Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 156 Sheep Eat People

After the pacification of Jinyang, Guo Jia, along with Zhao Yun and over a thousand armored soldiers, arrived at Qiangyin.

Guo Jia fiddled with an exquisite silver wine pot in his hand, listening to his elder brother Zhicai tell him about the ins and outs of the strong yin.

Sometimes they celebrated, sometimes they applauded, as if he had witnessed everything Xi Zhong described.

"It's a pity Wenruo didn't come, otherwise the three of us would definitely be drinking and having a good time!"

Guo Jia chuckled and took a sip of the fine wine from the wine jug.

Xi Zhong waved his hand, a smile on his face: "I've given up drinking, so don't make me drink again!"

"Hey! Brother! How can we let such fine wine go to waste?!"

Guo Jia was greatly puzzled.

Xi Zhong recounted to him in detail what their lord had said back then.

After a while, Guo Jia also put down the wine pot somewhat awkwardly: "Health is the most important thing, health is the most important thing."

Xi Zhong looked at him with amusement. Both of them were poor scholars from Yingchuan. Guo Jia was about the same age as Zhang Liao at this time, like his younger brother.

"The lord sent you to Qiangyin probably to train you as a strategist. During this time, I will not consider past relationships. Fengxiao, you should be prepared."

"Haha, elder brother, you are looking down on your foolish younger brother. I have never been mediocre in my studies!"

Guo Jia cupped his hands in greeting, as a subordinate official, saying, "From now on, I will rely on your guidance, strategist!"

The autumn harvest has passed in the blink of an eye.

Guo Jia leaned against the shadow of a pillar in the side corridor of the government office, watching with great interest the scene in Qiangyin that resembled "all nations paying tribute".

His face was still somewhat pale, and the cold north had caused him some discomfort from the change in environment, but he could still bear it.

His gaze did not linger on the chiefs who came to register and receive their grazing permits, but rather turned to something further away.

In a newly opened open space near the city gate in Qiangyin City, simple tents have already been erected.

Some Hu people, whose attire was distinctly different from that of ordinary herders and whose eyes were more shrewd and mercenary, were busy there.

They were merchants from the northern deserts and even further west! Merchants have the keenest sense of smell, and after the strong suppression of the northern forces, they gathered like wildcats that smelled blood.

Guo Jia's lips curled into a meaningful smile as he took a sip of the spicy, undiluted Taoyuan liquor.

As the weather has cooled down lately, he has grown to enjoy these spicy drinks that warm him up with just a sip.

He whispered to a quick-witted clerk beside him, "Go and tell those Hu merchants that Mr. Guo has a big deal about fine furs and healthy cattle and sheep. Those who are interested can come to my place in the west of the city this afternoon to discuss it in detail."

The minor official accepted the order and left.

Guo Jia's gaze then fell upon the tribal chiefs who had received the wooden plaques, their faces showing relief yet barely concealing their heartache, and he sneered inwardly.

Naturalization? Protection? These are merely the first step in a slow, insidious process.

Once these tribes had become accustomed to "safely" herding their livestock under the protection of the Armored Army, in order to pay heavy livestock taxes and exchange them for necessities that could not be produced on the grasslands (iron pots, salt, tea, and luxury goods), the only things they could provide in large quantities were furs and cattle and sheep! Especially sheep!

Sheep reproduce quickly, are easy to raise, and produce a lot of wool.

A fine sheepskin can fetch a good price in the Central Plains, and a fat sheep is a delicacy on the tables of powerful and wealthy families in the Han region.

In order to survive and to obtain those seemingly "good" resources, these tribes will frantically expand their sheep flocks, consuming limited grassland resources on livestock that produce "goods" rather than fighting power.

At that time, the sheep will not only graze on the grass, but also on the very roots upon which the grassland tribes rose to power: horses and archers! As one thing diminishes and the other rises, when the grasslands are filled with docile sheep, instead of galloping warhorses and unruly archers... that will be the true, bloodless "naturalization"!
"The naturalization and grazing order, wonderful..." Guo Jia took another swig of wine, the spicy liquid burning his throat.

"Our lord's iron fist has already established rules on the Bingbei Grasslands, and the Armored Army is now a formidable force across the grasslands. With my own petty and mercenary efforts to further this endeavor... hehe, the Bingbei Grasslands will eventually become the most docile pasture under our lord's rule, producing an inexhaustible supply of furs, meat, and milk!"

