Farmers of Shu Han

Chapter 1502 Nine Continents
In the winter of the twentieth year of Yanxi, the army that had conquered Liaodong returned to Chang'an. The army's return to Chang'an signified the reunification of the country.

Liu Shan fulfilled his promise, leading his ministers to Mount Tai and ordering Zhong Hui to compose the "Ode to the Unity of the Nine Regions" in regular script.

After the Fengshan ceremony, the officials held a banquet at the Sunrise Peak.

After several rounds of drinks, Liu Shan was already somewhat tipsy. Suddenly, he raised his cup to Feng Yong's table and, with a drunken laugh, said:

"Mingwen, since you left the mountain, you have contributed agricultural strategies, promoted industry and commerce, manufactured firearms, and brought peace to the world. Your contributions to the restoration of the Han Dynasty are the greatest!"

"Now that the world is united, I wish to bestow generous rewards. Speak frankly, what rank do you desire?"

The banquet fell silent instantly.

All the officials looked to Feng Yong for guidance.

Feng Yong slowly rose, raised his cup and drank it all, then said calmly, "Since Your Majesty has asked, I will speak frankly. Then, grant me the title of King."

"Clang!" A minister's wine cup fell to the ground.

The drunkenness on Liu Shan's face vanished instantly, and he said in astonishment:

“The system of bestowing titles of kings? It is clear from the written records that since Emperor Gaozu decreed that ‘only those of the Liu family could be kings,’ this system has been in place for four hundred years.”

“Your Majesty understands,” Feng Yong said calmly. “Therefore, I said: If Your Majesty can persuade the officials, then grant the title; if not, then this is just my drunken ramblings.”

Liu Shan gazed at him for a long time, then suddenly smiled:
"I...I'm afraid I really can't persuade you, but—"

He leaned forward and lowered his voice, "If you can persuade them yourself, I might grant you the title of king."

Upon hearing this, Feng Yong laughed loudly, looking up at the sky.

After laughing, he took out a scroll of drawings bound with gold thread from his pocket and presented it with both hands:

“In that case, I will not ask for the title of king. This gift is presented to Your Majesty as a token of respect for the Fengshan ceremony.”

Liu Shan took it with a puzzled expression, untied the gold thread, and unfolded the blueprint.

It turned out to be a huge painting in meticulous brushwork, with a sky-blue background and gold powder decorations. The mountains and rivers rose and fell like dragon veins, and the ocean surged like cloud patterns.

The diagram is divided into nine sections, each labeled with ancient seal script:

The Eastern Continent, the Southern Continent, the Western Continent, the Northern Continent, the Central Continent, the Southern Continent, the Fusang Islands, the Buddhist Kingdom of Sindhu, and the Westernmost Continent of Qin.

In the center of the map, under the name "Central Land of China," a region is circled in red ink and inscribed with the words: Great Han Dynasty.

The territory of the Han Dynasty only occupies one-tenth of the entire map.

Liu Shan looked up in shock at Grand Marshal Feng: "This is..."

Grand Marshal Feng drank another cup of wine and replied:

"This is the true 'Complete Map of the Nine Provinces and the Universe,' a secret passed down only by my master's school, which can only be viewed by the ruler of the world."

"In the past, both Qin Shi Huang at Langya Terrace and Emperor Wu of Han at Weiyang Palace saw this fragment of the painting."

"Therefore, the First Emperor repeatedly sent Xu Fu to sea, and Emperor Wu frequently conquered the Western Regions, not to seek immortality or expand the borders, but to explore the secrets of this land."

Upon hearing that Grand Marshal Feng had revealed the secrets of his master's school, and upon hearing his words, the assembled officials were in an uproar.

An old minister asked in a trembling voice, "The 'Yu Gong' only records the Nine Provinces, so where did the Nine Provinces come from?"

Feng Yong did not answer, but pointed to the easternmost point of "Central Divine Continent" on the map:

"Your Majesty, please look at these three fairy mountains overseas: Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou, the places Xu Fu sought."

"According to the Liaodong military report, when Sima Zhao's remnants were routed, several warships fled eastward. The surrendered generals said that Sima Zhao may have fled to Japan."

"Japanese country?"

“Exactly.” Feng Yong nodded, pointing to the “Fusang Islands” on the map. “This island chain is only a little over a thousand miles from my Qingzhou.”

“If you start from Liaodong, it will be even easier to travel back and forth.”

