Reclaiming Wasteland: Carefree Mountain Farmer

Chapter 143 Expedition
With autumn harvest and winter storage in full swing, Beijiwu also begins to leisurely enjoy life.

Near Beijiwu, there sat many beautiful women who had once been of high status, ranging in age from their teens to their thirties and forties.

Fewer than five women belonged to the Wan family; the majority were women from the harems of various separatist regimes in the east, west, south, and north.

These women surrendered time and time again, their age increased and their status declined. Now, in Beijiwu's place, they are merely accessories when he occasionally enjoys life, and most of the time they are still responsible for performing, just like the concubines dancing in the middle.

Beijiwu rarely watches the palace concubines and dancers perform; this is only the second time this year.

Because he disliked sharing pleasures with the common people, Beiji Wu always kept to himself in his private palace, never dining with his ministers or participating in cumbersome ceremonies or banquets.

Normally, everyone keeps to themselves and only holds meetings to resolve issues when problems arise. Usually, it's Beijiwu who gives the orders, and his subordinates carry them out.

Arctic Wu doesn't like to show off, especially not women.

He generally wouldn't buy her any gold, silver, or jewelry, nor would he act like he was doing a great job for her in front of others.

They didn't even have the opportunity to meet outsiders, let alone attend banquets or parties, or learn any arts or crafts to make their men look good.

In the eyes of the people of Luoyang, Beijiwu is a frugal person.

They did not hold banquets, build palaces, go out to worship Buddha, travel south for leisure, or levy taxes or spend money.

The emperor must levy taxes when he spends money, rather than squandering the national treasury reserves.

In the eyes of the civil and military officials, especially the eunuchs and palace maids who knew what kind of life the emperor lived, King Wu was indeed a frugal person. He limited his meals to four dishes and one soup, and he was not obsessed with alchemy, Taoist practices, or health preservation techniques. He also did not drink alcohol.

However, besides his fondness for women, King Wu also had many hobbies known to the eunuchs and palace maids.

First, I enjoy reading books and newspapers.

Secondly, I enjoy strolling through parks.

When visiting the garden, eunuchs were not allowed to accompany the king. Instead, he was accompanied by women dressed as young ladies from noble families. They strolled through the royal gardens, carrying paper umbrellas and pretending to admire the gardens and play around. They walked freely on the grassy paths by the roadside, like deer and birds. King Wu wandered among them.

It's normal for people from mountainous areas to do anything.

King Wu is often perceived as someone who dislikes killing, but in reality, he killed far more people than King Wen.

They usually get transferred from important positions to retirement positions, then transferred out of the palace, then imprisoned for a while, and then die quietly.

Those whose crimes weren't serious were transferred to work on farms. Because of the shortage of manpower, Beijiwu preferred to exile people to work on farms, since there were always troublemakers who wouldn't tolerate those officials and their families.

As Beiji Wuzheng was watching the song and dance and feeling somewhat drowsy, a palace maid walked in from outside.

"Your Majesty." Cui Qing, a female official, approached and knelt down. After taking the last two steps, she softly reported to the somewhat sleepy Beiji Wu, "The Prefect of Chang'an has sent a document that the Western Regions have occupied Qin territory."

The name "Shan Nong Guo" is a colloquial term for the country of mountain farmers; the actual name used is "Wu Chao".

When an individual's influence far exceeds that of the nation itself, they tend to use titles that reflect their personal character.

For example, the Wu Dynasty more specifically refers to the era led by the Northern Wu, while the Shan Nong Kingdom may be a general term for a dynasty that will continue to be used in the future.

Because of the capricious nature of the Northern Wu, the Wu Dynasty became the reign title.

Beijiwu lazily opened his eyes, leaned against the pillow behind him, and casually stretched out his legs and put them on the table.

"A brief report will suffice."

"Yes."

Lady Cui opened the letter and quickly read it. As a former imperial concubine of the previous emperor, she had seen many official documents and reports.

"Your Majesty, this is a guild written in Shannong script."

Arctic Martial, looking impatient, said, "Let's summarize."

Cui Gongren summarized: "Last year, the Dangxiang Qiang people heard from merchants about the death of King Wen and the internal strife in the Wen Dynasty. They gathered 200,000 people, declared themselves kings, occupied the Qin region in the northwest, established the Xia state, and intended to attack Chang'an."

