhibit is inversely proportional to the probability of engaging in "plundering" behavior.

When nomadic raiders invade the borders, they often plunder the conquered areas; however, for the more productive legions, plundering is very inefficient when they can profit from trade.

For example, when the Ming Dynasty could exchange iron pots for local treasures and gold, it disdained plundering.

Trade can encourage the wealthy elites of a region to willingly offer gold, leading to increasingly pleasant cooperation. Plunder, on the other hand, forces military units to rub shoulders with the poor, resulting in escalating conflicts and rising costs. This principle still applies in the 21st century; a certain beacon's overseas plundering campaign directly bankrupted it.

Xuan Chong rode his horse to inspect the wheat fields and found that the wheat crops were sparsely growing together with weeds. This even prompted the clawed servants who came with him to point out and say, "The feathered people are too lazy. The weeds are almost half and half with the crops, and they don't even bother to remove them."

As for Yao Ren, he saw it even more clearly. There were no irrigation ditches around the fields. Wu Zhantie poked the soil with his knife and reported to Xuan Chong, "Sir, the soil here is all shallowly tilled. They are wasting the land."

Xuan Chong was well aware of the backwardness of the agricultural practices here, which were basically based on slash-and-burn agriculture from the Bronze Age. Not to mention advanced technologies like plowing, probably no one would even dig holes to bury rotten straw in the ground to increase fertility.

After all, it was the serfs doing this kind of purely manual labor; they had neither the inclination nor the desire for intensive farming. (Even if they farmed intensively and produced a little more grain, wouldn't it all go to the masters anyway? Just look at Zhao Cheng's current land reclamation efforts; the farmers are more willing to sell rabbit skins.)
Xuan Chong analyzed the economic situation of these city-states and found that they were gathered together purely because of the interests of maritime trade. For the city-state lords, food was only enough to eat.

Within the Great Yao clan, the agricultural policies were determined with "land control" as the guiding principle.

The city-state lords, on the other hand, believed that "farming is a secondary product of slaves," just as "wine is a secondary product of grain."

Whether I want "wine" depends on whether the wine sells well; similarly, whether I want "grain" depends on whether the grain sells well.

When discussing clan issues in Da Yao, the topic of "land annexation" is unavoidable. However, along with this land annexation, agricultural production techniques were also expanding rapidly. In Da Yao, those "who didn't know how to farm" were deemed unworthy of living on the land.

The current agricultural production technology in the territory of the Feather Clan in the Kingdom is such that it wouldn't last three generations under the current circumstances, and the territory would be annexed. The reason is simple: the number of offspring that can be supported per unit of land is small. With a smaller clan population, you can't compete with the larger population for water and land.

The winged peoples of Mediterranean civilizations rarely had a single city-state population exceeding ten thousand. Within the broader context of civilizations, this is merely the population of a small county. (Slaves, like pigs being released from captivity, cannot be considered human.)

The city-state's strategic orientation is "generating wealth," but what if there isn't enough food?
This brings us to the patterns between East and West. The recurring food crisis—where "a bad harvest leads to grain prices skyrocketing hundreds of times"—is often a phenomenon specific to agrarian civilizations with advanced agricultural technology. Conversely, maritime civilizations with less developed agricultural technology tend to experience fewer such crises.

For a specific example, you can refer to Xuan Chong's solution to the food crisis in Bohai, which was "slavery". Just classify a portion of the people as slaves and let the rest of the population accept that the minority should starve to death!

Xuan Chong only settled in Bohai to solve the difficulties of the first year.

In the second and third years, when labor was conscripted and sent to fight against the northern Yan region, in order to reduce internal conflicts, all slaves were given a path to advancement. As they worked hard and made contributions, they were immediately allocated military reclamation land and freed. The population of Bohai began to grow again in the "Eastern agricultural model".

In the ocean city-state, however, "slavery" is the norm! This means there's an invisible population ceiling. Anyone exceeding this ceiling will be consumed.

As for how to raise the "ceiling" a bit, that is, to expand the farmland near the city-state, for example, by improving agricultural technology, the commercial and maritime elites living within the city-state who couldn't distinguish between beans and wheat were powerless to do so.

