Traveling from Si County to Bing County, the fastest way to overcome the barrier of the rugged mountains is still through the mountain pass. However, that route heads toward Luoyang, and if one takes the direction of Pingyang commandery, there are not as many obstacles. It’s just that Shangdang is tightly guarded now, and the Xiongnu are also on high alert, making this journey perilous.
Huyan Gan, after leading his men to the designated location, found that the person he was waiting for hadn’t arrived yet. Huyan Gan is a member of the prestigious Huyan family, a top-notch clan among the Xiongnu. If it were someone else making him wait like this, he might have left in annoyance long ago. However, this time, he surprisingly did not show any signs of embarrassment, patiently waiting for half a day. When he saw a small caravan crossing the mountains and approaching, he excitedly stood up and personally went to greet them.
“Xue Erlang, did you encounter any trouble on the road? Why are you late?” Huyan Gan smiled, and even his complaints seemed softened.
However, Xue Ren’s expression was not so pleasant: “Isn’t it because of the things you wanted! This mountain road is difficult to traverse. If the goods break and spill, who will take responsibility!”
Upon hearing this, Huyan Gan’s eyes immediately lit up: “Did you really get it?!”
Xue Ren snorted and walked into the midst of the horse team, digging out something from the well-packed cargo. He held it carefully in both hands and walked over, not directly handing it to Huyan Gan. Instead, he placed the ceramic jar on the flat ground, took a step back, and said, “Check the goods.”
With a gulping sound, Huyan Gan swallowed his saliva before cautiously approaching. He gently tapped open the mud seal on the ceramic jar. Upon lifting the thin lid, a strong fragrance hit his nose. To his surprise, the jar contained liquor! Moreover, it was a high-quality liquor, clear as water and sharp as a knife!
Huyan Gan took two deep breaths as if trying to inhale all the overflowing aroma of the liquor into his stomach. Afterward, he reached into his bosom, pulled out a wine cup, and poured a small cup from the ceramic jar. With a single gulp, he swallowed it down. Although he was accustomed to drinking, just this small sip ignited a fiery sensation in his throat, burning straight into his stomach. Amidst the spiciness, there was also a rich and refreshing sweetness, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
“Great! Truly great! This is indeed the renowned Yulu Spring from Shangdang!” Huyan Gan praised loudly. His eyes seemed to have hooks in them, eager to finish the entire jar in one go. However, no matter how tempting it was, he remembered his mission. Reluctantly sealing the wine jar, he stood up and said, “Erlang, your methods are truly extraordinary to acquire such fine liquor! How much did we bring this time?”
“Not much, just twenty jars. There are also thirty barrels of strong liquor. Shangdang is heavily guarded, making it difficult to obtain more,” sighed Xue Ren.
Huyan Gan also sighed deeply, “Well, in a little while, the new king will ascend to the throne. Having these few jars of good wine is still a good thing. But Erlang, you have to be cautious. Even though Yulu Spring is rare, you must manage to get more!”
“I understand this very well,” Xue Ren readily agreed and then asked, “What about salt? Did you bring it?”
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“It’s all here.” Huyan Gan promptly had his men open the packages on their horse carriages. White and blue salt blocks were densely packed in the bags.
Xue Ren pinched a bit, licked his fingers, nodded, and said, “You are indeed thorough in handling matters. Alright, while it’s still not dark, let’s quickly exchange the goods. I need to hurry back.”
Knowing that the other party needed to bribe several people to pass through the checkpoint, Huyan Gan didn’t delay either. Without unloading any cargo, after confirming the quantity, they directly swapped the horses. With a horse team twice the size of before, Xue Ren retraced his steps back along the original route.
It turned out to be another business deal. Once out of sight of the Xiongnu group, Xue Ren’s stern expression relaxed. This was his third clandestine trade.
Since the demise of Pei Dun and the Pei family’s defection to the enemy, Xue Ren’s powerful backing had completely collapsed. Even his elder sister’s husband had died in battle, making any hope of relying on the Pei family nothing more than a delusion. Luckily, due to his years of business experience and extensive connections, he managed to cling to the Liang faction’s thighs. The business he received was quite straightforward—smuggling goods out of Bing County!
