Chapter 555: Water Margin

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Xu Yanbing had not yet returned, but they still had to eat. Zhou Junchen, who had miraculously survived the disaster, dared not display his wealth with lavish meat dishes. Instead, he instructed the imperial kitchen to prepare a vegetarian banquet. Queen Yu Rourou accompanied him, responsible for holding the bottle and pouring rice wine. Zhou Junchen had wisely shed his dragon robe and changed into the brocade clothes of a wealthy commoner. Yu Rourou, naturally, followed suit. Although she was without her phoenix coronet and formal robes, she still put some effort into her appearance, wearing a "Yellow Maiden" crown made of blue-red velvet brocade, adorned with pearls and jade, standing a foot high like a swan's neck. It accentuated her slender, fair neck, making it even more alluring, and imbued her with the refined elegance of a Jiangnan lady. Huang Man'er, after wolfing down his food, led a powerful general from Qingcang City to arrange lodging for the westbound monks. Zhou Junchen cautiously glanced at the Northern Liang King, who was eating slowly and deliberately. He decided to accompany the King by eating, drinking, and smiling. As for accompanying him to bed, as a man, he was willing but powerless; that was the Queen of Qingcang City's specialty.

Xu Fengnian ignored Yu Rourou's flirtatious glances and asked Zhou Junchen to describe the situations of the two vassal kings in Fengxiang and Linyao. Northern Liang's spies were not omniscient and couldn't be privy to every detail. As one of the four leaders in the refugee territory, the information Zhou Junchen provided had a high degree of credibility. Fengxiang King Ma Liuke was once an unknown goldsmith from Yangzhou. His rise to power was somewhat similar to Zhou Junchen's: he first served other powerful factions, acting as an advisor. Later, his former master died in an ambush, and the nominal lord of Fengxiang was young and ignorant. Ma Liuke then "held the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords," gradually accumulating a solid family fortune. However, Zhou Junchen added that this man had some connection with the Landa Mountain in the Western Regions and had been harboring hundreds of highly skilled and brave monk soldiers since last year. Northern Liang's intelligence reported that Linyao King Cai Anshan, from a Northern Liang aristocratic family, was harsh and ungenerous, a person who could share hardship but not prosperity. Yet, according to Zhou Junchen, he was described as a rather heroic old man, capable of convincing even a genuine scoundrel like Zhou Junchen. Xu Fengnian figured he must have some real ability. As for the gang operating between Linyao and Fengxiang, they were horse bandits who lived by plunder, quick to turn on anyone, and skilled at infighting. For years, the three military towns had suffered greatly from them. Moreover, these bandits often brazenly crossed the border into Beiliang's Southern Dynasty to raid for resources. Once, they even alerted Liu Gui, one of Beiliang's great generals, who not only personally led troops to suppress them but also specifically instructed a fat man named Dong to keep an eye on the area. Only after that did the horse bandit problem along the border of Gusei Prefecture significantly decrease. This lawless gang was based in Stone Carving Mountain. Zhou Junchen said their leader was a stunningly beautiful young woman. He then revealed a secret, warning Xu Fengnian not to be fooled by the horse bandits' apparent antagonism towards Beiliang. He and Cai Anshan privately believed it was a ruse, a self-inflicted injury scheme. In reality, they were spies planted by Beiliang in the refugee territory. Otherwise, how would they acquire so many well-trained horses?

Xu Fengnian carefully sifted through Zhou Junchen's words, finding no significant flaws. He then asked, "The three old military towns, plus that bandit group, total 170,000 to 180,000 'sinners.' Roughly half of them are young and strong, capable of fighting on horseback or farming when dismounted. They are a military resource coveted by both Northern Liang and Beiliang. I don't expect to gain control of them all at once. In your opinion, of the twenty-odd people holding power in Fengxiang, Linyao, and Stone Carving Mountain, how many would be willing to be appeased and surrender?"

Zhou Junchen hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "I'll risk my life to tell you the truth. Given the hatred between the refugees and Northern Liang, unless they're truly starving to death, they'd rather go hungrier than accept leftovers from Northern Liang's charity. Take my Qingcang City, for example. It's obvious that Shen Congwu and his 1,600 men have taken this opportunity to either openly establish their own stronghold or simply flee to join Cai Anshan in Linyao City. They wouldn't return to Qingcang City even if their lives depended on it. No matter what high office you bestow upon him, it's useless. When that fellow was six, he personally witnessed all the elders of his clan beheaded one by one before being driven to this desolate refugee land. He dreams of returning to Northern Liang to exact revenge. In Fengxiang and Linyao, there are also many strong young men like him who hold military power and harbor deep hatred for Northern Liang. Firstly, I am not from those Northern Liang aristocratic families that were overthrown, so I hold no grudge against Northern Liang. Secondly, I sincerely admire Your Highness's abilities, which is why I am willing to work tirelessly for Northern Liang, even to the point of death..."

