Reclaiming Wasteland: Carefree Mountain Farmer

Chapter 205 The temptation to go home

The day before Beijiwu left Wuzhou, Adaihai brought a battle report from the Western Expeditionary Army.

"Master, Batu and Buta have attacked a place called the Vistula River and are fighting with the locals. This is a map sent from the front."

Adaihai placed the Eurasian map on the table.

Sitting opposite, Arctic Martial opened the door and looked down.

This casual gesture demonstrated the trust between the two parties.

Arctic Warriors were not worried that Adaihai would attempt assassination, poisoning, or launch a surprise attack, and Adaihai was able to gain the full support of the Mountain Farmers because of this trust.

There are not many people who can gain the trust of the Arctic Army, and each of them can hold a high position.

Looking at the map, Beijiwu, although he couldn't understand the European map drawn by the merchants, still roughly understood the specific location.

Knowing the general location is enough; you don't need to be too specific.

“Well done,” Beijiwu said with satisfaction. “I will send people over to take over these lands in succession, and they can also choose their own rewards.”

“They can find a pasture in Europe to graze their livestock and become a 'ten-thousand-household' grazing herdsman, or they can return to the agricultural province to become a 'thousand-household' grazing herdsman. I will pay the 'ten-thousand-household' salary to three generations of them, ensuring that their entire family can live a good life for a hundred years.”

Arctic Martial Arts would prefer these people to stay abroad, but knows it's impossible.

Adaihai smiled and said, "The warriors who go out all hope to return to their hometown, and I think they will all choose to come back."

Beijiwu didn't try to dissuade him, and readily said, "Of course, I will keep my promise and build a prosperous city on the grassland."

"This city will build a brewery, have a steady supply of white steamed buns and rice, an endless supply of beef and mutton, and cheap molasses for the returning warriors to enjoy."

"My request is simple: fight to the westernmost coast of the European continent, and my men can return gradually after they get there."

The rewards offered by Arctic Martial Arts are extremely generous, just like the assistance they have provided over the years.

Helping the grassland tribes did not make the Mountain Farming Province appear impoverished; under King Wu's leadership, the Mountain Farming Kingdom grew stronger and stronger.

This power also strengthened the awe of the three tribes and the newly subjugated foreigners towards the Celestial Empire, accelerating the integration process.

Adaihai lowered his head and bowed respectfully, saying, "Yes, I will convey your reward to everyone in the Western Expeditionary Army."

Arctic Martial nodded, then looked at the long supply line on the map.

"I have already started building roads. Roads built with gravel and sand will more than double the speed of horse-drawn carriages. Once the railway tracks are laid, transportation will be much easier."

“The East European Plain is suitable for growing crops, and the Mountain Farmers Corps will establish the East European Province there to provide food and fodder for the West Asian and European fronts.”

Adaihai looked relieved. "With the mountain farmers here, there is no such thing as hunger."

The idea that people are fed is not just propaganda from the mountain farmers, but it is indeed true.

The Arctic Warriors have always provided good treatment, but the steppe warriors were not of one mind in the past, and the exploitation by the upper echelons was equally deadly.

Every grassland dweller had to pay taxes to the nobles, to the point that they were so poor that they would long for even the sight of rats and wild vegetables.

They would eat anything edible, and hunger and poverty accompanied everyone.

It was precisely because of poverty that they were willing to go out and fight, risking their lives.

The Borjigins initially attacked the Arctic Wu to deplete the tribe's population, aiming to reduce the tribe's burden through plunder and attrition during war.

The continuous famine forced the grassland people to migrate south to plunder food, otherwise they would face certain death.

At a time when the Han and non-Han peoples were fighting bloody battles for survival resources, Beiji Wuquan defeated the Wen Dynasty and kicked the Khitan and Mongols, producing an inexhaustible supply of grain, which shocked everyone.

In an era when disasters and deaths were frequent and people went hungry almost every year, the mountain farmers were like the brightest star on the grassland, illuminating the lives of everyone.

When Beijiwu stepped out of the tent, he saw many blond children playing on the grass outside.

Adaihai noticed the look in Beijiwu's eyes and explained, "These are the children sent back by the Western Expeditionary Army, and quite a few pregnant women have also been sent back."

Beijiwu smiled and said, "It's alright, just incorporate them all into the Han Chinese. I acknowledge the legitimacy of the spoils obtained by the Western Expeditionary Army, but the amount of spoils handed over each year cannot be less."

"If my share isn't enough, then the others' shares naturally won't be legal."

Adaihai nodded and said, "Yes, I will convey your message. There are still many girls here that you brought back. Would you like to take some of them back with you?"

"No, I still prefer women who can have normal conversations and who are not being taken advantage of."

Beijiwu already had quite a few women in his household, and had no interest in these female prisoners.

There are plenty of women in the palace. Given the choice, Beijiwu would naturally prioritize the clean and pretty ones and wouldn't sleep with every woman he saw.

****
Champa Commandery, Linyi County

A young Han Chinese man, panting on a naked, mature woman, began to regain his strength.

Not long after, the woman pushed him away and started grabbing rice from the bowl next to her and putting it in her mouth.

Liu Jingshun lay on the bed piled with leaves, tilting his head to look at the woman who ate like a pig or a dog.

Soon Liu Jingshun raised his head and looked at the dripping wooden house.

After several years of hard work, Liu Jingshun suddenly wanted to go home.

There are women, children, food and drink, and a group of men who can be ordered around at will.

But... I just want to go home.

For no reason at all, Liu Jingshun suddenly missed his dilapidated cave and his army comrades whose names he had forgotten.

