Chapter 270: A Brilliant Strategy for Eternal Garrison

Mount Luocang, Liu Residence.

In a few days, Jia Cong would escort the firearms north to Dengzhou, a few days earlier than the Regional Commander of the Nine Provinces, Gu Yankui, to begin his patrol of the borders.

This trip would take as long as half a year, so before leaving, he specifically came to bid farewell to his mentor, Liu Jing'an.

To Jia Cong, Liu Jing'an had truly shown him great kindness.

Now that he looked back, almost every critical period of his life had the shadow of Liu Jing'an.

Back then, he was just a despised illegitimate son in the Rongguo Mansion, and he had only met Liu Jing'an once at the Nanxi Literary Society, yet he had received the old man's esteem and appreciation.

And, contrary to everyone's expectations, he had recommended him to study at the famous Qingshan Academy of the Great Zhou.

It was by relying on Liu Jing'an's reputation and the pivotal status of Qingshan Academy in the scholarly circles that he had been looked upon with new eyes and had since stood firm in the Jia family.

Later, he was named the top candidate in the Yongzhou provincial examination, and was unexpectedly falsely accused. Just when everyone thought he would be cut off from the imperial examinations and would never be able to turn things around...

His mentor's wife, Qing Niangzi Cui, was a master of music in her own right, but he had never heard that she was also skilled at the pipa, so the person playing the pipa must not be Qing Niangzi Cui.

And he had named himself "Yuzhang," hoping only to be a peaceful and ordinary scholar, not hoping to struggle in officialdom...

Jia Cong could conclude that the person playing and singing must be that "Lady Qing," but how could she appear in the Liu residence?

Moreover, this clear pipa sound and that cold, graceful singing voice were not unfamiliar to Jia Cong.

It was Liu Jing'an who had stepped forward again, taking him into his tutelage during his time of crisis and using his transcendent reputation in the scholarly circles to protect him.

Ever since he became the Superintendent of the Firearms Division and served as an observer in the Ministry of War, and later encountered a large number of firearms manufacturing affairs, he had been busy every day, and he hadn't seen Liu Jing'an for some time.

Even though he had only heard it once, it still made him unable to forget it for a long time.

In the Liu family's study, Jia Cong met his mentor, Liu Jing'an.

In the past few years, as he experienced more storms in the world, Jia Cong's thoughts had deepened. Others might not have realized it, but he himself could feel it deeply.

After he entered his tutelage, the old man had taught him everything he knew, instructing him in the techniques of the imperial examinations, allowing him to achieve twice the result with half the effort on the road to the examinations.

Otherwise, relying only on his own insights and cleverness from the future, he would never have been able to achieve anything on the road to the imperial examinations.

As soon as he entered the Liu residence, he heard a clear pipa sound coming from the back courtyard, accompanied by a clear, beautiful voice like a phoenix, rising leisurely, fresh and ethereal, touching the heart.

He had even used his connections at Qingshan Academy and his influence in the Ministry of Rites to spare no effort in helping him clear his name.

"Six generations of luxury, spring has departed, and there is no more news. Vainly looking out, the beauty of the mountains and rivers is no longer what it was..."

Back in Jin Ling at the Zhuojiang Tower, he had heard it once, that Lady Qing, known for her "Jade Pipa Heavenly Sound."

Because whether it was the pipa sound or the heart-piercing singing, it was simply too stunning.

That he had his current situation was largely due to this mentor, who had subtly created it behind the scenes.

Such kindness, equivalent to a rebirth, made Jia Cong hold this mentor in extra high regard.

Although he hadn't even seen the true face of that Lady Qing.

Jia Cong was startled in his heart; the ethereal and graceful female voice was actually singing his own "Man Jiang Hong."

Fortunately, although the old man was getting on in years, his spirit was still vigorous, only the white at his temples had become thicker.

Liu Jing'an looked at this young disciple of his, his gaze filled with praise and satisfaction.

