Wei School's Three Good Students

Chapter 54 Heading South
Twenty-nine years after the founding of the Tianli era, the Lingnan Pass region under Wu Fei's rule saw an unprecedented level of cohesion among both merchants and farmers.

Military operations to the south to maintain trade routes have become a consensus among all.

Even illiterate people could count on their fingers the benefits of leaving the pass: the homespun cloth, straw ropes, and pottery from inside the pass could be exchanged for rare items such as cattle, timber, minerals, slaves, and medicinal herbs from the south. And the people who collected manure on the street all knew that when the army passed through the pass, a large number of livestock would gather, and there would be plenty of manure to collect.

In this atmosphere, when some storytellers were recounting the scenery of Nanguan, some villagers would ask in return, "Why didn't we cross the Lingjiang River last time we went south? If we had, the profits would have been even greater."

This demonstrates the current aggressiveness of the local people within Yongji Pass. After all, so far, going out of the pass has consistently shown a "no loss, sure profit" characteristic, and the benefits of going out of the pass have indeed been widely distributed among the lower and middle classes.

Oh, it's worth mentioning that these people telling stories of southern Xinjiang in the countryside were instructed by Wu Fei.

Wu Fei didn't have the guts to have the army sing the "General's Training Song" directly, but he was still quietly building a propaganda system by relying on these local storytellers in southern Xinjiang.

Wu Fei: Direct overstepping is not allowed, but overstepping in a roundabout way is acceptable.

Wu Fei found his personal guards and recruited some of their sons to infiltrate the storytellers' ranks and form a "security bureau" to do this kind of thing.

When recruiting for the Wu family army, soldiers often had brothers at home. The fear was that if both died on the battlefield, even with sufficient compensation, the elderly would have no one to care for them in their old age. Wu Fei's personal guards were also from similar family backgrounds, and now Wu Fei was short-handed! Fortunately, these tasks were within the Great Wall, not requiring battlefield combat, so he had his guards call their sons to help him. These guards were quite happy to do so, as it meant having another person in their family to receive military pay and directly serve the general.

These "caravans" sent propaganda teams to various opera troupes, not only to give lectures but also to collect feedback from the public and report it to Wu Fei.

At the first Security Bureau meeting, Wu Fei heard one of the captains, speaking on behalf of the civilians, ask him: "When will we sweep across the south of Lingjiang in one fell swoop and wipe out the enemy's strongholds?"

Facing the expectant gazes at the meeting, Wu Fei felt rather embarrassed and gave a vague answer: "Everything depends on the timing; the current situation is developing in our favor."

Wu Fei shook his head inwardly: Li Mu took three years to solve the northern problem of Zhao. What merit do I have? I'll just have to wait it out.

…The time was fast approaching…

In April, amidst a torrential downpour, a man from a tribal village in southern Xinjiang stumbled to the checkpoint and knocked on the door, requesting an audience with the commander.

This man was Kam. In his narration, he recounted how his honest and law-abiding village had been plundered by the surrounding wicked tribes for some unknown reason. His story brought tears to the eyes of all who heard it, and filled them with sorrow. They longed to immediately lead their soldiers to uphold justice.

Of course, after reading through these testimonies once, Wu Fei yawned. —Having grown up reading literary magazines and needing to write sentimental stories to get good grades in exams, he simply didn't believe the story of a kind and gentle ethnic group suffering an undeserved calamity. Although he didn't know the detailed facts, Wu Fei was certain that this was a sudden feud between two tribes, likely due to conflicting interests, and certainly not a sudden change of heart on one side.

Wu Fei glanced at the guy named Kam from afar. The horns on his head had polished marks, essentially a manicure—a display of wealth typically seen among horned people. Then, watching him eloquently recount his miserable state to others, Wu Fei inexplicably imagined the guy smugly boasting when he was feeling triumphant. —Thanks to the internet from his previous life, Wu Fei was quite worldly-wise.

Wu Fei approached Kam and, as if offering condolences from a cadre, firmly grasped his hand, saying, "I deeply sympathize with your plight. Rest assured, this matter is utterly heinous. I am the General Zhennan appointed by the Grand General (I don't actually hold this title, I'm just a Lieutenant General)! I have a responsibility to maintain regional peace and stability (his voice trails off). Yes, protecting the borders and ensuring the safety of the people is my duty. Guards, please take this villager away and settle him properly, and carefully review the petition."

In the military academy, Wu Fei summoned his subordinates to discuss the matter.

On the silk map, Wu Fei lit an oil lamp and held it close. The map showed the situation near the Kam tribe. He deduced that other tribes might have been involved in the attack on this tribe. Wu Fei pointed at Zhao Tu, and the general responded, "General, give me three hundred men, and I'll wipe out this tribe."

Wu Fei smacked his helmet: "You think you're so great!"

