I'll steal Gao Qiu's life and lead the Song Dynasty to prosperity.

Chapter 58 Tong Guan (Third update, 1.1 words)

Zhao Mingcheng stood alone in the courtyard, remaining motionless for a long time.

Right now, what's truly urgent isn't what Wang Shan should do, nor the soldiers' complaints, but the grain reserves that are only enough for half a month and are being consumed rapidly.

"My lord, it's getting cold. Let's go inside," Liu Zhongwu said in a low voice, having appeared beside him unnoticed.

Zhao Mingcheng nodded, turned, and went inside. The charcoal brazier was almost empty, and a chill was creeping into the room.

Xia Zheng stood in the corner with his hands hanging down, his face still showing signs of shock.

Zhao Mingcheng walked to the table and, by the dim light of the oil lamp, spread out a rough map of the Hehuang region.

His finger traced across Shanzhou City, heading towards the vaguely marked points representing the Tubo tribes in the surrounding area.

"Wang Shan planned to slaughter the Black Tent tribe, ostensibly for revenge, but in reality for food," Zhao Mingcheng said calmly. "I stopped him today, so we need to find a way to fill this food gap."

Liu Zhongwu frowned.

"My lord, what I brought is mainly cloth, salt, tea, and silver, etc. There isn't much grain, the supply from the rear is stalled, and there's also the matter with General Sun—"

Liu Zhongwu clearly had no hope for the military commissioner Sun Lu.

"Therefore, the way out for food is still through the tribes of the Tibetans." Zhao Mingcheng pointed to the map with his finger.

"The Black Tent tribe is currently under suspicion and cannot be touched for the time being. But what about the other tribes? Especially those smaller tribes that did not directly participate in the attack and whose situation may be more difficult? They may have stored up food, but they have been frightened by King Zam's tyranny and have hidden it, or they may be secretly trading with Xisheluosa."

Upon hearing this, Xia Zheng raised his head, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes, but it quickly dimmed again.

"My lord, during the day—you heard it yourself, they don't trust us at all, they fear us like tigers and wolves, and as for buying grain—I'm afraid no one will respond."

"That's because we had no credibility before, and only the threat of war." Zhao Mingcheng's gaze was calm.

"Reputation needs to be rebuilt. What Wang Shan built with the knife was fear. Rebuilding reputation requires real benefits."

General Liu, please count out the cloth, salt, tea, and some silver we brought and divide them into several portions.

Tomorrow, we will not make a big fuss. We will select a few small tribes that you think are most likely to communicate with and that need these supplies the most. With the county magistrate leading the way, we will take the goods and go to the edge of their pastures ourselves. We will not enter the city or their tents, but will set up a temporary market in the wild.

We displayed our goods, clearly priced, and used them to exchange for their grain, livestock, and even wool.

Leather goods. The transaction will be conducted on-site, with payment made immediately. We will not bring many soldiers, only necessary guards, to demonstrate that we will not commit any offense.

Then, Zhao Mingcheng looked at Xia Zheng.

"Lord, this time you don't need to persuade the barbarians. Just introduce me, prove my identity, and tell them that this is a fair transaction presided over by the imperial envoy, with no fraud and no subsequent extortion."

For the first time, we didn't ask for much. Even if we only got ten bushels of grain and a sheep, it would still be a success.

Once the first time, there will be a second. As the news spreads, tribes driven by necessity or those with more courage will inevitably try it.

Liu Zhongwu pondered for a moment and said, "This method—may be worth a try. However, the risks are considerable. We must guard against tribes with ulterior motives, or Xisheluosa sending people to cause trouble."

"Therefore, General Liu needs to carefully select his guards, enough to protect himself and deter troublemakers, but not so many as to be intimidating. The location and timing must also be carefully considered," Zhao Mingcheng said. "This is the fastest and most likely way to break the deadlock at present."

Just as Zhao Mingcheng was about to discuss the details further with Liu Zhongwu and Xia Zheng, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard gate.

A guard hurriedly entered to report.

