Wei School's Three Good Students

Chapter 80 Visitors from the Southern Region
In August of the 32nd year of the Tianli calendar, with increasing commercial investment, Fenxing City began to expand its land holdings.

The original fortress was located on the south side of the new city as a defensive stronghold. To the north of the fortress, a new city was built, with the outer city walls already in place, using rammed earth as the framework of roasted wood.

The caravan of people coming from inside Yongji Pass looked puzzled upon seeing the strange layout of the city walls. While waiting to enter the city, they got off the vehicles, fanning themselves with straw hats as they looked up at the exotic walls.

The new district of Fenxing City did not build walls according to the requirements of a regular city in Dayao; all the rammed earth walls were no more than one person high. However, watchtowers over three zhang high were set up between the rammed earth walls.

It wasn't just because of overstepping boundaries, but also because it wasn't suitable for the local climate and environment. The abundant rainfall in the south makes vegetation extremely lush, and the rammed earth city walls of the Central Plains style would be destroyed by the dense shrubs within a few years, unless they were made of pure stone, but that would be too costly. At present, Fenxing City is no longer on the front line; the need for walls is only for regional isolation and to facilitate the capture of thieves.

In response, Wu Fei recalled the story of Robinson Crusoe from his previous life, in which he built a defense on a deserted island by planting specific trees to form a neat hedge, achieving an effect similar to a city wall.

Therefore, Wu Fei planned a new city wall system similar to the hedges of a French peasant farm.

The price is reasonable, and it only needs regular trimming, which is not a problem; firewood is a resource in the city these days.

On the city's central axis stands a palace whose specifications clearly exceed those of a marquis's residence.

The foundation of this temple is made of stone and lime. The gaps between the stones are so tight that even a needle cannot be inserted. The craftsmen put a great deal of effort into this, and this workmanship makes the value of the building far exceed the value of the materials themselves.

The craftsmen's dedication was a spontaneous act. The rumor of being "chosen by the sacred fire" had spread unimpeded throughout the south. Many tribes in the southern frontier had already begun to worship at the Wu Feisheng Shrine.

This put Wu Fei, a high-ranking military officer, in an awkward position. His important task in the various pacification departments in the southern border, which were set up in imitation of the prefecture-county system, was to clean up "licentious worship," but now the "licentious worship" was actually himself.

Xuan Chong, reviewing history, observed that during the spread of Chinese civilization from north to south, officials in the north, representing central authority, attempted to establish a belief in the "Supreme God of Heaven." However, in their efforts to educate the south, they couldn't change the prevailing societal habit of worshipping multiple gods. They swept away some of the old gods, while the local people worshipped capable officials as new deities. Ultimately, during the Eastern Wu period, the ruling class was forced to acquiesce to the polytheistic state of the south, compiling the "Records of Searching for Gods in the Three Teachings" and establishing a standard: only gods who had benefited the people and the state could be worshipped.

Wu Fei found himself being worshipped like a god, and felt he needed to attain some divine status. Although those shameless "plundering strategies" he had previously employed in the southern borderlands originated from him, he now had to restrain himself.

Wu Fei, caught up in his calculations: In the past, what the people of Southern Xinjiang were like was none of my business. When my army marched south, I could declare myself a "barbarian." But now that has become my prestige, and of course I can't let my soft power assets be destroyed. — In Wu Fei's eyes, all the ethnic groups in Southern Xinjiang are now his assets, and he has to treat them well.

Under the ideology of the divine right of kings, the people's superstition towards the ruler is considered divinely ordained. If this belief is abandoned, today's fervor will turn into widespread condemnation of "retrogressive policies."

Especially those investors inside the pass, who were forced by him to frequently invest in workshops, had to constantly remember that the oxen and horses they used in Fenxing City all belonged to him (Wu Xiaoque). The caravans, following local customs, also offered incense at the Wu Feisheng Shrine.

There's just so much work to do...

While building the General's Mansion in Fenxing City (which was actually similar to the colonial governor's mansion), Wu Fei was calculating his various bargaining chips in the southern border region. He was trying to find any potential threats and demolish them before leaving.

The Wu family army now uses a "monopoly system" for the economic system in southern Xinjiang. A new "tea and salt office" has been established, and the previous salt and iron distribution system has begun to be implemented.

