Chapter 24: A Few Things About Shifting from Herding to Farming

Bingzhou.

Since Zhu Rong marched south to suppress Suhe Bawenxian, the campaign has proceeded smoothly.

Bingzhou is a major province, and Jinyang is one of the few large cities north of Luoyangcheng.

Zhu Rong’s southern campaign held no uncertainty; compared to the immediate warfare, he was more concerned about Hengzhou.

Inside the great tent, Zhu Rong handed a letter sent from afar to Yuan Tianmu.

“Brother, what does it say?”

“Third brother truly has talent—but to break with Yuan Yuanshen so soon, isn’t that disadvantageous to us?”

Zhu Rong dismissed Yuan Tianmu’s concerns with contempt.

“There are fewer lice in Luoyangcheng than he is.”

Regarding Li Shuang’s actions in Ma Yi, Zhu Rong felt no worry—on the contrary, he secretly took satisfaction.

Since Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei’s reforms, the Luoyang court had been controlled by the eight Xianbei clans and the four Han clans; though the Zhu clan claimed kinship with the imperial family, to them, it was merely that of a lackey.

For this, Zhu Rong had endured countless sneers in Luoyangcheng.

Li Shuang’s actions were precisely what Zhu Rong had long wished to do.

“The world is about to change, yet the nobles of Luoyangcheng still revel in past glory—how backward. At such a time, whoever can subdue a region will seize the advantage first. Suhe Bawenxian and we share the same intent; what matters now is who wields the sharper tools.”

Perhaps the tent grew too stifling; Zhu Rong rose and pulled back the flap.

Outside, before his eyes lay the vast city of Jinyang.

Since the division of Jin by the three families, Jinyang had stood here for nearly a thousand years.

Over these thousand years, the city had not declined—it had grown ever more majestic with time.

Zhu Rong gazed at the city, thinking that one day he would take it for himself.

But not yet.

“Brother, wait a little longer—this city will surely be ours!”

Behind him, Yuan Tianmu heard these words with no discomfort, only a flicker of excitement.

The gap between Xianbei royal clans was greater than that between man and dog—this was why Yuan Tianmu stood firmly by Zhu Rong’s side.

“What is Tianbao waiting for?”

“For Yuan Yuanshen to lose control of Hengzhou, forcing the court to play its last card!”

Hearing Zhu Rong’s words, Yuan Tianmu smiled softly.

“Li Chong?”

That sleeping tiger was the Northern Wei court’s final trump card capable of intimidating everyone.

Yet how much real power remained in that trump card depended on one’s perspective.

Zhu Rong gazed at distant Jinyang and sighed deeply, as if posing a question—though he himself had no answer.

“Is Lian Po old? Can he still eat?”

Pingcheng.

“Li Chong is but an old man—does Luoyang truly expect him to quell the chaos in the north?”

Hearing news from Luoyangcheng, Yuan Yuanshen felt the threat.

If the Luoyang court truly decided to send Li Chong north to take control of Pingcheng, he would be forced to step down to second place.

Having tasted the flavor of absolute power, how could Yuan Yuanshen willingly surrender his authority to another?

“Your Highness speaks truly—but the Emperor is young, easily swayed, and ignorant of the northern situation; he listens only to those around him.”

Before Yuan Yuanshen stood a man with white hair and beard yet a youthful face—the famed shaman of the northern frontier, Liu Ling.

“Liu Ling, what should I do?”

“Your Highness is of royal blood, noble in status, yet lacks capable generals, allowing a child to deceive you. The urgent task is to recruit brave warriors from all corners to stabilize the situation.”

Liu Ling’s words struck deep with Yuan Yuanshen.

The current situation in Hengzhou no longer carried the weight it once did when spoken of from Pingcheng.

The surrounding tribes now preferred to heed the boy Li Shuang in Ma Yi.

Yuan Yuanshen had never understood why—Liu Ling’s words opened his eyes.

“That’s right—in the north, benevolence and righteousness are useless; only strength matters.”

Yuan Yuanshen paced the room for a long while, then asked:

“I have my eye on one man—a famed chieftain of the Tiele tribe, named Hulü Jin. What do you think?”

Before Liu Ling could answer, an urgent report came from outside:

“Your Highness, Hulü Jin has rebelled!”

“What did you say?”

Yuan Yuanshen’s face turned pale, yet his subordinate continued:

“A day ago, Hulü Jin killed the court-appointed officials and led his tribe westward—surely to join Han Baling!”

“You treacherous Hu chieftain—you have disappointed me deeply!”

Yuan Yuanshen’s face darkened; he turned to the messenger and demanded:

“Where is Yu Jin? He failed to secure the grain and money—why hasn’t he returned?”

“Scouts say the assistant commander remains in Ma Yi, lost in debauchery; all say he has forgotten his homeland.”

“Damn it!”

Liu Ling watched the furious Yuan Yuanshen and thought inwardly:

This man’s character is too narrow to accomplish great things.

At this moment, Liu Ling had already decided to seek out another worthy master to serve.

“Where is the commander going?”

For days, Li Shuang had kept Yu Jin confined in Hong Lang Man, and he could no longer bear it.

Compared to the crude, uncultured, unhygienic Hu chieftains, Yu Jin—the sinicized Xianbei noble—was simply too handsome.

The girls flocked to him—and didn’t even need to pay!

It’s not that I chase women—it’s that women chase me!

Seizing an opportunity, Yu Jin finally left Hong Lang Man and fell in beside Li Shuang.

“Hulü Jin has rebelled!”

Li Shuang’s words stunned Yu Jin.

He felt as if a day in the mountains had become a thousand years in the world.

“Hulü Jin was always loyal and righteous—why rebel now?”

Yu Jin’s words made Li Shuang smile.

“Loyalty and righteousness don’t feed you. In the north today, everyone wants to rebel—what can he do?”

The two rode side by side on horseback.

Yu Jin pondered these words, then asked:

“Commander, you’ve gathered a large population under your command. Eventually, you’ll run out of grain—what then?”

Li Shuang laughed heartily:

“Assistant Commander, you’re a genius—surely you understand this simple truth?”

It is well known that farming on a given area of land supports far more people than herding.

“If there aren’t enough cattle and sheep for all the people? Plant crops!”

Yu Jin paused a beat, gazing at Li Shuang’s back, feeling a quiet stir within.

Everyone, of course, understood this simple truth.

Yet no one had ever managed to put it into practice.

Even the Prince of Guangyang in Pingcheng had failed.

Why? Because the tribes of Hengzhou were all Xianbei warriors who had once marched with the Tuoba clan, valuing martial merit above all.

Getting them to farm? That was beyond the reach of ordinary men.

Yu Jin’s mind turned inward:

If you can do it, then I truly wish to serve you.