"My lord, there is a caravan outside requesting an audience. The leader claims to be Tong Guan, a court attendant from the Inner Palace and a charioteer of Xihe Road."

Tong Guan?

Zhao Mingcheng's gaze sharpened.

He knew that name all too well.

This is one of the six traitors in history who commanded the Western Army, wielded immense power, and was known as the "Eunuch Prime Minister." He was a eunuch commander in the late Northern Song Dynasty.

At this time, Tong Guan was merely a "Xihe Road Horse-Riding Attendant," responsible for monitoring and communication on the frontier.

It was far from being established.

"How many people have come? What is their purpose?" Zhao Mingcheng asked.

"The convoy consisted of about twenty large carts and more than fifty guards. Tong Gongfeng said that they were escorting grain and fodder, and had come to pay their respects upon hearing that the Governor was here."

Food and provisions? Zhao Mingcheng's heart skipped a beat, and he exchanged a glance with Liu Zhongwu.

"Please invite them in. The convoy can first be placed in the open space in the courtyard."

Before long, the group entered the courtyard.

The leader was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with slightly dark skin, a beard, but very little, sparse eyebrows, a tall and strong build, and exceptionally bright eyes.

The man was dressed in a dark blue, narrow-sleeved eunuch's robe. He walked briskly, and although he was in a dusty border region, his clothes were impeccably groomed.

This is Tong Guan.

Judging from his appearance alone, it's almost impossible to tell that Tong Guan was a eunuch.

"Tong Guan, the official in charge of the Xihe Road and the Palace Attendants, pays respects to Envoy Zhao." Tong Guan stopped at the foot of the steps, bowed, and spoke in a clear and efficient manner.

"No need for such formalities, young servant. You've come a long way and must be tired." Zhao Mingcheng raised his hand to help him up from the steps, his gaze sweeping over the courtyard behind him.

Twenty large carts were lined up in a row, covered with burlap sacks, weighed down with heavy loads, clearly the type of grain carts.

"The child servant came here to offer sacrifices, it is—"

Tong Guan straightened up, a perfectly respectful smile on his face.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, I am acting on the orders of the Commander-in-Chief to deliver documents and monitor the various armies."

I recently heard in Qin Prefecture that Shanzhou City is facing a shortage of food and supplies, and transportation is difficult. I am thinking, with Commander Wang fighting a bloody battle at the front, how can the soldiers defend the land on empty stomachs?

So he boldly used the official seal he was granted to procure the five thousand shi of miscellaneous grains and one thousand shi of beans from the granaries and military supply depots in various prefectures and counties along the Qin-Feng Road, and urged the porters at the post stations along the way to hurry over the time. He managed to get the five thousand shi of miscellaneous grains and one thousand shi of beans and sent them over the fast time to relieve the urgent need.

These provisions should have been delivered directly to Commander Wang, but having heard of Lord Zhao's pacification efforts here, and having long admired you, I have come to pay my respects. The handover will be handled according to your arrangements.

Five thousand shi of miscellaneous grains and one thousand shi of beans are not a very large amount, but for Qingtang at this time, they are undoubtedly a timely help, which can at least postpone the end of the food supply by more than half a month!

Moreover, he specifically mentioned that the goods were "given" to Shanzhou, but the handover was "as arranged by the adults," which was a very subtle gesture.

Zhao Mingcheng gave Tong Guan a deep look.

Tong Guan was tactful in speech, decisive in action, and adept at assessing situations.

His use of phrases like "pieced together" and "delivered at breakneck speed" sounded like a casual remark.

But Zhao Mingcheng knew that under the circumstances of incompetent transport commissioner Li De, discord between military commissioner Sun Lu and Wang Shan, and shirking responsibility in the rear.

It was no easy task to circumvent all obstacles, quickly gather and transport this batch of grain, and it was certainly not something that could be accomplished by a routine "passenger transport" process.

Tong Guan's energy and skill were not to be underestimated from the very first appearance.

