Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 164 Xiahou Clerk
The outline of Weize Pass became clearer in the wind and snow, no longer a chaotic mountain shadow, but gradually revealing its majestic presence on the mountain ridge, guarding a strategic pass.

The wall was not as majestic and intact as one might imagine; in many places, freshly rammed loess and massive stone bases were still exposed.

Large amounts of scaffolding clung to the inside and outside of the gate, like climbing vines, with ant-like figures of people working on it.

When the migrating dragon finally arrived at the pass, what greeted them was not just the biting mountain wind, but also a sweltering vitality mixed with sweat, new wood, soil, rust, and the unique scent of people living together.

A large area in front of the pass had already been cleared, and the snow had been swept to the sides and piled into low walls. Squads of soldiers wearing Bingzhou-style leather armor and thick, multicolored coats stood like javelins, maintaining order.

The leading officer, a tall man with a face flushed red from the cold wind, immediately stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and spoke in a loud voice when he saw Zhao Hu leading Xiahou Lan over.

"Commander Zhao! This humble general, Sun Meng, is the garrison commander of the Linzi Battalion of the Duliao Camp! I have been ordered by Registrar Gu to guide the fellow villagers of Taoyuan to the pass for resettlement!"

"Commander Sun, you've worked hard!" Huwa returned the greeting, then stepped aside to introduce...

"This is Xiahou Lan, the lord's sworn brother, and the head of Taoyuan."

"Master Xiahou!" Sun Meng clasped his hands again, "I've long admired you! The camp area within the pass has been preliminarily demarcated as instructed by Registrar Gu. Please accompany me, Master Xiahou!"

Xiahou Lan dismounted, nodded to Sun Meng, then turned to the village chiefs Li Laoshuan and Wang Mazi who were following behind him and said in a deep voice,

"Enter the pass in an orderly manner according to the pre-arranged formation! Vehicles carrying women and children shall have priority, followed by supply vehicles! All able-bodied men in each village shall follow the instructions of our brothers in Bingzhou after entering the pass and shall not make a fuss or fight!"

"Yes, sir!" the village chiefs responded in unison, immediately turning around and rushing to their respective teams to relay the orders.

The entry channel was temporarily widened, but it still felt crowded.

Taoyuan's convoy, like a torrent slowly flowing into a narrow river, passed through the heavy gate, which was still under reinforcement, one vehicle after another, guided by Bingzhou soldiers.

Inside the closed doorway, the light was dim, and the air was thick with the smell of lime and damp mud. There were still traces of fresh chiseling on the walls on both sides, and bits of stone and soil kept falling down.

People instinctively shrank their necks and quickened their pace.

Once you pass through the closed door, the view suddenly opens up.

The area inside the pass was not the cramped barbican one might imagine, but rather a relatively open valley carved out along the mountainside.

The cold wind was mostly blocked by the tall walls and the mountain ridges on both sides. Although the valley was still cold, it lacked the bone-chilling coldness.

At this moment, the valley resembles a huge, bustling construction site.

In the sunny, sheltered valley near the inner side of the wall, rows of brand-new shacks have been mostly erected.

The lower half of these shacks was dug deep into the frozen soil, while the upper half was made of rough wood and covered with thick straw mats and mud bricks. They were large in scale and arranged in a neat and orderly manner.

On the more open space, construction was in full swing.

The sounds of logging, sawing, ramming earth, and hammering metal blended together to create a deafening roar that almost drowned out the howling wind and snow.

"Quick! Over here! Timber! And over there, we need beams and pillars with mortise and tenon joints!"

"Keep the earth rammed! Give it your all! This foundation must be leveled before noon!"

"Bricklayers! Where are the bricklayers? Row 3 of Section C is waiting to get their work done!"

"Water! Hurry up, water truck! We need it to mix the mud!"

Looking at the bustling scene before him, Xiahou Lan felt as if he had returned to the days when Taoyuan was newly established. A nostalgic smile appeared on his lips. He looked at the convoy behind him and shouted.

"Old He!"

"Here you come, manager, what's up?"

He the blacksmith jogged over and looked at Xiahou Lan.

The latter gestured towards a corner of the construction site where the person in charge was clearly standing: "Go and talk to that person in charge, then lead our brothers from Taoyuan to help. We can't let others say we're just freeloaders!"

"Alright! Let's get started on the construction. Are we Taoyuan people afraid of that?"

He the blacksmith grinned and said happily, then led several Peach Blossom craftsmen toward the manager.

Accompanied by Sun Meng and Huwa, Xiahou Lan arrived at a high earthen slope inside the gate wall.

The view here is expansive, offering a panoramic view of most of the valley area within the pass.

Gu Yu, wrapped in a thick cloak, stood here, accompanied by two clerks who were constantly taking notes in their books.

His face was lean and his eyes were sharp like an eagle's. He appeared more composed and capable than a year ago, with a calm and pressured air about him, a result of his long-term handling of confidential matters.