Xu Fengnian put down his chopsticks and said calmly, "If you were in my position, how would you gather these refugees? No matter how difficult it is, it must be done, correct? If you can articulate a viable plan, I will credit you with a great achievement, and Qingcang will remain yours."

Zhou Junchen was about to feign a trembling, apprehensive demeanor when Yu Rourou, holding the bottle, coughed softly. Zhou Junchen quickly regained his composure. He had already grasped the young vassal king's habit when discussing serious matters: be direct and unambiguous; bluntness was better than anything else. Zhou Junchen took a fortifying sip of wine before speaking, "We refugees are like rootless, lonely ghosts, the kind of pitiful souls who don't even know where to visit their ancestors' graves during Qingming Festival. We believe that 'if this place doesn't keep me, another will.' Long-term deals aren't popular here; nobody has the patience for playing the long game. What matters is what you can pull out of your pocket right now. Give us silver, give us food, and we'll be yours from head to toe. Keep us supplied with good wine and meat every day, and we'll fight to the death for you. Of course, Northern Liang is an 'outsider' exception. We've truly suffered too much over the years. Your Highness's rangers come here to kill people every few days. We fear and hate them intensely; both emotions are deeply ingrained in us. So, this pot of porridge—the refugees—needs to be handled slowly, or you'll burn your mouth if you rush. I heard Your Highness led over a thousand monks into the refugee territory. This is a brilliant move that I couldn't have conceived, truly remarkable! The entire refugee territory has very few classic texts, so Confucianism is a joke here. As for Taoist talk of 'one man achieving enlightenment leading to ascension for his family and pets,' no one is interested. When you can't even get enough to eat, who has time for cultivation? Only the bald monks' teachings are appealing to many. Anyway, this life is just a lowly existence born to suffer, so why not just go all out, break the jar? What else can we do but stare longingly at the next life? I've seen through people: as long as there's a tiny bit of hope left, they start fearing death. Take me, Zhou Junchen. The moment I heard Your Highness intended to spare my life and let me stay in Qingcang, my mind couldn't help but become active. Once these monks arrive, preaching and praying for the refugees day after day, even if it doesn't make them grateful, at least it gives them hope. They won't be so self-destructive, not just thinking that killing one Northern Liang soldier in this life is breaking even, and two is a profit. However, I, Zhou Junchen, humbly believe that merely having monks conjure up some hope for us isn't quite enough. We need something substantial, especially something to fill our bellies. Our Qingcang City used to be so poor that even the Dragon King's Mansion struggled, genuinely lacking the capital to win people's hearts. But with Your Highness's Northern Liang backing, not much is needed. If we can just set up about ten large pots at each of the three city gates every day, I refuse to believe no one will take the bait. If no one comes for one day, surely someone will in ten days or half a month? Once someone takes the lead, there'll be no stopping the refugees from flocking in... As for 'backbone' or 'integrity,' perhaps everyone has some, but it varies in weight. Some value it highly, even more than life itself, but most people value it less."

Yu Rourou, timidly lowering her gaze, softly interrupted Zhou Junchen: "If truly no one dares to come, we could have the weaker Qingcang soldiers disguise themselves as refugees."Zhou Junchen glared and said, "Woman, shut up!"

Xu Fengnian waved his hand, noncommittal about Yu Rourou's suggestion, and gestured for Zhou Junchen to continue. The latter, full of cunning ideas, now drank wine to lubricate his throat, his face flushed, clearly getting into his stride. "Simply crushing the three towns with Northern Liang's cavalry — the refugees certainly can't defeat them, but they can hide. Hiding in the Western Regions is an option, even hiding in Beiliang is an option. They'll scatter like birds and beasts, which would ruin Your Highness's grand strategy. The Imperial Envoy... oh no, that old Murong fellow once said that the gains and losses for refugees caught between Liang and Mang are double, indicating their significant usefulness to Your Highness. If they are truly pushed too hard by Northern Liang's cavalry, some will inevitably, in a fit of anger, defect to Beiliang's Southern Dynasty. I've heard that there are indeed influential figures in the Western Capital's imperial court of the Southern Dynasty who wish to use the refugees for their own purposes, but many of their pacification policies are all talk and no action, likely due to internal resistance within the Western Capital. Furthermore, while refugees are poor, they aren't foolish. They fear Beiliang's ill intentions. Once aboard the Southern Dynasty's pirate ship, they'll be forced to fight Northern Liang's peerless cavalry to the death. Those remnants of the Spring and Autumn period in the Southern Dynasty have even more nefarious schemes than I, Zhou Junchen. Infighting, the ability of one's own people to harm themselves – these two-faced servants who have defected to Beiliang carry centuries, even millennia, of accumulated experience passed down from generation to generation by their ancestors. Aren't history books diligently teaching future scholars how to kill without shedding blood?"

