Chapter 838: The Great Rivers of the South and North

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**The Great Contention**Author: [Author Name]Update Time: 2015-08-27 14:50:02Word Count: 5457

After a brief stop at Qingliang Mountain, Xu Fengnian led the Fengzi Camp light cavalry, riding non-stop towards the new city, where construction had begun earlier this year. His companions were Xu Beizhi, who had just stepped down as the Prefect of Lingzhou, and Chen Xiliang, whose official rank in Liuzhou had always remained stagnant.

Among the women who had previously entered Beiliang with the Prince of Beiliang, Aunt Zhao Yutai stayed with Xu Weixiong. Chen Yu and the Green-Robed Girl had an exceptional rapport and also remained at Qingliang Mountain, enjoying tossing wish coins onto the wishing lotuses in Tide-Listening Lake whenever they had free time. Jia Jiajia and Xu Ying, who had become playmates in Tai'an City, also began to "go their separate ways" upon arriving at the Beiliang Prince's Manor. Hehe Girl liked taking the two tiger-kylins, running from the mountain top to the bottom, and then from the front to the back, only stopping to smile happily a few times when she occasionally saw the woman named Lu Chengyan. Xu Ying, for some reason, had developed a fondness for listening to Wang Chudong, a literary master from Liyang, tell stories. In short, Qingliang Mountain suddenly seemed to come alive. Chen Yu, in particular, who contended for the top spot on the Rouge Ranking with a certain Nangong, was considered a celestial beauty after just a few fleeting glimpses of her arrival. Whenever she appeared by Tide-Listening Lake for a stroll, the talented young men serving under Song Dongming and Bai Yu in Beiliang, if sharp-eyed enough to spot her, would quickly spread the word. No matter how busy or demanding their tasks, they would shamelessly find clumsy excuses to flock to the railing of the small plaza outside the yamen to "admire the scenery." Vice Military Commissioner Song Dongming turned a blind eye to this, never making things difficult for or obstructing these simple-minded young scholars.

Although the Northern Mang's southward invasion had been successfully thwarted, the construction of the unprecedented new city continued without pause, even day and night. The outer main city walls rose with astonishing speed, visible to the naked eye. This magnificent spectacle, unparalleled in the world, inevitably came at the immense cost of Beiliang's depleted financial and material resources. Consequently, many scholars arriving in Beiliang cited historical precedents, using the three major conscriptions of labor for the capital of the former Great Chu Dynasty as examples. These conscriptions were always suspended after thirty days to "allow the people to rest," ensuring no disruption to agricultural activities. Based on this, they criticized Beiliang's actions as "draining the pond to catch all the fish" (short-sighted and destructive). The younger civilian officials of the Qingliang Mountain faction, led by Song Dongming, the Vice Military Commissioner of Beiliang Province, scoffed at these criticisms. This sparked a debate that quickly spread throughout Beiliang's scholarly circles. Yet, amid this large-scale "battle of pens" without gunpowder, the new city's construction site remained bustling with activity. Apart from Xu Fengnian, who served only as a nominal Grand Master of Works, everyone involved—from Military Commissioner Li Gongde and the Mohist Grand Master (both Supervisors-General of the new city), to the six Deputy Supervisors including Wang Peifang, Prefect of Liangzhou, and down to nearly 60,000 local garrison troops within Beiliang Pass and hundreds of thousands of registered laborers from the three provinces—ignored the discussions within the pass. They remained deaf, unresponsive, and indifferent to the debate on whether the new city's construction was burdensome to the people and wasteful of resources.

Xu Fengnian, Xu Beizhi, and Chen Xiliang rode abreast. Behind them, Xu Yanbing and Yu Xinlang chatted happily.

Compared to when he first arrived in Beiliang, Chen Xiliang, once a fair-faced and refined scholar from Jiangnan, now had hands calloused from gripping the reins, transforming him into a lean, sun-darkened villager. Yet, his eyes sparkled, resolute and steadfast. He now said to Xu Fengnian: "As long as Qingliang Mountain can provide the silver, Liuzhou can immediately mobilize around forty thousand able-bodied young men to the new city. However, I hope that, in addition to not defaulting on their wages, Your Highness can also grant them official household registration. Our people in Liuzhou have truly suffered too much!"

Xu Fengnian looked troubled. "Silver..."