Xuan Chong: This was the situation in Roman times. A magnificent civilization was built on a weak agricultural system.

If Xuan Chong were to launch an attack on this civilization now, plundering its food and resources, all the high-rise buildings in its city-state would collapse, and might not be able to recover for decades or even centuries. Regardless of the civilization, the foundation of a settlement is its food supply.

After the massacre in the East, even if only a few dozen households survived, they were able to resume production and thrive after the war. A decade or so later, the war-ravaged city could be restored to its former glory.

Xuan Chong: It's just like the Age of Empires game. As long as there's enough time, a peasant can build a town. Once a town is built, five peasants will automatically spawn.

However, upon arriving at this Mediterranean-style civilization, many common-sense cultural practices differed from those in Da Yao, leading to numerous awkward situations.

When the Wu family's officers found the hunchbacked serfs of the Feathered Tribe hiding in thatched huts, according to the rules of the Great Yao, they were to capture them as guides.

However, these slaves lacked even the ability to speak. When Xuan Chong's troops tried to communicate with them, through repeated gestures, the serfs finally expressed that they wanted water and food.

Then, after giving them water and food, they would "plop plop" and finish, then remain motionless. Saying anything to them was like talking to a brick wall.

Even when the soldiers of the Wu family army offered gold and silver, the slaves showed no interest, or perhaps they simply didn't recognize their value. Only the sound of a whip would make them jump up. This amused and exasperated Xuan Chong's soldiers.

Xuan Chong finally ordered his men to release the slaves, confirming that if they wanted to trade, they could only find the lord of the city-state in the region, or... invade the city-state.

The Feathered Kingdom is fortunate to have encountered Xuan Chong, rather than some irregular force that was driven away by the military power of Da Yao; otherwise, it would have truly wielded the whip of God, and with one lash, it would have whipped the entire civilization backward.

…The Claw of the Vermilion Bird…

Xuan Chong's troops were temporarily stationed on the northern border, and sent people to purchase food supplies with various items such as "gold," "silver," "silk," and "porcelain," while also observing the situation there.

Xuan Chong's army came in pursuit of chaos, because the evil moon in the sky had descended upon this place.

Soon, the army found some Winged Race members who were clearly refugees among these city-states. Translated by the forest Winged Race guide, the refugees stated: "On the eastern coast, there is a Winged Race city-state called 'Windhorn,' which has been invaded by sea."

The fleeing Feather Clan members were trembling with fear after being brought into the camp; however, when they saw the Nine Phoenixes flapping their wings and the many Ghost Chariots in the camp, they seemed to suddenly understand something, immediately knelt down, and took out a crystal while whispering to each other.

Before the Wu family soldiers, a scholar-like figure among the refugees was gesturing at something in front of a crystal. After translation, they learned that a screen was needed, and then, on the screen, the Wu family soldiers saw the reflection in the crystal.

On the turbulent ocean, the seemingly ferocious and savage Horned People, aboard dilapidated black ships, traversed the waves and began their assault on the white city walls, wielding massive fishbone weapons. Standing atop a wall adorned with a griffin symbol, the Feathered Soldiers unleashed a barrage of arrows, but the wooden walls were blasted to smithereens.

Xuan Chong finished examining the crystal and became interested in its contents. At the same time, he wondered how this scholar among the winged refugees had obtained the crystal and given it to him. Xuan Chong's thoughts began to wander.

The situation of "the eastern winged city-states encountering a slave rebellion" was not recorded by the fleeing scholar himself, but was given to them by a prophet; and he told them to flee to the north, where "an army from the Central Plains, coming all the way south, will arrive here, establish an alliance with the winged people, and resolve the disaster caused by the chaos."

Xuan Chong asked the refugee to draw a sketch of the prophet's appearance. Fortunately, many of the refugees were art students, and they quickly produced a sketch. This guy! Xuan Chong recognized him; this winged prophet named "Cang Meng" was an old friend (gritting his teeth).

They immediately asked them where this "prophet" had gone, as if he were playing a game of remote control with them.