In a relatively secluded tent west of Qiangyin City.

Guo Jia leaned lazily against a folding chair covered with thick woolen felt, with several plates of dried fruit and a pot of warm wine on a small table in front of him.

The tent was filled with a faint aroma of leather and spices.

Three foreign merchants sat on felt cushions at the lower end of the table, their postures respectful, yet their eyes revealed the shrewdness typical of merchants.

They came from different trade routes. One of them was Ashina Lu, a short, stout Dingling merchant with a round face and narrow eyes who traveled to the northern desert year-round.

A man with a high nose, deep-set eyes, curly hair, and brown skin, bearing distinct Western Region features, was named Anur.

Another one, dressed in relatively elaborate Han-style Hu clothing, was Urhan, a Xianbei merchant who had long been active in the Bingzhou and Youzhou areas.

“Mr. Guo, you said there’s a big deal, I wonder…” Ashina Lu rubbed his hands together, his face full of smiles, and spoke first.

Guo Jia slowly poured himself a cup of mare's milk wine, not in a hurry to answer, but instead asked, "The three of you have witnessed it these past few days at the foot of Qiangyin City, haven't you?"

The three exchanged glances, knowing full well that Guo Jia was referring to the scene of tribal leaders lining up to receive the "naturalization and grazing order".

Urhan cautiously replied, "Yes, I saw it. General Huang's divine might has subdued all the tribes. From now on, the northern grasslands will likely be much more peaceful."

"Peaceful?" Guo Jia chuckled, put down his wine cup, and his slender eyes swept over the three of them.

"Stability is good. Stability ensures smooth trade routes and long-term business. This is a good thing. However, stability also means... the rules have changed."

He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice: "In the past, when you were buying furs, you had to go deep into the grasslands yourself, find those tribes big and small, and you also had to be careful not to be robbed. The prices were also very chaotic. Now it's different!"

Guo Jia tapped his fingers lightly on the table: "With the 'Naturalization and Grazing Order,' Qiangyin City has a register recording which tribes graze where, how many people and how many livestock they have! With General Huang in charge, no one dares to act recklessly! From now on, you can directly purchase your goods in Qiangyin! It's safe! Large quantities! As for the price..."

He deliberately dragged out the tone.

The three foreign merchants' eyes lit up instantly! Safe! Large quantity! This was exactly what they had been dreaming of!

“Mr. Guo means…” Anur asked eagerly.

"I'm considering joining the Xiongnu Protectorate; I can act as the middleman!" Guo Jia revealed his true intentions.

"From now on, all furs, cattle, and sheep from the naturalized tribes will be supplied first to the large merchants who have signed 'exclusive supply contracts' with our government! The government will coordinate the purchase locations and quantities to ensure a stable supply and the safety of your caravans! As for the prices, they will naturally be much fairer and more transparent than if you were to purchase them individually!"

"A special supply contract?" Urhan frowned slightly. "Then this contract..."

"The contract is easy to discuss," Guo Jia said with a sly smile, like a fox eyeing a fat chicken.

"Only three people are needed to set up a permanent warehouse in Qiangyin and prepay a sum of money... well, a 'deposit'."

Furthermore, a 10% "commercial protection tax" will be paid to my government office for each transaction. All three of you are sensible people; isn't this a worthwhile deal?

The tent fell silent. The three merchants from the Central Plains quickly began to make their calculations.

Security deposit? Business protection tax? These are all costs.

However, compared to the risks of venturing deep into the grasslands, the losses from arbitrary price increases by tribes, and the troubles of unstable supply... if one can be bound to the powerful Protectorate of the Xiongnu and obtain a stable and secure supply channel, in the long run, it will actually be extremely profitable!

Ashinaru was the first to make the decision: "Mr. Guo is a man of few words! My Ashinaru's caravan is signed!"

"I, Anur, will sign too!"

"Urhan is willing to cooperate with the government!"

Guo Jia's smile widened even more: "Good! That's easy! Then let's... discuss it in detail?"

As the sun set, it cast a long silhouette of the majestic Qiangyin City across the vast grassland. Huang Zhong and Xi Zhong stood side by side atop the fortified city wall, gazing into the distance.