“Back when the pseudo-Wei dynasty still existed, Queen Himiko of Wa sent envoys to pay tribute, and Cao Rui personally bestowed upon her the title of ‘Wa Queen who is close to Wei’.”

"During the reigns of Cao Shuang and Sima Yi, Japanese envoys frequently visited the Central Plains and Liaodong, offering tribute of raw meat and basil."

He paused, his voice turning cold:
"If Sima Zhao were to truly flee to Japan, he would surely rely on the Japanese to plot a comeback. Although Japan is a small country, it is strategically located by the sea. If it gains power, the consequences will be dire."

The Empress's eyes flashed: "The implication is..."

Feng Yong bowed:

"Your Majesty, I request that you send warships to conquer Japan. This would serve two purposes: first, to pursue and kill Sima Zhao and wipe out the remnants of the puppet Wei regime; and second, to verify the authenticity of this map."

"If the location and topography of the Fusang Islands on the map are accurate, then the Nine Provinces Map is not a fabrication, and Your Majesty should believe what I say."

His finger pointed to "Xiniu Hezhou":
"This is the location of the Great Qin Kingdom, whose capital is Rome, with a population of one million. Its bathhouses are like palaces. As to whether this is true or not, Your Majesty can summon Qin to discuss it with them."

Then it refers to "Beiju Luzhou":
"This continent has a river called the Mississippi River, whose basin is so vast that it reaches three parts of the Central Plains. The natives are called the Yin people, who may be descendants of the Shang Dynasty's Jizi who crossed the sea to the east."

Liu Shan's hand holding the map trembled slightly.

He saw the map covered with markings: where there were gold mines, where the land was suitable for cultivation, and where the waterways were dangerous...

This is by no means a fabrication; its level of detail far surpasses that of all the maps in the palace.

"Feng Qing's teacher is from Harbin Institute of Technology..." Liu Chan looked up, "He truly possesses unfathomable abilities!"

Feng Yong bowed deeply.

“My lineage has been passed down since the time of the Yellow Emperor. We possess the secrets of astronomy and geography. Every three hundred years, we select an enlightened ruler and present maps to help him achieve unparalleled feats.”

"Your Majesty is the 'ruler of all under heaven' of this generation."

The Empress suddenly said:

"Your Majesty, although Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han were great rulers, in their later years they sought immortality, which burdened the people, and they used witchcraft to bring disaster to the country. These were not the actions of a wise ruler."

"Even if this map is real, if we were to wage war against the Japanese, it would be a massive, cross-sea expedition that would cost a fortune. What if..."

Liu Shan's expression hardened.

Feng Yong smiled slightly:
"What Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han could not do, Your Majesty may be able to do as well."

He turned to Liu Shan and said, “I have a plan that can both preserve Your Majesty’s reputation and inspire heroes from all over the world to expand the territory of the Han Dynasty.”

"What plan do you have?" Liu Shan asked anxiously.

Feng Yong points to the "Central Plains of China" on the map:
"Your Majesty, please look, here lies the territory of our Great Han. According to ancestral rules, 'no one but a Liu can be a king,' and 'no one but a meritorious official can be a marquis.' This is the foundation upon which the state is maintained, and it must not be broken."

It also refers to the other eight continents:

"However, these eight continents—the easternmost part of Dongsheng Shenzhou, the southern border of Nanzhanbuzhou, the western border of Xiniuhezhou… are all uncivilized lands, inhabited by barbarians."

"If someone could pacify a continent for His Majesty, civilize the barbarians, and bring them to Han rule..."

He paused, then said, word by word, "What harm would it do to bestow upon him the title of king?"

"hiss--"

Not only Liu Shan, but even the court officials were all taken aback.

Feng Yong continued:
"Your Majesty may issue the 'Expansion Order': All Han subjects, regardless of rank or commoner, who can go out to sea to expand their territory, occupy a thousand miles of land, govern a hundred thousand people, and establish cities and systems, may be granted the title of 'Outer King' after the court's inspection."

"The produce of the land for the first ten years belongs to the local people; after ten years, the imperial court will collect taxes and establish prefectures and counties to govern it."

His gaze swept over the assembled officials:
"Imagine if heroes from all over the world knew that there were gold mines and fertile lands overseas, where becoming a king and being granted land would not be a dream, wouldn't they flock there?"

