Chapter 301: Chapter 293: Hidden Disease
July passed in the blink of an eye, and soon, it was already mid-August.
Fengyu had been leading the cavalry in West Continent City for nearly a month. She tackled both city defense and agricultural revitalization simultaneously, and the city, which housed tens of thousands of permanent residents, quickly fell into a steady rhythm. Under the mediation of Chen Jiangdong and the state officials, conflicts among the townsfolk gradually diminished. The majority of West Continent’s population was comprised of young and able-bodied men. During the early stages of reclaiming and cultivating new farmlands, Fengyu provided grain rations to the residents. Half a month later, when stability set in, she began to cease the grain disbursement, allowing the townsfolk to rely on their own efforts for sustenance.
West Continent was the most critical cotton-producing area of Yanyang. The original inhabitants were already engaged in cotton cultivation, and August happened to be the harvest season. However, for crops requiring spring sowing, much of the newly reclaimed land had missed the planting season this year. They would have to wait for autumn sowing or next year’s spring sowing.
To secure sufficient grain supplies for the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry, nearly all the farmlands were planted with millet and potatoes. Though millet was no longer Yanyang’s primary staple crop, having long been replaced by wheat and rice, it remained an annual crop that could be sown at any time. Millet could be harvested in just two months, and its drought- and cold-resistant properties made it the most suitable choice for the current conditions in West Continent.
In addition to millet, fruits and melons were also grown. However, due to geographical limitations, the types of crops that could be cultivated in West Continent were far fewer compared to Jiangnan. Groups of young and strong men ventured into the mountains for hunting, while the forests offered wild fruits and vegetables, ensuring the townsfolk’s basic livelihood needs were met.
Fengyu urged the townsfolk to plant millet on all the available wastelands and, as a token of gratitude, compensated them by either paying them a daily rental fee or distributing grain and daily necessities.
Wheat, the main staple crop, would have to wait for large-scale planting during the spring or winter sowing seasons. Winter sowing began in October, which was still some time away. For now, Fengyu focused on stabilizing the lives of West Continent’s residents, organizing the farmland layout, and constructing irrigation canals. Originally, she had planned to request Xie Xun to dispatch troops to help with land cultivation. But upon realizing the abundance of manpower within the city, she decided it was unnecessary to have the cavalry make the arduous journey to West Continent. The exception would be during harvest times when additional manpower might be required, at which point military assistance could be called upon.
Fengyu calculated the costs: the expenses incurred by cavalry traveling long distances, coupled with the consumption of military rations upon their arrival in West Continent, were far less economical than hiring townsfolk to cultivate the land. In her correspondence to Xie Xun, she emphasized that neither West Continent nor Huangzhou required the cavalry for land cultivation. Their main priority should be the construction of the Liangma Road.
Fengyu exchanged information regularly with Prefectural Magistrate Wang in Huangzhou. Huangzhou had a slightly smaller population compared to West Continent and indeed needed more manpower. Prefectural Magistrate Wang, a highly competent individual, also recognized the high costs of long-distance cavalry deployments. Therefore, he wrote to Xue Yu in Jinzhou, hoping to secure his aid for Huangzhou’s agricultural efforts. Since the two regions were only half a day apart by fast horse, it was manageable. No one knew how Prefectural Magistrate Wang negotiated with Xue Yu, but an IOU was involved, and Xue Yu remarkably agreed to dispatch troops to assist Huangzhou.
Everything was progressing methodically, and Fengyu gradually became adept at her role as the City Lord of West Continent, earning the heartfelt support of its residents.
The primary reason was the excellent welfare she provided. Although Fengyu ceased the provision of grain, every five to seven days, she distributed daily necessities or food items like poultry to the residents. What seemed like small favors were, in the eyes of the townsfolk, a godsend during such difficult times.
On the fifteenth of August, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the city was bustling. There was no curfew, and the residents gathered in the central plaza for festivities. Fengyu assigned Chen Jiangdong to maintain order, while she stayed at the state mansion to rest. She never enjoyed such lively occasions. As Qiuxiang entered through the Moon Gate, she announced, "Miss, Manager Su has sent Mid-Autumn gifts and would like to invite you to celebrate at his residence."
"Decline it, and say I’m unwell," Fengyu replied.
"Understood!"
For more than half a month, she had been negotiating with Su Mengwei about taking over control of the mines, hoping he and Zhu Shengkai’s people would withdraw. However, Su Mengwei claimed that he could not dictate Zhu Shengkai’s decisions. Once a notorious bandit, Zhu Shengkai was now the Iron Official, wielding absolute power in West Continent. Fengyu was in no hurry and chose to outwait them. The city gates were tightly shut, inspections were rigorous, and it was nearly impossible for iron ore to leave the city.
The mines were hers, and she intended to reclaim them without shedding a single drop of blood.
As she gazed at the moon in the courtyard, Fengyu thought of her grandmother and elder sister. She rarely thought of her parents but felt a strong longing for Old Mrs. Feng and Feng Shu.
She wondered how her elder sister was faring in the monastery. Was she being mistreated by Yuwen Jing? During festivals like the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time for family reunions, her father and mother would certainly visit her sister at the monastery.
Being alone in a foreign place heightened her longing for her family.
She missed her sister. She missed Xie Xun as well.
She couldn’t help but wonder how Xie Xun was doing in Ningzhou.
Fengyu touched the Soul Suppressing Pearl on her wrist. Waves of longing surged within her. Staring regretfully at the full moon, she wondered, "When will I be able to see my sister and Xie Xun again?"
Governance in Ningzhou was progressing far more smoothly than in West Continent, with hardly any obstacles. Xie Jue distributed compensation in silver to the clans, and once the land was acquired, the state officials planned and allocated it accordingly. First, the presence of the army stationed in Ningzhou deterred all sorts of subversive elements. Second, Xie Jue’s resolute and unyielding methods left no room for dissent.
