Chapter 125: Song Shi'an Returns from Freljord |
The next day, there happened to be no snow.
Song Shi'an was also preparing to depart together with Ran Jin and the others.
Before leaving, Zhu Qing and Qin Kuo, along with all the soldiers, came out of the city to see them off.
At the city gate, Song Shi'an, Zhu Qing, and Qin Kuo stood together for final instructions.
"The powerful clans have been eliminated, and the clan bandits have all been cleared out," Song Shi'an said to Qin Kuo. "After spring begins, the military farming must be fully implemented. If Shuo Commandery's military farming succeeds, it will be His Highness's confidence in the imperial court."
"Of course." Qin Kuo replied with utmost seriousness, "His Highness elevated me from a mere military chief clerk to Prefect of Shuo Commandery. No matter how arduous or difficult the military farming may be, I will definitely use these hundreds of thousands of people to cultivate a million mu of good farmland."
Although half of Shuo Commandery had been lost, South Shuo Commandery still had nearly 350,000 laborers, making it still the largest commandery in Liang Prefecture. One could say that half of their financial resources had been invested here. Once the military farming succeeded, this would become the entire north's bridgehead against Qi.
"Mm, it's up to you." Song Shi'an patted Qin Kuo's shoulder and proactively apologized: "Brother, I'm sorry. Previously it was unavoidable that I had to cross swords with you."
In truth, Qin Kuo had always harbored some resentment.
Making three hundred cavalry draw their swords to intimidate him—that was too fucking degrading.
But since Song was calling him "brother," what else was there to say...
"Next time you're going to do something, tell me first."
Qin Kuo thumped Song Shi'an's chest with emotion: "Even if I disagree in my heart, as long as it's His Highness's decision, I'll follow through."
Song Shi'an clasped his fists in salute to him.
Mentioning yesterday's countless hardships.jpg.
"General Zhu, when I return to Sheng'an this time, I don't know how long it will be before I can come back," Song Shi'an said. "But you'll be stationed in Shuofeng for at least five years."
"Mm, I might even have to guard here for half my life." Zhu Qing understood clearly.
As long as Qi's threat remained, he would find it difficult to leave.
"Do you need family members to accompany you?" Song Shi'an inquired.
For commanders guarding frontier regions like this, it was impossible to have their entire families at the border.
First, the city could easily become the commander's private property.
Second, if enemy forces attacked and there were no family concerns, they might simply surrender with their whole family.
But since he was guarding the frontier as a Third Rank general, some allowances had to be made. Therefore, some family members could be sent to settle with them, to ease the pain of separation.
"The situation still isn't stable," Zhu Qing said after considering. "Once things are a bit more settled here, if I have a request, I'll send Shi'an a letter. I'd appreciate your help then."
"Mm, no problem." After finishing with private matters, Song Shi'an lowered his voice: "Currently in Shuofeng and the surrounding areas, there are about ten thousand combat-ready soldiers. Within three years, we must expand and organize them into twenty thousand main force troops."
"That's doable, but we need proper justification," Zhu Qing felt they'd passed the stage where they could keep treating the nine generations as nothing.
Military farming was like this—produce while recruiting soldiers.
"Don't worry." Song Shi'an promised, "I'll arrange proper justification at court and send you the military order 'permitting recruitment' as soon as possible. I won't put you in a difficult position."
At the current stage, they needed to build three garrison camps on the south bank of Chishui River as the first line of defense, strengthen Wulei as the second defensive line, and rebuild Shuofeng as their main base.
The goal was twenty thousand combat-ready main forces, plus at least ten thousand auxiliary troops.
With military farming as an attractive policy, the population here could easily grow from 350,000 to 400,000 within three years.
Only with military farming could a total population of 400,000 produce twenty thousand main forces and ten thousand auxiliary troops while being self-sufficient.
Not letting the aristocratic families profit at all, avoiding any losses—only this way could the system operate independently while defending Great Yu.
Of course, if Ji Yuan led a hundred thousand or even more troops south again, the court would still need to dispatch generals with reinforcements to counter them.
South Shuo Commandery currently had only one mission—to maintain balance in the normal state of confrontation with the Qi state.
"Alright, you can rest assured." Zhu Qing nodded.
Song Shi'an prepared to leave, but glancing at those Forbidden Army soldiers positioned at the front of the troops, he reminded: "Don't mistreat the Forbidden Army brothers. Each one needs to bask in glory."
"Alright, I understand."
"However." Song Shi'an's tone became serious, "They must not become arrogant and unruly, must not bully the common people, must not disgrace their integrity. Even the brothers from Langya—if they commit capital crimes, there's no exemption from death. Execute when execution is due."
Now was not yet the time for them to become corrupt and degenerate.
Of course, Song Shi'an hoped they would never become corrupt.
Who wasn't an idealist in their youth?
The four words "execute when execution is due" made Xinyue, standing nearby, sense what made Song Shi'an different from everyone else.
"Understood."
Zhu Qing nodded again.
"I'm leaving now."
This time, Song Shi'an had truly finished saying everything.
Then he turned and mounted his horse.
The moment he looked back from horseback, beneath Shuofeng city, thousands of soldiers including Zhu Qing and Qin Kuo all knelt on one knee, clasping their fists with both hands, their expressions solemn as they saluted him.
A mighty force, loyal and devoted.
This scene made even Zhao Xiang, formerly a Left General, see the general trend.
That supreme pride of being among the meritorious nobility seemed dim and lusterless under such circumstances.
And so, Song Shi'an and Xinyue, along with Ran Jin, Zhao Xiang, Zheng Tong, some elite cavalry, and about ten clan heads from the powerful families, all mounted their horses and headed toward Sheng'an.