Guo Jia leaned against the parapet, admiring the beautiful scenery of the setting sun over the long river.

Below the city, several caravans of Hu merchants, laden with furs and herding herds of cattle and sheep, were slowly leaving Qiangyin under the "escort" of a small cavalry unit of the Lüchi army, embarking on the trade route to the Central Plains.

Those were the first results of Guo Jia's "exclusive supply contract".

Further away, on the vast golden grassland, countless white felt tents of naturalized tribes dot the landscape.

Wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys, blending seamlessly with the twilight.

The shepherd's shouts and the bleating of the sheep drifted on the wind, weaving together a seemingly tranquil and peaceful pastoral scene.

However, Huang Zhong's gaze was unusually serious. He pointed to the dense flock of sheep and said to Xi Zhong in a low voice, "Why does the strategist encourage the grassland tribes to raise sheep so much? He even set a policy that sheep tax can offset half of the tax on cattle and horses?"

Xi Zhong looked in the direction he was pointing, his face showing no surprise, only a calm understanding of the world.

"With more sheep, there are fewer horses and cattle. Their fur and meat can be traded at Qiangyin for iron, salt, tea, and cloth, which seems to benefit the tribe and improve their lives."

However, if this continues, the young and strong men of the tribe will inevitably become rusty in archery and horsemanship as they spend their days with sheep.

When the number of warhorses dwindles to a certain point, these ungodly raised horses, though they may have a rebellious spirit, lack the power to be so!
This is a ruthless strategy, subtle yet extremely effective; Fengxiao's plan is quite brilliant.

"It was your plan, my lord. I dare not take credit for it." Guo Jia chuckled as he leaned against the parapet, turning his gaze away from the scenery.

"The lord's plan is just the beginning; the details are what Fengxiao has been pondering for the past half month. Don't be modest."

Xi Zhong stood with his hands behind his back, sparing no words of praise.

Huang Zhong remained silent for a long time, his tiger-like eyes flashing with a sharp light. He slowly raised his hand and stroked the cold battlements.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed his resolute profile in a golden-red hue, illuminating the unwavering determination in his eyes.

"Using sheep to subdue the barbarians. Brilliant!" Huang Zhong's deep voice echoed across the city tower as dusk deepened.

The horse farm outside the Qiangyin military camp was bathed in the warm autumn sun in the afternoon.

The air was filled with the unique scent of grass, horses, and earth, which was not unpleasant but rather carried a sense of vibrant and reassuring warmth.

Zhao Yun rolled up his sleeves, revealing his strong forearms, and skillfully swung his pitchfork, precisely picking up scattered clumps of horse manure and throwing them into the manure cart beside him.

Sweat streamed down his resolute profile, dampening the stray hairs on his forehead, but his face wore a satisfied smile after a day's work, and the sunlight shone on him, as if gilding him.

"General Zhao... take a break! We can do this job, we can do it!" A young recruit named Wang Ergou, blushing, awkwardly tried to snatch the pitchfork from Zhao Yun's hand.

He had only recently joined the cavalry and was filled with awe for the young general who had made several incursions into Baihe Valley. Watching him do this work made him feel uneasy.

Several veterans from the same unit, such as Li Tiezhu and Zhang Heizi, tried to offer some advice, but seeing Zhao Yun's calm and even somewhat amused demeanor, they could only smile helplessly.

Li Tiezhu simply plopped down on a pile of hay that was half his height next to him, grabbed a handful of dry grass and rubbed it in his hands, and joked, "Er Gouzi, stop grabbing! Didn't you hear what the general said? Back in Jizhou, there were far more dirty and tiring jobs than this! What's this little bit of work? Right, General?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yun laughed heartily, his hands still moving, wielding the pitchfork with great force: "Tiezhu is right! We soldiers can handle swords and spears, and we can also wield pitchforks!"
"This horse ranch is like half a home for our cavalry camp. How can we stand idly by when our home is dirty and messy?" He gestured towards Wang Ergou.

"Ergou, don't just stand there, go and scrub the water trough over there again. Remember to clean every nook and cranny. If the horse drinks dirty water, it'll get an upset stomach!"