"At that time, Your Majesty will be stationed in Chang'an, and thousands of brave warriors will be there to expand Your Majesty's territory—this is to fulfill the desires of the people and achieve Your Majesty's unparalleled feat."

So familiar...

Isn't this the same strategy you devised back then to capture the barbarians in the south?

I thought the plan back then was vicious enough, but I never expected it to be just a small test!

The empress suddenly asked, "What if those who expand the territory hold military power and turn against the Central Plains?"

Grand Marshal Feng gave the Empress a meaningful look: "If the Central Plains, possessing the mighty Ruins of the State, still cannot resist, then it is the fault of those who did not expand the territory."

Minister Fei Yi pondered, “This is a land of barbarians, rife with miasma and plague; I fear no one would want to go there.”

Grand Marshal Feng pointed to a spot on the map:
"In Jambudvipa, there are spice islands where a pound of cloves is worth ten gold pieces. In Uttarakuru, there are gold mountains where the riverbeds are exposed with golden sand. With such a generous reward, there will surely be brave men."

General Jiang Wei: "If the vassal kings attack each other..."

Grand Marshal Feng smiled and said, "The imperial court can establish a 'Maritime Administration Commission' to be in charge of boundary surveying, arbitration, and naval patrols. Disputes between vassal states should be decided by the imperial court."

"In this way, Your Majesty will not only gain more territory, but also become the ruler of all nations."

Liu Chen reminded him: "Lord Feng, the Central Plains have just been pacified, and the Han people number no more than thirty million. This is the time for us to recuperate..."

Grand Marshal Feng gazed at the sea of ​​clouds in the east and slowly said:

"In my calculations, the number of Han people who will benefit from the new policies will reach 60 million in just 20 or 30 years, and will double in another 50 years."

He looked around at the crowd and said, "In both the Former and Later Han dynasties, the population would decline after reaching 60 million, and chaos would begin, causing hardship for the people. Why is that?"

"The people have no means of livelihood. If we do not plan for the next hundred years now, are we to spend decades reviving the Han Dynasty only for another fifty years?"

Everyone was in awe.

The Empress sighed inwardly. When the Prime Minister was in office, Feng Mingwen had vigorously promoted the new policies, and it seemed that he was truly dedicated to the restoration of the Han Dynasty.

Looking back now, it seems to be part of a long-term plan.

This is certainly not the work of a human; it is the work of a demon!

Apart from the Empress, everyone listened quietly to what Mr. Feng had to say:

"But if we can pacify Japan and confirm the truth of the map of the Nine Provinces, then it will be a completely different story. The world is so vast, where can't it be Han territory?"

"Wherever the sun and moon shine, wherever rivers flow, all become subjects of the Han Dynasty. This is the true Han Dynasty."

After a long while, Liu Shan stood atop the mountain, holding the map, his robes billowing in the mountain wind.

After a long silence, he turned around, his gaze intense: "What do you all think?"

"Your Majesty!" an old minister cried, kneeling and weeping, "The ancestral rules cannot be violated!"

Liu Shan raised his hand to stop him:

Emperor Gaozu decreed "No one but a Liu can be king" to prevent powerful ministers from seizing power. But today—

He unfurled the map of the Nine Provinces, and his voice resounded atop Mount Tai:
"The world is far larger than our ancestors imagined! If we are bound by ancestral rules and confined to the Central Plains, we will be failing our ancestors' ambition to expand the world!"

He looked at Grand Marshal Feng:
"I hereby appoint you as the head of the 'Expansion Division,' responsible for the surveying of the Nine Provinces, the issuance of expansion orders, and the investiture of vassal states."

"A separate 'Maritime Administration' will be established to build large ocean-going warships and train a powerful naval force."

postscript:

In the twenty-first year of the Yanxi reign, Feng Yong presented the "Complete Map of the Nine Provinces and the Universe" at Mount Tai, and said that the emperor was issuing an "expansion order".

This decree caused a stir throughout the land.

In the twenty-second year of Yanxi, Feng Yong took his wives and concubines back to Jincheng to pay respects to his parents, and then disappeared without a trace.

There are rumors that he went into seclusion in the south to cultivate immortality, and eventually ascended to heaven.

There are also rumors that Yongmi mobilized the power of Xinghan Hui and sailed from Jiaozhi to Zhuya or Yizhou in a large ship.

Five years later, the Han army conquered Japan and captured the traitors Sima Zhao, Jia Chong, and Cheng Ji, exterminating their three clans. The execution ground was crowded with onlookers, all of whom spat in their faces.