After occupying Hedong, Liu Yuan ordered his clan to ban the use of porcelain and glassware, aiming to prevent Bing County from obtaining essential supplies such as salt and grain by trading these luxury items. With the fall of the Pei family, attempting to smuggle salt from Hedong became much more challenging. However, within a short month, another scarce commodity emerged on this clandestine trade route—Yulu Spring! A strong liquor more mellow and pungent than Wei Wujiu. Just a small jar was enough to intoxicate a person. For the Xiongnu people, accustomed to mild and turbid drinks, this liquor was more irresistible than any treasure! Unfortunately, Bing County had long prohibited the consumption of food for brewing strong liquor. Thus, Yulu Spring was priceless and difficult to obtain.
Those who could acquire Yulu Spring, especially someone like Xue Ren dealing in slightly inferior burn liquor, became treasures in the eyes of these clandestine traders.
Although Liu Yuan had gained complete control over the Hedong salt pits, the underground salt trade that even the Jin Dynasty could not suppress was not something that could be seamlessly monitored in the Xiongnu-Han region. The Huyan family, as the queen’s maternal relatives, immediately seized the opportunity to engage in smuggling private salt. Coincidentally, Xue Ren was also operating a private liquor business. A perfect match was formed with just one handshake.
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However, Huyan Gan probably never expected that the private liquor sold by Xue Ren was actually brewed under the secret orders of the Liang envoy, all aimed at prying open the Hedong salt route. Brewing liquor did consume grain, but grains could be grown from the earth, unlike salt.
Seeing the Xiongnu people easily taking the bait, Xue Ren could only sigh at his own shortcomings. The Liang envoy seemed to possess the magical ability to turn anything into gold effortlessly, creating things at will that could make people forget everything else. Betraying the Pei family and aligning with the Liang family might indeed be a good thing. Unfortunately, his past actions, such as forcing a marriage and associating with Pei Dun, had displeased the envoy. Now, he had to slowly rebuild the envoy’s trust in his abilities as a broker.
With a gentle sigh, Xue Ren ordered his men to quicken their pace and once again plunged into the vast wilderness.
※
Finally secured some troops. When he received the latest letter, Liang Feng’s long-held worry eased. Zhang Bin’s words were not deceptive; indeed, they had managed to borrow a substantial number of soldiers from the Tuoba clan, even more than anticipated. For the Tuoba clan, currently embroiled in internal conflicts, this was a rare and precious opportunity.
However, borrowing troops was secondary; in Zhang Bin’s letter, there was mention of the Tuoba clan’s ambitions. Now, there were many Xianbei tribes who had submitted within the You and Bing provinces. Not to mention the Duan Xianbei and Yuwen Xianbei under Wang Jun’s command, the Tuoba Xianbei also frequently answered the call to arms for Sima Teng. For many people, these Xianbei seemed less dangerous than the Xiongnu, and they were more willing to see them as harmless vassal mercenaries.
Yet, Liang Feng understood the situation very well. In a little over a hundred years, the Tuoba Xianbei would become the victorious rulers of the northern regions, establishing the Northern Wei Dynasty, and ultimately ending the chaos of the Sixteen Kingdoms. It was precisely because of the unification and disintegration of Northern Wei that the prosperous Sui and Tang dynasties emerged. The Tuoba clan undoubtedly harbored ambitions, and these ambitions were not to be underestimated.
While he merely knew the historical context, Zhang Bin not only identified the problem but also proposed some strategic solutions. For example, limited luxury goods trade, stirring up animosity between the Tuoba and Wang Jun by exploiting the internal conflicts among the various Xianbei tribes, and discreetly supporting several potential successors to Tuoba Yilu, creating chaos within the Tuoba clan. These strategies, among others, were feasible, showing that Zhang Bin had invested considerable thought into this.
This was precisely what Liang Feng needed the most at this moment.
Having or not having a competent strategist indeed made a world of difference. Liang Feng put down the letter, exhaling deeply. Another battle was imminent, and he hoped to minimize casualties this time, swiftly resolving the issues in the two commanderies of Xinxing and Yanmen.
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His gaze fell on another letter, and after some hesitation, Liang Feng finally opened it. The ink characters resembling the Liu style appeared before his eyes. It was a letter from Yiyan. As the commander of this expedition, he certainly had many things to report and seek guidance on. Liang Feng thought he might find something extra in the letter, but from start to finish, there was nothing inappropriate—only narratives and requests related to military affairs.