If possible, Xuan Chong should open the box and then invite this guy over for tea in his mech.

But the result was that the refugees were bewildered and said that the "prophet" left after giving them a message.

After failing to get an answer from his inquiries, Xuan Chong couldn't help but exclaim: "Holy crap, are you cosplaying Taibai Jinxing?" (In Journey to the West, in the chapter about the destruction of the Kingdom of France, Taibai Jinxing also comforted the monks in the same way.)

Xuan Chong suddenly had a thought, "I'm going to head back right now and see if you're embarrassed."

After thinking for a moment, Xuan Chong asked the system, "System, this thing keeps jumping around in front of me, is there any 'major hidden danger'?"

System: "He's just an NPC, you don't need to worry." (On the other side of the world, Cang Meng is communicating with the Outer God he worships in a dream. His pupils are now pure gold. According to the ancient texts passed down through generations, as long as he does what the Outer God asks, the Feathered Clan Kingdom will not be destroyed.)
Xuan Chong rubbed his temples: "So, you knew this NPC would come to issue a mission?" (The Southern Expedition is a mission issued by the system.)
The system remained silent.

Xuan Chong tentatively asked, "Is my get out of class almost over?"

System: "Yes, but it will take a little longer."

Xuan Chong opened his mouth, originally wanting to complain about "reporting the head of the teaching department," but after thinking about it, he decided not to say such childish things.

So far in this journey, I've learned so much without even realizing it, and my mind is feeling quite heavy. Now, all I want to do is finish up what I need to do.

"What did you do during this time travel?" Xuan Chong summarized in class.

1. Blood was exchanged for blood, and through managing the power granted by the dynasty, he proved that the decline of the dynasty at its end was due to "virtue not matching position." But this problem can be "proven," but there is no universal "solution."

2. Productivity advancement lies in the accumulation of abundant resources and the exploration of resource diversity. For a power to flourish, it must expand its external exchanges and internally distribute resources from the upper levels to the middle and lower levels, encouraging all sectors to utilize and develop resources!
If we remain stagnant and complacent, we will only end up like the tribes of southern Xinjiang, clinging to ancestral secrets that seem to offer the "highest efficiency" and "highest degree of control," falling behind the world in every way.

Narrator: A prime example of this is someone who emphasizes their unique innovative capabilities while allowing the top to monopolize resources and isolate the middle and lower classes.

……

On the Winged Clan's side, in the central city-state of Storm City.

Its flag features a swirling pattern, clearly indicating that it uses a natural phenomenon like a hurricane as a totem of worship.

In the winged hall of this city-state, the king gazed at the message displayed on the northern beacon tower. The winged arcane mages, through a "water mirror" spell, were showing the king the northern army that had emerged from the inland black forest.

The king and nobles were utterly shocked by the appearance of such a "massive" (thousands of people) army in the north. In the legends of the Feathered Clan, the northern forest was filled with endless "green dead souls".

The king of the Feathered Clan gazed at the northern sea of ​​trees, confirming that the mysterious foreign caravan to the north belonged to the powerful empire they had discovered in the north, and he couldn't help but ponder deeply.

Previously, their caravans had sailed around turbulent seas in "floating phoenix ships," making their way to the northern Silk Road kingdoms after a long voyage. The mutual respect that arose between them stemmed from the considerable distance between them.

When the colossal creature from the north broke through the land barrier and actually arrived beside them, the winged people couldn't help but feel a bit like "Lord Ye who loved dragons but was terrified of them."

It's understandable that the presence of the Great Yao Legion as foreigners would raise suspicions about their intentions. In the Storm Kingdom's council hall, the Feather Clan nobles quickly came up with a plan.

The winged noble pointed to the east of the map: "But right now our main enemy in the east is that group of demonized horned people, so they (moving their finger to the Xuanchong garrison in the north) may become our potential allies."

Several hours later, the envoys of the Wu family army, who had been waiting outside the Feather Clan city-state, arrived at the main hall of the Feather Clan city-state. Unlike the architectural style of General Da Yao's mansion and the royal court of Da Yao, where smooth ceramic tiles or polished jade were used as steps, the Feather Clan used waxed wood to make wooden floors.