Xie Jue implemented the Equal Land System in cities spanning from Ningzhou to Salt City, and it went relatively smoothly. However, in Salt City, fierce resistance from the clans erupted, prompting Xie Xun to send troops to suppress it. Even the State Mansion was reorganized, with Cui Lansong and Chen Huang dispatched to oversee Salt City and enforce the new policies.
The Xie brothers adopted a far more aggressive approach to implementing reforms across the six cities from Ningzhou to Salt City. By contrast, Fengyu opted for a slow, strategic approach akin to boiling a frog. Each method was tailored to the region’s conditions, with its own advantages and drawbacks.
Salt City, Sha City, Luocheng, Pingzhou, and Min State now acknowledged Ningzhou rather than Yanyang’s decrees. The Salt City clans resisted not only out of opposition to losing their lands and wealth but also due to reports of Zhongzhou reinforcing its troops and Fang Chuning marching to garrison the area. They hoped the Salt City Prefectural Magistrate would align himself with Yanyang once more.
The unrest in Salt City lasted two days before Xie Jue and Xie Xun decided to station Cui Lansong and Chen Huang there. Salt City became Yanyang’s first line of defense against the Ningzhou military, and Xie Xun deployed 80,000 troops there. While additional reinforcements were dispatched to Salt City, it was Zhongzhou’s decision-makers who were most anxious, maintaining a constant state of vigilance. However, Fang Chuning, who was stationed in Zhongzhou, appeared more relaxed than anyone else, casually sitting atop the city walls playing his flute. The green ribbon in his hair fluttered in the evening breeze, adding a hint of solitude to his figure.
"Don’t worry," he said. "It’s just a show of strength. Ningzhou won’t move against Zhongzhou proactively."
As Fang Chuning foretold, Xie Xun’s troop deployments were purely for deterrence and defensive preparations, with no intent to launch an offensive. However, there was one thing Fang Chuning omitted to say—Ningzhou wouldn’t attack proactively.
This was true for only the next one or two years.
But beyond that, all bets would be off.
As he gazed at the full moon, Fang Chuning thought of Xie Jue. Since childhood, this marked the first time he hadn’t spent Mid-Autumn Festival together with Xie Jue.
Mid-Autumn, aside from New Year’s Eve and the Lantern Festival, was the most vibrant celebration. In Ningzhou, the festivities were no less lively, with every household preparing new wine, pomegranates, mooncakes, and other foods. At night, river lanterns were released, and women and children offered prayers to the moon.
In previous years, he and Ting Feng most enjoyed climbing high places to admire the moon while drinking wine during Mid-Autumn. If there were no battles during their time in the barracks, they would go horseback riding and head to the tallest mountain to gaze at the moon. Ting Feng often said that the moon appeared roundest when viewed from a high vantage point. For this reason, he would take Ting Feng to the mountains to admire the moon every year.
Despite Ting Feng’s poor tolerance for alcohol, he never failed to accompany him, drinking under the moonlight until he inevitably passed out. Then, Ting Feng would rest his head on his lap and sleep until sunrise. Every year, the one who insisted on moon gazing would drunkenly doze off amidst the moonlit mountain peaks.
This year, Fang Chuning lamented that the Mid-Autumn Festival, traditionally a time for reunions, brought him nothing but loss and solitude. With his relatives deceased, reunion was no longer possible. Alone in Ningzhou, he wondered if Xie Xun had time to accompany him.
Ting Feng must be feeling deeply sorrowful.
Xie Tingfeng’s Mid-Autumn Festival, however, was utterly miserable!
In Ningzhou City, the Mid-Autumn celebrations proceeded as usual. Despite the Xie brothers’ supposed rebellion causing unease in some quarters, for the common people, life went on as always. The Ningzhou Iron Cavalry maintained its longstanding tradition of celebrating festivals with civilians. This year’s banquet was held as usual, and its central figure was Xie Xun, commander of the three armies. In addition to boosting morale by rewarding the troops, the gathering served to foster camaraderie among the generals. Such occasions were invaluable for bridging relationships during the transition from old to new leadership in the military hierarchy.
While Xie Jue, with his introverted nature and aversion to large gatherings, would usually slip away to join Fang Chuning for some quiet drinking atop a mountain, this year was different. He had to socialize with the generals. Fortunately, most generals were well acquainted with his temperament and knew of his low alcohol tolerance, so they refrained from attempting to force drinks upon him. Xie Jue assumed he could easily excuse himself after having a few drinks and making an appearance.
Yet, to his surprise, the topic of his marriage was brought up during the banquet.
As per tradition, Xie Jue and Xie Xun, who had lost their parents, were supposed to observe three years of mourning. However, as military generals stationed at the frontier during a time of war, they were technically exempt. Nonetheless, the two brothers were unwilling to break this mourning period.
The troops, however, believed that since their father, Marquis Zhenbei, had passed and the brothers were exempt during wartime, Xie Jue, now 21 years old, had reached the age to discuss marriage.
On the occasion of Mid-Autumn, an apt season for matchmaking, a few generals had already suggested, upon Xie Xun’s return from Jinzhou, that he ought to prioritize marriage and heirs—disregarding his betrothal to Fengyu. Some even subtly alluded to the same with Xie Jue.
Xie Jue gave a cold sneer and retorted, "I have a hidden ailment and have no intention to marry. Thank you for your concern."
The generals were left speechless.
Xie Xun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
"Second Brother, couldn’t you just stick with the mourning excuse? Was there really a need for this?"
"Now you’ve said that, they’ll only shift their focus entirely onto me!"