Xu Beizhi, who had been given a look, rolled his eyes. He had now formally assumed the position of Transport Commissioner, a post unilaterally established by Beiliang Province. He slowly explained: "After defeating the Northern Mang barbarians, not to mention military pay and pensions, the direct military rewards alone amounted to nearly nine hundred thousand taels of silver. And this was after border generals like Yan Wenluan and Yu Luandao took the lead in requesting no rewards. In the end, Qingliang Mountain converted items like silk and curios into silver and distributed them. Otherwise, the Beiliang Prince's Manor's current treasury would be depleted. Lingzhou, on the other hand, could still scrape together an additional million taels of gold and silver, but purchasing provisions must be the top priority. After all, the imperial court's lifting of the canal transport ban has not yet been implemented, so we shouldn't hold too much hope. Taking advantage of Lianghuai Province and Jing'an Province shifting with the wind and finally loosening their grip, Lingzhou officials, if they have connections, are using public funds to buy grain 'privately.' Unless absolutely necessary, Lingzhou's money cannot be touched."

Chen Xiliang neither became indignant nor gave up hope. He asked, "If they don't require wages, would it be feasible for my Liuzhou people to exchange one year of labor for official household registration in Liangzhou, recognized by Beiliang?"

Xu Beizhi pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "Under normal circumstances, it would naturally be feasible. But now, with the great war just concluded, only the twenty thousand displaced people from Liuzhou who were part of the first wave to enter Liang-You border, specifically those who participated in the defense of Xiaguang City and the fighting at Hulu Pass, have obtained official household registration. Even those displaced people outside Liangzhou Pass who did not enter the battlefield have yet to receive this treatment. If merely participating in city construction could grant one Liangzhou citizenship, discontent would surely arise. It's not scarcity but inequality that causes trouble, and it has always been so."

Chen Xiliang suddenly felt a surge of anger, but it was not directed at Xu Beizhi or Xu Fengnian. He looked towards the distant yellow sands of the desert, his lips tightly pressed together.

He recalled the desperate battle at Qingcang City. In the final moments, how many young, able-bodied men from Liuzhou, who had arrived in succession, charged into the battlefield on their own, picking up any weapon—whether from Beiliang Iron Cavalry or Northern Mang barbarians—and simply died in battle?!

Xu Fengnian quietly asked, "Chen Xiliang, have you ever considered that one day in the future, Liuzhou, with fewer than three hundred thousand people, would have every single person as a registered resident of Beiliang Province, no longer needing to risk their lives to obtain household registration in another province?"

Chen Xiliang took a deep breath, remained silent, his eyes distant, as if longing for that day to arrive.

Many times, even Yang Guangdou, the Prefect of Liuzhou, would jokingly remark that in all of Liuzhou, only Chen Xiliang, an outsider who had settled there for only a few years, identified more strongly as a Liuzhou native than the actual Liuzhou people.

Xu Beizhi suddenly smiled mischievously and interjected, "Your Highness, the grand promises you're making don't cost a single copper coin. Compared to your previous extravagance, you're much better at managing the household now."

Xu Fengnian burst into hearty laughter, his arms crossed over his chest, not holding the reins. His body swayed with the horse's movements, and he looked quite pleased with himself.

Chen Xiliang also smiled and echoed, "There's indeed a hint of thriftiness and good management about you now."

After his laughter subsided, Xu Fengnian turned and teased, "Xiliang, I know you don't care much about official rank, but this time, in defending Qingcang and Liuzhou, even if we don't say you rendered immense service, you certainly were 'indispensable'—there's no escaping that. If you insist on not accepting a promotion, how will your colleagues, who should be happily promoted and ennobled, handle themselves? You'll be comfortable, but they'll be utterly uncomfortable."

Chen Xiliang shook his head. "From the Prefect's mansion and the Dragon Elephant Army to the soldiers of the three garrisons, Your Highness should reward military merits as you see fit; there's no need to consider me. The officialdom in Liuzhou is not like Liangzhou or Lingzhou; it doesn't have as many intricacies as Your Highness imagines."

Xu Fengnian said seemingly casually, "Prefect Yang Guangdou knows full well that he won't be staying in Liuzhou for too long. I also can't bear to leave this elder out in the frontier, enduring the elements with you young officials who are in your prime. When the Liang-Mang war concludes and the border is stabilized, Liuzhou is destined for a 'dynastic change.' Not to mention the eager scholars entering Beiliang, even the local officials from the three Beiliang provinces will covet it. In the future, Liuzhou will be the essential passage connecting Liyang and the Western Regions for trade, and a crucial transit hub. Currently, officials in Liuzhou may not be highly valued, but later, it might become even more prosperous than Lingzhou, the 'Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall.' When Prefect Yang simply walks away and returns to Liangzhou to retire as a Vice Military Commissioner or something, then you 'veterans' of Liuzhou officialdom, along with those two to three hundred thousand displaced people, will be leaderless. Aren't you worried?"

Chen Xiliang fell silent.

Xu Beizhi changed the subject, gloating, "Our 'God of Wealth' in Beiliang, who claims to have traveled every inch of Liangzhou and Liuzhou in just two years, and also serves as a Deputy Supervisor for the new city, suddenly caught a cold and is recuperating at home. Didn't Your Highness go to visit him?"