Wu Fei began to formulate a plan, sending troops to the areas in front of the tribes suspected of being involved in the raid on the Kam tribe, to scout out the terrain, and at the same time to send a message to these tribes, to use force to trick them into releasing the people of the Karu tribe.

Another general asked, "What if they release the prisoners?"

Wu Fei: "Okay, then let's leave it at that. Mission accomplished. If they don't release the people, keep an eye on them and wait until the army arrives in June. If they release some and don't, keep an eye on the tribes that don't release the people. Once we have gathered evidence that they 'robbed tribes that have submitted to us,' then we can take action."

Clearly, Wu Fei's attitude in this matter is one of "preferring to let things go."

Seeing the puzzled looks on the soldiers around him, Wu Fei said with exasperation, "If we were fighting for our own core interests, of course we would act swiftly and decisively. But now we are here to uphold justice. This case must be judged carefully. We can only strike the gavel and announce our verdict after all the debaters have had a chance to speak under our guidance."

Upon hearing this, many soldiers understood that this meant becoming an "upright and just official."

Upon hearing how troublesome it was, Zhao Tu shrank to the side and stopped talking.

Wu Fei took a sip of the bubbly "hangover soup" to moisten his throat and said, "Upholding justice requires someone to demand it. Right now, the only one beating the drum in the hall is that kid (Kam). And now, this 'escapee from the tribal feud' comes to our camp and can summon our army? Is our army 'rapidly dispatched'? Hmm, is it 'knife'?"

"Don't worry, this isn't over. Once those tribes release their captors under pressure from us, those captors won't settle their scores with those who captured them. More people will come demanding justice from us!"

Wu Fei stared at the soldiers and generals: "Military operations require consideration of timing, terrain, and popular support. Timing refers to the dry season each year, terrain refers to the strategic passes behind us that allow for retreat, and popular support refers to the growing number of people in the combat zone who hope for our victory! I need someone to go and make that trip."

Zhao Tu stood up, ready to accept the order.

Wu Fei waved his hand: "Sit down."

Wu Fei selected one of his personal guards and ordered him to lead a troop to uphold justice. He also gave the guard a box containing several bottom-line guidelines.

In short, Cam's personal desire for "justice" is currently only his own.

The Wu family army's desire to intervene in this matter stemmed from its own strategic considerations. These considerations drew the attention of various tribes in southern Xinjiang, who realized that "the Wu family army has the ability to uphold justice" and is willing to "accept the invitation to uphold justice."

Using Xuan Chong's past experience of great power rivalry as an example, it's clear that when the East spoke up for those insignificant small countries along the Silk Road, it was meaningless on its own. At most, it only made it more difficult for other major powers to intervene in the affairs of these smaller countries.

However, if even one small country, through its own efforts to resist, combined with external voices and support from the East, successfully prevents other major powers from interfering, such a case can prompt more countries in need of "justice" to speak out and call for change.

Once more and more small countries begin to call for action, then it will truly be possible to respond to the call and punish the wicked.

…Yongji Pass reopened during the rainy season, and several detachments of soldiers began their advance in the rain…

On the third day of the fifth lunar month, a 300-strong armed force from the Wu family army arrived at the scene. Led by Kam, they went to these villages to demand "population".

Kam himself wanted to let hatred cloud his judgment and take the opportunity to escalate the situation, hoping to resolve it all here with the help of the Wu family army he brought.

But his "hatred" was tempered by the rationality of the military officer: the return of his loved ones was more important than anything else. Garlic bird, garlic bird.

Perhaps it was the sheer force of the 300 armored swordsmen that made the able-bodied men of these tribes feel there was no need to actually fight, or perhaps the older men in these tribes felt that it was somewhat unethical to rob other tribes.

Of course, it was also because Kam bowed his head and was willing to exchange salt for his people, which benefited these tribes. Ultimately, under the mediation of the Wu family army, these tribes released the children and women they had abducted. Everyone got what they wanted, and everyone was happy.

Upon receiving the news, Wu Fei instructed his accompanying guide to send members of his auxiliary army to various surrounding tribal areas to publicize the fair outcome of the Southern Frontier General's Office's actions.

A month later, the Wu family army left. To prevent any unforeseen events after their departure, the Wu family army left some iron knives for self-defense in Kam's tribe.

Kam's fourteen-year-old brother, watching the departing soldiers of the Wu family army, asked his older brother, "Have they really left?"

Kam looked at the tribe's remaining assets, pondering how to make up for the losses in business next year, and absentmindedly replied, "Well, we're leaving now. These bigwigs' caravans will come again in a few months."

As a test taker, you need to score every point...

Inside Yongji Pass, Third Aunt gazed at the changes on the geomantic map and slowly said, "The rules have changed in the area two hundred miles south of Yongji Pass." A blue glint appeared in her eyes, but it was quickly suppressed by gold. Then, she received a new task from a system called "The Way of Heaven" within the box.

Third Aunt looked at the task and showed a nervous expression.

New task: To produce a successor for the Southern Frontier Military Lord.

