Chapter 24: A Few Matters of Turning Pastoral to Agricultural

Bing Province.

Since Er Zhu Rong marched south to subdue Suhe Polunxian, the war has proceeded very smoothly.

Bing Province is a major province, and Jinyang is one of the few great cities north of Luoyang.

Er Zhu Rong's southern expedition held no suspense. Compared to the war right before his eyes, Er Zhu Rong was even more worried about the situation in Hengzhou.

Inside the great tent, Er Zhu Rong handed a letter sent from afar into Yuan Tianmu's hands.

"Brother, what do you think?"

"Third Brother truly has ability, but isn't turning against Yuan Shen this early disadvantageous to us?"

Regarding Yuan Tianmu's worry, Er Zhu Rong was disdainful.

"There are fewer lice in Luoyangcheng than there are men like him."

Regarding Li Shuang's actions in Ma Yi, Er Zhu Rong felt not only no worry, but secretly felt gratified.

Since Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei's reforms, the entire Luoyang court has been controlled by the eight Xianbei surnames and the four Han surnames; his Er Zhu clan, though outwardly claiming to be imperial relatives, is in the eyes of these people merely a runner.

For this reason, Er Zhu Rong suffered no small amount of the Bai Yan in Luoyang.

What Li Shuang did was exactly what Er Zhu Rong had always wanted to do.

"The world is about to change; the kings and dukes in Luoyangcheng are still intoxicated in past glories, which is truly pedantic. At such a time, whoever can pacify a region will be able to seize the advantage first. Suhe Polunxian and we share the same thought; what we must contest is the method."

Perhaps the great tent was somewhat stifling, Er Zhu Rong stood up and lifted the tent flap.

Outside the tent, what came into view was a vast Jinyang City.

Since the three families divided Jin in those days, Jinyang City has stood here, towering for nearly a thousand years.

For a thousand years, this city has not only not declined, but with the passage of time, has become even more magnificent.

Looking at this city, Er Zhu Rong thought that one day he would bring this city under his own control.

However, now is not the time.

"Brother, wait a little longer; this city before our eyes will sooner or later be ours!"

Yuan Tianmu followed behind; hearing Er Zhu Rong say this, he felt not a shred of discomfort, but rather a trace of excitement.

The gap between Xianbei imperial clansmen is greater than that between men and dogs; this is also the reason Yuan Tianmu wholeheartedly stands on Er Zhu Rong's side.

"What is Tianbao waiting for?"

"Waiting for Yuan Shen to lose control of Hengzhou, so the court has no choice but to use its last trump card!"

Hearing Er Zhu Rong's words, Yuan Tianmu smiled softly.

"Li Chong?"

This sleeping tiger is the last ace in Northern Wei's court capable of intimidating everyone.

However, how much real effect this ace truly has is a matter of personal opinion.

Er Zhu Rong looked at Jinyang City in the distance, sighed leisurely, as if posing a rhetorical question, yet he himself had no answer in his heart.

"Lian Po is old; can he still eat?"

Pingcheng.

"Li Chong is merely an old relic; does Luoyang really expect him to pacify the chaos in the northern frontier?"

Hearing the news from Luoyangcheng, Yuan Shen felt a crisis.

If the Luoyang court truly decides to send Li Chong north to control the situation in Pingcheng, then he will have no choice but to step back to a secondary position.

Having tasted the flavor of holding absolute power, how could Yuan Shen be willing to hand over the power in his own hands to others again?

"Your Highness speaks the truth; alas, Your Majesty is young, has shallow ears, and does not understand the situation in the northern frontier; whatever those around him say is what is done!"

Standing before Yuan Shen was a man with white beard and hair yet a childlike face; he was the famous Great Shaman of this northern frontier.

"Liu Lingzhu, what should this King do?"

"Your Highness is of noble imperial blood, your status is exalted; alas, you lack capable generals around you, so you are deceived by a child. The urgent matter is to recruit brave warriors from all directions, only then can you hold the situation steady."

Yuan Shen deeply agreed with Liu Lingzhu's words.

The situation in Hengzhou now, if reported to Pingcheng, is no longer as effective as in the past.

The surrounding tribes are even more willing to listen to that little boy named Li Shuang in Ma Yi City.

Yuan Shen had never been able to figure out the reason behind this; Liu Lingzhu's words made him suddenly enlightened.

"That is correct; in this northern frontier, benevolence and righteousness are useless; in the end, one must look at fists."

Yuan Shen paced back and forth in the room; after a long time, he asked:

"I have taken an interest in one person; he is the famous leader of the Chidi tribe, named Helu Jin; what do you think?"

Before Liu Lingzhu could open his mouth, an urgent report came from outside the room.

"Your Highness, Helu Jin has rebelled!"

"What did you say?"

Yuan Shen's face changed drastically, yet he heard his subordinate continue reporting:

"One day ago, Helu Jin killed the garrison official appointed by the court and led his tribe west; he must have defected to Polo Han Baling!"

"Barbarian chieftain, you have disappointed this King greatly!"

Yuan Shen's face turned very bad; he looked at the personal guard outside delivering the message and questioned:

"Where is Yu Jin? He failed to obtain the grain and supplies; why has he not returned yet!"

"According to scouts, the Adjutant is still in Ma Yi, indulging day and night in women; everyone says he is so happy he forgets his home."

"Fool!"

Liu Lingzhu looked at the angry and humiliated Yuan Shen and thought to himself:

This man's heart and mind cannot achieve great things.

At that moment, Liu Lingzhu had already decided it was time to find the next person worth supporting.

"Where is the army commander headed?"

For days on end, Li Shuang had arranged for Yu Jin to stay at Red Romance, and it was really getting to be more than he could bear.

Compared with those barbaric, uncultured, unhygienic Hu Ren chieftains, Yu Jin — a Sinicized Xianbei noble — was simply far too handsome.

The Misses were all willing to flock around him, and it didn't cost a cent!

It's not that I'm chasing after women — it's the women chasing after me!

Seizing an opportunity, Yu Jin finally left Red Romance and followed along at Li Shuang's side.

"Hulü Jin has rebelled!"

Li Shuang's words left Yu Jin somewhat shocked.

At this moment, he rather felt as if a single day in the mountains had been a thousand years in the world.

"Hulü Jin has always been loyal and righteous — why would he rebel?"

Yu Jin's words made Li Shuang laugh.

"Loyalty and righteousness can't fill your belly. Right now, in this northern frontier, everyone wants to rebel — what could he do about it?"

The two rode on horseback, side by side.

Yu Jin heard these words and pondered:

"The army commander has now gathered a great deal of population under his banner. In time, grain will run short. When that day comes, what will the army commander do?"

Li Shuang heard this and burst out laughing:

"The Staff Officer is a man of extraordinary intelligence — surely he understands such a simple principle?"

As everyone knows, on a given area of land, farming can feed far more people than herding.

"When there are too many people and not enough cattle and sheep to eat, just farm!"

Yu Jin was a beat slow, gazing at Li Shuang's back, and felt a few stirrings in his heart.

Such a simple principle — of course everyone understood it.

But this principle, plain as it was, was something no one had been able to put into practice.

Even the Prince of Guangyang in Take Pingcheng was no exception.

The reason was simple: the tribes of Hengzhou were all Xianbei warriors who had followed the Tuoba clan on campaigns north and south in years past, and they set immense store by martial merit.

Getting them to farm was not something an ordinary person could accomplish.

Yu Jin's thoughts turned, and he said to himself:

If you truly could pull it off, then I would genuinely be willing to serve you!