Xu Fengnian felt a headache coming on.

Xu Beizhi nonchalantly continued, "Alright, alright, the saying 'whoever tied the bell on the tiger must untie it' doesn't apply to household matters. So, I took it upon myself to go to the Prince's Manor... Your Highness's future father-in-law's manor, and had a good drink with Wang Linquan. Resentment? Of course there is. The Wang family, strictly speaking, entered Beiliang earlier than the Lu family. For the first half of his life, he served diligently as a humble soldier for the Grand General, and in the latter half, he amassed such a large fortune in Qingzhou. When the Xu family beckoned, the entire Wang family came to Beiliang with chests and carts full of gold and silver. Moreover, the Wang family didn't ask Qingliang Mountain for official positions or backdoors. They undertook the most arduous businesses. What was it all for? Wasn't it so that his daughter could be the main consort, not a secondary one?"

Xu Fengnian sighed softly. By all accounts, it should indeed be so.

Xu Beizhi continued, laughing, "Wang Linquan also let it slip when he was drunk: even if Chudong, that girl, isn't destined to be the main princess consort, as long as that woman surnamed Lu is also a secondary consort, and both are secondary consorts without distinction of rank, then Chudong won't feel wronged either. Now, what's going on? Wang Linquan's implication is that those useless fellows from the Lu family, from the arrogant Lu Dongjiang to the pampered Lu family scions, how many of them genuinely consider the Xu family's situation? They just read a few more books, and as a result, they're all strutting around, tail in the air, eager to occupy every key position in Beiliang officialdom to justify their 'noble' status—a bunch of clueless rascals!"

Seeing Xu Fengnian turn to look at him, Xu Beizhi grinned and said, "Of course, those last few sentences were mine. Even if Wang Linquan had hundreds of catties of 'Green Ant Wine,' he certainly wouldn't dare to reveal his true feelings like that."

Xu Fengnian said helplessly, "I know you also have grievances with me because of the canal transport matter, but that's enough, isn't it? Do you really think I'm a clay Buddha who won't get angry?"

Xu Beizhi snorted coldly, "Let me be blunt. Qi Yanglong is Qi Yanglong, and the imperial court is the imperial court. Ever since Zhang Julu's death, an irreparable rift has appeared in the imperial court. The era of harmonious relations between ruler and minister is gone forever. The Zhao Emperor sent Wen Taiyi and Ma Zhongxian, one civilian and one military, to Jing'an Province in the heart of the Central Plains, plus Zhao Xun who is stationed in Qingzhou Xiangfan. What good intentions can these three have when they gather? I don't know what the atmosphere was like at the small court meeting in the capital back then, nor do I know if Qi Yanglong, this dynasty's Chief Grand Secretary, and Huan Wen, the Second Grand Secretary, raised any objections. But since Wen and Ma have already left the capital for their posts, when canal transport becomes problematic, with the emperor far away, what's so difficult about finding an excuse to fob off the Ministry of Revenue? Qi Yanglong is the Minister of the Secretariat, not the Minister of Revenue! Huan Wen is in the Chancellery, and certainly not the Minister of Personnel!"

Xu Fengnian clutched his chest, feigning pain. "Oh dear, consecutive battles in Tai'an City have left me with severe internal injuries. My chest hurts, and my head hurts. No, I must go back to the carriage and lie down."

The formidable Prince of the Northwest and Grandmaster of Martial Arts slipped away.

Chen Xiliang's lips curved into a smile.

Xu Beizhi turned his head and sneered loudly, "If you're so capable, just lie down all the way to the new city outside the pass!"

After Xu Fengnian left, silence fell. Xu Beizhi glanced at Chen Xiliang, who rode his horse as if walking, and self-mockingly said, "I'm not as good as you at riding. My inner thighs feel like they're burning right now."

Chen Xiliang laughed, "Liuzhou is vast and sparsely populated. The two post roads, leading from Liangzhou to Qingcang City, have just begun construction. Therefore, everything requires riding fast horses. At first, it was uncomfortable; besides aching back and sore legs, once you finally fell asleep in bed, it felt like the world was spinning like for a drunk person. You'd be lying down, yet still feel like you were bobbing up and down on horseback – it was torture. But now it's different; even if there's nothing urgent outside the city, if I don't ride for dozens of miles a day, I feel something is off."

