Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

As refugees flooded in like a tide, the officials of the Naturalization Office worked day and night to guide, divert, and resettle this influx of people in an orderly manner.

However, simply turning displaced people into farmers or artisans is far from enough.

The border of Hanyuan is long and surrounded by powerful enemies. Relying solely on a standing army to defend it would not only put enormous pressure on military spending, but would also make it difficult to cover all areas.

How to perfectly combine defense with production, and integrate "military resources" with "food resources," has always been the core issue that Xiao Chen has been thinking about.

"Military settlements" was his answer.

The previous "Panshitun" had already proven its great value. Now, with population growth and territorial expansion, Xiao Chen decided to expand the military settlements on a large scale and build them into the strategic cornerstone of Hanyuan's "strong army and sufficient food, and solid border defense".

On this day, Xiao Chen summoned the officers from the Military Affairs Department, Household Affairs Department, Works Department, and the Military Academy to hold a "Military Farm Expansion Conference" in the main hall of the Prince's Mansion.

"Gentlemen," Xiao Chen said, pointing to the huge northern border sand table and tracing several key points along the border, "I intend to establish three additional military garrisons at these three locations—Wolf Mountain Pass, Eagle Beak Cliff, and Wild Fox Ridge."

The generals looked in the direction of the sound and saw that all three places were located in strategic border areas with dangerous terrain and nearby river valleys or grasslands, suitable for both farming and animal husbandry.

"Your Highness is wise!"

Wang Dashan spoke first, "Langshan Pass controls the main route for the Northern Yan to move south, Eagle Beak Cliff guards the throat for the eastward advance of the grasslands, and Wild Fox Ridge is the only way to the Western Regions. If garrisons are built in these three places, our Hanyuan defense line can be pushed outward by a hundred miles, and they can support each other."

Indeed.

Xiao Chen nodded, "However, my intentions go beyond simply guarding the territory."

He picked up three small red flags and, with a "snap, snap, snap" sound, stuck them in three different spots.

"Each of these three guards has a fixed number of 3,000 soldiers and 1,500 households. Of these, 1,000 are combat soldiers, specializing in garrison duty and training; the remaining 2,000 are garrison soldiers, specializing in farming and animal husbandry."

"Each garrison was granted 50,000 mu of farmland and 30,000 mu of grassland. The government also provided loans for oxen, farming tools, and seeds."

"Within three years, taxes will be waived; after three years, the annual tax payment shall be 30,000 shi of grain, 50,000 bundles of fodder, 500 horses, and 1,000 cattle."

"The fortresses, beacon towers, and sentry posts of the garrison were planned and constructed by the Construction Bureau, using cement and stone mud to build the fortifications, making them indestructible."

"The garrison was equipped with a school, a clinic, and a workshop, forming a self-contained system."

"Gentlemen, what do you think?"

"Your Highness is truly insightful!"

Han Lie clapped his hands in admiration, "This is a 'killing three birds with one stone' strategy!"

"The first is 'solid border'."

Han Lie said, "Immigrants will be stationed along the border, cultivating the land while defending it, turning barren land into prosperous areas and transforming dotted-line defense into real control."

"The second is 'sufficient food'."

Han Lie continued, "If the Three Guards are established, they can produce more than 100,000 shi of grain annually, enough to feed an army of 10,000 and greatly reduce the pressure on grain transport in the rear."

"Thirdly, 'strengthen the army'."

Han Lie concluded, "Soldiers can farm during the agricultural season, train during peacetime, and serve as soldiers during wartime. This not only saves on military expenditures and strengthens their physique, but also boosts morale and makes them as powerful as a regular army in defending their homeland."

"Old Han is absolutely right."

Xiao Chen nodded, "However, I still have another intention."

His gaze swept over the generals. "These three guards are not only military settlements, but also 'seeds'."

"Seeds?" The generals were puzzled.

"Yes."

Xiao Chen said, "I want to make these three guards the 'bridgehead' for Han Yuan's expansion outwards."

"Today we are at Wolf Mountain Pass, Eagle Beak Cliff, and Wild Fox Ridge; tomorrow we will be at an even more distant place."

Xiao Chen drew an arc outward on the sand table with his finger. "We will use military settlements to extend the territory of Hanyuan and the civilization of China outward, step by step, until the ends of the earth and the corners of the sea."

Upon hearing this, all the generals were filled with fervor and shouted in unison, "We are willing to follow Your Highness to expand our territory and establish an unshakeable foundation for all ages!"

Following the meeting, the three armies set off simultaneously.

The first route, led by Wang Dashan, consisted of 3,000 engineers and 5,000 refugees, heading towards Langshan Pass.

The terrain here is rugged and easy to defend, and mountain springs converge to form streams that can be used for irrigation.

The second force, led by Zhang Meng with two thousand cavalry and three thousand refugees, headed straight for Eagle's Beak Cliff.