Today there was no snow, and everyone was cavalry, so they covered a full hundred li and finally arrived at an official relay station as night fell.
The station official personally received them and gave the best room to Song Shi'an and Xinyue.
In the room, Song Shi'an sat on the bed. San Gou fetched hot water and brought it to wash his feet.
Taking off his socks, he placed his somewhat cold feet into the water, immediately showing a comfortable and contented expression.
This was just the norm for winter marching—having cracked, chapped feet without even realizing it.
Having experienced a great battle in the north, absolutely no one would be a coward.
This was also why the northern barbarians, despite having a population base far smaller than the Central Plains dynasties, poor economy, poor productivity, and poor weapons and armor, had still threatened the Han Chinese dynasties for over a thousand years.
Because every barbarian grew up under these harsh conditions.
Every person was a vicious wolf.
Ji Yuan seemed to wage war against Great Yu frequently, but in reality, for every battle he fought against Great Yu, he had to fight the barbarians three times.
In the north, his methods of slaughtering barbarians were even more brutal.
When things got most intense and troublesome, he boiled three foreign tribal kings in a single year.
Song Shi'an soaked his feet contentedly. At this moment, Xinyue walked in and handed him a warm steamed bun.
Song Shi'an directly opened his mouth and took a bite.
"..." Still holding the bun that had turned into feeding Little Song, Xinyue showed a complicated expression. "Take it yourself."
"I'm soaking my feet, it's not convenient."
"That's true... wait, no, your hands aren't inconvenienced."
"You caught me, heh."
Song Shi'an took the bun and began to refuel.
Nearby, San Gou left the room with envy.
My laoye's life is my dream!
"At this speed, the further south we go, the less snow there'll be. After the snow stops completely, I feel we can reach Sheng'an by the 25th," Xinyue said. "You said you're going to test for zhuangyuan, and that starts on March 20th. But by the time we return, even February will be almost over. Will there be enough time?"
"It's fine, we can just make the registration deadline."
"It's not about registration—don't you need to study for the examination?" Xinyue had seen most people who faced the imperial examination study intensively in their cold chambers.
But he hadn't studied at all.
Although there were only two subjects: lyrical composition and policy essays.
But quoting classics, improving literary power—didn't all that require study?
To this, Song Shi'an said quite proudly: "Let me show you how to score zhuangyuan without studying—taking it raw."
"You should still wear clothes when you take it."
After teasing him, Xinyue prepared to leave.
Suddenly, San Gou entered and reported: "Zhao Xiang is here."
"Eh?" Song Shi'an knew he would come find him, but didn't expect it so soon, so he said, "Then let him in."
Seeing this, Xinyue was about to remind him he was still soaking his feet. But the next moment, she understood: "Then should I stay here?"
"It's fine, just stay."
Song Shi'an didn't mind at all.
"Then, laoye, I'll go let him in."
San Gou immediately went to relay the message.
After a while, Zhao Xiang entered.
The first thing he saw was Song soaking his feet.
He was about to show a displeased expression, but quickly restrained himself.
No choice... this guy now had power and influence.
"Oh, oh, General Zhao is here, please have a seat."
Song Shi'an quickly grabbed a cloth, wiped his feet, then put them in his shoes and stood up, extending his hand.
"Daren Song is too kind. After riding horses for so long, I'd rather stand for a while," Zhao Xiang smiled, quite amiably.
"Alright then." Song Shi'an didn't press further and sat back on the bed.
The two of them immediately established a superior-subordinate distinction.
In fact, right now they really were superior and subordinate.
County magistrate and common soldier.
"What brings General Zhao here?" Song Shi'an asked.
"I'm no longer a general now. Daren Song, you flatter me too much."
"This is all just temporary. Your honorable father, Marquis Xun, is still at court, and with the foundation of the Zhao clan of Qin Prefecture, what does General Zhao have to worry about?" Song Shi'an said "complimentarily."
"But that previous battle truly was too devastating a loss." Zhao Xiang's expression was heavy.
"Tsk... that's true."
Song Shi'an joined him in looking troubled, as if also thinking hard.
"Daren Song, could you ask His Highness to plead with His Majesty on my behalf?" Zhao Xiang requested.
"But this has the appearance of 'forming factions.' His Highness's position makes this difficult to say," Song Shi'an said with difficulty.
"Then Daren Song, could you perhaps put in a good word for me?" Zhao Xiang asked again.
Song Shi'an looked very conflicted, but gritted his teeth: "Then I'll think of something."
"Xiang thanks Daren Song deeply."
Zhao Xiang clasped his fists, his tone sincere.
"I'll do my best."
After speaking, Song Shi'an even apologized somewhat embarrassedly: "Previously before the army, when I had His Highness reprimand the general, it was only because I wanted to strengthen military morale. There was no other meaning. Please, General Zhao, you must understand."
As soon as these words came out, Zhao Xiang's face stiffened.
But he still forced out a polite smile and replied: "Daren Song needn't worry about it. Everything was for defending the city, everything was for Great Yu."
"I'm so grateful the general thinks this way."
"Mm, then Xiang will take his leave first."
Zhao Xiang turned to leave.
With his back to Song Shi'an, he gritted his teeth hard, his face dark with anger.
After he left, Xinyue looked at Song Shi'an, whose expression had also turned serious, and asked: "Why did you deliberately humiliate him like that?"
"We fought desperately for a victorious battle to earn this wealth and status—does he think he can just casually ride our coattails with a few words? If he wants to join, he needs to be a dog."
Regarding this useless Zhao clan member, Song Shi'an showed complete disdain: "If he won't be a dog, then fuck off."