Xu Beizhi's expression was calm, and he said softly, "After his trip to the capital, that fellow seems to have resolved many inner conflicts. He would never have made empty promises before. He probably does have some confidence in the next Liang-Mang war. If that's the case, we might as well think a bit more optimistically. For example, your Liuzhou, as the fourth province incorporated into Beiliang's territory, will inevitably see its status rise higher and higher as the world improves. Who knows, perhaps in the future, a fifth and sixth province will be opened in the vast Western Regions, and as the bridge connecting Beiliang and Liyang to the Western Regions, Liuzhou will be a definite hot commodity. In terms of military matters, with Xu Longxiang's Dragon Elephant Army, even the veteran border troops of Liangzhou probably wouldn't dare to compete for territory. But the official positions in the Liuzhou Prefect's office are another matter. Without looking too far, consider Huang Yan, the Assistant Prefect of Lingzhou, where I just left. By rights, with his prestige and merits, he should have easily been promoted to the new Prefect of Lingzhou, yet he wasn't. From now on, especially when the war isn't as tense, that fellow will only have more things to worry about, not fewer. Chen Xiliang, you've worked so hard to open up the situation in Liuzhou. Whether it's for your own future or for Liuzhou's prospects, you should move your seat forward now. A county magistrate is not as effective as the current supervisor. Even if you become a Vice Military Commissioner, it won't be as useful as being a Prefect of slightly lower rank in Liuzhou."

Perhaps influenced by Xu Beizhi's frankness, Chen Xiliang also spoke directly, "I understand the reasoning. In fact, on my way to Qingliang Mountain this time, I thought a lot about it. As long as the war concludes, Liuzhou will not only be able to stand on equal footing with the other three provinces in Beiliang, but it might even become the top priority in the Liyang imperial court's eyes."

Xu Beizhi nodded and said in a deep voice, "Precisely! That's the point. Once Northern Mang retreats and no longer dares to launch armies along the northwestern border, the imperial court might very well dispatch a civilian official to Liuzhou, responsible for helping Liyang secure the frontier. That wouldn't be as quiet and law-abiding as Yang Shenxing serving as a Deputy Military Governor. This move might seem absurd, but there are precedents to follow. Not to mention Xu Gong, the Vice Minister of War, who inspected Liangliao; among the many Military Governors and Commissioners dispatched from Tai'an City, which one was easy to deal with? Wang Xiongwei, Lu Baijie, Yuan Guo, Han Lin, Wen Taiyi, Ma Zhongxian—regardless of their stance, none of them are mediocre individuals."

Chen Xiliang frowned. "My concern is that the imperial court might send Yao Baifeng, the Left Libationer of the Imperial Academy, to Liuzhou. Libationer Yao is originally from Beiliang and has always been close to Beiliang, even while serving in the imperial court. If this Neo-Confucian master enters Liuzhou, both the Prince's Manor and the officials, high and low, would likely welcome it."

Xu Beizhi quickly responded, "Indeed. Just like Zhang Julu, while in Liyang, he might not have been willing to consider every matter solely for the Zhao imperial family. Grand Master Yao's temperament is similar to that of 'Azure-Eyed Boy.' Once he returns to Beiliang, he will inevitably tend to consider things from the imperial court's perspective."

Chen Xiliang smiled wryly, "It seems I should contend for the position of Assistant Prefect of Liuzhou."

Xu Beizhi narrowed his eyes and said, "Prepare for a rainy day. I think it would be best to secure the Prefect position as well. I doubt the imperial court would have the nerve to send Yao Baifeng back to Beiliang to be a mere Assistant Prefect of a province, right?"

Chen Xiliang smiled. "Becoming a Military Commissioner would also be a justifiable title."

Xu Beizhi curled his lip. "Serving as a Military Commissioner on Qingliang Mountain? Won't Song Dongming and the others devour you until there's nothing left? Moreover, if he's not going to Liuzhou, how many Liyang officials would dare to follow Yao Baifeng to the Beiliang Prince's Manor to serve as officials? Wouldn't they have to wake up every morning feeling their necks, grateful that their heads were still on their shoulders?"

Chen Xiliang suppressed a laugh and nodded, "That's true."

Suddenly, someone called from behind them, "Juzi, Xiliang, I suddenly feel much better. How about you two take the carriage, and I'll be your driver?"

The White Horse Righteous Guard near the carriage all smiled knowingly.

Xu Beizhi turned to his peer beside him and asked, "What do you say?"

Chen Xiliang said earnestly, "That works."

Both horses turned their heads simultaneously.

Xu Fengnian, the Prince of Beiliang, sat in the driver's seat of the carriage, watching the two Beiliang strategists slowly approach.

He suddenly gazed into the distance.

There was a gaunt scholar from the Tide-Listening Pavilion. After his death, he had no grave; his ashes were scattered beyond Beiliang Pass.

Great River South, Great River North.South of Southern Mountain, North of Beiliang.To the south lies Jiangnan, three thousand li.In Beiliang lie tombstones, three hundred thousand.