Provisions, military equipment, manpower… Nothing could be disclosed to the public. After reading the letter, Liang Feng unexpectedly felt a hint of disappointment. Shaking his head, he dismissed this strange emotion. He picked up his brush to reply.
This battle, though not very dangerous, was still a confrontation with the Bai Xianbei, and there was no room for the slightest negligence. Zhang Bin, also serving as a strategist, stayed in Xinxing to oversee the overall situation. He only hoped that this battle would secure a peaceful rear area for Bing County. As he concluded the letter, Liang Feng hesitated for a moment but ultimately added a small line of words.
After sealing the letter, he summoned a messenger and instructed them to deliver it to Xinxing with all haste. News also arrived from the Xiongnu side that after occupying Hedong, Liu Yuan had decided to ascend to the throne. This time, he would not be the King of Han but the true Emperor of the Han Empire. The world had now transitioned from having two emperors to three, and it remained uncertain how many more would emerge in the future. However, with Liu Yuan about to ascend, the Xiongnu would certainly not stir up trouble again. This was the perfect opportunity to resolve the turmoil in the rear, and Liang Feng couldn’t afford to miss it.
The other commanderies were about to be brought under control, except for Xihuo State, which still remained in the hands of the Xiongnu.
Just as he was pondering how to handle Xihuo State, an attendant suddenly reported, “Lord, Zhu Fada requests an audience.”
Hadn’t that Hu monk, who went to consolidate support, returned?! Liang Feng immediately said, “Summon him in!”
In no time, a man dressed in coarse clothing, with a shallow layer of hair on his head, strode into the inner hall. After paying his respects, Zhu Fada respectfully reported, “Esteemed Lord, this humble monk has not failed your trust. I have persuaded three detachments of Xiongnu, and they have come to Jinyang to submit. The three detachments amount to nine hundred and thirty households, with over a thousand capable warriors among them.”
Three detachments! Over a thousand troops! Liang Feng couldn’t help but sit up straight, “Where are they?”
“They are currently outside Jinyang.” Zhu Fada smiled faintly. “Would Lord like to summon their leaders into the city for an audience?”
“No.” Liang Feng stood up tall, decisively saying, “I will personally go out of the city!”
Traveling from Si County to Bing County, the fastest way to overcome the barrier of the rugged mountains is still through the mountain pass. However, that route heads toward Luoyang, and if one takes the direction of Pingyang commandery, there are not as many obstacles. It’s just that Shangdang is tightly guarded now, and the Xiongnu are also on high alert, making this journey perilous.
Huyan Gan, after leading his men to the designated location, found that the person he was waiting for hadn’t arrived yet. Huyan Gan is a member of the prestigious Huyan family, a top-notch clan among the Xiongnu. If it were someone else making him wait like this, he might have left in annoyance long ago. However, this time, he surprisingly did not show any signs of embarrassment, patiently waiting for half a day. When he saw a small caravan crossing the mountains and approaching, he excitedly stood up and personally went to greet them.
“Xue Erlang, did you encounter any trouble on the road? Why are you late?” Huyan Gan smiled, and even his complaints seemed softened.
However, Xue Ren’s expression was not so pleasant: “Isn’t it because of the things you wanted! This mountain road is difficult to traverse. If the goods break and spill, who will take responsibility!”
Upon hearing this, Huyan Gan’s eyes immediately lit up: “Did you really get it?!”
Xue Ren snorted and walked into the midst of the horse team, digging out something from the well-packed cargo. He held it carefully in both hands and walked over, not directly handing it to Huyan Gan. Instead, he placed the ceramic jar on the flat ground, took a step back, and said, “Check the goods.”
With a gulping sound, Huyan Gan swallowed his saliva before cautiously approaching. He gently tapped open the mud seal on the ceramic jar. Upon lifting the thin lid, a strong fragrance hit his nose. To his surprise, the jar contained liquor! Moreover, it was a high-quality liquor, clear as water and sharp as a knife!
Huyan Gan took two deep breaths as if trying to inhale all the overflowing aroma of the liquor into his stomach. Afterward, he reached into his bosom, pulled out a wine cup, and poured a small cup from the ceramic jar. With a single gulp, he swallowed it down. Although he was accustomed to drinking, just this small sip ignited a fiery sensation in his throat, burning straight into his stomach. Amidst the spiciness, there was also a rich and refreshing sweetness, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
“Great! Truly great! This is indeed the renowned Yulu Spring from Shangdang!” Huyan Gan praised loudly. His eyes seemed to have hooks in them, eager to finish the entire jar in one go. However, no matter how tempting it was, he remembered his mission. Reluctantly sealing the wine jar, he stood up and said, “Erlang, your methods are truly extraordinary to acquire such fine liquor! How much did we bring this time?”