"A great calamity has struck the Western Regions. Zhang Gui, the Han Chinese general guarding Zhangye, has gathered 100,000 people, including Han Chinese, Qiang people, Tibetans, Sogdians, Uyghurs, Longjia, Wumo people, Tuyuhun, and Dadan, to occupy multiple prefectures in the Western Regions and establish the Liang Kingdom. They are currently at war with the Western Xia."

Beijiwu looked thoughtful, as if the years of disasters had caused chaos in the Northwest.

There's no one left in the Northwest; there's nowhere to rob, and farming is a dead end.

Years of severe drought have depleted the seed grains, and with various tribes fighting each other, it's become extremely difficult to find a fertile land with abundant water and grass and teeming with wild animals.

Cows and sheep can eat grass, but humans can't.

If they really dispersed to find food, more than 10,000 people would have to split up.

The imperial court has completely abandoned the northwest, and now the Han people and various tribes of the Western Regions are rapidly merging together.

"Let's talk about it after the New Year. Hasn't Wan Yong handled it well?"

Beijiwu had previously sent Wan Yong to handle matters in the west.

Lady Cui lowered her head, "This servant does not know."

Beijiwu was no longer sleepy and slowly stood up. "Disperse. Each of the dancers will be rewarded with ten taels of silver and given a month's leave. The rest will be rewarded with one tael of silver."

"Before the Lunar New Year, five hundred palace maids and eunuchs may take turns leaving the palace for six hours each day. Be careful to return early. Those who do not return at night should never come back."

"I will not be spending the New Year in the palace this year. One-third of the guards will remain to work in shifts, while the rest will go back to reunite with their families. The guards who stay behind for the New Year will receive one tael of silver per day."

"During the Spring Festival, I will have people from the production team come over with carts to sell street goods. You can buy whatever you like."

The palace maid asked curiously, "Your Majesty, where are you going for the New Year holiday if you're not in the palace?"

That's a good question. Beijiwu reached out and grabbed her hair, then casually pushed the terrified, trembling woman to the ground.

"Go away."

Beijiwu walked outside, leaving behind only terrified palace maids and dancers.

Cui Gongren is still alive and unharmed, but she is psychologically traumatized and will never again dare to consider herself a woman of the Arctic Martial Arts School.

She wasn't even a pet; she was just a servant.

What King Wu did was none of a servant's business.

If he were a eunuch, he would have been beaten by now.

Cui Gongren, suppressing her lingering fear, stood up and said to the others, "His Majesty has ordered that we disperse. You will receive your reward at the Imperial Household Department later."

"Yes, thank you, Lady Cui."

Because of her daughter, Consort Wan, Cui Gongren still held some power.

At this time, Arctic Military summoned several people in charge of military affairs.

"There are 200,000 people who established the Xia Kingdom in the Northwest, and 100,000 people who established the Liang Kingdom in Dunhuang and Zhangye. I will take 1,000 soldiers to Longzhou, kill a group of people and solve the troubles in Qin and Jin for the next ten years or so."

Longzhou, meaning "long for Shu after gaining Long," is a strategic location in Gansu that connects the Central Plains and the Northwest. Qin territory is Han territory, belonging to the former Central Plains. Now that they have invaded, it is natural to kill them.

Prime Minister Rong Dingwen felt that Beiji Wu was right, but that they shouldn't have done it that way.

"Your Majesty is of great health and cannot always put yourself in danger. It would be better to let the generals go out and gain experience, so that they can also have a chance to make merit."

Beijiwu smiled and said, "Luoyang is 1,200 li north of Tongzhou, 1,200 li southeast of Jiangning, 1,200 li east to the Yellow Sea, 1,200 li west to Tianshui, and 1,200 li south to the Yangtze River."

"I promised the governor of Chang'an that I would help him after I finished farming. Now that I have some free time, I can go there now without delaying my return for spring planting next year."

"From now on, I will not travel any journey that takes more than a month."

Yan Shuangli volunteered, saying, "This year, like last year, there is no snow in the Northwest, which is perfect for a long journey. I am from Xianyang in Guanzhong and have long served in Yanmen County of Bingzhou. I know a little about the affairs of Qin and Jin, and I am willing to accompany Your Majesty on the expedition!"