He had been teaching at home for more than ten years, and he didn't know how many of the Liu family disciples he had taught had passed the imperial examinations, but in terms of talent and intelligence, no one could compare to Jia Cong.

Passing two imperial examinations in a row to win the title of "Two-Time Top Candidate" was not something that could be explained by profound learning alone; this kind of luck was also something ordinary people couldn't compare to.

"I didn't expect, where did you learn this knowledge of firearms? You are actually so proficient in this way. It is said that the firearms soldiers showed their might in Liaodong; it is truly a sharp weapon of the military and state."

In fact, it wasn't just Liu Jing'an who felt it strange; any person with meticulous thoughts would have similar questions.

Back then, the thoughtful Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao had also asked the same question.

After all, such things were somewhat unreasonable; the world didn't know, but only you could know like the back of your hand. Without a reasonable explanation, it was almost like the way of demons and monsters.

The evil cults and demonic arts of this world were things that both the government and the people shouted to beat; if someone misinterpreted it in that direction, it might bring disaster upon himself.

Therefore, ever since Jia Cong displayed his expertise in firearms, he had long had a set of explanations in his heart.

Although he was facing his respected teacher, this wasn't considered deception; who told him to have such a strange background?

"Teacher, you may not know this. When I was young, my parents at home didn't like me, and I felt stifled at home. After school, I often went to the South Market alone to play."

"I accidentally got to know a few Western missionaries and heard them talk about the strange power of Western firearms, which gave me some understanding."

"Later, on the way south to Jin Ling, I met a Western scholar named Deluo in Baoying. This person was extremely proficient in Western 'investigation of things.' After a deep conversation with him..."

"I had even deeper feelings for this way. Later, when I was an official in the Ning Prince's temporary residence in Jin Ling, I confiscated a batch of muskets. After I came into contact with them, I often thought and pondered."

"So I had quite a few strange theories and thoughts about firearms; actually, they are not worth much."

Liu Jing'an was somewhat surprised in his heart; his disciple had actually known about firearms long ago, but listening to his words, his contact with them wasn't considered profound.

Yet he had drawn inferences from one instance to another, and had pondered it into a specialized study, sitting in the position of Superintendent of the Firearms Division. This kind of aptitude was simply too extraordinary.

Although he felt somewhat strange in his heart, he didn't delve into it, and could only explain it by Jia Cong's extraordinary talent.

"This time you follow the patrol to the north, you can also broaden your horizons and know the customs and people of the north."

"Although the Jurchens are brave, they are difficult to form a unified force. Now the imperial court is mass-mobilizing grain and supplies, and will definitely use heavy troops against the Jurchens. Pacifying the Jurchen rebellion is just a matter of time."

"It's just that the Jurchen disaster has always been repetitive. Pacified this year, it revives next year. Grievances and sins are knotted, and wars are endless, wasting national power, with no method for eternal peace."

Liu Jing'an sighed quite a bit when he said this.

The Jurchens were brave and good at fighting, attacking when they won and hiding in the white mountains and black waters when they lost. They could not be killed off, and they could not be eliminated. The monarchs of the Great Zhou had no strategy for eternal garrison.

Jia Cong said: "Actually, to eliminate the Jurchen rebellion forever, it is not that there is no way, it's just that it takes a little longer, and things need to be done a bit more complexly."

Liu Jing'an's eyes lit up when he heard this. He had always known Jia Cong's intelligence, and he often had novel and incisive arguments.

"Cong'er, tell me about it."

Jia Cong said: "Teacher, actually, the land of Liaobei is also the territory of our Great Zhou."

"But the Great Zhou views the Jurchens as a stubborn alien race in its bones, and treats the Jurchens with a policy of 'heavy restraint' but 'light tenderness,' which is truly insufficient."

"Dividing into garrisons, letting them govern themselves, and even creating incidents to let them fight and kill each other, reducing their power so they have no strength to oppose the Great Zhou."