“Not much, just twenty jars. There are also thirty barrels of strong liquor. Shangdang is heavily guarded, making it difficult to obtain more,” sighed Xue Ren.
Huyan Gan also sighed deeply, “Well, in a little while, the new king will ascend to the throne. Having these few jars of good wine is still a good thing. But Erlang, you have to be cautious. Even though Yulu Spring is rare, you must manage to get more!”
“I understand this very well,” Xue Ren readily agreed and then asked, “What about salt? Did you bring it?”
Advertisement
“It’s all here.” Huyan Gan promptly had his men open the packages on their horse carriages. White and blue salt blocks were densely packed in the bags.
Xue Ren pinched a bit, licked his fingers, nodded, and said, “You are indeed thorough in handling matters. Alright, while it’s still not dark, let’s quickly exchange the goods. I need to hurry back.”
Knowing that the other party needed to bribe several people to pass through the checkpoint, Huyan Gan didn’t delay either. Without unloading any cargo, after confirming the quantity, they directly swapped the horses. With a horse team twice the size of before, Xue Ren retraced his steps back along the original route.
It turned out to be another business deal. Once out of sight of the Xiongnu group, Xue Ren’s stern expression relaxed. This was his third clandestine trade.
Since the demise of Pei Dun and the Pei family’s defection to the enemy, Xue Ren’s powerful backing had completely collapsed. Even his elder sister’s husband had died in battle, making any hope of relying on the Pei family nothing more than a delusion. Luckily, due to his years of business experience and extensive connections, he managed to cling to the Liang faction’s thighs. The business he received was quite straightforward—smuggling goods out of Bing County!
After occupying Hedong, Liu Yuan ordered his clan to ban the use of porcelain and glassware, aiming to prevent Bing County from obtaining essential supplies such as salt and grain by trading these luxury items. With the fall of the Pei family, attempting to smuggle salt from Hedong became much more challenging. However, within a short month, another scarce commodity emerged on this clandestine trade route—Yulu Spring! A strong liquor more mellow and pungent than Wei Wujiu. Just a small jar was enough to intoxicate a person. For the Xiongnu people, accustomed to mild and turbid drinks, this liquor was more irresistible than any treasure! Unfortunately, Bing County had long prohibited the consumption of food for brewing strong liquor. Thus, Yulu Spring was priceless and difficult to obtain.
Those who could acquire Yulu Spring, especially someone like Xue Ren dealing in slightly inferior burn liquor, became treasures in the eyes of these clandestine traders.
Although Liu Yuan had gained complete control over the Hedong salt pits, the underground salt trade that even the Jin Dynasty could not suppress was not something that could be seamlessly monitored in the Xiongnu-Han region. The Huyan family, as the queen’s maternal relatives, immediately seized the opportunity to engage in smuggling private salt. Coincidentally, Xue Ren was also operating a private liquor business. A perfect match was formed with just one handshake.
Advertisement
However, Huyan Gan probably never expected that the private liquor sold by Xue Ren was actually brewed under the secret orders of the Liang envoy, all aimed at prying open the Hedong salt route. Brewing liquor did consume grain, but grains could be grown from the earth, unlike salt.
Seeing the Xiongnu people easily taking the bait, Xue Ren could only sigh at his own shortcomings. The Liang envoy seemed to possess the magical ability to turn anything into gold effortlessly, creating things at will that could make people forget everything else. Betraying the Pei family and aligning with the Liang family might indeed be a good thing. Unfortunately, his past actions, such as forcing a marriage and associating with Pei Dun, had displeased the envoy. Now, he had to slowly rebuild the envoy’s trust in his abilities as a broker.
With a gentle sigh, Xue Ren ordered his men to quicken their pace and once again plunged into the vast wilderness.
※
Finally secured some troops. When he received the latest letter, Liang Feng’s long-held worry eased. Zhang Bin’s words were not deceptive; indeed, they had managed to borrow a substantial number of soldiers from the Tuoba clan, even more than anticipated. For the Tuoba clan, currently embroiled in internal conflicts, this was a rare and precious opportunity.
