Traveling back to the Northern Song Dynasty: Picking up a princess as my wife

Although the Jin emperor Wanyan Qin had been imprisoned in Anyang Prefecture by Li Zhen, marking the nominal fall of the Jin dynasty, many remnants of the Jin army, unwilling to submit to the Han dynasty, still lingered across the vast northeastern lands. Some hid in the lush mountains, isolated from the world, continuing their unyielding resistance; others resolutely embarked on the northward journey, vowing to follow Wanyan Xu's banner and rekindle their dream of restoring their kingdom; still others took advantage of the seas to cross the turbulent straits, traveling to Japan to defend their country and seek new protection and hope.

This history is like a magnificent scroll painting, with every stroke carrying the resilience and indomitable spirit of the Jurchen people. Even though the nation's fortunes had declined, their yearning for freedom and deep affection for their homeland still shine brightly in the long river of history.

Li Huaiyi, the battalion commander of the Han army's advance detachment, once again embarked on a journey to the Wild Jurchen tribes. This was his fifth negotiation trip. He carried a heavy sense of responsibility, striving to avoid any unnecessary conflicts with the Jurchen tribes in this land and to maintain the delicate peace on the frontier.

With the approaching sound of approaching hooves and the steady rhythm of rolling wheels, four fully loaded wagons slowly came into view of the tribe, like messengers carrying hope and warmth. The wagons carried not only heavy supplies, but also Li Huaiyi's sincere desire for peace. The children's eyes lit up instantly, like flowers blooming in spring, and they gathered around, their laughter filling the entire tribe.

This was not the first time. Li Huaiyi's previous visits were always accompanied by carriages laden with necessities—food, clothing, and trinkets that would make the children cheer, especially the precious candies. In this era, candy was a luxury, a rare delicacy reserved for aristocratic banquets, but for the children of these tribes, each piece of candy was the crystallization of their sweet dreams.

Li Huaiyi knew that these seemingly insignificant gifts were actually building bridges of communication, gradually bringing their hearts closer together. On this ancient yet unknown land, he interpreted the vision of peace through his actions, hoping to dissolve the invisible barriers between the Han people and the Jurchen tribes in the gentlest way.

The tribal chief, Dubang, held an ancient pipe in his hand, gazing intently at the scene before him, his thoughts seemingly drifting away with the rising smoke. The Han Chinese general named Li Huaiyi had visited this land several times, each visit like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in its wake.

Du Bang knew perfectly well that these Han people harbored a desire for domination and coveted this land. Yet, recalling the past, it was they, these brave sons and daughters of the tribe, who had built a defensive line with their flesh and blood, driving the ferocious Jurchens out of their territory. Every battle was a hymn to courage and sacrifice; every young life lost was an indelible mark on the tribe.

Now, facing Li Huaiyi's visit again, Du Bang's heart is filled with mixed emotions. How can he easily give up this land that has been watered with countless sweat and tears and defended with countless precious lives? On this land, every gust of wind carries the call of the ancestors, and every leaf remembers the past struggles.

He slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, and as the smoke swirled, the old chieftain's eyes hardened. He knew this was a decision concerning the tribe's dignity and future, allowing no room for rashness or compromise.

"Hehehe... Old chief, I'm here again. How are you? Your rheumatism is much better after using the medicine I brought you, isn't it?"

Dubang smiled and replied, "I feel much better. Thank you for the medicine, General Li. May I ask what brings you to our poor and desolate tribe today?"

Li Huaiyi took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out and handed it to the Dubang chief: "Try mine, it tastes no worse than yours."

Seeing the other party accept his cigarette, Li Huaiyi lit one for himself and said while smoking, "I reported the situation here to my superiors a few days ago, and Huining Prefecture has given us new instructions, agreeing to let us build a fortress on that flat land at the foot of the mountain. I came today to discuss with the old chief about borrowing some men, because I have limited manpower and simply cannot complete the construction of the fortress. Of course, it won't be a free loan; we can pay a certain amount of remuneration or food."

Upon hearing this, Dubang's eyes lit up. The tribe always had no shortage of manpower, and he never cared much for gold or silver. What he truly cared about was the grain that Li Huaiyi mentioned, which could solve their immediate crisis. It should be known that in this tribe, nothing was more scarce than food. The Jurchen people were not skilled in agriculture; their meals depended entirely on the spoils of hunting in the mountains and forests.

Li Huaiyi continued, his words carrying an undeniable firmness: "We plan to erect more than ten military fortresses along the Alimen River. This massive project naturally requires as many people as possible. Moreover, we hope to purchase high-quality timber and various building materials from your tribe. Of course, exchanging them for grain is also acceptable. This time, our Emperor has made up his mind to improve the harsh environment of this northeastern border region, so that the people of the tribe can enjoy warm homes and be spared the suffering of the cold winds in winter."

The chief of the Dubang tribe slowly exhaled the last smoke ring, his cigarette burning to its end. He gently stubbed it out on the ground, the embers extinguishing with a soft but firm sound. Then, his slightly hoarse voice, weathered by time, rang out in the quiet atmosphere: "This afternoon, I intend to visit the other tribes and invite their chiefs here to discuss important matters."

At this point, he glanced sideways, his gentle yet scrutinizing gaze sweeping across Li Huaiyi's face before continuing, "Although I am filled with doubt as to why your Han emperor is so concerned about this remote and harsh land, your actions since you set foot on this land show that you are completely different from those greedy Jurchens. For this reason, I am willing to entrust you with my trust, and I earnestly hope that General Li will not betray this rare trust."

Li Huaiyi looked earnestly at the old leader and said slowly, "Old leader, as the saying goes, 'A long road tests a horse's strength, and time reveals a person's true character.' I know that my words alone are not enough to immediately win your complete trust. But please be patient. In time, you will witness our sincerity from the actions of our Han army."

Our Han emperor was a monarch who cared deeply for the people and whose benevolence extended far and wide. He wisely pointed out that the foundation of a nation lies in its diverse and harmonious nature, and should not be confined to one ethnicity or surname. Therefore, from its very inception, the Han nation embraced a heart that encompassed all things, welcoming diverse influences to jointly build a prosperous era.

Please believe that time will be the best proof: every effort and every sacrifice made by the Han army is for the well-being of all the people on this land, and for a more harmonious and inclusive future.