"But I often hear people talk about the Great Zhou's border trade with the Jurchens, which is strictly controlled, with strict regulations on the types and quantities of goods flowing out."

"And the border officials responsible for border trade often extort and plunder the Jurchens, making the Jurchens' livelihood increasingly difficult, and naturally accumulating resentment against the Great Zhou."

"Whenever a few talented and brave people appear among the Jurchens, for the sake of personal ambition, they can stir up war with a little utilization."

"Throughout the dynasties, whenever there are civil rebellions, the main reason is that they can't eat their fill, are utilized by others, and take risks. The Jurchen war is roughly like this."

"To eliminate the Jurchen disaster, in my view, it is nothing more than four things..."

Liu Jing'an heard Jia Cong speak clearly about the Jurchen matter, and the analysis of the root cause was truly thought-provoking, which couldn't help but stir up his desire to talk.

"Cong'er, tell me what these four things are."

Jia Cong said: "The first is to behead their leaders. Among the Jurchens, those who are talented, brave, and have ambitions, whenever they stir up war, we must behead their leaders to warn others and cut off their martial spirit."

"The second is to smooth out border trade. Except for strictly prohibiting firearms, swords, and armor, tea, salt, and rice are all on the list of trade, so that the Jurchens have something to rely on for food."

"Teacher, ordinary people are actually very easy to satisfy. As long as they are full, who would still rob and rebel?"

Liu Jing'an heard him suddenly say such a vulgar saying, and felt amused in his heart, but upon careful thought, it made great sense. If the common people have plenty of food and clothing, who would still take risks?

He heard Jia Cong continue: "The third is to promote education. Not only to promote Han Confucianism in the north, but also to promote Buddhism and Daoism."

"I often see Western missionaries crossing the ocean and traveling to various countries to preach, which has given me much inspiration."

"Those Buddhist and Daoist studies teach people to do good and accumulate virtue, hope for the afterlife, remove the fire in people's hearts, soften their will, and make people follow the rules. Hehe, their function is no less than Confucianism..."

Liu Jing'an felt a chill in his heart when he heard this. As a master of learning, he naturally knew the deep intention of the ancient monarchs who "dismissed the hundred schools and respected only Confucianism."

It was just that because of his status, he had never spoken it out loud. Now that there was an Emperor ruling the country, saying such things would be too shocking.

How old was this disciple of his, yet he could see through the mystery, with a sharp gaze and deep thoughts; he was truly extraordinary.

However, he had seen many strange things about Jia Cong, so he didn't feel it was too abrupt.

At the end, Jia Cong's voice was slightly indifferent: "The fourth is intermarriage and blood mixing!"

"Once border trade flourishes, workshops, markets, and entertainment districts in the border towns will surely spring up like bamboo shoots after rain. The border people of the two places will surely interact frequently, and intermarriage and blood mixing will naturally become common."

"The government needs to be clear, eliminate discrimination against Jurchen border people, open up the people's wisdom, and accelerate the fusion of the two bloodlines. In this way, in less than fifty years, who will be able to distinguish between Han people and Jurchens!"

The first three things Jia Cong said had already made Liu Jing'an feel enlightened. He was a master of literature and a sage of learning, and his knowledge was naturally extremely high.

But after all, he was limited by time, and his vision always had places it couldn't reach, unlike Jia Cong, whose background was too strange, and who was influenced by the information of the future to have a belly full of shocking ideas.

But when he heard the fourth thing Jia Cong said, he couldn't help but gasp. Compared to the beheading and education before, this last method was truly pulling the firewood from under the cauldron.

Even for a kind-hearted person, this fourth method was somewhat vicious; that was truly exterminating their bloodline!

However, if they spent fifty years and carried out these four methods, they would likely be able to garrison the northern borders forever, which was a hundred times better than filling it with human lives and money every year.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 271 =====