Arctic Martial Arts definitely needs a guide. "Alright, have your men travel light, wear leather jackets, cotton-padded clothes and cotton shoes, bring a pot of wine and a bag of fried noodles, and just bring one horse for the change of horses. Get the weapons from Chang'an. We'll set off in two hours."

"Yes!"

Yan Shuangli immediately went down to muster the troops.

Since it was a rotating duty unit, three or four thousand of Yan Shuangli's ten thousand men were on duty, so finding a thousand of them was not difficult.

After the order was issued, ten commanders and one hundred officers were responsible for selecting men and horses.

This is a war mission; if you're not strong enough, you're just asking for death. There's no logistical work involved; everyone's on the front lines.

Bringing along a few useless people will only lead to your own demise.

After making arrangements for the New Year period and discussing salary matters, Beijiwu went to select weapons and warhorses.

Two hours later, more than a thousand people and more than two thousand horses set off.

Luoyang is more than 700 li away from Chang'an. It would take a foot soldier ten days and a normal cavalryman five or six days.

Beijiwu and his men used Mongolian horses, which were better suited for long-distance running missions in winter. They could travel 200 li a day and reach Chang'an in three or four days.

More than a thousand cavalrymen marched across the cracked yellow earth and appeared within the boundaries of Chang'an City.

Merchants delivering goods outside Chang'an City for the New Year heard the sound of horses' hooves and quickly ran towards the city gate.

The soldiers guarding the city wall panicked and shouted, "Sound the horns!"

People nearby quickly went inside to get horns and sounded the horns for defense.

The city's residents and garrison soldiers immediately quieted down from their rest and conversations, and then quickly went out to check the situation.

The continuous blasting of bugles was clearly not a mistake.

Arctic Martial shouted, "Slow down!"

As the people behind him began to slow down, Beijiwu also began to slow down and approach the city wall.

People ahead are urgently closing the city walls and raising the drawbridge.

Beijiwu didn't rush over. He watched as the merchants and Hu people who hadn't had time to cross the river fled in terror to both sides.

The soldiers on the city wall looked down at the people wearing uniform leather coats and immediately shouted, "Are those the Luoyang army ahead?"

Beiji Wu laughed and said, "I am Beiji Wu. Tell your governor to come out and open the gate."

Several nearby guards looked down and, upon seeing that it was indeed Empress Wu of the North Pole, immediately lowered the city gates and went out to greet her.

"Greetings, Your Majesty King Wu!"

Several centurions led a group of people to kneel down.

Arctic Wu had been here before, and many people had seen him.

Because he has the appearance of a Han Chinese, Beijiwu, who is guarding Chang'an, is not as difficult to identify as a non-Han Chinese.

Beiji Wu led his army into the city, and only after leaving the barbican did he see Tang Boyong, who had arrived late.

"This servant is late in welcoming Your Majesty, and deserves to die! I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"

Tang Boyong led his subordinates to kneel down on the main street of Chang'an, which made many Chang'an residents and garrison soldiers aware of the status of the Northern Army.

Beijiwu looked at the city, which, like Luoyang, had been the capital of several regimes. However, due to repeated wars in recent decades, various regimes had come in to burn, kill, and plunder, causing the city to be abandoned after only a few repairs.

Today, Chang'an is far less than one-tenth or one-twelfth of its former glory; it is now just an ordinary city, bearing many tragic memories.

"Get up," Beijiwu said softly. "I promised to come here and clean up the mess after I finished farming. Is someone establishing a kingdom here?"

Tang Boyong raised his head and said excitedly, "Thank you, Master! Everything is fine here. I have been busy building city defenses and accommodating people to seek refuge in the city."

"Most of the northern residents went to Jinzhou for refuge, and the rest began to gather here. Now there are 300,000 people."

"The founder of the state was Li Wang of the Dangxiang Qiang ethnic group. He established the Great Xia State in Yinchuan County, Yinzhou, a thousand miles northwest of Chang'an, and called himself the King of Great Xia."

Beijiwu sighed, "It's too far. I've traveled seven hundred li from Luoyang to here, and I really don't want to travel another thousand li."