The list provided by the security bureau shows that the business status and family information of all 35 distributors are currently marked in green. (Blue indicates newly joined and under observation, yellow indicates unreliable, and red indicates failure.)
Currently, the system is not problematic. Given the rugged terrain in the region, a few safe main roads can be easily monopolized by the authorities, who can then collect huge amounts of tax revenue.

However, this system heavily relied on the government's monopoly over key transportation routes. Once the road system became as prosperous as those in the Central Plains and Jiangnan regions, this system would collapse under the influence of various "smugglers." For example, before the high-altitude railway was built in my previous life, an iron pot could be traded for a yak. ​​After the railway was built, everything changed.

The Tea and Salt Administration would divide the region according to the trade interests among the various chieftains, allowing for mutual supervision. This would also incentivize the chieftains to construct branch roads leading to the main thoroughfares. Similarly, once these roads were completed, military forces could intervene in these areas.

In southern Xinjiang now, Wu Fei has no interest in beating up these kids who have laid down their weapons and are cowering in defense. He just hopes they will completely obey and farm, earning money for him.

Inside the general's mansion, Wu Fei drew up a document requiring all the chieftain tribes to pay tribute regularly, and that the successors must follow the ritual system of Da Yao and come to the general's mansion regularly for official appointment and confirmation.

"Let the war end, and let peace and stability begin," Wu Fei declared to his city.

…System: Turn the page…

Just as Wu Fei was preparing to convey the investiture orders to the chieftains of various tribes across Lingjiang throughout August, a caravan heading north arrived.

To be precise, the caravan's northward journey was accidental. During their exploration, their giant eagle ark spaceship encountered a change in wind direction, drifted north, and lost control of its course, "coincidentally" landing in the north. After encountering the indigenous tribes of the southern frontier, these winged merchants discovered that the tribes worshipped a firebird totem and claimed to belong to a great lord called the "King of the Firebirds." Thus, they continued north, inadvertently arriving to pay tribute.

On the city tower of Fenxing City, Wu Fei looked at Cang Meng, who had come to guide the Feather Clan caravan, and asked him, "Is it really such a coincidence?"

The southern winged mage said to Wu Fei without batting an eye, "You are burdened with a destiny, and there are many things you cannot shirk."

Wu Fei observed the Feather Clan caravan. Their caravan transported goods using a type of floating wooden sailboat, which was towed by giant eagles with a wingspan of ten meters.

The spaceship is inlaid with gemstones in key locations, which look like rivets, but they have divination symbols flashing on them, clearly similar to the function of the jade discs of the wooden ox and flowing horse.

The Feathered Clan is the southernmost race in the Southern Frontier. Previously, when Wu Fei conducted his investigations, very little information about them was available. As for Da Yao's Records of the Southern Frontier, there is only a record in an ancient book from several hundred years ago: This race went 800 li east of the Lingjiang River, sailed out to sea, and then traveled 3,000 li south across a group of reefs before finding the southernmost point of the land to establish a city and a country. This is a force far beyond the sphere of influence of Da Yao's power.

While Wu Fei was inspecting the foreign visitors outside the city, the Feather Clan merchant group that had come to "pay tribute" was clearly also shocked by such a civilized city in the north that exceeded their expectations.

Because the southern part of Lingjiang they had previously encountered was very backward, they perceived that the northern lord worshipped by this tribe was actually just a larger tribe.

The winged recorders on the spaceship were full of enthusiasm: The factories, buildings, and streets in Fenxing City were something that barbarians could never have. It was full of art and civilization, and it had suddenly appeared in the barbaric north. Moreover, this city was the southern tentacles of a more powerful northern empire.

Ten minutes later, the winged tribesman bowed to Wu Fei in broken Mandarin, using terms like "King of the Sacred Fire of the Northern Region." Of course, Wu Fei's side did not provide an official equivalent translation; instead, they simply used "General" instead.

However, the recorder beside Wu Fei, a member of a prominent family within the pass, suspended the tribute ceremony and then advised Wu Fei against it.

His advice mainly consisted of telling Wu Fei to clearly tell these winged tribes that his title in Da Yao was "Marquis of Yuanbuting". The tribes of the southern border may be ignorant and use "incorrect" terms, but Wu Fei must never wear the crown presented by the barbarians.

