Chapter 30

Zhang Liangzhou is Zhang Jun, the ruler of Former Liang.

The Zhang clan was originally a local aristocratic family of Liangzhou; during the Western Jin period, the imperial court enfeoffed the Zhang clan as Inspector of Liangzhou.

After the Yongjia Dongdu, the Central Plains fell into great chaos and communications were cut off.

Although the Former Liang Zhang clan nominally submitted to the Eastern Jin, in reality they had already become a warlord separatist power.

Xie An's meaning was very clear.

Wait until Shi Zhao and Zhang Liang go to war, when they have no leisure to look east, then send troops to take Sichuan's Cheng Han.

The thread of history developed in just this way.

A year later, Zhang Jun died of illness, and Shi Hu sent troops against Former Liang.

Huan Wen seized the opportunity, dispatched elite troops to attack Sichuan, and destroyed Cheng Han.

At this moment, Huan Wen was very satisfied with Xie An's analysis.

Preparing to take his leave and return to Jingzhou to plan the attack on Sichuan, Huan Wen added one more sentence.

"Relying on Liangzhou alone, I fear it will not succeed."

"Are there other arrangements elsewhere?"

Xie An's face was calm, but in his heart he was relieved.

Good thing he had considered these matters before.

"The Murong clan of Youzhou, the Qihuo Army of Northern Lands, both can be used."

Huan Wen laughed loudly and departed; these matters were entrusted to Xie An to arrange.

At this time the Xie clan had not yet risen to prominence in Jiangzuo, and was not yet that future Xie clan of "Wang and Xie share the world."

The Chen Commandery Xie clan at this time was more like a vassal of the Qiao Commandery Huan clan.

It was also by using the Huan clan as a springboard that they later achieved their soaring rise.

After seeing Huan Wen off, Xie An stood with sleeves gathered, his gaze looking far toward the northern regions.

"The Xianbei Murong clan, the Qihuo Army!"

Guangzong County, Shangbai.

Two days later, Lin Dao returned and immediately encountered a case.

"Stealing canned food?"

Lin Dao first wanted to laugh; who would go crazy stealing expired food.

Reacting, his first thought was "Who instigated this?"

Sun Dalang, his face showing anger, immediately replied, "It was a few ignorant children who saw something novel and stole it to eat."

"Their whole families have been seized; please, Lord Lang, decide how to dispose of them."

Stealing food, in this era, does not count as a crime, but as a means to save one's life.

Not to mention stealing, even outright robbing is a common occurrence.

Lin Dao had previously transported several tens of tons of canned food over; Sun Dalang led men to transfer it to the warehouse.

With many people and mixed hands, the scene was chaotic and the guarding was lax.

A few children watching the excitement took the opportunity to steal several cans, each dividing and eating them.

When they showed off holding the tin boxes and glass bottles, they were reported.

Understanding the cause of the matter, Lin Dao's mind turned.

If he were in the modern world, there would naturally be countless people speaking up for the children.

'Just a few cans, worth making a big deal out of?'

'You're so rich, do you still lack a few cans?'

'They're just children~~~'

'Haven't come looking for you yet! If they eat and get sick, you have to pay compensation!'

Thinking of these bizarre remarks, Lin Dao also couldn't help but laugh.

Indeed, people only have wild thoughts when they've eaten their fill; all kinds of demons and ghosts jump out.

Waving his hand, Lin Dao asked, "According to the law, how should they be disposed of?"

Sun Dalang's face instantly showed difficulty.

He was an illiterate who couldn't recognize more than a few characters.

Asking him about legal matters was truly a bit too much to ask.

"Lord Lang."

Sun Rong performed a salute and spoke: "The Theft Law records: five thieves or more constitute gang theft."

"Stolen goods worth one qian or more: left foot amputation, tattooing, and penal labor building walls."

The so-called five thieves or more refers to a gang of five or more people.

If it is a gang, even if they only stole something worth one qian, they must be severely punished.

Left foot amputation is the yue punishment, cutting off the left foot.

Tattooing is pricking characters on the face, the kind that cannot be washed off.

So that anyone who sees your face knows you are a criminal who has committed crimes.