However, borrowing troops was secondary; in Zhang Bin’s letter, there was mention of the Tuoba clan’s ambitions. Now, there were many Xianbei tribes who had submitted within the You and Bing provinces. Not to mention the Duan Xianbei and Yuwen Xianbei under Wang Jun’s command, the Tuoba Xianbei also frequently answered the call to arms for Sima Teng. For many people, these Xianbei seemed less dangerous than the Xiongnu, and they were more willing to see them as harmless vassal mercenaries.
Yet, Liang Feng understood the situation very well. In a little over a hundred years, the Tuoba Xianbei would become the victorious rulers of the northern regions, establishing the Northern Wei Dynasty, and ultimately ending the chaos of the Sixteen Kingdoms. It was precisely because of the unification and disintegration of Northern Wei that the prosperous Sui and Tang dynasties emerged. The Tuoba clan undoubtedly harbored ambitions, and these ambitions were not to be underestimated.
While he merely knew the historical context, Zhang Bin not only identified the problem but also proposed some strategic solutions. For example, limited luxury goods trade, stirring up animosity between the Tuoba and Wang Jun by exploiting the internal conflicts among the various Xianbei tribes, and discreetly supporting several potential successors to Tuoba Yilu, creating chaos within the Tuoba clan. These strategies, among others, were feasible, showing that Zhang Bin had invested considerable thought into this.
This was precisely what Liang Feng needed the most at this moment.
Having or not having a competent strategist indeed made a world of difference. Liang Feng put down the letter, exhaling deeply. Another battle was imminent, and he hoped to minimize casualties this time, swiftly resolving the issues in the two commanderies of Xinxing and Yanmen.
Advertisement
His gaze fell on another letter, and after some hesitation, Liang Feng finally opened it. The ink characters resembling the Liu style appeared before his eyes. It was a letter from Yiyan. As the commander of this expedition, he certainly had many things to report and seek guidance on. Liang Feng thought he might find something extra in the letter, but from start to finish, there was nothing inappropriate—only narratives and requests related to military affairs.
Provisions, military equipment, manpower… Nothing could be disclosed to the public. After reading the letter, Liang Feng unexpectedly felt a hint of disappointment. Shaking his head, he dismissed this strange emotion. He picked up his brush to reply.
This battle, though not very dangerous, was still a confrontation with the Bai Xianbei, and there was no room for the slightest negligence. Zhang Bin, also serving as a strategist, stayed in Xinxing to oversee the overall situation. He only hoped that this battle would secure a peaceful rear area for Bing County. As he concluded the letter, Liang Feng hesitated for a moment but ultimately added a small line of words.
After sealing the letter, he summoned a messenger and instructed them to deliver it to Xinxing with all haste. News also arrived from the Xiongnu side that after occupying Hedong, Liu Yuan had decided to ascend to the throne. This time, he would not be the King of Han but the true Emperor of the Han Empire. The world had now transitioned from having two emperors to three, and it remained uncertain how many more would emerge in the future. However, with Liu Yuan about to ascend, the Xiongnu would certainly not stir up trouble again. This was the perfect opportunity to resolve the turmoil in the rear, and Liang Feng couldn’t afford to miss it.
The other commanderies were about to be brought under control, except for Xihuo State, which still remained in the hands of the Xiongnu.
Just as he was pondering how to handle Xihuo State, an attendant suddenly reported, “Lord, Zhu Fada requests an audience.”
Hadn’t that Hu monk, who went to consolidate support, returned?! Liang Feng immediately said, “Summon him in!”
In no time, a man dressed in coarse clothing, with a shallow layer of hair on his head, strode into the inner hall. After paying his respects, Zhu Fada respectfully reported, “Esteemed Lord, this humble monk has not failed your trust. I have persuaded three detachments of Xiongnu, and they have come to Jinyang to submit. The three detachments amount to nine hundred and thirty households, with over a thousand capable warriors among them.”
Three detachments! Over a thousand troops! Liang Feng couldn’t help but sit up straight, “Where are they?”
“They are currently outside Jinyang.” Zhu Fada smiled faintly. “Would Lord like to summon their leaders into the city for an audience?”
“No.” Liang Feng stood up tall, decisively saying, “I will personally go out of the city!”