Because his remonstrance was too impulsive and inappropriate, Wu Fei removed him from the scene. However, in his subsequent conversation with the winged merchants, he corrected their misuse of language, clarifying that he was a marquis appointed by Da Yao.

Wu Fei is a pragmatist: the practical value of a title is to enhance one's appeal to the region. Currently, Wu Fei's prestige in the Southern Frontier is already sufficient; he doesn't need the titles bestowed upon him by the barbarians. Instead, he needs the legitimate title of Da Yao to increase his influence throughout Da Yao's territory. Therefore, in the event of conflict, he must still preserve the title of Da Yao.

The Feathered Clan merchants immediately changed their address, addressing Wu Fei as "Your Excellency Marquis." They knew they didn't understand the system of the Great Yao Empire, only that Wu Fei, as the de facto lord, possessed wealth and an army, making him superior to them. The Feathered Clan's tribute was quite valuable, consisting of sea dragon teeth with magical patterns, golden-threaded wood, and feather crowns made from various exotic birds. For this first diplomatic contact, Wu Fei had no unscrupulous thoughts of "trading glass beads for gems." Always meticulous, Wu Fei commented: whether the return gift was genuine was a matter of national dignity.

The Feathered Clan received brocade woven from the finest silk from Lingnan. The silk used was categorized according to the five elements of the silkworm species, and it was also a magical item capable of carrying "divination." The silk products used in geographical maps and records in various regions are made of this material. In addition, different embroidery patterns on the brocade can create unique effects such as protection from heat, water, and smoke.

Therefore, in this world, even when silk items are transported across the ocean to other places, they are still considered hard currency, just like gold.

The silk that Wu Fei presented was a reward from the imperial court to the Wu family. Wu Fei had received less than a hundred bolts so far, and now he was bringing out fifty. In addition, there were Taoist artifacts such as the Ghostly Craft Ball Lamp, which could contain the energy of stars.

Sure enough, the winged man who received the tribute immediately recognized its extraordinary nature! It wasn't just because of the silk's splendor; he also noticed the look of fascination on the faces of the high-ranking officials accompanying Wu Fei.

The Feather Clan merchants were shrewd: they knew they were no expert, but they understood how to read the expressions of the officials on the trading side. When the bureaucrats beside Wu Fei showed expressions of surprise, even if they didn't know the value immediately, they understood that this was a high-quality item in Da Yao. Such a high-quality item, sent back to the Feather Clan Kingdom, would surely be favored by the kings.

Having received "courtesy," the winged people lowered their guard, believing they had received goodwill from this powerful lord, and thus began further dialogue.

…Cang Meng translated it…

Through very friendly exchanges, the "delegation," with Wu Fei's occasional generous gifts, gradually revealed their adventures on their journey north. Through this diplomatic liaison, Wu Fei completed the southern edge of the current world map.

Further south of the Southern Xinjiang region, beyond the various ethnic groups, lie man-eating trees, a harsh environment, and thousands of miles of uninhabited land. For the Wu family army, whose home base is in Da Yao, there is no longer any possibility of expansion southward.

Wu Fei was still calculating in his mind based on the supply formula: a city with several thousand people within a hundred kilometers could sustain a combat force of five or six hundred people on a long expedition. But right now, there wasn't a single village in sight for a thousand kilometers to the south, making the depths of the jungle like a vast ocean. At most, it could only support one or two expedition teams.

…Xuan Chong: What exactly is in the South?…

Just as Wu Fei was pondering how to begin exploring the "Great Tang Records on the Western Regions" model.

System: "The first phase of classroom tasks has been completed."

Xuan Chong paused for a moment, then looked somewhat disappointed when he saw the credits credited to his account.

The task of "Special Military Operation in Southern Xinjiang" was assigned a few years ago, and I had almost forgotten about it. Now it's finally over?
Xuan Chong quickly recovered his senses, which meant that the other tasks, which had been inactive for the past few years, were actually under evaluation.

What's outside the map?

Xuan Chong picked up a golden leaf. He chose it because he liked it at first sight. The winged merchant who presented the gift immediately explained its origin. This leaf was called the "Golden Phoenix Leaf." It was taken from the territory of a powerful being they encountered on their northward journey. They originally intended to bring it back to their kingdom, but now it was offered to them.