"Registrar Gu!" Xiahou Lan stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting.

Gu Yu turned around, a rare smile on her face, and returned the greeting, saying, "Steward Xiahou, you must have had a long journey. Seeing you arrive safely, I feel a great weight lifted from my heart!"

His gaze swept over the bustling scene inside the pass and landed on Xiahou Lan's face: "Steward Xiahou accompanied the lord to build Taoyuan from scratch. Do you think Weize Pass can accommodate and protect the people?"

Xiahou Lan sincerely praised, "Secretary Gu is a capable strategist. In such a short time, he has established such a foundation in this treacherous place and opened up a path to survival for the refugees. I admire him greatly!"

Gu Yu waved his hand, his expression turning serious: "Steward Xiahou is too kind. This is all due to the lord's foresight and long-term planning. I am merely following orders and doing my best to maintain order."

He pointed to the east, where snow-covered mountains stretched out in the wind and snow: "The situation in Jizhou is more dire than expected. Our spies have discovered that the Taiping Dao has spread like wildfire, and local officials are indifferent, with quite a few joining in."

Since the beginning of winter, the number of refugees in Ji Province has surged. Yu's spies are almost entirely busy guiding these refugees and have no time to spare. In some time… even the small area of ​​Weize Pass will likely be insufficient to meet their needs.

He took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the bustling construction site inside the pass, his tone carrying a heavy sense of responsibility: "Our lord has ordered that Weize Pass must become the eastern gateway to Bingzhou, a lifeline for displaced people! The pass must be fortified, the roads must be cleared, and the camps must be able to accommodate more people! This is no small task."

"Rest assured, Registrar Gu!" Xiahou Lan's voice was firm and resolute.

"The entire community of Peach Blossom Spring is willing to give their lives for you!"

Looking at the determination and fervor in Xiahou Lan's eyes, Gu Yu smiled with relief: "With Steward Xiahou's words, I have nothing to worry about!"

He paused, as if remembering something, and took out a small scroll wrapped in oilcloth from his sleeve, handing it to Xiahou Lan: "This is a letter that the lord has instructed you to open personally. Take a look."

Xiahou Lan took it; it felt slightly heavy in her hand.

He untied the oilcloth, unfolded the scroll, and on it was Zhang Xian's powerful and incredibly familiar handwriting.

"Lan Di: "
Weize Pass is my gateway to the east. Entrusting it to my younger brother and Shilin puts my mind at ease.

The elder brother first appointed his younger brother to the position of Clerk in the Ministry of Works, to assist Shi Lin.

The newly reclaimed land in Bingzhou is left vacant to await the arrival of the Peach Blossom Spring family. Once the roads are open in spring, my brother will move to Bingzhou to reunite with his family.

My brother is in Jinyang; I have prepared my bed and am waiting for him.

"Xian, handwritten." "Brother Xian..." he murmured softly.

"Steward Xiahou? What are your orders, my lord?" Gu Yu asked softly from the side.

Xiahou Lan handed him the letter, and Gu Yu took it, read it for a while, and then bowed.

"Congratulations, Clerk Xiahou!"

"The Bingzhou Construction Bureau is responsible for overseeing construction, water conservancy, and craftsmanship. The lord has ordered the clerk to be stationed at Weize Pass this winter, which can be said to be entrusting the lifeline of the eastern gateway to the clerk. This trust is truly profound."

Gu Yu shook her head with a wry smile and sighed, "Alas, it truly makes me extremely jealous."

Xiahou Lan's hand holding the oiled paper trembled slightly. A surge of scalding heat rushed from the bottom of her heart to the top of her head, instantly dispelling all the chill accumulated in the Taihang Mountains.

He suddenly looked up and gazed westward, as if he could see through the snow-covered mountains and into the city of Jinyang where the man who had placed such high hopes on him was standing.

However, he quickly regained his senses and bowed to Gu Yu, saying, "My lord has ordered that I assist Chief Clerk Gu in his duties. All matters in Weize Pass still require Chief Clerk Gu's assistance."

After exchanging pleasantries, the two quickly learned about all the affairs of Weize Pass.

Inside the gate below.

He the blacksmith and others also brought along the craftsmen and laborers from Taoyuan to join the construction.

The elderly, women, and children were all brought inside the pass and arranged to rest in one place.

Huang Xu and Li Zhen, like two curious fawns, roamed freely in this noisy "new world" within the safe zone tacitly permitted by adults.

They ran to the construction site under the wall where reinforcements were being carried out.

Huge stone blocks were dragged up slowly by ropes and logs, accompanied by shouts of laborers.

Bingzhou soldiers, clad in heavy leather armor and wielding long halberds, vigilantly watched the mountain path outside the gate.

A newly installed ballista was covered with tarpaulin, only revealing its menacing crossbow arm, which exuded a chilling murderous aura.

"Wow! What a huge bow!" Li Zhen exclaimed, wanting to get a closer look, but was stopped by a stern-faced veteran from Bingzhou.