Penal labor building walls means being sentenced to go build city walls.

Similar to building the Great Wall, heavy corvée labor that works people to death.

Lin Dao asked, "How many people?"

Sun Dalang raised his head: "There are four children."

He stole a glance at Lord Lang, seeing his face calm, unable to tell joy or anger.

Lin Dao looked at Sun Rong again.

The young woman understood his meaning and spoke again.

"Fewer than five people stealing more than six hundred and sixty coins shall be tattooed and have their noses cut off, to serve as wall-builders."

"The young master's canned food—a single can of luncheon meat costs five hundred coins."

If not counted as a gang, the punishment severity is obviously reduced.

First there was a punishment threshold line, namely the value of the stolen goods.

The highest grade is more than six hundred and sixty coins.

The punishment severity was reduced from cutting off legs to cutting off noses.

"You are brother and sister." Lin Dao laughed. "You, as the younger sister, understand the law and can recite it backward."

His gaze turned to Sun Dalang, teasing, "You, as the older brother, cannot recognize a few characters."

Sun Rong subconsciously lowered her head, her complexion changing slightly.

"Hey~~~"

On this side Sun Dalang responded, "Young master, my sister was picked up from the roadside; previously our family was also poor, and she has read books since childhood."

His parents' original intention in adopting Sun Rong was to make her a child bride.

But after getting along these past two years, they had become like brother and sister.

Lin Dao pondered for a moment, then reached out and tapped the table before him.

"Since there is law, we naturally must act according to law."

Here with Lin Dao, there is no age-based privilege.

If this matter is let go lightly, then the entire camp will surely fall into chaos.

Everyone will disregard his authority.

If so, then the team will scatter.

"Young master."

Sun Rong spoke again: "The Jin Law states that those who commit crimes while young shall have their A Ye bear responsibility."

Lin Dao surveyed her, then calmed his breath. "If so, change tattooing and nose-cutting to military caning."

"Twenty military canings, father and son each bear half."

"No need for them to pay compensation; expel the whole family from the camp."

Within the camp, they had passed several days of good days where they could eat their fill.

But instead they were driven out, returning to the hell of not knowing if they'd survive the night, where even wild vegetables had to be snatched.

Such a disparity—who could accept it?

Without doubt, these children who stole canned food will receive the loving education from their A Ye.

Unforgettable, never to be forgotten, the education of breaking their hands and feet.

"Right."

Lin Dao asked, "After eating the canned food, did these children have any symptoms? Diarrhea, dizziness, dehydration, pallor, or the like?"

"None." Sun Dalang hurriedly responded, "Although they were imprisoned and starved for two days, they did not fall ill."

Hearing these words, Lin Dao was momentarily bewildered.

Afterwards he seemed to have a thought.

"These canned foods, although expired for a long time, have all undergone sterilization and exhaust processing."

"They need to come into contact with bacteria in the air."

Having figured out this matter, Lin Dao rose and walked outside.

"To the warehouse."

"Sun Rong, go summon some people to come along."

Arriving at the warehouse, looking at the canned food piled up like mountains inside, Lin Dao stroked his chin.

In no great time, Sun Rong had summoned over a hundred people.

Everyone saluted.

Reaching out to pick up a can of Yellow Peach Canned Fruit, Lin Dao signaled to everyone.

"Look clearly."

He held the bottle body with one hand and the bottle cap with the other, exerting force to twist it.

With a crisp sound, the bottle cap was opened.

Shaking the juice off his hand, Lin Dao instructed, "All the Yellow Peach Canned Fruit, open them all, and put them outside under the Sun to dry."

"Best to dry them for a full one hundred and eighty days!"

"Dry them until the buyers come to take the goods."

Everyone showed expressions of shock, completely not understanding what the young master was doing.

Lin Dao naturally would not explain.

Putting down the Yellow Peach Canned Fruit, he picked up a Luncheon Meat Can, holding it up to signal to everyone.

"Use a two-coin awl to poke a hole here at the edge."

"Remember, be sure to poke through!"

A two-coin awl is a small awl used for mending clothes and woodworking.

Although very small, it is extremely sharp and has strong penetrating power.