"Okay!" Seeing Zhao Yun's resolute attitude, Wang Ergou's awkwardness dissipated a bit. He responded loudly, picked up the brush and bucket, and ran towards the water trough.

Zhang Heizi was a burly man who excelled at physical labor.

He pushed the half-loaded manure cart, exclaiming in a deep voice, "General, your skills are amazing! Even cleaning the stables looks like you're wielding a spear! But we still hope you'll return to the command post soon and lead us in battle! That would be truly satisfying!"

“That’s right!” A soldier who was grooming the mane of a chestnut horse chimed in.

"Next month is the cavalry competition. If you, General, were to participate, I guarantee you would outperform those newly emerged platoon leaders!"

Zhao Yun smiled and shook his head, steadily feeding the last fork of horse manure into the manure cart. He leaned on his pitchfork to catch his breath, his gaze sweeping over the busy yet orderly horse farm before him.

The robust warhorses leisurely swished their tails and grazed on fresh hay in the enclosure, while soldiers cleaned the stables, brushed the horses, or carried hay.

Sweat glistened in the sunlight; there were no complaints, only occasional shouts and good-natured banter.

"The competition is an opportunity for our brothers to shine." Zhao Yun's voice was gentle yet clear.

"Right now, I just want to be a good soldier and do my job well. Besides," he winked, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

"Are you guys afraid I'll steal your thunder when I get back?"

"Hahaha! How could that be!" Li Tiezhu jumped down from the haystack, patting his chest.

"If the general could give us a couple of pointers, we'd be happy to let you steal the spotlight!"

"Yes, yes, yes! General, when are you going to teach us your 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix' spear technique again? Last time you demonstrated those moves, I went back and pondered them for half the night, but I still couldn't grasp the knack!"

"And General, you can't keep doing these trivial things with us forever. You are a very capable person."

Looking into those expectant and trusting eyes, Zhao Yun felt a surge of warmth in his heart; there was no greater bond than this between comrades.

He looked at the person who spoke: "In the army, there is no distinction between big and small matters. My lord once told me a little story that I think makes a lot of sense, and I'll tell it to you now."

"It is said that there was once a groom who was conscripted as an auxiliary soldier during the war. When going into battle, he helped the horses put on their reins. Because he thought the matter was trivial, he skipped a few steps. However, when the battle started, the horses he was helping to put on their reins were not in good condition, causing the cavalrymen to fall off their horses. Then, because the cavalrymen fell off their horses, the following cavalrymen collided, which gave the enemy an opportunity to cause a major defeat."

"Therefore, no matter how big or small the task, it is all an accumulation for victory."

The cavalrymen seemed to be deep in thought. The army regularly had literacy classes, so they were not ignorant soldiers.

Seeing that they seemed to be deep in thought, Zhao Yun smiled, put down the pitchfork in his hand, and said, "After we've tidied up this horse farm, before evening drills, let's go to the edge of the drill ground, and I'll break down the essentials of spear techniques for you!"

"Great!" Everyone cheered immediately, their enthusiasm growing even stronger.

Wang Ergou scrubbed the sink even harder, splashing water everywhere.

Zhang Heizi pushed the manure cart like a war chariot, making a powerful and swift movement. Even the few intelligent warhorses seemed to sense the joyful atmosphere, snorting and pawing at the ground.

As the sun sets, it bathes the racecourse in a warm golden-red hue.

As the cleanup work neared its end, everyone worked together to neatly stack the last cart of hay and fill all the water troughs with clean water.

The once somewhat messy horse farm has become neat and tidy, with only the fresh scent of grass remaining in the air.

"That's a wrap!" Li Tiezhu shouted, wiping away his sweat.

Everyone chuckled as they packed up their tools, brushing the grass clippings and dust off each other.

Wang Ergou leaned close to Zhao Yun and whispered, "Brother Zhao, I understand the story you just told me."

Brushing the reins is a small matter, but if done carelessly, it could be fatal! From now on, I will treat every little thing as an important matter!

Zhao Yun patted his shoulder with satisfaction, the pressure neither too light nor too heavy: "Good that you understand. Come on, wash your face and head to the training ground!"

A group of people chatted and laughed, walking arm in arm towards the barracks.

The setting sun cast long shadows of them, and their laughter echoed across the empty campsite.

(End of this chapter)