"Girl, stay away! This thing is dangerous!"

Li Zhen stuck out her tongue and obediently pulled Huang Xu back a few steps, but her eyes still couldn't help but curiously glance at the crossbow.

Just then, a familiar sound of reading came from not far away, near the gate.

The two looked in the direction of the sound and saw a small open space that had been cleared out in front of several rows of relatively quiet, completed shacks.

Zhou Shusheng, wearing his faded scholar's robe and a thick sheepskin coat (given by someone unknown), was holding a book and had gathered a group of children to read it aloud.

"...I dig wells to drink from and till the fields to eat from; what power does the emperor have over me!"

His voice was gentle and clear, like a clear spring amidst the noise of the construction site.

At first, the children were a little timid, confused and fearful, but under Zhou Shusheng's gentle gaze and patient guidance, they gradually relaxed and began to recite softly.

"Yes, sir!" Huang Xu's eyes lit up, and he pulled Li Zhen over, standing quietly behind the children, and began to recite softly along with them.

The sound of students reading aloud fills this border construction site, which is filled with the smell of sweat and soil, like new shoots breaking through the soil, carrying a tenacious vitality that penetrates the cold winter.

Accompanied by Xiahou Lan, Gu Yu, and Huwa, they inspected the resettlement and construction situation inside the pass.

As he watched the shacks that sprang up rapidly, as the Bingzhou soldiers and Taoyuan craftsmen worked together seamlessly from unfamiliarity to tacit understanding, and as the tired yet peaceful expressions on the faces of the elderly, women, and children after they had settled in, the heavy weight in his heart finally began to lift.

Not far away, there was another makeshift shelter.

Several old bricklayers from Taoyuan were arguing with a group of laborers from Bingzhou.

The laborers habitually wanted to plaster the walls directly with wet mud, as it was quick and easy.

An elderly craftsman from Taoyuan, with gray hair and a hunched back, was so anxious that he stamped his feet, speaking in a heavy Jizhou accent...

"You can't do it like that! In this freezing weather, if you plaster wet mud on it, it might look dry on the outside, but it'll still be runny inside! Once the weather warms up, or if you light a fire inside, the steam will push the plaster off in chunks! It'll be a disaster!"

He snatched a trowel from a laborer, squatted down, found some dry straw nearby, tore it into pieces, grabbed a handful of crushed lime powder, mixed it into the wet mud, and stirred it vigorously.

"See? We need to add straw fibers! Add lime! The mud mixed this way will be more sticky, and it will be strong when it dries! It's also fireproof! It's a bit slow, but this is a shack for people to live in, not a livestock shed! If we want to live here for a long time, we have to do it this way!"

As Old Zhang demonstrated, he muttered to himself, his cloudy eyes gleaming with dedication to his craft.

A minor official from Bingzhou, watching Old Zhang's skillful movements and the noticeably more even and resilient mud, had his eyes light up and immediately shouted to the laborers, "Learn from him! Follow the old man's method! From now on, when mixing mud, you must add straw fibers and lime!"

The laborers looked at each other, feeling troubled, but seeing Old Zhang's unquestionable expression and the clerk's clear orders, they had no choice but to follow suit.

Old Zhang finally showed a hint of satisfaction, and wandered around the shacks with his hands behind his back, occasionally pointing out a few things.

"Hey! You over there! Yes! That's you! That's not how you drive a wooden wedge! You have to go in at an angle and apply force!"

From another direction, He the blacksmith's loud voice rang out.

He was leading several young blacksmiths from Taoyuan, instructing a group of laborers from Bingzhou on installing reinforced beams.

A young laborer clumsily swung a mallet, hammering the wooden wedges connecting the beams and pillars crookedly.

He the blacksmith couldn't stand it any longer, so he snatched the mallet, flicked his wrist, and with three crisp, muffled sounds, a thick wooden wedge was perfectly embedded in the mortise and tenon, and didn't move an inch.

"See that? Be precise! Be ruthless! One strike is one strike! This limp hammer won't hold even if you nail it in next year!" Blacksmith He shoved the mallet back into the dumbfounded young laborer's hand.

"Practice! Practice exactly as instructed! If the pillar isn't stable and collapses, killing someone, who will be held responsible?"

Looking at He the blacksmith's calloused, veiny hands and sharp eyes, the young laborer swallowed hard, nodded vigorously, picked up the mallet, and, imitating He the blacksmith, slammed it down hard on the wooden wedge. Although it was still a bit crooked, the force was clearly sufficient.

Soldiers and laborers gathered around to watch, some whispering, "Where did these craftsmen come from? They're really skilled!"

Someone nearby remarked, "They seem to have come from some kind of paradise."

"Peach Blossom Spring? Where is that?"

"I don't know. They say it's an estate that the governor built in Jizhou before. They all seem to be people who followed the governor."

"Oh! The magistrate's men, then I understand. No wonder your skills are so good."

(End of this chapter)