Lin Dao looked at Sun Rong. "Not enough people; you go find more people to do this."

Finished speaking, he raised his head to look at the warehouse roof. "Tear off the roof! Let the Sunlight come in!"

The camp was very busy.

Spring plowing was approaching, and everyone was busy with the most important matter of the year.

Lin Dao was also busy with spring plowing.

Purchasing various agricultural tools.

That day, Lin Dao brought over a batch of curved-beam plows specially crafted by the Gong Chang.

He hadn't rested for a moment, caught his breath, and drunk a cup of water, when shouts came from outside.

"Master~~~"

In Qin Lang's shout was an excited tremolo: "I have an important matter to report!"

Lin Dao turned and stepped out of the rear tent.

"Master."

Seeing him come out, the emotionally agitated Qin Lang stepped forward to salute, his voice slightly trembling: "A Celestial Envoy has come~~~"

Lin Dao '(°ー°〃)'

His tone rose sharply: "What did you say came?"

The Zuo Zhuan records that a Celestial Envoy is a messenger of the Son of Heaven.

As early as the Qin and Han periods, imperial messengers could be called Imperial Commissioners, or respectfully titled Celestial Envoys.

The refugee army lingered in the Northern Regions, dealing and fighting with the various Hu.

When they laid down their weapons, they also submitted as vassals to the various Hu, in exchange for a chance to catch their breath.

These were all expedient measures, nominal submission.

In reality, the various refugee armies, especially those organized on a large scale, had always been receiving investiture from the Eastern Jin, effectively serving as peripheral forces of the Eastern Jin Court.

There were also those who sincerely defected to the various Hu; Li Nong was a representative figure among them.

Seeing Qin Lang's excited heart and trembling hand, he was naturally a representative figure loyal to the orthodox court.

"A Celestial Envoy, the Court's Celestial Envoy has come."

"I see." Lin Dao caught his breath. "They have come here; what business do they have?"

Qin Lang was somewhat embarrassed.

The Shishi of Jiangzuo had not come for several years. It was possible they had come, but were killed for no reason on the road.

After all, in this chaotic era, bandits, mountain bandits, refugees, Hu Cavalry, county soldiers, and even merchants might strike.

Upon learning that people from the Court had arrived, Qin Lang was too excited to ask anything and rushed over to report.

Lin Dao, as an outsider, could not understand the hope and longing of the refugee army men and women, who lived year-round in a hellish place everywhere reeking of mutton, for the orthodox Court of Jiangzuo.

The refugee army men and women's hope and longing for the orthodox Court of Jiangzuo.

Lin Dao sat at ease.

In no time at all, Qin Lang led a group of people inside.

What they wore were all merchant's attire.

This could be understood.

In such a chaotic era, only merchants could travel over a wide area, using it to disguise their identities.

"Chen Commandery Xie Clan, Xie Yi."

The leader stepped forward to pay his respects: "In the presence of the Refugee Army Commander, I dare ask what family you are from?"

This was not mocking Lin Dao.

In fact, the Guangzong Refugee Army's predecessor was the Bingzhou refugee group led by the Inspector of Bingzhou, Sima Teng, back then.

Generations of Refugee Army Commanders were appointed from high-ranking families among the Bingzhou exiles.

When scholar-gentry met, asking about family lineage was the rule of this era.

Even the Chen Commandery Xie Clan, before Xie An rose to prominence, was looked down upon by the great clans in Jiangzuo.

Lin Dao rubbed his forehead, carefully pondering what famous figures his own ancestors had produced.

Unfortunately, he really couldn't think of any.

He shook his head and skipped the topic directly: "This Envoy, what business brings you here?"

"I, Xie, have been appointed Grand Administrator of Jinling, and once served as a Colonel in the General Who Pacifies the West's office."

Xie Yi stated his official position and also produced a token hidden on his person to prove his identity.

Lin Dao looked at it, but paid it no mind.

He asked again: "What business brings you here?"

Xie Yi was somewhat angry.

Although the Court's prestige was not what it used to be, and this place was territory seized by the Hu captives, you are being too disdainful.

He suppressed his anger and spoke: "I have come here to transmit an imperial edict!"

End of Chapter