In the main hall, gemstones are not used for decoration. This is because the entire piece of jade is carved on the beams and pillars, and the main gate consists of multiple doors that reach the roof, which is three zhang high! When these doors are opened, they allow outside light to stream in, making the gemstones appear as mere grains of light.

In the Feathered Tribe's palace, which resembles a "wooden box," the gemstones inlaid in the dome gleam brilliantly.

Xuan Chong proclaimed himself General Zhennan of the Great Yao, so the soldiers accompanying him on this diplomatic mission referred to themselves as Great Yao Angels, presenting their credentials with the air of a superior nation. They also stated that their purpose was to punish the armed forces descended from the Evil Moon.

The Feathered King was very interested in this, because how could the Great Yao of the Central Plains have traveled so far to target the demonic calamity created by the "Evil Moon" here?

King of Storm City: "The Evil Moon is a calamity of nature, and you are an army on the ground. How can you conquer the Heavenly Demon?"

The messenger of the Great Yao said, "My general is a celestial being."

Subsequently, amidst the great fear of the Feathered Clan, the two sides reached a military agreement.

…We have fulfilled our mission…

Xuan Chong himself had no idea what kind of boast his envoy had made in the Feather Clan royal court.

The bamboo slips on which the envoy described the diplomatic situation were very concise and profound. However, according to performance evaluation, the envoy he sent was excellent.

The Feathered Clan prince arrived with his army of only two hundred men, including twelve chariots assembled from ornate wooden planks covered in gleaming metal plates. This was a stark contrast to the simple, painted style of Da Yao's chariots and horses.

Of course, the winged soldiers wouldn't underestimate the Yao army just because their weapons weren't flashy enough. First of all, Xuan Chong's forces were far greater in number. The Yao army's armor might not be as ornate, but the clanging sound of their iron armor as they walked was incomparable to the winged people's leather armor, or even wooden armor. (Just like gold coins, when placed in an inconspicuous cloth bag, are more attractive than a beautiful feathered hat, even if they make a clanging sound.)
Xuan Chong spoke with the prince named Aoxin, clearing up the misunderstanding. Both sides agreed to form a military alliance to jointly resolve the unusual invasion from the west.

The two sides exchanged swords and formed a military alliance, a scene that was captured by the winged tribe's painters.

In the camp of the Xuanchong Legion, a ten-zhang-long airship floated on the Wu family's position. On the airship, the observer, Ang Ri, who served as the chief astronomer, was recording the celestial phenomena in the sky.

As several important stars broke free from the interference of the evil moon and shone brightly in the sky, Angri carved the stars onto the jade disc he had brought, and used twenty-four characters to describe the time of the stars' appearance and the azimuth of their respective star regions.

After the Feathered Clan finished drawing the image, they saw the process of the Great Yao Army drawing starlight from the sky and entering the white jade.

After confirming this situation, Prince Aoxin of the Feather Clan reconstructed his impression of Yaojun.

Prior to this, the Yao army, though heavily armored, lacked elegance and rejected art. In the context of the Feathered Clan culture, where "rejecting art is equivalent to embracing barbarism," the Yao army was actually a powerful but dark force.

However, the Winged Race makes an exception for one "dark" culture: the Stars.

When the white jade received the power of divination in the darkness and began to gleam, the winged prince became particularly interested in the artistic realm of this jade, so much so that the evil moon in the sky seemed to glow with a hint of purple.

Just as Aoxin was staring intently, Xuan Chong walked up to him, patted him on the shoulder, and shattered the purple light. He said to him, "Could you please give me a detailed account of the current battlefield situation?"

Xuan Chong led him into the tent. On the undulating sand table, Aoxin looked at his own city-state, the Griffin city-state that was being besieged, and the Yao army's camp.

As the animated diagrams on the silk scrolls appeared, Auxin was drawn to the culture of the Great Yao War, because the same military battle maps were still recorded on parchment.

During the exchange, Xuan Chong identified several possible routes on the sand table and then dispatched scouts to verify the accessibility of these routes on-site.

(End of this chapter)