Xu Fengnian looked at him with newfound respect, smiling genially, "Enough with the reflections, let's get back to business."

Zhou Junchen quickly nodded like a pecking chick. "Zhou Junchen has one strategy, four words: Divide and rule. This 'divide' has two aspects. One is geographical. Excluding my own humble position as the so-called Qingcang King, Your Highness can promise the other three military forces that they can continue to be local rulers, but they must nominally submit to Northern Liang. Your Highness can designate the refugee territory as a new prefecture, thereby creating two significant official positions: Prefect and General. Someone like Cai Anshan will certainly scoff, but that's not important. Ma Liuke, who only cares about his own enjoyment and not others' lives, might be tempted. Moreover, if Cai Anshan doesn't play along or show gratitude, it's possible his subordinates will become restless. This way, the military commanders of the two refugee towns will more or less harbor their own hidden agendas. Anyway, if they defect to Northern Liang, and if they really have to fight to the death on the battlefield, it will be the ordinary soldiers and footmen under them, not them, the officials. However, this matter still needs to be personally explained to them by Your Highness. The second aspect of 'divide and rule' targets the refugees who are currently considered criminals. Some are deserters from the Northern Liang army who committed serious crimes; these people should be pardoned. There are also some who belong to powerful families from within Northern Liang who were expelled here in the last ten years or so. Your Highness can restore their property in Northern Liang; if they held official positions, simply reinstate them. If that's too generous, their property could be halved, and their official titles reduced, to appease them with less. As for the earliest group of local refugees and those clinging to them – these unrepentant individuals, though the most numerous, aren't necessarily entirely unyielding. Their ancestral lands and graves are all within Northern Liang's borders, aren't they? Allow them to return home to worship their ancestors. After witnessing the prosperity of their Northern Liang homeland, some will eventually wish to return to their roots. Then there are the desperadoes with nowhere else to go but the refugee territory for refuge: some are martial artists from the Central Plains, others are descendants of officials who deeply resent the Liyang imperial court. These are even easier to deal with. With a single decree from Your Highness, open Northern Liang's gates to them, and they will be the most eager to leave the refugee territory. I have one more point, if I may be so bold. Your Highness has great ambitions, and wherever your military might is directed, it is unmatched. So Northern Liang can certainly 'swallow' this fat piece of meat — these hundreds of thousands of refugees. However, the 'eating' must be done gracefully. How so? Once the 'sinners' from the three towns are pacified, for example, don't rush to integrate them into the border army. Instead, send them to the relatively stable Lingzhou, but their pay can be very low, significantly lower than even the border troops or the Lingzhou army. Once they integrate into Northern Liang, being inherently strong-willed, restless, and mostly unattached, they will likely start wanting to go to the border themselves to earn military merits. Hey, I've strayed a bit; please don't fault me, Your Highness. Let me speak of something more immediate: For 'divide and rule' to succeed, it's nothing more than the classic 'carrot and stick' approach favored by all rulers throughout history. I've already spoken of the 'carrot': giving official positions to those who were already officials, providing food to the hungry, and clearing the names of those considered criminals—these are Your Highness's great benevolent acts. As for establishing 'awe,' Your Highness doesn't necessarily need to personally lead as you did today. The Young Prince, with a few thousand Dragon Elephant Iron Cavalry, would be more than enough. The Young Prince has already established a formidable reputation; he is an invincible general who slaughters Beiliang's elite troops like harvesting rice. With Your Highness's benevolence first and the Young Prince's cavalry patrolling behind, those refugees who are stubborn but not *that* stubborn will naturally surrender. After all, losing to such a hero is not shameful, is it? As for the remaining incorrigible ones, if they want to die, then let them die. Have the 300,000 Northern Liang cavalry, passed from the Old King to Your Highness, ever hesitated to kill anyone?"

Collapse replies: Familiarize me. Insert. Front row. Holy crap.

Yu Rourou quietly curved her eyebrows. She was constantly observing the young vassal king's expression. It seemed her husband's "nonsensical rambling" might not only preserve his position as Qingcang's ruler but, at the very least, prevent their situation from worsening.

Xu Fengnian smiled, "Your strategy for managing the refugees somewhat aligns with someone else's; you have about 50 to 60 percent of his skill. However, that person has never been to the refugee territory, unlike you."Zhou Junchen instinctively bowed even while sitting, his face full of fawning flattery. "I was just spouting nonsense. I wouldn't dare compare myself to the eminent individuals around Your Highness. If there's even one or two tenths of a similarity, then I've simply been incredibly lucky."