Ten years later, Han warships were found all over the islands of Southeast Asia.

Thirty years later, both Fusang and Ryukyu established their own vassal states.

After the emperor ordered a nationwide search for Feng Yong to be unsuccessful, Empress Zhang whispered a plan to Liu Shan in her bedside:

"It would be better to spread the word throughout the world that Jiang Wei and Feng Yong are ranked together, and that they are the twin pillars of the Han Dynasty. Guan Yu is of a fierce nature and will not give up. He will surely emerge from the world."

The emperor rejected it.

A century later, the Han dynasty, due to Feng Yong's excessive wisdom, appointed Guan Yinping, a woman, as a general for more than twenty years.

To avoid the Feng clan being exclusively honored, Jiang Wei was repeatedly promoted and ranked alongside Feng Yong, known as the "Twin Pillars of the Shu Han Dynasty".

A historian named "Oil Vendor 123" wrote:

Feng Yong's strategy was not about bestowing titles upon kings, but about securing the entire realm; not about power and position, but about finding a way out for the Han dynasty.

Alas, the wisdom of one man can alter the fate of a dynasty and usher in a new era that lasts for a thousand years. This is not the will of Heaven, but the pinnacle of human planning.
-
Postscript:
When Crown Prince Liu Chen ascended the throne, during the Tai'an era, the people of Wuling made their living by fishing.

I followed the stream, forgetting how far I had gone. Suddenly I came upon a peach grove, stretching for hundreds of paces along both banks, with no other trees, fragrant grasses, and fallen petals in abundance.

The fisherman was very surprised and continued forward, wanting to explore the forest to its end.

The forest ends at the source of the stream, where a mountain appears, with a small opening that seems to emit light.

They then abandoned the boat and entered through the opening. At first, it was extremely narrow, barely wide enough for a person to pass through. After walking several dozen steps, it suddenly opened up into a bright and spacious place.

The land is flat and the houses are neat. There are fertile fields, beautiful ponds, mulberry trees and bamboos.

The paths crisscross, and the sounds of chickens and dogs can be heard from one another.

The people who came and went, and the clothing of the men and women, were just like those of the people in Tai'an at that time. However, upon closer inspection, the fabric of their clothes had a fine and dense texture, unlike ordinary hemp.

Under the eaves of the village houses, transparent thin sheets are suspended, allowing sunlight to penetrate and filling the room with brilliance.

The boy jokingly said, "This 'glass window' is made according to the method left by Master Feng, and it is not afraid of wind and rain."

……

Once they were out, they found their boat and followed the path, marking the way at every turn.

Upon arriving at the prefecture, he went to see the prefect, explained the situation, and presented him with the "Essentials of Investigating Things" given to him by the elder of Peach Blossom Spring.

The prefect immediately sent men to follow him, but they lost their way and could not find the path again.

Liu Ziji of Nanyang was a man of noble character. Upon hearing of this, he gladly planned to go there.

Unsuccessful, he died seeking medical treatment.

The emperor obtained the "Essentials of Investigating Things" and secretly ordered an investigation, but to no avail.

The book contains many technical terms and algorithms that no one in the court could understand.

The Grand Historian sighed, "Master Feng's wisdom is indeed beyond the reach of this world."

Some say: "Lord Feng was originally a visitor from beyond the heavens, who happened to descend to the mortal world. He helped the Han Dynasty unify the country, thus repaying his karmic debt. After the matter was settled, he returned home, leaving behind Peach Blossom Spring as a place of remembrance."

Some say: "The 'glass' and 'waterwheel' mentioned by the villagers are actually improvements made by Master Feng based on the legacy of the Mohist school from the pre-Qin period, and have nothing to do with ghosts and gods."

However, since Tai'an, the Peach Blossom Spring of Wuling has never reappeared.

Only in the depths of spring, the peach blossoms by the stream bloom as before, and the evening songs of fishing boats can be faintly heard, along with the faint sound of human voices singing:
Having achieved great success, he departed in triumph, leaving behind a map of the nine provinces, which he then sailed freely on his boat.

Do not ask where the gentleman has gone; wherever the sun and moon shine, there are Han banners.
-
Complete book.

(My new book, "The Heart of Industry: Starting with Hand-Made Filters," is a blend of historical fiction and industrial fiction. If you're interested, you can check it out.)