Chapter 1602: The Small Town of Aolai

In August, autumn had only just begun to show itself in Aolai City; both inside and outside the town, everything remained lush and verdant, greenery covering the fields. This season in Aolai was still quite comfortable, but that comfort was often short-lived, belonging to a transitional season. However, apart from that Aolai City which had been rebuilt in the "Han style," the rest of the area remained in a desolate, primitive state.

As for development, over the past few years Aolai City had seen some—at least it had gained over a thousand Han immigrants, and Han merchants had also set foot in this place.

But in fact, since the great advance of the Han army back then, Aolai City had always served merely as a stronghold for the Great Han's control and influence over the Yazi River basin, with only a single battalion of troops stationed there. Besides guarding the town's security and defense, they also had to look after the safety of the surrounding hundred li.

Yet Aolai's location was extremely important, sitting at the confluence of the Yazi River and the Black Water River. From the perspective of water transport alone, this was a throat-and-pass strategic point.

It was only in recent years that the main development direction of Andong had been around the Suihua area, so Aolai's progress had not been very obvious. Even so, the Governor-General's office had begun to cast its gaze toward more distant places.

Over the past year or so, Aolai City had become much livelier. The reason was simple: someone had picked up a gold nugget in the Black Water River to the north, boldly explored the riverbed, and discovered gold in the river sand. So they stopped farming, stopped fishing, and began secretly engaging in gold panning.

But news like this could not be hidden. After all, in this sparsely populated place, abnormal behavior and traces of activity were easily noticed. Moreover, once one exchanged gold for silver or goods at the government office, concealment became utterly impossible.

So, after the news spread, all sorts of people came flocking in, going into the river to feel for gold. Up to now, the gold rush in Andong and even the entire Northeast was still ongoing, growing ever more feverish. Compared to farming, logging, and trade, gold panning was clearly the most profitable business—grab a piece of gold, and there was profit to be had.

Of course, it was also the most arduous and the most dangerous business. Without some real strength, common folk—even armed immigrants—dared not rashly join in. Within Andong's borders, as long as one was outside a town, danger lurked everywhere, and gold panners were even more so. Not only did they have to deal with possible attacks from native barbarians, but also robbery and murder from fellow prospectors. The Han laws of the towns were difficult to enforce in the wild, and there were no conditions for it either.

As for the discovery of Aolai's gold sand, the Han commoner who ate the first crab was very lucky, and also had the cleverness of a small farmer. Knowing that news of gold in the Black Water Riverbed could not be hidden, and not deluding himself into monopolizing it alone, after secretly panning for a while he decisively reported the matter to the government. As a result, he not only received a reward from the Aolai government office, but also safely converted the fifty-plus jin of gold he had panned into silver and cash. Although the government office applied a heavy discount when exchanging for such gold panners, even so, he obtained nearly six million cash.

For an ordinary commoner, what did six million cash mean? That was roughly six thousand strings of cash. The court's annual development funds allocated to the Andong Governor-General's office were only one million strings.

Describing it as becoming rich overnight was perfectly apt. He had completely achieved financial freedom, left the land behind, left labor behind, and lived the life of one above others. In a place like Aolai City, he could even directly enjoy an "aristocratic" lifestyle.

The story of the "lucky one" Ma Liu became a legend and also an excellent promotional point for Aolai's gold sand. Not only in Aolai, but throughout Andong, it was widely circulated.

Not only did a batch of gold panners flood into Aolai, but those elsewhere who specialized in prospecting and mining also began shifting their targets, starting to search in the water. Andong's river systems were fairly well developed—if there was gold in the Black Water Riverbed, other places might well have it too.

As for Ma Liu, whose ancestors' graves had smoked with green smoke, he now had fame and money. But to keep all of it, he needed to expend some thought. The Andong region was not like the interior with its stability and order; without sufficient protection, the more wealth one had, the more dangerous it became.

Facts proved that whoever could succeed always had something commendable about them. In this regard, Ma Liu had given full play to his strengths. First, he was not greedy, reporting promptly; second, he was clever enough to find the most solid and reliable umbrella of protection.

In a place like Aolai, the most authoritative and capable of providing the strongest protection were, without question, first the officials, and second the military. Ma Liu sought out both. From the six million cash he had gained from gold panning, he directly took out two million cash—part contributed to the government to support town construction, and the other part offered to Town General Liu Yongzhen to seek protection.

Town General Liu Yongzhen was naturally quite satisfied with Ma Liu's tactfulness. In a fit of good humor, he even elevated him to the position of a patrol constable, leaping in one step to become an authoritative figure and an exploiting class member in Aolai City.

Don't look down on this little Aolai City—it wasn't even a county, not even as good as an ordinary town in the interior—but the Town General's background was not small. Liu Yongzhen was the nephew of Haining Marquis Liu Guangyi, and one of the sons of meritorious nobles who had answered Emperor Liu's call to go to Andong.

Compared to the Great Han, the Andong region truly had many differences. For example, positions like Town General, which in the past had been heavily imbued with "military province" characteristics, had been re-established.

And Liu Yongzhen, this Town General of Aolai City, had no low rank—he was substantively appointed to the seventh grade, seventh rank. He commanded troops and governed the people alike. In this small place of Aolai, without question, he was the local emperor.

In fact, as the sons of meritorious nobles came from afar to open up new territories, whether they entered politics, the military, or commerce, they all formed their own spheres of influence and held territories under their control.

In the course of development, although all of Andong was under the Andong Governor-General's office and within the overall system of the Great Han, a situation resembling enfeoffment had quietly taken shape.

These people, in their local business operations, had also grasped governing power, and their influence was gradually becoming entrenched. Of course, such a situation was not limited to Andong; similar things were happening in regions like Monan, Shanyang, the Northwest, the Southwest, and Annam.

Even Emperor Liu, far away in the Eastern Capital, had taken notice of this—especially in Andong, a place he paid particular attention to. But regarding this situation, Emperor Liu said nothing and adopted an attitude of tacit approval.

The Great Han was truly too vast. To firmly control such an enormous territory, govern so many peoples, and handle such complex contradictions—relying entirely on the court was too difficult and too unrealistic. There needed to be these people governing on the court's behalf.

The court's all-encompassing approach to governance had long been proven impossible in this era. In Emperor Liu's view, since those sons of meritorious nobles had gone to the frontiers to open up territory, it was only natural for them to gain some privileges and conveniences. At least they were vested interests of the court, able to do their utmost to protect their own interests while also maintaining the Great Han's rule.

In Aolai City, Town General Liu Yongzhen was clearly a man whose word carried weight. But to the Andong Governor-General's office, he was truly insignificant. Especially when Prince of Qin Liu Xu came east on an inspection tour, Liu Yongzhen was both nervous and expectant, accompanying him with great care.

Over these past few years, nearly all the military and civil subordinates under the Andong Governor-General's office had learned one thing: the Prince of Qin was not an easy man to serve. Compared to that gentle, jade-like, modest and courteous Your Highness at court, the Prince of Qin, who concurrently served as Andong's Governor-General, was forceful, serious, strict—even harsh.

At least in this place of Andong, apart from Duke of Anguo Gao Huaide, there was no one left who did not fear Liu Xu. Even Tian Qincuo, that arrogant, domineering, bloodthirsty man, had to keep a low profile before the Prince of Qin.

. wap.