This area is where grasslands and hills meet, with abundant water and grass, making it suitable for both animal husbandry and agriculture.

The third route, led by Shi Jian, consisted of 2,000 infantrymen and 4,000 refugees, who entered Yehuling.

This place is on the edge of the Gobi Desert, but there is an underground river, which can be used for irrigation.

The simultaneous commencement of construction in three locations created a spectacular scene.

The engineers first used gunpowder to blast and level the foundation, and then used "cement" and "stone mud" to pour the foundation and walls.

The city wall was three zhang high and one and a half zhang thick, and was equipped with watchtowers, arrow towers, and barbicans. Construction was extremely fast, and it could be completed in one month.

At the same time, a "Military Garrison Avenue" was built to connect the rear, which was two zhang wide and paved with gravel, allowing four horses to travel side by side.

Under the protection of the army, the refugees cut down shrubs, burned weeds, leveled the land, and dug irrigation ditches.

The new plowshares and hoes produced by "Black Mountain Iron City" have greatly improved efficiency.

The city walls were taking shape, and construction of the garrison was underway simultaneously.

The neatly constructed barracks and residences were all brick and wood structures, warm in winter and cool in summer, sturdy and durable.

They built huge granaries, armories, and fodder yards to store supplies.

Every morning, the soldiers and garrison troops would do drills together, practicing formations, martial arts, and archery.

In the afternoon, soldiers stationed there would cultivate the land, while other soldiers would patrol or conduct tactical drills.

In the evening, everyone studied literacy and military regulations.

During spring planting, the entire army is mobilized to rush to sow seeds. During summer weeding, they weed and fertilize. During autumn harvest, everyone rushes to harvest and bring every grain into the granary.

"One hand holds a hoe, the other a spear."

This is a true reflection of the military garrison and outpost system.

The soldiers were both brave warriors who defended their country and hardworking farmers.

They were defending their own fields and homes, which is why their fighting spirit was exceptionally strong.

The three newly built garrisons, thanks to their superior natural conditions and advanced farming techniques, achieved a bumper harvest in the same year.

Langshanwei reclaimed 30,000 mu of wasteland, planted wheat and millet, and harvested 40,000 shi of grain. Not only was it self-sufficient, but it also handed over 10,000 shi to the government granary.

Yingzuiwei reclaimed 20,000 mu of wasteland, planted pasture and beans, harvested 100,000 bundles of hay, and raised 1,000 warhorses and 3,000 cattle and sheep.

Wild Fox Guard reclaimed 15,000 mu of wasteland, planted drought-resistant crops, harvested 20,000 shi of grain, and dug 100 wells, solving the drinking water problem.

"Your Highness," Wang Dashan reported excitedly, "the three garrisons have been established without consuming a single grain of food from the rear; on the contrary, they have handed over provisions. Moreover, the morale of the garrison soldiers is high, and their combat strength has increased rather than decreased."

"good."

Xiao Chen nodded, "This is a 'model.' Order all armies to follow suit."

The three newly built garrisons, like three nails, were firmly driven into the border of the Cold Abyss, forming a solid barrier.

Langshan Guard controlled the vital passage for Northern Yan to advance south. The Northern Yan army made several probing harassments, but each time the Langshan Guard repelled them, beheading hundreds of them. Northern Yan dared not make any further rash moves.

Eagle Beak Guards ventured deep into the grasslands, covering hundreds of miles, to monitor the movements of various tribes and form a pincer movement with the Gray Wolf tribe to jointly defend against external threats.

Wild Fox Ridge guards the trade route to the Western Regions, protects caravans, and has wiped out several bandit groups, clearing the trade route.

The establishment of military garrisons and outposts was not only a military and economic expansion, but also a dissemination of culture.

The garrison had a "primary school" that taught Chinese characters, arithmetic, and the "village covenant and folk rules". Children of refugees and children of non-Han people who had submitted to the Hu people could enroll.

The garrison implemented a "Sinicization" policy, encouraging intermarriage between Han and non-Han peoples and promoting Han clothing, customs, and etiquette.

The prosperity and wealth of the military garrisons attracted surrounding tribes and refugees to come and join them. Some small grassland tribes even migrated inland as a whole, requesting to be incorporated into the military settlements.

"Your Highness," Han Lie said, "these three guards have become a window for Han Yuan to demonstrate its 'benevolent way' to the outside world. Many Hu people have seen that our guards are strong and well-equipped, and that we treat people kindly. They all yearn for them and are willing to serve Your Highness."

This is "soft power".

Xiao Chen said, "Swords can conquer the body, but civilization can conquer the mind. We must use military settlements to sow the seeds of Chinese civilization in more distant places."

The expansion of military settlements not only provided Hanyuan with solid border defense and ample provisions, but also laid the strategic foundation for Hanyuan's "step-by-step, steady, and civilized expansion."

These three garrisons, like three sparks, will ignite more hope and illuminate a wider territory in the years to come.