"Commander Tong's concern for the front lines and his effective measures are a blessing to the soldiers," Zhao Mingcheng praised, stepping aside to let him in. "Commander, you must be tired from your journey. It's too cold outside. Please come inside and we can talk in detail."

"Please go first, sir." Tong Guan lowered his posture even further.

Upon entering the house, guests and hosts took their seats.

Liu Zhongwu and Xia Zheng stood behind Zhao Mingcheng, while Tong Guan only brought a trusted eunuch by his side.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries and a few cups of coarse tea, Tong Guan dismissed his entourage. Zhao Mingcheng understood and instructed Liu Zhongwu and Xia Zheng to leave temporarily.

Only the two of them remained inside.

Tong Guan put down his teacup, his formulaic smile fading slightly. He looked at Zhao Mingcheng with a sincere gaze and said in a low voice.

"Lord Zhao, there are no outsiders here, so I'll speak from the heart. This batch of grain and fodder was hard-won, but it's only a drop in the ocean. The root of Shanzhou's predicament lies not at the front lines, but in the rear, in the people."

"I would like to hear the details," Zhao Mingcheng said.

"Transport Commissioner Li, Lord Li," Tong Guan said with a barely perceptible sneer, "this man's talents—he may be able to maintain the status quo, but when it comes to transporting goods in the Hehuang region during wartime, he is truly incapable. His coordination is ineffective, his supervision is weak, and the prefectures and counties below him are merely going through the motions."

Furthermore, the military commissioner, Minister Sun, focused primarily on military deployment and controlling the various generals, neglecting, or rather—being too preoccupied with—logistics and provisions. Adding to this, Minister Sun and Commander Wang—well, there was some old grudge—and the distribution of provisions was inevitably somewhat hampered. With all these factors combined, Shanzhou was like water without a source; how could it not dry up?

In just a few words, Tong Guan clearly pointed out the paralysis of the rear transportation system and the conflicts among high-ranking generals, which completely matched Zhao Mingcheng and Liu Zhongwu's previous judgments, and were even more specific.

This shows that Tong Guan was fully aware of the operational flaws and internal strife within Xihe Road over the years.

"Master Tong is insightful," Zhao Mingcheng sighed. "But now that we know the crux of the problem, is there any way to alleviate it? We can't just watch the soldiers at the front go hungry."

Tong Guan leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice even further.

"Sir, the main road is blocked, perhaps we can take a shortcut—the underground channel."

Zhao Mingcheng's gaze sharpened: "An underground drain?"

"Exactly." Tong Guan's eyes gleamed. "Our son, who is a horse-riding official, travels to the border regions year-round and has dealings with all sorts of people."

Some wealthy merchants in the border regions are bold and ruthless, but they also have extensive connections and can conduct business between Han and non-Han peoples, both through official and private channels.

There are also some minor Tibetan leaders and chieftains who don't completely listen to Xisheluosa. They have grain and livestock, but they lack tea, salt, cloth, and especially—the court's approval. We happen to have a few such connections in our hands.

They would pass on messages or do favors occasionally, so they gave our family a little face.

If Your Excellency is trustworthy, perhaps we can begin by procuring emergency grain and livestock for Shanzhou through these "hidden channels" in small batches and multiple shipments. While this won't solve the fundamental problem, it should provide temporary support, allowing us to wait for the court to stabilize the rear or for Your Excellency's border stabilization policies to take effect.

These wealthy merchants and minor leaders were essentially operating in a gray area.

If Tong Guan, an insider, could act as a go-between, and there were real goods to entice them, the chances of success would be extremely high.

Zhao Mingcheng was shocked, but he remained expressionless.

"Since you have been so helpful to me today, is there anything I can do for you?"

Upon hearing this, Tong Guan suddenly rose from his seat and bowed solemnly to Zhao Mingcheng.

Zhao Mingcheng was slightly taken aback.

"What is the meaning of making offerings to this?"

Tong Guan straightened up, his face devoid of any flattery or scheming, displaying only a rare solemnity and frankness.

"Lord Zhao, I am a eunuch. My body is incomplete, and I have always been looked down upon by scholars and officials."