Tang Boyong immediately replied, "I dare not trouble you, Master. I am already training troops, and next year I will go to Yanzhou in the north to defend the city and help you secure our great land!"

Beiji Wu dismounted, and the knights behind him followed suit.

Yan Shuangli volunteered, "Master, give me five thousand soldiers, and I will surely be able to wipe out those rebels."

Beijiwu laughed and said, "Since we're already here, how can we not go out and take a look? I'm also planning to manage the Hetao region, so it would be good to go north and check on the situation upstream."

"Where did Wan Yong go? I sent him here to clear the obstacles here, has he accomplished anything?"

As a former royal general, Wan Yong certainly knew something about warfare, and with ample warhorses, weapons, and armor, he was unlikely to be outmatched by the Hu people here.

Tang Boyong clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and said, "General Wan went to Tianshui. Some time ago, the garrison commander of Tianshui asked for help, so I went to assist in the defense and delivered a hundred cartloads of military supplies, including rice, coal, and arrowheads."

Arctic Military was unsure how long 100 truckloads of supplies would last, only knowing that Wan Yong had not achieved any results.

"Never mind him. I'll rest here for three days. You can take care of your business. Have the kitchen prepare some hot food and soup."

Beiji Wu walked towards the prefect's residence, and Tang Boyong and his men stood up and followed, serving him.

Even in a small town of two or three hundred thousand people, you can find a few beautiful women.

If you really can't find any, then use the wives and daughters of the various high- and middle-level managers to make up the numbers.

While Beijiwu was eating, several women with rouge and powder on their faces approached. He said directly, "There's no need to arrange for these women. They can all leave. I'm here to inspect the war. After you finish eating, bring over the map and farmland books, as well as the records of the various tribes and clans."

"Yes!" Tang Boyong respectfully stepped back and led the women away.

While looking at the map after dinner, Beijiwu discovered that the Xia Kingdom could attack Chang'an or Tongzhou.

It is separated from Chang'an by several states, and from Tongzhou by grasslands.

The territory is there; if we don't fight for it, someone else will.

However, there aren't many people who can control such a large area right now, and they can't manage it all, so they don't want to be running around all the time.

We should still grant fiefdoms, distributing people to all corners of the country, allowing them to multiply their populations and govern their respective regions.

The original plan was to use alcohol to weaken the fighting power of the grasslands, but now it seems that we still need to let these people raise more Mongolian horses that can travel long distances and go to the west to beat them up.

Arctic Martial quickly found a prominent landmark on the map.

Yunzhong County, a Turkic tribe.

The Yellow River is shaped like the Chinese character "几" (ji). Yinchuan County, where the Western Xia people gathered, is located in the western part of the river, while Jiuyuan City in the clouds is located in the northern middle.

The road from Jiuyuan westward to Tongzhou is two or three days' journey, with the Guihua Department in between.

To the north lies the grassland of the Ongud tribe, and to the west is the settlement of the Western Qiang people.

However, Jiuyuan is 1,400 li away from Chang'an, and Beijiwu was too lazy to go there.

Dunhuang is more than 2,000 li away from Chang'an, which makes things even more troublesome.

Arctic Martial Arts decided to prioritize subjugation over elimination.

Arctic Martial Arts called for Yan Shuangli.

"Take a day off, and tomorrow I'll take you out to show off your might!"

The following morning, as Beiji Wu was about to depart with a thousand men, he instructed Tang Boyong, who was seeing him off:
"Go back and write three letters, and send people to contact the Turks, the people of Xiliang, and the Tibetans. I will allow them to move inland to Liangzhou for refuge, and I will also appoint them as kings."

"But they must learn the rules and culture of the mountain farmers, pay tribute to me regularly, and not leave the territory I have allocated to them unless there is a disaster. If they do not follow my rules, they have no reason to exist as one of my own."

When writing letters to Turks, Tibetans, or people from the Western Liang region, it is essential to use a script they can understand.

Tang Boyong asked, "Shouldn't we deal with the Western Xia people?"

“No need,” Arctic Martial said firmly.

When Tang Boyong went back to find someone to write a letter, Beiji Wu had already set off to the nearest place to show off his power.

We need to fight before we can talk.

If you push someone to the brink and they're ready to fight to the death, then there's no point in trying to subdue them.

(End of this chapter)