…We've run out of paper in our workbooks, time to start adding more pages…

Wu Fei stood on the city wall receiving intelligence from the south. He realized he was playing a game of "replacing native chieftains with centrally appointed officials," a task that couldn't be accomplished in one generation. But once the beginning was set, future generations would have a model to follow.

Xuan Chong slowly wrote in the blank space of the system notes: Participating in the adjudication among the natives is the cornerstone of the Eastern civilization's expansion system in the southwest. Without the adjudication of civilization, the tribes are governed by the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak and devour each other.

In southern Xinjiang, there are numerous instances of people resorting to violence over a single stone of salt. In this dark jungle of conflict, when one side cannot completely eliminate the other, the resulting series of conflicts will continue indefinitely.

The introduction of civilized judgments, which fosters a need for "trust and righteousness" among people, is the true path to human prosperity.

Compared to the Western colonial system of slaughter and destruction, which was then grafted with the colonizer's religion and pirate laws, the Eastern expansion system was actually more stable. It's just that during the Age of Exploration, the Ming Dynasty, in its pursuit of civilizational expansion, failed to find a cost-effective method of military intervention.

Wu Fei: I am a military strategist. I must forge the sword with the best cost and use it in the best way.

Wu Fei (Xuan Chong) opened the system again: "These are the questions I need to answer, right?"

The system didn't respond, and Wu Fei didn't notice the change in the malevolent aura emanating from him. Originally, this aura instilled fear in the surrounding creatures. But now, hundreds of meters away, out of Wu Fei's sight, birds were collectively landing on trees, bowing their heads towards Yongji Pass. They seemed to have adapted to the malevolent aura.

…The perspective shifts to the north of the major hexagram…

In Bo County, Pu'e looked at the Guotai Agricultural Guards at the front of her army. Their armor was now covered with arrows, while the Guotai Dragon Crossbowmen behind them had to take up swords to fight due to the intensity of the battle, resulting in incomplete formations.

It would take at least six months to replenish these soldiers, but currently, the fifteen armies of Da Yao are being deployed every month. If this rotation continues, Guo Tai's military strength will soon be exhausted.

Upon arriving at the city wall, Pu'e did not follow the soldiers through the city gate, but instead used lightning to fly up to the city tower.

Her cloak swayed as she turned, and she frowned as she looked at the mountains and rivers of this world.

At this moment, she opened the system and looked at the divine general she had summoned.

Pu'e: "System, why haven't the first-tier divine generals I summoned made a move yet?"

System: "Due to unknown reasons, the summoned general is currently thinking too independently. When analyzing the situation, this general will also analyze his own current predicament."

Pu'e: "What, you'd betray me just because I drew the card?"

System: "No, his loyalty level isn't at its maximum yet. If we need his assistance to achieve great things, we'll need even more sincerity."

Pu E: "What sincerity? Didn't I appoint him as a general?"

System: "If that's the case, you just need to hold on for another three months."

Pu'e paused for a moment, then said, "Is that so? Then let's hold on for another three months."

System: "Three months from now, your city will fall, and he will make his move. At that time, he will demand the position of Grand General based on his great achievements."

Pu'e: "What—" Upon hearing this, she was so angry that she manifested a dragon-like appearance, with lightning bolts leaping from the dragon horns on her forehead and surging into the sky.

…three hours…

In another camp marked with the character "Zhao," Pu'e entered the camp in her dragon form and then transformed into a human.

She had forcibly entered the military camp, and the crossbowmen on duty on the city wall immediately aimed at her. However, Pu'e showed her waist badge and managed to escape from the Yu Yong halberd formation that had come to surround her.

She walked into the military camp, where Zhao Cheng was looking at a map and waiting for her. Pu'e walked in, but instead of asking any questions, she took out the decree of the current King of Guotai.

The current king of Guotai is merely a ten-year-old child, a rubber stamp. Pu'e is the regent, wielding real power. Unlike the Haotian Realm, where dragons are accustomed to being rulers, the people of the Xiren Realm are used to humans as rulers. The dragon descendants, having entered the northern border of Dayao, had to reform the system to gain the allegiance of virtuous and capable individuals.

Pu E: "Zhao Cheng, listen to my decree—"

Zhao Cheng paused for a moment, then cupped his hands in greeting.

Pu E then used the imperial decree to announce that he had made contributions, and then appointed him as the Grand General of the State, giving him full control of all military power. After that, she took out a tiger tally that flashed with lightning.

Zhao Cheng paused slightly, seemingly not expecting this, but then realized what was happening and shouted, "Zhao Cheng, receive the imperial decree!"

Pu'e: "Now you can send troops!"

Zhao Cheng cupped his hands and said frankly, "Please forgive me, Grand Preceptor, but to win this battle, I must not be hindered by anything. Otherwise, it would be better for me to preserve Guotai's bloodline for the Grand Preceptor."

(End of this chapter)