However, we are also human beings, and we also have our own unwillingness. Having traveled to and from this frontier for many years, we have seen many loyal ministers and generals die in battle, and we have also become accustomed to mediocre officials and corrupt bureaucrats ruining the country.

Our family has no other skills, only a little bit of running around, the ability to read people's expressions, and some shady connections we've accumulated over the years.

Tong Guan stared intently at Zhao Mingcheng.

"I heard about your name from my colleagues in the Inner Palace when I was in Bianjing."

The Emperor summoned the Minister three times, entrusting him with the important task of governing the Hehuang region. This time, when the Minister arrived in Qinghai, he was not afraid of Wang Shan's arrogance and forcibly stopped the indiscriminate killing, intending to implement a policy of appeasement and stabilization of the border.

"We've heard all this, sir. Unlike those officials who only engage in empty talk and slander, or who are only concerned with vying for power and profit, you are someone who genuinely wants to get things done and has the ability to do so."

Tong Guan paused, his voice tinged with excitement.

"I am a rootless person, drifting aimlessly in this world like duckweed. All I seek is a future, and—a posthumous reputation. I do not wish to die in the palace, or spend my remaining years in this perpetually held post."

I have high hopes for you, sir. I believe in what you are going to do. If you can stabilize the Hehuang region, it will be a tremendous achievement, a contribution to the country and the people that will last for generations.

"I am willing to do everything in my power, using these unsavory pieces of information, to lend you a helping hand, sir. I ask for no immediate reward, only that when you achieve success one day, you will remember my humble contribution, so that I too may—hover on your coattails, bask in your glory, and live a life without regret."

These words, spoken sincerely and frankly, revealed his speculative nature and his ambition to change his fate.

Zhao Mingcheng listened quietly, countless thoughts racing through his mind in an instant.

Tong Guan was one of the most famous powerful eunuchs in the Song Dynasty. Historically, he was greedy, power-hungry, and misled the country, but he was also capable, knowledgeable in military affairs, good at scheming, and quick-witted.

This person is an extremely sharp double-edged sword; if used well, he can be an asset; if used poorly, he can harm himself.

Currently, Shanzhou City is hampered by arrogant generals within its borders, and by suspicious and fearful barbarian tribes outside. Its food supplies are running low, and the city is facing a crisis on all sides.

What Tong Guan delivered was not only emergency supplies and "secret channels," but also a network that penetrated deep into the border regions and possessed special intelligence and resources.

Refusing might mean missing a golden opportunity to break the deadlock; accepting means accepting the challenge of managing this person in the future.

After a moment of silence, Zhao Mingcheng stood up, walked to Tong Guan, extended his hand to help him up, and looked at him calmly. "I understand your willingness to serve, and I also see your abilities. Since you are willing to work together to secure the Hehuang region, how could I refuse you? However—"

Zhao Mingcheng's tone turned serious as he spoke, enunciating each word clearly.

Cooperation is valued for its sincerity, but it also needs to be done within limits. Hidden channels can be used, but they should not be relied upon as a regular practice, much less used to harm the country and its people.

Intelligence can be used, but one must discern its truth and not be blinded by personal gain. Our actions must be guided by the laws of the court, the stability of the border, and the livelihood of the people. If we cross this line, do not blame me for being ruthless. Do you understand?

This is the bottom line and principle for cooperation set by Zhao Mingcheng.

A glint of light flashed in Tong Guan's eyes. He bowed again and said solemnly.

"Your Majesty's instructions are etched in my mind. I will certainly act with utmost care and follow Your Majesty's lead without question, daring not to err and betray Your Majesty's trust!"

"In that case, this batch of grain will be handed over to General Liu Zhongwu with the assistance of the Imperial Envoy, and stored in the warehouses designated by our army, to be managed separately from Wang Shan's." Zhao Mingcheng began to make arrangements. "It is getting late today, so Imperial Envoy Tong can rest here for now. We will discuss the purchase of grain again tomorrow."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Lord Zhao."

Tong Guan cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and readily agreed.