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Chapter 1140: The Chongqing Problem

Chongqing was a truly unique city, nestled within the sharp bend where the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers converged. Unlike the sprawling, square cities of the plains, its shape was dictated by the two waterways, forming an oddly irregular rhombus.

Zhu Yujian's gaze swept over the twin rivers and the peculiar cityscape, and he remarked thoughtfully, "The two rivers form natural moats, immense and far too wide for any human effort to fill. Almost all the city gates face the water, making this city exceptionally easy to defend and difficult to attack. Even a small garrison could hold it against an overwhelming force. It's strange, for such an excellent city, why has it not been chosen as a capital in recent centuries?"

Li Daoxuan smiled at him. "To become a capital, good geography alone isn't enough. A capital must be a political and economic hub. Chongqing, unfortunately, lacks economic strength."

Zhu Yujian understood with a start. "Right!" While Chongqing's terrain was excellent, its mountainous surroundings offered no conditions for large-scale rice cultivation. In an era where agriculture reigned supreme, this was a fatal flaw.

He continued to inquire, "Heavenly Lord, for such a formidable city, how was it conquered by the Yi chieftain She Chongming a few years ago? My humble mind cannot grasp it. Give me three thousand men to garrison it, and I could repel a hundred thousand enemy troops."

Li Daoxuan sighed softly. "For a stronghold like this to fall, it's never breached from the outside, but from within."

Zhu Yujian was greatly surprised. "From within?"

Li Daoxuan pointed to the impoverished laborers toiling on the docks, then to his own chest...

It dawned on Zhu Yujian. "The people's hearts!"

Chongqing had always been poor, its common folk struggling to survive. Under such conditions, when external enemies attacked, the impoverished populace and the ruling authorities could not unite. With few official troops, the city relied entirely on its local militia for defense. If even the militia were disunited with their rulers, then the city would naturally fall easily.

Zhu Yujian frowned, deep in troubled thought. "This problem, it seems, isn't unique to Chongqing, but afflicts the entire realm. Heavenly Lord, with my mortal wisdom, I truly do not know how to resolve it. I beg you, Heavenly Lord, teach me."

Li Daoxuan spread his hands and said, "It's simple to say, really: 'Develop the economy and allow the common people to prosper.' But this simple statement, to put it into practice, is far from easy."

Zhu Yujian understood. No wonder the Heavenly Lord, wherever he goes, first considers how to provide work for the local people, how to give them opportunities to earn wages. So this was the most fundamental solution to societal problems.

As the two discussed matters of state...

On the other side, Zhu Cunji clambered onto the city gate of Chaotianmen, gazing out at the two rivers, chuckling gleefully. "This place is really something! The houses are all built into the hills, stacked layer upon layer, like a maze. So fun, absolutely delightful! Hahaha, Zhu Yujian, let's go explore those old houses, it feels like it would be great fun!" He alone was here purely as a tourist, completely oblivious to matters of state.

Zhu Yujian couldn't help but sigh. "Heavenly Lord, please forgive our family's embarrassment; we have such an incorrigible one."

Li Daoxuan smiled. "This is also quite good, you know. If every prince in your venerable Zhu family were fervent about affairs of state, wouldn't the country face a succession crisis every now and then? That would be no good for the common folk."

Zhu Yujian: "..."

Wang Xingjian, the Prefect of Chongqing, leaned in from the side again. "Mr. Li, regarding the rebel forces in Jiangbei we were just discussing..."

Li Daoxuan replied, "Don't worry. Jiangbei City, you said? My people will be stationed there immediately."

He turned and glanced at Cheng Xu, who immediately understood. "Your subordinate will go check on Jiangbei City at once."

Jiangbei District, Longtou Mountain, Longtou Temple.

Longtou Mountain was a small peak, barely a hundred meters high, and at its summit stood Longtou Temple, where an old monk and two young acolytes passed their days chanting scriptures. But now, the old monk and the young acolytes had returned to the netherworld, their bodies lying lifeless. This small temple was crammed with roving bandits from Shaanxi.

The general leading them was named Er Zhi Hu. He sat on a prayer mat before a Buddha statue, surrounded by a circle of his junior commanders.

"Our provisions are running low," Er Zhi Hu declared, his face grim. "As things stand, we must capture a proper city to seize enough grain for our ten thousand men."

One junior commander ventured, "Brother Hu, are we truly going to attack Chongqing? That city is formidable. All its gates face the river. We'd have to cross the river first, then assault the city. The difficulty..."

Er Zhi Hu cut him off. "Indeed, a direct assault on the main city is too difficult. That's why we'll first take Jiangbei City. Jiangbei City stands isolated from the main urban area. Its northern gate faces land, and the local militia within aren't particularly strong. It looks easy to take. Once we've secured Jiangbei, we can commandeer civilian boats there, organize a fleet, cross the river, and attack the main city."

The junior commanders muttered, "Even so, it will be very difficult."

Er Zhi Hu smirked. "There are many poor people in Chongqing City. I've already sent men to contact soldiers in the Jiangbei City militia. When we attack, the militia will help us open the gates, and we'll take Jiangbei City in one swift blow. Then we can cross the river and fight. I've also sent men to contact the laborers at Chaotianmen docks; those poor souls are willing to join us."

The junior commanders were overjoyed. "As expected of Brother Hu, your strategies are peerless!"

Just as they were speaking, a young bandit burst in, frantically calling out to Er Zhi Hu, "Brother Hu, something terrible has happened!"

"What is it? Why so agitated?" Er Zhi Hu demanded.

The young bandit stammered, "A new militia suddenly arrived in Chongqing City, and they seem formidable. They've already entered Jiangbei City. If we want to attack Jiangbei, we'll likely have to fight this militia."

Er Zhi Hu scoffed. "Another new militia? What's there to fear? As long as our insider is still in place, there's nothing to worry about."

The insider Er Zhi Hu had contacted was named Jiang Daliang.

Jiang Daliang was a native-born local of Jiangbei City, Chongqing, but he held no affection for the city. His family was desperately poor; he had never eaten his fill since childhood and had been begging for food since he was a few years old. By the time he was ten or so, he was working as a laborer on the docks, hauling heavy loads daily for mere coppers, barely enough to eat a proper meal. Under such circumstances, expecting him to love this city was indeed an unreasonable demand.

Days earlier, the notorious local foreman, a gentry member who notoriously exploited dockworkers, had raised a militia to defend against the rebels, and Jiang Daliang had been conscripted into it. But the foreman had no idea that Er Zhi Hu had already sent men to contact Jiang Daliang by the river, agreeing that when Er Zhi Hu attacked, Jiang Daliang would secretly open the city gates and let the rebels in.