Xu Fengnian stood up, and Zhou Junchen quickly followed suit.Xu Fengnian said, "Zhou Junchen, I'm giving you two choices: either stay in Qingcang City and assist that person, or become a prosperous Prefect in Lingzhou. However, I think the latter is the safer choice for you. With your meager integrity, if you ever face a life-or-death decision, you'd almost certainly become a Northern Liang traitor. At that point, I would definitely ensure your death. Someone like you, as a peaceful official, could barely be considered a capable administrator. Northern Liang lacks officials, but we especially don't want idle but 'clean' officials who merely occupy their posts without contributing. You can be corrupt when the time comes; I don't mind that, but remember not to hinder your work for Northern Liang and its people. A corrupt official, whether they take a lot or a little, only has one mouth and two hands; how much can they consume or take? Besides, what's truly valuable can't be taken to the grave. Your extensive family assets are there for all to see. If I were to use that as an excuse to make an example of you, Northern Liang's border military strength could advance another step, but the Xu family hasn't yet been reduced to such a dire state."

Zhou Junchen, kneeling to express his gratitude, exchanged glances with Yu Rourou. Both saw a genuine, deep-seated apprehension in the other's eyes.Xu Fengnian said calmly, "You may both rise. You can probably stay in Qingcang for another month or so."Zhou Junchen and Yu Rourou stood side by side after rising. Xu Fengnian suddenly smiled at Yu Rourou, "I've given Zhou Junchen a prefectural governorship, but I have nothing to give you. Your affairs are all recorded in Northern Liang's intelligence reports. At the very least, if you don't want to, no one will be able to force you to undress anymore. If someone tries, and Zhou Junchen shamelessly agrees, come to Qingliang Mountain, and I will protect you."After Xu Fengnian left, a loud slap was heard from behind, followed by a fit of wailing, from both Yu Rourou and Zhou Junchen.

Xu Fengnian walked directly out of the Dragon King's Mansion's North Gate, which meant he had left the city. North of the city was a small lake, knee-deep in water. He squatted on the ground by the lake, picked up a handful of sand, gently tossed it into the water, and gazed blankly.

In fact, according to Chen Xiliang's original plan, the first act of establishing authority was to cleanse Qingcang City with 20,000 cavalry, leaving nothing alive around Qingcang, and only then discussing acts of benevolence. Ma Liuke's monk soldiers were actually part of a deal between Xu Fengnian and the Six-Pearl Bodhisattva of Landa Mountain. Ma Liuke, of course, was unaware of the true details. For the female Dharma King of the Esoteric Sect to become the ruler of Landa Mountain, she needed to ally with the Northern Liang Xu family, who commanded iron cavalry. Xu Fengnian would then use this to control the vast Western Regions. Naturally, it also addressed an urgent need: forming a military encirclement to contain hundreds of thousands of refugees from east and west, then deploying tens of thousands of light cavalry to patrol the northern and southern borders, preventing the refugees from scattering. In fact, for the refugees caught in this large pocket, it was either surrender or death. Beiliang's Southern Dynasty deliberately spread rumors that Xu Xiao's dying wish was for the refugees to be buried with him, which, by accidental coincidence, was half true. Before his death, Li Yishan left behind a concise sealed message, and Chen Xiliang's ruthless strategy happened to coincide with it.

But Xu Fengnian knew that his master felt guilt for these refugees who had been displaced because of him. He never vocalized it but expressed it through his writing. His master, who died without a grave, had his ashes scattered along the border. To be nurtured in life, supported in old age, and buried in death — these were the 'three great blessings' of life, as that gaunt man had described them. Yet, the hundreds of thousands of refugees wandering this land seemed to have enjoyed none of them. Li Yishan, who authored "Records of Knowing Autumn," a twenty-year history of the refugees, late in his life styled himself "Water Margin Mountain Ghost." "Water Margin" refers to the wilderness. Wild ghosts by the water. Perhaps in his master's view, he was different from Zhao Changling, the noble scion who joined the Xu family with thousands of retainers, and different from those Spring and Autumn era talents whose ambition was to bring peace to the world. Li Yishan had never entered the imperial court, nor had he ever knelt before anyone. In the end, just like these homeless refugees with no graves to visit, he remained merely a wandering soul by Listening Tide Lake, a wild ghost on Qingliang Mountain.

Xu Fengnian leaned back and closed his eyes, lying on the sandy ground with his hands clasped behind his head. He had absorbed Master Liu Hao's purple lightning, and then consumed the bun from the Qilin Daoist Yuan Qingshan. Feeling quite full.

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