However, just as Xuan Chong was pondering the arrangements of other systems but perhaps forgetting about the missing mission, he impulsively used the "strong oxidation" flame to touch the paulownia leaf. In that instant of fingertip contact, the golden leaf began to pulsate actively, then softened as if it had a spirit, imprinting itself on Xuan Chong's wrist like gold foil.

Xuan Chong quickly grabbed it with his hand, for two reasons: first, the tattoo was bad, and second, the leaf was too pretty and too girly on his wrist.

The sycamore leaves seemed to sense Wu Fei's thoughts and shifted from his shoulder.

…The bright red from my fingertips continued to seep into the golden sycamore leaves…

A long cry came from the horizon. The winged tribe delegation became uneasy upon hearing the sound, as if a thief had been confronted by a wronged party. They stammered, using the one or two ancient Chinese divination symbols they had just learned, trying to describe "avoidance" and "the visitor is very powerful."

However, Cang Meng, the mage who served as the translator for the Feathered Clan, looked up at a streak of colorful light rapidly approaching from afar. She murmured, "Finally here."

Meanwhile, Wu Fei keenly observed Cang Meng, who seemed completely out of place amidst the chaos of the Feather Clan delegation.

Seeing Cang Meng's expectant expression, Wu Fei stepped forward and asked him, "Master, can you explain what happened?"

Cang Meng looked at Wu Fei, who knelt on one knee, and said, "My lord, the great Mingzun is coming to sign a glorious contract with you for a thousand years." Her tone was filled with reverence, because she was now absolutely certain of the "Mandate of Heaven."
As they traversed the city, a dazzling array of colors filled the sky. The Feathered Clan delegation, who considered themselves thieves, were now slumped to the ground.

However, the owner of the seven-colored light in the sky ignored them, instead gathering its light and descending towards Wu Fei. Meanwhile, the accompanying ghost chariot suddenly took off from the city, abruptly stopping a hundred feet away from the light. The ghost chariot seemed to sense a severe crisis, and all nine heads deployed in a state of high alert.

This time, Wu Fei clearly saw what the colorful light was. It was an enormous peacock, far exceeding Wu Fei's impression of the normal size of a peacock. Its wingspan was ten zhang (approximately 33 meters). Ignoring the light, this peacock was slightly smaller than Gui Che, but with its tail feathers, it was far larger.

Furthermore, the slight tremor in the heavens and earth can interfere with the divination system of mountains and rivers, and the Ghost Chariot is obviously inferior to the Peacock in terms of magical attributes.

Before the peacock descended upon the city, its magical energy stretched for twenty miles. As it landed, some of the energy landed on the mountains outside the city, demonstrating the effects of each type of energy.

When the peacock spreads its tail feathers, they display five colors! The red feathers ignite grass and trees upon touching them; the green tail feathers bring spring to dead trees upon touching them; the black feathers freeze the lake surface as they sweep across it; and the white feathers, like sword blades, sever even the thickest trees. As for the earth-yellow feathers, when they touch the ground, they raise clouds of yellow sand no matter how lush the vegetation.

The giant peacock glanced disdainfully at the ghost carriage, and of course ignored the humans in the city, but when it saw Wu Fei, it suddenly showed a human-like joy.

Then the peacock gently floated to Wu Fei's side, its two long legs and dinosaur-like claws landing gracefully two steps away from Wu Fei, revealing its blue belly to him.

Wu Fei unleashed his highly oxidizing energy level, his fingertips radiating red light.

However, just as Wu Fei was nervously watching the enormous creature, the peacock's head feathers became as obedient as a Scottish Fold cat, and its tail feathers spread out in full glory.

The peacock nuzzled Wu Fei with its tail feathers, seemingly anticipating something. Its dinosaur-like claws alternately pawed at Wu Fei from two steps away, but it dared not get too close with its small, quick steps.

Wu Fei seemed to understand the meaning, so he walked to the side, jumped slightly, and mounted the peacock. The peacock raised its head and used its energy to stabilize Wu Fei. Wu Fei only felt himself being sucked onto its back, steady and secure. Then, with a thought, he soared into the air with the peacock.

The Feather Clan, belatedly realizing what was happening, looked at Wu Fei with awe.

Clearly, the bloodline that allows them to form a bond with such a sacred bird is no less noble and powerful than that of the most powerful hero king in the Feathered Kingdom, as they know him.

(End of this chapter)