"It's been two years, why haven't the mountain farmers come?" In the first year after arriving, Liu Jingshun didn't want the mountain farmers to come, nor did he want to contact them. He wanted to become the king of the mountains.

Last year was the second year.

It is now the first month of the third year.

Liu Jingshun suddenly understood why his companions had cried and begged to go home. Even if they had women and children here, even if they were dying of illness, all they wanted was to go home.

Go home, go back to your hometown!
Liu Jingshun had no home, no place he used to live in that he had anything to miss, and he had never joined the villagers at the foot of the mountain.

But at this moment, I still want to go back, back to a familiar place.

The woman beside him was still eating with her hands and quietly drinking her rice porridge, completely unconcerned about whether she was dressed or not, or who had slept with her.

Liu Jingshun realized that this was his home, but he had no home in Han Chinese territory and could not integrate into the Han Chinese community...

Suddenly, Liu Jingshun realized something!
People from Shandong Agricultural University!!

"The mountain farmers don't care whether I'm Han or not!"

Liu Jingshun finally recalled his treatment in the army. Everyone said that the Shan Nong people were incredibly strong, generous, kind and righteous good people!
Subsequent battles proved that those mountain farmers were indeed extremely formidable!
They used cannons that could make loud noises and fire iron balls to destroy the barbarian ships, used fire-breathing wooden spears to repel the giant elephants, and blew open the city walls with something.

The army's food was provided by the mountain farmers, who also helped wounded soldiers and gave everyone clean drinks.

When I first took over this place, the mountain farmers also sent me grain seeds, wine, weapons for self-defense, and clean salt.

But those people clearly didn't want to stay there any longer; after talking for a while, they left, covered in sweat.

It has been a year and a half since I last received salt.

Liu Jingshun pondered the attitude of the mountain farmers towards him.

“Those mountain farmers were very kind to me. I could understand some of what they said. Even if they didn’t understand what I was saying, they would ask me questions slowly. They didn’t laugh at me like the people in the mountains do.”

"Give me back my food, drink, and weapons."

"Many people in the army said that the mountain farmers gave money, food and weapons, and also distributed land and wives. They were very kind to everyone and did not collect taxes."

"After I go back and join the army for a few years, I can get land and women. Even if it's just land, it's not difficult to go to the battlefield and kill the enemy. That way, I can farm on the land of the mountain farmers!"

"The game you hunt can be sold to the mountain farmers for money. The mountain farmers don't cheat you."

Liu Jingshun no longer wanted to be a local tyrant; he wanted to go home, join the army, fight for the mountain farmers, and marry a talkative country woman.

Even though he had many women and children here, Liu Jingshun couldn't fit in after seeing other men sneaking into women's rooms, seeing his women act like animals with no sense of propriety or shame, and seeing the babies his women gave birth to that looked like monkeys!

It's already extremely rare that they didn't go berserk and kill people.

However, Liu Jingshun simply could not accept this barbaric and trashy tribe. Once the thought of leaving arose, it was like a leaking dam, growing stronger and stronger!

Liu Jingshun didn't care whether he went home or not; his home never really existed. But his collapsing emotions found a lifeline!
Mountain farmers!
Liu Jingshun could only gain a sliver of recognition from the mountain farmers.

Without hesitation, Liu Jingshun gathered everyone the very next day.

"I'm heading north! To pay tribute to the mountain farmers!!"

With one hand on the hilt of his knife, Liu Jingshun looked just like his former teammate.

Anyone who gets in his way home, he'll kill!

The thousands of villagers watched him silently, not understanding why this centurion was so serious and frightening today.

After the translator translated Liu Jingshun's words to his subordinates, they scratched their itch as if it didn't matter at all.

It's perfectly normal for the mountain farmers' subordinates to offer tribute to them.

From the beginning of history to the present, the people of Lin-yi Kingdom and the wild people in the mountains have always been aware of the importance of paying taxes.

Paying taxes was considered a matter of course by everyone in ancient times.

Liu Jingshun's act of paying taxes to the mountain farmers in exchange for protection was seen as necessary by the people of Linyi, so that they would not be killed by the mountain farmers!
When Beijiwu returned to Luoyang, Liu Jingshun, who was emotionally distraught, also set off northwards on his journey home with five elephants, ten water buffaloes, ten young girls, two boxes of jade, seashells, coral, pearls, a small amount of gold and silver jewelry, and local rice.

Everyone thought Liu Jingshun was a taxpayer in the past, but they didn't know that Liu Jingshun had abandoned his wife and children and was only thinking about going back to be a dog.

Liu Jingshun desperately wanted recognition, even though he had lived alone in the mountains since childhood and had spent several years alone in a foreign land full of Linyi people.

Being able to survive doesn't mean you're willing to integrate into the local community. Just like the Han Chinese who came at the beginning, being able to stay on the first day doesn't mean you'll stay forever.

Liu Jingshun was already very strong, but he still couldn't overcome that loneliness.

This loneliness grows stronger with age.

Liu Jingshun is willing to give everything he has gained to the Shan Nong people, only asking for their forgiveness.

Liu Jingshun was terrified of the Shan Nong people, especially their emperor, and didn't want to meet them, fearing he would be bullied.

But the strength and cohesion of the Shan Nong people, as well as their care for outsiders, allowed Liu Jingshun to find a sense of belonging that he could not find among the Han people.

The mountain farmers divided people into several classes, but even the lowest class of free people was better than being a mountain king outside.

Liu Jingshun had no idea what he was thinking, what principles or rules he should follow, or what to do.

Now, Liu Jingshun is like a migratory bird returning home, with something he absolutely must do.

I feel uncomfortable if I don't do it, and I feel extremely anxious and want to cry when I can't go home.

(End of this chapter)